Treating Shingles Naturally and Holistically with the Use of Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture
Each month, there are a number of Americans who try out acupuncture treatment for their shingles infection. While there may be a few of them who have a fundamental understanding of what this infection is all about, most only become aware when they themselves get infected with this condition. This article aims to help you understand what shingles is and the means to fight or prevent its outbreak.
What is shingles?
The Mayo Clinic defines shingles as an infection by the varicella-zoster virus that results in rash that is painful and can develop at any part of your body, although it most often occurs around the torso. The varicella zoster is the virus that also causes chickenpox. People usually experience chickenpox once in their lives; however, the virus can still linger in the body and stay dormant in the nerve tissues near the brain and the spinal cord, a trigger and can reactivate the virus although it will manifest this time in the form of shingles.
Each year, around 4 million Americans get infected with chickenpox. Almost all of them (about 96% of them) will experience it during adulthood based on statistics coming from the Center for Disease Control or CDC. Since shingles and chickenpox originate from the same virus, we can now begin to understand why there seems to be a lot of cases for shingles infection occurring each month. There are vaccines that have been made to combat chickenpox but most of them are not designed for the adults who have been infected with the virus.
How common is shingles?
In the United States, roughly 33% of the population will experience shingles once in their lifetime; each year, almost a million Americans suffer from this disease and most of them are adults; people (women and men) who are at the age of 60 years and older, account for half of all the cases of shingles.
Outbreaks of shingles can be triggered by certain factors, and one of the most common of these factors is stress, which is very preventable. When a person is suffering from too much stress, the stress suppresses the immune system making it function less than its normal full capacity giving shingles an opportunity to arise. Seeking ways to lessen stress in your body such as regular exercise or getting adequate can restore the maximal function of your immune system.
Eating a diet with low amounts of L-arginine and high amounts of L-lysine can also help prevent the occurrence of shingles. Shingles is especially sensitive to the balance of L-lysine to L-arginine in the body. These two are amino acids that can be found naturally in the human body, although they can also be derived from foods. In order to prevent the proliferation of the herpes voster virus in the body, the amount of L-lysine should be greater to that of L-arginine in the body. Vegetables, dairy and proteins are rich in Lysine while high amounts of arginine can be found in tomatoes, chocolate and nuts. When you have been infected with the shingles virus, merely modifying your diet can help lessen the severity and duration of your infection. One can also avail of L-lysine supplements during and after a shingles outbreak to help maintain the proper balance of L-lysine to L-arginine.
When it comes to natural and alternative therapies, the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) modalities of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture can be very effective ways to treat shingles. Your acupuncturist will usually adopt differential diagnosis to help formulate a plan of treatment in order to treat the symptoms and to make the immune system stronger. Chinese herbs and acupuncture work synergistically to treat the symptoms, lessen the pain and boost the shingles patient’s quality of life right after the start of the treatment.
If you, or someone you know, is suffering from shingles infection, you can talk to a qualified and licensed acupuncturist in Miami to help get rid of your shingles in a natural and holistic way. Getting TCM treatment for your shingles will prevent the use of drugs and provide you with much better results.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Approaches to Dry Skin
Hereditary, psychological or allergic factors are usually the causes of dry skin, according to Western Medicine. Dermatologists will use a magnifying glass to examine the skin and may extract specimens for microscopic study. A biopsy of superficial lymph nodes and blood tests may be done on the patient to help rule out other conditions that affect the skin.
The treatment approach of Western Medicine doctors to itchy, dry skin is to advise patients to stay away from substances that might be causing the problem. Doctors may recommend oils or lotions to be applied to the dry areas of the skin in order to moisturize the skin and to take iron supplements. If the skin turns dry due to an infection, antibiotics are the usual prescribed modes of treatment. Some medications like antihistamines and steroids may also be prescribed to help manage the pain and itching. Hospitalization may be necessary if the condition turns severe in order to exclude reaction to any strong irritant and to better help address symptoms.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the lungs are the organ systems responsible for the skin. The skin pores and lungs need to respire together when one is inhaling. When the skin is soft and healthy, it means that the lungs are taking in quality moisture. When steam coming from the large intestine evaporates, the lungs receive the vapor then send it to the skin. This is the reason why a healthy moisturized skin is soft. Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Pembroke Pines state that if the lungs have too much mucus or if the temperature of the small intestine is too low, the skin cannot receive enough water vapor which leads to an itchy and dry skin. Using steroids can cause a lot of side effects including the closing of the skin pores. If the pores are shut, it can’t receive water which causes the skin to dry up.
