Classical Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture in the Wake of COVID-19

Like most people right now, we would describe our current stress level as somewhere between devouring an entire tub of Nutella in one sitting and endlessly pacing around our apartment in day-four sweatpants. There’s no shame in it—the world is filled with unknowns, which are often more anxiety-inducing than cold, hard facts. However, the silver lining of experiencing an unprecedented global pandemic in 2020 is that technology has made it easier than ever to stay in touch with loved ones and access services that you would otherwise leave your house to experience. Missing your Pilates class? Stream it over Instagram. Learning how to cook every breakfast, lunch, and dinner? Tune into a YouTube tutorial. In desperate need of an acupuncture or chiropractor session? Maybe it’s time to try acupressure at home—we can teach you how.

Acupressure as a Self-Healing Alternative to Classical Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

For the uninitiated, acupressure applies the same theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as acupuncture, wherein you apply pressure to different targeted points throughout your body. There are hundreds of points altogether, which can be activated by either specialty needles (acupuncture) or manual manipulation (acupressure), and according to Dr. Shari Auth, co-founder of WTHN, by doing so, you are able to signal your brain to alter your overall brain chemistry and “tell the body to react to achieve a desired result.” Gabriel Sher, director of acupuncture at ​ORA, notes that the practice is a “self-healing alternative that individuals can do at home to help circulate Qi, increase blood flow, and decrease stagnation in the body.” In other words, Classical Chinese medicine and acupuncture are accessible wellness practices that might help you overcome bouts of anxiety, tension, and even physical pain.

The Science Behind Classical Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

Traditional Chinese Medicine teaches us that everyone has a map of different channels within the body, and in order to treat stress specifically, you will need to target the ones that influence that part of your system. Says Sher, “applying pressure to these points stimulates the nervous system and causes the release of nitric oxide and endorphins, which help lower your blood pressure and trigger positive feelings.”

While studies in the Western world are still limited, Auth references two papers that exhibit promising results from the practice, which date back thousands of years. One, from the Journal of Physical Therapy Science, uses acupressure for chronic lower back pain (which many of us might be experiencing due to a lack of proper desk space), and another from the American Society for Pain Management Nursing, which cites 15 studies that utilized acupressure for a range of conditions, like menstrual pain, labor pain, chronic headache, and more, all with promising and measurable results.

How to Practice Classical Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture at Home

Both Sher and Auth recommend practicing acupressure multiple times per day to help calm your nerves, relax tight muscles, and relieve aches and pain. All you need are your hands (or if you’re quarantining with someone, you can treat each other, as well) and a few essential oils for an added boost of relaxation. And while you can perform acupressure anywhere, it’s best to create a calming environment for each session, away from noise and other people—even if it’s just closing the door to your bedroom for 15 minutes. We have seen tremendous improvements in some of our patients with a combined therapy of acupressure and Herbal Medicine in Bay Ridge.

In terms of technique, Auth says, “Use your thumb to gradually apply increasing pressure on a point until you find the sweet spot, where it’s just enough pressure to feel some resistance without discomfort or pain. Then, hold constant pressure and make a circular motion with your thumb, gently massaging the point. Take 10 deep breaths, and then release.” Try it out by following along with these four easy acupressure techniques.

• SPLEEN-6 – Helps balance hormones and reduce stress
• TAIYANG – Relieves headaches
• PERICARDIUM-6 – Good for anxiety, calming the system, and nausea
• YIN TANG – Good for anxiety, calming the system, and insomnia

 What is Classical Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture?

“Traditional Chinese Medicine came out of post-communism China and is just one of the many theories and lineages of Chinese Medicine practiced today,” Nicole Miziolek, a board-certified acupuncturist and Chinese Herbal Medicine practitioner, tells Coveteur. She describes TCM as a more Westernized version of Chinese Medicine. Today, it’s one of many modalities used in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AOM), which is the national term recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“AOM doesn’t just cure an illness or ailment, but treats the entire body holistically,” explains Soo-Kyung Ahn, a board-certified best acupuncturist in Bay Ridge and herbalist with Re Nu Mi Wellness Center. You’ve likely heard of or even experienced some of its tools before, which include “acupuncture, herbal therapy, Tuina massage, dietary therapy, Tai Chi, and Qi Gong,” according to Ahn, as well as gua sha, cupping, ear seeding, and moxibustion. “It is ultimately based in Taoist philosophy and rests on more than 5,000 years of observation, clinical experience, and scholarly research.”

Overall, it aims to prevent and treat sickness by bringing the mind, body, and spirit into “balance and harmony,” as Ahn says.

How Does Classical Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Boost Immunity?

“A healthy immune system is all about balance and harmony,” Ahn says. At least 80 percent of illnesses are caused by immune-system problems.” As the spread of the novel coronavirus illustrates, “if your immune system is on point, it’s a lifesaver.”

Ahn explains that when a being’s mind, body, and spirit exist in harmony, it allows the body to do its job best. “It helps you to get quality sleep by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, [and during sleep,] the human body produces cytokines, a protein that targets infection and inflammation, effectively creating an immune response.” Gut health reduces inflammation and supports immunity as well; or as Ahn puts it, “a healthy gut on the inside will protect you from viruses and bacterial infections on the outside.”

Finally, TCM helps release “negative emotions” and stress, which has both a direct and indirect impact on the immune system. “There are numbers of studies showing that feelings of helplessness and hopelessness can create chronic stress, which upsets the body’s hormone balance, depletes the brain chemicals required for happiness, and damages the immune system,” she says. “Stress can also have an indirect effect on the immune system, as a person may use unhealthy behavioral coping strategies to reduce their stress, such as drinking alcohol, poor diet, lack of exercise, and lack of sleep.”

It’s easy for a skeptic to dismiss—immune support based on the hypothetical comings and goings of a life force known as Qi?—but there is scientific evidence to support the efficacy of TCM.

Scientific Evidence for the Effectiveness of Classical Chinese Medicine for Covid-19

The South China Morning Post reports that 87 percent of China’s COVID-19 patients “were given traditional medicines” alongside “mainstream antiviral drugs,” and 92 percent of those patients showed “significant” improvement. “Traditional Chinese Medicine has played an active role in improving the recovery rate and lowering the mortality rate among patients,” Gao Xiaojun, a spokesman for the Beijing Health Commission, told the Post. CNN reports that the rate of recovery for patients with mild symptoms who received TCM treatment was 33 percent higher than for those who did not.

What’s more, “the WHO recognizes Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine as effective for over 43 conditions,” Ahn says.

References ORA & WTHN Editor’s note: As ever, we are not doctors or medical know-it-alls. And everybody is different, so make sure to check with a doctor before trying anything new.

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