Related Acupuncture Articles
new.com.au- August 14, 2010
AUSTRALIAN hospitals are finally catching up with what the Chinese have long known acupuncture is a great alternative form of pain relief.
Acupuncture is fast gaining acceptance in mainstream medicine right across the Western world. It s already used routinely in several Australian emergency departments and is now undergoing a randomised, controlled trial in three Melbourne hospitals to alleviate pain from acute migraines, back pain and ankle sprain.
Researchers at the University of York and Hull York Medical School in the UK have just mapped acupuncture's effect on the brain and have found that it changes specific neural structures, deactivating the areas in the brain associated with the processing of pain.
This is key, says Professor Marc Cohen, head of the trial and professor of complementary medicine at RMIT University. We know that pain is the most common reason for people coming to emergency departments, and we know that it s not very well treated in that a lot of people don t get sufficient pain relief, he says.
We also know that pharmacotherapy, the main method of treating pain in emergency situations, has severe side effects. Some people can t tolerate drugs, others find that opioid medication such as pethidine or morphine causes nausea and constipation.
Once you give morphine you have to watch the patient for several hours and monitor blood pressure and nausea.
What we've found anecdotally is that people who have come into an emergency department in pain and tried acupuncture, have had their pain relieved in a very short period of time.
Acupuncture can also be safely combined with most conventional drugs and treatments and has very few side effects.
Scientific proof
Today, acupuncture is one of the most accepted complementary therapies in the country, with more than 80 per cent of GPs referring patients to an accredited acupuncturist in the past 12 months.
And, despite not being part of the standard curriculum, about one-fifth of GPs have gone on to do post-graduate training in acupuncture.
You can thank modern science for that, says Dr Morton Rawlin, vice president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
Acupuncture has gradually increased its acceptability over the last 20 years [because] it has good, double-blind, scientific proof that it is of assistance for pain and other disorders.
But has it reached a tipping point? We re on the verge, says Professor Cohen. Emergency physicians and GPs have taken it up on their own initiative because they see the benefits. If we find positive results [in the study] it will open the door for it to be included in all Western emergency departments and that will be a major shift.
Modern panacea?
So when should you be demanding acupuncture over mainstream medical treatments?
Acupuncture, like all modalities of treatment for different conditions, needs to be discussed by the individual with their doctor, says Dr Rawlin.
Professor Cohen agrees. Everyone s situation is individual, but the one thing I can say is that acupuncture can t really hurt. So try it.
Just be warned: it s not a panacea.
Acupuncture won't help everyone for everything, says Professor Cohen. But there are cases where people have gone the gamut of Western medicine, had no relief and then acupuncture has given significant relief.
Acupuncture provides a different perspective on a treatment program and, in the hands of a trained therapist, has been shown over thousands of years to be extremely safe.
How it can help you?
1 Dental anxiety New British research shows acupuncture can calm dental patients and help post-operative pain.
For more: www.ada.org.au
2 Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) A 2009 Swedish study found that PCOS can be relieved by the use of electro-acupuncture where the needles are stimulated with a low-frequency current.
More information: www.posaa.asn.au
3 Depression Chicago researchers found acupuncture may be an effective alternative treatment to antidepressants for depression during pregnancy. It s also being increasingly used in psychiatric disorders.
More information: www.beyondblue.org.au
4 Breast cancer treatment. A recent trial of breast cancer patients in Norway found acupuncture provided a 50 per cent reduction in hot flushes.
More information: www.cancercouncil.com.au
5 Migraines Randomised controlled studies have shown acupuncture can reduce tension headaches by half and ensure fewer headaches after three to four months than routine drug treatment.
The Huffington Post - 08-05-10
Should You Try Acupuncture? by Arthur Rosenfeld
Recently I've been involved in creating and hosting a series of documentaries on integrative medicine. The three films are aimed at healthcare professionals. The first is about the science of tai chi, the second is about the science of meditation and the third is about the science of acupuncture. I've just wound up the last on-location filming (interviewing experts) for the acupuncture film, and am struck by how this ancient healing modality is blossoming in popularity across the country.
A healing tool of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture has been successfully administered for more than 2,500 years. According to the TCM view, a vital energy called qi flows through the body along channels called meridians. I like to think of these channels as a sprinkling system for the body, bringing qi to vital organs and extremities in much the way hoses bring water to your garden. In the TCM model of health and disease, when qi flow is blocked it stagnates. Stagnating qi causes illness. Acupuncture therapy unblocks the qi flow, strengthens or weakens the qi (think opening and closing the garden spigot) and directs it to areas of need.
A holistic practice, acupuncture seeks to re-establish the body's healthy equilibrium and function, as opposed to forcing healing using surgery or pharmaceuticals. Interestingly, Chinese practitioners were not the only (and may not have been the first) to identify these energy pathways in the body. The frozen body of a man recovered well-preserved from the Alps features tattoos that correspond to Chinese acupuncture's qi meridians.
Much research is afoot to attempt to define qi in Western terms. This is a challenge, as the word runs deeply through not only Chinese medicine, but through Chinese art, literature, philosophy, pugilism and daily life. From the standpoint of Western medical science, qi is likely to be revealed as some amalgam of endorphins, the bioelectric potential of cell membranes, nervous conduction, circulating hormones and perhaps even photons (light) and infrared radiation (heat). In attempting to define and quantify qi, acupuncture research may end up identifying a whole new system of biological information, such as the conduction of impulses through the body's connective tissue.
A typical acupuncture treatment involves penetrating the skin with tiny needles, but some styles of acupuncture (Japanese toyohari, for instance) don't require such penetration. Some researchers link such distant healing to the so-called "non-local" effects of quantum physics. Cutting edge stuff! Still, studying the effects of acupuncture with the traditional, Western, double-blind placebo controlled model presents certain difficulties. These center on the fact that since we don't fully understand how acupuncture works, we don't know what the variables are; not understanding those elements, we can't adequately control for them. More, the term "placebo effect" (as in this treatment or that pill is no more effective than a placebo) is an inaccurate and pejorative term that is rapidly losing relevance as we learn more about the body's ability to heal itself. It turns out that the effect is powerful, and desirable, perhaps the new "gold standard" for the way the body should heal.
Despite the challenges of study design and the mind-bending possibilities for a new understanding of how the body works, acupuncture has been extensively studied and verified both by international studies and by our own National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). Part of the National Institutes of Health, NCCAM alone sponsors more studies than I can list here, and their website (merely one, orthodox outlet for medical information from a Western point of view) addresses acupuncture for pain, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and more.
Some folks, including older Western M.D.s, still talk about whether or not they "believe" in acupuncture. Such thinking is ill-informed and outdated. One might as well speculate about whether to believe in aspirin, morphine, insulin, surgery or an MRI. The question is not whether acupuncture works, but how it works, and whether it is the appropriate therapy for a particular syndrome, problem, symptom, disease or patient. In a clinical setting and performed by a licensed professional (licensure is by state) acupuncture is effective for a variety of complaints.
Over the years, I have received acupuncture myself and watched scores of people from different walks of life receive the treatment for a spate of different ills. While practitioners vary in their needling technique, for the most part acupuncture is not painful and gives results readily. Practitioners use smaller needles here than they do in China, and are generally gentler in their application, citing the lower pain threshold of American patients. In China, needles are thicker, longer, and sometimes as enthusiastically "rowed" while in a patient as an oar in the hands of a whitewater kayaker. Ouch. Discomfort seems to be expected by Chinese patients--here, not so much.
In China, the typical course of therapy seems to be every day for 10 days, a break, then another similar course if needed. On our shores it is more typical to go once or twice a week for a month or two before lasting results are gained. Most sessions last 15-30 minutes in a quiet room, during which the patient often falls asleep.
Does insurance pay for acupuncture? In the state of Washington coverage for acupuncture (along with other complementary treatments such as chiropractic and massage) is mandated. In other states it varies by company and policy. If you are paying for treatment out of your own pocket, the cost can add up, but should be weighed against other treatment options, your pain and suffering, and of course the modality's potential to forestall worsening health.
So should you try it? That depends on a variety of factors. Patients who have tried more familiar therapies without success, particularly for a chronic or recurring problem, are good candidates for acupuncture. Another type of candidate might be someone who is reluctant to endure the side effects of some more conventional Western therapies. A third acupuncture patient profile might be the person who wishes to emphasize wellness and prevention over the disease model of medicine and is willing to make concomitant lifestyle changes to achieve optimum health.
If you have needle fears, remember that acupuncture needles are more like a pin--very small and not open-ended like a hypodermic needle. Consider going to see a treatment and having a close look at the needle, or, if you have a real phobia, choose the nonpenetrating form of the therapy (toyohari) mentioned earlier. It's best not to expect results overnight, even though I have heard tell that it can sometimes interrupt a grand mal epileptic seizure, end an asthma attack and drop blood pressure quickly. Given time, acupuncture may be effective in addiction therapy (including helping patients stop smoking) weight loss, increasing fertility, treating back pain, migraine headaches and the symptoms of fibromyalgia, and valuable in a host of other chronic conditions.
Pushed along by cultural and financial forces, American medicine is evolving. Old prejudices are giving way to open minds. The new model of integrative medicine is patient centered, and embraces any and all effective solutions to the patient's health problems. Read, learn, ask questions, and take advantage of all options available to you in your quest to get well and stay that way.
Univ of Maryland Center for Integrative Medicine - 08/03/2010
UM Researcher Leads Analysis of Acupuncture for Low Back Pain - Contact Name: Sharon Boston
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people see a physician, with nearly three-quarters of people in Western countries experiencing back pain at some point in their lives. According to some estimates, patients with low back pain account for more than $90 billion in annual health care expenses in the United States.
The causes for back pain are complex and multifaceted, and about 85 percent of cases will be defined as "nonspecific," meaning a direct cause cannot be found. Back pain is also one of the most common reasons for acupuncture appointments. But should physicians consider recommending acupuncture to these patients?
In a feature article published in the July 29 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers examine the current studies into acupuncture for low back pain and make treatment recommendations for a sample patient.
"Many studies in the past few years have found a benefit to acupuncture for low back pain, particularly when added to conventional therapy," says lead author Brian Berman, MD, director of the University of Maryland Center for Integrative Medicine and a professor of family and community medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
He adds, "Our review examined recent studies involving thousands of patients. However, questions still remain about the role of the placebo effect in acupuncture, particularly since many clinical trials showed that sham acupuncture could be as effective as real acupuncture."
The reviewers suggested more research into acupuncture for low back pain is needed, specifically looking at the environment in which acupuncture is performed to evaluate whether a psychological or emotional bias may be contributing to patients reporting improvement. They also recommend additional studies to evaluate sham acupuncture without needles penetrating the skin, to see if the benefits of acupuncture may be achieved without an invasive procedure.
Most acute back pain goes away in about six weeks. However, 25 percent of patients report recurring pain within a year, and 7 percent develop chronic low back pain.
For physicians contemplating whether to suggest acupuncture for their back pain patients, the article gives current recommendations from the American College of Physicians, the American Pain Society and the North American Spine Society for incorporating acupuncture into a treatment plan.
The authors report that it is essential for all patients with chronic or recurrent back pain to undergo a careful diagnostic evaluation before selecting a course of therapy. Certain conditions, such as cancer or infection, may preclude certain patients from receiving acupuncture treatment.
As part of the review, the researchers examined the case of a hypothetical 45-year-old man who had years of low back pain, but was not receiving adequate relief from his current treatments. He had concerns about losing his job as a construction worker and wondered whether acupuncture could help him.
Based on the patient's evaluation, which included MRI and a clinical examination, and the evidence for the potential benefits for acupuncture, the team would suggest a course of 10 to 12 acupuncture treatments over a period of eight weeks with a qualified practitioner.
"In a case such as this, we would first want to reassure the patient that the clinical exam and MRI showed no evidence of a serious underlying condition such as cancer or spinal infection. In addition to acupuncture, we would encourage this patient to stay active and consider a stretching and strengthening exercise program," explains Berman.
The idea to use acupuncture with standard treatments such as pain medicines and physical therapy is one of the keys to "integrative medicine," a growing field of medicine looking at combining conventional and complementary treatments where there is evidence about safety and effectiveness.
"Dr. Berman and his team at the University of Maryland Center for Integrative Medicine are international leaders in the field of integrative medicine; they are among the many innovative, world-class researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. This article is just one example of the center's mission to provide scientifically valid information to help physicians and patients make informed decisions about complementary therapies," says E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, vice president for medical affairs, University of Maryland, and dean, University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Other researchers on the New England Journal article include Helene Langevin, MD, Program in Integrative Health, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington; Claudia Witt, MD, Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charite University Medical Center, Berlin; and Ronald Dubner, DDS, PhD, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore.
Founded in 1991, the University of Maryland Center for Integrative Medicine was the first program within a U.S. academic medical center to investigate complementary and alternative medicine through research, patient care and education. It has been a National Institutes of Health Center of Excellence for Research of Complementary Medicine for the past 15 years.
The center's main research interests have included arthritis, pain and inflammatory conditions. Its researchers published results of a large clinical trial in the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2004 showing that acupuncture is a safe and effective adjunctive treatment for pain from osteoarthritis of the knee.
roundtownnews.co.uk - 07-27-10
Chinese medicine & acupuncture in treatment of arthritis
Arthritis is not just one disease; there are at least 100 distinct varieties of the disorder.
ARTHRITIS AND the pain and inflammation that comes with it cannot be avoided for most people over the age of 50. Joints do degenerate over time. Fortunately, Arthritis can usually be managed by Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
WHAT IS ARTHRITIS?
Arthritis is not just one disease; there are at least 100 distinct varieties of the disorder. The most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Although these two forms of arthritis have very different causes, risk factors and effects on the body, they do share a common symptom: persistent joint pain.
OSTEOARTHRITIS (OA)
This is the most common form of arthritis. 80% of people over 65 have evidence of OA yet only 25% have symptoms. There is degeneration of the joint cartilage with growth of new bone and connective tissue within the joint. OA mainly affects the spine, hips, knees and fingers. Pain is worse for movement and better for rest. Stiffness is common. If you have or had a strenuous job that required repetitive bending, kneeling, or squatting, for example, you may be at risk for OA of the knees.
This is a chronic, inflammatory, destructive and deforming polyarthritis (meaning, affecting many joints. Other parts of the body, including blood, the lungs and heart can be affected as well! It affects about 3% of the population in the west and three times more women than men. It usually begins at around 30-40 years of age. It is worse in damp and cold climates. Inflammation of the joint lining, called the synovium, can cause pain; swelling; stiffness; heat and redness. The affected joint, usually fingers and toes, may lose its shape, resulting in loss of normal movement.
GOUT
nother condition that most people don’t relate to Arthritis is Gout. Gout is an inflammatory Arthritis which, in western medicine, is due to an excess of uric acid in the blood. Crystals are formed in the joints which lead to the severe symptoms of this condition. Foods with high protein content, e.g. meat and alcoholic drinks increase uric acid levels. Middle aged men are more commonly affected. The commonest joint affected is the second joint of the big toe. The pain of Gout is so severe sometimes that any contact is excruciating.
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF ARTHRITIS WITH ACUPUNCTURE AND TCM
The name ‘Arthritis’ of course did not exist 2000 years ago, but the Chinese knew the disease and treated it then: in Chinese medicine we call it ‘Bi’ syndrome - Bi meaning blockage pain; blockage of QI (energy). As in western medicine, there are different types of ‘Bi’ disorders, each treated differently with Acupuncture and/or Chinese herbs. And as always, each person is different and may receive different treatment. Acupuncture points to treat Arthritis are all over your body, not just over the affected area. During treatment, small needles may be inserted along your arms and legs, as well as the affected area. The frequency and number of treatments will vary according to the condition you present.
Several studies have shown that Acupuncture can help people with arthritis. In one Scandinavian study, 25% of arthritis patients who had been scheduled for knee surgery cancelled their operation after receiving a series of Acupuncture treatments.
Even without the studies, the popularity of Acupuncture for Arthritis continues to grow because more and more people have found significant relief from Chinese medicine without the negative side effects from western pharmaceuticals.
Food Consumer 06-01-10
Acupuncture works, but not as a placebo! By Jimmy Downs and editing by Rachel Stockton
Believe it or not, acupuncture has been just scientifically proven to be able to render a pain-relieving effect by triggering a naturally occurring painkilling chemical, according to a new study published in Nature Neuroscience.
For a long time, the western medical circle ridiculed acupuncture, an ancient Chinese therapy indicated to relieve pain in patients with conditions such as arthritis, as something that works by giving some patients a placebo effect.
The current study led by Dr. Maiken Nedergaard and colleagues at the University of Rochester in New York found that acupuncture raises the level of a naturally occurring painkiller known as adenosine by more than 20 times.
The level of adenosine, a chemical that is also good for sleep and heart health, is boosted drastically when the skin suffers an injury, such as in the case of acupuncture, to inhibit nerve signals that trigger pain.
In the Study, Dr. Nedergaard first demonstrated in animal models that adenosine is the painkiller induced by acupuncture and involved in the pain-relieving effect. Acupuncture did not work to relieve discomfort in mice that were unable to produce the compound.
Secondly, the researchers applied acupuncture to mice with sore paws - rotating tiny needles in points near their knees and found adenosine was boosted by 24 times and the discomfort was reduced by two-thirds.
The authors of the study also found that a drug given leukemia patients, called deoxycoformycin tripled the accumulation of adenosine when injected into mice; the duration of high levels of adenosine induced by acupuncture were also tripled.
The drug prevented the tissue from ridding itself of adenosine, thus maintaining the pain-relieving effect for a longer time.
One previous review of nine clinical trials involving about 2500 patients published over a period of 15 years suggested that acupuncture works as a placebo, at least partially.
Eric Manheimer and colleagues of the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore released their review on June 19, 2007 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
But the researchers did not deny that acupuncture has a "genuine biological effect," nor did they dismiss the potential benefits of acupuncture for knee arthritis, among other things.
