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November 7, 2013 by admin
Source: myageingparent.com
http://www.myageingparent.com/what-is-acupuncture-and-how-it-can-help-in-elderly-care/
How acupuncture can help in elderly care
•Traditional acupuncture is a healthcare system based on ancient principles dating back over 2000 years
•Acupuncture views pain and illness as signs that the body is out of balance
•The overall aim of acupuncture is to restore the body’s equilibrium
•This approach to healthcare is unique, viewing physical, emotional and mental conditions as interdependent
•The treatment is based on the individual, not on the specific illness and all the symptoms are seen in relation to each other
•The traditional acupuncturist’s principle treatment is that illness and pain occur when the body’s qi, or vital energy, cannot flow freely
•Each patient is unique. Two people with the same western diagnosis may well receive very different acupuncture treatments. There can be many reasons for this: emotional imbalance, stress, poor nutrition, infection, and injury are among the most common
Acupuncture can help with depression and anxiety in the older person
•In Chinese medicine, emotions are a natural part of human existence and no human being escapes being sad, angry, or worried sometimes
•The emotions only become causes of disease when they are particularly intense, and most of all, when they are prolonged over a long period of time, especially when they are not expressed, or acknowledged
Acupuncture can help to reduce over-medication in the elderly
•No other age group is as routinely over-medicated as the elderly
•Combinations of medications for various ailments used in conventional medicine can exhaust and confuse the body in other ways
•Acupuncture can help to balance and restore, by restoring the body’s qi, or vital energy flow
Acupuncture offers pain relief to the ageing person
•Unlike other age groups, restoring an elderly patient to vital health may seem to be an unachievable goal
•Even a modest improvement in pain or bodily function, however, can make a significant difference to an elderly person’s quality of life
•Don’t be discouraged by how badly off an elderly patient may seem. Acupuncture can help
Acupuncture can help the caregivers
•Looking after your ageing parent or relative can be exhausting, challenging and emotionally draining
•Acupuncture can help the care givers to maintain their own life balance, restore their energy and balance their emotions, so that they feel better about themselves and their quality of care
What is the treatment?
•By inserting ultra-fine sterile needles into specific acupuncture points, a traditional acupuncturist seeks to re-establish the free flow of qi to restore balance and trigger the body’s natural responses
•The experience of having acupuncture is pleasant, relaxing and energizing. The needles are hair thin, sterile and generally painless and are never used twice
•There may be a brief soreness, or pulling sensation when the needle is inserted, which means that your qi has connected with the needle.
•You are made comfortable and are draped appropriately
•A good treatment feels like being in “the zone”, or a deep meditation as your body moves back into balance
October 30, 2013 by admin
Source: WebMD
http://www.webmd.com/beauty/facelift/acupuncture-new-facelift
Jawline getting a bit saggy? That great sense of humor of yours leaving you with some not-so-funny laugh lines? Furrowed brow making you look like you’re in a perpetual state of grouchiness?
If you’re thinking of getting a little work done on your face, a younger-looking face may lie at the end of some needles — acupuncture needles, that is.
Can acupuncture really give you the face you thought you’d lost forever? Yes, say the acupuncturists who offer the procedure. Not really, say more conventional cosmetic surgeons.
Smoothing Out the Lines
Martha Lucas, PhD, LAc, a Colorado acupuncturist, says after a series of 10 treatments (twice a week for five weeks), skin becomes more delicate and fair, and there are fewer wrinkles. She says the treatments also result in an erasing of fine lines and a reduction of deeper lines, less sagginess, a lifting of droopy eyelids, and a clearing or reduction of age spots. And, as an added bonus, she says, there is an overall rejuvenation that is not confined to your face.
“Cosmetic acupuncture is a good alternative for women who don’t want the side effects associated with a surgical facelift,” Lucas says.
The procedure works for men too, says Lucas, although not as many men request it.
Acupuncture, a form of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is designed to free up chi, or energy. When the needles — approximately 30-40 — are applied to the body and face, production of collagen and elastin may be stimulated, says Lucas, and skin is “plumped up.”
By addressing other parts of the body in addition to the face, acupuncture assists the body’s ability to support the “facelift.”
Making the Entire Body Younger
“We’re helping you to be younger — and look younger — by improving your energy from the inside out,” Lucas explains. “This still is TCM — it’s not just about the face; it’s about the whole body.”
