September is pain awareness month. When pain hits, be it a constant ache or a sudden injury, finding relief can seem daunting. You might not have thought about acupuncture. This old method, which comes from traditional Chinese medicine, puts very thin needles into certain spots on your body. It might sound scary, but more and more people are turning to acupuncture to handle both short-term and long-lasting pain.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Acupuncture rests on the idea that energy paths called meridians run through the body. Pain and sickness can happen when these paths get clogged or out of whack. By putting needles in specific spots, acupuncture tries to bring back balance and get energy, or “qi,” flowing again. This helps to cut down on pain and kick-start the body’s own healing process.
Acute vs. Chronic Pain
Acupuncture has benefits for both acute and chronic pain. Acute pain doesn’t last long and often stems from an injury or surgery. Acupuncture can cut down swelling, boost blood flow, and help you heal faster. Chronic pain hangs around longer and is tougher to treat. Acupuncture gives people a way to manage pain without drugs. It works well to ease arthritis, headaches, and lower back pain.
Why Choose Acupuncture?
A major benefit of acupuncture is its drug-free nature. This eliminates concerns about side effects common with pain medications. Our new acupuncturist, Jeffrey Nudelman, L. Ac., can provide customized acupuncture sessions to meet your unique needs, offering personalized treatment. Jeffrey uses a method called “dry needling,” in which he inserts a needle into a trigger point to ease muscle tightness. It’s called “dry” because there is no medicine or fluids inserted; the needle itself does the work.
Acupuncture might be an option to explore if you want a natural, whole-body approach to pain management. Many patients find it relaxing and helpful for both short-term and long-lasting pain, allowing them to resume their daily activities with less discomfort.
