Acupuncture’s history extends thousands of years and Western medicine has begun to appreciate its therapeutic value in the last 2 centuries or so. Clinical research has helped reveal the mechanics of its therapeutic value, which has increased its frequency of use, even in mainstream settings. At our Spa facility, acupuncture is one of many popular therapies offered.
Acupuncture:
drug-free relief from pain!
Alternative to Meds center blends acupuncture and many other types of holistic treatments in designing programs for our clients. We have published evidence clearly demonstrating the success of our protocols for the wide range of problems that people come to us to get help with. For many, pain is a debilitating barrier to recovery from over use of prescription drugs. Pain relief without drugs is a powerful tool in our arsenal. To find out more, please read on!
15 Years Experience by Professionals Who Understand Your Journey.
Today, acupuncture remains a viable and trusted holistic treatment for various medical ailments without the use of addictive substances or invasive procedures. In 1995 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially recognized acupuncture needles as medical devices. In 1997, the National Institute of Health (NIH) officially acknowledged acupuncture as a viable therapy for various medical conditions, and more than 40 states have official licensing programs for aspiring acupuncturists.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
The human nervous system is extraordinarily complex, composed of a vast network of nerves and nerve endings spanning almost the entire human body. Different points on the body interact with other points in various ways, and acupuncture effectively opens these communication channels to help stressed nerves and address pain in various parts of the body. Acupuncture needles barely penetrate the skin, and most people who undergo the procedure feel little to no sensation at all as the acupuncturist applies each needle carefully to specific target areas of the body. Traditional Chinese medicine has proposed that the needles restore the body’s natural flow of spiritual energy, commonly called “chi,” “ki,” or “qi.” Though underused in modern clinical settings, recent clinical research shows that the practice causes a release of natural pain-relieving chemicals, or neurotransmitters.1,2 These are the same endorphins, peptides, amino acids, etc., that prescription drugs chemically manipulate to alter functions of the neurons in the CNS and brain. Acupuncture is a natural aid clinically proven to improve joint pain, quality of sleep, heart health, and many other benefits, without drugs.
Natural chemicals released by acupuncture include:
GABA3
Serotonin4
Dopamine5
Norepinephrine6
Endorphins7
Enkephalins8
Effective Alternative to Addictive Painkillers
Modern medicine acknowledges that acupuncture gently manipulates neurohormonal pathways, effectively restoring healthy nerve function and improving blood flow.
In traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncturists believed that the needles released the body’s qi from blocked points on the body, restoring the flow of qi to “meridians,” sometimes called “acupoints” within the body. Restoring qi flow is the traditional understanding of how acupuncture improves overall health, diminishes pain symptoms, and provides a reliable and safe alternative to addictive painkillers.
The CNS is a magnificently complex system of interchange and relay involving all the vital systems throughout the body and tracking the neurological benefits of acupuncture has been shown in many lab and clinical studies in modern times. Please take time to review the cited references below this article for more information.
How Effective Is Acupuncture?
Opioids have a near instant numbing effect on pain. Non-drug treatments such as acupuncture are more gradual and gentle. Each have their own best applications, but addiction, risk of overdose, death, and other risks are only prevalent with opioids.
A massive review on the benefits of acupuncture was published in JAMA, 2022, where hundreds of carefully vetted clinical trials and case histories showed that acupuncture is used effectively for a wide variety of complaints and conditions.10
Examples of reported benefits of acupuncture include:
Relief of chronic musculoskeletal pain
Fibromyalgia
Migraine, tension headache
Sleep quality
Acute or chronic low back pain
Postoperative pain
Postoperative anxiety
Carpal tunnel pain
Neuropathy
Frozen shoulder
Cognitive benefits after stroke
Acupuncture As An Opioid Alternative
Many of the people who suffer from opioid addictions and overdoses suffered sports-related injuries, workplace accidents, or car accident injuries requiring surgery. Individuals who develop chronic pain of any kind may need pain management and then become addicted without realizing it before it is too late.
Modern understanding of acupuncture revolves around its neurohormonal properties. Essentially, activating a nerve with an acupuncture needle triggers a hormonal response, which may assist in pain relief and actual healing. People undergoing acupuncture may feel slight sensations of euphoria and relaxation thanks to the brain’s release of endorphins and other neurotransmitters. This effectively diminishes pain sensations, without introducing the risks of addiction and other negatives associated with opioid use.
Automobile fatalities numbered just under 43,000 in 2021, and the same in 2022. To compare, opioid use killed more than twice that many, approx. 109,000.11,12 Death isn’t the only risk, as you can see in the list below.
Risks of taking opioids include:
Opioids can create a dependency after only a few doses.
Patients may not fully understand the risk of addiction that accompanies opioid medications before it is too late.
Opioid dependency is one of the most dangerous forms of addiction.
