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Pain
How to Treat Interstitial Cystitis With Acupuncture and TCM
By Xiaomei Cai, L.Ac. Ph.D. & Qineng Tan, L.Ac., Ph.D.
Bladder pain and pressure? Urinary urgency? Pelvic pain that feels like a UTI or bladder infection? Interstitial cystitis is a painful bladder syndrome caused by bladder inflammation. Acupuncture and TCM offer an alternative interstitial cystitis treatment that can help relieve interstitial cystitis symptoms.
Interstitial cystitis is a chronic pain condition that is difficult to diagnose and treat with conventional medicine. It is generally considered a urological or gynecological condition, but actually, men and women can both experience what is sometimes referred to as painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) or “frequency-urgency-dysuria syndrome.” Dysuria means “painful urination.”
While interstitial cystitis can be different from person to person, the best way to describe it is feeling like you have the urinary frequency that is characteristic of a UTI or symptoms bladder infection all the time—except that there is no bacterial infection present, so the condition does not get better with antibiotics.
Interstitial cystitis and overactive bladder (OAB) share many of the same signs and symptoms and can sometimes overlap. The primary difference between these two conditions is that interstitial cystitis usually involves pelvic pain in addition to urinary urgency, while overactive bladder involves urinary incontinence, but usually not significant bladder pain.
That feeling of bladder pressure and urinary urgency can really get in the way of your daily activities. People who suffer from interstitial cystitis may feel like they’re going to the bathroom every few minutes all day long. Even though they’re peeing a lot, though, the painful urgency to urinate again returns quickly.
Interstitial cystitis involves irritation and inflammation of the bladder that can ultimately cause a buildup of scar tissue in the bladder and may decrease its capacity to hold urine. There may also be small amounts of blood in the urine (hematuria) due to pinpoint bleeding on the bladder walls.
What Causes Interstitial Cystitis?
Medical science has not yet discovered why some people experience interstitial cystitis (IC). It has been suggested that it may be related to an autoimmune disease attacking the bladder or causing inflammatory cells to develop in the bladder, nerve signals that are causing painful sensations even though nothing is wrong, some type of allergic reaction to chemicals in the urine, or sores developing in the bladder lining.
Some people who suffer from interstitial cystitis may also have IBS, fibromyalgia, migraines, or other chronic pain conditions. There is some evidence that IC is associated with also having an autoimmune condition, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or a thyroid disorder.
Interstitial cystitis bladder pain is a complex problem with both physical and emotional components. The urgency to pee can become so persistent and painful that it gets in the way of normal life, and even relationships. Fortunately, TCM and acupuncture offer holistic treatment for interstitial cystitis that can help relieve pain and anxiety.
Top 5 Interstitial Cystitis Symptoms
Each person’s experience of interstitial cystitis is unique. For some, the uncomfortable sensations of urinary frequency and bladder pressure may come and go. For others, bladder pain may be constant.
The common symptoms of interstitial cystitis include:
- Urinary frequency, peeing a lot
- Urinary urgency, feeling like you have to pee even when you just went
- Only peeing a small amount when you go
- Bladder pain, bladder pressure, pelvic pain, pain in the perineum
- Pain during sex
Menstruation can cause interstitial cystitis pain to worsen, as can certain foods or drinks, having sex, or sitting for long stretches of time.
Top 10 Triggers of Interstitial Cystitis Pain
People with interstitial cystitis are often advised to keep a record of their eating habits and pay attention to what foods or beverages seem to make their symptoms worse.
Things that may trigger bladder pain include:
- Tomatoes
- Citrus fruits
- Alcohol
- Caffeine – coffee, tea
- Carbonated beverages, soda, pop
- Fruit juice
- Chocolate
- Artificial sweeteners
- Milk and other dairy foods
- Spicy foods
Going on an elimination diet, in which you avoid certain foods for a period of time and see if your symptoms abate, may help.
Interstitial Cystitis Treatment
Medical treatment for interstitial cystitis is focused mainly on mitigating symptoms. Painkillers, antihistamines, and antidepressants are most commonly prescribed to help relieve painful bladder syndrome.
Amitriptyline is approved to treat depression, but is sometimes used to help treat autoimmune-related chronic pain due to fibromyalgia and MS, as well as interstitial cystitis.
Elmiron is a drug specifically approved to help protect the lining of the bladder from irritation. It can take several months for it to start working. It has some serious side effects, including potentially permanent damage to the retinas of the eyes.
