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Fertility Success, Happy Thanksgiving!

Mark Schwartz Post in Fertility，

23 November 2011

It has been an exciting 2 weeks at Buckhead Acupuncture.

3 pregnancies and one childbirth. These families really have something to be thankful for this holiday season. I am so excited for them all.

One of my patients is pregnant after her first IUI. Quite often IUI’s are not successful, and clinically I rarely see success on the first try!

Another patient today sent me a text today telling me that after her IVF she is pregnant… after speaking on the phone she mentioned how great she had done during her cycle and really felt the acupuncture had worked to help her fall pregnant but also to mitigate any side effects from the fertility drugs that are used.

After overcoming many obstacles in her fertility for nearly a year, working together with myself and a local reproductive endocrinologist another patient is pregnant with Acupuncture, herbs and the old-fashioned natural home method! It was quite funny we both think that she scared her body straight… threatening herself to do her first IUI if she did not get pregnant by January… wow well whatever it takes!

This Monday after 2 years and a long struggle with a very late miscarriage and a challenging shaped uterus…another IVF + acupuncture / herbal success… a patient delivered their first little girl….

For more information about how Chinese medicine and Acupuncture may be able to help your fertility, please visit http://atlanta-acupuncture.net/fert.html

Call us today for a free 15 minute consultation. 678-549-7848

We will take time to collect some background history and make time to answer any questions you may have.

Have a very happy Thanksgiving!!!

Mark

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Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for Fibromyalgia

Mark Schwartz Post in Acupuncture，Tags: Acupuncture, Atlanta, fibromyalgia, pain

13 November 2011

Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia

Atlanta-Acupuncture.net « Acupuncture Atlanta Georgia Atlanta-Acupuncture.net

Fibromyalgia affects approximately 2 percent of our population. Current research demonstrates that as many 90 percent fibromyalgia sufferers have turned to CAM to alleviate their symptoms. Acupuncture, has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for fibromyalgia, becoming a popular choice.

What is Fibromyalgia Syndrome?

Fibromyalgia is a currently unexplained by western medicine; it is characterized by pain which is chronic and presents at multiple sites. Pain is worsened when pressure is applied and increased with insomnia, fatigue, and depression. Not all the following symptoms occur in every individual, but many do occur concurrently:

• severe fatigue
• trouble sleeping
• anxiety and/or depression
• stiff joints
• chronic pain and/or headaches
• dryness of the nose, mouth and eyes
• hypersensitivity
• difficulty concentrating (aka “fibro fog”)
• incontinence
• I.B.S.
• poor circulation, numbness, and tingling in the extremities
• painful menstrual cramps
• restless legs syndrome

Fibromyalgia is diagnosed if there is a history of pain which occurs in all four quadrants of the body for at least three months. Eleven of eighteen designated points must be tender and painful upon palpation. There are no physical changes in the tissue or lab markers for fibromyalgia; rather it is a diagnosis made once all else has been excluded.

Fibromyalgia onset sometimes occurs in conjunction with a major emotional or physical trauma, though often there is no precipitating trigger. The risk of developing fibromyalgia increases with age and is more prone among women than men.

Chinese Medical Perspective

Traditionally pain in Chinese medicine is thought to occur when there is blockage or disruption of the bodies Qi and Blood circulation. This idea is often expressed in the popular saying “bu tong ze tong, tong ze bu tong”, when there is blockage, there is pain; no blockage then no pain.

Fibromyalgia occurs usually when there are disharmonies in the Qi and blood circulation of the Liver, Spleen, Kidney and Heart Systems .

Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is not recognized as one disease in traditional Chinese medicine. There are several patterns of disharmony which may occur in the individual to cause what Western medicine refers to as Fibromyalgia. By considering the persons individual presentation of personal constitution, mood, quality, intensity and location of their pain, sleep and digestion in addition to other constellation of symptoms an individualized treatment strategy will be employed. Treatment may consist of acupuncture, Chinese medicinal herbs, taijiquan and meditation practice, and dietary and lifestyle modifications. A Chinese medical differential diagnosis is made and then the correct points and herbs are selected, rather than giving the same drug to everyone with the same western medical condition. For more information about how acupuncture works visit http://atlanta-acupuncture.net/

For more information on ways to help alleviate fibromyalgia pain please send an email to mschwartz@atlanta-acupuncture.net and we will send you a free newsletter with additional information about exercise, diet and meditation practice for fibromyalgia.

