Acupuncture for Chronic Illness
Chronic illness is on the rise in America. According to the National Health Council, about 133 million people have a chronic health condition lasting longer than three months. These chronic diseases prevent 133 million Americans from enjoying life, family, and fun.
Chronic Disease is an Epidemic on the Rise
Chronic diseases can include – but not limited to:
Autoimmune disorders
Parkinson’s Disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Diabetes
Cancer
Arthritis
Heart Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease
Asthma
Sadly, our current healthcare model struggles to deal with this constant increase in chronic illness. As a result, chronic disease is on the rise. It threatens to steal the life expectancy of an entire generation and bankrupt our society. Similarly, chronic disease is an epidemic on the rise. Here are some overwhelming facts to consider:
20% of children aged 6-11 are obese
600,000 Americans die of a heart attack annually
16-25% of Adults suffer from an autoimmune disease
More than 50% of Americans take prescription drugs
More than 40% of elderly adults take more than five prescriptions
The cases of autism have doubled since 2000
Depression is increasing every year
Nearly 10% of Americans have Diabetes, and that is increasing every year
(Source: Chris Kresser, Unconventional Medicine)
The use of medication has led to an opioid epidemic instead of providing a genuine solution. Additionally, pharmaceutical medications fail to tackle the underlying issues of chronic disease, which leads to even more dependence. These medications also inhibit our body’s natural response, causing undesired side effects. As a result, many patients I encounter who rely on medication find themselves stuck in a cycle of increasing drug potency, medication side effects, and long-term consequences.
Is there a better way to manage a chronic illness?
It’s important to have a health professional who can identify and treat the root cause of your health issues. You might be surprised to learn that chronic diseases are a relatively new phenomenon. For many generations, people lived without having to deal with chronic diseases. However, they did face other challenges like famine, war, and risky childbirths. Nowadays, chronic diseases are becoming increasingly common, especially as we age, which can make them seem inevitable.
Imagine a medication that can reduce chronic inflammation without causing any side effects. Such medicines would be easy to use, and you could take them without worrying about long-term damage. Interestingly, such a medication already exists, and it is called acupuncture. Several studies have shown that acupuncture can help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and restore balance (homeostasis) in people with chronic diseases.
What types of pain/chronic illness does acupuncture treat?
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese practice that dates back thousands of years and is now widely used globally. Due to poor translations and insufficient research, many misconceptions about this practice have led to controversies. However, recent scientific research has proven that acupuncture is, in fact, effective and safe when performed by a qualified practitioner. Chinese Medicine and acupuncture offer a safe and effective alternative therapy for various ailments.
Some of the most compelling research has shown these specific conditions to be relieved by acupuncture:
Seasonal and year-round allergies
Osteoarthritis in the Knee
Migraine prevention
Tension and chronic headaches
Further research is being conducted to establish the full extent of acupuncture’s effectiveness. However, current studies indicate that acupuncture has been highly successful in treating the following conditions:
Back, shoulder, and neck pain
Acute stroke and stroke symptoms such as insomnia, pain, and spasticity
Mental health including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and schizophrenia
Plantar heel pain
Adult asthma
Insomnia
Cancer pain and fatigue
Restless Leg Syndrome
Dry Eye
Hypertension
Sciatica
IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
Smoking cessation (up to 3 months)
Pregnancy discomfort
Obesity
Can acupuncture help the opioid crisis?
The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that over 130 Americans die daily from opioid overdose. The financial cost of our opioid crisis, based on estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is around $78 billion annually. The expenses include criminal prosecution, treatment, job inefficiencies, and health care.
Medical providers are searching for reliable non-pharmacy solutions. In fact, acupuncture is one of the most prominent evidence-based options. Numerous studies have demonstrated acupuncture’s positive effect on reducing pain and inflammation from chronic illness. Subsequently, the evidence is so compelling that even the Centers for Medicare Services now pays for acupuncture for chronic low back pain.
We provide acupuncture, with “root-cause” medical advice for chronic disease
We will work together to devise a plan that will help reduce your pain and address the underlying cause(s) of your chronic illness. My expertise in modern functional Medicine enables me to combine the latest research with a conventional approach. If you are dealing with a chronic disease, please schedule a new patient appointment so that we can start working on your condition today.
