The Age has reported that RMIT has collaborated with various hospitals to trial not just acupuncture, but also Chinese herbal medicine in a variety of hospitals around Victoria.

This is great news, as more people have the option of using a drug-free alternative for pain relief is available when they present in their local emergency department. Having been a part of the joint RMIT and The Northern Hospital emergency acupuncture trial myself, I’ve seen firsthand the patients who arrive, writhing in pain, waiting sometimes for 3 hours with no success with drugs such as morphine and maxolon (an anti-emetic) – but who surprisingly (to the patient) feel a 50% improvement in their pain levels after having acupuncture treatment.

Throughout the year I observed the effects that acupuncture had on people with vertigo, migraines, nausea, severe period pain, abdominal pain and trauma-related pain in the Northern Hospital. Many patients reported a significant improvement in their pain levels having a combination of acupuncture and pain relief medication, yet only felt the improvement after acupuncture was performed. This shows that not everyone responds to pain medication – sometimes, acupuncture is needed as well.

To read the Age article, click here.