Posts Tagged ‘Conditions and Diseases’

Acupuncture for functional gastrointestinal disorders

Schwartz Posted in Acupuncture, Gastrointestinal，Tags: , , , , , , ,
24 August 2010
1

Below is an abstract from a study on acupuncture for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders conducted by Takahashi in 2006. It describes the acupuncture points used as well as what disorders are affected.

diagram of a human digestive system
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“Functional gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are common in the general population. Especially, motor dysfunction of the GI tract and visceral hypersensitivity are important. Acupuncture has been used to treat GI symptoms in China for thousands of years. It is conceivable that acupuncture may be effective in patients with functional GI disorders because it has been shown to alter acid secretion, GI motility, and visceral pain. Acupuncture at the lower limbs (ST-36) causes muscle contractions via the somatoparasympathetic pathway, while at the upper abdomen (CV-12) it causes muscle relaxation via the somatosympathetic pathway. In some patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and functional dyspepsia (FD), peristalsis and gastric motility are impaired. The stimulatory effects of acupuncture at ST-36 on GI motility may be beneficial to patients with GERD or FD, as well as to those with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), who show delayed colonic transit. In contrast, the inhibitory effects of acupuncture at CV-12 on GI motility may be beneficial to patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS, because enhanced colonic motility and accelerated colonic transit are reported in such patients. Acupuncture at CV-12 may inhibit gastric acid secretion via the somatosympathetic pathway. Thus, acupuncture may be beneficial to GERD patients. The antiemetic effects of acupuncture at PC-6 (wrist) may be beneficial to patients with FD, whereas the antinociceptive effects of acupuncture at PC-6 and ST-36 may be beneficial to patients with visceral hypersensitivity. In the future, it is expected that acupuncture will be used in the treatment of patients with functional GI disorders.” Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16799881

We specialize in treating gastrointestinal disorders. Please give us a call to schedule a consultation. We will take the time to answer all of your questions and we will treat the root of your medical condition.

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TCM and Insomnia: Types, Causes, and Treatment

Schwartz Posted in Chinese Medicine，Tags: , , , , , , ,
11 August 2010
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Insomnia is characterized as a sleep disorder. It can mean difficulty falling asleep, difficulty remaining asleep, early awakening, and light sleep characterized by dreams and/or nightmares.

Sleep
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Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) considers most cases to be caused by a deficiency of some sort, usually liver qi deficiency or liver deficiency.

Below is a brief summary of the TCM approach to insomnia as well as a common example of a root cause.

“In modern TCM literature, there is agreement of five common differentiations, two being excess patterns, and three being deficiency patterns.2 Excess patterns tend to be more recent in onset, while deficiency (usually of qi and blood, but also yin) accounts for most of the chronic and prolonged cases. There also exists mixed deficiency and excess types, which are primarily deficiency with excess arising later. Excess can be due to emotional factors or overwork. Deficiency may be due to weak constitution, prolonged illness, worry and anxiety, which can aggravate or cause deficiencies of qi, blood or yin.

Stagnation of Liver Qi Transforming into Liver Fire. In this excess pattern, prolonged emotions such as anger, suppressed depression, shock or worry lead to stagnation of liver qi. As this transforms in to liver fire, it flares up to disturb the mind. This is the cause of the “difficult to fall asleep” pattern, and is different from deficiency fire (described below), which tends to cause “light sleep.” There is an inability to fall asleep until later, and may be followed by vivid or manic dreams.”

At Atlanta Acupuncture, we consult with you to determine the underlying reasons for your insomnia. We will ask you many questions including when you go to bed, how long you sleep for on average, when you wake up, and many more questions that help us determine what is causing the insomnia. We will also measure your pulse to determine any deficiencies and teach you effective relaxation techniques that can help make sleep easier to achieve. Please contact us to schedule an appointment with a licensed acupuncturist.

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Chinese Herbal Formulas for Heart Disease

Schwartz Posted in Chinese Medicine, Herbs，Tags: , , , , , , , ,
06 August 2010
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Blood stasis can lead to heart illnesses such as angina and coronary heart disease. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) addresses these chronic issues primarily by using herbal formulas. Below is a summary of the main formulas used and how they work in Eastern medicine.

Some elements for Médecine chinoise in Xi'an
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“The two main TCM formulas are Xue Fu Zhu Tang (Anti-Stasis Chest Decoction) and Guan Xin Er Hao Fang (Coronary Decoction No. 2).

