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Clearing Acne

Source: Health CMi

http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1645-acupuncture-and-moxibustion-clear-acne

Acupuncture and moxibustion are effective treatment modalities for acne sufferers. Zhang et al. conducted a clinical trial to determine the efficaciousness of acupuncture and moxibustion for the treatment of acne due to yin deficiency with internal heat. While both modalities produced positive patient outcomes, moxibustion was slightly more effective than acupuncture for the treatment of this particular class of acne.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acne due to yin deficiency with internal heat has a complex pathology. It is a result of many different types of bodily imbalances. Symptomatic presentations of this disorder appear as excess conditions involving toxins, damp-heat, etc… However, the root of the condition is yin deficiency leading to internal heat. As a result, this type of acne is often pernicious and insidious.

Zhang et al. comment that according to TCM principles, the treatment of acne due to yin deficiency with internal heat focuses on nourishing the root of deficiency and clearing excess heat. To bring a yin deficient bodily state to a yin and yang balanced state, effective medical treatments often follow these principles: facilitate the balance of yin and yang, promote circulation, improve internal organ health, release heat and toxins from the body.

In this study, acne patients who received acupuncture treatment had an 83.33% total treatment effective rate. Participants receiving moxibustion treatment had a 90% total treatment effective rate. In both groups, patients demonstrating significant improvements in acne did not experience a relapse of the condition in the four week window after completion of treatment.

A total of 66 patients with acne due to yin deficiency and internal heat participated in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups: acupuncture group, moxibustion group. Each group received only acupuncture or moxibustion therapy respectively. Due to external factors, 6 patients were eventually disqualified from the study, therefore, the final results were tabulated from a total of 60 patients. The acupoints selected for both moxibustion and acupuncture were identical:

Shenque (CV8)
Qihai (CV6)
Guanyuan (CV4)
Shenshu (BL23)

Both groups underwent the same preparation procedures before starting their respective treatments. Firstly, the affected areas were disinfected. For each pustule, a disposable needle was used to gently pierce the pustule and release the pus. Disinfection was performed again after removal. Thereafter, each group underwent their respective treatments.

For the moxibustion group, edible grade salt was spread on the selected acupoints. Next, a slice of raw ginger (with a hole pierced in the center) was placed over the salt. Subsequently, 20 g of conical moxa was placed on top of the raw ginger slice and lit. Each acupoint was treated with a grand total of 60 g of moxa, 5 minutes per each 20 g dose. Throughout the treatment, consistent checks were made with the patients to ensure that they felt warmth at the acupoints, but not excessive heat. Moxibustion treatment was conducted twice per week, on Monday and Friday. One treatment cycle consisted of four consecutive weeks. The entire treatment course was comprised of three treatment cycles.

For the acupuncture group, a 0.30 x 25 mm disposable filiform needle was perpendicularly inserted (after disinfection) into each acupoint until a deqi effect was achieved. Standard insertion depths of the acupoints were followed with one exception, the Shenque (CV8) acupoint was pierced up to a 3–5 mm depth. Normally, this acupoint is contraindicated for needling. A total needle retention time of 30 minutes was observed. The acupuncturist applied the reinforcement manipulation technique every 10 minutes. Acupuncture treatments were conducted twice per week, on Monday and Friday. Identical to the moxibustion protocol, one treatment cycle consisted of four consecutive weeks. The entire treatment course was comprised of three treatment cycles.

The total treatment effective rate was assessed according to skin improvements and changes in yin deficiency patterns. Yin deficiency improvements were evaluated by changes in the clinical presentation of symptoms. Skin improvements were categorized into 4 tiers:

Recovery: >90% reduction in acne, or only pigmentation change observed
Significantly effective: 60%–89% reduction in acne
Effective: 30%–59% reduction in acne
Not effective: <30% reduction in acne, or condition worsened Zhang et al. conclude that both acupuncture and moxibustion are effective in treating acne due to yin deficiency with internal heat. Moxibustion outperformed acupuncture in this clinical protocol. Based on the findings, further research is warranted. References: Zhang XP, Tong YN, Xue D, Li M, Fu JY. (2013). Clinical Research on “Yin-deficiency with internal heat” Acne Treatment Using Acupuncture and Moxibustion. World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 15(6). Zhang XP, Li M, Xue D, et al. (2012). Acupuncture and Moxibustion in treating Yin deficiency diseases. Journal of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 26(6):30-32. Zhang SJ. (2008). Moxibustion in treating terminal illnesses. China Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 28(10):739–741.

Health Tips

Source: Acutake Health

http://acutakehealth.com/acupuncturists-spill-the-12-health-tips-they-wish-everyone-would-remember

Acupuncturists do more than just poke people with needles. They use non-needling techniques, such as moxibustion and cupping, and some prescribe herbs. They also offer advice—acupuncture-inspired tips that can help you feel healthier and happier.

Some people heed this advice and others ignore it, often to the chagrin of acupuncturists. There are many simple practices that, when committed to, can drastically improve a person’s symptoms and overall quality of life. If only everyone remembered to do them!

Now you have them in writing. We asked acupuncturists from around the country, what is one thing you wish all of your patients did to be healthier?

