Clinically reviewed by: Gudrun Wu Snyder, Doctor of Acupuncture, DAc, LAc, Dipl.Ac (NCCAOM), MSAc

Pain - acute [sudden] or chronic [persistent] - can be debilitating. While the problem is physical, it’s also extremely mentally taxing. Coping with pain is a journey that can feel like an endless circle. In a world full of new [and often helpful yet overwhelming] treatment options, it’s comforting to look back in time to find balance and a truly holistic approach to managing the pain.

In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald ends the book with,

“So we beat on, boats against the current, born back ceaselessly into the past.”

Enter: traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). TCM doctors have a vast knowledge of pain derived from centuries-old texts. According to these ancient theories, pain is defined as a disruption in the flow of Qi (energy) and blood throughout the body.

“Pain can effect every aspect of our lives. Our mind, our body, our relationships. At Moon Rabbit, our hope is that we are sanctuary where we can help alleviate your pain and set you on a course of relief.” - Gudrun Snyder, Founder of Moon Rabbit Acupuncture

A recent article in The Washington Post explores the topic of chronic pain and acupuncture. In this article, Richard Harris, a professor and endowed chair of the University of California, Irvine Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute, says:

“People talk about psychedelics reshaping the nervous system. Acupuncture kind of does the same thing.”

Harris’ group conducted a series of analyses on acupuncture among chronic pain patients. They found that properly performed acupuncture changed brain activity by activating the receptors that bind opioids, which help regulate pain in the body. Electroacupuncture, [when acupuncture needles are stimulated with low electric currents], also impacted how different areas of the brain were connected which, in a way, re-wired a brain’s pain system.

A 2018 meta-analysis of over 20,000 patients in 39 high-quality randomized controlled trials discovered that acupuncture was superior to poorly performed acupuncture and no acupuncture for back or neck pain, osteoarthritis, headaches and shoulder pain.

A phrase rooted in TCM is:

Treat the symptoms when they are acute and treat the root causes when they’re chronic.

For acute pain treatment, the goal is to bring immediate pain relief through acupuncture and restore balance and harmony in the body by adjusting the flow of Qi. Chronic pain treatment involves a slightly more involved approach because the symptoms are ongoing. At Moon Rabbit we aim to meet you where you are and will work with you to develop a treatment plan that feels comfortable for you.

We at Moon Rabbit are here for you, but always want you to make informed decisions by consulting all your medical providers.