Should we be relying on prescription medications?
In recent years, the reliance and abuse of pharmaceutical drugs has caught the attention of mainstream media, politicians, and the American people. Drugs like Oxycontin and Vicodin had become commonly prescribed ways to manage pain.In 2018, a national concern about the use of opioids took center stage. According to an article by US News:
"In November [of 2018], the White House's Council of Economic Advisers also released a report claiming that previous estimates of the economic cost of the epidemic "greatly understate" the true value lost. They estimated that the opioid crisis cost the country $504 billion, equivalent to 2.8 percent of the year's GDP, in 2015."This begs the question, is there another option to manage chronic pain? Perhaps the answer lies in more natural approaches.
Acupuncture to treat menstrual pain
While harsher medications are not typically prescribed for menstrual pain, it's a good place to start discussing pain management. Rather than using synthetic drugs to treat menstrual pain, a combination of herbs can actually be more effective then leading anti-inflammatory NSAID, such as ibuprofen. What you might not know is that acupuncture just might be more effective in treating menstrual pain when combined with botanical therapy? In a study on the Healthcare Medicine Institute, the effects of acupuncture on menstrual pain were shocking. Acupuncture Plus Herbs Beat Ibuprofen For Menstrual Pain"At the three-month follow-up, women with an absence of pain and a dysmenorrhea severity score of 0 were classified as cured. For women experiencing an improvement in pain and a reduction in dysmenorrhea [pain] severity scores of over 25%, but whose improvements were not maintained at the three-month mark, the treatment was classified as effective. For women with no improvements in pain and reductions in dysmenorrhea severity scores of under 25%, the treatment was classified as ineffective... In the acupuncture plus herbs treatment group, there were 44 cured, 11 effective, and 5 ineffective cases, yielding a total effective rate of 91.7%. In control group 1, there were 39 cured, 13 effective, and 8 ineffective cases, yielding a total effective rate of 86.7%. In control group 2, there were 36 cured, 8 effective, and 16 ineffective cases, yielding a total effective rate of 73.3%. The results indicate significantly greater improvements in the acupuncture plus herbs treatment group compared with the two controls (p<0.05)."The key takeaway here is that the overall effective rate of acupuncture was 91.7%. That's a pretty compelling statistic to say the least. One that certainly deserves to be considered as a viable alternative to even over the counter pain solutions.
Acupuncture for migraines
Another instance in which acupuncture may be helpful is chronic migraines.You might want to think of acupuncture as a long-term strategy for migraine management. In an article from Tim Tanaka titled, "Acupuncture and Migraines," he notes that:
"After about 20 acupuncture sessions, you may experience a reduction in your migraine frequency. It is unclear, however, how long this effect is sustained and whether you can maintain migraine prevention if you stop having regular acupuncture sessions."It's important to note that acupuncture, by no means, should be used as a solution for all migraines.
If you experience migraines frequently, this might be a sign of underlying medical problems and should be discussed with a licensed medical professional.
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| Photo from Prevention.com |
Acupuncture for weight loss
Perhaps one of the most debated topics on how acupuncture can assist in common medical conditions is weight loss.Alex A. Kecskes, of the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, explains the rationale behind using Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture to treat weight problems.
While the thought of a "silver bullet" may be quite tempting for people interested in weight loss, it's important to note that acupuncture is only a tool... not a cure. Acupuncture may be able to assist in re-balancing the body, but diet and exercise still have a significant impact on how effective any weight loss plan works.Traditional Chinese Medicine and Weight Loss
"In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the belief is that excessive weight gains are caused mainly by an imbalance in the body due to a malfunction of the spleen and liver organ systems. Skilled acupuncture practitioners will zero in on specific body areas to effect weight loss. Among these are the endocrine system and kidneys, which are addressed to treat water retention and to stimulate nerve and hormonal rebalance. The spleen and thyroid gland are also targeted to effect sugar and hormonal rebalancing. Finally, the adrenal and ovary glands are included to treat weight gain due to menopause or Premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Some people notice the effects of acupuncture fairly quickly and only require treatments every other week."
Acupuncture is also not a solution for sudden weight gain, which could be a sign of more serious medical issues. In these instances, it's best to contact a medical professional. Avoid self-diagnosis!
Conclusion
Clearly, acupuncture is a less-addictive option for pain management that clearly deserves a second look. Rather than prescribing pharmaceuticals, which can be addictive and dangerous, it may be time to look at pain management more sensiblyWhile there certainly is a place for more aggressive medications, these should not be the first solutions doctors turn to.
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