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Chronic pain is the primary reason Americans are on disability. One\u00a0of the main treatments for pain has been opioid medications.\u00a0But opioids have the potential for abuse and addiction. Because so many people have been prescribed opioids for chronic pain, we are in trouble and have what has been called\u00a0a public health epidemic. It\u2019s serious, with friends overdosing in our neighborhoods, loved ones becoming addicted and feeling hopeless.<\/p>\n
Generally speaking, opioids are not effective for chronic pain management\u00a0so\u00a0we need other ways to approach pain. One of those methods is\u00a0acupuncture.<\/p>\n
Acupuncture is an ancient healing art that uses precisely placed, fine needles in the skin to affect a person\u2019s health and pain. It is based on Eastern philosophy of the chi (also spelled qi). The chi is considered a life force that flows through the body through pathways known as meridians. When the meridians are blocked, this disrupts the two types of chi known as the ying and yang balance and illness develops. The idea of acupuncture is that placing tiny needles at the acupuncture points (where the meridians are said to cross), improves pain and restores the balance of the chi. <\/span><\/p>\n There are research studies that focus on what is at work with acupuncture. One question is,\u00a0does the belief that something may work, make it work? Is acupuncture simply an elaborate placebo? Some say, yes. The argument usually hinges on the question as to the realness of the acupuncture points. Skeptics site a large body of studies that do not demonstrate clinical benefit to acupuncture and take the position that rigorous science does not support the claims made as to the effectiveness of acupuncture.<\/span><\/p>\n