Weight Loss With Acupuncture - Can Acupuncture Help You Lose
Weight?
In recent years, more and more people are trying out acupuncture to
lose weight. Just what is acupuncture? How can acupuncture treatment help you
lose weight?
Acupuncture is a branch of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and has been
around for about 5, 000 years. It is the practice of inserting very thin
needles to stimulate pathways or meridians in the body to treat many illnesses
and diseases especially to relieve pain from chronic disorders.
Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners or TCM physicians claim that
acupuncture can help you to lose body fat by making you feel full and so will
eat less. This curbs excess caloric consumption in the patient treated with
acupuncture and is a great help in the patient’s weight loss program.
Acupuncture treatment can also be used to raise your metabolic rate and help
you to burn more calories to speed up weight loss. Some Chinese medicine
practitioners say that acupuncture stimulates the production of a hormone
called endorphins and this hormone helps to lower body fat, insulin and lipid
levels in the bloodstream thus less insulin is converted into body fat.
Acupuncture is not a miracle cure for obesity. TCM physicians often stress
that to achieve good weight loss results from your program and maintaining your
weight, acupuncture treatment alone is not enough. To lose weight effectively
and keep the fats off permanently, acupuncture treatment must be combined with
healthy eating habits and regular exercises.
Before you begin your acupuncture treatment, your Chinese physician will
conduct a medical examination on you by checking your pulse and examination of
your tongue to ensure that you are suitable for acupuncture weight loss
treatment. This is because TCM is a holistic branch of health care and do not
just specifically target the ailment or medical complaint. So an investigation
into other reasons why a patient is obese is necessary to solve the problem
holistically.
If you want to lose weight naturally and without drugs, why not try TCM
acupuncture for your weight loss program?
The fact acupuncture has become such an accepted practice is exemplified by
the number of sports enthusiasts that use it in modern time.
At the Chinese National Games held in 1993, a total of nine Chinese women
broke world distance running records. There was a big scandal over this as the
athletes were accused of the use of steroids or other banned performance
enhancing drugs. An investigation revealed that, indeed, the women had used
performance enhancing drugs, but they were not banned ones at all. They were
Chinese herbal remedies. They had been selected and given to them based on
individual examinations and a diagnosis of the individual’s strengths and
weakness based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
This event was an indication of the growing use of Traditional Chinese
Medicine is the field of Sports Medicine. The use of herbal supplements is not
the only part of TCM being used. Acupuncture is widely used in Sports medicine
to both treat sports injuries and to improve performance in actual competition.
Players have found the treatments to be extremely beneficial in both areas.
The use of acupuncture in the management of pain is quite common. It is
little wonder that players would find the treatments beneficial for this reason
alone. Many athletic injuries involve a great deal of chronic pain and
individuals are often called upon to function at a very high level despite the
pain. There is a rather unsavory image of the professional being given an
injection just prior to the big game to mask his pain in order to be able to
perform. This practice is usually portrayed as having very negative and serious
consequences.
Acupuncture using players are in one sense doing exactly the same thing. The
difference is in the fundamental difference between the approach of Chinese
medicine and Western medicine. The acupuncture treatment would not be a
localized injection designed to reduce or mask pain from an injury. It would be
a long term treatment designed to restore the natural harmony of the body and
promote the healing. To put it another way, the shot in the locker room is
treating the pain itself, while the acupuncture treatment is dealing with the cause
of the pain.
One practitioner who treats players with acupuncture explains his approach
as having three prongs. The first prong is the Yin approach. It restores the
health of the individual and addresses past injuries and deficiencies. The Yang
approach is geared toward enhancement of performance during actual
competitions. The final prong is the application of all the resources of
Traditional Chinese Medicine such as herbal supplements and healthy lifestyle
practices.
The world of sports can be highly competitive and the use of harmful and
dangerous chemical aids has become a world wide concern and scandal. The use of
acupuncture can give an edge that is both safe and legal to the sports
enthusiast.
Getting A Better Night's Sleep With Acupuncture And Sleep Apnea
By Aubrey Burke
Sleep apnea can be an alarming condition to have, especially if you are the
partner of the person affected. This condition is recognised by periods of
sleep in which the breathing stops - sometimes for several seconds. The
sufferer will also tend to snore loudly, and more often than not both they and
their partner will feel tired and irritable during the day as a result of the
disturbed sleep patterns they are experiencing.
In conventional medicine not much is known about why sleep apnea occurs. But
although modern doctors may scoff at the notion of sticking needles in your
skin to alleviate the condition, acupuncture and sleep apnea provide a good
combination and many people have sought the help of an acupuncturist to be able
to get a good night’s sleep once again.
Acupuncture And Sleep Apnea – How Do They Work Together?
When dealing with acupuncture and sleep apnea, an acupuncturist will find
out all they can about the sufferer’s medical history and lifestyle. The
Chinese style of medicine works on the belief that all diseases and illnesses
are caused by some kind of blockage in the flow of energy around the body, and
the information they glean from the patient will help them identify the likely
points that need treatment.
Acupuncture and sleep apnea are an ideal example of how well acupuncture can
work in treating a condition that can stump conventional doctors, because the
Chinese tend to concentrate on what might be causing the condition rather than
on how to treat it.
Acupuncture and sleep apnea also go well together because, contrary to what
some might believe, acupuncture is actually a very relaxing procedure to undergo.
I know of someone who always booked evening appointments after work, and she
always slept extremely well afterwards due to the relaxed state she came home
in.
While acupuncture can indeed help people suffering from sleep apnea, it is
vital to remember that conventional treatment and advice should also be sought.
Sleep apnea can sometimes be a symptom of a detectable underlying cause that
can be treated by modern medicine, so a doctor’s office should always be your
first stop.
But whether a cause can be found or not, acupuncture can certainly help to
maintain a relaxed state and a better flow of energy around the body, both of
which can assist in helping the patient – and their partner – enjoy a much
better night’s sleep.
Aubrey Burke is a freelance journalist who has written for various sites and
online journals including http://www.infoabouteverything.com
Sinus headaches are triggered when the mucous membrane of the sinus cavities
in your face get inflamed. If you suffer from sinus headaches, you get a deep,
dull pain in front of your head or face (at specific points such as behind the
eyes or side of the nose). The pain gets worse if you moved your head
physically, especially while bending down or leaning over.
Sinus headaches pain peaks during the morning hours after waking up and it
generally subsides by after noon. And quite often, the pain starts when you get
a bad cold.
Conventional treatments for sinus headaches usually involve antibiotic cure
and surgery in acute cases. More recently, it has been found that acupuncture
is an effective complementary and alternative therapy for sinus headaches.
Acupuncture is the one of the oldest and widely used holistic medical
practices in the world. It is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The term ‘acupuncture’ stands for a variety of procedures that involves
stimulation of anatomical points on the body using different techniques. The
most popularly studied technique involves inserting extremely thin metal
needles at the acupuncture points. These needles are then either manipulated by
electric signals or bare hands. This procedure does not involve injections of
drugs or medical substances. You usually do not feel any pain and sometimes you
do not even realize that a needle has been inserted into your body.
Now here is how acupuncture relieves sinus headaches. Modern science
believes that acupuncture brings about biochemical changes in the blood serum
to stabilize serotonin – a vital chemical that acts as a messenger between the
spinal cord and brain – and stimulates the release of endorphins (human body’s
natural painkiller) to alleviate the pain. Further, it activates the
parasympathetic nervous system to relieve stress, anxiety and muscle tension,
and promotes cerebral circulation so that the affected region gets more
oxygenated blood supply and nutrients.
Acupuncture for sinus headaches is usually prescribed based on a detailed
diagnosis of your medical condition. Your practitioner has to first determine
what the imbalances in your body are before he decides a course of treatments.
If you wish to consider having acupuncture for sinus headaches, you will
need to find an expert acupuncturist. Check with the local acupuncture
association to get some referrals. The better skilled your acupuncturist is,
the more effective you will find this alternative and complementary treatment.
Instantly Quit Smoking with Acupuncture
By Oliver Turner
Acupuncture is a highly effective quit smoking method for all, and specially
for those people who had been unsuccessful with other methods to stop smoking.
People who go for acupuncture treatments are usually keen on quit smoking
beliefs. Although they have failed with all previous programs, this 3500 years
old Chinese remedy promises quick relief from chronic smoking habits.
Acupuncture works most effectively on human body to reduce chronic smoking
habits
Acupuncture is based on the belief that “chi”, a vital energy force flows
through 12 key channels around the body. Within these channels, there are at
least 365 acupuncture points, which can sometimes get blocked preventing the
smooth flow of vital energy, thereby leading to chronic habits. Acupuncture for
stop quit smoking does not involve any “magic” acupuncture points. At least
five needles are taken and inserted into the ear [particularly in the cartilage
and not in the ear canal] and a few on the hands and wrists. With the needles
pricked to your skin, you are left to relax for 30 to 45 minutes. These pricked
needles provide significant effect on lessening cravings for smoking.
Treatments involved in acupuncture
To become a non-smoker, you have to follow a series of sessions. These
sessions also focus on physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms occurring in
the patient during the acupuncture treatments. While the needle-pricking treatments
are going on you are also advised to undergo treatments with herbs. You can
apply a mixture of oil of cloves and wintergreen, extracts of evodia fruits and
Sichuan
lovage rhizomes in the acupuncture points to get faster stop smoking results.
Other advantages of acupuncture - tips on stopping smoking
Acupuncture tips on stopping smoking not only relieve you from permanent
smoking cessation but also works advantageous for you. After the acupuncture
series is over, even cigarettes taste foul. It takes a nasty burnt taste and
you can thus proudly redefine yourself as a “non-smoker”. Acupuncture therapy
for stop smoking also reduces side effects of nicotine withdrawals like
depression, cravings and anxiety. While the body actually improves in blood
circulation and de-congesting the lungs, you also start feeling truly
optimistic.
Acupuncture is a definite method that helps you to quit smoking miraculously
within a few days. Try it out to experience instant success even if you are a
chronic nicotine-smoker.
Prostate Health through Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
By Spence Pentland
From birth to young adulthood, the prostate grows from about the size of a
pea to about the size of a walnut. Most men experience a second period of
prostate growth in their mid- to late 40s. At this time, cells in the central
portion of the gland - where the prostate surrounds the urethra - begin to
reproduce more rapidly. As tissues in the area enlarge, they often compress the
urethra and partially block urine flow. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is
the medical term for this condition. It should be noted that the prostate may
also become enlarged due to bacterial infection, the term used for this
condition is acute or chronic bacterial prostatitis. There is also another
non-bacterial form of chronic prostatitis which is actually more common than
its counterpart, the cause for it is unknown.
Prostate enlargement affects about half of men in their 60s and up to 90 percent
of men in their 70s and 80s. The presence or absence of prostate gland
enlargement is not related to the development of prostate cancer.
Conventional treatment depends on your signs and symptoms and may include
medications, surgery or non-surgical therapies such as acupuncture, herbs, and
nutritional supplements.
Signs & Symptoms Prostate enlargement varies in severity from man
to man, and doesn't always pose a problem. Only about half the men with
prostate enlargement experience signs and symptoms that become noticeable or
bothersome enough for them to seek medical treatment. These signs and symptoms
may include:
*Weak urine stream *Difficulty starting urination *Stopping and starting
again while urinating *Dribbling at the end of urination *Frequent need to
urinate *Increased frequency of urination at night (nocturia) *Urgent need to
urinate *Not being able to completely empty the bladder *Blood in the urine
(hematuria) *Urinary tract infection *Pain in the lower abdomen *Discomfort
during ejaculation *Fever and chills (infection)
Traditional Chinese Medicine Traditional Chinese Medicine generally
sees the condition of prostate enlargement as an accumulation of Dampness and
Heat in the lower portion of the torso (low Jiao), or as cold that has entered the
Liver channel, quite often accompanied by a Kidney deficiency as an underlying
root. This condition gives rise to all the troubling urinary symptoms listed
above. Acupuncture, moxibustion, and laser acupuncture displays good results in
helping restore normal urinary function (Luo YN et al. World Journal of
Acupuncture-Moxibustion), and Chinese herbal therapy has been shown to
eliminate the root causes of prostate enlargement. Together, Chinese herbal
medicine and Acupuncture are an important choice in overcoming the battle with
prostate enlargement. In one study, electro-acupuncture was also shown to help
chronic prostatitis cases that were unresponsive to conventional therapies
(Ikeuchi T, Iguchi H).
