Acupuncture is a type of alternative treatment. It involves inserting thin needles into specific points of the body to balance energy. When energy is restored, illnesses can be cured and pain can be more effectively managed.
Acupuncture is used to treat a variety of health conditions such as headaches, back pain, high blood pressure, and addiction. Though acupuncture is sometimes controversial among doctors, research shows that it is successful at treating pain and other conditions.
Study Shows Acupuncture is Comparable to Pain Meds
According to a 2017 study published in the Medical Journal of Australia, acupuncture may be more effective than previously realized. The study was conducted over a period of two years. The 1,964 participants were chosen at random from four different emergency rooms in Australia. The purpose of the study was to determine if acupuncture was comparable to painkillers.
Patients came into the E.R. for various reasons, such as migraines, sprained ankles and lower back pain. Pain levels were between four and 10 on a 10-point scale. Patients were treated with acupuncture, pain medication or both. The study found that acupuncture treatment was just as effective at treating pain as pain pills. Of those who received acupuncture-only treatment, 83 percent said they would choose this therapy again.
Though more research is still needed, this study shows that alternative methods of pain relief can be just as effective as pharmacotherapy. In the midst of an opioid crisis, it’s necessary that we consider other ways to treat acute and chronic pain. The fewer people that are introduced to prescription opioids, the better.
Going Beyond Pain Management
Acupuncture is accepted in the addiction treatment community. Rehabilitation centers like The River Source are determined to find alternative, drug-free ways to treat pain and discomfort. Below we share some of the ways that we use acupuncture to treat patients.
- Reduce drug and alcohol cravings
- Treat uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms
- Decrease stress and anxiety
- Regulate sleep patterns
Alternative therapies are crucial to the holistic care that we deliver to patients. If you would like to learn more about acupuncture and how it fits into our overall recovery process, call The River Source today. Also ask about additional therapies such as meditation, chiropractic care, biofeedback, IV therapy, and dry sauna therapy.