The use of acupuncture to treat back pain has been around for many years. Some people do not believe that acupuncture works, however, those who have tried it have found great success. There are multiple types of acupuncture but the most common technique is sticking thin needles into the body at various depths. The needles are placed in specific parts of the body to release tension. This article will give you a brief description of the different types of acupuncture used to treat back pain and how each one works.
The first type of acupuncture is traditional Chinese acupuncture. This is the most common type and what normally comes to mind when people think of acupuncture. Traditional Chinese acupuncture is the most practiced and studied in the United States. It consists of placing needles in various positions all over the body. The placement of needles depends on where the pain is originating. During traditional Chinese therapy needles can be placed into the skin as deep as one inch. Most people that use this method to cure chronic back pain find it successful.
Japanese style is a lot like the traditional Chinese therapy. The same concepts apply except in Japanese style not as many needles and thinner needles are used. This method is not as common; however, it still gives the same effect.
The last type to treat back pain is Korean hand acupuncture. This style of therapy follows the belief that pressure points that are found in the hands are related to multiple locations in the body. Tiny needles are placed into the hand and in turn stress is relieved in areas of the body. This is a new method, however, is has shown great success.
The reason acupuncture helps back pain is uncertain. Many physicians have their own opinion on why this works but none are proven more accurate than the other. The first theory of how it works was developed by the Chinese. The Chinese believed that invisible pathways were all throughout the body. If these pathways became clogged than parts of the body would begin to hurt. By placing the needles into these pathways it would unclog them and let energy flow through the body without hesitation. This method is not as commonly used today. The most well known theory today is that when the needles are placed into the skin neurotransmitters are triggered and send messages to the brain. The messages tell the brain that to release tension and the pain is reduced.
No one is certain what allows these methods to work as a cure for back pain, but it is proven to work. All of these methods have shown success and are used by numerous physicians. Back pain can be caused by many things and this type of healing is not always a cure. Discussing these types of treatment with a doctor is recommended before choosing which one is right for you. Acupuncture as a treatment for back pain may take up to several weeks. During an average treatment people will have it done three to four times a week for multiple weeks.
