129 E 90th Street #1W,
New York, NY,
10128

(646) 609-4250

Acupuncture for Pain NYC

Acupuncture Keeps the Pain Away

Acupuncture can bring much relief for conditions ranging from body ache, sprains, sharp pain, and migraines to name a few. For tissue injuries like bruises, muscle pain, and soreness, acupuncture helps not only with immediate pain relief, but also long-term maintenance. Many patients with muscle pain and soreness feel relief during the session, and continue to feel a relief of their pain for three to four days after the treatment. Regular acupuncture treatment is key to maintaining pain relief. For pain that comes from a particular etiology or cause, an acupuncture treatment will be designed specifically for you. Depending on the cause and effects of the pain, your body will need specialized attention at different acupoints.

Research Supports Acupuncture Use In Pain Relief

New research published in Brain, A Journal of Neurology, has found evidence showing that acupuncture not only works at a local anatomical level, but that it also influences the brain to rewrite a mental map of the body. Researchers in the study explored the efficacy of acupuncture in helping to reduce pain in patients suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, the most common entrapment neuropathy. The study was a single-blind, placebo controlled, randomized neuroimaging study where subjects received sixteen acupuncture treatments over eight weeks. Not only did acupuncture help reduce carpal tunnel symptoms immediately after treatment, symptoms remained reduced at the 3-month post study follow-up. This study surpasses the original hypothesis of supporting acupuncture as an effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms by also uncovering a mechanism for brain-based plasticity with the continued use of acupuncture. This study also looked at how the brain experiences pain using an MRI. A course of acupuncture treatments helped reduce the pain by promoting circulation and reducing inflammation through feedback systems between the brain and the body.

Why it Works: Ask a Fighter Pilot

When faced with pain, most people will reach for the over-the-counter painkillers or call their doctor for a prescription for something stronger. If it’s bad enough people will stay home from work and rest until the pain goes away. That formula works for the general population but not for the men and women in the military and more specifically the Air Force. When you are flying a jet fighter that costs billions, you can’t be groggy from Percocet. You also can’t always take a sick day or week when actively deployed. So about 15 years ago the U.S. military looked to methods to manage pain without medication and time off. Dr. Richard Niemtzow, a retired Air Force Colonel, introduced battlefield acupuncture or BFA. BFA is a specific treatment in auricular acupuncture developed by Dr. Niemtzow that is used to relieve any kind of pain. Thin and short needles are inserted in five points in each ear and retained for the duration of a fighter pilots exercise. Short needles are used so that the helmet can comfortably sit over the ear. Within a minute, pain was reported to be reduced by up to 75%.

What we Treat

Here are some conditions we commonly help with:

Migraines/Headaches

Acupuncture breaks up the body into individual pressure points and zones. As needles are inserted into the different pressure points that may include pain, the stimulation begins to work, along with a release of endorphins and other hormones triggering a positive response in your body. This specific immune system and circulatory system stimulation relieves pain caused by migraines and tension headaches. Although it is not completely known how acupuncture soothes pain related to migraine and tension headaches, the idea is that it activates pathways into the brain that are mainly responsible for turning off pain.

Back Pain

Whether you have back pain that is triggered by an injury or various smaller experiences overtime, acupuncture is highly effective and well regarded for pain reduction. Acupuncture can help with both acute and chronic back pain. Additionally, research shows that acupuncture can help those suffering with chronic low back pain. As acupuncture stimulates the acupoints, endorphins and enkephalins are released, helping to ease pain. The treatment deeply enhances circulation, reduces inflammation and promotes healing of damaged tissues. This process relieves pain, promotes a sense of well-being and improves overall health.

If you’re having back pain related to pregnancy, you can learn more about acupuncture for pregnancy care here.