Here are 12 do-it-yourself health tips that acupuncturists wish everyone would remember.

Connect with people

“I have come to believe that people need connection more than anything else,” says Richard Mandell, an acupuncturist from Brookline, Massachusetts who founded The PanAfrican Acupuncture Project.

“We acupuncturists use needles as a starting point, but it is our relationship with patients—the conversations, the gentle touch—that is most important. Isolation, and holding independence as the ultimate goal, separates us from healing potential.

“Connection in the simplest sense can begin with acknowledgement of its importance. Helping others, greeting a homeless person, looking people in the eye, recognizing the good in each moment… These things increase our potential to heal ourselves and others. From an acupuncture perspective, they build and move qi.”

Breathe deeply into your belly

“In acupuncture, the Lungs govern the circulation of qi in the body,” explains Corvalis, Oregon-based acupuncturist Brodie Welch.

“When we feel stress, the breath automatically becomes more shallow and rapid. Shallow, tense breathing tells the body to remain in a state of fight-or-flight. By inviting our breath to be slow, deep, easy, and gentle, we rein in the stress response, protect the adrenals from exhaustion, and activate the self-healing (parasympathetic) mode.

“A daily breathing practice, which can be as simple as five minutes a day, or 10 breaths every hour, is the fastest way I know of to re-pattern the nervous system.”

“While you’re breathing deeply, it’s helpful to focus on your belly,” adds San Francisco acupuncturist Jeremy Rothenberg.

“People can coax their own bodies into relaxation by focusing on deep belly breathing,” he says. “There are so many parasympathetic nerve endings in the belly, so deep breathing into that area shifts the body into rest-and-digest mode.

“If everyone spent time each day breathing into their bellies, many physical problems would be reversed. It’s like doing acupuncture on yourself.”

Exercise

“If only all of my patients would take the time to exercise every day,” says acupuncturist Lara Ferguson Diaz, from Asheville, North Carolina.

“I’m not talking about running a marathon. There’s nothing quite as simple yet profoundly helpful as a daily brisk walk in the park, or dancing with your kid in the living room. Our bodies are not designed to be static. They are designed to be in fairly constant motion except while sleeping or resting.

“From an acupuncture perspective, too much sitting injures the Spleen, which affects digestion, energy level, and even makes us more likely to gain weight. Blood and qi stagnation, the most common cause of pain that I see in my clinic, also occur when people have sedentary lifestyles.

“Daily exercise will make you happier, less stressed, and better equipped to handle life. So, go take a hike!”

Meditate

“I wish all of my patients would engage in a meditation practice,” says Brooklyn, New York acupuncturist Melanie Severo.

“So many of the issues that hold us back in our lives can be transformed through the simple act of awareness, and a meditation practice can be the doorway to heightened presence in all of our activities.”

Use a dry skin brush

“Dry skin brushing takes just minutes a day but makes a huge difference in how someone feels and looks,” says San Diego-based acupuncturist Justin Burkett.

“Using a natural-fiber, stiff-brissled, sisal body brush on dry skin before or after a shower is a great way to stimulate the skin, the lymphatic system, and the acupuncture meridian system. At the same time, it increases peripheral circulation and boosts immune function, which gives a healthy glow to the skin.

“People can stimulate acupuncture points all over the body, on a daily basis, using a dry skin brush.”

Stretch before bed

“Stretching in the evening is just as important as in the morning, which is when most people think about doing it,” says Laurel, Maryland acupuncturist Allison Vaccaro.

“Like acupuncture, stretching helps break up stagnation and encourages movement throughout the channels. Stretching in the evening helps loosen the muscles that haven’t been used during the day. Many people spend their evenings sitting on the couch watching TV. Some hit the gym first thing in the morning, then sit at a desk all day. These routines prime the body for stiffness, and can produce pain at night and upon waking.

“Patients of mine who follow my advice to stretch at night report better sleep quality, and less pain and stiffness in the morning.”

Get to bed by 11 pm

“I encourage all of my patients to go to bed at 11 pm so that they are sleeping soundly by 1 am,” says Susan Wadden, an acupuncturist in Shoreline, Washington.

“Each organ system in acupuncture has an assigned two-hour time frame. One o’clock in the morning is when when the Liver time cycle begins. Between 1 and 3 am is the optimal time for the Liver to cleanse itself. This cleansing, which plays a big role in whether we feel rested when we wake up, happens most efficiently when a person is in a deep state of sleep.”

Find a spiritual practice

“I wish everyone would find a spiritual outlet to address their concerns, stress, and grief,” says Kari-Ann Hubbard, an acupuncturist in Tempe, Arizona.

“These natural emotions can consume us and, from an acupuncture perspective, stagnate our qi and blood. This on its own can cause pain and other ailments, and it sets the stage for future imbalances.

“A spiritual practice can be anything from journaling to prayer to meditation. Whatever works for you.”

Choose tea

“I wish more of my patients would drink warm herbal teas instead of cold soft drinks and diet sodas,” says acupuncturist Lindsay Long, of Maple Grove, Minnesota.

