Author Archives: Helen White

Most Clinical Studies Fail to Prove the Effectiveness of Acupuncture for the Treatment of Asthma

Because of the serious side effects anti asthma drugs have on people, a growing number of asthma sufferers are turning to a non-chemical solution to their health issue.

Certain studies have proven that acupuncture has the ability to help, especially when it is carried out by a qualified and experienced practitioner who is also well-tuned to the patient’s needs.

The Problem with Studies

Almost all kind of clinical studies about acupuncture have been limited in a number of ways. They seem to use a different protocol to test the effectiveness of the treatment that is very different to that used in actually daily acupuncture treatment. Clinical trials test for two different forms of acupuncture, which only complicates the results.

In a review archived in the Cochrane Library about a study on asthma and acupuncture, the outcomes of two small studies that used two kinds of acupuncture were gathered. But the study concluded that there was inadequate data that would determine the effectiveness of acupuncture to the population as a whole.

Scientists often try to find the best acupoint combinations for the treatment of asthma as clinical trials are often limited to a few number of case studies. However, in clinical practice, the actual treatment protocol is far more specific and the acupoints selected for treatment are dependent on the types of deficiency and excess of the patient.

Also, certain acupoints on the back and front of the ribcage are traditionally treated to help improve the breathing of the asthma patient; in clinical textbooks and trials, they only mention a few of these acupoints.

Asthma Treatment Using Acupuncture

The Western method of studying the effectiveness of acupuncture has made it impossible for people to appreciate this powerful modality for the treatment of various kinds of diseases and instead of providing a wealth of evidence of acupuncture’s potency, most clinical studies about the treatment have made the treatment less attractive to people.

So what do people have to do make an informed decision? People should rely more on testimonies of people who actually underwent an acupuncture procedure and had really significant improvement of their condition because of the treatment.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and acupuncture deem diseases such as asthma as a sign that the body is suffering from a hidden disharmony. Hence, a patient who goes for treatment to a qualified practitioner who has the ability to diagnose and determine what underlying disharmony is plaguing the patient, will have a very big chance of having his condition treated.

Having said that, it is not the job of the acupuncturist to recommend to his/her asthma patients stopping their asthma medications entirely; can you imagine if you stop using your inhaler and suddenly you have an asthma attack? The consequences would be horrible! The way to wean yourself off your meds is to reduce their intake gradually and cautiously. Patients need to approach this in a manner that is safe and comfortable to them.

Asthma According to the Point of View of TCM

TCM practitioners traditionally see asthma as the result of disorders associated with kidney, stomach, and lung functions. And so, a lot of the potential acupoints needed to be treated can be found along the meridians related to those organs and also the meridian related to the bladder.

Some acupoints where bladder meridians are found are located on the upper part of the back. These are needled for asthma treatment and for the clearing of obstacles that block the flow of qi in the back. These points are vital for the relief of the severity of asthma breathing.

TCM’s view of the body organs is very different to the way Western medicine sees them, which is purely anatomical. The organs In TCM carry with them certain energetic, emotional, spiritual, and physical aspects.

Based on the theory of the Five Elements an interconnection exists between the different organ systems and this is used for diagnosing the patterns of disharmony. The five TCM elements are water, metal, earth, fire, and wood.

Asthma is the result of an imbalance in the element of metal. Metal is associated with the yang organ, large intestine and the yin organ, lung. The color and season corresponding to metal are white and autumn, respectively. This element is responsible for the removal of waste, skin issues, and respiration and if the metal element becomes imbalanced, the result may include feelings of grief or sadness, bowel problems, coughing, skin conditions, shortness of breath, or asthma.

Insomnia Cure With Acupuncture and Acupressure

Acupuncture and acupressure are two natural and alternative modes of treatment that can actually cure insomnia. These two forms of insomnia therapy are quite helpful in that they can provide your body with the much needed relief of pain and stress you may need to get to sleep faster. The very old Chinese healing tradition of acupuncture involves the use of small, extremely thin needles that are inserted into specific points in the body. Acupressure is a treatment similar to acupuncture but instead of needles, manual pressure is used to apply pressure on the acupoints to treat insomnia.

