Neurologic disorders cover a vast array of health issues. Everything from headaches to seizures, strokes to Alzheimer’s disease, and a whole lot of stuff in between, fall under the category of neurologic disorders. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 1 billion people suffer worldwide from some sort of neurologic disease or disorder. And depending on the disorder, there is usually not a lot of hope of recovery for those suffering. This leads to a lot of depression, anxiety, insomnia and other afflictions that can develop from being diagnosed with a neurologic disorder.
East Asian Medicine (EAM) looks at this, and most other problems, from a much different angle. At the very base of our being is the cell. And when the cell is broken down even further, it literally can be translated into energy. Energy in EAM is sometimes called Qi (pronounced “chee”). While neurologic diseases manifest frequently in the brain, the chances are high that they may actually begin somewhere else in the body. East Asian Medicine treats the patient holistically instead of compartmentalizing the issues. This leads to a greater overall and fully customized treatment plan for each patient. EAM utilizes many different treatment modalities to help the patient get better, including acupuncture, herbs and herbal formulas and even nutrition.
Acupuncture works with the nervous system in the body to regenerate cells and promote healing. The use of specific acupuncture points can create a closed circuit between the point and the neurologic control center in the brain. By giving the body and brain the necessary tools, the two can work in conjunction to heal the body. From a scientific perspective, acupuncture shifts and moves energy, while stimulating blood flow and increasing cellular level oxygen.
In the case of strokes or traumatic brain injury, studies have observed that patients treated with acupuncture demonstrate increased angiogenesis, aka the development of new blood vessels. These new blood vessels in the brain can improve overall cerebral blood flow as well as oxygenation of the brain tissue.
On top of that, acupuncture has been shown to regenerate nerves and restore nerve impulses. In these studies, electromyography was used to test the nerves and their impulses. Electromyography confirmed that acupuncture significantly improved motor nerve conduction, velocity and amplitude and also promotes functional nerve repair.
A healthy, optimally functioning neurologic system is vital for your longevity. So even if you have no neurologic issues, utilizing acupuncture preventively would not be a bad idea. Regular acupuncture, when coupled with exercise and proper nutrition, can help keep your mind focused and sharp, while keeping your body vibrant.