Pain of any kind is one of the main reasons people turn to acupuncture.

The reason for that is acupuncture's well-known effectiveness in blocking pain signals and stimulating the release of endorphins. Endorphins are neurotransmitters involved in pain perception.

Acupuncture is an ancient form of treatment that accesses dynamic points along various energy channels that transverse the body. When thin, flexible needles penetrate tissue, they move Qi and Blood. The effect is increased blood circulation and improved regulation of cellular function, reducing discomfort and inflammation.

The approach works for all kinds of muscle and joint pain in both the acute and chronic phases. So you can safely come in for a recently sprained ankle or one that is slow to heal. Or a painful lower back that got injured while picking up a child or one that's been causing you problems for the past 10 years. The only difference is chronic issues tend to take longer to correct.

Pain is one of many medical issues acupuncture treats according to the World Health Organization WHO List

Patients choosing Chinese Medicine for their pain issues aren't confined to acupuncture-only treatments. This ancient healing medicine offers a variety of modalities that can treat pain - with or without needles:


TUI NA: This is otherwise known as Chinese Medical Massage. Combining applied pressure on acupuncture points - acupressure - with multiple hand techniques, Tui Na strongly stimulates the healing process in muscle and bone.

 

MOXIBUSTION: The gentle, penetrating heat of the mugwort root not only stimulates qi and blood circulation, but also helps reduce inflammation by drying out excess fluids.


CUPPING: Attaching cups to select areas of the body by using a flame to remove the oxygen within is a familiar folk medicine technique. That doesn't make it any less effective. By opening up the skin pores and loosening up muscle and tissue, cupping is excellent at addressing inflammation. It also helps relieve a major side effect of injury and lack of use: blood stagnation. Healthy bones and muscle need active blood circulation. Cupping effectively breaks up blood pools that cause discoloration and signal poor circulation.

 

LINIMENTS, OILS and BALMS: Herbal skin applications easily penetrate muscle and bone to provide painful areas of the body with natural relief. There's a wide selection of ointments for acute and chronic conditions with uses ranging from sports injury to muscle pulls and arthritis.


ELECTRO-STIMULATION, NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS and NATURAL INJECTIBLES: Modern Chinese Medicine practices take advantage of all these contemporary modalities.