Pain Management

we strive to help you get free from pain so that you can focus on the important things in life. We do not use a “one-size-fits-all” approach. We achieve great results by customizing treatment to every patient.

Pain can be acute or chronic. Acute pain, usually resulting from injury, requires treatments to move and release the discomfort. Chronic pain involves a focus on nourishing and supporting the body to relieve the distress.

Acupuncture alone or combined with other treatments is uniquely helpful with pain because it increases circulation and releases endorphins.

How does it work?

For pain management, acupuncture working alone or in unison with other treatments works by:

Relieving pain and alleviating discomfort by relaxing muscles and stimulating the release of endorphins (natural pain-relieving chemicals) and serotonin (the happy hormone) to promote feelings of wellbeing. Learn more about acupuncture for pain.
Decreasing inflammation by increasing the production of cortisol, the hormone that helps control inflammation in the body. Learn more about acupuncture for inflammation.
Reducing muscle tightness and spasms. Overactive muscles and involuntary muscle contractions can cause pain; placing acupuncture points along trigger points helps release constricted muscles. Learn more about acupuncture for trigger points.
Promoting healthy blood circulation by modulating certain brain chemicals that constrict and dilate blood vessels. This is helpful for alleviating pain associated with migraines and headaches where vessel constriction (narrowing) and reduced blood flow is an issue.
Reducing stress and anxiety by regulating the hormones involved in the stress response (cortisol, serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine). Acupuncture can help the body adapt to stress and initiate the relaxation response. Learn more about acupuncture for anxiety and acupuncture for stress.
Relaxing the nervous system by activating the rest and digest response (the opposite to the fight or flight response) which affects how the brain sends pain signals to the body. An overwhelmed or stressed nervous system will respond to pain more intensely and lower your threshold for pain. Learn more about acupuncture and the nervous system.
Aids tissue healing and repair by stimulating the release of fibroblasts; these are the cells found in connective tissue that secrete collagen proteins to maintain tissue health.

We explore not only injuries and onset of pain, but any underlying conditions that may be contributing or causing the issue. Treatment may include acupuncture, cupping and other therapies such as tui na (massage) and heat therapy.

It’s important to treat pain as early as possible. Left untreated, minor discomfort such as neck pain can lead to postural or gait changes that create lasting harm. Pain is our body’s clearest warning sign that something needs to be addressed to prevent future issues.

What type things can be treated?

Some of the problematic conditions we see and treat include: