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Lupus, a disease that affects 1.5 million Americans
and is a disease for which there is no known cure.
Now health officials say acupuncture could hold the
key to helping patients.
Acupuncture physician Joan Tirro said she believes
eastern medicine can ease symptoms of debilitating diseases like
lupus. Her strategy is to use needles and herbal remedies to "balance"
the body.
"I don't treat the diagnoses, I don't treat the symptom,"
Tirro said. "I treat why the body is off-balance."
Patient Debra Faucher suffers from discoid lupus,
an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks its own good skin
cells. The result is "flare-ups," legions on the skin, extreme swelling
of joints, and fatigue.
"Lupus makes you so tired," Faucher said. "So tired
that you have to think if it's worth it to get up and get that glass
of water. Or can you really go without it?"
Faucher was tired of being the guinea pig for new
prescription drugs; their side effects made her feel even worse.
In desperate need for an alternative, she turned to acupuncture
and herbal medicine. After only a few weeks, she said she couldn't
believe the difference.
"I was totally amazed," Faucher said. "She got me
out of the flare-up. I go to her once a month. For the first time,
I felt like she focused on me as an individual, not as a guinea
pig. I would recommend it highly."
Tirro begins by assessing what areas of the body are
out of balance. She prepares the needles, cleans the area, and with
one quick poke, she punctures the skin. She is careful to bypass
any pain receptors.
Tirro then massages herbal oils into Faucher's head,
increasing circulation and relieving neck pain.
"I've seen incredible changes in Debbie," Tirro said.
"No. 1, I've seen her skin totally clear up, she's radiant."
TheWPBFChannel.com
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