How well do chiropractic and acupuncture go together? If you’re seeing a chiropractor, can you still go to see an acupuncturist? While both of these treatments are often considered “alternative,” they work well together despite their very different philosophies.
We can and do refer to other healthcare providers, with acupuncture being one of the types of providers with which we work. Many times, it’s patients that will bring up the question, “Is it okay if I see an acupuncturist?”
I usually agree, as chiropractic and acupuncture are a great combination and it’s been rare that patients don’t see some sort of benefit in how they respond to combined treatment. Occasionally, someone will say, “The acupuncture didn’t work for me,” but no one has said to me that their condition became worse following an acupuncture session.
I have had several acupuncture treatments myself, since we do strive to try out any treatment we may recommend to patients when possible. I found the experience comfortable and helpful. During my conversation with the acupuncturist, I asked some of the most common reasons why people seek out their care.
Patients receiving both chiropractic and acupuncture
Most of my patients visit acupuncturists seeking pain relief, but according to the acupuncturist I saw, that’s not what is most common. Patients will visit with conditions I would consider “organic” or just not quite of the biomechanical nature that many patients arrive in my office.
Patients will see out acupuncture care to lose weight, to stop smoking, even infertility. None of these conditions would be something someone would typically visit a chiropractor about. If you visit an acupuncturist’s website, you’ll find a long list of symptoms and conditions in which they indicate they’ve had success.
This differs from chiropractic care, where most patients seek out help for pain relief (usually of the neck or back) and then continue care to to maintain their overall health. Acupuncture can provide additional pain relief to reduce spasm, inflammation, swelling. Some offices offer both chiropractic and acupuncture as a part of their list of services.