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Posts Tagged ‘acupuncture’

Traditional Chinese Medicine Relieves Mentral Cramps

Posted in Health and Wellness, Traditional Chinese Medicine, tagged , , , on April 5, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Reposted from Acupuncture Blog Chicago

Researchers from the Oriental Hospital at Kyung Hee University Medical Center in South Korea reviewed 27 studies (nearly 3,000 women), and found that acupuncture may be more effective than drugs or herbal medicines for severe menstrual period pain

Reuters in Hong Kong recently reported the study that found acupuncture to be helpful in alleviating menstrual cramps, a problem afflicting up to half of all young women. The researchers concluded that, “There is convincing evidence on the effectiveness of using acupuncture to treat pain as it stimulates the production of endorphins and serotonin in the central nervous system.” Endorphins are compounds produced naturally by the human body during exercise and excitement and they result in a feeling of well-being. Serotonin is a brain chemical.

“Compared with pharmacological treatment or herbal medicine, acupuncture was associated with a significant reduction in pain,” they wrote in their paper, which was published in the latest issue of the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Previously, the U.S. National Institutes of Health has also cited acupuncture as a possibly effective way of dealing with menstrual cramps.

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Doctor Oz and Other Docs That Like Acupuncture

Posted in Health and Wellness, Traditional Chinese Medicine, tagged , , , , , on April 3, 2010 | 1 Comment »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

Acupuncture

I started getting acupuncture years ago when I had chronic sinus infections. Antibiotics would help temporarily but then the infection would come back. In desperation I finally gave a friend’s recommendation a try and went to an Acupuncturist. Back then, Acupuncture was not allowed in Illinois unless practiced by a medical doctor or chiropractor. But I wanted the real deal so I went to a Doctor of Oriental Medicine (OMD), who had studied medicine in China. She read my tongue and my pulse and then told me to lay down and close my eyes as she

inserted tiny needles into my face and head.  She also counseled me to cut back on dairy and take some Chinese herbs for my sinuses. My infection did not go away entirely after one treatment but I felt a lot better,. In a few weeks of no dairy and taking Chinese herbs, I my sinuses were fine and I soon began to use Acupuncture for other ailments and stress relief.

In 1997, the State of Illinois also decided acupuncture was a legitimate medical treatment and made it legal for OMD

‘s and acupuncturists to practice without a Western medical license. For a complete text of the Illinois Acupuncture Practice Act click here. As time goes on more and more medical doctors are also endorsing Acunpuncture as a legitimate health care treatment. See what Dr. Oz has to say about it in a post from Acupuncture Blog Chicago.

The Houston Chronicle recently published The You Docs: Why we still like ancient acupuncture By Michael Riizen, M.D.and Mehmet OZ, M.D. Here are a few excerpts from the article.

“What do Cher, Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams and Titan, the world’s tallest dog, have in common? Like more than 20 million Americans and Canadians, they’re on pins and needles.

It’s been around thousands of years, but it’s backed by an impressive body of 21st-century research. Often, acupuncture can help when drugs can’t be tolerated or when conventional treatments fail.

Here’s what acupuncture clearly has been shown to help so far:

• Peaceful sleep. Just months ago, a Hong Kong University study of 60 insomniacs found that those who got acupuncture fell asleep faster and were more likely to stay that way than those who got a fake version of the treatment.

• Relief from arthritis. British researchers who analyzed five studies of 1,334 people with bum knees have confirmed that acupuncture relieves debilitating joint pain related to arthritis.

• Squelching pain. In a landmark German study of 1,162 back-pain sufferers, twice as many got relief from acupuncture as from conventional fixes such as drugs or physical therapy. Acupuncture also has been proven at least as effective as pain drugs not only for treating migraines, but for preventing them, too.

• Reducing treatment side effects. Dozens of studies show that acupuncture helps quell pain, nausea, fatigue, hot flashes and dry mouth in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation.

• How can one therapy do so much? Eastern and Western medical philosophies merge when a licensed acupuncturist inserts those sterile, disposable needles into your skin. Eastern practitioners say the needles remove blockages so that the body’s energy, called qi, flows freely. Western science shows that acupuncture boosts levels of pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory chemicals called endorphins in the brain and bloodstream. And that changes how your nerve impulses flow.”

To read the entire article click here

To read more of Dr. Oz’s thoughts about acupuncture click here

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Tomorrow’s Doctors More Open to Alternative Healing Practices

Posted in Health and Wellness, Massage Therapy, tagged , , , on January 27, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Basic Acupuncture.
Image via Wikipedia

According to Jenny Dubowsky at Acupuncture Blog Chicago, “A national survey, published online in the journal Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that three-quarters of the med students (future physicians) surveyed believe that conventional Western medicine would be improved by integrating more complementary treatments such as: massage, herbal medicine, yoga, acupuncture and meditation.

