What is acupuncture?

A musculoskeletal pain doctor in Chapel Hill, North Carolina can treat your chronic condition with acupuncture. Acupuncture is one of the most ancient forms of healing, thought to have its roots in traditional Chinese medicine. It involves pricking the skin or underlying tissues at specific anatomical locations, called acupoints, to alleviate pain and treat various physical, mental, and emotional conditions.

How does acupuncture treat pain?

There are several proposed modalities by which acupuncture has been found to effectively treat pain, and each theory has evidence in scientific literature. Patients who suffer from osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint condition due to overuse and prolonged periods of high impact activity, have usually fallen victim to degenerated cartilage. Cartilage is notorious for having poor blood perfusion, and studies have shown acupuncture can improve regulation of blood flow.

A musculoskeletal pain doctor in Chapel Hill, NC understands acupuncture treatment has been found to induce the release of endorphins, the body's own feel-good hormones that play a role in a variety of processes, producing downstream effects that include improved wound healing as well as stress relief.

Is there any proof that acupuncture works?

Clinical practice guidelines issued by two of the leading authorities on pain medicine in Western medicine speak to the growing consensus within the scientific community on the efficacy of acupuncture. The American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society have both recommended acupuncture as a non-pharmacological approach to treating patients with chronic low back pain.

A 2012 study found that when comparing acupuncture to no acupuncture or simulated acupuncture, acupuncture improved pain control in the following chronic pain conditions:

• Neck pain
• Osteoarthritis
• Chronic headache
• Back pain
• Shoulder pain

Who should I call?

If you are searching for a musculoskeletal pain doctor in Chapel Hill, NC, we can help. At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, we have made a significant positive impact in our community by offering our patients a reprieve from chronic pain and stress. Not only do we take pride in our ability to help people, we take pride in doing it the right way: listening to patients, remaining updated on the latest literature on acupuncture, and following the age-old adage of modern medicine to do no harm.

Call Acupractic Natural Healing Center to learn more about our practice or to schedule an appointment today.