ACUPUNCTURE

Ear Acupuncture by Walter Last

2010-09-14T11:58:00.000-07:00

Ear acupuncture can be a very effective method for relieving acute pains and chronically stiff joints, sometimes these have been cured within minutes. For some problems it can be more effective than body acupuncture. Ear acupuncture is easy and safe for self-treatment and in healing groups. Organ diseases and glandular disturbances may respond less dramatically, but ear needling will always be very helpful as a supportive method with other forms of treatment.

The main disadvantage of ear acupuncture is the requirement to find the most painful spot for it to be fully effective, and this is not pleasant for people who are very sensitive to pain. The best points are those that feel like an electric shock or like hitting a raw nerve! However, often the pain will be felt as being beneficial, especially because it usually decreases with continued needling. This pain may be considered as 'letting off steam' or congestive energy from a target organ through the 'safety valve' of an ear point. However, chronically weak organs may also benefit from ear needling if no pain is felt in the corresponding ear point. Generally, however, you may follow the rule 'The more sore the point, the more effective the treatment’.

Acupuncture needles are available from some medical-equipment shops, acupuncturists or from acupuncture supply companies, see the Yellow Pages of major cities for addresses. For ear acupuncture use short and medium fine needles (e.g. 25 mm No. 30 gauge or the finer 12mm long 32 gauge. Usually you buy them in packs of 10. In addition press-needles are very effective and may also be ordered in packets of 10. Press-needles are like tiny drawing pins with a 2 mm-long needle. They are retained in the ear for one to two weeks, covered with adhesive tape, and stimulated from time to time by pressing between thumb and a finger pad. If an acupuncture needle is not available, you may use a bead needle or even a fine sewing needle.

THE METHOD

Sterilise a suitable needle in methylated spirits and rub the ear with a cotton bud soaked in methylated spirits (optional). Find the most tender spot in the appropriate reflex area of the ear by pressing with a toothpick or a similar probe. Insert the needle to about 2 mm deep. It must not pass through the ear. Gently move it around to find the correct depth and direction of the sorest spot.

If it is very sore, do not move the needle. When the pain subsides, start to twirl it gently between thumb and forefinger. The less pain there is, the faster you may twirl the needle. If it is not sore any more, move the needle to a different angle and twirl, and in this way gradually work around in a circle. If all or most of the pain is worked out, withdraw the needle and select another point. If it was sorer in a particular direction, insert the needle at a point 1-2 mm away from the first point in that direction and repeat the twirling and probing in different directions.

Often the pain shifts around over a reflex area and you must insert the needle and work out the pain in several points lying close together. When the ear point is sore and still in need of treatment, the needle will feel like 'sticking' when it is twirled, while it will move freely when the tension is worked out. For treating chronically weak body parts that do not have sore ear points, select the appropriate point or area from the ear chart and twirl the needle rapidly.

CHART OF EAR REFLEX POINTS

Helix points may be used to reduce inflammation, fever, swellings. Sanjiao is used for circulatory, glandular, chest and abdominal problems. Shenmen is used for sedating, as with nervous problems, insomnia, mental disorders; it is the main point for pain relief, as in arthritis or inflammations; also for dry cough, bronchial asthma, epilepsy and hypertension.

Ear Reflexes

Each ear contains a complete reflex map of the body as shown in the chart. Instead of using needles, you may press the ear with the head of a pin, a toothpick, a matchstick or a fingernail. Treat the indicated organ points or wherever there is a tender spot; press for a minute or more each day or whenever convenient. In addition, it will be very stimulating to the whole body to massage both ears thoroughly by rubbing them between thumb and index finger simultaneously. Massage daily. Pulling the ears at different angles is also beneficial. You may also buy an electro-acupuncture appliance. These are now available from many health food shops and not very expensive.

What is ear acupuncture?

2010-09-14T11:46:00.000-07:00

Ear acupuncture, also known as auricular therapy, is based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Auricular therapy is widely used for many conditions, including addiction treatment, mood disorders, obesity, pain, and other conditions. This medical system emphasizes a holistic approach to medicine, an approach that treats the whole person. The acupuncture points found on the ear help to regulate the body's internal organs, structures, and functions.

Auricular therapy has a long history of use in China. It was mentioned in the most famous of ancient Chinese medical textbooks, “The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine.” In modern times, auricular therapy has been shown to stimulate the release of endorphins, the body's own feel-good chemicals.

How is ear acupuncture used in a treatment?

Ear acupuncture is generally incorporated into a regular acupuncture treatment. In addition to using acupuncture points on the rest of the body, your acupuncturist may select a few ear acupuncture points that they feel will be helpful for your particular condition.

