Pain management is the most prescribed reason for acupuncture, particularly for musculo-skeletal injuries. But acupuncture is just one of the services a licensed trained acupuncturist or Oriental Medicine Doctor has to offer. Most articles you will find on the Internet will focus on acupuncture, but herbal medicine, along with qi gong, Asian bodywork therapy, cupping, guasha, and moxibustion all have an important place in helping patients find relief from pain. If you are curious about any of these therapies, do not hesitate to schedule an appointment.
Acupuncture has a number of internal medicine applications as well. From digestive issues, the treatment of infertility, chronic fatigue, even anxiety, insomnia, and depression, it is hard to imagine any patient who might NOT benefit. In short, acupuncture is a broad-spectrum medicine with 3000 years of clinical practice behind it. So while it’s relatively new to the U.S. as a profession, we can provide patients with the benefits of a long, successful tradition in our medicine.
So how does acupuncture work? This is not easy to explain in Western terms, though Traditional Chinese Medicine has its own philosophy and theories that acupuncturists study extensively. Here is an excellent article from Dr. Mercola discussing the biochemical reaction that might explain how acupuncture helps reduce inflammation and pain. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2016/06/23/how-does-acupuncture-work.aspx
Chinese herbal medicine offers a vast and profound pharmacopoeia of individual herbs and formulas to treat just about any malady under the sun. The frequent “discovery” of one or another Chinese herb by Western supplement companies, including Life Extension www.lef.org is unsurprising to me because I know that these herbs, when properly used, WORK! Medicinal uses for curcumin, astragalus, reishi mushrooms, and more have proliferated in the wellness marketplace. Although herbs are food-grade, once they’ve been extracted, the effects are intensified, so I recommend consulting with a trained herbalist, and in the U.S. the best trained herbalist will likely be your acupuncturists, though training and requirements for licensure vary state to state. More information on Chinese herbal medicine here:
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/03/chinese-herbs-are-good-medicine/
https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/science-affirms-benefits-of-chinese-herbs-but-124923877777.html
So what’s in it for YOU? The best time to be on the road to health is to STAY on the road to health WHILE you are still healthy. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine offer treatment for every stage of the life cycle and every level of wellness. Low grade issues can blow up into real concerns no matter what modality you choose. Wouldn’t you rather start with tiny needles at the start of a problem than end with a circular saw once the problem becomes intolerable? It’s my goal to someday see acupuncture as a first choice rather than a last resort. Americans are increasingly dissatisfied with the offerings of Western medicine and are trying acupuncture and other alternative therapies for their health. How about you? http://www.refinery29.com/2016/06/114759/americans-alternative-medicine