To treat itchy and dry skin, Chinese herbal formulas are used by Traditional Chinese Medicine in order to raise the internal temperature in the small intestine and to clear any mucus or residue in the lungs. When the respiratory tract has been cleared, it leads to the resolution of the dry skin and to the prevention of any future recurrences. You also need to exercise to allow the body to perspire. Be sure not to immediately enter into an air conditioned room after you’ve exercised because it will shut the skin pores and trap the sweat that’s trying to come out. The body needs to cool down in a natural way.
Resolve Your Fibroids Problem with Acupuncture
Myomas, fibromyomas or leiomyomas, better known as uterine fibroids are generally non-cancerous (benign) tumors located in the uterus. They usually arise during the childbearing years of a woman and typically affect women in their 30’s and 40’s. Some of these fibroids develop between the uterine muscles and some can grow below the myometrium (the smooth muscle lining of the uterus). Usually, one cell begins to reproduce continually eventually turning into one big abnormal mass. Uterine fibroids feel and look rubbery, firm and pale. The tumors or growths may grow in clusters or as a single node and may vary in size.
In the United States, up to a quarter to half of the women develops uterine fibroids; these fibroids are the most common causes of tumors based on information gathered by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Around 70% of women will be diagnosed with a uterine fibroid at least once in their lifetime.
Uterine fibroids do not usually exhibit any symptoms but if they occur, the symptoms may include urinary incontinence, severe menstruation, pelvic pain, and spotting between periods. Lower back pain and pain during sexual intercourse can also occur. Uterine fibroid sufferers can encounter infertility, miscarriage or complications during pregnancy. Sometimes, they may experience severe pain emanating from a decaying fibroid leaking from a nearby tissue. It’s rare for fibroids to turn cancerous although it can still happen.
Imaging tests and pelvic examinations are some of the more common diagnostic tests for uterine fibroids. Western medicine is still not sure what exactly causes this disease but some experts believe that it may be genetically inherited due to a hormonal imbalance. Research has indicated that women who have given birth to at least one child are less likely to have this problem; young black women and overweight, on the other hand, are high risk groups for developing fibroids.
It seems there is an association between women with fibroids and gastrointestinal health. Uterine fibroid sufferers need to avoid or at least limit their intake of trans-fats, sugar, alcohol, dairy, meat and caffeine. There may also be a connection between fibroid development and the lack of vitamin D.
It is common for doctors to only address fibroids when it starts to cause miscarriage, pain or bleeding. If a woman desires to get pregnancy and wants to have her fibroids removed, there are some treatments she can avail of to rid herself of this disease. She may have her fibroids shrunk which can be achieved by hormone therapy, exercising or diet modification. One other is UFE or uterine fibroid embolization, which is an invasive therapy. She may also consider surgery, specifically a hysterectomy. There are around 300,000 women who undergo hysterectomy each year due to their fibroids.
Fibroids Acupuncture Treatment
The Journal Alternative Therapies published a study done in 2002 showing acupuncture’s capacity to decrease fibroid symptoms and growth. Acupuncture is an ancient healing method originating in China that uses fine filiform needles inserted into certain parts of the body to alleviate pain. It can be used t o treat back and menstrual pain associated with uterine fibroids. Of course, before getting acupuncture treatment in New York, you need to consult with your doctor first.
Vital Gate Acupuncture
107 W 82nd St
New York, NY 10024
(212) 873-4244
http://www.vitalgate.com
Preparing for Surgery with the Help of Acupuncture
You may want to consider acupuncture if you are about to undergo major surgery. Acupuncture is a very helpful way to prepare yourself before surgery as well as to help you recover quicker after the surgery. A lot of major surgeries do entail intensive and long rehabilitation and they can be very debilitating as well. With acupuncture, you may be able to significantly reduce the time required to completely recover post-surgery and help you get back all healthy and fully functioning once more.
Pre-Surgery Acupuncture
Why would a person need to receive acupuncture just before undergoing a surgical procedure? Well, a lot of acupuncturists and other practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine in Vancouver would tell you that acupuncture can greatly improve a person’s immune system when certain acupuncture points and energy pathways in the body are stimulated. This stimulation helps boost your immune function prior to surgery quickening your healing process and lessening your recovery time.
