A neurological disorder marked by tics, which are sudden, rapid involuntary vocalizations or movements that repeatedly occur in the same way, Tourette syndrome may, for instance cause you to repeatedly jerk your head, shrug your shoulders, or blink your eyes.

Tics are the classical telltale indications of Tourette syndrome. These intermittent, brief, and rapid sounds or movements may range from mild to debilitating and severe. Tics can be categorized as either simple tics (repetitive, brief, and sudden and affect a few number of muscle groups) or complex tics which are coordinated, distinct movement patterns in which several muscle groups are affected.

The exact cause of Tourette syndrome is still unknown and medical treatments are aimed at managing the symptoms that adversely affect everyday functioning and activities of the patient. Doctors prescribe medications such as Ritalin, Zoloft, Prozac, Haldol, and Clonidine for this condition. These are drugs tested and developed for other conditions like ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), depression, and hypertension. While there are individuals who may find relief from these medicines, they are not designed to completely cure the symptoms. Moreover, their side effects are reasons enough for a lot of people to not take them.

Practitioners of TCM (Traditional Chinese medicine) see the body as an interconnected whole. And so, instead of examining the body to locate a specific diseased tissue, muscle, or organ these practitioners try to ascertain what causes the imbalance of the interactions between the tissues, muscles, and organs. Once the imbalance is rectified, the underlying cause of the problem is resolved and the body can proceed to heal itself. To accurately determine the specific imbalance generating the disease, the practitioner observes the tongue and palpates the pulse of the patient and asks the patient a number of questions related to his/her health. Each patient is treated in a unique way. Chinese herbal formulas and acupuncture in Overland Park are used treat the specific imbalance and address the root cause of the illness as well as the symptoms. Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture offer an effective, natural, and safe whole body approach in the treatment of Tourette syndrome.