Category Archives: Acupuncture
Acupuncture for Low Blood Pressure
Low blood pressure also known as hypotension is not as prevalent as high blood pressure although the damage it can do to the body can be as serious as that caused by high blood pressure. Suffering from blood loss or being dehydrated can result in drop in blood pressure as can prone or sitting position to standing or sudden movement. There are also certain health issues that can lead to persistent episodes of hypotension. You need to go for medical treatment for hypotension but you can also complement this treatment with an effective non-invasive alternative treatment like electronic acupuncture.
What is Hypotension?
Hypotension occurs when a person’s blood’s pressure heart rate is lower than normal. Typically when you have low blood pressure, your heart is not pumping with enough force to circulate blood all over the body to supply oxygen to all the body organs. This results in the telling signs of nausea, dizziness and in severe cases, shock. Blood pressure reading ranging from 90/60 to 120/80 is considered normal but when your pressure drops less than 90/60, you then are considered to have low blood pressure.
Medicines such as surgical anesthesia, anti-anxiety drugs, alcohol, narcotic painkillers and anti-depressants can cause low blood pressure. Medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke and coronary disease contribute also to this disorder. If you continuously experience hypotension that compels you to avail of medical treatment, then electronic acupuncture is one great treatment that can help.
Blood Pressure and Electronic Acupuncture
According to traditional Chinese medicine, the human body is divided into several microscopic vessels that spread throughout the body known as meridians where life energy the Chinese call Qi or Chi travels through. Sometimes some of these meridians develop blockages which lead to health issues like low blood pressure, illness and pain. Acupuncture is an ancient form of treatment that has been used for thousands of years to aid the body in removing meridian blockages to allow Chi to flow unimpeded once more.
Traditional acupuncture often entails multiple sessions for treatment of a condition and this can be quite expensive. Also, a lot of people are scared at the thought of needles being inserted in their body. These factors can be a deterrent for them to consider this wonderful alternative therapy for their low blood pressure. The great news is that they have another way to gain the benefits of this wonderful natural safe treatment and this way is through electronic acupuncture.
An electronic acupuncture device generates the same healing benefits that acupuncture needles give. Electromagnetic energy pulses are elicited into the body using the small wand of the device. These pulses of energy are transmitted into strategic acupuncture points located on the palm and hand that are related to certain body functions. This type of treatment is a very convenient, painless and easy way to receive the benefits of acupuncture in the comfort of your own home and in your own time. You need just a few sessions of electronic acupuncture to regain the normal flow of Chi and thus treat your low blood pressure. The important thing to note though is to remember to talk to your doctor first prior to embarking on electronic acupuncture treatment for your low blood pressure.
Manhattan Acupuncture Clinic
900 Broadway, Suite 404
New York, NY 10003
Ph: (917) 968-6456
http://www.manhattanacupunctureclinic.com/
Acupuncture for Cervical Dysplasia
Cervical Dysplasia or CD is seen as an abnormal change in the cells on the surface of the cervix. CD is not cancer but it can help develop cancer of the cervix if the condition is not addressed promptly. Cancer of the cervix is a very common cancer causing 16,000 incidents as well as 5,000 deaths each year in the United States. Women need to undergo a cervical dysplasia diagnosis as soon as possible if they suspect themselves of having one. For moderate and mild cases of CD, however, traditional Chinese medicine procedures along with a healthy lifestyle can help fight CD effectively.
The primary cause of cervical dysplasia is the Human Papilloma Virus or HPV. This is a common virus that is usually transmitted by means of sexual contact. HPV can have different kinds. Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM is not capable of diagnosing HPV or CD. If you suspect yourself of having HPV, It is very important to get a Pap smear exam since this test is the only way to ascertain if the cells in your cervix is normal or to guarantee that you have a healthy cervix.
