Acupuncture Proven Effective for Chronic Pain: What the Research Says

If you're living with chronic pain and looking for a safer, more natural treatment option, you're not alone. A groundbreaking international study has confirmed what many already experience firsthand: acupuncture works - and its benefits go well beyond placebo.

A major study published in The Journal of Pain in 2018 by Vickers et al. reviewed data from 17,922 patients across 39 clinical trials. It concluded that acupuncture is significantly more effective than both standard medical care and sham (placebo) acupuncture for chronic pain.

Conditions studied include:
- Back and neck pain
- Osteoarthritis (especially knee)
- Migraines and tension-type headaches - Shoulder pain

The improvements were sustained over time, making acupuncture a powerful long-term strategy for pain management.

Acupuncture works by stimulating specific points on the body, improving circulation, and releasing natural pain-relieving chemicals. At On the Pulse Clinic, we also offer laser acupuncture - a gentle, needle-free option ideal for sensitive patients.

The Vickers study, led by researchers at Harvard, Oxford, and Memorial Sloan Kettering, confirms what practitioners and patients have known: acupuncture is a serious tool for chronic pain relief.

Citation:

Vickers AJ et al. Acupuncture for chronic pain: Update of an individual patient data meta-analysis. J Pain. 2018;19(5):455-474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.005

Contact:
On the Pulse Clinic, South County Dublin Phone: 086 811 9534
Email: sineadd@onthepulse.clinic
Web: www.onthepulse.clinic