Introduction to Acupuncture - CMS

Acupuncture for Stress

Whether caused by relationships, work, family, or money, stress can have a significant impact on your physical and mental health. Stress can cause a variety of health problems over time if not managed effectively. Fortunately, acupuncture treatment is a natural therapy that can help balance your mind and body, managing your stress levels.

What is Stress?
Stress is a normal physiological response to the demands of life. Humans and other animals developed this mental and physical adaptation to deal with the impeding dangers of the natural world. The fight or flight response, as you may recall from High School biology, helped to improve your chances of survival by adjusting various systems of the body, such as hormonal levels, heart rate, breathing, and mental awareness. Stress can be a positive reaction in the modern world, helping you work and perform more effectively when needed for your jobs and personal life, hopefully creating grace under pressure.

The nervous system is designed to activate the fight or flight response when needed, and not remain in a constant state. Unfortunately, the less dangerous but constant demands of modern life have activated the stress response, but not allowed for the necessary relaxation.

Typical signs of chronic stress include tight shoulders, anxiety, depression, insomnia, fatigue, digestive issues, or feelings of being overwhelmed with life.This continual stressed state is detrimental to your health over time, depleting your natural reserves of energy and vitality. Modern medicine is beginning to understand the long-term effects of stress; disease development often accelerates when you are under increased stress as it depresses your immune system and weakens your ability to fight off disease.

What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a therapy developed over 5,000 years ago in China. It one of several modalities of treatment practiced under Oriental Medicine (OM), often also referred to as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). During treatment, tiny sterile needles are inserted into specific points on the body to adjust the flow of energy, called Qi. According to Oriental Medicine theory, the Qi flows through energy pathways called Meridians. These meridians connect the surface of the body to the internal organs. By needling acupuncture points, the function of the internal organs can be adjusted affecting both mental and physical aspects of the patient.

How Can Acupuncture Help Relieve Stress?
Dealing with the complications of modern life requires some form of stress management. Acupuncture can be an ideal therapy to use in conjunction with lifestyle changes to help you combat stress and enter a more harmonious state.

When your body is subjected to constant stress, the Qi of the body becomes congested. This stagnation of the flow of Qi causes a variety of physical and mental symptoms, such as anger, depression, cold limbs, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), tight tendons and muscles, headaches, and pain. The most common Oriental Medicine diagnosis would be Liver Qi Stagnation, as it is the energetic function of the Liver to smooth the Qi of the body, allowing it to flow freely.

Acupuncture treatment for stress addresses the Liver Qi Stagnation by circulating the stagnate energy in your body. A common treatment is called the “Four Gates”, which includes the acupuncture points Large Intestine 4 and Liver 3. These pairs of bilateral points are needled in anatomically similar locations on the hand and foot. Additional points may be needled on the head and ears to strengthen the treatment. Patient’s typically feel very relaxed and often fall asleep during the 30-60 minute treatment.

Stress treatments may combine Acupuncture with Chinese Herbal Medicine, depending on the style of the practitioner and the needs of the patient. Chinese Herbal Medicine includes the use of a large variety of herbs combined into formulations to help calm your mind. These prescriptions are taken on a daily basis between acupuncture visits to enhance the effects of the treatment.

Balancing Mind and Body
Stress is primarily a mental reaction to your perception of life. Often, the mind will amplify this condition as it constantly deliberates the many complicated aspects of life. You actually end up creating more stress than you truly experience by these mental reactions. This type of mental tension can be especially relieved by acupuncture. The deep unwinding that occurs during acupuncture treatment parallels the effects of meditation, allowing you to release the stress.

As acupuncture helps the mind relax, the body returns to a more balanced state.This can improve the functioning of your organ systems, and in turn help you to manage stress more effectively. Digestion is one system of the body that is easily disturbed by stress leading to common stress reactions of IBS, vomiting, and diarrhea. By supporting the digestive system, the entire body becomes stronger and better able to handle the next stressful situation.

