Are You Having Trouble Sleeping Due To Back Pain?

Posted by :admin On : October 11, 2011
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Category: Acupuncture and Its Theories, Pain Management

Have you ever had back pain in your life, most probably you would say, “yes.”

About 80 percent of the adults in the U.S. experience back pain at some point in their lives, and the back pain is one of the most common reason for missed work and  second most common reason to visit the doctor’s office.

And a lot of them go to Acupuncturists or chiropractors and I also treat many back pain patients in my office.

Today I am going to talk about every thing about “Back Pain” but since many patients ask me, “it hurt so much at night, I can sleep or have to turn alot.”

Here is the way you try on the bed to avoid that back pain provided by Mayo Clinic.

 

Sleeping on your side

Your usual sleep position — along with other factors, including your weight and your sex — can strain your back and contribute to development of back pain. Sleeping positions also affect existing back pain, either by letting you sleep comfortably or by making you wake up sore. Similarly, back pain is more likely to keep you awake when your sleeping position provides no relief.

The most common sleeping position is on your side, with your legs and hips aligned and flexed. Because this position leaves your upper leg unsupported, the top knee and thigh tend to slide forward and rest on the mattress, rotating the lower spine. This slight rotation may contribute to back or hip pain. To prevent that problem, place a pillow between your knees and thighs.

 

Lower-back pain disrupts many aspects of life. In our survey, 46 percent said that it interfered with their sleep, 31 percent reported that it thwarted their efforts to maintain a healthy weight, and 24 percent said that it hampered their sex life.

Sleeping on your back

If you sleep on your back, place a pillow under your knees to help maintain the normal curve of your lower back. You might try a small, rolled towel under the small of your back for additional support. Support your neck with a pillow.

This position may be helpful if you have low back pain.

Sleeping on your abdomen

Sleeping on your abdomen can be hard on your back. If you can’t sleep any other way, reduce the strain on your back by placing a pillow under your pelvis and lower abdomen. Use a pillow under your head if it doesn’t place too much strain on your back. If it does cause strain, try sleeping without a pillow under your head.

And if you explore mor about back pain, here is the link, Back Pain an Mayo Clinic.

Mental Disorder and Acupuncture

Posted by :admin On : September 15, 2011
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Category: Mind-Body Medicine

Mental and Emotional Wellness with Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine

how the ancient chinese see the human mind and its functionsAt some point in life everyone deals with major upheavals or emotional distress. These events can trigger a host of unexpected feelings and behaviors from depression and panic attacks to major disruptions in sleep and eating. Acupuncture and Eastern medicine can alleviate symptoms associated with mental health issues in treating the root cause of the problem by helping to rebalance the body’s internal environment.

Mental health disorders are medical conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning which result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. The good news about mental disorders is that recovery is often possible. Affecting persons of any age, race, religion, or income mental health disorders have been found to be common and experts estimate almost a third of the population report sufficient qualifying criteria at some point in their life. Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and borderline personality disorder.

From an Eastern medicine perspective mental health disorders can cause a disruption in the flow of vital energy, or qi, through the body. These energetic imbalances can throw off the immune system or cause symptoms of pain, sleep disturbances, abnormal digestion, headaches, and menstrual irregularities, and, over time, more serious illnesses can develop. Acupuncture treatments have be shown to correct these imbalances and directly affect the way your body manages your mental health.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Mental Disorders

Eastern Medicine does not recognize any mental disorder as one particular syndrome. Instead, it aims to treat the specific symptoms that are unique to each individual using a variety of techniques including acupuncture, lifestyle/dietary recommendations and exercises to restore imbalances found in the body. Therefore, if 100 patients are treated with acupuncture and herbal medicine for anxiety, each of these 100 people will receive a unique, customized treatment with different acupuncture points, and different lifestyle and diet recommendations. However there are also common patterns of disturbed or blocked energy meridian related to the mental disorder. The liver, heart and spleen are those I treat on to open and regulate the qi with ear acupuncture. Ear acupuncture is very popular and effective to treat substance abuse, alcoholism, depression and anxiety.

