What Acupuncture Treats
East-Asian medicine (EAM) is a system of healthcare that has been proven to treat many ailments, from the common cold to chronic pain to psycho-emotional disorders. As practitioners we are rigorously trained to identify patterns of disharmony rather than rely solely on Western diagnosis - meaning no two treatments are alike even if the diagnosis is the same. We treat the patient in front of us, as they are today, paying close attention to the physiological signs your body is giving about what it needs to get back to balanced health. Because of EAM's pattern-based approach to diagnosis and treatment, it is a strong complement to Western medicine interventions as EAM supports the body's ability to assimilate pharmaceuticals and recover from medical procedures.
As an East-Asian Medicine practitioner, I help you identify and treat the patterns that are contributing to your current health condition. Through my practice I provide internal medicine healthcare as well as specialized care for autoimmune-related dermatology, gastroenterology, and rheumatology. These are characterized by chronic, inflammatory flare-ups with periods of remissions. Since autoimmune conditions take years to manifest in the body, I help identify and treat the patterns that are tell-tale signs of the development of an autoimmune condition or an impending flare-up of a pre-existing one.
Below are conditions that are commonly treated with acupuncture and herbal medicine. In the subsequent sections you can find more information on my practice's areas of focus.
Dermatology
eczema, psoriasis, acne, urticaria (hives), rosacea, contact dermatitis (poison ivy and oak), herpes zoster (shingles)
Digestive Conditions
irritable bowel syndrome, GERD/reflux, constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel disease (Crohn's & ulcerative colitis)
Pain Syndromes
musculoskeletal pain, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, migraines, headaches, fibromyalgia, hernia, plantar fasciitis
Sleep Conditions
insomnia, hypersomnia, chronic fatigue, dream-disturbed sleep, apnea, snoring, night sweats
Endocrine Conditions
diabetes, Hashimoto thyroiditis, Graves disease, Addison disease, Cushing syndrome, PCOS, irregular menstruation
Circulatory Conditions
hypertension (high blood pressure), hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), Raynaud's syndrome
Neurological Conditions
facial paralysis, Bell's Palsy, post-stroke rehabilitation, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, tremors
Gynecological Conditions
amenorrhea, irregular periods, infertility, miscarriage, leukorrhea, PMS, dysmenorrhea
Respiratory Conditions
asthma, allergies, common cold, flu, sinusitis
Psycho-Emotional Conditions
anxiety, depression, stress-related dysregulation
Cancer Supportive Care
chemotherapy/radiation-induced nausea/vomiting, fatigue, neuropathy
Internal Medicine for Complex Issues
Allergies, Anxiety, Depression, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, Insomnia, Fatigue, Infertility, Cancer Treatment Side-Effects, Paralysis, Chronic Idiopathic Disorders
There are many factors that can contribute to dis-ease that are seemingly unrelated - insomnia can be caused by poor digestion, seasonal allergy symptoms sometimes are actually due to complications from acid reflux, or anxiety may be a manifestation of hormone imbalances - to name a few. These complex webs that cause dis-ease can be very hard to identify through modern medicine's current structure based on speciality, so it may take months or even years for you to identify the problem and even longer to find a solution. East-Asian medicine lends itself to identifying and offering solutions to these complex conditions because it is based on holistic diagnostic and treatment methods that help us get a full picture of what's going on in your body.
As an East-Asian medicine practitioner and a highly curious and determined person, I work with you to really understand who you are, what your body is telling you, and how to best approach re-establishing harmony so that you can transform your focus on life from one of burden to one of prosperity. It will take more time than you would prefer, collaboration between you, me, and your other medical practitioners, rigorous experimentation in finding what works, and patience, but by working together you will leave the clinic feeling much better than when you entered it. If you're curious to see if we're a good fit to help you reach your health goals, let's connect below.
Autoimmune Dermatology
Eczema, Psoriasis, Acne, Rosacea, Urticaria, Alopecia Areata, Impetigo, Lichen Planus, Lichen Simplex, Perioral Dermatitis, Viral Warts, Herpes Simplex, Herpes Zoster, Seborrhoeic Dermatitis
Our skin is the organ other people can see the most, so when it is red and inflamed not only do you have to deal with the physical symptoms of burning, itching, and pain but you also have to deal with the social consequences as your struggle is on display for all to see. Living with inflamed skin dictates what you wear, where you go, and who you let touch you while also impacting your sleep, appetite, mood, and energy levels. Modern medicine's approach to autoimmune skin issues such as eczema, psoriasis, and urticaria is one of too extremes - do nothing or modulate the immune system with steroid creams and/or biologic injections. Both the financial and health costs of these treatments can be overwhelming, so many of us feel hopeless and defeated as we're choosing between a rock and a hard place. I know this feeling all too well as someone who was faced with the decision to do nothing or suppress my immune system in my management of psoriasis, but I am happy to report there is another option.
