Category Archives: Acupuncture
Acupuncture for Gastritis
Chronic gastritis may imply certain different kinds of chronic inflammation of gastric mucus caused by several possible factors. Depending on the pathological changes, there may be three types of chronic gastritis: hypertrophic, atrophic and superficial gastritis. These types have their own unique symptoms although basically the common shared symptoms of chronic gastritis include belching, vomiting, nausea, dyspepsia, anorexia, pain and discomfort in the upper and middle stomach, and recurrent fullness. Gastritis can have symptoms like stomach fullness and epigastralgia that may mimic other conditions. Based on traditional Chinese medicine, this condition can come about due to qi and blood stagnation, stomach yin deficiency, asthenia, longstanding conditions that cause blockages in the liver qi, overstrain, poor diet and emotional upsets.
Differentiation of Syndrome
1. Qi stagnation and liver depression – symptoms may include a rapid and taut pulse, red tongue with yellow and thin coating, frequent sighing and belching, migratory pain and epigastralgia affecting the sides of the rib.
2. Asthenia (cold in the stomach and spleen) – symptoms for this syndrome include: weak and thin pulse; tongue that is bulgy, light colored, with slippery, thin and white coating; cold limbs; aversion to cold; loose stool; pale complexion; spiritual lassitude; emaciation; preference for warmth and pressure; and a dull abdominal pain.
3. Stomach yin deficiency – symptoms for this syndrome: thin and rapid or thin and taut pulse; red tongue with scanty coating; dry mouth with the urge to drink; hunger without appetite, heartburn-like hunger; and irregular pain in the abdomen.
4. Stagnation of blood in the collaterals – syndrome symptoms: unsmooth pulse; purplish tongue sometimes with ecchymoses; hematochezia, occasional hematemesis, and stabbing epigastralgia with unpressable and fixed pain.
Treatment
1. Body acupuncture – acupuncture points include: ST 36 or Zusanli point; ST 21 (Liangmen point); SP 4 (Gongsun); PC 6 (Neiguan), CV 12 (Zhongwan).
Additions:
For distention and fullness in stomach and epigastrium, the BL 20(Pishu), ST 19 (Bu-rong), and LR 13 (Zhangmen) are also needled.
For abdominal heat, ST 44 (Neiting) is needled.
For stagnation of blood in the collaterals, BL 17 (Geshu) and SP 10 (Xuehai) are needled.
For stomach yin deficiency, P6 (Sanyinjiao) and Kl 3 (Taixi) are needled.
For asthenia-cold in the abdomen and spleen, BL 20 (Pishu) and BL 21 (Weishu) are needled
For liver qi invading the stomach, LR 3 (Tai-chong), LR 14 (Qimen) and BL 18 (Ganshu) are needled.
Performance
For the stagnation of blood in the collaterals and for liver qi invading the abdomen, reinforcing and mild reducing needling techniques can be utilized
For stomach yin deficiency and asthenia-cold in the abdomen and spleen, reinforcing needling technique can be adopted.
For the asthenia-cold syndrome therapy, moxibustion can be applied as an adjunct for acupuncture.
2. Ear acupuncture
Acupuncture points include: AT 4 (Subcortical); TF4 (Ear Shenmen); AH6a (Sympathetic); CO4 (Stomach); CO17 (Triple Energizer); C012 (Liver); and CO13 (Spleen).
Performance:
Per acupuncture treatment, two to three points are treated. The needles stay in the ear acupoint for half an hour and manipulated at specific intervals. Electro-acupuncture can be utilized or Semen Vaccariae (Wang-buliuxingzi) to pressure the ear. Both ears need to be needled albeit in alternating fashion.
Dr. Jack Handlin is an experienced acupuncturist, Chinese herbalist and oriental reproductive medicine specialist at Tree of Life Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine in Bellevue, WA.
Acupuncture for Anemia
When the body is unable to create adequate amounts of red blood cells (RBCs) to supply oxygen to the other cells of the body for them to function healthily, it suffers from a condition known as anemia. Anemia is often characterized by tiredness that happens due to the incapacity of the body to function efficiently. This symptom makes anemia sometimes referred to as “tired blood.” Anemia may have several types and they may range from mild or light to extremely severe and can last fleetingly or as long as a person’s entire life. The modalities used by allopathic medicine for anemia are based on the type of anemia the patient suffers from. Alternative medicine specialists such as acupuncturists or practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), on the other hand, utilize acupuncture, different forms of bodywork, herbal remedies or other complementary or other alternative forms of medicine to resolve anemia.
