Tag: acupuncture
Acupuncture, Acupressure and Anxiety
What is Anxiety?
If you have feelings of being worried, overwhelmed, or uneasy, then you are feeling anxiety. Currently, in Western treatments, there are various kinds of terms for anxiety. Interestingly, there are certain parallels between them all.
The Symptoms of Anxiety
Anxiety signs and symptoms may include the following:
• Too much worrying/ too much -thinking
• Sweats
• Feelings of being overwhelmed
• Tightness in the chest
• The sensation of being unable to properly breathe
• Palpitations
Western Modes of Anxiety Treatment
Conventional Western treatments for anxiety are usually anti-anxiety medicines to prevent the signals of emotions from reaching the brain.
The issue with this kind of treatment is that only the symptoms are treated but the underlying reason for anxiety is not addressed. So, once the block is lifted and then you halt taking these medications, the symptoms will likely return.
Acupuncture Treatment for Anxiety
Most acupuncturists will agree that there is not one treatment that’s most effective and safer for the treatment of anxiety than acupuncture.
Pain-free acupuncture treatment for anxiety focuses on three major internal organs: the spleen, kidneys, and liver.
Spleen Deficiency
A deficient spleen makes it more difficult to break down the foods we consume and when food these foods become hard to break down, the nutrients are poorly absorbed by the body. As a result, the body does not get the adequate production of blood. When our body does not have enough blood, the heart starts to feel a bit tired and weak. We then start to feel weak and worn which make us prone to feelings of anxiety.
Kidney Deficiency
The kidneys, in Chinese Medicine, control everything that relates to the coolness and water in our body. This coolness helps in keeping the heat down and calms the mind. If the Kidneys become weak, heat takes over and coolness becomes deficient. Heat elevated to the top of our body and affects our mind and heart resulting in anxiety.
The kidneys also are associated with fear. So, any time a person has a real fear of something his kidneys weaken resulting in anxiety.
Liver Imbalance
It is the liver that controls the information, flow of energy and nutrients to all the cells of our body. the liver is also the first organ to be affected by stress and the emotions as drug overuse and alcohol. When the liver is attacked by stress the liver tightens up and when the liver tenses up, information, flow of energy and nutrients that was smoothly flowing along the channels now start to stagnate, as well.
This stagnation is a sign that our cells and organs are not receiving the right amount of nutrients and information to effectively function causing our body to fall out of balance. When the body becomes imbalanced and suffers from stagnation, we start to feel anxiety..
Persons suffering from liver imbalances are likely to become emotionally hypersensitive. They become easily frustrated and irritated which they internalize. This results in stagnation and heat in the body leading to anxiety.
Basically, acupuncture for the treatment of anxiety eliminates the heat and stagnation in the patient and he/she then starts to feel better rather quickly due to the rapid rush of hormones, energy, and nutrients in their cells and organs.
Acupressure Points for Anxiety
You can apply acupressure on a few acupoints to help lessen the symptoms of anxiety. One should be aware that that acupressure is certainly not a good option to expert diagnosis and acupuncture treatments required by an individual.
Acupressure is an ideal complementary treatment to acupuncture therapies since it is a healing technique that you can do on yourself in between acupuncture treatments to boost the overall effects of your treatment.
To do acupressure, apply pressure using your fingers to the following acupoints for around two to three minutes whenever you start to become anxious.
1. Sp 6 (Sanyinjiao) – This point is situated in a cavity three fingers above the inside ankle along the bone. It is used to help calm the mind, increase blood and coolness, and strengthen the stomach and spleen.
2. Pc 6 (Neiguan) – Located two fingers above the wrist in between the two major tendons which can be seen by flexing your wrist. It is used to calm the mind, clear heat and stagnation, and alleviate pain.
Phoenix Acupuncture
468 Irvington Ave
South Orange, NJ 07079
(973) 821-5340
http://www.phoenixtcm.com/
Get Help from Pain with Acupuncture
Acupuncture is one of Chinese medicine’s ways of treating pain that has been practiced for a very, very long time. This healing tradition makes use of meridian points wherein reed-thin acupuncture needles are inserted into strategic areas of the body in order to stimulate the meridian points which are carriers of energy flowing through channels throughout the body. Stimulating these points also helps increase vitality in the body and clears up the blockages in the channels.