If you have fibromyalgia and are interested in a natural and holistic means of reducing the frequency and intensity of your pain call 678-549-7848 today for a free fifteen minute phone consultation

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Study shows that herbs are therapeutic for Type-2 Diabetes

Schwartz Post in Herbs，Tags: type-2 diabetes

30 March 2011

A recent study took a look at several different herbs and their effect on type-2 diabetes. The herbs include Panax ginseng C.A.Meyer, Pueraria lobata, Dioscorea batatas Decaisne, Rehmannia glutinosa, Amomum cadamomum Linné, Poncirus fructus and Evodia officinalis. The herbs were tested using cell and animal models. The researchers, several from Korea, found several therapeutic effects. The abstract is quoted below.

“Abstract

Background

An aqueous extract of multi-hypoglycemic herbs of Panax ginseng C.A.Meyer, Pueraria lobata, Dioscorea batatas Decaisne, Rehmannia glutinosa, Amomum cadamomum Linné, Poncirus fructus and Evodia officinalis was investigated for its anti-diabetic effects in cell and animal models.

Methods

Activities of PPAR? agonist, anti-inflammation, AMPK activator and anti-ER stress were measured in cell models and in db/db mice (a genetic animal model for type 2 diabetes).

Results

While the extract stimulated PPAR?-dependent luciferase activity and activated AMPK in C2C12 cells, it inhibited TNF-?-stimulated IKK?/NFkB signaling and attenuated ER stress in HepG2 cells. The db/db mice treated with the extract showed reduced fasting blood glucose and HbA_1clevels, improved postprandial glucose levels, enhanced insulin sensitivity and significantly decreased plasma free fatty acid, triglyceride and total cholesterol.

Conclusion

The aqueous extract of these seven hypoglycemic herbs demonstrated many therapeutic effects for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in cell and animal models.”

The full article can be found here: http://www.cmjournal.org/content/6/1/10

In the full article, they describe the following benefits: “the extract from the seven herbs functioned as PPAR? agonists and an AMPK activators, as well as inhibitors of inflammation and ER stress.”

If you’d like to discuss how we can help you with your type-2 diabetes, please contact us to schedule a personal consultation.

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Cancer patient nausea reduced with acupuncture and “fake” acupuncture

Schwartz Post in Acupuncture, Oncology，Tags: Acupuncture, Nausea, Oncology, vomiting

27 March 2011

A new study shows that acupuncture and “fake”, or sham, acupuncture (which is needle-less acupuncture) both help to reduce the nausea that cancer patients routinely get. The study was published in the journal PLoS ONE. The following is the abstract from the study:

“Background

It is not known whether or not delivering acupuncture triggers mechanisms cited as placebo and if acupuncture or sham reduces radiotherapy-induced emesis more than standard care.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Cancer patients receiving radiotherapy over abdominal/pelvic regions were randomized to verum (penetrating) acupuncture (n = 109; 99 provided data) in the alleged antiemetic acupuncture point PC6 or sham acupuncture (n = 106; 101 provided data) performed with a telescopic non-penetrating needle at a sham point 2–3 times/week during the whole radiotherapy period. The acupuncture cohort was compared to a reference cohort receiving standard care (n = 62; 62 provided data). The occurrence of emesis in each group was compared after a mean dose of 27 Gray. Nausea and vomiting were experienced during the preceding week by 37 and 8% in the verum acupuncture group, 38 and 7% in the sham acupuncture group and 63 and 15% in the standard care group, respectively. The lower occurrence of nausea in the acupuncture cohort (verum and sham) compared to patients receiving standard care (37% versus 63%, relative risk (RR) 0.6, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.5–0.8) was also true after adjustment for potential confounding factors for nausea (RR 0.8, CI 0.6 to 0.9). Nausea intensity was lower in the acupuncture cohort (78% no nausea, 13% a little, 8% moderate, 1% much) compared to the standard care cohort (52% no nausea, 32% a little, 15% moderate, 2% much) (p = 0.002). The acupuncture cohort expected antiemetic effects from their treatment (95%). Patients who expected nausea had increased risk for nausea compared to patients who expected low risk for nausea (RR 1.6; Cl 1.2–2.4).

