The ScolioGold Method Explained: Acupuncture for Scoliosis

Acupuncture is a Latin word where ‘acus’ means needle and ‘punctura’ a pricking. Acupuncture treatment involves the insertion of very fine needles into specific points on the body. There are two different types of Acupuncture; Traditional and Modern.

Traditional acupuncture is a tried and tested healthcare system that has been practised for thousands of years in China and the Far East. It involves examination of the body’s flow of energy and harmony; supposedly, there are different pathways in the body where this energy flows. These pathways are called meridians.

Traditional acupuncturists posit that, when a person experiences pain or dysfunction (scoliosis, for example), it is because there is a blockage to the flow of energy on one or more of the meridians. Traditional acupuncture treatment aims to restore balance to this flow of energy by inserting needles into specific points along the meridians to remove the blockage of energy flow, thereby eliminating pain or dysfunction.

Western medical acupuncture is a synthesis between traditional acupuncture and our modern understanding of anatomy, physiology and pathology.  There is not a clear separation between modern and traditional acupuncture; rather, the two exist at different points on the same spectrum.

The main aim of Western acupuncture is to reduce pain. This is achieved by blocking the signals sent from the site of the pain to the brain via the spinal cord; acupuncture can also stimulate the brain to release chemicals that block pain signals, which can result in widespread pain reduction.

Additionally, needles are often inserted close to the painful area to help improve blood flow and promote healing to the damaged area, which in turn will also help to reduce pain. 

So how can acupuncture help scoliosis sufferers? Many people with scoliosis experience musculoskeletal pain due to the muscular imbalances and postural asymmetry that can arise as a result of the spinal curvature.  Acupuncture treatment can be used to help treat this pain and restore normal movement and function. 

Although acupuncture alone is not an effective treatment for scoliosis, we have recently added acupuncture to our ScolioGold therapy programme as it can be useful for relieving the patient’s pain and improving their general well-being and energy levels.