Do you know someone whose doctor can’t figure out what’s “wrong” with them? Chances are, you do.
I hope this doesn’t apply to you, but I often get clients who have been suffering from symptoms of an “illness” that their regular doctors can’t put a finger on. These “mystery illnesses” are frustrating because after months of tests that consume time, money, and hope, a doctor (or several doctors) may tell them that there’s nothing wrong.
After a frustrating run of doctor’s visits, questions, and invasive physical exams, has your doctor ever said anything like this to you?
“You need more sleep.”
“Try eating healthier.”
“Exercise more.”
“Find ways to manage your stress. It may be causing your symptoms.”
“Take this medication. If it helps, we may know what we’re dealing with.”
“We’ve done everything we can do. Sorry, but this is as good as it’s going to get.”
These suggestions may be helpful, or they may not apply to you at all. For instance, you may already be eating pretty well, exercising regularly, and be generally content with your life. Perhaps nothing has dramatically changed or occurred in your life that might be causing a negative impact on your body. Or if you’re like me, you’re just not interested in taking risks with prescription medications.
So if you’re healthy and happy, why the exhaustion, digestive problems, skin irritations, headaches, dizziness, or any other new annoyance or pain that your doctors can’t explain?
For starters, many disorders are difficult to diagnose with certainty, such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This is in part because they perplex health care practitioners by having an array of possible symptoms that show up in different combinations for each individual.
For example, did you know that a sore throat could mean you have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? What if that sore throat was combined with difficulty concentrating? Again, possibly CFS! Would you even connect the two symptoms? Your doctor may not either. These types of seemingly unconnected issues turn a simple diagnosis into a “mystery illness”.
So where does acupuncture come in if you don’t even know what your problem is?
To give credit where credit is due, traditional western medicine is our first choice in traumatic and life-threatening situations (if you’re suffering a gunshot wound, I hope you’re heading to the emergency room, not to my office!). It’s also genius at diagnosing a huge number of ailments and diseases, and it’s good to visit with your doctor for that reason. But western medicine is incomplete in its focus on diagnosis and treatment, without the vital component that encourages balanced health before illness strikes.
One of the greatest distinguishing marks between Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and western medicine is TCM’s focus on prevention and overall health. By rebalancing the body’s meridian (energy) system, acupuncture helps to eliminate disruptions in the body that may be causing organs to function at low efficiency. Eliminating these disruptions sets the stage for good health. Often, when treating one issue, a person experiences positive side effects in other areas, because their energy is flowing properly throughout their body, not just in the “problem” area.
The Traditional Chinese Medicine Difference
As a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture, I will take a western diagnosis into consideration, but it is not necessary to have a clear western diagnosis in order for me to treat a problem. I approach conditions in an entirely different manner, balancing a patient’s immune system to encourage the body’s natural healing mechanisms to do its job. Because each person is unique and must be treated as an individual, I may treat each person differently even if they come in with the same western diagnosis. Two people may have the same disorder, such as IBS, but it may present itself differently, showing up in unique ways. Instead of treating someone’s western diagnosis, I treat their symptom presentation and fit it into a Chinese medicine diagnostic pattern.
I strive to heal by getting to the root cause of a problem, rather than masking ailments through medications and creating a false sense of comfort. Certain medications or “standard” treatments are delivered in a “one size fits all” package, but that approach doesn’t really fit everyone, and may not work at all for some people. Acupuncture and herbal medicine often have better results because they are custom tailored treatments. Because of this holistic approach, many clients I’ve had were able to eliminate all or most of their mysterious symptoms.
Have a mystery ailment? Contact me today to find out if Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine therapies can help get to the bottom of it!
Ask Your Acupuncturist
“Can acupuncture ever be harmful?” – from Jackie C.; Somerville, MA
Thanks for the question, Jackie. When administered by a qualified practitioner, acupuncture is a very safe alternative health choice. Very rare cases of infection from unsterile needles or organ damage from inserting needles improperly have been reported. In all of those cases there was an unlicensed, unqualified, or irresponsible practitioner involved. During the years I’ve studied and practiced Traditional Chinese Medicine, I’ve never seen any such cases first hand. As a requirement for receiving my license to practice acupuncture, I was required to complete the “Clean Needle Technique” course administered by the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. In my practice, I use only new, sterile needles and am committed to treating my patients responsibly.
Have a question about acupuncture or herbal medicine? E-mail me at Rebecca@BostonAlternativeHealth.com, and your question may be answered in an upcoming blog!
“Thanks for giving me my life back, Rebecca! I had been suffering from a rare stomach disorder for the last 10 years. I had been to 3 different hospitals in MA, 1 in California, taken a slew of tests, and had been in and out of the emergency room so many times I felt like it was my second home. I would get these attacks of very bad pain in my stomach and non-stop vomiting episodes. I also was suffering from anxiety, stress and insomnia.
After losing the battle with traditional western medicines and doctors only giving me quick fixes I decided to try acupuncture. I knew Rebecca was really good from the initial consultation; which was very thorough. I started noticing results around the second week of treatments! And now, I haven’t had any symptoms of my sickness since the treatments which have been going almost a year! Point blank acupuncture works! Not only do I not have any issues with my stomach but I was able to get my life back again!”
- L.L., Waltham
