- Art of Wellness Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)11704 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 295, Los Angeles, CA, 90025
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Connective Tissue Disorders
How to Treat Myofascial Pain Syndrome With Acupuncture and TCM
By Xiaomei Cai, L.Ac., Ph.D. and Qineng Tan, L.Ac., Ph.D.
Muscle aches and pains? Knotted muscles? Pain in trigger points? These could be signs of myofascial pain syndrome. Acupuncture and TCM can provide myofascial release and help relieve chronic myofascial pain (MPS pain).
Myofascial pain disorder is a common, yet often overlooked chronic pain condition that affects the muscles and fascia. Fascia is the thin connective tissue that is found all over the body, holding muscles, organs, and blood vessels together. Fascia is also filled with nerves, which makes it highly sensitive.
Healthy fascia is thin, stretchy and pliable. Stress, injuries, weakness and other issues can cause fascia to tighten up, become sticky, dry, or thicker. This can cause painful knots to develop in your muscles.
These areas are sometimes called fascial adhesions, or myofascial trigger points, and they can be very tender to the touch and cause muscle soreness, aches and pains.
Chronic myofascial pain can seem very similar to fibromyalgia, or symptoms of ME/CFS, and is sometimes misdiagnosed as such. However, these conditions are distinct from one another.
Fibromyalgia causes widespread, diffuse pain and tenderness all over the body, while myofascial pain is centered around specific trigger point sites. Fibro, as it is sometimes called, is believed to be caused by a disorder within the central nervous system. Fibromyalgia is usually triggered by stress, trauma, hormonal changes, lack of sleep, or sensitivities to weather changes.
It has been suggested that long-term myofascial pain syndrome may ultimately lead to a person developing fibromyalgia, as the brain and nervous system become so used to experiencing pain that they begin to produce disordered pain signaling.
Acupuncture treatment, cupping, and therapeutic Chinese massage can provide trigger point therapy that is effective for relieving tight muscles and soreness.
Myofascial Pain Syndrome Symptoms
People experience myofascial pain differently from one another; each case is unique. For some people, the pain can come and go suddenly; for others, it’s a constant, dull pain.
Myofascial pain syndrome can feel like:
- Tight muscles, stiffness
- Throbbing pain
- Dull, aching pain
- Sore muscles, tender areas
- Knotted muscles, nodules or bumps in specific areas that are sore
- Muscle weakness
- Limited range of motion
- Trouble sleeping
- Headaches
- Fatigue
Myofascial pain can be localized in one area, or referred pain, which spreads to other nearby areas. Myofascial referred pain patterns can look like pain that originates in the rotator cuff which then spreads to the deltoid, and even down the arm to the hand.
What Causes Myofascial Pain?
Medical science is not entirely clear on the causes of myofascial pain syndrome, but it seems to occur more often in people who have experienced things like:
- Periods of inactivity, such as having one of your limbs in a cast
- Repetitive movements in your work
- Pinched nerves
- Injury to a muscle or muscle group
- Having to work outdoors in the cold
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Thyroid disorders, hypothyroidism
- Deficiencies in Vitamin D or folate, or iron deficiency
- Stress, chronic tension that leads to clenched muscles
- Structural conditions like scoliosis, spondylosis, or osteoarthritis
Estimates suggest that the majority of people who are treated for chronic musculoskeletal pain may have myofascial pain syndrome. Up to 85% of the general population may experience myofascial pain at some point in time.
Treatment for Myofascial Pain Syndrome
One of the primary approaches to managing myofascial pain syndrome is physical therapy. Physical therapists may use manual therapy, stretching exercises, and postural correction to address muscle imbalances, improve flexibility, and release tension in affected muscles. Trigger point therapy, which involves applying pressure to trigger points to release muscle knots and promote relaxation, is a common component of physical therapy for MPS.
Modalities such as heat therapy and cold therapy may also be used in conjunction with physical therapy to provide pain relief and enhance the effectiveness of treatment. Heat therapy helps to increase blood flow and promote muscle relaxation, while cold therapy can reduce inflammation and numb the affected area.
In addition to physical therapy and modalities, medications may be prescribed to manage pain and improve symptoms associated with myofascial pain syndrome. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen may be recommended to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. Muscle relaxants such as cyclobenzaprine or benzodiazepines may also be prescribed to help relax tense muscles and improve sleep quality. In some cases, tricyclic antidepressants or anticonvulsant medications may be used to modulate pain signals and improve overall pain management.
Trigger point injections are another treatment option for myofascial pain syndrome, particularly for individuals who experience severe or persistent symptoms that do not respond adequately to conservative measures. During a trigger point injection procedure, a local anesthetic or corticosteroid is injected directly into the trigger point to help alleviate pain and reduce muscle tension.
Acupuncture needling is also considered an effective and valuable treatment option for myofascial release and relief of musculoskeletal pain.
Can Acupuncture Help Myofascial Pain Syndrome?
Many studies conducted over the past two decades point to acupuncture as an effective mode of treatment for myofascial pain syndrome.
Acupuncture is effective for myofascial pain because it can positively affect the central nervous system, increase blood flow, increase endorphin production, improve fascial adhesions, and promote muscle relaxation. Acupoints used in TCM correspond closely with myofascial trigger points.
One study looked at patients who received two acupuncture treatments per week for four weeks on trigger points in the upper trapezius. Patients reported significant reduction in pain after just two weeks.
