Getting fire-cup therapy in Nanning. I have been feeling sickish and my stomach and back have bothered me lately so I went to a traditional Chinese doctor. He felt my pulse and looked at my fingernails and knew my stomach has issues. Then he said my problem stems from too much “humidity” in my body and did the fire cups, moxibustion, and acupuncture on me. Feeling better now.
In this picture, though, I think it looks like I'm being attacked by a Metroid or something.
Acupuncture can help treat migraines. This was discovered after a comparative study was done with conventional medical care. In some cases, it even prevents it from happening which helps improve the quality of life for the patient.
To understand how acupuncture helps migraine sufferers, you have to understand that in traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed that an imbalance in the flow of blood and energy causes this to happen.
In order to treat it, the specialist must relieve the tension by inserting needles into the body to improve the blood flow to the brain thus reducing the pain experienced during an attack.
The needles used helps the body balance the serotonin levels since it is a neurotransmitter that affects blood vessels and has a role to play in migraines. In fact the more frequent these sessions are the better. It may even come to a point where the specific point of contact is no longer needed but the general stimulation itself.
The end result of undergoing acupuncture is amazing. If you experience 15 to 20 days of organizing pain, this may be count down to only 8 days. You won’t even need to use that much medication anymore as before.
For those who are working, this is good so that they are not absent from work that much and there won’t be that much deductions in their salary.
But how well acupuncture does for one patient may vary with another. This depends on the condition of the attack and the individual.
The best part about acupuncture is that there are no side effects and it is painless. Skillful professionals can do this so you don’t suffer from hematoma or pneumothorax. Another disease is potentially dangerous is HIV or hepatitis which can be prevented of course as long as the needles used are properly sterilized. It will be much better if the person uses disposable needles.
Acupuncture has been practiced in the United States for more than 2 decades. Although tests have shown how effective it can be to treat chronic conditions and certain addictions, more studies need to be done to see where else it can be useful.
Although one test has proven that acupuncture can help migraines, other tests will also have to be done to prove if this is true. Until such time that other results are published, patients will have to rely on conventional medicine that is prescribed by a doctor.
But you don’t have to wait for the results to come out. If you think it is worth a try, go for it. Just ask for a referral from your doctor as there are many practitioners who have accepted the fact that alternative forms of medicine can also help a patient.
You can also find someone online. You can be sure they are certified if they are recognized by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
Aside from that, you should also make some lifestyle changes as there are trigger factors that have been known to cause migraines. Stress is number one on the list so you get enough rest and exercise as well as a balanced diet.
Patients who are suffering from migraine should also check if acupuncture is covered by their HMO. Most insurance providers and HMO’s these days cover all or part of the cost but there are restrictions so you should check what is covered by your policy.
Acupuncture comes from two Latin words namely “acus” which means needle in English and “pungere” which means prick. Its history originated in China more than 2000 years ago and has evolved into various forms.
Some of the techniques of acupuncture do not even use needles anymore. Vibrating objects, ultrasound and even the fingers of the practitioner have taken some of the work to make the person feel better.
The history of acupuncture is first discussed in an ancient Chinese medical text called the “Huang Di Nei Jing” or The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine.
But there have been a few who are skeptic as archaeologists have found a 5,000 year old mummy in the Alps with similar acupuncture points in the body. This gives some people the idea that it was used even before the Chinese did but sine there is no written text to prove that, no one is certain and credit to this ancient practice goes back to the Chinese.
In the 6th century, this knowledge moved to Japan. In the 17th century, a man by the name of Waichi Sugiyama wanted to make this procedure painless for the patient so he developed the insertion tube, a small cylindrical tube through which the needle is inserted. Believe it or not, this technique is still being used today.
But acupuncture only reached the US in the early 80’s with the establishment of a regulatory board called the National Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. As a result, various schools have been built and those who want to become licensed acupuncturists are now able to practice their profession.
Despite that, there were a lot of people who are not yet convinced on the positive effects of alternative forms of medication. It was only in 1995 that the US Food and Drug Administration decided to classify the needles used for acupuncture as medical instruments and assured the public that they are both safe and effective.
To further promote acupuncture, the NIH or National Institute of Health in 1997 has stated that this technique is very useful in treating various health conditions. These include ear, nose, throat, respiratory, gastrointestinal, eye, nervous system and muscular disorders. In some cases, acupuncture is able to prevent some of them from happening.
This was further strengthened by the fact that the side effects of acupuncture are much less than that of conventional drugs that are being sold by pharmaceutical companies.
So that people can avail of acupuncture, another recommendation by the NIH is for US companies to provide full coverage for certain conditions. If you do not quality, perhaps there is partial coverage which you should look up in your policy.
But despite that, more research needs to be done to see its effects on other health related problems. Some examples of these include addictions, autism, chronic low back pain, migraines and osteoarthritis of the knee.
If you look at the history of acupuncture, not much has changed since the needle technique used back then is still being used today. Even if various forms have developed through the years, one thing for sure is that it works.
In order for you to see how effective it is, you have to see a specialist who is not only qualified to treat your condition but also one is well trained.
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – A special acupuncture technique can help ease lower back and pelvic pain in pregnant women, new research shows.
In a study, women who had pressure needles held in place with tape at three acupuncture points in their ears for one week, were more likely to experience significant reductions in lower back and pelvic pain than those who had the needles placed at three “sham” points or women in a control group who didn’t get real or fake acupuncture.