In addition to that, acupuncture can likewise aid in reducing your tension and stress that you may feel as the time of your surgery approaches thus preparing you for the operation not only physically but emotionally as well.
Post Surgery Acupuncture
After surgery, acupuncture can make patients recover faster than those who have not availed of the treatment. The duration of recovery after a major operation can be several weeks to two months faster, based on the type of operation a patient has undergone and the time of recovery involved.
Of course, there may be certain factors that can affect how fast a patient can recover after a major operation and a large number of rehabilitation procedures need to be considered as well. These procedures may include physical therapy and other rehabilitative treatments that aid in the fast and painless recovery of the patient.
Even a day after the surgery, acupuncture treatments can already be done on the patient. Licensed and experienced acupuncturists ordinarily will needle distal acupuncture points to boost blood flow to areas that have been operated on and/or have been bandaged. Also, acupuncture can be used to relieve the swelling and remove the pain. And, as mentioned a while ago, acupuncture either for pre-surgery or post –surgery purposes can provide a patient with a strong immune system in order to accelerate the healing process. Acupuncture works best when it is combined with physical therapy that also helps boost blood circulation.
As with all treatments though, one should consult with his/her doctor first before actually getting acupuncture therapy before and after surgery.
BodaHealth
1245 West Broadway #302
Vancouver, BC V6H 1G7, Canada
(604) 733-2632
http://bodahealth.ca/
If You find Topical Drugs Ineffective, Try Acupuncture
Most of us know that acupuncture is very effective in treating a wide range of conditions, however, can it work on skin problems such as allergies, psoriasis and acne, to mention just a few? If you want to know the answer to this question, then continue reading this article.
One of the most common skin conditions in the world is acne. This is a disorder that’s something most teenagers are afraid of getting. And since teenagers are often very careful of how they look, acne can have an undesirable effect on their social lives. This skin problem can have a severe effect on the sufferer’s self-esteem. Teenagers are not the only one though who are more likely to suffer from acne, babies and adults can develop acne as well. Even pregnant women can be affected by this condition.
If the use of topical creams and ointments does not work for you, then you might want to consider acupuncture as a way to resolve your acne symptoms. The good news is that acupuncture does work as attested by so many former acne patients who have been cured of their acne using acupuncture. However, it might take a number of treatment sessions before you may notice any substantial improvements using this treatment.
Besides acupuncture, one other way to help you get rid of your acne the natural way is to change your diet. A diet that includes nuts, raw vegetables and fresh fruits can help make your skin healthy and strong. You need to stay away from all processed foods, meats and dairy products.
Allergic reactions can also be treated with acupuncture
There may be few studies done about the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of psoriasis. If you are serious about getting acupuncture treatment for the resolution of your skin problem, you first need to consult with a licensed acupuncturist to see if it’s the best approach to treating your problem.
Acupuncture Health Center
1303 Astor St #101
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 715-1824
http://www.bellinghamacupuncturecenter.com/
I Have Lost 16 Kilos After 20 Sessions of Acupuncture Treatment
When one thinks about China, one thinks about Chinese food, Kung Fu, Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Medical studies done by medical researchers in China have shown that a combination of body acupuncture and auricular (ear) acupuncture can lead to the safe symptomatic resolution of obesity without any incidence of side effects such as physical decline, diarrhea, and anorexia.
With acupuncture, the body’s intake of fat is inhibited, the person is likely to eat less and absorb more nutrients, and have a suppressed appetite. Acupuncture also balances endocrine function and helps the gastrointestinal function more efficiently helping regulate diet, which can help lessen the body’s storage and intake. This therapy can also help facilitate fat breakdown and mobilization, increase energy consumption and improve energy metabolism, all resulting in loss of weight,
By stimulating the important meridians, acupuncture helps fortify kidney and spleen function. It also helps clear the meridians of any blockages helping the body get rid of other factors that cause the person to gain unneeded weight.
Does acupuncture weight loss really work?
My experience with acupuncture is a very positive one. I had to undergo 20 sessions of acupuncture and the result of these treatment was a 16kg loss in my weight. I used to weigh 80kg, now I weigh 64kg. This is not my ideal weight but so far this is the easiest way to lose weight I have ever experienced. In that month for losing weight, other fellow acupuncture patients I have met who are also into acupuncture to lose weight are unanimous in saying that acupuncture works. The results are much more impressive than most weight programs. It may help you lose weight; the best way to know this is to try it out.