“Chinese medicine is the true antiaging medicine,” Lucas says. “It helps your own body create a more youthful appearance.”
Lucas has been offering this procedure for approximately four and a half years, and last year she began training other acupuncturists in cosmetic acupuncture throughout the United States and Canada. As the procedure gets more publicity, she says, more clients are requesting it, increasing the need for acupuncturists trained in the technique, which requires special acupuncture points and different needling techniques than traditional acupuncture.
Cosmetic acupuncture is not for everyone, says Lucas. Though acupuncture has been used to help people with migraines, seizure disorders, or high blood pressure, for example, these people are probably not good candidates for cosmetic acupuncture. For most people, however, Lucas says, acupuncture “lifts” are a great alternative for those who don’t want more drastic procedures.
Columbia, Md. acupuncturist Della Aubrey-Miller, MAc, LAc, was trained in facial rejuvenation acupuncture, another form of cosmetic acupuncture, which she says is also effective in smoothing out lines, erasing shallow lines, and softening deeper furrows. Still, she says, like surgery, the effectiveness of the treatment depends on what you’re starting with. “Working on a 40-year-old face is different from a 60-year-old face,” she says. For that reason, both she and Lucas suggest starting the treatments when you’re in your 30s, or 40s at the latest.
Increasing Energy
What cosmetic acupuncture does, says Aubrey-Miller, is “stir the energy pot.” Moving energy through the body, with needles not only in the face but also the feet, legs, arms, head, and ears, stimulates collagen production and brings blood to the face.
Aubrey-Miller’s recommended course of treatment is 12 to 16 weeks, with monthly maintenance treatments after that. “It’s something useful to do for yourself,” she says, and you don’t have to worry about recovering from surgery or side effects such as bruising or nerve damage. For many of her clients, it’s also a mini-vacation of sorts. “For many people, this is the only quiet time they spend on themselves. Usually, once the needles are in, they just fall asleep for 30 minutes.”
Cosmetic acupuncture is not a cure-all, Aubrey-Miller emphasizes. “How you live your life will impact what your face looks like,” she says. “You can’t correct a bad lifestyle with needles.”
Another nonsurgical facelift is also attracting attention. The PanG nonsurgical facelift is a series of office-based treatments that apply radiofrequency energy, high voltage galvanic electric current, and high frequency ultrasound to produce “facelift-type” effects on the soft tissues of the face and neck. It takes 20 treatments over 10 weeks to produce these effects, says R. Stephen Mulholland, MD, of Toronto. “This is like body building for the face,” says Mulholland.
Mulholland admits that the treatment offers only about 30% of the effect of a conventional facelift. “You’re getting a lift effect,” he says. “But for best results, you would still want a facelift.”
October 30, 2013 by admin
Source: Acupuncture Today
http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=32693
After a deployment, the effects of war leave its marks on veterans in more ways than one. One of the most prevalent is PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) which causes havoc on the nervous system leading to numerous health issues from depression to severe anxiety.
These days, acupuncture is taking center stage when it comes to finding a form of relief for active duty personnel, veterans, and their families. From Maine to Hawaii and from Seattle to Miami, the Acupuncturists Without Borders (AWB) organization has been offering effective treatment to help heal the wounds of war in community acupuncture clinics supported by through the Military Stress Recovery Project (MSRP).
The Program
AWB was organized during the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in September 2005 to provide free community acupuncture to the people of Louisiana. Based on this experience, Diana Fried, Executive Director and Founder of AWB, wanted to bring the same service to military personnel who were returning to the U.S. with horrific war wounds, including invisible ones like PTSD.
Fried believed this type of service was going to be critical for helping heal those who had been at war, and to help all of our communities heal from the impact of war. Thus, the Military Stress Recovery Project (MSRP) was born. The goal of the MSRP is to provide free community style acupuncture treatments to veterans, active duty soldiers and their family members to reduce the ravaging effects of PTSD and chronic pain sustained during their military service in our nation’s wars.
“Years ago I felt that the impact we would start to see – in individuals who had been to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, their families, and in all of our communities – was going to be utterly devastating with regard to emotional trauma. As acupuncturists we hold simple, inexpensive tools in our hands that can bring tremendous peace to those who have been so devastated,” said Fried. “With these tools I knew we could not only help heal the individuals treated, but also help prevent some of the tragic effects of PTSD, which often lead to domestic violence, substance abuse, suicide, homicide, or some combination, and more. It is incredibly inspiring to me to see how many acupuncturists have taken the model and ran with it, creating successful clinics and finding their own lives transformed by this work, and to constantly hear so many amazing stories of healing from veterans of all ages, and their families.”
