Happy Fourth Of July!

Happy Fourth of July!

Obama Positive Toward Acupuncture

This article is from Acupuncture Today
July, 2009, Vol. 10, Issue 07
By Editorial Staff

During a recent Q&A session of a Presidential Town Hall meeting in St. Louis, one licensed acupuncturist and massage therapist in Florissant, Mo., got to ask President Barack Obama what must certainly be one of the most important questions in the minds of all alternative health practitioners.

Q: I'm a licensed acupuncturist and licensed massage therapist in Florissant. And so...

President Obama: I could use one right now. (Laughter.) My back is stiff. I've been working hard.

Q: I'll be happy to help you. (Laughter.) And this kind of fits into what you were just talking about as far as health care. I'm wondering, as a practitioner of Oriental medicine, knowing that the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization have discovered through their studies that alternative medicine often is more cost-effective and very effective, how will alternative medicine fit in your new health care program?

President Obama: Well, look, my attitude is that we should - we should do what works. So I think it is pretty well documented through scientific studies that acupuncture, for example, can be very helpful in relieving certain things like migraines and other ailments -- or are at least as effective as more intrusive interventions.

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Do You Think With Your Heart or Your Head?

"People mistakenly assume that their thinking is done by their head; it is actually done by the heart which first dictates the conclusion, then commands the head to provide the reasoning that will defend it..."

Anthony de Mello
A Jesuit priest from India, known for his writings and spiritual conferences.

Studies Show Acupuncture is Effective

I have recently found that the Examiner.com is a great resource for articles on alternative medicine. Here is another favorable article about acupuncture By Jeanne Grunert of The Norfolk Alternative Medicine Examiner

The Effectiveness of Acupuncture

"With acupuncture's growing acceptance in Western medicine, the body of research support its use has also grown. Although the Chinese have used acupuncture successfully for over 2,000 years, Western medicine insists upon scientific proof. Hundreds of studies on the use of acupuncture demonstrate its effectiveness, although researchers are just beginning to understand how acupuncture affects the human body.

Pain relief through acupuncture

Acupuncture is best known as a pain relief method for many conditions. These include osteoarthritis, sports injuries, pain after surgery, and other conditions. Numerous studies reported by Society for Acupuncture Research provide compelling evidence that acupuncture effectively relieves pain.

Acupuncture used for infertility treatments

According to Sandra Emmons, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Oregon Health Sciences University, acupuncture may change the blood flow to the ovaries, thus stimulating them normally without the use of pharmaceutical drugs to produce eggs. Acupuncture may also affect hormones regulating the development of the uterine lining. Some miscarriages are caused by a weak or improperly developing uterine lining. Other potential effects include changing the delicate balance of hormones leading from egg production through conception and delivery. With the potential negative side effects of infertility treatments, acupuncture offers hope to women dealing with fertility issues.

Acupuncture offers hope, not hype

Out of all the alternative medical treatments available, acupuncture offers the most hope. It's probably the best researched, and has few, if any side effects. While not all patients experience a dramatic improvement in their condition, there's enough evidence that acupuncture works, and enough scientific data to make it a useful and plausible alternative health treatment."

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10 Practical, Easy, Activities to Balance Your Qi

1. Breath through your nose. Yes, the beginning can be that simple! Breathing through your nose increases your intake of nitric oxide. Nitric Oxide causes your blood vessels to relax and to widen, thereby opening up your arteries. This decreases your blood pressure, allows better blood flow to your heart and other important organs. To read more about the health benefits of Nitric Oxide click here.

2. De-clutter your home and workspace. It will lower your stress level and increase your efficiency at home and work. Organize your child's workspace as a good way to increase his or her productivity as well.

Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of placement and space. Think of it in western terms as putting your house in order. In Feng Shui, having a cluttered home blocks the energy flow through the structure. In Chinese Medicine, blocked energy can lead to both emotional and physical pain.

3. Try yoga. For those of you here in Chicago, Dave Norfleet offers a great FREE yoga class at Belmont Harbor every Tuesday night throughout the summer. For more information, check yogadave.com.

