Celiac Disease And Acupuncture

[Woodrow18]

A very caring but insistent friend sent me information about using acupuncture to cure celiac disease. I am doing extremely well on a gluten-free diet and have no interest in pursuing acupuncture as a treatment option. Has anyone heard of or used acupuncture to treat this disease? She also swears that acupunture cured her granddaughter's allergy to corn.

Nancy

[kenlove]

Have had acupuncture a number of times for muscle.skeletal problems in Japan and here in Hawaii, including from the Chinese Olympic team doctor at the Barcelona Olympics -

I like to think I have an understanding of how it works and have friends how have been though training and practice it in Japan. Can't imagine how it owuld work on celiac but have been wrong before. Maybe ask them to explain how it would work. I had rotator cup problems, three treatments and never any trouble since then -- about 25 years ago. It's a valid method of healing but for celiac I have no idea.

A very caring but insistent friend sent me information about using acupuncture to cure celiac disease. I am doing extremely well on a gluten-free diet and have no interest in pursuing acupuncture as a treatment option. Has anyone heard of or used acupuncture to treat this disease? She also swears that acupunture cured her granddaughter's allergy to corn.

Nancy

[ravenwoodglass]

There is no cure for celiac other than the gluten free diet. Acupuncture may help with some of the inflammation issues and with pain relief but as a cure for celiac, nope.

I did use actupuncture for quite a while before I was diagnosed for pain relief. I have livedo reticularis as a byproduct of celiac and it was amazing to see the difference before and after a treatment. I would go in covered in purple splotches and walk out with normal skin....for a couple of hours. My acupuncturist was also amazed and wanted to take pictures but as soon as I was diagnosed the LR went away and we never got the chance. If you are having problems it wouldn't hurt to try it and see if you get some relief but as a cure for celiac it isn't worth your time or money.

[tarnalberry]

It could also help with calming the overactivity in the immune system and supporting a healthy digestive system, but again, that would not *cure* celiac. Acupuncture isn't going to change your genetics, or the rules of chemistry.

I use it for fibromyalgia, restless leg, migraines, and to support my pregnancy - to good effect so far. If I had been glutened and my intestines were going a bit wonky, I'd probably talk to my provider about something to support healing in the gut, but that'd be about it.

[TownieHeather]

A very caring but insistent friend sent me information about using acupuncture to cure celiac disease. I am doing extremely well on a gluten-free diet and have no interest in pursuing acupuncture as a treatment option. Has anyone heard of or used acupuncture to treat this disease? She also swears that acupunture cured her granddaughter's allergy to corn.

Nancy

Just to put in my two cents... I have heard the theory in the alt medicine community that some forms of gluten intolerance are in fact caused by candida overgrowth (although it can obviously be vice-versa as well). This might have been what your friend was referring to without knowing it - candida is often addressed with accupuncture and I guess there have been people who have lost their intolerance to gluten as a result of treatment. I have no idea whether any of these people were actually medically identified as celiac though.