Through one or both these alternative forms of treatment, the underlying aim is to enable Qi, (pronounced chee) which is the life force of the body, to flow correctly all over the body. Acupuncturists and other Chinese medicine practitioners believe that when something ails the mind and body, a blockage has developed that impairs the natural flow of Qi. With the use of acupuncture or acupressure, the Qi is stimulated in the blocked area forcing Qi to break through and flow normally once more.

In order to take advantage of acupuncture this way, you will need the services of a licensed practitioner who has experience in treating insomnia. If you live in a large city, it will be easy to find a licensed practitioner in your area who can help you with your insomnia. Working with one will initially involve a meeting in which the acupuncturist will try to understand what type of treatment you need. Your acupuncturist will determine the underlying cause of your problem and treat it as well as the symptoms accordingly. This means prescribing herbs and identifying and treating the acupoints related to your underlying problem and symptoms.

Acupressure and acupuncture are both non-toxic and natural forms of treatment that help you get back to sleep. For insomnia sufferers who are considering getting these two types of treatment, it is important to seek out a licensed acupuncturist who has good experience in treating this condition. Curing insomnia will be only as effective as the professional who provides the treatment, more so when it comes to his/her level of experience in treating insomnia.

How Acupuncture Can Be a Wonderful Treatment for Your Scar Problem

A natural response by the body to an injury, scars may look very small upon visual observation. They may be hardly detected by the eye and can be a few millimeters in length. Scars are usually immobile and long and in terms of depth, they can be quite thick and deep.

Scars caused by trauma could mean a gross trauma that is the result of progressive micro-tearing over time or may be a result of a vehicle accident. A micro tearing can ensue when a person foregoes stretching routines after a workout or if he/she continuously exercises and barely rests in between workouts.

For the most part, medical doctors do not see scars as an issue that may result in a person’s dysfunction and pain. However, it has been observed by alternative healthcare experts that the treatment of scars can produce very important benefits. Acupuncturists who have had experience in scar treatment see certain physical manifestations arising from scar tissue that is immobile:

1. Chronic swelling – Pain can be generated if a scar is tight enough that is adheres or presses down on body parts such as blood vessels or nerves. Fluid may also accumulate in an area where a scar is located. The scar may hinder the fluid from moving out of an anatomical area. This usually happens in surgery when a few or several weeks after a surgical procedure, fluid has pooled in the site of the surgery. A scar caused by surgery has a tendency to cause pain on two fronts. The scar may prevent or slow down fluid motion in the site of the surgery causing pain in that area and/or adhere to body parts that are sensitive which also results in pain. The stagnant fluid caused by a scar may likely put pressure on sensitive body parts causing pain as well. Patients may require acupuncture treatment to relieve the pain and swelling. Sometimes the treatment can be extremely successful that people with walking aids walk out the practitioner’s office by themselves without any aid at all!

2. Pain caused by postural dysfunction – Thick, tight scars may prevent the patient to sit, stand, or walk in a normal manner. The poor posture can lead to lower back, shoulder, and neck pain and headaches.

3. When stretching, a chronic tight feeling may be felt – The person may have no problems with the overall body motion of his/her body. He/she may enjoy above average range of motion or full ROM. Nevertheless, the scar in his/her body can cause the muscles to feel tight. People with this issue usually have no neurological problems. It’s the muscle tightness that is the problem. One of the most common examples of this problem is the tightness in the back of the thigh (the hamstring). No matter how much this muscle is stretched, the tightness does not go away.

4. Chronic pain – The scar can cause potential pain away from or in and around the affected area. A scar located, say, in the stomach can lead to chronic lower back pain. When the scar is treated, a dramatic improvement in the pain usually results. Some acupuncturists recall treating patients with a scar in their stomach which caused a pulling or tightness sensation in their groin. When the scar was treated and become a bit more mobile, the pulling or tightness sensation disappeared.

If the scar is thick enough and very visible, it may affect the person psychologically. The person may become too self-conscious of the body part in question causing him/her stress, embarrassment, anxiety, depression, and unhappiness.

