Acid Reflux Symptoms Can Be Cured with TCM and Acupuncture
The burning sensation people feel from the welling up of acid in the stomach is known as Acid Reflux. Chronic or long term acid reflux is known as GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease). Acid reflux occurs when the valve called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) which should close when food passes through it does not close or closes but not completely allowing the acid to escape the stomach and go back up the esophageal wall causing heartburn. Certain individuals have this feeling after they eat and it comes only a few times; other people can experience it many times a week. The pain can be either a painful, persistent problem or a small annoyance depending on how much it occurs.
Acid Reflux – Its Causes
People suffering from acid reflux may be also suffering from a hiatal hernia. This occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter and the abdomen’s upper section appear over the diaphragm. This facilitates the escape of stomach acid into the esophagus. Other causes include taking certain medications, alcohol, soft drinks, drinking lots of coffee, pregnancy, smoking, obesity, smoking, pregnancy, and lying down after eating.
Acid Reflux Symptoms
A burning sensation in the chest (heartburn) is the defining symptom of acid reflux. Other symptoms can include a feeling that food is stuck in the throat, hiccups, black stools, bloating, and a sour taste that comes into the mouth after burping. Each person may experience and manifest symptoms in different ways.
Acid Reflux and Acupuncture in Pembroke Pines
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or acid reflux, from the standpoint of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is caused by a dysfunction of the stomach system due to a conflict between the stomach and liver. Acupuncture can reduce the relaxations of the lower esophageal sphincter which helps stop the acid reflux. Certain acupuncture points are activated to regulate the gastric secretions and motility and keep the sphincter in place. The stimulation of the acupoints also results in the regulation of metabolism, hormone, and neuropeptide release.
Acupuncture can control acid reflux whether or not it’s used as a standalone treatment or used in combination with other treatment options. It works very well can bring much needed relief for the acid reflux sufferer. So, if you or anyone you know is suffering from this condition, either recurrently or sporadically, acupuncture may be the therapy that you are looking for.
Test Reveals the Effectiveness of Drugs and Acupuncture in Treatment of COPD
COPD or Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the least known of the top disease killers in the United States. It is the third leading cause of death, behind cardiovascular disease and cancer. Being a progressive disease, COPD just gets worse over time and conventional western medicine has no cure for it.
The Western modes of treatment for COPD include portable pharmaceutical oxygen bottles for the sufferer to breathe in, a cessation to smoking, and inhaler medications. Since there’s no cure for it, the management of COPD is the theme of the medical establishment. If all else fails, lung transplant is performed.
Occurring mostly among smokers, COPD can also be brought about by frequently inhaling toxic air from asbestos filaments or chemical pollutants that can also lead to permanent lung damage.
COPD is an umbrella term for diseases that include chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Asthma is not considered a form of COPD. Asthma often develops in children suffering from auto-immune allergies and is a much more manageable disease. Certain children with asthma that’s considered to be psychosomatic induced usually outgrow their condition. COPD, however, develops later in life, and it doesn’t need any auto-immune condition for it to come about, and as the sufferer ages, his/her COPD gets worse.
Common to all these lung disorders are the symptoms of wheezing, shortness of breath, and dyspnea. The coughing of COPD sufferers produces phlegm while asthma sufferers tend to have drier coughs. For most of their shared symptoms, there is crossover of toxic prescription drugs (not all of them are interchangeable though).
While COPD sufferers likely require oxygen bottles to breathe, among asthmatics, that contingency is rare. Besides the major differences in their mortality rate, minor differences in structure between asthma and COPD can be noticed.
There is no more lung airway elasticity in people with COPD and emphysema. The respiratory passages of sufferers of COPD and chronic bronchitis are thicker. People with asthma suffer from tightened bronchial tubes during attacks though this situation does not necessarily occur every day. The symptoms of COPD are chronic and sufferers experience them in varying degrees every day.
