Relieve Pain Naturally with Acupuncture
Increasingly,
people are looking for more natural approaches to help relieve painful
conditions instead of relying on medications. Acupuncture has no side
effects and can be helpful for all types of pain, regardless of what is
causing the pain or where the pain is located. Some studies have shown the
pain relief it provides can last for months.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain before and after acupuncture
treatment for pain shows dramatic decreases in brain activity -- up to 70
percent. This decrease in brain activity in certain areas of the brain is
thought to be the reason for the reduction of pain caused by the
acupuncture treatments.
In addition to reducing pain, acupuncture also hastens the healing process
by increasing circulation and attracting white blood cells to an injured
area.
The basis of acupuncture is expressed in this famous Chinese saying:
"Bu tong ze tong, tong ze bu tong" which means "free
flow: no pain, no free flow: pain."
In other words, any kind of pain or illness represents an obstruction in
the normal flow of Qi or life force. Simply put, acupuncture moves Qi,
restoring free flow.
Studies on Acupuncture and Pain
Acupuncture has become readily accepted in mainstream modern medicine as a
viable option for pain management and studies support its therapeutic
effects.
In a German study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine,
1,162 adults with chronic, lower back pain were divided into groups treated
with either the standard pharmaceutical and exercise therapy commonly used
in conventional medicine or acupuncture. The researchers reported that
acupuncture provided relief and lasting benefit to nearly twice as many
lower back pain patients as drugs and exercise. Forty-eight percent of the
acupuncture patients reported at least a one-third decrease in pain along
with improvement in their ability to function, versus 27 percent of the
patients treated with conventional methods reporting such benefits.
In another recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine,
researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine analyzed 33
studies covering more than 2,100 patients from around the world on
acupuncture for low back pain.
They found acupuncture provided definite pain relief in the short-term
(defined as relief sustained for three weeks after the end of the
acupuncture sessions).
If you or someone you love suffers from acute and chronic pain, please
call to find out more about how acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help
you.
Acupuncture for Low Back Pain
Low back pain is an extremely common concern,
affecting anywhere from 75 to 90 percent of people at some point in their
lives. Low back pain is second only to the common cold as a cause of lost
days at work and is one of the most common reasons to seek medical care,
including acupuncture. In fact, one of the top reasons that people get
acupuncture treatments is for low back pain.
In spite of the large number of pathological conditions that can give rise
to low back pain, up to 85 percent of the cases are classified by
physicians as 'non-specific'. When low back pain is examined from an
Oriental medicine perspective, it is seen as a disruption to the flow of Qi
within the area and associated with a specific disharmony and is treated
accordingly.
The disruption of Qi that results in low back pain is usually associated
with the following three disharmonies:
Weak Kidney Qi
In Oriental medicine, the lower back is referred to as the “dwelling of the
Kidneys”. The majority of chronic low back pain conditions are associated
with Kidney deficiency. Pain related to Kidney deficiency is typically dull
and erratic. It is usually aggravated by fatigue and improves with rest.
Stagnation of Qi and Blood
When the flow of Qi along the meridians that traverse the lumbar region
becomes congested, it is referred to as the stagnation of Qi and blood.
This presents with a severe stabbing pain that is worse with rest and
better with movement, tender to touch and can be accompanied by stiffness
and tightness.
Invasion of Cold and Dampness
Cold, damp type pain is generally worse in the morning and when the weather
is cold and damp. This type of pain improves with movement and the
application of heat. Stiffness and contraction of back muscles that is
aggravated by immobility indicates cold predominance. Swelling, numbness
and a heavy sensation are indicative of dampness.
Acupuncture for Post Operative Pain
Research from Duke University Medical Center has
shown that acupuncture can significantly reduce surgical patients’
post-operative pain, and their need for powerful opioids to treat pain.
Duke University anesthesiologists combined data from 15 randomized clinical
trials to reach their conclusion. Using acupuncture both before and after
surgery produced the best results for patients, who reported lower levels
of post-operative pain and a significantly reduced need for painkillers. In
addition, acupuncture mitigated the negative side effects of opioids when
they were used.
“The most important outcome for the patient is the reduction of the side
effects associated with opioids,” said T.J. Gan, M.D., the Duke
anesthesiologist who presented the study at the annual scientific
conference of the American Society for Anesthesiology in San Francisco in
October 2007. Gan pointed out that acupuncture is a relatively inexpensive
therapy that has virtually no side effects when practiced by trained
professionals.
Many other studies have shown acupuncture effective in reducing
post-operative nausea and vomiting compared with other medications.
According to a meta-analysis presented at the American Society of
Anesthesiologists' meeting, acupuncture reduced rates of post-operative
nausea by 32 percent, pruritus (itchiness at the surgical site) by 25
percent, dizziness by 38 percent, and urinary retention by 71 percent
compared with control groups.
Acupuncture is excellent for managing post-surgical side effects such as
surgical pain, loss of appetite, and upset stomach or nausea. In addition
to strengthening the immune system and increasing energy, acupuncture is
also a great way to reduce swelling, decrease stiffness and pain, reduce
scarring and scar tissue and assist with a quick recovery.
If you, or a loved one, will be undergoing surgery, please call us to
see if acupuncture can improve your recovery.
434-316-9101
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In This Issue
·
Relieve
Pain Naturally with Acupuncture
·
Acupuncture
for Low Back Pain
·
Acupuncture
for Post Operative Pain
·
Ah Shi
Points
·
Acupuncture
for Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Ah Shi Points
Not all
acupuncture points have a specific name and specific location. Some of the
most effective points to use in acupuncture are local points of tenderness.
These points are referred to as Ah Shi points which in Chinese literally
means, “That’s the point!”
Ah Shi points were first mentioned during the Tang Dynasty (founded in 618
AD) classic bookThousand Ducat Prescriptions. These points become
spontaneously tender when disease or injury occurs, or in locations where
Qi has become congested. They are not among the regular acupuncture points
on a specific meridian or pathway.
Their locations are not fixed; they are the points that, upon palpation,
are the most sensitive. In many cases a small knot or pea sized nodule can
be felt under the skin at these points of tenderness.
The Ah Shi points are especially effective in the treatment of pain and are
often used in conjunction with local and distal acupuncture points.
If you have pain, palpate around the area of pain to see if you can find
the Ah Shi points. This is a great way to self treat the problem.
Acupuncture
for Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) affects an estimated two
percent of the population. It is diagnosed when there is a history of
widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of
three months and pain when pressure is applied to at least 11 of 18
designated tender points on the body.
Research shows that as many as 90 percent of people with fibromyalgia have
turned to complimentary and alternative medicine to manage their symptoms.
Acupuncture, in particular, has become a popular treatment choice and has
shown to be an effective treatment for FMS.
Oriental medicine does not recognize fibromyalgia as one particular disease
pattern. Instead, it aims to treat the specific symptoms that are unique to
each individual depending on their constitution, emotional state, the
intensity and location of their pain, digestive health, sleeping patterns
and an array of other signs and symptoms.
A treatment program may include a combination of psychological or
behavioral therapies, medications, exercise, acupuncture, herbal medicine
and bodywork.
If you have fibromyalgia call today to see how acupuncture can ease your
symptoms!
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