Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhere Do Needles Go?Does It Help Nerve Pain?Pregnancy and SciaticaProcedureFinding an AcupuncturistInsurance and Financials
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Where Do Needles Go?
Does It Help Nerve Pain?
Pregnancy and Sciatica
Procedure
Finding an Acupuncturist
Insurance and Financials
Acupunctureforsciaticais a safe and effective practice to relieve pain. Some studies suggest that it may be more effective—and cause fewer side effects—than prescription pain relievers.How long it takes for acupuncture to relieve sciatica pain varies from person to person, but many people report some improvement within two to three weeks.
This article explores the potential of acupuncture for relieving sciatica pain, including how it works, what to expect during and after acupuncture sessions, and how to find an acupuncture practitioner for sciatica symptoms.
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Acupuncture Needles for Sciatica: Where Do They Go?
Acupuncture is based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) concept that the body’s life energy, or chi (sometimes spelled as “qi” or “ch’i”), flows through the body on meridians (pathways). Chi disruptions can cause energy to get stuck or stagnant in one or more meridians, leading to pain and disease in that area.
Some practitioners use electroacupuncture (electricity passes through the tissues from the needles) to activate the nervous system.
Acupuncture for sciatica involves targeting specific acupoints along the gallbladder and bladder meridians thought to be connected to thesciatic nerve.
The Bladder Meridian (BL)
The bladder meridian (BL) runs down the back of the body along the spine, hips, and legs. Acupoints used for sciatica within this meridian include:
The Gallbladder Meridian (GB)
The gallbladder meridian (GB) runs along the sides of the body from the corner of the eyes down to the pinky toe.The most frequently used acupoints for sciatica within this meridian are:
Stimulating acupoints in these meridians may help increase blood flow to the area, reduce inflammation, and promote the release of endorphins and other pain-relieving neurochemicals to relieve sciatica symptoms.
The specific acupoints targeted may vary depending on your symptoms and the root cause of sciatica.
Does Acupuncture Help Nerve Pain?
Acupuncture shows promise as a complementary therapy for reducingnerve pain. Research shows that acupuncture may have specific effects that relieve nerve pain:
Pregnancy, Sciatica, and Acupuncture
Sciatica is common duringpregnancy, especially during the third trimester. Hormonal changes, a growing uterus, and changes to your center of gravity can irritate and compress the sciatic nerve, leading to pain.
Acupuncture is a low-risk therapy for aches and pains during pregnancy and may help reduce sciatica pain. Research shows acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for sciatica during pregnancy. It can help improve circulation and reduce pain and inflammation without adverse effects on the pregnant person or fetus.
Proceed With CautionSome acupoints are contraindicated for pregnancy as they can induce labor. Consult a healthcare provider before trying acupuncture, especially while pregnant.
Proceed With Caution
Some acupoints are contraindicated for pregnancy as they can induce labor. Consult a healthcare provider before trying acupuncture, especially while pregnant.
Your initial visit to an acupuncturist will include a thorough review of your medical history, symptoms, and health goals. Afterward, the acupuncturist may ask you to change into a gown and lie on an acupuncture table so they can easily access the necessary acupoints.
Needle Preparation
They will wash their hands, then open a new, sealed package of sterile needles and place them on a clean tray. Before inserting the needles, they may use an alcohol swab or similar antiseptic on your skin where they plan to insert needles.
The acupuncturist will gently insert the needles at a shallow depth into the selected acupoints for sciatica. Most people experience little to no pain during this process. You may feel a brief, mild prick or tingling at the needle insertion point.
During the Session
Once the needles are in place, you will relax for about 20 to 30 minutes. The acupuncturist may leave the room during this time, but they will check on you regularly. You may experience a sense of warmth, tingling, or mild heaviness around the needle sites but should not feel any pain. This is a normal response to acupuncture; many people find it calming.
Aftercare
After the session, your acupuncturist will carefully remove the needles. It’s common to feel deeply relaxed after acupuncture, so take your time getting up to prevent dizziness. You may notice minor redness, bruising, or soreness at the needle sites. This is normal and should fade quickly. Your acupuncturist may offer advice on self-care practices for the rest of the day, such as:
How Do You Feel After Acupuncture?
