New Study Acupuncture Works for Chronic Stress

Posted by :admin On : January 25, 2012
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Category: Acupuncture and Its Theories, Mind-Body Medicine

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Today NCCAM (national center for complementary and alternative medicine) posted the research result of EA on rats for stress, which was recently published in the journal Experimental Biology and Medicine on January 1, 2012.

In a laboratory study, researchers found that electroacupuncture was able to affect a key stress response in rats—by blocking a sympathetic pathway that is stimulated during chronic stress. Electroacupuncture (acupuncture combined with electrical stimulation) has been proposed as a complementary therapy in the treatment of chronic stress in people; however, the existing data on its effectiveness and how it works are unclear.

Researchers from Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C., assigned the study rats to a stress-only group; an electroacupuncture group (needles inserted in a specific point on the body designated in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as an acupoint for stress); a sham electroacupuncture group (needles inserted into a randomly designated non-TCM acupoint); or a control group. The researchers assessed the effectiveness of electroacupuncture before the initiation of stress as well as following the exposure to stress. The rats were exposed to a cold stress (placed in a 1 cm layer of crushed ice) for 1 hour a day over a period of 10 to 14 days.

This is such exciting news for all the acupuncturists who have ever treated and treating stress, anxiety or depression, because we now know how it can affect sympathetic nervous system by measuring neuropeptide Y in the blood stream and give more evidence-based acupuncture to the patients with confidence.

However from my clinical experience in treating stress related conditions like anxiety and depression or even pain with unknown reason, having been using both acupuncture and electro-acupuncture, I saw almost same effectiveness or sometimes the set of different locations of needle insertion have an influence in treatment success. Therefore in the future, I wish they could study how the different points (a set of acupuncture points which is traditionally believed to help stress, anxiety or mental disorder) affect sympathetic nervous system and change the level of neuropeptide Y.

If you like to read the whole article, click “New Study Shows How Acupuncture Works for Chronic Stress.“

What is Meditation

Posted by :admin On : January 20, 2012
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Category: Daily Meditation, Mind-Body Medicine

Meditation is really a transcending of the process of dreaming.

You are constantly dreaming – not only in the night, not only while you are asleep; you are dreaming the whole day. this is the first point to be understood. while you are awake you are still dreaming
- osho in the book of secrets

In Buddist teachings, the world we experience is not real but dreams, so if you want to be awake and see the true world, you have to be watchful and staying right here and now.

I wish you experience a wonderful and present moment now.

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.