Pain relief with acupuncture
Acupuncture is best known for its ability to successfully treat pain. Arthritis, backache, sport injury, neck pain, sciatica, tendonitis, RSI are some common conditions that acupuncture can help with. It is an extremely powerful and effective approach to treat pain because it decreases pain levels as it stimulates the body’s healing response. Acupuncture resolves pain by affecting several pain pathways and healing responses at the same time:
– raise endorphin levels and diminish the nervous system’s pain response
– decrease inflammation and swelling
– relax muscles and stop spasms
– increase circulation to the local area
Pain itself is not a diagnosis, but rather an indication or warning that there is a problem somewhere in the body. The intensity of the pain usually indicates or warns how severe the problem is.
And the circumstances surrounding the onset of the pain are just as important. Was there an accident or incident? Or did the pain gradually develop over a course of time or during a certain period of life?
Acupuncture for headaches and migraines
Research has shown that acupuncture is an effective way to treat headaches and migraines but its physiological mechanism of action is not yet known. One theory suggests that acupuncture releases endorphins, the brain’s natural painkillers. Another states acupuncture may stabilize levels of serotonin, a chemical messenger in the brain.
Although there are many types of headaches (migraines, headaches caused by tension, hormonal changes, common cold and eye strain), in terms of Chinese Medicine, they are all associated to an imbalance in the body’s flow of energy.
Treatment will vary depending on the severity and frequency of the headaches, their location (occiput, nape of the neck, forehead, temples, top of the head) and what triggers them (stress, hormone imbalance, food, etc). I will also ask for information about your physical and emotional state in order to determine where the cause of the imbalance lies and to develop a treatment plan according to your individual needs.
Articles: Migraines, more than just headaches: coping with migraines naturally