5 Weird Health Problems that Acupuncture Actually Helps

One question I get all the time is some variation of this, "Does Acupuncture help with _____?"  

Often, yes!  

Acupuncture is more than just a technique.  It's a complete system of medicine.  

We can address nearly everything except broken bones, heart attacks, delivering babies, and things that require surgery. 

And, honestly, TCM used to treat those things too.  They just don't teach bone-setting in school anymore.  Hospitals are doing a pretty good job with that for now.  

How does Acupuncture work?  We're moving your Qi.   

If you get the Qi - the energy that makes your blood pump and move - to all the areas, you feel great.  

Here are 5 things that - surprisingly - DO get better with acupuncture.

1.  Post-Surgical Recovery

I pride myself that I can sometimes help people avoid unwanted surgery in the first place.  However, sometimes you just need to do it. 

Whether it's a hip replacement, gall bladder removal, or tonsilectomy, I see over and over that acupuncture speeds along the recovery time by ~75%.  We're getting more healing cells to the surgical site, without further disrupting the area.  It's all done with distal needles (needles that are not in the area of the problem).  

According to one study, "in terms of long-term complications, the rates of joint stiffness (16.7%) and chronic pain (22.2%) were significantly higher in the conventional rehabilitation group compared to the acupuncture and massage group (3.6% and 7.1%, respectively)."  

2.  Toothache

Someone asked me once if Acupuncture can help with a toothache, and I wasn't sure. 

Guess what?  It did! 

And it did the second time I tried too. 

For some reason, it works for toothaches really well.  Of course, it doesn't mean you can skip the dentist.  You should still get everything checked out.  

A study "revealed significantly lower pain ratings...for the real acupuncture condition compared to no acupuncture."  

Acupuncture also works for teeth clenching and jaw pain.  😬 🙋‍♀️ 

3.  Scar Tissue Pain

Scar tissue is something we consider a priority to treat in TCM.  Meaning, even (and especially) if it's an old scar, we need to address any unresolved issues there.  

The problem with scar tissue isn't so much what it looks like (although we can also help the appearance of keloid scars), but the deeper level.

Unresolved scar tissue - from any point in your life - confuses the nerves that were cut when the skin healed that way.  Acupuncture tells those nerves, "Hey, everything is OK.  We can chill out now."  

4.  Weight Loss

I used to tell people when they asked me if Acupuncture works for weight loss, "only if you combine it with a healthy diet that's appropriate for your body."  Which is true. 

But, in the last year, I've had at least 3 patients tell me they haven't changed anything about their diet, and their excess weight is just falling off.  For some folks, it's that last 5-10 extra pounds.  For others it's been a life-long struggle trying to lose more than 100 pounds.  And it's working!  

What it is:  we started doing a new Acupuncture technique.  It's a Japanese style taught by Kiiko Matsumoto.  Her way of addressing adrenal fatigue (which is so much more common than you think, and MD's rarely look for it) is excellent.  The results speak for themselves.  

Side effect may also include:  better energy, improved mood, and balanced hormones.  Ask your doctor if Acupuncture is right for you.  (Kidding - you don't need to ask your doctor!)  

5.  Preparing for Baby Delivery 

This is something we're taught in Acupuncture school but people don't necessarily know about it.  There's a whole branch of TCM for Obstetrics and Gynecology. 

I really wish more young women knew how much it can help with period problems too!  You don't have to go on birth control!  Which seems to be (other than surgery) the only solution Western medicine has for any type of women's hormone issue.  🙄

We can help with:

• fertility struggles 
• problems during pregnancy (nausea, back pain, pelvic pain, etc.)
• if the baby is in the wrong direction for delivery (up to ~34 weeks)
• helping to "ripen" the cervix ~weeks 35-40
• inducing labor (40-42 weeks)
• post-partum recovery (another thing Western medicine, IMHO, doesn't do great.  Please, for the love of all that is holy, do NOT use ice on your perineum after delivery! 😫) 

Can Acupuncture help you with your "weird" health issue?  Maybe!  It's always worth a try.  If there are subtle changes in 2-3 treatments, we're probably on the right track.