Treating Appendicitis

Appendicitis, depending on severity, can be managed and treated with a few different methods. Although it is done differently in Western medicine compared to traditional Chinese medicine. 

Western Medicine

Depending on your medical condition, your doctor’s recommended treatment plan for appendicitis may include one or more of the following:

  • Appendectomy –  an appendectomy is removing the appendix surgically. This is usually the easiest and most effective in western medicine. Taking the appendix out of the body eliminates the risks of appendicitis but also has side effects of its own. These can include bleeding, infection, injury to nearby organs and blocked bowels. 
  • Abscess draining – draining the complication of an abscess can either be done with a needle or surgery. Your doctor will use a CT scan or an ultrasound to locate the abscess. They will insert a needle on the end of a syringe into the abscess, then the plunger will be depressed, draining the pus from inside.
  • Antibiotics – Cefotans and Cefotaximes help prevent appendicitis related wounds from causing a severe infection. These antibiotics are used after surgery or in case of a sudden rupture of the appendix.  
  • PainKillers – NSAIDs are the most popular medications designed to help relieve pain with appendicitis. But they may have some side effects including bleeding from the stomach and other GI-related issues since they can be really hard on your digestive tract. People who have ulcers tend to avoid drugs like this.
  • IV Fluids – Intravenous fluid regulation is the control of the amount of liquid that flows through a tube into your veins.
  • Liquid Diet – A full liquid diet is based on clear liquids but it includes all foods that are liquid or will turn to liquid at room temperature, or melt at body temperature. It gives you more nutrition than an ordinary clear liquid diet. Taking less energy to digest, it gives your body the nutrients it needs yet saves energy to heal from a procedure.

Chinese Herbal Medicine Approach 

Acupuncture is an effective treatment for many ailments.

Traditional Chinese medicine is an ancient holistic practice. It is centred around the belief that good health is dependent upon the balance between mind and body as well as between a person and their environment. TCMs main treatment approach involves using natural ingredients and acupuncture to maintain the balance of energy in your body. The body has meridians or channels of energy throughout, when these get blocked, disturbed or out of balance our health is affected. When we have a health condition, such as appendicitis, acupuncture can be used to relieve pain and support flow of blood and energy to promote healing. This works by applying needles to meridian points associated with the condition, releasing blockages and stimulating the blood flow to restore balance. The process is assisted with Chinese herbs to decrease inflammation and benefit bodily function. There are no side effects with this totally natural approach and great results. 

At Centre of Balance we proudly practice Traditional Chinese Medicine. If you or someone you know are having health troubles, contact us at Centre of Balance to learn more about Chinese Medicine and how we can help you today. 

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References

https://www.healthline.com/health/appendectomy#risks

https://www.healthline.com/health/appendicitis#treatment

https://www.everydayhealth.com/appendicitis/guide/antibiotics/

https://www.singlecare.com/conditions/appendicitis-treatment-and-medications

https://www.healthline.com/health/full-liquid-diet

https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/traditional-chinese-medicine-what-you-need-to-know

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Monica

I am originally from Hebei province in China. I hold a NZ bachelor’s degree of health and science with a major in acupuncture. I am honoured to be an acupuncturist at Centre of Balance. Helping patients to alleviate their pain brings me the greatest joy. Chinese medicine emphasises the unity of human beings and nature. During the treatment, I hope to not only relieve your pain but also help you to understand the principles behind acupuncture’s effectiveness, as well as the significant impact of diet, emotions, lifestyle habits, and living environments on disease recovery. Self-healing is an ability that our bodies are naturally endowed with.

I studied acupuncture in New Zealand and completed one and a half years of supervised clinical internship before graduating. In the early stage of my training, I mainly worked with patients experiencing neck, shoulder, and lower back pain. Under the guidance of senior clinical tutors, I gradually developed hands-on experience and confidence in treating musculoskeletal pain conditions.
As my clinical exposure expanded, I began treating a wider range of internal conditions. Alongside traditional acupuncture, I was introduced to Umbilical Acupuncture and Tungs-acupuncture Points. What interested me most about these approaches is that they often do not require needling directly at the painful area, yet can still achieve very effective results.
I was especially inspired by observing my supervisor use Umbilical Acupuncture to treat common conditions such as insomnia, menstrual irregularities, and even rheumatoid arthritis, with very positive outcomes. Another supervisor was highly skilled in Tungs-acupuncture Points and achieved excellent results in treating pain, infertility, menstrual disorders, and a variety of women’s health conditions. After completing my studies and entering clinical practice, once I observed Dr. Szenan Phua using Tungs-acupuncture points to help cancer patients relieve pain, which further strengthened my trust in this treatment method.
I later completed training in Dr. Tan Balance Acupuncture, which had a strong influence on the way I approach treatment. One of the most noticeable features of this method is how quickly patients often feel improvement, especially with pain conditions. Dr. Szenan Phua’s New Balance Acupuncture combines meridian regulation with structural adjustment and internal organ balancing, including techniques such as pulse balancing and spinal adjustment.
From my clinical experience, pain is rarely just a local issue. It often involves underlying organ weakness or structural imbalance. When these aspects are addressed together, treatment can be more thorough and longer-lasting. I also apply this approach to internal conditions, particularly in fertility and women’s health. This includes supporting natural conception, IVF preparation and embryo transfer, pregnancy support, early-pregnancy nausea, and late-pregnancy labour induction. I combine these treatments with concepts learned from a few additional fertility training, which has given me a broader and more flexible clinical perspective. This has reinforced my belief that acupuncture should be adapted to each individual rather than applied through fixed formulas.
Two other areas of study that have been very helpful in my clinical work are Tongue Diagnosis and Dr. Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture. Although tongue diagnosis is taught in my standard Chinese medicine training, further study allowed me to deepen and refine my diagnostic skills.
My first formal training was in Li’s Tongue Diagnosis, which looks not only at organ patterns, but also at how different areas of the tongue reflect the body’s structure. This system also explores personality traits and changes during pregnancy, making it both clinically useful and engaging. I later attended online lectures on Yin’s Tongue Diagnosis and studied the related materials independently. this learning has helped me make clearer and more accurate pattern differentiation, allowing my acupuncture treatments to be more targeted. It covers a wide range of conditions, including skin disorders, oncology-related presentations, mental health patterns, and joint or limb problems. In practice, tongue observation often provides valuable insight even before a patient begins describing their symptoms.
In addition to the methods above, I regularly use local bloodletting techniques, which can be very effective for improving circulation, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. I also incorporate auricular (ear) acupressure and stimulation, which I commonly use for allergies, insomnia, headaches, stress management, and various internal conditions.
In my clinical work, I value taking the time to listen carefully to each patient and to understand their overall health, lifestyle, and concerns. Based on each individual’s condition, I also provide personalised dietary guidance and lifestyle or wellness advice to support overall health and long-term wellbeing. I commonly support patients with musculoskeletal pain, such as neck, shoulder, knee, and back pain, as well as stress-related conditions, sleep issues, migraines, digestive concerns, and women’s health and fertility-related conditions.