Neuropathy and Acupuncture, Houston, Tx

Posted on July 10, 2011 by in Pain Management

I frequently have patients who experience neuropathy, numbness, pain and tingling in their feet.

Neuropathy is a fairly common problem that many acupuncturists see. Either with or without diabetes. I have found that treating the pain and burning of neuropathy is usually faster than treating the numbness. However, many of my patients, sometimes even after the first treatment, notice reduction in the shooting pain, and get some feeling back in their feet.

Of course, reducing or eliminating the pain of neuropathy is a great relief. Many patients complain that much of the pain tends to be worse at night. Once the pain and burning is gone, there is eventual improvement with the numbness. In my experience, numbness takes longer to treat. Although the numbness associated with neuropahty takes time to treat, acupuncture concurrently provides indirect benefits to the whole person. Some of those additional benefits include improved energy, better sleep, a sense of calm, relaxation and overall experience of well-being.

I’ll tell a quick story about my dad. He had come to visit while I was still in school studying Chinese medicine. He shared with me that he was experiencing some neuropathy, mainly numbness on the bottom of his feet. He told me that he’d been to the best doctors and they all said, “There’s nothing that we can do for you. It’s just the way it is.”

At that time, I said, “You know, Dad, from my studies, I’ve heard that acupuncture might help stimulate some of the nerve endings and bring some feeling back to your feet. Why don’t I just take you to one of my professors?” And after one treatment, he got some feeling back in his toes, especially in his big toe which is an important toe if you’re going to be driving or doing a lot of walking. So, he had been given “that’s it” type of storyline from the doctors and he got some feeling back in his toes after one treatment. I find that’s the case with many of my patients.

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Healthy and Happy New Year from Acupuncture & Nutrition Clinic, Houston, TX

Posted on January 4, 2011 by in Chinese Medicine, News

I’m not sure where the time has flown, but the new year is here with hopes that we will be blessed with good health, happiness, prosperity, love and joy. I’ve always told my kids that my wish for them is good health and some old fashioned good luck. Happiness was up to them to figure out since we had given them what they needed as a foundation for happiness (unconditional love and care, formal education,  moral & religious education, and the need to think beyond ourselves and give back to the world, etc. ) The point being that material things would and could not buy them happiness. Finding that inner sense of peace and ok-ness was their job.

One of the best lessons of Chinese medicine is the focus on balance. When our lives get out of balance our mind and body will give us hints. To what degree we listen to those hints often depends on whether we are connected enough to notice the changes happening and/or if we feel pain in one way or another.

When we are in balance we have free flow of Qi (pronounced chee). As Qi is our life force or energy, we want our Qi to move smoothly and freely. Unobstructed Qi allows us to think, feel, move and experience life more fully. In other words, free flowing Qi can help bring us to a greater sense of balance. Isn’t this just another way of expressing our new years wishes for good health, peace and contentment? Acupuncture and Chinese medicine is a wonderful way to promote the free flow of Qi which improves health, physically and emotionally. When we have better health, we indeed have the wherewithall to work on our happiness, to be more productive at work and to express gratitude for our good fortunes in life.

My wish to all my friends, family and patients is to have 2011 be a year of smooth flowing Qi, contentment and joy in your lives.

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