Autoimmune Disease

Autoimmune disease occurs when our immune system mistakenly identifies a part of our body as harmful and attacks that tissue. The body’s immune system sees its own tissue as an enemy invader and tries to destroy it. Autoimmune diseases can be mild, such as atopic dermatitis or dry eyes, or they can be severe, such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or psoriasis. Although symptoms can vary greatly depending on the specific disease, the most common symptoms include chronic fatigue, joint pain, muscle weakness, weight loss, dry eyes, and abdominal pain.

According to Chinese medicine, autoimmune disorders occur when there is an imbalance within the body. Imbalance can come from an excess or deficiency of yin and yang that disrupts the flow of qi, or vital energy, through the body. Acupuncture is used to help the body restore balance, treating the root of the disorder, while specifically addressing the symptoms that are unique to each individual.