Bladder instillations for interstitial cystitis are “cocktails” of medicines that are injected into the bladder with a catheter and held for 15-30 minutes. Treatments may be given weekly or a few times per week over the course of several weeks. Some people get relief from their symptoms with this method. Others may find the catheterization process uncomfortable or painful.
None of these treatments are a cure for interstitial cystitis. TCM and acupuncture offer an alternative treatment for painful bladder syndrome that can relieve pain and address the root cause of the problem.
Can Acupuncture Help Interstitial Cystitis?
According to TCM, the healthy function of the bladder relies heavily on the kidney and spleen, which provide yang energy to warm the bladder. When the Kidney Qi is deficient, the bladder may be too weak to hold urine.
Kidney Qi can be weakened by a long illness, or by repeated UTIs that have not been adequately addressed. It has been noted through medical imaging that prolonged illnesses can cause the bladder to contract in size. It can also become much more sensitive.
Painful urination can begin after someone has a difficult childbirth or other trauma to the pelvic organs. This can have consequences that affect someone both physically and emotionally.
Stagnation of Liver Qi can occur due to a strong emotional upset or depression. The Liver channel moves around and through the pelvis and external genital organs, so when Liver Qi is not moving freely, it can lead to pain or dysfunction in this area. Particularly if Liver Qi has too much heat, it can negatively impact the function of the bladder and pelvic floor area.
To determine what is causing interstitial cystitis pain, an acupuncturist will look carefully at other, seemingly unrelated symptoms that person is experiencing.
For example, if bladder pain is accompanied by fatigue, ear ringing (tinnitus), and cold hands and feet, those are all indicators that Kidney Yang is deficient and cold. Ears are considered to be the opening of the Kidney meridian.
If they are thirsty all the time, have a lot of allergies, warm hands, and tend to feel anxious, these are signs that Kidney Yang is too hot.
An acupuncture treatment protocol will then be developed accordingly to address both the pain and pressure on the bladder, as well as the underlying conditions that are causing imbalances in the organ systems.
Moxibustion treatment and electro-acupuncture may also be used to help relieve bladder pain symptoms.
One study in which patients diagnosed with interstitial cystitis were given one acupuncture treatment per week for four consecutive weeks found that urinary frequency was significantly decreased.
Another study showed that a majority of patients who received weekly acupuncture for three months showed significant improvement or complete relief from urinary symptoms.
Another study suggested that acupuncture treatment may help to relieve bladder irritation and urgency by helping to block nerve impulses around the urethra, the neck of the bladder, and the pelvic floor area.
Acupuncture Near Me for Interstitial Cystitis
Acupuncture is a particularly good modality for helping to treat complicated issues when conventional medicine is not working. Interstitial cystitis is still not well understood by modern science, but TCM methods work well to relieve both physical and emotional pain associated with painful bladder syndrome. If you are experiencing urinary frequency and bladder pressure, but know that you don’t have an infection, please consider giving acupuncture a try.
*This article is for education from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine only. The education provided by this article is not approved by FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure human diseases. It should not stop you from consulting with your physician for your medical conditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on Qi, which is an invisible force that usually cannot be observed by modern science. Because science focuses on testing ideas about the natural world with evidence obtained through observation, these aspects of acupuncture can’t be studied by science. Therefore acupuncture and Chinese herbs are often not supported by double-blind, randomized trials, and they are considered alternative medicine therapies in the United States.
How to Treat Ovulation Pain With Acupuncture and TCM
By Xiaomei Cai, L.Ac., Ph.D. and Qineng Tan, L.Ac., Ph.D.
Cramping during ovulation, ovary pain, ovulation pain on one side? Ovulation cramps are very common. Acupuncture and TCM can help ease severe ovulation pain and help with all kinds of ovulation disorders.
The medical term for ovulation pain is “Mittelschmerz,” which means “middle pain” in German. The term Mittelschmerz syndrome refers to the fact that ovulation cramps occur in the middle of the menstrual cycle, typically about 14 days before the next menstrual period.
Studies have suggested that 35-50% of people who ovulate experience cramping during ovulation. Other ovulation symptoms include:
- Ovulation pain on one side
- Pelvic pain, abdominal pain
- Dull ache or sharp twinge of pain in pelvis
- Vaginal pain during ovulation, vaginal cramps
- Cervical cramps, cervix cramps, cervical pain
- Pain around or near the tailbone, tailbone pain
- Back pain, hip pain, or rib pain
- Bloating, bloated stomach
- Fatigue
- Breast tenderness
- Mood swings
- Spotting
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Lack of appetite
The process of ovulation involves luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulating follicles on the ovary to mature then break free from the ovary and move through the fallopian tube.
