Acupuncture

“I recommend acupuncture be used as an adjunctive therapy for children. Acupuncture is safe and effective. For patients who have no interest in taking additional medications or who are already receiving maximal medical treatment, acupuncture is a viable alternative.”– Dr. K. Kemper, Pediatrician at Brenner Children’s Hospital

You may not think of acupuncture as an important piece of your child’s health care, but in fact, it can be an important alternative therapy to help regain and maintain your child’s health. An Acupuncturist can check the overall quality and balance of your child’s life energy, called Qi (pronounced chee).

What is Qi? Think of Qi as water flowing through a garden hose. Water provides nourishment for flowers to grow and thrive. In order for this to happen the flowers need to receive an adequate and free flowing supply of water. If, over time, the amount of water was restricted, eventually the flowers would wilt, and wither.Likewise, in order for a child to thrive and remain healthy, every part of his or her body requires an adequate and balanced supply of Qi flowing through it. Qi is the life energy that animates and vitalizes the body. It flows within the body through a series of pathways called Meridians, and provides nourishment for every cell, tissue, organ, and gland.

What affects Qi? In today’s world, children are exposed to many stressors. Over time stressors build up and can cause problems. Here are a few stressors that can affect a childs health:

• Accidents/falls: Children often fall and hurt themselves. Physical trauma blocks the free movement of Qi. Eventually, this can lead to less-than adequate nourishment for the body and organ systems.
• Environment: Exposure to environmental and chemical hazards can have a direct impact upon a child’s health. This may make them susceptible to things like colds, allergies, asthma, and digestive troubles.
• Diet: As a parent, you are well aware that it is not easy to maintain a balanced diet for your child. A diet lacking in proper nutrition can affect organ function and eventually health and well-being. Acupuncture helps strengthen and support out-of-balance organs.
• Emotions: Children may experience unpleasant situations that affect them emotionally. They can internalize the stress from these situations, and over time this stress can manifest into various signs and symptoms.If not properly detected and cared for, stressors can lead to an inadequate supply of Qi necessary to nourish and support health. When this occurs, a child may not be able to completely thrive, and eventually symptoms and signs of illness, disease, and pain may appear.

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How Does it Work? Your acupuncturist will begin by taking a full health history. This may include asking questions, assessing the pulses, looking at the tongue and/or abdominal palpation. These are effective diagnostic tools that enable your acupuncturist to obtain a clear picture of your child’s overall health.If signs of weakness, imbalance, or blockage are found, your acupuncturist may use a variety of noninvasive and gentle treatment methods to facilitate your child’s natural ability to heal by restoring balance and the free flow of Qi. Some of these techniques may include: acupressure, herbs, tuina, pediatric massage, acupuncture, moxibustion or cupping.

An acupuncture checkup could be valuable in determining the present and future health and well-being of your child. Caring for your child’s health with acupuncture is safe, natural, drug-free, and effective. The perfect way to allow your child to grow and thrive.

This article was provided by Acupuncture Media Works

Depression can be quite debilitating. Prolonged feelings of sadness, discouragement and hopelessness greatly affect the quality of life.

All of us at one time or another have experienced some form of depression. It is a healthy response to overwhelming events in our lives. When we are balanced physically and mentally we can easily bounce back from a depressed state and continue on with our normal lives. But when these feelings become persistent and occur without precipitating factors, depression may set in.

Today more than 28 million Americans are taking antidepressant and anti-anxiety drugs. In 1998 doctors wrote more than 130 million prescriptions for antidepressants. According to the Physician’s Desk Reference, the top antidepressants address only the signs and symptoms of the disease and can cause a myriad of side effects: insomnia, anxiety, listlessness, fatigue, body rash, tremors, facial tics, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and sexual dysfunction. Depression alone is stressful enough on your body and drugs can add a greater amount of stress.

How Can Acupuncture Help?

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine incorporate thousands of years of experience in treating depression. Not only can they help to alleviate the signs and symptoms accompanying depression, it can address the root cause(s) and underlying imbalances.

Acupuncturists are aware of the powerful interplay between our body and emotions–the two are inseparable. When we experience emotional upset, our internal environment also becomes disrupted, leading to physical symptoms of depression, and when our internal environment has changed, our emotions can become greatly affected.

Over time, this disruption leads to what an acupuncturist calls “stagnant or depressed Qi.” This diagnosis is unique to acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Eventually, it can cause a disharmony within our body, affecting our physical and emotional well-being. If not properly treated, this imbalance may lead to depression.

This article was provided by Acupuncture Media Works

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can provide a safe, effective, natural, and drug-free approach to reduce signs of aging. A facial rejuvenation using this ancient technique can improve muscle tone of the face and neck while addressing underlying imbalances that may have contributed to the aging process.

Facial rejuvenation with acupuncture is provided at the Traditional Acupuncture Center by Yvonne Woodson, RN, AP. For more information, see her website about Cosmetic Acupuncture (including acupuncture face lifts).

Why does skin sag?

According to Chinese medicine, wrinkles begin internally from a weakness and imbalance of Qi (pronounced “chee”). Qi circulates within a series of pathways called Meridians. These pathways travel throughout the body, including the face. Qi flows within the meridians and provides nourishment, support, and energy to every cell, tissue, muscle, and organ.

As we get older, it becomes more difficult for Qi to flow upwards to “lift” the face. This leads to inadequate muscle tone, and over time, wrinkles and sagging skin. There are a variety of things that can contribute to this – poor diet, digestion, circulation, or emotional and environmental stresses.

Give your skin a lift.

A facial rejuvenation using acupuncture improves overall skin and muscle tone while enhancing and increasing the elasticity of the skin. Acupuncture can reduce signs of aging by strengthening and stimulating the circulation of Qi within the meridian pathways, especially those of the face. You will look and feel more energetic, calm, vibrant, and healthy.

