What To Do When Going For A Acupuncture Treatment

There are a few things that should be done when going for an acupuncture treatment. When you make your first appointment ask if there are any things that you should know. It is always good to ask the practitioner what he recommends.

Expect that your first session might be bit longer than treatments after that. To be able to assess your health properly than he practitioner needs to ask thoroughly about your condition.

Do not consume a large meal just before your treatment or right after it is over. Instead have a light meal earlier in the day so you are not hungry during your acupuncture session.

Some acupuncturists might ask that you would be careful not to do anything that will affect the color of your tongue. This is because the color of your tongue is diagnostic procedure that may be important in a treatment plan.

That is why on the day of your session it is recommended that you do not drink juice, coffee or soda. Water and tea are fine. Stay away from spicy foods as they also have an effect on the color of the tongue. Do not brush your tongue when cleaning your teeth the day of your appointment.

Do not stop taking the medications you were described. It is essential that whatever your health care provider has prescribed you continue to take them.

If you use illicit drugs seven days before a treatment this may affect the outcome. Alcohol should not be drunk at least 24 hours after the treatment.

Before you go to your session it is best not have done excessive exercise or had sex. It is recommended you abstain from these activities for six hours before and after your session.

It is good to rest for a short while especially after the first couple of sessions. At the minimum you should only do light activities. It is useful to the acupuncturist if you keep a journal so they can see the results of your sessions.

Learn More About Acupuncture And How It Relates To Disease.

Acupuncture-for-disease.com

Treating Menopause With Acupuncture and Herbs

Menopause is the cessation of the menstrual cycle, which usually occurs slowly, as the ovaries gradually lose their ability to produce estrogen. The reduced levels of estrogen in the body reduces fertility, making reproduction more and more difficult until it eventually ceases altogether. Menopause is a natural part of the physiological aging process, but can also be induced surgically, when a woman undergoes a hysterectomy - if the ovaries are removed with the uterus. The average age of onset of menopause is 50.5 years, but can occur much earlier in cases of premature ovarian failure, or slightly later.

Some women can sail through menopause with hardly a symptom. Most women experience something - from mild to severe hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, to irritability. Other possible symptoms can include vaginal dryness, urinary urgency or incontinence, osteoporosis, joint pain, decreased libido, fatigue, depression, memory loss and mood swings. One decade, estrogen replacement therapy is touted to be the best thing since the water faucet, and the next decade it is deadly. Nowadays there are bio-identical hormones available, progesterone creams, and a host of other options. The risks of such treatments are still unknown, especially for women who have had a history of breast cancer.

One of the many options available to women is acupuncture and oriental medicine, sometimes called Chinese medicine. The roots of this medicine go deep. It has been treating women for all the symptoms associated with menopause and perimenopause for around 5,000 years. Does it work? Well, if it didn?t, someone would have noticed by now. But how does it work, and what can you expect from being treated by this ancient form of medicine?

To answer the second question first, you can expect a soothing environment, and a sense of deep relaxation. Some people can actually feel something ?shift? inside them during treatments, describing it as a sense of something being released. Some people feel a slight tingling, and some a heavy sensation. Sometimes patients report that they experienced fewer hot flashes, mood swings or night sweats after one treatment. But since Oriental medicine relies on the body?s ability to correct and heal itself, it usually takes more than one treatment for you to get lasting results.

So what is happening here? How does this work? What we say is that before you experience any kind of a symptom, the body?s energy is out of balance. First energy goes out of balance, and then matter follows energy. The principle that underlies the theory of acupuncture is the principle of energy. When the energies of your organs and tissues are in balance, then they function properly. Over time, with different stressful situations, different life events and choices, our energies lose their equilibrium. Factors such as diet, emotional stress, overwork, lack of exercise, etc. affect the bodies energies. It?s like a stream with too many rocks in it ? on the upstream side you get a puddle, and on the downstream side you get a trickle. What acupuncture needles do is take the rocks out of the stream.

Starting with perimenopause, women begin to lose what?s called their ?yin? energy. Yin relates to quiet, moist, calm, receptive energy. It?s as if you forgot to put enough coolant into the engine of your car, so the engine heats up. It?s not that there?s too much heat, it?s that there isn?t enough coolant. So while acupuncture can balance your bodies energies, you can also expect that your acupuncturist will recommend an herbal formula. Herbs are a way of putting something into the body - in this case, some ?coolant?. Chinese herbs are almost never taken singularly. They are meant to be taken in formulas, with specific amounts of each herb, prescribed to match each patient?s specific condition or conditions, body type, etc. When searching for an acupuncturist to treat your menopause or perimenopausal symptoms, you should make sure that he or she is a qualified herbalist, too, as this will make a big difference in the results you can expect. But it is important to understand that many of the herbs which are typically used in treating perimenopause or menopausal symptoms contain phytoestrogens, they are generally contraindicated in treating women who have had a history of breast cancer. Only a qualified herbalist will be able to decide if it is possible to compose a formula without any phytoestrogens, which would effectively treat your symptoms.

Toni Narins, L.Ac. is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist in San Diego, CA. She maintains a busy clinical practice in Mission Valley, treating women for menstrual problems, menopausal symptoms and a wide variety of pain. Aside from acupuncture and herbs, she addresses her patient's diet, exercise, and lifestyle.

http://www.missionvalleyacu.com

Myths About Acupuncture

. Myth: Acupuncture is dangerous and also painful.

There is no pain. The individual may feel a tiny prick upon insertion of the needle. Sometimes the individual does not feel the needle at all. In some very rare instances there can be a little bruising at the point of insertion. There is no tissue damage as a result of insertion generally as the needles used in acupuncture are very hair like and they have a rounded point and are solid. Unlike in the hypodermic needle the acupuncture needle does not have a cutting edge. There is no actual danger as doctors use single use disposable needles.

. Myth: Acupuncture needles can transfer diseases like AIDS and hepatitis from individual to individual.

Generally individuals are given their own set of needles. In the United States the use of disposable single use needles is a standard practice. Therefore there is no risk of these diseases being transmitted.

. Myth: Acupuncture is used on for treatment of pain.

Acupuncture is used in the treatment of pain but not for that sole purpose only. Since many studies showed that acupuncture had the ability to relieve pain it was thought that it only had that purpose. Acupuncture is used in a wide variety of treatments for various ailments.

. Myth: Only Chinese or Asians can practice acupuncture because it is of Chinese origin.

This is not so. The ability to learn and practice anything does not depend upon you racial background. In the United States alone most of the acupuncture practitioners are not Asian.

. Myth: Allopathic physicians (medical doctors whose treatment are counteractive methods for injury and disease) do not endorse acupuncture neither do they believe in it.

This was perhaps true about 25 years ago. Today there are at least 3,000 acupuncture certified physicians. . Myth: In acupuncture the four-needle technique is used on every patient for sedation.

This technique is used in very rare and extreme instances only. This technique is generally not used more than twice in one year. Sometimes the energy of a patient virtually gets stuck; it is then that the four-needle technique is used as a last resort.

. Myth: It is best if a physician (MD) performs acupuncture.

Physicians have a very limited training in acupuncture. To be a member of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture they only need 200 hours of training. Of these 200 hours clinical training is only about 80 hours, which is the requirement. When you consider licensed acupuncturists they have several years of training. Therefore it is best if you go for treatment to a licensed acupuncturist who has more experience.

. Myth: Acupuncture is not widely used nor is it officially recognized in the United States. It is widely used only in third world countries.

This is not so as over 30 states in America officially recognize or register the practice of acupuncturists. Of these 30 states 22 register, certify or license acupuncturists for their own practice.

. Myth: The need for acupuncture does not exist today.

Acupuncture is widely used today. It often prevents the use of cortisone, painkillers and surgery. Studies have shown that about 61% of patients who were treated with acupuncture after being paralyzed as a result of a stroke showed great improvement.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Acupuncture

Acupuncture - Chinese Moxibustion Technique for Good Health?

Acupuncture ? Chinese moxibustion technique, what is that?

Actually, there are two operative parts to acupuncture ? one is operations with needles and the other is with fire. Both of them are essential and correlative for 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).

Acupuncture and moxibustion are an important invention of the Chinese nation. In ancient literature, there were many legends about the origin of acupuncture and moxibustion such as Fu Xi's creation of the therapeutic techniques with stone needles, and Huang Di's invention of acupuncture and moxibustion.

The origin of acupuncture Chinese moxibustion can be dated back to the Eolithic age. It was believed that a housewife who was cooking found relief from her ache while she was standing near the fire at the stove. This has gradually evolved and medical herbs were later added to fume the body and improve health.

The methods in common use are moxibustion with moxa cone and cupping. The basic principle is to place a glass jar over the body and allow it to ?cup? the body by putting fire in the jar. This heating forces the air out of the jar and causes a ?suction vortex? so that the jar sticks to the skin. This causes the stasis of blood to be stimulated and ?massage? the internal organs of the patient. The moxa cone can also be used for the same effect.

Of course, acupuncture Chinese moxibustion must be done with precision and it targets the relevant acupuncture points or meridians of the body so that the targeted illness can be cured. Ginger and mashed garlic are also added as medicinal herbs as and when required.

Normally, the jar is allowed to stay on the body for about 15 to 20 minutes, and treatment has to be done over a period of time.

Besides these traditional methods of acupuncture Chinese moxibustion, people have now made improvements on the methods. Nowadays, possible equipment used include the microwave needle moxibustion, electronic needle moxibustion, acupoint injection, acupoint magnetotherapy, and so on.

