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Infertility? — Acupuncture Can Help!

August 10, 2014 by Miami Acupuncture Blogger

Fertility Goddess Statuette Acupuncture is a one-of-a-kind medical procedure that has a very long and illustrious track record of treating a wide range of diseases and illnesses. It has shown to be safe and effective when it is performed by a qualified and well-trained acupuncturist. Lately, it has shown to be a great complementary form of treatment for fertility problems for both women and men.

In terms of the reason for acupuncture’s effectiveness, there are two differing explanations of why it is so. Ancient Chinese practitioners believed that acupuncture’s effectiveness lie in traditional Chinese medicine’s view that the flow of energy (known as chi or q) in the body has got something to do with it. Western medicine, on the other hand, explains that acupuncture stimulates certain neurotransmitters in the body that helps boost circulation to the body organs including the reproductive organs. The improvement of blood flow to the reproductive organs is a major reason for the improvement in fertility.

Individuals who have fertility issues or those who merely want to facilitate conception, can find fertility acupuncture therapies very helpful. A lot of infertile couples choose in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures in order to attain pregnancy. Acupuncture as an alternative to IVF is not usually considered, although acupuncture for fertility studies done in the United States and Germany show that IVF therapy outcomes have been considerably boosted when used combined with acupuncture.

Treating infertility with acupuncture is highly desirable for a lot of women who do not want to use any kind of chemical or drug; furthermore, acupuncture therapies used as a complement to other modalities decrease the likelihood of side effects. Pregnant women should not take a large amount of drugs and chemicals; with fertility treatments using acupuncture, the amount of drugs used is considerably reduced.

If a woman wants to get pregnant, the last thing she wants to experience is a health condition that will impact her fertility. Acupuncture treatment has limited risks that can include the improper administration of the treatment, so it’s important to see a licensed Miami acupuncturist when seeking acupuncture treatment for any kind of condition.

These days, you will find a lot of doctors who have licenses to practice a type of acupuncture called medical acupuncture. But these medical doctors have minimal training in acupuncture, as little as 300 hours or less. However, licensed acupuncturists have more than 2,000 hours of acupuncture training from a 3 to 4 year Master’s level, nationally accredited acupuncture school. Not only that, but medial acupuncturist are not required to complete any continuing education, as opposed to licensed acupuncturists who are required to complete ongoing continuing education to maintain national certification. Make sure your acupuncturist is properly trained in the right procedures and processes to perform the treatment properly. Look for a licensed acupuncturist.

As I mentioned a while ago, acupuncture treatment for infertility can work not only for women but for men, as well. So if you and your partner are trying to have a baby, it is highly recommended you visit your doctor and ask him if he or she knows a licensed acupuncturist in Miami who is experienced in acupuncture treatment for infertility. You can receive this treatment regardless if you’re taking other therapies or not since your physician will advise you as to the best course of action to take.

Photo credit: Ben Babcock

Why is Acupuncture So Effective in Treating Severe Anxiety?

August 3, 2014 by Miami Acupuncture Blogger

Anxiety – What Is It?

Anxiety is a type of emotion in which one feels Treating Anxiety with Acupuncture in Miami FL overwhelmed, worried or uneasy. Presently, anxiety has different names in western medicine although all of them share certain common attributes.

The Symptoms and Signs of Anxiety

Over worrying/over-thinking
Sweating
Feeling overwhelmed
Tightening of the chest
Feeling difficulty in breathing properly
Palpitations

What is the Western Mode of Treatment for Anxiety?

To help deal with anxiety, Western medicine uses anti-anxiety drugs to inhibit the emotion signals going to the brain.

The problem with this is that the root cause of the anxiety is not being addressed, just the symptoms. This usually implies that the problem will come back once you cease taking the drug.

Treating Anxiety with Pain-Free Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the most effective, pain-free, and safest forms of treatment for both the symptoms and underlying cause of anxiety. Acupuncturists usually target 3 main organ systems when it comes to treating anxiety. These are the kidneys, spleen and liver.

Kidney Deficiency

The kidneys, according to Chinese medicine are associated with coolness and water in our body. The coolness keeps the heat from rising and causes the mind to relax. Weak kidneys can mean that the coolness is not sufficient enough making the heat rise. When heat goes to the top of our body, it affects the mind and heart resulting in anxiety.

Moreover, kidneys are associated with the feelings of fear which means that when fear rises in us, the kidneys become weak which can result in anxiety.

