The Theory Behind Acupuncture and Its Benefits
China is a big country. In fact, it is the third biggest country in the world slightly bigger than the United States even when the latter reckons Hawaii and Alaska into its land mass. China takes up a huge part of Asia. It is an ancient nation which for centuries has remained obscure, although it had one of the oldest and most advanced civilizations then. Much of China still remains a mystery to the West. Isolated from the evolutionary philosophy of the West, the Chinese developed a line of thought that led to the development of a lot of ancient medicines and healing systems. In the West, these traditional healing systems are categorized as alternative medicine.
One of the healing systems invented by the Chinese is acupuncture. For thousands of years, acupuncture was completely unknown to the West. But when China opened its doors to Europe, this healing procedure have been seen to help a lot of Europeans overcome certain types of illnesses. When it became popular in the US in the 1970s, Western science has begun studying it. But since acupuncture works differently for each person, the results of these studies have been ambiguous. The fact is, acupuncture is a healing technique that does not follow Western medical theory. It is a medical science based on the idea that certain points situated at various parts in the human body affect the chemistry of the body.
These points, known as acupuncture points or acupoints, for short, are connected to specific organs of the human body and when stimulated, help these organs heal themselves from certain types of illnesses. This may sound a bit funky to people in the West, but this is exactly the way the Chinese have been healing themselves for more than 3500 years. Acupuncture is a traditional method of Chinese medicine, and more important, has been in vogue for over 2500 years. Japan is also a leading practitioner of acupuncture. In the 20th century this treatment has spread to all countries of the world. The US National Institutes of Health reveals that more than 12 million US citizens have availed themselves of acupuncture for treatment. Its healing effects have been known and endorsed by several renowned western doctors and medical scientists.
Acupuncture represents the ingenuity of the Chinese who have contributed a lot to the advancement of human civilization. If you have been raised in a Western style of education, you may find that this treatment is bizarre but you can’t explain why it is so cogent and successful. Professionals who solely follow the Western scientific method are oftentimes skeptical of this form of healing due to the fact that they cannot explain how it works when they apply their own modern medical practice and thought into it. Rationalists therefore believe that there is no histological or anatomical basis that the body possesses any meridians or acupoints.
Chinese acupuncture theory. What is it?
According to Chinese medicine, there are about 365 acupuncture points scattered throughout the human body which mirrors the 365 days of a year. Moreover, the body has 14 main meridian channels. Twelve of these channels are believed to correspond to the body’s dozen major organs. The spine has a meridian that’s aligned with the midline of the stomach and another meridian that’s aligned to the spine itself. But further research and neuro-imaging of the human body have revealed that there is certainly a possibility that some acupoints procure certain effects that in terms of anatomy cannot be predicted.
The theory behind acupuncture as enunciated by the Chinese presupposes that a kind of life energy exists that flows throughout the body. This life energy is called Chi or Qi. The flow takes place through the meridians. Acupoints link with the body tissues and the organs through the meridians. In order for a person to be healthy, the Chinese believe that Qi needs to flow or circulate throughout the body without any impediment. Occasionally, this flow is disturbed which then causes an imbalance in the body which then leads to illness. According to Chinese medicine theory, acupuncture can help bring back balance in the body and the person recovers once the normal flow of Qi is restored.
For the relief of pain, acupuncture gives practical results. This therapy greatly reduces post-injury pain, post-operative pain, rheumatic pain, arthritic pain, period pain, backache, and migraine. According to Chinese medicine, through the insertion of filiform needles at certain acupoints, the restoration of the normal circulation of Qi can begin.
Acupuncture is a complex system and not just a simple process of sticking needles into the body. It combines other complimentary modes of Chinese and Western medicine that can include laser treatment, moxibustion, herbs, massage, cupping, etc. More often than not, Chinese herbs are used alongside acupuncture. These herbs are able to enhance acupuncture’s healing effects. Scientists from the Wes have sought to explain the physiological reason why acupuncture works but until now, they still can’t find a logical explanation. It can be said that Chinese medicine especially acupuncture simply defies (Western) logic.
Western medicine has failed to explain the Chinese concept of the meridians, and Qi, and how they associate with the different organs of the body. Regardless, this type of alternative healing system is now a very popular and much sought after treatment because it is safe and simply works.