Acupuncture can be a natural and healthier way to manage your stress than pharmaceutical medications. If you have been taking sleeping medications, anti-depressants, or tranquilizers to help manage stress, acupuncture treatments can help you decrease or eliminate the need for these medications, under your doctor’s supervision. You may even consider the addition of Chinese Herbal Medicine into the treatment program under the guidance of the acupuncturist.

Learn to Relax
While under the constant demands of stress, you may have lost touch with a natural state of deep relaxation. Acupuncture treatments can help you reconnect with this state and alleviate stress-related health conditions. It is also beneficial to develop a positive attitude toward stress, understanding that life creates many difficult situations to help you grow as an individual. A daily practice of meditation and deep breathing can also facilitate stronger control over your mind’s reactions and an increased ability to return to a relaxed state after stress. Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and Yoga are excellent forms of mind-body exercise that train you to develop a relaxed mind through movement.

Take control of your stress and feel more relaxed today!

Find an Acupuncturist in your local area for a stress relieving treatment.
www.tcmsingaporedirectory.com provides all Singapore Registered Acupuncturist

Causes of Infertility

Hereditary or genetic abnormalities or conditions, individual behavior, diseases or their treatments, environmental exposure, and stress can all contribute to infertility.

Physical blockage or abnormal structure prevents egg or sperm from normal movement, migration and/or implantation, including: undescended testes, variocele (mass of enlarged veins in the spermatic cord leading to the testicles), testicular atrophy, physical injury, congenital abnormalities, malformed egg or sperm or ectopic pregnancy.

Chemical toxicity damages or destroys egg or sperm, the reproductive fluids, or the lining of the uterus, including the effects of prescription, over-the-counter and recreational drugs, anti-hypertensives, antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, nicotine, marijuana, cocaine and alcohol.

Environmental conditions damage or destroy egg or sperm, including radiation exposure, toxins and excessive heat (including tight underwear).

Diseases and the immune responses to them, including prolonged fever, sexually transmitted diseases (gonorrhea and chlamydia are the two most frequent causes of STD-related infertility), endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, a woman's production of antibodies against her partner's sperm, and a male's production of antibodies against his own sperm.

Psychological and physical stress can suppress egg and sperm production and slow or stop menstruation, including malnutrition and lack of sleep.

Unknown causes are responsible for about a third of all cases of infertility.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for Infertility

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), infertility can be the result of several types of syndromes. It can be caused by a deficiency in the Kidney and Liver energetic organs, which disrupts the endocrine system; this creates an imbalance of hormones in the body, making sexual reproduction not possible. Infertility can also be the result of stagnant qi (energy) and blood; this lack of circulation stymies sexual reproduction even though hormone levels are normal. Blood stagnation is commonly found in women’s bodies as endometriosis, which can also be treated through the use of acupuncture and herbal medicine. Finally, a damp-heat syndrome can cause infertility that makes internal systems function improperly; in this case the sperm production is not at an optimal level to result in pregnancy. The presence of a damp-heat syndrome is much like inflammation and it causes blockage that must be relieved for sexual reproduction to be possible. With all of these types of infertility diagnoses, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides a variety of treatment options.

Acupuncture for Infertility
Certain acupuncture points are used to alleviate specific infertility syndromes. For weakness of the kidney and liver, the points Tai Xi (Kidney 3), Guan Yuan (Ren4), San Yin Jiao (Spleen 6) will be stimulated in certain combinations to restore function. For qi and blood stagnation, Tai Chong (Liver 3), Da Ji (Spleen 8), Xue Hai (Spleen 10), San Yin Jiao (Spleen 6) will be treated to resume flow of both qi and blood to normal levels. For inflammation, stimulation of San Yin Jiao (Spleen 6) and Feng Long (Stomach 40) helps calm and soothe in order to dissipate any blockages.

Stimulating local points such as Infant’s Palace (Zi Gong) that is located in the lower portion of the abdomen also combats infertility. The exact acupuncture prescription will be based upon your specific symptoms, focusing on relieving any imbalances in your body.

