Acupuncture Weight Loss? Plus 5 Step Weight Loss Plan

I remember back in my senior year of high school - my best friend since 5th grade was living in France. He wrote that they didn't like Americans much. "They think we're all fat," he said. With his own skinny frame, of course, he confounded their belief.

But, he added a funny, or perhaps ironic capstone to the issue. "I went to a store, and they were selling statues of these fat people, and, at the base of each one was written, 'American.'"

Obesity is not only an American problem. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it's a global problem. They call it globesity. Parodoxically, their understanding of this problem began with their original mission to eliminate hunger and malnutrition. We live in a world where many have nothing to eat, and many eat too much. From 1995 to 2000, the number of obese adults worldwide mushroomed from 200 million to 300 million. That's a 50% increase in just 5 years! What is Obesity, and What is Overweight?

Overweight means an excess of body weight. This excess weight may be muscle, bone, fat, and/or body water. Obesity refers specifically to an abnormally high proportion of body fat. You can be overweight without being obese - for example, a bodybuilder or other highly-muscled athlete. But many people who are overweight are also obese.The main way to determine whether you are overweight or obese is with the body mass index (BMI). It doesn't directly measure body fat, and it's not gender specific, but it does give you a pretty reliable estimation.

To find your BMI, divide your weight (in kilograms) by your height in meters squared. Yep, for the math-challenged, that's complex, so I'll give you a website that will figure it out for you, the National Institute's of Health BMI calculator (http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/). This will very quickly tell you if you are normal, overweight, or obese, and it does all the calculating and metric conversions for you!

Overweight is defined as a BMI above 25 (including those above 30 BMI, too), and obese is a BMI above 30. So, all obese people are overweight, but not all overweight people are obese.

The Obesity Epidemic

Obesity isn't just about not feeling good or having trouble getting dates

* It leads to more than 300,000 premature deaths each year in the United States. 90,000 are preventable cancer deaths. (CDC)

* Severely obese men die 13 years sooner than men of normal weight (JAMA).

* As a killer in America, obesity is second only to tobacco. (CDC)

The Weight Loss Industry

* Spending: Americans spend between $40-50 billion per year to lose weight.

* Results: I haven't seen any recent news that Americans are getting any thinner - have you?

* Conclusion: What people are doing isn't working. If we want different results, we have to try a different solution.

Acupuncture Weight Loss: Fantasy, or Fact?

* Fantasy or Fact? As a well-trained and fairly conservative Chinese medicine practitioner, I had assumed that acupuncture for weight loss was a marketing fad and a patient fantasy.

* Evidence: But while researching my upcoming book Chinese Medicine: A Practical Guide to Optimal Healing, I found some surprisingly positive information that changed my mind.

Chinese Medicine's Collective Clinical Data on Acupuncture Weight Loss

Chinese Medicine has thousands of years of clinical experience. This collective data not as convincing as randomized controlled trials are, but it does contain truth - it's imperfect but still valid and important.

A U.S. government study in the 80's concluded that 85% of western medicine is based on clinical experience, not on research. (Office of Technology Assessment of the Congress of the United States, The Impact of Randomized Controlled Trials on Health Policy and Medical Practice, Background Paper OTA-BP-H-22. Also see Michael Millenson's book, Demanding Medical Excellence)

There is good Chinese Medicine research in Taiwan, Australia, and Europe that gets ignored by American scientists and media. Much research in Chinese has not even been translated into English. Seven Studies of Acupuncture for Weight Loss

How it works: By enhancing the function of two neuroendocrine pathways that regulate many bodily processes, including metabolism.

What it does:

* Lowers body weight, body fat, insulin levels, and lipid levels in the blood

* Decreases excessive appetite and makes it easier to satisfy your hunger with less food.

* Decreases menopausal weight gain

* In one study, acupuncture took off 10 pounds in 2 months - that translates to 60 lbs in a year!

* Combined with diet control, and aerobic counseling it not only takes off the pounds and body fat, but keeps them off, especially if you're diligent with their exercise.

(See references at end of article for the research) Ephedra misuse and mislegislation

Ephedra is a Chinese herb for colds and coughs. It has been misused to increase metabolism, and this misuse has caused numerous deaths. As a result, the FDA is considering a total ban on ephedra products. We can blame two major things:

1. Supplement companies that care more about your money than your health (no, not all of them are that way, but some of them are, especially the ones that market weight loss formulations).

2. The idea that you can medicate yourself safely with herbs - self-medication of any kind is risky. Self-medication with herbs is off the radar, and people generally think they can do it safely. The ephedra debacle is an example of how dangerous it can be.

Traditionally, Chinese herbs are given in formulas (not singly), which is safer and more personalized. They're prescribed by a Chinese medicine practitioner who diagnoses your specific imbalances first. Ephedra would never be given for weight loss, but only for certain kinds of colds and coughs, and only to people whose body's can handle it.

No traditional Chinese herbs should be outlawed without allowing Chinese medical practitioners to continue to use them traditionally. Food Cravings

* Problem #1 (Enzyme Deficiency): The foods you crave depending on your personal imbalances. Modern digestive science explains that when your body can't digest a food, you crave more of it - you're not getting what you need from it. This lead to a cycle of craving and overeating the exact food you can't digest.

* Problem #2 (Low Blood Sugar): Another vicious cycle happens when you can't digest complex carbs, so your blood sugar is low, so you eat simple carbs that raise your blood sugar which raises insulin, which lowers your blood sugar again, and your stuck eating donuts and feeling horrible.

* Solution: Enzymes (I recommend various enzyme formulations from a company called Transformations) and Chinese herbal formulas can help you digest your food and break both of these cycles

Weight can be lost safely if done slowly and naturally.

You can lose up to 2 lbs per week without gaining it back. That means you could lose 104 lbs this year and keep it off!

Positive change is like stretching a rubber band- if you stretch too far too fast, it breaks or snaps back on you.

So avoid the temptation to take an easy solution like ephedra or citrus aurantium (both misused Chinese herbs), because you'll gain the weight back, and you're risking heart problems and stroke. 5 Things to Do Right Now To Lose 10 Pounds Within 2 Months And Keep Them Off:

1. Avoid heavily marketed supplements - instead, see a professional trained herbalist (acupuncturist) - it's safer and more effective - my preference would be a Chinese medicine practitioner, but some very well-educated western herbalists are good too.

2. Acupuncture Weight Loss: See an acupuncturist/chinese herbalist - Get acupuncture (once to three times per week) to SAFELY regulate your metabolism and hunger-satisfaction. Your acupuncturist can also get you the herbs that will balance your digestion and cravings - and based on your Chinese pattern diagnosis, they can also give you personalized diet advice. Herbs and enzymes (specific formulations from the enzyme company, Transformations) can eliminate your food cravings.

3. Develop a plan and goals with your acupuncturist and aerobics instructor- make it realistic, and stick to it. If you mess up, don't beat yourself up, just get back on track as soon as you can. Any progress is better than none at all.