A Japanese Study Dealing with Acupuncture in Cleveland and COPD
A few years ago, the Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine Respiratory Medicine Department in Japan did a placebo trial (double-blind) among 68 COPD sufferers comparing the effectiveness of placebo or sham acupuncture with medication with real acupuncture also with medication.
The trial lasted 12 weeks to which both real and sham acupuncture treatments were randomly administered once a week on the patients. Prior to and after the twelve week period, all subjects were subjected to a six-minute walk to test for DOE or “dyspenia on exertion”. A Borg scale was sued to compute the perceived exertion impact on the walk.
The conductors of the study found that the real acupuncture group showed higher Borg scores, suggesting their ability to exert and withstand more exercise, while manifesting lesser shortness of breath or DOE after the walk compared to sham/placebo group.
It was concluded that combined with conventional medical treatment, real acupuncture can be an effective adjunct for dyspenia.
Conclusion
Although noteworthy, this trial did not involve the use of TCM’s (Traditional Chinese Medicine’s) major tool: herbal remedies. Some practitioners of TCM heavily rely on acupuncture, but almost all combine the use of Chinese herbal medicine as well.
Certain Western supplements have shown the ability to resolve inflammation and clear out hardened tissues. One of these is a protease or proteolytic enzyme known as serrapeptase, derived from the silkworm.
Serrapeptase has the capacity to break down accumulations of mucus, inflamed scar tissues, and proteins. It is an affordable potent proteolytic enzyme which can significantly relieve the symptoms of COPD.
The Important Acupuncture Points Used in the Treatment of Diabetic Neuropathy
New studies prove that acupuncture dramatically boosts the effects of a diabetes drug for diabetic neuropathy treatment. Diabetic neuropathy is a condition that manifests signs and symptoms like electric, tingling numbness, and/or burning, sensations in the extremities. When acupuncture was added to the treatment plan, the rate of success of neuropathy symptom score of the people receiving medications increased from about 8% to more than 90% rate of efficacy. The neuropathy disability score likewise revealed marked improvement when acupuncture was added to the treatment plan. The group that only received medication had a success rate of only 37.45%; when acupuncture was added to their treatment regime, the success rate of neuropathy disability dramatically increased by 90%.
A lot of practitioners believe that acupuncture in Boca Raton can treat diabetes. Using the MDNS or Michigan Diabetic Neuropathy Score a neurological test combined with nerve conduction studies was measured. The standalone medication group showed no improvements in diabetic neuropathy as gleaned from these measurements which a meant a 0% success rate. The medication plus acupuncture group, on the other hand, showed a more than 95% rate of effectiveness.
In the treatment of diabetic neuropathy, the importance of acupuncture lies in the fact that it helps control obesity that often accompanies diabetic neuropathy. In the US, around 30% of all children are obese and around 1/3 of today’s youth will develop diabetes. In fact, the US has more than 26 million people suffering from diabetes.
Caused by insulin resistance that’s usually combined with insulin deficiency, type-2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the sufferer has high blood glucose that leads to various pathological changes within the body. Type-2 diabetes constitutes 90% of all cases of diabetes. Contributing factors to this type of diabetes include genetic and lifestyle factors. The development of disease may be brought about by lack of exercise, poor diet and stress. Certain drugs can also contribute to this disease including several antipsychotic medicines, thiazides, statins, beta blockers, and glucocorticoids.
All the patients in the study had type-2 diabetes. The study used a drug known as amitriptyline hydrochloride. Ten milligrams of the drug and vitamin B12 was given to the patients every day. The main acupuncture points were the LI 11, EX-B3, BL 23, CV 4, ST 36,, LI 4, and SP 6. The outcomes showed the effectiveness of a complimentary approach to medicine in which acupuncture combined with pharmaceutical drug led to a beneficial, synergistic patient result.
