Acupuncture is an ancient Asian healing technique that uses thin needles inserted at specific point in the body to relieve pain and improve health. Physicians often recommend acupuncture as an adjunct therapy in addition to traditional western methods. Research indicates that acupuncture can be beneficial for a number of medical conditions.
Arthritis
Many studies indicate that acupuncture can offer significant relief of pain from osteoarthritis. This condition is caused by the normal wear and tear on joints. Without proper treatment, it can become progressively worse, causing chronic pain, swelling and problems with mobility. Acupuncture offers non-pharmaceutical help to increase comfort and well being by helping reduce swelling and treating trigger points that are causing inflammation and pain.
Migraine Headaches
Evidence is beginning to accumulate that acupuncture can be useful in treating migraine headaches. These headaches are usually more severe than ordinary tension headaches and can last up to 72 hours. Pain medications are not always effective for this type of headache and specific migraine medications are not tolerated well by all patients. Acupuncture offers another method of treatment to relieve pain and allow individuals to resume their normal activities.
Neuralgia
Neuralgia is a term used for nerve pain. This type of pain can occur due to a variety of disease conditions that damage nerve endings. Injuries, diabetes, gout, cancer, HIV and shingles are diseases that are often associated with an increased risk for nerve pain. Acupuncture can help to increase blood flow to affected areas, as well as reduce anxiety that can lead to less reliance on pain medication.
Back & Neck Pain
Millions of people suffer from back and neck pain and typically turn to pain medications for relief. Although a number of pain medications are prescribed for these problems, these drugs can cause side effects when used over long periods of time. Acupuncture provides another method of pain relief for both lower back pain and neck pain without the use of these powerful medications. For those who are looking for a more natural and holistic approach to their pain, acupuncture could help relieve chronic neck or back pain without the side effects.
Sciatica
The sciatic nerve runs from the base of the spine through the hip and down the leg. The problem can be caused by injury to the spine, by spinal stenosis, by slipped discs, by tumors pressing on the nerve or by infection along the nerve pathway. According to professionals of physiotherapy and rehabilitation centres of Ontario , who offer acupuncture in Mississauga, when this nerve becomes inflamed, it can cause constant pain that runs down the entire leg. Acupuncture has been found to provide relief from the continuous pain by relieving pressure on the nerve and increasing blood flow to affected areas.
When medications and other traditional methods do not provide complete relief, acupuncture can offer an effective alternative for reducing pain and increasing mobility. If you've been struggling with ailments or chronic pain, it might be worth your time to give acupuncture a try. Most acupuncturists will first sit down with you to get a thorough explanation of any pain you are having or any problem areas you are concerned about. Then, they can try a few techniques in that particular area in order to hopefully alleviate pain and heal any abnormalities that are causing you problems.