Acupuncture as pain therapy

Acupuncture is one of the central pillars (alongside herbal therapy and nutrition) of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This therapy method has been used in my homeland and extensively documented for over 2000 years. Based on the extensive experiences documented over the time, acupuncture can be a valuable support to patients in pain therapy.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, there is a network of energy channels called meridians, which extend all over our body and co-relate to respective organs. These lines are transportation network in which Qi, or life energy, flows. If there are blockages in the meridians, complaints such as pain (as well as organ-dysfuction) arise. Pain therapy in acupuncture focuses therefore on unblock the meridians and balancing the related organs. Due to the long, widely extended meridians, the treatment points can also be far from the painful area.

Nowadays scientific, conventional medical studies have also shown that acupuncture is effective. The evidence-based medicine explains the effect of acupuncture in the way that acupuncture makes our body produce substances that sustainably inhibit pain and without side effects. Therefore since 2004 the German Medical Association has been offering acupuncture trainings for medical doctors.

Pain therapy is an important part in my practice. If you have musculoskeletal pain – such as knee pain, back pain, shoulder pain, or back pain – acupuncture can be a good help. In my experience, acupuncture is not only effective treating chronic pain as already widely recognised, but also very helpful for acute pain such as lumbago, ankle injuries or sports injuries.

Another typical area of application is headaches. Here too, acupuncture as pain therapy could bring you relief.

Mindfulness is very important for me when practising acupuncture, to place the needles very mindfully and gently, and as much as the patient is ready to. It can usually be felt briefly, but is not really painful. During treatment, individual points can react to the needles – for example with warmth, tingling, or very short irritation. Give me feedback about your feelings and I will adjust the needles accordingly. In my experience, a major advantage of pain therapy with acupuncture is that it is usually low in complications and side effects.

Based on the research results, many public health insurance in Germany now reimburse costs for acupuncture if it is done by a medical doctor, esp. for knee and back pain. If you come to me as a natural therapist, a reimbursement via public insurance is usually not possible, partly possible by private insurances depending on individual policies.

Please consult your insurance before starting a treatment. Independent from reimbursement, you will benefit from my specialization in acupuncture and the combination with energy medicine.

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