Home 
Conditions Treated by Acupuncture
Conditions Treated by Acupuncture
|
|
|
This is by no means a definitive list of what Acupuncture can or cannot treat. Conditions by type:
Musculoskeletal:*Back/Neck Pain - Back pain is becoming more and more common within our society. An estimated 50% of the people in industrialized countries will experience back pain at some time in their lives. Whether the pain is originated from trauma, bad posture or a structural malformation, acupuncture is a great way to deal with this type of pain. Electrical acupuncture and Chinese Herbs can be used on chronic conditions. *Whiplash - Although car accidents cause a majority of whiplash injuries, by themselves they do not account for all the incidents of whiplash. The response of our bodies to an injury like this if left untreated is to compensate for the injury, so that in time we don’t feel pain. This compensation happens in the spine to accommodate for the injury. This can affect us later on in life and may manifest itself in the form of headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain, or if the whole spine becomes affected even in the form of lower back pain. It is best to begin with treatment as soon as possible after an accident to prevent complications later on. Acupuncture is great at relieving the pain, inflammation, and trauma to the muscles and other soft tissue and to increase any limited range of motion. *Shoulder Pain – Even though this pain is treated effectively by Acupuncture, sometimes a torn or very damaged ligament often requires surgery. In that case, Acupuncture is great at reducing pain and inflammation after surgery, shortening healing and recovery times, and helping the patient get back to an active lifestyle after surgery. *Sciatica –A muscle contracting and pinching a nerve (Sciatic nerve) is common cause for this pain. Acupuncture is effective at relaxing the piriformis muscle to stop it from pinching the nerve. *Arthritis - Acupuncture can be helpful by reducing the pain, aching and stiffness in the joints, and therefore, allowing the joints to be less painful and more flexible. Chinese herbal supplements help to reduce swelling in the joints, and are very helpful in cases of osteoarthritis. [Back to Top] Gynecological:* Menopause - Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs are extremely good in the treatment of menopause. Chinese herbs, in particular, are effective in regulating hormone imbalances. Elevated FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) and lowered estrogen and progesterone are the cause of many of the Menopausal symptoms. * PMS – According to Chinese Medicine most of the symptoms of PMS are due to stagnation of energy. This stagnation of energy results in pain, irritability, bloating, moodiness, food cravings, and breast tenderness. Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture have a lot to offer women who suffer from PMS. By regulating the flow of qi over the course of a few menstrual periods Acupuncture will help the pain and other symptoms will disappear. * Menstrual Disorders - Amenorrhea, Irregular Periods, and Dysmenorrhea are treated with Acupuncture and Chinese herbal supplements very effectively. * Fertility - I have listed in a separete page here. [Back to Top] Gastrointestinal:*IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) –IBS can be treated with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs and have very dramatic results in many cases. *Nausea and Vomiting – Chinese Medicine considers this condition a misdirection of energy. "Rebellious Stomach Qi" is the term we use in Chinese medicine to describe these symptoms. Normally stomach energy descends and food passes through to the duodenum and small intestines. Nausea and vomiting occur when the stomach energy goes up instead of down! There are several reasons for this disturbance of energy, Chinese medicine looks for and corrects the causes for this disruption in stomach energy. *Constipation – Although Colonoscopies and other internal examinations are often needed to rule out any structural cause for constipation. Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal supplements, and appropriate lifestyle and dietary changes will treat most cases of constipation. *Diarrhea - Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs can be successful in treating diarrhea. The success rate depends a lot on what is causing the diarrhea, often many cases respond quite successfully while others do not. *Indigestion - As I stated with the above, Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs can be successful, but it often depends on the reason causing the indigestion. Some cases are quite successful while others are not. *Urinary Tract Infections - I know, this isn't technically a GI problem, but it fits well in this category. Chinese Herbal Medicine is surprisingly effective in the treatment of UTIs, because several of the Chinese herbs used in this treatment have anti-bacterial and/or anti-viral qualities. Also, Chinese Herbs in conjunction with Acupuncture is effective in treating women who have chronic, reoccurring UTIs. [Back to Top] Emotional & Psychological:* Insomnia - During an acupuncture consultation it is routine to ask about how the patient sleeps. Adequate rest is essential for our well being as it allows time for the body to recuperate and revitalize ready for the following day. Not enough sleep can be a cause for future illness. There are many factors that can cause sleeping problems such as drinking too much coffee late at night or too much stimulation from video games or the TV. Muscular pain can also lead to sleeping problems if the pain is worse at night. In many other cases the cause is related to stress and anxiety from a variety of sources. Acupuncture, and often Chinese Herbs, are used to focus on the root problem, as well as relaxing the mind and spirit, allowing the person to be able to fall asleep at night. *Anxiety - anxiety and panic attacks range in severity from mild to debilitating. Both Acupuncture and Chinese herbs work very well to calm the person, their mind, and their spirit. Acupuncture also helps to get at what emotions lay beneath the anxiety. *Stress - stress often leads to other symptoms like insomnia, headaches, stiff neck/back/shoulders, and even digestive troubles. Treating stress at its root takes a multifaceted treatment plan which focuses on changing the mindset as well as energetic balancing. *Depression - In the foundations of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, we are taught that depression is caused by an imbalance in the emotional component of energy flow. This is often caused by underlying emotions such as sadness, anger, or disappointment. Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs help to find and treat the emotion(s) which is out of balance. [Back to Top] Neurological:*Sciatica - I have listed under Musculoskeletal . *Peripheral Neuropathies - Acupuncture can help stimulate the peripheral nerves and get them to start registering sensory perception again. Also a lot of neuropathies are due to the nerves being pinched either by muscles or vertebrae. Herbs can also help to bring circulation to the affected areas. *Trigeminal Neuralgia - According to Chinese medicine, trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by a disruption in the flow of energy in the channels. Acupuncture needles are inserted according to which branch of the nerve has been affected, i.e. which acupuncture channel! Acupuncture is effective for controlling pain, but it can be difficult to cure completely, it may need many several treatments. *Headaches - There are numerous distinctions among headaches, which are qualified by their exact location, intensity, and quality of the pain. There are often many contributing factors that need to be addressed as well, which contribute significantly to the success rate of the treatments, these include lifestyle, work stressors, emotional factors, and nutrition. Along with addressing these factors, Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs can be very effective in treating headaches. *Dizziness/Vertigo - There are numerous causes for this type of condition. Patients coming to me with these symptoms should be checked out by an MD first, if you have not been checked out, expect that I will refer you out before treatment. But once you have been cleared of any life threatening conditions, Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture can be very useful and decreasing or completely eliminating the symptoms of dizziness or vertigo. *Stroke Recovery - This is very successfully treated with Acupuncture. The sooner treatment is begun the better. In China, Acupuncture is started within days, while the patient is still in the hospital. Here, it is best to start treatment within 3 weeks of the stroke and no later than 6 months (although I've had fairly good results with patients who had strokes a couple of years ago.) Acupuncture helps to stimulate the nerves, which often go un-stimulated after a stroke causing eventual nerve death. When the nerves start to fire again, fine motor skills come back and paralysis/hemiplegia can be lessened or eliminated. [Back to Top] Cardiovascular:*Angina - Normally patients who come to the clinic with chest pain have seen their MD and had various tests done. This is obviously very important and there are times when Western medical intervention is necessary, however that is not to say that acupuncture would not be beneficial. A combination of western medicine and acupuncture may be a good approach to take in reducing or eliminating chest pain. *High Blood Pressure - When I was in China I saw hundreds of patients with elevated blood pressure. This is a condition that responds well with Chinese Herbs in addition to Acupuncture. This is a viable treatment for many who do not wish to be taking medication on a permanent basis. It is worth monitoring your own blood pressure and making a record, as there may be times when it is notably high and a pattern may begin to emerge. Of course, if your blood pressure is dangerously high then Western drugs may be essential, at least for the short term. I am not against Western medicine and often I consider it a necessity. [Back to Top] Respiratory:* Asthma - Acupuncture is very helpful at strengthening lungs' energy