“The phosphoric acid in colas can be harmful to bone health, and it can soften tooth enamel. According to acupuncture dietary theory, warm drinks are most supportive to the digestive system, and the bitter flavor of tea clears excess heat and dries dampness from the body.”

Stop waiting for perfect

“Stop waiting for the perfect time to engage in perfect behavior,” says Wayland, Massachusetts acupuncturist Marisa Fanelli.

“Many of my patients consider anything less than a dramatic life change to be a failure. So, they wait until the perfect time to start eating the perfect diet. Or they wait until the perfect time to start working out again, since anything less than seven days a week at the gym is a failure.

“This kind of all-or-nothing thinking leads to being perpetually stuck. In acupuncture-speak, we call this stagnation. Remember that even small steps forward are beneficial—and far easier to maintain in the long run.”

Engage in conscious eating

“I wish all of my patients practiced conscious eating,” says Kathleen Port, an acupuncturist in Los Angeles.

“This means being sensitive to portion size but also quality of food and eating habits—for example, not eating in the car or late at night, or not eating highly processed foods.

“When we don’t bring consciousness to our eating habits, our Spleen and Stomach systems can become easily overwhelmed. When this happens, digestion slows down and cannot convert food into qi and blood. Qi and blood deficiencies give rise to a variety of issues, including poor sleep, poor digestion, menstrual dysfunction, infertility, and mood disorders.”

Listen to your body

“When we are in a state of balance, our bodies stay healthy on their own, without much effort on our part,” says acupuncturist Michelle McGlade, from Mendota Heights, Minnesota.

“When we are out of balance, our bodies signal alarms. These alarms can show up as fatigue, pain, or depression, to name just a few.

“If everyone listened for these signals and took action when they happened—for example, made a diet change or started going to bed earlier—we’d all be much better off. When we take care of ourselves, we are better able to take care of the people we love.”

Migraine Relief

Source: HealthCMi

http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1633-acupuncture-proven-effective-for-migraine-relief

A large body of scientific evidence demonstrates that acupuncture is effective for the relief of migraines. From small clinical studies to large scale analyses, acupuncture has been proven both safe and effective. In addition, researchers find true acupuncture more effective than sham acupuncture.

University of Louisville (Kentucky) doctors published findings in Pediatric Emergency Care. Their approach was to employ auricular acupuncture for the purposes of evaluating the “utility and adverse effects of auricular acupuncture in the treatment of pediatric migraines in the ED [emergency department].” The doctors note, “There were no adverse events associated with any patient during the study.” The doctors conclude, “With all subjects showing improvement or resolution of migraine headache, this pilot study introduces an alternative intervention to pediatric migraine management. . . auricular acupuncture seems to be a valid alternative.”

Dr. Graff, MD and Dr. McDonald, MD (University of Louisville) recommend additional research based on their findings. Their study was limited by sample size and the use of a relatively non-invasive type of auricular acupuncture employing the use of tiny auricular semi-permanent gold needles. The doctors add, “Auricular acupuncture seems to be well tolerated in children and adolescents with migraines. This experimental protocol provides a unique approach to the pediatric patient with an acute migraine in the ED.”

RMIT University and Royal Melbourne Hospital researchers find acupuncture effective for the relief of migraines (Wang et al.). They note, “Acupuncture can be used as alternative and safe prophylaxis for frequent migraine. Our recommendation is that practitioners treat migraine sufferers twice per week for at least eight weeks.” Their controlled study documents that sham acupuncture does not produce the significant positive patient outcomes as in true acupuncture. The researchers note that “more participants in the RA [real acupuncture] group used less pain killers as relief medication than in the SA [sham acupuncture] group” at the end of the treatment regimen. In addition, the total number of days with a migraine was significantly lower in the real acupuncture group as compared with the sham acupuncture group. Wang et al. document that 73% of real acupuncture patients had a 50% or greater reduction in the number of days with a migraine whereas the sham acupuncture group had a 29% reduction.

The researchers note, “The present trial showed that acupuncture was effective in reducing migraine days, as well as effecting a reduction of medication consumption and improvement in quality of life, when compared with sham acupuncture.” They add that the “results demonstrated that manual acupuncture can be an effective and a safe prophylaxis for frequent migraine sufferers.” The primary acupuncture points used in the study included the following:

Fengchi (GB20)
Taiyang (Ex-HN5)
Shuai Gu (GB8)
Hegu (LI4)

The supplementary acupuncture points based on differential diagnostic pattern variations included the following:

Baihui (DU20)
Xingjian (LR2)
Taichong (LR3)
Taixi (KI3)
Xuanzhong (GB39)
Sanyinjiao (SP6)
Shang Xing (DU23)
Zusanli (ST36)
Feng Long (ST40)
Zhongwan (CV12)
Yinlingquan (SP9)
Xuehai (SP10)
Ashi point

MRI studies are consistent with the aforementioned migraine research. MRI research demonstrates that acupuncture “induce[s] different cerebral glucose metabolism changes in pain-related brain regions and reduce[s] intensity of pain” for patients with migraines. In a randomized controlled PET-CT neuroimaging investigation, acupuncture was found effective for the alleviation of migraine pain.

