Acupuncture and Nutrition Clinic – Houston

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/AlternativeMedicine/34673

Of course this research comes as no surprise, but it’s nice to read that the authors of a meta-analysis concluded that “acupuncture provides more relief from various types of chronic pain than does usual care and should be considered a valid therapeutic option.” Research based on my patient base suggests the same results.

During my monthly call in radio show, people always have questions on pain. Whether it be neck, shoulder, back or migraine pain, many want to know if there are other options to hydrocodone, topomax, or even extra strength tylenol.

Part of the problem with acupuncture research is that results show benefits but the mechanism of action is very hard to define or measure. In Western style research, scientists like to be able to explain how and why the treatment works. The difficulty in part is trying to measure an abstract form of energy, we can Qi (chi). You can feel Qi, but cannot readily see it or measure it beyond feeling for it in the pulses. In spite of the mechanism of action not being completely understood, results of this study showed that acupuncture treatment for pain relief was statistically better when compared to sham acupuncture and even higher for no acupuncture.

Many researchers like to attribute the beneficial results of acupuncture due to placebo effect. To challenge that point, I often refer to veterinary acupuncture which started many years ago on race horses who were lame. More often than not, the horses and now dogs and cats, move better after being treated with acupuncture. No matter how lovable and smart our animals are, they do not have the capacity to fake it (to please their owners). Either they are limping or they are not after a treatment. The results speak for itself.

Because it is so difficult to define the mechanism of action, many researchers continue to report that treatments remain “highly controversial.” But to be fair, many results are inconclusive due to poor study parameters such as too few subjects and inconsistency of quality and reliability of studies. But it’s also worth considering whether positive results of studies should be disregarded solely due to uncertainty as to mechanisms of action.

This study however, included almost 18,000 subjects and “conducted an individual patient data meta-analysis based exclusively on high quality randomized trials that their findings should be considered “both clinically and scientifically important.” In addition, their finding of “true acupuncture having significantly greater effect than the sham procedure indicates that the effects of the procedure do extend beyond placebo.” They conclude that this is “of major importance for clinical practice,” meaning that acupuncture should be considered “a reasonable referral option for patients with chronic pain.”

Dr. Avins, one of the authors of the study wrote: “The ultimate question is: does this intervention work (or, more completely, do its benefits outweigh its risks and justify its cost)?” “For acupuncture, the current meta-analysis offers “some robust evidence” that acupuncture does provide greater chronic pain relief than usual care, mechanisms of effect aside.”

For many of my patients, this research will be consistent with their experience. But Chinese medicine will only be considered a valid form of medicine with medical doctors when clinically solid studies show clear benefit. More and more studies are being conducted that show thousands of years of medicine from China as being a consistently effective and safe option of treatment for many health concerns. If you are interested in reading more research on acupuncture, you can look at studies from the National Institutes of Health Complementary and Alternative Medicine Office.

The price of Gold: Chinese athletes left with huge spots after ‘cupping’ therapy in quest for Olympic glory
By KATY HASTINGS

Wang Qun’s cupping marks are clear to see while she trains at the National Aquatics Centre with just a few days to the games to go.

It might look like a giant case of chicken pox but in fact this Olympic swimmer is hoping her spots will lead her to a place on the medal podium.

Chinese swimmer Wang Qun was doing some last minute training in Beijing with marks left by cupping – a Chinese medicine technique to relieve ailments including back neck and shoulder pain.

Wang Qun’s cupping marks are clear to see while she trains at the National Aquatics Centre with just a few days to the games to go.
The procedure is said to move the energy, or ‘qi’, in the body and is used widely in folk medicine in eastern European and Asia.
It is performed by placing cups onto the skin by way of either heat or suction.

The spots are a tell tale sign of the treatment.

The swimmer limbers up at the pool following her treatment. The technique is said to help shoulder pain which swimmers in particular can be susceptible to.
The technique works by creating a vacuum inside a cup by inserting a flame, removing it and quickly placing the cup on to the body before the vacuum is lost.

The suction anchors the cup to the body and the skin covered is drawn up into it by a few millimetres.