4. Eat less, exercise more - Eat a low fat diet, and don't miss breakfast! Weigh yourself regularly, and exercise an hour a day. Start by walking a few minutes each day, or take the stairs at work. Don't overdo it! Remember the rubber band. In fact, you may want to wear a rubber band on your wrist to remind yourself to make changes slowly. Get some aerobic exercise help- a public class, or private aerobic counseling.

5. Join a support group like Weight Watchers or Overeaters Anonymous. There's nothing like positive friends to encourage you and keep you on track. OA members say that this spiritual program of action has changed the way they relate to food.

References and Resources

1. Office of Technology Assessment of the Congress of the United States, The Impact of Randomized Controlled Trials on Health Policy and Medical Practice, Background Paper OTA-BP-H-22.

2. Michael Millenson's book, Demanding Medical Excellence

3. Effect of acupuncture on weight loss evaluated by adrenal function. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1993 Sep, 13(3):169-73.

4. Wozniak, P., Oszukowski, P., Stachowiak, G., and Szyllo, K. [The effectiveness of low-calorie diet or diet with acupuncture treatment in obese peri- and postmenopausal women] (in Polish). Ginekol.Pol. Vol.74 Issue 2 pp. 102-107. 2003

5. Acupuncture on Spleen, Stomach, and Ren Mai Channel Points for the Treatment of Stomach & Intestinal Replete Heat Pattern Simple Obesity. Abstracted & translated by Bob Flaws, Dipl. Ac. & C.H, Lic. Ac., FNAAOM, FRCHM

6. Richards D, Marley J. Stimulation of auricular acupuncture points in weight loss. Aust Fam Physician. 1998 Jul;27 Suppl 2:S73-7.

7. Zhao, M., Liu, Z., and Su, J. The time-effect relationship of central action in acupuncture treatment for weight reduction. J Tradit Chin Med Vol.20 Issue 1 pp. 26-29. 2000

8. Liu, Z. Mechanisms underlying the effects of acupuncture moxibustion on simple obesity complicated by hypertension. Inter J Clin Acup 371-378, 1995.

9. Studies of the Weight Loss Industry

10. Obesity prevalence and effect

11. Overeaters Anonymous

Medical professor Brian B. Carter is the author of "Powerful Body, Peaceful Mind: How to Heal Yourself with Foods, Herbs, and Acupressure" (http://www.pulsemed.org/bookpreview.htm), and has been quoted and interviewed by publications like Real Simple, Glamour, and ESPN magazines. Read more about Acupuncture and Weight Loss here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Carter

Are Religion and Acupuncture Compatible?

For every practice or thought, there is an opposite viewpoint. This is true with religious beliefs, political beliefs, and even opinions and studies of the environment. As humans, we both consciously and unconsciously choose to believe a side. There are many, many individuals who can see the reasoning on both sides of the proverbial fence, but there are also those that are staunchly devoted and will see no side other than their own. Medical treatments are no exception to this rule.

There are religious groups through out the world, including some who believe that a transfusion of blood is sacrilegious and would never take someone else's blood into their body, as it makes them "impure". There are some who do not believe in modern medicine and still, to this day, practice holistic medicine. However, most religions do not have a prejudice against Western medicine in whole, but may be against particular things, such as prescriptions for depression. Many Eastern religions have given birth to medical practices of their own. An example of this would be Taoism. Taoism believes in studying nature and its influences upon man. From this belief and observation rose the practice of acupuncture, which has to do with the flow of energy, Qi (pronounced chee), and how those affect areas of the body.

Many religions consider that believing in outside energies is a farce and their followers will spurn procedures using such magic and mystery. Others discount the studies of researchers, considering the strength of acupuncture to lie in the possibility of something intangible, such as Qi. Bibles and scriptures of all types warn against the "Devil's work" and mysticism, which leaves some individuals to believe that acupuncture is evil or wrong.

However, for the most part, acupuncture is receiving a positive welcome in communities around the globe. Perhaps this is because of exercise programs, such as Yoga and Pilates, which have become so popular. Asian culture has exploded into the main stream in fashion, thought, spirituality, technology, and medicine. Years ago, such things as acupuncture and Yoga were only for the "beatniks". The regular Joe did not practice such things and would not have heard the positive benefits, but nowadays, people around the globe want different choices when it comes to their bodies. Many individuals want to try to live a life with minimal medication and invasive procedures, turning to nature to help with illness and pain. Acupuncture is a good alternative.

Acupuncture, as mentioned before, has to do with the flow of energy in the body. The energy flows along pathways, fourteen to be precise, which are called meridians. All along the meridian, there are points within that can become blocked. Acupuncture is used to unblock the meridian and allow the energy to flow. This is done with the use of long, thin, solid needles, but most people report that the procedure is painless, so do not worry.

The medical field and the health-care services we choose to receive fall into our set of values and beliefs, be they moral or religious. Certainly, the ultimate decision to accept acupuncture or consider it nothing more than psychological smoke and mirrors remains yours alone, depending much on your personal group of beliefs and your opinion.

John Edmond writes regularly for http://acupuncturealternative.net/ where you can read many more articles on acupuncture as a genuine alternative to Western Medicine.

Acupuncture Schools: A Comparison of Acupuncture Schools in North ...

For thousands of years, there were no schools of Chinese Medicine as we know them today. To understand the development of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine as it is taught today in the west requires a brief look at Chinese history.

Well over 2000 years ago, Chinese Medicine existed within the body of knowledge known as the Taoist Healing Arts. As healers, the ancient Taoists did not make a distinction between science and spirit. They saw the human body as a combination of physical matter, spirit, and Qi (which can be roughly translated as vital energy). By focusing on balancing ones Qi, one can develop the ability to synchronize oneself with the balanced Qi of nature, which serves to restore and preserve ones health. The oldest book known to describe Chinese medicine in detail is the Yellow Emperors Classic of Medicine, which dates back to at least 2000 years BCE. Acupuncture is first described here as a practice that restores the normal flow of Qi through the channels (meridians) by stimulating acupuncture points.

As the Taoist Healing Arts were refined over thousands of years, the secrets were passed down orally and through hands on experience within a student-master relationship. Acupuncture Schools, as such, did not exist. In some cases there were families of master healers who amassed a great body of special healing techniques and integral practices. Generation upon generation were taught and, in turn, contributed to the wealth of healing knowledge. By the 20th century, there were several outstanding lineage-based styles of Chinese Medicine whose depth of knowledge and styles of treatment went far beyond what is taught today as Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The Great Divide:

Chinese Medicine undertook a drastic change in the 1950s. In an effort to standardize a national medicine of the Marxist state, The Peoples Republic of China stripped the ancient teachings and practices of its spiritual dimension, which was deemed superstitious. In turn, the government created a single form of teaching that more closely emulated the western biomedical model and censored much of the knowledge gained over thousands of years within the lineage-based styles of Chinese Medicine.

The resulting form of Traditional Chinese Medicine is taught today in Universities throughout China. This is also the model taught in most acupuncture schools in North America. Although it is based on traditional models of Chinese Medicine, it is only a small portion of the wealth of technique developed by healing masters and handed down during the past 2,000 years

Types of Acupuncture Schools

Today, there are roughly 3 styles of accredited acupuncture schools in North America:

* TCM schools that follow the standardized curriculum of state run universities developed in Maoist era China. The curriculum is vital, but homogenized to produce western style practitioners.

