When to Use Massage vs. Acupuncture

Acupuncture and massage can both help relieve pain around the body, but the treatments are great at treating specific types of pain. If you find yourself with sharp or stabbing pains, acupuncture may be best, while massage can help with lingering or dull yet relentless types of pain.

How Acupuncture Helps

Acupuncture and massage vary in their techniques. Acupuncture involves placing small needles in specific parts of the body to help relieve pain and tension in a given area. It is a practice that has been perfected over thousands of years, but it also offers a different type of relief than massage.

Typically, acupuncture can help nerve pain. When nerves become damaged, they can give off sharp of stabbing pains. Acupuncture can help the blood flow to these areas of the body that can help heal the nerves that are damaged. Acupuncture can also help with muscular pain that can benefit from massage, but may not be as effective as other treatments. For the sharp pains associated with nerve damage, acupuncture is a superb form of treatment.

How Massage Helps

Massage is best at helping muscular injuries. These tend to not be as sharp as nerve injuries, but may last for longer periods of time without showing signs of improvement. Massage helps relax the muscles and helps the nervous system release endorphins that can help make the muscles hurt less than before.

Massage is also great for people with tight muscles around their body that could be causing them further pain, such as the neck and shoulders. By releasing the tension in these muscles, massage can help the person feel better.

Acupuncture and massage are both great treatments. They both offer rewards for the people that use them and can help relieve pain in many cases. Consult a massage therapist or an acupuncturist before receiving treatment for your condition to see specifically which one is best for your needs.