acuforwell

Acupuncture - the painless poke

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 12:11:04 GMT

Alli Redding admits that since she discovered traditional Chinese medicine - in particular, acupuncture - things have just come together.

"I have a much more balanced life," says she. Redding firmly believes in this form of medicine, receiving the needle treatment herself once a week.

It wasn't until Redding was playing basketball and studying kinesiology at Simon Fraser University that she began to learn more about her body and ways of caring for it. "I was playing basketball and dealing with injury so it was nice knowing what was going on with my body," she said.

Redding discovered she preferred a more natural approach to treatment than pharmaceuticals. "What I really like about it is the holistic approach, how it looks at the mind and body," Redding said.

Working six days a week offering acupuncture treatment and manning the herbal dispensary, Redding treated physical ailments like colds and flu, back injuries, heart problems, and diabetes, as well as with emotional trauma, alongside Beijing doctors. And her services were welcomed by both patients and doctors, she said. "I think they were impressed we were interested in a medicine that was rooted in their culture," she said.

Redding was also impressed by how the Chinese have merged their traditional form of treatment with Western medicine, and she hopes to bring that fusion to the North Shore by showing people that acupuncture in particular can be an alternative treatment for many conditions - from aches and pains to allergies, common colds, depression, and addiction.

"I definitely feel like I'm playing a large educational role," said Redding of her duties as an Acupuncturist. And that secret Redding knows but is more than willing to share? "The needles don't hurt."

Posted by Nancy_lbn

Acupuncture helps painful menstruation

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 12:09:42 GMT

Many women at one time or another experience some form of discomfort during their menstrual cycle. Cramping pain can occur before, during or after menstrual bleeding. Location of discomfort can be felt in the lower abdominal region and can extend to the low back. Quality of pain can range from sharp and stabbing to dull and achy, from mild to moderate and even severe in some cases.

In general, pain relief is one of the great success stories of acupuncture treatment. Particularly, acupuncture can help greatly minimize or alleviate altogether common pain experienced during menstruation. Treatment time for acupuncture can vary between 45 minutes to an hour with several follow-up treatments. Chinese herbal medicine also can be used in conjunction with acupuncture, to assist in promoting and maintaining smooth circulation of the body's Qi (vital force). Regulating Qi circulation will aid in prevention of cramps in future menstrual cycles. Herbal formulas are specially customized to fit the needs of each individual.

As with any medical concern, it is always important to be thoroughly evaluated by your medical doctor to rule out serious potential causes of painful menses such as inflammation of the pelvic region, endometriosis, etc. When looking for an acupuncture provider, find someone who is a licensed acupuncturist. Many insurance providers cover acupuncture treatments for various conditions.

Acupuncture and migraine

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 02:14:49 GMT

It is estimated that in UK alone, around 15% of the population suffers from migraine, out of which two thirds are women. Jane Elliot, a medical reporter at the BBC talks about migraine and acupuncture, to mark Migraine Awareness Week.

According to Jane, in ones childhood, migraine can give rise to a number of reactions such as vomiting and headaches, which might be triggered with the smallest of actions such as drinking too much juice, red wine, eating chocolates, exhaustion, or even getting too very excited.

Jane Elliot says “First comes hours of excruciating pain and feelings of depressing nausea, then a welcome relief as I eventually vomit and as the pain recedes and I can fall into sleep. “

Migraines normally last from few hours to few days continuously too. Jane relates that her migraines normally last for about eight hours on an average. Though she tried a number of drugs to prevent migraine, none of them were totally successful. Some of them worked on her attacks, but left her nauseated.

Jane was recommended Imigran Recovery, Sumaptriptan, the counter drug. Although it worked for her, she wanted to explore other alternatives as she did not want to be reliant on too many drugs. Jane was recommended and sponsored for acupuncture treatments by her mother, who heard about the relation between migraine and acupuncture in a TV show. Jane decided to give it a shot, without any initial hopes.

Christina, Jane’s acupuncturist advised her to change her diet habits. She was asked to cut down on caffeine and increase her water consumption instead. Acupuncture sessions involved gentle head massages and needles placed on specific points on her body.

