Author Archives: Helen White

Arthritis Treatment Using Massage Therapy and Acupuncture as Adjunct Forms of Treatment

Arthritis affects about 70 million individuals in the United States each year and is the number one cause of disability in that country. Manifesting in more than a hundred forms, arthritis is a complicated disease that can strike at basically any age. Among its hundred of manifestations, arthritis usually appears in the form of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Because of this, massage therapies and acupuncture are seen as sensible forms of treatment for this debilitating disease.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that affects joints although several patients tend to feel the condition affecting other parts of the body, including the heart, lung, blood, and even the tissue of the skin. This type of arthritis can be chronic (long lasting) and is marked by an inflammation of the synovium, which is the smooth lining of the joint. When the synovium is inflamed, it causes redness, warmth, stiffness, and joint swelling. The joints that are affected may lose their shape making it hard for the person to move normally.

Osteoarthritis

Affecting more than twenty two million Americans each year, osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the United States. In contrast to rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis is a systematic breaking down of the joint cartilage leading to stiffness and extreme pain. The hips, spine, fingers, and knees are the body parts most commonly affected by this disease although it can also strike the shoulders, elbows, and ankles in some people. But from time to time, due to a certain injury, it may also affect an uncommon area of affliction. Injuries sustained from work are typical causes of osteoarthritis development. If your job entails, for example, frequent squatting, bending, or kneeling it may heighten your risk of developing this condition, particularly in the knee.

Massage Therapies and Acupuncture for Arthritis Treatment

Recently, the use of massage therapies and acupuncture for arthritis treatment has indicated that these two therapies are very effective alternatives modes of treatment to conventional medicine. Moreover, the use of massage therapies and acupuncture for treating arthritis both have deep roots in the mystical world of ancient medicine. We can surely see this with acupuncture.

Acupuncture Arthritis Therapy

As with other types of alternative treatment, acupuncture has been incredibly effective in treating inflammation and pain related to many forms of arthritis. Ancient Chinese medicine customizes acupuncture therapy based on the own symptoms manifested by the patient which then requires a unique plan of treatment that includes acupuncture therapy, lifestyle changes, energetic exercises, Chinese diet therapy, body works, and Chinese herbs.

Needles used in acupuncture are not necessarily placed on the areas directly affected by the condition, but rather in certain other locations throughout the body. Some patients may just see those tiny acupuncture needles inserted in every area of their body from their arms to their legs and maybe even all the way down to their smallest toe. These needles stimulate the body in a way that you’ll feel so relaxed that you might end up falling asleep during the treatment. The treatment may last for five to thirty minutes depending on the severity of the condition.

Massage Therapy for Arthritis

Both massage therapies and acupuncture are used to combat arthritis. Like acupuncture, massage therapy is thousands of years old and known to be widely used in ancient Greece. Some of the benefits this therapy can give a person suffering from arthritis include:

-Improving circulation to the skin
-Soothing tense muscles
-Enhancing joint movement

There are different forms of massage therapy that can be used in treating arthritis. Some of the more popular ones include:

-Swedish massage
-Reflexology
-Acupressure
-Deep Tissue Massage
-Trigger Point Therapy

Your Anxiety and Panic Attacks Can Be Completely Cured Using Acupuncture and Herbs

As one who has experienced panic attacks and anxieties, I have tried almost every type of treatment outside of psychotropic medications to help resolve these problems. For people who are suffering from panic disorder, you are not alone. You are just one among the more than 40 million people who suffer from this disorder who are resolved to find an answer for it.

After experiencing a recent panic attack I have decided to try acupuncture out. My acupuncturist cum Chinese medicine practitioner was a marvelous professional who had extensive experience in this type of condition.

Traditional Chinese practitioners and acupuncturists believe that emotional heavies such as depression, anxiety, and stress tend to disrupt the normal circulation of energy (known as Qi or Chi) throughout the body. Based on the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), anxiety obstructs the normal energy flow in our body. The body then experiences muscle pain in parts of the body such as the neck and back. Other aspects of your health can be affected as well and lead to problems such as sleeping difficulties, high blood pressure and digestive problems.