Kine Fischler is a licensed acupuncture physician and the clinical director of Willow Tree Wellness Clinic in Portland, OR.
What One Can Expect from Cupping Therapy
One of the most effective modalities of traditional Chinese medicine is cupping therapy. This ancient Oriental technique has been practiced in China and various countries of East Asia for thousands of years to help improve the health of the body and address a number of conditions. Cupping is often used by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners to treat blood and energy (Qi) stagnation caused by several factors including various illnesses and physical injury. It also is used to address gastrointestinal conditions, resolve depression, relieve lower back pain, heal arthritic pain, treat respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and asthma, wash away toxins from the body and remove heat.
Cupping is a procedure that is designed to relieve muscle spasms in the deepest tissues in the body and remove toxins from the body. Our body cells need oxygen to live. As they take in oxygen, they take out out carbon dioxide from the body at the same time. When blood and energy circulation stagnate due to a blockage in one of their pathways, the cells will be unable to remove carbon dioxide in the body. These result in toxin or acid build up and the cell dies. When there is blockage in one or more energy pathways, pain usually is felt in the area where the blockage is located. When the dead cells and/or toxins remain in the joints or muscles, it causes the rest of the toxins and dead cells to accumulate in the body resulting in further pain and blockage. The body may not have the adequate means to get rid of these waste materials, and so it needs a little help from detoxifying techniques such as cupping. Cupping helps suck or vacuum out the blockages in the middle and deepest layers of muscle tissues forcing the toxins out to the surface of the skin. Once on the surface, the practitioner can easily cleanse out the toxins. This ancient procedure eliminates toxins from the blood vessels, as well. A typical cupping procedure takes about 10 minutes. Not only are the toxins removed but the body is resupplied with clean, new and fresh blood and the energy level of the body is boosted, as well.
The results often are impressive after a cupping procedure. It can lead to positive changes in a short period of time as it is powerful enough to cleanse the deepest layers of the body. Cupping can have a profound effect on the intensity and speed of long-term healing for many health problems.
Dr. Vickery is a licensed acupuncturist in Tarzana, CA., and the founder and clinical director of Vickery Health and Wellness.
Helping to Regain a Healthy Sex Drive in Women Suffering from Female Sexual Dysfunction
A poor sex drive in a woman may be due to a variety of factors; these factors often differ from woman to woman. Multiple roles that women are forced to assume, daily responsibilities and fatigue as well as other psychological and emotional causes can all be causes for a woman’s poor sexual desire or female sexual dysfunction. In order to know how Chinese Medicine can help improve a woman’s sex drive, one needs to know the underlying cause(s) of the problem. Some reasons for a woman’s low sexual desire include her inability to reach orgasm, pain during intercourse, hormonal imbalances, relationship problems, weight gain, stress, side effects of drugs, onset of menopause, breastfeeding, post-childbirth and emotional problems. Anxiety disorders and depression can also affect sexual desire, and even the drugs that treat these conditions can contribute to low sex drive.
Female Sexual Dysfunction – Chinese Medicine Treatment in Orlando
Chinese Medicine has tools to treat female sexual dysfunction (FSD). In treating this condition, Chinese medicine practitioners target the Kidneys although the Heart, Bladder, Spleen and Liver can also be affected to a lesser degree and so may be targeted for treatment, as well. One of the most important functions of the kidney is its being a receptacle for Jing or Essence. Jing along with Shen (spirit) and Qi (energy) are the three of Chinese medicine’s most important elements in the provenance and nurturing of life.
A low libido is not the only thing Chinese Medicine can treat when dealing with FSD. This eastern modality can address other FSD issues including:
-Menopause
-Infertility
-Irregular menstruation
-Vaginal dryness
Chinese Medicine often sees female sexual dysfunction as the result of two factors: Blood Stasis in the lower stomach and Kidney Yang deficiency. Some of the symptoms arising in both women and men from inadequacy in Kidney Yang include low back pain, fatigue, cold limbs and frequent clear urination. When Kidney Yang deficiency is severe, a weakness in Mingmen (Life Gate) fire can occur resulting in cold symptoms. Migmmen may likewise refer to a woman’s uterus or to any part of the body between the kidneys. The Kidney Yang and the Mingmen must be warmed in order to restore balance in the body in instances when Kidney Yang deficiency is manifest.