Center for Health & Wellbeing 06/01/2010
Traditional Chinese Medicine is more relevant than ever -by Janet Webb Lee
The roots of Traditional Chinese Medicine go back more than 5,000 years. Although this ancient form of medicine was developed long ago it has never been more relevant to health care than today.
In China, acupuncturists and physicians work side by side. Many Chinese hospitals have acupuncture inpatient wings and separate departments with such outpatient specialties as pulmonary conditions, obstetrics and gynecology and orthopedics. Inpatients also can receive visits from acupuncturists and may even take Chinese herbs intravenously.
In the U.S., many Americans are aware that acupuncture treats pain conditions like back pain, tendonitis and headaches, but patients often are surprised to hear that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treats hundreds of conditions ranging from hypertension to infertility to anxiety. In fact, most medical and psychological conditions other than medical emergencies are treatable with TCM.
The advantages potentially provided by an acupuncturist include pain relief, faster healing, possible reduction of prescription medications, higher energy and stress reduction. Many acupuncturists also offer dietary and lifestyle advice tailored to your body type and general health.
One reason for the effectiveness of Chinese medicine is that treatments are always customized to each patient’s specific condition. For example, five patients with asthma may be treated with five different point combination and herbal formulas depending on their symptom presentations. There is no one size fits all remedy in TCM. This results in not only the symptoms being treated, but also the root cause of your health concern.
Chinese herbs are powerful tools that allow licensed acupuncturists to tailor herbal formulas specifically to your needs. For example, a formula can be customized to treat symptoms of diabetes, obesity and acid reflux – all of which can be related in TCM terms. Many Chinese herbs are plant roots and other plant parts but also included in the material medica are simple foods like ginger and minerals like gypsum.
Reaching such specific diagnoses requires a great deal of training. Acupuncturists must be familiar with modern medical conditions, medical terminology, pharmaceuticals and anatomy.
Acupuncture point locations and functions are just the beginning of the knowledge a TCM practitioner must have at instant recall. Your acupuncturist also has extensive training in Chinese medical theory, nutrition, disease patterns and herbology.
In California, acupuncturists have a minimum of 3,000 to 3,800 hours of training, with at least 900 of those hours spent in clinical training, according to the California Acupuncture Board.
CalorieLab - May 11, 2010
Patients Recognize Acupuncture; Insurers Don't
A growing number of people are turning to acupuncture for treatment, although most insurance companies don’t provide coverage for it. According to a 2007 survey by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 3.1 million adults reported using acupuncture in the previous 12 months, up from 2.1 million in a 2002 survey. Western doctors are beginning to embrace acupuncture, sometimes sending patients to be treated for conditions like chronic headaches, osteoarthritis, depression related to pregnancy, and lower back pain, but insurers have been reluctant to cover the treatment. Patients who would like to try acupuncture are advised to try a few things: check to see if your insurer covers it, try a school for discounted treatment, or use your insurer’s flex spending account.
The New Nation – May 11, 2010
Acupuncture in migraine treatment – by Dr. Shariq H. Khan
Migraine is a headache involving recurrent attacks that can last up to three days and sufferers may also experience double vision, nausea and vomiting. You may also have other symptoms, such as feeling and being sick or being extra-sensitive to sound or light. About 1 in 6 people who have migraines get what's called an aura. This can cause symptoms like temporary problems with your vision, or pins and needles or numbness in parts of your body.
The pain is often on one side of your head, throbbing and gets worse when you move. Migraines are often thought to be caused by emotional strain, stress, hormonal imbalances, and lack of food and/or sleep or by a reaction to some foods or medications.
You may be more likely to get a migraine attack if you are tired, hungry or stressed, or eat or drink certain foods. Women are more likely to have migraine attacks than men. This Headache is notoriously difficult one to treat effectively, and it can be the cause of a considerable amount of distress and marital disharmony.
Acupuncture treatment has been used to treat a wide variety of headaches, particularly migrainous headaches, and the results obtained have been very encouraging. The published work suggests that between 65-95 per cent of all headache sufferers obtain significant and long lasting pain relief from acupuncture treatment. Migraines seem to respond as well as, if not better than, other types of headache.
Acupuncture therapy may cause the headaches to vanish completely, or occur with a markedly decreased intensity and/or frequency. The pain relief resulting from acupuncture treatment can sometimes be maintained for some years and re-treatment is usually required less frequently for headaches.
Research has shown that acupuncture can be very beneficial in the treatment of migraines as it tends to lessen the frequency and severity of attacks.
Acupuncture method of treatment is a tried and tested system of traditional medicine, which has been used in China and other eastern countries for thousands of years to restore, promote and maintain good health. It aims to treat the root cause of a condition and promote long-term wellness, rather than just alleviating symptoms. Its benefits are now widely acknowledged all over the world.
A classical acupuncture treatment involves the insertion of very thin needles into acupuncture points on the body. This action stimulates nerves located in Acupoints to provide pain relief and increase blood flow in and around the brain. This process also alleviates individual underlying imbalances which are contributing long term to the person's condition.
The modern scientific explanation about the effectiveness of Acupuncture treatment is that needling the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain, including endorphins, enkephalins and other neurotransmitters.
Either these chemicals will change the experience of pain, or they will trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones that influence the body's own internal regulating system, bringing about a normalizing effect on neuroendocrine function. The improved energy and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture results in stimulating the body's natural healing abilities, and in promoting physical and emotional well-being.
Traditional acupuncture theory sees pain as being largely due to obstruction of the body's vital energy or qi. Acupuncture needles are thought to act like witches in the body's energy circuits, freeing up stagnant energy and getting it flowing.
From a biomedical perspective, acupuncture can help in the treatment of migraine by:
providing pain relief - by stimulating nerves located in muscles and other tissues, acupuncture leads to release of pain killing endorphins and changes the processing of pain in the brain and spinal cord.
reducing inflammation - by promoting release of various biochemical substances.
increasing blood flow in and around the brain.
affecting the brain levels of a chemical called serotonin, which has various functions, including control of appetite and mood.
New York Times – May 08, 2010
Ancient Chinese Art, in a Western Context - By LESLEY ALDERMAN
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been in use for thousands of years.
At your first evaluation, a practitioner will examine your tongue for clues like cracks and discolorations, take your pulse and ask numerous questions to determine what might be causing your symptoms.
The practitioner will then insert fine needles at specific points to unblock the flow of qi, or energy, in your body. Sound like hocus pocus?
Many Western doctors think not.
“Acupuncture is a system of correspondences,” said Vitaly Napadow, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, who conducts research on how acupuncture affects the brain. “Different ailments or diseases can be explained through traditional Chinese medical theory or through modern biomedical physiology, with sometimes interesting correspondence between the two,” said Dr. Napadow, who has a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering and is also a licensed acupuncturist.
“I’ve been practicing for eight years and have seen acupuncture help with surprisingly diverse issues, like plantar fasciitis and diabetic neuropathy,” he said. “Acupuncture affects many systems in the body, including parts of the brain that are involved with processing emotion and pain.
The study below has been published in the May issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS).
Acupuncture the best bet to ease pain
A new study has supported the use of traditional Chinese acupuncture method for pain treatment.
Dr. Philip Lang and colleagues of the University of Munich used quantitative sensory testing to identify changes in pain sensitivity with acupuncture in 24 healthy volunteers.
After applying acupuncture to the leg, the researchers found that pain thresholds increased by up to 50 per cent. Effects were noted in both the treated leg and the untreated (contralateral) leg.
Quantitative sensory testing is used clinically to help physicians understand specific injuries in nerve fibers associated with chronic pain.
It includes tests of both thermal perception (heat and cold), and mechanical perception (pressure applied to the skin).
The patte rns of response provide diagnostic information in patients with nerve injury regarding the type of nerve involved, and possible treatments.
The results pointed to two nerve fibres-the ‘A delta’ pain fibers and the ‘C’ pain fibers-as being specifically affected by acupuncture.
Although the effects were modest, the researchers believe they provide the basis for future studies in individuals with chronic pain, where the effects might be more dramatic.
The study also supported the effects of three different forms of acupuncture- manual acupuncture needling alone and with the addition of high-frequency and low-frequency electrical stimulation.
An experienced acupuncturist performed all treatments, applied to acupuncture points commonly used in pain management.
The results provide a scientific background for the ancient practice of acupuncture, according to Dr. Dominik Irnich, the study’s leading author.
"Our results show that contralateral stimulation leads to a remarkable pain relief. This suggests that acupuncturists should needle contralaterally if the affected side is too painful or not accessible-for example, if the skin is injured or there is a dressing in place," added Irnich.
Dr. Steven L. Shafer, Editor-in-Chief of Anesthesia & Analgesia and Professor of Anesthesiology at Columbia University, views the results as an important preliminary finding.
HealthCMI - March 17, 2010
Acupuncture Combats Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
The NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) reports that acupuncture demonstrates effectiveness in the treatment of PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder). PTSD is an anxiety disorder that may occur after violent assaults, military combat, disasters, or any incident in which severe physical harm is threatened. In a randomized controlled study, Dr. Michael Hollifield, MD, and his team at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Louisville, Kentucky; concluded that acupuncture yields beneficial therapeutic results similar to that of cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Acupuncture is gaining wide acceptance in areas where both physical and mental trauma are serious issues. Doctors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington now recommend acupuncture for the treatment of physical pain due to injuries. Acupuncture is now used in war zones. The Air Force runs the only acupuncture clinic in the US military located at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. They train doctors to bring acupuncture to war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. A pilot program is currently training 44 Air Force, Navy, and Army doctors to add acupuncture therapy to emergency care in combat zones and war-zone hospitals. This training focuses on reducing physical pain with acupuncture protocols. The Navy has recently instituted a new acupuncture training pilot program for doctors at Camp Pendleton in California.
The US military first took note of acupuncture in 1967 when an Army surgeon wrote an article in Military Medicine magazine on the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy. During the Vietnam War, the Army surgeon observed local physicians practicing acupuncture on Vietnamese patients at a US Army surgical hospital. Looking forward, Col. Richard Niemtzow, an Air Force physician, first offered acupuncture in 1995 at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. Later, he founded the acupuncture clinic at Andrews in Maryland. Acupuncture has a long history of repairing injuries and many acupuncturists practice movements arts such as Qi Gong, Tai Qi, and martial arts. Over the centuries, acupuncture has co-evolved with the martial arts and has provided relief and recovery for many types of injuries.
March 11, 2010
Acupuncture seems to help where modern medicine failed - by Susan Reimer
My husband the sports writer calls it "Team Reimer," and he says it has more members than the supporting casts behind any Olympic athlete he's ever covered.
I tell him that if I was as young and fit as the athletes he writes about, I wouldn't need a team to keep me on the road.
But I'm not, and so I have a yoga trainer, a massage therapist, the best hair-colorist in my town, a manicurist, a general practitioner to whom I am devoted and an aesthetician. Not that my husband knows what an aesthetician is.
Now there is a new member of Team Reimer. My acupuncturist.
Traditional medicine - from podiatrists to orthopedic surgeons - has failed to relieve the pain in my joints caused by years of wear and tear, so I followed the advice offered by too many of my friends to ignore.
I made an appointment with an acupuncturist.
His diagnosis? "Fifty-year-old knee; 50-year-old hip; 50-year-old shoulder." Add to that, 50-year-old hands aching from shoveling 50 inches of snow.
But when the newest member of my team took my pulse, he was alarmed. It was running pretty high. About as high as my level of anxiety, I would guess. I'm not a big needle person.
So I shut my eyes as the needles went in, and I kept them shut until he told me, 30 minutes later, that the needles were out. My imagination is vivid enough without visuals.
And I have to say, I barely felt a thing.
There were 15 needles - acupuncturists usually work in batches of five. Some went in around my 50-year-old shoulder, more around my 50-year-old hip and more around my 50-year-old knee. But others went between my toes, at the base of my skull and spine, and in my scalp.
The needles inserted for pain, he explained, would promote the release of endorphins, the brain's natural painkiller. The others would address my sleeplessness and my anxiety, which he called my "restless mind."
(My husband said I'd need a knitting needle to shut down my "restless mind.")
My acupuncturist promised I would feel a little better each day after the treatment. After five weekly visits, we would know if acupuncture was working as well for me as it had for so many of my friends. He gave me two kinds of Chinese herbs, and I was on my way.
After the treatment, I was completely exhausted.
I thought it was the result of my nervousness, but a friend had warned that acupuncture can leave you feeling whipped.
Five days later, I had a second treatment, and I must confess that I have felt a little better each day. After years of disappointment in traditional treatments, I am not declaring victory just yet. We will see how this goes.
In the meantime, so much of acupuncture remains a mystery to me. There is my yin and my yang. My qi (chee) and my meridian line.
And in the background, there is my husband. Writing checks and shaking his head.
Mayo Clinic .com - Mar 11, 2010
Can acupuncture treatments relieve back pain? - Answer from J. D. Bartleson, M.D.
When performed properly by trained practitioners, acupuncture has proved to be an effective therapy for back pain. Several studies have found that acupuncture can help reduce chronic back pain and improve daily function.
Acupuncture for back pain involves inserting very thin needles to various depths into strategic points on your body. This is thought to balance the flow of energy or life force — known as qi or chi (pronounced chee) — believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body.
Scientists don't fully understand how or why acupuncture affects the amount of pain you feel. Several studies have found that acupuncture causes the same effects as sham (minimal or simulated) acupuncture used in some studies for comparison. Sham acupuncture involves tapping the skin with a toothpick at the same strategic points used in acupuncture to simulate the insertion of a needle. Sham acupuncture may not be an accurate way of studying the benefits of acupuncture, however, because it's possible that acupuncture points can be stimulated by even surface pressure. Both acupuncture and sham acupuncture showed improvement over usual medical treatments.
Acupuncture is generally recognized as safe if done by a competent, certified acupuncture practitioner. Possible side effects and complications can occur, which include soreness, bleeding, infection or bruising at the needle sites.
Acupuncture isn't a cure and not everyone responds to acupuncture for back pain. If your back pain doesn't begin to improve within a few weeks, acupuncture may not be the right treatment for you. If you're considering acupuncture for back pain, talk with your doctor, who can refer you to an acupuncturist.
Times & Transcript - February 4th, 2010
The yin and the yang of acupuncture – Dr. Melissa Blake
Acupuncture is part of an ancient system of medicine known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
It is an effective treatment for a wide variety of conditions, including everything from pain management to fertility concerns.
Although acupuncture can be used to treat a specific concern such as a sore knee, it involves much, much more than just sticking an area with needles.
Any health-care practitioner who has been trained in TCM has been taught to look at the whole person. This means even the seemingly negligible details, from the colour and shape of the tongue to slight abnormalities in fingernails, are seen as parts of the overall picture.
Everything matters when it comes to choosing the right treatment approach.
So how does acupuncture work?
The body contains channels of energy known as meridians. Each of these channels is associated with an organ (liver, heart, kidney, etc.) and problems start when the smooth flow of energy (known as Qi) through one or more of the channels is interrupted.
According to TCM, there are also two major energies, yin and yang.
Yin is cool, slow, calm energy, like water. Yang is hot, fast, and active, like fire.
These energies are complete opposites and maintaining a balance of both is required for health. An imbalance in these energies or a change in the flow of Qi can lead to illness.
Let's look at an example of a common complaint, headaches, and how the TCM approach makes sense!
A frequent cause of headaches can be tension in the upper back and neck muscles. Stiff muscles can interfere with the blood vessels in the area as well as with nerve flow. This could be considered a change in the smooth flow of Qi.
Stiff muscles can also become inflamed as part of the body's healing response. This creates a situation where there is too much yang (fire) in the body.
Tension in the upper back can be stress related. Such specifics should also be taken into consideration and used to complete the picture. Using these principles, a TCM treatment plan is developed.
Acupuncture points are thought to be the areas where the energy channels come closest to the surface. This makes them accessible with an acupuncture needle.
The needles are used to increase or decrease energy flow and to balance yin and yang as well as other types of energy in the body.
The majority of those of us who have experienced acupuncture notice a slight prick when the needle is first inserted and then a dull sensation around the needle site as it is being adjusted to the appropriate location.
Some people experience nothing at all and a few are more sensitive. A person may become aware of one or more of the needles during the treatment, while they relax on the table, but only due to what can be described as a pressure or tingling around the needle.
The history of acupuncture is pretty impressive. Artifacts dating back as far as 6,000 B.C. indicate an early interest in acupuncture. Although the subject of active scientific research since the late 20th century, it did not become popular in North America until the early 1970s.
TCM offers a theory and approach to treatment and prevention of disease that have been developed over thousands of years. Although the language may be unfamiliar the similarities between a TCM diagnosis and a Western diagnosis are many.
TCM allows the practitioner to use intuition and ultimately determine the most individualized approach possible.
Another example is menopause. Western medicine explains menopause as a decrease in estrogen levels.
The decrease causes changes in the body. As estrogen levels decline, many women notice some of the following: thinning and less lubricated vaginal tissue, hot flashes, mood changes and changes in weight.
The conventional treatment option is hormone replacement.
Each woman experiences menopause differently, therefore there a several possible TCM diagnoses.
One possible TCM diagnosis is yin deficiency -- remember yin is cooling, calm, water, etc.
Women with this diagnosis may notice vaginal dryness to be an issue and they may also have hot flashes but not sweat (dry).
A condition of excess yang (too much fire) may manifest as hot flashes which trigger a red face and feelings of anger.
Not only is the approach to TCM appealing, so is its treatment potential.
Acupuncture can be helpful for digestive concerns, reproductive health, stress, allergies, cough, muscle or joint pain, nerve pain, numbness, addictions, anxiety, hormone imbalances, pain management, headaches, swelling, and so on.
Acupuncture is an extremely versatile treatment option that lends well to an holistic approach.
Although the risks of acupuncture (such as bruising) are low, it is always important to consult a professional. Ensure your health care practitioner has the appropriate training. Most Naturopathic Doctors (ND) are well trained in the use of acupuncture. Visit nband.ca for more information.
