Pain is a warning signal, an alarm. When you experience pain, your body is telling you that something is wrong.

Many people cover up the pain signals, either by ignoring it or taking drugs to dull the sensation. This is understandable when the pain is unbearable. However, the source of pain will never completely go away if you keep hitting the snooze on the pain alarm. Occasionally, your body will remind you that something is still wrong. Perhaps the pain will even become more chronic and intense.

One approach is to get plenty of bed rest in hopes that the pain will just disappear. This may help for a while, but can possibly delay recovery and make the problem worse.

Another choice is to take drugs to dull the pain. This may be helpful in the short term, but it won't get at the root of the problem and correct it. Plus, the medications may cause unwarranted side effects.

Surgery is yet another choice. By far, it is the most drastic one. At times, this approach may make sense, but it is both expensive and risky. Your body will not only have to recover from the surgery, but repair from the incision as well as the pain it may cause. Some studies suggest that surgery is no different that the placebo affect.

Acupuncture is another option. It is a time-tested, safe, effective and natural way to eliminate pain. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) acknowledge the benefits of acupuncture at treating and eliminating pain due to a wide range of causes.

Acupuncture practitioners recognize that there is a vital life energy, called Qi (pronounced “chee”), circulating within the body. Qi flows through a series of pathways called Meridians. Meridians are like rivers within your body. Wherever a river flows, it brings with it water to nourish life, land and the people around it. Likewise, Meridians transport life-giving Qi that nourishes every ell, tissue, organ, and system in the body, providing good health and pain-free living.

If you place a dam in a flowing river, it will cause an excessive amount of pressure on one side and restrict the water flow on the other. An obstruction to the flow of Qi is similar. When meridians become blocked, Qi cannot move freely, causing excess Qi to build up in one area of your body and a deficient amount in another area. This can lead to a variety of symptoms, including pain.

By inserting fine, sterile needles at specific points, an acupuncturist is able to break up blockages that have hampered the smooth flow of Qi. Once this is done, Qi can travel to every cell, tissue, organ and muscle, promoting pain-free health.

Acupuncture does not just treat the signs and symptoms. It uncovers the source of your pain and corrects it. Not only can acupuncture eliminate the dam that causes the pain, but it can get to the root of what initially caused the problem. When the problem is corrected, your body can begin to heal on deeper levels.

Your acupuncturist may also suggest adjunct therapies to enhance your treatment and speed your healing. Massage, stretching, yoga, herbal supplements, and dietary changes support acupuncture care.