Everyone will suffer pain at some point in their lives. Grim as this may sound, some pain is necessary its a signal from our brain that something is wrong in our body, something we need to address to protect our health and well-being. It can be caused by anything from a dental cavity to a broken bone to a disease. Once we determine where the pain is coming from, we can diagnose and address the health problem, thus alleviating the pain.
Sometimes, however, pain isnt done away with so easily it remains with us despite all efforts to banish it. This is called chronic pain, distinguishable from acute pain by its persistence. Common examples of chronic pain include backaches, migraine headaches, and arthritis.
The most popular treatment for chronic pain are prescription medications, but these often have adverse side effects ranging from nausea to fatigue, and can cease to be effective once a patient builds a tolerance. Acupuncture has been used as a form of natural pain relief and cure for many chronic conditions for over two thousand years. Originating in China, acupuncture involves piercing the skin with thin needles on specific points of the body. ...