Acupuncture Eases Leg Pain from Herniated Disc — What It Means for You

Nancy Lapid, “Health Rounds: Acupuncture reduces leg pain from a herniated disk,” Reuters, October 25, 2024)

A Breakthrough Study You Should Know About

A new JAMA(Journal of the American Medical Association) Internal Medicine study (featured in Reuters Health Rounds, Oct 25, 2024) offers clear, scientific evidence that acupuncture can meaningfully reduce sciatica pain caused by a herniated disc.

Researchers in China treated 216 patients with either real or sham acupuncture over four weeks. The results weren’t subtle — they were remarkable:

• Leg pain dropped by 30.8 mm in the acupuncture group(compared to 14.9 mm in the control group)

• Disability scores improved nearly 3× more than the sham group

• Benefits lasted a full year, including improved mobility and pain control

An accompanying editorial called the trial “methodologically rigorous,” reinforcing that acupuncture is a reliable, evidence-based, non-pharmacological option for disc-related pain.

Why Acupuncture Helps With Sciatica

Sciatica from a herniated disc is often the result of irritation, inflammation, and pressure on the nerve root. Acupuncture supports the body’s healing process by:

• Reducing local and systemic inflammation

• Improving circulation around irritated tissues

• Relaxing surrounding muscles to decrease nerve compression

• Regulating the nervous system to reduce pain signaling

When the nervous system calms, the body can finally shift out of “protection mode” and into “recovery mode.”

How This Translates to Your Care at Clinic Bare Rituals

At Clinic Bare Rituals, we see this same physiological process every day.

Acupuncture helps people with disc-related sciatic pain:

• Move with less fear and tension

• Reduce flare-ups

• Improve long-term function

• Recover without relying on medication

It’s precise, gentle, and grounded in evidence — and most importantly, it gives people a clear, structured path forward.