Acupuncture and herbs as preventative medicine
Aren’t Acupuncture and Chinese herbs only last resort treatment methods?
No!
Although, I do get a lot of patients who come in seeking acupuncture and herbs as a last resort because nothing else that they’ve tried has worked. Typically, these are cases where Western medicine has “given up” on the person or has nothing to offer, in essence, it’s where Western medicine may say, “We don’t know what to do with you anymore, so take this pill for the rest of your life or do nothing.”
At this point acupuncture can, indeed, help in many cases. Where Western medicine fails to understand where to go in chronic cases, acupuncture and herbal therapy seek to understand what the existing underlying imbalances are that create the illness/condition. By doing this, the body’s energetic systems can be brought back to homeostasis so that the symptoms of the illness disappear. You may hear me say this over and over again throughout this site, but Classical True Acupuncture and Chinese herbs is about helping the body work the way its supposed to, so that you can have your health restored!
Along with patients who find me as a last resort, there are those who come in for acupuncture and herbs to help a flare up of shoulder pain, back pain, to quelch a cold or flu so that it doesn’t progress, for headaches/migraines, a sudden onset of constipation or diarrhea, insomnia and other things that the person knows shouldn’t be happening. Instead of taking the band-aid approach by taking some pain killers or other medications, why not address the real root cause and nip it in the bud when you can?
On the other hand, acupuncture and herbs have always been utilized (especially in countries outside of the US) as a means of preventative healthcare, health maintenance and pain management. It was said that in ancient times, the Chinese Medical doctor was actually penalized when an individual got sick because then, the doctor didn’t do his job to keep the person healthy. It’s quite the opposite these days since our medical professionals make money off the sick!
Also, many people who avoid doctors self-herbalize and reach to pre-made supplements for health maintenance and prevention of disease, and overlook alternative medical practitioners. While this may work to a degree, it doesn’t really address how each of us uniquely respond to all the stresses of today’s lifestyles. A great example of preventative medicine is using acupuncture and herbs to prevent the typical symptoms of menopause. It can do this? Sure! If a woman takes care of herself prior to entering menopause, the “typical” symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats, dry skin, insomnia, etc.) may not even occur. Of course, as with anything, acupuncture and custom tailored Chinese herbs must work hand in hand with exercise and a good mental attitude to help you stay healthy. 
So for all of you out there who didn’t know what acupuncture and herbs were for, or when you would even get acupuncture & herbs, you can see that these are great ways to stay healthy. Or if something does pop up, come in and get it treated right away. And of course, we can help you if Western medicine doesn’t know what to do for you anymore. It is easy to put off taking care of ourselves since we get so wrapped up in our busy lives, but for those of you who don’t have chronic issues, why wait until something does happen?
Just as people may go to the Western doctor for regular check-ups and physical exams, acupuncture and herbs should be used this way, too. Depending on your age and health, “maintenance” treatments on a quarterly, biannual, or monthly basis can be a terrific way to make sure you stay in optimal health and take care of anything that may be going on. Just think of acupuncture treatments as your natural choice to stay healthy so you can live and enjoy your life as you want!
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