Treatments with acupuncture (traditional, electro, laser) and moxibustion
(heat therapy) are usually once per week unless there is considerable pain 2-3
treatments per week for 1-3 weeks may be warranted. Chinese herbal therapy will
be administered in the form of daily tea, pills, powders, or drops. Some nutritional
supplements and western herbal therapy may also be recommended. Diet will also
be reviewed from a traditional energetic point of view to help eliminate
anything that may be aggravating the prostate condition.
Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis The most recent scientific research
claims that chronic non-bacterial prostatitis has unknown etiology (the cause
is not known). This is an unfortunate situation considering it is more common
that it’s infectious counterparts, acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis.
Symptoms include pain and discomfort in the pelvic region or CPPS (chronic
pelvic pain syndrome), some low back pain, frequent urination, and an
unfinished feeling after urination. There is usually no history of urinary
tract infections (as in bacterial prostatitis), no redness, and patients do not
obtain symptomatic relief with antibiotics.
There also seems to be more of a feeling of ‘cold’ (rather than ‘heat’ which
would be associated with the infectious bacterial prostatitis). It should also
be noted that emotional problems such as depression and erectile dysfunction
more often than not accompany this chronic condition and should be properly
diagnosed and treated.
Treatment Studies and Research Some men say they find relief with
NSAID’s (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), although this is an avenue
that cannot be undertaken forever as they suppress the immune system.
The Merck manual is quoted saying that hot sitz baths and prostate massage
are two of the best ways to provide symptomatic relief.
A recent study showed the benefits of alternative therapies including
phytotherapy (quercetin, bee pollen) and physical therapies such as acupuncture
(Shoskes and Manickam, dept. or Urology Cleveland Clinic Florida). The relief from acupuncture
displayed that there is a neuromuscular component to chronic prostatitis. This
is further proven in another study done by Chen and Nickel at the King Street
Medical Arts Centre in Mississauga Ontario Canada where acupuncture
successfully ameliorated symptoms in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic
pelvic pain syndrome.
Another study performed by Chen, Gao, Liu, and Shen at Zhejiang College
Hangzhou showed promise with the use of laser acupuncture.
Other herbal supplementation has received scientific recognition as of late;
pygeum for urinary symptoms, saw palmetto and quercetin for pain, and
beta-sitosterol to aid with urinary flow.
Moxibustion, a form of heat therapy used with acupuncture has also shown
improvement in patients that participated in a study at FushunMunicipalHospital,
and another showed significant improvement at NanjingMedicalUniversity when a
combination of antibiotics and acupuncture were used in the treatment of CPPS
and chronic prostatitis.
Years of empirical evidence also gives hope to those that seek out the aid
of a qualified Chinese herbal medicine practitioner.
Spence Pentland of VancouverBCCanada
received his five year Doctor of TCM education from the International College
of Traditional Chinese Medicine Vancouver. To complete his studies he spent 500
hours at Anhui Hospital of TCM Hefei City, in the PeoplesRepublic of China. He is a licensed and
registered member of the Canadian Traditional Chinese Medicine Association, is
the President of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association of British
Columbia (TCMABC http://www.tcmabc.org/),
and practices at Acubalance Wellness Centre (http://www.acubalance.ca/)where he treats only Men's reproductive
health (http://mens.health-info.org/)and
Women's fertility issues.
Acupuncture is the ancient Chinese method of using tiny needles to stimulate
specific areas or "meridians" of the body and to rebalance the body's
energy, or chi. Because acupuncture is especially effective for chronic
conditions, many pregnant women are turning to acupuncture to provide drug-free
relief from many of the unpleasant symptoms of pregnancy.
An Australian study showed that women who received acupuncture treatments
regularly before their 14th week of pregnancy had less nausea and shorter bouts
of morning sickness than women who did not receive the treatment. Acupuncture
has also been used to treat the more serious condition hyperemesis gravidarum,
which causes serious vomiting that persists throughout pregnancy.
During the second trimester, acupuncture has been used to successfully treat
heartburn and hemorrhoids. In the third trimester, acupuncture can provide
relief from sciatica, joint pain and carpal tunnel syndrome, which many women
develop late in pregnancy. Acupuncture has even been used to relieve pain
during labor and delivery.
Pregnant women seeking to use acupuncture to treat conditions developed
during pregnancy should be sure to visit a licensed and experienced
acupuncturist. For example, although acupuncture can be used to treat edema, or
swelling of the ankles, edema can be an indicator of a serious problem. An
acupuncturist experienced in treating pregnant women would be more likely to
recognize this problem and refer the patient back to her obstetrician.
The most serious risk of using acupuncture during pregnancy is that it may
stimulate labor if it is improperly applied. Choosing an experienced
practitioner reduces this risk to almost negligible levels. In fact, many women
have turned to acupuncture to purposefully stimulate labor when their baby is
overdue. Some women have found that labor induced by acupuncture is gentler
than labor induced by drugs such as Pitocin.
In addition to benefits during pregnancy, labor and delivery, acupuncture
has been used to promote fertility and to treat infertility. In a small German
study, women who used acupuncture in conjunction with in vitro fertilization
had a 42.5% success rate compared to 26.3% in women who used in vitro
fertilization alone. Fertility specialists attribute this to the overall
improvement of health that comes from receiving regular acupuncture treatments.
Finally, acupuncture may have some benefits in treating post-partum
depression. Although no research has been done to support the efficacy of
acupuncture treatments on post-partum depression, anecdotal evidence shows that
some women do benefit from its use. Because acupuncture does not cause harmful
drug interactions, it can be a useful complimentary therapy.
Acupuncture Offers Relief for Discomforts of Pregnancy
By Lorne Brown
Pregnancy is a joyous and exciting time but the enormous physical and
emotional changes your body is undergoing can create uncomfortable symptoms
ranging from nausea to back pain. Western medicine has little relief to offer
for these common conditions of pregnancy, as many women are reluctant to take
Western drugs due to the unknown effects they may have on the baby. Traditional
Chinese Medicine, with its long history of treating pregnancy and postpartum
conditions with acupuncture, offers a safe, effective alternative for treatment
of pain and discomfort during pregnancy. Moreover, it provides an excellent
compliment to midwifery, doula, and obstetrical care.
Traditional Chinese Medicine is a holistic medical system that treats the
root causes of dysfunction or disease. It has been practiced for over 2000
years, making it one of the oldest and most widely used systems of medicine in
the world. In Chinese medicine health is the result of balance and the free
flow of energy or Qi (chee). Many things can disrupt this balance including
environmental changes, poor diet, improper exercise, heightened emotional
experiences and stress, and especially physical changes such as pregnancy.
Acupuncture, the practice of inserting hair thin needles into certain
anatomical points in the body, restores balance and relieves specific symptoms.
Current medical research suggests that acupuncture's pain and stress
relieving effects may be based on the fact that it releases endorphins -- the
body's own natural painkillers.
Acupuncture has been shown to safely alleviate conditions associated with
pregnancy including:
• Nausea & vomiting
• Threatened miscarriage
• Insomnia & anxiety
• Back pain & sciatica
• Premature labour
• Breech presentations
• Cerivical ripening to prepare for delivery
• Overdue pregnancies
Advanced Chinese medical texts contain detailed descriptions on how and when
pregnant woman can be treated. According to Dr. Bob Flaws, one of North America's foremost experts on Chinese Medicine GYN
OB, practitioners who receive post graduate, professional training in Chinese
Medicine GYN OB can learn to treat problems in pregnancy safely, effectively
and with confidence. When looking for a practitioner in British Columbia it is important to find a
qualified and regulated practitioner of acupuncture who not only has experience
but additional "acupuncture in pregnancy" training.
Under the care of an experienced and qualified practitioner, acupuncture and
Traditional Chinese Medicine provides a gentle, safe way to support your body
during pregnancy. Not only does it help alleviate many common symptoms and
prevent illness and complications, but also it can enhance your overall health
and sense of wellbeing during this special time.
Acubalance Wellness Centre (http://www.acubalance.ca)
is the first Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture clinic in Canada to
exclusively treat reproductive health and obstetrics.
Acubalance Clinical director, Dr. Lorne Brown (Dr.TCM) and practitioner
Raeghan Siemens (R.Ac) have completed advanced professional development studies
in obstetrics and gynecology under Dr. Randine Lewis, infertility expert and
author of the Infertility Cure, notable Doctor of Chinese medicine and midwife
Raven Lang, and Chinese medicine gynecology experts Bob Flaws and Jean
Levesque.
MS is a diagnosis you simple do not want to get. Acupuncture can help to
make a person suffering from it more comfortable and in control.
MS is a horrible disease of the central nervous system. It attacks a
substance called myelin which sheaths the nerves. There is interference with
messages and signals between the brain and the body. This results in a wide
variety of symptoms depending on the nerves effected. Often the symptoms become
such that the patient becomes confined to a wheel chair due to loss of balance
and motor control. Loss of bladder and bowel control contributes to the
emotional sense of helplessness and depression in the patients. There is no cure
for MS at this time, nor is there any absolute certainty as to its cause.
Interestingly, MS was virtually unknown in China until 30 years ago. Around
that time, cases began to appear in some of the larger cities. Early studies
attributed the cause of the disease to the stress of modern living and the
pollution common in larger cities. A careful review of available clinical
studies and papers concerning Traditional Chinese Medicine's view of the
causation, prognosis, and treatment of MS, reveals that there is still some
disagreement. It is clear, however, Chinese Medicine offers no claims of being
able to cure the disease.
The use of acupuncture in the treatment of MS is geared toward two goals.
The first is to bring as much relief of the symptoms as possible. The second
goal is to enable the patient to be able to manage the disease in a way that
allows them to fully experience the joy and splendor of human existence. There
are many indications that these goals have a good chance of success through a
combined approach of acupuncture, diet restriction, and mild exercise.
Acupuncture treatments for MS have had much success in reducing pain and
decreasing spasticity. Another area of success is improved bladder and bowel
control. The reduction of stress and the improved feeling of well being
contribute to an improvement in quality of life. The acupuncture treatments
must be given frequently in order to maintain the improvements of symptoms, but
MS is known for its cycles of remission. During periods of remission, the
frequency of the acupuncture treatments can be reduced.
The reaction of Western medical practitioners to the use of acupuncture in
the treatment of MS is mixed. Some recognize that acupuncture tends to release
endorphins and peptides that modulate the transmission of sensory information
through the central nervous system. The clinical results of many patients have
shown control of symptoms and stress reduction and a positive outlook are seen
as important to the overall treatment. Many doctors have admitted that, at the
very least, acupuncture does reduce stress and improve the sense of well being.
A very few in the Western medical field stubbornly refuse to admit that
acupuncture can be helpful and cite dangers from infection and the transmission
of HIV through the use of needles. These concerns are extremely minimal in
acupuncture when a qualified and certified acupuncturist is involved.
Discover 3 Natural Remedies For Morning Sickness
By David Silva
Here's an estimate that might shock you: as many as 80% of pregnant women experience morning sickness or some form of nausea during their pregnancy. Fortunately, the morning sickness doesn't last throughout the entire pregnancy. It tends to peak around the 9th week and disappear around the 20th week. Unfortunately, nearly three months of battling nausea can be tough on anyone.
Because of concerns for the baby, more and more women are turning to natural remedies for their morning sickness. However, even natural remedies require caution. For instance, the three most common natural remedies for morning sickness are ginger tea, acupressure wristbands, and peppermint oil. Yet these remedies can cause mild adverse reactions such as skin irritation due to the wristbands or the intolerable taste of the ginger.
You do have other choices, however. Here's a short list of steps you can take immediately to help relieve your morning sickness
- Eat frequent, smaller meals so you never feel too hungry or too full.
- Avoid fried or fatty foods.
- Eat crackers, bread, toast, cereal and other bland foods throughout the day. Eat something from this list before you get out of bed in the morning.
- Drink plenty of fluids, especially between meals.
- Keep a record of your activities and the foods you eat in order to identify what tends to trigger your nausea.
If these steps aren't helpful, then you might want to consider trying one of natural remedies listed above. Let's take a closer look at these ...
Acupuncture
A very small percentage of pregnant women experience hyperemesis gravidarium, which is a severe form of morning sickness that can result in weight loss, dehydration, and potentially hospitalization. Several studies have demonstrated that regular, several-times-a-day acupuncture sessions can be helpful in minimizing this form of nausea and vomiting.
In addition, acupuncture wrist bands (also known as ‘sea bands’) that stimulate the pericardium (p6) acupuncture point can be effective. The wrist band consists of a plastic button that applies pressure on the p6 point inside the wrist. This is a form of traditional Chinese medicine used to relieve nausea, and it generally works immediately. You can find an acupuncture wrist band online or at your local health food store. They're generally reasonably priced.
