A Journey to Healing: Acupuncture for Fatigue, Joint Pain, and Raynaud’s Phenomenon

When our body begins to whisper—through fatigue, aching joints, disturbed sleep, or cold hands—we often brush it off, thinking it’s just part of a busy life. But sometimes, these whispers grow louder, becoming cries for help.

This is the story of a woman who came to my clinic feeling overwhelmed by a sudden return of chronic symptoms she thought she had left behind. With the support of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, she began the journey of reconnecting with her body, restoring her balance, and learning how to listen deeply to what her body was trying to say.

The Initial Concern: "I want to try acupuncture to help with fatigue, joint pain, muscle aches, and Raynaud’s..."

When she first walked into my clinic, her main concern was a sudden wave of fatigue and joint pain that had returned after many years of stability. She also felt frequent coldness and numbness in her fingers, a worsening of her Raynaud’s symptoms.

She told me she had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis over a decade ago. Through conscious changes—mainly eliminating dairy—she had been able to live pain-free for many years. However, after a recent move and a stressful year, the symptoms had come back unexpectedly, stronger than before.

She had already seen her GP, who suspected the possibility of lupus based on her bloodwork. But without a clear diagnosis, she felt unsure and stuck. Her fatigue was extreme—despite a full night’s sleep, she woke up feeling exhausted. Headaches, sore joints, a constant dry cough, and emotional stress from family responsibilities were all piling up.

In Chinese medicine, we understand that symptoms like these rarely appear out of nowhere. They are signals from the body that something deeper is out of balance. And our goal is not only to relieve the discomfort but to gently restore harmony from within.

A Pattern Begins to Emerge: An Internal Disharmony

Through our first few consultations, a complex picture revealed itself. There were signs of:

• Qi and Blood Deficiency – She often felt tired, heavy, and had poor sleep. Her body lacked the strength to warm her limbs and move the Blood freely.

• Liver Qi Stagnation – Years of stress, emotional responsibility, and tension were showing up as headaches, digestive irregularities, and tight muscles.

• Underlying Cold and Damp – Raynaud’s symptoms, aching joints that worsened with weather changes, and sluggish digestion all pointed to deeper Cold and Damp lodging in the meridians.

• Spleen and Kidney Imbalances – Her digestive troubles, light sleep, and joint weakness all suggested the body’s foundation needed nourishment.

Treatment Strategy: Root and Branch

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we always treat both the root cause and the branch —the underlying pattern and the outward symptoms. Her treatment plan included:

🌿 Acupuncture: Points were chosen to move Liver Qi, tonify Spleen and Kidney, expel Damp, and open the channels to improve circulation and ease pain. Treatments were also tailored to calm the mind and support restful sleep.

🌿 Chinese Herbal Medicine: A custom formula was prescribed to build Qi and Blood, warm the meridians, support her immune system, and nourish her Shen (spirit).

🌿 Lifestyle & Food Guidance: She had already begun eating clean and avoiding dairy, which aligned well with TCM dietary principles. We focused on warming foods, regular meals, and gentle movement to support the Spleen and promote circulation.

Week by Week: The Shifts Unfold

After just a few sessions, changes began to appear:

Less Fatigue: She began waking with more energy. While not yet fully refreshed, the heavy exhaustion started to lift.

Better Sleep: The 2–3am wakings became less frequent. Her nervous system felt more settled.

Reduced Pain: The joint pain became milder. The tightness and achiness that had once been constant began to fade.

Raynaud’s Episodes Lessened: With improved circulation and reduced internal Cold, her fingers weren’t going numb as often.

Clearer Mind: The brain fog lifted slightly each week, and she felt her best energy in the evenings—her "party time," as she lightheartedly described it.

Of course, healing is never a straight line. There were weeks when the headaches came back, or when emotions flared due to family stress. But through it all, her body continued to respond with more resilience, more steadiness, and a quiet strength.

Reclaiming Vitality

Several weeks into treatment, she came in with a quiet smile:“I don’t get many headaches anymore. My energy is way up. The joint pain is barely there.”

Her right shoulder still ached at times, and her dreams were still active every night, but the overwhelming fatigue was no longer running her life.

This is the beauty of Chinese medicine—it doesn’t just mask symptoms. It guides the body back to its own rhythm, teaches us how to nourish ourselves deeply, and reminds us that healing is a process of reconnection.

Final Thoughts

Each patient’s journey is unique, and this story is just one example of how Chinese medicine can gently but powerfully help bring balance back to the body.

If you’ve been feeling tired, achy, or out of balance for reasons you can’t explain, know that your body is not broken—it is simply asking for support. Chinese medicine offers a way to listen, understand, and heal.

🌿Are you ready to start your healing journey?Visit www.theneedleladynz.com or book an appointment to explore how acupuncture and herbal medicine can support your body, mind, and spirit.