Auricular Acupuncture Is Fast Becoming A Mainstream Form Of Treatment For Sciatica

The ear has one of the most abundant reflex systems in the body. A reflex system is an area in the body where the entire body is depicted in a specific part of the body. Reflex systems are sometimes called “microsystems” and are two-way systems of communication of the body. They mirror the illness of a part of the body and can also treat it. The most well-known reflex systems are foot and hand reflexology. Auricular acupuncture is the appraisal and activation of the auricle or outer ear for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in other regions of the body.

Auricular acupuncture has been used by early Chinese physicians for thousands of years. These doctors exploited the auricle in diagnosis and treatment. Ancient documents reveal Hippocrates pierced points behind the ears to treat sciatic pain and impotence. Medical documents around the Middle Ages in Europe reveal ear treatment for sciatica. In the 1950’s, French neurologist Dr. Paul Nogier created a comprehensive map of the ear repressing it as a reflex system. He devised a model using an upside down fetus as the model image. His research has been confirmed by physicians throughout the globe. Around the 1970’s, Michael Smith a doctor from New York devised a protocol for substance abuse withdrawal by treating five points on the auricle. He established the NADA or the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association.

Auricular acupuncture is used by health care providers such as psychologists, massage therapists, chiropractors, physicians, and acupuncturists and is one of the extremely effective though lesser known alternative healing therapies. Acupuncture points on the ear are activated stimulated by ear acupuncture pellets, magnets, lasers, needles, and manual pressure. Without using needles, auricular acupuncture can be as potent as acupuncture. The World Health Organization Director in 1990 said, “Of all the microsystems of acupuncture, auricular therapy is perhaps the best documented, most scientifically developed, and the most widely used and most practical.”

Practically every condition can be treated by auricular acupuncture is one of the best aspects of this therapy. Treatment of conditions such as menopause, headaches, arthritis, anxiety, addictions, insomnia, stress, and pain can be augments with the inclusion of auricular acupuncture. This modality is designed to be a complements to other kinds of therapy. It has not been designed to be a substitute for other proper medical care.

Studies done in China have determined that Auricular Acupuncture can treat more than 200 disorders and diseases and works in 85 percent of cases. The Pain Management Center of UCLA In 1980 performed a double blind research to ascertain the scientific validity of external ear diagnosis. It discovered a 75 percent rate of accuracy rate in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal pain conditions via palpation and observation of the ear. Research conducted in South Australia at Adelaide University, examined auricular acupuncture for the treatment of obesity. It discovered that auricular acupuncture can restrain appetite. The amount of weight lost and the number of people who lost weight was meaningfully higher in the group treated with auricular acupuncture.

All these suggest to an astonishing wellness and health healing modality – auricular acupuncture!

Dr. Hailing Fu is a doctor or Oriental medicine and the founder of Ling’s Acupuncture, Inc., in Orlando, FL. She has also served as professor and clinic director at the Florida College of Integrative Medicine in Central Florida.

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.

The Benefits Acupuncture Can Provide For Sciatica Sufferers

There are numerous ways to gain relief from sciatic pain. Acupuncture virtually always provides relief when the reasons for sciatica are associated with stress or injury, outside of exercise to fortify the core muscles of the back and stomach.

Most of those who are suffering from the physical distress of sciatic flare ups are often unaware of the available options for their condition. Some just choose to remain in denial of the issue rather than be proactive by visiting their physician to diagnose and then to do something to relieve their condition. This may be because some of the underlying reasons for sciatica, might be quite serious, which may require radical measures to generate a cure. Be that as it may, most of the underlying reasons for sciatica flare ups are actually not serious which then means a fairly simple treatment.

For benign cases of sciatica, the initial step to treatment is to engage in some type of conventional approaches. A light exercise is one good therapeutic approach as it can reinforce the core muscles of the back and the stomach. Strengthening and stretching routines can help treat the damage of tension or traumatic injury that can potentially be at the underlying reason of your pain and discomfort. Chinese herbal formulas can also be used to treat pain that is associated with injury or stress. Combinations of cold and heat applications to the lumbar area of your spine can also give you great short-term benefits.

Besides those above mentioned therapies, the integration of acupuncture to your plan of treatment can give you outstanding results. The principle behind acupuncture is that the body is in a state of imbalance when it is injured or stressed. To help bring it back to its proper healthy balance, needles are used and inserted into areas of the body associated with the discomfort which relieves the symptoms as well as return the body to a healthy balanced state. Once the body is in balance, it is important to maintain that balance. To achieve this healthy eating habits, exercise, and meditation along with acupuncture can go a long way in keeping your whole body in balance and harmony.