Ginger
Ginger is a popular natural remedy for morning sickness. It's been used for this purpose for centuries, and after numerous medical trials, is generally recognized as safe. However, ginger does contain substances that can potentially cause birth defects. For this reason, taking higher doses (over 500 mg) during pregnancy is generally unadvisable. In addition, there are concerns that ginger can prolong bleeding time and interfere with platelet aggregation, though studies focused on the first trimester found no notable difference in the number or miscarriages, stillbirths and malformations.
Ginger is commonly taken in hot water as a tea. It can also be consumed as ginger soda, gingersnaps or in capsule form.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Nausea can be minimized by using the aroma of peppermint. It's relatively easy to create your own peppermint aroma bowl. Fill a large bowl with hot water, add two drops of peppermint essential oil, and you're all set. Keep the bowl on a nightstand near where you sleep and see if it doesn't help.
As with any medical treatment or natural remedy, always consult with your physician first. Some natural remedies can work against medications, others can have hidden side effects that your physician can caution you about.
David Silva is the webmaster for Alternative Medicine First, a website dedicated to the dissemination of information about alternative medicine, including various practices such as acupuncture, biofeedback, Traditional Chinese Medicine, massage, yoga and others.
Acupuncture For Migraines-Effective or Not?
By Anna Hart
Migraine. Just the thought of it causes dread for millions of sufferers.
Many have learned to expect and live with migraine pain, but they would rather
not think of the next episode.
Acupuncture for Migraines – What Is Involved?
Acupuncture is a type of alternative or complementary medicine, derived from
traditional Chinese medicine. This treatment for pain involves insertion of
fine needles into particular points in the body known as "acupuncture
points". The needles are then gently manipulated.
Acupuncture for Migraine Prevention - Between Attacks
If you decide to try acupuncture for migraines between your migraine
attacks, and have an acupuncturist who distinguishes between prevention and
treatment, you may receive SES acupuncture for migraines.
You will receive your SES treatment in a sitting position. Fine acupuncture
needles will be inserted very shallowly into your skin. The acupuncture points
chosen for SES will usually be on your forearms and lower legs. The needles
will then be gently manipulated, pushed back and forth, by hand while you
exhale.
Acupuncture for Migraine Treatment - During Attacks
If you decide to try acupuncture for migraines during a migraine attack, and
receive a typical treatment, fine needles will be inserted into acupuncture
points all over your body. The needles will then be gently pushed back and
forth. As it is moved, each needle will cause small blood vessels around itself
to dilate. This will increase the blood flow throughout your body’s tissues.
Your acupuncturist may take a different approach, however. Since your
migraine pain is generally believed to be linked to blood vessel dilation in
your head, he or she may not want to insert needles in the head and neck area.
To do so might make your pain worse temporarily. Instead, your acupuncturist
may use only the acupuncture points on your arms and legs.
Great Britain
Research on Acupuncture for Migraines
* On 15 March 2004, four British newspapers reported on a study that found
acupuncture helpful to people with migraines.
* The four papers based their stories on a randomized, controlled trial.
That trial studied the effects of using acupuncture for migraines along with
more common types of care. The trial was conducted in twelve (12) different
areas of England and Wales. It
involved 401 patients in all. It reported results for 301 of those patients.
* Patients treated with acupuncture for migraines had less severe headaches
than those who received more common treatments. The patients treated with
acupuncture for migraines also had fewer days off work, took less medication,
and visited the doctor less often than did patients given only standard care.
United States
Research on Acupuncture for Migraines
Two publications in the United
States have published studies that have lead
to strong, positive conclusions on the effectiveness of acupuncture for
migraine relief.
1. Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
Under the title, “Acupuncture for Patients with Migraine,” JAMA published a
study involving 302 patients. Most of the patients were female. Patients were
grouped into those who received acupuncture for migraines, those who received
sham acupuncture for migraines, and a wait-list control.
The researchers concluded that sham acupuncture was no less effective than
regular acupuncture. Both acupuncture for migraines and sham acupuncture,
however, had much greater positive effect on migraines than did the wait-list
control.
2. Blackwell Synergy
In this study, 160 women were studied to determine if acupuncture for
migraines was effective or not. This study pitted acupuncture for migraines
against the use of Flunarizine for migraines.
* Group A received acupuncture for their migraines every week for two
months. After that, they received acupuncture once monthly for four months.
* Group B was given Flunarizine every day for two months. After that, they
received the medication twenty days out of the month for four months. The
study’s conclusion was profound. Acupuncture for migraines won as the more
effective treatment of the two.
Acupuncture for Migraines – Does It Hurt?
You may be among those migraine sufferers who see acupuncture for migraines
as a choice between the pain of the headache and the pain of needles. You may
be among those who have an intense fear of needles. How can you get past the
fear?
1. FIRST: Seek out a well-qualified, professional acupuncturist. Get
recommendations, if possible. Be sure the acupuncturist is licensed and
certified according to the law in your area.
2. SECOND: Visit the acupuncturist before making an appointment. Ask
to see needle-sterilizing procedures. Ask if they use disposable needles.
3. THIRD: If you still fear the needles, ask if there is an
alternative. Some offer magnetic needles, ear cups, and/or herbal methods.
4. FOURTH: Make an appointment.
When you go for your appointment, be sure you explain exactly the problem
you are having, its frequency, and intensity. Provide as much medical
information as possible. This will help the acupuncturist provide the
acupuncture for migraines treatment that is best for you.
NOTE: It is wise to keep your primary health care provider aware that you
are using acupuncture for migraines in addition to or in place of any treatment
he or she may advise.
Menopause is the cessation of the menstrual cycle, which usually occurs slowly, as the ovaries gradually lose their ability to produce estrogen. The reduced levels of estrogen in the body reduces fertility, making reproduction more and more difficult until it eventually ceases altogether. Menopause is a natural part of the physiological aging process, but can also be induced surgically, when a woman undergoes a hysterectomy - if the ovaries are removed with the uterus. The average age of onset of menopause is 50.5 years, but can occur much earlier in cases of premature ovarian failure, or slightly later.
Some women can sail through menopause with hardly a symptom. Most women experience something - from mild to severe hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, to irritability. Other possible symptoms can include vaginal dryness, urinary urgency or incontinence, osteoporosis, joint pain, decreased libido, fatigue, depression, memory loss and mood swings. One decade, estrogen replacement therapy is touted to be the best thing since the water faucet, and the next decade it is deadly. Nowadays there are bio-identical hormones available, progesterone creams, and a host of other options. The risks of such treatments are still unknown, especially for women who have had a history of breast cancer.
One of the many options available to women is acupuncture and oriental medicine, sometimes called Chinese medicine. The roots of this medicine go deep. It has been treating women for all the symptoms associated with menopause and perimenopause for around 5,000 years. Does it work? Well, if it didn’t, someone would have noticed by now. But how does it work, and what can you expect from being treated by this ancient form of medicine?
To answer the second question first, you can expect a soothing environment, and a sense of deep relaxation. Some people can actually feel something “shift” inside them during treatments, describing it as a sense of something being released. Some people feel a slight tingling, and some a heavy sensation. Sometimes patients report that they experienced fewer hot flashes, mood swings or night sweats after one treatment. But since Oriental medicine relies on the body’s ability to correct and heal itself, it usually takes more than one treatment for you to get lasting results.
So what is happening here? How does this work? What we say is that before you experience any kind of a symptom, the body’s energy is out of balance. First energy goes out of balance, and then matter follows energy. The principle that underlies the theory of acupuncture is the principle of energy. When the energies of your organs and tissues are in balance, then they function properly. Over time, with different stressful situations, different life events and choices, our energies lose their equilibrium. Factors such as diet, emotional stress, overwork, lack of exercise, etc. affect the bodies energies. It’s like a stream with too many rocks in it – on the upstream side you get a puddle, and on the downstream side you get a trickle. What acupuncture needles do is take the rocks out of the stream.
Starting with perimenopause, women begin to lose what’s called their “yin” energy. Yin relates to quiet, moist, calm, receptive energy. It’s as if you forgot to put enough coolant into the engine of your car, so the engine heats up. It’s not that there’s too much heat, it’s that there isn’t enough coolant. So while acupuncture can balance your bodies energies, you can also expect that your acupuncturist will recommend an herbal formula. Herbs are a way of putting something into the body - in this case, some “coolant”. Chinese herbs are almost never taken singularly. They are meant to be taken in formulas, with specific amounts of each herb, prescribed to match each patient’s specific condition or conditions, body type, etc. When searching for an acupuncturist to treat your menopause or perimenopausal symptoms, you should make sure that he or she is a qualified herbalist, too, as this will make a big difference in the results you can expect. But it is important to understand that many of the herbs which are typically used in treating perimenopause or menopausal symptoms contain phytoestrogens, they are generally contraindicated in treating women who have had a history of breast cancer. Only a qualified herbalist will be able to decide if it is possible to compose a formula without any phytoestrogens, which would effectively treat your symptoms.
Can Acupuncture Help Control Menopause Symptoms
By Kathryn
Whittaker
The treatment for migraines and other menopause symptoms is not the same in
every part of the world. Different cultures have different medicine practices
and beliefs. However, it is interesting to note that the Traditional Chinese
Medicine (TCM), acupuncture, is becoming a popular therapeutic method in
Western culture to treat a variety of psychological and physical conditions
including menopause.
TCM views menopause as the time in a woman’s life when her body shuts down
her natural monthly reproductive cycle because she can no longer reproduce.
However, it is believed that her body stops menses to conserve her qi (body life
energy), so as she ages she can retain all of her resources.
Unlike women in western culture, for most women in the East, menopause is
rather uneventful. It is thought the reasons for this is because Western women
lead a more fast-paced, stress-ridden lifestyle, and tend to consume poorer
diets. Thus, as a result, women in Western culture tend to experience far more
intense menopausal symptoms than their sisters in the East.
Despite the real causes of menopausal symptoms, the fact remains that
Traditional Chinese Medicine does not consider menopause to be a syndrome. The
thought is that women suffering through menopause have a variety of qi problems
such as constrained liver qi and kidney yin deficiency. In other words, their
qi is imbalanced and is wreaking havoc on their mind and body.
Thus, the goal of TCM is to uniquely treat each woman based on her specific
symptoms. This means that different techniques aside from acupuncture may also
be suggested, such as Chinese herbs, lifestyle or dietary changes and exercises
- all of which are used to help restore balance to the body.
How does acupuncture work? Acupuncture is based on the belief that there are
approximately 2000 acupuncture points (trigger points) throughout the body.
These trigger points are linked to one another via a group of 20 different
meridians (pathways). Meridians are responsible for conducting qi between the
surface of the body and the internal organs. Qi has a specific affect on each
point it passes through. When qi properly flows throughout the meridians and
all its points, it maintains a healthy balance in the mind and body.
During an acupuncture treatment for menopause, an acupuncture therapist will
help a woman bring balance back to her body by focusing treatment on the
trigger points related to her symptoms. Only some trigger points are used, and
will vary depending on the symptoms. Thus, every menopausal woman is treated
individually based on her problem.
Acupuncture is administered through the use of tiny, solid needles that are
inserted into the targeted trigger points. The purpose of the needles is to
help stimulate the meridians to encourage qi production. This might mean
needles could be inserted into the shoulders, arms, legs or even the feet. If
inserted properly, needles shouldn’t cause pain or bleeding; however, their may
be slight discomfort or a tingling or numbing sensation which fades fast.
Treatment is often very relaxing, and sessions usually last for 30 minutes.
Does acupuncture benefit menopause? Yes. Research has found that most women
who participated in different acupuncture studies found relief from menopausal
symptoms including:
• Hot flashes
• Insomnia
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Vaginal dryness
If you are interested in using acupuncture for alternative or complimentary
treatment to ease menopause symptoms, it is imperative that you visit a
qualified and experienced acupuncture therapist, in order to realistically
determine if this method is an effective treatment option for you.
Remember, no two women are treated the same, and acupuncture therapy is
often long term, ongoing treatment.
Acupuncture is well proven for pain relief. Everyday, thousands of people in
the United States
alone receive acupuncture for their pain. A recent study sponsored at the
National Institutes of Health shows conclusively that acupuncture is effective
for the relief of knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. In fact it reduced the
need for pain medications by 40% at the same time increasing functionality be
40%. A study from Demark even showed acupuncture to reduce the need for knee
replacement surgery. It can also help reduce pain and swelling from tendonitis,
bursitis, injuries and from rheumatoid arthritis.