Acupuncture treatments may be combined with herbal supplements, exercise, and acupressure in order to maximize results.

Before using drugs or surgery to improve appearance, consider acupuncture. It is a safe, effective, natural, and drug-free alternative, that is painless, and risk-free.

Self-care techniques:

• Herbal poultice – Thoroughly clean face. Make a poultice using equal parts of ground organic almonds, lavender and rose flowers, ground flax seeds, and oats. Add water and French clay, and stir into a thick paste. Put on face and let it dry. Wash off after 15-20 minutes. Avoid the eyes.
• Stay hydrated – drink plenty of fresh spring water. This can keep the muscles and skin hydrated to prevent drying.
• Gently massage the face.
• Go for a daily 20 minute walk and breathe deeply.

This article was provided by Acupuncture Media Works

The treatment of infertility with acupuncture and Chinese medicine dates back 2,000 years. These ancient, time-tested techniques improve fertility rates and support a woman’s whole body, unlocking unlimited potential for health, healing and childbearing.

A landmark study published in the medical journal Fertility & Sterility1 found that acupuncture dramatically improves the chances of becoming pregnant when used in conjunction with other assisted reproductive techniques. Researchers from Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York reviewed studies and concluded that acupuncture helps to:

• increase blood flow to the uterus, which improves the chances of an ovum implanting on the uterine wall
• reduce anxiety, stress, and the hormones that are secreted during stressful situations that can significantly decrease fertility
• normalize hormone and endocrine systems that regulate ovulation, especially in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome
• positively affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, which plays a key role in fertility
• regulate menstrual cycle

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In a study published in Human Reproduction Journal, an ultrasound was used to evaluate blood flow to the uterus during acupuncture treatments. The study found blood flow increases during treatment. According to Dr. Nancy Snyderman, “When acupuncture needles are placed correctly, it can affect the nervous system. The idea is that if you stimulate the nervous system, you can make the uterus quiet and allow blood to flow.” Relaxing the uterus and increasing blood flow allows for the successful implant of an embryo within the uterine lining.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can raise the fertility potential for women by affecting the quality, quantity, balance and flow of Qi and blood. When Qi (also called Life Energy) and blood are circulating freely throughout the body, every cell, tissue and organ is properly nourished and functioning well. When this occurs, a woman’s health and fertility are increased.

According to the theories of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, infertility is caused by an imbalance of Qi and blood affecting one or more of the Organ Systems. (Please keep in mind that the Organs described below reflect Eastern medical theories and philosophies)

• Kidney Organ System – The release of an ovum is controlled by the Kidneys. The Kidneys also create a substance called Jing Qi, which is required in order to have a healthy body, mind, and pregnancy. If an imbalance exists within the Kidneys, Jing Qi may be inadequate in supply and infertility may be a result. Chinese herbal medicine, along with acupuncture, can nourish and support Jing Qi and overall Kidney health.
• Spleen Organ System – An adequate supply of blood is required by a woman’s body to sustain a normal menstrual cycle, a growing fetus, and a healthy pregnancy. A disharmony within the Spleen can result in an inadequate supply and imbalance of blood. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can build and nourish blood, in order to promote a healthy flow of blood to the uterus.
• Liver Organ System – In order to conceive and have a healthy pregnancy, it is important to have a free flow of Qi and blood throughout the body. The Liver is in charge of facilitating the smooth flow of Qi and blood. When it is out of balance, areas of the body will not receive the required supply of Qi and blood. This imbalance can lead to depression, anxiety, stress and anger, and increase infertility.

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Acupuncture and Chinese medicine provide a safe, effective, drug-free, and natural approach to treating infertility and enjoying a healthy pregnancy. Here are a few reasons to try acupuncture and Chinese Medicine:

An acupuncturist does not treat just symptoms and signs, but instead activates the body’s natural healing potential by treating the root causes that have lead to the problem or disease.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are completely natural. No drugs are ever used. In the Western treatment of infertility, undesired side effects and accumulated toxicity from invasive procedures and drug therapies may occur.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can be used to strengthen, support, and balance overall health and well-being, so other fertility procedures are more effective.

The practice of acupuncture and Chinese medicine is over 3,000 years old, and has helped millions of people become well and stay healthy.

It works!

Also consider acupuncture during your pregnancy and birth. According to the World Health Organization, acupuncture has been found useful for relieving labor pain, nausea, vomiting, and significantly reducing the duration of labor. There is also strong evidence Thai acupuncture can help with a breech birth.

References

• Paulus W, et. al.. Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy Fertility and Sterility, volume 77, April 2002, 721-724
• 5 Ways Acupuncture Can Boost Fertility Prevention.com, 2002.
• Human Reproduction Journal, Volume 11, Number 6, 1996.
• Fertility and Sterility, volume 78, December 2002,1149-1153.
• Pins & Needles. Could acupuncture help promote pregnancy? ABCNews.com, April 16, 2002.
• Acupuncture: Review and analysis of reports on controlled clinical trials, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2002 www.who.intVmedicines
• A manual of acupuncture. Page 326. Peter Deadman & Mazm Al-Khafaji

This article was provided by Acupuncture Media Works

Fibromyalgia is the second most common rheumatic disorder in the United States behind arthritis, according to the American College of Rheumatology.1

People diagnosed with fibromyalgia experience a wide range of symptoms, including fatigue, pain, stiffness, aches and muscle tenderness, along with sleep disorders and intestinal and bowel troubles.

The diagnosis of fibromyalgia can be confirmed when 11 out of 18 specific points on the body are tender to pressure. Interestingly, some of these tender points closely correspond to the location of ancient acupuncture points.

How acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help.
According to the theories of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, an imbalance in the flow of Qi can create symptoms and signs that reflect a Western diagnosis of fibromyalgia.

Qi (pronounced “chee”) is the energy or the power that animates and supports the functions of the body. It flows through specific pathways, called meridians, and provides nourishment for the entire body.

When Qi is abundant and freely circulating throughout the body, there is health and pain-free living. When Qi becomes “blocked,” or the supply is inadequate, pain, stiffness and other symptoms related to fibromyalgia can appear.

What does an acupuncturist do?
An acupuncturist will take a complete health history in order to find out where Qi has become blocked, and/or why the amount of Qi within the body has changed. He or she will then develop a treatment plan tailored to address the meridian pathways that are out of balance. The goal of such a plan will be to eliminate visible symptoms, while addressing the root cause(s) and underlying imbalances.

What is out-of-balance?
The body constantly strives to maintain a healthy balance of Qi traveling through the meridian pathways. When the flow of Qi has been disrupted, or the supply of Qi has changed, the body becomes unbalanced and the meridians cannot properly nourish the body. This is when signs and symptoms appear.

Most cases of fibromyalgia fit into the Chinese diagnosis of a Liver, Spleen, and/or Heart disharmony. This doesn’t mean that these organs have a “problem,” it means that the “functions” of these organ/meridian pathways according to Chinese medical diagnosis are out of balance.

The functions related to the Liver organ, according to Chinese medicine, are to control the smooth flow of blood, Qi, and emotions and to nourish the tendons. When the Liver meridian becomes “blocked” there will be an inadequate supply of blood and Qi flowing throughout the body. The tendons and muscles will not be properly nourished, leading to stiffness and pain. Other symptoms of a “blocked” Liver are depression, anger, anxiety, and insomnia. A Liver imbalance may be caused by improper diet, stress, deep, unexpressed anger, drugs, and alcohol.

The Chinese function of the Spleen is to transform the food that we ingest into Qi and blood. The health of the Spleen is affected by diet, over-concentration, and worry. An unbalanced Spleen can result in fatigue, digestive troubles, muscle stiffness, and pain.

When there is an insufficient amount of Qi and blood produced by the Spleen, the Heart organ will be affected. The role of the Heart is to pump blood throughout the body. It is also considered to be the home of the Spirit. If the Spleen cannot generate enough blood to nourish the Heart, the Heart Qi does not have enough control to properly house the Spirit. Symptoms can include anxiety, palpitations, insomnia, and emotional unrest.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can provide a safe alternative in the effective treatment of fibromyalgia. Along with acupuncture, natural herbal formulas, dietary recommendations and calming exercises can also help promote balance and health.

In November 1997, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), stated that acupuncture could be effective in treating fibromyalgia. Not only can it treat the pain and discomfort, but it can also address the underlying problems that have caused the imbalance.

References

• American College of Rheumatology
• The 1997 NIH Consensus on the Efficacy of Acupuncture

This article was provided by Acupuncture Media Works

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a complex disorder in which the intestines lose their ability to efficiently move their contents. The main symptoms of IBS are abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and/or constipation. Less common symptoms may include headaches, fatigue, depression and anxiety. Symptoms may be triggered by stress, diet, emotional factors, hormone levels and medications.

Let’s talk acupuncture.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can offer a safe, effective, natural and drug-free way to address IBS. This holistic healthcare system looks at the body differently than Western medicine. According to Chinese medicine, the body is like a garden that must be cultivated and maintained in order to grow strong and remain healthy. Good health happens when all of the organs and meridian systems are balanced and working together.

How does your garden grow?

According to Chinese medical theories, there are several possible causes for IBS.

One of these is an imbalance of the Spleen. The Spleen is the organ in charge of digestion and assimilation of foods and liquids. One of the main functions of the Spleen is to aid in the production of Spleen Qi. Spleen Qi is the energy that provides power and nourishment for the entire body.

Another function of the Spleen is to produce blood from the food it breaks down and to convert it into usable energy to power your body. If your Spleen isn’t properly cared for, the body’s energy levels will not be supported and illness may occur.

The Spleen is easily affected and weakened by poor eating habits and diet, antibiotics, excessive worry, or a weak constitution. When a weakened Spleen cannot metabolize or process food efficiently, “dampness” appears in the body. Dampness occurs when rotting, undigested food sits in the gut, causing a variety of symptoms. If dampness “rises” to your head, you may experience headaches, a “foggy” feeling and an inability to concentrate. Over time, dampness can lead to bloating, fullness and loose stools.

Another possible scenario is an imbalance in the Liver. According to Chinese medicine, the Liver is associated with emotional health. Stress and anger directly influence the function of your Liver. Alcohol, drugs and medications, or a poor diet further compromise its function. When this happens, your Liver energy overflows, in a figurative sense, and attacks the Spleen. If your Spleen is already weakened, it can be easily overcome. The result can be stress-induced IBS.

If your Liver is compromised, you may experience alternating diarrhea and constipation, as well as bloating, gas, headaches, and dull pain. In this case, your Liver may be the root of the problem, and your Spleen the secondary problem.

An imbalance in Kidney Yang could also cause IBS symptoms. Kidney Yang is energy that provides warmth for your body. This energy warms up your Spleen to aid in the digestion and breakdown of food. If your Kidney energies are compromised, you may experience early-morning diarrhea and possibly bladder incontinence, cold limbs, weak knees and a sore back.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can create a clear picture of the root imbalance(s) that lead to IBS symptoms. When you meet with your practitioner, he or she will determine what organ and meridian systems are contributing to your IBS. They may also suggest adjunct therapies such as herbs, dietary changes, breathing techniques and exercises in order to maximize your healing.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can provide a safe, natural, drug-free and effective way to address IBS.