The first week after the treatment was accompanied with two attacks and the week after that, one. During the third week, Jane was completely migraine free. After that, she was attacked by migraine about 3 months later only, which was also looked after by acupuncture.

The above is one of the many cases where acupuncture has proved to be successful in places where other drugs and medications have failed.

Posted by: Nancy

Acupuncture for pain relief

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 02:10:12 GMT

Nowadays, acupuncture is being recommended against almost all types of pains in various parts of the world. The success rate of acupuncture has assured most of the people about its advantages. Tara Nolan, a real estate agent, who was suffering from back and neck pains complained about not being able to drive without undergoing pain until a masseuse sent her to acupuncturist Paula Lord. Tara has now been taking acupuncture treatments since November.

Dr. Lord had a masters degree and a national license to practice this form of holistic medicine. "It is basically known for getting to the source of the problem”, says Dr. Lord. Tara stated that the treatment has helped with the after effects of chemotherapy too.

Acupuncture basically involves piercing tiny, sterile needles into specific points on the body, depending upon the pain or disorder suffered from. It works by maintaining the balance of the flow of energy through pathways called meridians inside the body.

"You could do all sorts of things for headaches. We decided to try a little experiment of our own. I've always had some knee problems dealing with ligaments, tendons and even arthritis. So we decided to give Dr. Lord a try. Now the question in all this is does it hurt? and the answer is not really!", says Tara.

Acupuncture can be a major source of pain relief for patients like Tara who suffer from continuous pain.

Acupuncture and Veterinary Care

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 06:45:45 GMT

Dr. Brad Kerr, a veterinarian, treats animals with acupuncture and traditional Chinese remedies. He has had success with dogs whose nerves were damaged in the hind legs. He is also using the therapy to treat diabetes in the dog.

Interest in acupuncture- the stimulation of specific points on the body by inserting and manipulating needles -- has been growing in the United States since President Nixon's groundbreaking trip to China in the 1970s. Only recently, however, has the treatment become an option in this area for animals as well as people.

It’s a tricky issue to convince owners to let needles pierce their pets’ flesh. Actually, some animals are very tolerant of acupuncture. It depends on your pet's disposition. The idea is to stimulate qi a kind of life force that pulses through the body. When qi is blocked, disease can result. By inserting needles in selected acupuncture points, the acupuncturist tries to clear up "qi stagnation" and get the qi flowing again. How deep the needles are inserted may vary, depending on the treatment. How many needles he uses will also vary, according to the ailment and the animal's strength; the frailer the animal, the fewer the needles.

Western science has trouble explaining how acupuncture can work. In the U.S., the veterinary school at Colorado State University began teaching acupuncture in 1974.

Veterinary acupuncture has found some of its widest acceptance in treating orthopedic problems, such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, degenerative joint disease and age-related conditions that often don't respond well to conventional medical treatments.

Kerr said acupuncture is also effective for skin conditions, neurological problems, gastroinestinal, heart, kidney and liver problems and even some behavioral syndromes, such as aggressiveness, separation anxiety or fear of thunderstorms.

A self-styled "child of the counterculture, Kerr grew up in California and worked in the restaurant trade before earning his D.V.M. degree at Purdue University in 1987. After years of practice as a conventional vet, Kerr enrolled in 2000 at the Chi Institute of Gainesville, Fla., which offered training in traditional Chinese medicine. After a year's study, he was certified as a veterinary acupuncturist. Both Kerr and Wirsing - whose practice does not include acupuncture - prefer to define their practices as "complementary" rather than alternative medicine. They see their therapies not as substitutes for conventional veterinary medicine but as supplements.

For both Kerr and Wirsing, the appeal of their therapies lies in their holistic aspect - the effort to consider the entire animal rather than attacking disparate symptoms.Veterinary care doesn't have to be an either-or choice.

Nontraditional Healthcare - Acupuncture

Wed, 23 Aug 2006 03:38:02 GMT

Glucosamine is not a drug. It’s a mere dietary supplement. But increasingly, doctors are approving and even recommending it for arthritis. It is now part of the huge complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM. The use of vitamins, herbs and other supplements has been steadily increasing, as the number of products in the market indicate. Shelf after shelf is loaded with items once found only in health food stores.