Another study followed two groups of patients with myofascial pain centered in the neck area. One group received acupuncture treatment. The other group had acupuncture and also engaged in regular aerobic exercise. Findings showed that both groups experienced significant improvement in pain symptoms.
A review of studies found that acupuncture was effective both for reducing myofascial pain and improving function and mobility.
Acupuncturists may also use electro-acupuncture, cupping, and massage techniques like gua sha and tui na to help move lymph and blood, release muscle trigger points, and improve muscular movement that has been limited by pain.
Acupuncture Near Me for Myofascial Pain Syndrome in Los Angeles
At Art of Wellness Acupuncture in West L.A., we have over 35 years of experience helping people find relief from musculoskeletal pain of all kinds. Dr. Tan and Dr. Cai are able to use electro-acupuncture, cupping, and massage techniques like Tuina for myofascial release. If you are suffering from muscle pain and tenderness, do not hesitate to make an appointment with us.
*This article is for education from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine only. The education provided by this article is not approved by FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure human diseases. It should not stop you from consulting with your physician for your medical conditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on Qi, which is an invisible force that usually cannot be observed by modern science. Because science focuses on testing ideas about the natural world with evidence obtained through observation, these aspects of acupuncture can’t be studied by science. Therefore acupuncture and Chinese herbs are often not supported by double-blind, randomized trials, and they are considered alternative medicine therapies in the United States.
How to Treat Ankylosing Spondylitis With Acupuncture and TCM
By Qineng Tan, L.Ac., Ph.D. and Xiaomei Cai, L.Ac., Ph.D.
Low back pain, morning stiffness, hip pain? Fatigue, losing weight, poor vision, skin rashes? These can all be signs of Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). Ankylosing Spondylitis is a type of autoimmune arthritis. Acupuncture can help relieve Ankylosing Spondylitis symptoms like lower back pain.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory arthritis condition that most often affects the spine, usually the lower back and pelvis is an inflammatory disease; the primary symptom is inflammation in the sacroiliac joints, the joints where the base of the spine (the ilium) meets the pelvis (the sacrum).
Similar to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis is an arthritic condition triggered by a person’s immune system mistakenly attacking healthy tissues. Arthritis generally refers to pain and swelling in joint tissues.
Ankylosing spondylitis can also affect the hips, knees, shoulder joints, and/or the ribcage. When the body tries to heal affected bones, extra bone tissue begins to grow. This new bone growth is what causes joint stiffness and lack of flexibility. When the ribs are affected, it can restrict normal breathing.
Ankylosing spondylitis can, over time, weaken bones to the extent that they begin to collapse; these compression fractures can ultimately lead to curvature of the spine and a stooped posture. These fractures of the vertebrae can potentially affect the spinal cord and nerves.
“Ankylosis” is a term for the stiffening and fusion of bones. A “fused spine” can be the eventual outcome of Ankylosing spondylitis.
AS can also cause inflammation in the GI tract, causing gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea. In this sense, it is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
In some cases, ankylosing spondylitis can cause eye inflammation, leading to vision problems like blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and painful eyes.
AS can also cause inflammation in the heart, which affects the function of the aortic valve and increases risk of heart disease.
As with other autoimmune disorders, modern medicine research has yet to discover what causes Ankylosing Spondylitis. Some gene mutations have been linked to ankylosing spondylitis, which is sometimes called axial spondyloarthritis.
Medical treatment for ankylosing spondylitis helps manage symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.
Acupuncture is widely recognized as an effective adjunct treatment for ankylosing spondylitis that can help reduce pain and improve mobility.
Top 10 Ankylosing Spondylitis Symptoms
The initial onset of symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis often includes episodes of lower back pain and stiffness or hip pain, which then may get more severe over time. But symptoms can vary widely from person to person, depending on which parts of the body are affected.
Symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis include:
- Persistent lower back pain and stiffness, typically worse in the morning and after periods of inactivity; back pain that improves with movement and exercise
- Pain and stiffness that radiate from the lower back to the buttocks, hips, and thighs, reduced flexibility and range of motion in the spine
- Hip pain, shoulder pain, chest pain, rib pain, knee pain, and/or ankle pain
- Difficulty taking deep breaths due to stiffness in the chest and ribcage
- Fatigue
- Bony fusion of vertebrae, leading to a stooped posture and loss of spinal mobility
- Eye inflammation (uveitis) causes eye pain, sensitivity to light, and blurred vision
- Loss of appetite, weight loss
- Psoriasis, skin rash
- Abdominal pain, diarrhea
There is usually a gradual progression of AS symptoms over time, potentially leading to severe spinal deformity and disability.
Conventional treatment, with acupuncture and TCM used as a complementary treatment, can be helpful for symptomatic relief.
Ankylosing Spondylitis Treatment
While there is no cure for AS, conventional medical treatments aim to manage symptoms, prevent complications, and improve quality of life for individuals with the condition.
NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and celecoxib are commonly used to reduce pain and inflammation associated with AS. They can help relieve symptoms and improve mobility, particularly during flare-ups.
Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) like sulfasalazine and methotrexate may be prescribed to slow the progression of AS and reduce inflammation. These medications work by suppressing the immune system’s abnormal response, which contributes to inflammation, the formation of extra bone tissue, and damage to the joints.
Biologic drugs, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors like adalimumab, etanercept, and infliximab, target specific components of the immune system involved in inflammation. They are often prescribed for individuals with moderate to severe AS who do not respond adequately to NSAIDs or DMARDs.
