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Acupuncture Is An Ideal Tool for the Treatment of Bell’s Palsy
Bell’s Palsy is a paralysis of one side of a person’s face caused by a dysfunction of cranial the facial nerve (nerve VII) resulting in the inability to control facial muscles on the affected side. This disorder is often temporary with the trademark symptom of a sudden onset of complete or partial paralysis of the face that usually happens overnight. Bell’s palsy is believed to be brought about by an inflammatory condition that causes the facial nerve to swell. The swelling forces the nerve to compress resulting in nerve damage or nerve inhibition. Facial functions like raising the eyebrow, flaring of nostrils, tearing, closing the eye, frowning, smiling, and blinking all can become impaired. Aside from these, half the face appears to droop and taste and hearing sensations can be affected. Within a few weeks symptoms subside in most people weeks even without treatment, and within 3 to 6 months, the sufferer can attain complete recovery.
Bell’s palsy in TCM, or Traditional Chinese Medicine, is known as “deviation of the mouth” and blames this condition on external Cold and Wind that infiltrate the channels traversing the face and interfering with the flow of Blood and Qi (Energy) that prevents the muscles and vessels from receiving all-important nourishment. A very popular and extremely effective treatment for Bell’s palsy is acupuncture in Cleveland which involves the needling of acupuncture points on the affected side of the head, neck, and face as well as other parts of the body. Chinese herbs specifically designed for this disorder may be prescribed to heal the body from the inside out.
Western-trained physicians often prescribe corticosteroids for Bell’s palsy patients to relieve the inflammation and at times, an antiviral drug, as well. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relievers can also help. You can also apply moist heat by using washcloth soaked in warm water several times a day and putting it to the affected side to relieve the swelling. Exercising your face and massaging your facial muscles can also help as well as keeping the affected eye lubricated with eye drops. You can also wear an eye patch while sleeping at night to prevent you from scratching your eye. Relaxation techniques such as tai chi, meditation, and yoga can also be of benefit since stress can facilitate the occurrence of Bell’s palsy. Stay away from cold, drafts, and, wind especially after sweating. Do not also eat cold foods that come straight from the refrigerator or freezer. Abstain from eating spicy and fried fatty foods as they all can aggravate the condition. Most importantly, after you have developed Bell’s Palsy, seek treatment as soon as possible for faster healing and to avoid any residual complications.
Factors that Significantly Affect Male Fertility
Male Fertility
A quarter of all infertility cases are estimated to be attributed to the male partner and another 15% – 25% may also have a male contribution.
Worth mentioning is that while a lab test may determine the normal rate of motility as lower, a population study focusing on male fertility showed that men who’ve succeeded in bearing a child had more than 63% rate of motility.
Sperm is sorted into the following categories:
– antisperm antibodies
– teratospermia (sperms that are immature and/or bizarre)
– olioligospermia (lessened sperm density)
– azoospermia (semen without any sperm)
– asthenospermia (poor sperm forward movement and motility)
– aspermia (no ejaculate)
Acupuncture treatment in Austin for Fertility
In an acupuncture study published in Fertility and Sterility (2005), 28 men out of a total of 40 who had sperm conditions of unknown origin (teratozoospermia, asthenospermia, or oligospermia) received acupuncture two times a week for five weeks. Their results were compared to the men who received no acupuncture treatment.
To evaluate the samples, TEM (transmission electron microscopy) quantitative analysis was used.
A statistically substantial gain in the number and percentage of sperm in the total ejaculate was seen following acupuncture, as compared to the control group, with improvements in the nucleus’s and acrosome’s shape.
Also, following acupuncture treatment, the median percentage of progressive motility in ejaculate rose from 44.4% to 55%. However, there was no apparent effect in specific pathologies, like cell death (apoptosis), dead or motionless spermatozoa (necrosis) or sperm immaturity.
It was the conclusion of the study’s authors that “in combination with ART or even for attaining natural fertility potential, acupuncture treatment is a non-invasive and simple procedure that can lead to the improvement of sperm quality.”
A January 2000 Andrologia publication featured a pilot study that used acupuncture on men who were producing no sperm. An acupuncture plan of treatment led to the ability to produce sperm in 7 out of the 15 men who participated in the study. These men produced enough sperm to receive IVF therapy without the need for testicular biopsy. The group that did not receive acupuncture treatment (the control group) did not manifest an increase in sperm production.
Lifestyle Modifications
Diet – Some diets are believed to help promote the production of healthy sperm. One such diet is the adequate consumption of certain vegetables and fruits (an average of 6 servings a day). Also highly recommended is the reduction in alcohol consumption. Others such as herbal remedies or nutritional supplements will need a diagnosis from a qualified practitioner; however, we may need to mention the following study involving organic foods.
