Acupuncture uses thin needles to puncture skin at certain points on the body. This practice is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which has been around since thousands of years.
How it works
To activate qi (the life force or energy that keeps you healthy), needles are applied to the skin. According to Western biomedical terminology, the needles placed on the skin are thought to activate the central nervous systems to release chemicals or decrease activity that could aid in healing.
Acupuncture is commonly used in China to treat everything, from asthma to diabetes. However, in the United States it is used more as a complement to other drugs or treatments for conditions such as low back pain, joint pain and headaches. Sometimes, it can also be used to ease nausea and vomiting.
Chronic pain symptom relief
Researchers at the Acupuncture Trialists Collaboration discovered:
- Chronic pain can be treated with acupuncture.
- Acupuncture’s effects last for many years.
- The placebo effect cannot explain the benefits of acupuncture.
Authors analyzed the results of reviews of research on chronic pain and their treatment options in a series published in The Lancet. The review included mixed evidence on whether active acupuncture is better than sham. Sham acupuncture refers to the control group that uses sham acupuncture. The skin is not penetrated and instead a device applies pressure to the skin. Or needles are placed at points other than those used for treatment.
Researchers summarized the challenges of conducting controlled acupuncture studies. They also noted that acupuncture was more effective than sham or no-acupuncture controls for patients with nonspecific musculoskeletal pains like headaches, osteoarthritis (OA), and shoulder pain. They also noted that the effects of acupuncture may last up to one year. The researchers noted that this effect is strongly dependent on the treatment chosen.
Research and other reviews have also shown that acupuncture can relieve the following types of pain.
Back Pain
Researchers reviewed seven databases to find that acupuncture was more clinically effective for pain relief and functional improvement in low back pain than no treatment with short-term follow up. Five systematic reviews revealed that acupuncture can be used as an adjunct to traditional therapy and provides clinically relevant short-term pain relief.
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A review of 11 randomised controlled trials comparing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug to acupuncture for low back discomfort found that acupuncture may be more effective in relieving symptoms.
Another systematic review and meta-analysis found that acupuncture may have a positive effect on self-reported pain as well as functional limitations on chronic low-back pain. The researchers also noted that the results were dependent on how therapy was administered.
Joint pain
The 2019 American College of Rheumatology and Arthritis Foundation guidelines conditionally recommend acupuncture for OA in the hip, knee, and hand. “Conditionally” in this instance means that, while it may be worthwhile to use acupuncture for OA, further research is necessary to confirm its effectiveness.
According to a systematic review of 29 trials that included 18,000 patients, acupuncture was found effective in the treatment and prevention of chronic pain. Acupuncture was also more effective than sham acupuncture.
The Arthritis Foundation says that although patients may have anecdotal evidence of acupuncture helping them, most studies show that acupuncture provides minimal pain relief and stiffness for OA. The foundation also notes that people who have used acupuncture to treat OA might be partly attributable to their higher expectations of acupuncture’s ability to help.
Headache
In migraine sufferers, acupuncture was found to be superior and have clinically meaningful benefits for at least 24 hours. Four weeks of treatment were followed by 20 weeks’ follow-up. The 24-week-long randomized clinical trial was a four-week long. Researchers found that acupuncture decreased migraine frequency, the number of migraine days, and also reduced pain intensity.
Acupuncture has many benefits for general health and wellness.
According to the National Institutes of Health, “Some psychological or physical approaches used in traditional Chinese medicine practices such as acupuncture…may help improve quality of living and certain pain conditions.”
Acupuncture’s Benefits for Other Conditions and Symptoms
Although more research is required to determine how effective Acupuncture is for different conditions, some research suggests that it might be beneficial to the following.
Vertigo Sixty participants were taken from an emergency room at a hospital. They were then divided into acupuncture or control groups. Based on the data from questionnaires for Dizziness Handicap Inventory (VAS) and Visual Analog Scales (VAS), the researchers evaluated the effects of treatment on vertigo and dizziness. They also looked at heart rate variability. The researchers found that acupuncture had a significant effect on dizziness and vertigo discomforts.
An evaluation of acupuncture as a treatment for cervical vertigo revealed that it may be more effective than conventional medicine in improving clinical symptoms and increasing blood flow velocity to the vertebral-basilar arterial.
According to a meta-analysis, endometriosis acupuncture provided more relief than exercise, electrotherapy and yoga.
Research has also shown that acupuncture may reduce endometriosis pain and blood levels of CA-125 (a protein linked to the condition). Research suggests that acupuncture promotes relaxation and reduces stress and muscle tension that can accompany chronic pain.
Psoriatic Arthritis: A case report on a patient suffering from psoriatic arthritis (PsA), showed that treatments such as acupuncture and turmeric, sarsaparilla roots, and vitamin D3 might help to reduce the symptoms.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: A review of 43 studies on acupuncture in RA conditions revealed that acupuncture, either alone or with other treatments, is effective. It can improve function and quality and be worth trying. Researchers noted that acupuncture has anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and immune system regulation benefits. The researchers found inconsistency in the evidence as well as a dearth of well-designed, double-blind, randomized, controlled trials between human and animal.
Fatigue One looked at both acupuncture and normal care for fatigue. The first group received Chinese acupuncture and usual care. The second received Korean acupuncture with normal care. The third group received only usual care. The researchers found that four weeks of acupuncture, in addition to regular care, could help with fatigue symptoms.
Fibromyalgia: In 12 randomized controlled trials, researchers compared acupuncture to conventional medication. They found that acupuncture was significantly more effective than sham for relieving pain and improving quality of life. However, the evidence in the short-term was low- to medium-quality. Long-term, acupuncture outperformed sham acupuncture.