Physical therapy can play a crucial role in the management of AS by helping to improve flexibility, posture, and range of motion. Exercise programs tailored to the individual’s needs can help strengthen muscles, reduce pain, and maintain spinal mobility.
Orthopedic interventions, such as braces and orthotics, may be recommended to support proper posture and prevent spinal deformities caused by AS. In severe cases, surgical procedures like spinal fusion may be considered to stabilize the spine and alleviate pain.
Individuals with AS require regular monitoring by healthcare providers to assess disease activity, monitor medication effectiveness, and detect any complications early. Adjustments to treatment plans may be necessary based on disease progression and individual response to therapy.
Can Acupuncture Help Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Acupuncture and moxibustion have been used for centuries to help relieve joint pain and stiffness due to inflammation. In Chinese, conditions that might involve bone fusion are called “zhu jie yang,” which means “bamboo spine.”
According to TCM theory, the bones are nourished by the kidney system; we observe that the formation of AS symptoms occurs along the Kidney Meridian and the Governing Vessel meridian. Weakness in bones may be due to deficiency of kidney Qi and blockage of the Governing Vessel.
Painful areas arise when there are blockages in Qi. Blockages occur due to pathogenic forces of phlegm accumulation, cold, and dampness.
Acupuncture treatment, herbs, and moxibustion may be used to strengthen the kidneys, address kidney yang deficiency, and clear dampness and wind from the channels.
One study found that patients who were diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis and kidney yang deficiency and were given acupuncture treatment and moxibustion focused on the Governing Vessel meridian experienced significant reduction of pain.
Moxibustion warms and invigorates yang energy and can help improve immune function. In the case of AS, this treatment protocol can help slow the progression of the disease, preventing inappropriate bone formation and reducing inflammatory responses.
A review of 26 studies that involved moxibustion treatment as an adjunct therapy for ankylosing spondylitis. The conclusion was that patients who had moxibustion in addition to conventional treatment fared better than those who did not receive moxibustion.
The British Acupuncture Council recommends TCM treatment for AS, as it has been shown to be effective at relieving back pain, without side effects.
One study of patients with ankylosing spondylitis who received acupuncture treatment and Chinese herb supplements, including herbal soak baths, found that people experienced pain relief and functional improvement.
A study that looked at 22 patients who received cupping therapy along with acupuncture and infrared heat lamps. The vast majority of the patients reported significant improvement in their pain symptoms.
Tuina therapeutic massage may also be helpful for helping to improve mobility and circulation.
A review of studies showed that acupuncture offers “unique advantages” in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis, including localized pain relief, reduced inflammation, improvement of joint mobility, prevention of spinal deformity, and overall better quality of life.
Acupuncture Near Me for Ankylosing Spondylitis in West Los Angeles
Acupuncture can be an effective complementary treatment for many autoimmune disorders, including Sjogren’s disease, Lupus, as well as difficult-to-treat chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Dr. Tan and Dr. Cai at Art of Wellness in West L.A. have over 35 years of experience helping patients find relief from all kinds of musculoskeletal pain.
*This article is for education from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine only. The education provided by this article is not approved by FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure human diseases. It should not stop you from consulting with your physician for your medical conditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on Qi, which is an invisible force that usually cannot be observed by modern science. Because science focuses on testing ideas about the natural world with evidence obtained through observation, these aspects of acupuncture can’t be studied by science. Therefore acupuncture and Chinese herbs are often not supported by double-blind, randomized trials, and they are considered alternative medicine therapies in the United States.
How to Treat Autoimmune Disorders With Acupuncture and TCM
By Qineng Tan, L.Ac., Ph.D. and Xiaomei Cai, L.Ac., Ph.D.
Autoimmune disorders are on the rise, and they can be difficult to diagnose and treat. Acupuncture and TCM offer relief from autoimmune disease symptoms, while addressing the root of what might cause autoimmune disorders.
What is an autoimmune disease? The human immune system creates a variety of antibodies that are designed to fight off bacteria, viral infections, cancer cells, and toxins. An autoimmune disorder occurs when your body’s immune system malfunctions in some way and creates antibodies that attack healthy cells instead of dangerous ones. Different autoimmune disorders cause damage or dysfunction in different organs or systems of the body.
A recent study, based in the UK, looked at 19 prevalent autoimmune diseases and found that autoimmune disorders affect about one in ten people (13% of women and 7% of men).
Another study published in Arthritis and Rheumatology a few years ago, found that the most common biomarker of autoimmune disease—a high number of antinuclear antibodies (ANA)—has risen significantly across the US population, and particularly among certain groups, including adolescents, and people over 50. This study suggests that the chance of developing an autoimmune disorder is higher than ever.
Medical science has named over 80 different types of autoimmune diseases, but the understanding of what causes autoimmune disorders is still murky. Many people with autoimmune disorders go undiagnosed, and even when doctors are able to diagnose an autoimmune condition, there is no cure.
Autoimmune disorders do tend to run in families, which suggests that some people are more likely genetically disposed to develop an autoimmune disease. It is also common to have more than one autoimmune disorder concurrently. Having two or more autoimmune diseases is known as polyautoimmunity.
A few of the most common combinations of autoimmune disorders are:
- Scleroderma, autoimmune thyroid disease, and/or rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- Myasthenia gravis and dermatitis herpetiformis
- Addison’s disease and vitiligo
TCM has treated many of these autoimmune disorders for centuries, although we may categorize them differently. The TCM view is that most autoimmune diseases are rooted in imbalances and deficiencies in the organ systems.
