Back Pain and Alternative Solutions Like Acupuncture and Chirprocatic

by: Deron Van

I started having back pains a few years ago. The kind that shoot down your leg and make it difficult to walk. The doctors first tried physical therapy and I tried some Chiropractors on my own and nothing seemed to help. I would have occasional relief, but it always seemed to come back. The next thing the doctors did was send me for an MRI. This showed that I had a herniated disc between the L4 and L5 vertebrae. Their first solution was to inject cortisone into my spine and that's when I started looking for alternatives. I had heard that many people would get these injections that would cover up the pain for a while but then later on they would end up injuring themselves further.

One day, my back tensed up worse than before and I could not stand straight up. Any of you who have had back pain will be able to relate to this: I had to walk stooped over a little bit and every time I extended my left leg it pinched the nerve and made every step painful. I got pretty good at swinging my hips and stepping out instead of stepping forward to minimize that pain, but it was time to do something.

A friend of mine had had some acupuncture done before and I decided to give it a try. I walked in, in pain, and walked out standing straight up and walking normal. I was sold. If acupuncture is done right, it is very relaxing and at times I have almost fallen asleep during a session. Please note that acupuncture is actually good for treating many types of aches and pains, not just back pain.

Here is what you can expect from an acupuncture session: You can typically get undressed to a level you are comfortable with. The acupuncturist will then place needles in specific points on your body depending upon your problem areas. These points may or may not be anywhere near your pain. For example, during my sessions for back pain, the acupuncturist has placed needles in my hands, feet, legs and back. The needles they use are very small and each one is individually sealed. Many people may tell you that the needles don't hurt at all, and most of the time that is true. Occasionally, a needle will find a hot spot and it can feel like a fire. Just let the acupuncturist know if it is beyond uncomfortable pain. Sometimes these hot spots will lead to greater pain relief later on. During my first few sessions for my back pain, my worst hot spot was my right hand; it hurt about as bad as my back did earlier. However, I can walk upright and deal with pain in my hand; not with it my back. I was able to massage my hand and work out the pain so it was definitely worth it. After the needles are in, the acupuncturist will leave and let you relax for 20 to 30 minutes. Depending upon your acupuncturist, they may apply herbs or heat the needles slightly or give a slight twist to the needle. Then the needles come out. You will have to fight the urge to tighten up when they are pulling the needles out. It is better to relax as much as possible and not think about it. Some acupuncturists may also give a slight massage with the acupuncture.

So how am I doing now? Well, it has been over 5 years now, I think, and I never had to have a cortisone shot and never even thought about any kind of surgery. I still have occasional pain and have actually found a Chiropractor that is also a licensed acupuncture provider. He has a table that applies negative pressure to the discs in the spine and helps alleviate any associated pain. I still receive an occasional acupuncture treatment from him as well. Please note that I do not like "cracking" and my chiropractor has not "adjusted" my spine, only stretched it. I think the key to a healthy back with a herniated disc is to provide yourself with the ability to stretch out and strengthen your back without pain. Acupuncture and specific chiropractic treatments can be the way you accomplish this.

Want to see more health topics? Check out the Gotta Get My Info Health http://www.gottagetmyinfo.com/health Page.

About the Author

Deron Van is a software engineer at Intel, he received his bachelor degrees in CIS and marketing from Arizona State University and is the marketing manager at http://www.gottagetmyinfo.com you can email him at deron@gottagetmyinfo.com

Is Acupuncture A Benefit For Your Health?

Before we begin a discussion about the benefits of acupuncture, let?s talk about the origins of acupuncture.

It was first used in China over 2000 years ago, and is one of the oldest medical procedures in the world.

It is a family of procedures that stimulates the anatomy of the body and helps to balance the energy flow throughout the body.

It is this kind of acupuncture that is practiced in the United Sates today, through the use of tiny, metallic needles placed in affected areas and manipulated by hand or by electrical stimulation.

Acupuncture is the basic foundation for Traditional Chinese Medicine and is based on the belief that there are two opposing and inseparable forces within our body.