The first MSRP clinic developed by AWB began as a pilot in Albuquerque in the fall of 2006. The Albuquerque Veterans Clinic is still going strong and treats up to two dozen veterans per week. In the six years since the creation of the pilot clinic, nearly 30 MSRP clinics have opened across the country. Dedicated acupuncturists desiring to open a clinic take an AWB training course, “Healing Community Trauma,” wherein they learn how to establish and run a community acupuncture clinic. They then return to their local communities and build a clinic. Usually the space is donated and the acupuncturists and other staff volunteer. This creates a truly low-cost clinic that can offer free treatments.
MSRP clinics are community-style meaning that participants sit in chairs in a circle fully clothed. Five needles are placed in each ear according to the National Acupuncture De-tox Association (NADA) protocol, aka the Five Needle Protocol.
AWB Volunteers Portland Veterans Acupuncture Clinic volunteers offer relief to two veterans. Portland, Maine. Photo by Jim Daniels. Once the needles are inserted, the group rests for 30 to 45 minutes. It is during this resting time that tremendous healing takes place. The community-style acupuncture provides caring, compassionate treatment in a group setting and allows everyone treated to experience relief from stress and trauma together. When the entire group feels calm and quiet, hope, determination and resiliency rise powerfully and people can move forward to create a better life.
“My health was terrible before I came to the clinic…I would say I was on the brink of death, taking dozens of medications, and had no hope. Now I am off all my meds, and I love life. It was the acupuncture that brought me back,” said veteran and patient Dixon.
Others who have been taking psychiatric medications have also been able to wean off of them slowly due to the rapid results they have seen with acupuncture treatments.
“I am down to 6.25 mg of Seroquel, I am sleeping ok, and I am doing ok at work. I am able to go to the gym more often and work out and not get as tired. Acupuncture appears to be working great for me,” said another veteran recently.
Using The NADA Protocol
One of the main reasons there has been high success rates in the program is in part due to the NADA protocol that continues to be used.
The protocol grew out of the work of Dr. Michael Smith at Lincoln Hospital in New York City in the late 1970s, which led to the formation of the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) and the codification of the clinical protocol: Five needles inserted at specific points in the ear.
Research has shown that before individuals can overcome chemical addiction, attention must be given both to the alleviation of the diverse array of mental-physical stresses impacting their lives, as well as comprehensive restoration of the community infrastructure. Further research has demonstrated that the NADA protocol addresses both the addictive component and the stress component of drug dependency.
Recovery from chemical addiction mirrors the recovery path for individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome, which is why the NADA protocol is now being used to treat the effects of trauma. AWB volunteers witnessed this first hand while treating the Gulf Coast residents and responders after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The survivors and rescue workers faced enormous mental and physical stresses not only as individuals, but also in their families and communities amidst an almost unprecedented breakdown of social infrastructure.
Translating the Louisiana experience into the MSRP clinics has demonstrated that the NADA 5 Needle protocol is an effective tool for treating the stresses and wounds of war.
As a result of their treatments, clinic participants report stress reduction, improved mental clarity, improved energy, enhanced performance, better sleep, fewer bad dreams and headaches, less anxiety and depression, reduced anger and pain, improved general health, and better relationships.
October 30, 2013 by admin
Source: About.com
http://vision.about.com/od/eyeexaminations/a/Acupuncture-For-Eyes.htm
Acupuncture is sometimes used as an alternative treatment for eye health problems. Many people see results and benefits of acupuncture on their overall eye health. Studies show that acupuncture can help treat eye conditions such as dry eye syndrome.
Acupuncture Explained
Acupuncture is a procedure in which thin needles are inserted through a person’s skin on specific points on the body. Scientists are not sure exactly how acupuncture works but it has been shown to provide pain relief and alleviation of nausea secondary to cancer treatments. Acupuncture is thought to have begun in China. Historical accounts of acupuncture were also discovered in ancient text in Japan and Korea. The goal of acupuncture is to restore balance and health by manipulating the flow of “Qi” (life force) through invisible tracts running from the head to the toes. These pathways, also referred to as meridians, are separate from nerve and blood vessel pathways. Studies have shown that local accumulations of certain neurotransmitters by nearby nerves are manipulated by the insertion of needles and may be what causes beneficial health effects of acupuncture.
