Pain Management with Acupuncture

Now that the opioid crisis is front and center many pharmaceutical distributors and protocols have stepped up to curb further damage. The road is long with upwards of 115 people succumbing to opioids per day according to a March 2018 reports by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. With this kind of number affecting communities from all demographics, there is a desperation for any remedy, especially alternative.

Pain management with acupuncture, clinical nutrition and botanical medicine is a protocol being used in many clinical settings not only for the opioid epidemic but overall pain management. From small injury recovery to migraines, muscle pulls and post surgery recuperation, tapping into your body’s natural healing capability may bring you through mild discomfort or a real uphill challenge.

Pain Relief for the Whole Family

Acupuncture is beginning to step into the normal range of health care options. This couldn’t be more apparent with a recent posting (5/21/18) by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) stating that,

The Journal of Pain recently updated a previous meta-analysis study of acupuncture for pain management, reporting,

“The results confirm and strengthen previous key findings that acupuncture has a clinically relevant effect compared with no acupuncture control,…While there are family physicians who have received training in acupuncture, most would refer out for this treatment. Knowing who in the community provides quality acupuncture and what conditions they treat is necessary before referring,”

A published recommendation by family physicians, to family physicians, is an indication of how the naturopathic health landscape is becoming more embraced. Also mentioned in the study was the importance of using a reputable acupuncturist, capable of incorporating not only point locations but the philosophy behind the practice,

“factors other than the specific effects of needling at correct acupuncture point locations contribute to the benefits derived from receiving acupuncture”

Acupuncture has been linked to releasing analgesic (pain relief) compounds such as endorphins along with mood enhancers like serotonin and dopamine. These three factors alone can compete with the numbing effects of opioids but not with the rapid pain relief release opioids offer. Acupuncture is about accumulation so it is imperative to work with a weekly or biweekly schedule for about six weeks to manage acute or chronic pain. Once you maintain several visits you could feel your body’s pain levels begin to diminish.

When you are in pain chances are your mind is on full alarm mode. Acupuncture works with on site pain receptors as well as mental hormonal response (release or restrain). For a family this is highly effective. While conventional medicine treats the symptoms, even mental, side effects and addiction have been always been a concern. With clinical nutrition, acupuncture and botanical medicine, healing a family member can be a natural, easy experience rather than one wrought with stress.

Eat to Anti-Inflame

You may forget how healing as well as detrimental certain foods can be for your body. In many cases, because you get through it, eating poorly seems to be okay once in a while. However, if that, “once in a while,” turns into a daily habit (sugar is a big perpetuator) then such an ‘unconscious’ habit could be contributing to pain.

Inflammation is easy to spot at the site of an injury but internal inflammation is never seen, yet if you pay attention it can easily be felt. Often connected to a poor diet, internal inflammation affects joint and muscle mobility, digestion and neurological response.

Clinical nutrition for pain management starts with eating an anti-inflammatory diet. This means no processed foods, sugars or grains. These foods are stopping you from experiencing the pain-free mobility you deserve.

WebMD cites some excellent anti-inflammatory foods to add to your diet which include:

• Blueberries – Have lots of phytonutrients that may fight inflammation and lessen pain.
• Pumpkin Seeds – Terrific source of magnesium, a mineral that may cut the number of migraines you get.
• Tart Cherries – Antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds in this fruit.
• Beans – A study published in The Journal of Food Composition and Analysis (2012), scientists identified a host of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds

Try to stick to more plant-based choices especially dark green leafy vegetables for less inflammation and less pain.

Precision Herbal Supplements

Botanical medicine is often the accumulated effect of what might be an otherwise immediate release with synthetic drugs, forcing the body to respond. Using natural pain relievers may take a few doses but in due time your body will build up these compounds for natural relief.

Some herbal remedies for pain management include:

• Turmeric – Studies of people with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis who took supplements of curcumin [turmeric] found they could walk better and without the side effects of taking drugs. Black pepper can help your body absorb it, so try a blend of the spices, steeped with ginger and honey into a tea. (WebMD)
• Willow Bark – Knowns as Nature’s aspirin, willow bark contains the chemical salicin which is found in some conventional aspirin formulas.
• Boswellia – This herb is thought to work by blocking substances (leukotrienes) that attack healthy joints in autoimmune diseases such as RA. (Healthline)
• Bromelain – Extracted from pineapples, bromelain prevent anti-inflammatory hormones called prostaglandins
• Ginger – One study found ginger capsules worked as well as over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen at relieving period pain. (WebMD)

An acupuncture protocol can open the many channel pathways (meridians) that could be holding on to pain response. Cleaning up your diet to exclude toxic processed foods and include whole foods could make all the difference when it comes to pain management as well. add in herbal support and much of your pain could disappear. The more your body can gently embrace nudging along stuck energy and doesn’t have to deal with protecting itself from dyes, chemicals and other compromising additives, the more your body will be able to heal.

At Integrative Med Solutions, we will design an acupuncture, clinical nutrition and botanical medicine treatment program that works for you. In many cases, insurance covers portions of the acupuncture treatment. Allow us to support you to achieve optimal health. To make an appointment or find out more about how acupuncture and naturopathic medicine can benefit you, please call our office at 914.337.2980 or Click Here to schedule an online appointment.

*Please Click Here to see a current list of Insurance Companies that commonly carry acupuncture benefits for its members. Please call 914.337.2980 or securely email info@intmedsolutions.com to verify your specific benefits. If you are emailing, please include your full name, date of birth and insurance identification card number.