Treating Pain and Headaches Without Opioids: Medical Acupuncture Gains Mainstream Acceptance

By Mary Babcock, DO

Artius Integrative Medicine

. http://www.artiusmedical.com/

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Treating Pain and Headaches Without Opioids: Medical Acupuncture Gains Mainstream Acceptance

A centuries-old treatment is gaining new acceptance in mainstream medicine: medical acupuncture, or the practice of promoting natural healing and improving function by stimulating specific points on the body. Medical acupuncture is considered by many especially effective in treating acute and chronic pain and headaches.

Extensive research has been conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) to support the use of acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture is practiced widely today in Asia, the Soviet Union, and Europe – and more and more patients and physicians in the United States are turning to acupuncture.

Reducing and Possibly Eliminating Opioids Usage

The United States military has even adopted medical acupuncture (combined with other treatment approaches) to reduce opioid use for pain management in Army patients. “In 2011, 26% of all service members were prescribed at least one type of opioid medication,” Brig. Gen. Norvell V. Coots said. In 2013, that number was 24%, due in part to the use of acupuncture, yoga, and other treatment alternatives.

Treating Headaches with Medical Acupuncture

One of the most common types of pain that acupuncture successfully treats is headaches. Anyone who has ever suffered a migraine knows that finding the right treatment can be a long and stressful process. Medical acupuncture can be used to treat the four types of headaches: tension, migraine, chronic, and dangerous. Why is this often a treatment of choice? Not only is acupuncture a natural alternative to many synthetic drugs, but it also has few to no side effects.

Combining Modalities Can Optimize Outcomes

Another benefit of medical acupuncture is that treatments can be given simultaneously with other treatment modalities, like conventional western medicine, osteopathic or chiropractic adjustments, and homeopathic or naturopathic prescriptions.

But remember: It’s important that you inform your health care providers of your medications and some treatments insert fine needles as stimulation; others apply heat or electrical stimulation at precise acupuncture points. Whatever the approach, many acupuncture patients are experiencing immediate pain relief; others are seeing significant relief after just a few sessions.

Acupuncture can also treat the pain that comes from a wide variety of conditions and disorders, including back and neck pain; sports injuries, tendinitis; osteoarthritis; and urinary, menstrual, and reproductive issues.

Stop Suffering – Try A New Approach

If conventional treatments and medications aren’t doing enough to relieve your pain and improve your quality of life, it may be time to explore integrative treatments.

Consider joining the ranks of patients seeking lasting pain relief with non-operative, non-opioid treatments that are backed by evidence-based research and physicians themselves. Who knows? Your insurance plan may offer coverage and you did not even know it.