If you are short on time, get a yoga DVD and do 15 minutes at home. It is worth it. Rodney Yee tends to provide good instruction on his DVDs.

4. Give up perfectionism. Keep realistic standards for yourself.

5. Ask for help before you need it so it will be available when you need it.

6. Learn to say NO. You cannot take responsibility for everything and everyone.

7. Get sleep and some relaxation. If you are rested and relaxed, you have more energy to cope with life demands.

8. Eat foods and/or take supplements that are rich in Essential fatty acids. These are considered anti-inflammatory. EFA's (Essential fatty acids) help with depression, stress, pain, arthritis and menopause.

Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids include: salmon, sardines, tuna and other cold water fish; nuts and seeds, notably flaxseeds, hemp seeds and walnuts; and soybeans and winter squash. To read more about EFA's click here.

9. If you are married or have a partner, make it a priority to find time for just the two of you alone every week.

10. And of course acupuncture is always a great way to balance your qi!

Acupuncture in Pregnancy & Childbirth

From Acufinder.com
By: Diane Joswick, L.Ac., MSOM

Pregnancy is an amazing time in a woman's life. Many women report feeling healthier than they have ever felt before; however, the physical growth of the baby and changes in hormone levels can bring about pain, discomfort and a variety of health problems.

Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can provide a safe, effective alternative for many of the health complications that may arise before, during and after pregnancy. A growing number of women are choosing acupuncture to use throughout their pregnancy and as an optional treatment for an overdue or difficult labor.

Planning for a Healthy Baby

Healthy parents produce healthy babies. With acupuncture and Oriental medicine, parents can improve their health to create the most optimal environment for their unborn child. In addition to their ability to strengthen, support, and balance overall health and well-being, acupuncture and Oriental medicine are an effective treatment for regulating menstruation and hormone levels, reducing stress and addressing any pre-existing medical conditions or concerns that a woman may have.

Acupuncture during Pregnancy

Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can play a vital role in the comfort of a pregnant woman. There is strong evidence to support that acupuncture is highly effective at treating some of the most common problems experienced during pregnancy including morning sickness, heartburn, insomnia, water retention and sciatica.

Here is a list of some of the problems that an acupuncturist often treats during pregnancy:

• Nausea and Vomiting
• Heartburn
• Constipation
• Hemorrhoids
• Edema and Swelling
• Urinary Tract Infection
• Pelvic Pain
• Neck and Back Pain
• Sciatica
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Leg Cramps
• Fatigue and Exhaustion
• Insomnia
• Anxiety and Depression
  

Acupuncture for Childbirth

While there are acupuncture points that can provide natural pain relief during labor, acupuncture is more commonly used to induce labor. There are several points that stimulate contractions and influence cervical ripening. There is also an acupuncture point that has been found to turn a breech baby.

Acupuncture Postpartum

Many women feel depleted after the birth experience. Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help the transition of those first few months after birth to ensure a quick recovery. Postpartum care focuses on the physical, emotional and psychological recovery of the mother from the effects of pregnancy and labor, as well as encouraging breast feeding.

Here are some of the postpartum disorders that can be treated with acupuncture:

• Fatigue
• Postpartum Depression
• Mastitis
• Insufficient or Excessive Lactation
• Post Operative Healing
• Night Sweats

Safety of Acupuncture During Pregnancy

Acupuncture is safe to use while you are pregnant; however, there are some points that can cause contractions and should NOT be needled during pregnancy or should be used with extreme caution.

Acupuncture Points to Avoid During Pregnancy

• Large Intestine 4
• Spleen 6
• Gallbladder 21
• Points on the sacrum
• Point on the lower abdomen
• Point on the low back
  

There are also many herbal remedies that are contraindicated during pregnancy. Always err on the side of caution with all herbs and medications while you are expecting.

Study: Acupuncture Point, UB 67, for Turning a Breech Baby

An acupuncture point on the small toe of the foot (Urinary Bladder 67) has been found to effectively revolve fetuses in breech presentation.