Acupuncture is a treatment that is known to redirect or restore the normal flow of energy resulting in the restoration of health.

Does Acupuncture Work for Anxiety?

Studies regarding the use of acupuncture for the treatment of anxiety have shown that ear acupuncture (auriculotherapy) as the best form of treatment. In order to understand how this type of acupuncture works to alleviate anxiety, Yale University doctors assembled a number of patients who were to undergo surgery for a clinical trial.

The trial revealed that the patients who were given acupuncture treatment experienced a significant lessening of their anxiety about their forthcoming surgery.

Western medical physicians suggest that acupuncture can alleviate anxiety because it is able to help with the production and release of natural painkillers such as endorphins in the bloodstream. Acupuncture can likewise safely lower blood pressure and heart rate, boost blood circulation, and help muscles relax without the need for prescription drugs.

My First Experience with Ear Acupuncture

During my first ever acupuncture treatment, my acupuncturist stuck needles on predetermined acupoints on my ear. The needles remained stuck for a week. This almost helped entirely cure me of my anxiety. After the ear therapy was over, the needles on my ear were removed and for the next phase of my treatment acupuncture needles were then inserted in various parts of my body. Unlike ear acupuncture the needles on my body were removed after each treatment session. I had a total of three sessions of body acupuncture and was wholly cured that even the most subtle anxiety triggers that had bothered me before completely vanished.

Chinese Herbal Medicine as an Adjunct to Acupuncture Therapy

Besides being a licensed acupuncturist, my acupuncturist was also a qualified practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine. He made me take a number of Chinese herbal formulas for a few weeks in order to restore my body to its normal and healthy balance. For anxiety treatment, these remedies not only target the anxiety symptoms but address the underlying reason(s) of your condition as well.

Conclusion

As you may have noticed, my acupuncture treatment for the cure of my anxiety was very much a success. Since then, I have been going for acupuncture treatment on a regular basis as it helps me to relax, sleep better and function very well in my everyday life.

If you are being plagued with anxiety and panic attacks I highly recommend acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine as two natural and very powerful treatments for your problem. They may be able to help you end your panic attacks for good.

Why Acupuncture is the Answer to Your Smoking Problems

Acupuncture is a very powerful form of treatment for a lot of health conditions. However, only a handful of people are aware that this healing modality which has the power to cure a lot of serious illnesses disorders is also powerful enough to help a smoker cease his smoking permanently.

The fact is acupuncture is a very good way for a smoker to successfully stop smoking. This is now being realized by more and more people through anecdotal evidence or by word-of-mouth. The most important thing, though for it to be successful is that the patient himself is willing to stop smoking. Acupuncture for the cessation of smoking promises a person prompt relief of his/her longstanding and habitual smoking habits.

Acupuncture treatment is based on the notion that the vital energy in every person’s body, known as Chi, flows throughout the body via 12 main energy channels known as primary meridians. The body itself has over a thousand acupoints wherein needles are inserted to address a specific condition. Occasionally, these meridians develop blockages preventing the Chi to flow as smoothly as it should.

This problem eventually results in chronic habits of which the habit of smoking is one. Acupuncture can be a useful tool for a smoker to wean himself out of his habit.

In providing the patient the benefits of the treatment, the acupuncturist sticks about five needles into the patient’s ear. Some needles are stuck into the ear cartilage and lobe while some needles are inserted into the patient’s wrists and hands. After all the needles are inserted into their proper points, the patient is left to sleep or relax for half an hour to a full hour. The needles are meant to provide the patient the means reduce his/her craving for nicotine.

Acupuncturists may follow a number of treatment methods when treating heavy smokers and severe cravings. The plan of treatment will only work if the person promises to undergo the required number of sessions to successfully become a non-smoker. These sessions are meant to mitigate the emotional and physical effects of the withdrawal that happen during the course of treatment.

