Acupuncture | Illinois Acupuncture

Can Acupuncture Benefit Patients with Cancer?

Acupuncture has been practiced in China and other nations for thousands of years and has been used in the United States for around 200 years. The FDA approved the acupuncture needle as a medical device in 1996; acupuncture has been typically used to manage a variety of illnesses and ailments like headaches, back pain and high blood pressure. However, cancer patients and their health care providers are now incorporating acupuncture into their management of this disease.

In people with cancer, acupuncture can be used to manage pain and to treat nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy. The acupuncture sessions generally are not used alone but in conjunction with other conventional therapies to manage these symptoms. The FDA has also approved this therapy in the treatment of cancer-related conditions. People need to be aware that acupuncture is not used to treat the cancer itself but only the symptoms associated with the cancer and its treatment.

Several prominent cancer centers in the country offer acupuncture such as the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. The Cancer Treatment Centers of America also offer acupuncture and many community cancer centers are finding ways to incorporate acupuncture into their cancer therapy regimens.

A cancer patient should not start acupuncture without speaking with the physicians in charge of their cancer treatment. It is also important to involve acupuncturists who have been trained or have experience in treating cancer patients because the acupoints for symptoms associated with cancer may be different than those associated with other conditions. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center offers a class on the Internet for certification in cancer care for practitioners who are interested in specializing.

Filed Under: Acupuncture, Natural Medicine Tagged With: Acupuncture, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

The AcuBido Treatment

Within the Chinese culture, acupuncture has been used to treat a wide range of sexual health issues for centuries. Emperors, for example, took their sexual health very seriously and would continually consult with physicians in case any difficulties in the bedroom should arise.

If you feel like your libido has been unnaturally low, or are having difficulties with other aspects of your sexual health, acupuncture may be the right thing for you. Having the ability to increase male and female libido quickly, as opposed to many medications that increase in potency only over time, it has been a remarkable remedy for many people.

One of the other benefits that acupuncture has over traditional western medicine is that it works synergistically with itself to aid in curing a wide range of the same ailments. You can make an appointment to increase your libido and find that it has also helped you with other related problems, such as impotency, infertility, low sperm count, menopause, dryness or premature ejaculation.

In addition, there are virtually no side effects to treatment by acupuncture. Many medications, especially hormonal ones, only work with a certain chemical makeup, and you can never be certain of what side effects will occur. There have even been cases where a medical libido enhancer was taken and been a factor in facilitating cancer. Not to mention other side effects, which can include, but are not limited to restlessness, nausea, over excitability, seizures, fainting, and an increase in blood pressure.

Acupuncture, which has been a great method of avoiding these adverse side effects, has been proven over many hundreds of years. Most cities have acupuncture centers nearby and are always discreet in providing service that are of a sensitive sexual nature. Another benefit is the cost. Compare it to expensive doctor’s visits, medications and follow-up appointments, and as you weigh the other benefits with it, you will see why acupuncture may be the best choice for you.

Filed Under: Acupuncture, Alternative Treatment, Health Tagged With: Acupuncture, Health, Medicine

Acupuncture and Fertility

Infertility is a major concern for around 5 million women in the U.S., and science is constantly trying to find ways around it. There are many factors that contribute to this malady, the most popular being ovulation disorder, and hundreds of chemical factors play a part in balancing the hormonal structure of the body in order to conceive.

We live in a busy world. Today, American women are constantly on the go, whether they be a stay-at-home wife, a business tycoon or a Fashionista. High stress levels, combined with lack of nutrition, over consumption of caffeine, alcohol and sugar, create a chemically unbalanced body that is exactly the wrong kind of environment needed to conceive. Although these issues may or may not be a contributing factor in becoming pregnant, it is certainly advisable to take the healthiest approach to becoming pregnant as possible. Take some time out of your day to relax, eat a healthy snack, or do some calming yoga stretches. A small amount of action on your part can go a long way in readying your body for the changes you so wish for.

Acupuncture has become increasingly popular among women who are attempting conception. It is a low-risk procedure that has an astonishing success rate of 60% in women. This is amazing when one also considers the fact that most women do not choose to try acupuncture until late in their infertility.