Meditation helps empty your mind of the worries and cares of the day. This is one excellent way to unwind and prepare you for sleep. Meditation is the practice of sitting quietly helping you to overcome the illusionary desires and needs that comes with living in the material world. It is a very good way to relieve tension. A healthy diet of vegetables and fruits along with beans and rice, while minimizing the eating of meat protein is one way to attain a natural balance of mind and body. Having a pillow between your legs while sleeping on a firm mattress can be conducive to getting you a sound and adequate sleep. Standing or seating in a proper posture is also important in maintaining good physical balance especially if you have sciatic pain. A proper posture combined with acupuncture treatments is important in the treatment or even cure of sciatic pain.

It is important to remember that if your sciatica doesn’t get better after doing all these aforementioned treatments, then it’s time to consult with a physician. It’s important to rule out other conditions that can cause potential serious damage if they are not properly treated. Fortunately, most of the cases of sciatic pain are not serious and can be easily treated with conventional or alternative modes of treatment just like the ones discussed above. Your doctor can recommend muscle relaxants or painkilling drugs to provide you with instant relief although these drugs were not designed to address the underlying cause of sciatica. If all your doctor does is to prescribe medication to alleviate your pain, then look for another medical opinion. Lifestyle changes and physical exercise are recommended even in cases that in the end might entail the need for surgery. Be careful of anyone who merely wants to prescribe drugs for the problem.

Sciatica acupuncture treatment in Orlando is one of those conservative treatments that, when used along with strategies such as diet plan, and physical exercise can bring back balance to your body. This goes a long way in proving you with great and long term relief. It’s worth a try and what’s more you’ve got nothing to lose but your pain and distress.

Curing Sciatica Pain With Acupuncture

An ancient and integral component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), acupuncture is a form of treatment that strives to balance the life forces in the body, heal the body in a natural way, and promote physical and emotional well-being. Modern acupuncture helps maintain, promote, and restore the good health of the body. In the treatment of sciatica, Western medicine has provided scant evidence to prove that acupuncture does provide quality relief from sciatic pain. Nevertheless, in thousands of acupuncture clinical all over the United States, acupuncture is an alternative form of treatment that leads to pain alleviation in a number of patients.

How can acupuncture help alleviate sciatica? Acupuncture achieves this by:

-Promoting the regeneration of the sciatic nerve
-Raising noradrenalin and serotonin and levels that alleviates pain, boosts the patient’s sense of well-being, and accelerates the repair of nerves
-Improving the flow of blood resulting in better joint mobility and relaxing muscles that are in spasm or are tense resulting in pain
-Stimulating the nerves in affected muscles and other tissue in the body – Acupuncture can help boost endorphin levels in the body. Endorphins are natural body chemicals that help block pain signals from being received by the brain.

TCM theory states that in every part of the body, an inter-connection exists. Before the actual acupuncture treatment for insomnia in Miami takes place the acupuncturist will first discuss the symptoms with the patient and take a complete medical history of the patient.

If treatment is implemented as soon as the pain is first felt or if the injury has just occurred, acupuncture treatment of sciatica will be quite successful.

Comparing Acupuncture to Medication Therapy for Sciatica

NSAIDs are the most common forms of western conventional treatment for sciatica. These medications are known as anti-inflammatories and can adequately mask the pain albeit temporarily. But because of the many side effects such as liver damage and gastric irritation that come with these use of these drugs, NSAIDS are not recommended to be used in the long-term. Most anti-inflammatory, prescription pain, and over-the-counter medications are able to provide short-term sciatica pain relief by its ability to block out pain hormones such as prostaglandins.

These prostaglandins have the ability to open up the blood vessels improving circulation. So while these medications alleviate pain temporarily they also restrict the blood supply to the affected area as a result prolonging the patient’s recovery to good health.

Acupuncture can boost the flow of blood to the affected tissues which enables pain to subside, repairs damaged tissue, and helps relax the muscles responsible for the pain. Acupuncture increases circulation to the tissues that are causing the sciatica pain, helping the muscles to relax, the tissues to repair and the pain to subside. Improved blood flow to injured tissue can aid in the nourishment of the tissues, remove fatigue, and filter out pain-causing substances like lactic acid.

To make sure your sciatica is completely cured several rounds of acupuncture treatments will probably be needed. Performing meditation along with acupuncture treatment can be quite helpful in the treatment of sciatica; the relaxation techniques and breathing exercises can relieve tension, pain, and stress. The hip and back muscles are usually tense and tight in sciatica and may also spasm. Both acupuncture and meditation aid in releasing tension in order for the body to heal naturally.

Symptoms of Sciatica

Usually, sciatica affects only one side of the lower body and the pain often radiates from the lower back all the way through the back of the thigh and down through the leg.

Common Sciatica Symptoms

Leg pain and low back pain are often present in sciatica with the leg pain more severe than the lower back pain. There are certain combinations of symptoms that can also occur when sciatica strikes.

