Is Acupuncture Helpful for Relieving Pain in PKD

Acupuncture is a complex therapeutic system in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It has been used to treat a variety of diseases. Some researches prove that acupuncture is helpful for relieving pain in Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD).

Acupuncture is originated from ancient China. Usually, it is used as an assistant treatment of Chinese herb medicines in treating disease. The acupuncture is inserted into specific acupuncture points. When the points are stimulated, beneficial physical and mental changes occur.

Acupuncture achieves the goal of relieving pain in PKD by two ways. The hormone endorphin is a kind of natural pain killer in our body. The acupuncture can stimulate related point to promote the releasing of the hormone. As more endorphin is released, it can relieve the pain to some extent. Moreover, acupuncture can work on nerve system and prevent the pain signals from transmitting to the brain.

Although acupuncture can relieve pain in PKD temporarily, it can not treat the pain from the underlying cause. PKD is featured by numerous cysts on kidneys. With age, the cysts increase in size and number. The enlarged cysts oppress the normal nephrons thus leading to back or abdominal pain. If the cysts rupture, the patients may experience intense pain suddenly.

Therefore, the key to eliminating pain in PKD is to stop the cysts enlargement and shrinking the enlarged ones. The traditional Chinese medicine need to intervene in the treatment of PKD.

On one hand, traditional Chinese medicine can dilate renal arteries. It can improve the blood and oxgen supply to kidneys so as to relieving renal ischemia and anoxia. Therefore, it can stop the renal fibrosis.

On the other hand, it can transfer the function of lining cells on cyst wall and boost the reabsorption of cystic fluid. Therefore, the cysts will shrink gradually.


Therefore, once the oppression to the kidneys eliminates the pain in PKD will also disappear afterwards.