Tourette syndrome can improve by 70% or more with just 12 acupuncture treatments. Further improvement is often seen with additional sessions.
Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder characterized by sudden, repetitive, and involuntary movements or sounds called tics. These tics can be either motor (bodily movements) or vocal (sounds) and vary in type, frequency, and severity. Tourette syndrome is considered the most severe of the tic disorders.
Key aspects of Tourette syndrome:
- Tics:
The hallmark of TS, these are involuntary, rapid, and repetitive movements or sounds.
- Motor Tics:
Involve body movements, such as eye blinking, head jerking, shoulder shrugging, or facial grimacing.
- Vocal Tics:
Involve sounds, such as throat clearing, sniffing, humming, or repeating words or phrases.
- Onset:
Symptoms typically begin in childhood, often between the ages of 5 and 10.
- Course:
Tics may fluctuate in severity and may worsen during periods of stress, excitement, or illness. They often improve or become more manageable during adolescence and adulthood.
- Diagnosis:
Requires the presence of both motor and vocal tics for at least one year.
- Other Conditions:
People with TS may also experience other conditions, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
- Treatment:
While Tourette is typically regarded as a chronic condition, many individuals have experienced symptom relief and functional improvement through acupuncture.