The Acupuncture Points
According to the principles followed by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) there are certain acupuncture point vignettes that reveal traditional functions and indications of the acupuncture points used in the study. Some of these designations have been used for thousands of years while more recent indications were used several hundred years ago up to the post-modern era.
The study used an extra point called Weiwanhsiashu which is also known as Weiguanhsiashu (Stomach Controller Lower Shu). This point is found 1.5 cun sideways to the lower border of the 8th thoracic vertebra’s spinous process. It is especially indicated for the treatment of hypochondrium pain, stomach pain, chest pain, vomiting, and diabetes. It is very effective for diabetics with a dry throat and is used to generate fluids and clear heat.
LI11 is a Ghost, Mother, Earth, He Sea acupoint. It clears dampness, regulates Blood, cools heat, and expels exterior and wind conditions. It has the special function of a Ghost point and is commonly used to expel heat from the body. Thirteen acupuncture points were designated by Sun Si-miao as Ghost points due to their capacity to treat epilepsy and mania. LI 11 effectively removes heat which prevents heat from disturbing the spirit and Heart. This, in turn, prevents chest oppression, irritability, mania, and mental restlessness that are related to Heart Yin and Heart Fire deficiency. These functions provide us with insight into the designation by Sun Si-miao of LI 11 as one of the 13 Ghost points.
The Kidney Back Shu acupoint or UB23 benefits the ears, eyes, the lumbar vertebrae, and the Kidney Qi. Situated three cun below the umbilicus, on the midline, CV4 is the Front Mu acupoint of the Small Intestine. It stabilizes and nourishes the Kidney, restores Yang, and regulates Qi. The intersection of the 3 leg Yin channels is the CV4. ST36 is the Stomach acupuncture point’s Lower He Sea, Sea of Nourishment, Earth, and He Sea. This point beefs up patients with deficient and weak conditions, regulates Blood and Qi, and orders the Stomach and Spleen. It is one of the four command points and is used for treating abdominal problems. LI 4 is used to induce sweating and the treatment of night sweats when it’s combined with HT6. The Lung meridian’s Luo-Connecting channel separates from the main meridian at LU 7 and traverses to LI 4, which is an Entry and Source point. LI 4 clears wind, alleviates the exterior, quells pain and clears the channels. The 3 Lower Yin meridians’ meeting point is the SP6. This acupoint benefits the Kidney, spreads the Liver Qi, transforms dampness, and reinforces the Spleen.
Acupuncture Can Be The Answer To Your Insomnia
Insomnia is a condition in which a person has problem falling asleep or staying asleep. We will talk about insomnia that pertains to low quality of sleep with symptoms persisting for a month or more and arising at least 3 times a week.
All people can potentially suffer from insomnia. In the modern world, this condition is so prevalent that it affects around 30% to 40% of all adult Americans each year. This rate goes even higher among women and the elderly.
Research has revealed that cases of sleeplessness likely rise with age and women are more prone than men in developing insomnia because of menstrual periods, menopause, or pregnancy. It’s also important to mention that Insomnia can be a condition in its own right, as well as a sign/symptom of another, more serious illness.
Acute or short term insomnia which can last for one or several nights, if left untreated, can worsen into chronic or long-term insomnia. This type of insomnia can go on for months, and in some instances, even years.
Insomnia symptoms can manifest in many ways:
• Waking up and not feeling refreshed or rested
• Problems going back asleep after waking up
• Waking up early
• Waking up throughout the night
• Light sleeping
• Difficulty falling asleep
The emotional, mental, and physical quality of life of the patient can be negatively affected by any of these symptoms. The mental and physical tiredness that usually comes with this condition can adversely affect a person’s activities during waking hours in a severe way resulting in tension headaches, poor concentration, anxiety, irritability, fatigues and daytime drowsiness.
Insomnia can lead to additional illnesses, complications, and other health issues if it’s left untreated.