When being treated for infertility with Acupuncture, you will not need to worry about interfering with a busy schedule. Treatments are usually conducted once per month, depending on the practitioner and depth of the problem. Sessions range from 30-50 minutes, hardly taking any time from your day, and with the going popularity and success rate of the treatment, is becoming one of the most popular conception methods sought out by women today.

Filed Under: Acupuncture, Alternative Treatment, Health Tagged With: Acupuncture, Fashionista, Fertilisation, Health, Infertility, Ovulation

Asprin VS Acupuncture

We live in a fast paced, high stress world. People bustle around, from here to there, trying to make it to one appointment after the other.
One of the disadvantages of living in such a rushed society is injury and sickness. When the body is low on rest and nutrition, it becomes a breeding ground for viruses and bacteria. Also, when muscles are so overexerted that they cannot rebuild themselves, also from lack of proper rest and nutrition, we develop what is called a trigger point, where the muscles bunch together in a tight and painful knot. These trigger points are usually located in the neck and back muscles, although they are not limited to one area.

The most common method for treating back and muscle pain by Medical Practitioners and Doctors is to prescribe an anti-inflammatory pain medication, such as Ibuprofen. While an anti-inflammatory drug may provide comfort over time, it is missing the most fundamental element in relieving the pain. Medications, unfortunately, do not treat pain. They smother it, mask it, or cover it, leaving the body still crippled and in danger of further injury since it’s pain messages are no longer being received. In addition, pain medications come with a wide range of side effects, which include dependency, kidney stones, restlessness, fatigue, and stomach pain.

In almost all cases where pain is being treated by medicine, Acupuncture can be substituted with astonishing, low-risk results. Practitioners insert hair-thin needles directly into the trigger points and send vibrating messages to the muscles from the tiny spring that comprises the top half of the needle. This aids in releasing blocked energy and increasing blood flow to the damaged tissue, helping it to relax and restore itself. The result is a pain free back or neck with little cost, and without the need for expensive physical therapy or medication.

Filed Under: Acupuncture, Alternative Treatment, Health Tagged With: Acupuncture, Health, Muscle, Pain, Physical therapy, Trigger point

Acupuncture for Chemotherapy

Acupuncture has been used for centuries to alleviate a wide range of ailments. Anything is treated, from circulatory disorders to gastrointestinal problems, gynecological problems, immune disorders, addictions, emotional and psychological disorders, musculoskeletal and neurological disorders, weight control, and treatments of the common cold. It has been used by Chinese Physicians for centuries and is increasingly becoming more popular in the U.S. as people turn to more holistic means to find relief from their illnesses without the burden of side effects that many drugs produce.

Other patients are also turning to acupuncture for relief. Many patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy for cancer treatment have found that it gives them relief from the side effects. In a recent study, 7 out of 8 patients were completely relieved from their nausea and vomiting through the use of acupuncture, prior to the chemotherapy session. In cases where the chemotherapy lasted 5 days, acupuncture was used again on the 3rd day to help relieve symptoms. Relief lasted anywhere from 1 to 48 hours.

Physicians believe this is an effective treatment for relief of symptoms because the method of administration helps to release 5-HT in the brain. Serotonin or 5-Hydroxytryptamine has many functions within the body, aiding in digestion, activating responses of hunger or anger, to name a few. Using Acupuncture helps to release serotonin so that it can essentially send the correct signals throughout the body to cease nausea and vomiting.

The benefit of using this type of therapy is that it would require fewer hospitalizations for cases of extreme nausea and vomiting after a chemotherapy session, thereby improving the quality of life of the patient. It also aids in improving human tolerance to chemotherapy which improves clinical experiences or both the patient and the physician. It is not a cure for cancer, but definitely a positive step in trying to find ways to alleviate the side effects associated with the disease.

Filed Under: Acupuncture, Alternative Treatment, Health Tagged With: Acupuncture, Chemotherapy, Health, Patient

Acupuncture VS Acupressure

While searching for ways to improve your physical health, alleviate pain, or treat illnesses or disorders, you may come across the terms acupuncture and acupressure. While they sound very similar in name, and do have many similarities in practice, they are two very different methods of treatment and knowing the difference between the two can help you decide which is best suited to you.
Acupressure and Acupuncture both originate in China and have been used for many centuries. They are recently increasing in popularity in the U.S. as people turn to more holistic forms of cure without adverse side effects.