Accelerating research into CAM practices at conventional medical institutions has led to the inclusion of other supplements into conventional medical practice. Folic acid is commonly recommended during pregnancy to prevent certain birth defects, and vitamins and zinc are used to slow macular degeneration, an age-related eye disease. This explosion is also in the fields of acupuncture and other alternate medical fields. There are now 70 percent more naturopathic physicians in the state than there were six years ago.

State laws that changed 10 years ago, requiring health insurers to include in their provider network complementary and alternative practitioners who are licensed by the state. The law finally survived court challenges in 1999, state-regulated health insurance plans had to cover visits to acupuncturists, naturopathic physicians, chiropractors and massage therapists. This resulted in dramatic utilization of these benefits since the first year it was implemented.

The productions levels have tripled since 1999 and still the demand is not fully met. In 1998, the federal government added a new agency to the National Institutes of Health to investigate complementary and alternative healing practices, subject them to scientific research and put out authoritative information about the growing list of practices and substances.

Naturophatic doctors build relationships with their patients, which proves to be a good long-term strategy. This valuing of the patient builds trust and results in an ever increasing number of patients. An integrated alternative health plan that works with the mainstream practice has proved to be an important industry additive. It will only grow in the future to an even bigger size.

Piercing pounds

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 03:29:05 GMT

Everyone likes to keep fit, and no one likes to have extra fat on their body. Maintaining an ideal weight or shedding off the extra pounds has always been desired by one and all, but it has never been easy. The San Angelo standard times now claims that the newest trend in the weight reduction process is inserting surgical staples in ears instead of exercising or taking in diet pills. Though this method of weight reduction has been proved neither medically nor scientifically, several residents from Concho Valley claim that they have lost weight after such treatments.

Dick Spurger, a Grape Creek resident, who has his ear stapled at Staple Magic in San Angelo in April, came down from weighing 310 to 260, hence losing 50 pounds after losing his appetite. Many patients reported having their ears stapled, a bit painful. Creel Goodman, who is 30, reported the procedure to be painful, though not unbearable. Though he hadn’t lost any weight, he felt a lot better after the treatment. His wife, Hannah Goodman of San Angelo, 27, who also had her ears stapled on the same day lost about 3 pounds, 3 days after going through the treatment.

This procedure had left many of the medical practitioners cynical as it is a form of acupuncture. Dr. Drew Wallace, chiropractor and acupuncturist, said that it helps suppress the eating appetite. He included that for it to be done effectively, there usually needs to be some form of a diet as if it is not done with some lifestyle changes, they results are going to be short termed only. Dr. Monty Wright, chiropractor and acupuncturist at Wright Chiropractic in San Angelo, does not perform ear stapling because he feels that it only reduces people's cravings and not weight.

Ear stapling is not recognized as a legitimate medical activity, according to the Department of State Health Services, Austin. Tom Brinck, the department's manager of Drugs and Medical Devices Group, said the equipment used - a surgical stapler and surgical staples - are prescription type devices that should be bought and owned by licensed medical practitioners.

Staple Magic, 2808 Sherwood Way, owned by Ronnie Carter and his wife, Mary Carter, specializes in performing this kind of a procedure. Ronnie Carter and Mary Carter were trained in Oklahoma. For $65 they will put staples in both ears. Ronnie Carter said they staple about 150 people a month, ranging in age from teens to senior citizens. According to Carter, results can be seen within a week and if they take care of the insertions properly, infections are unlikely. “It doesn't work for everybody, but it works for a lot of people”, Carter concluded.

Acupuncture and herbs

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 03:25:45 GMT

Acupuncture is the popular traditional Chinese alternative medical technique that is believed to cure almost all kinds of diseases ranging from headaches, back pains, insomnia and allergies, to arthritis, fibromyalgia, infertility and even certain types of cancers. Apart from proving to be a great remedy for various diseases, it also helps curb addictions such as smoking and over-eating, and aids weight loss too.

How acupuncture cures is uncertain and still under study, but the general belief is that acupuncture unblocks blocked paths inside our body, through which energies called chi, flow. It is believed that there are about 14 different pathways called meridians through which energy flows and a block in even one of the pathways leads to some sort of an unrest within the body. When these energy paths are blocked, diseases and disorders are triggered. Acupuncture unblocks the clogged pathways by inserting sterile, stainless steel acupuncture needles at specific points on the body.