The symptoms of insomnia are not always resolved with pharmaceutical drugs. Such treatments also have their own unwanted and harmful side effects. On the other hand, acupuncture in Bellmore is an especially effective insomnia treatment that does not require the use of pharmaceutical medications. It is a safe non-pharmaceutical alternative for people suffering from sleep disorders who would rather avoid problems that may arise with the use of medication (side effects and dependency). There are reports that show a maximum 90% rate of success in treatment of insomnia through specific acupuncture procedures.
Although its origins came from China millennia ago, acupuncture is now a well-known, proven and effective mode of healing that is used worldwide. Administration of this therapy is through the sticking of slender needles into certain acupuncture points that are found at various parts of the body.
Exercise and relaxation techniques can help in the treatment of insomnia. These can include natural health techniques such as yoga, tai chi, qi gong, and meditation that can go a long way in helping attain a more profound and extremely relaxing state of sleep by lessening the effects of everyday stress that’s one of the biggest contributors to the problem.
Equally essential is the need to establish and maintain healthy sleeping habits:
• Do not go to bed until you’re really tired or drowsy
• Do not nap or sleep during the day
• Every day (including weekends), make it a point to set your alarm clock to wake you up at the same time
• Sleep in a comfortable, quiet, and peaceful bedroom atmosphere that’s conducive to sleep. Take into account important factors such as lighting, and room temperature.
• Use the bed only for sex or sleep (no lounging, studying, reading, eating, TV, etc.)
• Near bedtime refrain from nicotine and alcohol
• During afternoon and evening hours, avoid taking caffeinated beverages
• If you wake during sleep at night, avoid worrying about time and look at the clock, just lie down in a comfortable position try to go back to sleep
• If you can’t fall asleep quickly, just get out of bed and walk to another room until you get tired enough to go back to bed
• Do not perform any strenuous exercises stimulating activities just before bedtime
Alternative and natural therapies such as acupuncture can be a very effective way of falling asleep and resolving insomnia, especially when their combined with the recommendations mentioned above.
Talking with your doctor is always the best way to fight insomnia and any other forms of disorders/ diseases; however, the number of medical doctors who are extolling and supporting the use of natural therapies and referring their patients for acupuncture treatments are steadily growing each day.
If you have a sleeping disorder, you need to consider acupuncture as a potential cure for your problem.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, Incredible Remedies For Sciatica
Sciatica is the most common complaint heard by doctors next to back pain stress, and infertility. This article will deal a little with physiology and anatomy in order for us to better understand why the sciatic nerve is sometimes irritated, and what interventions can be used to help calm it down.
What is Sciatica Pain?
The main nerve in our legs is called the sciatic nerve. It is formed from several nerves leading from the lower back that travels through the buttock and down each leg. When the sciatic nerve is inflamed, pain/numbness/weakness is felt in the buttock and upper thigh. In severe cases it can travel all the way down to the feet, where the pain is felt down the back of the leg or the outside of the leg depending on which part of the sciatic nerve is inflamed. The pain may feel constant or it may be a sudden pinching sensation.
What are the Symptoms of Sciatic Pain?
The most common symptoms of sciatica are muscle weakness and lower leg sensation problems. Skin outside, behind, and over the side and sometimes front of the leg can experience stretching pain, abnormal cold and hot sensation, pins and needles, and numbness. Muscle can weaken and atrophy. Some patients may even complain of “Foot Drop” a condition in which they can’t lift up the front part of their feet.
What are the causes of Sciatic Pain?
No specific cause can be blamed. Just a simple act as bending over may lead to sciatic pain. Aggravating factors can include straining, sitting, lifting or standing. Sciatic pain arises when something bears pressure on the sciatic nerve such as a muscle spasm, spinal disks, or even sometimes when the spine itself pushes the nerve. This pain is most often caused by a slipped disk or muscle spasms, although the pain can also be a sign of another serious illness.
