Fatty liver disease develops when fat builds up around the liver, either because of nonalcoholic factors or alcohol use. This condition can lead to inflammation, scarring and finally, liver failure. In a lot of instances, it tends to result in secondary complications or doesn’t lead to any external symptoms at all. Despite the fact that it is not supported by scientific studies, acupuncture can be utilized as a viable alternative treatment for fatty liver disease. If you want the best healing approach for your condition, consult with your doctor.
What is Acupuncture?
A part of a broad medical system known as traditional Chinese medicine or TCM, acupuncture is a mode of healing whose approach to health and health conditions is quite distinct from modern Western medicine. In TCM, disease develops due to blockages or imbalances in the circulation of qi or vital energy. An acupuncturist is trained to remedy these energetic issues by stimulating with very thin needles certain points on the body. The body, with the correct stimulation, can then regain the correct flow of qi. An acupuncturist can stick needles to parts of the body that are remote to the organ that’s causing the problem because the points on the body are connected to channels of energy known as meridians.
Treatment of fatty liver disease through acupuncture in Maitland varies largely on the patient’s overall state of health. The Pacific College of Oriental Medicine states that fatty liver disease may possibly be the result of blood stagnation. An acupuncturist needs to both tonify the spleen and mobilize the qi to address the situation. Several potential acupuncture points can be used to resolve the issue: Large Intestine 4 (LI 4), Urinary Bladder 17 and 18 (UB 17 & 18), Gallbladder 34 (GB 34), Spleen 21 (SP 21), and Liver 14 (LI 14). The acupuncture points are so named to indicate the energy channel to which they are situated. A meridian named for a specific organ may also have acupoints that are able to resolve issues that are found in other organs. The GB 34, for example, can boost qi circulation in the liver.
Scientific Trials
The treatment of fatty liver disease and associated conditions with acupuncture were observed in a couple of studies. The Journal of Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion in 2009 published a clinical trial that showed how acupuncture treatment led to significant results on persons suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. After three months, the patients treated with regular acupuncture treatment experienced a substantial decrease in liver damage. Another study conducted in 2008 and published in the same journal discovered that three months of acupuncture treatment led to the alleviation of people suffering from obesity and fatty liver disease. The individuals were able to lose weight and experienced reduced damage in their liver.
Complementary Treatments
Acupuncture is generally deemed a complementary treatment from the viewpoint of Western medicine. Acupuncture is a perfect complementary therapy in that it has zero or very minimal drug interactions or side effects. If you are interested in augmenting your current healing modalities with acupuncture, you may increase your likelihood of recovery besides losing extra weight. And along with acupuncture, herbal remedies, regular exercise, and a healthy, vitamin-rich diet can help you get over fatty liver disease.
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