The Use of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treating Anemia
Allopathic doctors are aware of the different types of anemia, including thalassemia, hemolytic anemia, iron-deficiency anemia, vitamin-deficiency anemia, sickle-cell anemia, and aplastic anemia. Each form of anemia has distinct causes and hence, different treatments. Contrast that to practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine who think that all forms of anemia are signs that the flow of vital energy or qi, the body’s life giving energy force that makes the body healthy has stagnated because of blockages in its flow or it means that the body produces inadequate amounts of good-quality blood. To address this condition, they adopt certain techniques to energize the organ systems to improve the flow of qi and create more and better quality of blood. What treatment to be used will depend on the patient’s manifested symptoms.
Acupuncture for Anemia
Acupuncture is a kind of TCM modality that involves the application of thin, long needles inserted at specific parts on the body known as acupuncture points to restore the normal flow of qi. For anemia therapy, acupuncture needles are inserted at the pathways of qi known as meridians to help enhance qi flow to the stomach and spleen system. Needles can also be inserted at other meridians to enhance the flow of qi to the liver. The liver, according to TCM, is the organ system that maintains good flow of blood throughout the body and is also the organ system where blood is stored.
Acupuncturists often needle these common acupuncture points to treat anemia:
Stomach 36 – The Stomach 36 point is found on the meridian of the stomach system and is known as Foot Three Mile or Zu San Li; this means that treatment of this point can help treat fatigue enabling you to walk much farther, maybe for an extra 3 miles more. The point strengthens both blood and qi and also helps improve the body’s capacity to absorb nutrients and to enhance digestion.
Liver 8 – This is the liver meridian and is known as Spring at the Crook or Qu Quan. This point is a commonly treated point to help tonify the liver system which is usually associated with disorders of the blood. Liver 8 nourishes the blood and strengthens both the blood and yin of the body.
Spleen 10 – this spleen meridian acupuncture point is known as Sea of Blood or Xue Hai and is needled to tonify and invigorate the blood that can result in the treatment of many types of disorders of the blood.
Anemia Therapy Using Chinese Herbal Medicine
For the resolution of anemia using Chinese herbal medicine, single herbs and herbal compound mixtures may be used. Different kinds of herbs can help boost or improve the production of qi and high quality blood. They may include:
White peony rhizome or Bai Shao – this remedy is to astrnge yin and nourish blood.
Rehmannia or Sheng Di – this formula in its processed form is known as Shu Di. Rehmannia helps generate fluids and nourish yin.
Deer antler or Lu rong – used for tonifying qi and blood and for strengthening yang
Astragalus propinquus or Huang qi – tonifies spleen qi and blood.
Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) or Gan cao – tonifies stomach qi and spleen.
Pilose asiabell [radix codonopsis pilosulae radix and Codonopsis pilosulae] or Dang shen – to help augment body energy and nourish the blood
Angelica (Archangelica spp.) or Dang gui – helps dispel cold, tonifies blood and harmonizes and invigorates the blood
White Atractylodes rhizome (Atractylodis macrocephalae) or Bai zhu – tonifies the spleen and supplements qi
A lot of times, TCM’s way of treating disorders is to apply Chinese herbal medicine along with complementary modalities. The TCM remedy that is a classical formula for deficiency of blood is Four Ingredient Decoction or Si Wu Tang. It is made up of Chuan Xiong, Dang Gui, Bai Shao and Shu Di. Some other equally potent formulas that help produce more blood is Angelica Tonify the Blood Decoction or Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang. This formula contains only two herbs: Huang Qi and Dang Gui. A number of assorted remedies are available to treat specific aspects of anemia in line with the medical presentation of the patient. They include Zhou’s Anemia Formula, Zhang’s Anemia Formula, Yi Xue Sheng, Ye Xue Jing, Xue Bao Hau Jia, and Sheng Xue Jiao Nang; these are all herbal formulas that have been experimented on and have been verified to be effective in treating many types of anemia.