Most acupuncture practitioners recommend the use of Chinese herbs after acupuncture treatments as it has been proved to be effective in retaining the effects of the treatment and also in helping the body fight disorders, individually. They come in various forms and may be useful in fighting ailments and acts as a preventive medicine too. Herbs which were a part of the Traditional Chinese Medicines or TCM are still being used today. These herbs come in various forms such as infusion, tinctures or tonics, powders, tablets, syrups, decoction etc.

Infusion is mostly found in the form of liquid drinks such as herbal teas or herbal mixtures of leaves, roots, barks and flowers in hot water, which are steeped in a teapot made of ceramic or glass. By boiling herbs using roots, seeds or barks of plants, a decoction is prepared. It is a simple way of using valuable herbs, but due to the boiling process, many essential oils are lost. When herbs or herbal solutions are added to alcohols, they are termed as tinctures. They are easy for intake, but more difficult to prepare than the other forms of herbs. Herbal syrups are mainly for kids and help stop cold, cough, fever and other mild disorders. Herbs are also available in tablet or powder form.

Herbs are extremely helpful in preventing diseases and providing relief from many ailments, but it must be remembered that they must be taken only if they are prescribed by a certified medical practitioner.

Can acupuncture eliminate allergies?

Wed, 02 Aug 2006 05:43:39 GMT

Allergies have become invariably common among many people due to various factors. An allergy is a condition in which there is hypersensitivity and overreaction to various chemicals (allergens), which serves to protect the organism. It is found that about 30 to 50 percent of the people in the United States suffer from some form of allergy. According to the NIAID, Dec 2004, allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic disease in the United States, costing the health care system $18 billion annually. Allergy can arise as a result of exposure to a number of substances such as dust, insects, drugs, vaccines, certain food items, perfumes, fabrics etc.

Acupuncture has always been regarded as an alternative treatment only for major diseases and illnesses such as arthritis, cancer etc. Recently, an acupuncturist in Denver has opened out that allergy can also be cured using acupuncture. This can be done using a special technique called NAET or Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique, named after Dr. Devi Nambudripad, who is an acupuncturist, a chiropractor, and a Ph. D. in nutrition. The NAET is a non-invasive, drug free allergy cure and is based on the supposition that blockages of energy in the body lead to allergies. It uses a combination of energy balancing, and procedures from acupuncture, allopathy, chiropractic, nutrition, and kinesiology.

During the treatment, the kinesiology muscle testing is carried out to detect what a person is allergic to, or affected by. After the root cause of the allergy is found out, the acupuncture treatment is carried out accordingly.

Linda Peri, a patient says “I had gone through everything else that was possible, and I was still very miserable. So, I said, 'What do I have to lose?' After about five to 10 treatments of Acupuncture, I felt like a completely different person."

Acupuncturists claim that after about 15 NAET treatments, mild to moderate allergies are cured completely.

How to train to be an acupuncturist

Thu, 13 Jul 2006 06:54:22 GMT

Acupuncture has been gradually gaining popularity all over the world since the last few years and has become one of the most successful forms of treatments among the alternative medicines. Nowadays, due to its high success rate, many people have started demanding acupuncture treatments and advice from their local doctors and practitioners. A number of acupuncture schools have been set up all over the United States recently and are growing continuously at a high rate. The Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) and the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM), which were founded in 1982, accredit them. Till date, there are about 50 schools, which have received such accreditation. The first step in training to be an acupuncturist would be to learn a complete course on acupuncture and its methods from one of the reputed acupuncture institutes.

Information about the right techniques for an acupuncture treatment is one of the most important lessons to be learnt while training to be an acupuncturist. An acupuncturist must discuss the history of the problem with every patient and must analyze and verify its causes and plan the method of treatment accordingly, before every session, after complete and proper physical examination. The right acupuncture points must be selected and it must be ensured that the needles are well sterilized and inserted on that point at a proper depth. The duration for which the needles remain inserted inside the points must also be decided with care. Other acupuncture related treatments such as electrical stimulation, laser therapy and moxibustion must also be mastered.