Conclusions/Significance

Patients treated with verum or sham acupuncture experienced less nausea and vomiting compared to patients receiving standard care, possibly through a general care effect or due to the high level of patient expectancy.”

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0014766

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Research Review Shows Need for Midwifery-Alternative Medicine Cooperation

Schwartz Post in Acupuncture, Herbs, Women，Tags: Acupuncture, Alternative medicine, Journal of Advanced Nursing, midwife, midwifery, Research, review

19 March 2011

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasingly popular in maternity care, but healthcare professionals need formal evidence-based education and guidance about its use, according to a review in the March issue of the Journal of Advanced Nursing.

There is also need for greater respect and cooperation between conventional and alternative practitioners and improved communication with patients about the growing use of CAM.

University-based members of the Network of Researchers in the Public Health of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NORPHCAM) reviewed 19 studies covering the views of more than 3,000 maternity professionals from Australia, Canada, the USA, UK, Germany, New Zealand and Israel.

The studies, which were all based on interviews or surveys, were published between 1999 and 2009, 13 in the last five years.

“There is no doubt that the popularity of CAM – including acupuncture, chiropractic, naturopathy, herbal medicine and yoga – has grown in recent years” says lead author Dr Jon Adams, Associate Professor at the University of Queensland, Australia, and Executive Director of NORPHCAM.

“The use of CAM during pregnancy has been debated by practitioners and policy makers around the world and it is clear that there is a real need to develop an integrated approach to maternity care. However this has been hampered by a lack of understanding of the attitudes and practice of mainstream maternity care professionals towards CAM. Our review aimed to provide a clearer picture by pulling together a wide range of published studies based on interviews and surveys.”

Key findings from the most recent 2008 and 2009 studies include:

A survey of 343 midwives from Canada and New Zealand found that 72% had recommended or offered CAM. The most common referrals were to homeopaths (51%), acupuncturists (50%), naturopaths (48%), chiropractors (36%), massage therapists (31%) and osteopaths (20%).
All but one of the 381 obstetric departments who took part in a German survey said they offered at least one CAM therapy, with acupuncture (97%), homeopathy (93%) and aromatherapy (77%) heading the list.
78% of the 227 midwives who took part in an American study reported using CAM and 89% would refer a patient to CAM providers. The three most commonly used treatments were herbal preparations (85%), pharmacologic/biologic treatments (82%) and mind-body interventions (80%).
A study of 401 American obstetricians found that 98% routinely endorsed, provided or referred patients for at least one CAM treatment. Movement therapies topped the list at 86%, followed by biofeedback and acupuncture (both 80%).

“Despite the increasing popularity of CAM in maternity care, and a generally positive attitude towards it, our research review revealed very diverse attitudes towards the practice of alternative treatments between, and within, professions” says Dr Adams.

“For example, our study suggests that, in general, midwives have a more positive view of CAM than obstetricians and that understandings and perceptions of CAM appear to be closely linked with wider notions of professionalism and professional identity.

“In particular, the holistic nature of CAM has a close affinity with the philosophy, professional goals and care perspectives of many midwives.”

The authors raise concerns that their research review showed that most medical professionals have no CAM training and little understanding of the pharmacological nature of alternative therapies and their possible risks to pregnant women.

“There have recently been calls for nursing and midwifery education to include CAM training” says Dr Adams. “In addition, a number of medical organisations and registration boards, including the Royal College of Midwives and Australian Nursing Federation, have issued position statements endorsing the linking of care standards to education and knowledge of CAM.

“We hope that our research review will provide a first step in developing an evidence base on this important topic and provide vital insights for those managing, practising and receiving maternity care.”

Source: Eurekalert

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New Study: Acupuncture Curbs Menopausal Hot Flashes

Schwartz Post in Chinese Medicine, Women，Tags: abc news, Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, menopause, women

10 March 2011

“Many women are willing to try anything to get rid of the dreaded hot flashes and mood swings associated with menopause.