Ulcerative colitis: Acupuncture alone or acupuncture with conventional medicine combined may be more effective than conventional medicine. This is according to a meta-analysis and systematic review of random clinical trials. The researchers cautioned that the findings of the thirteen trials they reviewed should be carefully interpreted due to the high or unclear risk for bias.
Another review of studies shows that it is difficult to gain a comprehensive understanding of the benefits acupuncture has for UC. Researchers reviewed 63 studies that were published between 1995-2015. They found that the study designs varied. For example, whether the study examined acupuncture alone, with or combined with medication. The placement of needles on the body and the length of treatment were some other differences.
These differences and variability make it difficult to study acupuncture. However, it is clear that acupuncture can be combined with moxibustion, a TCM therapy that involves burning herbs on specific parts of the body to stimulate points.
Allergies Acupuncture was shown to significantly decrease the days of antihistamine usage, while also improving rhinitis-specific quality and seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms.
Asthma Acupuncture may be able to help. A study showed that patients suffering from allergic asthma who had 15 acupuncture sessions in addition to their routine care for three months experienced greater improvement in their disease-specific and quality-of-life measures than patients who received routine care.
Research has shown that acupuncture can be used in combination with asthma treatments to improve symptom response rates. It also lowers interleukin-6 (IL-6), the body’s natural response to injuries and infections.
Chronic inflammation can be caused by too much IL-6.
Chronic inflammation is a hallmark sign of asthma.Cancer Electroacupuncture (electrical stimulation with acupuncture needles following insertion) can be used by some acupuncture practitioners, depending on their training and practice style, to reduce pain severity scores and improve physical and mental quality.
Researchers found that acupuncture and acupressure reduced the intensity of pain for cancer patients in a meta-analysis. Some studies also suggested that acupuncture could reduce the use of opiate pain medication for patients with cancer.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center says that acupuncture can be used to treat side effects of treatment for cancer such as:
- Pain
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Dry mouth
- Neuropathy symptoms (pain due to nerve damage)
- Nausea and vomiting
A meta-analysis and review of all studies showed that acupuncture has rarely caused serious side effects.
Weight Loss. A few studies have shown that acupuncture can help with weight loss.
A review of the studies showed that acupuncture can be used in conjunction with diets to treat obesity. However, the researchers pointed out that the evidence was not conclusive due to the low quality methodological quality of the reviewed trials. They called for better quality studies to assess the effects of acupuncture on obesity.
Sexual Function Although there isn’t much research about acupuncture and sexual function, one study that looked at women and men with sexual dysfunction showed that after nine sessions, both men and women experienced improvements in their libidos. Men also reported improvement in many sexual functions such as erection timing, ejaculation and ability to orgasm.
How to Get Acupuncture
Finding a licensed acupuncturist if you are interested in acupuncture is the next step. If they have experience with the condition that is causing you discomfort, it is even better. There are many licensed acupuncturists and licensed health professionals that can offer acupuncture.
- Additional training can be provided for medical doctors in acupuncture. Many of these doctors are also members of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture. Visit the website of that group to view their referral directory.
- After completing a multiyear master’s degree in acupuncture/TCM and passing a national certification exam, people can train in acupuncture. This website allows you to find a certified practitioner. Click on “Find A Practitioner” and then enter your city or state. The website of your state’s regulatory boards will also provide updates on licensure. This is similar to checking the status of an MD’s license.
- Naturopathic doctors are qualified to administer acupuncture. The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians website allows you to find a practitioner. Enter your ZIP code in the online directory.
What to Expect during an Acupuncture Session
An acupuncturist will examine you and ask you questions about your medical history. Based on the assessment of your concerns and any perpetuating factors, a treatment plan is created. This is similar to what other health professionals do.
They will have you lie down or sit on a table for the specific acupuncture treatment. Then, they will place needles in acupuncture points on your body. The needles are usually left in place for between 20 to 45 minutes, while you relax in the treatment area. Other treatments may include cupping, acupressure or electrical stimulation of the needles.
Many practitioners will include you in your care, providing advice such as lifestyle and dietary recommendations. Sessions can vary in length depending on your needs. The first session might last 30 minutes to one hour, while the sessions that follow may take between 30 and an hour.
Although you may be apprehensive about whether acupuncture is painful, many people report that their first session was pleasant and relaxing. Many even fell asleep. The following are some other ways that people describe the feeling after receiving acupuncture:
- Feel like you are floating with a warm, tingling sensation
- Heaviness, heat and cold
The type of problem you seek relief from will determine how often you need to have acupuncture. You may need to visit more often if you are dealing with a chronic condition. According to the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Newfoundland and Labrador, “a few patients may experience a worsening of their symptoms as the body’s energy returns to normal.” However, this is common and can be followed by rapid improvement.
Fees: Is Acupuncture Expensive? Is insurance available to cover it?
Many health insurance plans don’t cover acupuncture. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), however, announced in January 2020 that it would cover acupuncture for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic low back pain. This was the first time Medicare covered acupuncture.
The following were the results of an out-of pocket cost analysis, which included prices at 723 clinics in 41 metropolitan areas.
First-time visit
- The cost range for a first-time visit to acupuncture was between $15 and $400.
- All 723 clinics had a median of $112.
Follow-up Visits
- The cost of follow-up visits was between $15 and $300.
- All 723 clinics had a median price of $80
Take into account
The CTCMPANL outlines the possible side effects and potential risks associated with receiving acupuncture.
- After receiving acupuncture, your symptoms may worsen for several days.
- Changes in your sleep, appetite, bowels or urination may be signs that acupuncture has begun to work.
- It is possible to get bruising, infection, or even facial swelling.
- Acupuncture could cause vital organ damage in very rare and unlikely circumstances.