This article was provided by Acupuncture Media Works

Why is menopause treated like a disease, when in fact it’s a naturally occurring process?

Menopause is a natural, physiological cycle that occurs in all women. Conventional medical treatments only address various symptoms and signs associated with menopause. However, symptoms and signs are just one part of the whole picture.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine understand that symptoms and signs are merely indications of an imbalance deep within the body. This 5,000 year-old healing art focuses upon correcting underlying imbalances that have occurred over the years. These imbalances, if left unchecked, will result in a variety of symptoms and signs normally associated with a Western diagnosis of menopause.

Acupuncture and a woman’s natural process.

Menopause signifies “a change” within a woman’s life. This change occurs because a woman’s body chemistry is shifting. Chinese medicine recognizes this chemistry change as a natural process.

Estrogen is similar to what acupuncturists call Jing Qi. Jing Qi is like a gift that is given to all of us at the time of conception. It is the battery that provides us with the basic energy to power all our life functions. When Jing Qi is abundant, our ability to adapt to disease, illness and stress is optimal.

As we age, our supply of Jing Qi energy is slowly drained. Generally, Jing Qi naturally begins to decline between the ages of 35 to 60, although some people drain it faster than others. When Jing Qi declines, the Organ Systems within our body become unbalanced. This leads to various symptoms and signs, such as graying hair, loss of libido, weakness of knees, urinary difficulty, poor memory, backache and fatigue.

Another factor that can contribute to menopause is an imbalance in Yin and Yang energies. One possible scenario is an imbalance caused by the slowing of the flow of Yin. Yin can be thought of as the cooling system of the body. When this cooling system declines, heat symptoms will naturally arise, leading to night sweats, restlessness, hot flashes, mood swings, heart palpitations and insomnia.

The decline of Yang energy can also lead to imbalance. Yang represents the wanning and metabolizing functions of the body. When Yang is unbalanced, symptoms may include water retention, cold hands and feet, weight gain, edema, indigestion, hypertension, or raised cholesterol levels.

Left untreated, a decline and imbalance of Jing, Yin or Yang will lead to the symptoms and signs that are normally associated with a Western diagnosis of menopause.

What can an acupuncturist do?

An acupuncturist will conduct a thorough evaluation and a complete health history. The symptoms, signs and other information that is gathered are pieces of the diagnostic health puzzle. Putting together this puzzle allows a practitioner to develop a unique treatment plan that will address each patient’s individual concerns.

How Jing Qi can be drained:

• Overworking
• Overexertion
• Over doing it
• Poor dietary habits
• Inherited weakness
• Burning the candle at both ends
• Sitting or standing for long periods
• Excessive activities (sexual, alcohol, drugs, late nights)

When treating menopausal symptoms, an acupuncturist must first determine where the energy has changed, and what Organ Systems have become unbalanced. Once this is known, various natural therapies such as acupuncture, herbs, meditation, Qi Gong and diet can be used to correct the imbalances.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine offer a safe, natural, drug-free and effective way to address menopause. Treatment supports the healing energies of Jing, Yin and Yang, providing the body with the building blocks it needs in order to nourish, heal, and regain balance.

This article was provided by Acupuncture Media Works

Most people experience significant pain at some time in their lives—whether from injury, illness, or an unknown cause. Pain is a warning signal, an alarm that goes off when your body is trying to tell you that something is wrong and out of balance.

Often, people suffering from pain try to cover it up, either by ignoring the pain or taking medication. However, treated in this way, the source of the pain will never completely go away. It’s like hitting the snooze button on an alarm. Unless the cause of the pain is treated, your body will keep sounding the alarm and reminding you that something is wrong. Eventually, the pain may get worse or become chronic.

What can you do? No one should have to live with pain.

But what treatment is right for you?

One approach is to get plenty of bed rest in hopes that the pain will just disappear. This may help for a while, but could possibly delay recovery and make the problem worse.

Another choice is to take medication that dulls the pain for a short period of time. This is understandable when pain is constant and unbearable. It may be helpful, but it won’t get at the root of the problem and correct it. Also, many medications may cause unwanted side effects and further compromise your health.

Surgery may be another option. At times, this approach may make sense, but it could be both expensive and risky, and there is no guarantee that it will be effective.

Acupuncture is a time-tested, safe, effective, natural and drug-free way to eliminate pain. Unlike other methods for handling pain, there are no side effects. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) acknowledge the benefits of acupuncture in treating and eliminating pain due to a wide range of causes.

An acupuncturist’s approach to pain.

Acupuncture practitioners recognize that there is a vital life energy, called Qi (pronounced “chee”), circulating within the body. Qi flows through a series of pathways called meridians. Meridians are like rivers within your body. Wherever a river flows, it brings with it water that provides nourishment and life to the land, plants and people around it. Likewise, meridians pathways transport life-giving Qi that provides nourishment to every cell, tissue, muscle organ and gland in the body.

It is important for Qi to flow freely throughout the body. Think of water flowing through a garden hose. A blocked hose will not provide an adequate supply of water to a plant. Eventually, the plant will be unable to thrive, grow and blossom.

Similarly, a blockage in the flow of Qi anywhere in the body will inhibit the amount of nourishment that reaches our cells, tissues, muscles, organs and glands.

Under normal circumstances, your body can easily return to good health and vitality. But if the disruption of Qi is prolonged or excessive, or if your body is in a weakened state, the flow of Qi becomes restricted and a variety of symptoms–including pain–may arise.

What does acupuncture do?

By inserting fine, sterile needles at specific points, an acupuncturist is able to break up blockages that have hampered the smooth flow of Qi. Once this is done, Qi can travel freely throughout the body, promoting pain-free health, well-being and vitality.