Studies indicate that acupuncture in combination with assisted reproduction therapies (ART), in vitro fertilization (IVF), or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) reduces infertility significantly.

Chinese Herbal Medicine for Infertility
Deficiency caused by weakness of the kidney and liver are addressed with tonics that restore qi, blood, and yin and yang. Specific herbs used in these tonics include ginseng, codnonopsis, astragalus, tang-kuei, peony, gelatin, ho-shou-wu, lyceum fruit, lgustrum, eclipta, ophiopogon, epimedium, cistanche, cuscuta, and eucommia. To restore the circulation of qi and blood through the meridians, herbs such as bupleurum, cyperus, lindera, citrus, salvia, red peony, persica, and carthamus are used. To combat inflammation causing organs to function improperly, gardenia, phellodendron, patrinia, and lonicera are prescribed.

Studies focused on the treatment of various male infertility problems have demonstrated the efficacy of several herbal medicines (Guizhi-fuling-wan, Bushen Shengjing Pill, Hochuekkitto) on improving sperm concentration and motility. Some herbs, like Cornus officinalis, stimulate hormone production and regulation, which directly affects sperm. At least one formula (Tai-bao) has shown effectiveness against an anti-sperm antibody produced by the immune system. Lycium barbarum (matrimony vine, wolfberry, goji berry) is a traditional treatment for infertility. Studies of the polysaccharides (important functional element in L. barbarum) demonstrated protective effects against testicular damage due to heat stress, increased hormone levels and improved sperm quality and quantity in animal studies. Astragalus membranaceus (Huang-Qi) and Acanthopanacis senticosi (Siberian ginseng) have shown improved sperm viability and motility following treatment.

Chinese Herbs Really Do Help Prevent Diabetes

(NaturalNews) Many traditional Chinese herbal medicines can be effective in the prevention of diabetes, a study conducted by researchers from the University of Western Sydney, Australia, and published in the journal Cochrane Library has confirmed.

"There are a lot of herbal medicine products on the shelves, but few have been subjected to a rigorous trial," lead researcher Suzanne J. Grant said.

Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 16 previously published studies conducted on a total of 1,391 adults who suffered from either impaired glucose tolerance or fasting glucose, both of which lead to the mildly elevated blood sugar levels known as pre-diabetes and raise the risk of full-blown diabetes. In most of the studies, participants were assigned to control their blood sugar with either a combination of traditional Chinese herbal remedies and lifestyle changes or with lifestyle changes alone. A total of 15 different herbal mixes were tested, including Jiangtang Bushen, Xiaoke huaya and Tang Kang yin.

Most of the studies examined did not specify which "lifestyle changes" were made.

The researchers found that participants who took Chinese herbs were twice as likely to achieve normal blood sugar levels as those who used lifestyle changes alone, and two-thirds less likely to develop diabetes over the course of a given study. The average length of the studies examined was nine months.

None of the studies found any serious side effects to traditional Chinese formulations, although Grant noted that negative effects are possible with any herb.

Grant advised that anyone seeking to use traditional Chinese herbs take them under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. Traditionally, Chinese health practitioners have prescribed herbs based on the health history of a given patient, she noted. Therefore, it is not possible to recommend a collection of herbs that can be expected work for all people with a given condition.

Sources for this story include: abcnews.go.com.

Fire Cupping

Cupping (or fire cupping, as it is sometimes called) is a treatment commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for stimulation of the muscles or for pain syndromes. Small jars in the form of glass, bamboo, or plastic are suctioned onto the back creating a vacuum thus stimulating and increasing circulation so as to remove pain and balance out the body.

How does cupping work?
If using glass jars: a vacuum is created by heating the inside of the cup with a flame and then placing the cup onto the back about 1-2 inches parallel to the spine in a vertical formation. As the air cools and pressure changes within the cup, the skin rises with the suction creating a stimulating and circulating affect.