Autoimmune skin issues are rarely only skin deep, so treatment needs to look at more than just the skin. What has allowed me to significantly decrease the intensity and frequency of flares since starting on this path in 2008 has been behavior change assisted by acupuncture and herbal medicine. In fact, my success with managing my psoriasis is what prompted me to devote my life to the study and practice of East-Asian medicine so that I can help others find the same hope and success when faced with an autoimmune diagnosis. East-Asian medicine's system of holisitic diagnosis and treatment helped me understand the deeply rooted disharmony that was causing my psoriasis and gave me the guidance and tools I needed to re-establish harmony within my body. Through this system I have helped numerous individuals do the same. I will be honest though - it is a long hard road to remission and recovery, but the freedom you acquire along the way makes it 100% worth it. Together we will work to identify the root of your skin condition and build your individual strategy toward remission. It will take more time than you would prefer, collaboration between you, me, and your other practitioners, rigorous experimentation to find what works, and an immense amount of patience, but by starting on this path you will see results that are sustainable and will compound over time. If you're curious to see if we're a good fit to help you reach your health goals, let's connect below.
Chronic Digestive Issues
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Gastritis, Chronic Constipation or Diarrhea, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Diverticulosis
Digestion is the core of our overall health - it is where we extract nutrients from the food we eat that nourish every cell of every organ in our bodies. If this core is off, the system as a whole becomes unbalanced. Many times disharmonies in our digestive system aren't straight forward - they are as dynamic as they system itself. For example, sometimes stomach pain is due to too much stomach acid while other times that same pain is caused by too little stomach acid. Unfortunately the way modern medicine approaches chronic digestive issues doesn't lend itself to the dynamic nature of the imbalances - it can take years of incessant discomfort for physicians to finally abandon the generic standard of care and take a look at the whole person to determine what is truly going on. East-Asian medicine's holistic approach lends itself to this dynamic nature and even has an entire school of practice dedicated to improving digestion and overall health through acupuncture, herbal medicine, and nutritional therapy (called the "Yi Shui School").
As an East-Asian medicine practitioner with an extensive background in herbal medicine and nutritional therapy, I work with you to really understand who you are, what your body is telling you, and how to calm and even reverse the effects of longstanding GI discomfort. Together we will work to identify the root of your chronic digestive issues and build your individual strategy toward remission. It will take more time than you would prefer, collaboration between you, me, and your other practitioners, rigorous experimentation to find what works, and an immense amount of patience, but by starting on this path you will see results that are sustainable and will compound over time. If you're curious to see if we're a good fit to help you reach your health goals, let's connect below.
Longstanding Joint Pain
Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Gout, Plantar Fasciitis, Bone Spurs, Bursitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Lupus (SLE), Stubborn Chronic Pain
No one knows how much we actually use our joints day to day more than someone who is experiencing joint pain. The causes of joint pain are varied from acute injury to insidious bone spurs to chronic inflammation. Modern treatment focuses on treating the pain without treating the reason for the pain - NSAIDs and cortisone injections are the standard of care when many times joint pain is caused by a systemic imbalance, therefore the effects of treatment are short-lived. East-Asian Medicine's approach to joint pain focuses on treating the pain while simultaneously treating the true cause of the pain, making it an effective healthcare modality to get to long-lasting results.
As an East-Asian medicine practitioner with a strong track record in pain management, I work with you to really understand who you are, what your joint pain is telling you, and how to calm the pain while simultaneously working on the root cause of it. Together we will work to identify the root of your joint pain and build your individual strategy toward remission. It will take more time than you would prefer, collaboration between you, me, and your other practitioners, rigorous experimentation to find what works, and an immense amount of patience, but by starting on this path you will see results that are sustainable and will compound over time. If you're curious to see if we're a good fit to help you reach your health goals, let's connect below.
© Sydney Malawer, 2020