Types of Pain
Acupuncture can treat several varieties of pain. Some of the most common type of pain are:
1. Shoulder pain – Meridian points on the shoulder area are treated with needles to resolve this issue.
2. Leg pain – In this type of pain, the acupuncturist treats 11 acupoints found along the length of the leg and foot. If the patient has also lower back pain along with the leg pain, the acupoints located in the lower back are also used to resolve the issue.
3. Headaches and migraines – Headaches and migraines are related to the dilation of blood vessels in the head. To relieve the pain needles need to be inserted into the neck and heat areas. To slow down the activity of blood vessels in the neck and head, you need to insert needles in the leg and arms.
To lessen the likelihood of unwanted blood vessel dilation, you need to undertake the treatment in a sitting position rather than lying down.
Visiting an Acupuncturist
A lot of things can occur when you visit an acupuncturist. The first thing the practitioner does is to examine and evaluate your condition. You need to mention the parts of your body where pain is felt as well as other important information the practitioner needs to know.
After your acupuncturist takes your medical history he/she will stick acupuncture needles at the proper acupoints determined during the examination phase of the treatment. The needles used are a few centimeters long and are usually fine.
Your acupuncturist will insert the needles deep into the muscle tissue or superficially on your skin, depending on the kind of pain you have. After the needles are inserted, you may have to wait for around half-an-hour for pain to go away.
Some Points to Consider
If you are planning to undergo acupuncture treatment for the relief of pain, you should remember that the acupuncturist may require you to remove your clothes so that he/she can access the areas of your body that need to be treated. As the needle is inserted, you may feel a dull ache or a tingling sensation but no pain.
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.
If You find Topical Drugs Ineffective, Try Acupuncture
Most of us know that acupuncture is very effective in treating a wide range of conditions, however, can it work on skin problems such as allergies, psoriasis and acne, to mention just a few? If you want to know the answer to this question, then continue reading this article.
One of the most common skin conditions in the world is acne. This is a disorder that’s something most teenagers are afraid of getting. And since teenagers are often very careful of how they look, acne can have an undesirable effect on their social lives. This skin problem can have a severe effect on the sufferer’s self-esteem. Teenagers are not the only one though who are more likely to suffer from acne, babies and adults can develop acne as well. Even pregnant women can be affected by this condition.
If the use of topical creams and ointments does not work for you, then you might want to consider acupuncture as a way to resolve your acne symptoms. The good news is that acupuncture does work as attested by so many former acne patients who have been cured of their acne using acupuncture. However, it might take a number of treatment sessions before you may notice any substantial improvements using this treatment.
Besides acupuncture, one other way to help you get rid of your acne the natural way is to change your diet. A diet that includes nuts, raw vegetables and fresh fruits can help make your skin healthy and strong. You need to stay away from all processed foods, meats and dairy products.
Allergic reactions can also be treated with acupuncture
There may be few studies done about the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of psoriasis. If you are serious about getting acupuncture treatment for the resolution of your skin problem, you first need to consult with a licensed acupuncturist to see if it’s the best approach to treating your problem.
Acupuncture Health Center
1303 Astor St #101
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 715-1824
http://www.bellinghamacupuncturecenter.com/
Acupuncture for Hand Tremors
Almost all people now and then experience hand tremors and it’s a perfectly normal thing to do. Medical science has two classifications of hand tremors: action tremors and rest tremors.
Hand Tremors Causes and Treatments
Action tremors happen when the hand is performing a voluntary action like writing on a paper or typing on a keyboard. They also may happen when the hand is holding or grasping onto something. There are three kinds of action tremors: kinetic, postural and isometric. Action tremors are usually associated with certain types of disorders and diseases, including multiple sclerosis, stroke and Parkinsonism.
Rest Tremors, on the other hand, can be seen as some type of hand twitching that usually comes about while the body is at rest. One example of rest tremor is that while your hands are resting on a table, they begin to shake involuntarily. This type of tremor is usually related to mental stress you may be undergoing at that time.