If using bamboo jars: similar to the glass jars, but the intensity of the suction may be reduced due to the lightness of bamboo.
If using plastic jars: a pump is connected to the jar itself and air vacuumed out of the jar to form suction into the skin.
Any form of oil – baby oil, jojoba, almond, olive, can be used on the skin prior to cupping, and will create a better seal to form around the rim of the cupping jar. When using such oils, the practitioner can then slide the cups up and down the back creating a “massaging” affect that is quite relaxing.


While cupping will often times leave purple and red “hicky” marks, it is generally not painful. The markings that are created with cupping are due to an injury or trauma that never healed and left the muscles tense, tight and “stagnated”.

Acupuncture for Eczema

Acupunture for eczema is a natural healing method that comes from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It involves inserting thin metal needles at specific anatomical (meridian) positions in the human body.

Acupuncture for eczema helps by restoring balance to the body by removing energy imbalances and blockages in the body with the insertion of needles at appropriate meridian points. In this manner, eczema is not merely treated for its symptoms but also addressed at the root cause.

During the acupuncture procedure, the needles are manipulated by bare hands or electric signals. The needles are free from any medicine or any injecting purpose, and its role is just to simulate the acupuncture points. If done by an expert acupuncturist, there should not be any pain or sensation at all. The patient may not even realize that the needle has indeed been inserted into the skin.

Acupuncture for eczema is usually done after a detailed diagnosis of the patient. The acupuncturist must first study the existing eczema condition of the patient, his or her body imbalances, age and medical history. Different people may require varying extent of acupuncture treatment, and hence the treatment duration varies from one individual to other.

Eczema is a type of skin disorder that appears on the outer layer of the skin. This medical condition is characterized by inflammation, redness, blisters in severe cases, crusts, scales or scabs on the skin surface. There is usually a burning or itching sensation, and most often, the skin is particularly dry around the affected area.

The causes of eczema can be allergic and the condition is sizably influenced by the weather conditions and diet. Conventionally, in western countries, eczema is treated via topical applications (both steroid and non-steroid) and with the use of oral drugs. These methods are mainly centered on achieving symptomatic relief from itching and pain.

In contrast, TCM principles go far deeper. According to TCM, for a body to be in a good state of health, it should be in a state of perfect balance, both physically and emotionally, with respect to the outside world. Ailments and illnesses occur when this balance is disturbed. The factors that affect the balance in the usual case are climatic changes, internal aspects such as emotional stress, and diet and work.

TCM considers eczema to be caused by the imbalance of three factors namely wind, heat and dampness. Eczema is merely a symptom of an underlying health problem; likely the malfunction of vital organs in the body. For this, TCM uses a combination of acupuncture, herbal medicines and skin preparations. Still, most acupuncturists or TCM practitioners would probably advise that eczema is not easy to treat or cure, since it is an ailment that originates from an internal malfunction.

From the perspective of the patient, thus, it is important that one seeks treatment from an expert acupuncturist and not any amateur. Get recommendations or referrals and do check for proper credentials. Acupuncture for eczema can bring about relief and is definitely worth considering as a form of natural treatment and restoring balance to the body.

ACUPUNCTURE/TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM)

For thousands of years the Chinese and other Eastern peoples have been using acupuncture and herbs to restore, promote and maintain good health. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupuncture offers a unique perspective on the nature of health and illness that is different from that of the Western perspective. It holds the human body in great reverence, respecting and promoting its endless capacity for rejuvenation and recovery.
The symptoms are recognized as the body’s language. Through differentiation of signs and symptoms, a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture can analyze the root cause of the condition. By harmonizing the body, mind, and spirit, they are able to combat or prevent illness to improve the quality and duration of life.
There are several modalities to Chinese medicine which include: Chinese Herbal Medicine, Acupuncture, Moxibustion, Auricular-Acupuncture, Electrical Stimulation, Acupressure, Tuina Massage, Reflexology, Qi Gong, Tai Chi and various food therapies. The Doctor may choose to use one or several of these modalities within the treatment depending on your unique condition.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has cited over 100 different conditions that have been effectively treated by Acupuncture.