But what do the Chinese think about Qi?
For them, Qi is simply the life force that resides throughout the Universe and in all living things including the human body. The essence of Qi is derived from a fusion of three 3 factors: these include the energy that came from the water and food we take in through the digestive system, the air we breathe that passes through the lungs, and from our kidneys. Qi flows within all over the body and when it circulates unimpeded our body stays in good health.
Effective and safe, acupuncture helps bring back the proper flow of this life force. It has no side effects whatsoever. A large number of patients swear that acupuncture has given them a sense of relief physically, mentally, and for some, even spiritually. In this regard I will tell you a story a friend told me some years ago. My friend had a case of sinusitis that was so severe no amount of allopathic treatments helped him overcome his distress. Another friend recommended he try acupuncture. After just one treatment my friend was able to recover. What’s more, his sickness never returned.
After being inserted into the skin, needles may dispel the false notion that this process is full of pain.
Acupuncture is indeed practically a pain-free treatment. You might feel some electrical pulsations, numbness, or tingling, in parts of the body away from the site from of treatment. This means that the treatment is working. These sensations leave one the needles are removed. The needles used in an acupuncture procedure are small unlike conventional hypodermic needles. They are not hollow and cannot be used to draw blood. One needs to understand that in acupuncture, medicine and drugs are entirely obviated as the treatment involves an attempt to activate the resistance mechanism of the body. And as mentioned before, there are no side effects to this treatment.
In the West, acupuncture is a science that requires further study. It needs to be explained by scientists that can connect it to current medical practice and thought. The popularity of acupuncture will only rise due to its efficacy and safeness.
Galina Semyonova is a licensed acupuncturist and massage therapist in New York City. She has studied extensively in the fields of biofeedback therapy, SCENAR therapy, Chinese herbal treatments and Chinese and Western nutrition.
A Small Study Indicates Acupuncture Can Benefit COPD Patients
Acupuncture can offer huge benefits for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) sufferers, one small trial suggests. This alternative form of therapy can help reduce breathing difficulty after exertion, which is a great issue among several COPD patients. This disease is actually a blanket term that pertains to a set lung diseases that obstruct respiration.
In an editorial of a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, George T. Lewith said that COPD is a condition associated with old age. This disease has really no treatment when in Western conventional medicine. In this study which was conducted in Japan, the researchers gauged the effectiveness of acupuncture on COPD. The study required the participation of 68 adults who all had COPD. They were divided equally into two groups with one group treated with acupuncture for 12 weeks while the other administered with sham (placebo) acupuncture. The placebo treatment used needles that were not meant to actually pierce the skin. All 68 subjects remained on whatever drugs they were previously using.
At the end of the study, the results showed that the members of the group treated with real acupuncture were breathing much easier after walking tests than the members of the sham acupuncture group.
Kyoto University researcher Masao Suzuki, who co-authored the editorial remarked that COPD patients have muscles that are responsible for thoracic movement are significantly fatigued, which may be the underlying reason for the disease.
Mr. Suzuki said that acupuncture helps relax these muscles and thus normalizes function of the muscles resulting in better breathing.
This study may have shown promising results but some experts agree it need to be followed-up by more studies in order to validate once and for all those results. The above study involved just a small sample size and studies involving a large number of participants are needed to confirm the results. Moreover, while the subjects were masked, the practitioners who administered the acupuncture treatment were not, and this might have an influence on the outcomes based on their attitudes,” the authors of the study added.
Mr Lewith stated that COPD is a very hard condition to manage and treat and the outcome of the above study seem like a breakthrough indeed, but one study is not proof enough to change how the disease is managed.
According to the Mayo Clinic, bronchodilators that have quick acting effects are the most common forms of conventional COPD treatment since they result in the prompt alleviation of the symptoms, especially, the symptom of shortness of breath.
There are about 65 million individuals all over the world suffering from moderate to extreme case of COPD based on information from the WHO (World Health Organization). The WHO also revealed that within the next 10 years, the number of COPD cases will rise by more than 30% mainly due to outdoor and indoor air pollution.
