ACUPUNCTURE FOR COUGHS, COLDS, AND FLU

Most people will agree that relieving the symptoms of a cough, cold, or flu takes a lot more than popping a bunch of pills sold over the counter. There is one form of treatment, however, that has been around for millennia that is capable of keeping the ill effects of colds and flu at bay. Unfortunately, not a lot of people are aware of how effective Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can be for treating or preventing persistent colds. 

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF FLU AND COLD, AND WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

The common cold is predominantly caused by the rhinovirus and includes symptoms such as a stuffy nose, runny nose, sore throat, cough, and mild headache. Flu, on the other hand, is caused by the flu virus and produces more severe symptoms like fever, muscle or body aches, as well as headaches and fatigue.

While it can be tempting to write off the cold or flu symptoms, ignoring early treatment can lead to further complications once the original pathogen - the virus or bacteria – entrenches itself in your system. These complications include allergies, bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, ear infections, fibromyalgia, chronic coughs, and lymphatic congestion, to name a few.

Seeking early treatment at the onset of cold and flu symptoms is therefore crucial.

Does acupuncture for coughs work?

Research has shown that acupuncture and acupoint herbal plaster therapy contribute to positive patient outcomes for patients suffering from chronic coughing.

Results from a controlled investigation showed that acupuncture performed better than drug therapy in the treatment of coughs that had surpassed the acute stage of a respiratory infection. Another study found acupoint herbal plaster therapy effective for improving patient outcomes for children with chronic coughing.

When treating coughs, colds, or flu, Traditional Chinese Medicine uses a more holistic approach. Rather than treat individual symptoms, this method seeks to fully understand the pathogen that has attacked the body as well as the resulting imbalance it causes. We then use this information to select the appropriate acupuncture points as well as the best herbal prescriptions to administer to each patient.