Acupuncture - An Alternative Treatment to a Migraine

A migraine is defined as a chronic and severe headache that usually lasts for hours or even days. Pulsating and throbbing pain is also felt on the head but only in one area at a time. People who have migraine are sensitive to sound and light. They also experience vomiting and nausea.

Today, prescription drugs, herbal supplements, and even alternative medicines are used to treat a migraine. Acupuncture is an alternative method to treat this condition.

Acupuncture has been used by the Chinese as a traditional form of medical treatment. Specific focal points of the body are stimulated using different techniques. When we hear about acupuncture, we usually visualize needles being inserted into different focal points of the body -- on the palm of the hand or on the forehead. This is the most popular technique used in acupuncture. These strategic points are placed along specific meridians of the body where there is flowing energy. Acupuncture balances the body's energy flow; thus, alleviating pain.

The acupuncturist will conduct an initial evaluation of your medical history and assess your health concern. He needs to know the exact points of your body that are affected by the pain. These points can be in the eye area or in the head. You also need to explain exactly what kind of pain it is that you are feeling. Is it a pulsating pain, a dull pain, a shooting pain, or a throbbing pain? When the source and kind of pain are determined, he can locate strategic areas where the energy cannot flow. The blockage of energy causes the headache.

Using this technique, acupuncture can relieve the pain from migraines. Although most acupuncturists apply various methods to cure and prevent migraines, these methods are not as effective as the treatments and medications given in the hospital to relieve pain. The success of acupuncture in the prevention and treatment of migraine attacks is still under debate.

Nonetheless, some still claim that acupuncture is really an effective treatment for migraine. The treatment of migraines using acupuncture is increasing in popularity because it has less or no side effects compared to regular medication. Be sure to consult only a licensed and qualified acupuncturist.

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Acupuncture Can Stop Painful Carpal Tunnel

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is named after the tube or tunnel that passes through the carpal bones (hence the name "carpal") in the heel of the hand. The prime pain spot is located in the area where the hand meets the wrist. If the size of the tunnel is reduced, pressure is put on the median nerve, producing the characteristic numbness and pain of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Let's take a look. Turn your palm toward you, tilt your palm toward your face, make a fist, and squeeze. Do you see the tendons that pop up and run like side-by-side railroad tracks from your wrist to your hand? The median nerve is underneath these tendons. When it's pinched, you hurt.

Carpal tunnel syndrome has become famous as a work-related, repetitive strain injury but more than half of all patients cannot trace their condition to a particular activity.

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome often crop up after you start a new job or a new hobby that forces you to use your wrist and fingers in a repetitive motion. Women are particularly susceptible to developing the condition, especially if they're pregnant or between the ages of 40 and 70. The pain can affect one or both arms and can involve pain in the forearm, wrist, and/or palm. Some patients with carpal tunnel feel a sharp pain when they make the repetitive movement; others experience a constant numbness or tingling in the thumb, index, middle, and half of the ring finger. The symptoms often worsen at night, and can get so bad that the patient has to wake up in order to shake his or her hands to relieve the numbness. If you're affected by carpal tunnel syndrome, you may also have difficulty with fine motor skills, such as writing or crocheting, and you may find yourself dropping things from the affected hand.

In traditional oriental medical terms, the

symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome reflect cold (a patient often feels more pain with cold), damp (forearm and hand may feel heavy and achy), and wind (characterizes the tingling or shooting nerve pain) that block the otherwise smooth flow of blood and qi in our arms.

Acupuncture treatments include stimulation of acu-points near the wrist by an in-and-out technique with the needle. You may feel a mild electrical sensation, which is desired because it will help release the tendons and decrease pain and numbness. Acupuncture needles electroacupuncture, electromagnetic acupuncture, moxibustion, magnet therapy, and even laser acupuncture are used in successfully treating carpal tunnel syndrome.

In addition to receiving treatment from your acu-pro, you should avoid activities that might aggravate your wrists, such as prolonged writing with a pen, working at a computer, performing assembly line work, or even working as a trapeze artist! If you sleep with your wrists curled up under your chin or pillow, your acu-pro may suggest a nighttime splint to keep you from further damaging your wrists while you sleep.

David Sollars, M.Ac., Lic.Ac., H.M.C., Clinic Founder/Medical Director, http://www.firsthealthofandover.com has combined his experiences from over two decades of practicing patient care during the continuing evolution of integrative medicine to offer a unique range of consulting.

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Acupuncture - Know the Basic Facts

If you have heard about the healing properties of acupuncture, you are probably curious how this practice can help you. Before you consider using this treatment, you should find out the basic facts about it. Additionally, you need to know who should avoid getting this kind of service since some people are not good candidates for it.