A lot of patients are urged to go for herbal therapy whilst they are undergoing acupuncture. All that’s required is to apply a mixture of Sichuan lovage rhizomes, oil of wintergreen, evodia fruit extracts, and clove oils in the acupoints in order to get powerful and immediate results.

Besides curing you of your smoking addiction, acupuncture can provide other benefits as well. Patients start to notice that their cigarettes are not as pleasant to the taste as they used to and the cigarette smoke begins to smell offensive to them. These changes make the transformation of the patient from a smoker to a non-smoking person all the more quick and easy.

Using acupuncture treatment to rid yourself of your smoking habit also significantly lowers the innumerable side effects of nicotine withdrawals such as depression, anxiety, and the desire to smoke. The flow of blood in your body vastly improves with this treatment. The lungs are decongested and your mind starts to think clearer allowing you to develop an optimistic view of life.

Acupuncture is especially useful in patients who require emergency treatment for ending their habit. It can help you cease smoking within just a few days.

All these can be accomplished only if you avail yourself of treatment from a licensed and experienced acupuncturist.

Treating The Psoriasis Patterns of Disharmony with Acupuncture

In Chinese medicine, psoriasis is seen as a Blood Heat disorder. Conventional Western medicine considers this as a metaphor signifying that an inflammatory process is occurring in the bloodstream, exhibiting symptoms such as scaly, red, and itchy patches on the skin. The acupuncture points that are needled to treat psoriasis possess cooling qualities. Your acupuncturist knows exactly where these acupoints that help clear and cool blood are located. They can also be helpful if your psoriasis condition is exacerbated by spicy food, or hot weather.

Acupuncture Removes and Clears Toxins

The idea of toxins can also be applied to the metaphor of blood heat. Suggesting anything from allergic dermatitis to food allergies, from an unhealthy lifestyle and diet to plain toxicity, a blood heat diagnosis will entail the treatment of acupoints known for its detoxifying qualities that can be helpful in the treatment of psoriasis. People living in polluted environments as well as those with allergies and those living a toxic lifestyle need to discuss the process of detoxification with their acupuncturist.

Fortifying the Lungs

Traditional Chinese medicine sees the lung as similar to the skin. Both are considered to be external components of the body. This means that the lungs are affected by the outside world through the breathing process. The lungs like the skin have a huge surface area. These similarities make these two body organs closely related to each other. So, when the function of the respiratory system, is strong, it can lead to the healing of the skin from disorders such as psoriasis. From the viewpoint of Western medicine, the lungs have a tight association with the immune system, and so when lung function is strong, the immune system is also healthy and strong. If you have any problems with your lungs or have a family history of asthma, bronchitis, COPD, etc., you need to mention it to your acupuncturist.

The patterns causing psoriasis need to be treated in the right manner using modalities that have been proven to bring about great results. However, in order to get the best short-term treatment outcome, you need to treat the site where the psoriatic lesion itself is located. Through the sticking of needles perpendicularly around the lesion’s edges, from the healthy skin penetrating into the psoriasis, healing energy can be focused by your acupuncturist into the psoriasis itself. Besides that, the lesion can be directly inserted with needles that also directly target the disease. Contrary to popular belief, direct needle insertion in the psoriases is not painful. In fact patients who have undergone this procedure find it cooling and soothing providing immediate itching relief. You can request your acupuncturist for the same kind of procedure. There are areas in China where an acupuncture procedure involving liquefied herbs is injected into the body using hypodermic needles bringing about quick and dramatic results. In some states in the Union, this procedure is not yet legal. You need to ask your acupuncturist if this type of medical procedure can be performed in your state.