What are ear seeds and ear tacks?

Ear acupuncture points may be stimulated for a longer period of time by using ear seeds or ear tacks. Ear seeds are small seeds from the Vaccaria plant. These seeds are held in place on the ear with a small piece of adhesive tape. Ear seeds may be left in the ear for a few days or up to two weeks. Ear tacks are very small needles with an adhesive backing. Ear tacks are inserted into the ear and left in the ear for a few days or up to one week.

how acupuncture works?

2010-09-14T11:33:00.000-07:00

Acupuncture is one of the oldest and most commonly used medical procedures worldwide. Originating in China more than 2,000 years ago, it was first popularized in North America in 1971 following James Restons’ New York Times article in which he described how Chinese acupuncture helped ease his pain following a surgery.

The term acupuncture describes afamily of procedures involving stimulation of anatomical points on the body by a variety of techniques. American practices of acupuncture incorporate medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries. The acupuncture technique that has been most studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.People experience acupuncture differently, but most feel no or minimal pain as the needles are inserted. Some people are energized by treatment, while others feel relaxed.

Does acupuncture work?
According to the NIH Consensus Statement on Acupuncture, there have been many studies on acupuncture's potential usefulness, but results have been mixed because of complexities with study designs and sizes, as well as difficulties with choosing placebos or sham acupuncture. However, promising results have emerged in numerous studies showing the efficacy of acupuncture. For example, acupuncture was shown to be effective in adult postoperative and chemotherapy nausea and in postoperative dental pain. There are other situations--such as addictions, stroke rehabilitation, headaches, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low-back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma--in which acupuncture may be useful as an adjunct treatment or an acceptable alternative or be included in a comprehensive management program.

Is Acupuncture Safe?
Improper needle placement, movement of the patient, or a defect in the needle can cause soreness and pain during treatment. This is why it is important to seek treatment from a qualified acupuncture practitioner. If performed by a qualified, conscientious practitioner, yes. Licensed Acupuncturists know the human anatomy well, and insert needles in a safe fashion. The instruments used to penetrate the skin are either pre-sterilized and disposed of after a single use, or similarly to surgical and dental instrument, disinfected and sterilized in an autoclave following each use.
The practitioner is well aware and sympathetic to clients’ concerns regarding transmission of infectious diseases. We therefore take every measure to insure cleanliness of our facilities and proper sterilization of all equipment similarly to all other healthcare professionals.
Bleeding rarely occurs, unless done so on purpose in specific situations. Even then the amount is minimal and in no way dangerous.

What is treatment like?
Most patients would say, "relaxing." Usually patients leave in less discomfort and are more functional than when they walked in. Sometimes the effects are too subtle to perceive, especially in the beginning of treatment. Yet after 5 to 10 treatments the improvements become more and more apparent.

Why Acupuncture?

2010-09-14T11:29:00.000-07:00

Worldwide research studies conclude that the positive health benefits of Acupuncture are both curative and preventive. The renowned United Nation's based World Health Organization (WHO) lists more than 40 conditions for which acupuncture is a useful and valuable treatment, including nourishing and strengthening the immune system for immune-compromised patients such as those with HIV/AIDS.

With ever-increasing conflicts in the world, there are so many victims of war and refugees who are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression. Scientific Research shows that Acupuncture can help greatly in these areas.

In accordance to the needs of developing nations, conditions appropriate for Acupuncture Therapy are as follows:
* Digestive: Abdominal pain, Constipation, Diarrhea, Hyperacidity, Indigestion
* Emotional: Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia, Stress reduction, and Neurosis and PTSD
* Eye-Ear-Nose-Throat: Cataracts, Gingivitis, Poor vision, Tinnitus, Toothache
* Gynecological: Infertility, Menopausal symptoms, Premenstrual syndrome
* Addiction Control
* Circulatory: Blood pressure regulation, Chronic Fatigue, Immune system support, Diabetes
* Musculoskeletal: Arthritis, Back pain, Muscle cramping, Muscle pain/weakness, Neck pain, Sciatica
* Neurological: Headaches, Migraines, Neurogenic Bladder dysfunction, Parkinson's disease, Postoperative pain, Stroke
* Respiratory: Asthma, Bronchitis, Common cold, and Sinusitis, Smoking cessation, Tonsillitis

Source: World Health Organization, United Nations

Health care practitioners (doctors, nurses, medical assistants) trained in acupuncture are much more self-reliant having a "new" set of tools to use in conjunction with allopathic medicine. A series of acupuncture protocols exist that can be initiated in emergency situations where conventional life-saving equipment may not be available will also be taught.