Opioid addiction carries a very high risk of overdose and death, and the risk increases the longer the addiction continues.
Opioid users eventually develop tolerance to opioids, requiring larger doses to feel the desired effects.
Why Choose Acupuncture Over Opioids?
Anyone currently taking opioid pain medications is subject to the risks these substances entail, especially with repeated use over an extended period of time.
Acupuncture does not involve introducing any chemicals into the body. It is an entirely holistic process with thousands of years of history behind it, and it continues to be a trusted pain management treatment to this day. Acupuncture can help various medical conditions, so consider how it may benefit your unique medical situation and could function as an alternative to potentially dangerous opioid drugs.
3. Amin U, Jiang R, Raza SM, Fan M, Liang L, Feng N, Li X, Yang Y, Guo F. Gut-joint axis: Oral Probiotic ameliorates Osteoarthritis. J Tradit Complement Med. 2023 Jun 20;14(1):26-39. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2023.06.002. PMID: 38223812; PMCID: PMC10785157. [cited 2024 April 12]
4. Bamalan OA, Moore MJ, Al Khalili Y. Physiology, Serotonin. [Updated 2023 Jul 30]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545168/ [cited 2024 April 12]
5. Sonne J, Goyal A, Lopez-Ojeda W. Dopamine. [Updated 2023 Jul 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535451/ [cited 2024 April 12]
6. Smith MD, Maani CV. Norepinephrine. [Updated 2023 May 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537259/ [cited 2024 April 12]
7. Chaudhry SR, Gossman W. Biochemistry, Endorphin. [Updated 2023 Apr 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470306/ [cited 2024 April 12]
8. Cullen JM, Cascella M. Physiology, Enkephalin. [Updated 2023 Mar 20]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557764/ [cited 2024 April 12]
10. Allen J, Mak SS, Begashaw M, Larkin J, Miake-Lye I, Beroes-Severin J, Olson J, Shekelle PG. Use of Acupuncture for Adult Health Conditions, 2013 to 2021: A Systematic Review. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 Nov 1;5(11):e2243665. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.43665. Erratum in: JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Feb 1;6(2):e233459. PMID: 36416820; PMCID: PMC9685495. [cited 2024 April 12]
This content has been reviewed and approved by a licensed physician.
Dr. Samuel Lee
Dr. Samuel Lee is a board-certified psychiatrist, specializing in a spiritually-based mental health discipline and integrative approaches. He graduated with an MD at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and did a residency in psychiatry at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. He has also been an inpatient adult psychiatrist at Kaweah Delta Mental Health Hospital and the primary attending geriatric psychiatrist at the Auerbach Inpatient Psychiatric Jewish Home Hospital. In addition, he served as the general adult outpatient psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente. He is board-certified in psychiatry and neurology and has a B.A. Magna Cum Laude in Religion from Pacific Union College. His specialty is in natural healing techniques that promote the body’s innate ability to heal itself.
Diane is an avid supporter and researcher of natural mental health strategies. Diane received her medical writing and science communication certification through Stanford University and has published over 3 million words on the topics of holistic health, addiction, recovery, and alternative medicine. She has proudly worked with the Alternative to Meds Center since its inception and is grateful for the opportunity to help the founding members develop this world-class center that has helped so many thousands regain natural mental health.
Medical Disclaimer: Nothing on this Website is intended to be taken as medical advice. The information provided on the website is intended to encourage, not replace, direct patient-health professional relationships. Always consult with your doctor before altering your medications. Adding nutritional supplements may alter the effect of medication. Any medication changes should be done only after proper evaluation and under medical supervision.
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The human nervous system is extraordinarily complex, composed of a vast network of nerves and nerve endings spanning almost the entire human body. Different points on the body interact with other points in various ways, and acupuncture effectively opens these communication channels to help stressed nerves and address pain in various parts of the body. Acupuncture needles barely penetrate the skin, and most people who undergo the procedure feel little to no sensation at all as the acupuncturist applies each needle carefully to specific target areas of the body. Traditional Chinese medicine has proposed that the needles restore the body’s natural flow of spiritual energy, commonly called “chi,” “ki,” or “qi.” Though underused in modern clinical settings, recent clinical research shows that the practice causes a release of natural pain-relieving chemicals, or neurotransmitters.1,2 These are the same endorphins, peptides, amino acids, etc., that prescription drugs chemically manipulate to alter functions of the neurons in the CNS and brain. Acupuncture is a natural aid clinically proven to improve joint pain, quality of sleep, heart health, and many other benefits, without drugs.
Many of the people who suffer from opioid addictions and overdoses suffered sports-related injuries, workplace accidents, or car accident injuries requiring surgery. Individuals who develop chronic pain of any kind may need pain management and then become addicted without realizing it before it is too late.