Cupping is an ancient therapy which is said to help back complaints and draw toxins from the skin.
The cups are left on the body while the area beneath is treated and the energy, or qi, is moved.
Mild reddening is common, however this disappears after a few days.

Gwyneth Paltrow includes cupping as one of the many alternative therapies she uses.
A number of celebrities are fans of this form of acupuncture including Geri Haliwell Paris Hilton and Gwyneth Paltrow – who have even been spotted sporting the tell-tale circular marks herself.
Miss Paltrow made no secret of her preference for the remedy when she appeared at a New York premiere several years ago covered in the large circular spots.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1041370/The-price-Gold-Chinese-athletes-left-huge-spots-cupping-therapy-quest-Olympic-glory.html#ixzz21pBudL6z

Acupuncture cupping is an aspect of Chinese medicine that is frequently used to treat pain as well as internal medicine issues. Cupping traditionally consists of placing glass, plastic or bamboo cups on the skin to create a vacuum seal. A glass cupping seal is created when an alcohol soaked cotton ball is burned and placed inside a cup to remove the air. The cup is then quickly placed on the body which creates the vacuum. This is called fire cupping. Another type of cupping uses plastic cups with a pump to create a seal. I have attached a picture of me in China with a bamboo cup so you can see what it looks like to be “cupped” and a patient in China being treated with plastic cups.

Based on the principles of Chinese Medicine, cupping increases blood flow to the surface of the skin thereby moving pain caused by stuck energy and/or removing toxins causing disease. Cupping has been used for relieving colds, bronchitis and other lung conditions, menstrual pain, and all types of body pain. Chinese medical theory states that stagnation of blood is the cause of pain and many diseases. Cupping thereby moves the stagnation (stuck energy) and promotes the blood flow in the affected areas. When the blood flows there is less pain in the channels being treated.

Cups are applied on acupuncture points on the meridian or channel being affected by pain or disease. It is frequently used in conjunction with acupunture since cupping stimulates circulation and relieves pain and swelling. Cupping is not painful, but patients will feel a tug or pulling sensation under the cups as the vacuum seal is created. Successful cupping will usually leave a bruise on the skin. I remember the press going on about Gwyneth Paltrow attending the Oscars in a backless dress which showed the bruises left by cupping on her back. These bruises go away of course, but it is not uncommon to have them.

I like to do sliding cupping on patients with larger areas of pain. For example: sciatica down the side or back of the leg. Oil is used to moisturize the skin and then a number of cups are placed in the area to be treated. Once the suction cups are in place, I will slide the cups up and down or around the painful area, thereby promoting blood flow in a larger surface area. Usually after the sliding cupping, I will then place acupuncture needles for a complete treatment.

Chinese medicine has been around for thousands of years. The ancient art of Chinese healing is time tested. If you are dealing with hard to treat, stubborn pain that has not been helped with Western medicine practices, you might consider trying Chinese medicine. When we help patients that can only be given drugs by their doctors, it speaks loudly to the power of the needle. Give it a try.

Good digestion is key to good health. If you think about what takes place during digestion, it is important for food (aka fuel, aka nutrition) to be broken down and absorbed properly in order for our body to get what it needs from our food intake. When our digestive processes are disturbed we miss out on the health benefits from the food we eat. Digestion issues like constipation, diarrhea, gastritis, nausea, crohns and colitis affect our overall health because our bodies are not working well enough to ulitlize the nutrition from the food we eat. The good news is that quite frequently acupuncture can help manage or resolve many digestion problems.

My recent trip to China was an eye opener. Digestive problems like gastritis was very common place. General complaints of stomach discomfort seemed almost universal, whether it was in the internal medicine, gynecology or pain clinics I attended. The doctors used mainly herbal formulas to treat digestive issues, although it was also addressed along with other complaints in the acupuncture clinics.