The researchers documented that acupuncture raised brain glycometabolism in specific regions: middle temporal cortex, orbital front cortex, middle frontal gyrus, angular gyrus, post cingulate cortex, precuneus, middle cingulate cortex. Simultaneously, acupuncture lowered glycometabolism in the specific brain regions of migraine patients: parahippocampus, hippocampus, fusiform, postcentral gyrus, cerebellum. The study demonstrates that different acupuncture point selections caused predictable and repeatable changes in brain glycometabolism. Acupuncture point specificity was confirmed using MRIs, i.e., specific acupuncture points have specific effects on brain responses and related treatment outcomes.

In other research, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine researchers achieved a 100% total effective rate with an 88.6% complete recovery rate for the treatment of migraines with acupuncture and cupping. The primary acupuncture points used in the study included:

Taiyang, extra point
Touwei, ST8
Yintang, extra point
Baihui, DU20
Fengchi, GB20
Waiguan, TB5
Taichong, LV3
Sanyinjiao, SP6
Zhongfeng, LV4
Taixi, KD3
Zusanli, ST36
Shanzhong, CV17

Cupping was applied to back shu (beishu) acupuncture points. Acupuncture was applied twice per week for eight continuous weeks. Needle retention time was twenty minutes per session and manual reinforcing and reducing techniques were applied. When the researchers tried the treatment protocol without cupping and acupoint CV17, the total effective rate dropped from 100% to 94.3% and the complete recovery rate dropped from 88.6% to 62%. The findings suggest that cupping and acupoint CV17 have important clinical benefits for patients with migraines.

Additional research finds acupuncture more effective than valproic acid for the treatment of migraines (Facco et al.). In the study, acupuncture patients required less rizatriptan and had significantly lower pain intensity levels due to migraines than valproic acid patients. Acupuncture patients had no adverse side effects and valproic acid patients had a 47.8% side effect rate.

Zhang et al. determined that the frontal and temporal lobes have “decreased functional connectivity” in migraine sufferers. Their MRI investigation demonstrates that acupuncture restores functional connectivity in those regions. After a four week course of acupuncture therapy, migraine sufferers “showed significantly increased functional connectivity in the bilateral superior frontal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus, precuneus, inferior parietal lobule, posterior cingulate cortex, cingulate gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, and supramarginal gyrus as compared with before acupuncture treatment.” In addition, the researchers concluded that acupuncture decreased the frequency and duration of migraine attacks after a four week course of acupuncture care.

Guo et al. find acupuncture more effective than flunarizine hydrochloride for controlling migraines. In their investigation, acupuncture combined with tuina had a total effective rate of 93.8% whereas flunarizine hydrochloride achieved a 63% total effective rate. In addition, patients receiving acupuncture with tuina had significantly fewer relapses than the patients taking the drug. As a result of the findings the researchers conclude, “Combining electroacupuncture and local tuina can obtain better effect and lower relapse rate than oral Flunarizine Hydrochloride capsules in migraine patients.”

Lin et al. conducted a randomized controlled trial of eighty-seven migraine patients. The following acupuncture points produced a 95.2% total effective rate measured six weeks following acupuncture and 88.1% measured three months following acupuncture treatments:

Hegu (LI4)
Taichong (LR3)
Fengchi (GB20)
Shuaigu (GB8)
Qiuxu (GB40)
Zulinqi (GB41)

Scott et al. conclude that acupuncture is “of comparable efficiency to several proven drug therapies for the treatment and prevention of migraine[s].” The meta-analysis conducted by Scott et al. involved the investigation of twenty-five randomized controlled trials involving a sample size of 3,004 migraine sufferers. Given these and the aforementioned findings, the consensus of modern research is that acupuncture is both safe and effective for the treatment of migraines.

References:
Graff, Danielle M., and Mark J. McDonald. “Auricular Acupuncture for the Treatment of Pediatric Migraines in the Emergency Department.” Pediatric Emergency Care (2016).

Wang, Yanyi, Charlie Changli Xue, Robert Helme, Cliff Da Costa, and Zhen Zheng. “Acupuncture for Frequent Migraine: A Randomized, Patient/Assessor Blinded, Controlled Trial with One-Year Follow-Up.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2015 (2015).

Yang, Jie, Fang Zeng, Yue Feng, Li Fang, Wei Qin, Xuguang Liu, Wenzhong Song, Hongjun Xie, Ji Chen, and Fanrong Liang. “A PET-CT study on the specificity of acupoints through acupuncture treatment in migraine patients.” BMC complementary and alternative medicine 12, no. 1 (2012): 1.

Jin SS, Du YZ, Han L, Liao C & Gu WL. (2015). Observations on the Efficacy of Acupuncture at Point Shanzhong (CV17) plus Cupping on Back-Shu Points in Treating Migraine. Shanghai Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 34(3).

Facco, E., et al. “Acupuncture Versus Valproic Acid In The Prophylaxis Of Migraine Without Aura: A Prospective Controlled Study.” Minerva anestesiologica (2013).

Zhang, Yong, Kuang-shi Li, Hong-wei Liu, Cai-hong Fu, Sheng Chen, Zhong-jian Tan, and Yi Ren. “Acupuncture treatment modulates the resting-state functional connectivity of brain regions in migraine patients without aura.” Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine (2015): 1-9.