Watch: Menopause Myths

A new study out today offers an alternative to the herbal remedies and hormone replacement therapy so many turn to: traditional Chinese acupuncture.

The study, conducted by the Ankara Training and Research Hospital in Ankara, Turkey, concluded that acupuncture, which treats patients by inserting and manipulating needles in the body, curbs the severity of hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms, largely related to mood.”

Anxious Dental Patients are Calmed with Acupuncture

Schwartz Post in Acupuncture, Anxiety，Tags: Acupuncture, Anxiety, dentist

27 December 2010

Acupuncture in the management of anxiety related to dental treatment: A case series

Acupuncture can calm highly anxious dental patients and ensure that they can be given the treatment they need, suggests a small study published in Acupuncture in Medicine.

A visit to the dentist provokes extreme fear and anxiety in an estimated one in 20 people, and can put them off going altogether, a condition termed odontophobia. And up to a third of patients report moderate anxiety at the prospect of dental treatment, studies show.

The authors base their findings on 16 women and four men from eight dental practice lists.

Each of the patients was moderately or extremely anxious about going to the dentist for treatment, as assessed by a validated questionnaire – the Back Anxiety Inventory (BAI).

All were in their 40s and had been trying to deal with this problem for between two and 30 years.

The BAI score was assessed before and after five minutes of acupuncture treatment, targeting two specific acupuncture points (GV20 and EX6) on the top of the head.

The acupuncture was carried out by the dentists themselves, all of whom are members of the British Dental Acupuncture Society.

The average BAI score of 26.5 fell to 11.5, and all 20 patients were able to undergo their planned treatment, whereas before this had only been possible in six – and then only partially and after a great deal of effort on the part of both dentist and patient.

The authors point out that several attempts have been made to conquer this type of anxiety, including sedatives, relaxation techniques, behavioural therapies, biofeedback and hypnosis. The research indicates that these do help, but they are time consuming and require considerable levels of psychotherapeutic skills, if applied properly, say the authors.

They caution that further larger studies are needed to confirm the value of acupuncture in these sorts of cases, but suggest that acupuncture “may offer a simple and inexpensive method of treatment.”

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Medical Research Finds Acupuncture Influences Brain Areas
Responsible for Pain

Schwartz Post in Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine，Tags: Acupuncture, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, fMRI, Health, Medicine, pain

24 December 2010

“ScienceDaily (Nov. 30, 2010) — Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers have captured pictures of the brain while patients experienced a pain stimulus with and without acupuncture to determine acupuncture’s effect on how the brain processes pain. Results of the study, which the researchers say suggest the effectiveness of acupuncture, were presented November 30 at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

“Until now, the role of acupuncture in the perception and processing of pain has been controversial,” said lead researcher Nina Theysohn, M.D., from the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology at University Hospital in Essen, Germany. “Functional MRI gives us the opportunity to directly observe areas of the brain that are activated during pain perception and see the variances that occur with acupuncture.” …

“Activation of brain areas involved in pain perception was significantly reduced or modulated under acupuncture,” Dr. Theysohn said.”

Sources: 1. Science Daily 2. Radiological Society of North America

Chinese medicine has reduced pain in patients for centuries. The advancements in medical science have allowed for research such as the research quoted above which clearly shows that pain is modulated through using acupuncture.

We can help with pain. Contact us today to schedule a personal consultation with one of our licensed therapists.

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Treating Holiday Stress and Depression with Acupuncture

Schwartz Post in Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, Stress，Tags: Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, depression, Stress

17 December 2010

According to Oriental medicine, the cold months of winter are the perfect time to recharge your battery and generate vital energy, or Qi, in order to live, look, and feel your best.

The ancient Chinese believed that human beings should live in harmony with the natural cycles of their environment. The cold and darkness of winter urges us to slow down. This is the time of year to reflect on health, replenish energy and conserve strength.

Ruled by the water element, winter is associated with the kidneys, bladder and adrenal glands. The kidneys are considered the source of all energy or “Qi” within the body. They store all of the reserve Qi in the body so that it can be used in times of stress and change, or to heal, prevent illness and age gracefully.