Western medicine sees the following as factors that can heighten your risk of developing CD:
Smoking
Using medications or having sicknesses that weaken your immune system
Possessing more than one sexual partner
Not getting regular Pap smear tests
Becoming active sexually before 18 years of age
Physicians are uncertain why the likelihood of being infected with HPV is high in females 18 years or below who are already sexually active. They opine that a female is likely to have more than one sexual partner at these ages. They may also see that the cells of the cervix change over time through a process known as metaplasia. This is the reason why the exposed part of the cervix (the columnar cells) is termed as the “transformation zone”. Over several years, squamous cells, replace the columnar cells. The likelihood of developing pre-cancer is enhanced if the transformation zone is infected with a sexually transmitted carcinogen during the time of maximum cellular activity during adolescence. This jibes with the Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective that sexual activity at an early age is harmful to the Penetrating and Directing Vessels (related to the female reproductive organs) since at those ages, the uterus is still quite vulnerable. For TCM, adolescence is quite a delicate phase for a female and any disease she may incur at this time can bring about extreme consequences. Other diseases may also play a role in the rise of cervical dysplasia among young females. During the time of puberty, emotional problems can deeply affect a young female’s health; it may lead to a slowdown in the flow of her qi in the liver that can easily impact the female’s genital system.
Treating Cervical Dypslasia and HPV using TCM
Traditional Chinese Medicine considers the entire body when treating any disharmony and disease. A specific detailed intake process can aid TCM practitioners in determining the underlying cause of the disharmony. The initial intake process assesses the patient’s condition internally and also his/her habits, environment and lifestyle. Furthermore, the process of diagnosis process depends on the evaluation of the tongue and the palpation of the stomach and pulse. TCM practitioners consider all of this information to help diagnose the pathways and underlying problem of the disharmony, using the diagnostic patterns of procedures of TCM. After successfully diagnosing the condition, the practitioner will craft a plan of t treatment that considers the unique constitution of the patient.
Treatment often entails the use of dietary and lifestyle modifications, Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture. Eastern diet therapy is very important for the plan of treatment since studies have revealed that women suffering from CD also suffer from nutritional deficiencies. Women with cervical dysplasia were particularly lacking in vitamin B6, vitamin C and beta-carotene. TCM practitioners help patients by enabling them to know what foods are quite beneficial for them; these practitioners accomplish this by using an eastern nutrition profile. Foods that help improve the constitution of the patient can aid in healing and rejuvenating the body.
The duration of the treatment is determined by any preexisting conditions the patient has, the patient’s overall health and the degree of severity of his/her HPV infection. They all are considered during the first meeting of the patient with his/her TCM practitioner.
Harmony Wellness Center
110 N Orlando Ave
Maitland, FL 32751
(407) 234-6454
http://www.harmonywellnesscenter.com/
Acupuncture for Urinary Tract Infection
There are about 11 million Americans who suffer from acute urinary tract infection each year. Urinary tract infection (UTI) affects men but most of its cases involve women. Any part of the urinary system can potentially be affected with UTI. This disease is caused by bacteria that have entered the urethra where it starts to rapidly multiply. It is seen as a debilitating condition and the pain it generates may sometimes be more painful the childbirth according to some women who have been affected by this condition.
The most commonly used conventional western treatment for UTI is antibiotics. However, the increasing resistance of the bacteria towards antibiotics forces UTI patients to cease taking antibiotics and just allow the infection to gradually go away. This often results in the rise of worse conditions in the body. Moreover, women who have a high chance of developing UTI usually utilize large doses of antibiotics before the infection actually sets in; this merely accelerates the resistance of the bacteria to the drugs.
The danger of antibiotic resistance has prompted researchers to look into other natural and alternative ways to help lessen the duration and frequency of urinary tract infections. A study done in October 2002 in Norway involving the use of acupuncture to treat gynecological conditions showed results (which were published in the American Journal of Public Health issued October 2002 issue) favoring acupuncture therapy – it showed that the rate of infection decreased by more than a half after 6 months of acupuncture treatment.
