I recently came across a great article about how the Army is utilizing unconventional treatments such as acupuncture and massage therapy when it comes to caring for soldiers and their pain. They are realizing that pain has both an emotional component as well as a psychological component. Acupuncture works to treat not just the symptom of pain, but also balance the mind, body and spirit as a whole. The army isn’t going to stop prescribing pain medicine altogether, but rather look at other methods and alternative treatments. Changing a culture and turning skeptics into believers will take time but this is a step in the right direction and the military is a great place to bring about such change! To read the whole article, click here.

Autoimmune diseases are a group of disorders in   which the immune system attacks the body. The immune cells make a mistake and attack the very cells that are meant to protect us. The exact mechanisms causing the confusion are not completely understood, but bacteria, viruses, toxins and some drugs may play a role in triggering an autoimmune process in someone who already has a genetic predisposition to develop such a disorder. There are more than eighty serious chronic illnesses in this category, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, hasimoto’s disease (thyroid disease), pernicious anemia, type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, myasthenia gravis and many more. According to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA), 20% of the population suffers from autoimmune disorders. As the disease starts to develop, vague symptoms such as joint and muscle pain, general muscle weakness, rashes or low-grade fever may occur. The following symptoms may point toward something being wrong: numbness and tingling in hands and feet, dry eyes, hair loss, shortness of breath, or heart palpitations.

Integrative medicine and acupuncture have received much attention as successful therapies in the treatment of autoimmune disorders. Focus has been given on acupuncture’s ability to provide pain relief, regulate the immune system, manage symptoms and improve the overall quality of life. Acupuncture improves the body’s healthy functioning and can even prevent flare-ups from occurring. According to Chinese Medicine autoimmune disorders occur when there is an imbalance within the body. Acupuncture is used to help the body restore balance by treating the root of the disorder and addressing the symptoms that are unique to each individual. Clinical research has shown that acupuncture causes physical responses in nerve cells, the pituitary gland and part of the brain. Acupuncture even affects blood pressure and body temperature.

If you or someone you know suffers from an autoimmune disorder, acupuncture may be able to provide relief and offer a healthy way to manage the symptoms of the condition.