They are known as the Yin and Yang of the entire person. The Yin is representative of the cold, slow, or passive principle, and yang represents the hot, excited or active principle.

A healthy state is achieved by maintaining a balance state of the yin and yang. This is done through vital pathways or meridians that allow for the flow of qi, or vital energy. The vital energy flow occurs along pathways known as meridians.

These meridians connect over 2,000 acupuncture points along the body. There are 12 main meridians, and 8 secondary meridians. Although traditional western medicine does not completely understand how acupuncture works, the proof that it does work has been shown in several studies conducted by western medical facilities.

Now, let?s move to the question of does it work?

According to the National Institute of Health, the answer would be yes. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective in many areas of health care.

Areas such as postoperative nausea, chemotherapy side effects, osteoarthritis, low-back pain, headache, menstrual cramps, addiction, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma, just to name a few.

The study revealed that acupuncture was able to provide pain relief, improve function and mobility of joints due to arthritis inflammation, and served to complement standard care.

Although there are many who would doubt the effectiveness of acupuncture, once they are a patient, they are believers. It has been proposed that acupuncture works and produces its effects through regulating the nervous system.

The theory proposes that since acupuncture produces its effect through regulation of the nervous system, it induces the release of endorphins and immune system cells at specific sites on the body. There is also the theory that acupuncture alters the brain chemistry by the changing the neurotransmitters in the brain.

Without doubt acupuncture was a benefit in the study, and as a patient myself, I can vouch for the wonderful effect it has had on my back. Although acupuncture is classified as an alternative medicine therapy, and there is still much to be understood about the way it works, it is a proven aid in maintaining optimal health.

But what about the well individual, can acupuncture provide a benefit to them? Absolutely. Because acupuncture works off the belief that we must maintain balance of our vital energy flow in order to remain healthy, acupuncture serves as the tool for realignment.

Our vital energy flow can be out of balance, and we still feel and appear quite healthy. It is in this capacity that acupuncture serves as a sort of preventive medicine.

Checking and balancing the flow of energy on the meridian points in your body is like your car receiving a tune-up before it is in need of a repair.

About the Author: Rene Graeber graduated from the University of Munic in Educational and Sports Science and from the Paracelsus School of Medicine in Hamburg from Naturopathic Medicine. If you?re looking for helpful information about alternative medicine visit his website at http://www.naturheilkunde-preetz.de

Plastic Acupuncture?

Plastic Acupuncture?

 by: Doug Devlin

Plastic Acupuncture, abbreviated as (P.Ac) is not really a new development. Traditional Chinese Medicine has used it tools and talents for thousands of years for cosmetic purposes. In Chinas ancient past, procedures which involved a cosmetic change were available only to the very wealthy, probably members to the imperial family. Commoners would not have had access to either the funds or experts.

The ancient method was born from the union of three Traditional Chinese Medicine specialties: TCM Surgery, TCM Cosmetology and TCM Dermatology. The modern applied technology was developed in a hospital environment in Beijing, China. It was discovered while Doctors were treating patients with acupuncture who had suffered facial paralysis. It became apparent that the placement of acupuncture needles on specific areas not only had a therapeutic effect for the patients, but also created cosmetic results as a side benefit. The results could only be described as powerful and dramatic.

The name was chosen to reflect the use of acupuncture in a cosmetic manner to bring about change. Plastic is from Latin plasticus; to mold and Greek plastikos; to form. Plastic refers to the technique employed rather than the composite of the instruments.

The method is not surgery. It is the use of stainless steel acupuncture needles to gently stimulate the bodys natural energy system (called Qi) to create change.

By far the most popular procedure is a facial lift. Probably 8 out 10 people want to know about facial lifts. But many other types of procedures are also possible.

Plastic Acupuncture treats the whole person. How a person feels about their life and about themselves is very important. The treatment philosophy is that life beauty makes the human body beautiful.

Acupuncture of any nature is completely safe when preformed by a trained professional. Plastic Acupuncture is a very specialized form of Traditional Chinese Medicine Cosmetology (TCMC) and must be preformed by a trained professional.

