acupunture for pain relief

[Guest guest]

Needle Little Happiness?

There are three questions I am asked about acupuncture. Is it painful? Does it

really work? And will it work for my condition? With so many unanswered

questions it's not surprising that 3/4 of the country is taking pharmaceuticals

for symptoms that could greatly benefit from a couple of thin, barely noticeable

needles, placed in strategic locations (i.e. acupuncture).

I recently spoke to a group of UCLA medical students on the topic of acupuncture

and Oriental medicine. Their reluctance to fully accept this odd, yet popular,

science hinged on one thing - research. UCLA is one of the best and most

progressive medical schools in the country, and one of the few that teaches

acupuncture. Unfortunately, the perceived lack of acupuncture research persists

even here. The fact is that many aspects of acupuncture are well understood by

science and the proof has been documented in hundreds of publications in leading

Western journals. The most thoroughly researched and widely accepted benefits of

acupuncture come from the release of endorphins, serotonin and cortisol.

What does this mean to you? These bio-chemicals are needed for pain relief, a

good mood, sleep regulation and the ability to deal with stress. Now, if there

were a pill that could benefit pain, depression, insomnia and the unrelenting

stress of our modern lives wouldn't it be flying off the shelves?

The second common misconception about acupuncture is that it hurts. Breaking

news! Acupuncture is much less painful than a facial or, God-forbid, a waxing.

However, there are a couple of caveats. First, there are different styles of

acupuncture. The Chinese and Korean styles are more intense, in comparison to

the very subtle Japanese style. Western acupuncturists tend toward the middle. I

use mild to moderate intensity with my patients. Acupuncture is like water

temperature; moderation is comfortable, extremes may accomplish the goal faster,

but do not make for a relaxing experience. The middle path is always harmonious.

With acupuncture there is sensation, but it is rarely considered pain. The

sensations experienced with acupuncture can be described as dullness, ache,

numbness and warmth. These sensations can be felt in the area of the needle or

may radiate to other areas. Any sharp sensations, a rare occurrence, are not the

desired effect and they tend to abate within seconds. Once the needles are

placed, you begin to feel increasingly relaxed as the opiate-like endorphins and

mood-elevating serotonin take over. You may not realize the amount of stress

that is considered normal until you float out of the treatment room in a

pleasant post-acupuncture daze.

Now that you know acupuncture is supported by mountains of research for pain and

stress relief and you know that acupuncture does not hurt, the last question is:

Will it work for your condition?

To answer the question " What is acupuncture good for? " we need to keep in mind

the Holistic approach (i.e. think like a Taoist). The approach of Oriental

medicine is to recognize that each problem has a branch (symptom) and a root

(underlying imbalance). For example, allergies are a symptom. A doctor can treat

the symptom of allergies with a natural or prescription antihistamine, but that

does not address the underlying imbalance. The root, in this case, may be a

congested liver, a weak or overactive immune system, a compromised digestive

tract, etc. If the underlying imbalance is not addressed the symptom will

continue to reappear.

Acupuncture and Oriental medicine are designed to address both the symptom and

the underlying imbalance. When a root imbalance is corrected, the result is

often improvement in multiple symptoms that may seem unrelated. By addressing

the root imbalance a new level of health can be achieved.

These are the conditions that have been treated most successfully with

acupuncture:

General: Allergies, Asthma, Sinusitis, Headaches, TMJ, Back Pain, Sciatica,

Musculoskeletal Problems, Insomnia, Anxiety, Dizziness, Depression, High Blood

Pressure, Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Addictions, Indigestion, Constipation,

Sexual Dysfunction, Post-Operative Recovery, Palliative Care.

Women's Health: Menstrual Irregularities, Menopause, Conception Difficulties,

Pregnancy, Childbirth, Lactation Difficulties, Postpartum, Ovarian and Uterine

Problems.

Men's Health: Prostate, Infertility, Impotence.

Preventative Health: Prevention, Stress Management, Wellness, Seasonal

Attunement.

The bottom line is that doctors should be handing out a lot more prescriptions

for acupuncture and a lot less for CelebrexT, VioxxT, ProzacT, LexaproT, AmbienT

and LunestaT. The best part of acupuncture is that it has no side effects. It

does, however, make your mind quiet, your body relaxed and your spirit more at

peace with the world around you.

http://www.thehallcenter.com

click on the learn link and it will bring you to a page that has articles listed

on right side, this one is at the top pf the page.

for those who had a bad experience with acupunture, this article by a

acupunturist shows that when done correctly, it works against pain.

nancie

[Guest guest]

Hello Nancie and Group,

Since my diagnosis with hypo and Sjogren's Syndrome, and Fibromyalgia, I have

been getting acupunture treatments to ease the pain. I have only have 3

treatments thus far. I was told I need to give it time to see results, but I do

feel better after a treatment. Maybe it is phyisological or psychological but I

would much rather use acupuncture than take powerful pain medication that may

have unpleasant side effects. I already take alot of meds and supplements

everyday. Thank you for sharing this information.

Julyette

Julyette Clifton

Cheverly, MD

[Guest guest]

Julyette-

I am so happy that you are trying acupunture and that it has given you some

relief. the good feeling that you are experiencing has to do with the release of

neurochemicals serotonin, endorphins and dopamine into the body following a

session. they help with pain control and the " good " feeling that you get.

endorphins are your body's natural narcotic. they are similar to the drug

morphine and are effective vs. pain.

Yoga is another treatment that is often overlooked in the treatment of pain

syndromes.

nancie

From: Julyette Clifton

Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2008 5:43 AM

hypothyroidism

Subject: Re:acupunture for pain relief

Hello Nancie and Group,

Since my diagnosis with hypo and Sjogren's Syndrome, and Fibromyalgia, I have

been getting acupunture treatments to ease the pain. I have only have 3

treatments thus far. I was told I need to give it time to see results, but I do

feel better after a treatment. Maybe it is phyisological or psychological but I

would much rather use acupuncture than take powerful pain medication that may

have unpleasant side effects. I already take alot of meds and supplements

everyday. Thank you for sharing this information.

Julyette

Julyette Clifton

Cheverly, MD

[Guest guest]

Hello Nancie,

I wasn't sure exactly why it worked but when I read your explanation it makes

sense. I see the acunpuncturist on Monday and I'm looking forward to the next

session. I'm going to try yoga too. I have a yoga CD program that I could pop in

the DVD! Thanks for the suggestion.

Julyette

Julyette Clifton

Cheverly, MD

[Guest guest]

as long as it is a gentle yoga program and not vigorous.

nancie

From: Julyette Clifton

Sent: Friday, April 11, 2008 6:00 AM

hypothyroidism

Subject: Re: acupunture for pain relief

Hello Nancie,

I wasn't sure exactly why it worked but when I read your explanation it makes

sense. I see the acunpuncturist on Monday and I'm looking forward to the next

session. I'm going to try yoga too. I have a yoga CD program that I could pop in

the DVD! Thanks for the suggestion.

Julyette

Julyette Clifton

Cheverly, MD