Follicles are like small cysts which stretch the surface of the ovary and then rupture. Blood and other fluids may be released, and this may be part of what causes pelvic pain during ovulation.
Estrogen levels are usually at their highest at the time of ovulation, which can contribute to water retention and uncomfortable bloating in the pelvic area.
For people who are trying to get pregnant, ovulation pain and fertility—or ovulation pain and pregnancy success—may seem related, because the cramping lets them know when they are most fertile.
Many people never notice any signs of ovulation if they aren’t specifically watching for them. For some, ovary pain during ovulation is a sharp cramp that only lasts a few minutes, or a few hours. For others, ovulation pain and pelvic cramps can be so severe that they are debilitating.
Acupuncture and TCM treatment can help relieve ovulation cramps and help regulate hormones to alleviate other ovulation symptoms and problems, as well.
What Causes Ovulation Pain?
Why do some people experience more severe ovulation pain than others? Medical science has not determined exactly why some people experience pain during ovulation and others don’t.
Sometimes ovulation pain can be so bad that people go to the emergency room. In this case, doctors will want to rule out other possibilities. Many conditions can cause pelvic pain, including:
- Appendicitis
- Constipation
- UTI
- IBS
- Celiac disease
- Interstitial cystitis
- Kidney stones
- Gallbladder attack
- Ulcer
- STIs
- Bowel obstruction
- Hernia
Pelvic pain that is related to the reproductive organs can include:
- Menstrual cramps, PMS, dysmenorrhea, painful periods
- Ovarian cyst, ruptured ovarian cyst, twisted ovarian cyst
- Endometriosis
- Uterine fibroids, leiomyoma of the uterus
- Pregnancy
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Scar tissue in the pelvic area
- Cancers of the reproductive organs
These conditions not only cause pain, but may interfere with fertility if and when you are ready to conceive.
Endometriosis Ovulation Pain or Ovarian Cyst Pain?
Ovary pain may be related to other issues, apart from ovulation.
Some women begin to experience more ovulation pain when they are going through perimenopause, due to changing estrogen levels.
Ovarian cysts—sacs filled with fluid that develop on the ovaries—are very common. These usually form during ovulation and then go away on their own. However, in some instances, they grow larger, and can cause considerable pain.
Signs of ovarian cyst may be a constant ache, or one that comes and goes, or sudden, sharp pains that happen occasionally. Other ovarian cyst symptoms include: bloating, swelling, and pressure in the pelvic area. If the cyst ruptures, there may be a very sudden, severe pain on one side, and if the cyst becomes twisted or torqued, there may be severe pain accompanied by nausea or vomiting.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal condition in which a person does not ovulate regularly. In many cases, lots of small cysts form on the ovaries, which can cause bloating and pelvic pain.
Ovulation pain can be differentiated from PCOS or ovarian cyst pain mainly by the fact that it occurs only during a specific window of time during the ovulation cycle. If you are using a fertility calculator (ovulation calculator) to track your cycle, then you may be more aware of how your ovulation cycle works and when your fertile window is going to occur.
Endometriosis is a condition in which uterine lining tissues develop in other areas of the body, particularly on the ovaries and fallopian tubes. One of the primary symptoms of endometriosis is pelvic pain, which can be severe and happen at any time during the menstrual cycle. Some people report increased pain during ovulation, as well as severe menstrual pain.
Endometriomas (also known as “chocolate cysts”) can develop in and around the ovaries. There can also be scar tissues, or adhesions, around the ovaries. These tissues may contribute to the increased pain ovulation can cause when you have endometriosis. In these cases, the pain may radiate to other areas, even down to the thighs. Having sex may also be painful around the time of ovulation.
It is important to consult with a health professional if you are experiencing ovary pain, vaginal pain or severe menstrual pain.
PCOS and endometriosis not only cause pain and other uncomfortable symptoms, but can lead to infertility.
If your periods are irregular, or you have reason to suspect that you are not ovulating, it is important to seek health care. Severe pain or missed periods may be sending a signal that there is a deeper issue that needs to be addressed.