Stagnation of blood and Qi, and problems like excess heat and dampness in the body lead to inflammation, which is at the root of so many health problems. When systemic inflammation is reduced, the immune system can regain its proper functioning.
Acupuncture treatment is able to effect changes in the way cells are developing and functioning at the ectodermal and mesodermal layers. Acupuncture can stimulate the production of healthy cells, reduce inflammation, balance hormones, induce endorphin activity, and release peptides that improve immune function.
Top 20 Most Common Autoimmune Disorders
These are the most common autoimmune diseases, not necessarily in order. Some autoimmune disorders have significantly increased in numbers in recent years, including Celiac disease, Sjogren’s syndrome, and Graves disease. Some autoimmune conditions, like Hashimoto’s and pernicious anemia, seem to have decreased in numbers. Some autoimmune conditions have seasonal variations; for example, vitiligo is more commonly diagnosed in summer.
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Lupus – is an autoimmune disorder that disproportionately affects women and causes systemic inflammation, fatigue, swollen joints and limbs, and often a characteristic “butterfly rash” or “malar rash” across the face. Lupus flare-ups can be caused by stress or light exposure. According to TCM, lupus is often related to a build up of too much heat in the body, so acupuncture treatment for Lupus and herbal remedies will usually focus on removing blood stasis and clearing heat from the internal organs. TCM for Crohn’s can be used as an adjunct treatment, and may help people rely less on cortisone steroids to control inflammation.
- Crohn’s disease – is an autoimmune IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) that impacts the gastrointestinal tract, causing diarrhea, stomach pain, and bloody stool. Antibodies attack the gut bacteria that are normally a healthy part of digestion, causing inflammation and damage to the intestinal lining. Acupuncture treatment for Crohn’s disease can help reduce inflammation, repair tissues, and improve the balance of gut flora. It can also positively affect the parasympathetic nervous system that controls the action of the digestive tract, reducing stomach cramps and diarrhea.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis – an autoimmune disorder that causes joint pain and swelling, because antibodies attack the synovium, the soft tissue membranes that line joints. RA can also impact the blood vessels and cardiovascular system. RA can lead to bone loss over time, and people with RA are more prone to pneumonia and heart disease. TCM theory considers Rheumatoid arthritis to fall under the category of “Bi syndromes,” in which cold, wind and damp affect the body as pathogenic forces, causing blockages of Qi. Acupuncture can help reduce joint stiffness and pain.
- Graves disease – also known as hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid, Graves disease causes too much thyroid hormone to be produced, causing Graves disease symptoms like: goiter, enlarged thyroid, digestion problems, weight loss, tremors, sweating, insomnia, and infertility. Many people also have Graves ophthalmopathy, which causes bulging eyes, eye pressure, and blurred vision. TCM works to address yin deficiency and liver stagnation. Studies have shown that acupuncture and herbs can help balance the thyroid hormones.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) – occurs when antibodies attack the myelin sheaths around nerves, leading to muscle weakness, numbness in limbs, dizziness, spasms, ataxia, or problems with balance, tremors, and trigeminal neuralgia (facial nerve pain). Acupuncture has been used to help relieve many of these symptoms of MS for hundreds of years, and can help improve and maintain motor skills.
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Celiac disease – is an autoimmune condition in which the body perceives dietary gluten to be a threat, triggering an immune response that creates inflammation and damage to the intestinal tract. Following a gluten free diet is important, and a TCM health practitioner is trained in nutrition to help patients make the necessary changes to ensure nourishment and prevent anemia. Acupuncture and herbs can also help repair intestinal tissues and bring down inflammation.
- Myasthenia Gravis – causes antibodies to attack nervous system receptors in the muscles, especially of the face, causing the eyelids to droop and making it difficult for a person to perform some movements related to the eyes, mouth, and throat. Muscle weakness and communications between the nervous system and the muscles can be helped with acupuncture treatment, and patients may be able to regain strength and reduce steroid usage.
- Scleroderma – is an autoimmune disease in which the body is producing too much collagen. Scleroderma causes hardening and thickening of the skin, and can affect connective tissues like cartilage. In extreme cases, Scleroderma can cause scarring on internal organs. TCM diagnosis may determine that Scleroderma is happening due to blood stagnation, and Chinese herbs have been shown to help manage collagen production.
- Hashimoto’s Disease or Hashimoto thyroiditis – also known as hypothyroidism, chronic thyroiditis, or low thyroid, Hashimoto’s causes too little thyroid hormone to be produced. Hashimoto’s low thyroid symptoms include: swollen thyroid, fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, and depression. Acupuncture addresses weak kidney and liver qi, and helps to balance TSH and thyroid hormone levels.
- Pernicious Anemia – is a specific type of autoimmune anemia that occurs when the intestinal lining is not able to absorb enough Vitamin B12. Aplastic anemia is another type of autoimmune anemia, in which antibodies are attacking the bone marrow, so it cannot produce enough blood cells. Acupuncture and TCM herbs can help boost blood deficiencies that cause anemia symptoms and help to repair the lining of the intestine to improve its function.
