Unlocking Relief: How Acupuncture Eases Pain

It’s thought that the therapy balances energy flow, stimulates the central nervous system, triggers the release of endorphins and activates the body’s natural healing abilities. Studies have shown that acupuncture can be effective in treating chronic or recurring pain, such as migraine headaches and back injuries. 

“Acupuncture is an ideal option for those dealing with chronic pain, because we know that it can provide local relief by reducing muscle tension or tissue inflammation. What is less appreciated is that acupuncture also works at the brain level in areas, such as the limbic system, to reduce amplification of the pain caused by conditions that include migraine, fibromyalgia and low back pain,” says Robert Bonakdar, MD, director of pain management at the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine and Scripps Clinic. 

Acupuncture can be used on its own to treat many forms of acute or chronic pain, but works best when combined with other therapies, such as medication or physical therapy. 

At Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, doctors combine conventional Western medicine with evidence-based alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, to prevent, heal and reverse disease. 

“There’s very strong evidence supporting the use of acupuncture as a singular therapy, but it’s even more impactful when used as an adjunct therapy. It’s something that can be personalized based on a patient’s needs,” says Sarah Dalhoumi, MD, an integrative women’s health specialist with expertise in medical acupuncture at Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine and Scripps Clinic. 

“When we tackle pain through an interdisciplinary approach, using a lot of different treatments that work synergistically well together, we get the best outcome,” she says.

In addition to reducing pain, acupuncture has been found, in some studies, to also lessen a patient’s need for pain medication. But it’s not a quick fix. The doctors note that while acupuncture is a safe and effective way to help manage pain, it does require a trial period of at least six to eight treatments and must be continued regularly for ongoing benefits. 

Most commercial insurance plans have covered acupuncture for some time, and in 2020, Medicare followed suit for Part B enrollees with lower back pain. Speak to your primary care physician or pain management specialist about any concerns you may have. 

“Keep an open mind. With any new treatment, you’re always going to assess the risk-to-benefit profile, and with some standard treatments, like medications, the risks are greater than the benefits,” says Dr. Dalhoumi. 

“When you’re looking at acupuncture, there’s great benefit to be had for many and the risk is pretty negligible. Research supports the use, and if we’re trying to treat from a whole-body approach with the best outcome and least side effects possible, we need to be thinking about acupuncture as a mainstay treatment.”