NaturalNews.com - January 28, 2010
Acupuncture improves sex drive and decreases hot flashes - by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
A recent study conducted by Henry Ford Hospital in Michigan revealed that acupuncture has even more benefits than previously thought for patients with breast cancer. In addition to reducing hot flashes better than drug therapy, acupuncture is effective at boosting the sex drive and overall sense of well-being in women undergoing intensive breast cancer treatment.
Published in the Journal of Oncology, the study highlights the superiority of acupuncture in improving the quality of life for breast cancer patients without imposing negative side effects like drugs do. Dr. Eleanor Walker, lead author of the study and division director of breast services in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Henry Ford, confirmed this to be true when explaining the details of the study.
Two groups, one receiving acupuncture for their symptoms and the other receiving Venlafaxine drug therapy, were observed over a 12 week period. Initially, all the women experienced a 50 percent reduction in hot flash and night sweat symptoms. At the end of the treatment period, however, the group that received Venlafaxine experienced an immediate increase in symptoms while the acupuncture group did not.
The purpose of the study was to focus on alternative treatments to Venlafaxine that would better alleviate the negative side effects of breast cancer treatment and ultimately encourage women to continue participating in it.
According to the National Cancer Institute, 13 percent of women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. Since conventional treatment is long and difficult, researchers hope to alleviate some of the associated misery with methods other than drug therapies that only make the situation more difficult.
Comments by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
Once again, another clinical study scientifically demonstrates the power of acupuncture to make real, measurable improvements in the health and lives of patients.
It's no surprise, of course: Acupuncture has been used safely and effectively for over five thousand years in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and literally hundreds of clinical trials conducted over the last twenty years have shown it to be remarkably safe and effective in treating a variety of health complaints from back pain to infertility.
Acupuncture works because the body reacts to stimulation with a healing response (well, that's only part of the reason acupuncture works, actually). A skilled acupuncture practitioner can initiate a healing response in the patient that no drug, no surgery and no medical intervention could ever accomplish.
That's what's really interesting about acupuncture: It doesn't do any healing. Rather, acupuncture stimulates the body to heal itself. This idea fails to be recognized at all in conventional medicine, which continues to follow the long-outmoded belief that the doctor heals the patient and that, astonishingly, the patient has no role in his or her own healing.
Practitioners of acupuncture knew thousands of years ago what many western doctors still haven't figure out today: The patient is the healer. The doctor is merely an initiator of the patient's own self-healing ability.
Eyewitness new 12- Jan 28, 2010
Acupuncture Could Help Treat PTSD - By Rebecca Gannon (WICHITA, Kan.)
The National Institute of Mental Health recognizes two treatments for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: counseling, and medication.
A Wichita woman proposes a third solution: she says her acupuncture can help people with PTSD.
When you think of post- traumatic stress, you probably don't think of feet.
But it's one of the first places Dr. Lori Jones looks. This English-born acupuncturist says it may look odd - but she nestles needles into specific points on the body. She says that promotes healing.
"We're not only physical beings," she explained, "We have our minds and we have our emotions, and when you put the needle in, you can affect those."
Dr. Jones says she can treat mental and emotional issues -- from attention deficit to autism, to post-traumatic stress disorder.
"The incredible thing with using acupuncture is that we have - and certainly my experience is - 97% of any client who comes to me with PTSD gets better within a few weeks. That's a pretty phenomenal statement."
She says ally is one of those clients.
"I was actually shot 8 times, in my back and in my arms," the woman said, quite calmly. Her only physical sign of that robbery last summer is this sling on her arm. But she constantly worries about who is on the other side of her door.
"It's basically a huge nightmare, is what it is," she said. "And it's just something you have to work through, and that's what I'm doing right now."
But she says the needles go deeper than her skin. "It just works," she shrugged. "I can't tell you how, I just know."
In another room, Willow Leenders deals with another invisible pain. She still feels the leg she lost to cancer 37 years ago.
It used to ache daily, but after five years of monthly acupuncture, she says it's almost a memory.
"Many people take a drug daily for the rest of their lives," said Willow as she sat with two pins in her remaining leg. "This is one treatment once a month."
Both women thank Dr. Jones - and her precisely placed needles.
So far, no insurance in Kansas covers acupuncture, though Blue Cross Blue Shield says it may offer discounts on certain alternative medicines.
The Kansas Board of Healing Arts says it does oversee acupuncture, but does not license it.
Castanet.net - Jan 22, 2010
Multiple sclerosis - by James Kaufman R.Ac.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease, where the body's immune system attacks the body’s myelin, the protective sheath that covers the nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord, eventually causing deterioration of the nerves themselves. When myelin is damaged, the messages that travel along that nerve may be slowed or blocked, interfering with the communication between the brain and the rest of the body. It is not yet understood exactly why multiple sclerosis occurs in some people and not others although a combination of factors, ranging from genetics to childhood infections, may play a role. Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world.
Multiple sclerosis can be difficult to diagnose early in the course of the disease, because symptoms often occur in periods of relapse and remission, sometimes disappearing for months. Symptoms vary widely, depending on the amount of damage and the particular nerves that are affected. Symptoms can include dizziness, fatigue, tremors, lack of coordination or unsteady walk, double vision or blurring of vision, tingling or pain in parts of the body, deterioration of vision, electrical jolt sensations that occur with certain head movements, and numbness or weakness in one or more limbs, which typically occurs on one side of the body at a time or the bottom half of the body. Symptoms of multiple sclerosis often are triggered or worsened by an increase in body temperature.
Because there is presently no cure for multiple sclerosis, treatment typically focuses on combating the autoimmune response and managing the symptoms. Western medical treatment mainly consists of medications to manage symptoms, although many disease-modifying treatments are being developed. Some people have such mild symptoms that no treatment is necessary.
In Chinese medicine, a number of factors are considered to contribute to the development of multiple sclerosis, including diet, lifestyle, and constitutional factors that may cause a vulnerability to developing this condition. MS is considered a dampness pattern, meaning that there is an obstruction of the flow of energy through the body’s channels, causing a feeling of heaviness in the legs as well as numbness and tingling. Over time, the blocked energy has an effect on other areas, causing a deficiency in the liver and kidneys that leads to blurred vision, weakness of the legs, dizziness, and vertigo.
Acupuncture cannot cure multiple sclerosis, but it can offer considerable help in alleviating the symptoms and slowing down the progress of the condition. However, the extent to which acupuncture can help depends on when treatment is started - the earlier treatment is started, the better. If treatment is started in the very early stages, symptoms can be minimized and even eliminated, and the disease progression slowed or halted. Later stages of multiple sclerosis can be more difficult to treat, however acupuncture can still be of benefit in the relief of symptoms. One can expect a schedule of 2-3 treatments per week for the first few weeks, going down to once a week as progress is made.
Living with a chronic illness such as MS is a challenge that means managing symptoms and preventing and minimizing flare-ups. Staying healthy, exercising, decreasing stress, avoiding heat, and lots of rest can play a big part in managing the condition and maintaining quality of life.
Taiwan News – January 20, 2010
Chinese vs. Western medicine: my 5000 trumps your 200 - By Joseph Yeh
Do you believe that a person's disease can be diagnosed simply by feeling the wrist pulse? That puncturing specific sites on the body with needles could possibly cure your chronic backache? Or that mushroom-like herbal medicine can serve as an energy booster or even enhance your immune system?
If you don't, you're probably not one of those hundreds of millions of followers of traditional Chinese medicine, an ancient healing system based on nearly five thousand years of research and experiments.
There have been disputes, however, on the worthiness of traditional Chinese medicine and its methods of curing illness as compared to Western medicine.
But in recent years, the effectiveness of Chinese medicine, which covers a wide range of practices including such treatments as herbal medicine, acupuncture, and Tui na massage, has come to be recognized increasingly throughout the world.
In 2003, the World Health Organization published a landmark study entitled "Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials," in which scientific evidence is cited to support the claim that ancient Chinese medication has proven to be scientifically effective for a total of 28 conditions.
200 years versus 5000
"To Westerners, scientific method consists of the collection of data through observation and experimentation, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses," says Chuang Shih-ming, a Chinese medicine doctor based in Taipei City.
"Chinese medicine also takes the same approach," he argues. "The only difference lies in the fact that Western medicine uses about 200 years of such 'scientific' methods of observation and testing of hypotheses to prove its effectiveness, while the Chinese version uses several thousands of years."
Methodologically, Chinese medicine is also at odds with Western medicine.
Western medicine is analytically based on anatomy of the human body by focusing on medical test results and in particular on numbers, while Chinese medicine is holistic, regarding the human body as an inseparable whole, Chuang says.
Looked at this way, Western medicine and Chinese medicine should thus be referred to as micro- and macro-medical medicine respectively, he notes.
"Unlike the Western belief that says that bacteria and viruses cause disease, Chinese medicine only sees the different symptoms, and we tend to believe in the ability of a human to heal him or herself."?
So Chinese medical treatments are aimed at elevating one's ability to fight all the syndromes and to help people to regain and maintain balance in their body, he adds.
Clinical diagnosis and treatment
Sitting in the office of his Chinese Medicine Clinic in Taipei's Tianmu area, Chuang discloses that he was originally a computer programming language major in college, but because of his family background, he later transferred to the study of Chinese medicine.
Chuang goes on to say that clinical diagnosis and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine are mainly based on the yin-yang and the five-element theory involving wood, fire, earth, metal and water.
These theories apply the phenomena and laws of nature to study of the physiological activities and pathological changes in the human body, he notes.
He shows me how a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner diagnoses a certain disease.
Traditional Chinese diagnostics are based on overall observation of human symptoms. A typical Chinese doctor's diagnostic methods begin by observing (gwang), then hearing and smelling (Ä^wen) a patient. He then asks about his or her background (UOwen) before feeling (Rqie) the person's wrist pulse.
The pulse-reading component of the touching examination is one of the most important parts of diagnosis, Chuang says.
After taking a patient's pulse, the doctor will do tongue examination.
The Chinese believe that by reading the condition of one's tongue, including its color, texture, shape, size, and coating, a practitioner can determine one's health.
Following all of the above examinations, the doctor will write a prescription which is taken to the front to be filled.
Herbs used in Chinese medicine are derived from plant, animal and mineral substances. Most herbal medicines are plant-derived, such as ginseng and ginger; however, some minerals and animal parts may also be prescribed for use in medication.
In Taiwan and many other parts of the world, herbs often come in formulas that call for a mixture of all kinds of herbal medicines.
In the past these prescriptions were steeped in boiled water to drink, but now they are also made into powder forms which are more convenient for patients to take.
Sometimes the patient may need other treatments for a condition, includine acupuncture, Tui na and cupping massage.
Tons of treatments
If you are not afraid of needle and are looking for a faster approach to solve your problem, you can try acupuncture, a technique in which the practitioner inserts fine needles into specific points on the patient's body.
The intended effect is to increase circulation and balance energy (qi) within the body.
But if you would prefer something less intrusive for your backache or shoulder pain, Tui na is something you should try.
The practitioner may brush, knead, roll and rub the patient's body, usually on his back and shoulder, to open up the body's qi and get the energy both along the meridians and in the muscles.
Another thing you can try is cupping (b‘P): A type of Chinese massage, cupping consists of placing several glass (now usually made of plastic) "cups" or jars on the patient's body. A match is lit and placed inside the cup and then removed before placing the cup against the skin. As the air in the cup is heated, it expands, and after placing it on the skin it cools down, creating a lower pressure inside the cup that allows the cup to stick to the skin via suction.
Cupping is generally indicated in the treatment of arthritic pain, lower back pain and headaches, and is also very effective for the common cold or coughing.
A global trend
Chuang's clinic is located in Tianmu, which is where the Taipei American School and Taipei Japanese School are located and many foreigners live, and the Chinese medicine doctor says he often has foreign patients.
He also finds that people from different parts of the world tend to accept different kinds of treatment.
"Koreans and Indians are open to all kinds of treatment, both the herbal medicines and Tui na massage, simply because they also have similar herbal remedies in their cultures," says Chuang.
He adds, however, that not many European and Americans will accept herbal medicine prescriptions.
"They prefer massage-style physical therapy and acupuncture, but very few of them like to take herbal medicine."
As people begin to realize the effectiveness of TCM and learn the limitations of Western medication, more and more are turning their attention to the practice that has been developed and widely practiced and accepted by Chinese around the world for thousands of years.
Personal Liberty News Desk- January 11, 2010
Traditional Pain Management Techniques Continue To Fail, Expert Concludes
Traditional pain management techniques continue to fail, expert concludes Many Americans are being undertreated for chronic pain associated with medical problems due to physicians’ fear of prescription drug overuse, personal bias or inadequate training, according to a pharmaceutical expert at the University of Oregon.
"We have more sophisticated pain management techniques available now than ever before," said Kathryn Hahn, a pharmacist and chair of the Oregon Pain Management Commission.
"But many doctors are not fully informed about all the options available, and also often turn patients away because they’re very concerned about the problems with prescription drug abuse," she added.
Hahn also feels that physicians are under-qualified to treat such problems due to a lack of specific training during medical school concerning pain management techniques.
"Surveys show that at least 30 percent of patients with moderate chronic pain and more than 50 percent of those with severe chronic pain fail to achieve adequate pain relief," said Hahn.
Meanwhile, there are a range of options outside of prescription drugs that can help treat chronic pain. Such remedies include acupuncture, meditation, chiropractic care, exercise and occupational therapy.
The Star Online - January 03, 2010
Ancient healing - Courtesy of Yomeishu
Although the first recorded history of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) dates back around 2,000 years, it is believed that its real origin goes back more than 5,000 years. Chinese medicinal practitioner Lim Sin Hoe shares with us the history of TCM and its medicinal concepts.
ACCORDING to Chinese mythology, the origin of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can be traced back to three legendary Emperors/mythical rulers: Fu Xi, Shen Nong, and Huang Di.
Historians believe that Shen Nong and Fu Xi were early tribal leaders. Fu Xi was a cultural hero who developed the trigrams of Yi Jing (I Ching) or Book of Changes.
With acupuncture, treatment is accomplished by stimulating certain areas of the external body. – AFP
Shen Nong, the legendary emperor who lived 5,000 years ago, is hailed as the “Divine Cultivator”/“Divine Farmer” by the Chinese because he is attributed as the founder of herbal medicine, and taught people how to farm. In order to determine the nature of different herbal medicines, Shen Nong sampled various kinds of plants, ingesting them himself to test and analyse their individual effects.
Legend has it that Shen Nong tasted a hundred herbs, including 70 toxic substances in a single day, in order to rid people of their illnesses. As there were no written records, it is said that the discoveries of Shen Nong were passed down verbally from generation to generation. It was only many years later that the oldest known book on agriculture and medicinal plants was compiled – Shen Nong Bencao Jing.
In 1578, after reading 800 medical references and conducting 30 years of field study, Li Shizhen completed the Bencao Gangmu, also known as the Compendium of Materia Medica, which has been translated into 20 languages and used as a reference until today.
Clinical diagnosis and treatment in TCM are mainly based on the yin-yang and five elements theories. These theories apply the phenomena and laws of nature to the study of the physiological activities and pathological changes of the human body and its interrelationships. Traditional Korean and Japanese medicine are said to have been developed with the strong influence of TCM.
Following a macro philosophy of disease, TCM diagnostics are based on overall observation of human symptoms rather than “micro” level laboratory tests. There are four types of TCM diagnostic methods: observe (wàng), hear and smell (wén), ask about background (wèn) and touching (qiè).
The diagnostics of an ailment not only includes its cause, mechanism, location, and nature, but also the confrontation between the pathogenic factor and body resistance. Treatment is not based only on the symptoms, but differentiation of syndromes.
Therefore, those with identical ailments may be treated in different ways, and on the other hand, different ailments may result in the same syndrome and are treated in similar ways.
Typical TCM therapies include acupuncture and herbal medicine. Qigong related physical, breathing, and meditation exercises are also often recommended to patients.
With acupuncture, treatment is accomplished by stimulating certain areas of the external body. Herbal medicine acts on organs internally, from improving blood circulation and immunity to addressing the root cause of serious ailments.
Qigong on the other hand, tries to restore the orderly “flow” inside the network through the regulation of “qi”. These therapies appear very different in approach, yet they all share the same underlying sets of assumptions and insights in the nature of the human body and its place in the universe.
TCM requires considerable diagnostic skill. Following formal education in recognised TCM colleges/universities, a training period of years or decades is said to be necessary for TCM practitioners to understand the full complexity of symptoms and dynamic balances. Modern practitioners often use a traditional system in combination with Western methods.
The following methods are considered to be part of TCM:
1. Acupuncture: from the Latin word acus, “needle”, and pungere, meaning “prick”, this is a technique in which the practitioner inserts fine needles into specific points on the patient’s body. Usually about a dozen acupoints are needled in one session, although the number of needles used may range anywhere from just one or two to 20 or more. The intended effect is to increase circulation and balance energy (qi) within the body.
2. Chinese food therapy: dietary recommendations are usually made according to the patient’s individual condition in relation to TCM theory. The “five flavours” indicate what function various types of food play in the body. A balanced diet, which leads to health, is when the five functional flavours are in balance. When one is diseased (and therefore unbalanced), certain foods and herbs are prescribed to restore balance to the body.
3. Chinese herbal medicine: of the approximately 500 Chinese herbs that are in use today, 250 or so are very commonly used. Rather than being prescribed individually, single herbs are combined into formulas that are designed to adapt to the specific needs of individual patients.
An herbal formula can contain anywhere from three to 25 herbs. As with diet therapy, each herb has one or more of the five flavours/functions and one of five “temperatures” (“qi”) (hot, warm, neutral, cool, cold). After the herbalist determines the energetic temperature and functional state of the patient’s body, a mixture of herbs tailored to balance disharmony is prescribed.
For example, the herbs Carthami flos and Leonuri herba are commonly prescribed to improve blood circulation and clear clotted blood, and are well known medicated herbs for women.
4. Cupping: A type of Chinese massage, cupping consists of placing several glass “cups” (open spheres) on the body. A match is lit and placed inside the cup and then removed before placing the cup against the skin. As the air in the cup is heated, it expands, and after placing on the skin, cools down, creating a lower pressure inside the cup that allows the cup to stick to the skin via suction.