- Addison’s disease – also known as adrenal insufficiency, or adrenal fatigue, is an autoimmune disease that attacks the adrenal cortex, so that the body does not make enough cortisol. Addison’s disease symptoms include: fatigue, dehydration, loss of appetite, salt cravings, dizziness, low blood pressure, and joint pain. TCM views Addison’s primarily as a kidney deficiency that can be treated with acupuncture, herbs, and moxibustion to support kidney function.
- Vitiligo – an autoimmune disorder that affects melanin, or skin pigmentation, causing white patches on skin, and hair turning gray or white, and can affect eye color and vision. Acupuncture treatment and herbal remedies can be used as an alternative treatment for vitiligo, or as an adjunct to conventional treatments like light therapy and steroid medications, to help with repigmentation of skin and to help treat vitiligo at its roots.
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome – affects the way the body produces collagen, leading to a connective tissues disorder, which in some cases creates hypermobile joints, stretchy and/or thin skin, and bruising. There are many different presentations of EDS, affecting different parts of the body. Acupuncture and Tuina massage can improve muscle tone, help with healing and reduce pain.
- Psoriasis – an autoimmune skin condition that causes too many skin cells to form, creating hard, scaly patches of skin, especially on the elbows and knees. As with many other autoimmune disorders, psoriasis tends to come and go; flare-ups can be triggered by a cut on the skin, an infection, or emotional stress. TCM theory says that psoriasis occurs due to pathogenic heat and dryness in the body; treatment will focus on strengthening lung Qi and clearing blood heat and stagnation.
- Autoimmune hepatitis – which has also been called plasma cell hepatitis or lupoid hepatitis, occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks liver cells, causing fatigue, abdominal pain, and joint pain. People who already have an autoimmune disease, including Type 1 diabetes, Celiac disease, or Graves disease, are more likely to develop autoimmune hepatitis. Acupuncture and herbs are excellent for helping to repair the liver and improve liver functioning.
- Dermatitis herpetiformis – also known as Dhuring’s disease, is a bumpy, blistered skin rash, similar in appearance to herpes sores or hives. This autoimmune skin condition is related to Celiac disease, flaring up when a person ingests gluten. Acupuncture helps to relieve inflammation and itchy skin and promote healing, while clearing heat and stagnation from the lungs, which are often connected to skin disorders.
- Ulcerative Colitis – is an IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), similar to Crohn’s disease, in which the immune system attacks the lining of the colon, causing sores and inflammation to develop, which leads to frequent diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating. TCM uses herbs and acupuncture to clear heat and dampness from the colon and promote healing of the intestinal tissues. Moxibustion can help relieve cramping and diarrhea.
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Autoimmune Encephalitis (AIE) – causes inflammation of brain tissues, causing severe headaches, brain fog, and neck pain and stiffness. This condition can develop in response to an infection. Anti-NMDAR encephalitis can be related to a tumor called a teteroma. TCM treats the internal heat that leads to fevers, infections, and inflammation with cooling herbs, and helps reestablish connections throughout the central nervous system.
- Type 1 Diabetes – is an autoimmune condition in which the cells of the pancreas do not function properly to produce insulin. About 5-10% of people with diabetes have this type. In TCM, diabetes is known as “Xiao Ke,” the wasting disease, and is believed to be due to too much heat and dampness accumulating in the organs. Acupuncture treatment can help improve pancreatic function and insulin production.
- Guillain-Barre syndrome – also known as “acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy” (AIDP), is an autoimmune and neurological condition in which antibodies attack the myelin sheaths that surround the nerves, causing muscular weakness, neuropathy and hypertension. A combination of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment can relieve nerve pain and help improve the strength and coordination of the muscles, while helping to encourage the growth and repair of nerves.
Other autoimmune disorders include: ankylosing spondylitis.
Can Acupuncture Help Autoimmune Disorders?
Inflammatory cytokines are part of the immune response that creates inflammation in the body as a way to get rid of invasive pathogens and promote healing when we are injured. When the immune system is not functioning properly, there is excess inflammation, and this is the root cause of many types of autoimmune disease.
Acupuncture treatment has been proven to have a positive biological effect on the production of these cytokines, and may also prevent immune system white blood cells called macrophages from turning into pro-inflammatory cells.
Other TCM modalities, like cupping, activate the immune system and help manage nitric oxide levels. Nitric oxide levels play a role in T-cell regulation, which affects inflammation of joints in patients with systemic lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
TCM treatment is a holistic way of treating autoimmune diseases that takes the whole person into consideration, treating physical symptoms of pain and stiffness, skin rashes, gastrointestinal distress, and more, while also helping to alleviate emotional and mental health problems like anxiety and depression. Acupuncture can also help improve cognitive function, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and brain fog.
Acupuncture Near Me for Autoimmune Disorders in Los Angeles and Santa Monica
Autoimmune disorders require highly individualized treatment. If you or someone you know has an autoimmune disease, adding a highly experienced acupuncture practitioner to your healthcare team can make a big difference in your quality of life.
Drs. Cai and Tan and Art of Wellness in West Los Angeles have over 35 years of experience helping treat autoimmune disorders of all kinds. They can bring a new perspective to your healthcare plan and help you find relief from many autoimmune disorder symptoms.
*This article is for education from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine only. The education provided by this article is not approved by FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure human diseases. It should not stop you from consulting with your physician for your medical conditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on Qi, which is an invisible force that usually cannot be observed by modern science. Because science focuses on testing ideas about the natural world with evidence obtained through observation, these aspects of acupuncture can’t be studied by science. Therefore acupuncture and Chinese herbs are often not supported by double-blind, randomized trials, and they are considered alternative medicine therapies in the United States.