Spleen Deficiency

A weak or deficient spleen leads to a lesser ability of breaking down the foods that we eat. If the body has a hard time breaking down or digesting foods, it does not produce new quality blood. If there is not enough quality blood in our body, the heart becomes tired and weak which affects the entire body. Consequently, a tired and worn out body makes us more susceptible to feelings of anxiety.

Liver Imbalance

Our cells receive information, nutrients and energy through the liver. This organ is the first to be affected by high/low emotions and stress as well as drug abuse and alcohol. The liver tenses up when we feel stressed out. When it tenses, the flow of information, nutrients and energy start to stagnate.

The organs and cells are not getting the proper amount of nutrients information to operate efficiently which causes our body to become imbalanced. An imbalanced body can make it susceptible to feelings of anxiety.

A person with liver imbalance usually feels all emotionally wound up causing him/her to be easily frustrated and irritated; moreover, the person often tends to suppress it. The bottling up of their emotions causes stagnation and heat resulting in anxiety.

With acupuncture, the heat and stagnation can be resolved and the health of the person starts to improve since the hormones, energy and nutrients are now flowing much better in the body.

Anxiety Acupressure Points

You can apply pressure yourself on certain acupuncture points to address the feelings of anxiety. You should know though that acupressure in no way is an equally effective alternative to professional acupuncture diagnosis and treatment of anxiety that are always different for each person.

Acupressure can be actually an ideal adjunct to acupuncture therapy because it enables you to maintain the benefits derived from acupuncture in between acupuncture sessions. It is a procedure you can perform on yourself and is an excellent adjunct to acupuncture treatments.

Using your finger, apply pressure to the following points for two to three minutes each day or whenever you feel anxious:

Sanyinjiao (sp 6)

Function: to calm the mind, fortify blood and coolness and strengthen stomach/ spleen.

Neiguan (Pc 6)

Function: to calm the mind, clear the head, and clear pain and stagnation.

Acupuncture Helps Address PTSD

July 28, 2014 by Miami Acupuncture Blogger

A mask, painted by a Marine who attends art therapy to relieve post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, is displayed at an art expo May 3. The expo provided a way to raise awareness about PTSD and the benefits of art therapy. During therapy sessions, participants use a variety of art supplies, including paints, clay, markers, charcoal and images for collages, to express their thoughts, feelings and memories.

These current times have seen an increasing awareness in the mental health problem known as post-traumatic stress disorder or more commonly known as PTSD. The wars that the United States have created and have been involved in have greatly contributed to the rise of this condition in US soldiers although people who have long endured physical or sexual abuse and violence have also been afflicted with this condition. PTSD is more likely to occur in people who have undergone life-threatening and traumatic experiences. The event usually arises when the sufferer relives the feeling and pain related to the memories. PTSD sufferers likewise demonstrate symptoms of irritability, depression, hyper-arousal and a sense of constant danger among others. Psychotherapies and drugs are the conventional modes of treatment for PTSD; alternative therapies have, however, been shown to greatly also help treat the symptoms of PTSD.

One growing option for treating PTSD is acupuncture, a type of treatment that has been used to treat dozens of various conditions. This treatment involves the insertion of very thin needles into certain points in the body known as acupuncture points to help resolve different kinds of emotional and physical problems. A pilot clinical study performed by a number of researchers lasting three months tested either group cognitive-behavioral therapy or acupuncture as modes of intervention for people with PTSD symptoms. People of another group who served as the control group were placed on a waitlist to undergo treatment. Both group cognitive-behavioral therapies and acupuncture where shown to be very effective in treating PTSD compared to the absence of intervention, according to the researchers. They recommended for more studies to be done regarding this outcome although they agreed that acupuncture can indeed be an effective treatment for PTSD symptoms.

Yoga and general massage therapy are also becoming popular alternatives for PTSD, based on a Massage Today article. A psychologist did a study in 2008 that integrated these two therapies as well as others as main treatments for PTSD-diagnosed soldiers at the Restoration and Resilience Center in Fort Bliss. After the treatment, the patients were able and eager to go back to service. Other introspective and unique therapies such as Qigong utilize intense focus, breathing techniques and physical postures that brought positive results on soldiers. The Center was able to lessen the number of drugs taken by the soldiers, thanks to these integrated alternative therapies. They helped the soldiers become relaxed and also helped them to function normally in their present lives.

The conventional mode of treatment for PTSD since the 1900s was medication as well as forms of group and individual therapy. It is very good news to know that alternative forms of treatment like yoga therapy, massage therapy, and acupuncture have proven as equally, if not more than, effective in the treatment of PTSD. Moreover, the likelihood for medical malpractice is considerably less for patients who have opted for alternative modes of treatment.

Photo credit: (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andrew Johnston)

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