How does acupuncture treat pruritus ani? How successful is acupuncture in treating pruritus ani?

In Chinese medicine, there are acupuncture points and herbal formulae that treat this condition very well. I can only speak in theoretical terms, and of course you will need a practitioner to examine you and decide what is causing your sign and symptoms.

An imbalance can cause the anus to become inflamed, burn and/or itch. There are some types of deficiencies that can cause trouble there too. In Chinese medicine, this might be caused by too much heat or excessive dampness. Once your therapist determines what pattern of symptoms you have then they will create a set of acupuncture points to address it (acupuncture points are the specific locations on the body where the needles are inserted). Certain acupuncture points have a cooling effect on the body, while others have a draining effect. Still other acupuncture points have a tonic purpose and some have an impact on the Large Intestine in general. Acupuncture can be very helpful, but I would certainly consider Chinese herbal medicine as well. You will have the best chances for success that way.

I would also suggest you see your medical doctor so that you can rule out causes such as fissures, infections, etc. Please make sure your acupuncturist is qualified and fully trained using Chinese medical principles.

Accupuncture uses pins to unblock blocked energy in and along the subtle energy channels called meridians in the body.
Depending upon what you accupuncturist diagnoses, he or she will place a series if pins along the meridian and point related to your problem/s. He or she may also advise on some herbal medicines to take in conjunction with these treatments. You may need only a few sessions or maybe a lot, that will depend on the severity of the problem and the therapist.
Accupuncture generally does not hurt but you can experience tingles, heat moving, some times and emotional release, your therapist will advise you on this beforehand.

As a Naturopath I can highly recommend accupuncture as a treatment as well as herbal medicine, both have good track records with this.

Hope this helps.

Craig - Naturopath.
http://www.craighitchenstherapies.com...