Guo, Qing, Yu Hua, Hai-qin Wang, Ying Li, and Quan Ji. “Therapeutic effect observation on combining electroacupuncture and tuina for migraine.” Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science 12, no. 3 (2014): 174-179.

Lin, X. M., X. Yao, and Z. Di. “[Acupuncture at” Siguan” combined with Gallbladder Meridian acupoints for migraine: a randomized controlled trial].” Zhongguo zhen jiu= Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion 34, no. 10 (2014): 947-950.

Scott SW, Deare JC. Acupuncture for migraine: a systematic review. ‘Aust J Acupunct Chin Med’ 2006;1(1):3-14).

Acupuncture for Spring

Source: Western Mass News

http://www.westernmassnews.com/story/31850232/acupuncture-may-help-keep-you-healthy

If you’re feeling fatigued from the winter, a spring tune-up may be just what you need.

A treatment once used by Egyptians is now popular right here in western Massachusetts.

A poke of the skin may put a spring in your step.

“Acupuncture works great for many things. It’s been around for 5,000 years, but mainly, it boosts your immune system,” said Elizabeth Girard with Whole Body Healing in Northampton

It can also help fix neck and shoulder tension, anxiety, or allergies.

“This point is good for your immune system, good for overall energy, so we tap it in. So what we’re feeling for is the connective tissue kind of grabbing onto that and that’s what causes adenosine in your body to actually respond and have an anti-inflammatory response to it,” Girard added.

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through the patient’s skin at specific points

In Chinese medicine, there are 12 meridians – or channels – on the body where these acupuncture points are located.

One spot that Girard happened to test was the stomach meridian

“It starts, it does goes through the stomach and it actually does start on the face, so this point is really good for allergies,” Girard explained.

The goal of acupuncture is to establish healthy body function by restoring the natural circulation of energy, known in Chinese medicine as Qi.

“We use it in the spring time to help prevent seasonal allergies often times. People get a lot of migraines, people also get more exercise, more movement, become more active. They are kind of coming out of hibernation after winter,” Girard said.

Needles stay in for about 20 minutes, but no need to be nervous. It’s actually quite comfortable. You many even fall asleep during the treatment.

This ancient form of healing is becoming mainstream. It’s often accepted in western medicine now. In fact, most of Girard’s patient’s are referrals from doctors.

Beijing University Study

Source: HealthCMi

http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1625-acupuncture-improves-visual-acuity-and-reduces-defects

Acupuncture benefits eyesight for patients with vision loss, according to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine researchers. Results from a controlled investigation by Yan et al., published in the Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, tested the efficacy of a four point acupuncture prescription for the treatment of vision loss. Based on the data, the researchers determined that acupuncture benefits vision.

Acupuncture measurably caused significant improvements in important visual indices. Acupuncture significantly improved mean sensitivity (MS) and decreased mean defect (MD) for patients participating in the study. In addition, acupuncture significantly increased the visually evoked potential (VEP).

MS is a measurement of the retina’s mean sensitivity to light. MD is the difference between all classes of visual defects for the patient compared with normal values for their age. VEP is an EEG (electroencephalogram) measurement of an evoked potential triggered by a visual stimulus. VEP helps in the detection of optic nerve disorders and tests responses to light. The results of the investigation demonstrate that acupuncture improves MS, MD, and VEP for patients with vision loss.

Three local acupuncture points in the eye region were combined with one acupuncture point in the suboccipital region. All four acupuncture points are classically indicated within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for the treatment of eye disorders. From an acupuncture continuing education perspective, this modern scientific research draws upon an ancient TCM acupoint prescription for the acupoint selection.

Local acupuncture points in the eye region were not manually stimulated with reinforcing or reducing techniques. No lifting, thrusting, or rotating techniques were applied. The following acupoints were used for all patients in the study in a strict acupuncture point prescription protocol:

Jingming (BL1)
Chengqi (ST1)
Shangming (Ex-HN)
Fengchi (GB20)

GB20 was the only acupoint receiving manual acupuncture stimulation following insertion. Rotating and thrusting techniques for the purposes of tonification were applied to GB20. Total needle retention time for all acupoints was thirty minutes per session. Acupuncture was applied once per day for four weeks. In terms of acceptance within TCM circles, this treatment protocol was employed by Wei Yu Ying, a renowned Chinese ophthalmologist.

The research was conducted under direction of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Dongfang Hospital (Beijing University of Chinese Medicine). Given the significant improvements in mean sensitivity, mean defect, and visually evoked potential, the researchers conclude that acupuncture benefits vision for patients with diminished eyesight.

These findings are consistent with those of Dai et al., whose research produced a meta-analysis of thirteen randomized controlled trials involving 1,180 eyes. Dai et al. conclude that acupuncture is effective for the treatment of optic atrophy, demonstrating improvements in visual acuity, visual field, and P-VEP. Based on the findings, Dai et al. recommend additional investigations to confirm the results.

