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Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the oldest and most commonly used medical procedures in the world. It didn’t become widely known in the United States until the 1970s, with reports of China using acupuncture to alleviate pain during major surgeries, often without the need for modern anesthesia.

How does acupuncture work?

In traditional Chinese medicine, health and disease are governed by the flow of Qi, the “breath” or “life energy” that flows through all people. Blockages of this flow or other external or internal factors (infections, dampness, heat, or cold, excessive emotion or worry), can disrupt this flow and lead to pain, disease and emotional distress. Acupuncture points are the points where these channels can be accessed to correct these blockages or imbalances.

In modern medicine, acupuncture is found to affect the body in a number of ways. Acupuncture stimulates the nervous system to change or release a number of chemicals or hormones that affect the body’s internal regulating systems.

Some well-documented examples include improving the release of endorphins, serotonin and dopamine, altering the activity of the autonomic nervous system, and influencing the body’s hormonal systems to release more or less pituitary and adrenal hormones.

Does acupuncture work?

While the scientific study of acupuncture is challenging, recent clinical work has shown that acupuncture can be helpful for a number of different conditions as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Pediatric-specific randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trials (another gold standard of clinical effectiveness) have found acupuncture to be effective for reducing childhood pain related to surgery and emotional conditions.

What is acupuncture like?

Children are often afraid that acupuncture needles will hurt, thinking it will feel like vaccination injections. Everyone experiences acupuncture differently, but most patients feel minimal or no pain.

Acupuncture treatments can range from using one to 15 needles, based on the condition and patient being treated. Acupuncture needles are bendable, hair-like, very thin and solid (not hollow to allow for a liquid to be injected). Because of this, there is minimal risk of bleeding or bruising. The insertion through the skin is often not painful.

Pediatric acupuncture is different from adult acupuncture. As a pediatric pain program, we are experienced in working with children and adolescents to meet them where they are and develop an approach that is not overly painful.

Acupuncture dos and don’ts

To make the day of your treatment go as smoothly as possible, we recommend the following:

  • Do not eat a large meal immediately before or after your treatment.
  • Do not arrive hungry or on an empty stomach. Have a small snack prior to treatment.
  • Do not exercise within six hours before or after treatment.
  • Plan your activities so that, after treatment, you don’t have to be at top performance. This would include big school exams, performances or sporting events.
  • Continue taking regularly prescribed medications as directed by your doctor.

Need more?

For a comprehensive review of the clinical evidence supporting acupuncture, the US Department of Veterans Affairs created an “Evidence Map for Acupuncture.” Read more here.