“Can acupuncture help with concussions?”
I am a 30 year old male. I want to know if acupuncture can help with concussions?
22 Answers
yes
I do not know what other practitioners would say, but I personally, would not feel comfortable treating for a concussion without first having you cleared from a Western medical doctor. If you are still having pain or getting migraines, acupuncture can help with residual pain. But first, proper tests would have to had been conducted and anything serious ruled out.
Acupuncture can help with addressing musculoskeletal related injury related to the head trauma that caused the concussion. But, for a concussion I would recommend instead to consider this information:
https://www.facebook.com/WebLAc/posts/pfbid02aopKZZQGLrBNH4bMccPowuSY6HpH9nwcUCrRk7QZmGTARZ4ZXqenB1HBK52nMx96l
https://www.facebook.com/WebLAc/posts/pfbid02aopKZZQGLrBNH4bMccPowuSY6HpH9nwcUCrRk7QZmGTARZ4ZXqenB1HBK52nMx96l
Yes, acupuncture is very good for concussions to stop headaches, dizziness mind-fog, tingling and numbness, etc.
Best,
Jinyu Ren MD, PhD of TCM, LAc
Best,
Jinyu Ren MD, PhD of TCM, LAc
Yes
Acupuncture is definitely a strong complementary therapy to your medical care for concussions. Acupuncture can help with concussion in several ways. Many patients find a reduction in headaches and improved cognitive functioning following the addition of regular acupuncture to their integrated care regimen. It's important to continue medical monitoring as well. Thanks for asking. Hope to see you for ongoing care to improve your outcome.
Acupuncture is a strong complementary therapy to your medical care for concussion. Acupuncture can help with concussion in several ways. Many patients find a reduction in headaches and improved cognitive functioning following the the addition of regular acupuncture to their integrated care regimen. It's important to continue medical monitoring as well. Thanks for asking. Hope to see you for ongoing care to improve your outcome.
yes
Yes, it would help but it should not be the only treatment!
Acupuncture for concussion. Following a concussion, some patients experience a wide range of symptoms. Certified acupuncturists can treat many of the common concussion symptoms by using a variety of acupuncture techniques. Many patients experience chronic headaches following concussion, and acupuncture can be a way to get rid of this long-term pain. Acupuncturists can help treat: Headache, Neck and shoulder pain, Dizziness, Fatigue, Vertigo, Nausea, Emotional issues (depression, anxiety). Symptom management is an integral part of concussion recovery, and being able to manage symptoms in a non-invasive, holistic way can be very beneficial for patients. There are many benefits of holistic practices, which we discuss below.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a form of East Asian Medicine (EAM) that has gained popularity in Western countries as a means of chronic pain treatment. In modern EAM, acupuncture comes in many different forms and can be used for treating a variety of conditions, but it has shown promise in treating pain, such as in post-concussive syndrome. In a meta-analysis published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary Alternative Medicine, numerous studies of Chinese and English origin have found analgesic effects when using acupuncture to treat pain in acute and chronic conditions.
How does acupuncture work?
Acupuncture is based on fixing the body’s flow of energy, traditionally called “chi,” through the twelve meridians. These meridians are analogous to the major organs in Western medicine. One of the overarching theories in EAM describes that when a person is ill, there is an imbalance or disruption to the flow of “chi,” which is the body’s energy. Thus, the insertion of acupuncture needles increases the fluidity of this flow so that sufficient energy can reach all lengths of the body. Generally, acupuncture techniques consist of using fine needles (varying from 13 to 130 millimeters wide) that penetrate areas of abnormalities. These needles are so thin that they cannot be felt when penetrating the skin most of the time.
The techniques of acupuncture emphasize penetration through the deep fascia, which is the layer of fibrous, protective tissue above muscle tissue that provides a protective barrier between muscles and skin tissue (see image below). The fascia is impenetrable to most biological substances such as blood, water but is known to be able to conduct electricity within itself. In fact, in EAM, the fascia is known as the conductor of “chi,” the energy in our body.
Evidence in support of the use of acupuncture for concussion
The following examples from Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense, as well as some scientific journal articles, show support for acupuncture being used to treat concussion.
Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense are using acupuncture for concussions
Veterans and active-duty soldiers have a high risk of an injury that can result in a concussion or TBI. Since 2000, the US Army has reported more than 350,000 brain injuries (TBI in Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans). With that being said, the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs has been looking for a way to help their soldiers deal with the side effects of these brain injuries, which has led them to acupuncture. See more on our Veterans page.