In an Italian study, 240 women at 33-35 weeks of gestation carrying a fetus in breech presentation were randomized to receive acupuncture plus moxibustion (an herb used to apply heat to an acupuncture point) or to be assigned to the observation group. At delivery, the proportion of babies that had turned from breech position to vertex (head-down) position was 53.6 % in the group treated with acupuncture while the proportion of babies that had turned from breech position to vertex position in the observation group was 36.7%.

Source: J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2004 Apr;15(4):247-52

Scientific Validation of Acupuncture

This informative article is from The Examiner.com

Scientific validation of acupuncture - the science of alternative medicine part IV
By Tracey Planinz
Orlando Alternative Medicine Examiner

This week's series has explored the science behind several alternative therapies, including herbs and homeopathy. Today's focus is acupuncture. Acupuncture is part of a system of medicine from China dating back, by some accounts, 8,000 years. The Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor, which is the basis for Traditional Chinese Medicine, is one of the oldest known medical texts. During an acupuncture treatment, the practitioner inserts fine needles along energy channels, called "meridians" to stimulate the flow of Qi - the body's vital force.

Although the practice of acupuncture was used anciently in China and is still one of the main methods of treatment in China today, scientific research in this area has only begun to emerge over the past few decades. Studies and clinical trials are numerous, but many Western physicians and researchers question some of these trials, claiming there is insufficient evidence to support the use of acupuncture in complementary medicine. Additionally, some OMD's and practitioners point out that some of the studies may be flawed. However, there are still a number of noteworthy trials which provide scientific validation for acupuncture. Below is a sample of recent research:

Chronic neck pain - A review published in 2006 by Kein Trinh, found that "individuals with chronic neck pain who received acupuncture reported, on average, better pain relief immediately after treatment and in the short-term than those who received sham treatments".

Migraines - A review published in January of this year by Klaus Linde of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine showed, "there is consistent evidence that acupuncture provides additional benefit to treatment of acute migraine attacks only or to routine care".

Insomnia - Another study from 2007 by Daniel Cheuk and his group found that, "Based on the findings from individual trials, the review suggested that acupuncture and acupressure may help to improve sleep quality scores when compared to placebo (95%)".

Chemotherapy induced nausea/vomiting - In 2009 Jeanette Ezzo and a research group concluded that, "Electroacupuncture has demonstrated benefit for chemotherapy-induced acute vomiting", and that "Self-administered acupressure appears to have a protective effect for acute nausea and can readily be taught to patients". Although these were not compared to placebos, and further trials are needed.

Asthma - In a scientific review of the study of acupuncture for respiratory ailments, published in The Journal for Alternative and Complementary Medicine, by Dr. Kim Jobst"...Dr. Jobst re-evaluated the "Sham" treatment [and] he says 80% of the research shows acupuncture may work". He also noted that acupuncture as a treatment was safer than long-term use of medications.

Cancer associated pain - A remarkable study done in London, England in 1986, published by Drs. J. Filshie and D. Redman, reported the following; "The effect of acupuncture was assessed in 183 patients attending the Pain Clinic in a cancer hospital. Early results were promising with 82% of patients obtaining benefit for hours or days... Acupuncture was most helpful for vascular problems, muscle spasm and dyaesthetic problems. Acupuncture was significantly helpful for a number of patients with malignant pain problems".

Acupuncture and assisted conception - Another promising study from 2008 by Dr. Ying Cheong in the UK, found that acupuncture was a beneficial treatment to aid women receiving fertility treatments, stating that, "acupuncture performed on the day of [embryo transfer] shows a beneficial effect on the live birth rate".

While further studies are warranted, this sample demonstrates there are measurable, therapeutic benefits from the use of acupuncture. In recent news the United States Air Force has begun using acupuncture on soldiers and is now training military doctors to use it. Anyone who is seriously investigating alternatives to conventional medicine should consider acupuncture and TCM. An OMD may use acupuncture, herbs and other modalities as treatment options. Look for a practitioner who is an OMD or LAc.

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