Monthly Archives: September 2014

0 Acupuncture Treatment For Pain Alleviation

By stimulating certain points on the body called “acupuncture points” with subtle pressure produced by the insertion of fine needle tips into the epidermis, an acupuncturist stimulates biological responses from the body that naturally alleviates pain. Principles of acupuncture involve energy patterns called Qi that flow through the body and positively influence a person’s overall well-being. Experienced acupuncturists remove disruptions in this energy flow by altering physiological processes that may be inhibiting the Qi.

Pain Relief Through Acupuncture

Endocrinological imbalances, restricted blood flow, a dysfunctioning immune system and musculoskeletal tension are a just few health issues that readily respond to acupuncture, but remain unaffected by traditional medication. Acupuncture also increases activity in the pituitary and hypothalamus, two glands responsible for the release of several neurotransmitters and hormones important to pain relief. In addition, acupuncture techniques meant to ease pain generate production of endogenous opioids and analgesics—specifically endorphins—that are often called the body’s natural painkillers.

Types of Pain Relieved by Acupuncture

The University of California San Diego Center for Integrative Medicine offers clinical study results that show acupuncture is effective for reducing or eliminating the pain of:

• Facial pain (craniomandibular disorders)
• Knee pain
• Headaches (cluster, tension, migraine)
• Lower back pain
• Neck pain
• Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
• Postoperative pain
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sprains
• Sciatica
• Bursitis

A fascinating 2012 Bloomberg article discusses results of the largest acupuncture treatment study conducted yet, with data from 29 studies involving nearly 18,000 people concluding that “acupuncture was superior to both sham and no acupuncture control for each pain condition”.

Insertion of acupuncture needles does not cause pain. Instead, patients experience a slight prickling sensation that subsides within seconds of penetration. A typical acupuncture session for pain relief takes about 30 to 45 minutes, during which time the acupuncturist monitors the patient’s condition to ensure complete comfort. Additionally, acupuncture causes no side effects and most patients begin to experience relief from pain or illness within several days of having the procedure performed.

0 Acupuncture as a Support for Post Surgery

In recent years acupuncture has been gaining recognition from its Western medical counterpart as a legitimate body of medicine with proven benefits to the health and well-being of patients. Integrative Chinese medicine is nowadays common practice, with many hospitals and medical center’s around the world embracing the holistic approach to healing.

The mind and body perceive an invasive procedure as a traumatic event weakening our immune systems and often the body reacts slowly to medicinal treatments. Acupuncture techniques can be sought and employed before or immediately after surgery without risk.

In practice, acupuncture has been scientifically proven to regulate red blood cell counts, boost the immune system, increase circulation, help with digestion and most importantly reduce pain. This is due a systematic approach targeting the central nervous system and stimulating the electro-magnetic impulses, a process that releases endorphins (the body’s natural opioid inhibitors).

Pre-surgery, many patients will manifest symptoms due to physical stress and mental anxieties. Acupuncture can also be sought as a per-emptive measure to ensuring a faster recovery. Studies have shown that patients receiving acupuncture before a procedure required 50% less post-operational morphine than patients who did not, and reported a 30-50% reduction in stress levels.

In the majority of cases where patients have undergone major or minor surgery, around 86% will claim to be experiencing post-operative pain. The prevalence of opioid analgesics as the industry standard for reducing post-operative pain in patients carries inherent side effects such as nausea, vomiting, vertigo and decreased or abnormal motility in the gut resulting in generally slower recovery periods.

The relevance of acupuncture in today’s age is being recognized by established medical associations and is reflected by its standing as a standard option within healthcare systems. When implemented as an adjunct (supplementary) method of pain relief, acupuncture can lead to improved post-operative recovery and most every patient can benefit from treatment of this type.

References

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/581266

http://www.acupuncture.org.uk/public-content/public-traditional-acupuncture/history-of-acupuncture.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-patricia-fitzgerald/calming-the-shen-a-chines_b_439771.html

https://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Acupuncture+Pre+and+Post+Surgery

http://www.dukeintegrativemedicine.org/patient-care/preparing-for-surgery-success

0 Acupuncture as an Effective Treatment for Insomnia

Insomnia & You

Do you have difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or both? Do these poor sleep patterns continue on a fairly regular basis? Then you may have insomnia. The average adult needs at least eight hours of good sleep to maintain their basic health and attention during that day, and if you’re rest is being disrupted due to insomnia, the effects may bleed into aspect of your everyday life, from work to personal relationships.

Western Treatments & Side Effects

There are any number of prescription and over the counter (OTC) medications on the market today which boast their efficiency in helping with insomnia, with varying ranges of success; however, if you have either exhausted many of these options to no avail, or perhaps you are seeking a treatment for your insomnia that does not involved drugs/medications (and any side effects they may cause), acupuncture may be the ticket.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a Chinese medical practice that dates back thousands of years whereby thin pins (best to think of them as pins versus needles, which conjures up painful pricks – acupuncture is anything but!) are inserted into specific points on the body in hopes of treating any number of disorders, diseases, pain points, and the like. Different acupuncture points correlate to different parts of the body, remedying the flow of ‘qi’ throughout the body.

Acupuncture & Insomnia: Relief Without the Side Effects

Minimally invasive, acupuncture has proven to be immensely effective in treating insomnia, typically within the span of about six to ten treatments and without any troublesome side effects. In Chinese medicine and acupuncture specifically, insomnia is thought to be caused by a disharmony in the body’s energies (‘qi’) by which the body is unable to cool itself down, and when one is overheated, sleep can become impossible. Acupuncture as a treatment for insomnia helps to remedy this imbalance.

There is no ‘one treatment fits all’ in terms of treating insomnia with acupuncture as each patient is assessed on a case by case basis; to that end, the points selected during each of your sessions may vary from time to time as the ‘qi’ is attempted to settle.

If you’re seeking to regulate your sleep, and hopefully relieve your insomniac tendencies for good, all without the worry of side effects from sleep aid medications, acupuncture would be a great option to explore further.