If pain is keeping you from living your life to the fullest,
acupuncture can help. Pain is a symptom. It is our
body’s way of
“getting our attention” so we can take corrective action. This is true
of emotional and physical pain, whether chronic or acute.
Corrective
action can range from reflexes (flinching, limping, crying), to
semi-conscious decisions (adjust your posture, rub a sore muscle, change
sleep pattern), to conscious decisions (stop what you are doing, take
medication, ask for help).
Different medications have
side effects. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the
largest class of medications used for pain and headache and can cause
idiosyncratic liver toxicity.
[1] NSAIDs, like ibuprofen, can cause serious upper gastrointestinal disorders.
[2]
Acupuncture is a very safe method of encouraging the body to promote
natural healing and improve function that rarely causes serious side
effects. Many people feel a brief stinging sensation, like a pinprick,
during insertion of the needles. It is also common with the first one or
two treatments to have a sensation of deep relaxation or even mild
disorientation immediately following the treatment.
Acupuncture
can be helpful for all types of pain, regardless of what is causing the
pain or where the pain is located. Some studies have shown the pain
relief it provides can last for months.
Medication
can reduce pain and provide some relief but this only masks (or hides)
the problem, it does not cure it and, as we saw in the ibuprofen
example, can create new problems. Acupuncture treats pain without
causing more problems. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain
before and after acupuncture treatment for pain shows dramatic decreases
in activity in the pain centers of the brain - up to 70%.
Acupuncture treats the root (cause), while pain medication only treats the branch (symptom/manifestation)
The
pain reducing effects of acupuncture can last months because
acupuncture hastens the healing process by increasing circulation and
attracting white blood cells to an injured area. It relieves the
bruising, stiffness; puffiness and tenderness from the injury and can
help in forming new bones in case of fractures. Acupuncture shortens the
healing time of
surgeries[3] and sports injuries, putting you back on track faster.
[4]
Acupuncture
helps correct the underlying cause for the pain. For PMS, acupuncture
balances the hormones; for headaches, acupuncture releases stress and
increases blood circulation to the head. Other chronic pain-causing
conditions, like arthritis or stomach ulcers, involve chronic
inflammation and can benefit form acupuncture as well. When the body
function is restored to normal or “wellness” - there is no pain.
Wellness
is an active commitment to live a balanced and fulfilled life.
Acupuncture and TCM are powerful tools, by themselves or as a supportive
treatment in conjunction with western medicine. At Point I coach both
children and adults on how to create their own Place of Wellness. Most
people focus on their immediate pain, failing to see the underlying
issues. My main goal is to guide you through clear and simple steps that
will improve your physical, mental and spiritual well being.
----------
[1]
“Preventive Care In Chronic Liver Disease”; JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL
MEDICINE; November 1999, 14(11): 699–704; Thomas R Riley, MD and Jill P
Smith, MD;
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1496761/
doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.1999.11188.x.
PMCID: PMC1496761
[2]
“Toxicity Of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. An Overview Of The
Epidemiological Evidence”; DRUGS; 1993; 46 Suppl 1:243-8, Carson JL,
Willett LR.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7506183
PMID: 7506183 (PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE)
What is of value in this year is intimacy, family and close friendships. We can be more caring, kind and sensitive with each other. Develop a gentle heart, open to love and acceptance on all levels. Another theme of Sheep year is to express your creative side. Now is the time for art, creativity and cultivation of beauty. If you ever wanted to explore your creative side, this is your year. Do not give up, be pessimistic or become discouraged because Sheep can only move forward! This animal is unable to move backwards or sideways. The upcoming 2015 year of the Sheep is the inspiring period. It will try to leave behind any unstable affair and connections with the aim to carve a new more honest pattern of relations.
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