Acupuncture and the bigger picture: why diet and lifestyle matter
Acupuncture Awareness Week is underway, and as the name suggests, it's all about raising awareness of the amazing impact acupuncture can have on people's lives. This year's theme celebrates the transformative power of acupuncture and the changes it can bring about when practised by a traditionally trained acupuncturist.
Traditional acupuncture is rooted in Chinese medicine, which has a long history stretching back thousands of years. A fundamental principle of this medicine is the prevention of illness through diet and lifestyle. Functional medicine, nutritional therapy and other modern wellness practices may be relatively new in comparison, but they share many of the same principles when it comes to understanding health through a root-cause approach and recognising the impact of lifestyle factors on our wellbeing.
The origins of Chinese medicine and its approach to preventative healthcare can be traced back to the Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine), an ancient text whose teachings remain remarkably relevant today. At its heart is the search for the formula for a long and healthy life. We have always wanted to live to a ripe old age, enjoy good health and avoid chronic illness.
The opening chapter of the Neijing discusses the lifestyles of "the ancient people", contrasting them with those of the contemporary population. It explains that these ancient people lived for 100 years because they "understood the principle of balance". The text goes on to describe the harmful lifestyle habits that were becoming increasingly common:
"They drink wine as though it were water, indulge excessively in destructive activities, drain their… body's essence…. Seeking emotional excitement and momentary pleasures, people disregard the natural rhythm… They fail to regulate their lifestyle and diet, and sleep improperly. So it is not surprising that they look old at fifty and die soon after." [p. 1, translation by M. Ni, 1995]
This could just as easily describe aspects of modern life. Skipping meals or overeating, regularly going to bed too late, overdoing or underdoing exercise and frequent overindulgence are commonplace. These habits can contribute to many of the chronic health conditions and symptoms people experience today.
Prevention of illness and the promotion of longevity are fundamental principles of Chinese medicine, and many acupuncturists incorporate some degree of diet and lifestyle support into their treatments. Chinese medicine has its own diagnostic framework. When we meet our patients, we look at which systems are out of balance and what might have contributed to those imbalances. These influences can include our genetic inheritance, childhood experiences, past illnesses and current diet and lifestyle factors – sometimes, a combination of all. We can't change our genetics or rewrite our past, but we can make changes to how we live now and how we cope with the challenges life throws at us. As part of your treatment, many acupuncturists will help you identify the things in your life that may be contributing to your symptoms and offer advice on what you might change and how.
This is very much in keeping with the underlying principles of modern nutritional therapy and functional medicine. The differences tend to lie in the tools and approaches used to support change. Acupuncture can be enormously helpful in managing symptoms and supporting the body's natural regulatory processes. However, longer-term improvements are also influenced by the work you do and the changes you make outside the treatment room.
Acupuncture works with the body's own systems and processes, helping to address imbalances and support the restoration of function. Research suggests that acupuncture can influence a number of physiological processes, including nervous system activity, immune regulation, blood flow and inflammatory responses. It may also help support digestive function, mood, sleep and energy levels. We are still learning more about the ways acupuncture works and the mechanisms behind its effects. However, acupuncture cannot compensate for everything. If there are underlying nutrient deficiencies, ongoing dietary triggers, insufficient sleep, a lack of movement or persistent emotional stressors, the symptoms associated with these factors may continue or return. This is why addressing the wider picture is so important.
Different acupuncturists structure their sessions and support in different ways. A common appointment structure involves a short catch-up, including discussion around diet and lifestyle, for the first 10–15 minutes, followed by acupuncture and possibly additional techniques such as cupping or massage. I am both an acupuncturist and a nutritional therapist, with additional training in functional medicine, so I structure my appointments a little differently.
Over my years of practising acupuncture, I began to notice a recurring pattern among my clients. Some would make excellent progress relatively quickly and only need a few pointers around diet and lifestyle. Others had more complex conditions or circumstances, or simply didn't have the knowledge or tools they needed to look after themselves effectively. For these clients, acupuncture and some dietary and lifestyle changes could help manage their condition to a point, but they would often relapse or reach a plateau in their progress. They needed something more.
This led me back to university to study again – this time, functional medicine and nutritional therapy. It has given me another string to my bow and a more in-depth way of working with people. It allows me to translate the traditional diagnostic language of Chinese medicine into concepts and explanations that people may be more familiar with from modern health and wellness, while adapting my approach to the needs of clients navigating increasingly complex lives.
It has also given me a different structure for my appointments. I'll always include some discussion around diet and lifestyle in my standard acupuncture appointments, but sometimes I'll recommend a longer session to allow more time for a deeper exploration of nutrition, lifestyle and the factors affecting someone's health. In some cases, there may be so much to explore that I'll suggest dedicating specific appointments to nutritional therapy. This allows time to look in detail at someone's diet, lifestyle, health history and the challenges they face, before working together to develop realistic solutions that fit their lives.
It also opens up the possibility of using additional functional testing to investigate factors that may be contributing to the symptoms we're seeing through the Chinese medicine lens. This might help us identify specific nutritional needs, digestive imbalances or pathogens that can then be addressed with appropriate nutritional and herbal support. I find that nutritional therapy and functional medicine fit very naturally alongside the principles of acupuncture and can be a valuable adjunct to treatment. Because nutritional therapy can also be delivered via video call, I am sometimes referred by other acupuncturists around the country who would like additional nutritional support for their own clients.
Ultimately, whether you choose acupuncture on its own or combine it with nutritional therapy, the aim is the same: to look beyond the symptoms, understand what your body needs and support you in making changes that help you feel better, both now and in the longer term.
By Jill Storstein MSc, PgDipAc, GDipFNM, MBANT, MBAcC
Jill is a BAcC member and BANT registered Nutritional Therapist. Her practice is based in Aberfeldy, Perthshire and offers online Nutritonal Therapy nationwide.
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