Over 50
million Americans suffer from , a disease which occurs when the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue. Autoimmune disorders include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, thyroid disease, Addison’s disease, pernicious anemia, celiac disease, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s Disease, myasthenia gravis and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Due to the complexity of treating autoimmune disorders, integrative medicine solutions including acupuncture and Asian herbal medicine have received much attention as successful therapies in their treatment. Acupuncture is specifically noted for its use in pain relief, regulating the immune system, managing symptoms and improving quality of life.
Autoimmune disorders occur when there is imbalance within the body, which can come from an excess or deficiency of Yin and Yang that disrupts the flow of Qi, or vital energy, through the body. Acupuncture is used to help the body restore balance, treating the root of the disorder, while specifically addressing the symptoms that are unique to each individual. Customize points and meridians are selected based on how the autoimmune disease is affecting the system. For example, Crohn’s Disease challenges the stomach and intestines and the focus is placed on calming down the symptoms and building the digestive tract overall. Clinical research has shown that acupuncture causes physical responses in nerve cells, the pituitary gland, and parts of the brain. These responses can cause the body to release proteins, hormones, and brain chemicals that control a number of body functions. It is proposed that, by these actions, acupuncture affects blood pressure, body temperature and the immune system so that a complete strategy of full-body wellness can be effective when treating autoimmune disorders