When combined with massage oil, the cups can be slid around the back, offering what some practitioners think of as a reverse-pressure massage.
5. Gu Shang Ke or Chinese Medicinal Orthopedic: this is usually practised by martial artists who know aspects of Chinese medicine that apply to the treatment of trauma and injuries such as bone fractures, sprains, and bruises. Some of these specialists may also use or recommend other disciplines of Chinese medical therapies if serious injury is involved.
6. Tui na: a form of massage akin to acupressure from which the Japanese massage technique of Shiatsu evolved. Oriental massage is typically administered with the patient fully clothed, without the application of grease or oils. Choreography often involves thumb presses, rubbing, percussion, and stretches.
Telegraph Journal – Graham Barclay/Bloomberg News - January 02, 2010
Stick it to whatever ails you - The You Docs - Mike Roizen and Mehmet Oz
What do Cher, Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams and Titan, the world's tallest dog, have in common? Like more than 20 million Americans and Canadians, they're on pins and needles. Acupuncture needles, that is.
Acupuncture therapy involves inserting hair-thin needles into specific points on the body to treat countless problems, ranging from easing chronic pain and insomnia to reducing the side effects of cancer treatments and helping smokers quit.
This therapy involves inserting hair-thin needles into specific points on the body to treat countless problems, ranging from easing chronic pain and insomnia to reducing the side effects of cancer treatments and helping smokers quit. Acupuncture's been around longer than 60 Minutes has been airing: Archeologists have unearthed 5,000-year-old stone needles in Inner Mongolia.
But we like this popular form of energy medicine because it's backed by an impressive body of 21st-century research. Energy medicine? Yes, it seems to change the electric currents or nerve impulses in your body. And often, acupuncture can help when drugs can't be tolerated or when conventional treatments fail. It's a team player that works well alongside other treatments - an integrated approach used successfully for everything from sinusitis and allergies to infertility, asthma and beyond. One of us - Mehmet - even uses acupuncture as an add-on treatment during open-heart surgery, and the other - Mike - uses it to treat chronic pain as well as pain and nausea post surgery.
Here's what acupuncture clearly has been clearly shown to help so far - other studies are ongoing, so expect to see this list grow:
* Peaceful sleep. Just months ago, a Hong Kong University study of 60 insomniacs found that those who got acupuncture fell asleep faster and were more likely to stay that way (instead of waking up at 4 a.m. to worry about the stock market) than those who got a fake version of the treatment.
* Relief from arthritis. British researchers who analyzed five well-designed studies of 1,334 people with bum knees have confirmed that acupuncture relieves debilitating joint pain related to arthritis.
* Squelching pain. In a landmark German study of 1,162 back-pain sufferers, twice as many got relief from acupuncture as from conventional fixes such as drugs or physical therapy. Acupuncture also has been proven at least as effective as pain drugs not only for treating migraines, but for preventing them, too - making it a great choice if you can't tolerate the side effects of migraine-preventing meds like beta blockers.
* Reducing treatment side effects. Dozens of studies show that acupuncture helps quell pain, nausea, fatigue, hot flashes and dry mouth in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation.
How can one therapy do so much? Eastern and Western medical philosophies merge when a licensed acupuncturist inserts those sterile, disposable needles - painlessly, we promise! - into your skin. Eastern practitioners say the needles remove blockages so that the body's energy, called qi (pronounced "chee") flows freely. Western science shows that acupuncture boosts levels of pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory chemicals called endorphins in the brain and bloodstream. And that changes how your nerve impulses flow.
You don't even have to believe in it for acupuncture to work its magic. Case in point: Veterinarians know that acupuncture often helps ailing horses, goats, cats and dogs (including Titan, the world's biggest Great Dane) in measurable ways - such as being able to walk and run again. With animals, there's no placebo effect. It either works or it doesn't. Same goes for people. Many skeptical consumers who've tried acupuncture as a last resort become believers when they see results.
Ready to get stuck? First check your insurance. Some plans cover it; some don't. (We wish more did.) Then find a certified practitioner. Acupuncture is one of the most regulated alternative healing techniques in the U.S. and Canada, although requirements vary by state and province. More than 16,000 licensed acupuncturists and thousands of trained physicians practice this healing art. Find a health-care practitioner trained in acupuncture through the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute (http://www.afcinstitute.com).
Ask An Acupuncturist • December 21, 2009
Recharge your battery - By Janis Torke Egan
Lack of energy is one of our most common complaints.
According to Oriental medicine, the cold months of winter are the time to recharge your battery and generate vital energy — or Qi — in order to look and feel your best.
The ancient Chinese believed in adjusting the lifestyle with the natural cycles of nature. The cold and darkness of winter encourages a slow down and reflection on health, energy and strength.
Ruled by the water element, winter is associated with the kidneys, bladder and adrenal glands. Water, from a psychological and emotional perspective, is linked to fear. People plagued with phobias, or lack of will, may have an imbalanced kidney energy system. An overabundance of fear can weaken this system.
In Western Medicine, the adrenal glands, sitting on top of the kidneys, respond to fear and stress by initiating the sympathetic nervous system.
Constant stress triggers the immune- suppressing responses, which can compromise the normal functioning of the body. Workaholics, or individuals with an excessive will or excessive fear of failure, may suffer from nervous burnout.
The kidneys are considered the source of our inherited energy — or original Qi. They store the reserve energy we need to handle stress and change. This is used to heal, defend against illness, and age with grace.
Staying healthy this winter
Seasonal changes affect the body's environment. With the wind, rain and snow comes the colds, flu and aches and pains. Here are a few tips to staying healthy this winter.
Be nourished and warm the body's core by eating warm hearty soups, whole grains and roasted nuts. Go to sleep early, rest well, stay warm and expend a minimum amount of energy. Hydrate with room-temperature water.
Practice a method to release the stress and pressure of life. According to Chinese Medicine, unresolved stress can throw your immune system off, allowing pathogens to enter your body.
Acupuncture works to build the immune system with the insertion of needles in key points along the body's energy pathways. Known for strengthening the circulation of blood and energy, as well as the defensive layers of the skin, these treatments support the body's natural power to resist infection.
Lack of energy is one of our most common complaints.
According to Oriental medicine, the cold months of winter are the time to recharge your battery and generate vital energy — or Qi — in order to look and feel your best.
The ancient Chinese believed in adjusting the lifestyle with the natural cycles of nature. The cold and darkness of winter encourages a slow down and reflection on health, energy and strength.
Ruled by the water element, winter is associated with the kidneys, bladder and adrenal glands. Water, from a psychological and emotional perspective, is linked to fear. People plagued with phobias, or lack of will, may have an imbalanced kidney energy system. An overabundance of fear can weaken this system.
In Western Medicine, the adrenal glands, sitting on top of the kidneys, respond to fear and stress by initiating the sympathetic nervous system.
Constant stress triggers the immune- suppressing responses, which can compromise the normal functioning of the body. Workaholics, or individuals with an excessive will or excessive fear of failure, may suffer from nervous burnout.
The kidneys are considered the source of our inherited energy — or original Qi. They store the reserve energy we need to handle stress and change. This is used to heal, defend against illness, and age with grace.
Seasonal changes affect the body's environment. With the wind, rain and snow comes the colds, flu and aches and pains. Here are a few tips to staying healthy this winter.
Be nourished and warm the body's core by eating warm hearty soups, whole grains and roasted nuts. Go to sleep early, rest well, stay warm and expend a minimum amount of energy. Hydrate with room-temperature water.
Practice a method to release the stress and pressure of life. According to Chinese Medicine, unresolved stress can throw your immune system off, allowing pathogens to enter your body.
Acupuncture works to build the immune system with the insertion of needles in key points along the body's energy pathways. Known for strengthening the circulation of blood and energy, as well as the defensive layers of the skin, these treatments support the body's natural power to resist infection.
Seasonal acupuncture treatments are designed to tonify the inner organs and address minor annoyances before they become more serious. Most patients are surprised that the ultra-thin needles, inserted just under the skin, are practically painless. They are removed within 10 to 20 minutes. The most common reaction to acupuncture is a high degree of relaxation.
One acupuncture point to pay attention to is Du 14. It is below the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebrae, where the label of a T-shirt sits on the neck.
Du 14 activates the circulation of blood and Qi to strengthen the outer defense layers of the skin and muscle so that pathogens cannot enter through them.
This point is often used to repel, as well as shorten, the duration of colds and flu. Wear turtlenecks and use a scarf to protect this area from drafts.
Also pay attention to your extremities. Flex your fingers and toes often to encourage circulation to and from these areas. Massage them with intention. Use lotions to nourish the tissues that can be most vulnerable and neglected in this season.
Tang Dynasty Television – November 26, 2009
Traditional Chinese Flu Treatments
Acupuncture is an effective treatment for various ailments. And the Chinese have also been using it to prevent and treat the common flu.
"The flu is growing and spreading, actually the ancient Chinese had many methods to prevent epidemics and moxibustion was one. The mugwort herb used in moxibustion was the most important medicine in ancient China for treating epidemics."
Usually associated with just needles, acupuncture in fact consists of two elements. The first involves inserting of needles into acupoints in the body, and the other is moxibustion - the burning of moxa over the body.
The practice of burning moxa and the herb mugwort, can treat ailments like stomach pain, infertility, and insomnia… among other things.
A burning stick of moxa is moved across a patient's skin, either in circular pattern or along the spine or focusing on certain points.
Acupuncture doctor Fan Changwei uses the moxibustion method on his patients and it has been effective for flu symptoms.
"A friend of mine told me that Dr. Fan offers good treatments so I came to see him. I stopped coughing after three visits. Before that I had been coughing for almost two weeks. Recently I have felt a pain in my wrist so I am here again, I feel really released after the treatment."
Traditional Chinese medicine theory states that the human body is made up of an energy known as qi. This energy is then split into "yin" and "yang" which are seen as two opposing elements.
Moxibustion is linked with "yang" and the plant mugwort is believed to be full of "yang" energy. Therefore it is used as a treatment for diseases caused by too much coldness, or "yin," in the body.
For more daring clients, small cones of moxa are also placed above pressure points and burned directly onto the skin.
Roundtown news - 25 November 2009
Acupuncture And Stress - When the fast lane overtakes you! - by Robert Vandevelde
Stress! It’s what you feel when your peaceful country road of life turns into a raging highway. You get cross, irritable and snap at people when you don’t really mean to. You feel worried that you can’t cope with modern demands. You experience periods of depression for no apparent reason. You even question your own sanity. And feel your life is out of control. Frustration sets in. If you push yourself too hard or are pushed beyond your tolerance level, you’re suffering stress.
Your body rebels, its internal harmony right out of tune with reality. Organs may begin to malfunction; your memory may fail; you make poor judgements and get short-tempered quickly and easily. You feel awful, even ‘liverish’ and ‘out of sorts’ and you can’t put your finger on any one thing. Little wonder. There are many types and causes of stress and many possible reasons why you personally may be feeling ‘stressed-out’.
Emotional: The breakdown of a relationship; the loss of a loved one or a pet; shouldering a heavy workload; striving for the expectations others set for you; constantly having to perform in your job, profession or sport. Simply having to pay the bills...
Physical: Taking on extra work. Heavy training sessions.
Hormonal imbalances: Such as ‘PMS’ syndrome.
Low blood sugar: As a result of poor diet or inadequate exercise. Possible stress-related digestive disorders.
Poor immune function: Caused by poor diet and lifestyle. Recurring allergies such as hay fever and food sensitivities. Possibly the result of chronic infection.
The stress response: Our body responds to stress with a set of biochemical reactions called the stress response. At stressful times, the body quickly releases chemicals into the blood. This sets in motion a series of physical changes. These include a faster heartbeat and breathing, higher blood pressure and increased muscle tension. These physical changes give the body added strength, energy and alertness. They prepare the body for dealing with stressful events such as giving a speech, aiding an accident victim, or fighting or fleeing from an attack. For short periods there is no damage, the situation gets back under control and we can relax. However, if the stress becomes chronic or out of proportion, this healthy response can become pathological.
Some of us commonly live in a constant state of stress, continually triggering the stress response and depleting valuable energy. As a result, we start to see some common stress symptoms like headache, back and shoulder ache, skin disorders, gastric problems and sleeping disorders. Psychological symptoms may include depression, anxiety, poor concentration, poor memory and loss of self confidence. There is mounting evidence that chronic stress can lead to long term health problems such as high blood pressure; heart disease; stroke; asthma; skin conditions and even hair loss.
Stress relief: There is no standard formula for stress. To cope with stress and tension in our lives, we often try quick fixes like alcohol, cigarettes, sugar and all sorts of over the counter and prescription drugs. Food is also used to try and cope with stress. Many people eat when they feel anxious, depressed and stressed. There is no magic stress reduction pill, neither do alcohol, sleeping tablets nor anti depressants offer any real solution to reducing stress. Taking anti depressants, although often prescribed to reduce stress, offer at best only limited short-term relief and at worst physiological dependence on a particular drug.
How does Acupuncture help?
For stress related problems, acupuncture works by stimulating the body to heal itself. It has a relaxation response with decreased heart rate, lowered blood pressure, stress reduction and increased energy and tissue regeneration. Acupuncture treatment will balance the harmony in your body, putting everything back in tune and restoring the natural balance of your mental, physical and emotional functions. We will work out your individual treatment depending on the kind of stress you are experiencing, and its effects.
Generally, after a treatment you’ll feel much calmer, more relaxed and aware of the improvement in your sense of well-being. The reason? Your acupuncture treatment will release the ‘happy hormones’, body chemicals known as ‘endorphins’, which give you that ‘great to be back on the road again’ feeling. Acupuncture provides a drug-free alternative to help you manage the stress of modern society. It’s so simple and so effective, and it’s been proven over thousands of years.
Try it now!
Kelowna Capital News - November 03, 2009
Acupuncture gets to the heart of tennis elbow symptoms - By James Kaufman
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is an overuse injury that affects the area where the tendons of your forearm muscles attach to the bony part of the outside elbow This causes pain in the outside of your elbow, which can also radiate from the outside of the elbow into the forearm and wrist.
There can be pain when you extend your wrist and pain during certain activities such as shaking hands, turning a doorknob, or holding certain objects, such as a coffee cup. The condition can also cause forearm weakness.
The pain of tennis elbow is similar to golfer’s elbow, but golfer’s elbow occurs on the inside—rather than on the outside—of the elbow. Tennis elbow is caused by repeated contraction of the forearm muscles that are used to straighten and raise your hand and wrist, such as with the backhand stroke when playing tennis.
However, there are many other common causes of tennis elbow, including using plumbing tools, playing other racket sports, painting, raking and weaving. The repeated motions and stress to the tissue may result in inflammation or a series of tiny tears in the tendons that attach the forearm muscles to the bone at the outside of your elbow.
Generally, rest is the best medicine for tennis elbow. But tennis elbow that has not been allowed to heal properly can lead to chronic pain. Using your arm too strenuously before it has properly healed can cause further damage or prevent proper healing.
Analyzing what motions are causing the problem can help you to change your habits to reduce stress on the elbow. Exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles of the forearm can also help recovery and prevent re-injury.
Acupuncture can be a great option for dealing with tennis elbow and promoting proper healing. In Chinese medicine, almost every musculo-skeletal disorder has some relevant underlying imbalance or contributing lifestyle factor. Understanding a person’s general health gives an acupuncturist insight into the internal imbalances that can contribute to injury. Lifestyle can play a role, whether it be our occupation, the exercise or sports we choose, or our nutrition and diet.
Chinese medicine also considers the role of emotion and thought in health, as they can be either the cause or the symptom of an internal balance. With tennis elbow, and all types of musculo-skeletal injuries, pain is caused by stagnation of qi-energy and blood. Acupuncture treatment focuses on removing the blockage and helping the energy and blood to flow again in order to remove pain and resolve the symptoms of an injury such as tennis elbow.
In addition, we look at what underlying factors have influenced health and weakened the elbow or made it vulnerable to injury. These causes can be external (such as exposure to the elements or an external trauma or blow to the area) or internal (caused by an imbalance in the body’s normal functioning due to our genetics or our lifestyle). By also treating these underlying factors, we are actually strengthening the injured area and improving health, with the goal of preventing future reoccurrence.
In this way, acupuncture not only relieves symptoms, but goes further to address the heart of the problem, unlike other treatments such as medications, which serve only to relieve symptoms. Acupuncture shows us that the pain of tennis elbow doesn’t have to keep you from enjoying your favourite activities.
NaturalNews.com - October 29, 2009
Acupuncture: Traditional Chinese Medicine Effectively Treats Insomnia - by: Melissa Sokulski, citizen journalist
Insomnia is a common condition in which people have difficulty either falling asleep or staying asleep. It is listed by the World Health Organization as a condition which has been shown to be treated effectively by acupuncture (1). Acupuncture, which actually treats the person, not the disease, helps to balance the body's energy, strengthening weak areas and moving energy where it's stuck.
Insomnia can have many causes; figuring out the cause is an important part of diagnosis and treatment. For instance, pain can cause insomnia because the person is not able to get into a comfortable position for sleeping and the pain wakes them up. In that case acupuncturists treat the pain.
Eating late at night is a common cause of insomnia. When people stop eating after 7 pm, sleep often comes much more easily and is more peaceful. According to the Chinese Clock, digestion is the strongest in the morning, between 7 am and 9 am for the Stomach, and 9 am to 11 am for the Spleen/Pancreas. Twelve hours later (7 pm to 11 pm) digestion is the weakest, and eating at this time will cause gas, bloating and indigestion, making it difficult for one to fall asleep easily. Other causes of insomnia according to Traditional Chinese Medicine are yin deficiency, an imbalance of yin and yang, heart imbalance, spleen deficiency and stagnant liver qi.
Acupuncturists take a detailed history, which includes questioning, pulse analysis and tongue diagnosis, to give a complete picture of the patient as a whole. Even if it is determined that two different patients have insomnia as a result of yin deficiency, their treatments may still be different, depending on each person's constitution (strength and type of overall body and health) and other factors.
