Nearly 8 out of every 10 people will have back pain at some point in life. Back pain is one of the top reasons people seek medical treatment. It is also the No. 1 reported reason for seeking acupuncture. The good news is chronic back pain is one of the conditions that research suggests acupuncture may be an effective tool for treating.
One recent review of 22 acupuncture studies showed that it provided short-term relief from chronic back pain. It also showed there was greater improvement in pain for people who got acupuncture compared to those who received a “sham” treatment. How does it work? The effects of acupuncture come from stimulating the central nervous system. This triggers the release of endorphins into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. Endorphins are the body's natural pain relieving chemicals. These chemicals help to relieve pain and produce bodily changes that promote a sense of well-being. What causes pain? From a Chinese Medical perspective, pain is caused by a stagnation of qi and blood. Stagnation of qi and blood can be caused by a number of conditions:
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