It is important that experts in the field supervise the work of a trainee before he/she starts practicing acupuncture on patients. With the right knowledge and keen interest, one can train to be a good acupuncturist.

Treating insomnia with acupuncture

Thu, 13 Jul 2006 06:52:10 GMT

Insomnia is an ailment where the affected person suffers from lack of proper rest or sleep. Normally, an individual affected with insomnia would show the symptoms of not being able to fall asleep easily, having troubled and uncomfortable sleep, incomplete sleep or a non-refreshing sleep. It may be initiated due to a lot of factors such as stress, anxiety, excessive alcohol consumption or irregular or improper time schedules. Insomnia may be short termed, where the disorder lasts only for a few days, intermittent, where the ailment comes and goes in differing intervals or chronic, which is generally long lasting and may last for as long as a month or more. Chronic insomnia can again be either primary or secondary. Secondary chronic insomnia is caused due to other health or external factors.

Insomnia, if left untreated can become the route cause of other health and psychological problems. Hence, care must be taken to treat it in an efficient manner as soon as it is diagnosed. The fast-spreading treatment of Acupuncture is now proved to fight against insomnia too, by bringing about a balance in the nervous system. On an average, the success rate of acupuncture against insomnia is found to be 90 percent.

The treatment is carried out by piercing acupuncture pins on specific points on the human body. The points may vary depending on the patient and in this case, according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine’s (TCM) theory, the points must communicate with the heart and kidney. The extrapoint and HT7 point, known as Anmien and Shenmen respectively are the usual acupuncture points for treatment of insomnia.

A study was conducted to find out the effects of acupuncture on insomnia on 55 patients, aged between 7 and 92 years, where the average age was 48.4 years. After the completion of the treatment, 44 out of the 55 patients showed remarkable results, being completely and instantly cured of insomnia.

Acupuncture for health and fitness

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 06:25:19 GMT

Acupuncture, is gradually becoming one of the most sought after treatments for a number of diseases and ailments, proving to be one of the most effective of healers and pain relievers.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese therapy where thin, sterile, stainless steel pins are pierced at specific points on the body, depending upon the type of disease and the extent of pain felt. Over the years, acupuncture has been extremely successful in curing a wide range of illness such as headache, neck pain, backache as well as major diseases like cancer, arthritis etc., to a great extent.

The most important asset to a human being is good health. Being fit is very essential to lead a normal and healthy life. Acupuncture is not only a good healer, but is also a good preventive medicine. Studies show that acupuncture releases the naturally occurring opiates of the body, endorphins and enkephalin, which influences the central nervous system and helps in release of endorphins from the brain. It improves the circulation inside the body and also balances the energy within, thus strengthening it. Normally, the body is kept disease-free by ensuring that there is the right amount of vital energy or “chi” flowing through specific points of the body. If the energy amount is not accurate, then it is reduced or increased accordingly with the help of acupuncture. This maintains the balance in the body and hence it is kept fit and healthy. It stimulates and activates the body immune and healing systems too.

Acupuncture aids weight loss

Tue, 06 Jun 2006 01:58:44 GMT

Obesity is defined as a condition in which the body weight is increased above 30% of the ideal body weight due to excessive accumulation of fat. Obesity has been one of the greatest physical threats that has been faced by man since a long time and has been on the rise significantly. The National Center for Health Statistics has come out with the data that 30 percent of the adults in the United States, that is, around 60 million people and 16 percent of the children are obese. Obesity increases the risk of a large number of other diseases such as heart attacks, diabetes, hypertension, stroke and cancers too.

Weight loss, thus, is being given a great deal of importance. Exercises, diets and pills have been some of the most common methods to lose weight. But they have been slow processes. Although surgeries have been more successful, they have always been accompanied with a large number of harmful side effects and also have not been affordable for most. Acupuncture, the healing treatment by insertion of pins on particular points on the human body, developed by the Chinese over 5000 years back, has now been proved to aid weight loss.

The acupuncture treatment is carried out by inserting stainless steel pins into specific points on the body and in the ear. The exact reason due to which acupuncture aids weight loss is unknown, but the insertion triggers a calming effect on the body that reduces stress and anxiety and reduces the yearning for food. It also brings about a normalcy in the body metabolism and helps the organ systems regain balance.

