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Acupuncture for Colitis--- Is there hope?


Wed, September 10, 2008 12:00 AM

I am looking into Acupuncture for Colitis. I take 12 Asacols a day and currently tapering prednisone. Even on 30mg of prednisone I was not normal and the stuff makes me so jittery and hateful I have decided to look for an alternative. Has any one tried Acupuncture? Has it helped? Thanks~

FPO candileigh03
Joined Jul 29, 2008

Sat, September 20, 2008 12:00 AM

 Reply posted for candileigh03.

i fully believe that accupuncture helps. my husband had tthe worst flare up 6 years ago. looked terrible, could eat or get out of bed (well only to go to the bathroom) was losing his hair. i gave him a massage which made him feel worse for 24 hours (which made me feel worse because i am a massager therapist) and then later that week he had his first accupunture appt. a few days later he started to feel better and has not had a flare up since. although his colitis is still active inside he is symptom free. he stopped taking meds although now we are told that was a mistake because his uc is still active even though he is symptom free. now he is getting accupunture every two weeks and we will see if that shows any improvement at his next scope. good luck.

FPO cc11406
Joined Sep 17, 2008

Thu, September 11, 2008 12:00 AM

 Reply posted for rachbr.

I went for my first session yesterday.... I am staying on the Asacol (however cant tell its doing anything)and they upped my Prednisone today but I have read somewhere that symptoms get worse on acupuncture before they get better. I can say that the blood was actually worse today then before the treatment yesterday... but who knows.. I'm willing to try anything.

FPO candileigh03
Joined Jul 29, 2008

Thu, September 11, 2008 12:00 AM

 Reply posted for rachbr.

I went for my first session yesterday.... I am staying on the Asacol (however cant tell its doing anything)and they upped my Prednisone today but I have read somewhere that symptoms get worse on acupuncture before they get better. I can say that the blood was actually worse today then before the treatment yesterday... but who knows.. I'm willing to try anything.

FPO candileigh03
Joined Jul 29, 2008

Thu, September 11, 2008 12:00 AM

 Reply posted for KLM.

I have done almost 5 treatments...I also have UC and wanted to try something different. I'm on Asacol and don't think it really works. Anyway, I don't know if this is why my flare up came back, but I stopped taking the Asacol to really give the acupuncture a try. I was put on two kinds of herbs and doing weekly treatments for over a month. After the second treatment my symptoms started coming back. I spent well over $400 doing the treatments and I don't think it did anything. If anything I would say it just relaxes you....

FPO rachbr
Joined Sep 10, 2008

Wed, September 10, 2008 2:43 PM

 Reply posted for candileigh03.

Actually, I was diagnosed with Chrons in July 2008.  I started accupuncture about 1 month ago and have undergone 3 treatments.  So far, I have not been super impressed.  However, my accupuncturist says that everybody is different and some people do not feel any effects for months.  I go once per week.  She says not only should it help with symptoms but also the whole spirit/mind/body connection and should help with "evening out" your qi ("chee") and leveling you out in general and helping your body stay in balance.  It is a very interesting process if you have never done it before.

My thought is that it can't hurt!  And, I need all the help I can get at this point.  I am on Prednisone and Pentasa (not working) right now.  Switiching to Humira next week.  I look forward to new alternative therapies to mix and match with western meds.  I also do yoga at least once per week which I find helpful and calming.  I know stress does not cause Chrons but to be stressed out can aggravate the sympotms.

Good Luck!

FPO klm
Joined Sep 26, 2008

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