Acupuncture Health Center
1303 Astor St #101
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 715-1824
http://www.bellinghamacupuncturecenter.com/
For Really Good Results Back Pain Sufferers Should Turn To Acupuncture
Persistent back pain sufferers would be wise to go to a practitioner who is skillfully trained in acupuncture in Vancouver. This treatment has proven to be of great benefit for people with persistent back pain as it is known to relieve pain when all other treatments have failed.
A proven but ancient way of healing, acupuncture is a process in which filiform needles are stuck into different pre-determined points on the body known as acupuncture points or acupoints. It is a surprisingly painless treatment even if needles are used as the means of generating symptomatic relief. Acupuncture originated from China and besides being used to relieve pain, it also is used to promote general health, prevent and treat various types of diseases, and for other therapeutic purposes. For millennia, this treatment has been practiced throughout the world.
Acupuncture, in theory, works through a process that leads to a balance of body function, and in the restoration of normal flow qi or energy and blood that guides in the self healing of the body. The procedure usually lasts more or less 30 minutes (about 15 to 20 minutes). It has the ability to treat chronic and acute conditions, lessen anxiety and stress, speed up the healing process, and aid smokers in stopping smoking, among many other health benefits. It does not need the use of any type of drug in the treatment process. It is based on a holistic and natural type of treatment that has no serious side effects over time.
For hundreds millions of people around the world, back pain is a problem that has become so troublesome, unbearable and debilitating that over the counter and prescription medication won’t anymore be enough to relieve the pain. Most of them are forced to consult with their doctors who oftentimes really have no means of treating their condition. Back pain does not only affect the elderly although it is more common in this age group. It can be due to various causes including arthritis, poor posture, or accidental injury. Mild or serious back pain sufferers oftentimes turn to pain medications that initially and temporarily ameliorate the pain. The pain keeps on returning though. Acupuncture can be extremely effective for back pain, especially, for back pain that keeps on recurring. It can provide pain relief that lasts for months, years or even forever. For chronic back pain sufferers, acupuncture can help a great deal in developing their level of activity.
Being a safe procedure, acupuncture has shown positive results for other conditions that may be causing the back pain. Most patients can begin to notice a difference in just a single visit. Depending on the degree and cause of the pain, back pain sufferers may expect one to multiple treatments enough to heal or even completely cure the pain. One huge benefit the treatment provides is that it can treat the original complaint or issue that has developed even years after. The treatment helps boost your range of motion and can bolster your back muscles enabling you to better manage your pain.
Drug therapy for back pain is merely a palliative that leads to side effects over time. Acupuncturists will recommend patients to make a few modifications in their lifestyle in order to prevent the return of the pain in the future. A healthy immune system, as we all know, is important for the maintenance of good health. One of the greatest advantages of acupuncture is that is helps strengthen your immune system.
So, if you are in dire need of relief from your back pain, instead of instinctively reaching for a painkiller in the medicine cabinet, look for a licensed acupuncturist who has experience in treating back pain. The results will astound you.
How the NADA Protocol Significantly Transformed the Face of Substance Abuse Rehabilitation
For over 2,000 years, acupuncture has been a traditional way of treating people suffering from various types of discomforts and diseases. It is based on association of specific locations and a form of bioelectric energy moving within the body whose function is to support health. Its practice is regulated throughout the U.S.
A lot of well-known alternative healing practices follow the same principles that acupuncture is based on. These include Qi Gong, shiatsu, reiki, reflexology, and acupressure. Micro-acupuncture needles work on small areas of the body that are known to help restore and balance bodily functions. Used in this regard are the points on the ears, scalp, hands, and feet
In the United States, there are more than 2,000 alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs who have integrated ear acupuncture (auriculotherapy) into their protocol. This move was inspired by the more than three decades experience of the Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx, New York, which administered 100 acupuncture treatments each day for the treatment of alcohol, drug, and other types of substance addiction. An offshoot of the Lincoln experience is the Miami Drug Court which is nationally recognized.
A foundation for psycho-social recovery and rehabilitation is what acupuncture provides. This treatment is meant to be a supportive element of a substance abuse treatment and also helps the patient for job readiness.