If you are in pain, 40% reduction sounds pretty good. No two people have
exactly the same level of response but, generally speaking, I like to see 80%
reduction in knee pain within eight treatments. Being able to lower your pain
medication also means that you lower your risk of side effects associated with
long-term drug use. Speaking of side effects, acupuncture has proven to be very
safe with a very low incidence of minor side effects. In fact, most people,
rather than suffering negative side effects, have a sense of well-being and
relaxation after acupuncture. Now that’s good medicine!
We don’t know exactly how acupuncture works. There are two main scientific
theories. Gate Theory and endorphins. The Gate Theory suggests that stimulation
of the acupuncture needles inhibits certain nerve fibers from relaying the pain
message. Another theory suggests that acupuncture stimulates the release of
endorphins, a powerful morphine like substance that occurs naturally in the
brain. Both theories may have merit, but we are still far from understanding
exactly how acupuncture works scientifically. Don’t worry. We don’t know
exactly how some commonly used drugs, like Tylenol work either.
Does it hurt?
Acupuncture needles are much smaller that most other needles. A good
acupuncturist can often insert needles without any pain at all. Once the
needles are placed you may feel unique sensation associated with the
stimulation of the acupuncture point. Normally six to twelve of the tiny
needles are placed near the area of pain or on various other areas on the body.
I have treated knee pain successfully using only one point but usually several
are needed to affect relief.
How long does it take to work?
Most of my patients have relief the moment they step off of the treatment
table! Some patients will take up to six treatments before experiencing
significant relief. Lasting pain relief will usually take several treatments.
In my office, I suggest two treatments per week for three weeks, then one
treatment a week for two weeks. At this point we will reassess to see if more treatments
are needed. Some patients will not need to come in after the course of
treatment, while other with chronic conditions, find that regular maintenance
treatments are needed to keep the knee pain at bay. There are cases where it
doesn’t work but, they are relatively infrequent.
Acupuncture may be the only treatment needed for knee pain, but it’s good to
know that it works well with other therapies like anti-inflammatories, pain
relievers, exercise, physical therapy and massage. Most acupuncturists, including
myself are very happy to work with doctors and other therapists when it means
getting better results for you.
Good Luck and Good Health!
Michael Roland, L.Ac.,
MTCM is the acupuncture and Chinese medicine expert on drweil.com. He is in
private practice in TucsonArizona
He has a new DVD on the ancient art of health cultivation called qigong.
These simple exercises can help you relax and revitalize. Available here.
Acupuncture and IVF - The Secret of Success
By Brian Winkels
A number of reasons have been shown how acupuncture influences the results
of in-vitro fertilization or IVF. Acupuncture has been shown to positively
affect the levels of ovarian and pituitary hormones while electro-acupuncture
treatment have shown to result in better and improved flow of blood in the
uterine arteries of women who are infertile.
In conjunction with modern IVF therapy acupuncture, as a complementary
therapy, is becoming more and more common. Studies has shown that acupuncture
helps patients' better respond to medication as well as improving pregnancy
rates and resulting in healthier eggs. Many women who have had problems with
high FSH levels or who have had a miscarriage are being advised that
acupuncture is the solution to their problems.
Higher Rates of Pregnancy Couples having difficulties in conceiving through
traditional methods often turn to other techniques to assist them in having a
child and one of the most used reproduction therapies currently being used is
in-vitro fertilization. IVF is the process harvesting a woman's eggs and then
fertilizing them with sperm via a laboratory.
Some studies have shown that pregnancy rates increase by as much as 40
percent for women undergoing acupuncture treatment in addition to IVF.
Acupuncture makes a woman's uterus more receptive to implantation which is one
of the major reasons attributed to these higher rates of success.
On a side note, for those women who do decide to combine acupuncture with
their IVF it appears that's it's best to undergo their acupuncture treatment on
the afternoon before the transfer of their embryos, as well as on the afternoon
or day after the transfer.
Many women find IVF to be a stressful and anxiety ridden experience. These
factors often result in undermining the success of IVF. However, on a positive
note, a 2002 German study indicated that 34 out of 80 women who were undergoing
IVF and who were also receiving acupuncture got pregnant - a success rate of
42.5 percent. To the uninformed this may not sound all that great but when
compared to women undergoing IVF as a stand-alone treatment (no acupuncture)
the pregnancy rate for those using acupuncture was significantly higher.
Tip - For more information on Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, click on the
first link below.
Acupuncture Insomnia Cures Are Available
By Milos Pesic
When sleep is elusive and the effects are being felt, people go down all
kinds of roads to find a solution. One of the most interesting and perhaps
beneficial ways to tackle insomnia is to consider ancient, alternative
medicine. One such cure is acupuncture insomnia treatment.
This method might seem a little "out there" to some, but the truth
is many cultures have practiced acupuncture insomnia cures for hundreds and
even thousands of years. This ancient Chinese practice has proven useful in
helping people tackle everything from pain and addiction to stress and anxiety.
To see how acupuncture insomnia cures can help, it is important to understand
the root causes of most cases of insomnia. When these are examined, the method
in which acupuncture insomnia cures works becomes quite clear.
The main causes for this condition include:
· Stress, anxiety. When the mind refuses to shut off at night, sleep can be
impossible to attain. By helping people address their stress and anxiety,
acupuncture insomnia cures free them to enjoy not only sleep, but also life. An
acupuncture insomnia treatment can often be followed with advice for tackling
stress and anxiety for a truly beneficial holistic approach. If an approach to
better handling stress and anxiety isn't adopted, it is likely acupuncture
insomnia treatments might need to be repeated down the road.
· Addiction. Caffeine addiction or abuse is another major reason people face
the throes of insomnia. The techniques involved for acupuncture insomnia cures
can also be used to help people battle addiction problems. Although caffeine
might seem like a minor addiction in the grand scheme of things, it can wreak
havoc with sleep.
· Pain. This is a huge reason why so many people suffer from insomnia. When
this is the cause, acupuncture insomnia cures can really help. One of the best
applications for acupuncture is in pain reduction. When the pain is reduced or
controlled, the acupuncture insomnia cure has done its job. Long-term
treatments might be necessary for chronic conditions, but they can help keep
sleep issues at bay. When pain is the cause of sleep disorders, acupuncture
insomnia treatments tend to work very well for some people.
Living with insomnia is classified by many as hardly living at all. When
other treatments sound too harsh or they just don't do the trick, acupuncture
insomnia procedures often provide what is needed to find relief. By helping the
body help itself, acupuncture insomnia treatment can be very beneficial when it
is followed up with methods to tackle the root problems themselves. It is even
possible that acupuncture insomnia treatment will take care of the cause in the
process.
Typical acupuncture insomnia treatments might take several visits,
especially if pain management or stress reduction is needed, as well. Following
through can make a big difference for many. It has worked for people for
hundreds, even thousands of years.
Milos Pesic is an expert in the field of Insomnia and runs a highly
popular and comprehensive Insomnia web site. For more articles and resources on sleep
problems, insomnia causes and treatments, insomnia symptoms and much more visit
his site at:
Can Acupuncture Be Used To Induce Labor?
By Mark Fischer
It is a common question in my practice, “have you induced labor with
acupuncture.” The answer is a profound yes. I have induced several women and
have watched other practitioners induce many more. All of the women I have seen
use acupuncture induction gave birth within 48 hours. They were all slightly
“over due” according to their physicians. They all sought out acupuncture as an
alternative to Pitocin. The average labor time was 4 – 5 hours.
Understanding how acupuncture can induce labor:
Acupuncture is different than western induction drugs. It is an alternative
to Pitocin, yet acts in a very different way. First lets look at Pitocin. Pitocin
creates an immediate reaction which begins labor whether the mother’s body and
baby are ready or not. Contractions start almost instantly with pitocin in
labor induction, making it an extremely predictable drug. However, the effects
of pitocin on children are not fully known. Possible side effects for the
mother have been reported to include:
Anaphylactic reaction
Postpartum hemorrhage
Cardiac arrhythmia
Fatal afibrinogenemia
Nausea
Vomiting
Premature ventricular
contractions
Pelvic hematoma
Using acupuncture to induce labor is a whole different
experience. Depending on the practitioner, acupuncture needles are inserted
into strategic locations in the hands, lower leg, and feet. These needles are
not like what the average person thinks of when they imagine getting a shot.
The needles are solid, yet extremely thin (about 5 can fit inside the hole of
your average hypodermic needle). For the most part the insertion does not
produce pain. The needles create a stimulation in the body which is used to
reprogram the mother’s energy in such a way as to get her body ready for labor.
With some women this can be a significant change, as I will describe in a
minute. Labor is rarely expected to start right away, although I have been
lucky enough to witness it on several occasions.
Birth Stories With Acupuncture
#1 - My first acupuncture induced labor – Observation Clinic with Dr.
Daniel Diamond:
I mentioned that for some women, acupuncture induction can create a
significant reaction in the women being treated. The first time I ever
witnessed acupuncture to induce labor was in an acupuncture techniques class.
My teacher, Daniel Diamond, was looking for a subject to discuss for the
evening. One of my classmates was a day overdue for her child’s birth and decided
to be the volunteer for the day’s discussion rounds. Needles were inserted in
the hands and feet with electro- stimulation set to mild (many practitioners
use electro-stimulation for inducing labor. I do not as I have not found it
necessary, however, it is safe and effective as the levels are set to very low
and the electricity is not allowed to pass through the uterus). Within five
minutes my classmate, the women being treated, started to have contractions.
She packed up her bags in the middle of class and left the classroom to give
birth to her child within five hours of the end of class.
#2 - My first time inducing labor with acupuncture:
Sarah, a 20 year old women came into my clinic complaining of being overdue
for her delivery by one and a half weeks. She had already seen two other
student acupuncturists who had both provided her with the textbook induction
technique of four needles, one in each hand and foot, combined with
electro-stimulation. I wanted to do something different. I sat down with her and
talked about her pregnancy. Her partner paced around in the background and when
they communicated I sensed some tension. So, what to do? Acupressure induced
labor…. In Acupuncture and Acupressure there are “pressure points” on top of
the shoulders that can be stimulated to induce labor. Yes it is a wives tail if
you have never seen it done (it will probably not work and can be categorized
as myth), but it works if you know what you are doing and how to press the
points. I had the patient sit in a chair and breath deep. As she exhaled I
would follow the breath pushing into the point imagining the energy going into
her feet. At the very bottom of her breath I noticed that her belly was coming
up, almost contracting, instead of relaxing down with the exhale. I pointed
this out to her and helped her relax all the way through the breath. She
started to feel more relaxed and actually had a little small contraction. I
then had her partner do the massage technique, and taught him how to press. To
my amazement, her belly contracted up at the end of her breath twice as much as
the first time when I had pressed down. I pointed this out to both of them and
asked why she would be contracting against him. She broke down crying. She
cried about her hesitations to bring the baby into the world without her
partner’s support. He cried about not being ready to be a father but wanting to
fill that role to the best of his ability. It was fairly amazing to witness as
there had obviously been a barrier, which was now falling. After a few minutes
of talking I had her lay down on the table and I put in some acupuncture
points, which were different than the treatment she had already been receiving
(Lv 8, Lv 2, LI 4, St 36, St 38). I also treated the partner to help him relax.
Her contractions did not start on the table, but the baby began to kick
immediately. She went into labor that evening and gave birth to a healthy baby
before dawn.
#3 - Acupuncture Induction - The Case of The Anti-Induction:
In some instances I have used acupuncture to slow down contractions so the
mother could sleep (her husband was an internal medical physician and had just
gotten off of a very stressful 36 hour shift). Her contractions were too mild
to be real labor, but enough to keep her awake. The more relaxed she became,
the more intense the contractions. If she had stayed up, she would have gone
into labor that evening. Her husband, however, was very tired and would not
have made it through the night as an active supporter in the process. We used
acupuncture to slow down the contractions and to help her calm down. She fell
asleep and woke up with regular contractions. Her baby was delivered later that
day.
In summary Acupuncture can be an effective means to induce labor. I
have seen it work time and time again. When compared to the possible side
effects of pitocin on children and the known potential side effects for mothers
it is clear that acupuncture should be our first line of induction. Acupuncture
has no known side effects and as the needles do not come close to the abdomen,
there is no potential negative side effect for the child. The down side is that
the induction is not always an immediate process. In hospitals, the trend is to
want to get women in and out of labor. A hospital bed is expensive and so is a
physician’s time. If you or a friend you know is considering using acupuncture
to induce labor, you should visit the acupuncturist prior to the seventh month
and expect to begin treatments to induce the labor just before or after your
due date. An experienced acupuncturist will know how close you are to going
into labor and can give you a clear view of how long you can expect to wait for
labor to begin.