For even more FREE acupuncture information, go to Acupuncture Manual. Or, if you would like a ?deep? acupuncture subject, check out Acupuncture Auriculotherapy Chinese Ear Manual. For more information on acupuncture, be sure to visit 321 Acupuncture

Some Aspects of Acupuncture

Clinical Acupuncture Practice

Acupuncture needles used for clinical practice are special needles of fine diameter made of stainless steel and are not hollow. The needle has a thick bronze wire wound on its upper third and a handle for firm grip. Each acupuncture style has a unique insertion depth and type of needle used. The acupuncture point is heated with a process called moxicombustion.

Safety of Acupuncture

The acupuncture process is safe to perform if it?s done by a certified acupuncturist. Acupuncture therpists are now commonplace and you should be able to talk to him or her about your condition and any specific questions or queries you might have. The equipment is safe and clean. The needles used are pre sterilized and disposable. Thus they are safe to use and unlikely to transmit disease.

Complementary Therapy With Acupuncture

Acupuncture can be used as a complementary therapy for the following conditions:

Anxiety
Neuralgias
Migraines
Chronic pain
Arthritis
Bruxism
TMJ pain
Allergic rhinitis

A trained acupuncturist can also advise on other conditions where acupuncture may be of use and you should be able to discuss your particular case and concerns with him or her. Most, of not all, practitioners will be happy to discuss your requirements with them and they will not wish for you to part with any money until you are satisfied as to the process.

Acupuncture is a relatively safe, painless and without any notable side effects. Under an expert acupuncturist you can relieve your pain the Oriental way!

Eric Hartwell oversees "The World's Best Homepage" intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions at the worlds best homepage or submit or use content at free content resource.

Acupuncture - the Oriental Medicine

Acupuncture is a form of Oriental medicine that originated 2000 years back in ancient China. This method of pain alleviation made its entry into Japan in the 6th century as a form of religious medicine with Buddhism. It is now practiced widely in Japan.

Though its efficacy was much in debate for years, it is now being accepted as a pain management technique across hospitals and clinics across America and Canada. The WHO, after extensive study with other Government organizations, has declared that it is a relatively safe method of pain alleviation when done under an expert acupuncturist.

Theories of Acupuncture

Ancient theory

The ancient Chinese acupuncture Text of Huangdi Neijing describes acupuncture pathways called jingluo or meridians that allow excess blood or qi to flow out of the body. The skin was thought to be the gateway of diseases in ancient China and making holes in them was a way to let the disease out of the body. The Chinese had a well developed irrigation system consisting of streams and canals. They compared the human body to having such canals through which the vital energy qi flows. If there is an obstruction to the flow of qi, diseases occur. So, acupuncture aims at clearing the blockages and allowing the free flow of qi.

Modern Theory

According to modern medicine, diseases are caused due to microbes and not due to the blockage of qi. The modern theory of acupuncture states that the stimulation by acupuncture needles send signals to the nervous system which in turn emits biochemicals and causes the release of certain hormones that aid in disease management. When the acupuncture needles are inserted at strategic points, electromagnetic signals are released that excite the immune cells to release hormones like endorphins that alleviate pain. Studies have found that acupuncture also affects the brain sensations, body temperature and blood pressure.

Therapeutic Care

Acupuncture has showed good results in post operative pain in dentistry, nausea caused due to chemotherapy, drug addiction, pain during menses, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, backpain, migranes, asthma and carpal tunnel syndrome where it has been included in the pain management program with the general treatment.

Acupuncture Points

The categories of acupuncture points are the Jing well, shu-stream, Ying-spring, Jing river, He sea, and the Five phase points that describe the five transporting points namely the fire, wood, earth, metal and water, Xi-cleft points, luo connecting, Yuan source, back-shu, hui meeting and front mu.

Eric Hartwell oversees "The World's Best Homepage" intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions at the worlds best homepage or submit or use content at free content resource

Acupuncture Used As ATreatment

Acupuncture can be used to treat certain symptoms and assist in the recovery from certain conditions, or the recurrence of those conditions. It can be used to reduce complications and to alleviate the need for further surgery or pharmaceuticals. Generally, the purpose of Acupuncture is to restore or jump-start the circulation of energy in a person?s body. In Chinese medicine this energy is know as ?Qi? (pronounced ?chee?). Qi is a concept of Chinese living and relates to ?air? or the ?life force? and ?spiritual energy? of every living being.

According to ancient beliefs, Qi is constantly transferring between the Qi of the body and the Qi of the environment. One of the functions of Qi within the body is to prevent harmful Qi from entering. If the protective Qi is strong, resistance is high and disease is prevented. Before the discovery and use of microscopes - whereby man discovered individual cells - and before autopsies revealed the intricate workings of the human body, doctors and academics could only compare it to the visible world outside of the body. One aspect of civilisation, which was well developed, was the system of water courses, canals, streams, rivers, irrigation systems. They were considered as the givers of life and the human body was accepted as operating in the same way, moving the life-giving fluid in the same way. The fluid was the Qi and the canals and pathways where it flowed were termed the meridians.

There are known to be 500 acupuncture points along the body?s meridians, or pathways of energy flow. These areas are stimulated to enhance their receptiveness either by the insertion of needles, which is the common perception of what acupuncture involves, or via massage, herbs and even suction cups. Acupuncture can be used as a treatment or a cure for dozens and dozens of illnesses, diseases and conditions. Some of these conditions have been effectively controlled or cured by acupuncture and others still need to be proven. Notwithstanding this, the benefits to the patient?s state of mind can only be positive.

Initial consultation for acupuncture would typically involve an interview where the patient?s medical history, current treatments and symptoms can be explored. The next step would involve the taking of the pulse from both arms and an inspection of the patient?s tongue. The appearance of the tongue gives the practitioner a good indication of what is going on inside the patient?s body. A diagnosis and treatment plan follows. The treatment can last anywhere between 5 minutes and 60 minutes.

The treatment may consist of any or all of the following:

Needling - The insertion of needles into acupuncture points.

Moxibustion - The application of the herb mugwort to produce heat at the acupuncture points. Auricular therapy, which is the insertion of needles into acupuncture points on the ear and can often be worn for a couple of days.

Electropuncture - The introductions of an electrical current through the needles.

Laser therapy - The use of laser light at the acupuncture points for those people who are intimidated by the thought of receiving needles.

The treatment can also entail a dietary supplement using foods with therapeutic properties, the use of an herbal formula, exercise therapy or internal therapy such as massaging.

Costs for Acupuncture Therapy can vary depending upon the practitioner, but generally between $10 and $100 would be considered average. Dietary and herbal supplements can be extra. Some Health Insurance companies do have rebates for this type of treatment.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Acupuncture

How To Use Acupuncture For Headaches

Acupuncture is an ancient migraine and tension headache treatment used in Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine holds that life energy Qi (pronounced ?chee?) flows through the body along pathways or channels called meridians. When the flow of Qi becomes unbalanced and disrupted it causes health problems.

The main goal of acupuncture is to rebalance and unblock the flow of Qi by placing tiny needles in specific acupuncture points situated on your arms, legs or shoulders. This procedure is not as painful and terrible as it may sound. Usually a person experiences only a mild discomfort as the needle penetrates the skin, but after that all unpleasant sensations disappear and the person feels relaxed and sometimes even sleepy.

The duration and frequency of acupuncture treatment depends on multiple factors such as what type of headache do you get (migraine, tension and sinus headaches), severity and frequency of your headaches, location of your headaches, specific time of day or night when you get them and so on.

All these factors help an acupuncturist to determine the right meridians that are involved in your headache treatment. For example, migraine headaches often indicate the gallbladder meridian and are effectively cured with the ?preventive approach?, which involves 8 to 10 acupuncture treatments along with incorporation of Chinese herbs and a healthy diet. While tension headaches are related to the blockage of the stomach meridian and require different treatment approach than migraines along with such lifestyle changes as incorporation of stress-reduction exercises like yoga or Thai Chi into the daily routine. This helps to reduce muscle tension and promote relaxation.

Some headache symptoms are relieved after the first acupuncture treatment that may last from 5 to 30 minutes, while chronic and severe headaches generally require ten or more treatments.

Even though multiple studies around the world have proven the effectiveness of acupuncture for headache treatment, the exact mechanism of action remains unknown. Some scientists suggest that it helps to stabilize levels of serotonin or neurotransmitter in the brain that thought to be important in mechanism of migraine headaches. Other theory believes that acupuncture promotes production of endorphins or natural substances that brain releases to relieve pain.

If you are tired of constant headaches that interfere with your daily activities and prevent you from enjoying your life, try acupuncture as a safe and effective treatment!

To find out "21 Proven Ways to Conquer Your Headache" without using painkillers visit: http://www.stop-headaches.com/

Unblock Your Chi With Acupuncture

While most of us dread the thought of having a needle sometimes they can be very beneficial, especially when the needles are those used in traditional Chinese medicine by way of acupuncture.

Acupuncture is one part of a complete health care system that the Chinese have used and relied on for over 2,000 years. It can be used alone or in combination with herbal remedies and massage therapy.

The basis of acupuncture

The basis behind acupuncture is to unblock the Chi that is said to flow throughout the body along meridian channels. To do this very thin needles are inserted into the body along particular points depending on your problem. This is thought to re-balance the Yin and Yang that is what is causing the illness or problem.

