Acupuncture proves effective against sciatica

Sciatica is a notoriously difficult condition to treat, with conservative therapies and surgical interventions yielding only limited results. However, a clinical trial has shown that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for sciatica.

Patients who received acupuncture treatment for four weeks reported significant pain relief that lasted up to a year.

Sciatica is often caused by a herniated lumbar disc, which can lead to severe pain and, in some cases, long-term disability. Many patients with chronic sciatica turn to acupuncture to relieve their pain.

A clinical trial published in the JAMA Internal Medicine demonstrated that acupuncture can effectively relieve sciatica pain caused by a herniated disc. By comparing the effects of real acupuncture to those of sham acupuncture (also known as placebo acupuncture), the study confirmed that the benefits of acupuncture far outweigh those of the placebo effect.

The researchers recruited 220 patients suffering from sciatica caused by a herniated disc. Participants were divided into two groups: one group received real acupuncture treatment specifically targeting sciatica, while the other received sham acupuncture treatment.

True acupuncture treatments followed the principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with practitioners selecting seven acupuncture points tailored to each patient’s condition. In the sham acupuncture group, needles were placed on seven non-acupuncture points away from the meridians. To make the sham treatment more convincing, blunt-tipped needles were used in six locations, touching the skin without penetrating it, while only one needle was inserted into the skin.

The treatment consisted of 10 sessions over a four-week period, followed by a 48-week follow-up. Patients who received real acupuncture reported a significant reduction in leg pain and improved daily functioning after four weeks, compared to those in the sham acupuncture group.

Based on patient self-ratings using the Oswestry Disability Index, leg pain scores decreased by 30.8 in the real acupuncture group, whereas the sham acupuncture group did not. recorded only a reduction of 14.9. The actual acupuncture group showed greater improvements in other measures, such as back pain and frequency of pain episodes.

The researchers noted that this study is among the largest and most rigorous trials conducted to date on the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating sciatica. Based on these results, acupuncture should be recognized as an effective treatment option for sciatica caused by a herniated disc.

Principles of Acupuncture Pain Relief

According to TCM theory, the body’s vital energy, called qi, flows through pathways called meridians. Stimulating specific acupoints with acupuncture helps regulate the flow of qi, thereby promoting overall well-being.

Kuo-Pin Wu, director of a clinic in Taiwan said in an interview with Epoch Times that acupuncture relieves pain by improving the circulation of qi and blood in areas where local nerves are compressed. This process relaxes tight muscles and ligament fibers, improves circulation, and helps reduce inflammation and swelling.

Kuo-Pin Wu also discussed a technique called “moving the Qi therapy,” which involves massaging or pricking distal acupuncture points while simultaneously moving the affected area. This approach improves the circulation of qi and blood to the injured area, facilitating realignment and stabilization of misaligned lumbar joints.

According to Kuo-Pin Wu, there are many acupuncture points to treat lower back pain, including Yaotongxue (EM34), Yanglao (IG6), Renzhong (DM26), and Weizhong (V40). Scalp acupuncture is also commonly used to provide immediate pain relief in some patients.

Choosing the right treatment for each patient

Current medical treatments for sciatica include painkillers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and muscle relaxants to relieve symptoms, as well as epidural steroid injections and physical therapies like traction. However, some studies indicate that the effectiveness of these treatments remains uncertain.

Surgical treatments, such as discectomy, involve removing the protruding part of the disc, which can quickly relieve symptoms in some patients. However, research has shown that the long-term results of surgery are not necessarily superior to those of conservative treatments.

The importance of rehabilitation exercises

Kuo-Pin Wu Wu explains that he uses treatment methods based on pathological conditions identified by Western medical examinations. For sciatica caused by issues such as loss of lumbar lordosis, herniated disc, or spinal stenosis, he often recommends rehabilitation exercises to relieve tension in the lumbar spine. These include movements such as the knee-to-chest exercise or lying on a lumbar support cushion.

For lumbar spondylolisthesis, he suggests performing a stretch while lying down using a half-round foam roller to help realign the vertebrae.

Kuo-Pin Wu also noted that acupuncture applied around the L3, L4 and L5 vertebrae has shown excellent results for this type of pathology.

Understanding the Effectiveness of Sham Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a common treatment in TCM, but evidence-based medicine has long questioned whether its effectiveness is simply due to the placebo effect.

Studies evaluating the effectiveness of acupuncture often compare real acupuncture to sham acupuncture to eliminate results related to the placebo effect. A randomized trial showed that the sham acupuncture group had therapeutic benefits, with some results showing no significant difference from the real acupuncture group. Such results support the idea that acupuncture functions solely as a placebo.

Dr. Jingduan Yang wrote in his book Clinical Acupuncture and Ancient Chinese Medicine (Clinical Acupuncture and Ancient Chinese Medicine), that sham acupuncture, commonly used in research, generally involves applying pressure to acupuncture points without piercing the skin or pricking areas that are not acupuncture points. specific acupuncture.

However, TCM views the human body as a highly interconnected network, where each part is connected to the others through invisible energetic pathways called meridians. Stimulating one part of the body can affect neighboring areas and trigger energetic responses. Acupuncture points are not specific, singular points, but rather small areas with a radius of approximately 0.5 centimeters. If the fake acupuncture site is too close to the real acupuncture point, it can still stimulate the latter and produce an effect.

The skin contains its own energy network, which means that even without piercing it, sham acupuncture can stimulate the flow of energy in the body.

Relieve pain with self-massage

After learning the principles of acupuncture, we can integrate acupuncture point massage into our treatment program.

The Sanjian acupoint is located in the depression on the radial side of the index finger joint. Pressing on this point often produces a sensation of pain, numbness, or tingling, Dr. Yang says. He recommends massaging this point six times counterclockwise, alternating from one hand to the other. After three to five minutes of massage, one may begin to see relief of symptoms.

It is important to note that proper acupuncture treatment does not cause side effects for most people. However, it may not be suitable for people suffering from certain pathologies. Treatment methods may vary between individuals. It is recommended to consult a healthcare professional for a personalized treatment plan.