Acupuncture for Eye Problems
According to some people, an imbalance in the body can show up as an eye problem or disease. When you have acupuncture, any imbalance that may be causing symptoms will be addressed. Eye acupuncture focuses on promoting circulation of Qi and blood around the eyes. Acupuncture is sometimes used as an alternative treatment for chronic dry eye syndrome. Studies have shown acupuncture to cause a reduction in the temperature of the eye surface that helps to reduce evaporation of the tears throughout the day. The procedure is also sometimes used to treat glaucoma. Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve that is usually caused by higher than normal levels of pressure in the eye. In one study, eye pressure decreased significantly after acupuncture. Another study showed that acupuncture successful reduced symptoms of allergic and inflammatory eye disease.
Acupuncture Points Around the Eyes
The following areas are focused on during acupuncture for eye health.
•Jingming (UB-1) – Jingming means “bright eyes” and is located in the inner corner of the eye. This point is thought to bring Qi and blood to the eyes and to help eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma, night blindness, conjunctivitis and blurry vision.
•Zanzhu (UB-2) – The Zanzhu point is in the crease at the inner end of the eyebrow. This point is the focus when patients complain of headache, blurred vision, pain, tearing, redness, eye twitching and glaucoma.
•Yuyao – Yuyao is the in the middle of the eyebrow right above the pupil. This point is used for treating eye strain, eyelid twitching, ptosis (upper eye lid that hangs low), cloudiness of the cornea, redness and swelling.
•Sizhukong (SJ 23) – The Sizhukog area is located in the hollow area at the outside part of the eye brow. It is thought to be a point where acupuncture can be performed to help eye and facial pain including headaches, redness, eye pain, blurred vision, eye toothache and facial paralysis.
•Tongzilia (GB 1) – The Tongzilia is located on the outside corner of the eye. This point is thought to brighten the eyes. Manipulation of this point also treats headache, redness, eye pain, light sensitivity, dry eyes, cataracts and conjunctivitis.
What You Should Know
Until more acupuncture studies are completed, the best treatment approach for people with significant eye problems or disease may be a combination of traditional western medicine combined with acupuncture. Acupuncture has proven to be a safe alternative treatment for people who have not found a resolution to their eye problems by traditional means.
October 26, 2013 by admin
Source: Dr. Oz
http://www.doctoroz.com/blog/jamie-starkey-lac/acupuncture-ease-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease
A recent clinical trial published in the May edition of Archives of Internal Medicine may hold promise for those suffering with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The treatment? Acupuncture.
According to the American Lung Association, COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States. COPD is the name given to a group of diseases negatively affecting your ability to breath, with the two most prevalent COPD diseases being chronic bronchitis and emphysema. In this family of disease, possible symptoms include shortness of breath (dyspnea), coughing, wheezing and fatigue.
In this latest acupuncture study conducted by a team of researchers in Japan, 68 COPD patients receiving standard conventional medication were randomly assigned to either traditional acupuncture (small hair-thin needles were placed into specific points on the body) or placebo acupuncture (blunt “fake” needles were used that never punctured the skin). Treatment lasted a total of 12 weeks.
After the 12-week course of treatment, results for the acupuncture group showed improved breathing, lessened symptoms of dyspnea, and improved exercise tolerance.
Patients who suffer from COPD understand there is no cure for this disease. Once the disease is diagnosed, the focus is symptom management and improving quality of life. Patients make lifestyle changes such as avoiding cigarette smoke and other air pollutants while physicians can further manage symptoms with medications like bronchodilators.
Critics of this study point out the study’s design flaws, such as its small sample size. There are indeed study limitations when trying to perform acupuncture randomized control trials. While the scientific community may butt heads, what does this mean for the lay person who suffers from COPD?
With any treatment modality, weigh the risks versus potential benefits. Acupuncture treatments have little to no side effects, and the potential benefits are clear. If you suffer from COPD and want to enhance your conventional treatment approach, speak to your physician and consider adjunct treatment options like acupuncture, which may offer further relief of symptoms.
