In a 2015 study published by the Journal of
the American Board of Family Medicine, researchers found auricular acupuncture
treatments provided extended pain relief and people needed fewer dosages of
pain medications. According to the study, a specific type of acupuncture, known
as Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA) was used to treat 56 patients who were
afflicted with an acute onset of a sore throat.
All the participants were monitored for pain levels and dosages of medications
taken at the 15-minute mark, six-hour mark, 24-hour mark, and 48-hour mark. In
both areas, the group of participants who received Battlefield Acupuncture
reported decreased pain levels and less need for pain medications. This study concludes Battlefield Acupuncture
is associated with reduced levels of pain for up to 24 hours and decreased
dosages of pain medication for up to 48 hours.
http://www.jabfm.org/content/28/6/697.full
A sore throat can be more than just an annoyance. It can be painful and costly when missing work becomes a necessity. Unfortunately, in the United States, many people cannot afford to take time off work for illness because they don’t get any paid leave. This can exacerbate the issue and sometimes make it even more severe, turning it into something like strep throat, which can lead to severe health complications.
The typical treatment for a sore throat is
non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen and possibly antibiotics when
deemed appropriate. But Traditional Chinese Medicine treats a sore throat
differently. In TCM there are two common causes of an acute sore
throat, an attack by wind-heat or an attack by wind-dryness. There may be
others also, but these are the two most common. This is how TCM differentiates
the causes of the affliction. TCM theory states there are certain elements that
can attack the body and create illness. Because a sore throat is almost always
accompanied by some form of inflammation, there is usually heat generated.
A wind-heat invasion occurs when the Wei Qi
(pronounced “way chee”) is weaker than the invading force or pathogen. The Wei
Qi is thought to be the defense that protects our bodies from outside
forces. Think of Wei Qi as our immune
system. When the Wei Qi is depleted or decreased, pathogens can break through
and take root. With a wind-heat attack, there may be fever, chills, sweating,
headaches, body aches, a cough, and a sore throat. A wind-dryness invasion is
very similar to a wind-heat invasion, but there are more predominant signs of
dryness, such as dry nose, mouth, throat, and cough. Regardless, the way to tackle either attack
is by clearing heat and boosting the Wei Qi. This can be done fairly quickly
through the use of acupuncture and herbs.
Acupuncture and in particular, Battlefield
Acupuncture can bring quick relief to those suffering from a sore throat.
Battlefield Acupuncture involves placing needles at specific points in the ear.
When these points are stimulated, they help to balance the flow of the body’s
energy. In Chinese Medicine, the ear is a microsystem of the entire body,
holding more than 200 acupressure points that help to enhance physical and
mental healing. But how exactly do they work? Studies show using these points
can inhibit certain neurotransmitters and inflammatory markers, as well as
release endogenous opioids that fight off pain.
As with any type of illness, the sooner
somebody receives treatment, the sooner you can start feeling better. The same
goes with an acute sore throat. If you feel a sore throat coming on, come see
me for an acupuncture “tune-up”. You might just be surprised at the results.
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