Even fake acupunture helps to reduce back pain

The first time I tried acupunture, all I can say its rather prickly and gave me a tingly sensation afterwards.

But after several sessions, my hamstring injury was much better and I was a believer.

I wasn’t surprised when a recent study by Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle found that acupuncture actually reduces back pain compared to using standard treatments.

The controlled study of 638 patients with chronic low back pain patients that was under observation.

Those patients were divided into groups such as standardized acupuncture treatment, another group got an individually prescribed acupuncture treatment, the third group was treated using a toothpick in a needle guide tube that did not pierce the skin, but targeting the correct acupuncture points and the last group got standard medical treatment.

The researchers said that, “Our study shows that you don’t need to stick needles into people to get the same effect. Historically, some types of acupuncture have used non-penetrating needles. Such treatments may involve physiological effects that make a clinical difference.”

The results which was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine saw 60 per cent of the patients who got any type of acupuncture reaping the benefits of a reduced back pain lasting for a year, compared to those who got standard medical treatment.

Researchers believe that lightly touching the skin can induce some emotional and hormonal reactions.