The United States government has implemented acupuncture in recent years to help veterans recovering from varying levels of TBI. There are various examples of acupuncture being used by both the Department of Defense (DOD) and Veterans Affairs (VA). An article posted on the VA website discusses the basics of acupuncture, its effectiveness, and the ways in which it is being utilized to help veterans. A policy recently put into place includes acupuncture in a veteran’s medical benefits package if the veteran’s care team determines that acupuncture would be beneficial in the given situation. As of February 2018, a policy has been put in place that allows for certified acupuncturists to be hired by VA medical centers, which makes acupuncture even more accessible to the veterans who need it.
The Department of Defense has also been using acupuncture to help active-duty soldiers who have suffered concussions. An article posted by McClatchy Newspapers talked about how the DOD has sent certified acupuncturists to Afghanistan in order to treat soldiers who have become concussed in the line of duty. Having access to an acupuncturist in the time directly after the injury has been very beneficial in helping soldiers recover and return to duty. The use of acupuncture by the VA and DOD is an important step in acupuncture becoming more recognized by western medicine.
Treating concussion symptoms with acupuncture: Current research
While evidence supporting acupuncture to treat concussion is mostly anecdotal, there are some examples of scientific studies that examine the effectiveness of treating concussion with acupuncture. The first study below is an example of acupuncture being used to treat veterans, which shows how important the use of acupuncture by the VA and DoD is in creating support for acupuncture in the scientific community.
An article in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry by Wei Huang et Al. examines the use of acupuncture to treat veterans suffering from sleep disturbances as a result of a mild traumatic brain injury; sleep disturbances are a common symptom after a concussion. Some of the patients in the study also suffered from PTSD, which is not uncommon amongst veterans or TBI patients. The study found that acupuncture significantly reduced sleep disturbances in TBI patients with and without PTSD. With this study finding that acupuncture as an alternative medicine can be effective in helping patients in a clinical setting, it provides hope that more research will be done in the coming years to spread the knowledge of acupuncture as a beneficial treatment for a variety of ailments.
Danielle M. Gergen’s 2015 article in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine examines a combination of chiropractic and acupuncture treatments in a 31-year-old woman who was experiencing symptoms of a concussion following a fall. After pharmaceutical treatments were unsuccessful, the patient turned to acupuncture and chiropractic to help deal with her persistent symptoms. These included acute neck pain, headache, dizziness, nausea, tinnitus, difficulty concentrating, and fatigue. Over two and a half weeks, the patient received six acupuncture treatments, which included a focus on the cranial and cervical locations. She also received chiropractic treatment at these sessions. By the end of the 2.5 week period, the patient noted that almost all symptoms had completely resolved. This case study is a great example of how pharmaceutical treatments are not the best option for every patient, and how alternative methods can be a less invasive option.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a form of East Asian Medicine (EAM) that has gained popularity in Western countries as a means of chronic pain treatment. In modern EAM, acupuncture comes in many different forms and can be used for treating a variety of conditions, but it has shown promise in treating pain, such as in post-concussive syndrome. In a meta-analysis published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary Alternative Medicine, numerous studies of Chinese and English origin have found analgesic effects when using acupuncture to treat pain in acute and chronic conditions.
How does acupuncture work?
Acupuncture is based on fixing the body’s flow of energy, traditionally called “chi,” through the twelve meridians. These meridians are analogous to the major organs in Western medicine. One of the overarching theories in EAM describes that when a person is ill, there is an imbalance or disruption to the flow of “chi,” which is the body’s energy. Thus, the insertion of acupuncture needles increases the fluidity of this flow so that sufficient energy can reach all lengths of the body. Generally, acupuncture techniques consist of using fine needles (varying from 13 to 130 millimeters wide) that penetrate areas of abnormalities. These needles are so thin that they cannot be felt when penetrating the skin most of the time.
The techniques of acupuncture emphasize penetration through the deep fascia, which is the layer of fibrous, protective tissue above muscle tissue that provides a protective barrier between muscles and skin tissue (see image below). The fascia is impenetrable to most biological substances such as blood, water but is known to be able to conduct electricity within itself. In fact, in EAM, the fascia is known as the conductor of “chi,” the energy in our body.
Evidence in support of the use of acupuncture for concussion
The following examples from Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense, as well as some scientific journal articles, show support for acupuncture being used to treat concussion.
Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense are using acupuncture for concussions
Veterans and active-duty soldiers have a high risk of an injury that can result in a concussion or TBI. Since 2000, the US Army has reported more than 350,000 brain injuries (TBI in Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans). With that being said, the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs has been looking for a way to help their soldiers deal with the side effects of these brain injuries, which has led them to acupuncture. See more on our Veterans page.