Acupuncture Treatment in Overland Park for Sciatica
A slipped disk, which is referred to by chiropractors and physicians as Spinal Disk herniation occurs when a tiny part of the spinal disk bulges out of the vertebrae. The disk then pushes on the sciatic nerve resulting in pain. In certain severe instances, a constriction of the spinal canal (known as spinal stenosis) can impinge on the nerve and generate pain. Spinal tumors a serious condition that needs immediate medical intervention is another serious cause of sciatica.
Sciatic pain can also be due to muscle spasms that most often occur in the piriformis muscle. Muscles in the pelvic region and lower back can be affected by sciatica, as well.
How can Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Help Quell Sciatic Pain?
Traditional Chinese medicine or TCM and acupuncture which is a component of TCM has been shown to significantly reduce the severity of pain that a sufferer experiences daily. A lot of acupuncturists report a 90% rate of success in the relief of sciatic pain. The use of TCM and acupuncture treatment helps increase the support of the muscles around the sciatic nerve which works extremely well in the long-term relief of pain.
The Chinese believe the balance of the flow of life energy in the leg is the only way to stop sciatic pain. The acupoints used are mostly located on the affected legs and lower back. The needles are inserted along the path of the sciatic nerve and directly stimulate it.
Scientific studies have produced evidence showing acupuncture to be very effective in treating sciatica and lower back pain via the following mechanisms:
– Alleviating inflammation by helping release certain vascular and immunomodulatory factors
– Activating nerves situated in muscles and other tissues, resulting in production and release of neuro-hormonal factors such as endorphins, that leads to a modification in how pain is processed by the brain
– Contributing to a transient change in blood circulation to the sciatic nerve, including blood flow to the nerve root and the cauda equine.
– Improving joint mobility and loosening muscle stiffness by boosting local microcirculation helping in the decrease of swelling.
– Promoting sciatic nerve regeneration
– Enhancing the sciatic nerve’s conductive parameters
– Affecting the neurotrophic factor signaling system; the importance of this effect is that is leads to increased amounts of noradrenaline and serotonin in the bloodstream that can help speed nerve repair and relieve pain
Are There Any Side Effects From Acupuncture Sciatica Treatment?
There are no side effects at all in a sciatica treatment using Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture. There are patients who may experience some slight bruising or drowsiness. It is also very effective safe for all including pregnant woman suffering from sciatica.
How Many Acupuncture Treatments Are Required to Treat Sciatica?
Usually about five to ten sessions of acupuncture are needed but it varies from patient to patient. To prevent the return of the condition, top up sessions thereafter are needed.
How Does One Approach Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Treatments?
One should have an open mind and willing to know more about TCM and acupuncture since people wouldn’t be using it for thousands of years if they really don’t work. Working together with your doctor and acupuncturist is by far the best way to attain the best treatment results.
Why Acupuncture is Much Better Than Drugs For The Treatment of Allergies
Allergies, yep, the one causes itchy skin, teary eyes, runny nose and the whole 9 yards! And if those allergies aren’t bad enough, over the shelf allergy medications add insult to the injury. Sure you may experience some relief from the symptoms, but it will cost you dryness in the body, dizziness, major drowsiness and an increased risk of liver damage.
Is there a better way to treat allergies? Yes, there is. It is called acupuncture!
Acupuncture Treatment in Pembroke Pines for Allergy
Acupuncture and allergies may seem an odd combination. What does the insertion of tiny needles have to do with itchy eyes or runny nose? While many people have successfully used acupuncture to get rid of their allergy symptoms, Western medical science currently does not have an answer as to how and why it works. If you really don’t care about knowing how and why acupuncture works, and are simply looking for a way to alleviate your symptoms and reduce taking allergy meds, then acupuncture is an option you should definitely try.
About the needles, when you are treated for your allergy symptoms, those needles won’t be applied to your sinuses, nose or any other facial areas. The target of acupuncture treatment is a system of energy pathways called meridians. The meridians are oftentimes responsible for activating relief of your allergy symptom and they are not located in or even near your face. The meridians associated with the intestines and stomach are usually involved and thus are the areas where the needles are usually applied.
