Acupuncture For Poor Circulation

By Y.C. Chan, OMD, Dipl Ac

Acupuncture Clinic of Maryland

More Complementary & Integrative Healthcare Articles

Acupuncture For Poor Circulation

Poor circulation occurs frequently to the elderly, but even young and middle aged people can have poor circulation. Our body cannot function without blood. The blood is responsible for transporting oxygen and nutrients to billions of the cells in our body, and the blood is also responsible for carrying toxins and wastes out of the body.

The diagnosis of anemia means that there is a blood deficiency, a weakness and inability of the blood to perform its duty. On the other hand, blood stagnation is a concept unique to Chinese Medicine with no direct equivalent to conventional medicine. Blood stagnation means that the blood is still blood, but that it is no longer able to function as blood. For example, if the patient had an injury that caused blood to leak from the blood vessels, then bruising and bleeding may block the body's energy and cause various problems.

Poor circulation is usually very easy for doctors to diagnose. Symptoms include cold hands and feet, leg cramps, and the toes and fingers may appear red, blue or pale. Also, patients may lose normal sensation in the lower extremities; they may have poor discernment of temperature, and pain and aches all over their body.

There are many different ways to improve our body's circulation locally and temporarily, for example, certain diets, exercise, vitamins, and physical therapy.

Acupuncture treatment may be able to improve a patient's circulation. Many patients experience itching, warmth, tingling and electrical sensations during and after treatment. Also, the body temperature may increase temporarily.

If a patient's poor circulation is related to complicated cases, such as heart, lung and severe kidney disease, they must be monitored by a special medical expert. If the circulation problem is related to a severe injury or wounds that don't heal, the patient must be under intensive medical care in order to avoid amputation.