Pain effectively treated with acupuncture

This is a nice review article about acupuncture for the treatment of pain. And don't forget, I also use Chinese herbal prescriptions for various conditions/symptoms.

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/acupuncture-for-pain.htm

Chinese herbs shown effective for treating fertility issues!

A recent study from the Adelaide University titled “Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine in the management of female infertility: A systematic review” found that that “Chinese herbal therapy improved pregnancy rates as much as 2-fold in just a 4-month period in comparison with Western Medical fertility drug therapy or IVF.”

Thanksgiving wishes a day early

I'm sending this wish today because tomorrow may be a very busy day for everyone! Many of us have so much for which to be grateful. Here's wishing that you have the experience on Thanksgiving that offers you the most growth, happiness, Spiritual wellness, and calm that you deserve. Remember, the important things in life aren't things.

Acupuncture + LLLT (low level laser therapy aka cold laser)

My patients are preferring the combination of acupuncture plus LLLT to the cortisone or lidocaine injections that they have received for their acute or chronic pain. And, a massage therapist to whom I refer people says that they are much easier to work on after the addition of the LLLT.

Research recently published demonstrates the effectiveness of low level laser therapy for treating carpal tunnel syndrome. This is a big deal because so many people suffer with carpal tunnel and it is often extremely debilitating. The effective clinical protocol consisted of 24 treatments which is consistent with the time frame and number of treatments demonstrated in the literature. If you or someone you know has carpal tunnel find a doctor that uses low level laser therapy (ME) … otherwise, you are likely suffering needlessly.

24 treatments?! you say ...... Acupuncture works but is it a miracle, one time treatment cure? Not very often. Chronic pain, chronic health issues require treatment to get your body into a balanced, healthy, pain free state. Back pain that you have had for 10 years will take time to cure, not 3 treatments. But often, because for some things we can "take a pill", the immediate cure is an expectation. But the problem w/ some pharmaceuticals (pills) is that they are NOT curing, they are ameliorating a symptom. Face it. It may be a late-life-long effort to keep it in the kind of shape that allows you to continue to live the active lifestyle that you enjoy. I know it is for me so that I can continue playing soccer.

In my practice we talk a lot about a healthy life plan - it's not a magic pill. To those of you who say "but I don't have to go see my MD twice a week or three times a week or even once a week to get well" ..... really? If you are taking daily medication, that pill taking is akin to seeing your physician EVERY DAY and sometimes the pharmaceuticals are just treating the symptom. Get to the cause! A Chinese Medicine practitioner with good diagnostic skills can help you do that.

Digestive issues during pregnancy successfully treated with acupuncture

This study further demonstrates that acupuncture during pregnancy is a good thing! We know that Chinese Medicine successfully treats fertility issues and women should continue treatment during and AFTER their pregnancy. Building and delivering another human being is the hardest thing your body will ever do on its own. Get treatment to rebuild your qi, blood, and immune system after delivery. I'll babysit!! http://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/Safety-Concerns-for-Acupuncture-in-Dyspepsia-During-Pregnancy-93508-1.htm

Sports' injury? Acupuncture works .... even on severe, "unresolvable" injuries

Another success story!

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2016775172_tbirds16.html?prmid=head_main

Acupuncture treat dry mouth in people receiving radiation

Another article about how acupuncture supports people who are being treated with strong modern medicine treatments. Quality of life does matter!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/13/acupuncture-dry-mouth-xerostomia-cancer-radiation_n_1087017.html

Acupuncture treats fibromyalgia

In an Australian study, fibromyalgia patients treated with acupuncture were found to experience significant improvement in symptoms. That is, patients felt less pain and fatigue. Yay!! Another condition that modern medicine often finds difficult to treat is treated successfully using Chinese Medicine.

Acupuncture helps relieve cancer-related fatigue (CRF)

One of the things I like about this article is that the researchers also advise lifestyle "changes" ..... and I am always talking in my practice about how I am a guide, Chinese Medicine heals but one also may need to help oneself through QiGong, Taichi, yoga, exercise, nutritional changes, etc. Life without pain is a lifelong journey that can require vigilant treatment or other activity that makes our quality of life better. In this case, the goal is cancer treatment with minimum negative side effects. I have treated many people going through various cancer-related treatments who say that acupuncture helped them maintain a "more or less" normal level of activity. Some didn't even have to take much time off from work.

http://www.oncologynurseadvisor.com/using-acupuncture-to-relieve-cancer-related-fatigue/article/215933/

PMS and pain are NOT a normal period: research shows that Chinese Medicine helps

A recent Cochrane meta-analysis reported acupuncture may be an effective treatment to manage primary dysmenorrhea. Acupuncture significantly improved pain when compared to a placebo control as well as NSAIDs. Acupuncture also strongly reduced menstrual symptoms when compared with medication.

Believe it or not, your period can show up easily without PMS or pain. Cramps mean that your uterine wall has too much lactic acid in it leading to muscle tension/cramping and uneasy flow. That's not normal. Women's issues respond very well to acupuncture and Chinese herbal prescriptions.

Nerve regeneration and acupuncture; it happens!

I always knew that acupuncture and Chinese Herbal prescriptions successfully treat conditions like neuropathy, post-stroke paralysis and speech issues; I have a patient whom I've helped smile again after a death defying motorcycle accident.

Here's a study that demonstrates neurogenesis as the result of acupuncture: Journal of Acup Meridian Study, 2011, Sept; 4(3): 153-158.

See an abstract of the study http://www.acupuncture.com/newsletters/m_nov11/res.htm. Remember though, this sort of result is not from one treatment. I never promise the "miracle cure" although sometimes it does happen. And for those who say "but I don't have to see my MD everyday" .... really? How many pharmaceutical prescriptions are you taking? In essence, that IS seeing your physician every day. You're just not physically going to his/her office. If you received acupuncture every day .... well, you wouldn't have to do that very long before seeing effects of treatment. That's my goal: treat you until your body can take over to a healthy state again. Start out w/ frequent treatment the wean off as you body begins to heal itself. Then, just come in for maintenance or when a symptom comes up!