Other Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Treatments for Scars

Practitioners may use the following TCM modalities along with acupuncture to treat scars. They include:

-Tui Na (Chinese massage)
-Gua Sha (scraping)
-Massage therapy

Some of the benefits offered by acupuncture and TCM in the treatment of scar tissue are as follows:

-Better posture due to the improvement of the immobility of the scar
-Reduction of the swelling
-Enhanced circulation of blood to the affected site potentially assisting in the improvement of healing
-Better flexibility, mobility, and range of motion
-Pain alleviation
-From a cosmetic standpoint, acupuncture scar treatment can help “flatten” out thick scars which makes them “invisible” to the eye. This can improve the person’s well-being and boost his/her self-esteem.
– A scar that is mobile from a Chinese medicine standpoint can help improve vital energy (Qi) flow

Is Acupuncture for Scar Treatment Painful?

In a word, no. Because it involves the sticking of needles into parts of a person’ body, acupuncture may seem to be a very invasive procedure. The truth is, it is a surprisingly quite painless procedure that can even be used on children and even babies. In the treatment of scars, depending on the constitution of the patient and the type of scar to be treated, there may be some level of discomfort that lasts for a few seconds which is often replaced by a relaxing feeling.

Unlike the thick hypodermic needles used for transfusing or drawing blood or for injections, acupuncture needles are as thin as the hair in your head and most patients sense a mild pressure or light prick; some even experience no sensation at all when the needles are stuck in their skin.

Some side effects one can expect during an acupuncture procedure include numbness, aching, soreness, heaviness, or heat. These reactions are normal and differ from patient to patient. Around the acupoints where needles are inserted is where a lot of blood vessels and nerves are found. The treatment mainly affects the nervous system. When the nervous system is stimulated, a Chinese medicine term known as De Qi (which means the arrival of the Qi) occurs. This means that the treatment is effective and the Qi is moving.

It is quite normal to see patients getting significantly better after just one treatment. Results are often quite dramatic although, in general, each patient responds to the treatment in his/her unique way.

For people who are still experiencing dysfunction, tightness, or pain several weeks or months after surgery or for those suffering from chronic pain, you need to consider acupuncture treatment for your problem. Acupuncture and the other TCM modalities may help treat your immobile and thick scars which can help you move more efficiently and resolve your scar problem from an aesthetic viewpoint.

Helping ADHD Patients Overcome their Condition with Acupuncture and Other Treatments

In the United States, ADHD or Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most commonly diagnosed behavioral problems in children. Each year, this country alone has about 5 million children around the ages of 5 to 17 diagnosed with ADHD. Studies show that in the treatment of this condition, the most effective way involves a multidisciplinary approach involving medication, dietary modifications, exercise, and behavioral therapy. Now doctors are adding acupuncture to this list as it has been shown to be a treatment that can successfully control ADHD symptoms.

What is ADHD?

Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), or sometimes called ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) is an issue affecting the brain that causes the sufferer difficulty in controlling impulsive behavior or concentrating.

ADHD-afflicted children often struggle concentrating or paying attention to things. They usually are frustrated with tasks, easily get bored, and can’t seem to follow directions. They likewise are impulsive, and do things first before thinking about the consequences of their actions, and often move constantly. Although these behaviors are not uncommon in normal children, they happen more often and in a much severe manner in children with ADHD. The child’s ability to function normally at home and schools is severely affected by symptoms related to ADHD.

There are also adults who suffer from this condition. They often have a hard time in setting goals, have problem in their organization skills problem, have difficulty managing their time, and have a hard time looking for employment. Worse, they may also have issues with addiction, self-esteem, and relationships.

ADHD Treatments

As mentioned before, the treatment for ADHD is multifaceted. It consists of dietary and lifestyle changes, behavioral therapy, and medicines. This condition is best handled when health and education professionals and families cooperate with each other to provide the child or adult with the tools he needs to overcome his condition. The patient needs to get over his destructive behavior, develop his personal strengths, focus his attention, and eventually become a successful and productive person. Acupuncture is a perfect addition to the treatment plan for ADHD as it can be used to treat the underlying problem, and restore balance to the body, while at the same time resolving the symptoms of ADHD.