中医美容六大特别提示

放松心情，坚持治疗
中医主张的是全身各个部分的协调和平衡。通过治疗身体的疾病达到美容的目的。所以一要坚持二要放松，不可急于求成，让身体在和谐放松的状态下慢慢调理。

根据身体各个阶段状况不同状况施治
人身上的穴位有1000个之多，常用的有365个，各司其职。中医治疗选择的穴位也不是一成不变的，如果身体不适或者出现着凉、上火等情况都要告诉医生，请他相应地调整治疗的方法。

选择适合的着装
中医的针灸、埋线、刮痧等手法都要对通过刺激遍布全身的穴位进行治疗，所以在治疗时需要脱到只剩内衣，选择方便穿脱的服装。

严格遵医嘱
治疗期间医生会有很多嘱咐，比如不要吃凉的、不要吃海鲜、不能喝酒、不要熬夜等，是考虑到各种食品、生活方式对身体的影响可能会与治疗相抵触，影响效果。

慎选资质
中医美容其实在中医里面属于治疗调理的范畴，所以，只有正规的医院或者相关医疗机构才可以实施。普通的美容院是没有资质的。所以，在把自己交给医生之前一定要考查他们的资质证明。而且，中医调理所用的器具都是直接接触身体的，需要特别注意严格消毒。

可作为日常保健
中医美容的主要原理是内部调理，是在健康的基础上美容，所以长期坚持能够起到驱病强身的作用。建议即使美容效果达到后也可以减少频次，长期巩固一段时间用于日常保健。（特别感谢：北京同仁医院中医科谭医师，北京京泰中医院注线减肥专利发明者唐医师提供部分专业咨询） 。

What Can Acupuncture Help?

An acupuncturist may be consulted by people with specific symptoms or conditions, such as pain, anxiety, arthritis, eczema, sports injuries hayfever, asthma, migraine, high blood pressure, menstral disorders, intestinal problems or pregnancy management and delivery.

While extensive practice and research has shown that acupuncture is effective in helping people with such conditions as well as with many others, it does more that simply relieve symptoms. The aim of acupuncture is to treat the whole patient and to restore the balance between the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of the individual.

In traditional acupuncture, since all illness is considered the result of an imbalance of energy, treatment can benefit almost any ill person as long as the degenerative process in the tissues of the body is not too extensive.

Many people also have acupuncture as a preventitive treatment or because they feel unwell in themselves but are not `ill' in the Western sense.

New TCM clinic to open in SGH next month

A NEW $2.8 million Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinic will open next month in the Singapore General Hospital.
The new Bao Zhong Tang, which means 'Treasury Hall' in Chinese, is a joint venture between Singhealth and its equivalent counterpart, the ShangHai Hospital Development Centre (SHDC), which manages 23 hospitals in the Chinese city.
According to SingHealth administrators, the new centre will provide a premium-level service.
Patients who are keen on trying an alternative will be seen by some of the best TCM physicians from Shanghai, and the treatment herbs will be imported direct from China.
A specialist will oversee the brewing of your medication before it is delivered to you.
Ms Charity Wai, who leads the Bao Zhong Tang project at SingHealth said the premium service would target patients from the region.
'We're talking about very high standards of TCM treatment,' she said.
Bao Zhong Tang is part of an overarching deal between SingHealth and the SHDC, signed in September last year.
Besides building new medical facilities like the Bao Zhong Tang, SingHealth will train SHDC doctors and administrators on the finer points of hospital management.
The TCM physicians will also colloborate with SGH doctors on several research topics.
This is to see if Chinese medicine can help patients who, for some reasons, are resistant to current medical interventions.