The study involved 94 women ranging 18 to 60 in age. All of these women have had urinary tract infection at least 3 times for the past 12 months with a minimum of two infections having been diagnosed as UTI and resolved by a doctor. All the women were diagnosed based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) protocols. Then they were divided into two groups: the acupuncture and control groups. The control group was not given any treatment while the acupuncture group was treated on acupuncture points in the back, lower stomach and lower extremities based on the TCM diagnosis. The treatments were performed two times a week for four weeks.
Results
The researchers observed a substantial lessening of the group treated with acupuncture. About 73% of subjects treated with acupuncture reported no symptoms of UTI during the six-month followup visit. In contrast, the control group only had a 52% improvement of their symptoms. The acupuncture group exhibited more than half (55%) of a decreased risk of incurring another UTI infection in the six months after the last treatment session.
The subjects given acupuncture also had a 51% improvement in the average amount of urine that remained in their bladder during the six-month examination compared to baseline. The untreated subjects showed no major change in residual urine.
Acupuncture for Pre-Menstrual Syndrome
About 90% of women undergoing their menstrual cycle can experience the effects of an approaching period either every month or some months. PMS or pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) is also sometimes called PMT or pre-menstrual tension. PMS can manifest in a number of ways from mood swings, to headaches and painful cramping among many others. Symptoms can range as minimally irritating to very painful and conventional modalities like prescription drugs may not always be as effective as you want them to be. You may want to try electronic acupuncture if you have PMS or PMT and you’re not entirely satisfied with the relief given by conventional drugs.
Electronic Acupuncture
The very old Chinese healing art of acupuncture has been utilized since time immemorial for the resolution of pain and other health problems. Acupuncture is part of a collection of oriental modalities known as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). TCM believes that the body contains several energy pathways called meridians interconnected via connective tissues. If you begin to feel headaches, cramping and other symptoms of PMS, some of these meridians may be blocked impairing your body’s life energy from traveling to the blocked areas. Acupuncture is done by inserting sterile and very small needles into strategic spots in the body called acupuncture points or acupoints for short, to remove the blockages in these meridians.
Acupuncture has been used for many decades now in many Western countries and is considered a great treatment option that a lot of insurance companies are now willing to cover in their policies. The problem is when you have a fear of needles or when repeated sessions of acupuncture are out of the question because you cannot afford them. One solution to this problem is to buy a portable electronic acupuncture device that has been approved by the US FDA. This device follows the same principles of traditional acupuncture healing without using needles at all.
The advantage of having an electronic acupuncture device is that you can use it right in the comfort of your own home and on your own treatment schedule. The electronic acupuncture device has a wand-like component that conveys electromagnetic impulses to certain acupuncture points in the palm, wrist and hand that are associated to specific areas of your body. If, for example, your PMS causes bloating and cramping in you, you may want to place the wand to the acupuncture point associated with the ovaries and uterus to remove the blockage in the meridians causing pain. You can apply the same principle to your mood swings and headaches which are usually caused by hormones.
When you buy an electronic acupuncture device, it usually comes with a very useful acupoint hand map that you can use as reference for treating yourself of your PMS symptoms. The ability to treat yourself can enable you to lessen your dependency on prescription drugs, more so if these medicines have ingredients that can cause nasty side effects. When the pain and symptoms of your PMS causes you so much distress and discomfort, acquiring an electronic acupuncture device may just be the one thing that will help you deal much better with your PMS problem.
Before deciding to purchase an electronic acupuncture device, you need to consult with your doctor regarding your PMS symptoms first. There are certain types of PMS that may need medical intervention. One thing is certain and that is your electronic acupuncture device will not only help you cope much better with your PMS, it will also help you address your other health conditions as well.
Acupuncture for Itching
Acupuncture is a very unique type of oriental healing technique that is very effective in relieving itch. If you are considering using it for the first time, you need to consult with your doctor first.