• A searing or stabbing pain rather than dull pain can be experienced
• Pain that subsides when the patient walks or lies down but increases when he sits or stands
• Weakness, numbness or a “pins-and-needles” sensation felt down the leg
• Pain that starts in the lower back, down the buttocks and felt along where the sciatic nerve traverses; this can include the back of the thigh all the way down the lower leg and foot
• Continuous pain in just one side of the leg or buttock rarely occurring bilaterally (both left and right sides)
• Stabbing or shooting pain that causes difficulties in walking or standing.
• Numbness or weakness when the foot or leg is moved
• Sometimes pain in the toes or in the foot

Sciatica Symptoms Nerve Root Symptoms of Sciatica

The L4 and L5 nerve roots are two of the nerves that go out the lumbar spine, the three other nerves termed S1, S2 and S3 go out of the sacral segment. These five nerves are bundled together to comprise the sciatic nerve. They branch out again inside the leg to bring sensory and motor functions to certain areas in the foot and leg.

The symptoms of sciatica differ depending on what nerve is compressed (pinched). Examples:

• When the L4 nerve is pinched, the sciatica symptoms will be felt in the thigh. The symptoms may include lessened knee-jerk reflexes or poor ability to straighten the leg.
• A pinched or compressed L5 nerve root affects the ankle and big toe (termed foot drop). Individuals with a compressed L5 nerve may feel numbness or pain on the top of the foot, specifically on the area between the second toe and big toe.
• The outer part of the foot is affected when the S1 nerve is pinched. The symptoms may extend to the toes or little toe. Sometimes, the person may feel weakness when trying to stand on tiptoes or when attempting to raise his heel off the ground.

Sciatica Symptoms that Need Immediate Doctor’s Attention

Most of the time the symptoms of sciatica are not serious enough to demand immediate medical attention; however, there may be symptoms that may need urgent medical care and even surgery.

• Bilateral sciatica symptoms (both legs are affected) accompanied by either bowel or bladder dysfunction or incontinence. These symptoms can indicate cauda equina syndrome. This is a syndrome wherein one or more sciatic nerves are compressed. Cauda equina syndromes are rare cases manifesting in only about 2% of patients of herniated lumbar disc.
• Symptoms that do not improve and in fact even get worse – This may symbolize potential nerve damage, particularly if the ongoing symptoms are neurological (like weakness)

Dr. Yelena Pakula is a licensed acupuncture doctor and the medical director of Vita-Health Acupuncture and Wellness Center in Pembroke Pines, FL.

Sciatica – Preparing for Your Appointment

Your appointment with your doctor may be brief and since you may have a lot of questions and things you want to ask him about your sciatica, preparing then for your appointment is the best thing to do to make the most out of your appointment. To help you out, listed below are some tips to better prepare for your appointment and what you can expect from your physician.

How to Prepare

You should be cognizant of any pre-appointment restrictions. When you have just made your appointment, the next thing to do is to know what you need to do in advance. This can be preparing for loose clothing in case you need to undergo an imaging exam or start making diet restrictions for yourself.

Use a journal to list down all known symptoms you are experiencing. That can be anything that may not seem related to the problem that prompted you to make the appointment in the first place.

Also list down in the journal all the medications you are taking including any steroids, supplements or vitamins you regularly use.

Bring along a friend or family member to your appointment. Having someone to accompany you to your appointment can assist you in remembering all the information the doctor says regarding your condition and what you need to do and not do.

List down in your journal all questions to ask your doctor. Remember that your time with your doctor may only last 15 minutes so compiling a questions list will optimize your appointment time. For your sciatica problems, some good questions to ask your doctor can include:

• What most probably is the reason for my condition or symptoms?
• Besides the most probable cause, what are the other possible reasons for my condition or symptoms?
• What types of tests do I need required to undergo?
• Do I have a chronic or temporary condition?
• What course of treatment is the best for me?
• What alternative treatments besides the primary approach can you recommend?
• I have other health issues. What can I do to best manage my back problem along with my other conditions?
• What are the restrictions do I need to follow?
• Do I need to consult with a specialist? How much will that cost? Will my insurance plan include consulting with a specialist?
• Do you have informational brochures and any other printed materials that I can read at home? Are there any websites you can recommend that I can visit regarding my condition?

If you have other questions for your doctor outside this list of questions, be sure to ask them all if possible.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor will have questions of his own to ask you as well. Some of the questions may be like these:

• What symptoms have you experienced? Do you feel any weakness, pain, tingling or numbness?
• What part of your body do you specifically feel those symptoms?
• How long have you felt these symptoms?
• Have they been occasional or continuous?
• What makes your symptoms get worse?
• Is there anything that makes it better?
• Do you have a hobby or job that entails you to perform repetitive movements?