The number of treatments and the cost varies from person to person.

Acupuncture - a Face-Lift Alternative

Wed, 17 May 2006 09:39:19 GMT

When Diane wanted to improve her skin, but not by invasive or radical means, the 60-year-old woman sought facial rejuvenation acupuncture, which focuses on erasing some of the fine lines and tightening up the face without surgery. Diane said she wanted to specifically treat her neck, eyes and lines around her mouth.

There is now a non surgical procedure that helps rejuvenate appearances. An acupuncturist put dozens of tiny stainless steel needles into Diane's skin from head to toe. "It works by stimulating the body to produce collagen in the skin, in the fine lines and wrinkles and helps the skin to plump up and stay in place”, says the acupuncturist. Diane then relaxed for 20 minutes before the needles came out. Diane underwent a total of 10 treatments, coming in twice a week for a total of $1,200.

She looks a little smoother, refreshed and younger and she says that her skin feels tighter. And among the many benefits, acupuncture also helps reduce stress.

Acupuncture helps in pain relief – for pets too!

Tue, 09 May 2006 08:53:44 GMT

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years on people, so this isn't a new practice. But today, a growing number of pets - household and other – too receive acupuncture to treat ailments.

As people begin to look for alternative therapies for themselves, they search for their pet, too.

Eastern medicine looks at conditions differently than Western medicine. Vets can make pets better without having to know exactly what's wrong.

Acupuncture is just part of a well-rounded regimen of Eastern medicine the Chinese have used for years. The practice includes herbs and dietary therapy. The difference between Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine is we tend to treat the condition. Chinese (medicine) treats the whole animal.

The needles stimulate nerves and release natural pain relievers that help alleviate discomfort. Dietary therapy maintains the theory that foods can change the balance of animals. The herbs, which come in pill form, can treat conditions.

A pet's electrical balance can be in flux, causing illness. Practitioners prescribe nutritional changes to correct the imbalances and, in turn, the illnesses.

Acupressure effective for low back pain

Tue, 02 May 2006 02:17:50 GMT

Acupressure may be significantly more effective than physical therapy at reducing the levels of pain and disability experienced by chronic low back pain patients, according to a study conducted by researchers at National Taiwan University in Taipei.

Acupressure is a discipline of traditional Chinese medicine that involves the application of pressure, typically using the hands, on specific points on the body, based on the same meridian points as acupuncture.

Subjects for the study were 129 orthopedic specialty clinic outpatients between the ages of 18 and 81 who had suffered from chronic low back pain, as diagnosed by a senior orthopedic specialist, for more than four months.

The subjects were slated to receive six treatment sessions within one month, with 64 patients randomly assigned to acupressure treatment and 65 to physical therapy.

The acupressure group indicated significantly lower levels of disability after both one month and six months compared to the physical therapy group. Additionally, sleep disturbance was significantly lower in the acupressure group than in the physical therapy group after both one and six months. Significant differences between the two groups were found after one month and six months for degree of low back pain, leg pain, and the interference of pain with normal work.

For more information on how acupressure and acupuncture can help relieve your low back pain effectively, contact Dr. Victoria Tuan, a qualified acupuncturist or visit her website today!

Acupuncture helps Needle Away Wrinkles

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 09:35:48 GMT

Read this article about Scott Peres, a 42-year-old sales representative from New York City, who was bothered by a chronically sore shoulder, so he decided to give acupuncture a try for pain relief.

His acupuncturist, Shellie Goldstein, who practices in New York City gently inserted some needles in the area around the shoulder, and soon the pain began to ease. While chatting, Goldstein also mentioned that something called facial acupuncture could reduce the fine lines on his face. So Peres decided to give that a try, too.

At the end of his fourth facial acupuncture session, Peres was increasingly pleased with the results. "My crow's feet have definitely softened out, and it definitely makes the color of my skin look better," he said.

While the extent of the trend is hard to gauge because exact numbers are tough to come by, it's clear that facial acupuncture is gaining fans, particularly among aging Baby Boomers looking to roll back the clock.

Just like traditional acupuncture, the practitioner inserts small needles into "pressure points" in the face, boosting blood flow to the area, producing tighter muscles and a more youthful appearance.

