I have allergies and am frequently catching colds or the flu. Can acupuncture and Chinese medicine help these conditions? Yes, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can effectively treat allergies, colds or the flu. Allergies are overreactions of our immune system to things in the environment such as dust, pollen, foods or chemicals. Symptoms involve red, itching eyes, a runny nose with nasal congestion, headaches, asthma, fatigue, diarrhea or hives. Cold and flu are virus infections in our upper respiratory system, with manifestations of chills, fever, aches, nasal congestion, cough, etc. In western medicine they are completely different diseases, but they often happen together. According to TCM, on our body surface there is an energy called Wei Qi (defensive energy) that circulates on our body surface to protect our body from attacks of pathogens. It our Wei Qi is low, we are easily bothered by environmental factors that may lead to allergic reactions or infection by germs surrounding us. This leads to developing a cold or flu. Therefore, lowered Wei Qi in the body causes both allergies and frequently catching colds. In TCM, the major part of Wei Qi comes from the spleen (related to our digestive system) that supplies our body with qi and blood, and keeps our body nourished and strong. Another part f our Wei Qi comes from the kidney, which is where our congenital energy comes from. Low congenital qi or weak constitution is another factor that contributes to a low or weak Wei Qi. The factors that weaken our spleen or kidney such as poor diet, stressful living or working conditions, or environmental pollution, often weaken our Wei Qi, which leads to a weakened immune system or overreactions of our immune system. In western medicine, there conditions are often treated with medications that mostly address symptoms. TCM and acupuncture can treat both the symptoms and the cause together with no side effects. Acupuncture can regulate the immune system and decrease inflammation, which can immediately relieve allergy symptoms. There are a few herbal formulas that are traditionally used to enhance Wei Qi. One example is Yu Ping Feng San (jade screen powder). This formula has been used for hundreds of years and was named after the effect of this formula to build the body surfaces: a jade screen protects any invasion of pathogens to the body.

People are paying more attention to the treatment of diabetes with the use of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). They have notice that TCM shows tremendous advantages in improving the symptoms, particularly for type II diabetes, by decreasing blood sugar levels and delaying complications with lower side effects when compared with Western medicine. TCM has recognized diabetes since 500 B.C., when it was referred to as “Consuming and Thirsty”, and pathogenesis was thought as “dryness in lung, fire in stomach and kidney yin deficiency”. After about 2500 years, doctors have enriched this theory. They believe the yin deficiency is the key point. Combinations of either qi or blood deficiencies can also contribute to further complication. TCM doctors try to treat symptoms as well as the root for diabetic conditions. TCM can treat diabetes holistically and individually- TCM believes that the onset of diabetes is based on yin deficiency body constitution with irregular diet, emotional attacks and overworking. Diabetes presents problems with not only the pancreas but also spleen, liver and kidney, in the end damaging both yin and yang, leading to the imbalance of organ systems to cause diabetes. Therefore, TCM treats diabetes by balancing the yin and yang, regulating the function of all the orgasm and systems to promote the recovery and function of pancreas, TCM also takes in account the season, environment and body constitution to provide more compatible and individualized plan for each patient. TCM can effectively relieve symptoms- patients taking insulin or using other medications often still have the problem of fluctuating blood sugar levels, as the symptoms cannot be controlled. However TCM can effectively relieve common symptoms such as thirst, hunger, frequent urination, lassitude, tingling body, edema, constipation or diarrhea and also helps to control the blood sugar. In China, TCM is combined with western medicine to treat more severe cases. TCM uses herbs, acupuncture and massage therapy to treat diabetics and complication such as nephropathy, dermalopathy, gangrene, ketosis and fundus, etc. TCM is an effective modality for the long-term care of diabetics.

To answer this question, I would like to introduce you the recent conferences hold at CITCM (Canadian Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine) which is focused on acupuncture and Chiense herbal medicine to treat endocrine system disorders. This conference was hold on Novmber 4 and 5th. Two professors came from China and I have given lectures, topics including infertility, obesity, hypothyroidism, diabetes and menstrual disorders.
At the conferences, Professor Liao, who came from Chengdu University of TCM, gave a one day talk focused on acupuncture treat infertility, hypothyroidism and obesity. Professor Zhong, who is also a professor from the same university, He has over 40 years of experience and research on diabetes, had given a lecture on treating diabetes with Chinese herbal medicine, and I give a lecture on acupuncture treating menstrual disorders in different stages of female’s life, such as puberty, adult life and menopause.
Here are some key points from the lectures for the treatment of the above conditions.
For infertility, more and more acupuncture practitioners are treating infertility patient at their clinics. As well, more and more researchers are also observe on how acupuncture can help infertility. Acupuncture can regulate hormone system, promote normal period, increase the success rate for transplantation in IVF, as well, it can also help male sexual dysfunction and abnormal sperm conditions to increase the opportunity of conception.
For obesity, acupuncture can promote metabolism, inhibit excessive appetite, and also improve thyroid functions if the obesity is due to hypothyroidism
For hypothyroidism, according to TCM, the clinic manifestation is often shows kidney and spleen Yang deficiency, Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture, moxibustion can warm the Yang of spleen and kidney, improve the symptoms such as fatigue, cold extremities and intolerance to cold, hair loss, poor memory, diarrhea or constipation, frequent urination or edema
For diabetes, Professor Zhang given a lecture on 9 treatment methods in Chinese herbal practice to lower blood sugar, and more importantly to prevent and treat diabetic complications, such as bleeding leading to blindness, kidney dysfunction, extremity numbness and pain due to diabetic neuropathy. Heart and brain damage and so on. From his research, extremity restriction of diet is not the way for diabetic control, if the treatment is correct, decrease of blood sugar can be achieved with a normal nutritional diet. He particularly mentioned that hunger or starving have even more damage to the body system. He also mentioned for diabetic complications, prevention is very important, early treatment can help to prevent further damage of the system .
If you are interest in the topics above, you can view it online at www.uacupuncture.com, call 520-5289 for more details.