Pain isn’t a condition that should be ignored. If left untreated, pain can lead to many other serious health conditions (not to mention how it completely diminishes your quality of life). But did you know that acupuncture is an effective tool for treating pain? Get the scoop on these 10 painful conditions that acupuncture can treat.

#1. Migraines

Migraines are a complex neurological condition that can cause severe headaches, but many other symptoms too, including sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances, and fatigue. While there are many triggers for migraines, including specific foods, weather changes, hormonal imbalances, and stress, every person’s experience is different.

Acupuncture is one of the most effective ways to treat migraines as well as prevent them from occurring again in the future. Whether you’ve found benefit from painkillers and other pharmaceuticals or not, if you suffer from migraines or know someone who does and wants to give an alternative treatment a try, acupuncture could be right for you!

What makes acupuncture such an effective treatment method? Acupuncture has been shown to be an effective treatment for pain, but in addition to giving you pain relief, a Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor will work on addressing the source cause of the problem. By restoring balance to the nervous system and reducing inflammation throughout the body, acupuncture will treat the pain associated with migraines so that those suffering don’t have anything holding them back anymore!

#2. Labour pains

Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for labour pains. Acupuncture can help ease the pain of labour, reduce the length of labour, and reduce the need for pain medications or an epidural. As well as easing physical discomfort during childbirth, acupuncture may also lead to faster recovery after birth.

Acupuncture may help with a number of other pregnancy-related issues, including nausea, morning sickness, fatigue, and swelling in the ankles or hands due to fluid retention.

#3. Sinusitis

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses, which are a series of hollow air-filled cavities in your skull. Sinusitis can be caused by allergies or bacterial infections.

Acupuncture can help with sinusitis because it opens up the sinuses (ask me about my favourite points to do—what I call the “cat whisker” points) and helps them drain out mucous (mucus) so that your body does not have to work as hard to get rid of it naturally.

#4. Lower back pain

Acupuncture treats acute lower back pain by reducing inflammation and increasing blood flow, which helps reduce your body’s reaction to stress. Acupuncture also treats chronic lower back pain by treating underlying causes like muscle tension, arthritis, injuries, and muscle imbalances. This process can help you find relief from chronic lower back pain so you can get on with your life!

#5. Neck pain

If you have neck pain, acupuncture is a great option for you. Acupuncture can help reduce pain and inflammation, increase range of motion, and reduce muscle spasms and stiffness.

Acupuncture helps with neck pain by relaxing muscles and reducing painful nerve signals. Acupuncture also increases blood flow to injured areas of the body—which is key when dealing with inflammation or injury. And, with improved circulation, nutrients are delivered to tissues more efficiently.

#6. Menstrual cramps

Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for menstrual cramps. It can help reduce the pain of menstrual cramps, back pain, headaches, and breast tenderness associated with PMS. TCM doctors use acupuncture to treat underlying issues that are causing your menstrual cramps. So, while you might come in for treatment of menstrual cramps, it will also address your hormonal imbalances that cause a wide range of symptoms, including irregular cycles, heavy flow, amenorrhea (missed or no periods), bloating, mood swings, skin breakouts, and cravings.

#7. Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is caused by the breakdown of cartilage in the joints. It usually affects middle-aged and older people, but it can also affect younger people who have suffered an injury to a joint.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain, swelling, and stiffness in joints, as well as weakness, or even disability, if left untreated. Acupuncture can be used to treat these symptoms, in part because it improves blood flow to the affected area, which increases its supply of nutrients that help repair damaged tissue.

#8. Carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful condition that affects the wrist and hand. It occurs when there’s pressure on a nerve within your carpal tunnel, which is a small space in your wrist through which tendons and nerves travel between the forearm and hand.

As with most conditions, carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by several things—including arthritis, traumatic injury, pregnancy, diabetes mellitus (diabetes), hypothyroidism, obesity, and repetitive motions like typing or assembly line work—but it’s especially common in people who have repetitive stress injuries.

Acupuncture has been shown to help people reduce pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome by increasing blood flow to the affected areas of the body while decreasing inflammation.

#9. Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder that causes widespread pain throughout the body. The condition is often accompanied by fatigue, sleep issues, and mood and energy issues.

Acupuncture can help to reduce symptoms of fibromyalgia by promoting better sleep, reducing stress, and relieving muscle tension. Acupuncture can also be useful in treating other conditions that are often present alongside fibromyalgia, such as anxiety or depression.

#10. Dental pain

Acupuncture works! If you’re looking for a non-invasive, drug-free way to treat pain, stop suffering and come in for some acupuncture treatment. Book here.