Health

What Does Acupuncture Help With?

What does TCM-based Acupuncture help with?

The time-sensitive answer: most conditions. Short of an emergency scenario, if it’s a health concern you bring up with your doctor, it’s a concern you can also bring to your Vancouver Acupuncturist (R.Ac), Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (R.TCMP) or Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Dr.TCM).

You’ve probably ended up here from 1 of 2 ways; Either you’re a Reformotiv Physio + Pilates tried-and-true fan and as such you’re here to check out this week’s newest blog contribution – if that’s the case we thank you for your continued support and interest in what we have to offer, and we hope you enjoy what’s to follow.

Alternatively, you’re new to who and what Reformotiv Physio + Pilates is, and you may have landed here from having typed into your search bar “What does Acupuncture help with?”

So firstly, a quick welcome, we’re happy to have you here and hope we can shed some light on your infamous google search.

Secondly, in response to said google search, as earlier stated, Acupuncture can treat almost any condition physically or mentally, outside of emergency care.

To provide you a longer response with more specifics, the following is a common list you may see amongst Acupuncture blogs internet-wide with regards to conditions effectively treated through Acupuncture. This is because it was published by the World Health Organization themselves!

Cardiovascular Disorders

  • Essential hypertension
    Neurological Disorders
  • Cervicobrachial syndrome (neck & shoulder pain)
  • Disc problems
  • Facial palsy (early stage, within 3 to 6 months)
  • Headache and migraine
  • Intercostal neuralgia (chest wall pain)
  • Meniere’s Disease
  • Neurogenic bladder dysfunction
  • Nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting)
  • Paresis following stroke
  • Peripheral neuropathies
  • Trigeminal neuralgia (facial pain)

Musculoskeletal Disorders

  • Arthritis – rheumatic & osteo
  • Fibromyalgia
  • “Frozen shoulder”, “tennis elbow”
  • Localized traumatic injuries, sprains, strains, tendonitis, contractures
  • Low back pain
  • Muscle pain, swelling, stiffness, and weakness
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Sciatica
  • Work and sports-related injuries

Respiratory System Disorders

  • Acute bronchitis
  • Acute rhinitis
  • Acute sinusitis
  • Acute tonsillitis
  • Bronchial asthma
  • Common cold

Disorders of the Eye, Ear, Nose & Mouth

  • Acute and chronic pharyngitis
  • Acute conjunctivitis
  • Cataract (without complications)
  • Central retinitis
  • Gingivitis
  • Myopia (in children)
  • Toothaches, post-extraction pain

Gastrointestinal Disorders

  • Acute and chronic colitis
  • Acute and chronic gastritis
  • Acute bacillary dysentery
  • Acute duodenal ulcer (without complication)
  • Chronic duodenal ulcer (pain relief)
  • Constipation
  • Gastric hyperacidity
  • Gastroptosis
  • Diarrhea
  • Hiccough
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Paralytic ileus
  • Spasms of esophagus and cardia

Gynecological Disorders

  • Benign amenorrhea (loss of menstrual period)
  • Benign irregular menstruation
  • Menstrual cramps
  • Infertility (Not WHO recognized. Clinical experience proves effective.)
  • Menopause syndrome
  • PMS

Psychological Disorders

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Hypersomnia
  • Insomnia
  • OCD
  • PTSD
  • Somatization disorder

Other

  • Adverse reactions to chemotherapy or radiation
  • Appetite suppression

How Does Acupuncture Help?

In Acupuncture & TCM terms –

By improving the balance and flow of qi (“chee”) and blood (through a network of pathways in the body called Meridians) and promoting restorative mechanisms of the body.

In Western terms –

Multiple ways, depending on the concern, but namely via your nervous system. Acupuncture down-regulates our fight & flight response, also known as our stress response and Sympathetic nervous system. It then up-regulates our rest and digest mode, also known as our Parasympathetic nervous system – responsible for self-healing mechanisms that are elicited during sleep.

Promoting blood circulation, stimulating the release of neurotransmitters and endorphins and accessing the body’s hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system are additional study proven effects on the ways in which Acupuncture works.

The practise also helps because it’s more than just the insertion of fine needles into specific points in the body. It’s one component of many that work together to form the well-rounded medical system known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

While “What is TCM?” is a topic worthy of it’s own blog (stay tuned!) the question we began with today was “What can Acupuncture treat? But honestly, the question we should be asking is what can’t it treat?

Still unsure if Acupuncture is right for you? Or have questions left surrounding the practise? We hope you won’t hesitate to contact us. Our Doctor and Practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine are always happy to help further your understanding in any way they can.

They also offer free in house or over the phone 15-minute Meet & Greets where you can see if they could be of help for your situation.

Read more on our Vancouver Acupuncture services or click here to book now!