Winter is the season where all living things slow down, conserve their energy and prepare for the outburst of new life and energy in the spring.

Eat warm hearty soups, whole grains, and roasted nuts to help warm the body’s core and to keep nourished. Sleep early, rest well, stay warm, and expend a minimum quantity of energy.

While optimal health and well-being in the winter season calls for rest, energy conservation and the revitalization of body and spirit, your holiday activities may have a different agenda.

The holidays can be filled with a dizzying array of demands, visitors, travel and frantic shopping trips. For many people, it is also a time filled with sadness, self-reflection, loneliness and anxiety. Compound the usual seasonal pressures with the constant barrage of bad economic news and you may find this to be one of the most emotionally trying times of the year.

Stress, anxiety and depression can cause a disruption in the flow of vital energy, or Qi, through the body. These energetic imbalances can throw off the immune system or cause symptoms of pain, sleep disturbances, abnormal digestion, headaches, and menstrual irregularities, and, over time, more serious illnesses can develop.

Acupuncture treatments can correct these imbalances and directly affect the way your body manages stress and your mental health.

Seasonal acupuncture treatments in winter serve to nurture and nourish kidney Qi which can greatly enhance the body’s ability to thrive in times of stress, aid in healing, prevent illness and increase vitality.

According to Oriental medicine, the cold months of winter are the perfect time to recharge your battery and generate vital energy, or Qi, in order to live, look, and feel your best.

Winter is the season where all living things slow down, conserve their energy and prepare for the outburst of new life and energy in the spring.

Eat warm hearty soups, whole grains, and roasted nuts to help warm the body’s core and to keep nourished. Sleep early, rest well, stay warm, and expend a minimum quantity of energy.

While optimal health and well-being in the winter season calls for rest, energy conservation and the revitalization of body and spirit, your holiday activities may have a different agenda.

Acupuncture treatments can correct these imbalances and directly affect the way your body manages stress and your mental health.

Call now and schedule your seasonal tune-up today!

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Studies Show Acupuncture Effective for Stress and Depression

Schwartz Post in Acupuncture, Depression, Stress，Tags: Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, depression, Stress

10 December 2010

Since the early seventies, studies around the globe have suggested that treating mental health disorders with acupuncture has a positive and holistic effect on depressed patients, particularly when used in combination with psychotherapy and herbal treatments.

Psychologist John Allen, from the University of Arizona in Tucson, and Acupuncturist Rosa Schnyer, conducted the very first pilot controlled study on treating depression symptoms with acupuncture in the Western scientific world. In a double blind randomized study, 34 depressed female patients who met the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria were assigned to one of three treatment groups for eight weeks.

The first group received acupuncture treatment specifically tailored to their depression symptoms. The second group received a general acupuncture treatment not specific to depression, and the third group was placed on a waiting list for acupuncture treatment, but received no treatment. Those in the tailored acupuncture treatment group experienced a significant reduction in symptoms, compared to those in the non-specific treatment group. Moreover, over 50% of the participants no longer met the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for depression after the study.

Study findings suggest that using acupuncture alone could be as effective as other types of treatments for relieving depression symptoms typically used in Western medicine, such as psychotherapy and drugs.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the substantial benefits of acupuncture specifically in the treatment of stress.

In 2008 Anesthesia & Analgesia published a study finding that an acupuncture point alleviated preoperative anxiety in children while a 2003 study conducted at Yale University showed that ear acupuncture significantly lowered the stress level of the mothers of children that were scheduled for surgery.

A German study published in Circulation found acupuncture significantly lowers both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The extent of the blood pressure reductions by acupuncture treatments was comparable to those seen with anti-hypertensive medication or aggressive lifestyle changes, including radical salt restrictions.

The University of New Mexico measured the affects of acupuncture on 73 men and women with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The researchers found the acupuncture treatments to be as helpful as the standard treatment of cognitive behavioral therapy.

If the stress or depression in your life is throwing you off balance, consider acupuncture therapy to regain peace of mind, regulate your immune system and stay healthy.

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