Questions & Answers about Acupuncture

What can I expect if treated with acupuncture?

Acupuncture and herbs may alleviate many conditions very rapidly;however,some conditions that have arisen over a course of years will be relieved only with slow,steady progress. As in many forms of healing, the patient's attitude,diet,determination, and lifestyle will affect the outcome of a course of treatment.

Traditional Chinese medicines is also an educational process in which the patient becomes more aware, and responsible for his or her own body's vitality and wellness. Advise may be given to help the patient establish a more balanced lifestyle and thus maintain a deeper sense of well-being.

Oriental Medicine is a complete system itself, and is complementary to Western Medicine. Your acupuncturist may,depending on your condition,recommend that you seek further advice or treatment from your primary care healthcare practitioner.

Is Acupuncture Safe?

Under the care and supervision of a Licensed Acupuncturist, your safety is assured. The needles for treatments are sterile,disposed of after each use by following safety protocol.

Is Acupuncture Painful?

Acupuncture needles are very fine,flexible,and are about the diameter of a strand of human hair. Acupuncture bears no resemblance to the feeling of receiving an injection,since the main source of pain from injections is the larger diameter,hollow needle and the medication being pushed into the tissue by pressure. In most cases, insertion by a skilled practitioner is performed with minimum of discomfort. Most patients find the treatments very relaxing and many fall asleep during the treatments.

Does medical insurance cover Acupuncture?

A number of medical insurance companies cover acupuncture under their policies. Please contact your employer or health insurance company to inquire about your coverage.

What does it treat?

The World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture and Oriental medicine's ability to treat more then 43 commonly encountered clinical disorders including:
*Gastrointestinal disorders:
Peptic ulcer,constipation,chronic diarrhea,indigestion and gastritis
*Urogenital disorders:
Stress incontinence and urinary tract infections
*Gynecological disorders:
Irregular,heavy or painful menstruation,PMS,infertility in women & men
*Respiratory disorders:
Sinusitis,Asthma,allergies, and bronchitis
*Bones,Muscles,Joints:
Arthritis,neuralgia,migraine headaches,insomnia,dizziness and low back,neck and shoulder pain
*Circulatory disorders:
Hypertension,High cholesterol,and anemia
*Emotional and psychological disorders:
Depression,including Seasonal Affective Disorder, anxiety and stress
*General Medicine:
Eye,ear,nose and throat disorders,including cold & flu symptom relief.

Coping with Stress

Stress can create a vicious cycle of emotional and physical discomfort,especially when an individual is experiencing chronic pain,loss of functionality, separation from loved ones,and loss of control.The cycle can be prolonged and intense and can engender feelings of depression,hopelessness,and despair that further reinforce the stress,pain,exhaustion and sense of loss of control.
Knowing that the brain and the body work together in determining the degree of stress perceived and the degree of discomfort felt is essential to forming any sort of effective stress management plan.Research shows that relaxation is a key element to limiting the effect of stress in ones life.

Here are some approaches towards coping with stress:
Take breaks
Exercise regularly
Learn relaxation techniques: rhythmic breathing,imagery,meditation,massage
Share your worries with spouse, a friend or counselor
Live today and for today
Seek more information
Go easy on yourself
Try acupuncture: research shows that acupuncture works in the emotional or limbic system of the brain and interfaces over into the stress control circuits.

SKIN:Your protective barrier

Here's a great article on what you can do for overall health to protect your skin (Huffpost Healthy Living)
In summary:
Decrease inflammation helps protect skin fibers.
Increase Circulation brings in nutrients,aids detoxification,and decreases inflammation.
Improve Digestion to facilitate absorption of nutrients.
Antioxidants to reduce fine lines and wrinkles
Nourish with medicinal mushrooms and healthy fats.
Detox and hydrate  for better skin appearance
 

Acupuncture and chemo-induced neuropathy

Acupuncture: helpful for chemo-induced Neuropathy.

A pilot study using neurography shows Acupuncture being effective for chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy. The study also showed a reduction in analgesic use and improved sleep patterns.

To read the full disclosure, please click on the following link: (Journal of Chinese Medicine)

SUPERFOODS

Superfoods comprise a specific set of edible,incredibly nutritious plants that are not entirely classifiable as foods nor are they entirely classifiable medicines such as herbs.

Superfoods are both a food and a medicine;they have elements of both. They are a class of the most potent,super-concentrated, and nutrient-rich foods on the planet.

Extremely tasty and satisfying,superfoods have the ability to increase the vital force and energy of one's body known as Qi, and are the optimum choice for improving overall health,boosting the immune system,elevating serotonin production,enhancing sexuality,and cleansing and alkalizing the body.

Because superfoods are natural, they provide an abundance of synergistic elements in their natural stat that work together in the human body in ways scientists have not yet begun to fully comprehend.
Here's a list of the top ten superfoods:
Goji Berries also known a wolfberries,lycium fruit or Gou qi)
Cacao(raw chocolate)
Maca(Peruvian ginseng)
Bee products(honey,bee pollen,propolis,and royal jelly)
Spirulina
AFA blue-green algae
Marine phytoplankton
Aloe Vera
Hempseed
Coconuts and coconut products

Healing the Body:A Journey of Consciousness

What are the orgins of illness in life?Was it something we were born with or had a predisposition towards developing?Are illnesses an expression of how we think,what emotions we carry,dreams and memories we hold onto,what we eat,how we digest,eliminate and what sensory experiences we have.

