Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture in Melbourne for Chronic Pain Relief
At East Melbourne Acupuncture, we understand that chronic pain isn’t just a physical condition – it can affect every aspect of your life. Any type of ongoing pain can affect your appetite, impact your sleep and affect your mood, causing anxiety and depression.
Chronic pain may come from an injury or a musculoskeletal issue, such as neck and shoulder tension, back pain, sciatica or knee pain. Chronic pain may also be due to an internal issue, like fibromyalgia, arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, irritable bowel syndrome or migraine headaches.
In Chinese medicine we use a holistic approach to diagnose and determine the best treatment options. Our treatments at East Melbourne Acupuncture often combine acupuncture, body work (such as gua sha massage or cupping), and herbal medicine to relieve pain and other symptoms and to improve overall quality of life.
Acupuncture for Chronic Pain Relief
Acupuncture is well-known for its pain-relieving effects and is particularly good for persistent musculoskeletal pain, including neck and shoulder pain, low back pain and knee pain (1). Studies have also shown that acupuncture may be effective for fibromyalgia, nerve pain, abdominal pain and migraine headaches (2-5).
Acupuncture treatments involve inserting very fine needles at specific points in the body. Acupuncture points used at the site of pain release tight muscles or trigger points. They also promote blood flow in the area to reduce inflammation and stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. Acupuncture points that are further away (for example using points on the hand to treat a headache) stimulate the brain to release endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. These alleviate the pain and create a general feeling of well-being (6).
Benefits of Acupuncture for Chronic Pain:
o Releases trigger points
o Reduces inflammation
o Increase blood flow and stimulates natural healing
o Relieves pain without the need for medications
For more information on how acupuncture works visit our webpage and check out our blog on acupuncture for headaches and migraine
Massage and Cupping Therapy for Muscle Pain
Massage and cupping release tightness or tension in the muscles and stimulate blood circulation. This is turn takes pressure off the joints, brings anti-inflammatory factors to the area and relieves pain. These techniques work well for muscle pain, chronic tension and stiffness in areas like the shoulders, neck and lower back, and for conditions like fibromyalgia.
Cupping Benefits:
o Improves blood circulation
o Enhances flexibility and mobility
o Relieve muscle and joint pain
o Reduces stress and tension
For more information on cupping and gua sha massage visit our webpage
Chinese Herbal Medicine for Pain Management
Chinese herbal medicine uses plant-based formulas that are tailored to your specific condition. Herbs like turmeric, corydalis, ginger and ginseng have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties that may reduce the intensity chronic pain (7,8). Often additional herbs to improve blood flow and nourish the body are also included.
Chinese Herbal Medicine is thought to
o Contain anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties
Energy boosting and nourishing
o Cause minimal side effects
For more information on Chinese Herbal Medicine visit our webpage.
FAQ: Chronic Pain and Chinese Medicine
What types of chronic pain can Chinese Medicine treat?
Chinese Medicine can effectively treat conditions like back pain, knee pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia and migraine headaches. It also helps manage stress-related pain and inflammatory conditions.
Is acupuncture painful?
No, acupuncture is generally not painful. The needles used are very fine and our practitioners try to be as gentle as possible. Most patients report feeling a sense of relaxation during treatment.
How do I take the herbs?
At East Melbourne Acupuncture Chinese herbal medicine is given as pills or as a herbal extract in granule form. These are taken with water, usually twice a day, before food, or as your practitioner prescribes.
How long does it take to see results?
While results vary from person to person, many patients begin to feel improvement within a few weeks of starting treatment. For chronic conditions, it may take longer, but results are often long-lasting.
References:
1. McDonald & Janz. (2017). The Acupuncture Evidence Project: A Comparative Literature Review.
2. Valera-Calero et al (2022) Efficacy of Dry Needling and Acupuncture in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 19(16)
3. Li et al (2023). Effects of acupuncture therapy in diabetic neuropathic pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2023.102992.
4. Berger et al (2021) Efficacy of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Chronic Abdominal Pain. Anesth Pain Med. 17;11(2)
5. Li et al (2020) Effectiveness and Safety of Acupuncture for Migraine: An Overview of Systematic Reviews. Pain Res Manag. doi: 10.1155/2020/3825617. PMID: 32269669;
6. Zhang et al (2022) Revealing the magic of acupuncture based on biological mechanisms: A literature review. Biosci Trends. 16(1):73-90
7. Jahromi et al (2021) Herbal Medicine for Pain Management: Efficacy and Drug Interactions. Pharmaceutics. 13(2):251.
8. Alhassen et al (2021) The Analgesic Properties of Corydalis yanhusuo. Molecules. 26(24):7498.
Book Your Chronic Pain Consultation in Melbourne Today
At East Melbourne Acupuncture, we offer a holistic, natural approach to pain management., supporting patients in East Melbourne, Collingwood, Fitzroy, Richmond, Abbotsford, Cremorne and surrounding suburbs. Let us create a personalised treatment plan to help you manage your pain and improve your quality of life.
Contact us via phone or email or book an appointment today.