October 26, 2013 by admin
Source: Dr. Oz
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/acupuncture-and-weight-loss
Chinese acupuncture is finally getting under the skin of dieters by tapping into the body’s many hidden energy meridians. The ancient practice of acupuncture helps to heal a host of ailments, and practitioners of Western medicine now embrace it to quell chronic pain, postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting, high blood pressure, addictions and weight loss. When fine needles are barely inserted into the skin along strategic points on the body it can restore balance to the flow of energy along rivers of Qi (pronounced chee), or life force.
There are many reasons people become overweight – hormone imbalances, slowed metabolism, overeating, poor nutrition and lack of exercise are some of the most common.
Using acupuncture to tackle weight loss is a multi-pronged approach.
Pinning Down the Benefits
The rationale for using acupuncture for weight control is based in the premise that weight gain could be the result of disturbed energy flow to and from the regulating center of the brain, called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is responsible for maintaining “homeostasis” or functional balance that allows the body to run like a finely tuned instrument. It is the body’s dispatch center that regulates hormones and neurochemicals, and helps to control body temperature, circadian rhythm, thirst and hunger.
Of particular interest is the ability of acupuncture to influence obesity hormones. Research measuring the effectiveness of acupuncture for weight loss found treatments increased ghrelin, a hormone that controls meal initiation and decreased leptin, the hormone that regulates fat storage and metabolism.
The guiding principal is that acupuncture can power up any other weight control strategy by curbing appetite, quelling cravings, boosting metabolism, improving digestion, regulating obesity-related hormones and enhancing the way nutrients are used. It also strengthens the function of the liver, the organ that produces many chemicals critical for digestion, processing nutrients and breaking down of fats. Acupuncture may also increase tone in the smooth muscle of the stomach to help people know that they are full.
Earmark of Acupuncture
To pinpoint the Qi for effective weight control, acupuncturists take aim at 4 acupuncture points on the ear – the hunger point, Shen Men point, stomach point, and endocrine point. A few tiny sterilized needles are inserted along these invisible channels to decrease the “heat” generated along these meridians and to stimulate centers that trigger the release of neurochemicals and hormones.
During some courses of treatment, the needles are covered with tape so that they can be left in place for a few days. Patients later remove them at home or during follow-up visits to the acupuncturist. Some practitioners may also use “ear seeds” that patient wear home that can be massaged periodically to help with difficult-to-control urges.
Guidance For Using Acupuncture For Weight Loss
•Choose a qualified practitioner – Most states require that acupuncturists be licensed to assure that they have completed the necessary education and training standards to practice. You may see L.Ac. (licensed acupuncturist) following his or her name. Acupuncturists may also be medical doctors or other medical professional who have completed a postgraduate program of study.
•Complete a full course of treatment – Acupuncture for weight loss is best achieved with 10 treatments delivered over a few weeks.
Follow a comprehensive weight-loss plan – Acupuncture should be used alongside a comprehensive weight-loss plan, like the Dr. Oz Diet that includes healthy food choices coupled with exercise.
•Don’t Confuse Treatments — Although ear stapling is loosely based on the concept of acupuncture, it is an imprecise method that uses surgical staples that penetrate the cartilage of the ear, which is know to promote infection.
October 20, 2013 by admin
Source: Dr. Oz
http://www.doctoroz.com/blog/jamie-starkey-lac/acupuncture-can-help-you-kick-habit
With each inhalation of a cigarette, you breath in over 4,000 chemicals, including but certainly not limited to arsenic, ammonia, acetone, ammonium bromide, benzene, carbon monoxide, cadmium, cyanide, DDT, formaldehyde, lead, mercury, nickel, hydrogen cyanide, and hydrogen sulfide, in addition to at least 50 cancer-causing agents.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, cigarette smoking causes death: nearly 443,000 deaths per year (1 in 5 deaths) to be exact. This is more than HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides and murders combined.
What can acupuncture do to assist in quitting smoking? Acupuncturists are trained to address addictions, especially nicotine addiction, following the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. We assess the addiction from several perspectives, inclusive of the physical, mental and emotional addiction. There are many acupuncturists who utilize a technique where fine needles are inserted into a set of five acupuncture points on the ear (auricular acupuncture), as promoted by The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA), a not-for-profit organization who teaches and endorses this acupuncture detoxification protocol. You may even be sent home with small beads placed on the ear using adhesive tape, that when stimulated, can continue to help curb withdrawal symptoms (an application of auricular acupressure). In general, expect frequency of visits to be several times per week for the first week or two (recommendations vary per acupuncturist and patient’s condition). Our goal in the treatment plan is to support patients through the acute phase of withdrawal, improving your success at kicking the nicotine habit. Commonly, patients experience a decrease in cravings, changes in sensory perception as the taste and smell of cigarettes becomes intolerable, and an increased state of calm and relaxation.