What acupuncture can provide the ADHD patient:

-Improve concentration
-Improve mood management techniques
-Lower hyperactivity
-Lessen fidgeting
-Manage moods
-Better attention and focus

Acupuncture Treatment for Children

Acupuncture is a powerful form of treatment for children and most of them respond very well to it. In treating children with acupuncture, comfort is of paramount importance. Treatments tend to be shorter than in adults and instead of needles to stimulate their acupuncture points, other tools are used to produce the same therapeutic effects as needles do.

Needle-free acupuncture procedures may involve the use of blunt probes, roller, or brushes, and acupuncture points may be stimulated by pressing, tapping, rubbing, or stroking them.

Traditional Chinese medicine is useful for the treatment of these common childhood conditions:

-Bedwetting
-Hives and eczema
-Colds and cough
-Asthma, allergies
-ADHD
-Night terrors
-Diarrhea, constipation, GERD, and indigestion
-Temper tantrums, excessive night crying, colic
-Weak constitution
-Failure to thrive syndrome

Finding Relief and Cure of Your Allergies with Acupuncture

About 50 million Americans are affected by common allergies each year. Allergies are indications of an over reactive immune system to certain allergens that have infiltrated the body. Each individual has a certain allergen that affects his/her body and what might be an allergen for one person may not be an allergen for another. Acupuncture is one among many available treatments for allergies to help relieve the symptoms of this condition. But being a holistic treatment, acupuncture will not only resolve the symptoms of your allergy but will also address the underlying root of the allergy leading to a balance in your body systems and fullness of health.

What is an allergen?

Anything that causes in you an allergic reaction is an allergen. There can be literally thousands of allergens that bring about the rise of allergy symptoms. They can be skin contact allergens, ingested allergens, and respiratory allergens. Skin contact allergens can include a chemical allergen such as latex. They can also be a poison ivy or a bee sting. Ingested allergens are taken through drugs and foods and can include antibiotics, nuts, and shellfish. Respiratory allergens are inhaled into the body. They can be animal dander, house dust mites, mold spores and airborne pollens from tree grasses and blooms.

Allergy treatment using acupuncture

Practiced for more than 4,000 years, acupuncture is a healing art that is part and parcel of a collection of medical knowledge known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Adherents of TCM have utilized acupuncture for millennia as a natural way of balancing yin and yang to heal the body. TCM practitioners believe that in each human body, a vital energy known as Qi flows through channels of energy known as meridians. Good health is experienced by the person when Qi flow smoothly; when a blockage to this flow occurs, sickness develops. Acupuncture is then utilized to clear out any obstacles in the meridians to restore the smooth flow of Qi and treat the sickness.

What happens during acupuncture treatment?

To help treat allergy and its symptoms, acupuncture needles are inserted into specific points in the body known as acupoints or pressure points. There is a specific meridian that runs just underneath a certain acupoint. When an acupuncture needle is inserted into a point, the meridian underneath it is stimulated leading to a series of physiological responses that will help treat the symptoms as well as the allergy itself leading to the cure of the allergic reaction.

To prevent any inadvertent injuries and infections, you need to find a qualified and experienced acupuncturist who can give you the results you desire.

Curing Your Acne Problems with Acupuncture and Lifestyle Changes

Although acne is a really terrible condition that cannot be treated, there are a number of medical options you can try to mitigate this problem. However, you need to be very careful when selecting a plan of treatment for your condition. It is recommended that you first consult with your doctor who may examine you in order to determine what type of acne you’re suffering from. When this has been determined, he may recommend to you the best course of treatment for your problem. One of the best recommendations he may suggest is acupuncture. Unlike conventional medications, acupuncture is a holistic type of treatment that does not have any side effects and produces outcomes that are long-lasting and oftentimes more superior to these drugs. Conventional Western medicine considers acupuncture as an alternative therapy. It involves the use of extremely thin needles stuck in to certain body points in order to generate a self healing response from the body. This form of acne treatment is usually combined with proper changes in your lifestyle and diet in order to produce maximum results.

