Pain Relief With Acupuncture
How TCM Relieves Pain
Oriental medicine is well known for it's ability to treat and relieve pain. Most of my clients are seen for pain relief. Acupuncture is a medical treatment that can relieve symptoms of some physical and psychological conditions and it encourages the patient's body to heal and repair itself thereby relieving pain.
It is a part of an ancient Chinese medical system that has been used for more than 5000 years. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has truly been tested by time.
Chinese or Oriental medicine is a slower, gentler system of health care. It aims at improving the overall health of an individual - This is what we call 'bringing you back into balance'.
Pain relief with acupuncture occurs by stimulating the body's release of natural painkillers. These are beta-endorphin and serotonin, which are opiate like substances made by the brain. Beta-endorphins and serotonin modify the way pain signals are received by the body.
Serotonin balance is essential for emotional and mental health and has been linked to healthy eating patterns, sleeping patterns, and the degree of pain in the body.
Beta-endorphins are analgesic and anti-inflammatory and are responsible for the ‘runner’s high’, which is why acupuncture can induce similar sensations, thereby reducing pain.
The following is an analogy I often use to explain how acupuncture helps to reduce pain . . .
Think of a garden hose that you use to water your plants. If there is a kink in it, the water will back up and even bulge out the hose at the kink.
Since the water is no longer flowing, only a trickle or nothing is coming out and the plants wilt, maybe even die.
The kinked area where the water is backed up correlates to where your pain is, this is called stasis or stagnation.
Once the kink or stasis is removed. . .The water or energy will flow normally again. . .The plants will flourish and you'll feel better.
Acupuncture does much more than reduce pain. It has a beneficial effect on your overall health.
Patients often notice an improved sense of well being after treatment, even after only one treatment.
When pain is reduced, you find that you have more energy again, you'll be less irritable and you'll sleep better too.
For more information on how acupuncture can help you reduce and relieve your pain, please call Blue Orchid Healing Center at (727) 771-7110.