Ulcerative Colitis & Acupuncture

Explaining acupuncture treatment with respect to Ulcerative Colitis is more an explanation of the eastern view of the illness.

The treatment is a point blank two-level approach. If it is an acute attack including diarrhea with blood or mucous, abdominal pain, headache, fever, vomiting and chest pain, then the initial or more moderate therapy is used. This therapy consists of knowledgably placed needles organized evenly for 30 minutes, which is designed to comfort the patient. It is called the "even or sedative" method. This is designed to calm the bowel down as the patient calms down.

The second level therapy of acupuncture occurs with respect to a chronic condition of Ulcerative Colitis in which case the "tonic technique" is used, which involves different sized needles and the use of "moxa" by the practitioner.

There are actually five types of acupuncture; the Japanese style, the Chinese style, Pediatric Acupuncture, the European style and the TaiJin Yin Yang Treatment. While one can give a general name to a particular treatment, such as "even method" or "tonic technique," there is no way to give a detailed treatment unless you have studied the art of acupuncture.

Acupuncture follows the existence of "Qi" or bio-energy in the body by use of strategically placed needles of varying thickness and depth depending where any particular illness such as Ulcerative Colitis presents this phenomenon.

The descriptions of Ulcerative Colitis symptoms are identifiable but different names are used because you are using an eastern-based system.

"Damp Warm" is the existence of sweet foods in the large intestine. "Damp Cold" involves the spleen and raw and cold vegetables. The back-and-forth of the two conditions may be caused by external pathogens. The liver overacting on the spleen is a situation where the patient has liver Qi stagnation. Qi and blood stagnation involving the stomach and intestines, and "Damp Accumulation��"šï¿½ï¿½ with spleen deficiency represents chronic Ulcerative Colitis.

In addition to the acupuncture treatment, the belief of acupuncture practitioners is much the same as those who practice western Medicine. They believe that the best treatment for Ulcerative Colitis is prevention by use of diet, fluid intake and moderating stress.

I have never used acupuncture for my Ulcerative Colitis but I have no doubt it works because I have had friends who have been treated for other conditions with acupuncture and they have been astounded.

If acupuncture intrigues you and you would like to investigate it further, you will have no problem finding tons of information in virtually any media and I have included two excellent Web sites as references.

It is difficult for westerners to understand and accept the fact that some other approaches to medicine are viable; that doesn't mean they aren't.