Up to 50 million Americans have an autoimmune condition; direct costs for treating these conditions total $600 billion each year (American Autoimmune Related Disease Association). Acupuncture is an essential medicine in the fight to restore balance to our immune system. This restoration is key to healing autoimmune conditions.
The Problem
Fifty years ago no one ever heard of autoimmune conditions. They came on the scene like a tidal wave, to the point where one in six people in America are now struggling with them. Western medicine does not know what’s causing them, and more significantly, does not know how to treat them.
Acupuncture – Part of the Solution
What we do know is that autoimmune diseases are caused by an imbalance in our immune system. Our natural defense system is turning on itself. Acupuncture is designed to restore balance. Conditions like migraine headaches, insomnia, infertility and post-concussion syndrome (to name just a few) are all resolved by restoring balance in our bodies at the organ level.
It will not surprise you to know that autoimmune conditions also respond to acupuncture’s “balancing” techniques. Conditions like lupus, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, inflammatory bowel disease, and rheumatoid arthritis all improve with acupuncture. When a patient with an autoimmune condition comes for acupuncture we use the same Chinese medicine differential diagnosis techniques to identify their internal organ imbalances.
For example, Susan, a patient with chronic Lyme disease, came to our office suffering from debilitating fatigue, achy joints and poor concentration. Her condition was so severe that she was no longer able to work. After examination, we identified her pattern imbalance as Spleen Qi deficiency with excess dampness. Our treatment with acupuncture focused on correcting this imbalance. After a course of treatment her fatigue was 60% improved, her joints were 80% less painful, and she was able to concentrate enough to go back to work.
Functional Medicine – Another Part of the Solution
The Institute for Functional Medicine recently stated, “Current treatments for autoimmune diseases are risky, expensive, and address symptoms rather than underlying causes. The emerging research reveals that autoimmunity results from complex interactions between genetics, intestinal permeability, and environment.”
Functional medicine doctors are Western MDs who focus on solving the puzzle of autoimmune disease. They follow the Chinese medicine principle of restoring health through seeking balance. They have not solved this puzzle yet, but their focus is in the right direction.
Autoimmune Conditions – What You Can Do
If you have been diagnosed with autoimmune conditions, find yourself a functional medicine doctor (someone with an MD). Then get yourself an acupuncturist (Chinese medicine) who is nationally board certified with the NCCAOM. Learn everything you can about your condition and set goals to improve the quality of your life.
You may need to make lifestyle changes (work less, find less demanding work), nutritional changes (eat more healthy, cutting out processed foods), and emotional changes (learn how to manage stress better). These will all help your body get into better balance, get stronger, and reduce the symptoms of your condition.
What To Expect
All acupuncture needles are sterile, single-use and hair thin. The points we use will depend on how you present. The goal of treatment will be to strengthen your body, ease your mind, correct imbalances and improve your health. You will have reduced symptoms and improved quality of life.
Next Steps
BOOK NOW to schedule an appointment online. Or call us at 919-819-8113 and we will schedule an appointment for you.
WATCH VIDEO ABOUT OUR AUTOIMMUNE TREATMENT.
READ TESTIMONIALS FROM OUR PATIENTS WITH AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE.
SEE LIST OF ALL CONDITIONS WE TREAT.
Autoimmune conditions are not well understood, but don’t despair. Treatments are available that can help. Acupuncture is one of them. Give us a call to discuss your situation and how acupuncture might be able to help.
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What our Clients are Saying
Raleigh Acupuncture has helped me a great deal managing my MS. Since I began treatment my pain has decreased by 80%, my balance has improved and my mental fog lifted. I am so grateful for their expertise in treating this condition. I recommend them to anyone with MS.
I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease two years ago. I had fairly severe low abdominal pain and swelling, weight loss and really low energy. My doctor wanted to put me on steroids but I wanted to avoid that for as long as possible. I read that acupuncture could treat Crohn’s so I booked an appointment at Raleigh Acupuncture. Sure enough, the treatments eased my pain, resolved the swelling, and increased my energy. It’s been almost two years and I have yet to need steroids. Initially I got acupuncture twice a week, but after the first two months I have been on monthly maintenance treatments, and that seems to be holding me. I highly recommend Raleigh Acupuncture for Crohn’s treatment. They have made a huge difference in my life.
I’m an RA veteran, having been diagnosed over 20 years ago. So I know all about the treatments and what they can do. Somehow I had overlooked acupuncture. Maybe it was a bias against “alternative” medicine. In any case, my aunt pressured me into trying her acupuncturist. She goes for asthma treatments, but said that the acupuncture treatment for auto-immune disease was similar. My research was inconclusive, but I decided to give it a try. I knew it couldn’t make my condition worse.
To my surprise the acupuncture has substantially reduce my daily pain levels. My flares are less frequent and intense, and pain does not move as quickly from place to place. The doc at Raleigh Acupuncture said there was indeed a connection between RA and other auto-immune diseases in the way Chinese medicine approached treatment. They said that the acupuncture slows the auto-immune response. I can actually feel that happening inside my body.
So I’m taking less medications, having less pain, and am able to be more active. Acupuncture is now an important component of my wellness plan for RA. I’m very grateful to Raleigh Acupuncture for their continued help.
I am newly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (six months ago). My pain was traveling from my hips to feet, with something hurting pretty much all the time. My doctor suggested I try acupuncture as part of my therapy. He had referred other patients to Raleigh Acupuncture and they reported success. I’m feeling much more optimistic since going there. Before the acupuncture, my pain was really bad. Since I’ve started acupuncture, my pain has decreased by half at least. The acupuncture doctor really understands what I’m going through.
The doctor at Raleigh Acupuncture was brilliant at reducing my pain from RA. My wrists and ankles were so bad I could not walk. After a series of treatments the pain is 90% better and I’m living my life like normal. If you’ve got RA, you MUST try acupuncture. I shared my story with my RA support group. They were all queasy about the idea of acupuncture. I told them they were crazy not to make an appointment with my acupuncture doctor. The treatment doesn’t even hurt. I wish I knew about this 5 years ago when I was first diagnosed!!
I still am forever in your debt for helping me through the Lymes recovery. My body pain and fatigue were overwhelming before getting acupuncture. I still tell everyone today that I am 100% positive that my recovery was a direct result of your expert care. Truly. I have very little residual effects from the disease that I can easily live with. So again,thank you not only for your amazing skills, but for the compassion and kindness that you showed me during that time.
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