7 Chronic Conditions That Can Be Treated With Acupuncture

Traditional Chinese medicine has utilized acupuncture’s healing benefits for over 1000s of years. And Western medicine has caught on in the last 100-200 years!

It’s believed that blockages or imbalances in your Qi (energy that flows through channels or meridians in your body) can occur. And these have been reported to produce pain and, eventually, illness.

Balance your Qi with acupuncture – a practice that helps treat several different chronic conditions!

Chronic pain conditions such as arthritis can truly impede quality of life. However, acupuncture can help!

Sterile acupuncture needles are inserted into points (2000 overall) along meridians, boosting signals that travel through the spinal cord to the brain.

Acupuncture needles stimulate cortisol production in the brain. This has incredible anti-inflammatory effects on the patient’s painful, immobile joints in the cases of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis.

Patients have reported improved quality of life and reduced pain levels as a result of the anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative effects of acupuncture. Acupuncture also aids in the regulation of immune system function.

Are you someone who suffers extensively from migraines?

If so, you’ll understand that the factors that encompass any chronic pain are interdependent. This physical pain and loss of strength and energy also affect one’s mental health, resulting in depression, anxiety, and dependence on opioids.

Acupuncture is a long-lasting treatment method that prompts your brain’s production of serotonin!

It can also reduce the frequency of your migraines and provide pain relief, improve circulation, and decrease muscle tension.

Clearly, it is important to ensure that your acupuncturist is a well-trained professional!

One reliable acupuncture institution is located in Alexandria, VA. Dr. Joanie Stewart, a licensed Acupuncturist and Doctor of Oriental Medicine, has trained for over 30 years. And she is excited to help you on your healing journey at Back to Health Centre!

The respiratory system deals with breathing and gaseous exchange between carbon dioxide and oxygen.

People with issues in this system experience airflow limitations, dyspnea, and a gradual loss of lung function, such as in the case of asthma, Cystic Fibrosis (CF), and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

After quitting smoking (in some cases), acupuncture is the next step!

Results of a study conducted to test acupuncture effectiveness in people with COPD have shown that patients experience less pain and generally function better after 8 weeks of 3 sessions per week.

Sciatica, another chronic condition, can cause immense amounts of pain. There is nerve compression somewhere along the sciatic nerve, which runs from the pelvis to the hips and thighs.

People with this uncomfortable condition experience pain, tingling, and numbness in the lower back, sometimes extending down to the feet.

Sciatica can be treated effectively with acupuncture, along with other treatment methods such as chiropractic care and medication.

Blood flow increases and tensed muscles relax, easing tension around the location at which each needle is inserted. Acupuncture also stimulates natural painkillers (endorphins and enkephalins) in one’s brain.

Lower back pain differs from Sciatica, affecting primarily the length and width of the back between the rib cage and hips. Pain lasting 12 weeks or longer can be considered chronic.

Patients complain of a dull ache, stiff and unmoveable muscles, or even stabbing sensations. This can have debilitating effects on an individual’s quality of life. Acupuncture is a fantastic treatment to be used in conjunction with other treatments.

Ensure you visit a doctor for an initial evaluation, as lower back pain can originate from pregnancy, surgery, and metastatic/inflammatory/infectious diseases.

CTS, a result of a strain injury, causes patients pain and numbness in their wrists and hands. And acupuncture stimulates sensation in those areas.

Repetitive rubbing in the carpal tunnel (a passageway surrounded by bones and ligaments) on one’s palm can induce swelling and inflammation. Acupuncture increases cortisol levels in the brain, reducing inflammation.

As a side note, we must inform you that acupuncture can become costly over time. Therefore, before engaging with treatment, consult your doctor to ascertain whether your insurance covers it.

Acupuncture also aids in balancing the gut and brain. Furthermore, it reduces stress in the nervous system.

Examples of Gastro-Intestinal Disorders include bloating, constipation, diarrhea, IBS, Crohn’s Disease, nausea and vomiting, and abdominal pain. Some of these conditions can be the results of chronic stress, unhealthy diet, and poor sleeping habits and conditions (e.g. insomnia).

Pair acupuncture with herbs that aid in digestion (ginger and licorice) to reduce pain and inflammation. This way, your stomach acids can be neutralized and regulated.