No therapeutic intervention, whether it be Chinese medicine, Western medicine, Ayurvedic medicine,etc., is side-effect free. One outstanding feature of acupuncture and herbal medicine is that these so-called "side-effects" are not simply viewed as negative reactions to the treatment, something to be wished away for the sake of the patient's comfort, or treated with additional herbs or acupuncture points in order to cover them up. No, any and all reactions that occur during acupuncture and/or herbal formula treatments are considered within the framework of the patient's medical history, patterns of functional disharmony occurring within them, and the progression of their condition according to the laws of Nature and the underlying principles of Chinese medicine. In other words, every change that the patient goes through, be it "good" or "bad," is useful in a diagnostic way to a properly trained practitioner of Chinese medicine. This is typically not the case during a course of treatment, long or short, with modern medicine, including drugs and/or surgery. Western medicine side-effects are typically much more intense and confusing, and are often ignored as long as the person's named/labeled diagnosis is being taken care of. Let's look at some of the potential effects of the aforementioned treatment modalities. This is in no way meant to discourage anyone from seeking Western medical treatment when it is necessary, or to scare anyone. It is simply a comparison of the potential effects of Chinese and Western medicine. Remember, these effects are not common, and more importantly, they don't all occur at once, if at all!
Side-effects of acupuncture treatment, when properly performed by an L.Ac., are virtually non-existent and mild. Herbs are a little different. With acupuncture treatments, patients almost always feels relaxed, yet energized, and of course have at least some relief from their complaints. Aside from case-specific, symptomatic relief, patients often notice an improved quality of sleep, better mental clarity, smoother digestion, etc.
Chinese herbal medicine is extremely effective and safe in the hands of a properly trained practitioner. Some side-effects may include appetite changes, loose stools, rashes, tingling of the tongue, or headache. These are quite rare and easily alleviated with slight adjustments to the formula. Also, these effects are far, far less severe than those of Western medical drugs that many patients take on a daily basis. In fact, Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture are often used alongside Western medicine in order to alleviate the side-effects of the latter, especially with regards to antibiotic use, cancer treatments, surgeries, etc. The side-effects of Western drugs are often numerous, and can be a mystery to the doctor. Often, one drug or treatment therapy will have such an effect on the body as to warrant the use of another just to offset this. Side-effects vary greatly, and may include allergic reactions, dry cough, difficulty sleeping, dizziness, muscle weakness, nausea and vomiting, internal bleeding, constipation, changes in mood or sex drive, dependency, worsening of symptoms, or even death.
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I am willing to bet that the vast majority of people who have never experienced acupuncture, or who have never been properly educated about the medicine, at least know this much about it: acupuncture (and Chinese herbal medicine too) is absolutely phenomenal for relieving pain. However, as my patients know, and I am sure many of the folks reading this are learning, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are capable of treating virtually any medical condition that you can think of--from pain to urinary tract infections.
Would you like to know one of the reasons why acupuncture treatments and pain relief have such a strong connection, aside from the fact that it works really well? In 1971, New York Times journalist, James Reston, was visiting China with his wife. While he was there, he had to undergo emergency surgery to have his appendix removed. After the surgery, he had a lot of discomfort, pain, and bloating in his abdomen. Acupuncture doctors placed needles in his arms and legs at specific points, his symptoms subsided, and never returned. When he returned home, he wrote about his experience in the Times. This was one of the United States' first nationwide exposures to Chinese medicine. You can read his article for yourself, HERE. When I was in graduate school studying acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, I remember the school clinic distributing an article to the students that listed the most common reasons patients came to us for treatment. Back pain was at the top of that list. Below is a link to an article that summarizes several others that have studied the use of acupuncture for treating back pain. The results speak for themselves. Take a look.
Say Farewell to Low Back Pain with Acupuncture The following is a reprint of an article by Diane Joswick, L.Ac., M.S.O.M. that I discovered on Acufinder. I have noticed that not many patients think to ask this question, but just in case you were curious...
Is Acupuncture Tax Deductible? By: Diane Joswick, L.Ac., MSOM Yes! So keep track of your treatments. The costs of acupuncture and prescribed herbal medicine are indeed deductible medical expenses. What is a medical expense? Acupuncture falls under the definition of a medical expense which is: "the costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of diseases, and the costs for treatments affecting any part or function of the body. They include the costs of equipment, supplies, and diagnostic devices needed for these purposes." What expenses can you include? ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENTS: You can include the amount you pay for acupuncture for you, your spouse, children and dependents. PRESCRIBED HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS: Nutritional supplements, vitamins, Chinese herbal supplements and other natural medicines that are recommended by a medical practitioner as treatment for a specific medical condition diagnosed by a physician are tax deductible. In many states acupuncturists are considered primary care physicians and this applies to them. TRANSPORTATION TO ACUPUNCTURE APPOINTMENT: The standard mileage rate allowed for out-of-pocket expenses for a car when you use it for medical reasons is 14 cents a mile for 2004. Bus, taxi, train and plane fares primarily for and essential to medical care are also included. How much of the expenses are included? You can deduct only the amount of your total medical and dental expenses for the year that is more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. Click here to see IRS information about medical tax deductions: More medical expense information |
This page is intended to serve as a source for links to blogs and articles about acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine that both new and returning patients may find informative and/or entertaining. It is also where I will share information about the history, principles, and benefits of this awesome medicine. Archives
May 2023
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