What to Expect From an Acupuncture Treatment

Before going for acupuncture for acne treatment, you need to take a closer look at the procedures involved. Being unaware of the procedure may make you surprised and uncomfortable during the treatment procedure itself. There are different techniques of acupuncture that a practitioner may utilize for each patient. The procedure may involve the use of a single technique or it may be a combination of various ones. Ear acupuncture (auriculotherapy) and hormone balancing acupuncture are the two most common techniques used to treat acne. A lot of acupuncturists believe that hormone balancing acupuncture is a much superior option for women because it gives extra benefits apart from the curing of acne. The treatment of cramping and mood swings during the onset of their menstruation is just some of the extra benefits this type of acupuncture can provide these women.

The Importance of Finding a Highly Qualified and Experienced Acupuncturist

Acupuncture can be very powerful and effective if done by a licensed and experienced acupuncturist. It is then imperative to get treatment from a practitioner who is highly experienced in the field of acne treatment. If you want to make sure that the acupuncturist you are considering for treating your acne is duly licensed, you can call the Secretary of State’s office to see if the practitioner has a license to perform such treatments in your area. There are states wherein one can practice acupuncture without the need of a license. If you are in a state where licensing is not a legal requirement, you may need to talk to a number of acupuncturists to ask about the experiences and qualifications of this specific practitioner. You can also be upfront with the acupuncturist and ask him/her to show you his/her credentials. You can also talk with past patients to know more about the practitioner.

The Need to Do Positive Lifestyle Changes

Adhering to a good lifestyle is a vital component of acupuncture for acne treatment. You need, for example, to avoid eating oily foods so that the skin cannot secrete too much oil that can lead to acne breakouts. Moreover, you need a bit of patience when deciding to go for acupuncture treatment for your acne. You may be required to undergo three to four acupuncture treatment sessions for the treatment’s effect to become manifest.

Acupuncture for acne treatment can be a great way to resolve acne for sufferers who don’t want to take medications or for those who cannot afford expensive laser treatments.

Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture Can be used as Adjunctive Therapies for GERD

GERD or Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease is a chronic digestive disorder caused by a dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). This is the sphincter that serves as a gate between the esophagus and the stomach. GERD develops when this sphincter does not close well enough to prevent stomach contents and acid from flowing back into the esophagus.

During digestion, food travels through the digestive system via peristalsis. In order for food to pass into the stomach, the LES relaxes. This sphincter immediately shuts back again to prevent reflux. If it doesn’t shut well, the stomach contents, which are extremely acidic, flow back into the esophagus burning the esophagus and causing extreme pain. Over time, this condition can damage the esophageal wall. Almost everyone experiences heartburn from time to time; a regular occurrence of this (many times a week), however, leads to the long-term irritation of the esophagus which is then diagnosed as GERD. Heartburn is GERD’s most common symptom. Other GERD-related symptoms include a throat-clearing cough, dysphagia, increased production of saliva, a sour taste in the mouth, frequent burping, and regurgitation.

About 34% of the US population suffers from GERD each year. People in all ages can develop GERD although people over 40 years of age are the ones most prone to it.

The diagnosis for GERD depends on the manifested symptoms. Tests used to diagnose this condition include pressure testing of the LES, esophageal acidity testing, endoscopy, and -ray with barium swallow. The last one is done to rule out other diseases such as esophageal cancer or Barrett’s esophagus.

Foods that trigger GERD and heartburn include onions, garlic and other spicy foods, fried or fatty foods, and citrus foods such as tomatoes or oranges. Soda, coffee, and alcohol increases acid in the stomach and can exacerbate the condition. Smoking cigarettes, peppermint, and alcohol all can result in the relaxation of the LES which increase the risk of GERD or worsen the reflux even more. Factors such as hiatal hernia, obesity, and pregnancy that cause the abdomen to protrude forward and up the diaphragm, can bear more pressure on the abdomen that can result in the occurrence of GERD.

GERD is a condition that presently has no cure. Surgery is a treatment option and is done to tighten up the LES. The treatment’s objective is to relieve the symptoms and contain the damage to the digestive system. The main treatment plan of conventional medicine for GERD is medications. PPIS or proton pump inhibitors are the most commonly used drugs for GERD that can help minimize acid production in the abdomen.

