What do I
have in common with Olympian Michael Phelps?
Both Michael Phelps and I are
individuals that have learned to pair the results of Eastern Medicine with that
of Western Medicine. Eastern Medicine is roughly 5,000 years old and is based fluxes
of qi (the body’s vital energy) within a body. Western Medicine is modern, innovative,
and revolutionary as it has learned to evolve with studies.
I am not going to try to convince
you that to have “superhuman” ability like Michael Phelps we need to start utilizing
Eastern Medicine. I am going to demonstrate how a balance of Eastern Medicine
and Western Medicine can help create medical miracles. These miracles can be
seen combating cancer, or the second most debilitating disability known as
migraines.
Breast cancer treatment can be
quite debilitating ranging from a mastectomy, to chemotherapy, to radiation. These
are the basis of breast cancer treatment amongst Western Medicine practitioners.
While these are the most effective forms of treatment, the use of Eastern
Medicine acupuncture can be extremely supportive throughout cancer treatments. Side
effects such as anxiety, mood disorders, fatigue, nausea, and pain are common
throughout the popular integrative therapies of the West. Acupuncture as
studies by Greenlee, et al. has proven to be useful in reducing side effects of
integrative therapies such as chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting (CINV), pain
management, fatigue, stress and even sleep disorders (Greenlee, 2017).
Migraines treatment via acupuncture
is relatively new however has none the less been cited as a useful alternative.
This is because migraines are difficult to treat and many drug therapies have unwanted
side effects, such as the exacerbation of headache pain. Acupuncture has been
shown to reduce not only the frequency of migraines but also the durations of an
attack (Urits, 2020). Furthermore, the study by Urits and colleagues concluded that
while acupuncture and pharmacological methods are both effective in treating
chronic migraines however the side effects associated with acupuncture are far
less. This same study also concluded that acupuncture is more effected in not
only treating but preventing migraines.
Acupuncture is not only limited to
migraine treatment but also a supportive therapy throughout integrative therapies
of breast cancer. Acupuncture is also useful in helping resolve inflammation, fertility
struggles, and common colds without side effects from popular Western pharmaceuticals.
As a provider it is important to consider all forms of treatment, as many
patients may be more holistic or even pharmaceutical conscientious. Acupuncture
is a great form of treatment to be not only utilized individually but also in
sync with Wester practices.
Greenlee H, DuPont-Reyes MJ, Balneaves LG, et al. Clinical
practice guidelines on the evidence-based use of integrative therapies during
and after breast cancer treatment. CA Cancer J Clin. 2017;67(3):194-232. doi:10.3322/caac.21397
Natbony LR, Zhang N. Acupuncture for Migraine: a Review of
the Data and Clinical Insights. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2020;24(7):32. Published 2020 May 29.
doi:10.1007/s11916-020-00864-w
Urits I, Patel M, Putz ME, et al. Acupuncture and Its Role in
the Treatment of Migraine Headaches. Neurol Ther. 2020;9(2):375-394. doi:10.1007/s40120-020-00216-1
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