Treatment for Ovulation Pain
Ovulation pain may not occur every month. Some people may get relief from occasional ovulation pain by taking over the counter pain relievers like ibuprofen.
If ovary pain is happening frequently and is unbearable, a doctor may recommend hormonal birth control, like oral contraceptives or the Nuvaring. These birth control methods suppress ovulation, and therefore prevent mittelschmerz. However, hormonal birth control can have other negative side effects, and is not suitable for those who may be trying to get pregnant.
Can Acupuncture Help Ovulation Pain?
In TCM, we see ovulation as being a transition from Yin dominant energy to Yang dominant energy. The Yin energy has built up to the point when the egg is released, then Yang energy warms the uterus to prepare it for potential conception.
If there is stagnant Qi (life force energy) in the organ systems, this can cause the intense cramps some people experience during ovulation.
Acupuncture treatment, herbs, and the right nutrition can help move Qi and blood. The smooth flow of Liver Qi, in particular, is essential to not only enhance fertility, but to help ovulation and menstruation occur without blockages that cause pain.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbs have been shown to help relieve all types of gynecologically related pelvic pain, including endometriosis pain, menstrual pain, and period back pain.
Acupuncture treatment has a natural effect on the key hormones involved in follicle development, ovulation, and menstruation: estrogen, progesterone and prostaglandins. Balancing these hormones can help to regulate ovulation when it is not occurring, and also to help relieve cramps, tension, and other symptoms.
Top 3 Acupressure Points for Ovulation Pain
Here are some acupoints for ovulation cramps that you can use to help relieve pelvic pain.
- “Sea of Qi” CV6 – 1-2 inches below belly button, massage in a circular motion for at least a minute
- San Jiao Jiu CA6- 2 points that make a triangle with the navel, press firmly
- Zigong Ren Channel 3 – 4-5 inches below the belly button, press firmly for a minute
Acupuncture Near Me for Ovulation Pain
Whether you are experiencing monthly ovulation cramping, not sure when or if you are ovulating, or suspect that you may have PCOS, endometriosis, or fibroids, TCM and acupuncture offer a highly effective alternative treatment for gynecological issues. The doctors at Art of Wellness are highly respected experts when it comes to fertility treatment and women’s health. Their unique knowledge of Western gynecology and obstetrics combined with TCM allows them to work with you and your individual situation.
*This article is for education from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine only. The education provided by this article is not approved by FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure human diseases. It should not stop you from consulting with your physician for your medical conditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on Qi, which is an invisible force that usually cannot be observed by modern science. Because science focuses on testing ideas about the natural world with evidence obtained through observation, these aspects of acupuncture can’t be studied by science. Therefore acupuncture and Chinese herbs are often not supported by double-blind, randomized trials, and they are considered alternative medicine therapies in the United States.
How to Treat Diverticulitis With Acupuncture and TCM
By Qineng Tan, L.Ac., Ph.D. and Xiaomei Cai, L.Ac., Ph.D.
Pain in lower left abdomen? Stomach pain or pain in lower abdomen? Nausea, vomiting? Constipation or diarrhea? These may be diverticulitis symptoms. Acupuncture and TCM offer a way to help relieve diverticulitis pain and restore normal bowel function.
Diverticulosis refers to the presence of small sacs or pouches of tissue inside the large intestine, most often the colon (colonic diverticulitis), which are called “diverticula.”
Diverticulitis refers to the condition that occurs when the sacs become inflamed and infected. Diverticulitis causes pain and other symptoms like bloating and pain in left abdomen that might feel better after you pass gas or have a bowel movement.
Diverticular disease is becoming more and more common and is particularly widespread amongst older people, with at least half of all people over the age of 60 showing signs of diverticulosis.
While medical science has not definitively determined why people develop diverticulosis, it is believed to be due to eating a diet that is low in fiber and high in fatty foods like red meat.
Sedentary lifestyle (lack of exercise), being overweight or obese, smoking cigarettes, and regular use of anti-inflammatory medications or OTC pain medications (NSAIDs) may also be factors in the development of diverticulosis.
Many people have diverticulosis but are unaware of it because they don’t have any symptoms. It is only when the diverticula become infected and inflamed that diverticulitis treatment becomes necessary.
Acupuncture and TCM offer an alternative diverticulitis treatment that can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation in the colon.
Top 5 Diverticulitis Symptoms
Diverticulitis symptoms are believed to occur because something like a bit of undigested food or stool becomes trapped inside one of the diverticula, and then bacteria start to grow, causing an infection.