Labor is a spiritual journey. When your spirit, the spirit of your child,
and the spirit of the father are ready the birth will begin. Have patients and
see the experience as the most amazing passage you will most likely have as a
family. You are ushering a new life into this world. Breathe and observe every
second with awe, love and hope for the new life. Using acupuncture to induce
labor does not push you through the experience prematurely or too quickly.
Acupuncture balances you and prepares you for the passage. Take a deep breath
and say hello to a new life.
For thousands of years, traditional Chinese doctors have used acupuncture to
treat various diseases. Now researchers believe it may be useful for men suffering
from impotence.
This “new” treatment is being studied by Austrian scientists who said that
it can help treat impotence caused by mental or psychological problems. Dr.
Paul F. Engelhardt of the Hospital Leinz in Vienna,
Austria, shared his findings
with a group of urologists in Atlanta,
Georgia. So
far, it looks promising.
In acupuncture, fine needles are placed in different parts of the body to
relieve pain or stress. Practitioners maintain that the body is filled with a
life force called qi or chi that flows smoothly if the person is healthy. If
chi is blocked, sickness sets in. Acupuncture supposedly corrects this
imbalance by releasing blocked chi.
“During an acupuncture session, the patient lies flat on a table adjusted to
the height of the practitioner. Depending on where needles are inserted, the
patient may be fully clothed or asked to undress and draped with cloths for
modesty. Acupuncture needles are inserted into various points of the body at
angles ranging from 15 degrees relative to the skin to 90 degrees, depending on
the judgment of the practitioner. Once inserted, the needles may be manipulated
by hand in twisting motions, gently vibrated, heated, cooled, or electrified
with a gentle current to stimulate the meridian,” according to WiseGeek.Com.
Studies show that acupuncture may help relieve pain, headaches, cramps,
nausea, vomiting, and other conditions. Hopefully, it may be useful in curing
impotence – an embarrassing condition marked by the inability to have or
sustain an erection.
In Engelhardt’s study, 13 men with an average age of 42 were divided into
two groups. One group that consisted of seven men received acupuncture for
impotence but the other group of six men was needled in areas that weren’t
related to impotence. Researchers did this to find out whether the effects of
acupuncture were merely psychological. All of the men had impotence that had no
physical cause but was due mainly to psychological or emotional problems.
At the end of the study, two-thirds of the patients reported being cured of
impotence while the rest needed additional treatments.
"About one-third of the patients told us that they had some
improvements of their quality of life, that their erections were a little bit
better than at the start of the treatment. But it was not sufficient enough, so
they wanted some additional therapy, and we treated them with Viagra,"
Engelhardt said.
"We do know that acupuncture can affect mood, we know that acupuncture
can affect a person's sense of well being, so that's not surprising in a way.
[But] I'd want to see a bigger study," added Dr. James Dillard of the ColumbiaPresbyterianMedicalCenter
in New York
who is also an acupuncturist.
As scientists continue studying acupuncture, those who are crippled by
impotence can turn to other accessible options. One of them is Erectasil, a
lotion that works at the source of impotence and acts as fast as 60 seconds.
Erectasil is safe and can help men reach new heights of pleasure. For more
information, go to http://erectasil.com.
Jill Stewart is a health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many
of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online health news
magazine http://www.healthnfitnesszone.com
Acupuncture is becoming one of the more popular alternative and
complimentary therapies used by IBS sufferers to help alleviate symptoms.
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine that is designed to restore health
by improving and bringing balance to qi - the body’s natural energy flow.
Acupuncture works to restore the proper function of organs, muscles, glands,
nerves and vessels.
How can acupuncture improve IBS symptoms? Acupuncture is recognized as being
an effective therapy for treating the following conditions which are often
symptoms of IBS:
As was previously mentioned, acupuncture is based on improving and brining
balance to qi that flows through all of the 14 unseen channels in the body
known as meridians. A person with IBS usually has a deficiency of qi in the
spleen, lung, liver, kidney and large intestine meridians, so these are the
areas that will likely be targeted during an acupuncture session. That being
said, you need to understand that each person is treated differently depending
on where their discomfort is located.
In order to help improve the qi flow within the targeted meridians, tiny,
solid, disposable needles are individually inserted into specific acupoints
within the body. How deep the needles are inserted depends on the thickness of
the muscle. Acupoints (trigger points), are precise points of the body where
the meridians surface has deeply penetrated into the tissues and organs.
The insertion of the needle is usually painless and is a sensation often
described as a mosquito bite. Most people only feel a slight achy or numbing
feeling in the targeted area.
After the needle has been inserted, they may be twirled or connected to an
electrical current to help stimulate the targeted meridian. Needles may be left
in between 20 – 60 minutes. All sensations that are experienced during an
acupuncture session disappear with the removal of the needles.
Aside from acupuncture needles, another popular technique that
acupuncturists use for IBS is moxibustion. This is a method in which mugwort
herb is burned over precise acupoints. Moxibustion is used because it is
believed to penetrate deeper into the body than the needles.
Although Chinese medicine believes that acupuncture is successful at
relieving symptoms due to reestablishing balance to qi, Western medicine
believe that acupuncture treatment causes inflammation in the body, which
causes it to release natural pain killing hormones - endorphins. Despite what
the actual truth may be, it is clear that for many IBS sufferers, acupuncture
has provided them relief from abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, constipation
and diarrhea.
Acupuncture is a safe alternative treatment for most people, but you should
discuss acupuncture treatment with your doctor first before engaging in the
therapy. You should also know that it often takes several acupuncture sessions
before a person begins to feel relief from their symptoms. Finally, make sure
you seek treatment from a qualified and experienced acupuncturist.
High quality research is showing a link between Hormone Replacement Therapy
(HRT) and breast cancer. In fact with long term HRT, over ten years, the risk
may even double. As news travels about the possible harm caused by this
therapy, women across America
and indeed across the globe are responding by declining HRT. Of course one of
the great benefits of HRT has been the reduction of menopausal symptoms like
hot flashes. Mild hot flashes can be annoying, while severe hot flashes can be
debilitating. Mayo clinic reported that up to 75% of American menopausal and
post-menopausal women suffer from hot flashes.
Decrease in HRT usage means an increase in hot flash sufferers. While the
scientific evidence is still mixed, a recent study published in the Journal of
Fertility and Sterility suggests that acupuncture may be helpful in reducing
hot flashes. Acupuncture, the ancient art of using tiny needles to affect the
body’s energies, may have an effect on hormones. Women who received acupuncture
in the study had a reduction of the severity of their hot flashes.
Acupuncturists and their patients have long known that acupuncture can be
helpful for a host of conditions. So, why is the research only now starting to
show that acupuncture works? Michael Roland, L.Ac., MTCM a licensed
acupuncturist who works with Dr. Andrew Weil’s Program in Integrative Medicine
at the University of Arizona and has a private practice in Tucson, Arizona
explains it like this: “Effective research models for studying acupuncture need
more development. We’re still trying to use the same research model to see if
acupuncture is effective that we use to study whether or not pills work. Both
acupuncture and pill usage are very different and so require different research
models. Acupuncture is, by its very nature subjective, it must be. The higher
the skill of the acupuncturist the better the results for a broader range of
patients. We are not little pills. When we have skilled acupuncturists working
within research models that allow their skills to be used properly, we will see
more and better results. However, even within the current constraints of
research models, acupuncture is showing itself to be effective.
Should you try acupuncture for your hot flashes?
There is evidence to suggest that it will be helpful. It’s also safe. The
British Medical Journal published a study showing no serious adverse reactions
in 34,000 acupuncture treatments. Many patients also say that they experience a
sense of well-being and relaxation during and after acupuncture treatments. It
is also possible, in some cases, to treat more that one condition in the same
session. So if you have headaches and hot flashes for instance, acupuncture can
help both within the same session.
Along with acupuncture, you may also want to try a higher fiber diet that
includes soy as well as regular exercise.
Good Luck and Good Health!
Michael Roland, L.Ac.,
MTCM is the acupuncture and Chinese medicine expert on drweil.com. He is in
private practice in TucsonArizona
Acupuncture for High Blood Pressure – A New Treatment That Works
By Oliver Turne
Since times immemorial, Acupuncture is a unique treatment for reducing high
blood pressure in human beings. High blood pressure refers to a situation where
blood starts exerting pressure against the walls of arteries, veins and also
the chambers of the heart. Over a specified time period, this heavy rush of
blood starts damaging the lining of the blood vessels. It can also lead to
arteriosclerosis, meaning hardening of the arteries.
Symptoms of high blood pressure
High blood pressure symptoms are often acute in human beings. They include
sudden dizziness, flushed faces, nervousness, severe headaches, restlessness,
difficult breathing, nose bleeding, insomnia, intestinal complaints,
depression, short temper and emotional instability. The diagnosis of high blood
pressure is done when the normal pressure tends to repeatedly rise. The other
physical symptoms of high blood pressure includes constant tendency to urinate,
decrease in eye vision and muscle weakness.
Electro-acupuncture treatments
Acupuncture combined with electric stimulation or electro-acupuncture can
lower elevations of blood pressure in human beings. When the research was
conducted for the first time, acupuncture needles were inserted on the inside
of the forearm just above the wrist, but to no avail. Researchers then started
adding electric stimulation to the needles, which means that electric would start
flowing from the needles to the body. While high frequency of stimulation had
no effect, low frequencies of electro stimulation reduced blood pressure
effectively.
A thorough research on acupuncture shows that the inserted needles excites
brain cells, causing them to release neurotransmitters that always heighten the
heart’s activities. To cure high blood pressure, acupuncture inserts needles on
certain points on the wrist, forearm or leg, to excite the opioid chemicals in
the brain and reduce excitatory responses of the cardiovascular systems. This
eventual decrease in heart activity and need for oxygen can lower blood
pressure to a great extent. It also promotes in the healing of other
heart-related conditions like myocardial ischemia and hypertensions.
Other acupuncture treatments to reduce high blood pressure
While you are undergoing acupuncture treatments for curing high blood
pressure, you can also use herbs like Tian Ma [Gastrodia Rhizome], Xia Ku Cao
[Prunella] and Shan Zha to reduce high blood pressure. You should inject the
juices of these herbs into your blood to achieve better results.
A unique and natural acupuncture treatment for high blood pressure also
include pressing of the skin on the back of your hand in between the thumb and
index finger.
If you have experimented with the more standard herniated disc treatments,
and wish to try something new, it may be well worth considering the traditional
Chinese therapy of acupuncture. Acupuncture is perhaps the most popular form of
traditional oriental medicine, and it has proven to be quite effective for
treatment of a herniated disc and the sciatic pain associated. Further to this
the acupuncture can also relieve spinal stenosis, lower back pain, spine root
compression, neck pain, neuropathy and other irritating and debilitating
diseases.
In some cases Chinese herbs and acupuncture have been proven to be more
effective, less risky and less invasive in comparison to more common forms of
treatment for a herniated disc such as surgery and oral steroids. Side effects
associated with drugs for treating a herniated disc is a common reason for
people experimenting with acupuncture.
Acupuncture tends to be even more effective when it is utilized upon the
onset of the initial symptoms of a herniated disc such as back spasms and
cramps. If the condition of the herniated disc is more severe, often
acupuncture will be teamed with traditional Chinese herbal remedies to assist
in the recovery process. Further to this the longer lasting effects of
acupuncture are realized through combining the treatment with physical therapy
and exercises. When acupuncture is delivered correctly there can also be additional
benefits for the patient- such as an improvement in mood and less fatigue.
It is very important for one’s recommended doctor or physician to assess the
degree of damage involved in the herniated disc and associated sciatica pain,
before considering acupuncture as an effective treatment for the herniated
disc.
It is a frightening statistic that more than half of the US adult
population experience or are affected by sciatica pain. It is that burning pain
from the lower back down to the feet caused by the compression of the sciatic
nerve resulting in most instances in a herniated disc. The normal reaction for
sufferers of a herniated disc and sciatic pain is too improve the posture and
walk and site more upright. This however can increase the pressure on the
problem area, resulting in further discomfort. It is quite common that, with
age and poor nutrition, the back bone and its muscles and other essential body
parts deteriorate and breakdown, and factors like overexertion, accidents,
diseases, and bad posture all result in back problems.
