Acupuncture is a traditional method of treatment from China because it has many benefits. Although it looks scary because of the number of needles used, many studies show that this method can help cure several disease problems such as headaches, neck, high and low blood pressure, and osteoarthritis. It is also claimed to be able to restore the balance of energy flows in the body.

Not only that, acupuncture can also help reduce the pain felt by those who undergo surgery. After undergoing surgery, we will usually feel pain in the cut part of the body that is usually treated with prescribed painkillers, such as opioids. Based on the results of a recent study presented at the Anaesthesiology Annual Meeting, acupuncture sessions performed before surgery could reduce the need for opioids.

These results were obtained after the researchers analysed acupuncture's effect on some patients who had undergone several surgery types, including hip replacement, gallbladder removal, hernia repair, hysterectomy, and prostate. Some of the patients received acupuncture before undergoing surgery while the rest became controls. There are two types of acupuncture given, traditional acupuncture and battlefield acupuncture. Battlefield acupuncture is an acupuncture method developed in 2001, in which the acupuncture method only uses five needles that are placed in the ear for 3-5 days.

Researchers foundthat those who received traditional acupuncture can cut their opioids needs by a third, while those who underwent Battlefield acupuncture can cut their opioid needs by half. Those who performed acupuncture, both traditional and Battlefield, also reported less nausea after surgery. Researchers hope that the results of this study can encourage more medical professionals to use acupuncture before or after surgery to reduce pain.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Pixabay

Source(s):

• Healthline - Acupuncture Before Surgery May Help Reduce Opioid Use Afterward (2020). https://www.healthline.com/health-news/acupuncture-before-surgery-may-help-reduce-opioid-use-afterward, 14 October 2020.