Acupuncture for Pain Competes with Morphine in Shock New Study
Acupuncture has been recognized by the World Health Organization since 1996 as a safe and effective treatment for a range of complaints, including pain and discomfort. Unfortunately, its use in a hospital setting, where patients usually must take whatever treatment they can get, is still very rare. But an amazing new study in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine will hopefully change more attitudes towards the practice.
Titled Acupuncture vs intravenous morphine in the management of acute pain in the ED (emergency department), the study involved 300 individuals, with 150 in the acupuncture group and 150 in the morphine group used as a control. The only significant difference between the two groups was that there were more abdominal pain cases in the morphine group, and more lower back pain cases in the acupuncture group. Otherwise, age, sex and other health problems were similar.
What was Significant? The Results!
The acupuncture group had a 92% success rate, compared to the 78% success rate in the morphine group. Average resolution time was 16 minutes in the acupuncture group, against 28 minutes for those receiving morphine; both this and the success rate difference were clinically significant. This means that the acupuncture was responsible for the superior effects.
From the 5-minute point, the acupuncture group reported a clinically significant, greater drop in pain scores, which lasted for the entire study period of one hour. Heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, and blood oxygen levels were not significantly affected in either group. However, there was still a more than noticeable difference in side effects.
The morphine group reported a total of 85 negative side effects, with the vast majority of these being dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Only 4 negative effects were reported in the acupuncture group; 3 of these were needle breakage and 1 was a patient fainting (four fainted in the morphine group).
The conclusion to this study was that acupuncture is safer than and at least as effective as intravenous morphine; it can be used to control acute pain in those presenting to emergency departments; and more research should be conducted on international populations to strengthen the evidence base.
“This article provides an update on one of the oldest pain relief techniques (acupuncture) that could find a central place in the management of acute care settings. This should be considered especially in today’s increasingly complicated and polymedicated patients to avoid adverse drug reactions,” the study concluded.
But That’s Not All!
The World Health Organization reports that a number of other studies have shown acupuncture to be effective for pain, among other symptoms, in a range of conditions from ulcerative colitis to tennis elbow to rheumatoid arthritis and neck pain – with little to no side effects.
On the other hand, it is estimated that 69,000 people die every year from opioid overdose, partly because of the risk of addiction. Opioids can cause respiratory depression, as well as sedation, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and constipation. Hypersensitivity to pain, muscle rigidity, immune and hormonal dysfunction are less common side-effects.
Overall, the use of acupuncture instead of opioids, or to reduce the usage of them, in hospitals should be taken more seriously; it is a safe and effective treatment – not crazy pseudoscience.
The study was performed over a 1-year period in the Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital in Tunisia.
Based on the laws of the human body, the natural forces of healing, the pathology of disease and pain, one can understand the connection.
-Life, living, falls, slips, contusions, collisions and fractures all will beat the heck out of our protective bubble wrapper called soft tissues.
-Muscle is an active, reactive and dynamic shock absorbing system which keeps our internal organs safe.
-Human muscles will take a lick’n and keep on tick’n as long as we help the to restore all of our muscles.
-The most common cause of pain is plain old life and living.
-The most common location and source of pain are in the muscle system.
-The exact pathology of the pain signals is intramuscular micro scars.
-Intramuscular micro scars are inside of our muscles which trigger distress signals.
-These IMMSs are standard, and this pain and distress signals are all normal.
-Muscle pain is just a part of life.
-The confusion comes in when we are not taught this in schools.
-So no one understands the value of preventative muscle care and then it explodes.
-Muscles demand about 1 pound worth of preventive care, TLC per day to keep you balanced and safe.
-Muscles can only heal from the inside by the natural forces from within and the perfect tool to reach inside a muscle to stimulate mother nature into action are the thin needle.
-But that’s not the whole story the patient has to contribute by the application of daily TLC to their 700 muscles.
-Everyone has to “love your muscles so they will love them back.”
-Denying your muscles the daily 1lb doses of TLC they will collect a TLC debt, contract, lock up, lockout Mother Nature and squeeze out the fun, vitality, and crush your spirit.
-After years and decades of neglecting your daily self-care and assisted care routines, you will want to die.
-To understand the scientifical validity of this tool called the acupuncture needle one will have to remove the mythology and see the stainless steel tool in its perfection.
-In the 60s the group of doctors brought this ancient tool into the 21st century concluded that any needle is a physical therapy device.
-The most important physical therapy tool is the human hand.
-Thus the acupuncture needle is an extension of the human hand.
-Love your muscles and they will love you back.