Anemia Treatment Using Tui Na Massage
Tui Na massage therapy has been practiced in China for thousands of years and its foundation is similar to that of acupuncture. Like acupuncture Tui Na massage entails the stimulation of the meridians to normalize the flow of qi, and bring balance to yin and yang in the body. Certain Tui Na therapists may concentrate on hand and foot massage to normalize qi flow throughout the body and better the production of blood in the spleen.
Acupuncture for Eczema
Eczema sufferers may be happy to know that Chinese medicine has been proven a very successful treatment for this chronic skin condition. Eczema responds very well to both the traditional Chinese medicine modalities of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture. Western medicine modes of treatment for eczema include the use of cortisone topical creams and other kinds of steroids that can aid in the removal of the lesions. The drawback to these treatments is that they do not prevent the condition from happening again. A person experiencing recurring or chronic eczema may discover that Chinese medicine is a safer and more effective way of dealing with this skin problem.
How does Chinese Medicine Treat Eczema?
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) states that eczema is a delayed allergic reaction that is generated by aggravated external and internal factors. This means that eczema can arise from environmental factors or due to the state of your health. Certain individuals can also be genetically predisposed to it. TCM believes that there are 3 classifications by which eczema is categorized:
Dietary irregularities – long term consumption of alcohol and sugary, greasy, or spicy foods can eventually weaken the body making it vulnerable to skin conditions such as weepy, red or itchy sores. This is because there is a gradual build up of toxins in the body due to undigested foods. TCM looks into these three factors that can occur all at the same time in severe cases, and then treats them all at once.
Internal factors – They may arise due to an imbalance inside the body that may be the reason for the skin reaction. Internal factors may involve a hereditary condition, a longstanding illness preceding the eczema, or a problem in any of the organ systems. The imbalance is oftentimes unremitting and chronic.
External factors – These types of factors cause hypersensitivity toward his/her environment and may involve exposure to toxic chemicals, asthma, frequent cold infections, seasonal allergies or hay fever. The sensitivity can result in acute episodes of eczema, often seasonal, or an aggravation of the sickness due to changes in the weather.
The use of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture can lead to the following results:
-The removal of toxins from the skin, resulting in the treatment of the weepy, red or itchy sores
-The treatment and balance of the internal organ systems that may contribute to the development of eczema
-The strengthening of the immune system, helping lessen sensitivity to environmental and external hazards in the process
Traditional Chinese medicine is different to that of western medicine in that the treatment of skin problems entails a slow gradual process. The reason for this is that the body takes a while to regain its internal balance unlike western medicine which is to resolve the condition temporarily or topically. With TCM, the whole body is treated instead of only the affected parts of the skin as western medicine is wont to do. The whole treatment may take months to accomplish depending on how long the patient has had his/her eczema. TCM believes that when the skin becomes affected by a chronic condition, it can be a sign that the overall health of the patient has been weakened for a long time now. When you go for acupuncture treatment, positive skin changes may be seen just right after the treatment session has ended. Chinese herbal formula taken daily and acupuncture given for a month or two can give significant results within weeks. As your skin condition gets better, acupuncture treatment may not be required regularly although Chinese herbal medicine needs to be taken daily. The length of your herbal treatment may depend on the severity of your symptoms. One of the advantages of this treatment plan is that you will be less likely to have a repeat of your eczema ever again.
Other Modalities for the Treatment of Eczema
Diet has a significant role to play in the treatment of eczema. Along with acupuncture, your acupuncturist may advice that you adhere to dietary guidelines that can exclude foods that may be causing your eczema. Also he may recommend supplements and vitamins that quicken the healing of your skin problem. Your acupuncturist may also recommend on the skin care products and topical treatments to use to help you heal and care for your skin
Eva Paglialonga is a licensed acupuncturist and massage therapist in Miami, FL and the medical director of Needles and Moxa Wellness Center.
Acupuncture for Tinnitus
Fortunately for tinnitus patients, there are many kinds of treatments to cure this vexing condition. This article will focus only on traditional acupuncture, a proven therapy that works for a lot of tinnitus patients, as seen in numerous studies.
We will see what acupuncture treatment for tinnitus is all about and the processes that the patient needs to undergo to cure tinnitus. Hopefully, this article will give you a much more coherent understanding regardless of tinnitus treatment using acupuncture if you are considering acupuncture or not for your condition.
