Saturday, 04/18/2026
Health
Forget painkillers, YOGA can cure aches and pains: Complementary therapies like tai chi and acupuncture "are effective at easing chronic symptoms"
Update: 11/09/2016
Scientists reviewed clinical trials in the US to come to\r\ntheir conclusions - which could help millions of people whose pain may not be\r\nfully relieved by conventional medications.
\r\n\r\nSome of the most popular complementary health approaches -\r\nincluding yoga, tai chi and acupuncture - appear to be effective at managing\r\npainful conditions, a review found (file pic)
\r\n\r\nUntil now, a lack of evidence around complementary\r\napproaches has meant health professionals have not been able to recommend them.\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nResearchers say the review will help doctors, who frequently\r\nsee patients with chronic pain, be able to inform patients on which treatments\r\nwill best help them manage their symptoms.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe review was conducted by a group of scientists from the\r\nNational Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) at the\r\nNational Institutes of Health.
\r\n\r\nLead author Dr Richard Nahin, of the NCCIH, said: 'For many\r\nAmericans who suffer from chronic pain, medications may not completely relieve\r\npain and can produce unwanted side effects.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n'As a result, many people may turn to non-drug approaches to\r\nhelp manage their pain.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n'Our goal for this study was to provide relevant,\r\nhigh-quality information for primary care providers and for patients who suffer\r\nfrom chronic pain.'
\r\n\r\nThe researchers reviewed 105 controlled trials, from the\r\npast 50 years, that were relevant to patients with pain conditions.
\r\n\r\nThey found none of the clinical trials reported significant\r\nside-effects.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe review focused on US-based trial results on seven\r\napproaches used for one or more of five painful conditions.
\r\n\r\nThese included back pain, osteoarthritis, neck pain,\r\nfibromyalgia, and severe headaches and migraine.
\r\n\r\nThe team found acupuncture and yoga showed 'promise' for\r\ntreating back pain.
\r\n\r\nAcupuncture and tai chi was promising for osteoarthritis of\r\nthe knee while massage therapy was effective at treating neck pain in the\r\nshort-term.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nRelaxation techniques could relieve pain from severe\r\nheadaches and migraine, they discovered.
\r\n\r\nThough the evidence was weaker, the researchers also found\r\nthat massage therapy, spinal manipulation, and osteopathic manipulation may provide\r\n'some help' for back pain.
\r\n\r\nRelaxation approaches and tai chi might help people with\r\nfibromyalgia, they added.
\r\n\r\nDr David Shurtleff, deputy director of NCCIH, added: 'These\r\ndata can equip providers and patients with the information they need to have informed\r\nconversations regarding non-drug approaches for treatment of specific pain\r\nconditions.
\r\n\r\n'It's important that continued research explore how these\r\napproaches actually work and whether these findings apply broadly in diverse\r\nclinical settings and patient populations.'
Madlen Davies - Daily Mail Online