The technique should not be viewed as an alternative to cosmetic surgery. A person that is interested in immediate and permanent change should seek a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon. Plastic Acupuncture provides results over a number of treatments (often up to 12 sessions). There is no natural way to create an over night change.

Most people should begin to see a visible difference within 6 sessions. If change has not taken place by that time, it is unlikely that it will. They should feel some difference after only one session.

The first meeting with the Plastic Acupuncturist (P.Ac) is a consultation to determine if the procedure is right for them. The person completes a general health questionnaire and the treatment area is examined to determine suitability of the procedure. Issues such as realistic expectations, how the treatment is preformed and other health questions are discussed. A decision to have the procedure will not be accepted on the spot by the Plastic Acupuncturist. A person should take their time to think over the decision before making an appointment to start the procedure.

Along with the actual needle placement, a person is given specific Chinese herbal medicines to increase health and assist in the cosmetic change process. These medicines may also include creams that should be applied between sessions.

An entire session takes about one hour and thirty minutes. Only sterile one-time-use needles are used, along with established sterilization methods.

About The Author

Doug Devlin is a Toronto, Ontario, Canada based Acupuncturist specializing in Plastic Acupuncture. He is a graduate of the Ontario College of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Toronto; The China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing and completed his internship at Wangjing Hospital, Beijing. He is a member of the Canadian Society of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, The World Association of Chinese Medicine and The Barefoot Doctors, International Humanitarian Association.

Doug Devlin can be contacted at: clinic@plasticacupuncture.com

Acupuncture - Weight Loss with an Ancient Chinese Twist

I remember the first time I took Chinese herbs. One of my patients told me You look really tired Here take these herbs and handed me a bagful of different colored packages. It hurt to have it put so bluntly, but it was true, I was building a business, working long hours and feeling a bit drained, so I listened and took them home to use that night. One was a peach green tea that tasted like the Snapple I had been drinking earlier that day, one was an interesting tasting dark green liquid which I took with an OJ chaser and the third was a powder that I mixed up with OJ, water and soy milk to make a citrus smoothie. Not bad I thought, for Chinese herbs And then something amazing happened. I felt full! Little did I know at that time I had been given the key to my natural weight loss that I still maintain 15 years later.

I remember the first time I took Chinese herbs. One of my patients told me You look really tired Here take these herbs and handed me a bagful of different colored packages. It hurt to have it put so bluntly, but it was true, I was building a business, working long hours and feeling a bit drained, so I listened and took them home to use that night. One was a peach green tea that tasted like the Snapple I had been drinking earlier that day, one was an interesting tasting dark green liquid which I took with an OJ chaser and the third was a powder that I mixed up with OJ, water and soy milk to make a citrus smoothie. Not bad I thought, for Chinese herbs And then something amazing happened. I felt full! Little did I know at that time I had been given the key to my natural weight loss that I still maintain 15 years later.

I loved it! I had never felt full before in my life. I had been struggling with being thin since childhood. I had learned when to stop eating in order to not gain weight; I knew all kinds of tricks like drinking water before a meal and getting up and walking away from the table. I looked at each new diet trend and I had eliminated all those bad carbohydrates from my diet and lived at the gym and I ended up thin and tired all the time. I even tried dexatrim (I may be dating myself does any body else out there remember that?) and ended up a yo-yo dieter. It was like I was in a constant battle with my body and my weight.

In this process of trying everything I had never before felt this feeling of being satisfied. I loved it! So I used the herbs for a few weeks and then I proceeded to talk myself out of taking the herbs too expensive, etc and promptly got tired and sick, went back on them stopped and got sick and tired again, repeated it a third time and then I got the message that these herbs were doing something really good for my body.

Then to my surprise, six months later I dropped 20 pounds without changing anything else in my life. I even began to eat more without gaining weight like I used to. I had a lifetime of experience struggling with my weight and I was amazed at how these little packages of herbs were changing my life. I would never have expected that these nutritional herbs would help me lose weight. I was so intrigued that I ended up going to Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine School to learn more. That was my door into the world of Chinese Medicine and acupuncture weight loss and Ive never looked back.