Causes of Itching
There are many causes of itching and they can range from damaged nerves to dry skin. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology categorizes itching into four types:
Psychogenic – This type of itch can be caused by imbalances in levels of norepinephrine and serotonin in your body. Psychogenic itching is usually treated with antipsychotic and antidepressant medicines.
Neurogenic – This type of itching happens with kidney and chronic liver disease
Neuropathic – This can be caused by problems in the nervous system
Pruriceptive – This can be due to skin damage resulting from conditions like inflammation, eczema and drug reactions
Acupuncture Treatment for Itching
In treating itching acupuncturists first need to evaluate the symptoms of their patients to customize treatments that address their patients’ particular needs. Acupuncture is uniquely customized that each patient usually gets different treatment even if they have the same medical complaint. Acupuncture points identified for a specific type of itch can be different for another type of itch. For example, an acupoint for the Gallbladder organ located on the thigh indicates for itchy, red skin is needled. An acupoint associated with the Urinary bladder located in the back near the spine is treated if the patient is suffering from eczema. For generalized itching, acne and hives, acupoints connected to the Urinary bladder is treated.
Effectiveness
Studies published in the 2010 edition of the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology showed that acupuncture treatments lessened the duration, distribution and intensity of itching. The journal also noted that the studies involved low numbers of episodes or single-case studies which imply that even if acupuncture showed its efficacy for treating itch, more testing and research are required to verify its effectiveness.
Considerations
There is not doubt that acupuncture is now a popular type of treatment in the United States. It is considered to be a safe procedure with few side effects, if any at all. However, if done by an inexperienced or untrained practitioner, acupuncture can have negative effects that can include punctured organs due to incorrectly placed needles or infections from unsterile needles. If you want to make sure you are given safe care, check the credentials of your acupuncturist and never select an acupuncturist who possesses no traditional medical training.
Vital Gate Acupuncture
107 W 82nd St
New York, NY 10024
(212) 873-4244
http://www.vitalgate.com/
Acupuncture for Low Back Pain
In terms of injury and/or muscle soreness, back pain is the most widely reported complaint. Most people will experience back pain at some point in their life and so it is important to discuss this condition and learn how to resolve it and even prevent it since you may suffer from it in the future if you haven’t already.
One of the best treatments of most types of body pain bar none is the ancient Chinese healing art of acupuncture. Acupuncture is one component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Other TCM modalities such as moxibustion or cupping therapy have also demonstrated outstanding results for treating low back pain. Acupuncture is versatile enough to be utilized in combo with any type of natural or conventional therapy.
Your lower back broadly encompasses the part of your body below the rib cage including the buttocks. When pain emanates from the sciatic nerve, it can travel down to one leg or the other but oftentimes only one leg is affected. According to TCM, lower back pain can be the result of a pathogenic infiltration, zero or little exercise, overwork, pregnancy and labor, too much sexual activity or excessive physical work. When the underlying cause of your low back pain (LBP) has been identified, a diagnosis based on TCM principles is then attained. It is important to note that you avail yourself of treatment to a qualified TCM practitioner even if you only want acupuncture treatment for your LBP. An LBP diagnosis based on TCM usually involves chi deficiency of the Kidney system. This deficiency is either due to the stagnation of blood and chi in the kidney meridian or a pathogen invasion such as accumulation of Damp-Cold in the affected area.
Chi deficiency in the Kidney often manifests in chronic low back pain as well Cold-Damp. This condition can develop from frequent infiltration of Cold-Damp in the body that eventually leads to the Kidney energy deficiency and thus to low-back pain. Other symptoms of LBP besides the pain can include knee pain, night sweats, relief from the pain but recurring during work or sexual activity, and a cold feeling in the lower back.
Damp-Cold invasion likewise can manifest in acute low-back pain cases. The pain generated by this infiltration is at its worse in the morning and acts up during cold or damp weather. The pain can be resolved by the application of heat. If you suffer from Cold and Dampness infiltration, one often predominates the other. You may sometimes experience symptoms of Dampness more than cold or vice versa. If Cold infiltration is stronger, you can find relief by walking around or being active rather than resting; the heat from your movement will alleviate the pain. If you feel the effect of Dampness more than Cold, some swelling may develop as well as feel a heavy sensation in your back.
