Acupuncture, a holistic therapy

Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture are said to be a holistic therapy. But what does it really mean?

Firstly, it means that when doing a diagnostic, the practitioner looks and treats the person as a whole, not just the symptoms. So it is not unusual that a patient coming for, let’s say lower back pain, sees changes and improvements in other areas of their life too, for example their energy levels.

It also means that the acupuncturist will look at both the roots (the ‘cause’ of the disease) and the branches (the ‘symptoms’ of the disease). One way to look at it is to think about a tree with its roots and its branches. If you cut the branches (symptoms), they are likely to grow again (so the symptoms come back). If you cut the roots (address the root causes of the imbalance), then the tree and the branches are unlikely to grow again and you will be able to stay symptom free.
The idea is that the patient will get relief from the symptoms by addressing the branches but will also get long term relief by addressing the roots.

Finally, it means that when doing a diagnosis, the acupuncturist will take everything into account, from the patient’s  physical imbalances and/or  emotional issues to the environment the patient lives in (eg:  type of work, family circumstances, lifestyle…) and their diet. The practitioner will then be able to create a treatment adapted to that specific patient.

For me, it symbolizes my commitment to each patient in finding lasting solutions to their health  needs, not just temporary fixes.