The meridians consist of 12 channels and in the healthy person, the Chi flows freely throughout these around the body. However when a blockage occurs to the Chi a person then becomes ill and the Chinese make use of around 500 different points to unblock the Chi and remedy the illness.

Although the basics and treatment used in acupuncture hasn?t altered in many ways, new ways have been implemented, such as the heating of needles, using ultrasound and electric currents when inserting.

Variations on acupuncture

Along with traditional acupuncture therapy that is still the form most widely practiced today, there are variations such as ear acupuncture. The ear is thought to map out the body organs and by putting pressure, by way of inserting needles into various parts of the ear, many illnesses can be helped and cured. All of the body?s organs have a point on the ear and when correctly inserted into the right place it is said that it can help with not only illness but also bad habits such as smoking. Here a form of acupuncture called staple puncture is used, tiny staples are inserted at key points on the ear and this is said to help people cut the craving for tobacco and thus help them to quit smoking.

The popularity of acupuncture

Acupuncture has gained in popularity in the Western world with around $500 million every year being spent in the USA on acupuncture treatment. It is thought that around 15 million people use it on a regular basis, either alongside traditional Western medicine or as an alternative. It is used for a wide variety of illnesses with some of the most common being back pain, headaches, stopping smoking, allergies and asthma. Today many hospitals and Doctors have realized the benefits that acupuncture does seem to bring and have started implementing and offering treatment alongside more traditional treatments used in the Western world.

While the exact reasons behind why acupuncture seems to work isn?t clear and many Western doctors don?t believe in the ?Chi? theory, it can?t be denied that sticking needles into points on the body does seem to have the desired effect. The most successful claims that acupuncture can make is when it comes to pain relieving, the reason why this is thought to be is because the areas where the needles are inserted are surrounded by nerve endings.

Whatever the reasons behind it working, it must work, for over 15 million Americans can?t be wrong.

Download your free report entitled "Natural Herbal Remedies & Antioxidant Vitamin Wonders" from http://www.herbalvitaminwonders.com

About Acupuncture and Crohns Disease

Crohn?s disease can be hard to diagnose because it mimics so many other conditions, and is often not the first thing your doctor might think of when you describe your symptoms. People usually assume they have irritable bowel syndrome and try to deal with it on their own. Once diagnosed with Crohn?s disease however, things begin to make a lot of sense. There are steps that your doctor can take to help you, but some sufferers turn to alternative methods for relief. If you are interested in acupuncture and crohns relief, the first step is to find someone qualified to help you.

Many people develop Crohn?s when they are in their teens, but it can come on later in life. There is some evidence to suggest that this can run in families, and even some cases where a husband and wife both have it. This might suggest that it can be environmental as well as genetic. This condition is not usually fatal, but it can severely affect quality of life, and people will try many different methods to gain relief from their symptoms. There are drugs a patient can try, as well as some surgical procedures that might be necessary. Others turn to acupuncture.

In order to understand how acupuncture can help with Crohn?s, you have to understand the basics behind this ancient practice. Acupuncture works on the theory that the body is made up of meridians. These are energy channels that run through the body. When these meridians are blocked, problems within the body begin to flare up. A therapist uses very thin needles, which are inserted into various pressure points throughout the body. These points are located on specific meridians. When the needles activate these points, the energy blockages can be cleared and the energy can run freely. This is supposed to help the body to help itself.

Because Crohn?s is a problem with the digestive tract, it can cause patients to lose weight, as they may not ingest the nutrition that they need. Though it is commonly found in the intestines, there can be problems in almost any spot along the entire digestive system. When acupuncture is done, practitioners focus in on the meridians of the body that relates to the digestive tract. A chiropractor can also help in much the same way by stimulating these points with firm pressure rather than with a needle.

There are some who will say that acupuncture and Crohns relief go hand in hand, and others will say it does nothing for them. If you would like to try this approach, you may find it works well for you, or you may find there is no difference in your symptoms. It is important that you continue to see your medical doctor, and that you take your vitamins (if recommended) and you are honest with both your doctor and your acupuncturist about how you are feeling and what is working with your treatments. Communication is always the key to receiving the best care with acupuncture and crohns.

By Sharon Dobson. Sign up for a free newsletter that has proven methods for managing Crohn's Disease naturally at Natural Crohn's Disease Relief. On the site you'll also find more about acupuncture and crohns, plus other alternative treatments.

The Roots of Acupuncture

Acupuncture has come a long way in regards to being recognized as an acceptable treatment methodology in the west. Ah, but where did it first find its roots in health care?

The origin of acupuncture is shrouded in the mists of the past. There are some indications that a form of it may have been practiced in Central Europe six thousand years ago. Some very early archeological evidence shows that something that certainly resembled it was being practiced in China as early as the 1st millennium BC. The earliest medical text uncovered in China do not mention it, however, so the exact date that it was first practiced in its present form remain unknown.

The first mention of the practice in a written text was the "Classic of Internal Medicine" that was complied during the reign of the Yellow Emperor sometime between 305 and 204 B.C. The theory and philosophy behind acupuncture has changed little through the years, although in modern times the practice was briefly outlawed by the Communist Government of China. The Communists made fun of acupuncture at first. They called it a foolish and superstitious practice that had no place in a modern and scientific world.

This attempt to eliminate acupuncture did have the side effect of driving many devotees of the classical practice out of China. This spread acupuncture to parts of the world where it had previously been little known. It was not long before the Communist Government realized that despite their ridicule, the practice was never really abandoned by the people of China. They also began to see it as a useful alternative to Western style medical practice that was expensive and not so easy to make available to the masses in China.

Today, acupuncture is practiced again in a very slightly altered form that does not discuss the spiritual implications of the treatment as much as had been previously done. The more classical ancient form is found more in Chinese enclaves around the world than in China itself. In China, it is often combined with Western Medical treatments. Acupuncture was not unique to China. Forms of it were practiced in ancient Korea and Japan, and are still practiced there today.

The theory of acupuncture is based on the idea that the body consists of certain "systems of functions." Some of these systems are associated with various body organs although not directly. Others are associated with various body functions. A substance called qi flows along twenty different Meridians or pathways connecting and influencing the systems of functions. Qi is rather hard to define, but is sometimes referred to as "vital energy." Treatment consists of altering the activity of one or more of the systems of function at very small points located along the Meridians. The points are called acupuncture points and are stimulated by needles, pressure, or heat.

Read more alternative health articles at AlternativeHealthCompanies.com

Acupuncture Is All About Points

In Chinese medicine, the body is viewed very much so from an energy perspective. Acupuncture, in fact, focuses on the idea of energy movement at points of the anatomy.

The theory behind acupuncture has to do with the movement of a poorly defined force called qi that moves through the body on a series of pathways known as Meridian Channels. Along certain of these channels there are very shallow points known as acupuncture points. Stimulation of these points by the use of small gauge needles, pressure, or heat can redirect or increase the flow of qi. Qi is also known as vital energy. When the flow of qi is as it should be, the body is healthy. When the flow is disrupted or blocked, a person becomes ill. Pain is thought to be caused by blockage of the normal flow of qi.

It is because these acupuncture body points do not correspond to any observable anatomical features that acupuncture is sometimes thought to be, at the very best, a placebo type of treatment. In other words, people feel better because they think they are better. There is a description of a sensation when body points are needled and the qi flow is enhanced.

There are 12 main Meridian channels and 8 extra ones. Only two of the extra channels have their own acupuncture points. The others are stimulated by the use of points located on two or more of the main channels. The 12 main channels run vertically, symmetrically, and bilaterally through the body. Each corresponds to one of twelve organs known as the Zung Fu organs. There are 3 yin channels and 3 yang channels that originate in each arm and 3 yin channels and 3 yang channels that originate in each leg.

There are five points along the channels that use an analogy of a river. These are the Five Transporting Points. The Jing-well point is where the qi bubbles up as if from a spring. The Ying-Spring point is where the qi first begins to glide down the channel. At the Shu-Stream point the qi is beginning to pour down the channel. The Jing-River point is where the flow is deep and full. Finally, the He-Sea point is where the qi collects and heads deep into the body.

Each of these points also relates to an element. Jing-Well is wood; Ying-Spring is fire; Shu-Stream is earth; Jing-River is metal; He-Sea is earth. There is another set of points that are important in the acupuncture body map. The Xi-Cleft is the point where blood and qi gather. The Yuan-Source point is where yuan qi is accessed. The Luo-Connecting point is where Meridians known as luo Meridians diverge from main Meridians. The Back-Shu points are along each side of the spine. The Front-Mu points are very close to their respective organ. Lastly, there are a group of 8 Hui-Meeting points that have a special effect on tissues and organs. The art of treatment via acupuncture involves the use of the appropriate body points in combinations that are arrived at by a diagnoses process known as the Four Examinations.

Read more alternative health articles at AlternativeHealthCompanies.com

Acupuncture in America

Acupuncture has been an excepted medical practice throughout Asia for thousands of years. In America, it is a much more recent phenomenon.

Acupuncture found its way into America in the same manner that so many other things have reached this country. It was brought with the immigrants. In this case, it was with Chinese immigrants brought into the West to work on railroads and in the fields. Large Chinese enclaves grew up in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and in New York City on the east coast. Acupuncture was a standard form of treatment in these settlements just as it had been back home in China. The Chinese had been using acupuncture for centuries and also had very little trust for Western Medical treatments.