LBP caused by blood and chi stagnation is often associated with Kidney deficiency (in chronic cases) and the result of muscle strain (in acute cases). Blood and chi stagnation comes with symptoms such as stabbing and sharp pain that becomes worse with excessive exertion or even with rest. The LBP caused by blood and chi stagnation is usually tender making it difficult for the sufferer to sit or stand. This type of pain is accompanied by severe muscle rigidity and stiffness and is not affected by the application of heat or changes in the weather.
After your TCM practitioner has diagnosed you with LBP, he may suggest an acupuncture plan of treatment. The duration of the LBP treatment may be determined on how long you’ve been suffering from it. Acute LBP cases tend to have a quicker treatment time than chronic cases. The acupuncture points to be treated will be based on your diagnosis though more often than not certain points on your back are included. Western medicine diagnosis for LBP may not focus on its underlying cause but will instead concentrate on the symptoms. Whatever the case, you need to consult with your doctor to at least determine that you are not suffering from any structural problems in the back such as, for example, a prolapsed lumbar disc or osteoarthritis.
Acupuncture for Itching
An itching sensation ensues when the skin starts to tingle and the urge to scratch is very strong. Most cases of itching are not serious but the uncomfortable sensation can eventually result in too much scratching that can injure the skin. Acupuncture is a Chinese healing modality thousands of years old that can help relieve the itching sensation. It is recommended that you talk with your doctor first before getting acupuncture treatment.
Causes of Itching
There may be so many possible causes of itching – some may be caused by dry skin and in some severe cases, it may be due to damaged nerves. There are four classifications of itching according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, these are psychogenic, neurogenic, neuropathic and pruriceptive. Chemical imbalances in the body, especially the ones involving norepinephrine and serotonin may lead to psychogenic itching. This type of itching may be relieved with antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs. Neurogenic itching can occur when the patient suffers from kidney or chronic liver disease, neuropathic itching can result from damage to the nervous system, Pruriceptive itching can be caused by damage to the skin due to conditions such as inflammation, eczema, drug reactions and hives.
It is the job of acupuncturists to evaluate the symptoms of their patients in order to customize a plan of treatment that will treat their patient’s specific needs. Since acupuncture treatment is really based on the symptoms and physiology of the patient, patients may get different treatments for basically the same health problems. Acupuncturists can identify the acupuncture points that are often utilized to stop itching. The Gall Bladder point 31 point, for example, situated on the thigh is needled to address itchy red skin. The Urinary Bladder 17 point is essential for itchy skin problems such as eczema, and is found on the back near the spine. The Urinary Bladder 13 point, very near to the Urinary Bladder 17 point, is treated to address acne and hives as well as generalized itching.
Effectiveness
The Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology posted studies in 2010 assessing case studies and scientific research on the treatment of acupuncture for itching. The studies stated that acupuncture therapies decreased the duration, distribution and intensity of itching. The conductors of the study, however, said that since the studies only involved low numbers of episodes or were single-case studies, they weren’t the kind of studies that can truly validate acupuncture’s effectiveness in treating itching. More testing and research are needed to prove acupuncture’s effectiveness.
Considerations
In spite of the millions of Americans who get acupuncture treatments, very few cases of side effects have been reported. Acupuncture is considered to be a safe treatment although it can have adverse effects if it is performed by an inexperienced or untrained acupuncturist. The effects may include punctured organs due to improperly placed needles or poor sanitation. To guarantee safe care, you need to check the credentials of the acupuncturist and stop relying on a diagnosis from an acupuncturist who has no traditional medical training.
Scott Paglia is a licensed and board certified acupuncturist in Bellingham, WA and provides master level pulse diagnosis, Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture in Whatcom County, WA.