Overall functioning is improved through the several benefits that acupuncture provides. These benefits include acupuncture’s ability to:
– Help in reaching resistant patients
– Lower agitation and anxiety while contributing to receptive and calm behavior
– Help bring out an interior meditative core in even the most fearful and troubled individuals
The most common acupuncture technique used to treat addiction is auriculotherapy. Treatments are usually administered in large groups during for 45 minutes during which time patients are told to sit quietly together. This treatment protocol is known as the NADA or the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association protocol. Certain laws in many jurisdictions allow the training of clinical personnel who are then licensed to implement this protocol in facilities approved by the state. Some states such as California and Florida that have no such provision have very few NADA programs as compared to states that have these standards like New York and Virginia. Training for NADA includes integration with social services and sterile precautions. For those interested to work at NADA programs, apprenticeship training is required.
This present century has seen a significant rise in the use of the NADA protocol. Community members provided post-trauma treatments to victims of Hurricane Katrina and 9/11. Treatments have been permanently introduced for firemen in both New Orleans and New York. In the UK, 130 prisons are now using acupuncture NADA protocol. All the treatments are given by correction officers who have undergone a five-year training sponsored by Smart-UK. The result of all this was an 80% decrease in violent incidents. In India, he NADA protocol has helped thousands in the military who were suffering from suicidal tendencies and stress.
In Northern Europe, the method of psychiatric hospital care has been radically changed by NADA acupuncture. A hundred public facilities have trained three thousand nurses for this procedure. The result was a significant reduction in the use of the drug benzodiazepine and much less use of seclusion. In war ravaged areas, services for refugees have been especially remarkable. In Thailand, the DARE program for several years have provided ear acupuncture for dozens of Burmese tribes living in camps near the border. In May 2008, in East Africa, the Real Medicine Foundation gave a two-week NADA training for treatment of people living in refugee camps. In just one year, 29,000 treatments have been administered by trainees living in these camps.
For children who have bed wetting problems, or suffering from night tremors, autism spectrum disorders, or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and adolescents who are prone to violence magnetic beads have been used as treatment. This technique is in the early stage of evaluation although countries such as the Philippines, Ireland, England, Germany, and the U.S have already reported some measure of success.
Being an inexpensive and safe treatment, the ear acupuncture protocol obviously has a potential for wider usage in the field of psychiatry.
Profound Experiences Can Be Felt During Acupuncture Treatments
Central to a lot of healing treatment from ancient Shamanic healing to Jungian psychoanalysis is the concept of The Shadow. In new age way of thinking, the healer is the one who traditionally treks into the nether world on behalf of his/her “patient.” The truth is, when properly understood the art of healing can be a terrific way to understand what goes on when a person is being healed.
One cannot talk about the health of the modern person without including the environment. Every day and all day since birth, a person has been asked to process stimuli or information that often is in conflict with the way we see ourselves, our beliefs, and ideals. To prevent us from going mad, our mind develops a repository in which to store things that does not fit our environment. This repository cannot be accessed by anything or anyone until it has been judged harshly by other or ourselves. And so, in order to match our environment, we start to deny who we really are.
Within this repository are raw traumas that have been very difficult to endure. For it to not affect our health, all you need to do is release the trauma completely which implies that one needs to experience all the pain and discomfort that comes with it. But to continue to participate in society, we would rather hold onto the shadow as much as we can. The shadow, however, naturally wants to come out and it needs to come out.
What does this all mean? It is no accident that we have certain traits that have been considered undesirable by society. We have them for a reason. During our birth, our traits prepare us and are ready to help us on our paths to life. They were meant to aid us when we need them and especially designed for us and only for us.
Some Cleveland acupuncturists have discovered that deep healing happens for several reasons during an acupuncture procedure. Some of them have observed that during acupuncture, people tend to escape linear time. They transcend the three dimensional world of reactions, demands, and schedules. A lot of times, all that pulls them down, they are able to let go. They also go to a space where both their subconscious and conscious mind can integrate and mingle with each other and they are moved closer and closer towards wholeness (oneness) when this happens.
One of the phrases closest to my heart is the saying, “Illness helps us manifest our destiny.” For me, this means that your symptoms are your guides. Respect and heed them since they bring you to a much closer alignment to whom you really are and always push you into being more creative and guide you towards more joy.
Vanity Calamity and Mei Zen Acupuncture
Calamity is defined as something that brings severe affliction, lingering distress, or terrible loss; a disaster.