Although there were a few incidents of Westerners becoming involved with the study and practice of acupuncture in the country during the 19th century, it was never widely practiced outside Chinese areas. It also was never widely accepted. It was considered superstition and totally unscientific and little attempt to understand it was ever made. When the Communist Government started a campaign to rid China of all traces of Classical Chinese Medicine, many acupuncturists made their way abroad. Some of these came to America which increased the number, but still little was done to understand and adapt it to Western use.

One of the big turnarounds for acupuncture in America occurred during a State visit to China by Richard Nixon in the 1970?s. During this visit, a member of the U.S. delegation was given an emergency appendectomy. The only anesthesia that was used was acupuncture. The President was duly impressed and when he returned to the US, he called for further study of the procedure. It was the beginning of the move of acupuncture from a foreign voodoo-hoodoo type of thing to a respectable and accepted alternative Medical treatment procedure.

In 1994, the Washington Post was reporting that almost 15 million Americans had tried acupuncture. This was almost 6% of the total population. In 1995, The United States Federal Drug Administration classified acupuncture needles as medical instruments. The biggest turnaround came in 1997 when the National Institute of Health issued a report titled, ?Acupuncture: The NIH Consensus Statement.? This report stated that acupuncture was indeed very useful in the treatment of certain conditions. It also stated that the side effects of acupuncture were less adverse than those resulting from either surgery or drugs.

The NIH report further encouraged Insurance Companies to give full coverage to acupuncture treatments for certain conditions. This was a major endorsement of the procedure. Today, acupuncture is becoming more and more accepted as an alternative treatment and is gaining acceptance by the Western Medical Community. Some Medical schools including UCLA have begun to offer acupuncture as part of the curriculum.

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The Original Acupuncture

As strange as it may sound, acupuncture today is not necessarily reflective of how it was less than 200 years ago. The Chinese communist regime threw a wrench in the process.

Much is made of the difference in Western style medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Where Western medicine is seen as being more concerned with treating the disease, Traditional Chinese Medicine treats the person. While this is very true, it is important to note that there is a division within Chinese Medicine also. This difference is seen in the art of acupuncture. The classical form of acupuncture that developed over the centuries in China was known as 5 element acupuncture.

When the Communist government of China began to repress classical Chinese Medicine and deriding it as superstitious and old fashioned. The Chinese leaders felt that adherence to the old ways would hold back China from emerging as a World Power. When they decided that it was not possible nor in the best interest of the country to abandon their century old traditions, they still attempted to remove much of the spiritual part of the treatments. The resulting form of acupuncture which is now part of Traditional Chinese Medicine differs in many ways from the classical form of the past.

Classic acupuncture is concerned with the complete emotional and spiritual well being of the patient and not just the external symptoms of the disease. It attempts to treat the body, the mind, the heart, and the spirit in an attempt to restore natural harmony to the life of the patient. It is believed that once this harmony is restored good health will follow. Five Element acupuncture takes its name from the theory of five elements that is very much a part of the Chinese view of nature. The five elements are fire, earth, metal, water, and wood.

Each of these elements is present in some degree in every person. Although each person tends to be dominated by one particular element, they are all connected and interconnected with the person. It is by understanding these connections and any disharmony in them that a full diagnosis is reached. The natural harmony can then be restored through the application of needles, heat, pressure, and even massage to the proper acupuncture body points.

Each element is further associated with a season and an emotional state. Fire is the summer element and is connected to feelings of joy. Earth is the late summer element and sympathy is the emotion. Metal is the autumn element associated with grief. Water is the winter element involved with fear. Finally, wood is the spring element and is connected to the emotion of anger.

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Medical Equipment Used in Chinese Acupuncture

Chinese medicine is often shrouded in mystical descriptions. A review of the medical equipment used acupuncture reveals there is little mystery.

When a person visits an acupuncturist today and has a treatment, infection from needles that are not sterile is not a concern. This is because the very fine, thin acupuncture needles will be taken from individual packages. These sterile needles have even been classified as medical instruments by the Federal Drug Administration. These precision instruments are usually made from stainless steel. In some rarer cases, they are made from gold or silver. Yet, this was not always the case. Acupuncture is an ancient art. What was the earliest medical equipment in ancient Chinese acupuncture?

A discussion of the medical equipment used in ancient Chinese acupuncture would lead to a discussion of the very origins of acupuncture. Most people tend to date the beginnings of acupuncture at various times during the reigns of various Chinese Emperors. They might also date it from the text written by the Yellow Emperor. This book still exists and is used as a reference work to some degree. The truth is that acupuncture did not suddenly originate at any given point in time. It was a system of treatment that most likely developed over a period of millions of years of human history through a slow and almost evolutionary method of trial and error.

In these very early times, there was not much to distract human beings from the basic concerns of survival. Healing and the treatment of injuries was one of these survival concerns. Gradually, as almost countless years passed, people discovered what worked and as they did they developed theories as to why. The important thing in the beginning was not why a procedure worked, but the fact that it did work. The theories as to why it worked would come later and be subject to change as the level of philosophical and spiritual knowledge increased. In very old sites around the world, very primitive types of medical equipment have been discovered that appear to have been the very first acupuncture medical equipment.

The ancient medical equipment was made of stone at first. Later, medical equipment made from fish bones were used also. The medical equipment most likely used in ancient Chinese acupuncture was often made from bamboo. There was no way to make these early needles with the precision that is used today. The materials and the craftsmanship would just not have been present. It is most likely that the earliest forms of acupuncture consisted more of pressure and even bloodletting due to the limitation of the needles.

In the Golden Age of Chinese Acupuncture, needles made from metals appeared. These metals were copper, brass, silver, and sometimes even gold. The use of metals in the making of medical equipment used in Ancient Chinese acupuncture allowed a little more precision and thinness. This would have been the beginning of the needle insertion and twisting techniques that are still practiced today. There is no doubt that the earliest instruments were crude. There was little known about sterilization. Despite these drawbacks, the method of trial and error produced methods that worked. It was the success of the procedures that led our ancestors to attempt to explain them. This in turn led to the theories and philosophies behind the procedures.

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Acupuncture - The Ears Have It

You might be surprised to learn that acupuncture is actually a treatment field broken down into many sub-categories. In this article, we look at a procedure for the ears.

One of the most important acupuncture body points is the point known as the Ear Shenmen. This point is related to the Heart. It is also known as an earth point and also a sedation point. It adds dampness to the body. All of these factors make the point important in grounding the patient and calming their spirit. The point will add dampness to the body. Stimulation of the ears is very often the first point used in an acupuncture treatment because of its tendency to relax the patient and to make him or her receptive to the treatment that will follow.

There are a few conditions that would preclude the use of this point in the treatment. Any condition where excess phlegm or dampness is already present would be contraindicated. The increase in phlegm and dampness could compromise the heart or the lungs. Such conditions as COPD (Coronary Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder) are an example of such a contraindication. Asthma and bronchitis would be two other similar high dampness and phlegm conditions where focus on the ears would be avoided.

Since the heart is considered the ruler of the blood, the ear approach would be used in all conditions that deal with blood disorders. These would include extravasations, blood deficiencies, blood stagnation, and even emotional disorders such as rebelliousness.

The ancient text, the Nei Jing, contains the following quote: ?When the heart is serene, all pain is negligible.? The ear then is obviously a key point in all treatments dealing with the reduction and elimination of pain. Shenmen is translated as ?heavenly gate?, and the point is sometimes referred to as the ?doorway to the spirit.? These phrases indicate reasons why the point is also used successfully in the treatment of addiction and other disorders that would be related to weakness of the will and spirit.

One recent test used the ear approach as a control point in the treatment of anxiety. The test indicated that the point was not effective in the reduction of stress related anxiety. This result was a bit surprising in light of the spiritual and calming connections of the point, but it indicates the trial and error basis that has led to the development of successful acupuncture treatment plans.

Another possible use of this focus is in the treatment of the popular and common childhood condition known as attention deficit disorder. Some treatments have used a small ear clip that is applied to the area and left in place for long periods of time to provide constant stimulation and pressure on the point.

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Acupuncture and Sports

The fact acupuncture has become such an accepted practice is exemplified by the number of sports enthusiasts that use it in modern time.

At the Chinese National Games held in 1993, a total of nine Chinese women broke world distance running records. There was a big scandal over this as the athletes were accused of the use of steroids or other banned performance enhancing drugs. An investigation revealed that, indeed, the women had used performance enhancing drugs, but they were not banned ones at all. They were Chinese herbal remedies. They had been selected and given to them based on individual examinations and a diagnosis of the individual?s strengths and weakness based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

This event was an indication of the growing use of Traditional Chinese Medicine is the field of Sports Medicine. The use of herbal supplements is not the only part of TCM being used. Acupuncture is widely used in Sports medicine to both treat sports injuries and to improve performance in actual competition. Players have found the treatments to be extremely beneficial in both areas.

The use of acupuncture in the management of pain is quite common. It is little wonder that players would find the treatments beneficial for this reason alone. Many athletic injuries involve a great deal of chronic pain and individuals are often called upon to function at a very high level despite the pain. There is a rather unsavory image of the professional being given an injection just prior to the big game to mask his pain in order to be able to perform. This practice is usually portrayed as having very negative and serious consequences.

Acupuncture using players are in one sense doing exactly the same thing. The difference is in the fundamental difference between the approach of Chinese medicine and Western medicine. The acupuncture treatment would not be a localized injection designed to reduce or mask pain from an injury. It would be a long term treatment designed to restore the natural harmony of the body and promote the healing. To put it another way, the shot in the locker room is treating the pain itself, while the acupuncture treatment is dealing with the cause of the pain.

