Traditional chinese medecine uses many different modalities in order to provide relief to patients. Some of the most known are: Acupuncture, cupping, gasha, shiatsu, tuina, acupressure and herbal medicine. Acupuncture is the most frequently used procedure in the West.

It reduces pain:

Headache, migraine, joint pain, muscle pain, neck, knee, lower back pain Acupuncture has mainly been used to treat pain in the United States because it has been scientifically proven that it worked. Different phenomenons occur during the insertion of the needles such as the release of endorphins and opiates. It increases blood circulation at the site of insertion and at the site where the pain is located. By encouraging the circulation, the healing process will start.

It reduces inflammation:

Acupuncture is used to treat all sorts of inflammation: swelling in the extremities, joints, sinusitis, menopause, diabetes… While increasing and stabilizing the blood circulation, water will be reabsorbed and it will reduce any form of swelling. By normalizing the circulation, menopausal and diabetic symptoms will be reduced.

Stress reduction:

Acupuncture will provide a sense of well-being when the natural release of opiates and endorphins will occur. The patient will feel more relax and anxiety will dissipate. The patient might also be able to improve his or her sleep pattern.

Gynecological disorders:

So many and too many are present in our modern society due to traumatic physical and emotional events, lack of activities, too much activities. Each extreme could lead to the same pathology but with differential diagnosis or different conditions. Acupuncture provides a therapy to treat all these causes that might be responsible for a gynecological pathology. In other words, acupuncture will address the root of the problem.

Common cold and flu symptoms:

Acupuncture will treat all the symptoms from cough to bronchitis. It will reduce the fever if present. It will address sinusitis, headache… The virus will continue its course but the patient will become stronger and experience less symptoms. We usually prescribe herbal medicine in a pill form to increase the success of the therapy.

Digestive disorders:

Most disorders are caused by stress, inflammation and food allergies. Acupuncture will help in the treatment of crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, constipation, heartburn, hiatal hernia, gastritis…

Conclusion:

Acupuncture can a wide range of conditions or be supportive to an ongoing therapy. Most common disorders are mentioned in this article but some were omitted at this time.