How you feel after acupuncture can vary from person to person. Some people may feel calmer and relaxed, while others may feel more energized. Feelings you may experience after an acupuncture session include:
Talk to your acupuncturist if you have concerns about how you feel after an acupuncture session.
Finding an Acupuncture Clinic for Sciatica Symptoms
Finding a qualified, licensed acupuncturist is the best way to ensure safe treatment and results. Here’s what to consider when looking for an acupuncture clinic or acupuncturist:
Once you find potential acupuncture clinics, call and ask questions to learn more about the clinic’s policies and procedures and determine if it is a good fit for you.
If your insurance plan does not cover acupuncture, you will pay for treatments out of pocket. The cost of acupuncture varies depending on the clinic’s location, the acupuncturist’s experience, and the number of treatments you need. Some acupuncture clinics offer sliding scale fees based on income, and some may offer discounts for multiple sessions.
Summary
Acupuncture for sciatica is an effective, safe therapy that helps to reduce pain, inflammation, and muscle tension. Acupuncturists target specific points on the body believed to be connected to the sciatic nerve. Sessions typically last between 20 and 30 minutes, and many people with sciatica report improvements within a few sessions.
Talk to a healthcare provider to determine if acupuncture for sciatica is right for you and for recommendations to local reputable practitioners.
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Zhang Z, Hu T, Huang P, et al.The efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy for sciatica: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trails.Front Neurosci. 2023;17:1097830. doi:10.3389/fnins.2023.1097830Yu FT, Liu CZ, Ni GX, et al.Acupuncture for chronic sciatica: protocol for a multicenter randomised controlled trial.BMJ Open. 2022;12(5):e054566. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054566Zhang WB, Jia DX, Li HY, et al.Understanding qi running in the meridians as interstitial fluid flowing via interstitial space of low hydraulic resistance.Chin J Integr Med. 2018;24(4):304-307. doi:10.1007/s11655-017-2791-3Zhu H.Acupoints initiate the healing process.Med Acupunct. 2014;26(5):264-270. doi:10.1089/acu.2014.1057Zhang R, Lao L, Ren K, Berman BM.Mechanisms of acupuncture-electroacupuncture on persistent pain.Anesthesiology. 2014;120(2):482-503. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000000101Perreault T, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, Cummings M, Gendron BC.Needling Interventions for Sciatica: Choosing Methods Based on Neuropathic Pain Mechanisms-A Scoping Review.J Clin Med. 2021;10(10):2189. doi:10.3390/jcm10102189Li N, Guo Y, Gong Y, et al.The Anti-Inflammatory Actions and Mechanisms of Acupuncture from Acupoint to Target Organs via Neuro-Immune Regulation.J Inflamm Res. 2021;14:7191-7224. doi:10.2147/JIR.S341581Lim TK, Ma Y, Berger F, Litscher G.Acupuncture and neural mechanism in the management of low back pain-An update.Medicines (Basel). 2018;5(3):63. doi:10.3390/medicines5030063Kim SY, Min S, Lee H, et al.Changes of local blood flow in response to acupuncture stimulation: a systematic review.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016;2016:9874207. doi:10.1155/2016/9874207Patil S, Sen S, Bral M, et al.The role of acupuncture in pain management.Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2016;20(4):22. doi:10.1007/s11916-016-0552-1Ma X, Chen W, Yang NN, et al.Potential mechanisms of acupuncture for neuropathic pain based on somatosensory system.Front Neurosci. 2022;16:940343. doi:10.3389/fnins.2022.940343U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Office on Women’s Health.Pregnancy: body changes and discomfort.Park J, Sohn Y, White AR, Lee H.The safety of acupuncture during pregnancy: a systematic review.Acupunct Med. 2014;32(3):257-266. doi:10.1136/acupmed-2013-010480World Health Organization.WHO benchmarks for the practice of acupuncture.The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Newfoundland and Labrador.What to expect when visiting an acupuncturist.American Institute of Alternative Medicine.What to expect after acupuncture: dos and don’ts.National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.Find a practitioner directory.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Acupuncture: What you need to know.