Vanity Calamity results in two phenomena. One, it leads to an obsession on how we look as we get older. Second, it gives us an impetus to try almost anything to look attractive again –implants, peeling, injected, suction, and others to satisfy our needs.
Let’s first talk about the first phenomenon. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to look vibrant and young once more. Everybody wants to look good and there is no question that maintaining or attaining a young healthy look requires some kind of action since time waits for no one. And to help you with your dream of being an ageless beauty, one of the best and safest treatments I recommend to suspend the effects of aging is cosmetic acupuncture, or more specifically, Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture, which is tangential to the second phenomena.
What is Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture?
Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture is a superficial needling technique that originated in China thousands of years ago. In this procedure, the needling of the face causes an increase in blood and Qi flow to enhance the production of elastin and collagen to the targeted areas of the face. Besides the facial acupoints, the Mei Zen acupuncturist also selects specific acupoints on the body to consummate the balance of energy, in accordance with the principles of TCM or Traditional Chinese Medicine. The result is a general rejuvenating effect not only on the body but on the spirit and mind, as well. Skincare, lifestyle, and diet are also analyzed and addressed. The end of Vanity Calamity is on the horizon when we use Chinese Medicine to improve and maintain our health and youthful appearance whilst enjoying cosmetic enhancements at the same time.
The endless and continuous obsession with looking more beautiful and younger and the point to which a lot of people are willing to go to attain it are the main concerns of the Mei Zen practitioner. This obsession is responsible for the insane popularity of Botox injection in which Americans spent billions of dollars in a bid to eradicate wrinkles and look young once more. Yes, the beautifying industry is huge a business. There are dozens of procedures to make your chin, cheeks, or lips look plump, make the skin sag less, and help remove wrinkles.
Psychologically speaking, attractiveness often translates to positive outcomes and the more attractive you are, the higher your chance of being perceived as intelligent, finding a mate, and getting a job. People are conditioned to believe that the more beautiful or attractive a person is, the more intelligent she or he is. It’s a simple and plain fact that our society emphasizes beauty to a very high degree and has done so for centuries. We despise the effects of aging and aging itself unlike in several other cultures. The media especially Hollywood has led us to believe that getting “old” is not cool and so most beauty treatments are aimed at removing the effects of aging.
A lot of Women are so obsessed on how they look. Even if they’re already perfect the way they are, most of them would still notice something in their face they hate. Some have a pathological view of their body. They think they are fat when in truth they are already severely undernourished. You don’t usually hear people commenting about how they love their face. They usually complain about a tiny wrinkle on some part of their face, age spots, eye bags, double chin, and a host of other issues.
Oftentimes, we tend to compare our looks with others usually movie and TV stars, musicians, and fashion models. We often feel that we can never measure up to their looks and maybe, just maybe, with permanent make up, liposuction, implants, plumping injections, and surgery we just might resemble them in some way. Our society has a very high criterion for beauty and no amount of surgery will ever reach this insubstantial benchmark.
One other sign that not wanting to look older is a serious obsession in the US is that even young women, usually in their 20’s are seeking these procedures. A lot of these young adults are now already dissatisfied with how they look. Worse, there are some teenagers who want seriously invasive cosmetic procedures and they are likely to go through with it which might lead to permanent disfigurement of their face or body if it weren’t for the intervention of their parents or guardians. The most popular beauty treatment these youngsters seek is breast augmentation so they may look irresistibly desirable to men. If we don’t start having a healthy view of our faces and bodies, then we will end up getting psychotherapy instead, instead of plastic surgery.
BodaHealth
1245 West Broadway #302
Vancouver, BC V6H 1G7, Canada
(604) 733-2632
http://bodahealth.ca/
Traditional and Contemporary Herbs Used to Treat Dysmenorrhea
Whenever women are having the time of the month, it is typical for them to be quite irritable. During the menstrual cycle, the sex hormones involved in the reproductive process jump to very high levels which affects the nervous system and bring about sporadic mood swings. Women affected by dysmenorrhea also have to deal with stomach pain, cramping, fatigue, and bloating that only worsens the gravity of the condition. So, rather than dallying over the discomforts of menstruation, we should instead, know about a few of the contemporary and traditional herbs that can help relieve the pain of dysmenorrhea and help ease the discomforts that come usually with the menstrual cycle.
