Wow, I didn't know acupuncture could treat THAT!

Today I've compiled a list of complaints that many people suffer from, but whenever I mention one of them, I hear, "Wow, I had no idea acupuncture could help with [fill in the blank]. I thought acupuncture only worked for pain!"

10.) Eczema - Though acupuncture and Chinese herbs can help with all types of skin conditions, eczema is one of the more common complaints, and one in which people don't tend to find complete relief through standard bio-medicine.

9.) Allergies - So many of us suffer from allergies. No matter what the allergy (pets, dust, mold, foods, chemicals), it's possible for acupuncture and Chinese herbs to remind your body that it doesn't need to over react to such common substances.

8.) Asthma - It's always important to have medications on hand for asthma, but using Chinese medicine may help you to need your rescue inhaler much less frequently.

7.) Depression - Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can help balance your system so that your energy can flow smoothly, allowing for your mood to be stabilized.

6.) Weight loss - Though no one thing is the key to weight loss, it is possible for Chinese medicine to help speed the process of weight loss. You'll still need to exercise and eat right (I know, I know, that's no fun!), but if you keep up the good habits, acupuncture can help you see your hard work sooner!

5.) Anxiety - Chinese medicine can help slow the mind and allow you to be able to relax, feel calmer and more at peace.

4.) Sleep Problems - Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can help all kinds of sleep problems. You'll fall asleep easier, you'll stay asleep, and you'll wake feeling rested without any of that foggy feeling or drowsiness often associated with sleep medications.

3.) Headaches - Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can help with many different types of headaches. If you suffer from muscle tension headaches, your acupuncturist can get your muscles to relax. If you suffer from hormonal headaches (often associated with a certain time in a woman's menstrual cycle), it's possible to help balance your hormones.

2.) Menstrual Complaints - Some common complaints include: a lack of a period, heavy periods, cramping, PMS, infertility or irregular menstruation. Chinese medicine can help with all of these complaints!

1.) Menopausal Symptoms - Menopausal symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable, but conventional treatments often come with risks (some bigger than others!) Chinese medicine can help your body adjust to this natural change and decrease your symptoms!


So, while acupuncture and herbs are GREAT for pain, remember, Chinese medicine has been used for thousands of years as a complete health care system!

The path that led me to acupuncture

I was a non-believer. The active ingredient in acupuncture MUST have been the placebo effect. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with the placebo effect, the mind is our most powerful healer, but surely that was the only thing powering acupuncture.

Then I started having horrible eye "dryness." I could no longer wear contacts because they were so dryly uncomfortable. So I started wearing glasses again (which I wasn't particularly happy with) and this helped for a while, but within a couple months the dryness came back, even without the contacts. For those of you who do or have worn contacts, it was similar to the feeling you have when you have slept with your contacts in. They're dry, they're sticking to your eyeballs and you can't WAIT to get those suckers out!

The ophthalmologist checked the amount of tears that I was creating. I tear more than the average person, so that wasn't the problem. When he looked at my eyes more closely, he found little bumps on the surfaces of my eyes that happen with allergies. We tried every eye drop known to mankind. Prescription, over the counter, under the counter, around the counter, you name it, I tried it. Nothing was helping longer than 5 minutes! I couldn't stand to keep my eyes open because they would feel like they were drying out, and I couldn't stand to keep them closed because it felt like there was sand in my eyes. I was left squinting and rubbing my eyes constantly.

The only suggestion from the poor doctor who had tried everything he knew of to help me finally suggested I take Benadryl everyday for the allergies. While in theory this was a great idea, in practice, not so much. I was working 20 hours a week while going to college for my undergraduate degree. I couldn't stay awake through any of my classes!

In comes acupuncture. I was desperate! There was an acupuncturist who shared an office with my chiropractor, and at this point, I was willing to try ANYTHING, even if it was just placebo! Within 2 weeks I was finally able to stop squinting, but still wasn't completely comfortable. Within a month I was feeling 100% again! How's THAT for a placebo effect? For a while I still had to see her every month or two for a tune up, but I was completely better, and now I haven't had any symptoms for about 5 years.

During one of my acupuncture visits, we talked about school and my plans to become a veterinarian. When she said, "Don't forget acupuncture for animals!" it hit me hard. Duh! I needed to use acupuncture to help animals regain their health! I needed to learn this medicine that had helped me so much!

Along the way my plans have changed a little. I didn't attend veterinary school, I attended acupuncture school instead. Through school I learned to treat humans, through my vet I learned how to use this medicine on pets.

I'm a very lucky girl; I get to help the WHOLE family return to health!

Treating Allergies with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs

According to a study published in the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Acupuncture might ease hayfever symptoms. Though this study was done with humans, I've found that I get GREAT results with pets as well! In fact, I find that pets in general respond much quicker to energy medicine than their human counterparts.

Tilly is a Boston Terrier - English Bulldog mix who came into my office with REALLY red, itchy skin. She was entirely covered with inflamed skin. She'd needed to be on prednisone since she was a puppy because of her grass allergies. According to Tilly's owner, the prednisone helped a little bit, but Tilly was still so miserable.

We treated Tilly with Acupuncture and a Chinese herbal formula that matched her presentation perfectly. When Tilly came back the next week, her itchy skin had disappeared from most of her body! All that was red anymore was her belly and under her chin! To tell you the truth, I was surprised that she got such huge relief that quickly! Usually allergies, especially those present since childhood (or puppyhood in this case!) take time, sometimes as long as 2-3 months, to see results. Over the next couple of weeks we were able to get Tilly complete relief! Now I only see Tilly a couple of times a year for a "tune-up."

If you or your dog suffer from allergies of any kind, consider acupuncture and Chinese herbs!