You may have heard about Traditional Chinese Medicine, but few people in the general population have tried it. Here are some reasons to think about it.
Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture are very safe. If you have an experienced practitioner, especially one that meets their state and national licensing board's criteria, they have attended special training at an acupuncture school with additional training for traditional Chinese herbs. The training to be an acupuncturist is about 3-4 years, and the training to practice Traditional Chinese Herbs is at least 2 years. There are four national board exams that one must take to qualify for one of the national certifications: the NCCAOM. Many state acupuncture boards are under the state medical board. Before you let anyone put a needle in you, make sure they've had this extensive training.
Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine are Effective for many conditions
The NCCAOM provides information on a number of conditions that acupuncture can help with.
3. Acupuncture can be used to boost immunity and maintain wellness
Most Americans wait until they get sick to see a doctor. Acupuncture could be used in that way, but it is at its best to use acupuncture to prevent illness. From allergies to anti-aging treatments, to managing digestion, being proactive is not what most Americans are used to seeking out care for. But using acupuncture and herbs regularly helps keep you young and healthy. Preventive care is even better for conditions such as retaining your youthful appearance, for managing your immune system, and for fertility.
4. Acupuncture treats you, not your conditions.
The most frequent question I get is, "Does acupuncture treat __________?" (fill in the blank with whatever condition). I could just say "yes" as that would be easier. The truth is, I'm not treating ____________, I'm treating Jessica or George. Let's say the issue is "Headaches". For Jessica, her cause could be the monthly fluctuation of her hormones, while for George, the cause could be stress. Even for two people for whom the cause is 'hormonal', the treatment could be very different. The success of the treatment often depends on the accuracy of the diagnosis. When we look at the complexity of each individual, and their circumstances, disease and symptoms do not arise from a single cause, usually. Or at least, by the time someone is concerned enough about their _________________ (condition), it is likely that some time has passed since the problem started. Often the diagnosis is therefore complex, and treatment happens over a number of sessions, as we do each treatment and can see more clearly what we have resolved and what remains to be resolved.
5. Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine generally move you towards health, not just towards suppressing symptoms.
I am a fan of Western Medicine in many ways, and when it is necessary, I'm the first to go in for treatment. However, I've noticed that Western Medicine often focuses on addressing the problematic symptoms, and that there are often unwanted side effects. I have a lot to say on that entire issue. This is why, in spite of my relationship with so many Western medical doctors in my own family, I chose to pursue a different kind of medicine. My brother-in-law was surprised to hear how long my program of study was for 'just' acupuncture, and he said, "Why don't you just go to Medical School?" My response was,
"I want to treat the WHOLES, not the HOLES." I don't know what he thought of that answer, and sometimes I find that the medical mindset is very sure they have The Answers, so my answers are inadequate for them. However, in my years of clinical experience, and treating thousands of patients for a vast variety of complaints, here's what I have observed: People come to me having tried the traditional Western medical approach often for years before they decide to try their last option (= me!). And yet, I help a decent number of those people if they give acupuncture the chance to help them. This despite not being reimbursed for their efforts by insurance, and needing to come more often than once or twice. I'll write more about how sometimes symptoms flare up during treatment - but never return - in a different blog post. For now, let me say that my patients often report that after everything else they've tried for years that didn't work, that they've finally found something that does help them, and they never would have thought acupuncture could help them.
For those of you who are thinking, "Sure, the placebo effect!", let me ask, "Why would it be that the "Placebo" only worked for acupuncture, and not the hundreds of other treatments they tried?" (Also note that veterinarians are increasingly using acupuncture for their "patients", with great results! I've gotten many patients who didn't "believe" in acupuncture until they saw how well their horse/dog/cat etc responded to it. Babies and animals are not traditionally considered as having the cognitive ability to be swayed by the placebo effect.)
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