Acupuncture for Pain
Dr (TCM) Angelo D'Alberto practises a unique style of acupuncture where acupuncture points are stimulated away from the painful area. These points are neural nodes on the body and when stimulated with an acupuncture needle can affect both the central and peripheral nervous systems, triggering the release of endorphins and enkephalins, which have pain-relieving properties.
Stimulating points away from the actual painful area allows the patient to move their body during the session to give a better idea if the treatment is working and the pain reducing with the effects often being immediate, like ‘turning off a light switch’.
Acupuncture is a time-tested, reliable and effective method for treating any painful condition including:
- Back pain
- Sciatica
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Knee pain
- Elbow pain, tennis elbow
- Carpal tunnel, RSI
- Headaches and Migraines
- Sinusitis
- Facial pain, Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis
How does acupuncture work for pain?
- Acupuncture promotes blood flow. Everything the body needs to heal is carried in the blood – oxygen, nutrients from food, immune substances, hormones, analgesics, and anti-inflammatories so it makes sense that increasing blood flow to the affected area is going to quicken the healing response.
- Acupuncture stimulates the body’s healing mechanisms. By creating a small ‘micro trauma’ where the acupuncture needle is inserted the body is stimulated to heal that area so that any tissue damage is also healed.
- Acupuncture releases the body’s natural painkillers. When a needle is inserted into the body a signal is sent to the brain so that chemicals such as endorphins, adrenaline and enkephalin are released. Some of these substances are more potent than morphine!
- Acupuncture reduces both the intensity and perception of chronic pain.
- Acupuncture relaxes shortened contracted muscles.
- Acupuncture reduces stress. Research suggests that acupuncture stimulates the release of oxytocin, a hormone and signalling substance that regulates the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system is in many ways the opposite of the sympathetic nervous system and its ‘fight-or-flight’ response.