Autoimmune

[Guest guest]

I know this may turn into a hot topic, but I am anxious to see the

discussion unravel, the bad and the good.

 

I have heard a couple different ideas about acupuncture treatments

and autoimmune disease.

 

1. - Acupuncture balances the body as a whole. If the body is

hyperstimulated, acupuncture can sedate whatever system we are

working on or if the body hypostimulated, acupuncture will tonify and

increase whatever system it is working on.

 

This is supported by the studies of ST36 that showed when the

stomach was overacting, ST36 slowed it down and when the stomach was

too slow, ST36 sped it up. fair enough.

 

2. - Acupuncture increases the activity of the immune system and

therefore should not be used in any tonifying manner where an

autoimmune disease is involved.

 

This was a theory by one of my teachers and has greatly disturbed me

ever since I heard it.

 

This brings on another question, should western diagnosis matter to

us? If the whole idea behind our medicine is to observe, ask,

listen, and palpate before arriving at a TCM (or five element, or

whatever) diagnosis and treatment plan, do western medicine diagnoses

harm our practice? Do they make us change our treatment plans?

 

I know these are two big questions but I feel both are important.

 

I look forward to the replies,

 

Caitlin Donovan