Blog article

Acupuncture for chronic pain management

By HBF
4 minutes
2 December 2022
Man getting acupuncture
Acupuncture is a safe, effective therapy, that may help with many forms of chronic pain relief as well as relaxation.

With both positive research and rebuttal regarding acupuncture and its potential to ease chronic pain, let’s look at what it is and some key considerations.

If you’re one of the 3.6 million Australians living with chronic pain2, you might have considered or been told about acupuncture as an option for your pain management. Dr. Queenie Wu of B&Q Acupuncture in Subiaco, Western Australia, explains how acupuncture works, as well as the expected health benefits.

In this article


What is chronic pain?

Chronic pain is a form of persistent pain1 that lasts for more than 3 months (or beyond normal healing time). It can cause significant mental and physical distress and can be challenging to find effective treatment for.1 While everyone’s experience is different, there are three main categories of chronic pain:1

Chronic pain can be treated in different ways, including medications, exercise, diet, relaxation, and other therapies – one of those being acupuncture.

What is acupuncture and how does it work?

Acupuncture is an alternative physical therapy that originated in China over 2,000 years ago. The therapy applies thin metal needles into the skin at specific ‘acupoints’ to stimulate the nerves.3 An acupuncture therapist may use different methods in therapy including:4

Dr Queenie Wu is an acupuncture practitioner with a Masters degree in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) from the Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

“From the TCM perspective, the body is considered as a whole. Parts of the body and organs are linked through meridians, or channels,” says Dr Wu.

Meridians refer to a complex system carrying qi (energy) and blood through the body.

"It’s similar to how a river flows. An obstruction along the river produces illness downstream. Acupuncture helps restore the flow", says Dr Wu.

Acupuncture is a complementary therapy; meaning they are usually outside of evidence-based, conventional medicine.. Preclinical studies have documented acupuncture’s effects, but they have not been able to fully explain how acupuncture works within the framework of the western system of medicine.7

What is remedial massage?

After acupuncture – does it hurt?

Although you may feel the small needles, acupuncture is not usually painful. The needles are a lot thinner than those used to draw blood.3 Acupuncture is generally considered to be safe for most people but as with most treatments it can carry some risk. To understand potential side effects and if acupuncture may be suitable for you, discuss with your doctor.

What are the potential benefits of acupuncture for chronic pain?

Acupuncture is often used as a complementary therapy for pain. It is generally well-tolerated with minimal side effects and considered safe when administered by a suitably trained practitioner. Clinical guidelines published in different countries have found that acupuncture is moderately helpful in a range of conditions, particularly those which involve pain.6

Queenie advises her clients that use acupuncture can lead them to feel:

Some other reasons you might try acupuncture

Dr. Queenie suggests talking to your doctor about acupuncture as a potential complementary therapy for conditions such as:

Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners believe there are up to 2,000 points. These points are used to stimulate and treat pain and other ailments in corresponding parts of the body.7

How often should you get acupuncture?

According to the Australian Natural Therapists Association, the number of acupuncture appointments you may need will vary. Some people only may only have a few appointments, but some chronic conditions may take longer to treat.5

What to do before your appointment.

Talk to you doctor if you are considering using acupuncture treatment. It is a good idea to check that you are seeing an accredited acupuncturist3, and you can check search for registered Chinese medicine practitioners on the AHPRA website .

Here are Dr Wu’s tips about what to do before an appointment:

Acupuncture can be a good complement to traditional medicine when it comes to chronic pain management for some. Ask your doctor whether acupuncture may be suitable for you.

Am I covered for acupuncture?

Acupuncture is covered on Extras products under Natural Therapies.

If you’re an HBF member, you can check what you're covered for by logging on to myHBF or calling us on 133 423.


1 National Library of Medicine - Acupuncture for Chronic Pain

2 Chronic Pain Australia - What is Chronic Pain

3 Chronic Pain Australia - Chronic Pain

4 Health Direct - Acupuncture

5 Australian Natural Therapists Association - The Definitive Guide To Acupuncture

6 Health Direct - Chronic Pain

7 National Library of Medicine - Acupuncture


This article contains general information only and does not take into account the health, personal situation or needs of any person. In conjunction with your GP or treating health care professional, please consider whether the information is suitable for you and your personal circumstances.