Here are just a few of acupuncture and herbal medicine can help with:

Depressive Disorders – Common symptoms of depressive disorders include: a decreased interest in most activities, insomnia, fatigue, and feeling empty and worthless. Even when depression is sub-clinical, the body’s immune system is compromised and the symptoms reduce functioning and impair work performance and social relationships. Acupuncture treatments can correct these imbalances, support the immune system, and directly affect the way your body manages stress and your mental health.

Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) – a condition of the brain that makes it difficult to concentrate or control impulsive behavior ADD/ADHD does not just occur during childhood. Acupuncture can help enhance concentration, reduce fidgeting, augment mood management techniques, reduce hyperactivity and enhance concentration.

Anxiety and Stress Disorders – Anxiety comes in a wide range of manifestations, from mild worrying to more physical responses such as nausea, insomnia, shortness of breath and panic attacks. Some anxiety is a healthy response to the stress of daily life and new situations; however, anxiety that occurs randomly or excessively is a sign to take notice. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help balance both the mental and physical symptoms of anxiety and help to create harmony and spaciousness.

Mental health issues are best managed when health professionals work together to meet the unique needs of each individual. Acupuncture is an excellent addition to any treatment plan as it is used to help the body restore balance, treating the root of the disorder, while also diminishing symptoms.

In my clinics, I have seen many people with chronic mental disorder feeling better and stronger, and some could stop the medication or decrease the dosage significantly.

If you or someone you know struggles with a mental health disorder or if you would like to know how to optimize your mental health, Acupuncture and East Asian medicine is worthwhile to try.

Water.Me.

Posted by :admin On : August 29, 2011
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Category: Longevity and Beautiful Aging, Nutrition & Diet

W.A.T.E.R. = H2O, Our Body’s Essence

I keep emphasizing the importance of water for our health, however we seem to always forget, so reminding again is good for us all.water and our body

WATER: a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. Its molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state, water vapor or steam. – wikipedia

Yes, this is WATER. It seems to have very simple structure, maybe too simple, but this water is essential for this planet’s survival and all its residents and covers 70.9% of the Earth’s surface.

And Approximately 66% of the human body consists of water, literally our cell is the sac of water, without water our body doesn’t function properly, if water supply stops in the human body, you know the effect is the death.

Then how much water we should take to feel good and fit? Between 1 and 7 liters of water per day including water intake through foods or beverages other than straight water, yes the exact amount depends on your level of activity, temperature, humidity, gender and other factors; and yet it’s not still clear how much water is needed by healthy people, though I recommend 6-7glass of water(approximately 2liters).

What does water do inside our body?

It helps transport nutrients from protein, carbohydrates and fats to bodily tissues via the bloodstream, and to help get rid of waste, regulate temperature and prevent disease.

Below are the symptoms you might be able to get when water intake is not enough and your body does not function properly.

Mild dehydration can lead to irritability, lack of focus and fatigue. more severe one can result in headaches, muscle cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke during exercise in warm weather. Chronic dehydration can lead to constipation and kidney stones.

Yes, if you think from now on you need to drink more water then this is the time! Let’s make a good habit of drinking water enough from now.

Tips to increase your water consumption to healthy levels;

Replace other beverages with water and carry the bottle of water always and drink whenever you feel thirst and your mouth dry. At first you really need to make a conscious effort to have water with you at all times, in the car, at your desk, in your bag or purse.

You also can eat these foods;

Apple – 84%, orange-87%, avocado-81%, a tomato-97%, broccoli 91%, cabbage 93%, lettuce 96%.

You also should know caffeinated beverages (soda, tea, coffee) and alcoholic beverages can cause dehydration, food high in protein, and sugar.

“A little change of your daily water-intake could make a huge difference”

I have seen many clients feeling more energetic and calm and even they look brighter and younger, their skins are radiant after they changed the amount of daily water-intake. It’s very obvious even within a week.

And also I’ve found from the consultation that most of office workers show the signs of dehydration; fatigue, nervousness, dry mouth, mild headache, having difficult in concentration at the office etc.

they drink 4-8 cups of water daily and drink 1 or 2 cups of coffee or green tea….and didn’t have think of drinking water or time to drink.

therefore If you have a weight-loss program or skin-enhancement program, drink water and keep hydrated – more than 2 liter, You will look shiny and radian and feeling really wonderful.