This practice involves inserting small needles into your skin on certain areas of your body. The idea behind it is that doing so can stimulate certain muscles and nerves, and get the blood flowing properly. It may even increase the chances of your body releasing a natural painkiller, so some people opt for acupuncture to get rid of chronic pain. Some of the main types of issues that it is good for helping include back pain, headaches, nausea, cramps, tooth pain, and sports injuries.

Though this practice can certainly help many people, there are a few risks involved, as well. You may experience some bleeding after the needle is introduced to the skin. If it does not bleed, you might still notice some soreness and even bruising. It is important that you choose an acupuncturist that is experienced and responsible since there is a possibility that used needles could introduce diseases like hepatitis to your body.

Some people will not only not benefit from acupuncture, but also could be putting themselves at risk when they get this kind of treatment. For example, if you are pregnant, you should know that needles could induce labor at any time, so you should avoid this procedure at this time. If you have a bleeding disorder or are on blood thinners, you have a particularly high chance of bleeding due to the needles, or ending up with bruises. Therefore, you should talk to your doctor before you consider acupuncture as a way to treat other medical conditions.

This kind of treatment can be a great idea for otherwise healthy people who have a medical issue that has not been solved through other means. As long as your doctor says it is okay, you can at least try this kind of therapy out since it works well for some people. However, you should be aware that it is not guaranteed to solve your problem, and may even be considered dangerous depending on any health issues you have. If you are generally healthy and have found a good acupuncturist, feel free to give acupuncture a chance to heal your medical condition.

If you have struggled with joint pain or an injury to the musculoskeletal system, it may be time to turn to the services of an acupuncture, Washington, DC. For more information, visit http://www.angieslist.com.

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Female Infertility - Acupuncture Treatments Offer Options for Hope

as a practitioner for the past twenty years, one of the most rewarding experiences I have encountered is to be part of a team of healthcare providers who successfully assist a couple with having a baby. Recently acupuncture has been featured in many newspaper articles and television programs for its therapeutic ability to increase the chances for pregnancy during in vitro fertilization or IVF. An article published by W. Paulus, M. Zhang, I. El-Danasouri, E. Strehler and K. Sterzik entitled Influence of Acupuncture on the Pregnancy Rate in Patients Who Undergo Assisted Reproduction Therapy, appeared in the April 2002 issue of Fertility and Sterility (Fertility and Sterility, Vol.77, No.4, Apr.2002). The authors concluded that "acupuncture seems to be a useful tool for improving pregnancy rate after assisted reproductive techniques," They went on to say "The analysis shows that the pregnancy rate for the acupuncture group is considerably higher than for the control group (42.5% versus 26.3%)."

While more research on this clearly needs to be done, it is worth noting that there have been studies to support our own empirical clinical experience that shows acupuncture therapy as being effective for a wide range of gynecological issues that may contribute to infertility and most certainly affect a woman's quality of life. It is recommended to begin acupuncture well in advance of reproductive procedures to have the time to treat these persistent issues. Conditions that we commonly treat along with infertility issues include stress reduction, ovulatory dysfunction, early, delayed or irregular menstruation, amenorrhea (absence of menstruation), endometriosis, dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, menorrhagia (heavy uterine bleeding during menstruation), metorrhagia (uterine bleeding between menstrual periods), chronic bladder infections and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Acupuncture has also demonstrated an ability to improve the sperm parameters in of males as sited by Shealy et al., 1990; Gerhard et al., 1992; Siteman et al., 1997). Studies have found that acupuncture twice per week has improved the percentage of sperm viability, total number of motile sperm and total functional sperm fraction. Since sperm maturation averages 70-90 days, most acupuncture protocols recommend receiving treatments several months prior to beginning the IVF procedure.

We have worked in conjunction with many fertility clinics and would be more than happy to participate in a team approach to your health. To begin your first consultation, please contact our office. We look forward to helping you open a new avenue of possibilities.

David Sollars, M.Ac., Lic.Ac., H.M.C., Clinic Founder/Medical Director, http://www.firsthealthofandover.com has combined his experiences from over two decades of practicing patient care during the continuing evolution of integrative medicine to offer a unique range of consulting.

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Acupuncture Pain Management

Acupuncture is an alternative type of medication which utilizes strategically inserted fine needles into specific areas of the body to promote healing. The treatment method originated in China more than 3000 years ago. Research on acupuncture has revealed it releases endorphins and dynorphins. It also affects pain perception and also pain generating messengers in the body. It is believed that acupuncture has a direct affect upon the nervous system functions. Benefits of acupuncture pain management electronic treatment will be covered below.

World Health Organization Endorsement

Acupuncture has slowly made its way into the western world. Endorsement by the World Health Organization as a treatment modality for 40 different medical problems including chronic pain has given credibility to acupuncture.

Types of pain acupuncture pain management supported by research

· Migraine headaches
· Tension headaches
· Chronic neck pain
· Low back pain
· Peripheral joint soft tissue injury
· Musculoskeletal pain
· Peripheral nerve neuralgia
· Pelvic Pain
· Fibromyalgia
· Post surgical pain

What are the risks?