The likelihood for experiencing hand tremors increases when you drink a lot of coffee or when you don’t get enough sleep. You may experience a mild vibration or shaking on your hands and may also find it hard to strongly hold on to something. Normally, hand tremors are transitory if their causes are due to fear, fatigue or stress,
You can likewise have hand tremors when you are in a withdrawal state from chemical addictions like nicotine and drugs. The state of withdrawal of an individual going through detoxification often entails his/her experiencing hand tremors as well as body tremors. However, it is important to remember that these withdrawal side effects are just temporary.
You need to consult with your doctor if your hand tremors seem to be prolonged and do not go away. These persistent and enduring tremors may be symptoms of a far worse underlying health problem. The condition may have got to do with problems in your nervous system or brain that causes the hand to shake. One neurological issue called dystonia often causes symptoms of hand tremors. Other peripheral neurological issues can also produce hand tremors symptoms. There are many possible causes that may lead to the development of hand tremors.
Unfortunately hand tremors can be also a symptom of a really bad disease such as brain tumor. Hand tremors that seem to persist are usually ominous warnings of serious neurological conditions. If such is the case, your hand tremors may also come with involuntary twitches in the legs, face or hands. A combination of intermittent or prolonged hand tremors and involuntary muscle twitches at some regions of your body should be solid reasons to have yourself checked right away. For a complaint of intermittent or prolonged hand tremors and involuntary muscle twitches, a brain scan is usually recommended by doctors to see if tumors have developed in the patient’s brain. As mentioned, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis are common neurological problems that cause hand tremors. If the doctor suspects you of having any of these problems, he will request a brain scan for you in order to correctly diagnose your condition. If you have hand tremors that seem to be transitory, you can have yourself checked by your doctor if you just want to be on the safe side. Mild or the slightest strokes can also lead to the development of hand tremors since a blood clot may have developed in your brain. It is very important to have your doctor extract the clot as soon as possible, possibly within four hours of your stroke; if not, you may potentially develop serious health problems that can permanently and seriously impair your mobility.
Hand tremors are usually experienced by seniors although their tremors may not necessarily involve any brain problems. Aging has caused their muscle mass to decrease resulting in loss of control over their hands and their dexterity. These problems can be prevented by eating foods rich in antioxidants and foods that are highly nutritious. Antioxidants help in preventing the cells from aging.
Treatment for Hand Tremors
In treating hand tremors, your doctor needs to diagnose their cause first. Hand tremors that come about not due to medical conditions can be treated effectively with natural types of treatment. One type of tremor called essential tremor is usually found in artists, musicians and individuals whose job entails the frequent use of their fingers and hands. PC encoders and typists who encode and type for 8 hours a day are also likely to develop hand tremors. One of the best natural treatments for hand tremors is acupuncture.
For thousands of years, the ancient Chinese have used acupuncture to remove the blockages of vital energy the Chinese call Chi in the body to enable it to flow freely all over the body. According to traditional Chinese medicine, problems like hand tremors occur when Chi in the hand is blocked due to over use. Although this type of medical theory is not yet proven by western medicine, numerous individuals have improved their condition using acupuncture. People who have been treated with acupuncture in Vancouver of their hand tremors have had substantial reduction of their tremors or even have been completely cured of it.
Sometimes, massaging your hands can also reduce your hand tremors, particularly if you are fatigued or stressed out. The blood flow in your hands improves by massaging them and can help also in the improvement of the dexterity and control of your hand. Furthermore, massaging has been scientifically proven to relax the body as well as the mind. Massage can effectively relieve your fatigue and stress and can calm the nerves that help lessen your hand tremors.
Acupuncture for GERD
Heartburn and acid reflux are considered aspects of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). GERD develops when the sour gastric acid flows back to the esophagus oftentimes even up to the mouth. Heartburn means the burning sensation caused by acid reflux that wells upward to the throat.
Symptoms of GERD can include vague hunger, nausea, abdominal distention and stomach pain. In chronic GERD, the acid escaping the stomach can injure the esophagus leading to problem in regurgitation and/or swallowing as well as hoarseness and sore throat; if the acid escapes to the lungs, it can cause asthma or bronchitis or even worse cancer or Barrett’s Esophagus.
