Author: indigoacupuncture@megamad.work

Do you suffer from an illness that is mysterious in origin?
Do you have a condition that MDs have described as idiopathic (no known cause)?
Have you tried every tool of modern medicine (pharmaceuticals, surgery, rest) and still haven’t found relief?
When I was in my late 20’s, I suffered from debilitating migraine headaches and idiopathic tachycardia (fast heartbeat). I had monthly appointments with a neurologist who had me try at least a dozen different medications to decrease the frequency and severity of my headaches. The side effects were brutal: weight gain, memory loss, personality changes… the list could go on & on. As a last resort, a coworker suggested scheduling an appointment with an acupuncturist across the street from our office. The acupuncturist had helped her with chronic insomnia and she convinced me I had nothing to lose by giving it a try.

I will never forget my first appointment. For an entire hour, the acupuncturist asked me about my illness and actually listened to my answers. I had never had a doctor really listen to me before. After checking my tongue and pulse, she explained my diagnosis and explained how acupuncture could help. Three months later, I walked out of her clinic migraine-free. My neurologist was astounded when I told him I was no longer taking the daily cocktail of prescriptions and had not had a migraine in a month.

So how does acupuncture solve medical mysteries?
Acupuncture is based on an entirely different medical system based on over 2,000 years of clinical experience. Specifically:
Acupuncturists treat the body-mind-spirit as a whole. There is no division between the physical body and the mind, nor is there a division between the physical body and the spirit. Acupuncture is a form of holistic medicine that understands the whole person, not just a constellation of symptoms.
Acupuncture promotes self-healing through homeostasis in the nervous system, cardiovascular system, endocrine system, and immune system. Each acupuncture point stimulates these systems which allows the body to self-regulate and heal itself.
Through tongue and pulse diagnosis, acupuncturists can diagnose and identify the root cause of every illness or pain. Unlike modern medicine, there is no such thing as an idiopathic illness or a mysterious symptom. Everything is connected and explainable, much like a leaf on a tree is dependent on healthy roots in the ground.
These three aspects of acupuncture enable modern medical mysteries to be solved in a gentle, safe, and nourishing manner.

To schedule a consultation to solve your own medical mystery, contact Michelle.

• Do you have health issues that don’t respond well to medical treatments or pharmaceuticals?
• Have you been prescribed multiple medications for a constellation of symptoms? For example, one medication for arthritic pain in your hands, another medication for asthma, and a medication to relieve chronic back pain?

In Oriental Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, the body-mind-spirit is treated as a whole. The hands and lungs and back are treated together. There is no division between the physical body and the mind, nor is there a division between the physical body and the spirit. You are treated as a whole person, which is what we call holistic medicine.

Acupuncture treatments affect and heal the mind-body-spirit in ways that conventional Western medicine cannot.  During an acupuncture treatment, needles are placed on precise body points that activate healing and open your connection to Spirit.  Many acupuncture points are named for this ability, such as Shen Men (Spirit Gate).  During or after a treatment session, you may feel euphoric as physical pain diminishes and your Qi flows freely through your meridians. This is a wonderful window of time to easily connect to Spirit and express your true desires.

To you, Spirit may be God, the Universe, All-That-Is or whatever you perceive to be the origin and manifestation of your Life Force.  By connecting to Spirit through prayer, reading sacred texts like the Bible, meditation, or manifestation, Spirit will always respond to each of your requests in one of three ways:

1. Yes, it is yours.
2. The timing isn’t right, so keep the faith and remain patient.
3. No, there is something even better coming for you.

When it comes to healing your whole self, Spirit will always answer your requests with one of these answers. It may come to you in a dream or daydream, as a special song on the radio, or as a physical symbol that holds a special meaning to you, such as a rainbow or bird. The answer is always there, the key is to give yourself enough time and space to receive it.  It is often in this space that the toughest health challenges are suddenly resolved.

To schedule a consultation or appointment to heal your mind-body-spirit, contact Michelle here.

This case study of insomnia is a real-life example of how Chinese Medicine is combined with modern Western medicine to create the best outcome for our patients.  This approach is called integrative medicine because it combines traditional holistic medicine with the science of Western allopathic medicine.

Insomnia is generally defined as an inability to fall asleep, stay asleep, or a combination of both. Chronic insomnia is difficulty sleeping for a month or longer. Insomnia afflicts up to 15% of the world’s population. Insomnia occurs when the biological drivers of sleep, circadian rhythms and homeostasis, are disrupted by emotional upset and chronic stress.

This letter is an example of how we coordinate care with a patient’s primary doctor:

Dear Primary Care Physician,
I have a patient suffering from chronic insomnia and would like your assistance with this case.

Case Summary:
The patient is a 32-year-old male with a chief complaint of restless sleep.  The history of present illness is insomnia difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep during the last six weeks. Sleep improves with daily exercise, is exacerbated by stress, crying baby, too much computer screen time. No night sweats, but sense of heat. Patient goes to bed at 11pm and is restless until 1-2am. He wakes 1x to urinate, usually between 4-5am. Vital signs are pulse 64 bpm, BP 118/68, 13 breaths per minute, body temp: 98.8 degrees F.

Based on the patient’s symptoms and tongue and pulse presentation, the TCM diagnosis is Heart and Kidney Yin Deficiency insomnia.

Evidence-Based Approach:
In a review study conducted by O’Brien & Weber (2016), acupuncture was found to regulate “various neurotransmitters and hormones, such as endorphins, serotonin, norepinephrine, adrenocorticotrophic hormone, cortisol, acetylcholine, melatonin, substance P, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and nitric oxide, known to be involved in sleep regulation. Acupuncture can also regulate higher cortical function, the HPA axis, and somato-visceral reflexes.”

Treatment:
The patient has agreed to receive a 60-minute Chinese Medicine treatment two times a week for four weeks. Reassessment will occur at the sixth appointment. Progress is tracked with the Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP) questionnaire. The patient completed the initial MYMOP prior to the first acupuncture treatment and will fill out a follow-up MYMOP questionnaire prior to the first appointment every week. An initial acupuncture point protocol was:

• N-HN-54 an mian (peaceful sleep)
• Bilateral KD-6 zhao hai (shining sea)
• Bilateral HT-7 shen men (spirit gate)
• Bilateral SP-6 san yin jiao (3 yin intersection)

Acupuncture needles were retained for 25 minutes while the patient was lying supine in a quiet, darkened room.

The patient received the traditional Chinese herbal formula Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan (Ginseng and Zizyphus formula) with instructions to drink three cups per day in-between meals for four weeks.

​The patient is advised to avoid caffeine and alcohol, exercise in the morning (so as to not interfere with sleep in the evening), avoid spicy and greasy foods, drink water throughout the day and cease consumption by 8pm at night, and discontinue use of all electronic devices at least 30 minutes prior to bedtime.

Expected Outcomes/Prognosis:
Prior to his first acupuncture treatment, the patient identified insomnia with a MYMOP score of “6 – as bad as it can be”.  At his third appointment, he reported better sleep and a lower MYMOP score of “3”.  I expect him to obtain more high-quality sleep within the next two weeks of treatment and report another reduced MYMOP score.

​Referrals:
Please order a CBC differential lab test and Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) for this patient and contact me with the results.

​I appreciate your willingness to share in the care of this patient.

​Sincerely,
Michelle Wendt, L.Ac. DACM, Dipl. OM