In related research, Qin et al. conclude that acupuncture benefits vision for patients with NAION (nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy). Acupuncture improved both visual acuity and light sensitivity and also reduced visual field defects. Dai et al. note, “regular and continuous acupuncture treatment contributed to the recovery of the visual function of these patients. . . . acupuncture repaired and reconstructed the visual pathways.”

References:
Yan XL, Wei QP, Li L, Zhou J. (2014). Curative effect of needling in 3 acupoints around eye and Fengchi (GB20) on optic atrophy. Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 37(6).

Dai, Yanli, Ming Liu, Yixin Zhang, Shihui Wei, and Houbin Huang. “[Meta analysis of acupuncture in the treatment of optic atrophy].” Zhong nan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban= Journal of Central South University. Medical sciences 38, no. 3 (2013): 283-290.

Qin, Yali, Wei Yuan, Hui Deng, Zhanmei Xiang, Chao Yang, Xinyun Kou, Shufei Yang, Zhijun Wang, and Ming Jin. “Clinical efficacy observation of acupuncture treatment for nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.”

Acupuncture for Athletes

Source: Acufinder

https://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Acupuncture+for+Athletes

All athletes and coaches are involved in an ongoing search for ways to improve performance and gain a competitive edge over their rivals. Many are finding that acupuncture can often provide that edge.

By following the principles of Oriental medicine, an acupuncture treatment can strengthen body function and restore internal harmony and balance. Professional sports teams and top athletes regularly have an acupuncturist on staff to treat injuries and keep them performing at their peak.

Some of the best Olympic athletes are incorporating acupuncture into their wellness programs. China’s most popular sportsman, the 7 foot 6 inch China basketball center, Yao Ming, used acupuncture and Oriental medicine to help him recover after undergoing surgery on his ankle in April, 2007.

Chinese swimmer, Wang Qun, was photographed doing some last minute training in Beijing with round marks on her back from a traditional Chinese medicine treatment. The marks on the swimmer’s back were caused by cupping. Cupping is a technique in which a glass cup or bamboo jar is suctioned onto the body. It is used to relieve muscle pain, especially back pain from stiffness or injury; and to clear congestion in the chest, which can occur with common colds and influenza.

Studies on Acupuncture to Enhance Athletic Performance

Studies have shown that acupuncture has measurable effects on the flow of blood to certain areas of the body, which could in turn boost athletic performance. One such study conducted at the Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine involved athletes running 5,000 meters, and then sitting for acupuncture treatments before they had a chance to catch their breath. The heart rates of the athletes who received the treatments recovered more quickly than those in the control group.

Another study published in the American Journal of Acupuncture measured the effects of acupuncture on anaerobic threshold and work capacity during exercise in healthy young males. Researchers found that individuals in the acupuncture treatment group had higher maximal exercise capacity and were able to perform higher workloads at the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA) than individuals in the placebo group. The individuals that received acupuncture also had lower heart rates.

A recent study published in the January, 2008 issue of the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine examined the effects of acupuncture on cyclists. Twenty young (between 18 and 30 years of age) male cyclists underwent three tests per week, riding a stationary bike for 20 kilometers as fast as possible. The volunteers were divided into three groups that either received acupuncture, sham acupuncture or no acupuncture. Acupuncture points were chosen on the basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine and administered immediately before cycling. Sham acupuncture was shallow needling of known acupoints. Not only did the study show that the group that received acupuncture had a higher RPE scores compared to the other tests. The men receiving the real acupuncture treatments completed their cycling tests at a higher acceleration than the others.

Acupuncture is well known for its effectiveness in reducing most types of pain, including sports-related injuries.

Acupuncture can be used to help decrease swelling, spasms and inflammation. Additionally, it can be used to control pain, increase range of motion and help promote healing. Because of its broad range of applications, acupuncture can be used during any of the phases of injury. The focus is not only to treat the injury but also to treat any underlying conditions that may predispose an individual to injuries. This is especially important when treating chronic or recurrent injuries that interfere with life activities or athletic performance.

Injuries occurring from sports are mostly due to trauma or overuse syndromes involving the musculoskeletal system and its soft tissues. Trauma to these soft tissues, including ligaments, tendons and muscles are generally the result from falls, blows, sprains/strains, collisions, compressions crushing and disruptions of the healing processes due to inflammation.

Some Commonly Treated Sports Injuries:

Muscle Pull
Neck Pain
Shoulder Impingement
Tennis Elbow
Lower Back Strain
Groin Pull
Hamstring Strain
Runner’s Knee
Shin Splints
Ankle Sprain
Achilles Tendonitis
Arch Pain

Migraine Relief

Source: Express

http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/657100/Migraine-relief-acupuncture-treatment-cure-asthma

Express.co.uk spoke to Emma Perris, a qualified member of the British Acupuncture Council, about how acupuncture could help everyone in some form.

Especially, she added, those who suffer from migraines or tension headaches. It comes just days after a list of the best natural healing techniques were announced.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Emma said: “Traditional Acupuncture is a whole mode of medicine, it can be applied to any illness or condition, in the young or the elderly.

“The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends it as a first line treatment for persistent, non-specific lower back pain and in 2012, NICE extended their recommendations to include tension type headaches and migraines.”

How would it help someone suffering with asthma, we quizzed Emma.