This is what makes acupuncture so individualized and effective: there is no one prescription for a condition. Each time a patient comes in, they are re-evaluated, and each treatment is specifically selected. This is also why it is so common to see all sorts of symptoms clear up - not just the one someone has come in to treat. Rarely do acupuncturists just work on one symptom alone; in every treatment, the whole person is being addressed and treated.
However, some points are so useful in treating insomnia that they will be strongly considered no matter what the cause, including:
* Heart 7 (Shen Men), on the wrist, which helps calm the heart and spirit
* An Mian, an extra point translated as Peaceful Sleep, which is on the back of the head, where the head meets the neck
* Yin Tang, another extra point which is between the eyebrows and promotes relaxation
Moxibustion, or the burning of an herb over points on the body, can also be useful. There is a point in the middle of the heel known as the insomnia point, where moxa cones can be burned. This helps bring a person into balance and helps sleep. Moxa is a Chinese herb, also called Ai Ye (Artemisia argyi). It is dried and processed into a fiber which can be rolled into cones, placed on the skin and burned until warmth is felt.
Chinese herbal formulas can also be effective in helping balance one's energy and allowing sleep to come more easily. Diagnosing the underlying cause is very important when choosing herbal remedies. There are many formulas which could help treat insomnia; a trained acupuncturist who has studied Chinese herbs could help someone choose what is right for them. The following common formulas can be useful:
* An Mian Pian (Sleep Peaceful Formula) for quieting the spirit
* Gui Pi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction) which strengthens the energy and nourishes the heart
* Bao He Wan (Preserves Harmony Pill) which reduces food stagnation and harmonizes digestion (if insomnia is due to eating late at night or indigestion)
No matter what the underlying cause, insomnia is a common condition which acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can have a profound effect on treating.
drcutler.com - Oct 27th, 2009
Drug-free muscle pain relief for pregnant women - By Sandra Cooper
Study tests the effectiveness of ear acupuncture to relieve muscle pain during pregnancy. Researchers at Yale University School of Medicine say a special form of acupuncture can help reduce the back and pelvic muscle pain many pregnant women suffer from.
The study appearing in The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that women who had acupuncture needles held in place on three pressure points on the ear for a week reported significant reductions in muscle pain, compared to those who had acupuncture needles placed in areas not believed to help in pain relief or those who didn’t have any acupuncture, according to Reuters.
In addition, the women who had the ear acupuncture had lasting relief. A week after treatment ended, 68 percent said they still had a 30 percent reduction in pain.
According to the study’s author, the muscle pain experienced during pregnancy can set the stage for chronic pain afterwards.
Researchers involved with the study say the ear acupuncture method is an inexpensive, all-natural way to treat pain during pregnancy with few side effects. They note that more studies are needed to determine if extended continuous ear acupuncture yields a more sustained effect.
mycentraljersery.com - October 25, 2009
Acupuncture helps the body heal itself - By Jeff Weber • staff writer •
BOUND BROOK — While anyone can take a set of pins and needles and stick them into their body, only a practitioner of Chinese medicine properly knows how to get to the point of why, when and where someone might need acupuncture.
That's the message Bud Rich, who runs Inner Balance Acupuncture, tried to get across last week during a presentation at the borough's Memorial Library.
"There are a lot of things that go into the practice of acupuncture," said Rich, who also is an emergency medical technician and works as a patient-care technician in the emergency room at Morristown Memorial Hospital. "We look at the tongue, take your pulse, ask questions about pain and quality of pain, feel the body, smell the body, observe the skin, listen to the voice and chest. . . . It's more than just putting a pin into someone's body."
Acupuncture, which has been practiced in China for more than 2,500 years, first was introduced in the United States in the early 1800s. In 1892, William Osler — widely referred to as the "father of modern medicine" — identified the practice as good for treatment of myalgia, sciatica and neuralgia.
Since that time, acupuncture slowly has become integrated with the medically based practices of Western medicine, Rich said.
"Traditional Chinese medicine today is just what works," said Rich, who also advocates the use of herbs, roots, bark, metals, bone and flowers, among other items, to complement acupuncture therapy. "It's acupuncture points — and there are more than 700 in the body — and herbal medicines that help people and help the body heal itself. It brings the body into balance."
With acupuncture, balance also means application of the principles of yin and yang. This is not just a black-and-white symmetrical symbol some associate with peace. In Chinese medicine, yin and yang are polar opposites.
Yin is the positive force. It activates, quickens, is tense, embodies effort, moves forward in time, is creative, fosters newness and is visionary. Yang is the converse of Yin. It relaxes, softens, is smooth, represents the actualized, and is lodged in the memory.
"The difference is that it represents the settled or solid parts of the body," said Rich, who has been licensed to practice acupuncture since 2006. "Yang is part of the process and function. And that's where we can get messed up."
But Rich said he can help people who are "messed up" — although he said acupuncture is only a means to the solution, not the solution itself.
"Acupuncture doesn't cure anything," he said. "It allows the body to cure itself."
Reuters – October 21, 2009
Acupuncture helped with pain after neck surgery -Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by Anthony Boadle)
CHICAGO - Acupuncture helped alleviate lingering pain and decreased shoulder mobility in people who had surgery for head and neck cancer, U.S. researchers said on Saturday.
The ancient Chinese therapy also resulted in significant improvements in extreme dry mouth or xerostomia, which often occurs in people who have had radiation treatment for head and neck cancer, they said at a meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago.
Researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York studied 70 patients who were at least three months past their surgery and radiation treatments.
About half got standard treatments, which include physical therapy and treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs. The other half got standard treatment plus a weekly acupuncture session.
After four weeks, 39
percent of those who got acupuncture reported improvements in pain and mobility, compared with only 7 percent in people who got typical care.
"Although further study is needed, these data support the potential role of acupuncture in addressing post neck-dissection pain and dysfunction, as well as xerostomia," Memorial Sloan-Kettering's Dr. David Pfister said at the meeting.
Acupuncture, which has been used for more than 2,000 years, involves stimulating certain points on the body with needles, heat, pressure or electricity.
More than 8 million Americans use acupuncture for different ailments, according to a study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is often used to treat cancer pain or help with chronic fatigue.
Basil & Spice - Oct 18, 2009
1 In 5 Women Suffer Pelvic Pain In Pregnancy: Ear Acupuncture Safe Therapy by Jill Blakeway, M.Sc, L.Ac.
This week I was interested to read a new study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology which showed that ear acupuncture can significantly reduce low back and pelvic pain in pregnant women. This is not the first research study to look at this. In fact in 2005 I was interviewed by ABC news about a previous study in the British Medical Journal that also showed acupuncture can help with pregnancy back pain.
Up to 1 in 5 women suffer from back and pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy. Usually our patients complain of pain in the low back and buttocks although some patients also feel discomfort at the front of their pelvic area. Some women also experience radiating pain down one or both of their legs. Most women tell us that the pain gets worse if they have to stand for a long time. In 7% of women the pain continues after they have given birth becoming a chronic lower back issue.
At the YinOva Center many of our pregnant patients are keen to avoid medication, if possible, and so they choose acupuncture as a gentle and safe way to treat their pain. We usually use a combination of ear acupuncture as described in this recent study and local acupuncture as outlined in the previous study. The local acupuncture works in three ways – the needles act on the nervous system to interrupt the pain signal, the combination of needles causes the body to release chemicals which act as natural pain killers and by needling the spasms we get the knots in the muscles to release.
In the recent study the patients only received ear acupuncture which has a long history of efficacy in China and has been found in clinical research to initiate an endorphin release. 152 women, in late pregnancy, were divided into three groups one of which had small acupuncture needles held in place by tape and retained in three ear acupoints for one week. Another group received sham acupuncture and the final group acted as a control and received no acupuncture at all although they were instructed to rest and take painkillers if necessary. 81% of women in the ear acupuncture group reported a significant reduction in pain as oppose to 59% of the women in the sham acupuncture group and 47% of the women in the control group.
Acupuncture is a time-tested therapy for pain relief and because it has few side effects is one of the safest ways of relieving pain in pregnant women. Most of our patients get relief from the combination of ear and body acupuncture and usually feel much better after 2 or 3 treatments. Other helpful treatments include gentle stretching exercises as well as massage by a qualified prenatal massage therapist and we usually suggest that women do one of these in conjunction with their acupuncture treatment.
Contactmusic.com - 17 October 2009
TOURING ACHES & PAINS CRIPPLE MADONNA
MADONNA has to sit in an ice bath for 10 minutes after every concert and undergo acupuncture therapy to relieve her aches and pains on the road.
The 51-year-old pop superstar admits age and years of abuse on her body have caught up with her and now she has to take extra care to make sure she's always in tip-top form onstage. She tells Rolling Stone magazine the first few minutes in the ice bath is always painful, but "it feels so good afterwards". And her pre and post-gig regime now includes a lot of tender loving care. The Like A Virgin hitmaker adds, "My ankles get taped before the shows, and I have treatments and physical therapists. It's from years and years of abuse, dancing in high heels, which is not great on your knees.
"All dancers have injuries, but we just deal with them. We get acupuncture and therapy, and just keep going."
SMW Women's Health & Fitness Tips - October 7, 2009
Acupuncture for the Treatment of Asthma by Craig Amrine,
According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), nearly 6.7 million or 9.1 % of children were being treated for asthma in the United States in 2007. In that same year, 16.2 million or 7.3 % of adults were being treated for asthma. Among those, over 3,500 died. What if this disease was not only treatable, but treatable in a way that could lower or even eliminate the need for inhalers and drugs? These drugs and inhalers are not only costly and inconvenient, they have several serious health risks and side-effects. The solution lies in acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
What is Asthma?
What exactly is Asthma? A simple explanation is that asthma is a partial and temporary obstruction of the airways in the lungs. This obstruction is due to inflammation of the airways, contraction or spasms of the muscles around the bronchi, and excessive mucous in the bronchi of the lungs. This combination leads to wheezing and shortness of breath (dyspnea) that is commonly referred to an “asthma-attack”. These attacks can range from being simply annoying to life threatening. What causes this? Asthma can be divided into two types: Atopic or allergic asthma and non-allergic asthma.
Atopic asthma, as the name implies, is due to a hypersensitivity to airborne particles or allergens. An immunoglobulin E (IgE) immune reaction occurs where mast cells that line the bronchi surface release a series of enzymes including serotonin, histamine, bradykinin, and prostaglandins. These substances trigger early-stage bronco-spasms in the lungs. After this initial phase, other chemicals including eosinophils and leukotrienes are released that lead to both inflammation of the bronchial lining and the release of mucous. This triple threat of spasms, inflammation, and mucous causes the feeling of suffocation that is so common with severe asthma attacks. To put it simply, asthma sufferers exhibit an immune response that is not self-limiting and is disproportionate to the airborne irritant.
Why do some people suffer with this allergic reaction while others do not? More importantly, why are the reported cases of allergic asthma on the rise? For reasons not fully understood, healthy individuals exhibit a series of self-limiting factors that prevent excessive immune response that asthmatics lack. One of the possible explanations is due to the Hygiene Theory(1). This theory suggests that atopic asthma is due to a lack of infections in infancy and the overuse of antibiotics and immunizations. Other theories suggest that IgG (immunoglobulin G) antibodies, which are known to help control IgE based allergic reactions, are lacking in infants pre-disposed to allergic asthma. Since IgG antibodies are the only immunoglobulins that can cross from the mother to the fetus, it’s thought that premature separation of the umbilical cord during child-birth can lead to an IgG deficiency in newborns, and consequently a higher chance of IgE mediated allergic reactions.
Regardless of the initial cause, atopic asthma is usually first seen in early childhood and is most often triggered by allergens including animal dander, pollen, and waste products of dust mites. The allergic response will reach its full reaction within 20 minutes of exposure to the allergens.
Non-allergic asthma, in contrast, is not triggered by allergens. Instead, it may be brought on by exercise or infections and often occurs later in life. While it also may be triggered by airborne irritants and cause bronco-constriction and inflammation, they do not induce an unregulated immune response.
Drugs: The Dangerous Solution
The common protocol for asthma is through medication. These medications can be delivered either through an inhaler or in a pill form and include corticosteroids, beta2- agonists, and leukotriene modifiers. Standard treatment is a two-step process. First, you’ll need to take a long-term drug that reduces inflammation and makes the bronchi less sensitive to airborne triggers. Secondly, you’ll have to take quick-relief drugs for acute attacks in the form of fast-acting inhalers. These will be bronchodilators or short acting beta-agonists.
Like all Western drugs, asthma medications include a list of health-risks and side effects. How serious are they? It depends largely who you ask. Doctors and asthma clinics whose treatment protocol involves drugs will emphasize that as long you follow the directions, health-risks are minimal and the benefits far outweigh the side-effects.
A very complete list of side-effects for these drugs can be found at www.rxlist.com. One of the most alarming effects of the beta2-agonists is, ironically, an increased number of asthma-related deaths! This side-effect is common enough that the FDA has required that these drugs include a “BLACK-BOX WARNING”. This label is the most serious warning that drug companies can carry.
The other commonly listed side-effects of asthma medication include: Upper respiratory fungal infections (Thrush), headaches, dizziness, anxiety/nervousness, sinusitis, loss of appetite, liver dysfunction, skin rashes, and hypertension.
Prolonged use of the cortisone-based anti-inflammatory drugs include a host of systemic effects including impaired immune response and would healing, adrenal suppression, truncal obesity, sleep and emotional disorders, nausea, osteoporosis, acne, gastrointestinal disorders, and growth suppression in children.
So the question is, would you use these drugs if you had an alternative? More importantly, would you feed these drugs to your children?
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture: A Safer Alternative
A more effective and dramatically healthier solution can be found through acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Ironically, the Chinese have no historical experience with early-onset allergic asthma. Even in modern times, the incidence of atopic asthma in China is almost non-existent. The closest equivalent is “breathlessness” or “wheezing”. The causes of these diseases were either invasion of some external pathogen, diet, emotions, or some combination of strenuous or excessive lifestyle. None of these can really be attributed to young children and explain the high incidence of child-hood allergic asthma. This again suggests that some aspect of the Western lifestyle is a major factor in the cause.
Modern Chinese medical theory suggests that atopic asthma is originally caused by the deficiency in Kidney and Lung Qi as well as a . Specifically, it is in the deficiency of the defensive aspects of Kidney and Lung Qi. Along with the classic filtering functions, the Kidneys are responsible for growth and development, sexual function, and overall vitality and health of the body. Kidney Qi is also largely influenced by the overall health of the parents, which explains the possible familial connection of atopic asthma. The Lungs are important not only in air-exchange, but also play a large role in the body’s resistance to external disease. The strength of the immune system is largely determined by the health of the Lungs. In combination, both the Lungs and Kidneys are vitally important in both the cause and the eventual treatment of atopic asthma. When as asthma attack occurs, we see this as an attack of internal “Wind”. In TCM, the term “internal Wind” suggests some kind of spasm or contraction; in this case referring to the broncho-spasms common in asthma attacks.
In treating asthma with acupuncture, our goal is to both strengthen the defensive aspects of the Lungs and Kidneys as well as dispelling internal Wind. While this may seem like a monumental task, it is actually very simple using acupuncture. Acupuncture has a very powerful “regulatory” effect on the body and has been found to lower excessive levels of IgE and eosinophils that are responsible for the hyper-activity of the immune system during an asthma attack. Acupuncture is also very effective in controlling spasms (Wind) in the body whether they be in the form of tics, tremors, or even spasms. As a result, acupuncture can both address both the inflammatory as well as the broncho-spasm aspects of asthma.
Regardless of the type of asthma, acupuncture has proven incredibly effective in lowering the symptoms of even completely eliminating asthma in our patients. We get repeated updates from patients telling us they don’t have to use their medication anymore; how they can leave their inhaler at home during their morning run, or that their son or daughter can now play with other kids without fearing an asthma attack. Why is this asthma solution not more common? With its overwhelming evidence and virtually zero side-effects, it is a wonder why more asthma clinics and physicians do not offer this option to their patients. As the population of asthma suffers continues to rise, we will continue to be flooded with TV commercials for the latest asthma drugs. Instead of resigning yourself to a collection of medications, turn towards your local acupuncturist. Both your body and your pocketbook will be much healthier (and happier).
Greenvilleonline.com - October 5, 2009
Integrated health-care system can help U.S. by Dr. Marina Ponton •
Sixty years ago, when China faced a health-care crisis fueled by too many people to treat, too little money and too few doctors to provide care, the Eastern Asian country embraced its past, turning to acupuncture and Oriental medicine for answers.
Between 1949 and 1978, the average life expectancy in China increased from 35 to 68 years. Today, Traditional Chinese Medicine is a major component of China’s health-care delivery system where doctors are trained in the traditional methods of acupuncture and massage, as well as the diagnostic and surgical techniques of Western medicine. Treatments such as acupuncture, herb therapy and massage therapy account for around 40 percent of all health care delivered in China.
I’m aware that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doesn’t match the scientific model of the U.S. health-care system, and that many view TCM as alternative “folk healing” that often is considered only after conventional treatment options have been exhausted. But with health-care costs in the U.S. continuing to escalate, more and more Americans are looking for alternative answers to their health-care needs, realizing that one-size-fits-all medicine isn’t working.
For three weeks this past June, I worked alongside health-care professionals at Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China’s Sichuan province. Founded in 1956, Chengdu University is among the oldest TCM universities in China, with a hospital that houses a 5,000-square-foot herbal pharmacy and seven floors of outpatient care. My time at Chengdu confirmed that a fully integrated health-care system that improves the quality of care while decreasing its cost is attainable and sustainable.
Traditional Chinese Medicine differs from Western medicine by emphasizing patient education and preventive care, and by teaching patients how to take personal responsibility for their own health and methods of treatment. Culturally, the Chinese are more aware of their health, with the average person in China entering a medical facility as a knowledgeable patient.
The basic premise of TCM is that a body in balance has a basic immunity to health issues. You truly are what you eat, think and breathe. You are the lifestyle you lead. That’s why overall, the Chinese are a healthier people. They are taught TCM techniques as children and practice them throughout their lives.
