Acupuncture is considered a highly effective alternative treatment method for back pains. Although acupuncture is still not being used as the first line of treatment for back pain, an increasing number of patients and healthcare providers are starting to use acupuncture to heal back pains.
The treatment method originated in China about 2,500 years ago. The general premise of the treatment method is the body contains patterns of energy flow. The proper flow of this energy (life force energy or qi) is important for optimal health and wellbeing of the individual. Here is the importance of acupuncture for back pain.
There are 20 energy pathways in the human body which are called meridians. There are over 2,000 other points on the body that connect to these meridians. These pathways are responsible for conducting the qi throughout the body. Acupuncture inserts hair-thin metallic needles into a combination of these points to correct the flow of disrupted energy which is the main cause of various diseases.
During an acupuncture session, the doctor will insert between one to twenty FDA-approved needles into a chosen combination of these meridians. The needles are left for approximately 15-30 minutes depending on what is being treated. Patients rarely describe acupuncture as a painful exercise. In fact, an acupuncture needle is extremely thin, about twenty times thinner than the traditional injection needle. The treatment method helps release specific chemicals into the body in order to heal various pains including back pain.
It is estimated that more than 80% of the population in the world suffer from some type of back pain at some point in their lives. Most back pains will last for less than two weeks, and some may resolve by themselves. But the recurrence rate for back pain is above 50% during the first couple of months after the initial episode. That's why the majority of patients and healthcare providers are relying on acupuncture to treat back pains. There is enough research to suggest the effectiveness of acupuncture for back pain. During the treatment process, there are specific chemicals released into the body in order to reduce the pain.
Opioid peptides are naturally occurring chemical compounds in the brain. They have an analgesic effect which plays a significant part in the reduction of pain. Scientific evidence shows that acupuncture helps stimulate the central nervous system which results in the release of these chemicals.
The treatment method also activates the pituitary and hypothalamus glands thereby secreting neurotransmitters and neurohormones. These chemicals are important to reduce the pain associated with lower back pain. On the other hand, the stimulation of electromagnetic points on the body starts the flow of endorphins which are the natural painkillers of the body. That's how acupuncture helps in treating back pain effectively.
Back pain is one of the most common conditions that affects millions of people across the globe. The recurrence rate for back pain is more than 50% during the first couple of months after the initial episode. Acupuncture is an effective treatment method for back pain.
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