Each day we all get a little bit older and for most of us a little bit more lame. As we age our joints aches, our muscles get sore and back pain and neck pain unfortunately become a regular part of our life. Some people just accept the lack of mobility and the chronic pain as the price to pay for growing older but a growing number of people are taking a look at acupuncture as a way to address chronic conditions.

For many people acupuncture may seem scary or intimidating. Let’s face it the idea of multiple needles being inserted into your body is not something most people would readily agree to. However, when you see the list of over 42 medical disorders that the World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture’s ability to treat it becomes apparent that this is something to give some serious thought to.

According to Robert Davis, MS, L.Ac. of Acupuncture Vermont he sees” a forty percent improvement in functionality and pain.” Many of Davis’ patients come to him because they are in pain and find that acupuncture can not only help treat their pain but also help them manage other conditions. Acupuncture can be used to treat arthritis, joint pain, back and neck pain, headaches, migraines, carpal tunnel, menopausal symptoms, allergies, depression, the common cold, fatigue, stress, smoking cessation and the side- effects of chemotherapy and radiation to name a few.

This long list of conditions treated by acupuncture makes it a very attractive way to increase our immune system and to find some balance. But that still brings us back to the needles. According to Davis the term needle scares many people however the needles used in acupuncture are not the hypodermic needles that our doctor uses to give us shots. Acupuncturist use needles that are like filaments, the size of a human hair. When Davis inserted one of the acupuncture needles into my hand to demonstrate how it felt I was surprised that I could not feel it go into my hand and only a slight tingle when it was removed.

According to Davis “pain is what brings people into my office.” Treating chronic pain and post surgical pain is a big part of his practice. According to Davis acupuncture “helps the whole self, helps with sleep, helps with mood, and the whole health.” Davis sees acupuncture as a good complement to traditional medical procedures.

According to Davis he typically only needs to use 8-12 needles per treatment. The needles are left in for a half hour. According to Davis acupuncture is very safe and has very few side effects. Only about 1-2% will receive bruising around the site or experience some discomfort. Many people who receive acupuncture report that they feel relaxed after treatment. A study of acupuncture patients taken by the National Institute of Health Consensus Conference on Acupuncture found that 70% of those recommended for surgery avoided it, 64% reported less pain, 58% reported more energy and 79% reported reducing use of prescription drugs.

Acupuncture is not a cure all but for some of Davis’s patients who come into his office in such pain that they have begun to limit their activity and impact their quality of life it can have incredible results. Within a few treatments some patients have already begun to experience less pain and be able to increase their function. Last year over 2 million Americans had acupuncture. Davis is seeing more acceptance of acupuncture in the general public and with medical professionals. Acupuncture is one more tool to help seniors navigate chronic health conditions and chronic pain.

Sarah Lemnah writes on senior issues for the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging. This article originally appeared in the Burlington Free Press.