The United States government has implemented acupuncture in recent years to help veterans recovering from varying levels of TBI. There are various examples of acupuncture being used by both the Department of Defense (DOD) and Veterans Affairs (VA). An article posted on the VA website discusses the basics of acupuncture, its effectiveness, and the ways in which it is being utilized to help veterans. A policy recently put into place includes acupuncture in a veteran’s medical benefits package if the veteran’s care team determines that acupuncture would be beneficial in the given situation. As of February 2018, a policy has been put in place that allows for certified acupuncturists to be hired by VA medical centers, which makes acupuncture even more accessible to the veterans who need it.
The Department of Defense has also been using acupuncture to help active-duty soldiers who have suffered concussions. An article posted by McClatchy Newspapers talked about how the DOD has sent certified acupuncturists to Afghanistan in order to treat soldiers who have become concussed in the line of duty. Having access to an acupuncturist in the time directly after the injury has been very beneficial in helping soldiers recover and return to duty. The use of acupuncture by the VA and DOD is an important step in acupuncture becoming more recognized by western medicine.
Treating concussion symptoms with acupuncture: Current research
While evidence supporting acupuncture to treat concussion is mostly anecdotal, there are some examples of scientific studies that examine the effectiveness of treating concussion with acupuncture. The first study below is an example of acupuncture being used to treat veterans, which shows how important the use of acupuncture by the VA and DoD is in creating support for acupuncture in the scientific community.
An article in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry by Wei Huang et Al. examines the use of acupuncture to treat veterans suffering from sleep disturbances as a result of a mild traumatic brain injury; sleep disturbances are a common symptom after a concussion. Some of the patients in the study also suffered from PTSD, which is not uncommon amongst veterans or TBI patients. The study found that acupuncture significantly reduced sleep disturbances in TBI patients with and without PTSD. With this study finding that acupuncture as an alternative medicine can be effective in helping patients in a clinical setting, it provides hope that more research will be done in the coming years to spread the knowledge of acupuncture as a beneficial treatment for a variety of ailments.
Danielle M. Gergen’s 2015 article in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine examines a combination of chiropractic and acupuncture treatments in a 31-year-old woman who was experiencing symptoms of a concussion following a fall. After pharmaceutical treatments were unsuccessful, the patient turned to acupuncture and chiropractic to help deal with her persistent symptoms. These included acute neck pain, headache, dizziness, nausea, tinnitus, difficulty concentrating, and fatigue. Over two and a half weeks, the patient received six acupuncture treatments, which included a focus on the cranial and cervical locations. She also received chiropractic treatment at these sessions. By the end of the 2.5 week period, the patient noted that almost all symptoms had completely resolved. This case study is a great example of how pharmaceutical treatments are not the best option for every patient, and how alternative methods can be a less invasive option.
Absolutely.
Yes, acupuncture can help reduce brain inflammation and pain following concussions.
Yes, it can. The severity of the concussion and how long ago it took place will determine the length of acupuncture treatment needed.
Yes!
Immediately after a concussion, you should always seek emergency help. But after that, acupuncture can absolutely help the recovery.
Yes, it is good for mental health.
Yes, Acupuncture can definitely help with concussions and concussion recovery.
Yes. Acupuncture can help with the symptoms of a concussion and help speed up the recovery from one.
Acupuncture can help balance your body's energies and help you get over your concussion more quickly. But be sure to follow all your doctor's orders, as well.
Yes, acupuncture can help with concussions.
There is some evidence that acupuncture can be useful in the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI). So I'd say, yes, acupuncture could probably help with a concussion - particularly if there are residual issues like headache.
When dealing with a more serious issue like TBI, it's important to make sure you're seeing a provider who is fully trained in Chinese medicine rather than someone who read a few books or has attended a couple of seminars. Your provider should have an NCCAOM national board accreditation and either an L.Ac. or R.Ac. state credential. To find providers like this in your area, you can use the 'Find a Practitioner' lookup at NCCAOM.org.
When dealing with a more serious issue like TBI, it's important to make sure you're seeing a provider who is fully trained in Chinese medicine rather than someone who read a few books or has attended a couple of seminars. Your provider should have an NCCAOM national board accreditation and either an L.Ac. or R.Ac. state credential. To find providers like this in your area, you can use the 'Find a Practitioner' lookup at NCCAOM.org.
Mr. Anthony James Lorenzo
Acupuncturist
My understanding is that a concussion is a physical trauma to the brain. I am unaware of anything that will help reverse that. If you mean symptoms that have resulted from the concussion, then yes, acupuncture and herbal therapies could help you heal from the effects of a concussion to varying degrees.