Acupuncture for Low Back Pain
Low back pain is one of the most common reasons individuals see their doctors. It is also one of the most typical conditions that cause people to miss work and other activities. There are many causes for low back pain. The more common causes include diseases, structural deformities and trauma (injuries and strains). Diseases that can result in back pain include osteoporosis and ankylosing spondylosis. Low back pain can be due to structural problems such as vertebral deformities, stenosis and herniated discs that besides pain can develop into serious chronic problems.
Low Back Pain Signs and Symptoms
There are several signs and symptoms of low back pain. Pain can be felt in the back’s lumbar area. The pain can be felt as some type of muscular pain and localized. Pain can also be felt radiating down the legs which is the case for sciatic pain. Patients with low back pain can complain about different sensations of pain including numbness, spasmodic pain, throbbing pain, dull pain and stabbing pain sometimes the back pain that will travel to the toes causing them to become numb. There are serious types of back pain that can debilitate a person making it difficult for that person to walk. There are back pains such as arthritis that are heavily influenced by changes in the weather.
Treatment Choices
For low back pain, a lot of treatment choices are available to remedy your condition. The most commonly availed of treatments are medicines, particularly, muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory drugs. Serious cases of back pain wherein the vertebrae have been damaged may necessitate surgery. One other treatment option that traditional medicine calls alternative medicine but one that has proven to be very effective in the resolution of low back pain is Chinese medicine and acupuncture.
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine
Chinese medicine as a whole contains a string of natural modalities that includes acupuncture. Acupuncture and some of the other modalities are extremely effective in treating low back pain. The view of Chinese medicine towards low back pain and other health conditions is entirely different than that of the perspective of Western medicine. Chinese medicine is grounded on the belief that life energy exists in a person’s body. This life energy travels all throughout the body like blood and is conveyed on energy pathways called meridians. This life energy is known in Chinese as Qi or Chi. When Chi flow stagnates or is blocked in the meridians, an energy imbalance occurs and the body experiences disease, pain or illness. In the case of low back pain, the person may be experiencing blood and Chi stagnation causing energy and blood deficiency as well as imbalances or external pathogens such as cold and wind in the body that can all lead to pain. The meridians are associated with certain major organs in the body. In the case of low back pain the Kidney meridian is affected. Acupuncture helps restore balance in the body. It also removes the blockage causing life energy to flow freely once more and allows the body to heal itself.
For acute low back pain cases, acupuncture can readily treat it with just a few sessions of treatment. For chronic back pain, the treatment may take longer and patients may have to come back occasionally for preventative and maintenance treatments. Acupuncture is vey effective in treating different back pain conditions including arthritis, stenosis, herniated discs and sciatica. If you desire a back pain treatment that is safe, effective and do not have side effects, then acupuncture is certainly a treatment you need to try.
Acupuncture for Infertility
A lot of adults think that the most purposeful and exciting time in their lives is to have and raise a family of their own. Deplorably, however, approximately 25% of adults in the United States are unable to conceive. Their choices then are to resort in treatments and techniques to attain conception which can be distressing and disappointing processes that can eventually result to monetary and emotional pressure.
If couples are unable to conceive for at least a whole year, they are then deemed or diagnosed to be infertile. There can be several complications that can develop or arise during the conception process. Infertility can strike both sexes roughly equally. For men who are infertile, they comprise approximately 40% of infertility cases. Low sperm count, bad sperm quality, poor sperm motility and some other abnormalities can all bring about infertility among the human male species.
One the other hand, women, on the other hand contribute to about half (50%) of the cases of infertility. The reproductive system of the female is more complex than that of the male. Certain issues arising there like obstructed fallopian tubes, deficient ovarian reserve, and hormone irregularities and other problems can all lead to a woman’s incapability to conceive. Also both the male and female partner can be infertile but in most cases one part of the couple is the one infertile.
