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Seasonal Allergies Can be Treated with Acupuncture

   

After the cold and gloomy effect that winter brings, spring time is the season when nature gets to cheer us up once again with its fully display of colors and sunshine. For most people, this is great news but for those prone to seasonal allergies it is a catch-22 reality. However, there is good news for since relief from allergies need not be temporary. Having proved to give long lasting relief from seasonal allergies, acupuncture is a natural, safe, and effective treatment for all types of allergy sufferers. This treatment is known to quell symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, congestion, watery/itchy eyes, and restores balance in the body so that you can defend against allergens in a more effective way.

Acupuncture for Seasonal Allergy Treatment in Austin. How Does It Work?

Acupuncture seasonal allergy treatment can be done generally or locally. A lot of the symptoms of allergy are experienced in the head. This means that the flow of energy from the head into the rest of the body and vice versa in the body does not run smoothly. The flow of energy in the yang meridians moves from the hands up to the head or from the head down to the feet. Your acupuncturist can open those meridians in the shoulders and neck which can help normalize the flow of energy. The treatment will involve the insertion of clean tiny needles directly into acupuncture points where symptoms are felt (such as the side of the nose or head – enabling the stagnant energy to escape and vanish).

Your acupuncturist will also try to treat the root reason for your allergies. He/she does this by asking you questions about your health and symptoms and performing a physical inventory of your body. The practitioner uses an individualized and very specific approach, guaranteeing that the underlying reason for your allergy is cured. This is one of the most important reasons why acupuncture is known to provide long lasting benefits; it brings back balance in the patient in order for the body to heal itself emotionally, mentally, and physically. This is something that makes a whole lot of sense when you begin to consider that all the aspects of your body are interconnected to each other. So, health is restored and symptoms vanish when the body is fully in balance.

Besides receiving acupuncture, your practitioner may recommend other natural ways to help strengthen your immune system to rid you of your allergies potentially even permanently. The following are tips that cost you a little in terms of effort and money:

– Eat local bee pollen and honey that are locally produced: First, test the pollen by eating a small granule to make sure that you don’t suffer from a reaction. The bee pollen and honey made locally come from the flowers and pollen in your area, so when you eat those flowers or pollen, your immune system will not perceive them as foreign materials and attack them, resulting in your allergy symptoms.

– Avail yourself of a homeopathic allergy remedy: Homeopathic treatment involves the matching of your symptom’s vibration to that of a specific treatment. A match between the two will result in the improvement of health and the cancellation of the symptoms.

– Consume more raw foods, as well as seasonal and local foods, especially during the warmer months.

– Be sure take mineral and multivitamins/mineral supplements regularly throughout the year.

How Acupuncture Works in Treating the Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

   

One of humanity’s most debilitating conditions, osteoarthritis can greatly affect the quality of life and mobility of its victims. Over time, various types of anti-inflammatory medications have been created to address this problem but unfortunately, they all bring undesirable side effects to the patient. This has forced individuals to resort to alternative treatments such as acupuncture in the treatment of osteoarthritis in Miami.

It is a provable fact that an increasing number of people suffering from osteoarthritis are turning to traditional acupuncture therapy mainly because it does not cause negative side effects. In truth, a majority of people have tried acupuncture for the management of chronic pain associated with this enervating condition. But, what exactly is osteoarthritis and in what way can acupuncture contribute to the better management of this condition?

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis, is a condition mainly distinguished by issues related to the structure and function of the joints. This condition usually affects a single joint as well as the adjacent joint cover, joint lining, muscles, ligaments and the underlying joint. Sometimes, it can mean a progressive loss of cartilage in the body.

Various factors such as disease, injury, aging, and heredity can bring about osteoarthritis though usually it develops because of the degeneration of the cartilage. Cartilage is made up of a protein substance and its role is to serve as a “shock absorber” or “cushion” to prevent the bones from coming into contact with each other.

There are two types of osteoarthritis: primary and secondary osteoarthritis. The former typically develops due to the aging process when the joints gradually degenerate over time. Cartilage loss due to time causes the two adjacent joints to come into contact and grind on each other causing limited mobility and intense pain. The most common type of osteoarthritis seen is one that is hereditary.

Secondary osteoarthritis, on the other hand, is usually triggered by diseases or conditions such as hormonal disorder, obesity, gout, and diabetes. Your cartilage can suffer if you are obese since your weight increases the mechanical stresses between the joints. In fact, obesity is known as the second most significant risk factor for degenerative arthritis, based on studies. The number one risk factor is aging.

Osteoarthritis signs and symptoms may differ from person to person although the most common denominator for this disease is pain as well as limited mobility if the joints and joint stiffness. The Western conventional way of treating osteoarthritis focuses on the relief of the joint inflammation and pain. The treatments also are aimed at improving and maintaining the function of the joints.

What is Acupuncture? What are Its Benefits?

Acupuncture has been used for over 3500 years. It is used as a treatment for wide range of illnesses and conditions due to its very multiple health benefits. Serious clinical studies of this ancient therapy actually only began five decades ago. Because of acupuncture’s and traditional Chinese medicine’s huge present popularity, a lot of Western physicians and other medical professionals have developed a curiosity and keen interest on how this treatment works and its ability to relieve pain to osteoarthritis sufferers.

Illnesses, from the viewpoint of TCM (traditional Chinese medicine), are basically due to development of an imbalance or hindrance to the flow of vital energy known as chi or qi in the body. By means of acupuncture, these hindrances and imbalances can be rectified through the utilization of filiform and special needles.

TCM teaches us that the body possesses a dozen primary meridians or energy channels, thousands of acupuncture points, and eight secondary energy channels. When the acupoints are stimulated, it results in positive health benefits to specific organs in the body. Acupuncture is a procedure in which very thin needles penetrate the skin and are manipulated in such a way that it generates mild electrical impulses.

Acupuncture for the Management of Pain – Studies

There have been several studies conducted over time, to test whether acupuncture is effective or not in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Acupuncture, studies show, aids in the stimulation and creation of the body’s own natural painkillers known as endorphins. The endorphins that enter the bloodstream can help osteoarthritis patients to better cope with pain.

Acupoints are usually situated near the nerves. A dull achy feeling or a sensation of fullness can be felt when these nerves are stimulated. Muscle stimulation sets off signal transmission to the central nervous system, made up of the brain and the spinal cord to create endorphins. Endorphins are what the body creates in times of stress or pain. Along with other neurotransmitters, endorphins can help block the dispatching of pain signals to the brain. This causes the patient to feel less pain.