Guanhu Yang, Ph.D., Does Chinese Acupuncture in Cincinnati, Ohio

Guanhu Yang, Ph.D., is one of the integrative medicine providers at Blatman Health and Wellness Center. He’s a renowned expert in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with decades of experience in education, research, and clinical practice. After earning his degree from Zhejiang College of TCM, he completed postgraduate studies and served as a lecturer in China. He later moved to Japan and earned his Ph.D. in respiratory medicine, and then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center.

Dr. Yang is a recognized expert in acupuncture and other integrative and preventive care in Cincinnati. He takes a personalized approach, ensuring his clients have a thorough understanding of what acupuncture entails and how it benefits overall health. With this in mind, we dive into what acupuncture is, the many conditions it can treat, and its benefits compared to Western medical treatments.

What is Acupuncture and How Does It Work?

Acupuncture as a formal medical system is over 2500 years old, but it may have been practiced in China in a rudimentary form for 5,000 to 7,000 years. The oldest medical textbook on acupuncture is the Huang Di Nei Jing, translated as “Yellow Emperor’s Internal Classic,” and it remains relevant today. Although ancient, acupuncture has evolved over the years, with many new techniques introduced.

Acupuncture is a natural form of healing that involves inserting hair-thin needles into various points to correct an imbalance in the energetic pathways that relate to the organs, muscles, and nerves of the body’s surface. This process can alleviate pain, reduce stress, and be part of a comprehensive treatment plan for various conditions.

The practitioner inserts a needle into what’s called an acupuncture point on a meridian, which connects the interior of the body to the exterior. Each point has a therapeutic action and has been identified according to traditional Eastern medicine to promote the body’s natural healing and improve its functioning.

One acupuncture session typically takes 45-90 minutes, depending on your condition. Some practitioners apply an electronic or heat source with the needles to further stimulate the points.

What Are the Benefits of Acupuncture Compared to Western Medicine?

Western medicine generally focuses on treating symptoms, whereas Eastern medicine considers the same problems in relation to the whole body and how they affect and interact with one another. Our bodies are designed to heal naturally, yet Western medicine often uses artificial substances that harm the body.

In contrast, acupuncture promotes the body’s natural healing capacity, a fundamental principle of functional and holistic medicine. As an integrative treatment, acupuncture has been proven clinically effective for thousands of years and is a preferred treatment for many types of illness.

Are Acupuncture Results Due to a Placebo Effect?

Some individuals unfamiliar with acupuncture may think that the effects are due to a placebo effect rather than the application of the thin needles. However, physiological changes after acupuncture are indeed attributed to the treatment, and many effects occur without the patient’s conscious knowledge. Many of the results are also measured by scientific investigation, such as MRI or other measurable physical changes in the body.

Is Acupuncture Treatment Safe?

Acupuncture is a very safe treatment when performed by a certified acupuncturist using sterile, disposable needles, which greatly reduces the risk of infection. Common side effects are minor bruising, soreness, or bleeding at the insertion sites.

Also, many of our clients find acupuncture to be relatively painless, but this is not always the case. Unlike injection needles, which are many times thicker, acupuncture needles are incredibly thin. At most, needle insertion may feel like a mosquito bite.

What Conditions Does Acupuncture Treat?

Acupuncture is suitable for many types of health-related issues, including chronic and degenerative diseases as well as acute conditions and pain. It also supports the immune system by strengthening a weak response or moderating an overactive one. Here are the numerous health issues that acupuncture can address:

• Upper respiratory conditions: Common cold; acute conditions like sinusitis, rhinitis, and tonsillitis
• Respiratory illnesses: Acute bronchitis and bronchial asthma (most effective in children and in patients without complicating diseases)
• Eye disorders: Acute conjunctivitis, central retinitis, myopia in children, cataracts without other complications
• Mouth issues: Toothache, pain after tooth extraction, gingivitis, acute and chronic pharyngitis (sore throat)
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Spasms of the esophagus and cardia, hiccup, acute and chronic gastritis, Gastric hyperacidity, pain from chronic duodenal ulcer, acute and chronic colitis, constipation, diarrhea
• Neurological and musculoskeletal issues: Headache and migraine, early-stage facial palsy, pareses following a stroke, peripheral neuropathies, neurogenic bladder dysfunction, tennis elbow, sciatica, low back pain, osteoarthritis, pre- and post-operative pain, knee and joint, leg pain, cramps, tingling and numbness, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia
• Emotional and psychological disorders: Depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia
• Infectious diseases: Hepatitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, influenza, epidemic parotitis, polio
• Skin disorders: Eczema, acne, alopecia, seborrheic dermatitis, vitiligo
• Substance and behavioral dependencies: Alcohol, nicotine, drugs, and sugar
• Reducing side effects of cancer treatments

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Acupuncture Evidence Project identifies several conditions that acupuncture can effectively treat, based on scientific evidence. These include various gastrointestinal, respiratory, urogenital, gynecological, circulatory, psychological, and other types of disorders.

Restoring Balance Through Integrative Care

Whether you’re dealing with chronic pain or other medical issues, acupuncture is a safe, effective therapy that stimulates natural healing and brings your body back into balance and stimulates healing. You can even incorporate it into a comprehensive treatment plan that includes other integrative therapies, such as platelet-rich plasma injections for chronic pain or symptom relief.

To learn more about the holistic care we provide at our Cincinnati and New York City clinics, contact us through our online form to schedule an appointment or request more information.