Abstract

Acupuncture has been used for centuries to address pain issues and is commonly applied for various health conditions. However, research has not conclusively proven its effectiveness in urgent medical scenarios. While it has helped some, its role in acute situations requires more scientific investigation before being widely recommended.

This was a planned study where people were randomly assigned to receive either acupuncture or morphine for pain relief if they came to the emergency department with moderate-to-severe pain that started recently. The main result looked at how much pain relief treatments provided significant pain relief, meaning a pain level reduction of at least 50% from its original number. We also looked at how long it took for pain to reduce and if any short-term side effects occurred. We included 300 patients with new pain—150 in each group.

The study results showed that success rates differed greatly between the two groups. 92% of patients in the acupuncture group found relief, compared to just 78% in the morphine group (P<.001). Pain resolved much faster for those receiving acupuncture as well; it took on average 16 minutes, while morphine took 28 minutes (P<.005). Most side effects occurred in the morphine group, with 85 patients (56.6%) experiencing minor issues like nausea or dizziness. Only 4 patients (2.6%) had similar minor side effects from acupuncture (P<.001). No major safety problems came up for either treatment. For people visiting the emergency department with acute pain, acupuncture seemed to provide quicker and more complete pain relief with fewer unpleasant side effects compared to morphine.

In summary, this piece discusses one of the longest-standing methods for pain relief called acupuncture and its potential role in contemporary healthcare contexts. Specifically, acupuncture may serve as a valuable option in acute care facilities given today’s patients, who often manage complex medical histories alongside multiple prescription medications. By incorporating alternative therapies like acupuncture, facilities could help patients avoid undesirable interactions between different drugs and treatments for more effective, safer care overall.