How does acupuncture help with auto-immune conditions
There are many factors that go into initiating an auto-immune condition, such as genetics, exposure to some pathogen at some point in our lives, stress, inflammation, diet, and our environment.
Genetics and past exposure to an antigen we can't do anything about. The rest we can change.
Acupuncture and/or Chinese herbs as well as diet can help to reduce inflammation, no matter what the cause, and reducing inflammation seems to reduce the chances of the immune system attacking the wrong antigens (self-antigens).
In Auto-Immune disorders, the immune system is too revved up and does not discriminate correctly between self and foreign antigens and so it attacks the bodies own tissues. Stress plays a very significant role in this process, and there are numerous documented cases where a very stressfull situation sets off an auto-immune condition. Therefore reducing stress through acupuncture, herbs, stress management, exercise, yoga or tai chi, deep breathing, etc... will reduce one's chances of getting auto-immune conditions, or once we have it, it can reduce or eliminate chances of progression.
Every condition is different as every person is different, but one thing that is for sure, acupuncture is a very useful adjunct to the medical management of a person suffering with atuo-immune disorders, and quite often I have seen that acupuncture and Herbs and life style changes can be a stand alone treatment.
Acupuncture is the safest therapy, and if initiated in time, can be the most effective therapy for these conditions. Acupuncture also works very well with anti-rheumatic drugs and other chemotherapies used to manage these diseases. Acupuncture treats the underlying causes, not just the symptoms, and this advantage is key in achieving long lasting results.