One practitioner who treats players with acupuncture explains his approach as having three prongs. The first prong is the Yin approach. It restores the health of the individual and addresses past injuries and deficiencies. The Yang approach is geared toward enhancement of performance during actual competitions. The final prong is the application of all the resources of Traditional Chinese Medicine such as herbal supplements and healthy lifestyle practices.

The world of sports can be highly competitive and the use of harmful and dangerous chemical aids has become a world wide concern and scandal. The use of acupuncture can give an edge that is both safe and legal to the sports enthusiast.

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The Pros of Acupuncture

If you are just beginning to investigate acupuncture, you probably have some questions. Let?s start with the most basic. What are the positives of acupuncture?

There may still be a lot of debate raging in the Western World over how acupuncture actually works, but even its most vehement critics reluctantly admit that it does. They might attribute the fact to strange and little understood mental quirks much like they would view faith healing. Some claim acupuncture works because the people on the receiving end simply believe it is going to work. When you discuss the positives of acupuncture this debate is a bit irrelevant. The bottom line is that it does work and this is the number one benefit.

If Traditional Chinese Medicine and its view of acupuncture is accepted, it not only works in treating the external symptoms but does much more. It restores the natural harmony of the body, the spirit, the mind, and the soul of a person. It brings their elements into harmony and restores their balance of Ying and Yang. Even if these concepts are dimly understood in the West, they certainly sound like they would belong on a list of the positives of acupuncture.

There are other pros of acupuncture when you consider it from a Medical procedure and treatment point of view. One of the most important is an almost total absence of harmful side effects. There are few drugs and surgical procedures in the Western sphere of Medicine that can make that kind of claim. There is a very rare chance of some bleeding and subsequent bruising in the area where the needles are inserted. There are some people that would argue that a risk of infection always exists whenever the dermal layer of the skin is broken and any penetration takes place. Since trained and licensed acupuncturists will be using sterile needles taken from a secure package just before insertion and disposed of afterwards, the chance of infection is very slim.

Additional positives of acupuncture include a relatively low cost compared to results and almost no need for recovery time as is the case with most surgical procedures. What are in many ways virtually the same treatment procedure is used to treat a wide variety of ailments. The acupuncturist, of course, sees each treatment as being vastly different. The patient does not view it this way at all. The insertions of needles into different points will still seem like the same procedure. This reduces the anxiety felt by patients on the receiving end of a new surgical procedure.

The positive aspects of acupuncture are many and the drawbacks are few. This has accounted for its remarkable growth in areas outside of China in the past few decades. There is a growing resentment against Western Medicine because of high costs, shoddy care, and often ineffective treatments. To many, it seems Doctors merely throw high cost pills at any type of problem including subtle mental disorders. This is problematic as we are now seeing with viruses and such that are becoming resistant to antibiotics. More and more people are turning to alternative medical treatments and acupuncture is one of the most effective of these.

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Acupuncture - The Philosophy Behind The Needles

While there are many health issues acupuncture can help with, it is sometimes important to step back and understand what is going on.

The word philosophy is interesting. Usually, when a person knows that something is a stone cold fact, he no longer thinks of it as a philosophy. When you listen to a person knowledgeable in Traditional Chinese Medicine talk about how acupuncture actually works, you will certainly get the impression they are pretty sure they know whereof they speak. Yet the very definition of the word philosophy speaks much about how TCM and acupuncture itself might have evolved from the very dawn of mankind.

People have always been concerned about their health, and have always desired to feel better. There is little doubt the most primitive man had these desires. Over millions of years of trying, they were likely to discover some things that actually worked. This is really the guiding principle of Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture. It works. Acupuncture philosophy was developed and written down much later in an attempt to explain why it worked. That is why the process is still evolving and it is not unlikely evolution in the Philosophy will take place as years pass.

The most recent change in the Philosophy, or at least the way of expressing the Philosophy, took place during the beginnings of the Communist regime in China. The leaders were anxious that China not look backward in the eyes of the Western Powers that had shown the wisdom and understanding required to build bigger guns and bigger ships. As the years went by, they began to see the foolishness of this line of thinking, but still their dogmatic beliefs led them to alter the philosophy of what was then considered Classical Chinese Medicine into Traditional Chinese Medicine. What changed was a removal of some of the more spiritual elements that smacked a bit of religion.

Both forms of Acupuncture Philosophy still exist today. There are some minor differences between them. The underlying idea is that man was intended to be in harmony with the world in which he lives. He was intended to feel well. His body is a precisely engineered masterpiece that should work like a Swiss watch. When it does not, it means that something is amiss. This something is not the external thing, the symptom that Westerners tend to view as the problem. It is actually something internal, and often distant from the symptom.

Great rivers of vital energy, a substance known as qi that is as hard to define as the human soul, move over unseen channels inside our body. When something happens to block or hinder this flow, things will quickly get out of whack. It is possible, however, to regulate this flow by stimulating certain key points along the channels. There are thousands of these points and each is interconnected to the others in a complex grid. This is the basic Philosophy of Acupuncture.

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Why Is Acupuncture Effective?

Anything that has been practiced consistently for millions of years must be pretty effective. That being said, exactly why is acupuncture effective?

If you ask the question of why this ancient practice is effective, you are going to get a lot of different answers. The answers will depend very much on exactly who you ask and where you ask them. The skeptic?s answer will speak much of placebos and the power of the mind. The more scientific skeptic will speak of the release of endorphins and neurotransmitters in the brain. Some of the people making money off the use of laser acupuncture in a ?stop smoking? clinic might just admit that they have no idea, nor do they care. The important thing is that it is effective. Even the skeptics have to, for the most part, admit to that.

The student of Traditional Chinese Medicine has a pretty good idea why acupuncture is effective. Inside the human body there are 20 channels called Meridians. These are pathways through which a substance known as qi, or vital energy, flows. When the flow of qi is taking place according to design and in harmony with other factors, a person enjoys happiness and health. When something happens to cause a disruption in the flow of qi, illness and unhappiness will most likely result.

So how does acupuncture regulate the flow of qi? This is done by the stimulation of one or more points located on the body and also on one of the 20 Meridians. There are more than 2000 of these points. There are a number of different factors that go into understanding exactly how to select the right points for the right treatment. A special form of physical examination is one of them. The examination would look at certain unusual things from a Western perspective like the color and lining of the tongue. A complete understanding of the background and lifestyle of the patient is needed. There are things like the Five Elements and Heat, Blood, and Phlegm levels and types.

Once the diagnosis is made and a treatment plan developed, the actual acupuncture process involves placing very thin stainless steel needles into the point. The needles are not inserted deeply, although the depth of the insertion does depend on the desired response. The needles are sometimes left in place for a certain length of time and sometimes they are rotated. The procedure is mostly painless and the only adverse side effects are a slight chance of surface bleeding. The patients often report an enhanced feeling of well being and sometimes they feel a curious tingling when the proper point is touched with the needle.

The stimulation will cause changes in the internal order of the body. The qi flow will be altered or unblocked, harmful accumulated heat will be released, and any number of other reactions will take place. The end result will be that internal harmony will be restored and the patient will begin to get well again.

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Acupuncture Is All About Currents

Acupuncture is ostensibly the manipulation of energy within the body. Many have surmised that the flow of electricity within the body is at the heart of the matter.

Most people in the West view acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine as an ancient practice that has remained unchanged for thousands of years in the mysterious orient. It does not matter if they accept or reject it as an alternative treatment option. They still do not view it as something dynamic and always changing. The truth is that acupuncture has not been immune to the changes wrought in our society by technology. In the last century, there have been many developments in acupuncture theory. These include the discovery and study of several holistic theories such as Ear acupuncture and the use of electro-stimulation.

There has been some thought that the acupuncture needles actually produce very minute electrical charges when they are twirled while inserted. It is also believed that the needles, when left in place, tend to drain excess electrical energy at a cellular level. This has led to the administration of small current electrical charges into the needles to replace the need to twist them or reinsert them to produce maximum effect.

A logical advance from this has been the idea of electrical charge acupuncture. This is the idea that the needles themselves would not be necessary if the same effect could be produced by administering a small electrical charge to the acupuncture point. The electrical charge that is used is very small. It ranges from .03-10 Hz and has an intensity of between 25-150 micro-amps. It can be applied in a short application or for a longer duration using an electro-pad to provide continuous stimulation.

Electric charge acupuncture has been very effective in the treatment of pain and inflammation of joints and tendons. Athletes and practitioners of sports medicine have been some of its most ardent supporters. Although it might seem that the major reason for its popularity is the human?s normal aversion to the idea of needles, this is not completely true. It is true that the insertion of needles is more time consuming and does pose very slight risks of bleeding and bruising. This approach eliminates these small risks and the treatments can be performed faster and with less trouble.

More important than speed or comfort, however, might be the idea that the charged acupuncture might be more effective for certain types of treatments. If there is a measurable electrical stimulation that is causing the control of qi during needle insertion, it makes sense that an electrical form of producing this stimulation might have even greater potential. Although the treatment is new and not much clinical evaluation has been done as of yet, electric acupuncture is an indication that Traditional Chinese Medicine is a dynamic and ever changing approach to health treatment. It is most likely that this has always been true, but the technological age might be accelerating the process as it has done in so many other areas.