* Complementary and Alternative Medicine schools that teach an abbreviated form of acupuncture for those who use it as an adjunct to their primary practice. Primarily M.D.s and D.O.s may practice acupuncture with as little as 300 hours of formal training.

* Lineage-based Schools of Chinese Medicine that teach both the standardized curriculum required for national TCM accreditation plus the ancient teachings and healing techniques that require a spiritual dimension to understand and practice.

About TCM Schools:

While it may seem a harsh judgement, most of the TCM schools represent an Americanized version of Chinese Medicine that bears a growing resemblence to western biomedical training. As Mark Seem (President and CEO, Tri-State College of Acupuncture) notes in the article below, "acupuncture is about to be lost and scattered to the four winds of the health care world." He continues, "The Oriental medicine or TCM style of acupuncture taught at most schools and practiced by most practitioners (especially on the West Coast, where TCM had its biggest influence) is a watered down version of acupuncture in which informed touch plays virtually no role at all."

More to the point, the study of Qi is fundamental to Chinese Medicine. While Qi is not a religious concept, it does have a spiritual dimensionsimply defined as the energy of nature that also exists in the human body. Practitioners who have balance and mastery of their own Qi will be better healers, and most TCM schools do not recognize or emphasize this.

When you evaluate a TCM school, look into the tradition and teachings of the founder and senior instructors, as well as the curriculum. If the founder is a western businessman, the school is less likely to teach healing technique from ancient Chinese masters. If the curriculum does not include some form of Qi cultivation for its students, it will most likely be limited to the western biomedical model of Chinese Medicine which does not recognize the body of teaching developed from ancient times.

About Complementary and Alternative Medicine Schools:

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Schools primarily represent an effort to bridge and blend both eastern and western healing arts. In most cases, they do not offer the curriculum that meets the national standards for certification to practice acupuncture, unless you already have an M.D. or D.O. license.

One notable exception exists, however, in Tai Sophia, Institute, Maryland. Tai Sophia Institute is a graduate school for the healing arts offering three graduate programs in Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine and Applied Healing Arts. Under the guidance of Bob Duggan, M.A., M.Ac, the Institute has been recognized as an anchoring academic institute for the nation's emerging wellness system, and sets the standard in the field of CAM study, as well as an excellent acupuncture program.

(For more information on CAM, read "Complementary and Alternative Medical Therapies: Implications for Medical Education" by Miriam S. Wetzel, PhD; Ted J. Kaptchuk, OMD; Aviad Haramati, PhD; and David M. Eisenberg, MD)

About Lineage-based Schools of Chinese Medicine:

While the lineage-based schools encompass all of the modern medicine required for national accreditation and licensing individuals to practice acupuncture, they also include ancient wisdom that is essential for self-development of the healer. Their approach differs from the western biomedical model in that The essential art of Chinese medicine is the foretelling and prevention of disease rather than the treatment of illness after it has manifested as painful or distressing physical and mental symptoms. Their teaching is more focused on Qi Cultivation and the subtle laws of energy response. In the ancient tradition, the healer must become the medicine. In addition to learning the appropriate clinical skills, the student must refine their personal energy before one is qualified to practice.

In a study called Tracing the Contours of Daoism in North America published by the University of California Press, Louis Komjathy says, The connection between Daoism and health in North America finds its culmination in the establishment of Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Los Angeles) by Ni Hua-ching and his sons; and Liu Mings (then Charles Belyea) involvement in the founding of Five Branches Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Santa Cruz)."

He further identifies all of the lineage based teachers active in North America, including Jeffery Yuen who is currently the academic dean of acupuncture at Swedish Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Studies (New York). Other teachers are active at schools focusing on the teaching of Taiji quan, Qigong, Daoist meditation,
Daoist philosophy, and traditional Chinese healing methods, however they are not accredited to license acupuncturists.

(For more information on lineage-based schools, read "Tracing the Contours of Daoism in North America" by Louis Komjathy)

Differences in Curriculum:

While the lineage-based schools draw from a greater body of knowledge and tradition than other TCM schools, one can also expect to find a slight difference in curriculum. For example, the student handbook of Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine states, At Yo San University, Taoism is a guiding philosophy, not a religion. It further states, Yo Sans Qi Development curriculum emanates from our belief that practitioners who have balance and mastery of their Qi will be better healers. The study of Qi is not just an academic exercise but is cultivation through daily practice, The program is designed to provide students the opportunity to heal and cultivate themselves and also to directly experience the balance and harmony that underlie Taoism and the medicine that has developed from it.

About the Author: Lauren Stomel

Mr. Stomel has made a serious occupation in the study of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, particularly in the Five Eements Chinese tradition. As both a student and patient of Acupuncture, Acupressure, Tai Chi and Chi Gung for over 25 years, he has both a solid empirical understanding and personal understanding of benefits from the Mastery of Chi movement throught the body. However, he does not hold a Doctorate degree in these sciences. His information is presented here simply as the common person viewpoint. Please consult your personal physician before attempting a cure through Alternative Medicine.

Mr. Stomel is on the advisory board and board of directors of several Acupuncture Schools and TCM-based healing modalities in North America.

He is also the publisher of a site that gives sincere, objective guidance to those seeking advice on Acupunture Schools, http://www.acupuncture-schools.us

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lauren_Stomel

Acupuncture Is Breaking The Boundaries In Family Health

Dealing with physical pain is a part of human life, from birth to death. Generally, most individuals do everything in their power to avoid aches, pains, and any discomfort. In today's modern world, the medical field has provided individuals with many forms of pain relief, be it in the form of prescription medication or invasive surgery. Pain is something no one can avoid, though, and it is only with how we cope with malaise that becomes important.

That does sound incredibly morbid, but it is a fact of life. The body ages and, as it does; it begins to lose its vitality. Health, the environment, and genetics play a huge factor in how quickly the body deteriorates. Take for example a smoker and a non-smoker. Which do you think would be the one more at risk for wrinkles, lung cancer, or emphysema? A quick hint: Surprisingly, it is not the person out in the parking lot with a lit cigarette!

More and more people are realizing that they want to live longer, healthier lives free from chronic pain, feeling down and depressed, or having a general sense of malaise. Also, as much as an individual wants to be pain-free and happy, they wish for their children to be more so. Acupuncture has been a rising trend in the medical and alternative health field for many years now.

The media has given us a false image of acupuncture. Movies have portrayed acupuncturists as being small, Chinese men practicing the technique in a dim, incense-filled room. However, the truth is that acupuncture is practiced in modern offices very similar to that of doctors and the acupuncturists themselves come from all different nationalities.

Adults and teenagers are the general clientele, and the results of their acupuncture sessions have proven long-lasting results and relief from health complaints. Researchers have followed these results and studies continue to show that acupuncture is a positive technique.

There are some cases in which acupuncture should be avoided. Children and infants should not have acupuncture performed on them, and those adults who have a fear of needles will also want to avoid the technique.