During my three week stay in China, there were people everywhere, everyplace. It was very crowded. Millions of people in the cities (23 million in Beijing, 20 million people in Shanghai and 8 million in the city of Hangzhou where I studied). Try to imagine Houston growing to accomodate 20 million people within the city itself. Think of how we would incorporate all the people, the cars, the pollution, the apartments and office buildings. Imagine driving with cars, buses, bicycles and motor bikes coming in all directions paying little attention to traffic lights, order or lanes in the street. Your hands would be gripping the steering wheel while focusing on avoiding someone on a bike or another car. In short, it is a very stressful way of life.

In my practice, I have seen how stress affects digestion. Stress can create a blockage in liver energy which disrupts the actions of the liver, spleen and stomach energy. When these channels are disturbed, it can cause the stomach energy to rebel making it flow or move upwards toward the esophagus (ie-gastritis, reflux), rather than the normal path of downward to the intestines (normal BM’s). Stress can also deplete our spleen energy causing us to feel tired, sluggish, bloated and swollen. The liver energy that becomes stuck can cause gas, bloating, abdominal pain, irregular bowel movements and depression. In addition, it is quite common to see concurrent issues of sleep problems, anxiety, low energy and high blood pressure along with digestive problems.

If any of this sounds or feels familiar, you are not alone. If you have struggled with digestive issues, acupuncture might just be what you need to resolve or reduce your problems. When all that Western medicine can do is give you drugs to work on the symptoms, remember that acupuncture may very well have an explanation that does not equate with Western terminology. That results in addressing the problem, even if it has been a life long issue. The bottom line is, if nothing else has worked, you have nothing to lose. Try acupuncture. The worst case scenario is that you feel less stressed. Not too bad…

The following is a guest post from Ryan Rivera, calmclinic.com.

Panic attacks are remarkably stressful events – arguably one of the most difficult types of anxiety disorders to live with. With panic attacks, you can have sudden, unexpected, and generally unprompted periods of intense anxiety that leads to powerful physical symptoms that can actually mimic heart attacks. Those that suffer from panic attacks can often feel as though they are genuinely about to die, because the severity of the panic attacks themselves can be overwhelming.

Yet of all of the issues with panic attacks, the most problematic for those suffering from them is that thinking about them can actually increase the frequency of your panic attacks. When you think about your panic attacks you start to pay too much attention to your body. You get a little anxious (presumably from worrying about getting a panic attack) and suddenly you experience an increase in heart rate. Because of the amount of attention you were giving your body, the little increase in heart rate feels like something is terribly wrong, and this cascades into the panic attack.

Treating Panic Attack Symptoms

Pharmaceutical panic attack treatments are severely lacking, and that is because the two options available – antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication – cannot cure thought. Meaning, while they can mask the disorder for a while, as soon as you are off the medication it is likely to come back. This is, of course, in addition to all of the side effects of these medications, which includes changes in personality, potential for organ damage, addiction, and fatigue.

Clearly these cannot be the only option, because as an option it’s simply not that beneficial. Cognitive behavioral therapy has shown some promise, but therapy still requires you to think about the disorder and can be prohibitively expensive in today’s economy. It’s questionable how much something that causes you to think about the disorder can treat it as well.

Acupuncture is where you can really get a valuable treatment. That’s because acupuncture taps into what Eastern medicine believes is the primary cause of panic attacks – blood stagnation and excess Qi heat. Acupuncture uses various points to bring your body balance, releasing the excess Qi, reducing stagnation, and allowing your body to respond to threats the way you were meant to respond.

Acupuncture allows the body to go back to where it was meant to be, with less frequent panic attacks (if not eliminated altogether). Those that still do get the occasional panic attack will find it is much less severe. There are no side effects to acupuncture, no personality changes, no fatigue, and nothing that will cause you any undue stress. It’s less expensive than other choices and just as effective, based on thousands of years of Eastern medicine.

Where Will Your Acupuncturist Focus?

There are numerous points that relate to your Qi levels and blood status, and acupuncturists generally try to target not only the areas that cause panic attack, but also areas of stress that can create the experience of panic. Acupuncturists will choose the points that are right for you, but you can expect LV 3, UB 15, LI 4, and HT7 to be some of the most common target points. The rest depend a great deal on the other issues surrounding the panic attacks. You can always discuss these with your acupuncturist before you begin.