How to Treat Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) With Acupuncture and TCM
By Qineng Tan, L.Ac., Ph.D. and Xiaomei Cai, L.Ac., Ph.D.
Joint hypermobility? Bone pain? Bruise easily? Thin skin? These can be signs of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), which is a connective tissue disease. Acupuncture and TCM can help relieve Ehlers Danlos symptoms.
EDS, sometimes referred to as Ehlers Disease, is a relatively rare genetic condition that causes people to have weak connective tissues. Most types of Ehlers-Danlos are inherited, meaning that a person’s parents carry a pathogenic variant of a gene. This genetic mutation affects the way the body makes collagen proteins.
What are connective tissue disorders? Connective tissues maintain the structure of the internal organs of the body, supporting them and holding them together. These include bones, muscles, fat tissue, blood vessels, and other tissues in the body. A connective tissue disorder occurs when there is something unusual about the way connective tissues are formed.
Connective tissue is made up of collagen and elastin. In Ehler’s disease, a genetic mutation causes problems with a person’s collagen production.
When a person has EDS tissue disorder, their body does not metabolize or process collagen normally, which can have a profound effect on the way tissues in the body develop, heal, and age over time. Ehlers-Danlos can affect a person’s skin, muscles, bones, cartilage, joints, blood vessels, or fat tissue.
EDS bears some similarities to another genetic condition known as Marfan syndrome, or Marfan connective tissue disorder. In Marfan’s syndrome, there is a problem with the fibrillin-1 gene, which affects the production of elastic fibers that help make up connective tissues in the body. People with Marfan syndrome tend to be taller, have long limbs, and may have heart problems or lung problems. Some Marfan symptoms may overlap with those of EDS, but they are two distinct disorders.
How Many Types of EDS Are There?
There are several different types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, caused by genetic changes that affect various connective tissues in the body.
Thirteen different types of EDS have been identified. The criteria for each type can help doctors diagnose people with Ehlers-Danlos, so that they can get the most complete understanding of their symptoms and needs. There is a lot of overlap between types, so a person may have symptoms that fit into several of these types of EDS.
13 Types of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) include:
- Hypermobile EDS (hEDS) – characterized by hypermobile joints, joint instability, and chronic joint pain
- Classical EDS (cEDS) – usually stretchy skin, “velvety” skin, fragile skin, scars easily
- Vascular EDS (vEDS) – bruises easily, fragile blood vessels, fragile organs that bleed easily, visible veins, varicose veins, thin skin, prominent eyes
- Periodontal EDS (pEDS) – bleeding gums, early tooth loss, missing permanent teeth, small teeth, smaller than usual jaw
- Kyphoscoliosis – or Kyphoscoliotic Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, curve of the upper spine causes a hunch, “floppy baby,” developmental delays, difficulties with walking
- Arthrochalasia – may involve hip dysplasia or deformity of the hip joint, dislocated hip, general joint instability, speech or reading problems, echolalia (repeating other’s speech), femoral hernia, or inguinal hernia
- Classical-like EDS (clEDS) – soft, stretchy skin, joint hypermobility with dislocations occurring, and frequent bruising
- Cardiac-valvular EDS (cvEDS) – severe heart valve problems, thin skin, joint hypermobility
- Dermatosparaxis EDS (dEDS) – extremely fragile skin, loose skin, extra folds of skin, severe bruising, hernias of internal organs
- Brittle Cornea Syndrome (BCS) – thin corneas that may rupture
- Spondylodysplastic EDS (spEDS) – shorter than average stature, bowed limbs, decreased muscle tone
- Musculocontractural EDS (mcEDS) – birth defects – clubfoot or adducted thumb, whites of eyes are a bluish color, testes do not descend, malformed ears, high palate, muscle weakness, delayed motor skills, scoliosis, narrow fingers, skin infections
- Myopathic EDS (mEDS) – muscle weakness, joint contractures, limited range of motion
Top 10 Symptoms of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Signs of EDS vary widely, because there are several different types of Ehlers-Danlos, and because each individual will experience this syndrome differently.
Symptoms that common to many people with EDS include:
- Joint instability, “loose” joints, hypermobile joints, hyperflexibility, “double jointed”
- Thin skin, stretchy skin
- Bruises easily, bruises often
- Red marks on skin from impressions last a long time and are more prominent
- Scarring, wounds take a long time to heal
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Bone pain
- Fatigue, tired all the time
- Difficulty concentrating
- Heart murmur, problems with “floppy” heart valves
- Dizziness when standing up (similar to POTS, may occur concurrently with POTS)
- Double follicles, multiple hairs growing from one follicle
- Brittle nails
People with hypermobility EDS may also experience urinary incontinence, constipation, heartburn/acid reflux, and high blood pressure.
People with EDS are often observed to have certain characteristic facial features, including: large eyes, small eyebrows, a thin nose, prominent cheekbones, and small or no earlobes.
Some people have hypermobile joints, which can cause pain and other problems, but do not have any of the other symptoms of EDS.
Treatment for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Unfortunately, many people have a difficult time getting a diagnosis of EDS. Because the symptoms often show up in so many different organ systems and parts of the body, it can be confusing for health care providers to figure out what is going on. Patients will often be diagnosed with conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia instead of a connective tissue disorder.
