Although the novel coronavirus has put in-person work on hold for months and will likely expand the remote-work pool permanently, millions upon millions of workers have returned to work or will progressively do so in the near future. And new research suggests acupuncturists should join those millions at their workplaces or workplace sponsored-clinics across the country. Here's why.
A study published in the Journal of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (Davis JA, et al.) has found that workers who receive employer-sponsored acupuncture are:
Overwhelmingly satisfied with their care (93 percent satisfied)
Accrue significantly lower health care costs ($40 or less co-pay per visit vs. $75-$125 average out-of-pocket fees per visit in the community)
Are significantly less likely to take opioids for pain compared to the national average (only one in 36 employees receiving acupuncture compared vs. one in five U.S. adults in the general population: "Less than 3% of members without cancer in employer-sponsored integrative care clinics compared to 20% in the community," according to findings).
The study reviewed the experiences of nearly 1,800 workers (average age: 37 years; 59 percent women) who initiated acupuncture at one of 11 employer-sponsored health centers over a one-year period, yielding data on outcomes for 8,991 total visits (average number of visits per patient: 5.5). That data was compared with outcomes data from providers in the community.
Of note, opioid prescriptions filled by workers who received employer-sponsored acupuncture services were typically for cough suppressants, not pain relief; even though most acupuncture visits were for musculoskeletal complaints / pain.
Acupuncture can provide constipation relief while maintaining a healthy pregnancy. A combination of San Jiao 6 (Zhi Gou) and Stomach 36 (Zu San Li) is excellent for treating constipation during pregnancy. San Jiao 6 is the shu-stream and fire point of the San Jiao channel. It can regulate the qi of the three jiaos, unblock the qi of the fu organs, descend counterflow fire, open the orifices, activate the collaterals to disperse stagnation, and eliminate distention to stop pain.
One of the longest nerves in the body is known as the vagus nerve (VN). The VN is the 10th pair of cranial nerves that originates at the brain stem in the medulla oblongata. This nerve is part of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is a part of the ANS. Research suggests ear acupuncture can activate the VN.
Mitochondria, the cell’s “powerhouses,” generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP), regulate oxidative stress, and coordinate vital cellular functions. When mitochondrial health declines, patients may experience widespread effects, from impaired muscle recovery to cognitive decline. The mitochondrial theory of aging even suggests progressive mitochondrial deterioration is a central mechanism in chronic disease and systemic frailty. Photobiomodulation (PBM), the therapeutic use of red and near-infrared light, directly targets mitochondria to restore energy metabolism.
