Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by sudden, repetitive, jerking motor movements such as eye blinking, coughing, throat clearing, sniffing, and facial movements, or vocalization of socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks. Tourette Syndrome may be masked in some sufferers by such other conditions as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD).
The cause of Tourette’s is unknown but current research suggests that a problem with how nerves communicate in the brain via neurotransmitters may be involved.
Medical treatments are available
Drugs that deplete or block neurotransmitters, antidepressants and Botox often are prescribed. Dulling of the mind and weight gain are among observed side effects. Stimulants work in some cases but can exacerbate symptoms for others. Long term effects of drug treatment for Tourette Syndrome has not been well studied.
Acupuncture solution for Tourette Syndrome
According to the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, improved attention and focus, reduced fidgety or hyperactive behavior and better mood are observed results of acupuncture treatments. In one published study, Tourette’s symptoms were reduced or completely eliminated in 73% of the patients treated with acupuncture.
In an NIH report on a controlled study of 102 cases of Tourette’s treated with acupuncture, they measured electrical signals generated by the nervous system in response to sensory stimuli (SEP) before and after treatment. Greater response was found in the acupuncture group. In terms of symptoms, 97.1% in the group treated with acupuncture either were cured or greatly improved, while only 76.5% showed improvement in the control group treated with the antipsychotic haloperidol.
The English language Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine reported on a group of children between the ages of 6 and 15 treated with Acupuncture within one year of diagnosis of Tourette Syndrome. Lead author of the study, Wu Lianzhong of the acupuncture department of the No.1 Hospital, affiliated with the Tianjin College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, noted that in 84 patients who had shown EEG abnormalities at the outset, 72 of those cases became normal after the treatment course of several weeks.
Our Advice
Studies clearly show a high rate of improvement and even cure of Tourette Syndrome treated with acupuncture. The treatment period is best begun as soon as the condition is diagnosed. In addition to acupuncture’s effectiveness, its major advantage over drugs is its safety.
Sources
http://www.needlefreeacupuncture.net/Tourette_s_syndrome.pdf
http://www.livestrong.com/article/544729-acupuncture-for-adhd-tourettes/
Acufinder.com; Acupuncture and ADHD; Diane Joswick, L.Ac.; 2011
MayoClinic.com: Tourette Syndrome
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16813178
PMID: 16813178 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Zhen Jiu. 2006 Jun;26(6):392-4.
[Clinical observation on acupuncture for treatment of Tourette’s syndrome]
[Article in Chinese] Ma S, Liu XY, Yu RL, Chen LJ.
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1996; 16(3): 211-213.
Wu Lianzhong, Li Huimin, and Kang Ling, 156 cases of Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome treated by acupuncture