Why Choose Acupuncture to Ease Inflammation versus Anti-inflammatory Drugs like Ibuprofen for Pain Relief?
Chronic pain caused by inflammation is a common and distressing complaint that affects millions of Americans.
According to the National Center of Health Statistics, 20.4% (50 million) of US adults suffer from chronic pain.
The most common types of pain are back pain, neck pain and tension-type headaches.
Chronic pain also reduces quality of life, often rendering some patients incapacitated or with reduced mobility. Pain can dramatically affect wellbeing, causing mental health issues, lowered mood, fatigue, sleep disturbances, the ability to exercise and social interactions with others.
Many pain sufferers turn to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Ibuprofen and naproxen to treat pain, and they are readily available and don't require a prescription.
But recent studies suggest that when taken regularly, these medicines can have serious side effects. NSAIDs have been linked with an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and kidney issues. Other common side effects include stomach pain, gas, bloating, and nausea.
In response to the growing concerns about NSAID side effects, many are turning to Acupuncture for relief. According to current research, this ancient therapy helps reduce inflammation and pain associated with back pain, neck pain, arthritis, headaches, and fibromyalgia pain after surgery. These are among the top reasons pain sufferers turn to NSAIDs.
When you look at risks and benefits compared to other methods like NSAIDs, Acupuncture comes out on top with minimal risks.
What causes pain? The body's pain system is highly complex, and pain often has multiple causes. Pain is an unpleasant sensation initiated by the nervous system in response to tissue damage, illness, nerve damage or non-tissue factors such as psychological and emotional factors.
Common causes of pain include:
- An injury such as strains, fractures, or bruises.
- Conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, endometriosis, and fibromyalgia.
- Trauma
- Cuts, bruises, and burns.
Acupuncture for Inflammatory Relief
Acupuncture involves using tiny, thin needles inserted into specific acupuncture points on the body to elicit a response and bring the body back into balance and improve health.
For pain relief, Acupuncture works in the following ways:
Relieves pain and alleviates discomfort by relaxing muscles and stimulating the release of endorphins, natural pain-relieving chemicals, and serotonin to promote feelings of wellbeing.
Decreases inflammation by increasing the production of hormones that helps control inflammation. By reducing inflammation, Acupuncture helps tissues repair more quickly for long-term relief.
Promotes healthy blood circulation by modulating certain brain chemicals that constrict and dilate blood vessels. This is helpful for alleviating pain associated with migraines and headaches where vessel constriction and reduced blood flow is an issue.
Reduces stress and anxiety by regulating the hormones involved in the stress response (cortisol, serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine). Acupuncture can help the body adapt to stress and initiate the relaxation response.
NSAIDs don't address the underlying causes of pain; it works as a band-aid, quietening the body's pain signaling mechanism to relieve the pain instead of getting to the root cause and resolving the issues causing the pain.
Chronic pain is a complex condition that often reduces a patient's quality of life and affects their wellbeing. Compared with NSAIDs, Acupuncture takes a natural and holistic approach to treating the root causes of inflammation and pain. Acupuncture has been proven a safe and effective modality for pain management that works by reducing inflammation, aiding tissue repair, and alleviating muscle spasms.
Before you take Ibuprofen or common NSAIDs, try Acupuncture instead. We make it convenient to experience relief by visiting one of our Modern Acupuncture clinics throughout the country. Come in today to start your journey to natural pain relief without side effects often associate with anti-inflammatory drugs.
“Modern Acupuncture has been one of the best experiences for me. I am a young adult who struggled with a lot of inflammation, hormonal imbalances, and other chronic symptoms. The team cares about me and try to treat the root cause of all of my issues. I am so thankful and have recommended so many family and friends and will continue to do so!” – Kylie (CA)
“At my first treatment a month ago, I couldn't breathe, I was having troubles with inflammation, digestion, hormones, chronic pain from a spine injury, and was suffering from great sleep disturbances. I wasn't aware that I was also suffering from a mild case of depression until that evening when I could tell my mind was right. I had no idea! I have had almost no pain since, nor have I had a single ibuprofen tablet in this month! All other symptoms improve with each treatment, and I am almost completely back to my old normal self. “ - Paula (LA)
Acupuncture Minimizes Pain
Modern Acupuncture® is a natural pain relief solution and the leading provider of Acupuncture in the U.S. The most studied theories show that Acupuncture stimulates the body to release naturally produced “feel good” endorphins and stimulate the parasympathetic or “rest and digest” response in our body.
[Back to main news page]