Treating Panic Attacks with Acupuncture

Panic and anxiety attacks play an unbelievable role in the way that they reduce your quality of life, and most available and common treatments simply fall short of dealing with the primary problems. The good news is that acupuncture represents a solid option – a side effect free way to rid yourself of panic attacks, return to a normal Qi and blood status level, and overall improve your quality of life.

About the Author: Ryan Rivera had immense panic attacks and cured them using natural (ie, non-pharmaceutical) means. He writes about anxiety and panic at www.calmclinic.com.

During my recent training in China, I was surprised to see many Chinese women going for acupuncture in order to lose weight. The passion for thinness has reached China where most of the women are thin and might even be considered very thin by American standards. Nonetheless, the doctors were quite amenable to helping these women try to acheive weight loss through acupuncture.

The Chinese diet is not what I expected. We often refer to the Chinese diet in the US as a healthy diet. A diet that it is more plant based rather than the focus being on protein. That basically means that the protein portion of the meal is smaller than the amount of rice and vegetables (and certainly less than the average American intake of protein). My observations were in accord with that perception. However, I was also very aware that Chinese food preparation uses significant amounts of oil-either peanut or another plant oil and/or pork oil. Food was either deep fried or very oily stir fried and the most common protein used is pork. One of the doctors commented that pork is a very fatty meat and contributes to excess dampness (heaviness, slows movement) in the body and therefore hinders weight loss. In addition, the diet is extremely high in sodium due to the use of soy sauce, salt and MSG and may also cause fluid retention.

The most common treatment for weight loss includes using points on the abdomen. Needles are placed along the stomach, spleen and kidney channel to strengthen and stimulate the digestive system and along the midline to work on the basic constitution of the patient. Acupoints are also included on the leg and arms to support the overall treatment and keep the patient in balance. I did learn some pearls of wisdom regarding new uses of some points. One of these is a point on the leg which the doctor said helps reduce appetite.

The standard course of treatment in China is three times a week for ten treatments. After the ten treatments the doctor said he changes the points around until sufficient weight has been lost. I did think it was interesting that there was little conversation of dietary changes. Although the diet seems to be high in fat from a cultural perspective, perhaps there is little thought given to modifying cooking techniques to reduce fat and sodium. My guess is that since McDonalds and fast food eateries are not the usual source of meals and that walking or riding a bicycle are common modes of transportation, that patients and doctors alike focus on the acupuncture.

In our country where we have abundant choices of where to eat and how to cook, paying attention to what and how much we eat is a significant aspect of weight loss. In addition, since there are few places in Houston where we can actually walk, exercise becomes an important part of the lifestyle modifications that we need to consider when embarking on weight loss goals. Of interest is a problem we see here in the US but that appearred to be a non-issue in China. That problem is frequency of non-hunger or emotional eating. It was not common place to see people snacking in cars, walking and eating or stopping by fast food to pick up sugary foods or drink. It appeared overall that most of the Chinese population ate three meals a day with green tea after meals.

My approach to weight loss includes focusing on healthy lifestyle as well as exploring whether or not non-hunger eating is an issue. Clearly what, how, where and why we eat plays a role in how food serves a purpose for us and whether it is working toward our benefit or detriment healthwise. One might also suggest that using food for emotional reasons, might at some level work toward our benefit if it is a protective mechanism.

Regardless of your relationship to food right now, acupuncture can help work on your digestion, metabolism and especially your stress. When you are calmer in your world, you can then begin to look at the emotional reasons for eating.

I just returned last week from three weeks in China. The last two weeks were spent shadowing doctors and observing treatment strategies for various problems. The clinics in the hospitals I went to mainly were in the departments of gynecology, internal medicine, pain and gastroenterology. Some of the many medical problems I observed included: chronic and acute body pain, migraines and headaches, dizziness and vertigo, depression, gynecological issues including fibroids, cysts & painful menstruation, various digestive problems including gastric pain, reflux and gastritis.