Before anything else, it is important to ascertain if you have tinnitus or not. A lot of individuals go see their doctor to figure out if they merely have accumulated wax in their ears or other kinds of ear problems. After the doctor has ascertained that you are indeed suffering from tinnitus, then the next thing he needs to figure out is what type of tinnitus you have.
For certain people with tinnitus, the main thing they hear is their pulse or beating of their heart. This type of tinnitus is referred to as pulsatile tinnitus. In certain occasions, individuals will endure sleepless nights due to the disturbing ringing noise constantly ringing noise in their ears. This problem directly affects their life, especially their work and performance. This also affects their mood making them experience worries, anxiety, depression; sometimes, they may even end up being suicidal.
These factors make it imperative to know the severity of your tinnitus and the only way to figure this out is to consult with your doctor. You need to be aware of every bit of information you have of your condition so that you may also know what measures you need to use to best deal with your condition. Now that you are sure that you are suffering from tinnitus, and also know what kind of tinnitus it is, you can then consider going to an acupuncturist to have it treated the natural way. This time, it is important that you search for an acupuncture clinic near your area. You also need to be sure that the acupuncturist you choose is a licensed practitioner who can truly and effectively treat your ear problem.
Acupuncture is a natural type of medical treatment and the treatment process usually entails more than one session of therapy. Acupuncture is an on going process where results may be seen after weeks or even months; moreover, the more serious your tinnitus is, the longer will be your treatment. You need to be patient when you decide to go for acupuncture treatment.
Besides the need for patience, having a good attitude towards acupuncture is also important. When you come in for treatment, you need to be relaxed to enable yourself to receive optimal benefits from the treatment. Studies have shown that relaxation and an optimistic way of thinking can provide the best positive impact in treating tinnitus using acupuncture.
One of the biggest problems about acupuncture is the use of needles. A lot of people are reluctant to go for acupuncture treatment mainly because they are scared of the thought of needles being inserted at certain parts of their body. The thing about the needles is that they are ten times smaller than the conventional needles used in hospitals to draw blood, or inject fluids. Therefore, these acupuncture needles do not really cause any pain at all when they are inserted in a person’s body.
Finally, acupuncture for the treatment of tinnitus does not guarantee that your tinnitus will be fully cured. There are indeed instances were acupuncture has completely cured patients of their tinnitus but there are also cases were acupuncture has not been successful in resolving the symptoms. Acupuncture can help treat your tinnitus but it may or may not be able to cure it.
Dale Roach, MD,L.Ac
178 Myrtle Blvd
Larchmont, NY 10538
Phone: 914-562-5748
http://www.docacupuncture.com/
Acupuncture for Weight Loss
Acupuncture is the quintessential representation of all things Chinese. Clinical studies done by medical professionals using Chinese medicine, body acupuncture and auricular acupuncture combined with other modalities can provide treatment for obesity in Vancouver and excess weight not only in an effective and safe manner but in the treatment of physical decline, diarrhea, anorexia and other side effects.
Acupuncture regulates the function of the endocrine system, inhibits the appetite, helps limit food intake and inhibits fat absorption digestion by regulating the gastrointestinal function to improve the body’s absorption of nutrients. It also helps improve the body’s energy storage and intake. Acupuncture can also improve metabolism, enhance energy consumption, and help accelerate the breakdown and burning of fat leading ultimately to lose of excess weight.
By stimulating the acupuncture points, acupuncture likewise stimulates the meridians underneath these points improving the function of the kidneys and reinforcing the spleen. The treatment also removes the obstruction that stagnate the flow of Qi. Along with a healthy diet the body is able to burn fat and lose weight quickly in the process.
Does acupuncture weight loss really work?
Acupuncturists who have been helping a lot of their overweight patients lose weight answer that with an emphatic YES. Some people who have already lost weight using acupuncture keep on coming back to lose more weight and attain the weight that they have desired for a long time. Acupuncture, under the hands of a skilled and certified acupuncturist can help you lose weight in a safe, effective and easy manner.
Acupuncture for Eczema
Eczema is the term used to describe a variety of recurring skin problems, including dryness and particularly recurring skin rashes that have a single or multiple symptoms such as bleeding, oozing, cracking, blistering, flaking, crusting, dryness, itching, swelling or edema, or redness.
The rash can develop on any part of the skin, but unlike psoriasis, the rash usually develops on the flexor, inner, softer surfaces of the skin. Also, unlike psoriasis, there is absence of build-up of scaly plaque.
