Get Pinned: Acupuncture for Chronic Pain

Acupuncture is a procedure that arose centuries ago in China, but has become a popular alternative medicine treatment around the world. The procedure involves placing needles at specific pressure points on the body and leaving them in place for anywhere from 5 to 25 minutes.

Experts aren’t sure how acupuncture works but evidence suggests that acupuncture for chronic pain is effective. And because there’s no medication or surgery involved, it may be worth a try if you suffer from chronic pain and other treatments are proving inadequate.

Keep these points in mind before you go for an acupuncture session:

• Get a recommendation from a reliable resource. Many clinicians encourage patients to try alternative methods for managing chronic pain.
• Check credentials. In the U.S., acupuncturists should be certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
• Check your insurance. Many insurance companies will cover at least part of the cost of acupuncture, or you may be able to get reimbursed via a health care flexible spending account.

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