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Zhang Z, Hu T, Huang P, et al.The efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy for sciatica: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trails.Front Neurosci. 2023;17:1097830. doi:10.3389/fnins.2023.1097830Yu FT, Liu CZ, Ni GX, et al.Acupuncture for chronic sciatica: protocol for a multicenter randomised controlled trial.BMJ Open. 2022;12(5):e054566. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054566Zhang WB, Jia DX, Li HY, et al.Understanding qi running in the meridians as interstitial fluid flowing via interstitial space of low hydraulic resistance.Chin J Integr Med. 2018;24(4):304-307. doi:10.1007/s11655-017-2791-3Zhu H.Acupoints initiate the healing process.Med Acupunct. 2014;26(5):264-270. doi:10.1089/acu.2014.1057Zhang R, Lao L, Ren K, Berman BM.Mechanisms of acupuncture-electroacupuncture on persistent pain.Anesthesiology. 2014;120(2):482-503. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000000101Perreault T, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, Cummings M, Gendron BC.Needling Interventions for Sciatica: Choosing Methods Based on Neuropathic Pain Mechanisms-A Scoping Review.J Clin Med. 2021;10(10):2189. doi:10.3390/jcm10102189Li N, Guo Y, Gong Y, et al.The Anti-Inflammatory Actions and Mechanisms of Acupuncture from Acupoint to Target Organs via Neuro-Immune Regulation.J Inflamm Res. 2021;14:7191-7224. doi:10.2147/JIR.S341581Lim TK, Ma Y, Berger F, Litscher G.Acupuncture and neural mechanism in the management of low back pain-An update.Medicines (Basel). 2018;5(3):63. doi:10.3390/medicines5030063Kim SY, Min S, Lee H, et al.Changes of local blood flow in response to acupuncture stimulation: a systematic review.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016;2016:9874207. doi:10.1155/2016/9874207Patil S, Sen S, Bral M, et al.The role of acupuncture in pain management.Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2016;20(4):22. doi:10.1007/s11916-016-0552-1Ma X, Chen W, Yang NN, et al.Potential mechanisms of acupuncture for neuropathic pain based on somatosensory system.Front Neurosci. 2022;16:940343. doi:10.3389/fnins.2022.940343U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Office on Women’s Health.Pregnancy: body changes and discomfort.Park J, Sohn Y, White AR, Lee H.The safety of acupuncture during pregnancy: a systematic review.Acupunct Med. 2014;32(3):257-266. doi:10.1136/acupmed-2013-010480World Health Organization.WHO benchmarks for the practice of acupuncture.The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Newfoundland and Labrador.What to expect when visiting an acupuncturist.American Institute of Alternative Medicine.What to expect after acupuncture: dos and don’ts.National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.Find a practitioner directory.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Acupuncture: What you need to know.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Zhang Z, Hu T, Huang P, et al.The efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy for sciatica: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trails.Front Neurosci. 2023;17:1097830. doi:10.3389/fnins.2023.1097830Yu FT, Liu CZ, Ni GX, et al.Acupuncture for chronic sciatica: protocol for a multicenter randomised controlled trial.BMJ Open. 2022;12(5):e054566. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054566Zhang WB, Jia DX, Li HY, et al.Understanding qi running in the meridians as interstitial fluid flowing via interstitial space of low hydraulic resistance.Chin J Integr Med. 2018;24(4):304-307. doi:10.1007/s11655-017-2791-3Zhu H.Acupoints initiate the healing process.Med Acupunct. 2014;26(5):264-270. doi:10.1089/acu.2014.1057Zhang R, Lao L, Ren K, Berman BM.Mechanisms of acupuncture-electroacupuncture on persistent pain.Anesthesiology. 2014;120(2):482-503. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000000101Perreault T, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, Cummings M, Gendron BC.Needling Interventions for Sciatica: Choosing Methods Based on Neuropathic Pain Mechanisms-A Scoping Review.J Clin Med. 2021;10(10):2189. doi:10.3390/jcm10102189Li N, Guo Y, Gong Y, et al.The Anti-Inflammatory Actions and Mechanisms of Acupuncture from Acupoint to Target Organs via Neuro-Immune Regulation.J Inflamm Res. 2021;14:7191-7224. doi:10.2147/JIR.S341581Lim TK, Ma Y, Berger F, Litscher G.Acupuncture and neural mechanism in the management of low back pain-An update.Medicines (Basel). 