I think an illness can express itself through a sum total of all these interpretations we choose and make in life. Healing occurs at many different levels and it all starts with  awareness.

Something to ponder upon.........

Namaste,
Jeannette

Research study in Chinese Herbal Formula and Colon Cancer

Here's a great article on Dr. Yung-Chi Cheng, an oncology researcher at Yale University, who has been studying a specific herbal formula and it's effectiveness in chemotherapy for patients with colon cancer.
Promising research has shown in early trials of reducing some side effects of chemotherapy such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. It has also been found to restore intestinal cells faster than when chemotherapy was used alone. If interested in reading more about this article, click here (WSJ article).

Cholesterol: the good,bad and.....

There are several different types of cholesterol. The ones we hear most about are often referred to as the "good" cholesterol and the "bad"cholesterol. However, all forms of natural cholesterol, the type normally found in the body, are good and necessary. Whether it is transported as LDL(low-density lipoprotein, aka bad cholesterol) or HDL(high-density lipoprotein , aka good cholesterol), cholesterol provides the body with building blocks needed to manufacture hormones,cell membranes, vitamin D etc.

Cholesterol is absolutely vital to good health. It is when cholesterol becomes oxidized that it's bad side comes out. The vast majority of the cholesterol circulating in our blood is manufactured in the liver. Only a small amount comes from the diet.It is fair to say that cholesterol manufactured by the liver is obviously not oxidized likewise nor are fresh, natural foods oxidized.

 The foods that are likely to contain oxidized cholesterol are animal products that have been dehydrated, dried or powdered such as dried cheese, powdered whole milk, powdered eggs and butter, hard meats. Theses types of ingredients are often used in packaged prepared foods such as boxed cakes,pepperoni,
and powdered Parmesan cheese, to name a few.A start to  avoiding oxidized cholesterol is to  read the ingredients on food labels,avoid processed,packaged foods and only eat fresh,whole foods as much as possible.

Cancer Care: Relief for common side effects

I have just started doing some volunteer work at the Cancer Center and have noted a list of common side effects that patients seem to deal with.

Nausea: Better prescriptive drugs are available for nausea and vomiting before,during and after  chemotherapy sessions. Some other things to consider are ginger root in a capsule form or brewed as a tea,candied ginger,hypnosis or even medicinal marijuana to selected patients. Acupuncture either offered by a practitioner or self-acupressure applied with a thumb to acupuncture points or devices such as the Sea-Band wristband(to learn more visit www.reliefband.com).

Fatigue:Have your doctor first check for medical causes such as anemia.After chemotherapy and radiation are finished,consider traditional Chinese medicine in helping to restore a balance to your body. Things I have suggested to patients are trying a daily tonic such as cordyceps or ginseng, improving your sleep habits and maintaing a regular exercise program to help overcome fatigue. Sometimes there could be and underlying stress or anger about the cancer that may be draining your energy.Seeking emotional and spiritual support is advisable. Start by surrounding yourself with positive people.

Weight loss: Poor appetite may cause you to veer off the perfect diet and add enough foods that seem appealing so that you keep a healthy weight during treatment.Omega-3 fatty acids found now in ProSure made by Ensure may help prevent weight loss.

Mouth Sores: Lozenges of slippery elm or chewing tablets of DGL(deglycyrrhiznated licorice)may soothe the lining of the mouth.A mouthwash of L-glutamine powder and water or a homeopathic remedy called Traumeel may be helpful. Acupuncture treatments can also be helpful.

Burns:Applying aloe vera gel or vitamin E gelcap can soothe reddened or burned skin post radiation treatment.

GOJI BERRY

Lycium fruit, more commonly known as Goji berries or wolfberry grows mainly in Northwestern China and Tibet.

Research has proven that lycium has an extremely high concentration of vitamins B1and B2,vitamin C, chemical compounds including betaine,sodium,potassium,magnesium,copper,zinc,iron,valine,glutamine, taurine,carotene and more than a dozen sterols.

Lycium fruit also contains polysaccharides. These are sugar molecules that boost the function of the immune system. Polysaccharides are a source of probiotic fiber. Probiotics in the intestines help the body better digest and utilize the nutrients from food. I add a handful to our smoothies in the morning.

The antioxidant content in Lycium fruit is very important as a free radical fighter. Antioxidants protect the cells from damage and are believed to slow the aging process,combat disease and ailments like cancer,heart disease,stroke and even alzheimer's disease.

Goji berries are also a rich source of zeaxanthin,a carotenoid that when consumed becomes concentrated in the macular pigment of the eye and may help protect the retina.

PHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECTS:
Immunostimulant:Research shows an increase in phagocytic activity of the macrophages and the total number of T cells.

Hematological:Increase production in red blood cells and white blood cells.

Cardiovascular: Can lower blood pressure because the effect it has on the liver breaking down some medication.

Uterine stimulent:Avoid use in pregnancy as it stimulates contractions in the uterus.

Antineoplastic:Known to enhance the immune system and suppress the growth of cancer cells.