"Side-Effects" of Chinese Medicine & Western Medicine

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. 

• The most bothersome, but not common, effects of acupuncture treatment may include a temporary worsening of symptoms or the appearance of new symptoms, which may occur as one's bodily awareness increases and the so-called layers of the onion are peeled away to reveal the deep and chronic conditions underneath. 
• Some patients may experience short-lived fatigue immediately after an acupuncture session. This can occur for a number of reasons, with the most likely being that the patient, no matter how busy they are and how much they are able to accomplish in a given day, is deeply tired and run down. All conditions, no matter how severe the symptoms or how acutely it came on, are rooted in a deficiency in one or more of the body-mind's functional systems. 
• Another potential effect one might experience is physical soreness, or possibly muscle twitching. Acupuncture is a physical intervention rooted in the energetic movements of Nature, and soreness is especially likely if the patient is receiving treatment for tightness and/or pain in the muscles or joints. The awesome news is that with the particular style of acupuncture and bodywork that I practice, this is NOT a very common effect of treatment at all! Muscle twitching may occur as a needle is placed in an area that needed reset, as the muscle first fires and then relaxes in order to alleviate unnecessary tension. 
• Very rarely, bruising can occur. This varies a lot from person to person depending on the area of the body needled, among other factors. Again, if the practitioner notices this reaction in a client it is not ignored, nor is it considered just a "normal" reaction to placing needles in the skin. Rather, it is a very useful piece of information that can be used to influence the treatment process. 
• Last, but certainly not least, some patients can go through a bit of emotional "release," or sudden, short-lived, and therapeutic experiences of one or more emotions during a treatment. Different emotions are linked to different qualities of energy, such as is seen in the different seasons, times of day, etc., and are often considered as the original cause of illness according to Chinese medicine.

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.