Many things can cause Qi to become blocked:

• Poor diet
• Physical trauma
• Emotional trauma
• Inherited weakness of Qi
• Chemical, physical, and/or emotional stress

Not only can acupuncture treat signs and symptoms of pain and discomfort, it can also get to the root of the problem. When the initial cause of the pain is corrected, your body can begin to heal on deeper levels.

Your acupuncturist may also suggest adjunct therapies to enhance treatment and speed healing. Massage, stretching, yoga, herbal supplements and dietary changes support acupuncture care.

“I can’t see a better solution to long-term chronic pain. There is no question in my mind that acupuncture is safer than surgery or drugs.”
– Dr. Bruce Pomeranz, a neurosurgeon, University of Toronto

This article was provided by Acupuncture Media Works

Congratulations! If you’re reading this, you are on your way to kicking the habit and becoming smoke-free and healthier. Every year, more than 3 million Americans try to quit smoking, but only half of them succeed. With the help of acupuncture you have a greater chance of success!

Most experts agree that quitting smoking is the single most important thing you can do for your health. More than 25 diseases are associated with tobacco use, including cancer of the lungs, bladder, mouth, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, pancreas, kidney, uterus, and cervix. Smoking also raises the chances of developing emphysema and increases the risk of having a stroke by 30 percent.

There is plenty of incentive to quit, but it isn’t necessarily easy. The good news is that acupuncture has helped millions of people to kick the smoking habit.

How acupuncture can help.
Some of the largest stumbling blocks to becoming smoke-free are the stress, anxiety, and depression associated with quitting. Fortunately, acupuncture treatment is quite successful at calming and relaxing the mind, reducing anxiety, and alleviating depressive feelings. Specific acupoints in the ear and wrist are used to accomplish this. Additional acupoints may be included that help suppress your appetite, stimulate repair and healing of organ systems, and reduce food and nicotine cravings.

More than just kicking the habit. Using acupuncture to quit smoking yields enormous benefits. Aside from taking care of the stumbling blocks that can cause you to resume the habit, acupuncture can help restore your body to a healthy state of balance and well-being. If you are ready to become smoke-free, acupuncture can provide you with the support you need.

Here are a few tips to guide you through your acupuncture care:

• Drink plenty of filtered water during the process.
• Eat balanced, healthy meals with a variety of vegetables and fruits.
• Refrain from sugar, which can cause further sugar cravings and unwanted weight gain.
• Manage your cravings. They will actually fade within a few minutes. When cravings arise, distract yourself. Before you know it, the craving will have passed.
• Scrub your skin with a dry brush or loofa to facilitate the cleansing process and help blood circulation. Take daily baths or showers.
• Avoid spending time with other smokers so that you are less tempted to smoke.
• Take a walk outside and take deep breaths. Upon exhale, gently place your teeth together and exhale with the sound of “sssssssss.” This sound stimulates the Lungs.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can provide a safe, natural, drug-free, and effective way to quit smoking. The focus is upon achieving a balance of body and mind, and eliminating cravings so you can become smoke-free and healthier.

This article was provided by Acupuncture Media Works

If you’re a weekend warrior or a professional athlete, do you sometimes push your body to the extreme, honing your skill and technique to build a healthier, stronger, faster and more agile athlete?

In the sporting world, injury may occur as we push beyond our limits. Overtime we may overdo it, causing problems now and in the future.

In today’s world, we often don’t allow adequate time to completely heal. We use painkillers and antiinflammatory drugs to dull the aches, pains and reduce inflammation. It’s a quick and easy approach, but, it’s a temporary fix.

By covering up the pain, stiffness, swelling, or aches, you may be masking a deeper problem. These are the warning signals from your body, telling you that something is weakened, out of balance, and needs to be taken care of. Pain is a warning signal telling you to stop, rest and heal.

In the short term, drugs will enable you to return to your sport and carry on with your life, but, in the long run, it may make the problem worse. Regular use of drugs may add to further injury and have side effects that could impact your performance.

Acupuncture can provide immediate relief and long lasting benefit. It can help you return to peak performance by restoring the proper and continuous flow of vital energy, called Qi (pronounced “chee”).

Qi circulates within a series of pathways called meridians. Meridians disperse Qi throughout your body in order to nourish every cell, tissue, muscle, tendon, and organ. The circulating Qi provides you with good health, proper function and pain-free living.

Much like a dam blocks the flow of water in a river, physical trauma, sprain, strain, over exertion or repetitive injury hinders the flow of Qi traveling through the meridian pathways.

When this occurs Qi becomes blocked and cannot freely circulate. Then your body is not properly nourished and your health is then compromised.

This can cause a variety of symptoms and signs including pain, swelling, stiffness, fatigue, and less-than optimal performance.

An acupuncturist inserts fine, sterile, acupuncture needles at points on the body in order to stimulate the free flow of Qi. Opening up the blocked dams allows for Qi to nourish all areas of your body. This will speed recovery time, address the root-cause of the problem, enhance performance and prevent future injury.

Acupuncture is part of a broad-based treatment approach. Treatments may be combined with other therapies such as, herbs to naturally eliminate pain and reduce inflammation, exercise to increase muscle strength and joint mobility, and massage to enhance soft tissue healing.

By nourishing, strengthening and supporting the body, acupuncture can provide a competitive edge in order for you to achieve peak performance.

This article was provided by Acupuncture Media Works

“There is sufficient evidence of acupuncture’s value to expand its use into conventional medicine.”
– National Institutes of Health, 1997 Consensus of Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been employed as a health care modality for over 3,000 years. Practitioners of this ancient medical practice have experienced clinical success with a variety of health issues. Today, acupuncture is receiving wide acceptance as a respected, valid and effective form of health care.