While a person can have diverticulosis for a long time without any signs, symptoms of diverticulitis may come on suddenly and be quite severe.
The common signs of diverticulitis include:
- Abdominal pain or cramping, particularly pain in lower left abdomen—although in Asian countries, pain in lower right abdomen seems to be more prevalent. The pain may be constant, or it can come and go.
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Fever and/or chills
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Rectal bleeding, bloody stool
Sometimes diverticulitis may cause a total lack of appetite and sudden weight loss, as a person just stops feeling like eating anything.
Diverticulitis can sometimes lead to more serious complications, like an abscess—which is when the infected area swells and fills with pus—or perforation of the bowel wall. These kinds of issues may require surgery.
Diverticulitis Treatment
Some other gastrointestinal disorders can present with symptoms that are similar to those of diverticulitis, such as: colitis or inflammatory bowel disease, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), or bowel obstruction. Gynecological problems like endometriosis, an ovarian cyst, or an ectopic pregnancy could also cause severe pain in the lower left abdomen. A UTI could also cause acute abdominal pain.
Diagnosis of diverticulitis will usually begin with a doctor feeling the abdomen for signs of tenderness, then they will order tests (blood tests, urine tests, and/or stool tests) to check for infection. Once other problems have been ruled out, a CT scan may show the diverticula (infected sacs/pouches in the large intestine).
There is some debate about when to perform a colonoscopy in cases of diverticulitis, as the procedure can cause perforations of the intestinal lining to become worse. Usually, a colonoscopy is recommended several weeks after a person has recovered from an acute attack of diverticulitis.
Because diverticulitis is usually caused by an infection, the most common medical treatment is a course of antibiotics, along with rest and pain relievers, until the acute symptoms have abated. A liquid diet may be indicated until the situation improves, with the gradual reintroduction of solid foods.
Recommendations will usually include that a person quits smoking (if they smoke) and makes changes in their diet: especially eating less meat and fatty foods and increasing fiber intake. It used to be common for doctors to tell their patients not to eat foods like popcorn, seeds, or nuts, under the assumption that small, hard kernels might become trapped in the diverticula and cause irritation. However, more research has shown that eating these types of foods does not seem to cause flare-ups of diverticulitis.
If these treatments do not help to relieve diverticulitis pain, or if a complication like an abscess or perforation in the colon wall develops, surgery may be necessary. The most common surgery for diverticulitis is a colon resection, which involves removing the part(s) of the large intestine that have been damaged. Sometimes it is not possible to repair the colon completely, and in these cases, a person may have to have a colostomy.
Acupuncture and TCM offer an alternative or adjunct treatment for diverticulitis that can help reduce inflammation in the bowel and relieve abdominal pain.
Can Acupuncture Help Diverticulitis?
An acupuncturist will make a TCM diagnosis based on where and what kind of abdominal pain and other diverticulitis symptoms a patient is experiencing. According to TCM theory, pain and problems with the digestive organs can be related both to stagnant Qi (life energy) or blood in that area, and the presence of a pathogenic force like dampness, heat, or cold.
The quality of diverticulitis pain and how it changes when you eat or move your bowels will provide clues as to what the root cause is.
In TCM, the spleen is considered to be responsible for turning nutrients into energy; when it is not functioning well, a person may have diarrhea. Strengthening the spleen is usually an important part of TCM treatment for diverticulitis and other digestive disorders.
Your acupuncture practitioner can help relieve symptoms like nausea, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and stomach pain, while also helping to heal and strengthen the lining of the intestines and reducing inflammation. Boosting immune function will help prevent further infections.
It is generally necessary for a person with diverticulosis to make changes in their dietary habits. While increasing intake of fiber and fluids is important, there are probably even more specific foods that are triggering the dysfunction of the gastrointestinal system, creating excess heat or dampness in the internal organs. TCM nutrition views all foods as having properties that either cool or warm the body. So, your acupuncturist will be able to advise you on what food program will work best to balance your health.
In general, nourishing broths, soups, and well-cooked vegetables with lean proteins and whole grains with plenty of fiber are the best diet for people with diverticulitis. Avoid cold, raw foods, fatty foods, red meat, and dairy.
Acupuncture Near Me for Diverticulitis In West Los Angeles
Acupuncture and TCM provide an effective way to treat abdominal pain and gastrointestinal disorders of all kinds. At Art of Wellness, we have over 35 years of experience helping people find pain relief and improve their digestive health.
