Acupuncture and Autoimmune Diseases
There are more people living with autoimmune diseases than you can believe. Discovering you have an autoimmune condition for the rest of your life doesn’t have to be a life sentence in dwindling health. With management autoimmune diseases can be controlled or minimized and in some cases sent into remission.
There are more than 80 autoimmune conditions currently identified. When our immune system isn’t working properly the potential to develop a chronic condition exists.
The immune system protects the body against invaders like bacteria and viruses. When we are bombarded by a foreign substance, the immune system is activated and attacks that substance, keeping your body healthy. When an autoimmune condition is present, it means your body can no longer tell the difference between your own cells, tissues, organs and hormones and the foreign substances that have invaded. Now you begin to attack yourself. That attack causes inflammation which leads to autoimmune conditions.
Autoimmune diseases are difficult to diagnose, in part because their symptoms and progression are different for everyone. Autoimmune responses may target one organ or one system in one person and another in someone else. Symptoms can come and go as autoimmune conditions go into remission then flare up, sometimes after years. Or the symptoms can be persistent. There may be symptomatic progression as the disease gets worse; sometimes the disease can become disabling.
That is why management is never a one-size fits all. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help with autoimmune management by working with your symptoms, your body and your immune reactions to help you manage your health.
It is believed that there is a genetic component to autoimmune diseases. Since women are more likely to develop autoimmune diseases, hormones may have a larger role in health than we know right now. Medications can help relieve symptoms but may also have side effects and cause more harm than good.
Because acupuncture and TCM are a holistic health care practice they can take a whole body approach to healing and health. Based on the idea of Qi (pronounced chee), a vital energy that is produced and flows through the body to all organs and systems, treatments focused on Qi can keep you healthy and contain your symptoms. Focused on balanced energy flowing freely through your body, TCM and acupuncture will improve your overall health and lessen the symptoms of your autoimmune responses. Acupuncture and TCM can increase your energy levels, reduce inflammation and relieve the side effects of medication.
Learning what works for you is part of any disease management. That may mean trying new diets or different kinds of exercise. It may mean medication and frequent testing. Adding acupuncture and TCM into your health-care system can make everything work together, lessen your stress an allow you to live the life you want to live, even with an autoimmune condition.