…

Both formulas can be used to address a diverse array of cardiovascular disease presentations. Research has been pursued in China on using these formulas for issues such as angina, coronary heart disease, thrombotic stroke, palpitations and arteriosclerotic heart disease. All of these Western disease conditions have blood stasis as an etiological factor, particularly in diseases of a chronic nature. Two statements by the famous TCM physician Ye Tian-shi reflect this idea and are as follows: “New diseases are in the channels; enduring diseases enter the network vessels,” and “If enduring disease is not cured, damage reaches the blood network vessels, the blood vessels do not flow smoothly, and this results in blood stasis.” Wang Qing-Ren, another legendary TCM practitioner later stated succinctly “In enduring disease, there must be stasis.”

These TCM statements reflect the idea that cardiovascular disease develops slowly over time and that disease mechanisms have been in motion long before the presentation of acute symptoms. Another TCM statement: “If warm qi is not moved, congealed blood brews and is not scattered, the movement of fluids and humors is rough and they seep downward; if these adhere and are not removed, various accumulations will be produced.” This statement reflects the etiology of arteriosclerotic heart disease resulting from dampness and phlegm accumulating and damaging the cardiovascular system. This in turn causes more blood stasis due to blood viscosity and arterial occlusion with concomitant qi stagnation.”

Source: http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=32257

Please contact us to schedule a consultation. We will help you with heart disease by consulting with you to understand your condition, create a custom herbal formula for you, administer acupuncture, and work closely with your physician to address the root of your unique health condition.

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How Acupuncture Helps with Insomnia

Schwartz Posted in Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, Herbs，Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
27 July 2010
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2D-structure of zolpidem (Ambien)
Image via Wikipedia

Sleep is of vital importance. Lack of sleep has been shown to cause, or worsen, health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and obesity. With millions of Americans suffering from some sort of sleep disorder, it is apparent that sleep disorders are increasingly prevalent in our society.

The most common, and well recognized, sleep disorder is insomnia. It is characterized by either difficulty going to sleep or difficulty staying asleep. Many pharmaceutical companies have offered pills (such as Ambien) to help with this condition, but dangerous side effects have been observed with these drugs and many are habit-forming.

With acupuncture and Chinese herbs, there is an alternative treatment for insomnia without side effects. Please contact us in Atlanta for more information or to set up a consultation where we can help identify the root of your insomnia and offer customized treatment.

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Thyroid Treatments with Acupuncture

Schwartz Posted in Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine，Tags: , , , , , , , ,
23 July 2010
0
The major endocrine glands of the body. Pituit...
Image via Wikipedia

The thyroid gland is essential in regulating hormone levels. Both Western and Eastern medicine offer various methods to restore thyroid hormone levels. Western treatments rely mainly on drugs and surgery while Eastern treatments aim to restore immune function as well as balance the production and release of thyroid hormones through a variety of approaches ranging from acupuncture and herbal remedies to lifestyle changes and special exercises.

Acupuncture is used to restore hormonal balance, regulate energy levels, smooth emotions and help manage sleep, emotions and menstrual problems. There are several powerful acupuncture points on the ear and the body that can be used to regulate the production of thyroid hormones. Our acupuncture treatments take all of your symptoms into account and are aimed at balancing the energy within the body to optimize health.

If you are experiencing thyroid/hormone irregularities, or think you might be, please contact us to discuss how we can help. We offer tests that can determine your hormone levels. We can then help treat any problems with a combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbs.

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Acupuncture and Infertility: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Schwartz Posted in Fertility，Tags: , , , , , , ,
16 July 2010
0
Acupuncture needle.
Image via Wikipedia

One of the health conditions that can cause infertility in women is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Women with this condition can have a difficult time conceiving. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective at treating PID. A study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility showed remarkable results.

“Research has demonstrated [acupuncture] to be effective at treating pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection of the pelvic organs that can cause infertility. In severe cases, PID requires a hysterectomy to resolve the problem.

A 1989 study of PID patients looked at who had failed to respond to previous courses of antibiotics for the disease and later had acupuncture and Chinese herbs and compared them with patients currently taking antibiotics.

They found that the group who had acupuncture and Chinese herbs showed improvements in 88.4% of cases and of those, 46% got complete relief from all their symptoms.

The antibiotic group had a 52% improvement rate with only 16% attaining complete relief from all their symptoms.

If you are suffering from PID or are otherwise unable to conceive, please consider acupuncture for your infertility problems. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or if you would like to schedule an appointment for a personal consultation.
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