Acupuncture for Pain Relief

Acupuncture has emerged as a widely embraced therapeutic option for managing various forms of chronic pain. With its roots tracing back more than 3,000 years in China, acupuncture has evolved into distinct practices over time. It is performed by a licensed acupuncturist or medical doctor (Mat et al., 2023). The acupuncture process involves the insertion of sterile needles, as fine as thin strands of hair, into the skin at specific locations known as acupoints. This process is then followed by manual, electrical, or thermal stimulation of the needles (Ma et al., 2023). There are as many as 2,000 acupoints throughout the body (Cosio et al., 2015). This rich tradition and modern practice offers individuals suffering from chronic pain a holistic approach to pain relief and well-being.

Who Gets Acupuncture

The most common reason that people get acupuncture is chronic musculoskeletal pain. Other common indicators include, but are not limited to, low back pain, depression, anxiety, headache, arthritis, insomnia, neck pain, and frozen shoulder (Ma et al., 2023).

Effects of Acupuncture

The benefits of acupuncture may not become apparent immediately, as it often takes several sessions to experience a reduction in pain. However, the relief obtained from acupuncture can be long lasting, persisting for months, and in some cases, up to a year. Some studies have even indicated that the pain relief achieved through acupuncture doesn’t fade away after the treatment ends(MacPherson et al., 2017). 

Acupuncture’s effectiveness is heightened when integrated with other approaches for managing chronic pain. It has shown potential in reducing the need for opioid medications, which can be especially valuable in the context of the opioid crisis (Zhang et al., 2020). 

Acupuncture has also been used to treat chronic pain related depression (You et al., 2021). This becomes most potent when combined with the use of antidepressant medications, offering a holistic approach to mental and emotional well-being.

Side effects are usually mild and the most common is bruising. Acupuncture is a very safe form of treatment for chronic pain.

How Does Acupuncture Work

The precise mechanisms behind how acupuncture works remain an area of ongoing study, yet there are theories that provide compelling explanations on its function. Functional MRIs have shown that acupuncture can impact the parts of the brain that process cognitions and emotions, suggesting a neurological basis for its efficacy(Ma et al., 2023). 

There is also an activation of local inhibitory circuits and the release of opioids produced by the body. This leads to a suppression in pain transmission and alleviation of discomfort (Ma et al., 2023). One study on acupuncture showed that the relationship between the patient and the acupuncturist can impact the success of the treatment (Ma et al., 2023)

Electroacupuncture

This is a form of acupuncture that involves an electrical current being applied to the needles once they are inserted (Cosio et al., 2015). As a newer form of acupuncture, electroacupuncture has been gaining attention for its pain-relieving abilities. 

It blocks pain by activating bioactive chemicals in your body through various mechanisms. These mechanisms operate at different levels, from the peripheral nerves, to the spinal cord, and even higher brain centers (Zhang et al., 2014). It is known to alleviate sensory and inflammatory pain. 

It’s important to exercise caution with electroacupuncture. This type of acupuncture should be avoided in people with pacemakers as the electrical currents may interfere with these medical devices (Goldstein, 2012).

Takeaways:

• Studies have shown that acupuncture can reduce chronic pain in a variety of chronic pain conditions.

• Acupuncture has the potential to reduce the need for pain medications.

• Acupuncture can decrease depression related to chronic pain.

• Electroacupuncture is a form of acupuncture that is effective in reducing chronic pain.

Sources

Cosio D, Lin E. Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture. Pract Pain Manag. 2015;15(7).

Goldstein, L. (2012, September 25). Acupuncture for pain relief – practical pain management. Practical Pain Management. https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/treatments/complementary/acupuncture/acupuncture-pain-relief 

Ma, Qiufu, Niruthisard, S., & Napadow, V. (2023, May 12). Acupuncture for pain relief. International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). https://www.iasp-pain.org/resources/fact-sheets/acupuncture-for-pain-relief/ 

MacPherson, H., Vertosick, E. A., Foster, N. E., Lewith, G., Linde, K., Sherman, K. J., Witt, C. M., Vickers, A. J., & Acupuncture Trialists’ Collaboration (2017). The persistence of the effects of acupuncture after a course of treatment: a meta-analysis of patients with chronic pain. Pain, 158(5), 784–793. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000747

Mao, J. J., Liou, K. T., Baser, R. E., Bao, T., Panageas, K. S., Romero, S. A. D., Li, Q. S., Gallagher, R. M., & Kantoff, P. W. (2021). Effectiveness of Electroacupuncture or Auricular Acupuncture vs Usual Care for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Among Cancer Survivors: The PEACE Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA oncology, 7(5), 720–727. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2021.0310

Moura, C. C., Chaves, E. C. L., Cardoso, A. C. L. R., Nogueira, D. A., Azevedo, C., & Chianca, T. C. M. (2019). Auricular acupuncture for chronic back pain in adults: a systematic review and metanalysis. Acupuntura auricular para dor crônica nas costas em adultos: revisão sistemática e metanálise. Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S P, 53, e03461. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1980-220X2018021703461

Vickers, A. J., Vertosick, E. A., Lewith, G., MacPherson, H., Foster, N. E., Sherman, K. J., Irnich, D., Witt, C. M., Linde, K., & Acupuncture Trialists’ Collaboration (2018). Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Update of an Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis. The journal of pain, 19(5), 455–474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.005

Vickers, A. J., Cronin, A. M., Maschino, A. C., Lewith, G., MacPherson, H., Foster, N. E., Sherman, K. J., Witt, C. M., Linde, K., & Acupuncture Trialists’ Collaboration (2012). Acupuncture for chronic pain: individual patient data meta-analysis. Archives of internal medicine, 172(19), 1444–1453. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2012.3654

You, J., Li, H., Xie, D., Chen, R., & Chen, M. (2021). Acupuncture for Chronic Pain-Related Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Pain research & management, 2021, 6617075. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6617075

Zhang, R., Lao, L., Ren, K., & Berman, B. M. (2014). Mechanisms of acupuncture-electroacupuncture on persistent pain. Anesthesiology, 120(2), 482–503. https://doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0000000000000101