Acupuncture for Treating Depression
Of all the illnesses and debilitating conditions acupuncture can help treat, depression is one of the most interesting. Part of the reason for this is that modern Western medicine classifies depression as a mood disorder manifested by both physical and psychological symptoms. In contrast, acupuncture, a practice within Traditional Chinese Medicine, does not view depression as an illness but rather an imbalance within the person's system that can be treated with acupuncture therapy, herbal medicines and problem-specific massage. Though there is no one answer for treating a case of depression it is wise for someone to consider all their options including psychotherapy, anti-depressant medication and holistic acupuncture therapies before deciding on a treatment program.
Depression is a very unique study area that can involve many factors including genetics, behavior, environment, individual circumstances and chemical imbalances in the brain. Though Western medicine has found success with both psychotherapy talk treatments and anti-depressant medication, there is no one single cure for depression mostly because each individual experiences different symptoms. Some may be riddled with anxiety, suffer from insomnia and experience stomach pains while others may sleep way too much, show little or no interest in just about anything and may deal with feelings of hopelessness and in extreme cases suicidal behavior. Because of the variations in the symptoms of depression it isn't always easy to diagnose a patient and prescribe a treatment program.
If you have tried medication and psychotherapy and have had little or no success it may be time to give acupuncture a try. As with other acupuncture treatments, the goal is to identify strategic points on the body that may be disrupting the vital flow of a person's 'qi' or life force energy. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that conditions such as depression are linked to imbalance of energy flowing through a person's body and that with the gentle insertion of fine needles along these meridians the flow of energy can be returned to its normal state thereby alleviating the symptoms associated with depression.
Unlike broken bones or torn ligaments, the treatments for depression can vary widely. Some people react well to medications while others prefer talk therapy as a way to relieve their anxiety and stress. And still others have found success through the holistic approach of acupuncture therapy and a continued treatment of Chinese herbs and problem-specific massage. Some choose acupuncture for the simple reason that is all natural and won't involve a patient becoming dependent on a particular medication. Many people have also found that a combination of psychotherapy and acupuncture have had great results in alleviating major symptoms of depression. If you or someone you know is dealing with depression, ask him or her if they have considered acupuncture treatment. Quick, painless and affordable, acupuncture may be the remedy you've been looking for.
Rabu, 11 April 2012
Acupuncture for Treating Depression
The Eastern Way of Wellbeing
The Eastern Way of Wellbeing
Many people hear of acupuncture and think of its ability to treat pain conditions. Few however, have been educated about acupuncture's potential to treat organ related issues as well as mental, emotional and spiritual instabilities. The theories of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are woven with poetry, mystery and clinical experience. These theories are predominantly based on the laws and cycles of nature. These cycles are governed by the I Ching, the Dao and the Five Elements.
The I Ching is a classical text on divination and wisdom, translated as The Book of Changes and it regards the natural law of constant change and how to react to it. The Dao is a non-denominational philosophic classic with the idea that health and happiness comes from following The Way, which is living as closely to nature as possible and following those laws and cycles of change. The Five Elements clarifies and organizes the cycles of nature and of life and helps one to understand the connection between all things.
Of course YinYang is a constant in all three of these theories as it is the simplest representation of constant change, balance and relationships. TCM strives to see the patterns, cycles and connections of disease therefore being able to discover the cause. Acupuncture has the amazing ability to assist patients in breaking those patterns and assisting one to follow the cycles of nature.
If there is one main difference between the theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine, it is that TCM comes from a time before scientific technological experimentation, before a time of separation between body and mind and the ideas of reductionism. It is based on the relationships between objects, events and experiences. TCM focuses on how all the parts work together and creates one thing-this is holism. There are 12 most commonly used pathways where the acupuncture points lie on the body. These pathways connect the entire body/mind, organs, as well as flow in and out of each other. In this way we are able to affect the entire being.
There is no line drawn between body, mind or spirit as they are all an expression of Qi or the Vital Breath of Life. For example when we experience physical pain there is always a mental and spiritual reaction as well. In TCM, each organ has not only a physical function but a mental/emotional and spiritual function. The Lungs are responsible for breathing in oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide and mentally responsible for taking the world in and letting it go. The spirit of the Lungs, Po, is about trusting and listening to our animal instincts. It is about being able to process and let go of old emotions and experiences and being inspired by the world around us.