She said: “Traditional Acupuncture stimulates the body’s nervous system promoting healing, the British Acupuncture Council have produced Factsheets on lots of common disorders like Asthma.

“Acupuncture can help asthma sufferers by reducing inflammation and helping to open the chest and airways.

“It can also regulate the allergic response in sufferers who have an allergic component to their asthma.”

Traditional acupuncture, Emma explained, is deeper and more specific than traditional massage.
She revealed the focus is on the individual and all symptoms are seen in relation to each other.
Emma said: “Each patient is unique and two people with the same western diagnosis may well receive different acupuncture treatments.

“It can also reduce inflammation, promote circulation, improve muscle stiffness and joint mobility as well as pain relief.

“Traditional acupuncturists that are members of the British Acupuncture Council also have to undertake a minimum of three years training at degree level meeting World Health Organisation standards.”
Traditional acupuncture is one of the oldest documented systems of medicine in history.

It’s based on the meridian system and the movement of energy around the body.

Emma revealed: “It is believed that illness and pain occur when the meridians become unbalanced or blocked. Fine, sterile acupuncture needles are inserted painlessly into acupuncture points situated along meridians or channels within the body.

“This triggers a healing response which helps to correct the imbalance and enables the person to feel a greater sense of wellbeing.”

And it’s not just asthma and migraines the Chinese tradition can appease; Emma explained it could help ” any illness or condition”.

She said: “An analogy I find useful is to think of our body as an electrical circuit or like a network of roads and pathways.

“When things go array, a traffic jam occurs or there’s a short circuit, Acupuncture points act to widen the road or bypass the circuit to repair the communication.

“Traditional Acupuncture can fix things when they go wrong but it can also help preserve our health; like any intricate machine with moving parts that needs maintaining.”

What would Emma say to an acupuncture sceptic?

“It’s the perfect antidote to modern life even though it has been practiced for thousands of years.
“It’s proven, safe, well researched, effective and treats what’s going on for you as an individual. I’d say they should give it go and find out the benefits for themselves.”

Acupuncture for Spring Allergies

Source: Acupuncture.com

http://www.acupuncture.com/Conditions/allergies.htm

For many people Spring and Summer are seasons for allergies. Allergies, or allergic rhinitis, are due to an over-reactivity of the immune system to certain allergens. During Spring and Summer, allergies are generally induced by wind-born tree, grass, or weed pollen, and can cause such symptoms as: sneezing; nasal congestion; runny nose; watery, itchy, or red eyes; headaches; fatigue; and sometimes coughing and wheezing. When allergens and antibodies react in individuals with allergic rhinitis, their nasal mucosa becomes swollen and may obstruct drainage from the sinuses causing sinusitis in many people. Thus, sinus infections are a frequent complication and consequence of allergic rhinitis.

While Spring and Summer are the seasons of the year that bring us outdoors, many people are unable to enjoy these warmer months due to uncomfortable symptoms. Chinese medicine can help bring relief of symptoms, correct imbalances of the immune system, prevent the occurrence of infection, and allow healing of tissues of the sinuses.

From a Chinese point of view, allergic rhinitis is due to a deficiency of the Lung and Kidney’s Defensive-Qi systems, combined with retention of chronic “Wind” in the nose.

Allergic rhinitis often starts in early childhood, with a constitutional weakness, but it may also start later in life, with a progressive decline of Kidney-Qi. Lung and Kidney Qi Deficiency is the root of the problem, therefore, with herbal medicine and acupuncture we strengthen and nourish these organs. The manifestation of the disease is Wind invading the Lung channel in the nose. This accounts for the acute attacks. With herbs and acupuncture, we clear the Wind, reduce congestion, and open the nasal passages. It is necessary to treat both the root and the manifestation in order to produce lasting results.

The Western treatment of allergic rhinitis relies mostly on the use of antihistamine agents. Unfortunately, antihistamines only treat the manifestations of the disease and not the root. In addition, they cause side-effects such as dizziness, fatigue, insomnia, nervousness, dryness, and gastro-intestinal disturbance.

Chinese medicine offers allergy sufferers a way to strengthen their bodies and significantly reduce their symptoms, without unpleasant side effects. You do not have to spend another season living with allergies.

Dentists Using Acupuncture

Source: Tufts University

http://now.tufts.edu/articles/acupuncture-oral-pain

When George Maloney, a clinical professor at the Tufts School of Dental Medicine, sees a patient in pain, he first determines whether the ache emanates from the nerves or the muscles. For nerve-based pain, he often prescribes medications. For muscle pain, he reaches for his needles.

Maloney, who is affiliated with the Tufts Craniofacial Pain Center (see “A Holistic Approach to Treating Pain”), is a longtime advocate of using acupuncture over painkillers to treat muscle pain. In addition to his D.M.D., he has a master’s degree in acupuncture from the New England School of Acupuncture.

