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Acupuncture:effective treatment for pain, other conditionsGary Stanton, MD, prepares to give Barbara Ketz an acupuncturetreatment for her low back pain.pain and sleep problems,” he notes. “Many of themrespond to acupuncture, as do patients with conditionssuch as anxiety, hot flashes and addiction.”He often combines acupuncture with other treatments.“As a physician, I want to offer treatment that is as safeas possible, and acupuncture carries a low risk.”Neurologist has extensive training intraditional and ear acupunctureClassic sciatic pain can be relentless, as Barbara Ketzknows. “It affects my lower back, my right leg and myability to walk,” she explains. “Pain injections help,but they don’t always work.” So Ms. Ketz relies onacupuncture to treat her chronic pain.“It really helps,” says the Maynard resident. “Afteracupuncture, the pain and stiffness eases up, and itseems to enhance my pain injections. If I didn’t havethe acupuncture, it would be horrible.”For the past year, Ms. Ketz, 66, has received regularacupuncture treatments from Gary Stanton, MD, a neurologistat Emerson who received training in medicalacupuncture at Harvard Medical School and BostonUniversity School of Medicine. “I saw Dr. Stanton formy headaches, and he mentioned that he offers acupuncture,”she explains. “I like knowing that a neurologistis taking care of me. Dr. Stanton is so caring;he just wants to take your pain away.”Research study makes it clear: acupuncture worksShe is not alone in discovering that acupuncture,which has a 2000-year track record of success, is effectiveat treating pain. In September 2012, The Archivesof Internal Medicine, a respected medical journal,published “Acupuncture for Chronic Pain,” which reported“robust evidence...that acupuncture is a reasonablereferral option for patients with chronic pain.”The conclusion was based on an analysis of 18,000patients.Dr. Stanton was not surprised to see such compellingevidence. “A large percentage of my patients have18Dr. Stanton also performs ear acupuncture, also knownas auriculotherapy, which was developed in France.Since receiving his training at the University of ParisXIII, Dr. Stanton has performed research and lecturedinternationally on ear acupuncture. “The ear has arich connection with the nervous system,” he explains.“Ear acupuncture is particularly useful in detoxificationand helping patients lessen their need, and evenget off of, pain medication.”Carrie Ranelli-Nardone’s first ear acupuncture treatmentfor trigeminal neuralgia – a chronic pain syndromethat affects the face – convinced her she hadfound a solution. “In 2010, I had two surgeries on myface, which left it so sensitive that it hurt to put onmakeup or even to be near an air-conditioner,” explainsthe Chelmsford resident. “I didn’t want to be onpain medication anymore because it affected my abilityto speak clearly, and my job requires phone work.”In 2011, Alexios Carayannopoulos, MD, a pain specialistwith the Lahey Spine Program at Emerson, referredher to Dr. Stanton. “As soon as the first needle wentin, I felt my pain diminish,” says Ms. Ranelli-Nardone,who is 40. “I have ear acupuncture with Dr. Stantonevery few weeks, I take no pain medication, and I’m90 percent better. I thank God every day I found Dr.Stanton. People need to know there are options forpain management.”Dr. Stanton, who co-founded The New EnglandSociety for Medical Acupuncture, now has a dedicatedacupuncture treatment room at his Concord office andoffers laser acupuncture for those who are fearful ofneedles. “As a neurologist, I need to understand thenature of my patients’ problems, so I take a thoroughhistory, perform a physical exam and make sure theappropriate lab tests are done.“I’ve seen how acupuncture can benefit my patients,”he says. “In fact, it has brought me closer to the practiceof medicine by obliging me to consider the wholeperson.”What is acupuncture?Acupuncture is a methodof encouraging the bodyto promote natural healingand improve function.Treatment is accomplishedby inserting tiny needles atprecise, defined acupuncturepoints, called meridians,which is thought to unblockenergy channels.Acupunctureresources on theEmerson medicalstaffCynthia McMahon-King978-392-8898 or978-589-6901Gary Stanton, MD978-371-8935Kerry and Judi Weinstein978-443-6789Wei Zhang978-970-2222