Acupuncture isn't an immediate miracle cure and patients need to undergo repeat treatments to show great improvement to their health. However, if you have the patience and the willingness to try a few session of acupuncture, you may find that the results are well worth the effort.

John Edmond writes regularly for http://acupuncturealternative.net/ where you can read many more articles on acupuncture as a genuine alternative to Western Medicine.

Acupuncture During Pregnancy

Acupuncture is the ancient Chinese method of using tiny needles to stimulate specific areas or "meridians" of the body and to rebalance the body's energy, or chi. Because acupuncture is especially effective for chronic conditions, many pregnant women are turning to acupuncture to provide drug-free relief from many of the unpleasant symptoms of pregnancy.

An Australian study showed that women who received acupuncture treatments regularly before their 14th week of pregnancy had less nausea and shorter bouts of morning sickness than women who did not receive the treatment. Acupuncture has also been used to treat the more serious condition hyperemesis gravidarum, which causes serious vomiting that persists throughout pregnancy.

During the second trimester, acupuncture has been used to successfully treat heartburn and hemorrhoids. In the third trimester, acupuncture can provide relief from sciatica, joint pain and carpal tunnel syndrome, which many women develop late in pregnancy. Acupuncture has even been used to relieve pain during labor and delivery.

Pregnant women seeking to use acupuncture to treat conditions developed during pregnancy should be sure to visit a licensed and experienced acupuncturist. For example, although acupuncture can be used to treat edema, or swelling of the ankles, edema can be an indicator of a serious problem. An acupuncturist experienced in treating pregnant women would be more likely to recognize this problem and refer the patient back to her obstetrician.

The most serious risk of using acupuncture during pregnancy is that it may stimulate labor if it is improperly applied. Choosing an experienced practitioner reduces this risk to almost negligible levels. In fact, many women have turned to acupuncture to purposefully stimulate labor when their baby is overdue. Some women have found that labor induced by acupuncture is gentler than labor induced by drugs such as Pitocin.

In addition to benefits during pregnancy, labor and delivery, acupuncture has been used to promote fertility and to treat infertility. In a small German study, women who used acupuncture in conjunction with in vitro fertilization had a 42.5% success rate compared to 26.3% in women who used in vitro fertilization alone. Fertility specialists attribute this to the overall improvement of health that comes from receiving regular acupuncture treatments.

Finally, acupuncture may have some benefits in treating post-partum depression. Although no research has been done to support the efficacy of acupuncture treatments on post-partum depression, anecdotal evidence shows that some women do benefit from its use. Because acupuncture does not cause harmful drug interactions, it can be a useful complimentary therapy.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for http://4alternativehealthinfo.com/ - In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for http://thenursingcenter.com/ and http://letsdropsomeweight.com/

Alternative Medicine - What Happens During Acupuncture Treatment

Acupuncture is one of several popular alternative therapies tracing its roots to traditional medicine in China more than 5,000 years ago. Although the treatment is regarded as one of the most common and oldest worldwide, acupuncture only started to become recognized in the US after New York Times journalist James Reston wrote a feature on how his post-surgery pain was eased by doctors in China in 1971 using the procedure.

1. The Basis Of Acupuncture

The treatment assumes something called qi (pronounced key) - energy in living beings that passes through twelve meridians or invisible energy lines in the body. Each line links to a specific organ system; the belief is that any imbalance in qi flow leads to a disease. The key component of acupuncture treatment is the insertion of needles into key points on the meridian lines to renew balance. These extremely thin, metallic needles are aimed at specific anatomical points and controlled manually or by electrical stimulation. An individual usually feels relaxed and energized after acupuncture.

2. Modern Treatment

The US Food and Drug Administration reclassified these needles as medical devices in 1997, from the earlier classification as experimental. The FDA notes that over $500m are spent by people in the country every year for the treatment, for which a good number secure insurance coverage. The agency's main restrictions with the needles are that they be non-toxic and sterilized and that they be used only once and discarded immediately after.

- Acupuncture is endorsed by the National Institute of Health
- Is practiced by dentists, doctors and other health practitioners

3. Increasing Acceptance

Increasing acceptance of acupuncture was highlighted by the National Health Interview Survey in 2002, which indicated that the number of American adults turning to the treatment surged from 2.1 million in 2001 to about 8.2 million the following year. The interest in acupuncture also received a boost from the impatience individuals had with the failure of conventional medicine.

4. How Does It Really Work?

Acupuncture reportedly induces the release of endorphins in the body, relieving an indivudal from pain. Other effects attributed to the therapy include influence over neurotransmitters, or substances transporting nerve impulses; promotion of circulation; and effects over the body's electrical currents and autonomic nervous system. Many common ailments and undesirable conditions are addressed by acupuncture treatment.

5. Commonly Treated Conditions

- Sinusitis
- The common cold
- Smoking and other addictions
- Migraines
- Tennis elbow
- Infertility
- Menstrual cramps
- Obesity
- Low-back pain
- Asthma
- Arthritis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome

6. Procedure

On the first meeting, acupuncturists usually ask new clients to fill up a personal health record prior to an interview. A session then has the client answer questions that cover main health issues, diet, emotional and psychological profile, and overall lifestyle and regular activities. The therapist should also be informed by the individual of any current medication and treatment being taken. During this interview, one can also expect the practitioner to evaluate pulse points and establish how healthy the individual's twelve meridians are. A diagnosis is then given, followed by the use of between 6 and 12 needles as treatment is commenced. Patients keen on acupuncture must realize that the exact placement on target points on the meridians is more important, not the number of needles used.

The initial insertion may make the patient feel pricked or stung. However, the treatment should be painless and comfortable for the duration that could extend to an hour or more. An individual should immediately tell the acupuncturist to discontinue if he feels any numbness, discomfort or pain. Variations of the treatment may involve use of herbal medicine - capsules, tablets or tea made from Chinese herbs to boost the therapy. Some practitioners also integrate cupping - a suction effect created with the use of glass cups on the skin, in part to promote blood circulation and continuous qi flow.

7. Rising Popularity

The recent withdrawal of the Vioxx painkiller has raised apprehension over pain relievers available in the market. This concern, combined with statements from the NIH and other government and health organizations that side effects from acupuncture are significantly lower, has made more individuals turn to the treatment, particularly for pain relief. Several studies have also shown how acupuncture has helped patients with osteoarthritis, post-chemotherapy nausea and even depression. Despite all the apparent positive feedback, those considering acupuncture should still consult regular doctors and health-care professionals for advice on their conditions first. If they decide to pursue the treatment, they must make sure that the acupuncturist or practitioner they see is highly-qualified and certified by organizations such as the American Academy of Medical Acupuncturists.

For more great acupuncture treatment related articles and resources check out http://acupuncture.naturaltherapieshq.com

Animal acupuncture is growing trend

Before Susan Erika Argeres gets her needles ready for her next patient, she puts her stool on top of the examining table.

"Tucker likes to mark his territory," she says.

That's pretty typical on a visit to the vet for dogs like Tucker, a 3-year-old Welsh terrier. What comes next might not be.

Argeres is a doctor of veterinary medicine. But she's also a certified veterinary acupuncturist and part of what she says is a growing trend in Albuquerque.

She plies her needles at various clinics in Albuquerque and makes several house calls a day. In 2003, Argeres opened Argeres Animal Alternatives, where she does massage and acupuncture.

In all, she estimates there are about 25 holistic vets in Albuquerque, 15 of whom do acupuncture.

"You have to be an actual veterinarian to do this," Argeres said.

House calls are usually about $80 and clinic treatments range from $55 to $65, she said.

Finding their way to Argeres is a natural step for most of her clients, she says.

"I think my clients care for their pets how they care for their own well-being. A lot of my clients do treat their medical condition holistically, as well," she said.

Argeres focuses on orthopedic issues. She treats ailments such as hip dysplasia, disk disease often found in dachsunds, arthritis, stiffness and geriatric muscle wasting.

She says some other acupuncturists focus on behavioral issues, seizures, epilepsy and gastrointestinal disorders.

You can tell whether it works by watching the animal, she said. "Sometimes it works wonderfully and sometimes it doesn't. It's wonderful when an animal responds," she said.

Buster was a bulldog that she treated. He came in dragging his legs and barely walking.

"I told the clients `I'm not sure we'll be able to help him,' " she says.

"Now he doesn't even need acupuncture anymore."

Carol Bell, Buster's owner, said an injury as a puppy got worse, and he kept dragging his legs.

"After the acupuncture, he got up and started walking - after the first treatment. He is a miracle dog," she said.

Jacqueline Sams is Argeres' only client with a cat at the moment. Logan, a black domestic short-hair, was suffering from severe joint degeneration.

"I was surprised when the vet suggested it. But our pets are like our kids, and we were willing to try anything," she said. "His general attitude toward life has improved. He is able to jump and move around."

You can also see the treatment having some effect while it's happening.

Tucker, the Welsh terrier with a penchant for marking his territory, first came to see Argeres in July 2006 for lameness in his left knee.

On a recent visit, Argeres greeted her woolly-haired friend. After he sat down on a familiar pink blanket, she massaged his whole body.

Tucker turned in various positions, tilting his head back to make sure Argeres got all the appropriate areas.

"They will usually let you know where they need to be massaged," Argeres said.

As Tucker got the rubdown, he started to lightly drip from the nose and let out several large yawns. He also began to make yummy noises with his mouth.

Those were all signs that Tucker was "in the zone."

Argeres began to insert tiny needles into various points in his body and continued massaging while the needles were in there.

"Good boy, Tucker, sweetie pie. You OK, little man?" she says.

Tucker couldn't talk, but his disposition said he was more than OK.

His eyelids began to get heavy. Tucker was so relaxed, in fact, that he just lay back despite the fact that he had about a dozen needles on his back.

Black said Tucker wasn't always this calm.

"When I first brought him in, I had to keep him under control," she said.

Now Tucker just spreads out on the little blanket and lets Argeres work her magic.

Barbara Madaras, whose sheltie named Joey regained use of a leg through the treatment, said she thinks dogs are especially open to the benefits of acupuncture.

"Pets don't have the cynicism humans do. They totally accept it. They don't come into it with any skepticism or foregone conclusions," she said.

Acupuncture "pregnancy pain cure"

Acupuncture is effective at relieving pelvic pain during pregnancy, a study says.

Pelvic girdle pain is common among pregnant women with one in three affected suffering severe pain.

Researchers found acupuncture was better at easing the pain than standard and specialised exercising.

The team from Gothenburg`s Institute for the Health of Women and Children said the medical profession should be more open to using acupuncture.

Report co-author Helen Elden, a midwife at the institute, said according to BBC report: "The study shows that methods other than structured physiotherapy may be effective in treating pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy and that acupuncture represents an effective alternative."

It [acupuncture] is good because it does not involve any drugs, which women have to be careful about taking during pregnancy And she added: "A combination of several methods is probably even better."

The team studied the effect of three six-week treatment programmes on 386 pregnant women suffering from pelvic girdle pain, which it is thought is caused by hormones affecting ligaments and muscles.

One group were given a standard home exercise routine, a second received the exercise routine and acupuncture, while the third had a specialised exercise regime aimed at improving mobility and strength.

Pain levels were recorded every morning and evening and assessments were done by an independent examiner.

The women using acupuncture experienced the best results, followed by those who underwent the specialised exercise programme.

Daniel Maxwell, a member of the British Acupuncture Council, the regulatory body for acupuncturists, said the benefits of acupuncture for pregnant women was well known.

The use of acupuncture to treat pain during pregnancy certainly seems credible

While Dr Graham Archard vice-chair, Royal College of GPs said: "Many pregnant women turn to acupuncture to relieve pain, especially pelvic pain."

"It is good because it does not involve any drugs, which women have to be careful about taking during pregnancy."

But he said the medical profession needed to be more consistent in recommending acupuncture as a treatment.

"Some GPs and midwives do refer people on for acupuncture, but some don`t. It really does vary from area to area."

Dr Graham Archard, vice-chair of the Royal College of GPs, said 60% of family doctors use alternative therapies.

"The use of acupuncture to treat pain during pregnancy certainly seems credible.

"Pregnant women should be avoiding drugs so acupuncture, which releases the bodies natural painkillers, should be of benefit."

And Sue Macdonald, of the Royal College of Midwives, said: "Women should be offered acupuncture for this type of pain, but we must remember it might not be for everyone."

Acupuncture: It’s not just for people

The Oswego Veterinary Hospital is offering a new service for pet owners who may be out of options for the ills plaguing their four-legged friends.

Pet acupuncture, now accessible at the facility, focuses on preventative and therapeutic health care.

“It’s not perfect for everything, but it gives us another way to treat diseases we might not otherwise be able to treat,” said Molly McAllister, one of three veterinarians at the facility and the only veterinarian providing acupuncture.

McAllister has more than just professional experience with the method. She uses acupuncture to treat her dog, Brink, a nine-year-old mixed breed now in remission from lymphoma.

Monthly treatments for Brink aim to prevent possible recurrence of the disease. Acupuncture can have both calming and stimulating effects on parts of the body, depending on the desired outcome.

“They can be used for pain relief and they can be used to stimulate appetite, calming vomiting and things like that,” said McAllister.

“Acupuncture balances the body so the idea is you can use the same points to have two different effects.”

The treatment involves inserting a very thin needle, much thinner than the hollow needles used to draw blood, into trigger points on an animal’s body. Those needles stay in place between five and 30 minutes.

In Brink’s case, McAllister inserts calming needles first. She says most animals find the procedure, which releases endorphins, relaxing. During the procedure, Brink sprawls out on the floor.

McAllister tries to involve pet owners in holding or sitting beside their animals to make acupuncture more enjoyable.

Acupuncture treatments are tailored to the individual animal, McAllister said. In Brink’s case, he receives stimulation for the kidneys, which in Chinese medicine are associated with life force. As an older dog, Brink benefits from kidney stimulation because it also addresses hearing loss, arthritis and bone issues.

Brink also receives stimulation to increase blood flow, address lameness in his rear legs and stimulate his immune system. His cancer was an immune-related disease. During chemotherapy treatments, Brink also received acupuncture to reduce his vomiting and diarrhea.

“What I would use on him in remission from lymphoma would be different from what I’d use on another dog in remission from lymphoma,” said McAllister.

“Usually it’s something that requires several treatments in a row to get the desired effect.”

The cost is $75 per treatment for any animal. Any acupuncture treatment is preceded by a regular exam and other diagnostics to identify problems. McAllister said acupuncture can be performed on any creature, and she uses the treatment for her pet dogs, cat and horses.

Acupuncture has been a mainstay in China for thousands of years and was once used to treat farm animals.

“It became more of a modality used in the U.S. since the ’70s,” McAllister said.

You have to be a veterinarian to administer acupuncture to animals because it’s considered a surgical procedure.

McAllister studied the specialty through a 120-hour continuing education program she attended in San Diego. She is certified by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, but acupuncture is not a recognized specialty by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Oswego Veterinary Hospital is located at 590 SW Third St. Open hours are from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact the hospital at 503-636-3001.

Acupuncture meets antibiotics: Mercy Hospital supplements traditional care with holistic treatments

Two years ago, Ivan Toirac was admitted to Mercy Hospital in a coma following a drug overdose.

"All the doctors told us he was going to die, or was going to be like a vegetable for the rest of his life," recalled his father, Arturo Toirac.

Then Patty Hutchison began working with the hospital's doctors. Founder of Mercy's holistic care program, she began acupuncture therapy on him.

"The first thing that happened was his kidneys, which were totally closed according to the doctors, opened up," Arturo says. "My son is alive, talking to us ...

Acupuncture, homeopathy and health for your pet. A Girl Named Guy airs:

This week on www.AGirlNamedGuy.com creator and host, Leah Guy, explores the value of taking superb care of your animals, in alternative ways that maybe are considered for humans, through the use of acupuncture, herbs, homeopathy and optimum nutrition.

Holistic Veterinarian, Dr. Marcie Fallek, talks with Leah about extending a healthy life for all of our favorite creatures by use of alternative medicine that only recently humans are becoming accustomed. Dr. Fallek administers acupuncture needles to Leah’s dog, Mocha (Leah cringes, Mocha doesn’t!) and shares her insights about treating patients for over 15 years without the use of harsh medications such as antibiotics and/or steroids.

With practices in NYC and Conn., Dr. Fallek lives by what she teaches and has found a large clientele of people wanted her natural services. This compelling video addresses all needs of preventative care, nutrition and supplementation that could benefit any animal lover’s concern, while also proving beneficial as far as education about homeopathy and holistic vs. conventional care.

To watch the video, learn more about Your Pet’s Vet, go to www.AGirlNamedGuy.com now!

www.AGirlNamedGuy.com’s mission is simple: Offer tools for positive living for conscious consumers. The site's tagline, "Life's a Gift...OPEN IT!" offers any and all takers the unique personal promise of a new, exciting way of living well. Producer Leah Guy accomplishes this with common sense and entertaining presentation. “I couldn’t be happier with the site,” says Guy. “It brings together all aspects of my passions and interests, while making a positive difference in people's lives. A Girl Named Guy is here as the liaison; to help answer questions, provide current information and entertain the viewer!"

For inquires, please contact:
info@agirlnamedguy.comThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
Jim Connors
646-275-6224
www.AGirlNamedGuy.com

From acupuncture to Africa Local practitioner helps AIDS sufferers

ST. ALBANS/UGANDA: For many of us, caught up in the grind of everyday life and work, it's a rare moment when we contemplate larger world problems such as the ongoing AIDS crisis in Africa.

Rarer still is someone who not only looks squarely at such a seemingly remote problem, but who commits to adding their own hands to a solution. Local acupuncturist Nick Phillips is such a person.

Leaving on April 20, Phillips will travel to Ibana, Uganda, for two weeks, volunteering to teach basic acupuncture techniques to local health-care workers. The generalized techniques he will teach focus on relieving the devastating symptoms associated with HIV/AIDS, and the side-effects of drug treatments.

Phillips, who is seeking donations to pay for travel and other expenses, is volunteering with the PanAfrican Acupuncture Project, a Boston-based non-profit. All donations go directly to PAAP to cover the cost of his trip and the supplies needed for treatment and education.

There are few places in the world where suffering from HIV/AIDS is more apparent than in the East African region.

Worldwide, the number of people living with HIV has risen since 1990 from 8 million to 40 million today, according to recent statistics. Two-thirds of all current cases are in sub-Saharan Africa, and though conditions in Uganda have improved in recent years, the country still faces a major crisis.

"Even now in Uganda, less than half the people with HIV are getting any kind of treatment at all," Phillips said. "There is also a lot of misinformation and there are a lot of cultural barriers to people learning what causes it."

Acupuncture, which developed over thousands of years in China, is also not a common treatment in Africa, but this cultural barrier is easily overcome because of the need.

"They're interested in any kind of help they can get. They welcome it with open arms, because the need is so great there," Phillips said.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese method for treating illness, which uses needles and other techniques to stimulate specific points on the body. The technique has seen a growing acceptance in the scientific and conventional western medicinal communities as research has increasingly shown its effectiveness.

Acupuncture is increasingly used in conjunction with western treatments, and the National Institute of Health has endorsed it to relieve the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

In AIDS treatment, acupuncture is again used to complement conventional therapies, helping boost the immune system and relieve discomfort.

"They need to get as much medical care as they can ... and in addition, (acupuncture) can improve their quality of life," Phillips said. "It's a good example of how they can complement each other," Phillips said of conventional medicine and acupuncture.

Phillips' efforts in Uganda will last much longer than his two-week stay, since the Project, modeled both on a successful program in Guatemala and the barefoot doctor movement in China, teaches skills to local practitioners.

"We're creating a sustainable program. We're going to create something that will survive long after we leave," Phillips said.

The basic acupuncture tools are relatively cheap, as well, creating another level of sustainability.

The PanAfrican Acupuncture Project also sends a second wave of teachers to each group of local medical workers to solidify and expand their training six months later. They also maintain contact with volunteers such as Phillips through e-mail and other Project resources, he said. Manuals with specific acupuncture treatments for HIV and side-effects of medications used in treatment are also left for those in need.

For Phillips, the reasons for volunteering are obvious.

"Initially it was that I have a service to offer. There are people who need it," Phillips said. "I wanted to take this system of treatment to people who needed it. You can't find a more desperate or a more needy population than the HIV/AIDS community in Africa. What I get out of it is the satisfaction and the experience, which I'm really excited about."

For information on how to donate to Phillips' trip, contact him at (802) 782-6222.

Find out more about the project at www.panafricanacupuncture.org.

Since completing a four-year acupuncture Masters degree program at the Five Branches Institute in Santa Cruz, Ca., Phillips has practiced for five years. The past two years he has spent in St. Albans City, where he is currently a partner in Meridian Medical, located on Main Street.

source: http://www.thecountycourier.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=3846&Itemid=

Special Acupuncture Lowers Blood Pressure

A specialized acupuncture treatment that uses low levels of electrical stimulation can lower blood pressure dramatically in rats, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.

"This study suggests that acupuncture can be an excellent complement to other medical treatments, especially for those treating the cardiac system," said Dr. John Longhurst of the University of California, Irvine, who led the study.

"The Western world is waiting for a clear scientific basis for using acupuncture, and we hope that this research ultimately will lead to the integration of ancient healing practices into modern medical treatment."

Writing in the March issue of the Journal of Applied Physiology, Longhurst and colleagues said they inserted acupuncture needles at specific points on the front legs of rats with artificially elevated blood pressure rates.

This is equivalent to the inside of the forearms, slightly above the wrists in people.

Acupuncture alone had no effect on blood pressure in the rats, Longhurst's team found. But adding electrical stimulation at low frequencies lowered the blood pressure, although it did not bring it to normal.

The effects lasted for up to two hours.

"This type of electroacupuncture is only effective on elevated blood pressure levels, such as those present in hypertension, and the treatment has no impact on standing blood pressure rates," said Longhurst, a cardiologist .

"Our goal is to help establish a standard of acupuncture treatment that can benefit everyone who has hypertension and other cardiac ailments."

His team is now testing the technique on people.

High blood pressure is a major cause of heart disease, and can lead to heart failure, stroke, kidney failure and other conditions.

Acupuncture Is Becoming More Mainstream

When you think of a needle you don't normally think of pain relief. But doctors are using acupuncture to restore balance to the body by stimulating specific points on the body with thin needles.

Acupuncture is used for treating over 40 conditions including addictions, osteoarthritis, and allergies. It is a form of Chinese medicine that has been used for over twenty-five hundred years.

Neurologist uses acupuncture to treat variety of pain conditions

Although many medical doctors are open to complementary treatments like acupuncture, very few actually embrace it in their practice.

Dr. Adam Simmons, a neurologist at the UConn Health Center, is an exception, often using acupuncture on patients where other, more traditional treatments have failed.

Simmons’ interest in integrative medicine began when he was in high school and took a course at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.

There he learned how alternative treatments such as meditation and yoga could help relieve stress.

His interest was piqued even more when his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and she used acupuncture to relieve some of the fatigue associated with her chemotherapy treatments.

But he became a true believer while doing his internship at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.

He worked with a neurologist there who owned a horse that suffered from terrible back pain but gained obvious relief when the doctor used acupuncture to treat the pain.

“I couldn’t see a horse having a placebo effect from someone coming and sticking needles into it,” said Simmons.

“That convinced me that there was something above and beyond the placebo effect.”

During his training, Simmons completed a program at Harvard Medical School where he was specially trained in the use of Kiiko Matsumoto’s Japanese-style acupuncture, which is slightly different from the traditional Chinese technique. Matsumoto’s acupuncture relies far more on a physical exam.

During the examination of the “hara” (meaning “belly”), the practitioner presses down on the stomach, looking for reflections of the whole body’s health and seeing manifestations of that in the stomach.

After finding a tender point on the abdomen, he or she looks for a point on the patient’s neck, feet, legs, or back that will relieve that tenderness, and that’s where the needle goes.

Simmons says an important part of acupuncture is figuring out why the body isn’t healing itself.

So instead of just focusing on the problem the patient is complaining about, you first need to help the body get better at healing itself.

Specific treatments won’t work as well, because whatever has caused the pain in the first place will cause it again.

Simmons uses acupuncture to treat a variety of pain conditions, including pain in the back, neck, and head.

“Generally, the longer the pain has been there and the longer the aggravating factors have been at work, the longer it will take to unravel that,” he says, “whereas an acute muscle strain may only take a session or two.”

Deciding to treat a patient with acupuncture is typically not an either-or choice. It is mainly done as an adjunct treatment, along with medication.

But the hope is that patients can reduce their dose or even stop using pain medications altogether.

Simmons has expertise in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, and is interested in researching how acupuncture may affect the non-motor symptoms that patients suffer from, such as depression, anxiety, and sleep problems.

“Some preliminary studies have shown the positive effect of acupuncture on insomnia is statistically significant,” he says.

In the future, he would also like to work closely with cancer patients, to help them regain some of the energy lost during chemotherapy – similar to his mother’s experience.

Simmons thinks it’s very important to bring acupuncture to an academic medical center like UConn, so medical students and residents are exposed to it first hand.

“Describing acupuncture in a classroom doesn’t have the same impact as when you are actually treating a patient and watch the tension underneath your hand just go away,” he says.

“People don’t believe it until they see it.”

Acupuncture Clinics - Ancient Wisdom With A Modern Twist

With the ever-increasing popularity of acupuncture as an alternative medicine, it's shouldn't be all that surprising to learn acupuncture clinics appear to be popping up in virtually every American city of any size. As a result, receiving treatment that will help restore good health is becoming more and more popular at acupuncture clinics.
Acupuncture clinics are a great place for getting timely diagnosis, treatment and patient care.

source: http://www.businessportal24.com/en/Acupuncture_Clinics_Ancient_Wisdom_With_161710.html

Acupuncture Chinese Moxibustion Technique The Chinese Health Secrets

Acupuncture Chinese moxibustion technique? Whats that?
To start from the beginning, there are two operative parts to acupuncture one is operations with needles and the other is with fire. Both are important and can work hand in hand in curing illnesses.
Needless to say, acupuncture Chinese moxibustion refers to curing with fire. And it pretty much refers to the Jiu in Zhen Jiu (the Chinese name for acupuncture).

Tamworth Acupuncture practitioner shows success with Lichfield, Staffordshire acupuncture patients

Acupuncture is a long establishes method of treating a variety of complaints and disorders. Many medical conditions which are difficult to treat with western medicine seem to respond well to acupuncture treatments.

Acupuncture practitioner Maddy Sharp based at Atlas Pain Relief Centre in Tamworth, Staffordshire has been treating many of these difficult conditions with great success.

Emotional, digestive and hormonal conditions are just some of the conditions that have been helped by receiving acupuncture treatments.

Maddy is available for Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield patients who need help and can be contacted at the Tamworth clinic by telephoning 01827 59943 or visiting the website www.atlaspainrelief.com

Acupuncture success stories are highlighted by testimonials from delighted customers who have received benefit from acupuncture treatments with Maddy Sharp.

Madeleine Sharp

BA (Hons) LicAc MBAcC

Traditional Acupuncture Practitioner

Female aged 36

Presenting condition: Brittle Asthma

My first treatment with Maddy was over three years ago now, I had been diagnosed with Brittle Asthma by my consultant and had suffered several, potentially life threatening, attacks. I was taking the maximum dose of all medication prescribed including steroids which were making me put on vast amounts of weight. I would struggle into the clinic and have to use my inhaler just to enable me to get onto the treatment couch breathless and exhausted.

I understood from Maddy that there was no “quick fix” for my condition but slowly, after weekly treatment for several months my condition certainly did improve along with my general health and state of mind.

I continue to have “top up” treatments once every six weeks or so to maintain my health; I no longer have to take the vast amounts of medication I was on, I lead an active and “normal” life and just use my inhalers very occasionally. I firmly believe that acupuncture turned my life around at a time when my health was deteriorating dramatically.

Male aged 38

Presenting condition: IBS

I knew my diet wasn’t great and the beer and curries at the weekends always made things a lot worse but this irritable bowel thing was beginning to really bug me, my sister was seeing Maddy for her migraines and persuaded me to go along.

I didn’t like the thought of needles at all and some of them certainly give off a “sensation” as Maddy calls it, but I actually began to enjoy the sessions and the acupuncture certainly settled things down, I felt really calm and relaxed after treatment and the IBS was much improved – Maddy encouraged me to look at my diet and life style which has also helped.

I continue to have “seasonal treatments” once every couple of months to keep things in check.

Massage and Acupuncture Reduce Pain After Cancer Surgery

Massage and acupuncture are effective in decreasing pain and depression following surgery in cancer patients, according to a UCSF study.

The findings of the randomized controlled clinical trial are reported in the March 2007 issue of the "Journal of Pain and Symptom Management."

"This pilot study confirmed that pain after surgery decreased when patients underwent a combination of massage and acupuncture. This is a significant finding because there are implications for further study to see if these therapies should be offered to hospitalized patients for symptom management," said Dr. Wolf Mehling, lead author and UCSF assistant professor of family and community medicine.

The study compared the post-operative symptoms of pain, nausea and mood and the cost of symptom-related medications in two groups of hospitalized patients during the first three days after cancer-related surgery. One group underwent a combination of massage and acupuncture in addition to usual care, and one group had usual care alone. Usual care is defined as traditional treatment through medication.

Study results showed a greater decrease in both pain and depressive mood in the group that underwent massage/acupuncture therapy along with usual care. The study was conducted at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine.

According to Mehling, 40 percent of people with cancer are treated with complementary and alternative medicine therapies. Although the measurable benefits of these therapies have been promising, there have been no conclusive results, he said.

"The combination of massage and acupuncture for symptom management in perioperative cancer patients has never been studied," said Mehling. "We know that integration of these therapies has shown short-term benefit on psychological well-being, but there has not been strong evidence to support it until now."

In the study, cancer surgery was characterized as any surgery related to a diagnosis of malignancy: mastectomy or reconstructive surgery for breast cancer; abdominal surgery for intestinal or hepatic malignancies; pelvic surgery for ovarian, uterine or cervical malignancies; urological surgery for testicular, prostate, bladder or renal malignancies; and head and neck cancer surgery.

During the three-day post-operative period, patients used an 11-point (0-10) numeric rating scale to rank severity of current pain and of pain during the previous 24 hours.

"There was quite a variance when it came to level of pain for each patient. Patients who were very well medicated for pain and nausea still experienced dramatic ups and downs during their post-operative days," Mehling said. "Getting up from bed for the first time after abdominal surgery or having a catheter removed probably contributed to the patients pain rating. For patients who received acupuncture and massage its possible that this personal attention contributed to a marked decrease in anxiety."

Patients received Swedish massage, which involves kneading and applying long strokes to soft tissue and muscles, and an acupressure-type (shiatsu) foot massage for 10-30 minutes depending on their clinical needs and condition. Acupuncture treatment was based on the traditional Chinese medicine standardized core set of acupuncture points and was used to treat pain, nausea and anxiety.

"Pain decreased for those in the intervention group more than for those in the control group," said Mehling. "Looking at an average pain baseline score, we found 1.1 point improvement in pain level on the first post-operative day for the group given massage and acupuncture, and only 0.1 point improvement in the control group that did not have intervention. Over the three days of the study, the average scores among patients reporting significant pain improved by 1.8 for the massage and acupuncture group compared to 0.3 in the control group."

Pain ratings also differed according to the type of cancer surgery.

"We found the strongest improvement for pain among patients undergoing either prostate and testicular surgery or gastro-intestinal and gynecological cancer surgery, but therapies were not as beneficial for patients treated for kidney or bladder cancer," he said.

Costs were compared for the entire post-operative hospital stay for all variables except medications, which were compared for the first three post-operative days only.

"Given the limited data, we could not find any cost saving benefits after application of these therapies, except for a reduction in anti-anxiety/sleep medication costs," he said. "This preliminary data suggests looking at this further, with a larger control group and an ability to better assess individual medication usage."

source : http://www.emaxhealth.com/6/10664.html

ACUPUNCTURE

ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncturists diagnose human illness in terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) which perceives the human organism and it’s processes as flows of Qi or energy; somewhat like the currents, eddies and swirls in a stream or lake. The major currents are called channels or meridians or in Chinese: jing luo.

Twelve of the channels connect with organs in the trunk. Each of the twelve is named for the organ with which it connects. The organ channels and two other channels which follow the front (Ren channel) and rear (Du channel) midline of the body contain the acupuncture points. The names, locations and usages of the points vary with the specific school or nationality of acupuncture. Proper rate of flow and amount of Qi in the channels is the OM definition of health. The acupuncture points are needled to restore or maintain the flow.

Each of the acupuncture points has specific effects on the different currents and/or organs of the body. In Traditional Chinese Medicine there are at least seven very commonly used groups of acu-points.

Transporting Points
There are five transporting points on each channel. They begin at the fingers and toes and stop at the elbows and knees. Beginning at the finger or toe tip, they’re named Well, Spring, Stream, River, Sea. At each point the flow of the Qi resembles that of the body of water it’s named for. At the Well point the flow is slender and thin. The Spring point flow is larger and has direction. At the Stream point the current has depth and more width. The River is wider and deeper yet. And the Sea points are the widest and deepest. The Sea point is also where the Qi goes deep into the body and connects with the organs.

Five Element Points
The Five Element points begin at the finger and toe tips. Each set of points begins with the names of Wood or Metal and continues up the arm or leg until all five elements are represented. The Five Element relationships are key to selection of the points in treatment.

Yuan-Source Points
There is one Yuan-Source point on each organ channel. This point will release Source Qi in the system when needled.

Xi-Acumulating-Cleft Points
The Xi-Cleft-Accumulating points are somewhat like wide shallow spots in a river where the Qi slows and collects. Needling Xi points therefore accesses more Qi and is more effective at clearing a channel than most points.

Mu-Front-Alarm Points
A Mu-Front-Alarm point is on the front of the body and located close to the organ with which it has a diagnostic relationship. Visual examination, obtaining certain reactions when pressing the point or spontaneous sensation at the point are all significant diagnostic information. This is why Mu is also translated as Alarm.

Shu-Back Points
The Shu-Back points are on the back on both branches of the Bladder channel. They are each named for an organ or body part and have the same diagnostic relationship with those parts as the Mu points have with the organs.

Window to the Sky Points
Window to the Sky points are all in the upper third of the body. In one diagnostic model this third of the body is likened to Heaven. If there is poor Qi flow between the upper third and lower thirds then a window must be opened to restore communication between Heaven and Earth. In another model these points are held to facilitate connection to one’s own spirit or to the spirit world thus reconnecting one to heaven.