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Acupuncture for Back Pain

by Dr. Enozia Vakil on Sep 18 2013 11:40 AM
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Proud to be a workaholic or a multitasker? Well congratulations, you’re doing great; but do you realize that the long hours at your work desk, then driving back home in the endless traffic, and then juggling over different household tasks can take a toll on your back? One of these days, you’re bound to wake up with a back pain, sometimes mild if you’re lucky enough, sometimes too painful to bear.

Sounds like you? Don’t rely on those minty-burning creams and gels for your back pain; they provide just temporary relief, if at all. A good option would be to check out acupuncture - an age old therapy arising from the roots of China, which is now being used worldwide to treat many health conditions. So…. getting down to the basics…

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient healing therapy, an important component of Traditional Chinese Medicine that involves the use of tiny, microscopic needles into certain strategic points on the body. It aims to restore the body’s balance by stimulating the correct flow of the vital life force energy (qi) flowing through the body, removing any possible blockages in its pathways.

Acupuncture for Lower Back Pain

Unlike the other common approaches to treat back pain including painkillers, topical ointments etc, acupuncture is believed to produce more long-lasting symptomatic relief. Since it also aims at restoring the body’s internal balance, it is thought to work at the root cause of the pain, not just the symptoms.

Benefits of acupuncture

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Acupuncture is now getting popular, and many people in the world are using it to help treat their health problems - minor or major. Here, we’ve listed below some benefits of using acupuncture to treat your back pain.

It is natural - As opposed to medicinal and other treatment approaches, acupuncture does not involve the use of drugs or chemicals to bring about pain relief. Simply put, it’s a natural and safe painkiller.

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It is a no-fuss treatment - Contrary to the presumption that acupuncture is a treatment that ‘hurts,’ it is actually a fairly simple, no-fuss way to treat back pain. So if you’re tired of running around from physicians to orthopedics for second opinions and tests, try acupuncture.

It’s light on the pocket - If diagnostic tests and consultations from physicians are burning a hole in your wallet, acupuncture may be a much cheaper option.

It offers added benefits - It is believed that acupuncture, when used for a particular treatment, brings with it some added benefits too. This is because it balances the body’s internal energies; curbing away any teeny-tiny health problems that may have been nagging you in the back of your head, but you chose to ignore. If you’ve decided to use acupuncture for your back pain, you can expect improved blood circulation, improved skin health and a boost in your energy levels.

Side effects/ Risks of acupuncture

Getting acupuncture services from a well-qualified, certified professional is likely to be a side-effect free experience. However, you may experience a few undesirable effects after an acupuncture session if you suffer from any skin infections, soreness, bruising or if the acupuncturist uses non-sterile needles.

Also, if you’re currently on medications, especially blood thinners, you may have a chance of bleeding after an acupuncture session. Pregnant women need to be careful before trying acupuncture to treat back pain, as it is thought to induce labor, and could result in premature delivery.

Source-Medindia


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