Weight Loss is quite a difficult complex problem for some of us, and not even an issue for others. Just recently Language has been removed from the Medicare Coverage Issues Manual stating that obesity is not an illness. The medical science will now determine whether we provide coverage for the treatments that reduce complications and improve quality of life for the millions of Medicare beneficiaries with obesity.(1) Being overweight is now officially a disease. And as a first step, we expect to convene our Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee in the fall to evaluate the evidence on the various surgical procedures used in treating obesity.(2) There has to be other alternatives besides surgery.

Acupuncture for Weight Loss hit the press in 2003 when Reuters, CNN and others reported of successful acupuncture weight loss clinics in China. Chinese Medicine theory, traditionally hold that overweight people have imbalanced digestive systems. By stimulating the digestive system through acupuncture and herbs, it becomes more balanced and efficient, thus nutrition is more bio-available and the person feels fuller. This is what happened to me when my metabolism came into a better balance. Other theories are that acupuncture mainly helps reduce appetite and improve metabolism.(3)

A slow increase in Obesity in China had lead to this new specialty acupuncture weight loss. A professor at a Traditional Chinese Medicine College in China states that treatments for weight reduction have been practiced, studied and refined over the past 5 years(4). While an exact comparison between the US and China is difficult, in China the numbers may be close to 10-13% overweight adults, as compared to 64% for the US, but with their lifestyles and economic changes this number is beginning to rise (5) . In Beijing, the capital, students eagerly enjoy down their Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Pepsi and pop tarts. These foods have slowly replaced the previous hot spots with traditional Chinese snacks found in places like Grandmas Dumpling House (6) . The obesity rate among primary and middle school students has risen to 18 %, from 10% in 1991, the state Xinhua news agency said recently, citing a survey from the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention.(7)

So what kind of acupuncture weight loss treatments do they offer in these clinics in China? Acupuncture, on the body and/or the ear, herbal supplements and exercise thats not overly taxing (8). These are the primary treatment modalities that are used, but Acupuncture is the pillar of their weight loss strategy. How successful are they in losing weight? Currently there are no published research studies in peer reviewed journals, only success stories emanating from the clinics. One source states On this modest program patients are said to lose between 22 and 33 pounds per month(9). Huge weight losses of up to 242 pounds are boasted. In China, they say that 4 of 5 patients lose weight.(10)

I was fortunate to have been trained by a colleague that studied in China learning these acupuncture weight loss treatments. We are now proud and excited to offer the Chinese nutritional herbal program that I used as well as these acupuncture treatments and other supporting treatments for weight loss at our Oriental Medicine spa-clinic in Los Angeles. I continue to further my study and am exploring working with researchers at a major university to evaluate the efficacy of these protocols. Imagine finding solid evidence that there is a treatment for obesity that has relatively few side effects. It is exciting to see where this can go.

The unique acupuncture weight loss program we are offering here in Los Angeles at the Oriental Med Spa is a synergy based on the treatment protocol currently used in China(11), Chinese Dietary therapy including nutrient packed supplements and nutrition for weight loss taught to physicians (12). It is a gradual reduction method and includes Oriental Medicine Diagnosis, a series of eight Acupuncture for Weight Loss Treatments, Auricular acupuncture (ear seeds) and herbal pharmaceutical grade Chinese nutrition supplements. Acupuncture and nutritional herbs are used primarily to strengthen the digestive system so it becomes more efficient. The food you eat is better assimilated and you feel full more quickly with less cravings. We hear I noticed that my cravings were much less on a regular basis from patients.

Breathing exercises are also a vital part of our program. For additional support we also provide Chinese Nutrition diet analysis, Eating plans, Lifestyle Changes Support, RejuvaQi Qi Gong Exercises, Slim & Toned IR BodyWrap and AromaWraps for weight loss. Treatments range from active to pampering. Each program is tailored and individualized for the patients unique situation. In China they say that 4 of 5 patients lose weight. Only time will tell here in the West (13).