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Acupuncture for Constant Headaches

A pounding headache can pretty much disable you. If it occurs again and again, it can ruin your quality of life. Acupuncture offers relief from the drum beats in your head.

The headache is a bane on modern society with far reaching impacts that go beyond the pain suffered. The National Headache foundation estimates that as many as 28 million people suffer from constant headaches. The causes of these headaches range from diet, stress, allergens, menstruation to simple changes in the weather. The duration of the attacks range from a few minutes to several days. The most severe cases can totally incapacitate a person.

Habitual headaches are one of the leading causes of lost time in the workplace. It is estimated that the cost of absenteeism from the estimated 157 million lost work days is over 50 billion dollars yearly when medical expenses are included. An additional 4 billion dollars is spent on pain killers for migraines and other types of headaches.

A recent study done in Italy and reported in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine compared the effect of acupuncture for headaches versus conventional pain killer therapy. One of the most interesting features of this study is that each patient was given a complete examination prior to the start of the test. This allowed the acupuncture therapy to be tailored to the individual causation of each patient?s condition. This is important in any study of acupuncture. There is no cookie cutter acupuncture treatment that is correct for everyone. When a study is done using the exact same points for the exact same duration, the results are going to be skewed and worthless.

The study showed that acupuncture was generally more effective than a series of pain killing drugs administered to the control group. What was more interesting is that the study looked at other factors beside the pain reduction. It also evaluated such things as the cost of the treatments and the time patients would have been unable to work under both treatments. It was in these areas that even more startling results were found.

The results indicated that acupuncture was not only a slightly more effective treatment for severe cases, but also resulted in considerable savings when viewed from a socio-economic point of view. Many in the Western medical establishment give acupuncture a reluctant nod of acceptance as a treatment alternative for pain, but few have been made aware of how much more cost efficient and economically beneficial these treatments can be. There is certainly a need for more studies of this type that treat alternative medicine with a serious attitude and do not design the study to debunk what they already do not accept.

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Acupuncture to Stop Ringing Ear Sensations

We take our ears and hearing for granted until something goes a miss. Ringing in the ears can be incredibly disabling and acupuncture takes a treatment approach of looking for the underlying cause.

One of the strange things about ringing in the ears is that even Western Medicine does not consider it a disease or a condition, but rather a symptom. When you compare two lists of causes for this condition, one listing the causes as seen from a Western Medicine point of view and the other from a Traditional Chinese Medicine point of view, you will get a pretty good idea of how far apart these two disciplines can really be in some cases.

The Western Medicine list contains more items. They range from trauma to earwax. One of the problems is it is very hard to measure the ringing because the only way it can be observed is from the reports of the sufferer. There is a certain type of ringing that can actually be heard by the examiner, but this is uncommon and related to muscle spasms within the ear. In other rare cases, the noise is like a pulse and this is called a pulsatile ringin. This condition is usually related to increased blood flow around the ear or sometimes simply patient awareness of the pulse of blood flowing near the ear.

The majority of cases are subjective ringing sensations. This is a ringing noise where the exact cause is unknown. Chinese Medicine sees it as a common result of internal disruptions of the flow of qi. They see four or five different causes and each one suggests a different acupuncture treatment to alleviate it. Emotional strain, anger and frustration can lead to excess LV fire or LV rising. Excessive sadness and grief can cause weak chest qi that does not rise to the head. Excessive sex or overwork can weaken KD Jing, as can old age. Dietary habits and trauma each have their own results and therefore suggest their own treatment.

This look at how acupuncture might be used to treat the problem also illustrates the problem with most clinical studies that attempt to measure the success rates of acupuncture treatments. In most clinical studies, certain acupuncture points will be selected. If the studies are attempting to be fair, the points will be points that have had some past success in the treatment of the condition. However, if the cause is different in each patient and ranges from excessive sexual activity to grief, it is plain that each patient is going to have his own set of acupuncture points.

Another problem with the studies is that acupuncture is only one part of what is usually a complete program that includes the administration of herbs and advice on diet and lifestyle issues. It is only when the entire program is followed that results can be expected. There is no doubt that acupuncture for ringing ears can produce results, but proving it in clinical studies is a bit complex. This is part of what leads to the resistance of some Western doctors to recommend it as an alternative treatment.

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Acupuncture for Facial Twitches

Acupuncture is a unique treatment in that it can treat many different problems with different causes. This includes habitual facial twitching.

There are a wide range of disorders that are characterized by problems with the nerves and muscles of the face. One of these is known as Bell?s palsy. Doctors are not completely sure of the cause of this common affliction, but it is suspected that it might be related to a viral infection of the facial nerves. It tends to strike people between the ages of twenty and thirty five. The symptoms include facial paralysis and numbness. Bell?s palsy will clear up without treatment in about 80% of cases although the duration of the illness might be as long as a year.

There is a town located in China that has an abnormally high rate of Bell?s palsy. Acupuncturists in this town have had much experience in its treatment and have developed some techniques that are extremely effective. One of these involves the rapid insertion and then removal of needles on points located on the face itself.

Acupuncture is also indicated in the treatment of a related syndrome known as facial twitching. This is defined as an involuntary twitching or contraction of a muscle that takes place when another muscle is stimulated. Its cause has thought to be the growing back or twigging of nerve branches in the wrong place after trauma. The nerves tend to stimulate muscles they are not intended to stimulate. One of the symptoms of this condition is the tearing of one eye when another facial muscle is being used. For instance, the tearing can be triggered by the movement of the mouth during eating.

These facial disorders are fairly common and they are generally temporary. In some cases, they can be the result of what appears to be permanent damage to nerves and do not respond to treatment at all. One of the major side effects of this problem is emotional distress. The distortion of facial muscles is viewed as grotesque at best.

Acupuncture for facial muscle twitching is often attempted. As in many conditions, there is a shortage of reliable clinical studies addressing the effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for any facial nerve disorder. This is true even though this is a possible area for the resolution of some conflict on the general effectiveness of acupuncture in general. Western Medical Practitioners tend to see the nerves as serving the purpose that practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine attribute to the Meridian Channels of the body. The success rate of acupuncture treatments for nerve related disorders such as this would be very interesting indeed.

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Acupuncture for MS

MS is a diagnosis you simple do not want to get. Acupuncture can help to make a person suffering from it more comfortable and in control.

MS is a horrible disease of the central nervous system. It attacks a substance called myelin which sheaths the nerves. There is interference with messages and signals between the brain and the body. This results in a wide variety of symptoms depending on the nerves effected. Often the symptoms become such that the patient becomes confined to a wheel chair due to loss of balance and motor control. Loss of bladder and bowel control contributes to the emotional sense of helplessness and depression in the patients. There is no cure for MS at this time, nor is there any absolute certainty as to its cause.

Interestingly, MS was virtually unknown in China until 30 years ago. Around that time, cases began to appear in some of the larger cities. Early studies attributed the cause of the disease to the stress of modern living and the pollution common in larger cities. A careful review of available clinical studies and papers concerning Traditional Chinese Medicine's view of the causation, prognosis, and treatment of MS, reveals that there is still some disagreement. It is clear, however, Chinese Medicine offers no claims of being able to cure the disease.

The use of acupuncture in the treatment of MS is geared toward two goals. The first is to bring as much relief of the symptoms as possible. The second goal is to enable the patient to be able to manage the disease in a way that allows them to fully experience the joy and splendor of human existence. There are many indications that these goals have a good chance of success through a combined approach of acupuncture, diet restriction, and mild exercise.

Acupuncture treatments for MS have had much success in reducing pain and decreasing spasticity. Another area of success is improved bladder and bowel control. The reduction of stress and the improved feeling of well being contribute to an improvement in quality of life. The acupuncture treatments must be given frequently in order to maintain the improvements of symptoms, but MS is known for its cycles of remission. During periods of remission, the frequency of the acupuncture treatments can be reduced.

The reaction of Western medical practitioners to the use of acupuncture in the treatment of MS is mixed. Some recognize that acupuncture tends to release endorphins and peptides that modulate the transmission of sensory information through the central nervous system. The clinical results of many patients have shown control of symptoms and stress reduction and a positive outlook are seen as important to the overall treatment. Many doctors have admitted that, at the very least, acupuncture does reduce stress and improve the sense of well being. A very few in the Western medical field stubbornly refuse to admit that acupuncture can be helpful and cite dangers from infection and the transmission of HIV through the use of needles. These concerns are extremely minimal in acupuncture when a qualified and certified acupuncturist is involved.

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DIY Acupuncture

Mention acupuncture and people tend to get images of an ancient Chinese man with a long, white beard and needles. Ah, but is do it yourself acupuncture possible?

When the idea of writing on the subject of DIY acupuncture was first considered, it created a feeling of outrage. It would appear that the idea that DIY acupuncture was possible seemed as idiotic and dangerous as offering a guide to self-brain surgery. It seemed to insult the entire idea of Traditional Chinese Medicine and lump it into a classification with other New Age help treatments. The theories that provide the foundation for acupuncture are grounded in centuries of experimentation, study, and philosophical contemplation. To think that you could go to Wal-Mart and buy a copy of ?Acupuncture for Dummies? was insulting.

This is not really wrong either. Acupuncture is not something that can be done by someone who does not have a great deal of training. On the other hand, it is not really a dangerous thing. If the needles used are at least sterile, and the insertion points are clean, there is not a lot of harm that can be done by an amateur. There is not a lot of good that can be done either.

