reasons why we choose acupuncture #2 – avoid medications
While the adage ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’ is still meaningful and relevant, eating a healthy diet is not the only thing you can do to prevent developing disease. There is an ancient Chinese proverb ‘the best physician has no sick patients’. This speaks to the fact that long ago physicians were adept at spotting imbalances before illness developed. This is what I and my fellow Chinese medical practitioners strive for as well. We look at the tongue, feel the pulse, feel the abdomen, ask questions, and then gain an understanding of the inner patterns that are becoming out of balance. We can notice the minor annoyances, irritations, things that maybe the patient doesn’t think is anything to consider. And we know the systems that need attention in order to prevent problems from worsening, and symptoms from getting more severe. Then it’s the patient’s job to follow through on the prescribed treatment plan.
Drugs Often Mask the Underlying Problems
Many young people today are barraged with problems resulting from stress. Many people deal with it, thinking everyone feels that way. I have patients who come because they don’t feel good. The doctor says you’re fine, and offers perhaps an anti-anxiolytic or anti-depressant, or birth control to “regulate the hormones”. However, in my clinic, I just see an overall healthy youthful person who just needs some gentle acupuncture and perhaps a course of gentle herbs to adjust the mechanism in the body causing dis-ease.
I’m very passionate about helping teens and young adults to avoid medications, or to discontinue medications. Allow the body to heal itself!
Ready to feel good? Try acupuncture!
I have had numerous cases of young women being faced with starting birth control for hormonal imbalances, and not for birth control. E’s mom called me because of miserable menstrual cycles every month (headaches, nausea, pain, fatigue). They were about ready to follow the pediatrician’s advice to start oral contraceptive. After one treatment, her cycle came at the expected time, but without all the awful symptoms. It was easy for the first time in many months. Continuing consistent treatments for 2- 4 cycles usually results in greatly reducing premenstrual and menstrual symptoms while regulating. Here’s my blog about the guidelines for a healthy cycle.
Start with Less invasive therapies before resorting to drugs and surgery
This also applies to the way menstrual imbalances if left untreated can result in surgical procedures such as hysterectomy because that is a common solution offered by conventional medicine. By treating imbalances throughout our life cycle, we can often head off crises and prevent drastic measures. Before suffering for extended periods of time with excessive bleeding, seek care that takes you the whole person into account. Starting with less invasive measures when problems arise can truly make a difference.