Searches of medical literature show that all of the following are important, lifestyle choices such as daily exercise, smart diet choices, dealing with your inner eating demons. Others are important but havent gotten quite as much press proper breathing, body balance & flexibility, and constitution. Lets face it we all come in as a unique individual with our own DNA, personality profile and favorite foods. First is the decision to lose weight, next is the right support.

This is where I believe Chinese Medicine and acupuncture for weight loss are powerful supporting tools, to help us find our own individual paths to healthy living. It is a slow gradual reduction method. The program can stand alone or be a supportive treatment for other weight loss or weight management programs. It takes time as the body rebalances. It worked well for me, it has worked for others and if you are seriously looking for support for your weight loss, come in for a treatment. Wed love to share it with you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Debra Clydesdale LAc DNBAO is President of the Oriental Med SPA. She has been helping people improve their inner health and outer beauty and lead healthier lives for over 15 years offering specialized anti-aging, weight loss, acupuncture facial renewal, and orthopoedic treatments, products and services with roots in Oriental Medicine and Chinese Nutrition. She can be reached at 323-655-9800, www.OrientalMedSPA.com.

Suffering from Osteoarthritis? Acupuncture to the Rescue

CamelotKeeping in tune with our commitment to providing the latest, medical breakthroughs, I recently had the rare pleasure of speaking with Professor Jorge Vas Ruiz , (Subdirector of the Master University of Acupuncture, ACMAS Huangdi located in Sevilla, Spain) regarding acupuncture's effectiveness on osteoarthritis of the knee.

For over 8 years, Professor Ruiz and his team of elite professors have investigated the effectiveness of Acupuncture treatment. In the past two years, his work focused on a trial of 40 patients whereby acupuncture and relative therapies were applied.

The discoveries were that Acupuncture Techniques relatively proceeded to exceedingly heighten internal healing organisms. Professor Ruiz writes, "The art of traditional Chinese Medicine categorized Osteoarthritis as 'Bi Syndromes,' Blockages in Qi energy circulation, which results in ill health.

From Ancient Widsom, analgesic properties were founded through points of acupuncture. Numerous studies have demonstrated which nervous system neurotransmitters and natural antigens respond to the stimulus of Acupuncture; and how the analgesic effectiveness of acupuncture fine tunes the peptide pathways and allows natural opiote substances into the undefined gray areas. In the case of Osteoarthritis, acupuncture has effectively reduced and alleviated pain improving mobility of the joints, and finally, increasing the quality of life and overall wellbeing.

Recognizing which treatment is greater for the majority as opposed to surgery, our Investigation demonstrated that acupuncture is a good treatment for arthritis of the knee. Normally, 10-12 repetitive treatments are a necessary process depending on seriousness. Normally, patients did not require treatment past 6 months.

Dr. Ruiz further explained that, "...Leading trials from patients affected by chonic neck pain were completed just a month ago and should have published results shortly. Another trial centered on acupuncture's effectiveness on shoulder pain involving 500 patients is set to begin in one month as well."

In closing, Professor Ruiz elaborated that, "Overall, the process of osteoarthritis responds well to acupuncture. Depending on one's initial stage of arthritis, this medical treatment can effectively help with pain and inflammation."

Professor Jorge Vas Ruiz is the Subdirector for, ACMAS Huangdi a practicing and teaching university of Acupuncture and traditional Chinese Medicine. His research has been featured on several medical media journals, including the British Medical Journal.

____________________________________________________________________________

To read this and other articles like this one, go to www.holisticjunction.com today!

12/2004 Suffering from Osteoarthritis? Acupuncture to the Rescue
Report by,
C. Bailey-Lloyd
aka. LadyCamelot
Public Relations' Director
& Staff Writer
www.HolisticJunction.com
www.MediaPositiveRadio.com
www.911LawOffices.com

For over 8 years, Professor Ruiz and his team of elite professors have investigated the effectiveness of Acupuncture treatment. In the past two years, his work focused on a trial of 40 patients whereby acupuncture and relative therapies were applied.

