Also known as Raynaud’s Phenomenon causes certain areas of the body like the fingers and the toes, ears, and nose to become cold and numb. This can result from cold weather, anxiety, and stress. The blood supply to the skin through the arteries are limited to the affected areas, this is called vasospasm.
Primary Raynaud’s is when this is the only disease without any other illness behind it. Symptoms are usually mild in this presentation.
Secondary Raynaud’s comes from other illnesses. This condition attacks the connective tissues, examples are lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
There is no cure for Raynaud’s Disease however symptomatic relief may be found by covering the affected areas before leaving the house, this helps prevent tissue damage. When the extremities are cold and numb due to this condition relief can be got by soaking in warm water. This disease can also affect the heart, lungs, and kidneys. Western medicine usually uses vasodilators such as losartan and calcium channel blockers to relax and open the small blood vessels in the hands and feet such as nifedipine, amlodipine, felodipine, and isradipine.
The treatment of acupuncture and Chinese medicine plays an important adjunct for those diagnosed with the condition of Raynaud’s Phenomenon. Tonifying Kidney Yang to effect Raynaud’s Syndrome. When patients have cold extremities in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Kidney Yang deficiency is suspected and can be a root cause of the Raynaud’s in TCM. Warming Kidney Yang is the primary treatment principle. Whether using acupuncture or herbal medicine can have a therapeutic effect on this condition. There are many key herbal formulas that can enhance the warming effect on the kidneys which will in turn warm the extremities helping to alleviate the symptoms of Raynaud’s. Key acupuncture points are used to facilitate a therapeutic effect. Through this process of acupuncture, there will be other organs that have a relationship with the kidneys. The liver, spleen, and heart points are used to collectively enhance the immunological response and vascular effect with microcirculation. These organs are diagnostically used in the five-element system which is the basis of Chinese medicine. These organs have energetic properties and with the stimulation of acupuncture have a direct effect not only on the organ, but the targeted meridian.
Many patients get welcomed relief with acupuncture from the conditions of Raynaud’s Disease.
To receive a diagnosis of Raynaud’s Syndrome, one must experience:
