Yearly Archives: 2018

Oriental Medicine for Injury Rehab and Relief

   Oriental Medicine for Injury Rehab and Relief After sustaining an injury, the healing process goes through two stages. The first is called the acute stage and is characterized by redness, swelling, inflammation and pain. The second is the chronic stage in which a patient may experience pain only when overusing the injured body part. Noticeable signs of inflammation may be nonexistent or minimal. In general, acute stages last from a few days to about three weeks, at which point any residual problems and pain are considered to have reached the chronic stage. Physical trauma resulting from accidents, post-operative conditions, labor, disease or other causes requires different treatment for each stage of convalescence. Acupuncture and Oriental medicine provide a comprehensive treatment from the very beginning of an injury throughout recovery. To help rehabilitate a patient and provide pain relief after an injury, a practitioner may have to resolve a condition known as blood stasis. Blood stasis, according to acupuncture and Oriental medicine, occurs when the flow of blood slows down and blood begins…

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A balanced, varied diet can help ease the pain of arthritis

A balanced, varied diet can help ease the pain of arthritis by providing vitamins and minerals that keep your joints healthy. Avoiding "damp" foods, such as dairy products and greasy or spicy fare, also helps joints. Here are some healthy and delicious choices to include in your diet: Ginger - Ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory. A fresh ginger tea can be made by combining a half teaspoon of grated ginger with 8 ounces of boiling water. Cover and steep for 10 to 15 minutes, then strain and add honey to taste. Fresh Pineapple - Bromelain, an enzyme in pineapple, reduces inflammation. Be sure the pineapple is fresh, not canned or frozen. Turmeric - A natural anti-inflammatory, it can be used in many food preparations including soups, sauces and salad dressings. Fish - Cold-water fish, such as salmon and mackerel, contain omega-3 fatty acids, which help keep joints healthy as well as reduce pain and swelling.

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Living Well with Chronic Fatigue

When we are unable to do our basic daily activities, we may need more rest. For those with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), rest doesn't help. Sufferers may feel tired for more than six months, experience reduced memory, insomnia or a wide range of other symptoms, including but not limited to, headaches, flu-like symptoms and chronic pain. Contributing factors can include severe stress or trauma, a history of infection and exposure to toxins. From an acupuncture and Oriental medicine perspective, CFS reflects a disharmony. When we are out of balance, we may experience digestive upset, unclear thinking, habitual fatigue, muscle weakness or discomfort, and insufficient elimination. At the University of Hong Kong, researchers included acupuncture points in a protocol for patients diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. Patients who received acupuncture experienced less physical and mental fatigue. Oriental medicine can help relieve many of your symptoms because it is exceptional for relieving aches and pains, helping to avoid getting sick as often, recovering more quickly, and improving vitality and stamina.

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Depression Sufferers Can Find Balance

Depression refers to severe and long-lasting 'down' times that impair regular activities. Depression can be caused by a variety of factors, but a family history of depression and severe stress can increase the likelihood of the disease. According to Harvard University, changing estrogen levels during menstruation, after giving birth, and throughout menopause can provoke mood changes. Dorree Lynn, Ph.D., a psychologist and author of Getting Sane Without Going Crazy, says women "need a connection with others in their lives and without that sustenance, they tend to get depressed." Qi (energy) enables the body to function in harmony. Because women lose Qi during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and childbirth, it is more common for women to be Qi deficient than men. Acupuncture treatments can correct these imbalances, support the immune system, and directly affect the way your body manages stress and your mental health. Words can also move Qi, which explains why talk therapy can give patients a sense of physical relief from symptoms. A combination of acupuncture and Oriental medicine may be even…

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Relief from Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) involves alternating constipation and diarrhea. Individuals with IBS have a noticeable and sustained increase or decrease in frequency of elimination. Patients may experience pain during stool elimination, cramping, nausea, bloating, gas, headaches and backaches. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is usually worsened by stress and is considered to be caused by a disharmony between the liver and the spleen meridians. Tension can result in Qi stagnation, irregular Qi flow, uneven physical processes (including bowel movements), unpredictable flare ups, and uncomfortable or irregular bowel movements. Acupuncture and Oriental medicine support Qi flow throughout the body, ensuring that all physiological and emotional processes run smoothly. For a healthy Qi, women should focus more on caring for themselves and asking for help when they need it. Treatment focuses on alleviating symptoms and correcting any underlying imbalances through a variety of Oriental medicine techniques that may include acupuncture, stress management, dietary changes and exercise.  

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Autoimmune Disease Support

Autoimmune diseases are a group of disorders in which the immune system attacks the body and destroys or alters tissues. There are more than 80 serious chronic illnesses in this category, including lupus, multiple sclerosis, celiac disease, and type 1 diabetes. Due to the complexity of treating autoimmune disorders, integrative medicine solutions have received much attention as successful therapies in their treatment. Acupuncture and Oriental medicine are specifically noted for use in pain relief, regulating the immune system, managing symptoms and improving overall quality of life. Multiple Sclerosis: This is a progressive disease wherein the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective wrapper on nerve cells, known as myelin. As the damage accumulates, the brain and body communicate less well. Individuals may experience symptoms that include a loss of coordination, muscle weakness, numbness and tingling, dizziness, blurred vision, and paralysis. Because multiple sclerosis can involve an array of symptoms, it is possible that no two patients will share the same underlying pattern. In Oriental medicine, as a whole, patients with MS present either wind…

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Improve Your Heart Health

The cardiovascular system consists of the heart and blood vessels, and is responsible for carrying nutrients and oxygen to the tissues and removing carbon dioxide and other waste from them. Diseases affecting the cardiovascular system include arteriosclerosis, coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, arrhythmia, heart failure, hypertension, orthostatic hypotension, shock, endocarditis, diseases of the aorta and its branches, disorders of the peripheral vascular system and congenital heart disease. Symptoms women are more likely to experience include shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, back or jaw pain, dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting, pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen and extreme fatigue. By integrating acupuncture and Oriental medicine into a heart-healthy lifestyle, you can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease by as much as 80 percent. Steps to prevention include managing high blood pressure and cholesterol, eating healthy, maintaining a healthy weight, physical activity, reducing stress, improving sleep quality and smoking cessation--all of which can be helped with acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Five Steps to a Healthy Heart with Acupuncture 1. Manage High Blood Pressure High…

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Women’s Health Issues

Women's Health Issues Everyone wants to be healthy in order to enjoy a sense of well-being and have the best quality of life possible. Oriental medicine has always addressed the special needs of women throughout their lives. Women are more susceptible than men to certain health conditions, which can make it more challenging to achieve optimal health. Fortunately, many health issues women face respond extremely well to acupuncture treatments. Some of the top health issues that affect women include: Heart Disease: According to the American Heart Association cardiovascular disease is the number 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year and is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined. The AHA also reports that sixty-four percent of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms. Depression: The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) states that women are twice as likely to experience depression as men and one in eight will contend with major depression during their lifetime. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression…

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7 Nutrients to Support the Immune System

A class of plant chemicals known as bioflavonoids has been found to dramatically reduce inflammation and improve symptoms associated with autoimmune disorders. Tea Both green and black tea contain the flavonoids catechin and theaflavin, which are beneficial in treating autoimmune disease. Apples Apples (with the skin on) contain the flavonoid quercetin, which can reduce allergic reactions and decrease inflammation. Quercetin also occurs naturally in other foods, such as berries, red grapes, red onions, capers and black tea. Carrots Carotenoids are a family of plant pigments that include beta-carotene. A lack of carotenoids in the diet is can cause inflammation. Good sources of carotenoids include apricots, carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato, spinach, kale, butternut squash and collard greens. Garlic Garlic contains a compound called allicin which supports the immune system and has both antimicrobial and antioxidant qualities. Research suggests that components of garlic may reduce the incidence of cancer cell formation in the body in much the same way vitamin C does. Ginger Ginger contains compounds called gingerols that reduce inflammation in the body by…

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Relieve Pain Naturally with Acupuncture

Increasingly, people are looking for more natural approaches to help relieve painful conditions instead of relying on medications. Acupuncture has no side effects and can be helpful for all types of pain, regardless of what is causing the pain or where the pain is located. Some studies have shown the pain relief it provides can last for months. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain before and after acupuncture treatment for pain shows dramatic decreases in brain activity--up to 70 percent. This decrease in activity in certain areas of the brain is thought to be the reason why acupuncture treatments reduce pain. In addition to reducing pain, acupuncture also hastens the healing process by increasing circulation and attracting white blood cells to an injured area. The basis of acupuncture is expressed in this famous Chinese saying: "Bu tong ze tong, tong ze bu tong," which means "free flow: no pain, no free flow: pain." In other words, any kind of pain or illness represents an obstruction in the normal flow of Qi, or…

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