What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine, single use, stainless steel needles into the skin.
How acupuncture works
Western medical acupuncture is the use of acupuncture following a medical diagnosis. It involves stimulating sensory nerves under the skin and in the muscles of the body.
It works by stimulating the body to produce endorphins (the body’s natural pain killers), melatonin (promotes sleep) and serotonin (promotes well-being), together helping the healing process.
It's likely that these naturally released substances are responsible for the beneficial effects experienced with acupuncture.
Acupuncture practitioners use acupuncture to treat a wide range of health conditions. However, the use of acupuncture isn't always based on rigorous scientific evidence.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides guidelines for the NHS on the use of treatments and care of patients.
Currently, NICE only recommends considering acupuncture as a treatment option for:
- chronic tension type headaches
- migraines
Acupuncture is also often used to treat other musculoskeletal conditions (of the bones and muscles) and pain conditions, including:
- chronic pain, such as back and neck pain
- joint pain
- postoperative pain
Typically up to 12 single-use, pre-sterilised needles are inserted in the skin for between 20 and 30 minutes. You may experience tingling, a dull ache or drowsiness. Sometimes the needles are stimulated.
The benefits include the relief of pain, reduced muscular tension and increased mobility. It is normally combined with other treatments for sports injuries, back and neck pain, arthritis, headaches and soft tissue injuries.