It was interesting to watch the various approaches, both herbal and acupuncture. Most of the doctors of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) do either one. I was told there is a pretty clear boundary on these areas. I would imagine it might be different in other parts of China however. In order to practice in Texas, we are required to be Board Certified in both Chinese Herbal Medicine as well as in Acupuncture.

In general, patients tend to respond better when both acupuncture and herbal medicine is prescribed. But it does depend on the condition and the number of Western prescriptions a patient takes.

I found the general population seeking medical care at the TCM clinics of two types. Those who only believe in Chinese medicine (and consequently don’t go to Western style MD’s) and those who tried Western medicine but didn’t like the effects of the drugs on their bodies. It was interesting to note that there seemed to be a larger percentage of younger men who were having strokes in China. My guess is that many of them did not go to Western doctors to monitor blood pressure or cholesterol. ( I maintain my mantra that if you get the best of Western and Chinese, you can have really good healthcare).

There were a few glaring observations that I would like to share. We in the USA are very blessed to have good healthcare and healthcare facilities. As broken as some people think it is, it is wonderful in comparison to healthcare in other parts of the world. We have requirements for cleanliness, proper disposal of trash and needles, disinfecting exam tables and surrounding areas, washing hands and sterilizing equipment, to name a few. We have the right to meet with the acupuncturist, doctor or nurse privately. We would never tolerate having five patients waiting in the same room listening until it is their time to meet with the doctor. We expect that the health care provider will use clean needle technique when giving a treatment or injection. We take these “little things” for granted and would be appalled if it would not be the case when we visit our doctor. The TCM doctors I observed were good doctors. They had different styles and philosophies about treating the different problems but they were all trained doctors of Chinese medicine. The patients were completely willing to submit to the treatment strategies the doctors recommended and there were very few, if any, questions asked…

With all the above said, I have to say that the doctors see a lot of patients every day. There is a waiting line out the door. Which means that patients feel they get better whent they see the doctor. Although it would not seem up to our “sanitary standards,” there is a cultural understanding that this is sufficient. Patients need healthcare and they get it in the manner they know and are accustomed to. Through my interpreter, patients responded that they like coming to the clinics and they like getting their acupuncture and/or herbal prescriptions. They say it helps and they feel better. I guess at the end of the day, that’s what we all want when we go to the doctor.

Allergies are in full bloom these days. I actually started seeing the itchy, watery, sneezy, goopy stuff in the office starting in January, but it’s in high season with the budding and flowering of our trees and bushes. The good news is acupuncture and chinese herbs are a great way to beat the allergy blues while concurrently building your immune system to better fight the allergy problems for next season. I can say that my patients who started last year to treat allergies are doing significantly better during this allergy season as a result of previous treatment. One patient told me it’s the first time she has not developed bronchitis and a severe environmental allergy attack in years.

I used to have allergies. After taking some allergy medication and almost going off the road in a hallucination type of reaction with my scalp feeling like it was crawling, I decided to get off the prescription drugs. Luckily it was about the same time I started studying acupuncture and Chinese medicine. That was twelve (12) years ago and I have not had one bout of sinusitis or an allergy attack since. (I also have not been to the chiropractor in the same amount of time for a back adjustment). It’s amazing how the benefits extend to the whole body with acupuncture!!

Even though we recently had some good rain to wash some of the pollen out of the air, I am continuing to get calls from people who are at their wits end with allergies. All of these new patients have tried everything Western medicine could offer and finally decided to give acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy a try.

Treating acupuncture in Chinese medicine generally involves the Spleen, which manages the distribution of fluids-think congestion, runny nose, dampness as well as the stomach and Large intestine channels (as they traverse the face, nose and sinus areas). Interesting those channels that affect the digestion have a lot to do with allergies that affect the face, nose, sinus and lungs. It makes sense that a strong, healthy core makes for a healthier body.

