What We Treat
Common post-accident issues we see in the clinic and how acupuncture treats each one.
Neck pain & whiplash
If you're dealing with neck pain from a crash, there's real evidence it responds well to treatment. In one trial, whiplash patients treated with acupuncture saw their pain drop more than four times as much as those who didn't receive treatment.¹ In a separate study following real accident patients, most were back to full work duty after an average of just three sessions.² At Blue Jay Acupuncture, this is one of the conditions we see respond most consistently, often within the first few sessions. In Chinese medicine, whiplash is understood as a sudden injury that stagnates qi and blood in the channels running through the neck and shoulders, causing pain. Acupuncture helps relieve pain by removing stagnation and promoting circulation to restore the flow of qi and blood in the local area.
Back pain
Chronic low back pain is one of the most-studied conditions in acupuncture research. Across eight clinical trials, adding acupuncture to standard care produced significantly better pain relief and less disability than standard care alone.³ In practice, we see that back pain from an accident tends to respond especially well when treatment starts early. Acupuncture promotes recovery by addressing the local stagnation created by the accident and nourishing the injured soft tissue.
Headaches
Headaches after an accident, whether tension-type or migraine, are one of the better-supported uses of acupuncture. In a review of 12 clinical trials, nearly three times as many people cut their headache frequency in half with acupuncture added to usual care (48 out of 100) compared to usual care alone (17 out of 100).⁴ Headaches are also one of the more satisfying conditions to treat clinically. Patients who come into the clinic with a headache usually report the headache has disappeared by the end of treatment. Through a course of treatment, the frequency and intensity of headaches decreases fairly quickly. Chinese medicine actually maps headaches by location (front, side, back, or top of the head each point to a different pattern), so treatment is tailored to what you're specifically feeling.
Concussion recovery
There is new and compelling research demonstrating the efficacy of acupuncture in concussion recovery. A 2025 clinical trial found acupuncture reduced post-concussion symptoms by 34% right after treatment and 41% at six-to-twelve-month follow-up.⁵ Brain scans showed real, measurable healing in the affected tissue, not just self-reported improvement. There are no “quick fixes” for treating concussions, however with consistent treatment, patients often experience improvement in focus, mood, and that foggy feeling patients describe. In Chinese medicine, the brain is described as the "sea of marrow," and a blow to the head is understood to disrupt the flow of qi and blood there, which shows up as brain fog, mood changes, or trouble concentrating. Treatment focuses on restoring that flow so the mind can settle and clear.
Post-accident PTSD
The psychological impact of a crash is real and many patients find they feel a heightened state of anxiety, tension, or even depressive feelings in the weeks and months following an accident. A review of seven clinical trials found that acupuncture improved PTSD symptoms, along with the anxiety, depression, and sleep problems that often come with them.⁶ Often after accidents, patients who came in only for physical pain find that treatment helps settle the nervous system. Chinese medicine frames post-trauma unease as disturbed spirit, and treatment is aimed at calming the spirit so sleep, mood, and a sense of safety can return.
Three Steps to Free Acupuncture
1
Call your claim adjuster
Find out how much you have in MedPay, a benefit included in most auto insurance policies in Colorado to cover medical expenses post-accident.
3
Get out of pain for free,
no copay required
Come in for a series of free acupuncture sessions to resolve your neck pain or headaches.
We will bill your auto insurance directly.
Frequently
Asked
Questions
What is MedPay, and how do I find out if I have it?
MedPay is a benefit included in most Colorado auto policies that covers medical expenses after an accident, regardless of fault. Call your insurance company or claims adjuster and ask how much you have. They'll give you the amount and your claim number.
Is this actually free, or will I owe anything?
As long as you have MedPay available, there's no copay. We bill your auto insurance directly, so you won't pay out of pocket for these visits.
What if I don't have MedPay? Can I get treatment with a Lien?
Unfortunately we do not offer treatment on a Lien. If you do not have MedPay as part of your auto insurance policy, or have already used up your MedPay funds, we still recommend acupuncture for recovery! We keep our prices reasonable for the quality of treatment provided, and we offer packages of treatment at a discount to help you invest in your recovery. See our pricing and book a free consultation to learn more.
Do I need a claim number before I can book, or can I start first and sort that out after?
In order to make sure your treatment is covered and nothing will be out of pocket, we request you provide your claim number and MedPay amount from your adjuster before your first visit, since that's what we use to bill.
How many sessions will I likely need?
It depends on your injury and how you respond, but most patients notice a difference within the first few visits. We'll build a plan together once we see how your body is doing.
How soon after the accident should I start?
Sooner is generally better, since early treatment tends to prevent pain patterns from becoming chronic — but it's never too late to benefit, even months out.
Can I do acupuncture alongside chiropractic or physical therapy I'm already doing?
Yes, it works well alongside both, and many patients do all three during recovery. Just let us know what else you're doing so we can coordinate your care.
Does acupuncture hurt?
No! Patients often find acupuncture so relaxing that they end up falling asleep on the treatment table and leave feeling relaxed and refreshed.
Is acupuncture safe? Are there any side effects or risks?
Acupuncture is very safe. Mild soreness or bruising at the needle site is the most common side effect, and serious complications are rare.
¹ Kwak, Hyun-Young, et al. "Acupuncture for Whiplash-Associated Disorder: A Randomized, Waiting-List Controlled, Pilot Trial." European Journal of Integrative Medicine, vol. 4, no. 2, 2012, pp. e151-e158, doi:10.1016/j.eujim.2011.12.008.
² Stuart, Samuel, et al. "Acupuncture for Whiplash-Associated Disorder Following Road Traffic Collision: A Physiotherapy Service Evaluation." Acupuncture in Medicine, vol. 38, no. 4, 2020, pp. 272-278, doi:10.1177/0964528419899660.
³ Sotiropoulos, Spyridon, et al. "Acupuncture vs Usual Care for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Immediate and Intermediate Effects." SICOT-J, vol. 12, 2026, art. 7, doi:10.1051/sicotj/2025061.
⁴ Linde, Klaus, et al. "Acupuncture for the Prevention of Tension-Type Headache." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, no. 4, 2016, art. CD007587, doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007587.pub2.
⁵ Wang, Zhuo-Nan, et al. "Acupuncture Improves MRI Brain Microstructure with Postconcussion Symptoms in Mild TBI: A Randomized Controlled Trial." Radiology, vol. 316, no. 1, 2025, e250315, doi:10.1148/radiol.250315.
⁶ Grant, Sean, et al. "Acupuncture for the Treatment of Adults with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis." Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, vol. 19, no. 1, 2018, pp. 39-58, doi:10.1080/15299732.2017.1289493.