Often times my patients will ask how acupuncture for pain works. What is it that acupuncture actually does to relieve pain? This is the big question. Science has not come up with an exact answer to this. Many theories exist and many of these theories are in part true. We do know that when an acupuncture needle is placed it causes our body to release endorphins, which are our body’s natural pain killers. Research regarding how acupuncture works is ongoing and is pointing to multiple ways that acupuncture may work to relieve pain.

Is it a placebo? People often wonder this. However, are animals subject to the placebo effect. I often use this example
when people ask me this question. It is clear that as more and more animals receive acupuncture to relieve pain that the
results are quite dramatic. The dog limps into the vet with painful arthritis and after treatment trots out with no sign of pain remaining. Does acupuncture work for pain? Apparently so. Is it placebo? It doesn’t seem to be in this case!

In Chinese Medicine we say that pain is a result of blocked Qi (pronounced chee). Qi is our vital life force and it travels throughout our bodies in channels similar to blood vessels or nerve pathways. These channels were discovered by the ancient Chinese and travel from the surface of our skin all over our bodies and connecting up with our internal organs.
When the vital life force, Qi gets stuck somewhere due to injury, overuse or many other reasons, pain can result.

When an acupuncturist places a needle in a specific acupuncture point we are helping to release the stuck Qi and direct it where it needs to go, thus relieving the pain. Pain can often be relieved with a single treatment. Sometimes it may take longer. It all depends on the severity on the pain, how long a client has had the pain and many other factors. If you would like to find out if acupuncture can relieve your pain, give us a call and we will be happy to discuss your case.