Diagnosis of Chinese Medicine
A Chinese diagnosis is made of skin rashes based on the qualities of the lesions. The condition may be caused by blood deficiency if the skin shows dryness. If the skin looks red, the patient may be suffering from inflammation (heat) in the blood- the more red the skin, the more heat is in the blood. This condition usually worsens in hot weather. Overwhelming cases of eczema are due to inflammation (heat) in the blood.
The skin condition may mean blood stagnation if the lesions show a purplish color. Heat may be present is there is any itching and the more itching is felt, the more heat is present in the body. A skin that shows oozing or blisters signifies that the patient is suffering from a damp condition according to Chinese medicine.
Acupuncture
Studies have revealed that acupuncture can help relieve the itch caused by eczema. One particular crossover, placebo-controlled, randomized, blinded trial demonstrated the effectiveness of acupuncture on type I hypersensitivity itch as well as the flare and wheal reactions in adults suffering from atopic eczema. The researchers compared no acupuncture, placebo acupuncture and true acupuncture (at traditional acupuncture points) and discovered that when using the correct points, acupuncture provided a substantial decrease in type I hypersensitivity itch in subjects with atopic eczema. Over the course of time, the preventive point-specific effect lessened vis-à-vis the subjective itch sensation, and at the same time inhibiting skin-prick reactions.
Chinese Herbal Therapy
Chinese herbal medicine is considered the main form of treatment used by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners for eczema. Formulas are customized for the patient in question, since no two cases have the same exact combination of blood stagnation, blood deficiency dampness or heat. A certain formula may be composed of herbs added to offset the degree of heat, etc. manifested by the patient.
Diet
Based on both modern research and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), dairy products fats, eggs and animal flesh are the primary promoters of eczema. Atopic skin disorders can be caused by food allergies so it is wise to undergo a food allergy test. Gluten in kamut, spelt, barley, rye, wheat and related grains can cause skin rashes in some individuals. Animal products though, are the more typical triggers.
Too much consumption of processed vegetable oils and sugar can lead to inflammation, so limiting thee items are recommended. Acupuncturists and other TCM practitioners recommend a low allergen diet consisting of nuts, seeds, legumes fruits and vegetables. Thee foods have anti-inflammatory attributes and skin-healing nutrients such as healthy fats, zinc, and vitamin A.
Dr. Jack Handlin is an experienced acupuncturist, Chinese herbalist and oriental reproductive medicine specialist at Tree of Life Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine in Bellevue, WA.
Acupuncture for Headaches
Is there any connection to the inserting of hair thin needles into your body and the treatment of migraine headaches? Acupuncture is one of the most ancient forms of healing art in the world having been practiced in China for over 2500 years. And if you think of it as some form of pseudo medicine, you should know that is a therapy approved by the World Health Organization and the US Food and Drug Authority for the treatment of dozens of conditions and ailments especially for the treatment of chronic pain and for the management of pain. It is particularly potent in the treatment of migraine headaches.
Acupuncture is one form of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) modality that entails the use of very fine hair like needles to release vital energy called chi from some of the over 800 energy points scattered throughout the body. Meridian lines run through these energy points that extend from head to toe.
Vital energy or chi brings about good health when it flows unobstructed through the meridians providing much needed energy and blood throughout the body. The basic principle of acupuncture and TCM is that when chi develops blockages it leads to pain and illness in the body. These blockages may develop due to outside factors, the weather or to poor diet. Acupuncturists develop a unique plan of treatment per patient based on the patient’s unique symptoms and constitution. They develop a therapy to remove the blockages in the meridians and treat the underlying cause of the illness. Along with acupuncture, acupuncturists may also recommend changes to diet and lifestyle to their patient to help manage their headaches much better.
If you are considering getting acupuncture to address your migraines, your acupuncturist may require you to point to him where the pain exactly is. A huge number of acupuncture points exist in the neck, face and head and pressure needs to be applied where the pain is at its most severe.
For long-time chronic migraine sufferers, acupuncture may provide them with long-term and substantial relief and even permanent cure. They need to consult with a licensed acupuncturist preferably with experience or specializes in treating migraine headaches. The evaluation of the patient is a part of the treatment process done by the acupuncturist leading to the resolution of the migraine headaches. This evaluation is needed to help the acupuncturist create a plan of treatment for the long-term resolution of the patient’s migraine headache. A lot of sufferers who have chosen acupuncture therapy find relief from their headaches lasting for several years or even permanent cure for this condition.