PPIs work very well for the relief of the symptoms of GERD; the problem with these drugs is that when taken for an extended time period they can contribute to poor digestion of proteins that require a normal stomach acidity environment in order to break down and absorb nutrients such as calcium and vitamin B12. This eventually can result in vitamin deficiency which can disrupt the process of bone creation and re-absorption leading to increased bone fragility. The effects of GERD can especially affect women in menopause who already have bone loss issues to worry about. Long term PPI use has also been associated with the rise in the number of gastric polyps in the body. Likewise it has been demonstrated that long term PPI intake can lead to dependency that results in rebound symptoms that develop when the patient stops taking the medication.

Interestingly the ancient Chinese healers see GERD as more of a sign of an imbalance in the body system than a condition itself. Heartburn is seen as a disharmony between the stomach and the liver. According to Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) the liver regulates the direction of flow of blood, digestion, energy, and emotions of the body and when this organ is overworked often because of stress, it has a hard time keeping things from flowing smoothly and this leads to a “rebellion” in the flow of emotions, energy, digestion, and blood. With regards to GERD, instead of the normal downward flow of stomach energy, the overwork liver causes this flow to rebel upwards potentially resulting in chronic signs and symptoms of reflux, heartburn, burping, and thick greasy tongue coating. The throat-clearing cough and the lump sensation in the throat are known in TCM as “plum pit qi” and it’s a typical indication of liver qi stagnation.

There is a huge contrast of treatments used to treat GERD between conventional mainstream medicine and TCM. This is due to the fact that western medicine underestimates the role stress plays in the development of pathology is; TCM, on the other hand, considers stress to be a huge factor in the development of imbalances of the organ systems of the body.

The plan of treatment for the alleviation of GERD symptoms such as reflux and heartburn differ from person to person. Usually, however, the aim of treatment is to normalize and soothe the liver and at the same time relieve stress that is the cause of the liver’s beating up the stomach, bring back the normal downward flow of stomach energy, clear the dampness that tend to accumulate whenever stomach energy flow is disrupted and clear the heat. Both Chinese herbs and acupuncture are administered to the patient in order to achieve these objectives. The kind of herbs to be used will depend on your lifestyle, the severity of your symptoms, and your preference. One can also use one or both these modalities as complementary therapies to Western drugs to lessen the side effects of these drugs, to lower the dosage of the drugs, and to better control the symptoms.

Anemic People May Find Cure of their Condition with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Remedies

A lot of people interested in acupuncture treatments usually inquire if the treatment can also help treat blood conditions such as anemia. A lot of them are pleasantly surprised to hear that acupuncture as well as Chinese herbs has been used in Asia for thousands of years to treat anemia symptoms including pale complexion, weakness, and tiredness. The fact is, anemia is the most common disorder of the blood according to Western medical physicians. Severe forms of this condition can lead to shortness of breath and palpitations.

Based on the most recent scientific studies, acupuncture has shown to actually raise the serum ferratin and decrease the TIBC or Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) of a person. The TIBC test is needed to rate the ability of the body to bind iron.

The conductors of these studies utilized just a single acupuncture point the Chinese refer to as zu san li, which in English literally means three leg mile. The zu san li, has long been used by acupuncturists to reinforce the body in such a way that a person can still walk an extra three miles at the end of a day’s walking. This acupoint according to Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) studies has the responsibility of improving the function of the spleen.

TCM has a saying that the abdomen takes in the food while the spleen processes the food. When the correct acupuncture points are stimulated it boosts the absorption of nutrients which means better iron absorption. The three leg mile acupoint can treat the symptoms related to anemia including shortness of breath, palpitations, paleness, and tiredness.

The person’s diet naturally needs to be addressed as well although acupuncture can serve as a catalyst that can help improve the digestion and absorption of the food the person eats.

Besides the insertion of needles in the leg to treat anemia, acupuncturists may also needle certain anatomical locations and sensitive acupoints required to resolve symptoms and the underlying cause of the condition. Needles used may vary in thickness and length depending on what kind of result the acupuncturist and the patient need.

The acupuncturist utilizes several specific stimulation techniques once the needle is inserted. The needles may be lifted up and down a certain number of times or twisted in specific directions. A study done several years ago involved needling procedures in which certain lift and thrust techniques were used to activate the energy of the acupoint to improve the strength of the patient.