What causes GERD?
Lifestyle – Causes can include stress, overeating or eating on the go or at odd hours. Stress can slow down Qi flow and invade the Stomach causing it to “rebel upwards.” When Qi stagnates, it causes constipation that back up the intestines causing Qi to “rebel more.” Other factors that can cause Qi to stagnate are unresolved, unexpressed emotions that can accumulate in the gut.
Diet – “hot” foods like chocolate, alcohol, spices and chili as well as overly acidic foods like garlic, onions, radishes, uncooked peppers, tomatoes and citrus fruits and a very restrictive type of dieting, antibiotics, and raw or cold foods can all impair the function of the digestive system.
TCM Patterns That Can Cause GERD
Liver and Stomach Yin Deficiency – chronic abundant heat (due to overly heating foods and stress among others) in the abdomen can damage the Yin. Symptoms include heartburn that gets worse with stress, acidity, constipation, dry stools, and dry throat and mouth. When GERD is the result of irregular eating or overeating combined with a sedentary lifestyle, the symptoms that manifest may include diarrhea or constipation that soothes the pain, bad breath, burping out undigested foods and vomiting after a large meal that relieves the pain
Stomach- Spleen Yang/Qi Deficiency – this is caused by chronic digestive weakness that impairs the normal movement of food in the GI tract. Symptoms may include intolerance to cold, loose stools, fatigue, poor appetite, sour belching, drooling, post-meal bloating, stomach pain soothed by pressure and warmth, heartburn during sleep, bending or increased stomach pressure. This condition can be exacerbated with the consumption of raw or hard to digest foods.
Food Stagnation – This may come about due to irregular eating and frequent over-eating particularly when combined with a sedentary lifestyle. Symptoms include diarrhea or constipation that lessens the pain, bad breath, and pain after a large meal that is relieved by burping up or vomiting undigested foods.
Damp-Phlegm Accumulation – this can be caused by chronic deficiency in Spleen Qi causing Dampness that affects blood flow and more production of Phlegm. This leads to the slowing down of Stomach Qi and disrupts its downward direction. The symptoms include pain and discomfort may be experienced at night (1 AM to 2 AM) with burping and sour reflux, a musty body odor, headaches and dizziness, mucus, excess weight, poor concentration, heavy limbs, fatigue, loose stools and a lowered sensation of taste.
Liver and Stomach Heat – this can be caused by Liver Qi Stagnation and can be worsened by too much intake of heating foods where GERD symptoms are most noticeable just after a meal. Pain and discomfort may be experienced at night (1 AM to 2 AM) with burping and sour reflux.
Liver Qi Stagnation Invading the Abdomen – this can be caused by stress and emotions. Symptoms include neck and shoulder tension, cold extremities, PMS, tension headaches, anxiety, depression, irritability, frequent burping or sighing, appetite loss, alternating diarrhea and constipation, bloating, and epigastric tenderness and hypochondriac.
What can I do about it?
Foods that do not cause or exacerbate GERD or can help alleviate symptoms can include raw potato juice or aloe vera juice mixed with water thrice a day, apple cider vinegar (1 Tbsp) in water with food. Lying on your left side to maintain the abdomen below the esophagus, no eating three before sleep, and taking HCL acid-free digestive enzymes just before meals are also helpful. Prescription medications for GERD include Tagamet, Pepcid, Protonix, Prevacid, Nexium, and Zantac and over-the counter drugs include Advil and Aspirin. Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL) can also be used to treat GERD.
Liver and Stomach Yin Deficiency – remedies include flaxseed oil, rich colored veggies, beans and seeds that can moisten, stews and soups and nourishing root. Avoid stimulants like caffeine, coffee and overly spiced foods.
Stomach- Spleen Qi/Yang Deficiency – foods you can eat can include broths, stews and soups, and lightly cooked veggies. Eat more frequent meals and smaller portions, eat simpler combination of foods, thoroughly chew your food and avoid raw foods; for Yang Deficiency, same as Qi Deficiency with more consumption of warming foods. Avoid raw cold foods. Garlic, cloves, ginger and cinnamon are good for Yang Deficiency.
