Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture
Health Preservation
Acupuncture is a treasure of our traditional medicine. Guided by TCM theory, it stimulates specific meridians and acupuncture points through needling and moxibustion, mobilizing the body’s own defense mechanisms to achieve the goals of disease prevention and treatment.
The Remarkable “Needle”
In simple terms, acupuncture treatment involves stimulating corresponding acupuncture points to unblock the meridians, harmonize Yin and Yang, and strengthen the body while expelling pathogens, thereby treating local pathological changes. With the changing spectrum of human diseases, the range of indications for acupuncture treatment has gradually expanded, and it can treat over 300 diseases, such as common cervical spondylosis, periarthritis of the shoulder, low back pain, arthritis, headaches, dizziness, migraines, trigeminal neuralgia, facial nerve paralysis, post-stroke sequelae, acute and chronic duodenal ulcers, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, hyperthyroidism, menstrual disorders, breast hyperplasia, dysmenorrhea, rhinitis, acute tonsillitis, hordeolum, childhood myopia, urticaria, eczema, etc. It also has a good therapeutic effect on mental, cognitive, and emotional disorders.
Precautions for Acupuncture
Acupuncture is not suitable when overly fatigued, under high mental stress, hungry, or drowsy after meals. Weak children and elderly patients should lie down as much as possible, and maintain a calm state of mind during acupuncture;
Do not needle areas with skin infections, ulcers, scars, or tumors. The body should be relaxed during acupuncture; do not move or turn over to avoid pain or discomfort;
Patients with bleeding disorders or those who often experience spontaneous bleeding or have difficulty stopping bleeding after injury should not undergo acupuncture;
Personal hygiene should be observed before acupuncture, and loose clothing is preferred, ideally in a two-piece outfit; avoid wearing tights, shapewear, etc.;
After acupuncture, avoid cold wind and air conditioning to prevent invasion of cold and damp pathogens. Avoid contact with cold water on the first day after treatment;
If subcutaneous bleeding or bruising, fatigue, or soreness occurs after acupuncture, it is a natural reaction and does not require excessive concern; it will subside on its own after a few days;
Acupuncture indeed has excellent efficacy for certain conditions, but it is not a panacea, especially for acute and severe diseases. Comprehensive treatment methods should be adopted in a timely manner according to the condition to facilitate disease recovery.
Common Diseases Treated by Acupuncture
Facial Paralysis
Commonly known as crooked mouth and eyes, it can occur at any age and is often related to invasion of the facial nerve by wind-cold pathogens. Wind-cold pathogens can cause edema, paralysis, and vascular spasms of the facial nerve, leading to paralysis of the muscles on one side of the face.
Facial paralysis has a rapid onset, with symptoms such as drooping of the mouth corner, water leakage while gargling, and incomplete eyelid closure. A few patients may initially experience pain behind the ear, below the ear, and in the face.
Facial paralysis is a common condition treated in acupuncture, with treatment principles focusing on dispelling wind and pathogens, and unblocking the meridians. Acupuncture should be performed as soon as possible after the onset of facial paralysis, primarily using distal points within 7 days, and combining local and distal points after 7 days, which can effectively improve facial nerve function. Timely treatment can cure 80% of patients within one month, generally without sequelae.
Cervical, Shoulder, Lumbar, and Leg Pain
Cervical, shoulder, lumbar, and leg pain is generally based on deficiency of the liver and kidneys, leading to insufficient nourishment of the tendons and bones. The causes are often due to invasion of wind, cold, and damp pathogens into the meridians, prolonged sitting depleting Qi, muscle strain, and acute sprains, as well as Qi and blood stagnation, leading to obstruction of the meridians and resulting in pain symptoms.
Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that “pain indicates obstruction”; acupuncture has a significant effect in unblocking the meridians. By combining distal and proximal acupuncture points, it can unblock the meridians and regulate Qi and blood, achieving the treatment effect of “where there is flow, there is no pain”.
How does acupuncture effectively relieve pain?
1. Regulates the nerves, significantly relieving pain. Acupuncture can directly stimulate the nerves, promoting the metabolism and self-repair of nerve cells reflexively, while alleviating muscle tension and spasms, achieving pain relief.
2. Improves blood supply and promotes microcirculation. Acupuncture not only dilates blood vessels and increases blood supply but also promotes local metabolism and absorption of inflammatory products, achieving drainage and decompression effects.
3. Coordinates muscles and ligaments. The stimulation from acupuncture can coordinate the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the affected area, reducing the progression of contractures and promoting repair and functional reconstruction of the affected tissues.
Allergic Rhinitis
Characterized by paroxysmal nasal itching, sneezing, and clear nasal discharge, often accompanied by intermittent nasal congestion, reduced or lost sense of smell, etc., usually triggered by specific allergens (such as pollen, dust mites, cold air, fungi, etc.).
Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common diseases worldwide and is closely related to asthma, considered a risk factor for asthma, and can also lead to chronic rhinitis, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, etc.
Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that allergic rhinitis is mainly caused by lung deficiency and cold invasion. During treatment, acupuncture is often performed on the nasal and facial acupuncture points and the Zu San Li (Stomach 36) point, which can effectively improve nasal congestion and loss of smell. By combining local and differential acupuncture points, symptoms can be rapidly alleviated, while supporting the body’s vital energy and reducing recurrence, demonstrating good therapeutic effects.