If you have ever attempted to quit, you know there are multiple withdrawal symptoms that one can experience, including: insomnia, fatigue, feeling jittering, cough, tightness in the chest, dry mouth, constipation, irritability, depression, anxiousness and lack of concentration. As an acupuncturist, I routinely address these issues independently, and improvements in such symptoms are commonly experienced as side benefits by patients. In the scientific community, there have been insightful findings on acupuncture’s complex mechanism of action, offering explanation of why this ancient treatment works. Research supports acupuncture’s role in influencing the various aspects of the nervous system, thereby modulating things like your gastrointestinal system, heart rate, stress response and mood.
In 2011, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), a subsidiary of the US Department of Justice, in collaboration with the American University, evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture as an adjunct to substance abuse treatment. This initiative ensued as a result of many drug courts using acupuncture as an adjunct to the substance abuse treatments provided to drug court participants. In the BJA review of the literature, they determined a number of acupuncture studies demonstrated reduced cravings and symptoms of withdrawal when coupled with conventional treatment plans.
A recent Cochrane Review assessed various randomized control trials looking at acupuncture and related interventions for smoking cessation. Due to flaws in methodological designs and bias, they were unable to firmly conclude acupuncture was a viable stand alone treatment plan for tobacco cessation but ended with “… acupuncture may be better than doing nothing, at least in the short term; and there is not enough evidence to dismiss the possibility that acupuncture might have an effect greater than placebo.” Despite the flaws in the formal research design, it’s hard to overlook the empirical outcomes as thousands of people have found success with tobacco cessation through the aid of acupuncture treatments.
Using a combination of therapies like hypnosis, acupuncture and pharmaceutical approaches to address the mental, emotional and physiological aspect of the addiction oftentimes yields the best results.
October 20, 2013 by admin
Source: Everyday Health
http://www.everydayhealth.com/gerd/alternative-treatments-for-gerd.aspx
Although many people have occasional heartburn, experiencing heartburn more than twice a week may be a sign of a more serious condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The stomach acids produced by GERD can erode the lining of the esophagus, causing painful complications such as ulcers, difficulty swallowing, and even esophageal cancer. To avoid these problems, in addition to making lifestyle modifications, people may need to take GERD medications — but these treatments can also cause problems when taken over an extended period.
Over-the-counter antacids are a popular remedy for heartburn. However, taking these for a number of years without a doctor’s supervision has been associated with an increase in risk for esophageal adenocarcinoma, a form of cancer. And on the prescription side, proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, are very effective at reducing GERD symptoms. But PPIs have their own controversial link — to lower bone density and ensuing bone fractures. In May 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that labels for OTC and prescription PPIs must be revised to include information about the increased risk of hip, wrist, and spine fractures associated with these drugs.
Given these challenges with conventional GERD therapies, many people with GERD may look for alternative therapies to ease their symptoms. Unfortunately, very few complementary and alternative treatments have been shown to help treat GERD. However, acupuncture is one type of treatment that may bring real relief to some people with GERD.
GERD: The Evidence for Acupuncture
Studies show that acupuncture, an ancient form of Chinese medicine, may be helpful in treating digestive disorders such as GERD because it alters the secretion of acids, affecting gastrointestinal movement.
Acupuncture practitioners use extremely thin needles placed along certain points in the body to achieve different physiological results.
“I refer my GERD patients for acupuncture, and it definitely helps,” says Mary Maish, MD, MPH, director of the Center for Esophageal Disorders at the University of California, Los Angeles.
One study examined the results of adding acupuncture treatments vs. a double dose of standard GERD medication in patients who hadn’t found complete relief using a single dose of a proton pump inhibitor. At the end of the study, patients who received the acupuncture treatment in addition to a single dose of GERD medication had significant decrease in both day and nighttime heartburn and acid regurgitation compared with their initial heartburn.