A great example is chronic childhood ear infections are non-existent in China. Children are given herbal formulas from day one, which prevent their development. Frankly, the idea of surgery to place tubes in a child’s ears or giving children antibiotics long term is considered primitive and uncivilized to Chinese doctors.
While there are people with difficult diseases in China, they tend to respond better to care. There are far fewer instances of death from cancer in China, and when a case is terminal, those patients tends to live longer and have a better quality of life in the final stages. While in China, I met several nine and 10-year survivors of pancreatic cancer.
Traditional Chinese Medicine has been providing an uninterrupted system of prevention and wellness worldwide for thousands of years. It makes primary health care more affordable because it provides effective treatments for chronic and acute conditions at a fraction of the cost of Western medicine. For example, Chinese women who are having surgeries and receiving chemo for breast cancer, at the same time, are getting IV drips of Chinese formulas to mitigate the side effects for nausea, dizziness and fatigue rather than taking another pharmaceutical drug.
The U.S. system of health care has handicapped doctors. It has created the current crisis of unmet needs, virtually no preventive care, and mounting costs that cannot be supported. Americans are forced to decide among the most expensive health-care services in the world, with most insurance plans offering no option to choose natural health modalities such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, diet modifications, and breathing and movement therapies.
I have many patients whose insurance will not cover their natural health treatments. However these treatments often lessen the need for pharmaceutical drugs or costly surgeries, and in some cases, eliminates it. Costs are offsetting and often reduced.
A bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would add acupuncture as a benefit covered under both Medicare and the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program. The Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act would be an excellent start to an integrated system of care that prevents and treats illness rather than symptoms and side effects.
The Suncoast News - October 2, 2009
Centuries-old cures found in Oriental medicine by Mark Schantz
Thin wire strands, not large needles, are placed at the acupuncture points seen on this doll, Dawn Balusik, a board-certified Doctor of Oriental Medicine, stresses.
With debate raging around the nation over how to pay for the often-costly miracles of modern Western medicine, many people seeking relief from pain and suffering are turning to ancient medical cures from China that are thousands of years old.
Medical specialties such as acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicines and special nutritional supplements are only untraditional as they relate to Western culture and are definitely not New Age, says Dawn Balusik, a board-certified Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Chinese herbology and acupuncture.
Oriental medicine is a system of natural health care about 3,500 years old that many are turning to for
Balusik, a primary-care physician and massage therapist, said many more people are turning to Chinese medical practices to treat a variety of illnesses. They include inflammation of the lining of the uterus; allergies and sinus problems; back, joint and neck pain; infertility; digestive disorders; and sleep problems and headaches.
"Some patients turn to Oriental medicine after they failed to find relief in conventional Western methods," she said.
Balusik, who lives in Tarpon Springs and has her practice on U.S. 19, in the Countryside area, said few people realize Oriental medicine is "the oldest continually practiced form of medicine in the world. It consists of a complex system of theory, diagnoses and treatment strategies."
Individualized treatments include the use of specialized acupuncture techniques, pressure-point massage, gentle exercise and relaxation, nutritional counseling and nonpharmaceutical herbal medicines to balance a patient's energy.
People have found that by massaging pressure points and redirecting energy through acupuncture, they feel relief from pain and discomfort.
A big misconception many people hold, Balusik said, is that acupuncture is done with large needles. In fact, a thin strand of sterile stainless-steel filament is placed under the skin. Each filament is used only once and then discarded to avoid transmitting blood-borne diseases.
"Oriental medicine is based on the idea that humans are not just a collection of physical molecules, Balusik said. Instead, people are a complex and interrelated system of energies known as Qi, which is pronounced chee, she said.
Acupuncturists use a complex chart that defines pressure points in the body and how they interconnect to regulate the flow of Qi. Acupressure massage of pressure points is used on children rather than acupuncture.
Acupuncture is also successfully used in treating the effects of modern cancer treatments, alleviating pain and restoring appetite, she said.
Each treatment is used in conjunction with prescribing Chinese herbal medicines.
Many people, trying to stay away from chemicals found in modern drugs, are turning to cures found in the natural ingredients of Chinese herbal medicine.
Herbal medicines can be prescribed in tablet and liquid form, sometimes as teas, or items that can be cooked up in a soup, she said.
More than 5,000 different ingredients made from plants, animals, and minerals are used.
Chinese herbs are a good alternative to some of the drug-based anxiety remedies many doctors prescribe, she said.
A Chinese herbal formula may include up to 20 different items carefully balanced to work in unison when taken by the patient.
A special formula is created for each patient, so there can be no sharing of Chinese herbal medicine prescriptions, she noted.
Balusik said it is important that an expert in herbal medicines insure the right dose is taken, so there is no interaction between any modern drugs that might be prescribed by a doctor or over-the-counter remedies that a patient may take.
Many patients want to be able to sleep better at night or not consume so many anti-anxiety or pain-relieving medicines that they know are not good for their liver and other organs, she said.
As holistic medical practitioners, acupuncturists consider lifestyle and environmental factors when deciding the best course of treatment that includes lifestyle and nutritional recommendations along with acupuncture and herbal formulas, she said.
Newuniversity.org – October 02, 2009
Multi-Dimensional Medicine by Emily Tsay
Seeking a medical doctor and expecting the doctor to prescribe a cure is a habit that is ingrained in our culture. Dr. Roger Uchizono is part of a movement that seeks to use multi-dimensional medicine and meditation as a way to treat and prevent illnesses.
Uchizono spoke at a recent Association of University Mediators meeting where members sat in a circle on the floor, creating a sphere of positive energy around them. Uchizono believes that pharmaceutical companies have taken over the medical industry. ‘We need to stop the pharmaceutical companies from dumping their poisons,’ he said. ‘We should not just be relying on medicine and surgery, but we should also integrate complementary and alternative medicine.’
There is an array of other modalities in treating disease, such as acupuncture, ayurvedic medicine, Chinese medicine, herbal therapies, touch therapy and guided imagery.
Uchizono’s mantra is not, ‘Doctor, heal me,’ but rather ‘Doctor, advise me.’ ‘Taking responsibility for your own level of wellness is one of the most empowering things you can do,’ Uchizono said. ‘Combined with healthy breathing, nutrition, exercise and social interaction, you are making a conscious decision to be responsible for your own level of balance and well-being.’
Many of the members of AUM agreed with the importance of being able to take care of oneself and living a healthy lifestyle. A reoccurring theme among the members seems to be the need for stress reduction, and they expressed that meditating has been beneficial in treating their stress.
‘It’s not just integrative medicine, and not about just taking an herb. You’ve got to go much deeper. If you can integrate meditation as a life commitment, then the gains will be found,’ Uchizono said. There are many different techniques for meditating. ‘There is no ‘right’ way of meditation,’ Uchizono said. ‘The key is to finding what works for you.’
One of the meditators shared that he was once a skeptic of healing through meditation and alternative therapies. He said that his father-in-law had tried energy healing on him before, but he was left unconvinced. He gave it another try and was pleasantly surprised. He said he saw colors, particularly violet. Another meditator suggested that violet is often associated with the ‘crown chakra’ which represents wisdom, understanding and consciousness.
Some members of AUM shared their experiences with alternative therapies to their ailments.
‘I receive acupuncture for asthma and bronchitis and, surprisingly, it helped opened up my lungs,’ said Brian Chang, a UC Irvine alumnus. ‘Along with drinking ginger tea and acupuncture, I got better in a week, when it usually takes me 2 to 3 weeks. [My acupuncturist] said that with bronchitis, there’s restricted blood flow to the lungs, but your body has the ability to heal itself. …With acupuncture, it opens up your lungs again.’
Like Uchizono, Chang stresses the preventative aspect of health. ‘You don’t want to build a shelter in the middle of a storm. Holistic health needs to be practiced everyday. Health is a habit,’ he said.
WVEC.com September 25, 2009
Flu concerns spark interest in alternative medicine by: Sandra Parker
NORFOLK -- Government health officials predict H1N1 swine flu will send nearly 2-million people to the hospital and kill or play a role in the deaths of up to 90,000 people. Instead of waiting for the vaccine, some people are turning to alternative prevention methods and treatments.
Catherine Niemiec with the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture believes in the power of the ancients. At her Asian medical school, students are trained in the use of herbs and they’re concentrating on people with the flu. Each patient who has the symptoms or the actual flu is treated with a mix of herbs which are measured and dispensed according to the needs of the individual.
Niemiec says the herbal mix is incredibly effective. "This medicine is so good at preventing the onset or the inception of the flu” she claims. “We have herbs specifically, if you can take it in the first three days, you actually get to prevent it from invading your system."
Not all treatments are herbal; some include the use of acupuncture. "Chinese acupuncture can help build the immune system, which will help to avoid even catching it,” says Dan Bedgood, an acupuncturist. He says if you catch the flu, acupuncture will purge what they call the swine flu “pernicious evil influence.”
If the remedies don’t seem to work, patients are referred to doctors for antibiotics and other traditional treatments. As for the cost, Niemiec says herbal remedies and acupuncture treatments are often lower than traditional treatments.
Examiner.com - September 24, 2009
Acupuncture for longevity in San Francisco by Jan Robbins Angela Lee, L.Ac.
Regular acupuncture treatments, as part of a complete health regimen, helps maintain the quality of your health as you age because acupuncture treats the whole person. Acupuncture is based on the premise that our body is a system of electrical circuitry, and just as you need to re-charge your cell phone when the battery runs down, you need to re-charge your body.
The reason our energy - or Qi in Chinese medicine – weakens is due to obstructions in the circuitry. Some of the factors that cause these blockages are external, such as trauma or exposure to the elements, or internal, as the excessive emotions of stress, or simply the wear and tear of aging.
The acupuncturist diagnoses in several ways.
Pulse diagnosis: over 26 subtle variations in the quality of the pulse are felt at six different positions
on each wrist.
Looking: A person’s appearance, demeanor and tone of voice, as well as the color, shape and size
of the tongue provide clues.
Asking and Listening: The acupuncturist gathers information about medical history, present health, lifestyle and emotional state.
The typical treatment in acupuncture involves the stimulation of points along the energy channels of the body called meridians with hair-thin metallic needles. These needles are disposable and used only once. Treatment times vary due to condition - a typical treatment lasts twenty-eight minutes. During the treatment, with soothing music playing, one falls into a pleasurable deep relaxation.
Besides being used as a boost to your energy level, acupuncture can be effective in treating pain, allergies, emotional distress and other chronic conditions
ABC 15.com - September 25, 2009
Stop insomnia without pills: the alternative treatments by: Jennifer Harrington
Stress and busy lives leaves many people up all night.
Insomnia is a reality for many people and often those same people would prefer to not reach for pills to help them get their sleep. But there may be an alternative for insomnia sufferers.
Based mainly on traditional Eastern medicine, these alternative therapies include herbal supplements, acupuncture, relaxation, meditation and exercise. Luzivone Damaceno, licensed acupuncturist and a student of Eastern medicine, says that there are certain herbal supplements that can aid in insomnia. Supplements containing melatonin, l-tryptophan, valerian, chamomile, ginseng, dill, lemon balm and skull cap may bring relief to constant sleep problems.
Damaceno also says there are studies that show acupuncture is also one alternative therapy that could also aid insomnia. It is believed that the very fine acupuncture needles inserted in strategic points of the body can improve the flow of the Qi, and rid the body of toxins that may be causing blockage that could prevent a restful night’s sleep. “Many of our clients have found acupuncture to be very effective in relaxing them and helping them get uninterrupted sleep,” said Damaceno.
“Cupping therapy is also popular with our clients who have trouble sleeping,” added Damaceno. Cupping therapy is the application of heated cups over an area of the body creating a slight suction on the areas. According to Chinese medicine, cupping therapy rids the body of toxins encouraging better blood flow. The treatment relaxes you and creates a better energy flow, thus promoting a restful sleep. According to Damaceno, first-time cupping therapy clients are immediately hooked, and book several treatments in a month.
Vancouver Sun September 25, 2009
Health: North Americans increasingly seek natural health solutions for ailments By Joanne Lee-Young
When her then three year-old son reacted badly to antibiotics for an ear infection, Ms. Sacallis waded in more deeply by consulting a traditional Chinese medicine or TCM doctor. By the time her baby daughter was wheezing, spitting and rejecting one antacid after another for reflux, Sacallis was very receptive to a different take. Just leave her be, said the TCM doctor. She had weak, flappy vocal chords — technically, stridor — but would grow into them.
Instead of coming up with a quick diagnosis and prescribing medication or some kind of invasive treatment the TCM treated her daughter in a way that was more in tune with the body's own way of healing.
There is no shortage of anecdotal testimonies that illustrate how and why consumers in North America are seeking alternative options for their ailments. Acupuncture and herbal remedies are being sought to help everything from acne to arthritis.
There's been this explosion in research and therefore media attention on the correlation between certain lifestyle choices — eating more fruits and vegetables, increasing exercise, certain nutritional supplements and essential fats — and a reduction in risk of the big killers out there: stroke, heart disease, cancer. There's been a big shift in terms of what people are hearing and it is motivating them to make changes."
Instead of prevention, conventional medicine tends to be focused on heroic goals with research dollars centered on technology and pharmacological therapy. But there is a void where these have failed.
"What we see is many people with chronic illnesses. That is the majority of what comes into our door. They have already been to a specialist, or half a dozen specialists, and they are looking for other options."
For a smaller percentage of people, there is another rationale, according to Steve Gluvic. "What we do is strive for individual health in the context of greater community, environmental and global health. . . . For example, if someone has a chronic illness, part of their therapy is going to be dietary change, perhaps organic, local, seasonal, less processed, fewer additives. All that ends up in the environment. . . . Reducing dependence on drugs and antibiotics, which end up getting cleared out from the kidney and liver, can have an impact on the individual level, in terms of susceptibility to new infections, but also one on the environment. . . . The ultimate goal is to address these issues within our body so they balance with the whole local ecology the same way we would address issues in forestry or oceans and fisheries."
Steve Given, associate dean for clinical education in the school of acupuncture and oriental medicine at Bastyr University in Seattle, estimates there are now about 20,000 licensed acupuncturists across the U.S., from zero in 1970. His own Washington state license number is 716, but "now the numbers are in the thousands . . . The distribution is also changing. Before, the band of interest was along the West Coast, with spots on the East Coast and in the southwest, but it has very quickly spread to virtually all sections of the country."
While drugs and surgery can quickly be costly, herbs and acupuncture are relatively more accessible, said Given. It's a way to navigate around the conventional medical system. He also cites the growing willingness of insurance companies to more broadly encompass alternative treatments. "As opposed to only covering physicians who do acupuncture, more and more third-party payers, for some plans, are including licensed acupuncturists. That was unheard of 10 to 15 years ago."
Given says that Chinese medicine has been practiced continuously for more than 2,500 years to the present, during which it was exported to other places in Asia, including Indo-China, Korea and Japan, as well as Europe and the U.S.
"One of the challenges is that this has led to a diversity of traditions. If you put ten acupuncturists in a room, you'll get ten solutions to the same problem," said Given. "The TCM that evolved in China after 1949 is the dominant one seen in [North America] with over 60 schools of acupuncture and oriental medicine in the U.S. But it's not the only one. There are several Japanese ones, Vietnamese and Korean lines. All share commonalities and there is some exchange between them, but they remain distinct too."
DrCutler.com - September 29th, 2009
Study: Alternative medicine use on the rise in U.S. By Sandra Cooper
A new survey suggests that Americans are turning to complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM) with increasing frequency.
The National Health Interview Survey reports that in 2007 $33.9 billion out-of-pocket dollars were spent on CAM in the U.S. That’s compared to $286.6 billion out-of-pocket dollars spent on conventional medicine and is 11.2 percent of total out-of-pocket health care expenditures.
CAM includes such things as acupuncture, biofeedback and neurofeedback, chiropractic, herbal supplements, meditation, and various forms of relaxation therapy that are not routinely considered to be part of conventional medicine.
The survey found that 38 percent of adults use some form of CAM every year, spending an estimated $12 billion on 354 yearly visits to CAM practitioners. That’s an increase compared to the last time the data was compiled in 2002.
Among the therapies being used more often are biofeedback, deep breathing exercises, meditation and yoga – all things that encourage a mind-body connection. The therapies that are not being used as often include tai chi, progressive muscle relaxation and energy healing therapies.
Kelowna Capital News - September 18, 2009
Diarrhea and acupuncture by James Kaufman
Diarrhea is characterized by loose, watery stools, bloating, and abdominal cramps or pain, as well as more frequent trips to the toilet. Acute diarrhea is something that nearly everyone has likely experienced at one time or another and usually lasts only a couple of days.
Chronic diarrhea, however, typically lasts longer and can be a discomfort and disruption to our lives.
Diarrhea can be caused by foods we eat, medications we take, viruses, bacteria, or parasites, surgery, or digestive disorders such as Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or ulcerative colitis. Our digestive system takes a lot of stress because in our busy lives we often eat poorly or eat on the go or when we are stressed.
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help with diarrhea.
In Chinese medicine there are six patterns that can lead to diarrhea. For all of them, the main cause is a disruption in the normal function of the spleen and stomach because of their roles in digestion. Acute diarrhea is often brought on by poor diet, external cold, heat, or damp climate or living conditions, or emotional stress.
Chronic diarrhea is most often caused by a yang deficiency of both the spleen and kidneys, which in turn impairs the spleen and stomach’s ability to break down food into something useful, and then transport the useful part throughout the body.
The first three types of diarrhea are often acute, causing a sudden onset which will also include other symptoms depending on the cause.
A cold-damp pattern of diarrhea will be accompanied by abdominal pain, fever, aversion to cold, stuffy nose, headache, and general aches and pains.
Damp-heat pattern diarrhea will be accompanied by abdominal pain, urgency, burning sensation, irritability, and thirst.
The third acute pattern is called “retention of food”—this is common when people have eaten poorly or have eaten far too much undigestible food or poor-quality food. This causes diarrhea with abdominal pain, rumbling digestive sounds, fullness in the abdomen, burping, acid reflux, and loss of appetite.
