Stunning new study backs drug-free pain relief

It sounds too good to be true.

But in this case, it IS true, because new research proves there's a single therapy that can beat pain in the knees, back and neck... migraines... and even depression.

And it's NOT a drug.

Acupuncture has been used for centuries in China for those very same conditions and more. Ask anyone over there, and they take it as given that it works.

Here in the United States, docs don't seem to believe in anything that doesn't come in a pill -- so even though modern studies back what the Chinese knew ages ago, it still hasn't gained mainstream acceptance.

But the new analysis of 29 clinical trials could help to change that, showing how this time-tested therapy can help fight some of the most common forms of pain out there, especially for seniors.

Take osteoarthritis, for example.

Between 30 million and 50 million Americans have at least some form of this pain condition, especially in the knees -- and many find themselves in so much agony they face physical limitations.

Even if they want to go out, they often can't.

They're in too much pain. And when they do make it out, they often regret it and have to gobble painkillers later on to deal with the agony.

Acupuncture can change that.

The study finds it can cut pain, improve mobility, reduce disability, and help slash the number of times you'll need to pop those pain pills.

And that's not all.

The same study finds it can also help ease back and neck pain.

And for migraine patients, acupuncture helps to both reduce the overall number of headaches and ease pain during attacks.

I do have one bone to pick with this study.

It looked at acupuncture when combined with "conventional" treatment, which in most cases means drugs. It found that adding acupuncture offers far more pain relief than you'd get from the drugs alone.

But I wish they had looked at acupuncture on its own, or combined with other natural pain-fighters such as topical MSM instead.

I think they'd find that in many cases, patients can skip the meds completely or at least cut back.

Along with pain, the researchers also looked at the effects of acupuncture on depression -- and for this, they conducted their own study, comparing acupuncture and counseling to medication.

They found that acupuncture and counseling not only worked, but they worked so well that the benefits lasted for a full year AFTER the treatment ended.

That's incredible. But I'm not surprised; I have an acupuncturist on my staff here at the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine and I see results like this all the time.

And if you're battling pain or depression and haven't gotten anywhere with conventional treatments, maybe it's time to see those results for yourself.

God bless,

Dr. Mark Stengler