I am a faithful patient of acupuncture. It resolved my migraines, helps me sleep better and treats any pain I have.
I asked Dr. Wu about the cold in Chinese medicine terms. And something we can do at home to relieve symptoms.
Whenever I have my treatments he teaches me something about Chinese medicine theory. It fascinates me because Functional Medicine has similar approaches and connections. Why wouldn’t it come full circle when Chinese medicine is thousands of years old and Medicine as we know it is only a few hundred years old.
Both my children receive acupuncture for muscle pain/ injury, stomach pains, and for wellbeing.
I was curious about what he predicts people will suffer from more in this extreme cold, and why.
Here’s his reply:
Acupuncture and the cold:
“Cold in nature contracts blood vessels and congeals blood. Common symptom can be:
- On the body surface, it causes general body pain, occipital stiffness (back of the head), sneezing, running nose, as in a common cold
- When invading muscles and sinews (tendons), it causes stiffness, muscle cramping, pain and chilliness
- When invading the joints, it causes severe pain in a joint
When you receive acupuncture, circulation is improved and maintained.
The cupping and heat provide more than temporary relief. They warm up the meridians (channels) and improve body function.
About acupuncture:
Acupuncture is a safe, non-drug treatment that helps treat a wide variety of conditions. Most commonly, it treats pain. All pain.
It also treats:
- anxiety
- sleep disturbances
- digestive system: constipation, IBS
- menstrual cycle irregularities/pain and PMS
- menopause symptoms
- sexual function
- infertility
The tiny needles are not felt by most when tapped onto the skin.
They are placed on acupuncture points. In Chinese medicine, your body has Qi, vital energy. Its flow is stimulated or released when acupuncture is performed.
Scientists have found that this practice releases endorphins (happy hormones), and stimulates brain activity and boosts blood flow.
Many studies support the benefit of acupuncture from treating back pain better than regular treatments, to increase the pain-free period between headaches. Other medical studies confirm acupuncture’s benefit for dysmenorrhea (period pain) and in maintaining pregnancy after fertility treatments.
At home acupuncture:
Acupuncture can be used: LI4
Location: On the dorsum of the hand, between the first and second metacarpal bones, at the midpoint of the second metacarpal bone and close to its radial border. (see pictures below)
Actions:
- Regulates the defensive qi
- Expels wind and releases the exterior
- Activates the channel and alleviates pain
- Restores the Yang energy
Contraindications: Pregnancy
(do not try this if you’re pregnant)
