🌬️ Acupuncture for Raynaud’s Disease

Why Your Hands & Feet Turn Cold, Pale, or Purple — and How Acupuncture Helps

Have you ever stepped into a cold room or held an iced drink, and suddenly your fingers turn white, purple, or numb? Do your hands and feet feel unusually cold — even when everyone else feels fine?

These are classic signs of Raynaud’s disease, a condition where the small blood vessels in the fingers and toes become overly sensitive to cold or stress.

The good news: acupuncture is one of the most effective natural therapies for improving circulation and warming the hands and feet.

Let’s explore why.

❄️ What Is Raynaud’s Disease?

Raynaud’s happens when the tiny arteries in your fingers or toes spasm and temporarily shut down blood flow.

This leads to:

Typical color changes:

1️⃣ White – lack of blood flow

2️⃣ Purple / blue – lack of oxygen

3️⃣ Red – blood rushes back

During an episode, you may feel:

• Coldness

• Numbness

• Tingling

• Stiffness

• Pain when the fingers warm back up

Raynaud’s can be mild or severe. Some people only react in winter, while others trigger symptoms even in air conditioning or emotional stress.

🌿 Why Does Raynaud’s Happen?

Common triggers include:

• Cold exposure

Even mildly cold temperatures can activate a strong vasospasm.

• Stress or anxiety

The body’s fight-or-flight mode tightens blood vessels.

• Overactive sympathetic nervous system

This causes exaggerated constriction of the small arteries.

• Poor circulation or low body temperature

Often seen in people with cold hands and feet year-round.

• Hormonal influences

Raynaud’s is more common in women.

• Underlying conditions

In some individuals, autoimmune issues or thyroid imbalance may contribute.

🌸 TCM Understanding: Why Hands & Feet Turn Purple

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Raynaud’s is commonly related to:

• Yang deficiency → not enough warmth in the body

• Cold stagnation → blood flow slows down

• Qi and Blood deficiency → weak circulation

• Liver Qi stagnation → worsened by stress

This explains why symptoms worsen with:

• Cold food or drinks

• Stress or emotional tension

• Lack of sleep

• Exhaustion

• Winter weather

🔥 How Acupuncture Helps Raynaud’s Disease

Acupuncture is highly effective because it addresses both circulation and stress response — the two biggest triggers of Raynaud’s.

1. Improves blood flow to hands & feet

Acupuncture dilates small blood vessels, increases microcirculation, and helps maintain warmth.

2. Reduces vessel spasms

Regular treatments lessen the frequency and intensity of color changes.

3. Calms the sympathetic nervous system

Stress is a major trigger — acupuncture helps regulate the body’s response.

4. Warms the channels & dispels cold (TCM)

Especially with moxibustion, the hands and feet gradually stay warmer.

5. Strengthens the body’s overall energy

For Yang deficiency or Qi deficiency types, acupuncture builds internal warmth.

6. Long-term improvement

Consistent treatment significantly reduces winter flare-ups.

🌼 What Treatment Looks Like

A typical session includes:

• Acupuncture on the hands, forearms, legs, and back

• Circulation-enhancing points like LI4, TE5, PC6, ST36, SP6, KD3, LIV3

• Optional moxibustion for warming

• Stress-relief points to calm the nervous system

Most clients feel:

• Warmth spreading

• Tingling as circulation returns

• Relaxation throughout the body

Some improvements happen immediately; chronic cases improve gradually over several weeks.

🌙 Signs You Should Consider Acupuncture for Raynaud’s

You may benefit if you experience:

• Always-cold hands or feet

• Fingers turning white or purple in cold weather

• Pain when warming up

• Numbness or tingling

• Circulation issues

• Seasonal flare-ups

• Stress-induced symptoms

Acupuncture is safe, natural, and works well as a long-term management option.

💜 Lifestyle Tips to Support Healing

• Keep your core warm — not just your hands

• Avoid iced drinks

• Manage stress and sleep

• Use gentle heat on hands/feet

• Eat more warming foods (ginger, soups, cooked vegetables)

• Avoid prolonged exposure to cold environments

Small habits make a big difference!!

💆 Ready to Feel Warm Again?

At Lilac Wellness Spa, we offer personalized acupuncture plans for Raynaud’s, cold hands/feet, circulation issues, and stress-related symptoms.

✨ New Client Intake — 90 min / $120

Includes consultation, pulse/tongue diagnosis, personalized acupuncture, and optional moxibustion.

Warm hands and feet aren’t just a comfort — they’re a sign of balanced circulation and strong vitality. Acupuncture can help you get there naturally.