*This article is for education from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine only. The education provided by this article is not approved by FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure human diseases. It should not stop you from consulting with your physician for your medical conditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on Qi, which is an invisible force that usually cannot be observed by modern science. Because science focuses on testing ideas about the natural world with evidence obtained through observation, these aspects of acupuncture can’t be studied by science. Therefore acupuncture and Chinese herbs are often not supported by double-blind, randomized trials, and they are considered alternative medicine therapies in the United States.
How To Help Dependence on Hydrocodone and Other Opioid Pain Medication With Acupuncture and TCM
By Qineng Tan, L.Ac., Ph.D. & Xiaomei Cai, L.Ac., Ph.D.
Many people are prescribed strong pain medication when they are in need of pain relief. Opioid drugs may help relieve pain, but they can also create a physical dependence as a person develops a tolerance for the painkillers. Acupuncture and TCM offer an alternative to opiate drugs and opioids like Codeine and Vicodin for treating pain, and a way to help treat both opioid dependence and addiction.
We often hear in the news that the U.S. is facing an “opioid epidemic.” Recent statistics suggest that over ten million Americans may have an opioid use disorder. CDC data showed that over 75,000 people died from opioid overdoses in 2021.
Some of the most commonly used pain medications include:
- Oxycodone (Oxycontin)
- Hydrocodone (Vicodin)
- Oxymorphone
- Morphine
- Methadone
- Fentanyl
- Codeine
- Tramadol
- Buprenorphine
Opioid medications are also known as “narcotics.” “Opiate” drugs are derived naturally from the poppy plant. These include: opium, codeine, and heroin. “Opioids” are synthetically produced in a lab. These include: oxycodone and fentanyl.
People are prescribed opioids or opiates to help them deal with severe pain, but the medications themselves can then become the primary cause of suffering in their lives. Roughly a quarter of people who are prescribed opioid pain medications end up misusing them.
Opioid misuse can mean different things, like: taking more than the prescribed dosage, using someone else’s medication, or continuing to take the medication even though it is having a negative impact on your health and life.
Dependence on opioids is different from addiction, and it is possible to experience drug dependence with or without also having a substance use disorder.
When a person becomes dependent on a medication, it means that they require a certain dose of that substance in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms. This is why these medications are closely monitored by the prescribing medical doctor, so that the dosage is carefully controlled. A person may need to be slowly weaned off the medications when they are no longer necessary, so as to avoid withdrawal.
It is also possible for a person to develop an addiction to opioids, as they stimulate the release of endorphins, which help to block pain signals and produce positive feelings. When this process is repeated over and over, the body starts producing less endorphins naturally, and a higher dosage of the opioid medication is required to produce the same effect; this is what we mean by “tolerance” to the drug.
Addiction to opioids—or an opioid use disorder—is more likely the longer a person takes them—for example, for a chronic pain condition. Other factors, like depression or anxiety, high levels of stress at work or home, and use of other substances like tobacco and alcohol, can also play a role in addiction risk.
It can be difficult, even for doctors, to distinguish between physical dependence and addiction. Addiction is usually defined by “abuse” or “misuse.” When a person feels that they cannot live without the medication, though, there is clearly a problem.
Acupuncture and TCM may play an important role in helping both individuals, and society as a whole, overcome dependence on opioid pain medications because it addresses the problem in several ways.
Top 10 Reasons Acupuncture Is a Good Alternative to Opioids for Pain Relief
Acupuncture has a natural analgesic effect and can help relieve severe pain and chronic pain, without negative side effects.
- Acupuncture and other TCM modalities are an effective alternative for pain relief.
- Acupuncture can be used to treat both acute pain and chronic pain.
- Acupuncture can help reduce the need for opioid-like medications after surgeries, by helping relieve postoperative pain.
- Acupuncture and herbs can help postoperative wounds heal more quickly.
- Acupuncture can help cancer patients by providing pain relief and additionally helping to relieve nausea and mitigating other side effects of cancer treatment.
- Acupuncture provides pain relief without negative side effects.
- Acupuncture can help individuals who are trying to stop taking opiates avoid withdrawal symptoms.
- Acupuncture can help alleviate cravings for addictive substances.
- Acupuncture helps to effect the release of endorphins naturally, which provides the same good feelings as drugs initially do.