1. Pasque Flower – This deciduous herb’s medicinal properties has been known and used for hundreds of years by the Native American Indians. Traditionally used for the inducement of childbirth, Pasque Flower has now been confirmed in clinical studies to help support the female reproductive system.
2. Chasteberry – Toning effects on the female reproductive system can be provided by the berries of this plant. Chasteberry is known to have properties that can help balance the hormones. The compounds derived from its extracts can be used to treat PMS, endometriosis, and dysmenorrhea.
3. Pot Marigold – This plant has pain killing and anti-inflammatory compounds that can help regulate the menstrual cycle which in turn promotes a relaxing effect during menstrual cramping.
4. Dong Quai – This herb is a very popular Chinese herb used as a tonic to treat both circulatory and gynecological ailments in traditional Chinese medicine. Because of its hormone-balancing, analgesic, and antispasmodic attributes, dong quai is often used for the normalization of the menstrual cycle.
These are just a few of the most commonly used herb to help alleviate the discomforts related to the menstrual cycle. There are actually a diverse portfolio of herbs and homeopathic treatments that have been used for centuries by different healthcare systems and cultures around the world for treating menstrual issues. However, the pharmaceutical industry has made it more difficult to physically seek out these herbs to obtain relief from pain.
Herbal medicine as it is currently practiced uses extracts from medicinal herbs that are then combined with other herbs to come up with a concentrated herbal infusion that provides relief from symptoms. These herbal supplements are readily available in local health food stores and are wonderful alternative treatments for dysmenorrhea.
Gigi Terinoni is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist in Louisville, CO. She is also a certified massage therapist, yoga instructor and the founder of Dova Center for Health and Healing.
Lifestyle and Dietary Changes are Needed to Help Treat or Prevent Hypothyroidism
When the thyroid gland malfunctions and starts to secrete huge amounts of thyroid hormones, this is known as hyperthyroidism which is marked by signs and symptoms such as increased bowel movements, tremors, fatigue, loss of weight, agitation, anxiety, profuse perspiration, and increased heart rate. Scientists are beginning to understand hyperthyroidism better and how natural modes of treatment can help restore harmony and balance to the body.
Graves Disease, which is an autoimmune condition and thyroiditis (chronic thyroid inflammation) are the two most common reasons for hyperthyroidism. Both auto-immune and inflammatory disorders are the result of an under-coordinated and over-active immune system. Heavy metal toxicity, vitamin D levels, nutritional habits, environmental and food allergens, intestinal dysbiosis and a number of important factors must be resolved with any auto-immune and inflammatory condition.
1. Heavy metal toxicity – Factors that can affect the thyroid gland and immune system environmental toxicity include non-stick coated paints, tap water, household cleaning agents, personal hygiene products, household molds, overexposure to herbicides, pesticides, and heavy metals, and others.
2. Vitamin D deficiencies – Unfortunately, this is a common problem these days. Vitamin D is needed to properly coordinate the immune response by helping the body to recognize between the body’s own proteins and foreign proteins. This helps decrease auto-immune reactions and inflammation. Vitamin D (25-hydroxy cholcalciferol) in adequate amounts (around 60 to 100 ng/ml) which is significantly more than the conventional 32 ng/ml daily dosage is the is a much better recommended daily dosage. However, make sure you know your levels and get them over 60 ng/ml. Just spending five minutes directly under the noonday sun can be extremely beneficial for your body. You can take 10,000 to 50,000 IU of emulsified high quality vitamin D3 supplements or spend 20 to 30 minutes a day in the sun every day until you attain the desired levels.
3. An anti-inflammatory lifestyle and diet – Full recovery will not be achieved unless diet and lifestyle changes are done by the hyperthyroid patient. Foods that possess anti-inflammatory qualities can help regulate the immune system preventing it from inflaming when stimulated. It is important to completely avoid food allergens, and all forms of processed sugars and foods. DHA, EPA, and omega 3 fatty acids are powerful de-inflammatories that can bring back natural balance to your cell membrane’s lipid wall.
Non-denatured whey protein from free range goats and cows, berries, and coconut products are also deemed to be great anti-inflammatory foods. The whey protein from these animals is packed with L-glutamine and boosts cellular glutathione stores that are required for de-inflaming the body and rebuilding the gut. Use oregano, rosemary, cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric, and other anti-inflammatory herbs as much as possible.
