Those of us who have experienced acupuncture treatments know the benefits, especially when it comes to pain relief. Now, finally, so does the FDA!
In May, the FDA proposed changes to the FDA Education Blueprint for Health Care Providers Involved in the Management or Support of Patients with Pain to include acupuncture under suggested non-pharmacologic therapies. Since many pain-relieving drugs are addictive and often lead to the more serious use of illicit drugs, endorsing acupuncture as an effective pain management solution is a wise choice on the part of the FDA.
According to the National Society for Addiction Medicine, drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, which isn’t surprising when you consider that a whopping 94% of heroin users in treatment for opioid addiction (surveyed in 2014) indicated they turned to heroin due to difficulty obtaining prescription opioid medications and for the fact that heroin was ultimately cheaper. Some are able to get off of this drug by using medical marijuana (like that on greensociety.io) to treat these aches and pains, however some are looking for a more permanent solution. Knowing the dangers that opioids pose to patients, it is important for doctors to encourage the use of acupuncture prior to turning to prescription medications for pain management. This may also be combined with a stay in rehab to tackle addiction issues emotionally. People who are weaned off powerful drugs such as this may go through post acute withdrawal syndrome and will need to be monitored carefully.
Just how does acupuncture aid in pain relief, you might ask?
In Chinese medicine, pain can be caused by the stagnation of qi (energy), stagnation of blood, or a combination of the two. By using specific acupuncture points and techniques, including cupping and gua sha, we are able to release the blockage and relax the fascia and muscles, which allows the body to realign both energetically and physically. While acupuncture is a difficult modality to study, the NIH has compiled a number of studies that support the effectiveness of acupuncture for chronic low pack pain, knee pain, neck pain, and headaches.
Schedule an appointment with a CANH practitioner today as part of your pain management solution and join the millions of people across the world who stay pain free with acupuncture.
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