Acupuncture has been around for nearly 2,000 years—it began in Korea as an alternative treatment option for a wide range of health problems. The main goal of acupuncture is to target specific points in the body where its natural energy (or qi) is not flowing as it should.
This article from the Bladder and Bowel Foundation explains:
It is believed that the main basis for treatment is that illness and pain occur when the body’s qi, or vital energy, cannot flow freely. There can be many reasons for this; emotional and physical stress, poor nutrition, infection or injury are among the most common.
Traditionally, acupuncture uses ultra-fine sterile needles which are inserted into specific acupuncture points on the body. The aim of this is to re-establish the free flow of qi in the body, to restore equilibrium and trigger the body’s natural healing response.
There have been several studies done on how acupuncture can help treat different types of incontinence. The results show that it can be a successful treatment option because it strengths muscles in and around the bladder (called pelvic floor muscles) that become weak and cause incontinence.
Find out more about more traditional treatments for urinary incontinence and overactive bladder.