Traditional Chinese Medicine’s Answers to Anemia

Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) attribute anemia to be primarily caused by an imbalance known as Blood Deficiency. When referring to blood, TCM has a deeper meaning for it than the clinical definition of the term. Blood in TCM can also pertain to the inherent energy within the blood. TCM practitioners believe that Blood is made partly from the nutrients extracted in the digestive system that resulted from the action of the pancreas-spleen. Blood is created when jing or kidney essence combines with this extract. The bone marrow is where most of the body’ kidney essence is stored. This seems to jibe with conventional Western medicine’s knowledge that the bone marrow is where blood is created.

The symptoms and signs of anemia:

-Pain in the chest
-Shortness of breath (especially with activity or when standing)
-Light headedness or dizziness (especially with activity or when standing)
-Concentration difficulties
-Lack of energy/fatigue
-Headaches

Certain forms of anemia may come with symptoms such as:

-Numbness/tingling
-Problems thinking
-Constipation

These symptoms and signs are reflections of the TCM hallmarks of blood deficiency although Blood deficiency may come with extra symptoms like dry hair, pale complexions, tongue, nailbeds, and lips; dry skin; dry, thin, and premature graying hair; spots in the vision of the person; and premature hair loss.

Blood deficiency may be the result of:

-Stagnant blood and chronic diseases that slow down the generation of new blood
-Lack of nutrients in the body
-Blood loss because of severe menstruation, or gastrointestinal hemorrhage
-The body’s inability to absorb nutrients

The good news is that there are several natural ways you can utilize to build blood. They include proper nutrition, Chinese herbs, and acupuncture just to mention a few.

Proper Nutrition

To build and nourish blood through nutrition, two approaches can be used:

-Add certain nutrients that create new healthy blood
-Improve the absorption of nutrients in the digestive tract

To boost absorption, mucus and damp conditions need to be reduced and the qi energy of the pancreas-spleen needs to be built. You need to restrict yourself or totally avoid the consumption of damp and phlegm producing foods if you have a damp condition in your body.

Blood Deficiency Diet

Greater consumption of protein-rich foods is required to help build blood. Chicken and other types of animal protein are some of the best sources of blood building protein. It is possible to be on a vegetarian diet and still build blood; however, the process is not as fast as an animal protein diet. Besides animal protein that has the highest concentration of jing among foods, soups and stocks made from beef bones and chicken (preferably organic) can be others sources for jing.

Plants that are loaded with chlorophyll and leafy green vegetables are highly nutritious since they not only contain iron, but also posses other factors that aid in the utilization and absorption of iron, and produce Blood.

The quality of blood quality may also be affected by the amount of additives in foods, especially if the food has too much salt, sugar, and hormones. You should always strive to eat chemical-free foods or organic foods. The liver you consume needs to be organic and free of chemical additives.

Grains – bran, barley, wheat, corn, sweet rice, oats, and rice
Common supplements – algae, chlorella, seaweeds, chlorella, and spirulina
Vegetables – button mushroom, wheatgrass, watercress, dark leafy vegetables, wheatgrass, spinach, shitake mushroom, cabbage, kelp, celery, artichoke, dandelion leaf
Beverages – guiness beer, soya milk, smoothies, miso, spirulina
Fruits – apple, mulberry, apricot, longan, avocado, grape, date, fig
Condiments, oils – molasses
Beans – tempeh, aduki, fermented bean products, kidney beans, black soya
Spices, herbs – parsley, nettle
Seeds and nuts – black sesame, lightly roasted almonds
Dairy/egg
Fish – tuna, sardine, oyster, octopus, and mussel
Meat – liver of pork, beef, or sheep, chicken, red meat especially bone marrow

Western foods that can be eaten every day western that aid in the building of Blood:

-Chicken and red meat
-Rice porridges with almonds, soya milk, rice milk, apricots
-Mushroom lasagna and kidney bean with spinach salad
-Leafy dark green vegetable salad with grated beetroot and avocado
-Snacks of dried almonds and apricots
-Warm chicken salad with grapes and artichokes
-Calamari with mussel chowder
-Parsley with scrambled eggs with parsley

If you have anemia, these are the foods to best avoid:

Damp generating and congesting foods: dairy and ice cream (except a little yogurt and butter, nuts, and chocolate).