I get great satisfaction treating patients who have had long standing issues with allergies. The response can be fast, like right on the table. Congestion, post nasal drip, runny nose quite often is relieved within minutes of an acupunture treatment. Truthfully, it takes more than one treatment to resolve a long standing problem, but in the interim of treatment, symptoms go away while we gently strenthen the lungs and spleen and make you stronger for the next season of allergies. The good news is that patients often will become less dependent on prescription medications for managing their allergy symptoms. My patients are always amazed and pleased about that. Why wouldn’t you want to be more drug free?

As I was contemplating writing a blog about some of my patients who are undergoing chemo and/or radioation therapy, I received this blog from another acupuncturist. I thought she wrote about it so well that instead of writing my own, I decided to go ahead and post her blog.

Top 10 Ways Acupuncture Can Help Anyone Going Through Cancer Treatment!

Getting the diagnosis of Cancer is a real life-changer. I think you’ll probably always remember everything about that day when your doctor sat you down to tell you the news. And it certainly does have the chance to be a real life-ruiner, doesn’t it?

As a person, I have been dealing with cancer in my family for as long as I can remember, and as an Acupuncturist I have been working with Cancer patients since I was in Grad school. I’ve seen both sides of the story and I’m here to tell you that although getting the news of Cancer will probably always be one of the worst days you can imagine, your cancer treatment doesn’t have to be as scary as it sounds. Find a good Oncologist (shameless plug for one of the best Oncologists in Denver, Dr. Samir Witta of Mountain Blue Cancer Care Center) and you will find plenty of options if your cancer is treatable. Now bring on an Oncology Specialized Acupuncturist and you have a very well rounded team to get you through your cancer treatments.

Does it seem strange to think of a Medical Doctor and an Acupuncturist working so well together? Well it shouldn’t! Many of the best hospitals in the country offer Acupuncture as part of their treatment program.

Here are 10 things Acupuncture can help anyone going through cancer treatments with:
· Fatigue
· Neuropathy
· Nausea/vomiting
· Headaches
· Body-aches
· Insomnia
· Surgery Prep/Recovery
· Blood counts/Immune System
· Depression
· Hot flashes

Although that’s the list of things I most commonly see, there is so much more that Acupuncture can help with! The timing, a frequency, can change depending on what works best with your body and your chemo schedule, so be open to playing around with timing of treatments. A good place to start is the day before your Chemo treatment. Although once a week is useful, many of my patients, who have done the very best, have come in twice on the week of chemo and once a week otherwise.

So there you go… while the diagnosis of Cancer will always suck, the treatment doesn’t have to. Things like rest, sleep, good nutrition, laughter and Acupuncture, you are giving your body the tools it needs to take care of itself, while you go thru treatment, and I know that it will return the favor tenfold!

Click here for more about this article and acupuncture for cancer

Over the past few weeks, I have seen an increase in patients coming in with sinus and allergy related issues. Most complain about congestion and pressure in the head, ears and nose. Some have a cough due to drainage from a post nasal drip.

Most people who come to the clinic have had a long history of problems with allergies. Many have regular bouts of cold or allergy symptoms turning into full blown bronchitis and/or sinus infections. Many have allergies as well as asthma.

Nancy came in for the first time this summer with complaints of allergies that had gradually gotten worse after moving to Houston many years ago. She had not found any combination of medications that had given her any measure of relief and was regularly suffering from bronchitis and sinusitis each winter and summer. She reported that the past couple of years have been particularly severe. In addition, she suffered with issues of regularity, gas and bloating and a general sense of heaviness in the body.

Nancy was given a summer allergy treatment along with herbs to dry the dampness in her body and strengthen her Chi (vitality of digestion & energy). The week after the first visit she returned to say she felt a 50% improvement. We discussed some dietary changes which would help with the amount of phlegm and damp in the body and she has done her part to “clean it up a bit.”

Nancy has continued to come in on a regular basis and no longer suffers from runny nose or heavy congestion in her chest. She no longer has problems with gas, bloating, digestive upset or a sense of heaviness in her body. The best part, however, is she never developed any bronchitis or respiratory infection during the height of the allergy season in Houston this past summer or fall. She still has some low level congestion in her head and ears, but that is more than likely due to having an allergy to her two cats. At the very least, her symptoms are at a minimum and she can spend quality time with her cats.