A Danish study published in the Lancet in 1994 found that greenhouse workers had a substantially high sperm count among organic farmers. Their sperm count was two times plus as high compared to the control group (blue-collar workers) indicating foods organically grown can boost enhance fertility.
Exposure to the Environment
Exposure to adverse toxins may cause abnormal sperm morphology (shape) or reduce sperm count. This can occur through the use of recreational drugs (such as cocaine and marijuana), poor precautions being taken when using industrial-grade sprays/chemicals, and smoking,
Optimal Sperm Temperature Maintenance
A slightly lower body temperature is the ideal temperature of the testes in order to produce sperm. This is the reason why the testes are in the scrotum as they hang away from the body. Men suffering from low sperm counts are usually advised to keep their lifestyle factors to a minimum because they might overheat the testes. This can include setting their powered-on lap top computer directly on their knees, using spas and hot baths on a frequent basis, and donning tight underwear (such as bikini-style briefs).
TCM Can Address A Mother’s Lactating Problems
TCM or Traditional Chinese Medicine works extremely well in treating lactation problems without the harmful side effects of pharmaceutical drugs. It is a medicinal system that’s derived from East Asia and is thousands of years old. It includes moxibustion, cupping, lifestyle and nutritional advices, massage, Chinese herbs, and, of course, acupuncture. One or more of these healing modalities may be part of your treatment protocol depending on your specific diagnosis. If you are facing lactation issues, it is important that you seek out a TCM practitioner who’s experienced in treating women during pregnancy and post-partum.
Lactation problems, according to TCM, can have two distinct categories: milk not flowing or low milk supply. A third category is mastitis which will be discussed later. Problems with let-down or milk not flowing are diagnosed as chi (energy) stagnation that prevents milk from flowing down the ducts and out of the nipple. A low milk supply diagnosis means the mother is deficient in chi and blood. It is not uncommon for a mother to be suffering from a combination of stagnation ((unable to express or let-down the milk) and deficiency (lack of blood and energy) at the same time.
It is believed in TCM that the menstrual blood of a woman is transformed into breast milk once the baby is born. This blood is the same blood that was flowing to the placenta before birth. Chi is essential for the conversion of her blood into milk, and when you have an ample supply of blood in your body, you will then have an adequate amount of milk to feed your baby. During delivery, the mother is predisposed to blood loss or anemia that can lead to low blood supply of the mother and thus low milk supply. Exhaustion caused by sleep deprivation and labor can hinder the production of milk since there is not enough energy to produce the milk.
When blood and chi supply is lacking resulting in low milk supply, the plan of treatment may involve the use of herbs, nutritional advice, and acupuncture. Nutrition is a key factor in the treatment of low milk supply. For the production of blood in the mother, any good food will help including chicken with the skin included in the soup stock, collagen-rich soups made from ham-hocks, eggs, fish, or organic red meats. It is especially important for a nursing mother to consume free-range and organic poultry and meat, if possible. For a mother following a vegan or vegetarian diet, a protein-rich diet is important. Cookies that help stimulate milk production are an ideal everyday addition to the diet of a woman with blood and chi deficiency due to the fact that the cookies contain special ingredients that help boost blood and chi production that in turn increases milk supply. Practitioners who are experienced in treating breastfeeding patients will provide you with additional nutritional advice.
Blockage or stagnation of chi around and in the breasts hinders the milk from moving and prevents let-down. Stagnation can result in breast engorgement, pressure, pain, distention, and fullness. Mastitis is usually the result of stagnation. According to TCM, the primary cause of this obstruction is emotional: depression, frustration, resentment, anger, and too much stress. These emotions lead to energy stagnation in the liver meridian. The liver meridian, in TCM, is responsible for the woman’s nipple function and also blocks or facilitates the movement of energy and by extension milk in the nearby ducts and meridians (energy channels) in the breast. Problems associated with stagnation such as poor milk flow or let down is most effectively addressed with massage therapy, acupuncture, and by the mother avoiding anything that would cause her emotional stress.
Mastitis is caused by various factors: stagnation of milk, blood, chi, as well as infection. TCM in combination with Western medicine for the treatment of mastitis works much better than just standalone Western treatment. To clear up the infection, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics, and a combination of medicinal compresses for the breast, herbs, massage, and acupuncture that can resolve the blocked milk, blood, and chi in the breast, that in turn reduces inflammation and engorgement. Herbal remedies can be used safely along with antibiotics which are deemed safe for the breastfeeding infant. Besides those above mentioned treatments, expressing milk as often as possible either via nursing, manually, or with a pump is very important for the successful treatment of mastitis.