Pregnant women often suffer from pain in the lower back and pelvis — and this can set the stage for chronic pain later on, Dr. Shu-Ming Wang of the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut and colleagues note in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Ear acupuncture might offer a drug-free way to help ease pain in these women, Wang and colleagues say.
They randomly assigned 159 women in the 25th to 38th week of pregnancy to receive real acupuncture, acupuncture delivered to points that would theoretically not affect pain in the pelvic or lower back area, and a control group.
//Every woman was also instructed to use self-care as needed, including resting, taking acetaminophen, and applying warm and cold compresses.
All of the 152 women who completed the two-week study reported some degree of pain reduction and improvement in their ability to function.
A 30 percent or greater reduction in pain was reported by 81 percent of women in the acupuncture group, 59 percent of women in the sham acupuncture group and 47 percent of women in the control group. The difference between the sham and control groups wasn’t statistically significant.
Thirty-seven percent of women in the acupuncture group were pain-free after a week of acupuncture, compared to 22 percent in the sham group and 9 percent of the control group. Improvements in function were significantly greater among women who had real acupuncture compared to those who got the fake version or received no treatment.
Having now had several acupuncture appointments and started taking a herbal remedy, I am feeling the best I have done in years.
I hardly ever have to take antihistamine tablets (maybe once or twice a week – but then it is spring here) and I just got through menstruation without taking any painkillers at all – I honestly have no memory of the last time that happened. I did have some ‘inconsequential discomfort’ (of the kind which a few years ago would’ve sent me running for painkillers – it’s amazing what you learn to live with), but the herbs sorted things out real fast. And I’m still nowhere near the maximum allowed dosage of the herbs!
I have no idea what the effect is in Western medical terms. I presume that having my chi flowing more smoothly means the endometriosis is not getting so aggravated or something. I certainly can’t argue with the results. I had dared to be hopeful for some relief, but I was really not expecting such a great result. I’m almost looking forward to next month! (’Almost’ because it’s a bit hard to get over years of fear in a single month.)
I am now on monthly maintenance visits to keep myself in good shape: I do like this idea that preventing problems is a good thing.
And I am very happy (and also much easier to live with )
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common job-related injuries and is responsible for the highest number of days lost among all work related injuries. It is the reason for over two million visits to physicians’ offices and approximately 465,000 carpal tunnel release operations each year, making it the most frequent surgery of the hand and wrist.
Acupuncture is extremely effective at treating carpal tunnel syndrome; eliminating the need for surgery or the use of anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids. In fact, one of the most common reasons that people get acupuncture is for repetitive stress injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome. Recent studies even suggest that acupuncture may be more effective than corticosteroids when it comes to treating CTS.
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway in the wrist made up of ligaments and bones. The median nerve and the tendons that connect the fingers to the muscles of the forearm pass through this tightly spaced tunnel.
Carpal tunnel syndrome, also known as median nerve entrapment, occurs when swelling or irritation of the nerve or tendons in the carpal tunnel results in pressure on the median nerve. The median nerve controls sensations to the palm side of the thumb and fingers, as well as impulses to some small muscles in the hand that allow the fingers and thumb to move.
Symptoms usually start gradually, with frequent burning, tingling, or numbness in the palm of the hand and the fingers, especially the thumb, index and middle fingers. The symptoms often first appear during the night. As symptoms worsen, people might feel pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm during the day. Decreased grip strength may make it difficult to form a fist, grasp small objects, or perform other manual tasks. If not properly treated, CTS can cause irreversible nerve damage and permanent deterioration of muscle tissue.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with Acupuncture
From an Oriental medicine perspective, CTS is seen as a disruption of the flow of Qi and Blood within the area and associated with Cold, Dampness or Wind penetrating the muscles and sinews of the wrist. Acupuncture points, stretching exercises, herbal remedies and nutritional supplements are chosen to treat accordingly.
From the perspective of Acupuncture Orthopedics, I find that it is important to reduce myofascial constrictions in the muscles: flexors carpi radialis and ulnaris, digitorum superficialis and profundus, flexor pollicis longus, and pronator teres. I also find that there tend to be a lot of fascial constrictions in the laminar groove between the flexor carpi radialis and the palmaris longus (i.e. the groove felt between these muscles). Interestingly, this laminar groove corresponds well to the main acupuncture meridian used to treat CTS.
In my experience, I find that it is crucial to examine the soft tissue (i.e. the myofascial) component prior to going for the more invasive surgery. I have seen many patients who have had the surgery only to keep on having pain problems. It is also important to have more than one opinion; see more than one doctor about this. In fact, if seeing an orthopedist, I would highly recommend seeing a physiatrist (an MD that specializes in physical medicine). A physiatrist will see things overlooked by a surgeon. I have seen many patients diagnoses with CTS only to continue to have problems after surgery. Later we find that they had de Quervain’s Syndrome (commonly misdiagnosed as CTS). I have even seen cases of lateral epicondylitis (i.e. Tennis Elbow) and medial epicondylitis (Golfer’s Elbow) amazingly misdiagnosed as CTS.
As well as reducing the swelling, inflammation and pain in the wrist, acupuncture addresses any headaches, neck pain, shoulder stiffness and sleeping problems that often accompany this condition.
Your treatment may also take into account any underlying conditions that contribute to the development of CTS including obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid problems, diabetes, hormonal changes of pregnancy and menopause.
If you or someone you love suffers carpal tunnel syndrome, please call to find out more about how acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help you.
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