Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine analyzed numerous studies concerning acupuncture for back pain and found that acupuncture was more effective than standard care for reducing back pain. In fact, the pain relief experienced by subjects who received acupuncture was “significant” and long term. The effects of standard care proved to be “modest.”

The study’s author said, “The research also showed that acupuncture provided true pain relief. The benefit was not just due to the placebo effect.”

WebMD reported on another study concerning acupuncture for back pain. The study found that acupuncture was more effective than usual care, such as medications, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and surgery. Those who received acupuncture had greater improvement in their ability to perform previously painful daily activities.

The article said, “After a year, those in the acupuncture groups were also more likely than the usual care group to continue to have improvement in dysfunction.”

Effectiveness is not the only benefit of acupuncture for back pain. Additional perks include:

• Virtually painless, unlike surgery and injections.
• No side effects or serious risks.
• Does not involve a recovery period and you can continue with your daily routine.
• Long lasting benefits, as opposed to the temporary relief of adjustments, pain medication, and steroid injections.
• More cost-effective than doctor’s visits and prescriptions.
• All natural and contains no chemicals or synthetic substances.
• It is holistic and takes into account your mind, body, and spirit.
• Doesn’t just improve back pain, but enhances your overall health as well.
• Brings the body and energy into balance.
• Relaxing and pleasant, unlike standard treatments.
• Can be used in conjunction with other treatments.
• Useful as a form of preventative medicine.
• You don’t need to have acupuncture treatments forever, which is a common problem with medications.
• Provides a customized treatment that gets to the root cause of your pain, while also improving symptoms.

These are a just a few of the endless benefits of acupuncture for back pain. However, keep in mind that for effective treatment you must work with a licensed, qualified acupuncturist. Someone who is merely certified, or practices medical acupuncture, will not be able to produce the same results in most cases. The Mayo Clinic states, “When performed properly by trained practitioners, acupuncture has proved to be an effective therapy for back pain.” The keywords are “trained practitioners.” Visit our directory to find a licensed, highly trained acupuncturist near you.

• Simply because someone says they are an acupuncturist, doesn’t mean that they are a high-quality, experienced practitioner. It’s common for doctors to offer acupuncture to patients, though they only have a few hundred hours of training. An acupuncture professional has over 3,000 hours of Chinese medicine and acupuncture schooling. They have a thorough knowledge of the complex system of healing. A qualified acupuncturist will also engage in continuing education to provide patients with the best possible care.

• Ask the acupuncture for back pain specialist where they received their training. For the best results, make sure that they attended a reputable school or learned at an academic medical center.

• Mild back pain can usually be treated in a few sessions, however chronic pain may take longer. Therefore, convenience is key. Find an acupuncturist located in your area so that you can easily keep up with sessions. Be sure to ask about their pricing as well. If it is out of your price range see if they offer acupuncture in a community setting, as opposed to one-on-one treatments.

• Find an acupuncture back pain specialist that you feel a connection with. You want to have an enjoyable experience and feel comfortable asking questions. If you decide to have ongoing acupuncture sessions, you will be spending a lot of time with this person.

• Check out the facilities prior to your first acupuncture for back pain session. It should be clean, comfortable, and have a calming ambiance. Part of acupuncture is relaxation and if you don’t feel comfortable, it will be hard to get the most out of your treatment.

• Make sure the acupuncturist is good at communicating with you. They should be willing to explain the process, your diagnosis, answer questions, and help you develop a comprehensive plan if you are working with other doctors.

• Ask the practitioner about his or her success rates. If they claim something outrageous like, “100-percent of my patients are pain-free after five sessions,” it’s time to get out of there. You want a professional.

• Use our site to narrow down your list to a few names. We only feature qualified, licensed acupuncturists. You can rest easy knowing you will be considering top notch, experienced practitioners. Search for someone you “click” with and begin your acupuncture for back pain treatment.

Inside all living beings resides a sort of energetic anatomy. An interconnected web of meridians run throughout the body delivering life energy, or Qi. Acupuncture points are areas that allow an acupuncturist to tap into this energetic current. When the energy is blocked or stagnant, the disharmony causes illness to the mind, body, and spirit. Each point is related to a body system or function. Everything within our being is interrelated, which is why stimulating the kidney meridian may produce positive changes in treating a seemingly unrelated condition. Needles are inserted into these acupuncture points to draw energy from areas of excess to areas of deficiency. It removes any blocks and balances the yin, yang, and Qi for optimal health.

Acupuncture for back pain is no different. An acupuncture back pain specialist will palpate along the body to find the acupuncture points that correlate with the root cause of the pain and the symptoms. This creates long lasting positive results. Depending on the underlying reason for your back pain, points may be focused on to clear external causes, such as damp or cold, strengthen associated systems, such as the kidney, tonify internal deficiencies, or sedate internal excesses. A free, unobstructed flow of Qi allows the body to rely on its internal healing mechanism and brings about balance, relief from back pain, and restored health.