- Acupuncture can be a more cost effective way to treat pain and addiction than other methods.
Treatment for Opioid Dependence
Methadone Maintenance treatment (MMT) is widely used to treat opioid addiction or dependence. This method involves replacing the opioid drug with methadone, which is a synthetic opioid, so it acts on the same centers of the brain, which helps to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. This can help people wean themselves off of pain medications or heroin. However, there can be side effects, and MMT does not help everyone stop using or misusing opiates or prescription pain medications.
Long-term use of opioids can be detrimental to a person’s overall health, both mentally and physically. Hydrocodone side effects and oxycodone side effects can include: drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, irregular heartbeat, and increased risk of respiratory problems for people with asthma or COPDs like emphysema or chronic bronchitis.
Mental health issues and opioid misuse often go together. People who suffer from depression or anxiety are much more likely to use opioids to treat pain and then become emotionally dependent on them.
Overall, evidence suggests that pharmacological methods for treating opioid misuse are not very successful. TCM and acupuncture offer an alternative treatment for opioid dependence.
Can Acupuncture Help Relieve Pain Better Than Opioids?
While there is still much to be done in the way of scientific research to demonstrate exactly how acupuncture is able to effect changes in the body and help relieve pain, there is ample enough evidence to convince the medical community that acupuncture does, indeed, have a significant analgesic effect. For two decades now, the WHO has recommended acupuncture and TCM for many different pain conditions, including:
- neck pain
- back pain
- low back pain
- Sciatica, hip pain
- postoperative pain
- headaches and migraines
- shoulder pain
- heel pain, plantar fasciitis
- TMJ pain
- Neuropathy pain
Acupuncture may work so well to relieve pain because it appears to have an effect on the central nervous system and opioid peptide neurotransmitters, including endorphins. This means that acupuncture works on the opioid receptors in the brain.
One study of patients who were in methadone treatment for opioid dependence found that people who received acupuncture were able to reduce the amount of methadone they needed.
A study on patients who had lumbar spine surgery to help severe back pain showed that acupuncture worked well as a postoperative analgesic.
Acupuncture Near Me for Pain Management and Opioid Dependence in Los Angeles
It is absolutely necessary for so many people to find pain relief when they have an acute condition, or a chronic pain condition, or are in treatment for cancer or other serious illness. Serious pain causes mental anguish as well as physical limitations. Acupuncture and TCM offer an alternative treatment for pain management that helps not only to block pain, but also to relieve stress and anxiety. At Art of Wellness, we have over 30 years of experience helping people to manage pain safely and effectively.
*This article is for education from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine only. The education provided by this article is not approved by FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure human diseases. It should not stop you from consulting with your physician for your medical conditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on Qi, which is an invisible force that usually cannot be observed by modern science. Because science focuses on testing ideas about the natural world with evidence obtained through observation, these aspects of acupuncture can’t be studied by science. Therefore acupuncture and Chinese herbs are often not supported by double-blind, randomized trials, and they are considered alternative medicine therapies in the United States.
How to Treat Occipital Neuralgia With Acupuncture and TCM
By Qineng Tan, L.Ac., Ph.D. & Xiaomei Cai, L.Ac., Ph.D.
Throbbing headache and back of neck pain? Occipital Neuralgia, sometimes called “occipital migraine,” is a kind of chronic headache that causes stabbing neck pain and headache back of head. Acupuncture and TCM offer a way to help ease occipital nerve pain.
Occipital headache causes are usually due to compression of the occipital nerves, which start at the top of the spine where the neck is joined to the head and then run up into the scalp. A pinched nerve in the neck area, or tight muscles in the neck can lead to occipital pain, like a headache at base of skull.
Neck pain and back of head pain from an occipital migraine is often described as feeling like an electric shock or “zap,” or a sharp, shooting pain in the back of the head. The sensation may come on suddenly and last for only a few seconds, or it can go on throbbing for hours.
Occipital neuralgia pain is similar to that of Trigeminal Neuralgia, in which the intense nerve pain is on one side of the face, rather than the back part of the head. Occipital pain can also resemble that of chronic migraines and other kinds of headache disorders.
Occipital Neuralgia pain areas can include:
- Pain starts in the back of the neck and spreads upwards
- Back of head pain, behind the ears
- Pain on one side of the head
- Scalp pain, scalp tender to the touch
- Pain in the forehead
- Pain behind the eyes
- Eyes are sensitive to light
Occipital neuralgia pain can make the scalp feel so sensitive that even shampooing your hair or resting your head on a pillow feels unbearable. It can also feel like a burning sensation, or simply an aching neck.