Does Acupuncture Produce Immediate Effects?
Each person responds to acupuncture treatment in his/her own unique way. The good news is that 90% of allergy sufferers experience sinus pressure relief and relief of other symptoms after the very first treatment. Three to five sessions after, their symptoms become inconsequential and they stop relying on allergy meds. Allergy flare ups diminish and the sneezing fits gradually go away.
Always Consider Acupuncture for Your Allergy Problems
After experiencing inadequate relief from drugs and allergy shots, a lot of people turn to acupuncture for significant and long term symptomatic relief. If you respond to acupuncture, you can commence treatment right after your seasonal allergies kick in, and save yourself time, physical suffering and money.
What Other Things Should You Consider?
You may not be aware of it but your dietary habits could also affect your tendencies to have allergies. If your immune system is strong, you can prevent the rise of allergy symptoms. But even more important is the avoidance of foods that can worsen your allergies. This includes foods that burden your digestive system and slow down your metabolism and foods that make you extra sensitive to allergens. During allergy season, try to avoid sugar. Limit the intake dairy products as well.
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.
Acupuncture is the Answer to Your Osteoarthritis Misery
Osteoarthritis is a very common condition for people over 40 years of age. This condition is defined as the progressive degeneration of the joints. It is a rather painful and oftentimes chronic health issue. Here is how it occurs:
Our body has a layer of membrane between all joints called the cartilage. During our youth, this cartilage facilitates movement by serving as a lubricating membrane between the two adjoining bones. When we move, the cartilage is the organ in our body that prevents connected bones from rubbing against each other when there is movement.
But as we grow older, the cartilage starts to progressively erode. It degrades to the point that it no longer can protect the bones from rubbing against each other. As a result, pain will be felt whenever there is movement. Swelling as a result of inflammation follows the soreness in several cases.
Osteoarthritis can be caused by a lot of factors: overuse, injury, old, age, heredity, etc. We now can understand why some people in their 20s or 30s suffer from osteoarthritis. If you have osteoarthritis there are at least two reasons why you need to seek treatment as early as possible. One reason is to stop the cartilage from getting damaged any further. The second reason is for the relief of swelling, soreness, and pain that typically comes with osteoarthritis.
If there is inflammation around the affected joints, Western-trained doctors typically prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs that are steroid based. These drugs however, cause a lot of side effects. New studies have shown that repeated use of these medications can actually induce osteoarthritis, and make the condition even worse. This has forced doctors to look for safe and non-steroid modes of treatment to resolve osteoarthritis.
Acupuncture in Bellingham is one very good alternative treatment for osteoarthritis. It has proven that it can quell the symptoms. A recent clinical controlled trial tested the efficacy of acupuncture over the use of NSAIMs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines). In the trial, it was revealed that 70% of the patients experienced relief of pain relief right after an acupuncture treatment.
Acupuncture is an ancient Eastern mode of treatment that has been around for more than 5,000 years. We now see a trend showing a growing number of Western doctors learning about acupuncture that they eventually integrate into their treatment repertoire. Acupuncture uses thin needles to activate the acupuncture points in the body. According to Chinese medicine, the human body has over 2000 acupuncture points (acupoints). When there is balance in Chi (vital energy) flow, the body will be able to heal itself. So, the ultimate goal of acupuncture treatment is to stimulate these acupoints in order to remove blockages and allow Chiu to move freely once again.
Western medicine believes that these acupoints are components of the central nervous system. Special chemicals such as hormones and neurotransmitters are released when these points are stimulated which leads to the healing of the body.
When you treat osteoarthritis with acupuncture, you can depend less on steroid based drugs. The treatment allows the affected joints to slowly but surely heal. It also naturally but quickly relieves osteoarthritis pain.