Christina Prieto is an Orlando acupuncturist, a certified Yoga instructor and the founder of Harmony Wellness center in central Florida.
Acupuncture for Anxiety
The modern world may have given us the newest technologies and medications to help us deal with illnesses and disorders; they are by no means, the best ways in resolving them. Acupuncture has a long time ago, proven to be one of the best modalities in the world for treating physical and emotional conditions such as panic attacks, depression and anxiety. This treatment for anxiety can remove all the negativity in a person’s body.
Acupuncture to Unwind
As with all Eastern forms of therapy, acupuncture suggests that an indivisible connection exists between the body and mind. Health conditions are basically caused by an imbalance between, internal and external factors affecting a person’s health. These internal factors may include worry, fear, sadness and anger while external factors may include cold, heat and wind.
Acupuncture has for centuries now, instructed people in the west how to relax. It can generate relaxation and calmness in the body and mind as well as help the body heal and be able to rest substantially.
Acupuncture for Anxiety Attacks in Vancouver
There are many forms and degrees of anxiety. Most of them are normal responses to new situations and tension like feeling scared and tense before delivering a public speech. However, there are also anxieties that are quite disproportionate and random beyond the normal response to anxious moments. Fortunately, anxiety acupuncture can help restore balance to the mental and physical aspects of a person.
Certain people can be so worried about a fearful situation a lot of times when they are in the midst of an anxiety attack. A person suffering from an anxiety attack may manifest physical symptoms like headaches, vomiting, chest pains, shallow breaths and increased heart rate. In order to diagnose anxiety, the acupuncturist will observe the patient’s tongue and pulse. This will help the acupuncturist determine what type of traditional Chinese medicine treatment is best to treat the pattern of anxiety of the patient.
A lot of anxiety cases are related to the kidney and heart. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) regards the kidney as an organ associated with water (yin) that neutralizes (balances off) the fire (yang) of the heart in the event an abundance of emotions in the mind. The heart is a yang organ that provides for the energy of the whole body.
The acupuncturist identifies the underlying roots of the disharmony in the human body, and then helps restore balance to it. Acupuncture is especially effective in addressing a number of illnesses like anxiety symptoms and its root causes.
A typical acupuncture therapy for anxiety may require a single or a couple of sessions. There are times however, that treatment may be needed for a number of months. The length of the treatment course depends on the degree of the patterns of imbalance. Vitamins and herbs are great supplements to acupuncture in nourishing and balancing the body.
Treating episodes of anxiety with acupuncture is ideal for individuals who opt for a safe and natural form of therapy. Talk with a licensed acupuncturist so you may know what plan of treatment is suited for your needs.
Tinnitus Tests and Diagnosis
Most of the time, the real cause of tinnitus is not known. The person who usually is responsible for diagnosing tinnitus will be either an otolaryngologist or an otologist. Both of these health professionals are ear specialists. A complete clinical assessment including the medical regimen and complete patient history of the patient is first done to see if he is positive for tinnitus and to ascertain the cause of the condition. To diagnose tinnitus certain tests may be performed. Some of these tests can assess the specific characteristics of the tinnitus itself and can involve:
- Audiogram
- X-rays
- Tinnitus pitch match
- Evoked response audiometry
- Maskability of tinnitus
- Tinnitus loudness match
- Residual inhibition
Audiogram
This test is also known as a hearing acuity test and it uses a chart that rates the patient’s ability to identify various speech sounds and to hear sounds. Since an amount of hearing loss can come about with tinnitus, an audiogram test can be a good diagnostic tool for properly identifying tinnitus.
X-rays
The head is usually x-rayed to see if there are structural problems existing in the ear that may be the ones causing tinnitus. If these tests are inadequate then a CT scan or an MRI may be requested.
Tinnitus Pitch Match
Tinnitus Pitch Match is based on the belief that physical tones have a pitch that relates to the frequency of each tone. The number of cycles a sound wave makes in a second is called a frequency. Sound waves vary in frequency – some may be high or very high and some may be low or very low.
