Myths About Acupuncture Debunked

Many experts agree: Americans are overmedicated. We commonly turn to prescription drugs for our aches, pains, and other issues. But those come with side effects, and a mix of multiple drugs often comes with even more unwelcome effects. 

That’s why Dr. Trace Alexander offers drug-free treatment with acupuncture. He offers this ancient, proven option to help with everything from arthritis to migraines. 

By providing acupuncture at our Legacy Pain and Regenerative Medicine offices in Plano and Addison, Texas, he can help patients feel better without prescription medication. 

To help you decide if this treatment could be right for you, we want to clear up a few myths about acupuncture. 

1. The needles hurt

Most people say acupuncture isn’t painful. 

That’s thanks to the size of the needles. They’re the thickness of a few strands of human hair. You might feel a tiny pinch at insertion, but it feels nothing like getting a shot or giving blood. Some people say they don’t feel the needles at all. 

2. It’s just woo-woo stuff

Acupuncture isn’t some New Age sham treatment. It’s a proven therapeutic modality. And it’s made a difference for people for thousands of years. While Chinese medicine providers have long used acupuncture, we didn’t have the tools to measure how it worked until recently. 

A few years ago, a team of researchers led by neuroscientists at Harvard Medical School showed how acupuncture affects neurons to trigger an anti-inflammatory response, for example. 

A recent meta-analysis looked at the growing body of clinical research on acupuncture. It found that medical experts had applied acupuncture for 184 medical conditions. For 10 of those, the effect of acupuncture was undeniably positive.

For 82, acupuncture showed what the researchers called “evidence of potential positive effect.” There was insufficient evidence for 86 of the studied conditions, and only six showed no effect from the acupuncture. 

The National Institutes of Health has also compiled evidence from studies. It reports that acupuncture is effective for back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, migraines, myofascial pain syndrome, sciatica, postoperative pain, nasal symptoms of allergies, and more. 

3. You can get good acupuncture anywhere

If you search for acupuncture providers near you, you’ll probably find plenty of options. That doesn’t mean they’re all quality, though. 

To get optimal results from acupuncture, you should see a trained medical expert. Ideally, this person won’t just provide the targeted acupuncture you need, but also suggest tandem treatments to support optimal outcomes.

If you live with low back pain, for example, Dr. Alexander might recommend acupuncture paired with chiropractic care. Combining these two drug-free treatments may help you get faster, longer-lasting pain relief. 

To explore what acupuncture could do for you, see Dr. Alexander. Call Legacy Pain and Regenerative Medicine at 972-899-9797 or book your visit online today.