Acupuncture as a Detox

Here's a question I was recently asked:

Q: Is it safe / okay to get acupuncture done while breastfeeding? Admittedly, I know almost nothing about how acupuncture works and I know you are supossed to avoid some detoxifying activities as it can get into your milk. I know detoxing through certain supplements and juice fasts, are not considered okay, but a massage for example, would be.

A: It is absolutely safe to have Acupuncture while breastfeeding. In fact there are Acupuncture protocols just for bringing in milk for a mother who is not producing, or is not producing enough.

Acupuncture has gained some notoriety as a detoxifying treatment mostly through its effectiveness in treating addiction based disorders like alcoholism and drug abuse. There are actually some counties in New York and Florida which include mandatory Acupuncture treatment as part of the probation requirements for alcohol and drug offenders. But Acupuncture doesn't work like most detox systems of cleanses you would be familiar with.

Acupuncture works as a detox system in two ways:

1. It balances and improves the efficiency of organs related to detoxing, like the liver and kidneys. If these organs are not doing their job because they are overwhelmed or weak, Acupuncture can give them a jump start and get them performing.

2. But most importantly, Acupuncture can help regulate and reduce the side effects that accompany the natural process of detoxing from any substance that is bad for us. These side effects are typically referred to as "withdrawal symptoms". They include anxiety, irritability, headaches, nausea, shaking, and sweating. This is typically one of the main reasons people cannot break their addictions, they cannot handle the withdrawal.

This scenario does not just apply to detoxing from illegal drugs and alcohol, I have also had success treating people who want to detox from prescription medications like opiates, cigarettes, and the most prevalent addiction in America: caffeine.

Of course there are many herbal supplements that can be used to detox organs like the liver, kidneys, and colon. These should be used under the supervision of a physician or trained herbalist, especially in cases of women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.  

For more information about Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, visit my website www.OCAcupunctureSpecialist.com or my facebook page www.facebook.com/OCAcupunctureSpecialist