Get in touch with your local acupuncturist today, for a great experience in facial acupuncture.

Acupuncture for Weight Loss

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 05:11:38 GMT

Pictures of the petite pop star Janet Jackson, who had ballooned and seemed to have lost all control of her figure shocked fans around the globe, reports Victoria Kennedy.

A special acupuncture treatment coupled with a diet and exercise regime has helped Janet shed the excess fat, making her regain her svelte looks.

So how does acupuncture help with weight loss?

For weight loss, the acupuncturist inserts a needle in your ear lobe - the area which governs your digestive system and metabolism. The needles work by getting your body to release feel-good endorphin chemicals in your body and re-adjusting your qi.

An acupuncturist may also prescribe a series of herbs to help the metabolism.

In order for the acupuncture to be effective with weight loss though, it must be combined with a healthy diet and good exercise regime.

THE ACUPUNCTURE DIET

IF your body doesn't have enough warm energy then you need to introduce warming meals. Dieters often complain that they're only eating salad but they're still not losing weight. That's because it is a cold food.

The fresher the food the better it is. Try to lightly cooked food or use casseroles, stews, and soups to obtain your nutrients. Also test out spicy foods, which will also warm the qi in your body.

Don't eat late at night or have very large portions. Also avoid food which is overcooked, micro-waved, prepared, old or reheated as they generally have no qi in them.

Acupuncture for Cancer Patients

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 14:51:39 GMT

Acupuncture for cancer? It may sound too good to be true, but yes, it works, as this article says.

Last December the Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic opened its doors in San Francisco, offering female cancer patients free alternative treatments to accompany Western cancer therapies. Staffed by professional practitioners who volunteer their time on Friday evenings as well as on Saturdays and Sundays, the clinic provides massage, homeopathy, acupuncture, and other therapies to women who can't afford to pay.

The doctors are convinced that alternative therapies help to control the side effects of cancer and chemotherapy. Many patients and providers are eager to spread the word about the benefits that alternative treatments can provide to cancer patients.

Patients cherish the attention and concern they receive from Maxwell's practitioners. As one patient says, "In a word, love and compassion is what you get at the clinic. It takes the form of a social worker, acupuncture, or a massage.... Love heals, and you need that."

Special Acupuncture Lowers Blood Pressure

Fri, 31 Mar 2006 08:04:26 GMT

A specialized acupuncture treatment that uses low levels of electrical stimulation can lower blood pressure dramatically in rats, U.S. researchers reported on Monday. High blood pressure is a major cause of heart disease, and can lead to heart failure, stroke, kidney failure and other conditions.

"This study suggests that acupuncture can be an excellent complement to other medical treatments, especially for those treating the cardiac system," said Dr. John Longhurst of the University of California, Irvine, who led the study.

"The Western world is waiting for a clear scientific basis for using acupuncture, and we hope that this research ultimately will lead to the integration of ancient healing practices into modern medical treatment."

Acupuncture alone had no effect on blood pressure in the rats, Longhurst’s team found. But adding electrical stimulation at low frequencies lowered the blood pressure, although it did not bring it to normal. The effects lasted for up to two hours.

"This type of electroacupuncture is only effective on elevated blood pressure levels, such as those present in hypertension, and the treatment has no impact on standing blood pressure rates," said Longhurst, a cardiologist.

His team is now testing the technique on people.

Acupuncture Relieves Knee Pain

Thu, 30 Mar 2006 07:25:51 GMT

According to the National Institutes of Health, more than four million people seek medical care for a knee problem each year. The condition occurs most frequently in adolescents who participate in sports, and is one of the most common diagnoses given at orthopedic centers and sports medicine clinics worldwide.

Despite its prevalence, the contributing factors to this pain syndrome are unclear. Although several studies have linked knee pain to certain physical activities, there seems to be no direct correlation between the level of pain and the degree of cartilage damage to one's knee, or to the amount of flexion or extension a person's knee experiences.

To date, no single therapy has been shown to be completely effective in treating knee pain. However, acupuncture has shown promise in treating similar conditions. In an effort to evaluate its effectiveness, a team of researchers from Norway performed acupuncture on a group of 70 patients aged 18-45. Their results, which appear in the December 1999 issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, show that acupuncture "may be an alternative treatment" for patients suffering from knee pain.