When most people think about acupuncture, they are familiar with its use for pain control. But acupuncture has a proven track record of treating and addressing a variety of endocrine, circulatory and systemic conditions.

Acupuncture and modern medicine combined together have the potential to support, strengthen and nurture a patient to regain vital health and well-being.

What is Known About the Physiological Effects of Acupuncture. Over the last few decades, research has been conducted seeking to explain how acupuncture works and what it can and cannot treat.

The 1997 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus of Acupuncture reported that “studies have demonstrated that acupuncture can cause multiple biological responses, mediated mainly by sensory neurons to many structures within the central nervous system. This can lead to activation of pathways affecting various physiological systems in the brain as well as in the periphery.”1

The NIH Consensus also suggested that acupuncture “may activate the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, resulting in a broad spectrum of systemic effects. Alteration in the secretion of neurotransmitters and neurohormones and changes in the regulation of blood flow, both centrally and peripherally have been documented. There is also evidence of alterations in immune functions produced by acupuncture.”2

Below are current theories on the mechanism of acupuncture:

1. Neurotransmitter Theory-Acupuncture affects higher brain areas, stimulating the secretion of beta-endorphins and enkephalins in the brain and spinal cord. The release of neurotransmitters influences the immune system and the antinociceptive system.3,4,5

2. Autonomic Nervous System Theory-Acupuncture stimulates the release of norepinephrine, acetylcholine and several types of opioids, affecting changes in their turnover rate, normalizing the autonomic nervous system and reducing pain.6,7

3. Gate Control Theory-Acupuncture activates non-nociceptive receptors that inhibit the transmission of nociceptive signals in the dorsal horn, “gating out” painful stimuli.8

4. Vascular-interstitial Theory-Acupuncture manipulates the electrical system of the body by creating or enhancing closed-circuit transport in tissues. This facilitates healing by allowing the transfer of material and electrical energy between normal and injured tissues.9

5. Blood Chemistry Theory-Acupuncture affects the blood concentrations of triglycerides, cholesterol, and phospholipids, suggesting that acupuncture can both raise and diminish peripheral blood components, thereby regulating the body toward homeostasis.10

According to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, 51% of medical doctors understand the efficacy and value of acupuncture, and medical doctors refer patients to acupuncturists more than any other alternative care provider.11

The NIH Consensus on Acupuncture further stated that clinical experience, supported by research data, suggests “acupuncture may be a reasonable option for a number of clinical conditions.”12

Evidence also points to positive clinical trials that “include addiction, stroke rehabilitation, carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis, and headache.” The Consensus also mentioned that acupuncture treatment may be helpful for other conditions such as asthma, postoperative pain, myofascial pain and low back pain.13

This ancient health care system is proving itself as an effective modality for a wide variety of problems. So much so that the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) awarded 8 grants that directly relate to acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and Traditional Chinese medical research, totaling more than $9.5 million dollars.

“One of the advantages of acupuncture is that the incidence of adverse effects is substantially lower than that of many drugs or other accepted medical procedures used for the same conditions. As an example, musculoskeletal conditions, such as fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, and tennis elbow, or epicondylitis, are conditions for which acupuncture may be beneficial. These painful conditions are often treated with, among other things, anti-inflammatory medications (aspirin, ibuprofen, etc.) or with steroid injections. Both medical interventions have a potential for deleterious side effects but are still widely used and are considered acceptable treatments. The evidence supporting these therapies is no better than that for acupuncture.”14

Acupuncture works as an effective alternative and adjunct treatment modality. It is a safe, effective, and natural approach to help regain and maintain health and well being.

Modern Research

Acupuncture & Fertility – A study published in the journal Fertility & Sterility, found acupuncture improves pregnancy success rate by 50% in women undergoing in-vitro fertilization. Paulus W, et. al., Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. J Fertility and Sterility, 2002 April;77(4):721-4.

Acupuncture & Insomnia – In the treatment of insomnia, acupuncture yields significant results with a total effective rate of 90.44%, improves the quality of sleep and overcomes complications induced by sleep medication, Sok, SR, et. al., The effects of acupuncture therapy on insomnia. JAdv Nurs., 2003 Nov;44(4):375-84. J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2002 Dec.;22 (4):276-77.

Acupuncture & Gastritis – A study from the Guangxi College of Traditional Chinese Medicine concluded that acupuncture was effective in the treatment of chronic gastritis, resulting in a 95% effective rate. J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2003 Dec.;23(4):278-79.

Acupuncture & Shoulder Periarthritis – Acupuncture is effective in the treatment of shoulder periarthritis. Of the 210 subjects studied, 158 were cured, 40 improved and 12 showed no significant improvement. J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2003 Sept.;23(3):201-02.

Acupuncture & Fibromyalgia – A study conducted by the University of Washington and the Center for Health Studies at Group Health Hospital suggests that more than half of all participants had clinically meaningful improvements in pain (46%), fatigue (51%), sleep (47%) and general well-being (45%). Another study suggests that acupuncture demonstrates positive change in the Visual Analogue Scale, myalgic index, number of tender points and improvement in quality of life based on the SF-36 questionnaire. Soc. for Acupuncture Research – Tenth Ann. Symposium 2003;29. Targino, RA., et. al., Curr Pain Headache Rep., 2002 Oct.;(5):379-83.

Acupuncture & Blood Pressure – Patients treated with acupuncture had an overall decrease in the level of systolic pressure during and after treatment. J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2003 Mar.;23(1):49-0.

Electro-Acupuncture & Immune Function During Chemotherapy – Electro-acupuncture can strengthen immune function, hematopoietic function and improve appetite, sleep, alleviate pain and digestive distress. Another study suggests acupuncture is able to normalize the pattern of leukocytes. J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2002 Mar.;22 (1):21-3. Mori, H., et. al., Unique modulation by electro-acupuncture in humans possibly via stimulation of the autonomic nervous system. Neurosci Lett., 2002 Mar.1;320(1-2);21-4.