The discoveries were that Acupuncture Techniques relatively proceeded to exceedingly heighten internal healing organisms. Professor Ruiz writes, "The art of traditional Chinese Medicine categorized Osteoarthritis as 'Bi Syndromes,' Blockages in Qi energy circulation, which results in ill health.

From Ancient Widsom, analgesic properties were founded through points of acupuncture. Numerous studies have demonstrated which nervous system neurotransmitters and natural antigens respond to the stimulus of Acupuncture; and how the analgesic effectiveness of acupuncture fine tunes the peptide pathways and allows natural opiote substances into the undefined gray areas. In the case of Osteoarthritis, acupuncture has effectively reduced and alleviated pain improving mobility of the joints, and finally, increasing the quality of life and overall wellbeing.

Recognizing which treatment is greater for the majority as opposed to surgery, our Investigation demonstrated that acupuncture is a good treatment for arthritis of the knee. Normally, 10-12 repetitive treatments are a necessary process depending on seriousness. Normally, patients did not require treatment past 6 months.

Dr. Ruiz further explained that, "...Leading trials from patients affected by chonic neck pain were completed just a month ago and should have published results shortly. Another trial centered on acupuncture's effectiveness on shoulder pain involving 500 patients is set to begin in one month as well."

In closing, Professor Ruiz elaborated that, "Overall, the process of osteoarthritis responds well to acupuncture. Depending on one's initial stage of arthritis, this medical treatment can effectively help with pain and inflammation."

Professor Jorge Vas Ruiz is the Subdirector for, ACMAS Huangdi a practicing and teaching university of Acupuncture and traditional Chinese Medicine. His research has been featured on several medical media journals, including the British Medical Journal.

____________________________________________________________________________

To read this and other articles like this one, go to www.holisticjunction.com today!

12/2004 Suffering from Osteoarthritis? Acupuncture to the Rescue
Report by,
C. Bailey-Lloyd
aka. LadyCamelot
Public Relations' Director
& Staff Writer
www.HolisticJunction.com
www.MediaPositiveRadio.com
www.911LawOffices.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

12/2004 Suffering from Osteoarthritis? Acupuncture to the Rescue
Report by,
C. Bailey-Lloyd
aka. LadyCamelot
Public Relations' Director
& Staff Writer
www.HolisticJunction.com
www.MediaPositiveRadio.com
www.911LawOffices.com

Moxibustion works well with Acupuncture

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique for unblocking qi (the energy that allegedly permeates all things) by inserting disposable needles at particular points on the body to balance the opposing forces of yin and yang.

When yin and yang are in harmony, qi flows freely within the body and a person is healthy. When a person is sick, diseased, or injured, there is an obstruction of qi along one of the meridians. Traditional Chinese Medicine has identified some 2,000 specific points where needles are to be inserted for specific effects.

What does acupuncture feel like? Do the needles hurt?

People experience acupuncture differently, but most feel minimal or no pain as the needles are inserted. Some people are energized by treatment, while others feel relaxed.

What is moxibustion?

Moxibustion, or moxa for short, is an ancient form of heat therapy. Moxa uses the ground up leaves of the plant mugwort (Artemesia vulgaris or ai ye in Chinese). The burning of moxa is believed to expel cold and warm the meridians, which leads to a smoother flow of blood and qi.

How does moxibustion work? Does it hurt?

There are two types of moxibustion -- direct and indirect.

In direct moxibustion, a small, cone-shaped amount of herb is placed on top of an acupuncture point and burned. The patient will experience a pleasant heating sensation that penetrates deep into the skin, but should not experience any pain, blistering or scarring unless the moxa is left in place for too long.

Indirect moxibustion is currently the more popular form of care because there is a much lower risk of pain or burning. In indirect moxibustion, a practitioner lights one end of a moxa stick, roughly the shape and size of a cigar, and holds it close to the area being treated for several minutes until the area turns red.

Who is moxibustion good for?

It is used specifically for patients suffering from cold or stagnant constitutions. It should not be used on anyone diagnosed with too much heat.