Iron supplements to tend constipate anemia patients. The underlying cause of the anemia needs to also be treated in order for the patient to enjoy long-term balance and health.

Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture are two of the most effective ways for an anemic person to boost his/her nutrient absorption and resolve his/her symptoms of anemia for good.

Acupuncture is One Form of Effective Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) causes a wide range of symptoms in the body. They include weakness in the hands, sensation loss in the fingers, and tingling, pain and numbness in the thumb, ring, middle, or index fingers.

Because of repetitive hand and finger use (especially if they are improperly positioned), the median nerve can become compressed as it passes through the carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel is the narrow part in the hand where the ligaments and bones on the underside of the wrist. The nerve compression causes the aforementioned symptoms characteristic of CTS.

Certain health conditions can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. They include diabetes, arthritis, hypothyroidism, pregnancy, and obesity.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Natural Therapies

Right now, there is very little scientific evidence that any treatment, conventional or alternative, can resolve carpal tunnel syndrome. Some of the natural treatments for CTS are listed below.

Vitamin B6

There have been multiple studies done showing the effectiveness of vitamin B therapy in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. One study done in Oregon at the Portland Hand Surgery and Rehabilitation Center observed how higher amounts of vitamin B6 were directly related to less symptoms of CTS in 441 individuals. The conductors of the study discovered that high amounts of vitamin C relative to lower amounts of vitamin B6 levels correlated with a greater frequency and higher prevalence of the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

One hundred seventy four students in Japan in one study all suffering from low vitamin B6 levels manifested symptoms of CTS. Their symptoms were lessened or eliminated altogether after they were placed on a diet consisting of vitamin B6 foods that include mangoes, bananas, barley, bok choy, potatoes, turkey, chicken, pork, salmon, chick peas, sunflower seeds, brown rice, avocadoes, and sweet potatoes.

Low vitamin B6 – Risk Factors

-Stress
-Eating of certain types of pickles, cheese, macaroni, and foods containing yellow dye #5
-Use of HRT or oral contraceptives
-A diet poor in vitamin B6

To prevent the rise of CTS, vitamin B6 should be taken twice or thrice a day in 50 mg dosages although this may lead to increased urination. Improvement may be seen within 6 weeks of treatment. A dosage of less than 200 mg/day is the allowed daily maximum intake from all sources, unless otherwise recommended by your physician.

Acupressure

Acupressure follows a principle of meridian stimulation, same as that used in acupuncture. The difference between the two is that instead of using acupuncture needles, pressure from less invasive sources is applied to treat a person. When treating CTS, the hands are oftentimes used in acupressure to activate the flow of blood flow to the hands and wrists to ease swelling and numbness in the affected area of the hand.

For CTS, acupressure points on the hands, forearms, and wrists are used.

Acupuncture

Specific acupoints in the body are selected by practitioners for the treatment of CTS. According to traditional Chinese medicine when blockages along the meridians (energy channels) in the body develop, it can lead to pain. Acupuncture clears out the blockages and increases the circulation of energy along these channels.

Acupuncture can be scientifically explained in terms of its ability to balance the nervous system, boost energy and blood flow in the body through the release of chemicals that block pain and generate relaxation and calmness.

What is Acupuncture for CTS treatment like?

When treating carpal tunnel syndrome, acupuncturists select acupoints located in the hands, thumb, arm, wrist, and other parts of the body including the leg, neck, and upper back.

How many treatment sessions one needs will be based on a number of factors including your overall health, how much you use your hands and arms, the severity of your symptoms, and how long you’ve had those symptoms.

Laser acupuncture is one very effective form of acupuncture therapy. In laser acupuncture, instead of needles, the practitioner or doctor uses a handheld laser to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. A study that spanned two years observed 36 individuals all suffering from median pain related to CTS. Fourteen of them underwent one or more surgical release procedures that bore no results. Laser acupuncture was given for four to five weeks once a week to all the patients. At the end of the study, 33 patients had either complete resolution of their pain or their pain decreased by more than 50%. All the patients who had unsuccessful surgery also experienced an improvement of their symptoms. Two years after the end of the study, only two out of the 36 patients experienced a return of their pain. They were treated successfully after several weeks of treatment.

