In a study from the Bravewell Practice-Based Research Network (BraveNet), which was published in BioMed Central Complementary and Alternative Medicine journal, an integrative approach to treating chronic pain significantly reduced pain severity and also improved mood and quality of life. There was a reduction in pain severity of more than 20 percent and a drop in pain interference of nearly 30 percent in patients after 24 weeks of integrative care. There were also significant progress in terms of mood, stress, quality of life, fatigue, sleep and well-being.

According to the lead researcher Dr. Donald Abrams: “Chronic pain is very difficult to treat.” He is a cancer and integrative medicine specialist at the University of California San Francisco Osher Center for Integrative Medicine. He also said that: “While there have been some therapeutic advances, many patients with chronic pain become resistant to conventional medical treatments or suffer adverse effects from widely used prescription medications with high addictive potential. The results from this study are particularly encouraging as chronic pain is the number one condition for which patients seek care at integrative healthcare clinics.”

Almost 116 million people in America suffer chronic pain. The cost of this health problem may cost as much as $635 billion every year. This study, which is prospective and observational, tracked patients’ measures of pain, quality of life, mood, stress, sleep, fatigue, sense of control, overall well-being, and work productivity at nine different clinical sites for 252 subjects.

There was no standardized pre-specified clinical intervention for chronic pain for all study participants. Practitioners at various sites came up with integrative treatment plans for patients. Each site include the following practitioners:
• integrative physicians
• acupuncturists
• mindfulness instructors
• yoga instructors
some also have massage therapists, manual medicine therapists, fitness/movement specialists, dietician/nutritionists, psychologists, healing touch therapists, and other energy practitioners.

The performance of integrative medicine was consistent over the entire 24-week of the trial, which suggests that effects of the integrative interventions are sustainable

For More information: www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/13/146

Wang Acupuncture Clinic provides treatment for various types of chronic pain using methods that are gentle, natural and effective. Visit our Jacksonville offices in Mandarin, San Marco and Amelia Island/Fernandina Beach. Sign up for a consultation on our website or call our office at 904 396 0898

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