"It is especially good for women who have joint pains, menstrual cramps, irregular periods, and infertility."

How is acupuncture paired with moxibustion?

When the needles are in the body, the smoldering moxa stick is held a couple inches away from the skin, usually around the inserted needles. The practitioner will monitor the heat level, and work with the patient to provide a therapeutic level of heat while maintaining comfort and safety.

This simultaneous use of moxibustion with the acupuncture needle intensifies the therapeutic benefit of the given acupuncture point.

Can anybody practise moxibustion?

Moxibustion is usually taught as part of a qualified acupuncture or Traditional Chinese Medicine degree programme. It takes skill and caution. "It is equivalent to holding a red-hot coal an inch above someone's skin."

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique for unblocking qi (the energy that allegedly permeates all things) by inserting disposable needles at particular points on the body to balance the opposing forces of yin and yang.

When yin and yang are in harmony, qi flows freely within the body and a person is healthy. When a person is sick, diseased, or injured, there is an obstruction of qi along one of the meridians. Traditional Chinese Medicine has identified some 2,000 specific points where needles are to be inserted for specific effects.

What does acupuncture feel like? Do the needles hurt?

People experience acupuncture differently, but most feel minimal or no pain as the needles are inserted. Some people are energized by treatment, while others feel relaxed.

What is moxibustion?

Moxibustion, or moxa for short, is an ancient form of heat therapy. Moxa uses the ground up leaves of the plant mugwort (Artemesia vulgaris or ai ye in Chinese). The burning of moxa is believed to expel cold and warm the meridians, which leads to a smoother flow of blood and qi.

How does moxibustion work? Does it hurt?

There are two types of moxibustion -- direct and indirect.

In direct moxibustion, a small, cone-shaped amount of herb is placed on top of an acupuncture point and burned. The patient will experience a pleasant heating sensation that penetrates deep into the skin, but should not experience any pain, blistering or scarring unless the moxa is left in place for too long.

Indirect moxibustion is currently the more popular form of care because there is a much lower risk of pain or burning. In indirect moxibustion, a practitioner lights one end of a moxa stick, roughly the shape and size of a cigar, and holds it close to the area being treated for several minutes until the area turns red.

Who is moxibustion good for?

It is used specifically for patients suffering from cold or stagnant constitutions. It should not be used on anyone diagnosed with too much heat.

"It is especially good for women who have joint pains, menstrual cramps, irregular periods, and infertility."

How is acupuncture paired with moxibustion?

When the needles are in the body, the smoldering moxa stick is held a couple inches away from the skin, usually around the inserted needles. The practitioner will monitor the heat level, and work with the patient to provide a therapeutic level of heat while maintaining comfort and safety.

This simultaneous use of moxibustion with the acupuncture needle intensifies the therapeutic benefit of the given acupuncture point.

Can anybody practise moxibustion?

Moxibustion is usually taught as part of a qualified acupuncture or Traditional Chinese Medicine degree programme. It takes skill and caution. "It is equivalent to holding a red-hot coal an inch above someone's skin."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

www.medical-explorer.com

Acupuncture on migraine

A SHAM version of acupuncture works just as well for treating migraine headaches as the real thing, and both fake and real acupuncture work better than no treatment at all, a new study has found.

A SHAM version of acupuncture works just as well for treating migraine headaches as the real thing, and both fake and real acupuncture work better than no treatment at all, a new study has found.

German researchers divided 302 migraine sufferers into three groups, the first receiving real acupuncture, the second fake and the third were told to wait for treatment. By this measure, real acupuncture succeeded with 51 per cent, and the sham procedure succeeded with 53 per cent, a statistically insignificant difference.

Only 15 per cent of the waiting list group attained the 50 per cent reduction in headache days. The effectiveness of both the sham and the real acupuncture is about the same as treatment with drugs and has fewer side effects. The results, they conclude, "may be due to non-specific physiological effects of needling, to a powerful placebo effect, or to a combination of both."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

www.medical-explorer.com

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

CamelotThere are over 50 Acupuncture Schools in the United States. Acupuncture laws differ from state to state, therefore, each acupuncture school entails its own philosophy and instruction outline. Acupuncture school education and training is...

