Monday, October 11, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
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
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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