Raw uncooked foods that is uncooked and cold natured, concentrated sweeteners, sweet foods, salt, tomato, raw vegetable, and sprouts.

Damp causing foods and congesting foods such as dairy and ice cream, nuts, chocolate, and sugar

Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture

An important component of Chinese medicine is Chinese herbal medicine. If blood deficiency is prolonged, herbal formulas may help resolve severe the problem. Also herbal formulas can help, address the underlying disharmony/imbalance, tonify Spleen and supplement blood.

Acupuncture can improve the function of an anemic person. It also helps make the absorption of nutrients spleen-pancreas function more efficient. The development of healthy bone marrow and red blood cells can be supported with this therapy as well as disharmonies and other underlying problem that may disrupt the building of blood.

The Importance of De Qi Stimulation in Bell’s Palsy Acupuncture Treatment

A new study in China that pitted traditional acupuncture to a more intensive form of the treatment revealed that patients suffering from facial paralysis experienced much better improvements in terms of facial muscle function.

The conductors of the study discovered that by wiggling the acupuncture needles to generate a sensation named “de qi”, the patient had a better chance of getting back full facial function within half a year than if the needles were just stuck in the skin and left alone without being manipulated.

The study was performed in Wuhan, Hubei at the Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education. The head of the research Dr. Wei Wang stated that de qi should always be included or at least taken into account in acupuncture therapy guidelines.

However, since the study did not consider how well the patients would have improvements in their condition without the help of acupuncture, there was no way to tell whether no therapy at all or Western conventional therapies would work less than, be equal to, or be superior to acupuncture treatment.

De qi is seen by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners to posses great therapeutic value said Dr. Wang. In TCM, de qi is a collection of feelings that includes tingling, warmth, coolness, and achiness and is a sign that the acupuncture treatment works.

Unfortunately, no scientific study has ever confirmed this ancient belief, added Dr. Wang.

To determine if de qi possesses real value in acupuncture therapy, Wang and his team experimented on 317 volunteers who were all suffering from Bell’s palsy. These patients had to undergo acupuncture treatments for four weeks five 30-minute treatments each week.

Bell’s palsy is a condition in which one side of the face becomes paralyzed, usually temporarily, for a few months. This is usually caused by a viral infection resulting in facial nerve inflammation. Western medicine commonly prescribes the steroid prednisone as treatment for Bell’s palsy. Other Western modes of treatment include physical therapy, vitamins, and over-the-counter painkillers.

Based on statistics provided by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the United States has around 40,000 cases of Bell’s palsy each year. The study concentrated on this condition as facial nerve recovery due to Bell’s palsy is not likely to respond to the placebo effect as would the pain and other nerve symptoms related to Bell’s.

Random treatments were given to half of the patients and they (the treatments) were meant to generate de qi. To experience de qi , the needles were moved up and down and twisted several times during the treatment. The other patients were not treated this way and once the needles were inserted into their skin, they were left alone. Prednisone was given to all the patients.

The neurologists in the study were responsible for measuring the facial function score of the patients. The neurologists weren’t aware what type of treatment each patient received. The facial function score had a maximum score of 200, the higher the score the better the facial movement.

Initially, both groups registered facial function scores of around 130 – 135. But six months after, the patients who were given de qi experienced superior facial function than the other group. These functions included baring teeth, blinking, and raising eyebrows.

The group not given de qi treatment registered an average facial function score of 186 while the de qi group averaged an impressive 195. The study said it was hard to interpret just what those statistics meant in relation to muscle performance (i.e., whether a person can or cannot fully smile) but when the difference in score is nine points, the difference would be very obvious to the patients.

Moreover, 94% of the patients who were given de qi treatment fully got back their facial function after six months compared to only 77% in the non-de qi group. There is no clear consensus as to how de qi acupuncture treatment in particular, and standard acupuncture treatment, in general improves the symptoms of Bell’s palsy.

