Licensed Acupuncturist & Chinese Herbalist
Asheville's Comprehensive Acupuncture Care & Specialist in Fertility, Women's Health and Rejuvenation

Acupuncture & Pain Management

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is probably one of the oldest complementary therapies and continuously practiced systems of medicine in the world. This unique medical system is used to treat a wide range of diseases, and is widely known throughout the world to be especially useful in treating various kinds of pain and is an effective alternative to NSAIDs and COX-2 Inhibitors, such as Celebrex, without the side effects.

How the Development of Pain is Explained

These cells respond to injury, inflammation or tissue damage. The signals travel by electrical and chemical means, from receptors through sensory neurons to the spinal cord and then through interneurons in the spinal cord to the brain, where they are finally interpreted as pain.

TCM takes a different view. This view is one of balance: a balance between the principles of Yin and Yang, and between Qi (pronounced "chee) and Blood. Qi and Blood travel through the body along well-defined pathways called channels or meridians. When there is not enough Qi and Blood or when they are stuck in an area, there is an imbalance between Yin and Yang. As a result of this imbalance, internal organs are not functioning optimally and illness and pain develop.

Pain Control by TCM

In Western medicine it is quite common for patients to be told by their doctors that the real cause of their pain cannot be found. Fortunately, acupuncture has acquired a very good reputation as a treatment for relieving pain. Today many physicians are now referring their patients for an acupuncture evaluation or patients are starting to investigate the potential of acupuncture and herbal treatment for themselves.

In terms of pain control, the effects of Chinese herbal and acupuncture treatment include:

• To relieve pain completely, or give as much relief as possible
• To reduce pain levels
• To improve the ability to deal with pain
• To regulate the emotions
• To increase the energy
• To increase the ability to perform everyday functions
• To enhance the quality of life
• To reduce reliance on inappropriate medications

Acupuncture treats pain by using selected points on the effected channels to activate qi and blood circulation. Acupuncture treatment for pain is varied and based largely on what is causing the patient's suffering.

The Chinese do not limit the use of acupuncture to alleviating pain only. Instead treatment includes addressing all health issues the patient is dealing with, some of which may be the cause of the pain.

How does acupuncture relieve pain? Modern research has many explanations. They include acupuncture's ability to effect the transmission of pain impulses, to stimulate the release of endorphins (the body's natural pain relievers), to increase seratonin levels which influences one's sensitivity to pain, and to effect levels of acetylcholine and catecholamine levels -- other neurotransmitters that influence our perception of pain.

The practitioner of Oriental medicine will base his/her diagnosis on observed imbalances noted in the patient that are contributing to the manifestation of pain. These imbalances will be caused by any one or combination of external, emotional or internal factors. External factors are an excess of wind, cold, heat, dryness, or dampness. Emotional factors also can cause pain. Internal factors will include poor diet, stress, overstrain or lack of physical exertion. Of course, trauma is also a cause.

The practitioner will then address the imbalances created by these factors by stimulating the appropriate acupuncture points. These points will reinstate a balance of qi and blood, yin and yang, thus decreasing pain as well as reducing the effects of the causes that created the pain in the first place.

Treatment for Pain with Oriental Medicine

In treating pain, practitioners of Oriental medicine often also include herbal therapy, moxibustion therapy, food therapy and massage. The number of treatments and the length of therapy that a patient may receive are based on many factors including the patient's health, age, and personal contribution to the therapy. Other deciding factors include the severity and longevity of the pain and the patient's response to therapy. The course of treatment will be determined during the first few acupuncture sessions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes acupuncture’s ability to treat over 30 diseases including these:

• Headache and migraine
• Trigeminal Neuralgia
• Peripheral neuropathies
• Cervicobrachial syndrome
• “ Frozen Shoulder”, “Tennis Elbow”
• Sciatica and low back pain
• Osteoarthritis

Articles on Pain Management

Acupuncture Diminishes Acute Postop Pain Researchers in anesthesiology at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, reviewed 15 research studies pertaining to the effectiveness of acupuncture and related techniques to relieve postoperative pain when used in conjunction with pain medication. The data analysis of some 1,166 patients revealed a significant decrease in pain among the patients receiving acupuncture.

Horny Goatweed (Yin Yang Huo) effective for osteoporosis and bone health

Acupuncture gets to point of pain relief

Gentle Pain Treatment

Acupuncture Helps Back Pain
CNN.com | March 29, 2007

Neurologist uses acupuncture to treat variety of pain conditions This is a story about how a person's view and life's calling changed with the introduction of acupuncture.

Other Resources

The Egoscue Method. This is a very effective type of exercise therapy that works well in conjunction with acupuncture. It is often prescribed after the acupuncture treatments have restored range of motion and reduced pain.

Your path to radiant health...

Lorraine H. Harris, Licensed Acupuncturist & Chinese Herbalist Specialist in fertility, women's health and rejuvenation, and the only acupuncturist in Western North Carolina (WNC) and Asheville offering the patented Fertile Soul Method™ and Mei Zen™ Cosmetic Acupuncture.