The past 40 years have been instrumental in the history of this world. We saw the inception and onslaught of the World Wide Web, America had a black President, we pulled out of the European Union, and Acupuncture gained immense popularity all over the world. In the UK alone, every year, 2.3 million acupuncture treatments are carried out on interested individuals.

The popularity of Acupuncture as a procedure relies on more than just hearsay and fads. A growing number of healthcare practitioners in the UK believe that acupuncture should be offered as a regular procedure for pain relief from cancer and labour.

The benefits of acupuncture are backed by research, and the results proven by increasingly positive data—particularly in the following fields:

1.    Chronic Pain

In 2012, the Journal of Pain conducted a meta-analysis, wherein as a result of controlled trials, they were able to determine that acupuncture is, in fact, beneficial for patients who suffer from chronic pain. In particular, encouraging data was gleaned from patients who reported chronic back, neck, and hip pain, osteoarthritis, and headaches. The report also showed that acupuncture helps with pain caused by musculoskeletal disorders. The results were deemed clinically relevant and showed signs of staying for 12 months after the procedure.

As opposed to no acupuncture, patients who suffer from chronic pain can avail the procedure and live with relatively less pain for at least a year.

2.    Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression, by virtue of being ailments that are conventionally treated through OTC medication, deserve a special mention in this list. Many people opt for, and wisely so, therapeutic treatment options where it concerns anxiety and depression since therapy is less intrusive than most other methods. Acupuncture, similarly, is less intrusive and proven to be effective through research.

A clinical and systematic review of the procedure has shown that it is somewhat effective in helping people suffering from anxiety and depression, especially in women.

3.    Cancer Care

Cancer is a growing menace that shows no signs of ceasing, and it is therefore important to mention how much acupuncture has helped cancer patients in the past few years. While chemotherapy remains the major clinical treatment option for cancer patients, its side effects are bad enough that many patients don’t even consider this option. The hair falling out and debilitation are on one side, but it’s the pain that puts most people off.

Acupuncture is one procedure that has proven itself of some value in helping cancer patients deal with pain. Randomized clinical trials show that nausea and vomiting—common side effects of chemotherapy—can be controlled through acupuncture. Research also shows that the procedure can also be effective in terms of cancer-related pain, neutropenia, xerostomia caused by radiation, general fatigue, and more. In this sense, acupuncture is definitely a front runner in cancer care, and we can expect it to be the focus of research in the coming years as scientists continue to look for a cure for cancer.

Acupuncture Options in Preston

If you live in Preston and would like to book an appointment for acupuncture, come see us in our clinic on Blackpool Road. You can also get in touch with us for more details.