Acupuncture works, George Maloney says, because chronic pain puts the face and jaw muscles into an altered state. Acupuncture can gradually get the muscles to relax. Illustration: Ingimages
Acupuncture works, George Maloney says, because chronic pain puts the face and jaw muscles into an altered state. Acupuncture can gradually get the muscles to relax. Illustration: Ingimages
Painkillers, Maloney says, provide only generalized relief and can lead to drug dependence and addiction. “Opioid pain relievers can be effective for a short-term treatment of a day or two,” he says. By contrast, acupuncture can provide lasting relief from the pain.

Maloney begins acupuncture treatment by stabilizing the points of contact, or occlusion, between the teeth with a mouthguard or oral splint. “If you create a stable occlusion, which can reduce muscle activity in the jaw, then you will find it much more effective when you treat the muscles more directly with needling,” he says. He treats muscle pain with traditional acupuncture needles or electro-acupuncture, which sends a low, pulsating electric current to the muscles.

In traditional Chinese medicine, inserting acupuncture needles into specific locations balances the flow of qi, or vital energy, throughout the body. More modern explanations typically point to acupuncture’s ability to stimulate peptides and other biochemical signals that cause physiological effects, such as increasing blood flow, reducing inflammation and easing muscle tension.

Maloney first got involved with the alternative medicine technique after repeatedly surveying patients on what reduced their pain, and finding that a high percentage of them mentioned acupuncture. He took a distance-learning course through UCLA Medical School in 1998, following it up with the program at New England School of Acupuncture in 2002. Acupuncture works, he says, because chronic pain puts the face and jaw muscles into an altered state. Acupuncture can gradually get the muscles to relax.

While acupuncture is not widely used by dental pain practitioners, several clinical studies have shown it to be effective in treating craniofacial pain, especially when combined with stable occlusion. As far back as 1997, the National Institutes of Health issued a consensus statement affirming evidence that acupuncture is effective in relieving postoperative dental pain.

Maloney wants to add to the body of evidence. He is beginning a review of studies about the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating temporomandibular joint disorder and craniofacial pain. “I think that this review and other controlled clinical trials can produce the kind of evidence that may lead to wide-scale acceptance,” he says.

Sound Sleep

Source: Medscape

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/859489

Acupuncture can help relieve sleep disturbances in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis.

“[T]he present findings show a substantial association of acupuncture with improved sleep disturbances in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women,” the researchers write.

Hsiao-Yean Chiu, RN, PhD, from the School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, and the Sleep Science Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taiwan, and colleagues present their findings in an article published online February 4 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.

The researchers included randomized controlled trials published in English and Chinese. The included trials compared acupuncture with control groups that received inactive (eg, sham acupuncture) or active (eg, Chinese herbs and hypnotics and hormone therapy) interventions for relief of menopause-related sleep disturbances. They defined acupuncture as manual acupuncture, acupressure, electroacupuncture, laser acupuncture, or auricular acupuncture.

The investigators analyzed 34 trials that included 2433 randomly assigned patients with a mean age of 51.1 years (range of means, 44.1 – 63.0 years). Most of the studies were of women in China, and four of the trials concentrated on women with breast cancer. The trials used the women’s reports of sleep improvement to determine the efficacy of treatments.

The most frequently used acupoints were Spleen 6, Heart 7, and Governing Vessel. The Sanyinjiao acupoint is associated with female fertility and reproductive homeostasis, the authors note.

The researchers graded most of the trials as “high or unclear risk of bias in blinding of participants and personnel, selective reporting, blinding of outcome assessment, and concealed allocation.”

Acupuncture was associated with relief of sleep disturbances, with a summary odds ratio (OR) of 0.21 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14 – 0.31; P < .001), compared with control treatments. In addition, participants in the acupuncture groups experienced significant elevations of serum estradiol levels (pooled difference in means, 7.56 pg/mL; 95% CI, 4.03 – 11.08; P < .001). Acupuncture was also associated with significantly decreased levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (pooled difference in means, −6.75 milli-international units/mL; 95% CI, −12.16 to −1.34; P = .02) and luteinizing hormone (pooled difference in means, −2.71; 95% CI, −4.22 to −1.20; P < .001). The odds of sleep disturbances were significantly lower in the studies with a large effect size of acupuncture-induced serum estradiol changes (OR, 0.07; P = .02) than in studies with small-to-moderate effect sizes (OR, 0.36; P = .02). The researchers suggest that increased serum estradiol levels might be a possible mechanism underlying the ability of acupuncture to relieve menopause-related sleep disturbances. “A study on postmenopausal women indicated that estradiol production exerts thermoregulation effects by inducing peripheral skin vasodilatation (a major heat loss effector), thereby reducing the core body temperature and subsequently causing the onset of sleep,” the authors explain. Serum estradiol level elevations were also significantly larger in studies that selected the Sanyinjiao acupoint, the authors note (OR, 10.51 vs 1.38; P < .001). “[W]e recommend that acupuncture should be adopted as an alternative or complementary therapy for improving sleep in addition to current conventional therapies (eg, [hormone therapy]) in women experiencing menopause-related sleep disturbances,” the authors conclude. “Individuals who are interested in adopting acupuncture therapy as an alternative therapy to conventional treatments for improving menopause-related sleep disturbances should talk to their acupuncturists about the Sanyinjiao acupoint as the preferred acupoint to stimulate the secretion of serum estradiol levels.”

 
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