To match the pitch tinnitus makes, the patient needs to choose from a number of external noises or tone. Of course the tones that closely correspond to tinnitus will be the one selected by the patient. A study done regarding tinnitus have revealed that most tinnitus patients rate tinnitus with a pitch match of around 3,500 Hz which is a little lower than the highest tone a grand piano can make which is a little above 4,000 Hz. A 3,500 Hz will have tones that may be of a screeching, unpleasant sound.
Evoked Response Audiometry
This test is performed typically for patients suffering tinnitus in one ear only. The evoked response audiometry test uses non-invasive computerized inner ear recordings that can be somewhat analogous to computer “fault-finding” checks used by computerized car engines found in certain car garages.
Maskability of Tinnitus
This is a test that rates the level to which tinnitus can be drowned out or “masked” by external sounds.
The maskability of tinnitus test utilizes a spectrum of noises for the masking or drowning of external sound. The noise spectrum or noise band may range from about 2,000 Hz to up to 12,000 Hz. This band is tested using earphones on the patient’s problematic ear.
The test entails the progressive but slow increase in the frequency or the pitch of the masking sound until it is distinctively heard by the patient. The pitch is then increased further up to the point wherein the patient no longer hears the tinnitus in his ear. The way the MML or minimum masking level is rated is in SL or dBsensation level. For the majority of the population, their MML is around 8 dB SL or lower. There are very rare cases, though, where the MML can go 22 dB SL and beyond.
Tinnitus Loudness Match
This test is to analyze the loudness of tinnitus by manipulating the volume of an external tone to match it as close to the tinnitus sounds as possible. The test progresses until the external tones are as comparably loud as the tinnitus.
The specific loudness of the patient’s tinnitus can be measured and usually the measure is around 4 to 7 dB or decibels which are comparable to a whisper and just a little above the verge of hearing. Curiously people with tinnitus usually complain of their tinnitus sounds as very loud sounds; however, the fact is that what they’re hearing is only about 4 to 7 decibels.
To assess between the perceived loudness of the tinnitus sounds and their actual loudness, the specialist can perform another test called the Visual Analog Scale.
Visual Analog Scale is some type of a measurement for assessing the loudness of the patient’s tinnitus. The scale rates the sound on a scale of zero to 10 with 10 being the loudest tinnitus sound possible and zero meaning “no tinnitus.”
The patient will then choose the number that best typifies the sound volume of his tinnitus. Based on numerous tests of this scale, around 70% of patients selected a rating of 6 or above. This assessment seems to suggest that the perceived tinnitus sound in a majority of patients is high.
Residual Inhibition
The residual inhibition test monitors the amount of time the tinnitus noise in the ear dissipates or vanishes following a period of masking. In this test, the patient’s tinnitus is masked by sounds measuring 10 dB for a full minute. Afterwards, the test measures the duration for the tinnitus sound to go away, if it does indeed go away.
Most tinnitus patients (about 85% of them) who have undergone this test showed either partial or complete residual inhibition. This means the tinnitus noise gradually dissipated in their ear. On the average, the time it took for the noise to go away was around 65 seconds.
A one minute residual inhibition test that results in a 65 second residual inhibition does not necessarily entail that an hour-long residual inhibition test will mean an hour’s worth of residual inhibition.
Increasing the sound volume of the masking sound will not prolong or add to the time or the level of the residual inhibition. There are venturous people though, who have used residual inhibition technique that involved extended amounts of time and have resulted in them enjoying several hours of residual inhibition.
Daniel Haun is a licensed acupuncture practitioner and the clinical director of Bailey & Haun Acupuncture in Oceanside, CA.
Tonsillitis Treatments and Drugs
You may not need to worry whether or not your tonsillitis stems from a bacterial or viral infection since your body’s immune system will resolve this infection in a matter of days. You can assist your body by doing some helpful things in the meantime.
You need to feed your child with lots of food and drink if he has tonsillitis even if he finds it hard to swallow. A dehydrated and hungry child can lead to unnecessary symptoms like tiredness and headaches. Surgery may be needed if your child constantly suffers from tonsillitis.
Self-help
Analgesics bought over-the-counter (OTC) like ibuprofen and paracetamol can help assuage symptoms such as sore throat. Younger children need small dosages so seek advice from your pharmacist on what dosage is right for your child. If your child is below 16 years, never give him aspirin.
