Coronavirus and acupuncture: What you need to know

You’ve no doubt heard: it seems to be a matter of when, not if, COVID-19—better known at the Coronavirus—will spread here in the United States. The breakout of the viral infection began in Wuhan, China, and has spread across the world, increasing in numbers particularly in Italy and Iran. But with the virus’s gestation period and the difficulty of properly testing and quarantining those who may have been exposed, the virus is expected to make its way around the world, and spread from there…to our shores too.

First a few important things. For now, people should practice proper hygiene, and if they think they may be sick at all—especially with any flu-like symptoms—should see a doctor immediately. Anyone who is feeling ill should not come in for acupuncture services.  

 Secondly, acupuncture will not cure or prevent the Coronavirus.

However, having a properly functioning immune system can only help in case of any viral infection. And if the virus does indeed spread, many people will be scrambling to try and do everything they can to boost their immune systems. At that point, however, it may be too late.

This is one of the reasons why, as we’ve described before, it’s smart to make acupuncture a consistent part of your wellness routine. Acupuncture helps regulate the body’s energy, or qi, increasing bloodflow which helps the body’s general immune system health, and ability to ultimately fight infections. Acupuncture also helps strengthen the body’s most important organs, like the liver and kidneys, which must be functioning properly in order for our immune systems to be at their best.

Having regular acupuncture sessions built into your wellness routine will help your immune system operate at its peak. This cold and flu season may almost be over, but as we know from the news, unexpected things happen all the time. It’s best to be prepared, and to keep your body prepared. Acupuncture is one of the best ways to do so.

How Acupuncture Can Help Those With Lupus

Though it is notoriously very difficult to properly diagnose, over 1.5 million people in the United States suffer from lupus, an auto-immune disorder which causes the body’s immune system to attack normal, healthy tissue. The result? Unpredictable bouts of painful Inflammation, swelling, and eventual causing of damage to the joints, skin, kidneys, blood, heart, and lungs.

Lupus predominantly occurs in women, and mostly women of color—unfortunately, it is a disorder that many people don’t know that they have. And when they do have it, treatment options are limited to improving quality of life through managing symptoms, pain and discomfort.

“"Awareness of lupus in Chinese medicine goes back at least to the Qing Dynasty, according to traditional texts,” according to Pacific College. “The knowledge gained during that period points to a blood-based heat toxin that, when aggravated by summertime heat or sunlight, results in the distinctive red patches associated with the disease.”

Acupuncture does not cure lupus, but we do know that acupuncture addresses the root causes of disease and disorder in the body by balancing the body’s yin and yang. That makes acupuncture, along with herbal treatments, a uniquely effective treatment for the many problems caused by lupus.

Due to the yin-yang imbalance, sufferers of lupus experience everything from aches, intolerance to cold temperatures, loss of appetite, swelling, pain in the joints, and numbness in the arms and legs. Acupuncture and herbal treatments can be specifically tailored to restoring the ying-yang balance, helping specifically with those various symptoms.

Nearly 1 in 250 people have or will develop lupus in their lifetimes. If you or someone you know suffers fro m this frustrating and elusive disorder, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medical treatments might be just what you need to start restoring quality of life.