Acupuncture as a herniated disc treatment when performed as early as
possible has been shown to rapidly improve recovery time and ease sciatica pain
significantly. Research has shown that the acupuncture stimulates the damaged
area of the spine creating naturally occurring steroids encouraging it to
repair and producing valuably endorphins in the body. In this natural way the
swelling is minimized and the pain of the herniated disc is eased. This dual
effect from the acupuncture is why is can be so effective
The benefits of acupuncture often vary from patient to patient and are also
very dependent on the person administering the acupuncture. Always seek you
doctor or physician’s advice before getting acupuncture treatment for a
herniated disc and sciatica pain. Acupuncture is certainly a far more positive
option for treating a herniated disc than surgery and more serious oral
steroids.
Want further information on herniated discs, symptoms and treatments? Please
visit:
While most of us welcome the arrival of spring, the longer evenings, better
weather, the fresh shoots and flowers in gardens, the blooming nature is
dreaded by those suffering from hay fever as the arrival of the sneezing
season. Hay fever affects 15 to 20 % of the population in Britain, where
it is mainly caused by grass pollen. It varies from mild forms, which are
relatively easy to cope with to a severity which is crippling during the
season.
Common symptoms of hayfever include:
- sneezing, runny nose, blocked nose, itching in the nose, throat, and deep
in the ears
- headache due to sinusitis caused by swelling in the nose
- red and watery eyes. itchy eyes
- tightening of the throat and chest
- lethargy, loss of concentration
In a study performed on people suffering from hay fever, acupuncture was as
effective as antihistamine therapy in improving symptoms and the beneficial
effects appeared to last longer. Research published in the journal Allergy (1)
, has shown that acupuncture is an effective way to reduce symptoms of allergic
rhinitis such as a runny nose and itchy eyes.
Acupuncture treatment for allergic rhinitis is likely to include needling and
moxibustion (the burning of an herb called mugwort is used to enhances the
therapeutic effect of the acupuncture needles).
Through the stimulation of specific acupoints, acupuncture promotes the
body's natural healing abilities, strengthens the body's resistance and
regulates the body's reaction to antigens.
(1) Brinkhaus, B., Hummelsberger, J., Kohnen, R., Seufert,
J., Hempen, C.-H., Leonhardy, H., Nögel, R., Joos, S., Hahn, E. & Schuppan,
D. (2004) - Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of
patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized-controlled clinical
trial. - Allergy 59 (9), 953-960. - doi: 10.1111/ - j.1398-9995.2004.00540.x
Carole Dumenil is a Licenced Acupuncturist practising in London, UK
and is a fully insured Member of the British Acupuncture Council (MBAcC). She
trained at the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine (Reading, UK),
where she was awarded a Licenciate in Acupuncture and went on to complete an
apprenticeship in Five Element Acupuncture with Gerad Kite. She has used
acupuncture in the treatment of addiction at the Core Trust, and participated
in the Sri Lanka Project organised by Acupuncture Sans Frontieres in 2006. For
more information visit http://www.london-acupuncture.com
.
Acupuncture Therapy Eases Fibromyalgia Syndrome
By Oze Parrot
Fibromyalgia symptoms are that of continuing pain, lethargy and sleeping
disorders. Approximately two percent of Americans suffer from the complaint,
which causes pain and increased sensitivity to the body's muscles, joints and
areas of soft tissue. The American Medical Association declared fibromyalgia
syndrome to be a disabling ailment just as recently as 1987. Physicians,
however have been aware of the disorder for hundreds of years, having referred
to it by several other names.
Fibromyalgia Syndrome remains incurable. Medical treatments for the disorder
are prescribed drugs that relieve the pain and medications to improve sleep
patterns. These measures do make life for a chronic sufferer of the illness
bearable and provide a reasonable degree of comfort.
This debilitating disorder, is seen by traditional Chinese medicine as a
loss of performance by the body's vital organs, the heart, liver, kidney and
spleen. This poor performance is attributed to poor nutrition, overwork, stress
and lack of rest, which ultimately causes the painful symptoms associated with
the ailment.
Naturally, the Chinese use acupuncture to restore the free flow of qi, or
energy, through the body's meridians, thus repairing the vital organs,
improving appetite, reducing stress and restoring natural sleep patterns.
Acupuncture therapy has been proven effective in easing the symptoms of
fibromyalgia.
Studies carried out by the Mayo Clinic reported that fibromyalgia symptoms
were positively affected in patients that received acupuncture treatment, the
scientists found that the test patient's levels of fatigue and anxiety were
greatly reduced, and results were comparable with patients who took prescribed
anti-depressant medication.
The ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture has been used to relieve pain
and treat other common ailments for over five thousand years. Acupuncture
restores the free flow of qi to all parts of the body. Qi flows through energy
channels, called meridians keeping the body healthy and vibrant. When a
meridian becomes blocked it causes an imbalance in the body that triggers pain.
An experienced acupuncturist can detect the blocked meridian and, by inserting
a series of needles, can unblock the channel. This will restore the flow of qi,
causing the body to heal itself and stop the pain.
If you suffer from the debilitating symptoms of fibromyalgia and you have
been looking for an alternative treatment that has been proven effective, then
seek the services of an experienced acupuncturist. Acupuncture therapy will
ease your pain, fatigue, anxiety and stress as well as improve your general
health, which will make you feel comfortable and make life worth living once
again.
Oze Parrot is an author, publisher
and Internet marketing consultant. Formerly a tourist operator and real estate
business marketing consultant Location: Queensland,
Australia.
You may republish this article as long as you include the name of the author
and provide an active link to: http://la-healthhunter.com/
Here’s a point worth considering: if you want to prevent wrinkles, visit
your friendly neighborhood acupuncturist. Promoters of facial acupuncture claim
this procedure can literally take years off your face since it eliminates
facial lines, eye bags, and other skin problems.
Known for its pain-relieving properties, acupuncture is also widely used in China to
prevent the onset of wrinkles. Proponents say regular treatments can stimulate
the flow of blood and energy through the skin and delay the signs of aging.
“The principle is that this hydrates, plumps up and boosts the skin's supply
of nutrients and oxygen, thus decreasing the appearance of wrinkles and
blemishes,” according to Esme Floyd in the Daily Mail.
Acupuncture is grounded on the belief that the body has a life force called
qi or chi that flows smoothly as long as the masculine and feminine aspects of
the body called yin and yang respectively remain in balance. If not, disease
and health problems may occur.
To correct these imbalances, fine needles are inserted at various points in
the body at different angles. The needles are gently twisted, vibrated, heated
or cooled to release blocked energy and restore the body’s energy balance.
Depending on the problem, one or several acupuncture sessions may be required.
Similarly, by inserting needles into the face, acupuncturists believe they
can help stimulate the body’s healing energy and prevent wrinkles from
appearing. The needles supposedly help facial cells hold water, oxygen, and
nutrients, giving the face a fuller and firmer look.
“The face has a high number of acupuncture points, says qualified
acupuncturist and naturopath Stephen Langley, who specializes in the treatment.
This means that you can target specific areas of the face to increase the flow
of blood and energy through the skin in that area, hence improving the skin's
appearance. This doesn't work with the skin on other areas of the body, he
says, because there are fewer energy points,” Floyd said.
“Treatment consists of 45-minute sessions where the face is treated with
ultra-fine needles at specific points. The needles are left in for 20 to 30
minutes and both sides of the face are usually treated equally, unless there is
a specific blemish or problem to be treated,” he added.
But other practitioners remain skeptical, saying aging (and the wrinkles it
brings) isn’t a disease but a natural process that isn’t caused by an energy
imbalance. They seriously doubt that acupuncture can ever compete with other
anti-aging procedures like Botox or a facelift.
"Treatment with facial acupuncture isn't going to iron out your
wrinkles in one go but so far results have been good. Treatment can boost
appearance, reduce toxins and make the skin appear younger but it's worth
remembering that it's a subtle effect that isn't going to make wrinkles
disappear forever,” said Jocelyn Gray of the British Acupuncture Council.
If the thought of sticking needles into your face sounds frightening,
don’t despair. There are other less invasive and less expensive ways to get a
natural facelift. One of them is Dermaxin, an anti-wrinkle cream that
penetrates deep into the skin to restore your skin’s healthy, radiant glow.
For details, visit http://www.dermaxin.com
Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author.
Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news
magazine http://www.thearticleinsiders.com
Treating Erectile Dysfunction With Acupuncture
By Tom Whitmall
Erectile Dysfunction is a common occurrence in many men. Though it often
isn't discussed openly, it is important for men to address their concerns
regarding impotence with their health care provider. Many men who suffer from
the condition are faced with feelings of low self-esteem, frustration, and
sometimes embarrassment. However, if you are dealing with ED, it is important
to address the problem openly so that you can find a resolution or effective
course of treatment. Speaking with your health care provider is the first step
to finding a treatment that will help you overcome the condition.
Your health care provider will begin by trying to locate the source of the
condition. There are many different causes of male dysfunction. Some of the
causes may be sickness and disease, while others may be a result of emotional
stress. Sometimes it is caused by stress and may increase as a man becomes more
anxious regarding his performance. This can form a cycle where emotional stress
manipulates the body and the ED continues. Sometimes, the cause may be a
prescription medication that has been prescribed for an unrelated illness.
Since there can be numerous causes, it is important to choose a method of
treatment that specifically addresses the underlying cause.
Some of the more common methods of treating Erectile Dysfunction include
using prescription medications or vacuum type appliances to help increase blood
flow to the penis. Though these are popular remedies, many people may find that
they aren't desirable. Prescription medication comes with many side effects and
many men don't look forward to using vacuum apparatus. One method that has
proved to be very beneficial in treating certain cases is Acupuncture.
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese form of medicine that dates as far back as
the Stone Age and has proven very effective as a cure for erectile dysfunction as it
helps increase circulation, promote blood flow, and restore vitality to the
areas treated. It is important that if you are going to choose this alternative
way to treat your impotence that you choose a licensed and certified provider
to perform the treatment.
You may also find that the best results are obtained by using a combination
of methods. Be sure to consult with your health care practitioner regarding all
of your courses of treatment as well as other options. You should never begin a
course of treatment without discussing all of your choices with your health
care practitioner. However, clinical research and studies have shown that
Acupuncture can be highly effective at treating Erectile Dysfunction and is a
valid treatment to consider.
Additionally, you may also find that adding herbal supplements to your diet
helps strengthen your results. Herbal pills can work in conjunction with
acupuncture and help stimulate blood flow to the pelvic region. Again, it is
important to let your health care practitioner know if you are taking herbal
supplements as well. With the counsel and advice of your health care
practitioner, you can find a viable solution that will effectively treat your
dysfunction.
Acupuncture for Endometriosis - Cure or Pacifier?
By Shelley Ross
For practitioners and enthusiasts of acupuncture, endometriosis is simply
another illness to deal with and cure. For scientists, however, acupuncture may
be a pacifier, or a means for patients to believe that they are being cured.
The thinking is that women may be seeing results from acupuncture treatments
due to the consequent positive thinking that a prospective cure can bring. Is
acupuncture for endometriosis a real solution?
In order to understand if there is a link between acupuncture and easing
endometriosis pains, one needs to understand the underlying concepts of
acupuncture.
A component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture works with a
universal store of energy known as chi. Chi is present in all nature, and flows
through our bodies.
Uninterrupted, chi can bring good health and can put humans in harmony with
their environment. When the flow of chi through our body, or in nature is
disrupted however, illness and destruction can result.
Acupuncture seeks to allow chi to flow through normal channels once more
and, in so doing, reverse sicknesses or bring relief to those in pain.
Acupuncture does this through the use of tiny needles, which are inserted in
strategic points of the body where the chi flow can pass undisturbed.
If chi balance is restored, acupuncture promises, healing can begin. This
promise has long drawn the busy Western World to this medicine of the East; in
fact, enthusiasts of acupuncture testify to its ability to make them relax and
think better, even lead healthier lives. In order to see what acupuncture can
do for endometriosis, it will help to understand how endometriosis happens.
During a woman’s monthly cycle, her uterus forms an inner lining called the
endometrium, which is designed to nurse a fetus should incoming sperm fertilize
an egg. If no fertilization occurs, the endometrial lining will pass out of the
body during menstruation.
In some cases, however, the endometrial lining passes to other parts of the
body, causing internal bleeding, scarring and disruption to normal bodily
functions. This condition is known as endometriosis, and those who suffer from
it also experience intense, progressive bodily pain. Doctors can treat
endometriosis by controlling the levels of estrogen in the body, or by
prescribing pain medication so those women can deal with the pains that come
with the disorder. Surgery is another option that can remove the misplaced
endometrial tissue and associated scarring and adhesions, although this may
only offer short-term relief and a number of surgeries maybe required.
Due to the lack of comprehensive medical and surgical treatment a number of
women seek alternative means to treat their condition or to compliment other
treatments.