Acupressure is the use of pressure on certain meridians in your body to help balance the flow of Chi, or Qi. It is simple to learn by book, and has a fairly high success rate, though it is better used over time, making it similar to deep tissue massage. An Acupressure professional will use their fingers, elbows or hands to put pressure on certain spots to treat complaints, so usually you only get one or two pressure points treated at a time. An example of acupressure is when you apply pressure to the fleshy spot between your pointer finger and thumb you can quickly alleviate the pain from a tension or dehydration headache.

Acupuncture is the practice of using very fine, hair-thin needles on the same meridian points on the body. These needles are inserted usually by using a quick jab though a small plastic tube. Since they are so fine, there is usually no feeling of pain as it enters. The treatment of acupuncture usually has quicker and longer lasting results than acupressure, but it has to be administered by someone who has experience practicing TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). One of the benefits of acupuncture over acupressure is that the practitioner can treat many areas at once that usually work in tandem with each other to treat ailments.

Filed Under: Acupuncture, Alternative Treatment, Health Tagged With: Acupressure, Acupuncture, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Health, Massage, Pain, Traditional Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture for Arthritis

Today, arthritis is one of the most common health problems in the US. About 1 in 6 people are afflicted by this condition and are continually seeking ways to alleviate the pain associated with it. Arthritis affects the everyday life of everyone afflicted and limits their day to day activities such as walking, exercising, shopping, bathing and driving. This can be especially frustrating for very active people. Treatment for arthritis can include non-invasive things such as gentle exercise, rest and assistive devices.

People who suffer from arthritis are usually seeking effective forms of pain management. This can be difficult since many medications can be unpalatable, have nasty side effects, or can even be toxic. We constantly see commercials advertised on television for effective pain management pills for arthritis, such as aspirin, Excedrin, or ibuprofen, to name a few. However, even these mild over-the-counter medications can have serious repercussions if taken in excess. For example, ibuprofen has been proven to cause kidney stones when taken over long periods.

Acupuncture provided a wonderful relief from the pain of arthritis because it is virtually free of side effects and is very low risk. Although in most cases of acupuncture treatment where there is very little pain involved, treatment of arthritis can be slightly painful at first since the insertion of needles are usually placed in areas where arthritis is the worst. In addition to that, since arthritis is an unvarying condition, treatments should be conducted more often than would be considered normal for other types of pain management. Two to three times per week is usually sufficient in the beginning and it provides wonderful relief. However, this may seem a very small sacrifice when you consider that there are no side effects and that acupuncture can be much less expensive than doctors visits and medications.

Filed Under: Acupuncture, Alternative Treatment, Health Tagged With: Acupuncture, Arthritis, Conditions and Diseases, Health, Pain, Pain management

The Potential of Injury: Acupuncture

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There can be no doubt that acupuncture is a worthy process. Its ability to relieve pain and soothe all stresses is nothing less than remarkable – with countless individuals seeking to experience it every year, wishing to indulge in its many advantages. The value in its practices is earned from centuries, and it can often offer assistance to those whom traditional medicine has failed. This could never be argued (nor would any try).

Despite the wealth of rewards offered through acupuncture, however, there is still one great risk to be found: nerve damage. While the occurrence of this is rare (and should therefore not provide individuals with such a high concern that they refuse the process entirely), it is still possible – and that possibility demands that each patient be aware of the danger and its consequences.

Acupuncture – as all know – is the manipulation of the body’s nervous system through the strategic use of needles and puncture points. These points have been carefully chosen, meant to offer relief throughout the skin and organs. They are clusters of specific nerves and receptors, allowing for immediate comfort when they are contacted.

That contact, however, can prove devastating when done incorrectly. If a needle is inserted into any nerve, it can offer a puncturing effect. This can cause a variety of complications, such as: infection, painful tremors, disruption of blood flow, sensory loss and toxicity increases. These can all force hospitalization, the introduction of potent medications or even incurable paralysis. When the nerve is damaged, it may not be able to repair itself – and this is potentially overwhelming.