Western science mostly acknowledges the aspects of the body that are visible to the human eye. Therefore, there is less of an energetic focus. It is believed that acupuncture for back pain sends messages that calm the sympathetic nervous system. The actual placing of the needles releases muscle spasms. The brain is seen as a key factor in acupuncture for back pain’s efficacy. By stimulating certain points, it is thought that the brain releases neurochemicals, hormones, and natural pain-relieving opiods. In addition, the release of serotonin boosts the mood. Therefore, pain is reduced and positivity is increased to cultivate a sense of wellbeing.

Both hypotheses lead to one conclusion: acupuncture works. Acupuncture for back pain can reduce the need for medication, enhance vitality, decrease pack pain, and rejuvenate the mind, body, and spirit. The alternative treatment has no side effects and provides a natural way to heal.

• Those with acute back pain due to a sprain, strain, or tear caused by heavy lifting, poor posture, and injury will find relief quickly and naturally. In fact, it typically takes only six to 12 sessions to treat a mild condition. Spasmed muscles that commonly accompany such injuries, respond extremely well to acupuncture. The process of inserting the needles unties the knots and loosens the muscles and ligaments. The body’s natural healing response is engaged for long term results.

• Chronic back pain due to a bulging disc, arthritis, and other conditions has also proven to be no match for acupuncture. By stimulating chemicals in the brain that change the perception of pain, it can reduce the use of medications and steroid injections. Chronic back pain has an underlying root that can’t merely be covered up with pharmaceuticals. Instead, acupuncture for back pain gets to the bottom of the problem to create lasting change. Improving the flow of Qi and relieving blood stagnation results in better circulation, less aching, and reduced stiffness.

• Sciatica is another cause of back pain and often radiates down the buttocks and leg. It’s extremely painful and treatment should consist of strengthening the related body systems and healing mechanisms. The insertion of needles at both local and distal points is used for all types of back pain and sciatica in particular. It will loosen the muscles and enhance Qi, but also jump start the rebuilding process.

• Persistent low back pain has been the subject of various studies. Acupuncture was found to be more effective than usual care for treating the condition. It helped individuals sleep better, gave them more mobility, allowed them to engage in activities, and reduced pain. The benefits continued to last for months after ending acupuncture treatment.

• Acupuncture also treats related conditions such as neck pain and shoulder pain.

Combining acupuncture with massage, exercise, and a healthy diet will allow you to get back to the activities you enjoy. Back pain can be a thing of the past with regular acupuncture sessions. Your acupuncturist will formulate a unique treatment plan that addresses the cause of your pain, as well as the symptoms.

• Acupuncture Today cited a Swedish study that determined acupuncture is a “safe and effective procedure for low-back pain, and that it can maintain positive outcomes for periods of six months or longer without producing the negative side-effects that often accompany more traditional pain remedies.”

Participants who received acupuncture had “significant” improvement in pain, activity level, and quality of sleep when compared to those who received “sham” acupuncture. Most remarkably, the acupuncture groups dramatically decreased their intake of analgesics. Both traditional acupuncture and electroacupuncture worked long term.

• A study analysis conducted at the University of Maryland School of Medicine concluded that acupuncture can be more effective than standard treatments and resulted in significant pain relief. The analysis stated, “They found acupuncture provided definite pain relief in the short-term, and this pain relief appeared to be sustained over the longer term.”

• WebMD reported on a German study that investigated acupuncture treatment versus conventional treatment for lower back pain. Individuals who received acupuncture treatments not only reported less pain after six weeks of 30-minute sessions, but were also twice as likely than those prescribed to traditional care to have decreased pain and increased mobility six months after the treatments ended.

One of the researchers said, “Acupuncture represents a highly promising and effective treatment option for chronic back pain. Patients experienced not only reduced pain intensity, but also reported improvements in the disability that often results from back pain – and therefore in their quality of life.”

A key reason that acupuncture is becoming an attractive option for many people with back pain, is that there are no side effects and it’s relatively painless. Western treatments include medication, surgery, and steroid injections, all of which carry hefty risks. In addition, people who have not responded to medications have found that acupuncture for back pain can be more effective.

Acupuncture for back pain addresses the root source of the pain. If its pain due to a deficiency it tends to be an aching, dull pain that becomes chronic. Pain due to the stagnation of Qi or blood is typically seen in individuals with muscle tears, sprains, and strains. This form usually presents itself as severe and sharp. It can be chronic and also causes stiffness that increase with rest. A cold damp obstruction leads to back pain that is at its peak upon waking and gets worse in cold or damp weather. There may be swelling or numbness as well.

Because of the holistic nature of acupuncture, points associated with stagnation, deficiencies or damp cold obstruction will be addressed to get to the cause. The actual area of injury may be needled as well. Acupuncture for back pain triggers the body’s natural healing response for long lasting relief, good health, and wellbeing. Restoring the energetic balance to the body and ensuring that all systems are working in harmony, is a potent form of healing. These benefits have been shown to work for chronic and acute back pain, sciatica, and related problems.

It is becoming more popular among those suffering from back pain, because there are no side effects. Medication and surgical treatments can cause extreme discomfort and side effects that lessen individuals’ quality of life. Acupuncture for back pain enhances all areas of one’s being to alleviate back pain and improve health.