Chronic pain affects 50 million Americans. Chronic pain has been linked to increased risk of mental conditions including anxiety and depression. Chronic pain sends continual stress signals to the brain, increasing your perception of the pain.
There are holistic approaches to breaking the cycle of chronic pain and they are offered at AcuMedGroup Wellness Center. Here are a few of the most common holistic approaches available and offered at our wellness center:
Acupuncture
Acupuncture, common in Chinese medicine, involves inserting very fine, filiform needles through the skin at specific points on the body to alleviate pain or to help treat various health conditions. Traditional Chinese practitioners believe acupuncture balances the flow of energy or life force, known as qi or chi. Western practitioners see it as a way to stimulate nerves and muscles in a way that promotes pain relief and healing.
Medical Massage
Medical massage has proven to be beneficial for a number of chronic pain conditions. On top of relieving pain by relaxing muscles, tendons, and joints, massage can also help decrease stress and anxiety, which are contributors of pain. There are a wide range of massage styles, including Swedish, deep tissue, sports, Shiatsu, trigger point, and reflexology.
Cupping
Cupping therapy is an ancient technique developed by Chinese and Greek healers
thousands of years ago. It’s a treatment in which 5 to 10 glass cups adhere to the skin
over areas of the body experiencing pain or on acupuncture points. Classic “ fire cupping” includes warming each glass cup by burning moxa inside the cup to create a vacuum effect on the surface of the body. The cups are applied on the back, neck, and shoulders and left for up to 15 minutes. During this time, the capillaries rupture and draw toxic to the surface of the skin where they can be released.
With a holistic approach to breaking the cycle of pain, there is no one-size-fits all solution. At AcuMedGroup Wellness Center, we assess the whole person to ensure our healing is tailored specifically to you and your areas of concern.