Acupuncture affords significant savings in medicines, which in these developing nations are often expensive and not readily available. Also the preventive qualities of Acupuncture treatments permits significant savings in drugs and medical procedures.

Humanitarian assistance through acupuncture is also inexpensive, since the total cost, paid by Acupuncture Ambassadors, is essentially limited to the following:

* air and ground transportation costs, food and lodging expenses for the volunteer practitioners/diplomats
* teaching supply costs
* costs for acupuncture supplies.

The teaching of Acupuncture to the blind.

Blind acupuncture is a nationally recognized practice that has openly existed in Japan since the early Edo Period (1603-1867). Currently, 30 percent of the roughly 90,000 licensed acupuncturists in Japan are blind. These visually challenged are found nationwide mixed among the sighted at clinics and hospitals, carrying out private practices, and passing on their skills to others like themselves in special schools for the blind. They hold the same licenses, earn the same wages, and charge the same fees. They even have Zenshinshikai, a national association for blind acupuncturists, to set future agendas and provide a buffer against possible discrimination.

The opportunity to learn viable medical skills, gain a meaningful vocation and a means to financial freedom for the sight impaired in developing countries is great.

A worldwide language of medicine and community.

The teaching of acupuncture and the theories of Traditional Asian Medicine also create and foster a common language, a global language, in which all acupuncture practitioners and patients worldwide can communicate, thus solidifying international relationships and cross-cultural bonds betweens citizens of countries of the world. This promotes a healthier, more productive, cohesive, and inter-connected world, united by the common language of Acupuncture and Traditional Asian Medicine.

MOXIBUSTION

2010-09-14T10:14:00.001-07:00

The term "moxibustion", or moxa, is derived from the Japanese "Moe Kusa" meaning "burning herb". Moxa is obtained from the herbal plant "Arternisia Vulgaris", also commonly called mugwort. Moxa has been practiced for thousand years in oriental countries like

China

and

Japan

, as therapy to cure diseases by stimulating Qi, healing power, of the human body.
Moxa treats and prevents diseases by applying heat to acupuncture points where the stimulation is required. It can be used on surface of skin and with acupuncture needle. The material used is mainly in the form of a cone or stick.
Moxa is used when patients require warmth and tonification to invigorate Qi and Blood. Its function is not heat but also some smoke is absorbed in body. For patients sensitive to the smoke, other treatments besides moxa are available. While some find the warmth of the moxa quieting, others are invigorated. In general, most people experience treatment with moxa nurturing.
Benefits of Moxa

· Moxa relieves the pain, fatigue and fights muscular weakness, improves blood-circulation, good for muscular tension and stiffness, eases rheumatism, neuralgias and muscular pain.it is best use for back pain joint pain and sciatic pain.
Moxa regulates Qi of Meridians and expel Abnormality of Qi. Abnormal flow of Qi and blood in the body is usually resulted from cold and heat. Cold causes slow flow or even stagnation of Qi. Normal heat activates blood circulation and cold impedes its smooth flow.
To induce the smooth flow of Qi and blood.
To strengthen yang from collapse. Yang Qi is the foundation of the human body. If it is in a sufficient condition, a man lives a long life. Yang disorders are due to excess of yin, leading to cold, deficiency and exhaustion of the primary Qi.
To prevent diseases and keep healthy.

Link Between Herpes Simplex Virus and Alzheimer’s Disease

2010-09-14T10:12:00.001-07:00

Potential Role of Coriolus Vesicular supplementation. Herpes exists in two common forms. The majority of the population acquires Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1) during childhood from non sexual contact. Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2) also known as genital herpes, is transmitted by sexual contact.

In 2000 , researchers led by Dr.Frank M Lafera at the Department of Neurology and Behavior at the University of California, Irvine, demonstrated that a synthetic protein that resembles the herpes simplex virus(HSV-1) mimics the structure and function of a protein call B-amyloid , a toxic agent that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer patients.

Genetic sequencing revealed that two thirds a portion of the viral protein is identical to the beta-amyloid. The researcher showed that like B-amyloid, it could kill brain neurons, a key feature in Alzheimer’s. Moreover, in laboratory experiments, the viral protein formed abnormal twisted fibers like those found in brains of Alzheimer’s patients the definitive hallmark of diseases.

According to Dr.Laferla most people are exposed to HSV-1 , but do not develop Alzheimer’s ,however, recent studies show that people genetically disposed to Alzheimer’s, are more likely to develop the disease if they are exposed to herpes.