Neck and Shoulder Tension

Stress, strain from smartphone and computer use, poor posture, and injuries contribute to neck and shoulder tension, which can be alleviated through acupuncture. Practitioners will target the tightness and pain by focusing on the imbalance within the muscles, the connective tissues, and the related meridian points. The shoulders and neck are treated together with a combination of acupuncture and cupping, as these areas are closely integrated when it comes to pain and discomfort.

Joint Pain

Joint pain is a common complaint for so many people, especially as we age or if we exercise too much or too little. Acupuncture is said to alleviate joint pains because it unties tightly bound muscles, reduces inflammation, detoxifies the body and loosens spasms back to to their natural resting state. Acupuncture triggers a natural release of neurotransmitters called endorphins and enkephalins, which decrease and alleviate the sensation of pain.

Arthritis

Acupuncture is most commonly associated with treating inflammation and pain. Its relaxing and alleviating effects on the body make it an effective treatment option for arthritis. The insertion of the needles more directly around the affected area helps stimulate the muscles to relax and move back to their resting state. The needle points are along the arms, legs, knees, and often in the toes. There is also the immediate effect of relief causes by the release of endorphins during and after acupuncture treatment.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is an autoimmune condition that debilitates millions of people. While it can be difficult to treat, a combination of treatments may be necessary to manage the painful symptoms. Many find relief for fibromyalgia pain by trying acupuncture. Studies show that consistent acupuncture can alter your brain and help you develop a higher pain tolerance throughout the body. In addition, acupuncture helps to heal autoimmune or inflammatory issues that lie at the root of the condition.

Sports Injuries

For tissue injuries like bruises, muscle pain, and soreness, acupuncture helps not only with immediate pain relief, but also long-term maintenance. Many patients with muscle pain and soreness feel relief during their session, and continue to feel a pain relief for three to four days after the treatment.

Neuropathy

This neurologic condition affects the peripheral nerves, creating sharp electric sensations and tingling pain in the arms, legs, fingers and toes. It can also become centralized in the hands, commonly called carpal tunnel syndrome. These symptoms many times start gradually but increase in pain over time. Both Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can help relieve the pain by promoting circulation and reducing inflammation through feedback systems between the brain and the body. Acupuncture may also reduce the need for medication and improve quality of life for those dealing with chronic pain.

Painful Menses

Dysmenorrhea, the technical name for painful periods, is experienced by almost all menstruating women with at least one or more of their periods. For some, the pain can be short lived and alleviated with an advil or a heating pack. For others, their dysmenorrhea is so severe that it interferes with their everyday activities and can be accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. According to Chinese Medicine, when we experience pain, it is always the result of stagnation or a blockage. The reasons we experience these blockages are manyfold and varied, but the end result is always the same – pain. Acupuncture is extremely effective at promoting blood flow and reducing inflammation to relieve both internal and external pain.

We highly recommend Naturna as a skilled healthcare provider to our patients.

Having never received Acupuncture before, I really didn’t know what to expect. They were amazing from the start, first by listening to the symptoms of my injury, and then by giving me a detailed explanation of what my treatment would entail. The Acupuncture itself was extremely relaxing and my results were immediately tangible. I continued to receive Acupuncture once a week, and in a months time my symptoms had completely subsided and I was no longer restricted from a very active lifestyle.

I was getting sick all the time. For months out of the year I would be on prednisone and antibiotics for a variety of respiratory issues from asthma to bronchitis and pneumonia. After about six months of treatment I was no longer getting sick. Acupuncture has been a great assist in boosting my immunity and getting my health on track.

I came to Naturna after trying everything to treat my eczema. After just a few sessions, the patches began to lighten and itch less and within a few weeks completely disappeared! The effects were undeniable. I’ve been made a believer.

Christina is a skilled practitioner who is both professional and compassionate. My patients have experienced great results at her clinic as well as a warm and supportive atmosphere. I feel confident sending my patients to her.

I’ve been going to Naturna for six weeks and can’t believe the difference. For the last two years I’ve suffered from brutal migraines two to three times per week. Since coming to Naturna, only mild headaches. There are even weeks with no pain at all.