Recent Advances in Acupuncture for Pain Relief
Introduction
This clinical update reviews contemporary scientific evidence supporting the use of acupuncture as a non-pharmacological approach for acute and chronic pain management. The authors draw on the 2023 International Association for the Study of Pain Global Year for Integrative Pain Care factsheet and a broad range of basic science, neuroimaging, and clinical research to evaluate how acupuncture works and its role in pain care.
Growing Research Support
Acupuncture has been increasingly studied and used worldwide for pain relief, with a substantial body of evidence from basic science and clinical research.
Mechanisms of Action
Analgesic effects are attributed to multiple physiological processes. These include local responses at needle sites, inhibition of nociceptive (pain) signaling in the spinal cord and brain, and the release of endogenous opioids and other biochemical mediators. Neuroimaging studies demonstrate that acupuncture modulates brain networks involved in sensory, affective, and cognitive aspects of pain.
Beyond Symptom Relief
In addition to reducing pain perception, acupuncture may influence underlying contributors to pain such as inflammation through autonomic nervous system pathways, suggesting it can target drivers of pain, not just symptoms.
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Clinical Context Matter
The therapeutic benefits of acupuncture are influenced by needling technique, point selection, practitioner skill, and patient interaction. Contextual and procedural factors contribute to outcomes, reflecting that acupuncture is a complex, multi-component intervention.
Safety and Integration
Acupuncture is generally low-risk when performed by trained practitioners. Its relatively favourable safety profile and potential cost-effectiveness support its consideration as part of integrative pain care alongside other therapies.
Conclusion
Although evidence quality varies, current research suggests acupuncture can provide meaningful analgesia through diverse physiological mechanisms and may be a useful adjunct or alternative within comprehensive pain management strategies.
Read the full Article
Full article is available here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11404884/