Most people, who have experienced acupuncture, speak of the deep relaxation sensations during the treatment. It has a calming and balancing effect on the body and many times after treatment people will feel the desire to have a long deep sleep. When the body is in balance and at rest, it is able to heal itself; to fight a cold, to build strength, battle free radicals or rebuild tissue. There are also few adverse side effects with acupuncture as it activates balanced function in the body. In my experience, many people from the western world express fear or anticipation of pain from acupuncture.
There are some thoughts that it is because people of the west often direly contend to ignore painful emotional feelings. Truthfully, acupuncture is generally not painful as the needles are very thin and sharp. However, there are some locations that can be uncomfortable for a moment and is then replaced with a new sensation. It can be helpful to remember that "there is no coming of consciousness without pain", (Carl Jung).
Acupuncture continues to have new and interesting studies granting proof of not only its effect on treating dis-ease but also of the actual pathways and points and their reactions on the nervous systems, brain as well as endocrine and immune systems. Most recently, the Bonghan Channel Theory has been proven and states that the acupuncture meridians are in fact threadlike microscopic anatomical structures. As modern science continues to support Traditional Chinese Medicine, the world is at a tipping point to expand the expectations of acupuncture and acknowledge that "we are tapping into a unique system of organization" that has the experience of thousands of years, (David Milbradt).
Five People Who Need Acupuncture
Five People Who Need Acupuncture (Even Though They Don't Think They Do)
You're not sick. You're not injured. Your digestion is perfect and your sleep is deep and restful. You've been fortunate, and have never been involved in any sort of accident or had any type of serious health issue. You don't have chronic knee pain, back pain, or tennis elbow. In fact, lately you've been thinking that you are in the best shape of your life. With all this being said, there is definitely no need for you to see an acupuncturist, is there?
Actually, we can all benefit from preventative medicine, regardless of what is going on right now. And if you fall into one of these categories, you need it more than you think you do:
New moms. To all of you out there that given birth recently, congratulations. However, along with that bundle of joy comes a whole slew of issues just waiting to crop up. Shoulder and neck pain from carrying the baby, sleep deprivation, hormonal mood swings-the list goes on and on. A visit to your local acupuncturist can work miracles for all of these issues-and increase lactation! Bet you didn't know that, did you?
Bodyworkers. Even the most diligent of you are using your upper body at angles that will eventually lead to back and neck pain-at the very least. Once you've worked out the kinks on your patients, come in and I will work out the kinks that your patient delivered unto you.
Travelers. We all know that acupuncture can help with jet lag and fear of flying. But those of you who fly regularly for your jobs know just how easy it is to get sick. Between the disrupted sleep, canned air, and Joe Schmo hacking away next to you, catching something is often inevitable-unless you are proactive about protecting your immune system with acupuncture.
Teachers. You, too, are surrounded by a sea of germs. Add in the stresses of dealing with a room full of miscreants, and voila! A recipe for getting sick. Come in and head things off before they start.
Students. You stay up all night studying. You eat random disgusting things from vending machines. You are stressed, exhausted, often hungover, and bloated because your diet sucks. How about scheduling an appointment to take care of all that? FYI, acupuncture can also boost your focus and concentration. Maybe you should schedule an appointment a day or so before that exam you've been crying about?
Acupuncture and Arthritis
Acupuncture and Arthritis: How to Manage Arthritis Without Resorting to Drugs
Osteoarthritis is a debilitating illness where the cartilage and other structures around the joints are damaged and/or inflamed resulting in pain and stiffness. The knees and the hips are commonly affected but osteoarthritis can affect the hands or the neck too.
A recent review of all the treatments available to support patients suffering from osteoarthritis has shown that acupuncture may be beneficial. But how does it work? On a biomedical level, Acupuncture treatment may help to relieve pain and improve function in patients with osteoarthritis by:
• releasing of endorphins and inhibiting pain through the modulatory effects of endogenous opioids
• reducing inflammation
• increasing local microcirculation, which aids dispersal of swelling.
In Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), osteoarthritis is a 'Bi syndrome', a group of syndromes that affects the bones and joints and is usually characterized by pain, soreness or numbness of tendons, muscles or joints. This is the result of the body being 'invaded' by a pathogenic factor such as Wind, Cold, Heat and/or Damp. These pathogens will lodge into the body's meridian (the energy pathways) and will block the free flow of energy (called Qi). This is what causes the pain and reduction in movement associated with the arthritis. The aim of the acupuncture treatment is to free the energy, removing the blockages and harmonizing Qi to eliminate pain, inflammation and swelling.