Acupuncture is A Superior Alternative Treatment for Back Pain Than NSAIDs

Unlike dislocations or fractures and other injuries similar to them, a majority of disk herniations do not happen accidentally, but rather occur slowly through cumulative degenerative processes. It is important to understand that back surgery has never been a lasting solution for most cases of low back pain. An increased risk of developing another herniated disk in another part of the body may occur, if the cause of the disk injury is not promptly addressed.

To clarify this matter, we need to use a specific analogy: if the overconsumption of greasy, fatty foods is the reason for a person’s facial acne problem, then use of an anti-acne ointment is merely a temporary solution. This is because the acne will recur over and over again if the person persists on eating the same types and amounts of food. If smoking was the reason for your lung cancer, then surgery to remove the cancerous tissues will be of little use if patient does not change the particular lifestyle like frequent smoking that caused the development of his cancer in the first place.

A herniated disk, its causes

The factor involved in the occurrence of this problem is a combination of emotional and biomechanical stress.

For most people, emotional stress is not commonly associated with disk injury. Even most specialists of the back do not recognize disk herniation or degeneration as due to emotional stress; these days, however, some back pain sufferers have remembered having been under severe periods of stress just prior to the start of their back pain. The autonomic nervous system can come into a state of sympathetic dominance due to prolonged emotional stress resulting in weak blood circulation to the peripheral and muscle tissues and to a lot of organs in the body. A lessened flow of blood in the lumbar muscles causes the muscles to tighten up and they then become easily fatigued and start to lose their flexibility. Besides that, a state of chronic sympathetic dominance increases the number of white blood known as granulocytes in the body and this increase causes degenerative alterations and inflammation of the disks and spine.

Back problems can be caused by various factors including standing and walking with poor posture, sitting for long periods and some heavy lifting.

Disk injury treatments that are non-surgical

With the use of acupuncture as well as biofeedback and soft tissue manipulation both the psycho-emotional and biomechanical causes of back problems can be effectively addressed. Stimulating the affected muscles with acupuncture needles can help adjust biomechanical imbalances and distortion. Acupuncture can be applied to the entire body to resolve imbalances in the autonomic nervous system. The goal is to generate a desired relaxation response by enhancing the parasympathetic system and lowering at the same time excessive sympathetic activation. Acupuncturists focus more on the alleviation of stress to avoid the damaging effects of prolonged stress in the body since in this post modern age, it is virtually impossible to avoid stress in our life. Some acupuncturists will combine heart rate variability biofeedback technique with acupuncture to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment.

The Difference between Pain Medication and Acupuncture

NSAIDS or non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs used for the relief of back pain have certain side effects that may include liver damage and gastric irritation. In contrast, acupuncture has none of the side-effects these drugs produce whatsoever. In the treatment of joint and muscle pain, acupuncture works in an entirely different way than drugs do.

Most anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving drugs are ideal ways to relieve pain in the short term. They work by preventing the production of prostaglandins, which are pain-causing substances in the body. Besides inducing pain, prostaglandins also act as vasodilators that aid in the improvement of blood flow. NSAIDs help lower the body’s sensitivity to pain but at the same time curtail the supply of blood to the joints and muscles, which only prolongs recovery and generates more problems.

However, with acupuncture, blood flow is increased in the part of the body affected by the discomfort and pain. This is achieved by acupuncture’s ability to normalize the autonomic nervous system (the system responsible for the production of relaxation effects, the normalization of blood flow and the regulation of internal organ system functioning). When the boosted circulation causes an improvement in the affected tissues, the muscles start to relax and pain relief is immediately felt. In certain instances, however, the improvement of blood flow initially intensifies the pain in the affected area, but is then followed by muscle relaxation and tissue repair.

Adequate blood flow to the tissues is vital because blood not only nourishes the tissues but also alleviates muscle fatigue and eliminates pain-causing substances leading to healthy tissues. Tight muscles, on the other hand, because of poor circulation results in muscle fatigue making the body more susceptible to injury.