What Acupuncture Treats
Acupuncture practiced within the larger tradition of Chinese Medicine is a powerful form of internal medicine that treats a wide range of conditions. Many patients come for a specific symptom, but soon experience an improvement in overall health because traditional acupuncture does not simply treat one illness. It can treat many conditions at the same time.
The following is by no means an exhaustive list of conditions that can be treated. We offer this to provide you with some indication of what you can expect from acupuncture. If you do not see your condition listed here, do not hesitate to be in touch with Laurie Mecham (L.Ac.) to find out how acupuncture can benefit you.
Addiction (alcohol, cigarettes, drugs)
suppresses cravings, helps detoxify the body, helps with irritability, insomnia and body aches associated with withdrawal
Anxiety
helps decrease anxiety-related symptoms, such as insomnia, racing heart, overthinking, and stomach upset. Helps calm nervousness and sometimes helps decrease the need for anti-anxiety medications
Arthritis
helps with swelling and inflammation in the joints, decreasing pain and increasing mobility
Asthma
helps alleviate wheezing, shortness of breath and tightness in chest
Back Pain
alleviates muscle spasms, helps swelling from herniated disks and degenerative disk disease, decreases inflammation from arthritis, treats subluxation by gently restoring vertebrae to normal position. Treatment increases flexibility and mobility for most back conditions.
Bells Palsy
restores facial muscles and nerve function and prevents future recurrences.
Bronchitis (Acute and Chronic)
helps clear mucus and phlegm, decreases chronic cough
Cancer
relieves the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, such as exhaustion, nausea and vomiting
Candida Overgrowth
helps clear up skin problems, restores gastrointestinal system’s normal bacterial levels, reduces or eliminates urinary/bladder infections, reduces or eliminates yeast infections
Celiac Disease
There is no cure for Celiac Disease. It must be managed by diet. In conjunction with a gluten-free diet, acupuncture and Chinese Herbs help to strengthen the immune system and repair the damage that gluten can effect on those allergic or sensitive to it. In the case of accidental ingestion of gluten, prompt intervention with acupuncture can minimize symptoms (including headache, body ache, insomnia, gastro-intestinal pain, anxiety, depression, and panic) and speed recovery.
Common Cold and Flu
alleviates symptoms such as headache, body ache, cold chills, fever, hot sweats, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue. Can be used as preventative for colds and flu
Constipation and Diarrhea
restores regularity
Depression
helps decrease fatigue and cloudy muddled thinking and restores a sense of wellbeing
Fractures
increases speed of healing, decreases pain and inflammation, increases mobility
Fibromyalgia
helps lessen pain, increases energy, helps with digestive problems
Frozen shoulder
increases mobility, decreases pain, restores normal movement more quickly than when left untreated
Gout
relieves pain and inflammation, prevents recurrent attacks
Headaches and migraines
decreases head, neck and shoulder pain. Alleviates muscle spasms, auras and nausea
Hepatitis
manages symptoms such as fatigue and jaundice
Herpes
decreases pain and length of outbreak
High Blood Pressure
can help reduce high blood pressure and significantly decrease its symptoms, such as dizziness, flushed face, nervousness, severe headaches, restlessness, difficult breathing, nose bleeding, insomnia, intestinal complaints, depression, short temper and emotional instability.
Indigestion
reduces or eliminates gas and bloating, improves overall digestion
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
helps restore normal bowel movements
Insomnia
reduces the need for sleeping aids and improves quality and duration of sleep
Menopause
treats hot flashes, emotional side effects, hormonal imbalances, dryness
Menstrual Cramps
reduces or eliminates pain and regulates menstrual cycle
Morton’s Neuroma
eliminates inflammation and pain
Pain (Acute and Chronic)
decreases all kinds of physical pain: muscular, skeletal, joints, headaches, toes, ankles, knees, nose, ears, eyes, teeth, gums, etc.
PMS
decreases abdominal bloating, pain and cramps, back and leg pain, headaches, emotional irritability, and restores normal bowel movements
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Traditional acupuncture, laser acupuncture, and Chinese Herbs can significantly lessen the severity of PTSD. Regular treatments help ease and minimize the frequency, severity and duration of triggering episodes and their psychological and physical impact.
Pregnancy
supports the health of mother and child through duration of pregnancy, can help women with a history of miscarriage or difficulty conceiving carry a pregnancy to full-term
Psycho-Emotional problems
calms the spirit, helps release anxiety and depression, restores more stable moods
Sciatica
decreases pain and inflammation, restores normal movement, takes pressure off nerves that affect low back and legs
Shingles
decreases pain and length of outbreak
Sinusitis and Sinus Infections
decreases nasal congestion, inflammation and pressure, helps eliminate bacterial and viral infections, decreases pressure and pain in head
Stress
helps improve one’s reaction to stressful situations, supports a calmer outlook on life
Sprains and Sports Injuries
decreases recuperation time, decreases pain, swelling and inflammation in muscles and joints
Weight Loss
in conjunction with healthy eating and exercise, helps suppress hunger and increase metabolism