When attending a session with a TCM practitioner they will ask you many
questions regarding your menstrual cycle and also about your life. The
treatments are very much targeted to each individual and the acupuncture points
chosen will vary from person to person. Common points are on the neck, ears,
back, abdomen and legs.
Alongside the acupuncture sessions, herbal remedies will be given too. These
are also tailored for the individual and act in conjunction with the chosen
acupuncture points.
By rerouting the chi, the inserted needles can supposedly make people with
endometriosis feel better and stronger - strong enough to deal with the pains
of their disorder. In other words, acupuncture helps endometriosis, but does
not heal it.
It is thought that acupuncture helps in a number of ways, it can relax a
woman and make it easier to deal with the pain and discomfort, increase blood
flow to the abdomen which promotes healing and may act as a pain reliever by
releasing endorphins into the system. Discover more information on natural
alternatives for treating endometriosis by signing up to the newsletter below.
If you are interested in using acupuncture for endometriosis pain relief,
then consult with your doctor first and talk about what other therapies are
available. If you are given the go ahead for acupuncture, look for licensed
acupuncturists in your area, or consult with fellow endometriosis patients on
the acupuncturists they have gone to.
Sign up for Shelley Ross' free Endometriosis newsletter - Overflowing with
easy to implement methods to help you discover more about endometriosis
treatment. In the newsletter you'll receive regular information like this
article on overcoming Endometriosis along with additional natural treatments to
help alleviate pain.
Acupuncture And Depression - An Alternative To Drug Therapy
By Aubrey Burke
Depression is one of the leading disorders in America today and is the reason our
media is permeated with advertisements for one anti-depressant or another. It’s
difficult, if not impossible, to get through a single evening of television
without seeing babies crying and Mommy’s who are too down to move or little
cartoon stick figures selling Americans yet another medication for depression.
Is that and psychotherapy the only treatment for depression? No. Recently,
studies have connected the health benefits of acupuncture with depression.
Drugs versus Acupuncture and Depression:
As widespread a problem as depression is in the United States, the treatments are
not the panacea that many hope they will be after that first trip to the
pharmacy. In fact, roughly half of the people who seek help for this disorder
actually receive that help through drugs or psychotherapy alone. For 3000
years, traditional Chinese medical practitioners have treated everything from
headaches to menopause with acupuncture.
Is it possible, then, to treat depression with acupuncture? Studies have
recently shown that it is possible to connect depression and acupuncture, and
with benefits that include low cost and minimal side effects. Unlike drugs and
expensive psychotherapy sessions that take tremendous time and money,
acupuncture lasts an up to hour and may be obtained at a fraction of the cost.
Additionally, the side effects of acupuncture with sterilized needles are
limited to such minor issues as a potential bruise here and there.
A Case Study:
In 1998, researchers at the University
of Arizona conducted a
double-blind study of the effectiveness of acupuncture on depression. The
results demonstrated a dramatic decrease in symptoms in more than half of the
women tested. More specifically, seventy percent of the women in the study
experienced a fifty percent reduction in noticeable symptoms of depression.1
The study lasted for two months. During this time, each patient was given
twelve acupuncture sessions with the bulk of them received during the first
month of treatment. The patients were assigned to one of three groups. The
first received immediate acupuncture for depression. The second group received
acupuncture treatment for non-specific reasons, and the third group was
wait-listed for eight weeks then treated with acupuncture for depression.
While the test group for this study was too small to be considered
ground-breaking medically, it is certainly worth considering for anyone who
suffers from debilitating depression. For some people acupuncture and
depression may well be the key to unlocking the chains that bind them to
medications that have been linked to everything from incontinence to suicide.
Aubrey Burke is a freelance journalist who has written for various sites and
online journals including http://www.infoabouteverything.com
About Acupuncture and Crohns Disease
By Sharon Dobson
Crohn’s disease can be hard to diagnose because it mimics so many other
conditions, and is often not the first thing your doctor might think of when
you describe your symptoms. People usually assume they have irritable bowel
syndrome and try to deal with it on their own. Once diagnosed with Crohn’s
disease however, things begin to make a lot of sense. There are steps that your
doctor can take to help you, but some sufferers turn to alternative methods for
relief. If you are interested in acupuncture and crohns relief, the first step
is to find someone qualified to help you.
Many people develop Crohn’s when they are in their teens, but it can come on
later in life. There is some evidence to suggest that this can run in families,
and even some cases where a husband and wife both have it. This might suggest
that it can be environmental as well as genetic. This condition is not usually
fatal, but it can severely affect quality of life, and people will try many
different methods to gain relief from their symptoms. There are drugs a patient
can try, as well as some surgical procedures that might be necessary. Others
turn to acupuncture.
In order to understand how acupuncture can help with Crohn’s, you have to
understand the basics behind this ancient practice. Acupuncture works on the
theory that the body is made up of meridians. These are energy channels that
run through the body. When these meridians are blocked, problems within the
body begin to flare up. A therapist uses very thin needles, which are inserted
into various pressure points throughout the body. These points are located on
specific meridians. When the needles activate these points, the energy
blockages can be cleared and the energy can run freely. This is supposed to
help the body to help itself.
Because Crohn’s is a problem with the digestive tract, it can cause patients
to lose weight, as they may not ingest the nutrition that they need. Though it
is commonly found in the intestines, there can be problems in almost any spot
along the entire digestive system. When acupuncture is done, practitioners
focus in on the meridians of the body that relates to the digestive tract. A
chiropractor can also help in much the same way by stimulating these points
with firm pressure rather than with a needle.
There are some who will say that acupuncture and Crohns relief go hand in
hand, and others will say it does nothing for them. If you would like to try
this approach, you may find it works well for you, or you may find there is no
difference in your symptoms. It is important that you continue to see your
medical doctor, and that you take your vitamins (if recommended) and you are
honest with both your doctor and your acupuncturist about how you are feeling
and what is working with your treatments. Communication is always the key to
receiving the best care with acupuncture and crohns.
By Sharon Dobson. Sign up for a free newsletter that has proven methods for
managing Crohn's Disease naturally at Natural
Crohn's Disease Relief. On the site you'll also find more about acupuncture and crohns, plus other alternative treatments.
Acupuncture and Alternative Therapies for Chronic Fatigue
By Kevin Doherty
It is estimated that over 50% of the American population experiences chronic
fatigue. The most common causes are stress, overwork, insomnia, depression, and
various malfunctions in the major systems of the body (endocrine,
cardiovascular, digestive, etc.) Western medicine is decidedly lacking in safe
and effective treatment options for fatigue. Quite commonly, the first step is
to use a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), such as Prozac, Paxil,
or Wellbutrin, as fatigue is commonly associated with depression. Although
trends are changing among the newer generation of doctors, it is still quite
rare that the patient is offered lifestyle counseling that focuses on
nutrition, exercise, and sleep.
There are many wonderful alternative treatment options that include
acupuncture, herbs, nutrition, and exercise. Acupuncture tops the list because
it tends to be so effective is supplementing the body’s energy.
ACUPUNCTURE
The majority of patients who complain of fatigue suffer from a deficiency of
vital energy (Qi). Qi is the basic energy that creates optimal physiological
and neurological function. Aside from fatigue, other signs of Qi deficiency are
diarrhea, pallor, easy bruising, excessive sleep (more than 9 hrs. a night),
scanty menses or amenorrhea, frequent urination, low libido, and shortness of
breath. The strategy of Chinese medicine is to identify a pattern of disharmony
that reflects the entirety of one’s symptoms, pulse qualities, and tongue
appearance. Moxibustion, a topical warming therapy, is typically used as a
nourishing adjunct to the needles. This entails burning mugwort on top of the
needles or directly on the skin to induce a stronger supplementing effect. I
recommend weekly acupuncture and moxa treatments for 4-6 weeks, then assessing
for progress.
HERBS
Qi deficiency primarily affects 4 different organs: the spleen, kidney, heart,
and lungs. Here are symptoms and herbal treatment options for each pattern:
Spleen: diarrhea, loose stools, bloating, bruising, fatigue, prolapse, laconic
speech, internal cold Herbal Formula: Bu zhong yi qi tang
·Kidney: low back pain, low libido, fatigue,
internal cold, frequent urination Herbal Formula: Jin gui shen qi wan
·Heart: restless sleep, worry, fatigue, heart
palpitations, shortness of breath Herbal Formula: Gui pi tang
·Lung: chronic cough, weak immunity,
allergies, fatigue, shortness of breath, asthma Herbal formula: Bu fei tang
·Adaptogenic herbs such as rhodiola rosea,
ashwaganda, and ginseng may be helpful adjuncts .
SUPPLEMENTS
B Complex: B vitamins are warming and energizing. They build Qi and blood.
·Tyrosine: precursor to norepinephrine (often
deficient in chronic fatigue)
·5HTP: precursor to serotonin, for deeper
sleep, weight loss, anxiety
·Adrenosen by Health Concerns and Adrenotone
by Designs for Health are both effective adrenal tonics for fatigue due to
adrenal burnout.
EXERCISE
I recommend getting 20-30 minutes of exercise 4-5 times a week. At first, this
may feel forced and difficult because you won’t want to exercise when you feel
tired. After a few days, however, your body will begin to love the endorphin
release and serotonin boost that exercise provides. Exercise alone can be a
wonderful cure for fatigue. Your program should be a combination of
cardiovascular and restorative exercise. Cardiovascular exercise involves
running, biking, swimming, hiking, etc. Restorative exercise involves yoga, tai
chi, or qi gong.
IDENTIFYING WHERE YOU LEAK YOUR ENERGY
Many people with chronic fatigue can attribute this pattern to a central theme
that is stealing their energy. Perhaps you are in a marriage that is not
working or a job that feels stagnant. Maybe you have set your life up so that
you never have time for yourself because you are too busy caring for others. Or
maybe you have financial problems that make life feel burdensome. Low energy is
often a sign that we are not in control of our life, whether it is in
relationships, work, with our health or with our money. Set an intention to
heal any area of your life that is spiraling out of control and that feels
toxic to you.
IS THERE A PAYOFF FOR THE FATIGUE?
Strangely enough, many people are chronically tired because it allows them to
get attention from others. Fatigue becomes a way to soak up the well wishes of
others, all the while avoiding our personal responsibility to show up to life
and offer something helpful. It can be a touch question to ask, but I encourage
you to contemplate whether or not you are being a victim to the fatigue. What
is your belief system around it? Do you have an internal dialogue that supports
and sustains the fatigue? What would your life look like if the fatigue wasn’t
an issue? I don’t bring this up to undermine the validity of this very common
health concern. In my clinical experience, however, I have noticed a rather
common theme of victimization and relinquishing personal power in cases of
chronic fatigue. There are many wonderful treatment options for chronic
fatigue. This article is not intended to cover this issue in its entirety, as
there can certainly be other factors involved in fatigue (immune dysfunction,
low level pathogenic influences, etc.) The key is to be proactive in treating
this condition.
Acupuncture Helps Mothers Breast Feed
By Susanna Ng
So now not only acupuncture can control pain, it can also help a mother to
have a smooth breast feeding experience. A group of Swedish scientists set out
to compare acupuncture treatment and care interventions for the relief of
inflammatory symptoms of the breast during lactation, and to investigate the
relationship between bacteria in the breast milk and clinical signs and
symptoms in a randomised, non-blinded, controlled study.
The researchers are from Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of
Helsingborg Hospital and Faculty of Social and Life Sciences, KarlstadUniversity
in Swede.
205 mothers with 210 cases of inflammatory symptoms of the breast during
lactation agreed to participate. The mothers were randomly assigned to one of
three treatment groups, two of which included acupuncture among the care
interventions and one without acupuncture.
All groups were given essential care. Protocols, which included scales for
erythema, breast tension and pain, were maintained for each day of contact with
the breast feeding clinic. A Severity Index (SI) for each mother and each day
was created by adding together the scores on the erythema, breast tension and
pain scales. The range of the SI was 0 (least severe) to 19 (most severe).
Significant differences were found in the mean SI scores on contact days 3
and 4 between the non-acupuncture group and the two acupuncture groups. Mothers
with less favourable outcomes (6 contact days, n=61) were, at first contact
with the midwife, more often given advice on correction of the baby’s
attachment to the breast. An obstetrician was called to examine 20% of the
mothers, and antibiotic treatment was prescribed for 15% of the study
population. The presence of Group B streptococci in the breast milk was related
to less favourable outcomes.
“If acupuncture treatment is acceptable to the mother, this, together with
care interventions such as correction of breast feeding position and babies’
attachment to the breast, might be a more expedient and less invasive choice of
treatment than the use of oxytocin nasal spray,” the researchers wrote.
