Pain in joints from arthritis or back issues possibly stemming from working from home have plagued many Brits.
Acupuncture is a safe way to help relieve a number of painful conditions.
“Research offers limited, but in some cases promising, evidence that acupuncture can help with arthritis symptoms,” says the Arthritis Foundation.
The health charity added: “Western medicine doesn’t recognise the concepts of qi and meridians.
“However, scientific evidence suggests alternate explanations for why acupuncture might provide pain relief.”
Daniel Elliot, clinic director at the London Acupuncture Clinic, spoke exclusively with the Mirror to offer his insight into this ancient practice and how it could help with a variety of painful symptoms.
Does working from home increase pain?
Musculoskeletal pain either in the back or the hips has seen a significant rise in recent years.
Many of these new cases could be attributed to new working regimes, with many still working from home since the first Covid lockdown.
In fact, one study published in the National Library of Medicine further investigated this theory.
The research involved 121 men aged between 23 and 62, and 111 women aged between 23 and 53, who had been working from home for eight months and were asked to fill in questionnaires to self-assess their level of pain.
“Compared to previous work at the office, 90 (39.1%) participants reported stronger pain in the lower back, 105 (45.7%) in the upper back/neck, and 63 (27.2%) in their hands,” noted the study.
“Only one third did not report any musculoskeletal problems related to work from home.
“Significantly fewer men than women reported hand, lower back, and upper back/ neck pain."
Alongside pain felt in the back, hands and neck, issues such as sciatica and arthritis continue to plague many.
Could acupuncture be the answer?
What is acupuncture?
“Acupuncture is the time-tested therapy originating in China around 3000 years ago,” said Elliot.
“More recently it’s become far more integrated within parts of Western medicine and is used in basic forms by doctors, osteopaths and physios.
“And with far more modern research into the subject, it is now much more mainstream.”
When asked what type of health conditions acupuncture could help with, Elliot explained: “Acupuncturists see clients with a huge array of conditions - from back aches and knee pain, to insomnia, headaches, fertility and cosmetic acupuncture.
“The aim is to look at the body from a holistic perspective and be thorough in seeing how a client's symptoms have evolved and how everything interrelates.
“With an average GP appointment under 10 minutes, most acupuncturists have the great benefit of time to get to understand the precise and individual nature of a patient's problems.
“It also means practitioners will see clients with complex conditions.”
Many clients find the drug-free aspect of acupuncture appealing, he went on.
“Our experience is that it is in part the lack of side effects that make Western consultants more willing to suggest acupuncture to clients with an ‘it’s worth a go’ approach."
Elliot added for those suffering with hip problems fuelled by working from home, acupuncture can help with that.
Regarding arthritis, he said: “With osteoarthritis, which can basically be wear and tear, acupuncture can help relieve the symptoms of inflammation and pain associated with it.
“With rheumatoid arthritis, this is an autoimmune condition and would be approached differently.
“With either type, acupuncture would not be a cure but could help relieve the symptoms that a client is suffering with.”
What else can acupuncture help with?
Other health conditions which could benefit from acupuncture include:
- Chemotherapy-induced and postoperative nausea and vomiting
- Dental pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Headaches, including tension headaches and migraines
- Labour pain
- Lower back pain
- Neck pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Menstrual cramps
- Respiratory disorders, such as allergic rhinitis
- Tennis elbow.
READ MORE:
Lesser known signs of Alzheimer's Disease and how long can you live with the disease
'I spent £20k on IVF - it sparked my new paper pregnancy test business'