Oral sprays and lozenges bought OTC can also relieve sore throat.
You can also gargle with a light antiseptic solution or even with just warm salty water for sore throat relief. A liter of water can be added with about half a teaspoonful of salt. For younger children the salt solution should not be tried since they may tend to swallow the solution.
Antibiotics
If tests reveal that you suffer from bacterial tonsillitis, that doesn’t automatically mean you will be prescribed antibiotics. Why? There are two reasons for this:
Most tonsillitis cases have shown that antibiotics do not really work or speed up the healing process. Moreover, they have negative side effects like feeling sick and abdominal pain.
Frequent use of an antibiotic will lead to antibiotic resistance making it useless when a serious infection occurs.
Antibiotics may be given if:
Your child’s immune system is weak
His symptoms do not get better
He shows severe symptoms
Doctors usually recommend a 10-day penicillin course for the aforementioned circumstances. If you or your child has penicillin allergy, other antibiotics like erythromycin may be given. Side effects caused by penicillin include:
Rash
Diarrhea
Upset stomach
Surgery
This procedure is now only performed if your child suffers from repeated bouts of tonsillitis or if his tonsillitis is especially disabling and severe that it causes work or school absences. A tonsillectomy is done to remove the tonsils.
This surgical procedure often entails the use of a general anesthetic and this implies that you will be sleeping the whole duration of the surgery. No skin incision is required and your mouth will be open during the surgery to enable surgeon to see and remove your tonsils.
The surgeon can opt for different surgical techniques to remove your tonsils:
Cold steel surgery – This technique uses a surgical knife to sever the tonsils out. Bleeding is regulated by using pressure or sometimes by searing shut the blood vessels through a process called diathermy.
Diathermy – The surgeon uses a diathermy probe in order to obliterate the surrounding tissue and eventually to excise the tonsils. The heat from the diathermy simultaneously shuts the blood vessels to prevent any bleeding.
Cold ablation or coblation – This is a similar technique as diathermy but instead of using heat the surgeon applies a 60 degree centigrade temperature to remove the tonsils. Coblation inflicts less pain to the patient compared to diathermy.
Lasers – Laser beams of the high energy sort are used as knives to slice out the tonsils and with the laser heat shut the underlying blood vessels.
Ultrasound – The surgeon uses high energy ultrasound waves instead of lasers to excise the tonsils.
Tonsillectomy is a minor procedure with the patient all ready to go home within the day of or the day after the surgery.
Post surgery
There will be some pain felt on the surgery site for up to a week after the operation. To address the pain, analgesics can be prescribed by the surgeon.
If a child has had a tonsillectomy he should not go to school for a couple of weeks. This precaution is important to prevent him from being infected by another child that can cause him discomfort and pain.
After surgery, the child will experience swallowing difficulties. However, it is essential that you make your child eat solid foods to make the healing process quicker. Your child may need to drink copious amounts of liquids although acidic juices such as orange juice should not be given as it can sting your child’s throat.
Make sure your child’s teeth are kept clean to prevent any pathogen from infecting his mouth.
After the first week of the operation the pain gradually dissipates. There may be earaches felt from time to time which is a common occurrence with tonsillectomies and is something not to worry about.
Post surgical bleeding
Post surgical bleeding usually occurs on the surgical site. This usually happens during the first day post surgery or up to ten days post surgery. Statistics reveal that about one child in 100 as well as one adult out of 30 adults will develop post surgical bleeding. After-surgery bleeding should not be a concern since the bleeding resolves by itself. To limit the bleeding, you can gargle using cold water since cold water can constrict the blood vessels and limit the bleeding. There are a few cases where bleeding can be a lot resulting in the patient coughing up or vomiting out blood. When this happens, see your doctor immediately.
When a patient suffers from extensive bleeding, he may be required to undergo another surgery or given blood transfusion.
Acupuncture
For people who want a more natural approach to tonsillitis treatment, acupuncture can be a good, safe and natural procedure to relieve sore throat pain. Acupuncture can likewise help the body overcome whatever infection is causing the tonsillitis. If you have a chronic case of tonsillitis, acupuncture can help enhance the immune function of your body and stop recurrence. In addition, Chinese herbal medicine possesses a lot of antibiotic properties to stem the irritation and inflammation; you need a qualified acupuncturist that is well experienced in treating your particular symptoms.