Traditional Chinese Medicine does not recognize osteoarthritis as one particular syndrome. The diagnosis is dependent on which pathogenic factor is present/the strongest and on the manifestation of the illness (Is there some swelling, is the joint warm to touch, worse in the morning etc...). So the treatment will be different too from one patient to the next. Each patient will receive a unique, customized treatment with different acupuncture points and different lifestyle and diet recommendations.
It is likely that the treatment will involve local points around the painful joint, some distal points to treat the pain with acupuncture points away from the area and some points to support the body constitutionally. These points will also ensure that the root cause of the problem is being addressed too. These points will be the ones that will help in avoiding a relapse at a later date.
Finally, osteoarthritis is commonly associated with pain. But for some people, it manifests itself not with pain but with pins and needles or a feeling of numbness. This can also be helped with acupuncture, just as well as the stiffness and pain.
Avoid Chronic Back Pain Thanks to Acupuncture
Avoid Chronic Back Pain Thanks to Acupuncture
When I am asking people if they've had acupuncture before and what it was for, back pain is probably the most common answer. This is hardly surprising as acupuncture is known for its ability to relieve pain but also because back pain is a very common complaint.
Back pain is one of the most prevalent reasons people seek health care. It is the UK leading cause of disability and one of the main reasons for work-related sickness absence.
In most instances, people are suffering from lower back pain. One of the top causes for that sort of injury are sprains (overstretching one or more of the ligaments in the back) and strains (a rip or tear in the muscle caused by sudden force). This can happen from an injury, poor posture, or improper lifting.
Sciatica is another common form of pain in the back. Sciatica is a term used to describe pain that extends down into the buttocks and leg which comes from an irritation of a larger nerve in the lumbar spine called the sciatic nerve. Sciatica can go with sprains, strains, herniated discs.
Back pain can also happen during pregnancy, because of stress, viral infection or kidney infection.
Research has shown that acupuncture can help back pain by providing pain relief, improving muscle stiffness and joint mobility and reducing inflammation.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on best practice now recommend that General Practitioners offer a course of 10 sessions of acupuncture as a first line treatment for persistent, non-specific low back pain.
The Acupuncture point of view:
The aim of acupuncture is to restore the flow of energy in the body to promote self-healing. Different techniques can be used: needling but also cupping (vacuum cups to help relax the muscles, improve blood and energy flow) and moxibustion (a warming technique which involves burning tightly packed herbs near the patient skin on a needle or with a stick).
When treating back pain, an acupuncturist will palpate your back to find the areas that are the most sensitive and needle those. But it is also possible to use distal points, acupuncture points that are further away from the area of pain, usually on the hands and feet. These are just as efficient as local points and are particularly suitable in case of an acute injury.
He/she might also check where are the restrictions in movement and where is the pain associated with a certain movement (referred pain).
Cupping will help improving the blood flow in the area and relax the muscles.
Moxibustion, because of its warming effect, helps relaxing the muscles, especially if the area is cold to the touch.
Finally, the acupuncturist will also choose constitutional points to work on the root causes of the problem, i.e. what sort of imbalances are present that made the body weaker and therefore more prone to back pain.
This is an important point of an acupuncture treatment. As a holistic therapy, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine always seek to treat the whole person and not just the symptoms. By concentrating both on the symptoms (reducing pain) and on the root cause of the problem (the energetic imbalances in the body), acupuncture can achieve long lasting relief and avoid a pattern of recurring back pain.
What's Your Secret?
What's Your Secret?
Several years back, everyone was buzzing about a certain book that had just come out, called "The Secret." Curious as always, I went out to buy it. At the end of the first chapter, I wasn't very impressed. It wasn't that well written, and none of the ideas expressed were anything new. I already knew that what you put out into the universe, you would receive back-didn't everyone know that? I knew that if you wanted something badly enough, you could make it happen. Why was everyone talking about all these simplistic ideas as if they had never been considered before?
It didn't take me long to finish the book, and my opinion of it did change somewhat. Rather than viewing it as an innovative work, though, I saw it as a feelgood story designed to cheerlead the disenchanted into revving up their passion for achieving their goals.
It wasn't until a few years later that I began to view those theories in a new light. I was driving to Boston with my sister to look at an apartment. When I got there, I found the new place to be large, conveniently located, and very well-priced. In essence, it was everything I could have hoped for. On the ride back, my sister made a comment about my ability to manifest what I wanted.
"Anyone can do that," I responded.
"Not like you. Everything always works out for you," she answered... a bit snippily, I might add.
"That's because I'm really passionate about getting what I want, and I don't stop until I make it happen," I replied.