However, no significant difference was found in numbers of mothers in the
treatment groups, with the lowest possible score for severity of symptoms on
contact days 3, 4 or 5. No statistically significant differences were found
between the treatment groups for number of contact days needed until the mother
felt well enough to discontinue contact with the breast feeding clinic or for
number of mothers prescribed antibiotics.
The researchers add that midwives, nurses or medical practitioners with
specialist competence in breast feeding should be the primary care providers
for mothers with inflammatory symptoms of the breast during lactation. The use
of antibiotics for inflammatory symptoms of the breast should be closely
monitored in order to help the global community reduce resistance development
among bacterial pathogens.
I’m a Vancouver-based newspaper editor. I have long wished to build an info
website about evidence-based Chinese medicine. Chinese Medicine News is
an info weblog dedicated to reporting evidence-based studies and research on
traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). With the growing interests in alternative
medicine from the public around the world, it is important for them to get
informed of the validity and reliability of the herbs they want to take / are
taking. For more information please visit: Chinese Medicine News
Research carried out in 2002 indicated that almost 80% of the world’s population would suffer from some kind of back pain with lower back pain being the most common type. In addition to the high rate of incidence, back pain is also known to have a high rate of recurrence in patients. With patients trying everything from over the counter painkillers to physiotherapy to gain relief from back pain, Acupuncture comes as a welcome change.
Acupuncture is a natural method of treatment that involves no chemicals or surgery. Thin stainless steel needles are inserted into the body at various acupuncture points to stimulate the free flow of Chi or life force through the body. Free flowing Chi results in a healthy and pain free body. Large bodies of research have been able to establish a connection between acupuncture and relief from back pain-especially sciatica.
Sciatica refers to a type of back pain in which the pain radiates from the buttocks down the legs. Sometimes, sciatica pain can also be a consequence of a muscle spasm impinging on the sciatica nerve. Acupuncture can be effectively used to alleviate muscle spasms. The results are almost immediate and can provide relief within minutes.
Back pain is generally caused because muscles that are not frequently exercised and stretched are suddenly put to excessive use. Muscle spasms are common in such cases and result in the individual feeling sore, stiff and a dull ache in the back. Patients suffering from sciatica may even feel a tingling sensation or numbness. This is generally due to the narrowing of the disc space or a disc protrusion in the lumbar region.
Acupuncture is used to improve blood circulation to the entire lumbar region and spinal cord. It relaxes paraspinal muscles and provides relief from muscle spasms. The increased blood flow provides greater nourishment to the discs and increases the elasticity and strengthens the spinal cord. Thus, acupuncture can be extremely effective in reducing back pain symptoms. It is important to remember that different patients respond differently to acupuncture sessions and it can take anywhere between 4-12 sessions to really feel the difference.
The Benefits Of Acupuncture For Diagnosis And Treatment Of
Arthritis
By Tim Gorman
Acupuncture for diagnosis and treatment of arthritis is now becoming more
prevalent but having your skin savagely poked with a series of long needles
doesn't exactly sound like ideal comfort, especially when you are already
living with arthritis, a rheumatoid disease characterized by it's trademark
stiffness and pain. The ancient Chinese would beg to differ, along with the
estimated fifteen million Americans who have tried the ancient Chinese needle
therapy known as acupuncture. Around the Asian continent, acupuncture has been
used for generations to alleviate the symptoms of chronic pain sufferers, like
arthritis patients, for instance. Prospective "acupokees" should be
aware that acupuncture therapy is used for treating arthritis, not diagnosing
it. Although patients should garner a arthritis diagnosis before signing up for
acupuncture therapy.
Studies in Arthritis and Acupuncture
More than twenty million Americans live with osteoarthritis (there are
various forms of the condition, however). In fact, osteoarthritis is amongst
the most frequent causes for physical disability in adults. Despite a history
spanning more than two thousand years, it was 2001 before acupuncture was found
to aid arthritis in the knee via a study by the University of Maryland School
of Medicine. The study included 570 osteoarthritis patients over the age of
fifty who had never before received acupuncture, surgery, or steroid
injections. A control group was selected and these individuals received regular
sessions of acupuncture. By the end of the first week, the acupuncture group
experienced a surge in mobility and by the end of the study the group reported
a forty percent decrease in pain and a forty percent increase in knee function.
Using Acupuncture For Treating Arthritis
Bigwigs of Western medicine aren't exactly sure just how acupuncture works
to fight arthritis and similar diseases, but the skilled acupuncture who
administer the therapy have an idea or two. According to therapeutic
philosophy, pain is the result of a blockage of one of life's essential
energies, qui. Stimulating certain points will put the flow of qui back in
balance again, thus alleviating chronic pain in the process - Volia! A 1999
study even found evidence that acupuncture improves sleep.
During acupuncture therapy, very thin needles are inserted into precise
point in the skin, these points are known as acupoints. It is these acupoints
that may have the biggest influence on the connection between treating
arthritis with the use of the acupuncture therapy. In addition to being poked
and prodded, acupoints also react to magnets, currents of electricity,
acupressure (hand pressure), lasers and even bee stings. Acupuncture
practitioners have also been known to administer herbs along with wielding out
some advice on making lifestyle changes at the conclusion of a session.
Studies demonstrate that some of designated acupoints are actually connected
to sensitive bio-trigger points rich in nerve endings. And further studies show
that tinkering around with those triggers can cause a mirage of biological
responses, one of the many responses being the chemical release of endorphins.
The release of endorphins is pivotal to acupuncture's influence on arthritis
because the chemical serves as the body's own answer to Advil, Tylenol and
Motrin, as a natural painkiller.
Acupuncture Checks and Balances
Acupuncture costs vary across the United States. But as a rule of
thumb, first visits usually fall between $75 and $150, with cheaper follow-up
treatments costing between $35 and $75. Health insurance accommodations of
acupuncture vary, but advocates of using the therapy for the treatment of diagnosed
arthritis cite the long-term benefits of it's hefty price tag, which include
fewer doctor visits over time and saving a few bucks on prescriptions.
Allergies are a condition when the body becomes hypersensitive to an
external object. The symptoms of allergies vary from person to person. Symptoms
may include watery ot red eyes, skin irritation and rashes, breathing problems
and weakness. Once diagnosed, the best treatment for any kind of allergy is to
avoid exposing the body to the object that provokes allergy. There are many
ways by which allergies can be treated. They are medication, acupuncture,
homeopathy, yoga and various other therapies.
Acupuncture, as an option for treating allergies is becoming more
widespread. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese method of healing by inserting
thin, fine needles into specific points in body to control and relieve pain and
cure or prevent certain diseases.
Acupuncture is based on the principle of balancing "Qi" which is
the vital energy that flows throughout the body. According to Chinese, any
imbalance and disruption of the flow of Qi in the body affects the health of
the individual. The points or the energy flows are stimulated and balanced
throughout the body by inserting needles and hence health is restored.
Acupuncture to treat allergies can be used alone or as a combination treatment
with any other therapy or medication. Acupuncture is generally preferred over
strong medication because it has no side effects. The acupuncturist develops a
plan to relieve a patient from the allergy symptoms while focusing on the
underlying cause of the problem and curing any imbalance in the immune system.
Allergy creates different reactions in different individuals; hence the
acupuncturist decides the placement accordingly. He determines the direction
and the depth to which the needles are to be inserted in the patient's body.
Each session can range between 20 minutes to about an hour. The time taken to
respond to acupuncture may vary in each individual.
Allergies provides
detailed information on Allergies, Allergy Relief, Food Allergies, Skin
Allergies and more. Allergies is affiliated with Bronchial Asthma.
Acupuncture Treatment for Drug Addiction
By Mike Herman
With the difficulties of drug addiction and the newness of using acupuncture
as a treatment there are few scientific studies to show the success of
acupuncture in the treatment of drug addiction.
However there have been a number of studies that prove to us that there is
merit with acupuncture in the treatment of alcoholism. Helping to ease the
symptoms of withdrawal and cravings suffered by the alcoholic when they finally
stop drinking and want to transition back into a sober lifestyle.
It should also be pointed out that acupuncture also help by removing some of
the fear and hostility that often accompanies the withdrawal from drug
addiction.
As with the treatment of alcoholics the successful treatment of drug
addiction stems from more than just the acupuncture and therapist. The patient
must be of sound mind and must want to truly kick their habit, whether that
habit is drugs or alcohol.
Acupuncture does have the effect of balancing the neurotransmitters and
stimulating the central nervous system, which ends up releasing good chemicals
in the brain, such as Endorphins and Serotonin, which helps to control a
persons mood and just makes them feel good.
If you are intrigued by acupuncture in want to investigate it or begin drug
withdrawals, look no further than your phone book. Most major cities inside the
United States
and in many other countries have plenty of qualified acupuncturists available.
If acupuncture isn't working to help you to get over your addiction, you may
want to consider alternatives to acupuncture such as enrolling in a twelve-step
program or undergoing drug therapy for easing your withdrawals. Whatever you
decide to do, be sure to stay committed to your plan.
If you are looking for treatment for drug addictions, headaches, arthritis or many others that acupuncture is helpful with,
click on over to Mike Herman's site at http://www.HealthImproving.com/Acupuncture
Weight Loss With Acupuncture - Can Acupuncture Help You Lose
Weight?
In recent years, more and more people are trying out acupuncture to
lose weight. Just what is acupuncture? How can acupuncture treatment help you
lose weight?
Acupuncture is a branch of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and has been
around for about 5, 000 years. It is the practice of inserting very thin
needles to stimulate pathways or meridians in the body to treat many illnesses
and diseases especially to relieve pain from chronic disorders.
Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners or TCM physicians claim that
acupuncture can help you to lose body fat by making you feel full and so will
eat less. This curbs excess caloric consumption in the patient treated with
acupuncture and is a great help in the patient’s weight loss program.
Acupuncture treatment can also be used to raise your metabolic rate and help
you to burn more calories to speed up weight loss. Some Chinese medicine
practitioners say that acupuncture stimulates the production of a hormone
called endorphins and this hormone helps to lower body fat, insulin and lipid
levels in the bloodstream thus less insulin is converted into body fat.
Acupuncture is not a miracle cure for obesity. TCM physicians often stress
that to achieve good weight loss results from your program and maintaining your
weight, acupuncture treatment alone is not enough. To lose weight effectively
and keep the fats off permanently, acupuncture treatment must be combined with
healthy eating habits and regular exercises.
Before you begin your acupuncture treatment, your Chinese physician will
conduct a medical examination on you by checking your pulse and examination of
your tongue to ensure that you are suitable for acupuncture weight loss
treatment. This is because TCM is a holistic branch of health care and do not
just specifically target the ailment or medical complaint. So an investigation
into other reasons why a patient is obese is necessary to solve the problem
holistically.
If you want to lose weight naturally and without drugs, why not try TCM
acupuncture for your weight loss program?
Nothing is so painful as a leg nerve that is acting up. There is relief for this and acupuncture is one way to get it.
It is characterized by pain that begins in the lower back and moves down the leg. The sciatic nerve runs from the lower back and down the back of the leg. There are several causes for this condition including inflammation of the nerve itself. In some cases, the condition is caused by overexertion, and sometimes it is caused by putting too much pressure on the nerve simply by sitting it in a poor position.
In a few rare cases, the condition becomes chronic. In most cases, the chronic conditions can be traced to traumatic damage to the lower back or spine or to the nerve itself. The treatment is usually centered on relief of the pain. Pain killers are given and rest is suggested.
Leg nerve pain responds very well to acupuncture. Acupuncture has a very good record for the relief of unspecific pain and the reduction of inflammation. In fact, leg nerve pain and acupuncture make such a good condition and treatment match that some people find that they can bring about some pain relief and quicker healing times with the application of acupressure to the correct points.
Nerve pain is one of those ailments that really does seem to call for the use of alternative medicines. It is often treated by chiropractors as well as physical therapists. What makes acupuncture such a good choice for the treatment is that the diagnosis method of Traditional Chinese Medicine will look well past the pain, which it will see as merely a symptom, to the underlying cause. This will suggest a program of treatment that will include relief of pain and increased healing, but will also address an overall plan of diet, exercise, and herbal supplements designed to prevent its return.
Since most incidents of nerve aggravation are not life threatening nor are they usually of long duration, the taking of chemical pain killers that might have side effects does not seem to be the most logical choice to one who cares about the overall health of his body. Acupuncture has the advantage of being safe and the virtual lack of adverse side effects seems to point to it as a safer choice.
