Acupuncture in Geneva
A treatment that relieves chronic pain
What is chronic pain?
Chronic pain is characterised by the fact that it exists for a long period of time. It can last from 3-6 months to several years, without any real long-term effective treatment. This persistent pain gradually compromises the well-being, the functional level and the quality of life of the person affected.
The symptoms of chronic pain can vary from mildly annoying to totally disabling. Often, chronic pain is not static. It can change and intensify as one goes about one's daily activities.
Chronic pain is one of the most frequent reasons for consulting conventional medicine. Fortunately, it is possible to relieve pain without analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs. Or at least by reducing the doses as much as possible.
Indeed, acupuncture can be an effective treatment for the relief of chronic pain such as back pain, osteoarthritis, migraine or shoulder pain.
Acupuncture: a precision treatment
The treatment principle of acupuncture for chronic pain is primarily to regulate all metabolic systems by rebalancing the energy system.
For Chinese medicine, good health starts from a good distribution of energies. And through this energetic balance it is all the functions of the body that are re-harmonised and which will therefore be able to regulate the dysfunctions leading to chronic pain.
Acupuncture involves the implantation of small needles at specific points on the body located on meridians, where energy flows (Qi) are believed to circulate. These acupuncture points are selected according to the pain in order to clear a specific blockage in the patient's energy flow.
The soothing effect of acupuncture results from the brain stimulation triggered by the needles and the release of natural analgesic chemicals. Such as serotonin and endorphin which can help relax muscles, ease anxiety and reduce pain.
In other words, acupuncture acts on pain by modulating several mechanisms through neurotransmitters, hormones and the immune system.
The benefits of acupuncture for chronic pain
The interest of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic pain lies in the way it takes into account both the vital energy of the body and the environmental factors. Such as temperature, emotions, nutrition or injury.
On the other hand, the action that acupuncture takes on the circulation of energies to rebalance the relationship between the organs is both preventive, because the weakened organism is rebalanced and therefore strengthened, and curative, because the organs affected by the pain are identified and treated.
Finally, the therapeutic process takes place in a true collaboration between the patient who tries to define as precisely as possible his painful sensations and the practitioner who tries to adjust as finely as possible the combinations of points to be punctured.
For patients with chronic pain such as migraines, osteoarthritis, back pain or shoulder pain. Acupuncture can be a useful addition to pain therapy, e.g. based on anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs.
But acupuncture can also be used as an autonomous pain therapy in traditional Chinese medicine.
Acupuncture: a global and effective action
While most conventional medicines seek to treat the symptomatic part of chronic pain, acupuncture will look for the deeper roots and origins that caused the pain.
The principle of acupuncture is to treat the patient's overall health through a basic energy treatment. Thus, the global approach of acupuncture allows not only to act on the pain but also on the symptoms which result from it or which can aggravate it.
Indeed, chronic pain is often accompanied by other symptoms: depression, irritability, insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, etc. Acupuncture treatments can have a positive effect on all these symptoms. Thus, acupuncture treats both physical and emotional aspects. Body and mind are not separated.
Acupuncture: scientifically proven to be effective
Acupuncture has been practised in China for over 2000 years. After all these years of use, this alternative medicine is now recognised by much of the scientific community as an effective therapy for the treatment of pain.
A meta-analysis published in 2012 evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture in relieving back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, chronic migraine and shoulder pain. This meta-analysis included about 28 studies with a total of about 18,000 patients. The researchers concluded that acupuncture is effective for the treatment of chronic pain.
Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese practice, is today a popular and effective method of treatment in complementary medicine. It can quickly alleviate or even cure acute pain and mental disorders, either totally or partially.