But then I started to really think about it. Am I passionate? Absolutely. Am I lazy? Hell, yes! If I love what I'm doing, I will devote every ounce of myself into the job at hand. If I don't care? Eh, not so much. I'm the queen of procrastination and half-assery when it comes to working on things I'm not fond of. This is why most of my dinners come from a can.
So, what is it that makes a good manifestor? As I pondered the question, I realized that the key to it all is a lack of doubt. Once I set my mind to something, I never question for a second that it will happen. If I walk into a job interview, there is not a doubt in my mind that I am already hired. I always talk about things I want to happen as if they have already taken place... because in my mind, they already have.
Of course, if it was as easy as I am making it sound, we would all be millionaires with perfect spouses and abs. Visualization is hard. There are some people who can't seem to do it at all. (Over the years I have met lots of people who have told me they've never had a daydream. I find this really hard to believe, but why would they lie?) Even for those who are really good at visualizing what they want, though, it is still difficult to let go of experiencing reality as it is, rather than what it could be. We are trained to live in the here and now, and living in a world of your own creation is seen as...well, insane.
This weekend, go forth and practice manifesting something simple, just to get started. Just manifest silently, or the doubt of those around you will taint everything. Start small, and think of one thing that would make you happy... then visualize the crap out of it. Train yourself to ditch the doubt, and you will soon be creating all kinds of wonderful things for yourself!
Visit our website at http://www.healingpointtherapeutics.com to educate yourself about acupuncture. Find out how you can benefit from Chinese medicine, discover the theory behind it, and keep checking back to learn about our latest specials and events. At Healing Point Therapeutics, our goal is to be the catalyst for positive forward change in your life, so take the first step and call today!
The Evils of Stagnation
The Evils of Stagnation
When I was still an acupuncture student, one of my instructors used to refer to stagnation as "the root of all evil". Now that I have been in practice a while, I have a true appreciation for this statement.
At its core, the term "stagnation" refers to things that are just not moving. Picture a lovely river, running smoothly through a bucolic countryside. Now picture that same river, only with something blocking its path. That fresh, clean water is now sitting there, turning into sludge, collecting all the garbage that is no longer carried away by the flow. At the point of blockage, the water is surging up, building up pressure as it attempts to break through this barrier, but to no avail-as much as it is pushing against whatever is holding it back, it can't go anywhere. Without any forward momentum, the water begins to get filthier and filthier, gradually becoming a stinking cesspool of mold and insects.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, this is what happens inside your body when things get stagnant.
Not literally, of course... but the results of stagnation in your body can be very, very unpleasant. First of all, stagnation often leads to pain. Think back to what I said before about those meridians of energy running throughout your entire body, like rivers. Now, imagine what would happen if one of those rivers got dammed up. There would be a buildup on one side of the river, as it pushed against that barrier. This pressure usually manifests as pain. Stagnation doesn't always lead to pain, but most pain is a result of stagnation. Swelling, inflammation, and stiffness all stem from an interrupted flow of blood or qi. Move the blockage, and the pain will resolve.
There can be stagnation anywhere in the body, and the results differ according to which organ system or meridian is affected. Stagnation in the head can result in headaches, obsession, or rumination. Stagnation of the digestive organs can lead to pain, indigestion, slow metabolism, or constipation. From an emotional standpoint, we often see stagnation resulting in irritability, depression, and moodiness (PMS, anyone?)
Stagnation of the mind really is evil, because it tends to be self-perpetuating. People refer to this type of stagnation in all types of ways: being in a funk, getting stuck in a rut, not being able to get out of your own way. The unfortunate thing is, the best cure for this condition is movement...but the stagnation makes it so... damn... hard. Moving the body will move the blood and qi, which will help to dispel this stagnation. But once that mental stagnation has set in, it is sooo difficult to get moving. Soon you are stuck in a vicious cycle: you don't want to move because nothing inside of you is moving, but the longer you sit there watching Maury and indenting the couch, the more "stuck" the qi of your body and mind gets.
You know how stiff and uncomfortable you feel after sitting through a marathon of reality shows? That is because the flow of blood and qi through your meridians has been impeded by your lack of movement. Now that things are not flowing merrily along, as they should, you experience the lack of movement within as a lack of desire to do anything other than sit there. And the longer you sit, the worse it gets.
So get up and get moving...and if you can't, then do the next best thing and call my office!
Visit our website at http://www.healingpointtherapeutics.com to educate yourself about acupuncture. Find out how you can benefit from Chinese medicine, discover the theory behind it, and keep checking back to learn about our latest specials and events. At Healing Point Therapeutics, our goal is to be the catalyst for positive forward change in your life, so take the first step and call today!