Acupuncture and TCM

What Is It?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) includes acupuncture, herbs, movement practices such as qigong and tai chi, and its own approach to nutrition. In acupuncture, fine needles are placed at specific points on the body. In scalp acupuncture, they are placed in specific zones of the scalp.

What Does the Research Say?

There are many studies on acupuncture for Parkinson's, mostly from China. Reviews often show positive effects on motor function, sleep and mood, but many of these studies are small and methodologically weak. Tai chi, on the other hand, is well supported: in studies it improves balance and gait and reduces falls. You can read more about that under Sports and Exercise.

My Experience

I started acupuncture at the very beginning, with a doctor in Heidelberg. But I didn't feel particularly comfortable there and stopped. A later attempt in early 2024 didn't convince me either.

Soon I will start Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA) with Dr. Dorothea Zeise-Süss in Remchingen near Karlsruhe. She is a specialist in general medicine, has worked with scalp acupuncture for decades, and has done research and published books with a special focus on Parkinson's. I will report here on how it goes for me.

Qigong, on the other hand, has been part of my training for years, once or twice a week.

My Conclusion

I can recommend qigong and tai chi to everyone. Acupuncture is well tolerated and can be tried as an add-on, but its effect in Parkinson's has not been reliably proven.