Chronic diarrhea makes up the other three types of patterns. Liver and spleen dysfunction pattern diarrhea will be accompanied by distention and congestion in the chest and rib side, burping, poor appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea brought on by depressed moods, and frequent irritable or angry moods.
Deficiency of the spleen and stomach pattern diarrhea is accompanied by chronic loose stools, frequent bowel movements after eating heavy, oily or greasy foods, loss of appetite, bloating after eating, and fatigue after eating and throughout the day.
Kidney and spleen deficiency pattern is due a lack of yang, or warming, energy. The yang energy is what supplies the warmth and the ability to “cook” the food in our stomach as well to transform it into something useful and transport it throughout the body. When this function is impaired due to deficiency, there is early morning diarrhea, a cold sensation in the abdomen with pain and rumbling just before bowel movement, a feeling of always being physically cold, and a sore low-back and knees.
Acupuncture helps to strengthen these weakened organs and resolve imbalances in order to improve the transformation and transportation of food.
A real positive of acupuncture is the ability to differentiate the cause of a person’s diarrhea, and so to treat it effectively and fully resolve the problem. With the digestive system functioning properly, diarrhea and other digestive problems are relieved. Also, a strengthened digestive system and healthy functioning means that future digestive upsets are less likely to occur.
Marketwire - September 10, 2009
LOS ANGELES, CA--- Acupuncture, the ancient Chinese technique of inserting and manipulating fine needles into specific points on the body to relieve pain, is among the oldest healing practices in the world. A 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), reports that 3.1 million Americans had used acupuncture in the past year. An earlier NHIS study found that pain or musculoskeletal complaints like back pain, joint pain, neck pain, severe headache/migraine and recurring pain, were some of the top conditions for which people use acupuncture as a treatment.
Dr. David Shirazi, director of The TMJ and Sleep Therapy Centre, pairs this ancient practice with the use of advanced medical equipment to eliminate pain from his patient's lives. "My original intention for studying acupuncture was to help my family so they wouldn't have to take strong medications," explains Shirazi. "What I found when studying acupuncture was that the results were so phenomenal that I had to incorporate it into my practice." Most of Shirazi's patients come to him for help with chronic pain, which is the #1 cause of insomnia in the U.S., and now uses acupuncture with more than 90% of the patients he treats. One of the other causes of insomnia is sleep disordered breathing, also known as Sleep Apnea, which Shirazi treats as well.
Common solutions doctors give for the treatment of pain are temporary pain relievers, surgery or no treatment at all if the cause of the pain cannot be identified. Many people feel unheard by doctors who often dismiss their chronic pain as panic attacks if they cannot locate the pain source. "Some doctors may understand that you have pain but not address it or they may say to 'return when it gets worse'," says Shirazi. "These are instances when you should see an acupuncturist, when you have mild or moderate pain, or chronic pain that is not getting better from conventional therapies."
In Chinese medicine, pain is identified as a block in the meridian flow (energy channel). Acupuncture can help remove the blocks and reduce or eliminate the pain. Referred pain, a term used to describe pain that is perceived to be next to or at a distance from the actual ailment, is also very common and often leads to people receiving unnecessary medical treatment.
There are many misconceptions about acupuncture, like the level of pain that is endured or the regions of the body where the needles are inserted. When administering acupuncture, Shirazi inserts very few, very thin, high-quality, disposable needles, usually from the elbow down or the knee down and away from the area where patients are experiencing their pain. The virtually painless process of inserting the needles takes only a few seconds. The needles are left in for around 20 to 30 minutes while patients lie on a massage table with special pillows that hold them in a comfortable position or in comfortable memory-foam-cushioned chairs. When the needles are removed people usually feel better instantly. The goal of this treatment is always to break the patient's pain cycle. There are little to no side effects with acupuncture.
About.com - September 07, 2009
Acupuncture as Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment. Does Acupuncture Work? If So, How? by Adrienne Dellwo
Acupuncture treatments for fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) are becoming much more common, either alone or as a complementary therapy.
Acupuncture dates back thousands of years as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) but only caught the attention of the American public in the 1970s. The National Institutes of Health formally recognized acupuncture as part of mainstream medicine in 1997, saying the procedure is safe and effective at treating a wide range of conditions, including fibromyalgia.
Acupuncture Studies
In the West, acupuncture has been studied more for FMS than ME/CFS, but many doctors, acupuncturists and people with ME/CFS say they've had success with it. Several Chinese studies have shown it's effective for ME/CFS. Your specific Western diagnosis likely won't be important to an acupuncturist, who uses different terminology to diagnose and treat you.
As acupuncture has moved more into the mainstream, many insurance companies have added it to their policies, and some doctor's offices and clinics have begun to offer it at their facilities. Make sure you know the details of your insurance policy before assuming it will cover acupuncture treatments.
While multiple studies have shown that acupuncture does have the effects taught by TCM, researchers can't pinpoint exactly why it has the effects. Research suggests that it may produce complex changes in the brain and body, possibly by stimulating nerve fibers that then send signals to the brain and spinal cord to release certain hormones that block pain and makes you feel better. A study using images of the brain showed that acupuncture raises your pain threshold -- which is low in people with FMS and ME/CFS -- and therefore gives you long-term pain relief. One British experiment using magnetoencephalography (MEG) brain scans showed that acupuncture actually can deactivate part of your brain's pain matrix.
According to TCM, acupuncture works by correcting energy pathways through your body. This life-force energy is called qi or chi (pronounced "chee"). Qi flows through meridians in the body, each of which corresponds to an organ or group of organs. If you have too much, too little, or blocked qi, TCM teaches that it will create health problems.
If this is hard to understand, picture a stream. If something blocks the flow of water, pressure builds up behind the blockage and water can go spilling out over the banks. Too much water can lead to floods, while too little water can kill off plants and animals that live there. The purpose of acupuncture is to keep the stream flowing free and at desired amounts.
Benefits vs. Risks of Acupuncture
When you consider treatment options for FMS and ME/CFS, or any health condition for that matter, it's important to weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks.
According to experts, both Eastern and Western, the potential benefits of acupuncture include:
* Less pain
* Better sleep
* Relaxation
* Possible immune system boost
* Better overall health
Research released in 2008 showed that after 20 acupuncture treatments, people with FMS had significant improvements in pain and quality of life that lasted for 3 months after treatment was stopped, with a gradual decline in those areas until all benefit was gone after 2 years.
Acupuncture can be much safer than other therapies, especially if you're combining several different treatments. Benefits as a complementary therapy include:
* No negative interactions with other treatments, including drugs
* Extremely mild side effects
* Low risk
Possible risks of acupuncture are extremely rare, especially with a licensed acupuncturist. Risks include:
* Infection from non-sterile needles
* Organ puncture (very rare occurrence)
* Nausea
* Dizziness & fainting
* Bruising
Licensed practitioners in the United States are required to use sterile needles and dispose of them after each use, but this is not required in all parts of the world.
An Acupuncture Exam for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
When you go to an acupuncturist, he/she will likely take your pulse at several points along both wrists. Don't be surprised when you're asked to stick out your tongue; in TCM, the tongue's shape, color and coating are important diagnostic tools. (Tip: When you brush your teeth that day, skip the tongue so you don't disturb the coating.)
The needles only go in about a centimeter. After inserting them, the acupuncturist will twist or gently wiggle them to get them firmly into the proper point. You might get a muscle twitch or brief ache, or you might feel nothing at all. Once all the needles are in (the amount used varies), you'll stay in place and rest for anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. You'll probably be extremely relaxed and could even fall asleep. Afterward, the acupuncturist will pluck out the needles, which doesn't hurt at all.
A few hours after your first treatment, you could feel some aches around your body. This is normal, and practitioners say it's a sign that the treatment is working. The aches don't typically last long, and over-the-counter pain relievers will help. It's common to sleep more deeply than usual that night, which is a definite bonus for anyone with FMS and ME/CFS.
Finding an Acupuncturist for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Your doctor or clinic may be able to refer you to a qualified acupuncturist, and you can also check with your insurance company to see if it has a list of practitioners that participate in your health plan. Most states require acupuncturists to be licensed, so look for the title "LAc."
Ethiopian Review - Health News Forum - September 10th, 2009
Fibromyalgia Treatment: Acupuncture by Shazneen Pathak | AC
Did you know that Fibromyalgia is a disorder that had affected thousands of people and still there is no cure for the disorder? There are only treatments to offer you some temporary pain relief. With the plain in your muscles, you will find that there is pain in your joints that will cause you to have many problems like stiffness, sleeping problems, and even fatigue. Even though you may be eager to try some alternative medicine, you will find that the Chinese Acupuncture will help you the best. There are many with the disorders who have found success with the acupuncture and other traditional treatments. If you are someone who you love happens to suffer from fibromyalgia to help relieve the symptoms.
Acupuncture is well tolerated with minimal side effects, so patients who participate in this medical treatment will at least leave the doctor’s office no worse than when they arrived. With needles with the thickness of hair, acupuncturists will use the needles to stimulate the body you may feel a slight pinch as they are inserted, but when done properly, acupuncture is both safe and painless. That is why you are going to need a professional.
Fibromyalgia patients receive treatment specifically to help their condition. Not only will the acupuncturist use the needles, but they will also use cupping and warming techniques to help the energies that cause the joint pain. This process takes a relatively short amount of time, and many patients have said that they feel instantly relieved of pain after a treatment. Others, however, seem to feel no relief at all. It can be expensive for you to have acupuncture so you will want to make sure that it is something that will be right for you. Many patients have said that this technique works best with repeated treatments, so realize this could be an expense that you must include in your weekly budget.
Acupuncture is something that could help you with fibromyalgia; however, there is little proof other than the opinions of the patients who have tried it. The studies are simply just difficult to carry out because it can be a mind over matter thing. There are people who have believed that it works to relieve the pain and that is the reason why they have been able to find the relief.
Alternative Health Journal - Published: September 09, 2009
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Abdominal Pain, Gas, Bloating Diarrhea, Constipation by Derrick DeSilva Jr., M.D.,
In a preliminary, randomized, sham/placebo-controlled trial involving 29 men and women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion, twice a week for a period of 4 weeks, was found to significantly improve symptoms of abdominal pain/discomfort, intestinal gas, bloating, and stool consistency. Subjects who received real acupuncture and moxibustion therapy were assessed by an acupuncturist according to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and treated with an individualized acupuncture point prescription. The results of this study are promising, suggesting that acupuncture and moxibustion therapy may be an effective treatment for managing symptoms in patients with IBS.
thehorse.com Sept 06, 2009 Article 14849
Mixed Signals: How Acupuncture Works by: Marie Rosenthal (partial article)
Although acupuncture is frequently used in human and animal health, it needs to be described in terms that most people accept and understand, said Narda G. Robinson, DO, DVM, MS, who recently authored a report on the topic.
Traditional Chinese medicine explains that the invasion of environmental agents, such as cold, wind, dampness, and heat cause pain, and an upset in Yin and Yang disrupts organ function. Acupuncture is supposed to correct this, but to today's modern mind that sounds like superstition.
"We shouldn't be selling mysticism as medicine," Robinson said.
"Acupuncture is real medicine, based on anatomy and physiology," she explained. "Getting the best results comes from seeing what's right in front of us--muscle tension, imbalances in the nervous system, and the health impact of stress, malnutrition, and under- or over-exercise. Belief systems imported from China only muddy the message."
In medical terms, "Acupuncture appears to work because it dampens pain transmission in the nervous system, which means it turns down the 'volume' of painful impulses entering the spinal cord and brain, and changes our emotional state and reaction to painful stimuli," she said. "Sophisticated brain imaging techniques have told us which parts of the brain are responding to acupuncture and when, providing a 'real time' window into brain function during and after acupuncture."
"Gain a feel for what's 'hype' and what's real," she recommended. "Find a practitioner who can explain how the treatments work, whether acupuncture, massage, herbs, or dietary supplements, so that you understand, in plain language, and find out the relative risks and benefits of various treatments first.
The Epoch Times Sept 01, 2009
Acupuncuncture for Pain by Jingduan Yang, M.D.
A national survey indicated that more than one-quarter of U.S. adults had recently experienced some sort of physical pain lasting more than a day. [1]
Pain is a feeling triggered in the nervous system. It may be sharp or dull, off-and-on or steady, localized or all over. Although pain usually goes away once the underlying problem is removed, it can last for weeks, months, or even years.
To relieve their pain, many people take over-the-counter medications including aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen. Stronger medications, including NSAIDs in higher dosages and narcotics, are available only by prescription.
People may also try non-drug approaches to help relieve their pain, including physical and occupational therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, self-care techniques, and complementary and alternative therapies, such as spinal manipulation or acupuncture.
From the Chinese medicine perspective, pain is caused by two energy imbalances. One is the blockage of energy channels. Energy or qi needs to flow smoothly to maintain normal function of body and mind. Wherever there is blockage of energy channels, there will be pain existing in the area. In other words, when energy is stagnated in the area, it causes pain.
The factors that are involved in causing the blockage of energy channels (also called meridians) include physical trauma, emotional distress, and excessive pathogenic energy from the environment, such as heat, cold, and dampness. Insect bites and excessive alcohol intake contribute to the problem as well. This type of pain is usually acute, severe, or intermittent, and it is migrating or fixed.
The other type of pain is principally caused by a deficient amount of energy moving in the body or body aches due to lack of nutrition supplied through good circulation. This type of pain is normally dull, chronic, and consistent and is in a fixed location. Very often, people have pain caused by both of above conditions.
Acupuncture treatment is often used after the evaluation of energy channels and determining the types of energy imbalances that are present.
Acupuncture needles can always be placed at areas of tenderness, called Ashi points. In addition, a combination of acupuncture points should be selected to address the energy imbalance in the related meridians. For example, for a middle-aged man with chronic lower back pain caused by deficient qi in the kidney and bladder meridians, some points on the kidney and bladder meridians will be selected.
Also, the points in the spleen and stomach meridians may be chosen because they are supportive of kidney and bladder energy. There are a couple of points on the back of hands that are very useful for back pain.
After the points are selected, the techniques of inserting and manipulating the needle may differ based on the whether the energy is blocked or deficient. For example, if energy is blocked, a needle should be inserted against the direction of the energy flow and twisted counterclockwise. If energy is deficient, the needle is inserted to the direction of the energy flow and twisted clockwise.
Traditionally, people receive acupuncture on a daily basis targeting certain conditions. In the United States, people receive treatments once or twice a week due to financial and time constraints. People need to have persistent courses of treatment in order to fully benefit.
Acupuncture is being studied for its efficacy in alleviating many kinds of pain. There are promising findings in some conditions, such as chronic low-back pain and osteoarthritis of the knee. The problem with research is that it often fails to make accurate evaluation of energy imbalances of each patient, and it does not treat frequently and persistently enough to demonstrate its effectiveness is greater than placebo needling.
In animal studies, acupuncture seems to be able to stimulate the production of endorphins and regulate neurotransmitters. Neurophysiologic studies in humans indicate that acupuncture can reduce the electrical activity in the area of brain involved in the perception of pain. However, none of these findings can explain the dramatic and rapid reduction of pain.
Acupuncture is generally considered safe when performed by an experienced practitioner using sterile needles. Relatively few complications from acupuncture have been reported. Serious adverse events related to acupuncture are rare, but include infections and punctured organs.
Additionally, there are fewer adverse effects associated with acupuncture than with many standard drug treatments (such as anti-inflammatory medication and steroid injections) used to manage painful musculoskeletal conditions like fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, and tennis elbow.
EmaxHealth Aug 12,2009
Acupuncture Impacts Brain to Reduce Pain by Deborah Mitchell
Use of brain imaging has revealed that acupuncture affects the brain’s ability to reduce and regulate pain. This study was the first of its kind to provide imaging of how acupuncture affects specific receptors in the brain that process and suppress pain signals.
The researchers at the University of Michigan Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center and the University of Michigan Medical School showed that acupuncture increases the binding ability of mu-opoid receptors (MOR) in areas of the brain that are responsible for regulating pain signals. Morphine, codeine, and other opioid painkillers are believed to be effective because they bind to mu-opoid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, reducing or eliminating pain.
Acupuncture has been the subject of many pain studies over the years, and many of the results have been encouraging. One study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2007, found that six months of acupuncture treatment was more effective than conventional treatment for lower back pain. A 2005 study in the British Journal of Medicine reported that acupuncture reduced tension headache rates by nearly 50 percent.
People who have osteoarthritis of the knee may want to consider acupuncture after a 2004 study in the British Medical Journal noted that the ancient Chinese practice was better than drugs alone. The same journal in 2005 published the results of a study which found acupuncture plus pelvic strengthening exercises help relieve pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy.
Basil & Spice - Thomas H. Bailey Jr. - Nationally Certified in Acupuncture and is licensed by the Florida Board of Acupuncture as an Acupuncture Physician and primary healthcare provider. July 27, 2009
U.S. Rep Maurice Hinchey Supports Acupuncture Under Medicare [HR646 Federal Acupuncture Coverage] (partial article)
There are safe and effective therapies that can reduce the need for long-term use of expensive pharmaceuticals, ongoing doctor visits and possibly hospitalization, one of them is the oldest continually-practiced form of healthcare in the world: acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AOM).
One enormous contrast between the philosophy of AOM and the American medical system is that acupuncture’s philosophical focus is on prevention of disease first and treatment of disease second. It is important to know that the underlying philosophy of this medical system does not separate the body into unrelated parts as allopathic medicine does, but considers the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of self to be integrated energetic aspects of who we are. AOM is holistic medicine that works to restore homeostasis (balance) to the whole person regardless of which aspect presents as the dominant imbalance, all may be affected by the other and nourished by the other.
Acupuncture is receiving more attention as more scientific studies are validating what patients and Acupuncture Physicians have know for at least 2500 years, that AOM works for many health conditions and helps to prevent illness. According to Special Report: AOM In The US, written cooperatively by the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) and the Society for Acupuncture Research (SAR): “Numerous surveys show that, of all the complementary medical systems, acupuncture enjoys the most credibility in the medical community.” This report features the history of acupuncture in the US and further details the many studies showing the efficacy and cost savings vs. medical intervention, some of which are astounding.