Acupuncture performed by a skilled practitioner is tolerated well and in general is very safe. The following precautions should be practiced:

- Talk to your doctor about acupuncture treatments. They can probably help locate a good acupuncturist.
- Make sure the acupuncturist uses preferably disposable needles or at minimum sterilized needles.
- Verify the safety of any herbal supplements offered to you. It is best for you to purchase your own brand name supplements for safety reasons.
- Before taking any supplements talk with your doctor and pharmacist about interactions with other medications and other medical conditions you may have.
- Inform the acupuncturist of your medications and medical history.
- Select a certified and licensed acupuncturist. You can verify these at the following:

1.National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
2.American Academy of Medical Acupuncture.

Adverse events of a minor nature are common but more serious types of adverse events rarely occur. Some of the minor effects include needle pain, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, minimal bleeding, and bruising. Fainting feeling and pneumothorax were extremely rarely associated with acupuncture pain management.

Acupuncture Considerations

Acupuncture Pain Management is considered a safe medical treatment. A lot of doctors give acupuncture credit for being a beneficial treatment along with other types of treatment for pain. Acupuncture can be used in combination with suction cup therapy.

Frequency of treatments

Repeated treatments are needed for continued pain relief. The typical treatment program usually will consist of three to ten 1 hour sessions.

Cost and insurance coverage

Cost per session ranges from $45 to $100. Acupuncture pain management is not typically covered by insurance but you should check with your insurance plan for your specific situation.

Contraindications for Acupuncture treatment

Some of the contraindications include pacemaker, seizures, bleeding disorders, use of blood thinners, infectious disorders or disease of the skin, and intoxication by drug or alcohol. Caution should be used in pregnancy and some areas should be avoided to prevent stimulation of delivery too early.

Acupuncture pain management has previously been surrounded with skepticism but it has been growing in popularity as an alternative mode of treatment.

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A Discussion on Acupuncture Aided In-Vitro Procedure

A very modern scientific advancement has been merged with an old-fashioned kind of Chinese medicine at a Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Center somewhere in the United States. Merging In-Vitro Fertilization with acupuncture appears to pay off for couples desiring to give birth to a baby, says a reproductive endocrinologist and medical director of the center. The said medical director and a proprietor of a known acupuncture center conducted a review concerning 203 of his patients who underwent IVF; 105 had IVF only and 98 also had a specific series of acupuncture therapies. The acupuncture group's pregnancy percentage was 24 percent greater.

The medical director exhibited his research before the World Congress on Human Reproduction somewhere in Europe. Previous researches, including exploration in Germany and China, also have aimed to the benefits of adding acupuncture to assisted-reproduction skills. In spite of being deathly afraid of needles, Lou Ann David (not her real name) is amongst the medical director's In-Vitro patients who underwent acupuncture. "I do trust it had an impact," she says. As proof, she directs to her twins, a lass and a lad, who just had their first birthday celebration. In-Vitro Fertilization includes harvesting eggs from a woman's ovaries and fertilizing them in a laboratory dish with a guy's sperm. The resulting embryo is subsequently transferred to the uterus. According to the procedure followed by the medical director and the acupuncture center proprietor, acupuncture meetings were two times a week for four weeks before retrieval of the eggs, and subsequently immediately before and after the embryo transfer. Electro-stimulation acupuncture, involving a gentle electrical flow, was used. Women usually discover the sessions calming, the acupuncture center proprietor reveals.

In addendum to an improved pregnancy percentage in the acupuncture group, the scale of ectopic pregnancies was practically non-existent -- 1.5 percent vs. 4.7 percent. In-Vitro Fertilization is associated with a greater possibility of ectopic pregnancies, in which the fertilized egg fastens somewhere other than inside the uterus. Acupuncture includes the placing of hair-thin needles at particular positions to correct the flow of qi, or life energy. How it may help procreation isn't clear, however it has been shown to increase blood flow into the uterus. It too can help by reducing nervous tension.

The medical director would like added exploration with additional patients and is persuading bigger centers to perform studies. His neutrality, he states, may possibly be compromised. Previously doubtful of acupuncture, he's turned into a believer. He opted to experience acupuncture for himself when the acupuncture center proprietor spoke to him. "I thought I wouldn't propose anything without trying it. That first time, I went in and there are fountains and tinkling noises and the ambiance melody, and I'm like, 'Oh, what am I doing here?'" However he found it comforting and now goes to the acupuncture center regularly for acupuncture. To his amazement, it even provided him relief from a repetitive- motion disorder in his hand.

Lawrence Ocampo, submitting for thecenternhs.com, Raleigh's leading acupuncture clinic. Visit their website to get information about acupuncture Raleigh and acupuncturists Raleigh.

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