There is a legitimate form of DIY acupuncture, however. It was developed a few years ago by a Dr. Zu De Ye while he was at the University of Arizona. It has since spread and is being offered in clinics in several countries. It is founded on a theory known as the ?fractal theory.? This theory was developed using the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, but taking some of them a step further. To understand exactly how it works, one must be able to accept the concept that the Universe is made up of parts that are microcosms of the whole.

For example, the human body is a microcosm of the Universe itself. The forces that are at play in the Universe are also at play inside the human body. When the human body is out of harmony with this cosmic oneness, illness occurs. When the body is in harmony, wellness occurs. The fractal theory takes this a step further. Parts of the body can also represent the whole. This idea is behind such things as ear acupuncture where the ear is seen as representing a human form curled into a fetal position. It also appears in Korean Hand acupuncture where all of the points and Meridians of the body are located in the hand.

The fully developed fractal theory has led to the discovery of certain points on the human body that are actually microcosms of entire organ systems. Results can be obtained by stimulation of these points with very small needles. It involves only one needle placed in certain very specific and easily located key points on the body. Dr. Ye?s treatment regime has allowed patients to practice this form of DIY acupuncture. The needles are small, and the points in safe locations, so the danger is minimal. The advantages of DIY acupuncture is that no practitioner is needed for the treatments and time and money are saved. Although much more research needs to be done here, there is some indication that acupuncture following principles of fractal theory might one day become another tool in the healer?s arsenal.

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Acupuncture for Shooting Leg Pain

Nothing is so painful as a leg nerve that is acting up. There is relief for this and acupuncture is one way to get it.

You know the pain. It is characterized by pain that begins in the lower back and moves down the leg, typically down the back. The sciatic nerve runs from the lower back and down the back of the leg. There are several causes for this condition including inflammation of the nerve itself. In some cases, the condition is caused by overexertion, and sometimes it is caused by putting too much pressure on the nerve simply by sitting in a poor position.

The good news is that it usually clears up on its own after a period of time. In a few rare cases, the condition becomes chronic. In most cases, the chronic conditions can be traced to actual traumatic damage to the lower back or spine or to the nerve itself. The treatment is usually centered on relief of the pain. Pain killers are given and rest is suggested.

Leg nerve pain responds very well to acupuncture. Acupuncture has a very good record for the relief of unspecific pain and the reduction of inflammation. In fact, leg nerve pain and acupuncture make such a good condition and treatment match that some people find that they can bring about some pain relief and quicker healing times with the mere application of acupressure to the correct points.

Nerve pain is one of those ailments that really does seem to call for the use of alternative medicines. It is often treated by chiropractors as well as physical therapists. What makes acupuncture such a good choice for the treatment is that the diagnosis method of Traditional Chinese Medicine will look well past the pain, which it will see as merely a symptom, to the underlying cause. This will suggest a program of treatment that will include relief of pain and increased healing, but will also address an overall plan of diet, exercise, and herbal supplements designed to prevent its return.

Since most incidents of nerve aggravation are not life threatening nor are they usually of long duration, the taking of chemical pain killers that might have side effects does not seem to be the most logical choice to one who cares about the overall health of his body. Acupuncture has the advantage of being safe and the virtually lack of adverse side effects seems to point to it as a saner choice.

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Acupuncture Mu Points

Acupuncture is about the manipulation of energy points. Acupuncture Mu points are the most powerful areas that can be addressed.

Each one of the 12 major Meridians of the body has one special acupuncture point. This point is sometimes called the Mu point and it is associated with the organ for which the Meridian is named. All but two of them are located on the chest and abdomen. The remaining two are located at the tip of the eleventh and the twelfth ribs. The one on the eleventh rib is associated with the Spleen Meridian. The one on the twelfth rib is associated with the Kidney Meridian.

When an organ name is used to describe a Meridian, it is capitalized. This is to distinguish it from the actual organ. Although organs are associated with the Meridians, this association is not total and that explains the capitalization. The acupuncture Mu points, however, are located directly above the organ that is used to name the Meridian. These points are very powerful and have a dramatic effect when they are involved in treatment.

In order to use these acupuncture Mu points to the maximum, a practitioner must understand the relationships between Meridians and various body systems. For example, the Lung Meridian controls all things having to do with the skin. The Kidney Meridian controls muscles and ligaments. Even the different emotions such as grief, worry, and anger are also each associated with different Meridians. Direct stimulation of the Mu point can have a dramatic effect on the system controlled by the Meridian. This stimulation can be manual, electrical, or through normal acupuncture needling.

This system of acupuncture Mu points exists also in some of the holistic acupuncture systems such as Koryo Sooji Chim, or Korean Hand Acupuncture. These systems basically repeat the pattern of the body acupuncture on smaller parts of the body such as the scalp or the ear. In the case of Korean Hand Acupuncture, all the major Meridians and therefore all the corresponding Mu points would be located on the hand as well as there normal places on the body.

Mu points sometimes show redness or tenderness. This is thought to be a signal of a potential problem with the associated organ systems. An examination to diagnose a patient in Traditional Chinese Medicine would involve a review of the Mu points as a standard part of the procedure.

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Acupuncture and Alternative Treatments for Asthma

Asthma affects approximately 20 million Americans every year. Conventional treatment options are limited to steroid inhalers and bronchodilators. While these medications are effective in relieving the symptoms of asthma, the side effects of continuous long-term treatment can be severe. There are numerous natural strategies to consider for chronic asthma that can offer effective treatment without the side effects.

The following is a list of nutritional supplements and herbal formulas to consider for asthma:

Supplements

Quercetin:
Recognized as one of the superior flavonoids because of its marked antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Quercetin is known for its ability to stabilize mast cells and help control allergies. If the asthma is directly related to allergic reactions, then quercetin is an excellent supplement to try.

Grape Seed extract: A strong antioxidant that is also very good at reducing inflammation and breaking the chronic pattern of allergy-induced asthma.

Cod liver oil: High in essential fatty acids, cod liver oil reduces inflammation, promotes healthy circulation, and is generally strengthening for immunity.

MSM: MSM is an organic sulfur-containing nutrient, a naturally-occurring compound in the environment and in the human body. Sulfur is necessary for the structure of every cell in the body. Hormones, enzymes, antibodies, and antioxidants all depend on it. Because the body utilizes and expends it on a daily basis, sulfur must be continually replenished for optimal nutrition and health. MSM has anti-inflammatory properties. It boosts immunity and is helpful for allergies.

Chinese herbs

Ginseng and gecko: A Chinese herbal formula (ren shen ge jie san) that clears heat and phlegm from the lungs and strengthens both lung and spleen Qi

Ding chuan tang: The most widely used herbal formula for asthma, ding chuan tang can be applied to all kinds of asthma. In particular, if the asthma is exacerbated by the onset of a cold, this formula works well.

Jade Windscreen: A Chinese herbal formula (yu ping feng san) that can be combined with one of the above formulas to add another support in strengthening immunity and boosting lung function. Acupuncture

Practiced for over 2,500 years in various cultures throughout Asia, acupuncture has enjoyed a long history of treating internal medical conditions. Acupuncture can be very effective in the treatment of asthma. Acupuncture helps to reduce inflammation and balance the major organs that are contributing to one?s symptoms. In Chinese medicine, asthma can be caused by a variety of factors including stress, diet, allergies, candida infection and constitutional weakness. All of these factors are related to different internal organs that are causing the lungs to constrict. Acupuncture theory involves combining the patient?s symptoms with pulse and tongue diagnosis to get a clear picture of the body?s inner workings. Acupoints are used on the corresponding meridians that will balance any energetic or functional disharmonies. Adjunctive therapies are also very helpful for asthma, such as cupping and gua sha.

Diet

The main strategy for asthma sufferers is to avoid foods that provoke inflammation in the body. At the top of this list is the whole class of refined sugars and carbohydrates. Any food that converts into sugar very quickly in the body is going to cause inflammation. Many asthma patients report a marked improvement in their symptoms simply by taking this step.

In Chinese medicine, the lungs share a close relationship with the large intestine. Intestinal toxicity can cause a whole slew of internal problems, including asthma and allergies. If there is a history of constipation, then a cleansing approach is useful to detoxify the colon, which will indirectly benefit the lungs. A high fiber diet that is rich in fruit and vegetables is the key. Flax seed, prune, pear, ripe banana, and herbs such as rhubarb root are helpful colon cleansers.

Deep breathing

Anytime the asthma is in remission, I recommend undertaking deep breathing exercises as much as possible. Ujayi breathing in yoga is a very helpful practice for building lung capacity and strength. This is a long, exaggerated breath that is coordinated with each asana (yoga posture). Many of the chest opening asanas are healing for the lungs as well. Pranayama exercises such as the one minute breath and alternate nasal breathing are beneficial, especially is done on a daily basis. The one minute breath involves inhaling as slowly as possible for as long as possible, holding for as long as possible, then exhaling for as long as possible. Try to build up to a full minute of doing this. Alternate nasal breathing involves plugging one nostril, then inhaling deeply through the other, switching sides, then exhaling slowly and fully, inhaling deeply, then switching sides. This can be repeated several times.

If your stress level is high, then I recommend learning how to meditate for 15-30 minutes per day. If you need help with this, please click here.

Chronic asthma can respond very well to any one of the therapies mentioned above. I have found that combining these therapies offers the most comprehensive approach to rejuvenate the lungs.

