ACUPUNCTURE FOR INFLAMMATORY DISEASES
Inflammation has been recognized as the most important concept in disease prevention and treatment by medical professions since the middle of the last decade. Inflammation has been linked to arthritis, sinusitis, prostate problems, irritable bowel syndrome, infertility, migraines, fibromyalgia, insomnia etc. Other problems like aging, obesity, stroke and allergic reactions are all related to inflammation.
Inflammation is one of the most basic human survival mechanisms. Its purpose is to use the immune reaction to limit the damage to our body after injury or invasion by foreign invaders such as bacteria or viruses. Without the mechanism of inflammation human beings cannot survive.
In our daily life, inflammation often goes beyond control and becomes a severe or long-term problem. This is because the immune system, which should function to eliminate injured tissues and invaders, loses its normal regulatory capacity and attacks the body instead. This uncontrolled inflammation, if ignored or mistreated, may cause the above-mentioned diseases or others.
Doctors usually prescribe anti-inflammatory medications like non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) or steroid drugs to control inflammation. These drugs reduce inflammation by artificially suppressing the immune system. Unfortunately, these drugs have powerful side effects that are often more severe than the symptoms they are trying to control. In addition, by suppressing the immune response the body is receiving the message to not produce its own healing hormones and chemicals.
Scientific research, conducted since the late 1950’s, has provided ample scientific data showing that acupuncture controls, treats and heals inflammation without side effects. Many of the known therapeutic effects of acupuncture are based on its anti-inflammatory functions. Inflammation is not disease-specific and neither is acupuncture therapy. Acupuncture treats disease by normalizing not suppressing immune function.
