Acupuncture is an effective adjunct therapy for many pain-related conditions, including sciatica. Although more research is needed, physicians believe that acupuncture can help sciatica patients by:
- Stimulating the release of endorphins and the body’s natural painkillers
- Modulating nervous system communication
- Improving circulation
- Reducing stress and anxiety
A combination of the above factors may be at work in sciatica patients. Regardless of what’s driving the results, there is a growing body of research backing acupuncture’s use for sciatica.
A Closer Look at Acupuncture's Benefits in Sciatica Patients
Acupuncture can help sciatica patients in the following ways:
Stimulating endorphin and endogenous opioid release
When inserted into the right points, acupuncture needles stimulate a system-wide beneficial response. Part of this response is the release of endorphins and endogenous opioids – the body’s natural painkillers and mood lifting biochemicals. Together, these opioid-like compounds and endorphins reduce the intensity of sciatica pain and symptoms.
Reducing inflammation
Nerve pain is often accompanied by secondary symptoms like inflammation, numbness, and other forms of discomfort. Acupuncture therapy can combat inflammation at the physiological level, and several studies confirm this. Specifically, studies show that acupuncture can reduce the presence of several inflammatory markers, including cytokines.
Improving circulation
Acupuncture treatment also stimulates the release of compounds that improve blood flow. For example, multiple studies show that certain acupoints release nitric oxide, a major vasodilator. By boosting circulation, acupuncture can help the body nourish its own tissues and speed up healing.
Reducing anxiety and stress
Acupuncture treatments modulate better communication within the nervous system, leading to better regulation between brain and body. One example of this is how acupuncture stimulates the body’s parasympathetic nervous system – the part of the nervous system responsible for putting the body into a relaxed state. Early research suggests that this could be due to vagal nerve stimulation, the nerve highway used to control heart and respiratory rate.
Reducing the impact of medication side effects
Acupuncture’s system-wide effects can support whole-body health, making patients a bit more resilient to drug-related side effects. This can also help patients remain on their medication if it is otherwise providing a benefit.
What the Medical Research Says About Acupuncture Treatment and Sciatica
Acupuncture has been thoroughly studied for its effects on pain, including lower back pain like sciatica. Several studies have looked at acupuncture and sciatica, including the following:
- A 2015 analysis published in Evidence-Based Complementary Alternative Medicine. This review considered 12 studies with a patient sample size of 1,842 participants. The researchers used a visual analog scale (VAS) to measure pain before and following acupuncture treatment.
The analysis team found that acupuncture reduced sciatica pain more than NSAID pain medications like ibuprofen. Further, the researchers noted an increase in pain threshold, suggesting that acupuncture could help patients tolerate more sciatica pain before noting it as significant. - A 2018 study published in the Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health. This study looked at 111 women diagnosed with postpartum sciatica and evaluated whether acupuncture treatment could improve pain. The women were split into two groups, an 86-cohort experimental group and a 25-cohort control group that didn’t receive acupuncture.
Following one month of treatment, 98 percent of women in the experimental group reported recovery, compared to only 24 percent of women in the control group. The researchers used the Roland Disability Questionnaire for sciatica – a sciatica-specific VAS. There were no adverse effects reported among women who received acupuncture.
Research has shown a clear link between acupuncture and various types of pain relief – including nerve pain. With these studies in mind, a positive link between acupuncture and sciatica pain relief is unsurprising.
Choose a Reputable Houston Acupuncturist for Sciatica Pain Relief
Sciatica pain can be debilitating and chronic, making effective treatment difficult to find. However, acupuncture has proven to be an effective option for those suffering with sciatica. To get the best and longest-lasting relief from sciatica, it is important for patients to adhere to their treatment regimen.
If sciatica pain is limiting you in any way, consider working with a licensed Houston acupuncturist that treats the whole body in an effort to provide patients with relief.