About 10% of infertility cases are of unknown cases (idiopathic cases). This type of infertility is quite a difficult one to diagnose and it often affects couples who are seemingly healthy overall.
Considering the Options
Infertile couples who really want to become parents of natural born children will seek help from fertility specialists to see what is specifically wrong with them. They need to undergo tests that help specialists to know what procedure is best for their condition. Some of the assisted reproductive techniques (ART) for addressing infertility can include GIFT, ZIFT, ICSI, IUI as well as IVF. Most of the procedures basically require the female to receive hormones that can stabilize and improve the process of ovulation as well as implantation. These procedures can be quite successful although they can take a firm commitment financially and time-wise on couples many of them cannot make.
Due to their costliness, these aforementioned therapies are not often considered. These days, a growing number of couples are opting for natural therapies to help them conceive. These types of therapies can either be used as a standalone therapy or as a complementary modality for IVF as well as other ART procedures. The most commonly used of these natural modalities are traditional Chinese medicine modalities like acupuncture.
What New Research Reveals About Acupuncture
Even with tons of research done on acupuncture for years, the mystery of how it really works still has not yet been discovered. Researchers have two theories as to how acupuncture works in treating several conditions. One theory uses TCM’s concept of “meridians” and “vital energy” known as “chi”. The second theory uses modern scientific evidence to explain the physiological processes that happens when acupuncture needles are inserted into the skin.
The Connection between Acupuncture and the Brain
When an acupuncture needle is inserted into the skin, some very interesting changes happen in the body and brain. Newer research has revealed that changes in the brain happen when the acupuncturist uses needles to stimulate these areas. Some of the latest functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have validated this connection. Researchers have observed that acupuncture actually helps release endorphins that affect the gonadotropins FSH and LH when the therapy is used to treat infertility. LH and FSH affect and stabilize the functioning of the ovaries and testes. Furthermore, the needles also seem to improve blood circulation to the uterus, improving the environment that becomes more conducive for implantation. So what acupuncture does is to greatly improve the body’s ability to conceive by regulating the woman’s hormone production, among others. Regulated hormones imply regular menstruation, timely ovulation, good implantation and a perfect environment for conception.
One major cause of infertility is stress. Stress from personal problems, financial stress and work all play a part in hormonal irregularities and so can impact fertility. Certain women undergo a stressful event that causes them to skip their period. Fortunately, acupuncture is a very popular stress relieving procedure and has as a positive calming effect for women undergoing stressful fertility treatment processes.
Chinese Herbal Medicine
The benefits of Chinese herbal medicine cannot certainly be ignored in spite of acupuncture being the most studied type of natural alternative therapy for infertility. The use of the correct herbal formula can certainly help regulate the menstrual cycle and provide a great opportunity to achieve successful conception. There are also various kinds of herbal formulas that boost male fertility and treat problems like low sperm count and erectile dysfunction. These herbs can very powerful medicine and as such need to be only prescribed by TCM practitioners specializing in traditional Chinese herbal medicine.
IVF and Acupuncture: Great ART Combination
One of the most commonly used ART procedures to attain conception is In-Vitro Fertilization or IVF. The March 2008 issue of the British Medical Journal stated that the rate of pregnancy and live birth is considerably improved when acupuncture is given along with embryo transfer for women undergoing IVF.
IVF therapies have truly helped a lot of couples realize their dream of being proud parents of their own natural born children. Still, in spite of this wonderful achievement these techniques do not address certain factors which play important roles in our health that can impact our fertility. These factors like stress management, dietary choices, sleep and emotional health are ignored. The good news is that a lot of medical physicians and fertility specialists are beginning to be aware of new research works and are now seeing the value of acupuncture on couples who want a better integrated approach to their health. If you are seriously considering acupuncture as a way to treat your infertility or improve your chances to achieve conception then you can consult with a licensed acupuncturist or a licensed TCM practitioner to know how acupuncture can be of help in resolving your fertility or conception problems.