The data was gathered by researchers at UCLA and UC San Diego from 1,770 surveys received from students at 126 medical schools throughout the United States. There was some hesitation however and students wanted more scientific evidence about the effectiveness of the treatments, not surprising since their training is based on Western studies.”

Read her entire post here.

Now we need the insurance companies to catch up! (Sadly, in the state of Illinois, most insurance companies will not cover massage therapy as a treatment for injuries or chronic muscle tension conditions. However, in Washington State, my fellow massage therapists are able to bill insurance companies directly. )

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H1N1 Flu Fighting: Traditional Chinese Medicine Can Help

Posted in Workplace Wellness, tagged , , , , , , on October 17, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

From Acupuncture Blog Chicago

Many people are concerned about catching the H1N1 Virus. Chinese Medicine has several herbal remedies for colds and flu. Plus acupuncture boosts the immune system and relieves unpleasant symptoms like congestion, nausea and body aches.

Below is a very helpful and informative post from The Portland Acupuncture Blog by, Amy Chitwood Burslem LAc

“I wasn’t planning to write a post about the flu, but the H1N1 ’situation’ is still around, and I wanted to spread some of the good information I’ve been looking into. The H1N1 flu (we’ll just call it “the flu”) has a lot of people talking and a good deal of media coverage (EVERWHERE!).

Now that school has started up again, parents are worried about having their kids exposed to thousands of colds and sniffles, and the hype of the flu is lingering into the fall and winter seasons. UrbanMamas blog has a good discussion going about kids and the flu- check it out if you have little ones in school. It’s hard to decide if a vaccine is in your future or not. Regardless, it’s best to get as much information about options before you make that decision.

Chinese Medicine: Natural approaches are great and effective options to combat influenza- there are very powerful herbs we use to treat the symptoms. Herbs are being used all over China to treat the symptoms of the flu with great success!

A good list of formulas are:

* Gan Mao Ling: This is definitely one of the most widely utilized Chinese patents to treat flu related fatigue, headaches, sore throats, swollen lymph glands, high fever, chills, and back and neck aches.
* Yin Qiao: In a very similar fashion to Gan Mao Ling, Yin Chiao is generally prescribed for the same set of flu symptoms.
* Zhong Gan Ling: This medicine is indicated for more severe conditions such as sudden, high fevers with sore throats and coughing, swollen lymph nodes, aching limbs and headaches.
* Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Wan (Correct the Qi Pills): Primarily prescribed for stomach flus with digestive difficulties of diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, flatulence, nausea and for chills, fever and headaches.
* Yu Ping Feng Wan (Jade Screen Pills): This medicine is prescribed primarily for insufficient immune system in the presence of frequent colds and flu, sore throat, swollen face, sinus congestion and inflammation, and sinus pain headaches.

Depending on your symptoms, the practitioner may make you an individualized formula if you are experiencing a combination of these symptoms.

Vaccines: It’s completely your choice if you choose to get the vaccine- every individual has their right to choose. But I am a firm believer in knowing the facts and researching what our options are. Liz Richards, LAc of Blossom Clinic posted a note about pregnancy and the H1N1 vaccine for expectant mothers concerned with mercury in the vaccines. Liz clarifies that the single dose does not contain mercury, but the 10 vial dose does. She also has a link to a video about the vaccine.

Prevention: Treat the swine flu as you would treat the regular ol’ flu, which means you must take care of yourself!!

Here is a good list of strategies to prevent spreading sickness from Dr. Lorne Brown of Acubalance:

* wash your hand frequently
* avoid sugary foods
* get adequate sleep
* reduce alcohol
* eat a whole foods, mostly plant based diet
* reduce stress

Nutrition: WellWire.com posted a delicious recipe for an immune-boosting soup- I’m definitely making this tonight! Remember to drink plenty of clean water, and eat lots of garlic and ginger!

Anti H1N1 Soup for 2

1 handful dry shiitake mushrooms, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 4 cloves garlic thinly sliced, 1 onion thinly sliced, 1 small piece ginger thinly sliced, 3 cups pork stock (lol kidding, this is hard to find – any stock will do), 4 glugs of sake, 2 spring onions.

Soak the mushrooms in boiling water until tender. Remove the soaking liquid. Saute the mushrooms, onions and garlic in a tablespoon of oil until tender but not browned. Add the stock and the ginger and simmer on low heat for about ten minutes. Season to taste and just before serving add the sake and spring onions.

Whatever route you choose is up to you. Just make sure you have all of the correct information before you take action.

Stay healthy!”

Link to this post in Jenny’s blog here.

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