Conditions

Based on historical accounts and modern research, acupuncture has been shown to treat chronic pain and manage a number of conditions. Some are listed below.

   

Headaches, Neck Pain, Shoulder Pain, Hip Pain, Sciatica, Knee Pain, etc...

Research in acupuncture for musculoskeletal pain has shown promising results especially for chronic pain. A physical assessment is sometimes made. In the case of shoulder pain or frozen shoulder, for example, the inability to raise the arm in different directions can indicate an organ imbalance. It could be affiliated with the large intestine, small intestine or triple burner channels in some cases. Or, it can simply be an injury to the local area. For knee pain, foot pain or extremity pain, if not due to an injury, we can look at it in a similar way and look at a channel along along the area. These are examples of how East Asian Medicine (EAM), or TCM, sees pain. Therefore, treatment plans for pain management could be similar yet could also differ from person to person.

   

Constipation, diarrhea, bloating, IBS, etc...

Constipation can arise in a number of ways in EAM. Yin deficiency, yang deficiency or qi deficiency can cause constipation. Yin can be viewed as body fluids. When stools are dry, this indicates a yin deficiency type of constipation. Yang is warmth and when it's lacking, despite having adequate fluids, stool becomes sluggish due to cold. This brings us to qi. In the case when there's adequate fluid but the stool remains static, this often means that there might be a qi deficiency. Qi is the invisible element we can't see but is still there. It's similar to when a fast train passes and if we were to stand nearby, we might lose balance from this force created from its speed as it passes by. We can't see it but it is still there. Where qi comes from and how it's formed is subject for another discussion. However, in these cases for constipation, acupuncture, herbal formulas and diet could possibly help.

With weight management, we tend to look at the stomach and spleen patterns to look for answers. The spleen prefers dryness. The stomach prefers to be damp. Overweight or bloating could result from spleen yang or spleen dampness. Additionally, in TCM, the spleen could become yang deficient, qi deficiency from overwork with dampness affected by the stomach, or spleen qi deficiency combined with a lung deficiency and possibly other patterns affect our weight. An acupuncture treatment plan could vary from person to person. So ask your acupuncturist to see which treatment plan is right for you.

Facial acupuncture or cosmetic acupuncture is a good way to relax. There are a few different styles out there. Mei Zen is one you might have heard of. In a facial focused acupuncture appointment, a few constitutional body points are selected. The rest of the points will be focused on the face. Possible bruising and bleeding may occur. There are many methods but the basic concept is to treat channels that rise to the face. However, results are not guaranteed and maintenance every month is recommended after a series of 10 to 12 sessions. With this in mind, every case is different and you can also ask your acupuncturist to see if you can schedule a couple of appointments before committing.

Studies have shown that acupuncture can help in cases when pain induced insomnia. Research has also shown that acupuncture can help with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stress and anxiety related symptoms. There are a few emotions linked to these disorders. There are a few patterns for them and acupuncture and EAM herbal formulas are based on symptoms that arise. For instance when shock arises, the heart and kidney miscommunicates leading to signs and symptoms considered intangible. In the case of anxiety, anxiety is a modern term to describe Shen related patterns that manifest from emotions leading to qi stagnation with varying degrees. The state of yin determines the type or level of anxiety. After qi becomes stagnant for a while, heat is generated. This is similar to when friction arises when a car tire keeps rolling in one spot. Over a period of time, the heat through a similar friction injures blood and yin leading to deficiencies which ultimately reaches the heart where the Shen resides. The heat might agitate the Shen while blood and yin deficiency deprives the Shen, or the Mind, from remaining in its home, the heart. These are ways that could lead to signs and symptoms of anxiety according to EAM. Other organ spirits that could also influence our body and general wellbeing are the Hun (Ethereal Soul, housed in the liver), Po (Corporeal Soul, housed in the lungs), Zhi (Will-Power, housed in the kidneys) and Yi (Intellect, housed in the spleen). It is common to see the relationship between the Mind and Ethereal Soul linked to depression. If you are under the supervision of a therapist, psychologist or another mental health specialist, it would be best to check with them first to see if it is okay for you to receive EAM support.