Roxene Bates DOM LAc ADS

Traditional Asian (Chinese) medicine as an ancient science and art is poised to be brought to a greater height for its ultimate mission of benefiting human health. However, the specific type of illness you are suffering from would help determine whether acupuncture (or other traditional modalities) alone or used in conjunction with contemporary modalities would be more appropriate. This must be assessed by an Integrative Medicine practitioner, such as the Diplomate of Oriental Medicine.

While standard acupuncture is useful to address pain and neuromuscular pathology, TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) offers an array of potential therapies that make this treatment much more effective. Particular providers with proper training in medical school may combine acupuncture, trigger point needling, soft tissue mobilization (Tui na), myofascial release and neuromuscular reeducation, as well as spend the time to help instruct patients into therapeutic techniques and correction of postural mechanics used outside the clinic. In addition, if there are underlying or associated problems perpetuating and worsening the TMD, these may also be addressed in the same course of therapy.

Often, you won’t feel the needles being inserted, because they are thin and gently inserted. Once a needle reaches its intended depth, you’re likely to feel a mild, dull ache or a slight tingling sensation. This may be a sign that the treatment is working and the acupuncture point is being activated. You may also feel a heavy or electric sensation. Feelings of warmth may arise at the acupuncture points.

If you feel anything that’s a severe or sharp pain, you should let your acupuncturist know. Most of the time pain or discomfort will be fleeting and last only a few seconds.

No two patients are treated alike. Some patients find relief with needles alone. Others need a more involved technique, such as electro-acupuncture (technically called percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, or PENS).

Patients with knee arthritis respond particularly well to electro-acupuncture. When knee arthritis is mild or moderate, a limited number of sessions produce very good results. When arthritis is more advanced, or “bone-on-bone,” ongoing acupuncture is needed plus the addition of traditional anti-inflammatory herbals.

Acupuncture can also be combined with conventional treatments, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, injections and/or physical therapy.

First question would be - Why? the excessive sweating. This can be the result of many organ disharmonies. We must diagnose the individual as a whole interrelated system and find which therapy or therapies in the Traditional East Asian Medical and/or Contemporary medicine paradigm will best address the issue(s). Acupuncture would be one of the effective therapies.

In Traditional East Asian Medicine, depression has many causes. We must first define which organ system is in disharmony, then using the therapies of acupuncture, dietary therapy and Qi Gong movements, depression can be treated effectively.

Acupuncture, itself cannot directly cause one to lose weight, the therapy can be part of the assistance one needs to reduce excess weight. We need to assess the reasons why the weight loss is not coming, be it physiological, emotional or creating new healthier habits. These things combined will help one create a healthy weight.

In Traditional East Asian Medicine, pain is the result of a blockage or stagnation. The questions of why the ulcer occurred and how the pain manifests helps in the diagnosis.
Acupuncture can help ameliorate the pain and other integrative therapies can help heal.

Many holistic practitioners believe that eczema is not the chief issue in and of itself, but rather, the sign of a deeper problem. Thus, holistic treatment aims to address the patient's underlying problems. Once these problems have been identified and resolved, the eczema will often go away.

Yes! Acupuncture can be very helpful in quelling nausea. Thanks for your question.

The following is a quote from a recent science-based journal:

"Acupuncture is a treatment in which thin needles (diameter of 0.20-0.30 mm) are inserted into various points along the skin, according to energy channels (meridians) established thousands of years ago. The anti-emetic effects of acupuncture apparently stem from the resultant increase in hypophyseal secretion of beta-endorphins and ACTH, with subsequent
inhibition of the CTZ and vomiting center. Acupuncture also affects the upper GI tract, decreasing acid secretion and repressing gastric arrhythmias. Clinical research has found this treatment modality to be effective for nausea, whether it be due to morning sickness in pregnant women, motion sickness in travellers, postoperative nausea or chemotherapy-induced nausea in cancer patients."