Acupuncture can be used as an alternative or adjunct therapy for occipital neuralgia to bring headache and neck pain relief.
What Causes Occipital Neuralgia?
Occipital neuralgia occurs when the occipital nerves in the back of the head and neck are irritated or injured. There can be many different kinds of factors that trigger occipital neuralgia, such as:
- Pinched nerve in the neck
- Tension or tight muscles in the neck cause compression
- Compression of the nerves due to osteoarthritis in the spine, degenerative disc disease, or a herniated disk
- Trauma to the back of the head or the neck
- Tumor or other type of lesion in neck compresses the nerves
- Gout
- Diabetes
- Vasculitis (inflamed blood vessels)
Holding the head and neck in a position where it is tilted forward and down, such as when reading or looking at a screen for long periods of time can be associated with occipital neuralgia.
Often, though, the exact cause of the occipital pain in the head and neck is not discovered.
There is no clear test used to diagnose occipital neuralgia. The symptoms of occipital nerve pain are similar to other types of migraine headaches, and it is possible for a person to have both migraines and occipital neuralgia, so it can be challenging for doctors to determine exactly what is going on.
Conventional Treatment for Occipital Neuralgia
One of the ways that medical doctors will try to confirm a diagnosis of Occipital Neuralgia is by injecting a combination of anesthetic and steroids (occipital nerve block) into the affected area, to see if it deadens the pain. Botox injections can also be used to produce this effect. The hope is that the irritated nerve will heal over time.
If neck tension seems to be the issue, muscle relaxants may be prescribed. Massage therapy can sometimes be helpful in these cases.
Occipital neuralgia treatment at home might involve alternating ice packs and heating pads to help relieve pain at the back of the neck. Exercises like yoga may also be helpful for relieving neck tension that triggers the nerve pain.
If none of these treatments provides relief, then surgical options might include occipital nerve stimulation, in which electrodes are implanted to block nerve signals.
Acupuncture and TCM can be sought as an alternative way to deal with occipital neuralgia, and many other types of nerve pain.
Can Acupuncture Help Occipital Neuralgia?
From the TCM point of view, pain conditions that come and go, or cause periodic pain and stiffness, fall under a category called “Bi Syndromes.” “Bi” means “obstruction.” Bi Syndromes occur when an external pathogenic force like wind, cold, or dampness gets into an area of the body and causes blockages in the flow of Qi. Then, the muscles and joints may be tender, swollen, or sore, or numb and tingling, or have limited range of movement. Most types of arthritis, for example, are Bi Syndromes, according to TCM theory.
Occipital neuralgia is considered a Bi Syndrome, where tightness in the neck and base of the skull causes the stabbing nerve pain to flare up. The goals of acupuncture treatment for occipital headache and neck pain are to reduce tension, stress, and inflammation, to clear blockages in the Qi at the organ system level, and to provide natural analgesic relief from nerve pain signals.
One case study of a patient who had been suffering from occipital headaches for over a year found that her pain resolved after five acupuncture treatments.
A systematic review of evidence related to TCM treatment for occipital neuralgia in China showed that acupuncture was effective both as an alternative to medical treatment, and as an adjunct to medicine.
Acupuncture Near Me for Occipital Neuralgia in Los Angeles
At Art of Wellness Acupuncture near Santa Monica and Brentwood, we have over 30 years of experience helping people heal from all kinds of neurological conditions and nerve pain. Conditions related to nerve compression, such as Carpal Tunnel syndrome (wrist pain), Morton’s Neuroma (ball of foot pain), Sciatica (hip pain), Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain), and even dental pain (toothaches) can all be relieved with acupuncture and TCM treatment. If you or someone you know is suffering with recurring headaches, migraines, or neck pain, please consider giving acupuncture a try.
*This article is for education from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine only. The education provided by this article is not approved by FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure human diseases. It should not stop you from consulting with your physician for your medical conditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on Qi, which is an invisible force that usually cannot be observed by modern science. Because science focuses on testing ideas about the natural world with evidence obtained through observation, these aspects of acupuncture can’t be studied by science. Therefore acupuncture and Chinese herbs are often not supported by double-blind, randomized trials, and they are considered alternative medicine therapies in the United States.