When Blood Stasis is the underlying problem for FSD, there is usually blockage to Blood and Qi flow transpiring in the lower stomach that hinders blood flow to the genitals. A tender and tight sensation on palpation of the lower stomach region is usually an indication of Blood Stasis. The aim of the treatment is to resolve the stagnation in the lower stomach, and restore normal circulation to the problem area.
Why Acupuncture is Extremely Effective in Treating Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa is considered a hereditary disease and involves peripheral vision loss. This condition results in the gradual breakdown of the cones and rods in the retina. Over the course of time, this disease gradually impairs the peripheral vision of the person. The condition may leave the central vision of the person intact until it totally affects the entire eye leading to blindness in the person. Acupuncture has recently been shown to help people suffering from retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The following are some frequently asked questions relating to acupuncture treatment of RP in Vancouver.
1. When you have been diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, when should acupuncture treatment be started?
Treatment of retinitis pigmentosa should be started the soonest possible time to make it more effective. Since this condition leads to a gradual worsening of your vision, which inexorably leads to blindness, an early diagnosis and treatment of this disease will help preserve the full integrity of your vision.
2. What difference does it make if you use Chinese herbs exclusively (or acupuncture exclusively) without the need to combine them in RP treatment?
Traditional Chinese medicine (which includes Chinese herbal therapy) and acupuncture are often used together to treat RP. Combining Chinese herbs and acupuncture is important for a couple of reasons. Chinese herbs are needed to address any underlying problems that cause the RP. These causes can include chronic inflammation, autoimmune and metabolic problems. Acupuncture, on the other hand, is important to halt further degeneration of your vision by boosting blood circulation to the eye thereby providing nutrients that allows the visual centers of the brain, photoreceptor cells and the optic nerve to heal and restore their normal healthy function.
3. Are there any long term results that acupuncture treatment provides?
One can already experience improvements in vision during the initial week of treatment and they can last for as long as six months. Follow up treatment is needed to preserve the effects of the treatment.
4. How many sessions of treatment do I need to experience the fullest results of the treatment?
In the treatment of RP, there is an initial assessment phase in which the patient’s response rate to acupuncture is determined and his/her need for ongoing maintenance. The patient needs to be thoroughly examined before actual treatment begins. A baseline needs to be established first to properly evaluate the patient’s progress. Improvement of the patient’s vision needs to be measured to see if the treatment works. This initial stage may require five days of intensive treatment. If an improvement is seen, the intensive treatment may continue for another week. The next stage involves further treatments twice or thrice per year with each session lasting one to two weeks.
5. Is intensive therapy much better than long-term therapies and do individuals normally require more than one round of therapy?
They both are equally effective. If you want immediate results, you need to undergo intensive therapy that needs to be followed up with treatments to help maintain the benefits of the intensive therapy. Long-term treatments, on other hand, lead to progressive results and need to be continued on a regular basis to halt the further erosion of vision.
6. How effective is traditional acupuncture when compared to laser acupuncture?
The effectiveness of a treatment is relative to the patient. Each patient reacts to different treatments in a unique way. This is no different when it comes to laser and traditional acupuncture. Laser acupuncture is a novel type of acupuncture that uses low intensity laser energy to stimulate treatment instead of needles. For patients who have a fear of needles, laser acupuncture is definitely a much better option.
7. There are certain cases where acupuncture simply does not work, why?
Since acupuncture works by transmitting signals to the brain to activate certain functions of the body, a brain damaged by disease or physical injury may not respond to the stimulus elicited by acupuncture causing the treatment to fail and produce the desired result. Other factors that can impede the positive effects of acupuncture include certain prescription medications and extreme emotional trauma.
IBS Sufferers can Get Relief from Their Symptoms with Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Both the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health Consensus Panel have determined that acupuncture is a proper form of treatment for conditions directly related to Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS. These include:
-Diarrhea
-Constipation
-Muscle cramping
-Stomach pain
Furthermore, acupuncture has also been regarded as a potent way of reducing stress and resolving problems that trigger IBS symptoms including:
-Premenstrual syndrome
-Menstrual cramps
-Nervousness
-Insomnia
-Anxiety
Like Tai Chi, acupuncture, is a very old form of traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture is performed by a trained and licensed practitioner who balances the energy of the body known as Qi by needling certain areas known as acupuncture points to stimulate the meridians (energy pathways) underneath the skin to enable the proper flow of Qi. These meridians normalize all psychological and mental processes. They are either activated or sedated to bring back balance to the flow of Qi.