Based on the researchers' findings, acupuncture appeared to have a dramatic effect on reducing knee pain and symptoms and improving function.

Adolescent Acupuncture

Thu, 30 Mar 2006 07:19:47 GMT

Despite a wide range of evidence showing its effectiveness as a form of pain relief in adults, acupuncture is not an option for relieving pain in children and adolescents. One theory holds that because acupuncture treatment most often involves the use of needles, and because most children are afraid of needles, they would be unwilling to undergo (and their parents would not want to subject their children to) the treatment.

A new study published in the April issue of Pediatrics may help dispel this theory. The study, conducted by a team of scientists at Harvard Medical School, detailed the experience of pediatric patients and their parents with acupuncture. Their findings showed that acupuncture treatment appears to relieve pain for a variety of conditions, and that both patients and parents consider acupuncture "pleasant and helpful."

In their conclusion, the researchers noted a number of possible limitations to their work, including the fact that care was performed by a pediatric acupuncturist at a children's hospital. Treatment settings may be different at a typical acupuncturist's office, and not all practitioners are trained to administer acupuncture to children.

Despite these limitations, acupuncture therapy for children is accepted by pediatric patients and appears to offer clear benefits (particularly pain relief) that other forms of care have been unable to achieve. They also believe that pediatricians can begin to consider acupuncture "a potentially helpful and acceptable treatment option, at least for some children and families."

Acupuncture Provides Long-Term Relief of Low Back Pain

Mon, 20 Mar 2006 04:50:20 GMT

Back pain is one of the most common reasons people see a health care provider. Although most episodes of low back pain last less than two weeks, research has shown that recurrence rates for low back pain can reach as high as 50% in the first few months.

While there is no definitive way to resolve lower back pain, the use of acupuncture to treat this condition has increased dramatically in the past few decades. Studies have validated it as a reliable method of pain relief. The results of a recent study provide further proof that acupuncture is a safe and effective procedure for low-back pain, and that it can maintain positive outcomes for periods of six months or longer without producing the negative side-effects.

There is now reasonable evidence that acupuncture has a clinically relevant pain-relieving effect on certain forms of chronic pain.

But though acupuncture works on certain types of back pain, it may not produce the same results on every type. Researchers believe that, acupuncture may be most effective for low back pain that is caused by an injury or disease outside the nervous system. Determining the cause of pain, they feel, is paramount to using a particular therapy for relief.

Treating Allergies with Acupuncture

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 06:27:46 GMT

Things found in nature, man-made chemicals and even another person can cause an allergy.

While many over-the-counter remedies promise symptomatic relief, practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believe that addressing the causes of allergies, treating the whole person, and focusing on balancing the immune system – leads to substantial long-term health benefits.

Traditional Chinese medicine often views allergic rhinitis as related to Wind. This Wind often coexists with a deficiency of the Protective or Wei Qi. The nearest thing we associate with the Wei Qi is resistance to colds and other respiratory infections.

The acupuncturist looks for constitutional or more deeply-rooted signs in each person who experiences allergies. The principle here is treating the whole person. Often people with chronic allergies show signs of Spleen or Kidney Deficiency as well as Lung signs according to TCM. Treatments often include dietary modification, the use of specifically chosen herbal formulas, and acupuncture.

TCM's treatment is known to be remarkably effective for allergies, with very little or no side effects.

Acupuncture helps alleviate pain

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 05:06:18 GMT

One in three Western households has one or more members with a chronic pain condition. And these people are turning more and more to Traditional Chinese medicine, to help relieve acute pain.

Victoria Tuan, a Certified Acupuncture Practitioner says that the results of acute pain management with Acupuncture are often very satisfying to the patient in terms of pain relief, decrease of swelling, and return to function. Side effects of drugs can be reduced or eliminated, and some people can even decrease their drug intake significantly.

In 1980, the World Health Organization released a report indicating that acupuncture is useful in treating 43 types of ailments including toothache, sore throat, gastritis, acid reflux, ulcer, colitis, headache, migraine, low back pain and menstrual cramps.