Acupuncture cannot be refused as a viable practice. Its purpose is to alleviate pain and it succeeds. There are chances, however, for a needle to cause much concerns for an individual and his health. Seeking out only expert care is therefore recommended, with great attention given to the levels of experience and certification.

Filed Under: Acupuncture, Alternative Treatment, Health Tagged With: Acupuncture, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Alternative, Health, Medicine, Pain, Practitioners, United States

Acupuncture: The Seven Inquiries

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It seems the most mortifying of questions – a body is examined, prodded with needles and concerns. The unspeakable functions (deemed impolite within society, meant to be shaped to secrets) are demanded. They must be offered honestly, without shame or silence. No blush is to force them into deceptions; they are instead to be without pause or hesitation. The cycles of blood and perspiration, dreams and fevers are all understood. And this was thought to be an impossibility. Acupuncture is not a traditional form of medicine, after all. There was no expectation of histories or current pains. And, without the seclusion of a doctor’s office, such pains seem too lewd to detail.

They are, however, necessary.

The all too frequent misconception with acupuncture is that it is not a true division of healing. It is instead too often deemed a simple stress relief. This is not true. It intends to assuage the worries found within an individual – and must ask essential questions to do so.

These questions are known as the Seven Inquiries. Simply explained, these are the most common concerns patients may have, reflecting changes within their bodies. These must be defined to offer a better understanding of meridians and the proper points to seek.

The Seven Inquiries wish to know elements of:

1. Current eating habits.
2. Bowel movements and the regularity of them.
3. Menstrual cycles.
4. Pain.
5. The amount of perspiration.
6. Sleep schedule.
7. Fevers or hot flashes.

By learning of these problems, an practitioner of acupuncture can then devise the best treatment for an individual. And this is vital in receiving the full value of this procedure. While the questions may embarrass, they will also offer insight into specific complications. Solving those complications requires knowing first where to look.

Acupuncture is a form of healing. Expect therefore the inquiries that a doctor would give – and answer accordingly.

Filed Under: Acupuncture, Alternative Treatment, Health Tagged With: Acupuncture, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Alternative, Alternative medicine, Health, Practitioners, Traditional Chinese Medicine, United States

The Occasional Risks: Acupuncture

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It’s an assumption of ease – needles are thought to be without worry, the simple incisions and their convenient effects. The practice of acupuncture does not alarm you. It is instead a simplicity you have come to expect, the techniques you desire. Tension can be released; stress can be replaced to comfort; and there are to be no concerns beyond the pleasure of losing pain.

But then you glance down and find a sudden arrival of bleeding, the beginnings of bruises along your body. You’re confused (and panicked) by them. You thought this practice was without risk. You thought there could be no possible complications.

You thought wrong.

Acupuncture – like any form of medical treatment – has a collection of possible concerns. The insertion of needles into the skin, however practiced, can still be dangerous. It is therefore necessary for patients to understand the possible risks involved with this procedure. They are often minor and should have no adverse effects; but they can be alarming when not addressed.

The most common problems associated with acupuncture are:

1. Bleeding. This is the most obvious of worries and yet often the most ignored. If a needle is inserted too quickly or goes too deep, then the opening can bleed. It should be a small cut, however, and can heal without issue.

2. Nausea. While often a psychological effect instead of a physical one, illness can still develop during an acupuncture session. It is especially typical within beginners as the sight of needles slipping into the skin can cause feelings of dizziness or fatigue.

3. Paresthesia. Often the body will react to the intrusion of needles by offering a trembling sensation. This can quickly frighten individuals, with them mistaking it to be a betrayal of nerves. It’s not. It is instead a simple reaction and should not panic.

Acupuncture is not without its complications. These are, however, often minor and shouldn’t dissuade any from this process.

Filed Under: Acupuncture, Alternative Treatment, Health Tagged With: Acupuncture, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Alternative, China, Complementary and Alternative, Health, Practitioners, Traditional Chinese Medicine