In the realm of health and wellness, numerous mysterious health conditions baffle Western medicine. Autoimmune diseases like Crohn’s, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) are often shrouded in mystery, both in terms of their causes and treatments. However, acupuncture, an ancient practice rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has shown remarkable efficacy in alleviating symptoms and improving the quality of life for those suffering from these elusive ailments.
Understanding Mysterious Health Conditions
Crohn’s Disease
Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues. Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms include abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition. The exact cause is unknown, and treatment often focuses on managing symptoms rather than addressing the root cause.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), is a debilitating condition marked by extreme fatigue that cannot be explained by any underlying medical condition. Other symptoms include muscle and joint pain, headaches, unrefreshing sleep, and cognitive difficulties. The cause of CFS remains elusive, and there is no specific cure, making symptom management the primary approach in Western medicine.
Chronic Lyme Disease
Chronic Lyme disease is a controversial and poorly understood condition that persists in some patients after treatment for Lyme disease, which is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Symptoms include severe fatigue, muscle and joint pain, cognitive impairments, and neurological issues. The persistence of these symptoms is not well understood, and standard treatments often fail to provide relief.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep disturbances, memory issues, and mood disorders. The exact cause is unknown, but it is believed to involve a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. Treatment typically focuses on symptom management through medications, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes.
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
POTS is a condition where a significant increase in heart rate occurs when moving from lying down to a standing position, often accompanied by dizziness, fainting, and other symptoms like fatigue, chest pain, and gastrointestinal issues. The cause of POTS is not fully understood, and treatments are often symptomatic, aiming to improve blood flow and manage symptoms.
The Role of Acupuncture
Acupuncture, a key component of TCM, involves the insertion of sterile, hair-thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate energy flow and restore balance. TCM views health as a harmonious balance of the body’s energies and disease as a disruption of this balance. Unlike Western medicine, which often treats symptoms in isolation, acupuncture aims to address the root causes of disease. That’s one of the reasons why acupuncture has so much success treating mysterious health conditions that don’t respond well to Western medicine.
Treating Crohn’s Disease
In treating autoimmune diseases like Crohn’s disease, acupuncture regulates the immune system and reduces inflammation. By targeting specific acupuncture points, practitioners can enhance immune function, alleviate pain, and reduce gastrointestinal symptoms. Studies have shown that acupuncture can significantly improve the quality of life for patients with Crohn’s disease by reducing the frequency and severity of flares. Learn more about our Crohn’s disease treatment here.
Alleviating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
For CFS, acupuncture boosts energy levels, improves sleep quality, and reduces pain. By strengthening the Spleen Qi and nourishing the Kidney Qi, acupuncture can help alleviate the debilitating fatigue and other symptoms associated with CFS. Patients often report increased energy, better sleep, and greater well-being after acupuncture treatments. Learn more about our CFS treatment here.
Addressing Chronic Lyme Disease
In the case of chronic Lyme disease, acupuncture can help manage pain, boost the immune system, and improve overall health. By addressing the root cause of this condition, which varies from patient to patient, acupuncture provides a systemic approach that can offer relief where conventional treatments fail. Many patients experience reduced pain, improved cognitive function, less anxiety, and enhanced quality of life. Learn more about our Chronic Lyme Disease treatment here.
Managing Fibromyalgia
Acupuncture is particularly effective in treating fibromyalgia. It helps to reduce pain, decrease the frequency and intensity of flares, improve sleep, and alleviate associated symptoms like anxiety and depression. By identifying and addressing the patient’s underlying organ imbalances, acupuncture can modulate pain signals between the brain and body, providing significant relief for those suffering from fibromyalgia. Learn more about our fibromyalgia treatment here.
Treating POTS
For patients with POTS, acupuncture can help regulate autonomic function and improve blood circulation, reducing symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and palpitations. Acupuncture treatments strengthen the body’s overall function and improve cardiovascular health, offering a complementary approach to standard treatments. Learn more about our POTS treatment here.
The Holistic Approach of Acupuncture
One of acupuncture’s key strengths is its holistic approach. By treating the body as an interconnected system, acupuncture seeks to identify and address the root causes of illness rather than merely alleviating symptoms. This approach can be particularly beneficial for mysterious health conditions poorly understood in Western medicine, where symptom management often falls short of providing true relief.
