Acupuncture has proven to be a successful treatment for pain relief, as it appears to stimulate the release of endorphins and enkephalins, the body's natural painkilling chemicals.[1] David Eisenberg, M.D., Clinical Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School states, "There is evidence that acupuncture influences the production and distribution of a great many neurotransmitters (substances that transmit nerve impulses to the brain) and neuromodulators (substances produced by neurons that affect neurotransmitters) and that this in turn alters the per­ception of pain."[2] The medical journal Pain reviewed a number of studies that provided further evidence of acupuncture's importance as an alternative to conven­tional analgesic (pain-relieving) medication.[3] Acupuncture can reduce the need for conventional painkilling drugs (and their attendant side effects).[4] Patients treated with acupuncture after oral surgery had less intense pain than those who received a placebo treatment.[5]

Acupuncture is more effective than massage for neck pain, according to a recent study. Almost 200 patients with chronic neck pain received a 30 minute treatment, five times a week, for three weeks. Those treated with acupuncture had a greater reduction in pain than those treated with massage. Acupuncture proved most effective in those who had suffered with neck pain for over five years and those with myofascial pain syndrome (mus­cle pain due to physical or mental tension).[6]

In one study of over 20,000 patients at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), acupuncture reduced both the frequency and severity of muscle tension headaches and migraines.[7] Another study, involving 204 patients suffering from chronic painful conditions, resulted in 74% experiencing significant pain relief for over three months after acupuncture treatment.[8] Younger patients are particularly helped by acupuncture for the treatment of various types of pain.[9]

The NIH has also touted acupuncture's ability to trigger the release of endogenous painkillers, based on clinical evidence that shows opioids are released during acupuncture treatments and that the analgesic effects of acupuncture are at least partially explained by these actions.[10] Other studies have also demonstrated that acupuncture can dramatically decrease brain activities associated with pain as monitored by using magnetic resonance imaging.[11]