Acupuncture For Life

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Acupuncture Is For Everyone!
by Dr. Janet Leidy, DHSc, DAc

Acupuncture, which is considered a complementary and alternative therapy, has recently gained great popularity! It is an integrative medicine therapy which involves the insertion of very thin needles (thinner than a human hair) into specific acupuncture points on the body. These needles promote the natural healing process in the body.

Anyone can get acupuncture. It doesn't matter your age, race, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, or political affiliation. Because it is a healing therapy, it is right for everyone! In fact, evidence points to the fact that acupuncture is popular among many groups of diverse people, including women, older adults, people with chronic pain, and athletes.

Women tend to use acupuncture for many health and wellness issues and to address women's health concerns, such as menstrual cramps, infertility, and menopausal symptoms. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials found that acupuncture effectively reduced menstrual pain and improved the quality of life in women with primary dysmenorrhea (1). Another systematic review found that acupuncture was a viable alternative to hormone replacement therapy for symptoms frequently occurring during menopause, such as night sweats, insomnia, and hot flashes (2). In another study, acupuncture improved fertility outcomes for women undergoing in vitro fertilization (3).

Older adults use acupuncture more frequently to address age-related health issues such as arthritis, chronic pain, and sleep disorders. In a study of older adults with knee osteoarthritis, acupuncture effectively reduced pain and improved physical function (4). Another study found that acupuncture effectively enhanced sleep quality and reduced insomnia in older adults (5).

People with chronic pain also use acupuncture frequently to complement their pain management regimen. Research has shown that acupuncture may be a cost-effective alternative to conventional medical care for chronic low back pain (6). Additionally, a systematic review of acupuncture for chronic pain found that acupuncture was effective in reducing pain intensity and improving physical function in patients with chronic low back pain, neck pain, knee osteoarthritis, and headaches (7).

Athletes also commonly use acupuncture to treat sports injuries and improve athletic performance. A systematic review of acupuncture for sports injuries found that acupuncture effectively reduced pain and improved function in athletes with musculoskeletal injuries {8}

To conclude, acupuncture has become a very popular complementary therapy among a diverse group of people. Research has shown its effectiveness for various health issues. Acupuncturists are enthusiastic about the current research, which points to the fact that this integrative medicine modality is highly effective in healing many health issues. Future research will help scientists and doctors (both Eastern and Western) to understand exactly how acupuncture works. The popularity and availability of acupuncture and its potential benefits make it an important therapy for those seeking highly effective alternative or complementary medical treatments.

Would you like to try acupuncture? You can schedule an appointment at Acupuncture For Life by calling 267-575-0592. Please visit our website at www.acupuncturepa.com for more information. Dr. Janet Leidy will be your acupuncturist and will give you the best care possible to meet your healthcare needs!

References:

1. Smith CA, Armour M, Zhu X, Li X, Lu ZY, Song J. Acupuncture for dysmenorrhoea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;4(4): CD007854.
2. Kim KH, Kang KW, Kim DI, Kim HJ, Yoon HM, Lee JM. Acupuncture for menopausal hot flashes: A systematic review. Menopause. 2015;22(2):1-8.
3. Zheng CH, Zhang MM, Huang GY, et al. Acupuncture-related techniques for treating infertility in women: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018;97(24):e11070.
4. Chen LX, Mo YQ, Chen ZM, et al. Acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and metaanalysis. Acupunct Med. 2016;34(5):364-380.
5. Cao H, Pan X, Li H, Liu J. Acupuncture for treatment of insomnia: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Altern Complement Med. 2009;15(11):1171-1186.
6. Witt CM, Reinhold T, Jena S, Brinkhaus B, Willich SN. Cost-effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic low back pain. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Arthritis Rheum. 2012;64(4):1152-1163.
7. Vickers AJ, Cronin AM, Maschino AC, et al. Acupuncture for chronic pain: Individual patient data metaanalysis. Arch Intern Med. 2012;172(19):1444-1453.
8. Maa SH, Sun MF, Hsu KH, et al. Effectiveness of acupuncture for lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow): A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Pain Physician. 2018;21(5):459-468.

Pictures courtesy of Clipart Library. http://clipart-library.com/

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