While Western medicine excels at diagnosing and naming these complex conditions, it frequently struggles to provide effective treatments. Acupuncture offers a promising alternative, capable of significantly improving the quality of life for patients by addressing the underlying imbalances that contribute to their symptoms. As more research continues to validate the efficacy of acupuncture, it stands as a beacon of hope for those navigating the uncertainties of chronic and poorly understood health conditions.
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What our Clients are Saying
About six months ago I starting getting debilitating fatigue, to the point where I could not exercise and had to drag myself through the day at work. The doctors said it must be stress, because there was nothing wrong with me. But when I went to Raleigh Acupuncture, they said that my digestion was weak. They said I was not getting proper energy from the food I was eating, so they treated my digestive system. I was amazed to see my energy increase after the treatments. Within 10 treatments I was back to my old self, exercising again and working through the day no problem. And as a side benefit, I started losing weight. They said this was related to my improved digestive function. Now my friends want to go because they see my energy back and see me losing weight!
I am a long term patient of Raleigh Acupuncture. Prior to being under their care, I was disabled with terrible fatigue and pain all over my body. I was unable to drive, could only walk less than a block, and had numerous symptoms that mystified doctors. After countless lab work, x-rays, and MRI’s, several doctors including my primary physician told me that there was nothing that could be done. According to them, it was either an illness that was undiagnosable or it was all in my head. When I came to Raleigh Acupuncture, it was a breath of fresh air. They took me very seriously and were not mystified by my condition. They assured me that my condition was treatable and manageable. They treat me with respect, dignity and care; something that I didn’t receive at my primary care doctor. Thanks to their treatments I am now living a normal life. They have restored my health and taught me how to manage my condition. My family and friends can’t believe how much improvement I have made. My son is grateful to have his mommy back! And I am eternally grateful to Raleigh Acupuncture! They truly have the gift of healing!
I would like to thank Raleigh Acupuncture for the wonderful and very helpful treatments. I had been seeing them for my insomnia, which was making excellent progress at the time and has since been cured. On a previous Monday I was involved in a minor traffic accident. Due to the stress of the accident on Tuesday I awoke in a severe flare-up of my fibromyalgia. The pain was so bad I took pain killers and stayed in bed for the day. The following day I had an appointment with Dr. Mark which I wanted to cancel. My husband suggested I keep the appointment and tell Dr. Mark about the pain. After our discussion, he modified the treatment he had planned for me and treated the pain. I came home, took another pain pill and went back to bed. The following morning I woke pain free and have been since, which is about 2 to 3 months. Thanks again Raleigh Acupuncture!
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.
All of my joints were hurting. I’ve got fibromyalgia and it effects me by making my joints hurt. The pain would move around from place to place, first the hip, the next day the shoulder, then the knee, etc. The practitioner at Raleigh Acupuncture explained that the best way to treat my kind of moving joint pain was to treat me holistically. Instead of treating the hip one day, the shoulder the next, they treated the root of the pain. They said this type of treatment would also improve my mood and my sleep. Right on all counts. I started feeling better after the second treatment. It’s like all of the joints just settled down and stopped giving me trouble. I had less flares and the intensity of the pain went way down. My sleep is better, not just because I have less pain. I’m more relaxed and less stressed. I’ve made this treatment a regular part of my life. I’m very grateful.
I’ve been going to Raleigh Acupuncture for 4+ years. I first went to them because I was having problems with my monthly period lasting two weeks or more, hot flashes that were extreme, and all over pain from fibromyalgia, which is a chronic pain condition. I was in a state of depression and despair, unable to work, or do things I love to do, like working in my yard. On a good day, I could perform simple household chores, perhaps a little yoga, and that was all. My first few visits brought relief from hot flashes, terrible neck pain, and wrap-around pain in my ribs that restricted my ability to breathe comfortably. I felt this was a miracle as I had suffered for many years, and had no idea it was so easily remedied. This miraculous ride continued as I took Chinese herbs for aiding my menopausal symptoms, sinus problems, anxiety, and general pain. As time went on I began to depend on Raleigh Acupuncture for psychological strengthening as well. Nowhere else have I found anyone that really listens to what I have to say without thinking I was crazy. Today, as I sit and reflect, I am about to graduate from an intense two year program for Landscape Architecture Technology. I took a huge leap when I signed up for full-time classes when I was 50 years old. I have enjoyed great success, making one B in 64 credit hours, the rest were A’s! In February of 2011, I was in a car accident where I was sandwiched between a van and a school bus. I was able to continue school and finish the semester, I believe because of my acupuncture treatments. I contribute most of my academic success, emotional well-being, and diminished pain to Raleigh Acupuncture.