2018;5(3):63. doi:10.3390/medicines5030063Kim SY, Min S, Lee H, et al.Changes of local blood flow in response to acupuncture stimulation: a systematic review.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016;2016:9874207. doi:10.1155/2016/9874207Patil S, Sen S, Bral M, et al.The role of acupuncture in pain management.Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2016;20(4):22. doi:10.1007/s11916-016-0552-1Ma X, Chen W, Yang NN, et al.Potential mechanisms of acupuncture for neuropathic pain based on somatosensory system.Front Neurosci. 2022;16:940343. doi:10.3389/fnins.2022.940343U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Office on Women’s Health.Pregnancy: body changes and discomfort.Park J, Sohn Y, White AR, Lee H.The safety of acupuncture during pregnancy: a systematic review.Acupunct Med. 2014;32(3):257-266. doi:10.1136/acupmed-2013-010480World Health Organization.WHO benchmarks for the practice of acupuncture.The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Newfoundland and Labrador.What to expect when visiting an acupuncturist.American Institute of Alternative Medicine.What to expect after acupuncture: dos and don’ts.National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.Find a practitioner directory.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Acupuncture: What you need to know.
Zhang Z, Hu T, Huang P, et al.The efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy for sciatica: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trails.Front Neurosci. 2023;17:1097830. doi:10.3389/fnins.2023.1097830
Yu FT, Liu CZ, Ni GX, et al.Acupuncture for chronic sciatica: protocol for a multicenter randomised controlled trial.BMJ Open. 2022;12(5):e054566. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054566
Zhang WB, Jia DX, Li HY, et al.Understanding qi running in the meridians as interstitial fluid flowing via interstitial space of low hydraulic resistance.Chin J Integr Med. 2018;24(4):304-307. doi:10.1007/s11655-017-2791-3
Zhu H.Acupoints initiate the healing process.Med Acupunct. 2014;26(5):264-270. doi:10.1089/acu.2014.1057
Zhang R, Lao L, Ren K, Berman BM.Mechanisms of acupuncture-electroacupuncture on persistent pain.Anesthesiology. 2014;120(2):482-503. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000000101
Perreault T, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, Cummings M, Gendron BC.Needling Interventions for Sciatica: Choosing Methods Based on Neuropathic Pain Mechanisms-A Scoping Review.J Clin Med. 2021;10(10):2189. doi:10.3390/jcm10102189
Li N, Guo Y, Gong Y, et al.The Anti-Inflammatory Actions and Mechanisms of Acupuncture from Acupoint to Target Organs via Neuro-Immune Regulation.J Inflamm Res. 2021;14:7191-7224. doi:10.2147/JIR.S341581
Lim TK, Ma Y, Berger F, Litscher G.Acupuncture and neural mechanism in the management of low back pain-An update.Medicines (Basel). 2018;5(3):63. doi:10.3390/medicines5030063
Kim SY, Min S, Lee H, et al.Changes of local blood flow in response to acupuncture stimulation: a systematic review.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016;2016:9874207. doi:10.1155/2016/9874207
Patil S, Sen S, Bral M, et al.The role of acupuncture in pain management.Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2016;20(4):22. doi:10.1007/s11916-016-0552-1
Ma X, Chen W, Yang NN, et al.Potential mechanisms of acupuncture for neuropathic pain based on somatosensory system.Front Neurosci. 2022;16:940343. doi:10.3389/fnins.2022.940343
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Office on Women’s Health.Pregnancy: body changes and discomfort.
Park J, Sohn Y, White AR, Lee H.The safety of acupuncture during pregnancy: a systematic review.Acupunct Med. 2014;32(3):257-266. doi:10.1136/acupmed-2013-010480
World Health Organization.WHO benchmarks for the practice of acupuncture.
The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Newfoundland and Labrador.What to expect when visiting an acupuncturist.
American Institute of Alternative Medicine.What to expect after acupuncture: dos and don’ts.
National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.Find a practitioner directory.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Acupuncture: What you need to know.
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