Acupuncture for Pain Relief

Your Pain Specialists in Salt Lake City

At Flow Acupuncture & Apothecary we know that pain has a way of interfering with other aspects of life, and everyone’s experience of pain is different. Whether it's a chronic condition that's been present for years, tension that's built up from stress and posture, or an injury from training and repetitive movement, pain doesn’t have to be something you have to live with forever.

We treat pain at the root by addressing both the local tissue and the nervous system that's amplifying it, providing natural relief that builds and lasts, without relying on medication or traditional therapy alone.

Explore how we approach the treatment of chronic pain, injuries, and tension, and see what makes care at Flow Acupuncture truly different.

Pain is one of the most widely studied applications of acupuncture and where we experience some of the most direct and measurable benefits of acupuncture. Acupuncture points and channels have been shown to be located along major nerve and blood pathways on the body, which helps explain how acupuncture has several effects on the body to reduce pain, including.

  • Increasing circulation to tissues that have become tight, starved, or stuck

  • Reducing inflammation in and around irritated joints, muscles, and nerves

  • Releasing muscular holding patterns that are pulling you back into pain

  • Triggering the release of natural pain-relieving endorphins

  • Calming the nervous system, which turns down the volume on pain signaling

Together, these allow us to address not only the pain you’re experiencing, but also some of the underlying factors that may be keeping it there.

When to Come

How often you come depends on whether we're working with a new injury, a chronic, or pain that tends to flare up with overuse, stress and or tension.

  • Chronic conditions: weekly sessions for 6–12 weeks, since long standing patterns can take time to unwind. Many patients notice initial relief within the first 2-4 visits, with more lasting change building over the full course.

  • Repetitive stress injuries: weekly sessions for 6–8 weeks, since these patterns develop over time and can be stubborn to break through initially.

  • Acute injuries: 1–2 sessions per week for 2–4 weeks to accelerate healing and reduce inflammation early.

  • Stress related pain and tension: weekly sessions for 4–8 weeks, with monthly tune ups or as needed during high stress periods.

Clinical Expertise

Our practitioners are trained to assess your full pain picture from multiple angles. We take all your diagnoses, scans and previous therapies in to account and build treatment plans around what's actually driving your pain.

We work alongside your physical therapists, chiropractors, and physicians, as we know that some cases of stubborn pain warrant a whole team of care. Our goal is to find your unique recipe of relief that helps you move easier, feel better, and get back to doing what you love.

How Acupuncture Helps

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The Concerns We See Most:

Chronic Conditions

  • Chronic Low Back Pain

  • Sciatica

  • Herniated or Bulging Disc

  • Degenerative Disc Disease

  • Spinal Stenosis

  • Hip Pain and Sacroiliac Dysfunction

  • Knee Pain and Joint Degeneration

  • Osteoarthritis

  • Autoimmune and Inflammatory Joint Conditions

  • Fibromyalgia and Widespread Body Pain

  • Neuropathy and Nerve Pain

  • Chronic Neck Pain

  • Migraines and Chronic Headaches

  • Post Surgical Pain

  • Chronic Pelvic Pain

Repetitive Stress Injuries

  • Carpel Tunnel

  • Tennis Elbow & Golfer's Elbow

  • Runner's Knee and IT band syndrome

  • Plantar Fasciitis

  • Rotator Cuff Strain & Shoulder Impingement

  • Tendonitis (Achilles, Patellar, Wrist)

  • Overuse Injuries from training, desk work, or manual labor

Acute Injuries

  • Muscle Strains, Pulled Muscles (Hamstrings, pulled groin muscles, calf strains)

  • ACL and MCL Tears

  • Meniscus Tears

  • Ankle Sprains

  • Wrist Sprains

  • Shoulder Dislocation

  • Labral Tears (shoulder or hip)

  • Whiplash

  • Post Workout Recovery

Stress & Tension Related Pain

  • Chronic Neck and Shoulder Tension

  • Upper back and Postural Pain

  • Tension Headaches

  • TMJ dysfunction / Jaw Pain

  • Muscle Guarding

  • Pain related to stress, trauma, or nervous system dysregulation

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More than needles : our full toolkit for pain

Acupuncture is the foundation. But some types of pain require more than one tool which is why our Salt Lake City clinic brings together additional therapies under one roof.

Electro-Stim Acupuncture (Electroacupuncture)

For stubborn, chronic, and nerve related pain, we often use electro acupuncture, a gentle micro-current applied to the needles once they're placed.

Most patients describe the sensation as a light tapping, buzzing, or pulsing. The electrical stimulation provides a consistent, sustained input that enhances the effects of acupuncture and is particularly useful when pain has become severe or stubborn.

We commonly use electroacupuncture for:

  • Chronic low back pain

  • Sciatica and nerve-related pain

  • Persistent joint pain

  • Muscle pain and tension

  • Repetitive strain and overuse injuries

  • Pain that has not fully responded to acupuncture alone

Cupping Therapy

Sometimes pain and restriction are from tight, overworked muscles and tissues that don't move well. Cupping uses a natural suction to lift and create space in joints, release muscle tissues, and increase local circulation, helping release areas of muscular tension and restriction.

Cupping can be especially helpful for:

  • Tight, overworked muscles

  • Neck and shoulder tension

  • Low back pain

  • Sports injuries and recovery

  • Muscle soreness

  • Chronic areas of stiffness and restriction

Herbal Medicine for Pain

This is where our clinic is genuinely different. Our in house herbal apothecary means your care doesn't end when you leave the table.

Herbal medicine has a deep, sophisticated tradition of formulas for pain: moving stagnant blood, easing physical and emotional inflammatory patterns, warming cold and achy joints, and nourishing depleted tissue. After a thorough consultation, our practitioners craft a personalized formula for your specific pattern, then adjust it as you progress.

This isn't a supplement off a shelf. It's medicine formulated for you and it works between visits, extending and deepening what acupuncture starts. For chronic pain especially, that continuity is often what shifts things.

Together, these approaches let us meet your pain from every angle. Most patients receive some combination, tailored to what your body actually needs.

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What to Expect

A real conversation
We start by understanding the whole picture… your pain, its history, your daily life, what you've already tried, and what you want to get back to.

A thorough assessment
We evaluate your pain in context, using both physical assessment and traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis to find the pattern underneath the symptom.

Your first treatment
Acupuncture, with additional therapies such as cupping, electro-stim and bodywork as appropriate. Most people are surprised by how comfortable it is many drift off on the table.

Your plan
Your treatment frequency will depend on the severity and duration of your pain, your goals, and how your body responds to treatment.

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"I started for my knee after ACL surgery and within a few sessions I felt better, not just in my knee but mentally too."

-AB, Salt Lake City, Utah

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