Raw kale, cabbage, broccoli and other types of cruciferous vegetables contain goitrogens that obstruct the production of thyroid hormone and so aid is slowing down the thyroid. Therefore, eating these veggies raw can greatly benefit those people suffering from hyperthyroidism.
4. Food allergens – Avoid grains that contain gluten. These include spelt, kamut, oats, rye, barley, and wheat, heavy proteins, eggs, various nuts, and soy products. All man-made and processed foods obviously should always be avoided at all costs. Onions, tomatoes, and eggplant and other members of the nightshade family are known allergens and so should also be avoided. People suffering from excessive inflammation or auto-immune reactions need to be tested for food allergies and undergo an elimination diet to see if their conditions get better.
5. Dysbiosis – This is a condition in which antagonistic organisms overpopulate the gut causing intestinal wall damage which, in turn allows food particles to pass over and enter the bloodstream. When these undigested materials are detected by the immune system, they are often seen as foreign invaders in the body causing the immune system to release antibodies to eliminate these food particles. The attack of the antibodies then causes an allergic reaction and inflammation.
Banish Insomnia Completely with Regular Rounds of Acupuncture Treatment
If you’re having difficulties falling and/or staying asleep, don’t resort to a prescription therapy; instead, go and check out acupuncture, a Chinese-developed form of healing used to address a host of health-related conditions.
In trying to treat insomnia, first things first; one needs to know what causes it. HelpGuide.org says that in spite of insomnia being the most frequently heard sleeping complaint, it is not just one type of sleep disorder. A better way to view insomnia is to see it as a symptom of other health problems. The underlying cause or causes of insomnia varies from person to person.
What type of stressors do you have in your life? Do you have a hard time managing stress? Do you have poor eating habits? Do you have a need to have meals late at night like an hour or so before going to bed? Do you drink a lot of coffee throughout the day? If you answer yes to most of these questions then chances are you are suffering from insomnia. However, the good news is that most types of insomnia are curable and with the right changes in your lifestyle and eating habits, you can cure yourself of your problem without the need for across the counter or prescription sleeping drugs or sleep specialists.
Acupuncture and Insomnia
Studies Reveal Acupuncture’s Effectiveness in Treating Insomnia
The Medical Acupuncture journal states that “Insomnia is frequently encountered in clinical practice, occurring in around 40% of the population. Acupuncture, although not normally used to treat this problem, has been found to be helpful in treating of insomnia and has an excellent safety and tolerability profile.”
The principle behind acupuncture is the notion that two opposing but complementary forces exist in nature called yin and yang energy which reside inside the human body. Energy flows through the body’s Yang areas during the day to keep the mind active and alert. The Yang energy, at night, should go back to the lower and deeper Yin areas of the body. The problem begins when the Yang energy remains in the Yang areas of your eyes and brain; these parts of your body are continuously energized preventing you from falling asleep resulting in insomnia.
A research work done in Taiwan around 2007-2008 had 33 patients participating who were all suffering from primary insomnia. The study saw that acupuncture was equally potent as zolpidem (a drug sold under the labels of Sublinox, tilnox, and Ambien). The subjects were either given 10 mg of zolpidem each night or treated with acupuncture once each week.
The conductors of the study discovered that both groups (the acupuncture and zolpidem group) showed significant improvements at a similar rate over time. This means that acupuncture is just as effective as pharmaceuticals sleeping drugs for the treatment of insomnia.
Pharmaceutical drugs are unfortunately the go to treatment for most insomnia sufferers in the United States. And it’s not just sleeping pills such as tricyclic antidepressants and benzodiazepines, oral hypnotics and sedatives are also heavily used. The Medical Acupuncture state these drugs are highly addictive and are likely to be abused by users.
The drawback to tricyclic antidepressants is that they have undesirable and debilitating effects, such as heart arrhythmias, urinary retention, orthostatic hypotension, and dry mouth.
Insomnia May Require the Need for Repeated Treatments
While medications can have blanket effects on patients, practitioners of acupuncture tend to take a more individualized approach.
