Acupuncture Pain management Brisbane
Acupuncture treatment for pain is widely accepted in the general population, and MDs, some of which often refer patients for acupuncture treatment, or even practice medical acupuncture themselves. Acupuncture for pain is the most researched topic in Chinese Medicine, and therefore, the topic science understands most about the mechanisms of acupuncture.As quality research is conducted condition specific, here is a summary of top pain conditions acupuncture has been found an effective treatment option:
- Acupuncture Head ache and Migraine treatment Brisbane:
Studies[1] have found acupuncture as effective as conventional medicine in migraine prevention, is safe, long lasting and cost effective. Other studies have found a course of acupuncture treatment (12-16 sessions) reduces migraine frequency[2] . And acupuncture more effected as compared to sham acupuncture in reducing reoccurrence of migraines[3]
[1] Da Silva AN. Acupuncture for migraine prevention. Headache. 2015 Mar;55(3):470-3
[2] Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B, Fei Y, Mehring M, Vertosick EA, et al. Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016(6):Cd001218.
[3] Yang Y, Que Q, Ye X, Zheng G. Verum versus sham manual acupuncture for migraine: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Acupunct Med. 2016 Apr;34(2):76-83. - Acupuncture for Back pain Brisbane:
A 2015 Systematic review[8] concluded that acupuncture for chronic low back pain “should be included in routine clinical practice”. The benefits found were in favour of acupuncture as a standalone, and adjunct to routine care treatment.
[8] Liu L, Skinner M, McDonough S, Mabire L, Baxter GD. Acupuncture for low back pain: an overview of systematic reviews. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:328196. - How Acupuncture works for pain relief:
The analgesic effects of acupuncture have been mapped extensively[9,10]. Acupuncture stimulation regulates the integration of cells that make up the Central Nervous system, including opioid and non-opioid neuropeptides and receptors.
Acupuncture’s anti-inflammatory effects have also been identified specific to the condition being studied. In allergic Rhinitis, acupuncture reduced total IgE antibodies [1]. Research into the mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of IBS and migraine found acupuncture down regulates CGPR, SP and VIP [12,13,14,15]
[9]Zhang R, Lao L, Ren K, Berman BM. Mechanisms of acupuncture-electroacupuncture on persistent pain. Anaesthesiology. 2014 Feb;120(2):482-503.
[10]Zhao ZQ. Neural mechanism underlying acupuncture analgesia. Prog Neurobiol. 2008 Aug;85(4):355-75.
[11] McDonald JL, Smith PK, Smith CA, ChangliXue C, Golianu B, Cripps AW. Effect of acupuncture on house dust mite specific IgE, substance P, and symptoms in persistent allergic rhinitis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2016 Jun;116(6):497-505.
[12] LU ZZ, Yin, X.J., Teng, W.J., Chen, Y.H., Sun. J., Zhao, J.M., Wang, A.Q.Bao C.H. & Shi, Y. Comparative effect of EA and moxibustion on the expression of SP and VIP in patients with IBS. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2015;35(4):402-10.
[13] Zhang YN, Zhao HJ, Wang Y, Lu Y, Wang SJ. [Effect of Electroacupuncture Intervention on Constipationpredominant Irritable Bow l Syndrome and Colonic CGRP and SP Expression in Rats]. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2016 Feb;41(1):31-4
[14] Li W, Zhong, GW, Qi, M, Liu, WP, Wang, S, Wen, LB et al. Acupuncture treatment of migraine and plasma CGRP and SP content changes. World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion. 2001;11(3):11-4.
[15] Shi H, Li JH, Ji CF, Shang HY, Qiu EC, Wang JJ, et al. [Effect of electroacupuncture on cortical spreading depression and plasma CGRP and substance P contents in migraine rats]. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2010 Feb;35(1):17- 21.
Image: Zhang, Z.-J., Wang, X.-M., &McAlonan, G. M. (2012). Neural Acupuncture Unit: A New Concept for Interpreting Effects and Mechanisms of Acupuncture. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012(3), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresbull.2007.08.003
