Acupuncture helps back pain better than standard therapy


Acupuncture is a very effective treatment for back pain: Several recent studies (click here for back pain studies in the USA and the German GERAC studies) have shown that acupuncture is up to twice as effective as the standard “Western” medical treatment.
Acupuncture, especially in combination with moxibustion normally provides quick relief of pain and stiffness, and helps to get you moving normally again. In addition to the acupuncture treatment in the office, I often use “takeaway” treatment techniques like acupressure taping and ear acupuncture for ongoing pain relief between visits and boosting your recovery.

Which sorts of back pain respond to acupuncture?


Acupuncture helps with back pain of nearly all causes, because the treatment is tailored to your individual presentation and pattern of pain, restriction of movement and underlying constitution.
You do not need to stop taking anti-inflammatories or pain medication to get pain relief from acupuncture. When your pain is chronic or severe, so that you need to take medication, acupuncture helps reduce the cause of the pain, so your need for medication lessens.

If you are pregnant...


... and suffering from back pain, then acupuncture is a great treatment. It is safe for you and your baby, does not use drugs and can address other pregnancy problems at the same time.

How fast will you get relief?


Acute back pain (“sprained back”, sciatica) of recent onset usually improves quickly. Most of my patients begin to get noticeably better during their acupuncture session and improve steadily during a series of treatments. This sort of back pain is usually resolved in a few sessions.
Chronic and recurring back pain (caused by disc prolapses, arthritis, rheumatism, scoliosis and the likes) also responds well to acupuncture. A bit more patience is needed to see the full effect of acupuncture, as the effect of each treatment adds to the previous ones. In the meantime, medication often works better, so less is needed, and seems to produce less side effects.

Another rule of thumb is that reading this web page alone does not give you the same benefits as actually getting acupuncture. The sooner you book an appointment, the faster you get to see the acupuncturist. :)

What you can do until your appointment


  • Warmth and rest are helpful, but not for long periods of time. Staying in bed for longer than three days is actually shown to slow down recovery from back pain.
  • Get moving normally as soon as possible. “Moving normally” means stuff like walking or doing dishes. It does not mean running marathons, trampolining or weight lifting. If you have to, take panadol (paracetamol) or non-prescription anti-inflammatories according to the instructions on the package. (If you should not take these for any reason, don’t take them, obviously.) If your pain does not improve from this within 2-3 days, see your acupuncturist or doctor.
  • Keep your pain levels low. If you take pain medication, don’t just “take the tip off the iceberg”, but take it to reduce your pain levels continually, according to the instructions the package. Being in pain is stressful and tiring for your body, and both stress and tiredness make you more susceptible to pain. While pain medication does not treat the cause of your pain, it can give your body the break it needs to deal with the cause.
  • Reduce your stress. Being “stressed” makes you more sensitive to pain and slows down your tissue healing. The less “stressed” you are, the faster you’ll recover.
  • Get enough sleep. Take 20 minute daytime naps (with a timer) if you are very tired. Lack of sleep makes you more susceptible to pain.
  • Try applying heat (hot water bottle, wheat bag) to the painful area. If it helps your pain, make sure you keep the area warm. If your pain gets worse from heat, though, do not continue to apply heat.
  • Every night, take a warm foot bath. According to Chinese medicine, the “Kidney energy governs over the lower back”, so if the Kidney energy is low, one gets prone to back pain. Warm foot baths are an easy way of supporting and strengthening Kidney energy.
  • Take a magnesium supplement and the biochemical tissue salt Mag Phos (No. 8) according to the instructions. Magnesium helps to reduce cramping and muscle spasm, and the tissue salt helps with speedy uptake of magnesium in the body.
  • Have you made your appointment yet?