to help reduce asthma symptoms. If you want to lower or eliminate your medication, I can work in conjunction with your MD to slowly reduce reliance on the western medications. * Bronchitis - Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs help to open the chest and facilitate breathing. Chinese herbs expel chest congestion, decrease bronchial inflammation, and support the immune system. * Seasonal Allergies - Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs help to keep the immune system from overreacting to allergens. Therefore, it is necessary to start treatment before allergy season begins. I would estimate that most cases need at least one month of treatment before the start of the allergy season. [Back to Top] Chronic Conditions:*Chronic Fatigue - Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture can offer a lot in the management and treatment of this illness. This can often take a few months to notice the most effective results, so it is imperative that the patient not give up too early. I have had many patient who responded within 3-6 months, and felt like they had a new life as well as new body. Acupuncture can really do great things in cases of chronic fatigue. *Multiple Sclerosis - I have treated lots of MS patients to fairly good symptom relief. Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs can be effective at slowing down of the progression of the disease. The course of the disease is notoriously unpredictable, but it often shows a pattern of relapse and remission, with a variety of nervous system symptoms. Acupuncture treatment aims to maintain the patient in remission for as long as possible. If the disease does enter relapse, then acupuncture aims to alleviate the symptoms whilst helping prevent the patient from entering more advanced stages. *Fibromyalgia - I have had many patients who had good results with Fibromyalgia. They will often notice significant symptom relief, and a slowing down of the progression of the disease. This, like Chronic Fatigue, takes a few months to notice the best results. *Parkinson's Disease - This, like many other chronic conditions, is treated with Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture. The aim is to restore proper energy flow in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. When energy is flowing properly and is in balance and good health, there is a lot of symptom relief, a delaying of the disease processes, and an improvement in the overall quality of life. Points are selected according to which part of the body have been affected. Thus, treatment is tailored for each individual according to which acupuncture channels are involved, and the underlying disease mechanisms that have lead to the illness. [Back to Top] Stop Smoking:*Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs can be very effective with minimizing cravings, calming the nervous system, and strengthening the will power. These help the patient break their cycle of addiction. There is no a quick fix that instantly breaks the cycle of addiction for you, but Chinese Medicine can help decrease your symptoms and make it easier for you to reach your goals. *I follow a comprehensive stop smoking program. Phase one is a 4 week intensive which is geared to help you get passed the initial hump of quitting. The program consists of three acupuncture treatments in the first week, two treatments the following week, and one treatment for each of the following two weeks. Chinese herbs, dietary and lifestyle changes are often recommended, which help address factors contributing to cravings. Phase two is the maintenance phase. This usually consists of monthly treatments for 4 to 6 months. However, there are a couple of more hurdles to jump over. Around the 30 day mark, nicotine which was store in the adipose (fat) tissue is finally is released, but it gets dumped into the blood stream which flushes it out of your body. This can create major cravings and is a relapse point for a lot of people. Often people need 2 treatments during that week. I will recommend that water consumption is dramatically increased during this time, and often will tell patients to visit a sauna or steam room. *If you have made the decision to stop smoking, Congratulations! Acupuncture can help you on your way to successful completion of your goal! [Back to Top] Colds & Flu:*In Chinese medicine, there are a couple of different classifications under which colds and flu conditions fall. The 2 most common are: Wind Cold - colds under this category have body aches, chills, stuffy nose, (headache), and mucus is clear or white. Wind Heat - colds and flu conditions under this category have a fever, sore throat, (headache), and mucus is yellow, green, red or other colors. *Chinese herbs are most effective in the initial stages of a cold or flu. If the patient begins herbal treatment within the first few hours of onset, the cold or flu can usually be avoided completely. Chinese herbs are also effective with people in the middle of a cold, people who have cold symptoms that are lingering after the cold is gone, and to help boost the immune system in people who catch colds frequently. [Back to Top]  |
|||