Kevin Doherty, L.Ac., MS is a licensed acupuncturist in private practice in Superior, Colorado. To learn more about Kevin, visit his websites at http://www.bouldercountyacupuncture.com and http://www.mindfulnesscd.net

Acupuncture - Does it Really Work?

Does acupuncture really work?

As practitioners we struggle from time to time with the thought that maybe, just maybe, acupuncture does not work. Since this is our livelihood, the thought that acupuncture might not work is a frightening thought.

Unfortunately, a lot of patients have the view that their condition of ten years standing should be eliminated in, at the most, two treatments. I personally find this most peculiar since the same patient has often only come to me after they have had ten unsuccessful treatments with a physiotherapist or chiropractor.

However, if we can persuade a patient to continue their treatment to at least six treatments, some quite impressive results can be achieved. Sometimes indeed, a great result can be achieved in even a shorter time span, but it is always advisable to expect that a minimum of six treatments is necessary for continued relief. One of my patients came on a walking stick for her treatment. Apparently the condition had struck out of the blue and now she could not walk unaided. She came weekly for ten treatments and by the tenth treatment she no longer needed her walking stick and was pain free.

Sadly however, it is often hard to know if the treatment was a success or not, because patients are prone to canceling their subsequent appointments after just one session, for two reasons, either because the treatment was a success or because it was a failure in their eyes.

What patients do not realize is that acupuncture can be a very subtle treatment. The beneficial effects are not necessarily evident on the day of treatment. The treatment in fact can continue to take effect sometimes a month after the session.

One patient came to me for treatment on a toe that had been extremely sore for a year. I gave her one treatment and made an appointment for her to return the following week. The next appointment was subsequently canceled and I was told that there had been absolutely no change to her condition. Therefore I was quite surprised when she rang me six months later for another appointment. When I asked her how her toe was faring, she said that exactly three weeks after her treatment she had woken up one morning and her toe was completely pain free.

One problem that all therapists seem to face from time to time is the healing crisis. This often takes effect the day after the treatment. If the patient has a very toxic condition, during the process of healing there is a temporary increase in symptoms. This is because the body is struggling to realign itself. Unfortunately the healing crisis can last for a few days or even weeks and the symptoms can be identical to the disease itself. Sadly, the practitioner gets the blame for giving a bad treatment as the patient rushes off to yet another type of therapist for relief. When the healing crisis eventually ends, the new therapist will be given the praise.

Of course it is very difficult for the acupuncturist to explain that a healing crisis is part of the cure. It just looks like they are making excuses for themselves.

I have sometimes however seen a seemingly miraculous cure in front of my eyes.

I once received a call from a lady who told me that she thought her husband had just suffered a stroke. I raced over to her house, needles at the ready, and I had to agree with her diagnosis. Her husband?s right eye and the right side of his mouth were drooping. His speech was also slurred. I inserted a couple of needles in the liver and kidney channels in his feet and when the last needle was inserted I looked at his face. In just those few seconds his eye and mouth had returned to normal and his speech was no longer slurred.

Another miraculous cure occurred when I treated a dog which had not eaten for three days and whose eyes had rolled back in its head, leaving only the whites of the eyes visible. The dog could no longer walk and the owners had been encouraged by the vet to put it down. I used one needle only, and this was in an acupuncture point at the very top of the head. The dog lay silently for ten minutes, and then stood up, shook the needle out and walked over to its food bowl. It then proceeded to eat a bowl full of food and afterwards raced out into the garden where it stood barking with joy.

These are just a few examples of treatments that have been very successful for me. My suggestion is therefore for patients to let their acupuncturist give them an effective treatment. Do not expect your symptoms to miraculously disappear in one session. Of course, if they do, please tell your friends!

Roslyn J. Motter is a Sydney, Australia registered acupuncturist with her own clinic. She is also a children?s author and has recently published three children?s books - The Doofuzz Dudes Rescue Moondar; The Doofuzz Dudes and the Princess Detector; and the Doofuzz Dudes and the Babbling Bottles. The series are fantasy adventure stories and are most suitable for children aged 7 - 12 years. Woven into the adventures is a subtle theme of caring for the environment. Excerpts and illustrations from the books are available for viewing on http://www.childrens-books.com.au and children can play games and win prizes on http://www.doofuzzdudesclub.com Her acupuncture website is http://www.acupunctureworks.com.au

Acupuncture And Alternative Therapies for Digestive Disorders

It is estimated that approximately 62 million Americans experience digestive problems on an ongoing basis. This is due to the harmful repercussions of the standard American diet on our population coupled with the high level of stress that the average American experiences. Digestive problems can range from minor annoyances, such as gas and bloating, to life-threatening illnesses, such as crohn?s disease, ulcerative colitis, unremitting diarrhea, and various cancers that target digestive organs. Whatever the case, it is always worth being proactive about our digestive health. The information contained in this article on acupuncture and natural therapies should definitely get you going in the right direction, not only with your digestion but also with your health in general. Let?s take a look at a few common disorders and what can be done about them.

1. Constipation: The standard American diet can easily lead to chronic constipation. This diet is low in fiber and antioxidants and high in difficult to digest additives and refined ingredients. Many, many people are constipated and they don?t even know it. They may have regular bowel movements, but they are still not flushing their systems thoroughly, which creates intestinal toxicity. Intestinal cleansing is often a top priority in healing numerous chronic health problems. There are several natural herbal remedies and nutritional supplements that can relieve constipation and heal the underlying imbalances.

Chinese herbal formulas such as ma zi ren wan and run chang wan are gentle laxatives that are not habit forming.
Aloe vera juice reduces inflammation and promotes peristalsis (smooth muscle contraction in the bowel).

Triphala is an Ayurvedic herbal complex that gently eases constipation and removes stagnant waste from the intestines.

Psyllium husk is a high fiber product that alleviates constipation.

Flax meal and seed are excellent high fiber sources for constipation. Senna leaf is useful for severe constipation.
2. Diarrhea: Chronic diarrhea can be dangerous for your health. It is still one of the leading causes of death in the world. Diarrhea is related to spleen weakness or intestinal inflammation. It is always a top treatment priority to heal this condition. Stress and anxiety can trigger regular bouts of diarrhea, as can processed and refined foods. Here are a few basic remedies for diarrhea:

Chinese herbal formulas such as bu zhong yi qi tang (ginseng and astragalus), si jun qi tang (4 Gentlemen), liu jun zi tang (6 Gentlemen), and jin gui shen qi tang (rehmannia 8) are helpful for alleviating diarrhea due to deficiency. Tong xie yao feng, Isatis Cooling, and jia wei xiao yao wan are helpful for diarrhea due to heat and inflammation.
Western herbs such as slippery elm, chamomile, peppermint, and ginger harmonize and soothe the stomach to stop diarrhea.
Probiotics such as acidophilus are useful as long-term adjuncts in treating diarrhea.
3. Bloating and gas: These symptoms tend to arise from eating too much or too fast, excessive stress, refined foods, coffee and alcohol, and sugar. Aside from slowing down and eating less of these foods, here are a few herbal suggestions:
Chai hu shu gan wan -- the quintessential Chinese formula for the combination of stress and gas.

Xiao yao wan -- Excellent for digestive problems that arise during menses and excessive stress.

Liu jun zi tang -- Strengthens the spleen and takes phlegm out of the gut, which is often related to gas and bloating.

Acidophilus and bifidus -- Bloating and gas can be related to candida overgrowth, which is a pathological yeast that causes an array of physical and emotional imbalances.
4. Irritable bowel Syndrome: IBS is a very common problem that affects millions of Americans. Doctors will often diagnose IBS when the patient?s symptoms don?t seem to match up with anything else, so they call it irritable bowel. This disorder is characterized by bowels fluctuating from constipation to diarrhea with intermittent abdominal pain or distention. People with IBS tend to be sensitive to a variety of foods including high fiber foods, refined sugar, wheat, and gluten products. Symptoms can continue indefinitely and can be resistant to conventional treatments. I have treated several patients with IBS, usually with very positive results. Acupuncture theory asserts that IBS typically involves a disharmony between the liver and the spleen. The liver becomes hyperactive due to stress, anger, and frustration, which causes it to weaken the spleen, causing loose bowels and fatigue. Treatment involves relaxing the liver and strengthening the spleen.

Herbal formulas such as Irritease by K?An Herbals and Isatis Cooling by Health Concerns have proven helpful. In general, I recommend committing to weekly acupuncture and herbal treatment for 4-8 visits, depending upon the severity and duration of your symptoms.

Acidophilus and bifidus cand be helpful, as many people with IBS also have candida

Chamomile and peppermint have a soothing effect on the gut and can reduce irritation
Most digestive disorders respond very well to consistent acupuncture and herbal treatment. Making dietary changes that restore and detoxify the gut also enhances treatment progress. Digestion is one of the main reference points for gauging one?s overall health. If there are weaknesses or imbalances here, it is likely that one?s overall health is compromised. Maintaining healthy digestion is an essential component in our quest for optimal health.
I should mention that for those of you suffering from crohn?s disease, ulcerative colitis, or colon cancer, it is definitely best to seek out professional alternative and allopathic medical treatment. These diseases are simply too involved to offer blanket solutions in this article. There are many powerful natural remedies for these diseases, but their application is specific to your unique needs.

Kevin Doherty, L.Ac., MS is a licensed acupuncturist in private practice in Superior, Colorado. To learn more about Kevin, visit his websites at http://wwwbouldercountyacupuncture.com and http://www.mindfulnesscd.net