One explanation was given by Dr. Jian Kong, a Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital assistant professor. He said that when the needles are inserted in the face, they helped boost the flow of blood into the area. As a result, the facial nerves were adequately nourished which helped relieve the inflammation and made recovery much faster.

Although not a member of the study team, Dr. Kong agreed with the team that de qi is often overlooked and should be an integral factor in all future acupuncture studies.

Kong added that the many schools of thought about acupuncture, with some placing emphasis on de qi than others is one reason why de qi is not always considered in the plan of treatment of a patient.

De qi is also difficult to quantify, subjective, and complex. A lot of the outcomes of clinical studies are not interested in measuring de qi sensation so this sensation is ignored most of the time, said Kong.

This may explain why many studies have yielded contrasting outcomes- some showing a benefit and other times not, said Dr. Wang. This is one fundamental flaw in the clinical studies involving acupuncture treatment. By not factoring in de qi stimulation, the effect of acupuncture can be severely undermined, he added.

Kong believes that including standard de qi measurement, in acupuncture studies will lead to a level of uniformity across studies. This will help determine the effect of this sensation in the results of the clinical studies, he added.

The Acupoints Used by Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners for the Treatment of Bell’s Palsy

Bell’s palsy is attributed to an inflammation of the nerve that governs the function of the facial muscles causing one side of the face to droop and stiffen. Studies have shown that Bell’s palsy symptoms can be alleviated by acupuncture therapy even in Bell’s palsy sufferers who have not gotten well with other treatments. In acupuncture treatment for Bell’s palsy, the acupoints to be treated are chosen by the acupuncturist based on the patient’s needs. It is important to talk to your doctor before you go for acupuncture or other forms of alternative treatments.

Acupoints Used for Bell’s Palsy Treatment

Yang Bai (GB 14)

The GB 14 is located about a finger’s width from the eyebrow to the forehead in line with the pupil. It is commonly used to treat the symptoms of Bell’s palsy. Yang Bai, in Chinese literally means “yang white.” It is situated on the meridian associated with the gallbladder. It can also be used to treat temporal and frontal headaches. The GB 14 is also helpful for the relief of eye discomforts such as swelling, itchiness, redness, and eye twitching.

Ying Hsiang (LI 20)

Literally translated as “welcome fragrance,” the ying hsiang is found in the smile line (the nasolabial crease) proximate to the side of the nostril. This meridian is associated with the large intestine system and utilized to resolve a variety of conditions. Apart from palsy, the LI 20 can also be used to treat sinus and nasal problems such as allergies and sinusitis.

Hsiaguan (ST 7)

Hsiaguan in Chinese means “below the joint.” Found on the cavity where the jaw and cheekbone meet, this acupoint corresponds to the stomach meridian and besides Bell’s palsy is used to treat jaw toothaches, jaw pain, deafness, tinnitus, and ear infections and pain.

Dicang (ST 4)

The point known as “dicang” in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is referred to in modern acupuncture in Chinese, dicang literally means earth granary and is found directly below the pupil in line with the corner of the mouth. This point is used to treat stroke symptoms, toothaches, paralysis, and of course, Bell’s palsy.

TCM and Acupuncture Are Excellent Choices for Acne Cure

A skin condition affecting a great number of people and in varying degrees at some point in their lives, acne can take the form of a simple pimple to full blown acne. Though not lethal, acne can do huge emotional damage to affected people. It strips them of their self-esteem and is quite difficult to get rid of.

There are so many available treatments for acne which makes it hard to choose the good products from the questionable ones since the market is flooded with products that promises instant and/or guaranteed cures.

Acne originates in the hair follicles and pores of the shoulders, chest, and face. This skin condition comes about when pores develop blockages caused by an overabundance of an oily substance called sebum. This substance is secreted by the glands, obstructing the pores making the gland very susceptible to bacterial infection.