One long time believer and supporter of acupuncture is United States Representative Maurice Hinchey of New York who has been working for many years to include acupuncture under Medicare and Federal employee health coverage. The “Hinchey Bill” as it is often referred to, is titled HR646 Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act. The AAAOM is making it easy for you to ask your U.S. Representative and Senators to support HR646 by using its RALLY CONGRESS link to easily enter your zip code and name to have a letter sent to each of them in your name.
You have the power to push Congress as much as the lobbying firms do. Your vote keeps your representative in Washington or sends them packing if they don’t listen to you. Make your opinion known, and tell Congress you want to have access to the oldest form of preventive medicine and healthcare in the world. Support HR646 and experience the wonderful health benefits of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. When Medicare covers Acupuncture, more private insurance companies are likely to include acupuncture in their plans as some already do. Show your support by using the RALLY CONGRESS link. Then find a practitioner near you (a Licensed Acupuncturist [L.Ac]), Acupuncture Physician [AP], Doctor of Oriental Medicine [DOM] - titles vary by state) and experience the wonderful healing system that has worked for millions of people all over the world for well over 2500 years.
THE CLINICAL JOURNAL OF PAIN. 25(4):327-333, May 2009.
Study: Acupuncture & Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Acupuncture is as effective as the corticosteroid, prednisone, for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), according to a new study.
The randomized, controlled study that was published in the May 2009 issue of the Clinical Journal of Pain, investigated the efficacy of acupuncture compared with steroid treatment in patients with mild-to-moderate carpal tunnel syndrome as measured by both nerve conduction studies and symptom assessment surveys.
Seventy-seven patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. One group received eight acupuncture treatments over four weeks, and the other group received oral doses of prednisone, daily, for four weeks. The results showed that acupuncture was just as effective as the corticosteroid for pain, numbness, tingling and weakness. For the symptoms of night time awakening and motor function, the acupuncture group had better results.
The researchers concluded that acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment option for CTS for those who experience side effects to oral steroids or for those who do not opt for early surgery.
DELANEY SIEFERLIN, SPECIAL TO SUN MEDIA June 15, 2009
Acupuncture gains attention as recognized medical practice
Sticking needles into your body may sound crazy. But acupuncture is a medical practice that has gained a lot of attention, and medical certification around the world in the last couple decades. And as a result, more and more Canadian seniors are receiving acupuncture treatments to treat a number of different problems that come with aging, says Dr. Kwong Chiu, president of the Acupuncture Council of Ontario and a practicing acupuncturist.
The industry has grown by leaps and bounds, he says, adding that many of his patients are seniors. They come to me for a whole host of things. In China, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine is used as a parallel system to Western medicine, so they treat everything with it. And although acupuncture has been recognized by the World Health Organization as a treatment for a variety of common problems for seniors such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and others, most of his older patients come to him to treat chronic pain. And one of the main benefits hes seen is that acupuncture gives seniors a natural alternative to pain regulation. It replaces a lot of medication, and eliminates the need for some medication, Chiu says, adding that many seniors suffer complications these days from taking several medications at once. But for many seniors, acupuncture is not the first treatment that comes to mind when theyre suffering from chronic pain, says Dr. Mandy Liu, a registered acupuncturist who has been practising in Calgary for four years. More and more people come to us when theyre quite frustrated about conventional medicine, she says. They might come to us for help because they want to try new things.
Liu treats seniors mostly for sciatic problems, and pain in the shoulders and back, and it usually takes between three to six one-hour treatments to see results, she says, although sometimes patients feel better after one treatment. And although people who have never tried it before may be sceptical of the idea of sticking needles into their body, its a gentle and non-invasive procedure, says Jennifer Bremault, a registered acupuncturist with Healing Touch Health Centre in Calgary. Basically what were doing is inserting really fine needles into various points along the body that are connected to meridians, she says, adding the meridians are physiologically and metaphorically linked to organs. It seeks to bring about balance of the body, making sure all the energy of the body, the organs, the mental, the physical, the spiritual, is all functioning in the optimal way.
Scared of needles?
You can still receive a form of acupuncture that uses herbal seeds, applied to acupuncture points on the ear, instead of needles. And its still an effective way of relieving acute pain, and stiff joints, says Dr. Mandy Liu, a registered acupuncturist and TCMD who practises in Calgary. We use herbal seed to put on certain acupuncture points on the ear, not needles, she says. It looks like a little sticker that just stick on the points. The seeds are usually kept on for about five days and patients are told to press them three to five times each day to stimulate the points, Liu says. * WHO recognizes
acupuncture as real medicine
Acupuncture has made a lot of progress in the last 30 years in North America. It was recognized by the World Health Organization as a legitimate form of medical treatment for a variety of health problems that affect seniors, such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, muscle pain and more. Many private health insurance providers cover acupuncture treatments.
Health Daily News May 12, 2009
Any kind of acupuncture, whether it pierced the skin or not, eased chronic lower back pain in a group of adult patients. (partial article)
"All [acupuncture treatments] were superior to usual care [western medicine]," said Daniel Cherkin, lead author of a report published in the May 11 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. "Acupuncture is an effective treatment for chronic back pain. People receiving acupuncture are more likely to get better."
But the unusual finding that non-penetrating acupuncture did as well as acupuncture that used standard needles will raise questions about how this works, added Cherkin, who is a senior investigator with the Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle.
Chronic back pain is a chronic health issue in the United States, and is the top reason why patients go to acupuncturists, often when traditional therapies disappoint. Although there have been previous studies on whether acupuncture represents a viable treatment option, "the evidence of the value of acupuncture in general is very murky because the quality of the research is not very good," Cherkin said.
This trial, the largest randomized one of its kind, was funded by the National Center for complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. A group of 638 adults with chronic lower back pain were randomized to one of four study arms: individualized acupuncture, standardized acupuncture, simulated acupuncture (non-penetrating) or "usual care." In the simulated acupuncture group, practitioners mimicked needle acupuncture by using a toothpick in a needle guide tube -- poking at traditional pressure points without breaking the skin.
Participants received 10 treatments over seven weeks, at the end of which dysfunction and symptom scores improved equally among the three treatment arms. Also, medication use in all the acupuncture groups decreased immediately and over the next year. About two-thirds of patients were taking medication, mostly painkillers such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). By eight weeks, that had declined to 47 percent in the acupuncture groups and 59 percent in the usual-care group.
But the real surprise was that acupuncture was effective even when the treatment didn't break the skin. "It's not necessary to penetrate the skin. There's no advantage to tailoring and no advantage to using a needle. Why?" Cherkin said. "It throws open the question of how does this work."
There are no answers to that question yet, but some theories persist. It's possible that the "superficial" acupuncture still kicks off a cascade of physiological processes that result in relief, the authors wrote. Or the benefit may come from "nonspecific effects such as therapist conviction [or] patient enthusiasm." Some previous studies have found similar physiological responses from both types of acupuncture.
Janet Konefal, a licensed acupuncturist and assistant dean for complementary and integrative medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, said she was not surprised that non-puncture stimulation had equal effects. "You can stimulate a point with pressure, needle, electricity, even now with laser light and different frequencies of laser light," she said. You might use that with someone who is older or weak in their constitution. That could explain why two different methods of stimulation work equally well."
Acupuncture of all types is "well on its way to the mainstream," Konefal said. "When we understand that different stimulations may be effective rather than doing deep-needle stimulation which, for some people when in pain can be painful, we can now use laser or light needling or even just electric stimulation on the points; I think that part is great."
And, Cherkin pointed out, "just because you don't understand how it works doesn't mean it doesn't work. It could be worthwhile to pursue it."
Acupuncture Today January 2009
The Price of Western Medicine and the Promise of Eastern Medicine (partial article)
by Jake Paul Fratkin, OMD, LAc
I would like to put Western medicine into perspective. The training focuses on hospitalized patients, and the profession's greatest successes lie in saving life and limb: fighting serious infection, severe trauma, and life-threatening deterioration of major organs. When a patient needs to be hospitalized, Western diagnostics, surgery and pharmaceutical medicine prove to be almost miraculous, and our society has benefited from this knowledge and application. No one would discount its remarkable effectiveness compared with 150 years ago.
However, modern medical science certainly does not come without a high price tag. Typical medical school graduates have accumulated debts between $250,000 and $300,000.They are driven to repay these debts, and the best and brightest gravitate to higher-paying specialties such as orthopedics, surgery, dermatology, gastroenterology and endocrinology. Specialists routinely charge $100 to $500 per visit, (although insurance companies end up paying less), and the cost of medical visits are the first factor dictating why medical expenses are so high.
Specialties require advanced diagnostic technology such as X-ray, CT scan, MRI, and specialized blood tests. A contrast CT scan without insurance, for example, costs $3,000. Hospitalizations are astronomically expensive in the United States compared to countries such as France or Japan.
The price of pharmaceuticals is also driving up medical costs. The newer drugs cost more than $100 for a one-month supply. As people age, they find themselves on more and more pharmaceuticals, and these costs come out-of-pocket for the elderly on Medicare.
The outcome for Americans is an unaffordable health care system. Prices are driven by either necessity (for the primary care physician or hospital) or outright avarice (specialists, insurance companies and the pharmaceutical industry). Politicians, the public and, finally, the medical profession, are now acknowledging a crisis situation, and wish to address it. In the national talk of correcting the situation, attention has focused on cost, availability and accessibility.
The situation that is not being addressed in any national discussion, however, also needs to be heard. Western medicine as it is being practiced today, outside of hospital crisis intervention, has become a therapy of expensive pharmaceutical medicines, and these medicines are an abject failure. They do not cure illness and they do not promote health. In fact, they typically weaken one's health or lead to a decline in quality of life. Data analysis has shown that Western medicine is one of the leading causes of death in this country.
I want to be careful how I address this issue, so as not to offend medical friends or readers. The earnest physician is not at fault here; they have become a pawn of the pharmaceutical industry, which aggressively belittles safer and effective natural alternatives while spending large amounts of money promoting their drugs to the physician and the public alike.
The problem with Western pharmaceuticals compared to herbal therapies, is that they rarely cure the illness. How do I know? Because when you stop the medicine, the patient still has the problem. Think of the following conditions: thyroid, type 2 diabetes, acid reflux, asthma, osteoporosis, hypertension, depression, insomnia, seasonal allergies or headaches.
When the medicine is discontinued, even after years of use, the problem is still there. And there are numerous conditions for which the medicine does not work at all but is promoted regardless: eczema, ear infections, cough, irritable bowel syndrome, memory loss and dementia, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, and late-stage chemotherapy.
The demands of a busy outpatient clinic afford the Western practitioner a limited time to evaluate the patient, and they decide quickly which problem to prioritize. I think it is obvious that the general practitioner chooses from an arsenal of 13 or 14 types of medicines, and everyone who walks in their door gets one of them. If I were a typical medical doctor - well-trained and intelligent - I would blanch at the intellectual restrictiveness of this practice, and at the mechanical lifestyle my practice had become: four to six patients an hour, each getting a prescription from a list of 14 medicines, without time for an in-depth interview, counseling or any real detective work as to their overall health.
This approach to medicine is failing the public. It is mechanical, dishonest and ultimately harmful. When we look at Chinese herbal medicine, we see something very different. We see a medicine based on an ancient and deep understanding of how the human body works, and we choose medicinal herbs that allow correction and healing without side effects. The herbal medicines are less expensive. As the American public critically evaluates the limits of Western medicine in terms of its accessibility and affordability, we should also take a hard look at how Chinese herbal medicine could benefit society, both in cost and effectiveness.
For example, it is common for Western doctors to prescribe antibiotics for urinary tract infection. A simple comparison of the use of Ba Zheng Wan vs. the standard antibiotic would no doubt show that the herbal formula is at least as effective as the antibiotic, and may even be more effective. The advantage of proving Ba Zheng Wan would then encourage medical doctors, as well as the self-medicating public, to utilize an effective herbal medicine that does not carry the burden of encouraging "super bugs" or destroying essential gut flora that impacts the immune system.5
The other concern has been the need for standardization of herbal products, such that each herbal ingredient is extracted with consistent percentages of active ingredients. The medical world believes that clinical efficacy can only be researched with bio-identical formulas. I believe that this is a scientific conceit that would only add unnecessary cost to Chinese herbal products without significantly improving outcomes. Chinese herbs have latitude in potency. What is really important are the relative ingredient percentages of raw herbs in a combined formula.
The Western scientific community would like to evaluate medicinal herbs along the same lines as pharmaceuticals, but this is really unnecessary, and costly. Much of Europe has accepted this reality, calling herbs la médecine douce or "the gentle medicine." Because they don't pose the health risks that pharmaceuticals do, they do not need the high research standards established for potentially dangerous pharmaceuticals.
Many French medical doctors are comfortable in recommending (European) herbal medicines and homeopathics, which are available in pharmacies. They do so because they are comfortable with their safety. What is important is access to herbal formulas that have been tested for safety and efficacy along the lines I mentioned above, rather than trying to validate them using the same parameters applied to pharmaceuticals.
The American medical establishment is shooting itself in the foot by criticizing, demeaning or restricting the free flow of herbal medicines to the public. Chinese herbal medicines are more effective than Western medicines for common conditions: acid reflux, depression, anxiety, insomnia, asthma, infections, menstrual disorders, constipation, inflammation, etc.
For certain medical conditions, Chinese herbal medicines are without competition: the dissolution of kidney stones, viral infections (upper respiratory infections, cough, herpes simplex and shingles), ovarian cysts, etc. In several areas, herbal medicines are so effective that the economic impact of using them would dramatically reduce overall medical costs: common viral and bacterial infections, digestive problems such as acid reflux, control of liver degeneration in hepatitis C, infertility and in combined treatment (with chemotherapy) for cancer.8
As Western medical doctors gravitate toward the higher-paying specialties, the primary-care providers will be nurse practitioners and physician assistants. We should add practitioners of Oriental medicine, chiropractors and naturopaths to these gatekeeper positions, who can then refer to medical specialists for advanced diagnostics or therapies. Those patients preferring natural medicine for common ailments will have society's approval, and overall costs for health care will actually go down.
Studies on Acupuncture and Stress
Numerous studies have demonstrated the substantial benefits of acupuncture in the treatment of stress.
A 2008 study published in Anesthesia & Analgesia found that acupuncture points alleviated preoperative anxiety in children while a 2003 study conducted at Yale University showed that ear acupuncture significantly lowered the stress level of the mothers of children that were scheduled for surgery.
A German study published in the June 2007 issue of Circulation found that acupuncture significantly lowers both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The extent of the blood pressure reductions by acupuncture treatments was comparable to those seen with antihypertensive medication or aggressive lifestyle changes, including radical salt restrictions.
Acupuncture Today January 2000
New Studies Confirm Acupuncture Relieves Pain - MRI Scans Provide Objective Evidence that Treatment Works
For more than 2,500 years, acupuncture has been one of the world's most popular forms of health care. Only in the latter part of this century has the practice of acupuncture gained acceptance in North America, but the profession appears to have earned much respect in that short time.
A 1998 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, for example, showed that medical doctors refer their patients to acupuncturists more than any other "alternative" care provider. The same study also revealed that 51% of medical doctors believe acupuncture to be efficacious and of value.
Numerous theories abound as to what makes acupuncture effective for pain. Whatever the mechanism may be, there have been few definitive studies relating to the efficacy of acupuncture for pain relief. A new study conducted at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey may have finally demonstrated the proof that acupuncture advocates have been looking for. The study shows objective evidence that acupuncture works as a form of pain relief and that certain types of acupuncture work better than others.
In the New Jersey study, twelve patients were monitored using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a technology that reveals what parts of the brain are receiving increased blood flow. Increased blood flow to different areas of the brain indicates that those areas of the brain are being stimulated.
The patients were subjected to pain in the form of a tiny filament used to prick the inside or outside of their upper lip. Initial tests showed via fMRI that all 12 people reacted strongly to the pain stimulus, as there was an increased flow of blood to the subjects' parietal areas and brain stems.
Concurrently with being pricked with the filament, seven subjects received traditional acupuncture at the Hegu point, an acupoint located between the thumb and forefinger. The remaining five subjects received electroacupuncture at the Hegu point, with a low-level electrical current being delivered through the needle.
During 30 minutes of treatment, the patients rated their pain level on a scale of one to 10 every five minutes, with the fMRI continually monitoring their brains. In four of the seven subjects who received traditional acupuncture (57%), the fMRI showed considerably decreased levels of brain activity associated with the pain.
"We found activity subsided in 60 to 70 percent of the entire brain," said Wen-Ching Liu, an assistant professor of radiology at UMDNJ and a co-author of the study. "Interestingly, in each subject, we detected pain-induced activity in different areas of the brain."
The response was even greater among those who received electroacupuncture. Pain-related brain activity decreased in all five patients who received electrical stimulation, and those subjects showed a greater tolerance to pain than those who received traditional acupuncture treatment.
"We could see the brain activity associated with the pain subsiding even as the patients reported they were experiencing relief," added Dr. Huey-Jen Lee, the study's lead author. Lee noted that since the MRI definitively showed different brain activity, it was highly likely the increased tolerance to pain was real and not a placebo effect.
"The brain actually shows differences," Lee said, "and that is convincing."
Although the results of the study appear favorable for those who have been looking for proof that acupuncture works, Dr. Lee warned against jumping to conclusions. "It's still premature," she said of the study results. "We'd like to get more data."
Dr. Lee expects to conduct more studies in the near future, including a project to see whether acupuncture can help relieve chronic pain in cancer patients. While the researchers don't expect the treatment to be a panacea, they are optimistic that acupuncture could eventually be used to reduce the dosage needed for certain pain medications and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), some of which carry less than desirable side-effects.
"It is important for Western medicine to recognize that these acupoints really mean something in regard to pain relief," Dr. Lee concluded. "So many people with pain, whether from cancer, headache or a chronic, unexplained condition, rely on medications such as morphine, which can become addicting. Acupuncture as no side effects, and other studies have shown the pain relief it provides can last for months."