More people than ever choose acupuncture as an alternative to painkillers
Acupuncture is in the headlines this week, with new research* showing people are choosing complementary therapies, like acupuncture, in preference to prescription painkillers. Can acupuncture and complementary therapy be used as alternatives to painkillers?
70% of people surveyed would now prefer alternative therapy rather than take painkillers. ‘The opioid crisis is increasing dramatically over here.’ says Sarah Major from The British Acupuncture Council. Sarah’s interview on GB News explains why she feels acupuncture is a better alternative to ‘popping pills’. Just don’t expect Eamon Holmes to have acupuncture any time soon!
This new research from the British Acupuncture Council shows people are keen to use alternative therapies like acupuncture as a way to manage their health issues. With NHS waiting lists at record highs since the Covid pandemic, over a third of respondents (36%) said they would now be “more likely” than ever before to seek help from a private, complementary therapist.
The National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE) recommends acupuncture treatment for Primary Chronic Pain, tension type headaches and migraines. In fact, a recent study carried out for BBC News, suggests that a quarter of people in the UK (26%) are living with chronic pain.
It’s also been reported that the UK is in the grip of an opioid crisis. The Covid pandemic has likely exacerbated the regular use of prescription painkillers, as millions of patients suffering with chronic pain have had elective surgeries cancelled. Acupuncture is occasionally available on the NHS, often via a GP or physiotherapist, however NHS access is limited with most patients paying for it privately.
Why choose acupuncture as an alternative to painkillers
People choose acupuncture as an alternative to painkillers for many reasons, including:
- NHS waiting lists are long, many operations are being postponed, and people are looking for ways to manage their day-to-day pain
- Pain killers, especially prescription ones, can have some nasty side effects and many are not recommended for long term use
- Acupuncture is a more natural way to reduce and manage pain, and can have a lot fewer side effects than strong medication
Remember though, you don’t need to choose one or the other. Acupuncture works very well in conjunction with Western medicine. So you can take pain killers whilst also using acupuncture to help manage any unwanted side effects. Or use acupuncture to help manage pain and aid recovery following an operation. In their article for Acupuncture Awareness Week, acupuncturists Martine Vegoda and Natalie Vegoda make a good argument for using Traditional Chinese Acupuncture (TCA) alongside Western medicine.
“As experienced practitioners, our message is not to turn your back on the importance of Western medicine, but to highlight the benefits of TCA and all that it has to offer especially in the area of mental health and wellbeing. TCA is a wonderful adjunct to Western medicine, relieving associated side-effects without adding new ones and it is also backed by science to work in its own right as a stand-alone treatment.” Martine Vegoda and Natalie Vegoda, Acupuncturists
What about other issues like back pain, menopausal hot flushes, and IBS?
The British Acupuncture Council has been promoting awareness of the survey results and the options available to manage chronic pain – and a whole host of other ailments too. There results highlight that acupuncture is being used more and more for mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, and women’s health issues*. This runs alongside a growing body of research indicating acupuncture can help with back pain, osteoarthritis, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, menopausal hot flushes, allegoric rhinitis, asthma and cancer related fatigue[1][2].
For example, studies have shown acupuncture may help with anxiety by stimulating the body’s production of natural opioids. These natural chemicals kick start the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) to initiate relaxation. This helps to down regulate the ‘fight or flight’ response. So acupuncture works by stimulating the PNS to slow heart and breathing rates and lower blood pressure. The body diverts energy back to digestion which would have been temporarily suppressed during states of anxiety [3]. It’s a great demonstration of how stress and IBS are connected, and how by treating one you can relieve symptoms of the other [4] [5].
The figures at a glance
- A quarter of the people in the UK are living with chronic pain (BBC News)
- National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE) recommends acupuncture treatment for Primary Pain, tension type headaches and migraines
- Over a third (36%) of respondents said that they would now be “more likely” than ever before to seek help from a private, complementary therapist*
- 70% of people* would prefer to try a complementary therapy, such as acupuncture, before being prescribed a prescription painkiller
- 72% of practitioners noted a rise in enquiries about mental health issues such as anxiety and depression
- Over half (58%) reporting a rise in treatment for women’s health issues.
- Growing research shows acupuncture may also help with osteoarthritis, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, menopausal hot flushes, allegoric rhinitis, asthma and cancer related fatigue [2]
Try acupuncture now
When you’re looking for alternatives to painkillers, acupuncture can be an effective way to minimise pain, relax the body and nervous system, increase your sense of wellbeing and bring more quality to your life.
I’m Dom Walsh and I run Flourish Acupuncture, a friendly and professional local acupuncture clinic based at 140 Nork Way, Banstead, Surrey, UK. Patients visit the clinic from the surrounding areas of Epsom, Dorking, Reigate, Ashtead, Ewell, Kingswood, Tadworth, Carshalton, and Sutton.
Book a free telephone consultation or call on 01737 420221 to find out how acupuncture could help you.
*The results of a new consumer opinion poll, released as part of the launch of Acupuncture Awareness Week: Getting to the Point of it has shown that 70% of people would prefer to try a complementary therapy before being prescribed a prescription painkiller – rising to 82% in those aged 35 and under. The online survey was conducted by Atomik Research among 2005 adults aged 18+ in the UK. The research fieldwork took place between 27-30 January 2023. Atomik Research is an independent creative market research agency that employs MRS-certified researchers and abides to MRS code.
References
[1] A.J. Vickers, E.A. Vertosick, G. Lewith, H. MacPherson, N.E. Foster, K.J. Sherman, D. Irnich, C.M. Witt, K. Linde, C. Acupuncture Trialists, Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Update of an Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis, J Pain 19(5) (2018) 455-474.
[2] J. McDonald, S. Janz, The Acupuncture Evidence Project: A Comparative Literature Review, Australian Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Association LTD, 2017.
[3] Li, Q. Q., Shi, G. X., Xu, Q., Wang, J., Liu, C. Z., & Wang, L. P. (2013). Acupuncture effect and central autonomic regulation. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2013, 267959. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/267959
[4] World Journal of Gastroenterology Effectiveness of acupuncture to treat irritable bowel syndrome: A meta-analysis Guan-Qun Chao and Shuo Zhang
[5 ]Evidenced based acupuncture Acupuncture for the Treatment of Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Jan 5, 2023 | Acupuncture, Digestive system and metabolism, EBA Forum, EBA Forum NEW, IBS, Safety