When the gland becomes infected, the body begins to fight infection causing pus to develop in the pores. This is the way the body fights this condition. Acne is the manifestation of the fight between the bacteria and the body and the symptoms resulting from this battle include a core filled with pus inside swollen red welts.

As mentioned before, acne is not a lethal condition; however, it may lead to severe scarring in the face, which is a huge cosmetic disaster for the sufferer.

Pimples Can Manifest in Several Forms

Pimples typically appear in six forms. Knowing the correct type of treatment depends on knowing the type of pimple you have.

1. Blackheads – These pimples are caused by sebum and appear as a waxy concentration and when squeezed form like a black top.

2. Whiteheads – These pimples appear without any top. They look like a white spot and tend to stay under the skin’s surface. They contain a thicker, harder secretion and are difficult to squeeze.

3. Pustules – The name itself implies that these pimples contain pus with an inflamed, red base secreted from the top.

4. Papules – Bumps that are tender, small, and form without a top.

5. Cysts – These types of pimples are almost similar to boils. They form deep within the subcutaneous layer of the skin. They are capable of developing into scars and are painful.

6. Nodules – They are marked by painful and large concentrations of pus formed deep within the skin.

Acne Risk Groups

In the United States alone around 17 million individuals suffer from certain forms of acne. The fact is acne is the most common skin condition in this country. It can affect persons of all races and ages although teens and young adults are the ones most likely to suffer from this condition. It is not surprising then that over 85% of those with this condition are people between the ages of 12 and 24. The good news is that a majority of these sufferers see their condition heal by itself around the age of 30. People who may still have acne after that period may need to endure it even up to the start of their adulthood.

What Causes Acne?

No one knows what exactly causes acne although medical researchers list some possible factors that may be responsible for this condition. They include:

-Genetic predisposition/heredity
-Long term use of poor quality cosmetics
-High levels of testosterone and steroid use
-Allergic reaction to certain types of medication
-Taking birth control pills or ending their use
-Pregnancy
-Hormonal imbalance or change
-The start of puberty

Acne Treatments

There are dozens of acne treatments which make it difficult to select the right one for your specific condition. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), specifically acupuncture, and other forms of alternative therapies can be ideal modes of treatment for this disease. Due to the growing awareness of the safety and effectiveness of natural modes of treatment, more and more people are now opting for acupuncture for treatment of a wide range of conditions including acne.

The goal (or should I say goals) of acupuncture in treating a condition is to resolve the symptoms and address the underlying problem that caused the symptoms and illness in the first place. Although it may lack Western scientific validity, tons of anecdotal evidence exists proving that acupuncture works for acne and other skin conditions. The following must first be considered before one decides to embark in an acupuncture treatment for their condition:

1. Candidate patients need to have strong confidence in the experience and qualification of their acupuncturist. These patients need to query their practitioner about their qualifications and their experience in treating conditions they’re suffering from. The acupuncturist may not be the best choice if they feel uncomfortable answering such questions.

2. Acne treatments that produce the best results usually entail a combination of acupuncture and diet and lifestyle changes.

Being a long term treatment, acupuncture may involve weekly or monthly sessions and may last for several months.

Conclusion

For many young individuals, acne is a serious unsightly, annoying and sometimes painful problem. A lot of factors need to be taken into consideration when selecting a type of treatment program for this condition. It’s important to exactly know the severity of your acne and the proper initial step to treatment is to consult with a certified dermatologist. If the dermatologist fails to treat your problem, then trying out acupuncture and other TCM treatments may be the next sensible choice.

Solving Candidiasis with Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture can be a part of a mutli layered treatment for Candidiasis. This condition affects a lot of people who have tried several over-the-counter remedies but nevertheless, continue to experience relapses. For sufferers of Candidiasis who seek an alternative way of healing, acupuncture and other forms of TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) have proven to be effective in neutralizing this condition. You immune system can be strengthened with acupuncture and it will assist your body in many ways, as well.