There are over 50 Acupuncture Schools in the United States. Acupuncture laws differ from state to state, therefore, each acupuncture school entails its own philosophy and instruction outline. Acupuncture school education and training is...

... approximately 3,000 credit hours. Because there are varying therories of Acupuncture, some schools teach the 5-Element style of acupuncture as opposed to the more familiar TCM style. While some acupuncture schools have mandatory herbal curriculum, other acupuncture schools list this course-study as an option.

The main purpose of attending an acupuncture school is to be educated and trained to be healers in the art, to learn the science and philosophy of acupuncture, and to be instructed in herbal and Oriental medicine. Attaining a professional license as an acupuncturist is rewarding in many ways. One not only learns to heal others but also learns to heal himself - spiritually, mentally and physically.

Fundamentally, all aspects of traditional Oriental medicine are introduced in the first year of academic instruction. This includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, anatomy, body therapy, biosciences and Tai Chi. This prepares the aspiring acupuncturist for clinical apprenticehsip. During the second year at an acupuncture school, classroom experience teaches in-depth philosophy of acupuncture practice, Oriental medicine and advance needling techniques.

Apprenticeship begins with licensed acupuncturists in a clinical setting. During the third year of acupuncture school training, students begin practicing on their own patients as interns. Acupuncture school classroom instruction is mainly comprised of clinical case discussions; thus, deepening acupuncture therapy understanding. If you'd like to learn more about acupuncture schools, feel free to search the Holistic Junction healing arts schools' directory targeted by category and state.

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine by C. Bailey-Lloyd/LadyCamelot in conjunction with Holistic Junction

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

C. Bailey-Lloyd/aka. LadyCamelot Public Relations' Director & Staff Writer for Holistic Junction -- Your source of information for Acupuncture Schools

Acupuncture Eases Tension Headache Pain

Copyright 2005 Daily News Central

The ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture has proven to be an effective treatment for tension headache. It not only relieves pain, but also cuts rates of recurrence by almost half, a recent study indicates.

Traditional Chinese acupuncture therapy involves insertion of needles up to 3 inches deep into the body at prescribed acupuncture points, according to licensed acupuncturist Rong Zeng of the New York Good Health Clinic in Manhattan.

However, a new, randomized blind study in Germany involving 270 patients with a similar severity of tension headache has shown that a minimal course of acupuncture works almost as well as the traditional method.

Fewer Headaches After Treatment

Researchers divided the patients into three groups. Over an eight-week period, one group was treated with traditional acupuncture, another received minimal acupuncture (needles inserted only superficially into the skin at non-acupuncture points), and the control group had neither treatment.

The subjects were monitored for four weeks after their period of treatment. Those who had received traditional acupuncture care subsequently experienced seven fewer headaches. The group that had been given minimal acupuncture therapy had surprisingly similar results -- 6.6 fewer headaches.

The control group did not fare as well, with only 1.5 fewer headaches.

Improvements in headache rates continued for months after the acupuncture treatment, though they began to rise slightly as time went on.

Results Subject to Interpretation

Such a negligable difference in results between traditional and minimal acupuncture treatments possibly indicates that the location of acupuncture points and depth of needle insertion do not make a major difference for treatment of tension headache, the authors of the study suggest.

However, they caution that the possibility of placebo effects should not be overlooked.

"Placebo effect is a factor in all types of medicine," Dr. Zeng noted. In western medicine, for example, blind tests may reveal placebo effects that are similar to responses to trial drugs, she explained.

In any case, it is clear that the patients who received acupuncture treatment experienced fewer headaches. The possibility that placebo effect plays a role in acupuncture does not detract from its efficacy.


About the author:
Rita Jenkins is a health journalist for Daily News Central, an online publication that delivers breaking news and reliable health information to consumers, healthcare providers and industry professionals: http://www.dailynewscentral.com