Traditional Chinese medicine’s view on acupuncture mirrors the theory that the body comprises an emotional, spiritual, mental physical system that is holistic and complex and that the balance of its energy determines the state of health of the body. This means that an imbalanced Qi flow brings about dis-ease. To restore balance to Qi and to resolve dis-ease, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners (acupuncturists) usually use acupuncture in combination with dietary therapy and Chinese herbal remedies.
Acupuncture can help boost the flow of energy or remove the obstructions in the meridians through the use of hair thin needles inserted at specific acupuncture points in the body. It is important to note that your acupuncturist should only use disposable, sterile and single-use needles to prevent infections.
There are literally thousands of acupuncture points (acupoints) scattered throughout the human body and each one is connected to a specific organ system. The patient may feel a slight heaviness, warmth, aching or tingling sensation once the needles are pricked into the skin. A lot of patients profess no pain sensation from the needles; however, they may feel an unusual sensation that is neither discomforting nor unpleasant.
Sometimes, the needles are manipulated or heated with burnt moxa leaves to heighten the stimulation and make the treatment more potent. One acupuncture treatment may last for as short as five minutes to as long as a full hour. This depends on how well the patient responds to the treatment.
How many sessions of acupuncture are needed will depend on the acupuncturist and the condition being treated although usually they may range from one to several sessions in one week over a certain period of weeks or months. For the alleviation of pain, six sessions are usually needed to obtain significant results. If no relief from pain is achieved after ten sessions, the acupuncturist will deem the treatment as unsuccessful and will discontinue treatment. Treatments gradually lessen over time as the dis-ease gets better, though follow up treatment may be required from time to time to maintain the results.
Studies Done Regarding IBS and Acupuncture Treatment
We can cite a study that has been done that has observed the effectiveness of acupuncture vis-à-vis relaxation therapy in IBS patients. The study discovered that the gastrointestinal symptoms and the quality-of-life of both groups improved with acupuncture treatment with a notable improvement in stomach pain. However, after a month-lasting post trial period, the group given acupuncture therapy was the only group that attained long-lasting pain relief. Moreover, a substantial lowering in stress perception was also seen in this group and not in the relaxation group. The study administrators concluded that acupuncture can indeed effectively treat IBS, especially its stress and pain symptoms, and that its potency exceeds that of conventional relaxation therapy.
There is no doubt that acupuncture indeed provides relief from pain and resolves the other symptoms of IBS; the question Western medicine asks is how does acupuncture do it and if it does really achieve what it claims to achieve. One theory that tries to explain this phenomenon is that acupuncture stimulates the nervous system to release neurotransmitters known as endorphins that prevents pain signals from reaching the spinal cord and brain. Research has discovered that acupuncture affects the conduction of neural signals in the brain, which boosts the flow of blood to the area of the brain responsible for sending pain impulses into the body.
No one in the Western medical community knows how and why these changes happen. They probably will never know unless they accept the reality of Qi. For those suffering from the telltale symptoms of IBS, including constipation, diarrhea and daily pain, they wouldn’t care a bit as to how and why acupuncture works just as long as it helps them overcome their condition. The end result is what really matters, not the underlying reasons why it works.
The success of alternative healing techniques such as acupuncture, Tai Chi or even mediation cannot be explained without putting Qi into the picture. All these modalities have been proven successful for a wide range of conditions and because Western medicine cannot explain how they work, these therapies often come with the label “no proven therapeutic claim.” This label is misleading since they do have some therapeutic claims that are usually anecdotal in nature. But those who have gotten well using these modalities do not care at all what western medicine says about them. They just know that they work. Western medicine sees IBS as a psychosomatic problem, which is an excuse for its complete lack of understanding of the condition and its failure to come up with an effective cure or even a treatment for it. The most important thing for a treatment is the results it can accomplish. So if something helps relieve or prevent an IBS episode, then it should be considered a valid form of remedy for the condition. Of course, it would be desirable to know how and why the treatment works but if the treatment has no side effects and helps the patient get well, then why stop it at all?
Christina Prieto is an Orlando acupuncturist, a certified Yoga instructor and the founder of Harmony Wellness center in central Florida.