You immunity is off when you your body is poorly balanced within. Any problem with your immune system will affect the pH balance of your body and this may lead to a number of consequences. Yeast (such as the Candida fungus) living in your body can grow in abundance. This overgrowth of yeast can weaken your immune system even more causing the yeast to grow even more eroding the strength of the immune system even more resulting in a vicious cycle.

What Causes Candida infections?

Your intestine is already a natural home of the Candida albicans fungus but they only can negatively impact the body if they spin out of control. An overgrowth of this type of Candida in the body is known as Candidiasis and it can lead to health issues such as rashes, sluggishness, allergies, food cravings, and brain fog. Candida infections may develop due to a number of reasons including poor eating habits and an imbalance of flora caused by antibiotic use.

A person may also be predisposed to this type of infection. Obviously, your immune system needs to be reinforced to prevent the development of this disease. One of the best ways to boost your immune system is by acupuncture therapy.

Your Immune System and Acupuncture

As mentioned, acupuncture is a good way to boost your immune system. This will make your body withstand the onslaught of bad bacteria such as Candida and help you ward off infections. If you are battling Candida with drugs, you need to complement it with herbs or a proper diet to help enhance your immunity.

Candida thrives in the environment and there is no escaping it. As mentioned, it is already in your body in your digestive system. This is the body system where 75% of the immune system resides. Acupuncture gives you the means to fortify our immune system helping you to not only cure Candidiasis but also the help your body attain and keep a normal pH balance.

There are qualified acupuncturists who specialize in the treatment of Candidiasis and these are the health professionals you ought to see if you have this type of problem.

Proof That Acupuncture Works In The Treatment of UTI

Patients suffering from urinary tract infection (UTI) are getting more and more vulnerable to emerging pathogens that are resistant to antibiotic therapy and this is making health experts and authorities worried. The truth is that antibiotic resistance is one huge reason why UTI or urinary tract infection, especially among women, has become persistent or acute as a disease.

There are 11 million people in the United States alone who are suffering from acute cases of UTI. This has occurred even if the sales of over-the-counter antibiotics jumped eightfold ever since its sale sans a medical prescription was approved the US Food and Drug Authority.

The overuse of antibiotics for the treatment of UTI, according to health experts, has led to the ineffectiveness of these medications in treating UTI in a growing number of patients.

These days, physicians have to rely on alternative forms of treatment to battle UTI. But this comes with the condition that the medical doctor needs to be consulted first before the patient undergoes alternative form of treatment for UTI. It’s been seen that Chinese acupuncture is of the most recommended and safest forms of alternative treatment for this disease.

There already have been numerous clinical studies and medical tests done to provide evidence that acupuncture can naturally treat UTI. One study done by the University of Bergen in Norway showed how acupuncture was highly effective in treating urinary tract infection by curing 75% of the women infected with this disease in the study.

Based on the study’s conductors, acupuncture therapies were randomly administered on the patients. The procedure involved needling of the lower extremities, back, or the lower stomach. These are the normal protocols followed that were in accordance to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnosis. The therapies were performed two times a week for 30 days and any UTI incidence or recurrence was duly observed and recorded for about half a year.

The results were remarkable. They revealed that 73% of the patients given acupuncture got completely cured of the disease compared to just a 52% rate of cure on patients who received other forms of UTI treatment.

The researchers believe that acupuncture’s success was due to its ability to lessen the level of residue in the urine. TCM practitioners believe, however, that the improvement of chi flow in the body particularly in the lower stomach area brought about the success of the treatment.

Chi or qi is a fundamental theory in TCM and it refers to the vital elements including the life giving substances that comprise the body of a person. We can say that qi may refer to the very important or vital elements in the body including things like water and food.

The theoretical conclusion about the lessening of urine residues on patients given acupuncture treatment is seen as a huge step in the treatment of UTI through alternative modes of treatment. However, the best thing to do first before anyone suffering from UTI go for acupuncture treatment is to see their doctor first for proper advice.