If you’ve worked with me before, then I’m sure you’ve heard me say the words, "healing takes a village". It’s a light-hearted phrase I use to remind folks of the simultaneous strengths and limitations of acupuncture. Personally, I believe that acupuncture is a powerful medicine--a belief that has been reaffirmed daily in my work with many of you! It has been effective for such a variety of conditions, such as stress, infertility, allergies, digestive disorders, autoimmune disease, organ dysfunction, anxiety, and the common cold. But, like any other medicine, it would be a folly to assume that acupuncture is all-encompassing.
Despite acupuncture’s wide-ranging benefits, certain conditions and injuries may require a little extra help from another modality. Researchers have found, for example, that yoga and acupuncture can effectively treat back pain. In other cases, for those experiencing depression or anxiety, a combination of acupuncture, talk therapy, yoga, and/or emotional freedom technique might offer greater benefits.
Sometimes, however, it’s necessary to consult a physician. Eastern and Western medicine are so often placed at odds with each other, but they can create a beautiful synergy when used together. I often encourage patients to return to their medical doctor for further review when it’s appropriate to do so. This has, in some cases, led to a significant diagnosis and medicine that has helped the patient avoid major illness.
In one case, I was working with a patient who complained of GERD. Acupuncture successfully treats GERD using needles and herbs most of the time. However, after working with this patient for over a month, their condition remained unchanged. They took my advice and a local GI doctor diagnosed them with advanced esophageal damage after performing an endoscopy. With that knowledge, the patient agreed to take the prescribed medication and returned for biweekly acupuncture. In a few months their esophageal damage had fully healed.
As we continue our work together let’s discuss what options may best suit you. If you need a referral please ask us the next time you come in. We have a great list of practitioners from a variety of modalities. In the end, as your health care provider, it is our goal to ensure that you're receiving the best set of options to heal.