Acupuncture & Chronic Migraine – Patients who received acupuncture to treat chronic headaches, particularly migraines, experienced the equivalent of 22 fewer days of headaches per year, used 15% less medication and missed 15% fewer days of work. Another study systematically reviewed 22 randomized controlled trials, concluding acupuncture “has a role in the treatment of recurrent headaches” and can lead to other various clinical benefits for patients with chronic headache. Vickers AJ, et al. BMJ, 2004 Mar. 27;328(7442). Cephalgia, Nov.; 1999.

Acupuncture & Depression – All subjects receiving acupuncture for major depression significantly improved to a greater extent than those not receiving treatment. Another study suggests that electro-acupuncture can produce the same therapeutic results as tetracyclic drugs, but with fewer side effects and better symptomatic improvement. Acupuncture Treatment for Major Depression, The Tenth Annual Symposium of the Soc. for Acupuncture Research, 2003. J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2004 Sep.;24(3):172-6.

Acupuncture & Allergies – Acupuncture had an extensive action against type 1 allergic reaction, and the curative effect of the patients receiving acupuncture was higher than in the desensitization group in allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis and chronic urticaria. J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1993 Dec.;13(4):243-8.

Acupuncture & Morning Sickness – Acupuncture administered to pregnant women before opioid premedication significantly reduced postoperative sickness up to 6-8 hours, and acupressure applied to specific acupoints reduced morning sickness. In the 2002 issue of the Journal of Birth, a study found that acupuncture is an effective treatment option for women experiencing nausea and other pregnancy related discomfort—without adverse side effects. Acu. and Electro-Therapeutics Research, 1990;15(3-4):211-5.

Acupuncture & Asthma – Symptoms of bronchial asthma were markedly improved after acupuncture treatments, and the dosage of patients’ medication was gradually reduced. Another study suggests improvement of the quality of life for patients with clinically stable, chronic obstructive asthma when conventional care is combined with acupuncture. J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1998 Mar.;18 (1):27-0. JAItern. Comp. Med., 2003 Oct.;9(5):659-0.

Acupuncture & Arthritis – A randomized, controlled trial conducted by the University of Maryland School of Medicine suggests that acupuncture can provide effecive pain relief and improve function for osteoarthritis of the knee. Berman, BM., et al., Effectiveness of acupuncture as adjunctive therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, controlled trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, Dec.21,2004;141(12)901-910.

Acupuncture is recognized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to be effective in the treatment of:

• Addiction – alcohol, drug, smoking
• Anxiety
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Chronic fatigue
• Colitis
• Common cold
• Constipation
• Dental pain
• Depression
• Diarrhea
• Digestive trouble
• Dizziness
• Dysentery
• Emotional problems
• Eye problems
• Facial palsy/tics
• Fatigue
• Fertility
• Fibromyalgia
• Gingivitis
• Headache
• Hiccough
• Incontinence
• Indigestion
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Low back pain
• Menopause
• Menstrual irregularities
• Migraine
• Morning sickness
• Nausea
• Osteoarthritis
• Pain
• PMS
• Pneumonia
• Reproductive problems
• Rhinitis
• Sciatica
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
• Shoulder pain
• Sinusitis
• Sleep disturbances
• Smoking cessation
• Sore throat
• Stress
• Tennis elbow
• Tonsillitis
• Tooth pain
• Trigeminal neuralgia
• Urinary tract Infections
• Vomiting
• Wrist pain
References

1,2,12,13,14 National Institutes of Health (NIH) – National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference on Acupuncture, Program & Abstracts (Bethesda, MD, November 3-5, 1997). Office of Alternative Medicine and Office of Medical Applications of Research. Bethesda.

3 Neuro-acupuncture, Scientific evidence of acupuncture revealed, 2001 Cho, ZH., et al., page 128.

4 Acupuncture -A scientific appraisal, Ernst, E., White, A., 1999, page 74.

5 Acupuncture Energetics – A clinical approach for Physicians, Helms, Dr. J., 1997, page 41-42.

6 Anatomy of Neuro-Anatomical Acupuncture, Volume 1, Wong, Dr. J., page 34.

7 Han, J.S. “Acupuncture Activates Endogenous Systems of Analgesia.” National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference on Acupuncture, Program & Abstracts (Bethesda, MD, November 3-5,1997). Office of Alternative Medicine and Office of Medical Applications of Research. Bethesda.

8 Neuro-acupuncture, Scientific evidence of acupuncture revealed, Cho, ZH., et al„ page 116.

9 Acupuncture Energetics – A clinical approach for Physicians, Helms, Dr. J., 1997, page 66.

10 Acupuncture Energetics-A clinical approach for Physicians, Helms, Dr. J., 1997, page 41.

11 Astin, JA., et. al., A review of the incorporation of complementary and alternative medicine by mainstream physicians. Arch Intern Med., 1998;(158):2303-10.

This article was provided by Acupuncture Media Works

At the core of the ancient medicine called acupuncture is the philosophy that Qi, (pronounced “chee”) or Life Energy, flows throughout the body. Qi animates the body and protects it from illness, pain and disease. A person’s health is influenced by the quality, quantity and balance of Qi.

How does Qi move?

Qi flows through specific pathways called Meridians. There are 14 main meridians inside the body. Each of these are connected to specific organs and glands.

Meridian pathways are like rivers flowing inside the body. Where a river flows it transports life-giving water that provides nourishment to the land, plants and people. Like rivers, where meridian pathways flow, they bring life-giving Qi that provides nourishment to every cell, organ, gland, tissue and muscle in the body.