Damp-Phlegm Accumulation – Avoid or limit consumption of raw foods, oils and fats, sweets and sugars and carbs (apart from millet and rice barley). Recommended foods include pepper, horseradish, mustard, garlic and ginger and other warming acrid spices.
Liver and Stomach Heat- recommended foods include raw foods like veggies and fruits, and pungent, cool and bitter foods. Limit or avoid consumption of alcohol and coffee, greasy or fried foods, complicated meals and overly spiced or spicy foods.
Food Stagnation/ Liver Qi Stagnation – consume complex carbs, veggies, eat dinner earlier, exercise, pre-meal digestive enzymes, ginger tea, and smaller portions. Cope with stress and limit heavier proteins and fats.
Chinese Herbal formulas and Acupuncture – there are times when changing your diet are not enough to resolve GERD symptoms. Acupuncturists can customize a plan of treatment to address your specific needs. This may entail using a combination of modalities like lifestyle and nutritional counseling, Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture.
Over-the-counter antacids can provide relief from GERD symptoms but their long-term use can result in long-term problems. These drugs do not really target the underlying cause of the problem and also their side effects can include nausea, gas, belching, diarrhea and constipation. Aluminum-based and calcium drugs, for example, can cause constipation, calcium carbonate lead to rebound effect (stomach acid reflux), sodium bicarbonate produces bloating and gas while magnesium may serve as a laxative. Antacids are ineffective for bloating and gas, impair proper digestion and nutrient absorption and can lead to electrolyte imbalance.
Needles & Moxa Wellness Center
700 S Red Rd
Miami, FL 33144
Ph: (305) 265-5265
http://www.needlesandmoxa.com
Discussing The Wonders of Acupuncture in Davis, CA.
Acupuncture has been a blessing to the world especially for the Western world when one considers the alternative: pharmaceutical products that more or less wreak harm to the human body than the illness they profess to cure. In most cases, drugs manufactured by pharmaceutical corporations merely treat the symptom rather than the disease itself.
What western medicine essentially lacks is the acknowledgment that the human body essentially has dimensions, invisible but integral parts of the human body that western medicine discards because they demonstrate no empirical evidence of their existence.
Those in traditional Chinese medicine dimensions are Chi or life force and yin-yang. Chi acts like blood in the body. Blood nourishes the tissues, organs and all other parts of the body. Chi, acts in a similar manner but in Chinese medicine it, does more to the human body than blood does. An imbalance of chi, results not only in physiological illnesses but in psychological and emotional ailments, as well.
Chi is channeled through the body by networks called meridians. Meridian systems are invisible networks that are spread throughout the body to enable Chi to reach and energize each part of the body. Chi flow affects the whole aspect of the human being and if it is unimpeded, the person experiences good health. Due to environmental, physical and emotional causes, chi flow sometimes gets blocked or stagnates and diseases set in.
Yin-yang are the two principles of water and fire inherent in most organs in the human body. The ancient Chinese believed that activities of the body are the result of the yin and yang interaction. The relative balance of these two opposing principles constitutes well-being and harmony in the body. Yin carries the water or fluid principle and yang the fire principle. Organs with an open cavity are yang organs (gall bladder, intestines, stomach and bladder) and organs possessing no cavity are the yin organs (liver, heart, spleen, lung, kidneys). In a sense, the organs with little or no acid are the yin organs.
Western medicine, with a philosophy anchored on existential empiricism will always assume a skeptical stand regarding these beliefs. One thing they cannot explain, though, is the success traditional Chinese medicine has in healing ailments successfully, like infertility, obesity and addiction.
Acupuncture in Davis has been the main method of treatment for these three illnesses and it has millions of adherents testifying to its potency. Millions of Americans are suffering from either of these three illnesses and with a sickness like drug or alcohol addiction, the way back to recovery equals having a meaningful and complete life from the destruction wrought by these diseases.
Acupuncture is probably the surest route to their destination of getting their lives back from the abyss.