Every day we live with some sort of pain. If you don’t, you are exceptional states, Littleton Acupuncture specialist Debra Novotny. “Many people think about acupuncture for pain when they’ve tried everything else.  Or “believe acupuncture only can help with pain syndromes.” Today we have more than just acupuncture for pain, we have things like Sarapin an injection that master acupuncturists’ specialize in for hard problems. Acupuncture injection therapy can effectively stop pain when basic acupuncture or dry needling don’t work.

Acupuncture Injection Therapy

Colorado is one of a handful of states that trains advanced providers to do gentle injections of natural formulas like Sarapin to be administered by trained licensed acupuncturists. We have a large list of natural solutions that we can use not only for pain relief but energy and weight loss too!

A female patient had tried vitamin B12 injections at her chiropractic office without results. Still exhausted and feeling depressed she was reluctant to try again.   When we discussed ‘where’ they injected the B12 and the color she said her hip and the color was clear! Non-natural sources filled with other chemicals are clear-colored.

We use only natural injectables; in the case of this vitamin the color should be red and it must be injected into certain acupuncture points to work. Willing to give Vitamin B12 one more try she said yes. Two weeks later she returned for nutrition counseling and also wanted another acupuncture injection! It had given her energy, and she slept wonderfully for two weeks.

Sarapin The Pitcher Plant

For more than 70 years Sarapin a natural medicine made from a plant called the Pitcher Plant has received pain for millions. Because you can’t patent a natural plant pharmacy companies don’t bother with Sarapin.

Medical doctors rarely have heard of it and are quick to recommend Cortisone shots. Cortisone side-effects are well known. They include thinning of the skin, easy bruising, weight gain, puffiness of the face, elevation of blood pressure, cataract formation, thinning of the bones (osteoporosis), and a rare but serious damage to the bones of the large joints (avascular necrosis). There is a debate about how common these reactions occur. Many doctors limit the use to 3 injections in a lifetime. Any drug that you should not have more than 3 times is scary to me. I can’t count the number of patients who tell me they had 3 shots in an elbow, then a few years later had 3 or maybe it was 4 in a knee…. How many have you had?

Sarapin, on the other hand, is a biological medicine. This means it is derived from a naturally occurring organism (the Pitcher plant). It works by stopping pain signals in the nerves of the spine where they exit the spinal column. It does not affect any other nerve functions or motor functions and is not affected by heat or cold. Cortisone, on the other hand, is chemical medicine –which means it is made using a chemical process. More importantly, Sarapin has no known side effects.

While we do use other injection solutions such as homeopathy or even a glucose-lidocaine preparation, it’s the Pitcher plant that patients love.

They like it because there are no side-effects and for most it gets better as they use it for maintaining relief of pain. They can have acupuncture injections for an acute condition or a chronic long-term issue like arthritis.

I like Sarapin because it’s usually covered by health insurance and the cost isn’t high compared to medical prescription drugs like cortisone that can be out several thousand.

Even patients without health insurance coverage can afford it!

Acupuncture Injections and Health Insurance

Because we have both Obama care and Colorado’s Parity law in place if you live in Colorado, you likely have acupuncture or advanced dry needling and acupuncture injections covered. Your benefit may be found under other physical medicine like physical therapy but is available to you seeing Debra or similarly highly trained acupuncturist.

Why choose a licensed acupuncturist over a PT?  Training it all comes down to training.  Who do you want using needles on you?  Someone with four years of needle training meaning acupuncture and injection therapy or someone with a few hours training.

That’s the difference between a chiropractor or Physical therapist doing acupuncture or dry needling.

Also don’t fall for the story of studying in China, since learning aboard program focus on herbal medicine, not acupuncture in most of Asia. Remember the language barrier too.

You have a choice of how you take care of your health. You can try natural things like acupuncture or injections that are safe. Think of acupuncture for your pain first before focusing on western treatment. Consider that acupuncture treatment works for more than just arthritis or injuries.

Debra specializes in pain management and women’s health. Most holistic professionals have areas of expertise.