There is no set medical treatment protocol for patients with EDS. If a person is having cardiovascular symptoms, they may be prescribed medications like beta blockers to manage blood pressure and heart rate.
People with EDS who have hypermobile joints may be recommended for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and/or cognitive behavioral therapy. to help them maintain stability and prevent dislocations. Wearing braces to protect joints may be recommended, as well.
Chronic pain may be helped with pain medications or kinesio-taping.
Acupuncture and other TCM treatments can be effective as an alternative treatment for Ehlers-Danlos, by helping to manage chronic pain and also addressing other symptoms of EDS.
Can Acupuncture Help Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?
TCM is an excellent modality for treating complex syndromes and autoimmune disorders because it is a holistic form of medicine that takes the whole person into consideration, addressing myriad symptoms that may seem unrelated in the context of conventional medicine.
Many, if not most, people suffering from EDS, have probably struggled to find doctors who are willing to listen and acknowledge their condition. TCM practitioners are trained to observe carefully and look at the whole picture. They typically spend much more time listening and asking questions so that they can understand all of the different symptoms a person is experiencing. This, in itself, can help people with difficult-to-treat conditions feel heard and validated.
Acupuncture treatment can not only help reduce pain sensations, but can actually help to stimulate muscles and connective tissues, reducing inflammation and toning the muscles to help improve joint stability. Acupuncture can help to facilitate the healing of old injuries or wounds that cause chronic pain because they have never been able to heal completely.
Acupuncture treatment has been shown to have a positive effect on connective tissues; the rotation and manipulation of the fine acupuncture needles directly stimulates cells beneath the skin.
Other TCM modalities, like Tuina massage, can also promote relaxation and stimulate muscle tone.
Acupuncture can help to improve sleep quality and mental health, relieving symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Acupuncture can help to treat many different connective tissue disorders besides EDS, including:
Acupuncture Near Me for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome – Los Angeles
Acupuncture can be used as an adjunct or alternative treatment for EDS and many other difficult-to-treat conditions, like autoimmune diseases and connective tissues disorders. Drs. Tan and Cai at Art of Wellness Acupuncture and TCM in West L.A. have over 30 years of experience helping patients with chronic pain conditions, muscle weakness and pain. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with EDS or suspect you may have Ehlers-Danlos, please consider scheduling an appointment for an in-depth consultation. We can help.
*This article is for education from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine only. The education provided by this article is not approved by FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure human diseases. It should not stop you from consulting with your physician for your medical conditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on Qi, which is an invisible force that usually cannot be observed by modern science. Because science focuses on testing ideas about the natural world with evidence obtained through observation, these aspects of acupuncture can’t be studied by science. Therefore acupuncture and Chinese herbs are often not supported by double-blind, randomized trials, and they are considered alternative medicine therapies in the United States.
How to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) With Acupuncture and TCM
By Qineng Tan, L.Ac., Ph.D. & Xiaomei Cai, L.Ac., Ph.D.
Do you have joint pain, swelling or stiffness in the joints, especially finger joint pain or a swollen knee? Maybe you feel that the joint pain is moving to other parts of your body, or flares up sometimes, and then seems to go away. Joint pain accompanied by fever and fatigue may be a sign of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), an auto immune disease that causes inflammation and can lead to serious physical disability. Acupuncture and TCM offer a way to help people who suffer from Rheumatoid arthritis, as well as other types of arthritis and autoimmune disorders.
Arthritis is a general term that refers to all kinds of joint pain. Most types of arthritis begin to occur due to aging and the repeated “wear and tear” on the joints of the body that happens as we move through life. Any place in the body where two bones meet is considered a joint, so arthritis pain and inflammation can occur in the large joints of the limbs, causing shoulder pain or hip pain, in the spine, causing back pain, or in the extremities: arthritis in hands and feet. Rheumatoid arthritis most commonly shows up first as arthritis in fingers, hands, and knees.
RA can also be considered a connective tissue disorder, and, as such, bears similarities to Lupus and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS).
Rheumatoid arthritis used to be commonly known as “rheumatism,” and now may be referred to as “RA.” It is different from other types of arthritis because the joint pain is caused by immune system problems, not injury or overuse of the joint.
When a person develops an autoimmune disorder, their immune system is mistakenly attacking normal tissues in the body. In the case of RA, an immune response attacks the lining of the joints, a soft tissue membrane called synovium. This creates inflammation and can ultimately begin to cause damage to the bones themselves (osteoporosis). Affected parts of the body can begin to change shape, become weak, and eventually lose their ability to function properly.
In later stages of RA, other body systems can be affected, as well. The joint lining contains blood vessels and nerves, so damage to the synovium can also impact the cardiovascular system and the nervous system. People with RA are at greater risk for developing nerve damage, heart disease, lung disease, and problems with the eyes. People with Rheumatoid arthritis can also be more prone to getting infections like the flu or pneumonia, and certain types of cancers, like lymphoma.
RA can affect your body composition, leading to obesity. Some people may lose weight initially, but it is usually muscle mass that is lost, as RA makes exercise difficult. This means that people can end up with an unhealthy ratio of fat to muscle.
RA is different from osteoarthritis in that it can show up at any time in life. Sometime children develop Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (also known as Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis). Like RA in adults, this is an autoimmune disorder, and can cause other symptoms like fever and rashes. Some children will grow out of their RA symptoms; others may carry this disorder with them into adulthood.