Patients who were given a double dose of medication did not show any significant changes in heartburn compared with the beginning of the study.
October 20, 2013 by admin
Source: WebMD
http://www.webmd.com/fibromyalgia/news/20060616/acupuncture-good-for-fibromyalgia
Researchers estimate that the majority of fibromyalgia patients try alternative treatments to relieve their symptoms. The ancient Chinese needle practice, acupuncture, might be one that can help.
A study published in the June edition of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings shows acupuncture can relieve fatigue and anxiety in fibromyalgia patients for up to seven months after the treatment. This study was also presented last year at the 11th World Congress on Pain.
David P. Martin, MD, PhD, and Mayo Clinic colleagues tested 50 fibromyalgia patients; half were treated with acupuncture, half got fake treatments. Neither group knew which treatment it was receiving.
The patients got six treatments over a two- to three-week period. They were questioned about their symptoms immediately after treatment, one month later, then again seven months later.
Based on their answers to the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, a standard tool in fibromyalgia treatment, the “true” acupuncture patients had less fatigue and fewer anxiety symptoms one month after treatment than the “fake” acupuncture group.
The questionnaire also asks about physical impairment, pain, stiffness, depression, and how well someone rests or feels. For these, there were no differences reported by the two groups. Researchers also used a separate pain questionnaire that showed no significant differences.
October 18, 2013 by admin
Source:
http://www.emperors.edu/qiblog/2012/08/five-ways-acupuncture-helps-athletes-and-can-help-you-too/
The London games are in full swing and several smart Olympians have already used acupuncture for health maintenance, performance enhancement, and pain relief. US gymnast and gold medalist McKayla Maroney recently used acupuncture along with other treatments to help speed the healing of her big broken toe and get her in shape for the vault jump, her specialty.
Another American athlete using acupuncture is 400 meter dynamo Dee Dee Trotter. Dee Dee has brought her hometown acupuncturist to London with her in order to continue treatments during the games just as she did during the Olympic trials. And my favorite, Amy Acuff, a fellow acupuncturist, is an Olympic high jumper who relies on acupuncture for maintenance as well as for faster recovery from injuries.
Athletes Depend On Acupuncture For 5 Important Reasons
1. Pain relief: Acupuncture is well known for its powerful ability to reduce and often eliminate pain. This is a huge attraction for athletes who are plagued by strain and injury. Using acupuncture to relieve pain, the athletes never have to worry about experiencing side effects from pharmaceutical drugs or failing a drug test. How does acupuncture alleviate pain?
There are several studies which have shown that when needles are inserted, they stimulate points that boost our natural painkillers. In one study, researchers at the University of Michigan (published by University of Michigan Health System in Journal of NeuroImage, Vol. 5, No. 83, 2009) found acupuncture affected the brain’s long-term ability to regulate pain.
2. Muscle relaxation: Athletes train for thousands of hours which is punishing to their bodies. Acupuncture reduces soreness from workouts and increases blood flow throughout the body. This helps athletes get ready for another day by relaxing their tight muscles and reducing inflammation.
3. Fast healing: When an athlete has to skip training or miss a competition, precious time is lost. Acupuncture helps injuries to heal faster so athletes do not miss valuable training time.
4. Energy enhancement and better sleep: Acupuncture boosts athletes’ energy when they are awake and helps them to sleep at night. The body repairs itself at night so sleeping well is vital to a good performance.
5. Improved blood flow: Acupuncture increases the amount of nitric oxide in the body. A study from UCLA Medical Center (Responses of Nitric Oxide-cGMP Release in Acupuncture Point to Electroacupuncture in Human Skin In Vivo Using Dermal Microdialysis. In Microcirculation, 2009 May, 26:1-10) concludes that one reason acupuncture is effective is because the needles increase the release of nitric oxide throughout the body. Nitric Oxide causes the blood vessels to relax and to widen, thereby opening up the arteries. This allows better blood flow to the heart and your other important organs.
Acupuncture can improve your well-being
Whether you are an Olympian, a sports enthusiast or, like most of us, a person with a busy schedule who needs all the energy you can muster, acupuncture offers many benefits. We all want to perform at our best no matter how big or small the competition; the high jump or the business meeting.
Acupuncture can improve your well-being because it alleviates pain, increases blood flow, helps speed the healing of injuries, relaxes muscle tension, boosts energy during the day and helps us to sleep at night.
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