The founder of website Foot Under Foot, Melissa Sokulski, who is also an herbalist and acupuncturist herself said that “acupuncturists do a detailed history of their patient and this includes a tongue diagnosis, pulse assessment and questioning in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the patient as a whole. Treatment is always different for each patient even if they have the same underlying insomnia problem which more often than not is yin deficiency. The treatment is based on the constitution of the patient (the person’s type and strength og his/her health and body), and other relevant factors.”
Experts say that a person is likely to get a good night’s sleep right after an acupuncture procedure; however, after several days, the insomnia might come back.
The CenterAccupuncture.com says that “this is a sign that one should try acupuncture treatment for insomnia on a regular basis since it often requires several rounds of acupuncture treatment each week, for many several to cure chronic insomnia completely.”
Acupuncture Can Help Cure or Lessen Osteoarthritic and Chronic Knee Pain
Earlier studies showing acupuncture’s superior effectiveness in treating osteoarthritic knee pain over Western medicine have been validated by new research.
In a meta-anaylsis study of 14 random controlled, separate, clinical trials of 3,835 patients, it showed that acupuncture treatment resulted in the significant relief of knee osteoarthritis pain and a much better improvement in function than conventional care treatment, sham acupuncture, or waiting for further treatment. These results and more were posted on the website of the Healthcare Medicine Institute (HMI).
The study further revealed that acupuncture treatment of osteoarthritic knee pain in Bellingham resulted in the restoration of function and pain relief than Western conventional care and sham acupuncture.
Following this posting, HMI said that real interest in acupuncture in treating knee osteoarthritis has increased significantly. The above mentioned research, performed on 2006, also involved 13 separate meta-analysis studies, that observed the effects of randomized acupuncture treatment in adults suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee or chronic knee pain compared to other treatments: active intervention, usual care (no extra intervention), and placebo (sham) acupuncture.
The study concluded that acupuncture that passes the benchmark for sufficient treatment has a superior effect in treating patients suffering from chronic knee pain than usual care and placebo acupuncture.
Acupuncture has been used to help treat knee pain for thousands of years.
Several studies spanning more than a decade have demonstrated (besides being a very valuable mode of treatment for osteoarthritic knee pain), that acupuncture is a much better and much cheaper alternative to knee surgery.
Acupuncture in Medicine journal published a 2008 study showing this very old and definitely not archaic form of Chinese treatment was performed for a couple of years on 90 patients with ages that averaged 71 years old.
The patients were initially treated once a week for a month and beyond with acupuncture. The regularity of the treatments was reduced to one treatment every six weeks as reported in the Counsel & Heal website. Forty one patients were still receiving treatment a year later; then a couple of years later 31 still were.
Physicians observed even after the first month, that patients showed significant clinical improvements in the severity of their pain.
Acupuncture-trained nurses were tasked to observe two factors: Whether acupuncture was a valid alternative to costly knee replacement operations or whether acupuncture improved symptoms while decreasing the cost of care.
The nurses observed that knee surgery treatment is not a treatment for everyone although the cost of the surgery was worth the procedure since it relatively brings about successful results. This means that for others who can’t afford knee replacement surgery, acupuncture is a very good treatment option for osteoarthritic knee pain or chronic knee pain.
In terms of economy, acupuncture treatment for osteoarthritic knee pain or chronic knee pain can help save the United States tens of millions of dollars in medical costs alone each year.
How does acupuncture work?
For people who had not experienced acupuncture treatment, it may seem strange that a form of treatment has managed to survive for thousands of years. This is because acupuncture really works and is so much effective in treating several types of health conditions.
Here’s how acupuncture works.
Extremely thin small and sterile needles are stuck just below the surface of the skin specific parts of the body known as acupoints. These points are selected by acupuncturists depending on what kind of condition the patient is suffering from (GI problems, back pain, sore knees, allergies, etc.).
Underneath an acupoint lie energy pathways known as meridians. These are where vital energy or qi is believed to flow. Along these meridians, there are several specific spots that normalize levels of health in different areas of the body. The human body has around 12 major meridians and 8 minor ones.
If say, for example you are suffering from a stomach problem. This does not necessarily mean that needles will be stuck on your stomach. Some of the meridians commonly needled by acupuncturists include:
Lung meridian – Found on the inside of the arm above the wrist
The Large Intestine – This meridian is found between the thumb and index finger on the back of the hand
Stomach: Found on the front of the leg below the knee.