毛丹病

毛丹病

毛丹病是民间传说的一种病名。
通常指病人患热病，久治不愈，或服药后热退，过后又复发热。 民间有用熟鸡蛋去壳后，在病人身上胸部及背部滚来滚去，然后剥开鸡蛋，见蛋黄里有毛毛刺状，故谓毛丹。

毛丹病虽是发热不退，但处理的好并不可怕。
有人说毛丹要看中医，西医不会治毛丹病，这句话是片面之词。

滚鸡蛋并不是毛丹病的治法，只能说它是民间的一种诊断手法。
有人用煮熟的鸡蛋，去壳后在没有发烧的人的胸背部滚来滚去同样可以发现毛毛刺状。

许多热性病可以由气候变化或饮食不调或疲劳过度等所引起。

过去因为没有显微镜观察到病菌存在，但却观察到由病菌感染（感受邪气）后发烧的症状；也体会到身体的三焦（上中下）部位都有让病邪疾宿的可能，治法依辨证论治，加减处方，不须验血，不用疫苗，不用抗生素也能治好。
中医学上的记载：所谓“毛丹”者，就是指温病学范围的湿温或暑温的类似疾病。中医师按中医温病学范围辩证施治，一般都能治愈，这是中医的强项之一。

中医学在这方面是累积了极丰富的临床经验，当然能走中西医结合道路治疗毛丹病，一定会更具特色，效果会更好。
24-07-2010

Written by Physician Goh Seck Choon
Sennendo TCM Clinic

Major TCM Treatment Modalities

Often Western CAM practitioners and their patients or clients derive their understanding of TCM from acupuncture. However, acupuncture is only one of the major treatment modalities of this comprehensive medical system based on the understanding of Qi or vital energy. These major treatment modalities are:

•Qigong: an energy practice, generally encompassing simple movements and postures. Some Qigong systems also emphasize breathing techniques.
•Herbal Therapy: the use of herbal combinations or formulas to strengthen and support organ system function Acupuncture: the insertion of needles in acupoints to help Qi flow smoothly.
•Acupressure: the use of specific hand techniques to help Qi flow smoothly.
•Foods for Healing: the prescription of certain foods for healing based on their energy essences or energy signatures, not nutritional value.
•Chinese Psychology: the understanding of emotions and their relationship to the internal organ systems and their influence on health.

Introduction of TCM

With a history of 2000 to 3000 years, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has formed a unique system to diagnose and cure illness. The TCM approach is fundamentally different from that of Western medicine. In TCM, the understanding of the human body is based on the holistic understanding of the universe as described in Daoism, and the treatment of illness is based primarily on the diagnosis and differentiation of syndromes.

The TCM approach treats zang--fu organs as the core of the human body. Tissue and organs are connected through a network of channels and blood vessels inside human body. Qi (or Chi) acts as some kind of carrier of information that is expressed externally through jingluo system. Pathologically, a dysfunction of the zang-fu organs may be reflected on the body surface through the network, and meanwhile, diseases of body surface tissues may also affect their related zang or fu organs. Affected zang or fu organs may also influence each other through internal connections. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment starts with the analysis of the entire system, then focuses on the correction of pathological changes through readjusting the functions of the zang-fu organs.

Evaluation of a syndrome not only includes the cause, mechanism, location, and nature of the disease, but also the confrontation between the pathogenic factor and body resistance. Treatment is not based only on the symptoms, but differentiation of syndromes. Therefore, those with an identical disease may be treated in different ways, and on the other hand, different diseases may result in the same syndrome and are treated in similar ways.

The clinical diagnosis and treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine are mainly based on the yin-yang and five elements theories. These theories apply the phenomena and laws of nature to the study of the physiological activities and pathological changes of the human body and its interrelationships. The typical TCM therapies include acupuncture, herbal medicine, and qigong exercises. With acupuncture, treatment is accomplished by stimulating certain areas of the external body. Herbal medicine acts on zang-fu organs internally, while qigong tries to restore the orderly information flow inside the network through the regulation of Qi. These therapies appear very different in approach yet they all share the same underlying sets of assumptions and insights in the nature of the human body and its place in the universe. Some scientists describe the treatment of diseases through herbal medication, acupuncture, and qigong as an "information therapy".

What Is Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an ancient medical system that takes a deep understanding of the laws and patterns of natures and applies them to the human body. TCM is not "New Age," nor is it a patchwork of different healing modalities. TCM is a complete medical system that has been praticed for more than five thousand years.