Relieving Neck Pain, Does Acupuncture Work?
Neck pain can result from various cervical spine conditions, and you should know what options are available to help you relieve this pain. One method of getting the hurt to go away is acupuncture. While many believe a steroid injection is their cure, studies show acupuncture is a far better method than the Western medicine options offered by pharmaceutical companies for injection therapies.
Acupuncture VS Injections
The ancient technique of acupuncture has been refined throughout the centuries it has been practiced. In Eastern countries, this form of medicine is used to relieve pain as well as a multitude of other uses, while in the West it has been dismissed by mainstream medicine. The Spine University, however, conducted a study on acupuncture vs injections. The study used a scale from very satisfied to very dissatisfied to have their participants rate their outcomes of treatments between injections and acupuncture. When asked how their pain was relieved between these two treatments, the majority indicated they have less pain and were able to enjoy life more after acupuncture vs the pharmaceutical injections.
Comparing Injections and Acupuncture
It is not common to compare injections against acupuncture because they do not approach healing and pain from the same starting points. Acupuncture is considered Eastern medicine which focuses on healing and treating the root cause of a person’s pain. Injections are from Western medicine where the focus is placed more on treating the symptoms through surgery or medications.
Neither of these medicine techniques is singularly better, it just depends on what you are looking to accomplish for your own health. What you need to understand is the injection treatments are intended to eliminate pain caused by specific conditions. These injections do not treat underlying conditions but are more of a pain management technique to lessen the pain caused by the problem.
Acupuncture, however, is a safer option for your treatment, and when performed by a licensed acupuncturist, it will provide you with much-needed pain relief. It is done with the use of hair-thin sterile needles and without medication, so you should not have a negative response or reaction.
Acupuncture Pressure Points for Neck Pain Relief
Acupuncture is gained popularity as a pain relief option without medications and without surgery. Studies are now being conducted on how this treatment option works. Some research has been done to understand if the needles used in acupuncture stimulate chemicals in your body to provide relief from neck pain. To date, there are not enough scientific results to prove or disprove this belief, but these acupuncture treatments are proving successful in relieving neck pain.
Here are some of the most commonly used points to help treat neck pain.
LI-4 (He Gu)
o The web-like fold of skin between your forefinger and thumb is called the He Gu point. Stimulating this point will relieve pain in your neck and other parts of your body.
TE-3 (Zhong Zu)
o The knuckles above your ring finger and pinky finger are called the Zhong Zu point. This pressure point stimulates various parts of your brain. When this point is activated, it will promote circulation and release your tension. Stimulating this point can offer neck pain relief when caused by stress or tension.
GB21 (Jian Jing)
o The muscles halfway between where your arms begin and your neck are called the Jian Jing point. Studies on acupuncture show this point when treated through acupuncture will relieve muscle tension and headaches. This acupuncture treatment has also shown positive results for relieving stiff or sore necks.
Feng Chi/GB20 (Wind Pool)
o Toward the top of your neck and the base of your skull behind your earlobe is a point called the Feng Chi. This pressure point can be treated to relieve everything from headaches, neck pain, to fatigue. It is often used to treat stiff necks caused by sleeping in uncomfortable positions.
Acupuncture for Neck Pain Relief
Chronic neck pain impacts your quality of life. Acupuncture is proving to be able to relieve this pain and give you back some normalcy to everyday living without pain. If you want to avoid surgeries and possible side effects from medications, acupuncture is your best treatment option for pain-free living. Give us a call here at the White Crane Clinic for your consultation and see what acupuncture can do for you.
Board-certified Doctor of Oriental Medicine and the owner of White Crane Clinic in Tarpon Springs, Florida. With over a decade of clinical experience, she specializes in integrative care that blends acupuncture, herbal medicine, and regenerative therapies for whole-body wellness.