An obstruction to the flow of Qi is like a dam. When it becomes “backed up” in one part of the body, the flow becomes restricted in other parts. Hindering the flow of Qi can be detrimental to a person’s health, cutting off vital nourishment to the body, organs and glands.

What causes Qi to get stuck?

Physical and emotional trauma, stress, lack of exercise, overexertion, seasonal changes, poor diet, accidents, or excessive activity are among the many things that can influence the quality, quantity and balance of Qi. Normally, when a blockage or imbalance occur, the body easily bounces back, returning to a state of health and well-being. When this disruption is prolonged, excessive, or if the body is in a weakened state, illness, pain, or disease can set in.

This article was provided by Acupuncture Media Works

In ancient China, where the complex and delicate art of acupuncture was first practiced 5000 years ago, you paid your doctor to keep you well. If you became sick, the doctor was responsible for your care at his expense. From this, we see that the acupuncture physician’s first obligation was to prevent disease. In this article, we look at acupuncture as a preventive medicine. When I speak of acupuncture, I mean traditional acupuncture. A brief explanation of the three different types of acupuncture available in mis country will make the distinction clearer.

There are many people without special training who have knowledge about acupuncture. Particular treatments have been found to relieve pain or to help migraines, and so on. From these came the practice of treating one’s family or those in the local community for minor illness. Those practicing like this were called “local doctor” or “barefoot doctor”. Although this was valuable in China’s vast territory’, it was designed more as first aid and temporary symptomatic relief and did not seel to remove the cause of the illness.

Although acupuncture is useful for the symptomatic relief of headaches and other aches and pains, that is not its primary purpose. The experience of pain is a distress signal; if we merely get rid of pain, we are treating only the symptom of the disease and ignoring the underlying causative factor.

Relieving symptoms is not the same as restoring balance within the person. This type of “local doctor” acupuncture is still practiced frequently in the West.

This work, of course, has its value, but must not be confused with the wider aims of the more highly trained acupuncture physician.

There is a second type of acupuncture especially used for anesthesia. This method has gained much attention in the West. Most of us have seen or heard about surgery performed with acupuncture used as anesthesia. There are well publicized films of patients remaining fully conscious eating oranges, sipping tea, or reading during a major operation This is a powerful demonstration of the use of acupuncture anesthesia. However, this is something distinctly different and not really part of the work of the traditional doctors. This brings us to the third type of acupuncture, called traditional acupuncture. This traditional doctor has three aims in mind: (1) treat the whole patient – body, mind, emotion, and spirit; (2) seek the cause of the disease and be concerned not only with the symptoms, but also with the reason for the disease; (3) after identifying the causative factor, provide the proper treatment to renew, vitalize, and bring the patient to full potential.

It may be helpful to know the factors to which we attribute ill health. First, a person may suffer mechanical or chemical injury. Second, a person may become ill in body and/or mind through internal or externa! factors. Internally, a person may be affected by constitutional or hereditary factors, as well as excesses in emotions such as grief, fear, anxiety, worry, anger, or joy. Externally, one may be subjected to environmental changes such as cold, heat, dryness, humidity, dampness, wind, and fire. For example, we may lose a close friend and experience grief, or be exposed to excessive heat or cold, but after a period of time, our bodies naturally readjust, and we suffer no long term effect. However, if the body subjected to excessive and prolonged periods of any of the aforementioned factors, the energy may become affected, causing symptoms to appear.

Our susceptibility to becoming ill varies greatly. A healthy person may be unaffected by a factor that would cause severe sickness in one who is less resistant. The greater the individual’s imbalance, the less the life force is able to prevent disease.

Using four basic methods – to see, to hear, to ask, and to feel – the acupuncturist gathers information about the patient The acupuncturist relies on information such as color of the face, sound of the voice, odor, predominant emotions, and quality of the pulses, which are palpated on the wrists.

Of particular interest is the diagnostic use of the pulses. The traditional acupuncturist observed that any disease, whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual, produces physiological effects which are revealed in the pulses, often before the symptoms manifest outwardly.

Thus, we have seen three ways in which acupuncture can make a positive contribution to the prevention of illness in our society:

By traditional diagnosis -assessing the imbalance early, before it manifests pathologically,
By treatment – correcting the imbalance at the cause and preventing the disease from going deeper; and
By teaching – presenting guidelines for proper living to aid the patients in taking responsibility for their own health and well-being.
For preventive medicine of this type to be effective, the patient must sec the doctor at regular intervals. We suggest a check at each change of season to maintain a high level of general health.

Acupuncture sees health as more than the absence of disease – it sees health as a feeling of well being and abundant physical and mental energy.

To the acupuncture physician disease is a manifestation of a disturbance in the body’s balance of lift energy {called “Chi”) The goal of acupuncture is to bring this energy back into balance by acting upon the flow of energy within the body by using specific acupuncture points to restore equilibrium (homeostasis) to the system.

The concept of preventive medicine has recently become more popular in the West. However, the prevention of disease in China has always been of the greatest importance. In fact, the Chinese people considered their doctors poor ones if they failed to keep the people well. The doctor of acupuncture can play a significant role in the prevention of disease.

When we get out of balance, warning signals are always present From reading the pulses and from other diagnostic evaluating, the acupuncturist can detect the imbalance in its early stages and correct it before it can manifest as physical illness.

We have been speaking of acupuncture as preventive medicine. Unless the patient, however, takes responsibility for his or her own health, all healing systems will fail. The patient must understand how tlie illness came about and take necessary steps to prevent its return. Each of us must realize that we actively participate in creating health or illness. In recent years, people readily go to their doctors expecting the doctors to make them well. A better direction is to work in cooperation with the doctors and seek their guidance on how to keep yourself well!

by David N. Bole, Ph.D., A.P.