Category Archives: Acupuncture

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.

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.

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.