Most people with RA begin to show signs in their middle age. Women are more likely to have RA than men. As with other autoimmune diseases, medical science has not determined the exact Rheumatoid arthritis causes, but they may be partly genetic, and partly having to do with hormones. Environmental factors may contribute to RA, as can stress and strong emotions. Past illnesses or viral infections, like Epstein Barr virus, can also be a factor.
TCM and acupuncture treatment for Rheumatoid arthritis works on multiple levels. Acupuncture can help to reduce inflammation and stiffness in the joints. TCM treatment with herbs helps to improve and balance immune function. Acupuncture can also relieve emotional symptoms related to stress, fatigue, and depression.
Top 10 Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
For some people the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis may develop slowly over many years; for others, they may start suddenly. People will experience RA symptoms as different sensations, in different parts of the body, which is part of what makes it difficult to diagnose. The most common symptoms of RA include:
- Joint pain that starts in the smaller joints: pain in hands, pain in knees, pain in toes
- Redness and swelling in joints: swollen fingers, swollen knee, hands swollen, ankle swollen
- A sensation of heat or warmth in the joints
- Stiffness first thing in the morning that gets better as the day goes on
- Fatigue, feeling exhausted, tired all the time
- Pain in same joint on both sides, for example, pain in both knees
- Hard lumps under the skin near the painful joints (Rheumatoid nodules)
- Eye pain, dry eyes, blurry vision
- Low grade fever
- Depression, feelings of frustration or hopelessness
People with RA that affects their hips, knees, or ankles may begin to walk with a limp. Diminished function of the joints may cause a person to lose their grip strength and coordination. Over time, the hands and fingers or feet and toes may begin to become disfigured, as loss of soft tissue and bone changes their shape.
People with Rheumatoid arthritis are also more likely to experience Raynaud’s syndrome, a condition that constricts blood vessels in the fingers and/or toes when exposed to cold, causing numbness and a whitening of the skin as blood circulation slows.
In some cases, RA can also cause an enlarged spleen.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
At this time, treatments for rheumatoid arthritis are mainly directed towards relieving pain, reducing chronic inflammation, and slowing down the progression of this inflammatory disease.
A primary care physician will probably refer patients to a rheumatologist for rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis and treatment. Rheumatologists specialize in joint diseases and all types of arthritis, so they treat joint pain related to conditions like osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, musculoskeletal pain related to fibromyalgia, tendonitis, and autoimmune diseases like lupus.
Typical medical options for RA include NSAIDs and corticosteroids, to quickly reduce pain inflammation. Anti-rheumatic drugs, known as DMARDS, have both anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. They work more slowly, but if started soon after diagnosis, they can help to prevent more damage to joint tissues, and relieve RA symptoms.
Unfortunately, all of these medications carry side effects. In the case of DMARDS, some patients experience gastric upset, headaches, and fatigue. They can also increase chances of infections, which is already a problem for people with RA.
Biologics are another type of injectable medication used to help relieve chronic inflammation by suppressing certain immune responses. These can also put people at higher risk for infections and certain cancers.
Acupuncture and TCM offer a way to reduce inflammation and pain without side effects.
Can Acupuncture Help Rheumatoid Arthritis?
TCM has its own way of categorizing diseases. According to TCM theory, Rheumatoid arthritis falls under the category of “Bi” disorders. In TCM, environmental factors like cold, wind, heat, and dampness can invade the body and affect the organs, ultimately causing organ systems to malfunction. When they manifest in the body, pathogenic factors like cold and dampness can slow down or block the flow of blood and Qi (life force energy) through the body.
“Bi” conditions involve obstructions of Qi and blood that then lead to stiffness, swelling, soreness, redness, and heat in the joints. The famous TCM medical text known as “The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine,” which was written a few centuries B.C., recorded identification of Bi syndromes. Bi syndromes can certainly be in part related to outside environmental conditions, such as living in a cold, wet, windy place. They can also be related to a weakness of protective Qi that would translate into conventional terms as being a weakened immune system. Thus, Bi syndromes include rheumatoid arthritis, other types of arthritis, and other painful joint conditions like gout, lupus, and neuralgia.
A review of studies conducted on patients who received acupuncture treatment for Rheumatoid arthritis concluded that TCM is a good method for helping patients with this type of condition. TCM acknowledges that within one disease, different people may have very different symptoms, due to their genetics, or what we sometimes call “constitution.” One person will show hot symptoms like redness, swelling, and fever. Another person may find that their joint pain is particularly affected by cold, wet weather. An acupuncturist near me will look and listen to see what sort of pattern has developed, and will treat each individual accordingly with acupuncture points for joint pain.
Acupuncture Near Me for Rheumatoid Arthritis in Greater Los Angeles
TCM offers a framework in which we are able to see autoimmune disease as a collection of issues that can all be addressed in concert. With acupuncture and herbs, we can help relieve pain and inflammation, while also building back up of the systems of the body that have become weak. At Art of Wellness in West LA, we have many years of experience helping people manage autoimmune disorders and get relief from joint pain.
*This article is for education from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine only. The education provided by this article is not approved by FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure human diseases. It should not stop you from consulting with your physician for your medical conditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on Qi, which is an invisible force that usually cannot be observed by modern science. Because science focuses on testing ideas about the natural world with evidence obtained through observation, these aspects of acupuncture can’t be studied by science. Therefore acupuncture and Chinese herbs are often not supported by double-blind, randomized trials, and they are considered alternative medicine therapies in the United States.