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Physical pain is a common occurrence for many and accounts for 7 of the top 10 conditions for which people use acupuncture.
A little more about Aches and Pain
Pain is a feeling triggered by the nervous system. It may be sharp or dull, off-and-on or steady, localized (such as back pain) or all over (such as muscle aches from the flu). Usually, pain is there to alert us to injuries and illnesses that need attention. Although pain usually goes away once the underlying problem is addressed, it can last for weeks, months, or even years.
Every part of your musculoskeletal system is traversed by the network of energy channels of Oriental medicine. Most of the common signs and symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders are believed to be due to a stagnation of, or obstruction to, the circulation of Qi and blood in these channels. This reduced circulation can lead to pain, stiffness, reduced range of movement, tension, swelling and heat sensations within the joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons.
wrote his Sportsmedicine Book in 1978, he coined the term RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) for the treatment of athletic injuries. Ice has been a standard treatment for injuries and sore muscles because it helps to relieve pain caused by injured tissue. However, there is no reason to apply ice more than 6 hours after your injury as it now appears that both Ice and complete Rest may delay healing, instead of helping. A summary of 22 scientific articles found almost no evidence that ice and compression hastened healing over the use of compression alone (The American Journal of Sports Medicine, January 2004).
After any injury consider treatment options such as Acupuncture (there is clinical evidence to support the use of acupuncture for pain), Moxibustion (eliminates cold and damp), Massage (increases circulation), Hot Packs (increases circulation and relaxes muscle spasms), Cupping (disperses accumulations of qi and blood), Plasters and Liniments (ready-made for bruises, sprains, and strains).
If your pain is severe or acute consider having 2-3 treatments per week initially. Once your pain is reduced and your injury is responding well, weekly treatments are sufficient until you are pain-free. A combination of acupuncture and moxibustion can also address scarring.
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