In December 2008,Professor Ruth Itzhaki and her team at Manchester University ‘ s faculty of life sciences published in the journal of pathology that the HSV-1 DNA is located very specifically in amyloid plaques :90% of plaques in Alzheimer’s disease suffers brains contain HSV-1 DNA and most of the viral DNA is located with in amyloid plaques.

The team had previously shown that HSV-1 infection of nerve –type cells induces deposition of the main component, B-amyloid, of amyloid plaques.

Together these findings strongly implicate HSV-1 as a major factor in the information of amyloid deposits and plaques, abnormalities through by many in the fields to be major contributors of Alzheimer’s. This finding is a reconfirmation of Dr.Laferrla;s previous work In 2000.

The University of Manchester’s data strongly suggest that HSV-1 has a major role in Alzheimer’s disease and point to in preliminary experiments they have shown that acyclovir reduces the amyloid depositions and also reduces certain other features of the disease which they have found are caused by HSV-1 infection. Further research is going on potential use of acyclovir as therapeutic agent for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

For those patients who are not able to tolerate the side effects of acyclovir treatment, the evidence that Coriolus vesicular supplementation reduces viral loads in both chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients and in HPV (LSIL) patients may have applications in neurodegenerative diseases in which viral infection plays a role.

BACK PAIN

2010-09-14T10:10:00.001-07:00

The patient with this problem comes in with severely acute pain in the mid-back area and very often the pain is so severe that it radiates out to the front, to the sternum, to the breast bone area. It can pierce through like a knife going through from the back to the front and it can be extremely distressing and alarming. The pain is so severe that the patient feels like something is horribly wrong and indeed, this patient is in so much pain that this is not a good situation. Thankfully there are ordinarily solutions for this problem and when we are able to determine that the cause is anterior or Thoracic vertebrae, we are able to offer great hope for relief. This is a condition where there has been a “buckling” of the mid-back, or the mid-thoracic spine, where the vertebra and ribs have buckled forward, the vertebra especially. The ribs are often “left behind” and “separate” from their usual abutment or smooth connection to the vertebrae.

This condition commonly affects people who work with arms overhead, such as a hairstylist, mechanics, certain housekeeping chores may bring this on, typists, therapists, construction workers. I have probably seen it most often and most severe amongst weight lifters who are doing bench pressing. When they are pressing heavy weight with their arms and shoulders, the spine buckles behind them, buckling the mid-back area forward. This buckling the spine causes the vertebrae to displace and when they do, they lose their juxtaposition, or natural positional relationship with the ribs that should be smoothly attached to the sides of the vertebra. These ribs that are attached to the vertebra are highly innervated because the rib cage protects our vital organs. By the primitive wisdom of the body, we have “alarm systems” that go off when something affects that area and so these rib heads, where they attach to the vertebra in the mid back, are very sensitive, and when they are displaced or pushed out of place, they will give off a tremendous amount of pain. The good note about this is that although the pain is quite debilitating and alarming, when properly treated, there is usually predictable relief by an effective chiropractic approach releasing that vertebra in just the right direction. This can be done in a pain-free manner greatly relieving the condition when performed by a chiropractor skilled in the appropriate method.

I would like to talk a little bit about some of the complications on these cases. Often mechanical issues will bring them on. Of course, it can come about suddenly from the impact of a rear-end car accident or some other trauma like that. It could be brought on by an assault, or a wrestling match, or when somebody has buckled back in surfing or in ways where somebody is thrown backwards and buckles their spine back, and may cause this problem to erupt. Sometimes these are known as “hyperextension injuries” to the thoracic spine.

There is a whole other area of concern sometimes in these cases. Actually the condition can be brought on and/or perpetuated by problems involving digestion, involving tension in and about the diaphragm, involving stress handling issues that settle in at the upper digestive region of the body and the diaphragm that anchors into and is innervated from the mid thoracic spine. In fact, it is considered quite classic for stomach problems, ulcers and other types of stomach distresses to be the direct cause of such flooding of nerve impulses into the mid-back area at specific vertebrae. Such as to “suck them forward” and pull them anterior or forward out of place, and this has to do with the abnormal nerve activity from the irritated stomach or upper digestive organs blasting through to the spine to relay up to the brain to tell the brain what is going on. In patients who have this type of tension or digestive distress, cramping of the diaphragm, tightening of the diaphragm, stress related or related digestive distress, reflux disorder that is uncontrolled – all of this can flood nerve impulses into that mid-back area. If these digestive conditions are not worked with and controlled, then the mid-thoracic area, which may well be greatly relieved by getting treatment, will constantly be recurring. So the need to do something effective about the causation of the problem cannot be underscored enough.