Crohn's Disease and Acupuncture

[SherylZellis]

Have any of you had experience with acupuncture in relieving symptoms etc? A friend who is studying this has encouraged me to try it for my 11yo with CD.
Im curious?
Sheryl

 

[CLynn]

Sheryl, I was just thinking of trying it, I hear we have a chiropractor in town who utilizes acupuncture as well. Since my Crohn's is active, I have been thinking of making an appt.

Cheryl

 

[mstout928]

My 5-year old daughter was just diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in January. My husband and I are both chiropractors/acupuncturists, so we started laser acupuncture on Bella while she was in the hospital.

She has responded very well so far. We have treated other Crohn's patients in our practice and have had good success in minimizing their symptoms/discomfort. I'm not going to tell you that it is a cure, but it may help your child feel better and there are no side effects to worry about. I certainly think it would be worth a try.

 

[CLynn]

I am experiencing lower back pain and sciatic nerve problems this go round, never before, but upon reading, I believe it is inflammation caused, Crohn's caused as well. Wondering if the acupunture can help with that.

 

[mstout928]

I often refer my patients to this document from the World Health Organization which lists conditions that may be helped by acupuncture:

http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Js4926e/5.html

Irritable Colon Syndrome falls under the category of diseases, symptoms or conditions for which there are only individual controlled trials reporting some therapeutic effects, but for which acupuncture is worth trying because treatment by conventional and other therapies is difficult.

Even if the effect of acupuncture therapy is less potent than that of conventional treatments, acupuncture may still be worth considering because of the toxicity or adverse effects of conventional treatments. For example, there are reports of controlled clinical trials showing that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (4-6), although not as potent as corticosteroids. Because, unlike corticosteroids, acupuncture treatment, does not cause serious side-effects, it seems reasonable to use acupuncture for treating this condition, despite the difference in effectiveness.

In my practice, I've seen Crohn's and IBS patients present with lower back pain that has improved with gentle adjustments and/or acupuncture. It certainly is worth trying.

 

[CLynn]

Thanks for the info! Until recently, I wasn't even aware acupuncture can be used to treat anxiety, which many of us Crohnies have as well....

 

[GutlessWonder86]

Mstout, what is laser accupuncture? how does it work and does it hurt the patient when the MD uses it on him/her? can you provide a link and or a photo of laser accupunture to show us how it's being used? I am interested in it so I can share it with others at the next CCFA meeting I plan on going to where I live. thanks. have a great weekend.

 

[kiny]

Acupuncture supposedly increases adenosine in your body, which is anti-inflammatory, which I think could have an effect on Crohn then. I just think it's too little of an effect, I think foods or diets that are anti-inflammatory would have a much higher effect.

But if she's excited about it, why not you know, it can always have a placebo effect, and it's completely harmless.