We often come across people pondering if acupuncture is useful in reducing back pain and if it is safe.
The answer is simple, yes it is useful and completely safe. When administered by a professional and licensed acupuncturist, acupuncture is an effective and safe approach to help reduce back pain. That said, it’s important to discuss with your doctor if you should try it for your specific back pain issues.
Acupuncture for Lower Back Pain
Almost 8 out of every 10 people suffer from lower back issues at some time in their lives. Back discomfort is one of the most common reasons individuals seek medical attention. It is also the most commonly cited reason for receiving acupuncture. The good news is that persistent low back pain is one of the illnesses for which evidence shows acupuncture may be useful.
According to a recent assessment of 22 acupuncture research, it provides short-term alleviation from persistent back pain. It also revealed that patients who received acupuncture experienced higher pain relief than those who received a “fake” treatment. However, some studies have indicated that sham acupuncture can be just as helpful as real acupuncture. These investigations also discovered that, as compared to traditional therapy, both true and sham acupuncture are more beneficial.
According to the American Pain Society and the American College of Physicians, doctors should investigate acupuncture as an alternative therapy for patients suffering from persistent low-back pain that has not responded to traditional treatment.
Benefits of Acupuncture for Lower Back Pain
#1 Back Pain and Neck Tension
Keyboards, hefty backpacks, mobile phones, and bad posture are just a few of the causes of discomfort that pervades our workday and keeps us up at night. Acupuncture relieves pain without the use of drugs while also reducing edema and inflammation.
As lower back pain is majorly caused due to repetitive stress injuries to the back and acupuncture does not utilize medication, this treatment helps to reduce the need for costly surgery and medications.
#2 Helps Promote Sleep
Acupuncture stimulates your body’s natural production of melatonin. When present in enough proportions, this hormone governs your sleep-wake cycles. It is frequently underproduced nowadays, owing partly to our contemporary lifestyle and poor sleep patterns, resulting in insomnia, numerous awakenings at night, or feeling weary all of the time. If this continues for an extended period of time, it creates a breeding environment for various future health issues. Acupuncture can help you regain your natural ability to fall – and stay – asleep.
#3 Boosts Energy and Controls Blood Pressure
Whether you need a mental or physical energy boost to overcome weariness and lower back pain problems, acupuncture can be quite beneficial in combating lethargy or brain fog. An ideal set-point may be obtained and all organs can work properly by fully harmonizing the body’s energy environment. As a result, you might enjoy a level of calm that allows for greater sleep quality and pain relief. Stimulating the proper brain pathways leads to enhanced physical stamina as well as the ability to think clearly and productively.
When it comes to promoting healthy cardiac function and blood flow, acupuncture can beat many pharmaceutical medications that come with a slew of unpleasant side effects. With frequent therapy, the cardiovascular system can function at its best, resulting in reduced blood pressure, improved heart muscle efficiency, and an overall sensation of cardiac fitness.
#4 Combats Migraines and Improves Mood
Acupuncture can provide great relief whether the source of your changing mood and suspected melancholy is persistent stress, real-life issues, or hormone imbalances. Your central nervous system is activated during and after acupuncture needle administration, releasing endorphins and other substances that improve your mood. The procedure assists you in thinking more positively and assisting your body in combating the negative consequences of a prolonged state of anxiousness.
Acupuncture needles placed precisely near certain nerves offer a fantastic pain-reducing impact. The endorphins released also contribute to the sensation of complete relief from pain, resulting in a breakthrough in your headaches and repeated migraines.
#5 Reduces Stress and Eye Strain
People with lower back pain often suffer from stress. And do you know one of the most common reasons individuals seek acupuncture therapy is stress? Whether it’s professional expectations or personal constraints we put on ourselves, roughly 77 percent of us admit to experiencing physical signs of stress. While employment is a primary cause, acupuncture has been shown to decrease stress hormones, stabilize mood, and increase overall emotions of contentment.
Acupuncture can help decrease eye strain, which is frequently associated with neck tightness. Acupuncture can also help with myopia (short-sightedness), hypermetropia (long-sightedness), cataracts, glaucoma, presbyopia, astigmatism, amblyopia (lazy eye), diplopia, color blindness, and night blindness.
To Summarize
The history of acupuncture dates back more than 2,500 years in China. You must already know that it entails putting small needles into certain locations on the body. The body possesses almost 2,000 of these spots, according to traditional Chinese medicine. They are linked by routes or meridians that generate a flow of energy known as Qi (pronounced “chee”). Stimulating these spots is supposed to repair Qi imbalances and increase energy flow. Practitioners feel that this aids in the relief of pain and the improvement of health. If you’re having trouble managing pain or other health conditions with traditional treatments, acupuncture could be worth a go.
Author Bio
Dr. Alexander Ezzati is a Board Certified Acupuncturist and Herbalist located in Encino, CA. My approach is to re-balance the body and achieve relief without the need or use of harsh pharmaceutical drugs
