New Year's Resolve Fading? Acupuncture can help you reach your goals (Part 3 of 5)

My previous posts in this series have discussed how acupuncture can help you lose weight and improve your memory. This week, I will explain why acupuncture can help with another strategy to improve your health:

Resolution 3: Relieve Pain Naturally

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.

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[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)

[3] “Case Study – Wisdom Teeth Extraction”; APLACEOFWELLNESS.BLOGSPOT.COM; July 28, 2008; Meyuhas, S.

[4] "Depression", "Low Back Pain Remedy", "Swollen Glands"; APLACEOFWELLNESS.BLOGSPOT.COM; Meyuhas, S.

Case Study - Depression

OBSERVATIONS

A 14 year old boy comes with his mother to my office. His mother is concerned because her son has been depressed for 3 months. They visited her family before his depression became noticeable. Sometime after returning home, she found her son crying. He started seeing a psychologist which helped until he took Sudafed™ to relieve cold symptoms.1 The depression became worse than before.

During the family visit, the boy was to undergo a fat-reduction procedure on his chest. He and his mother were going to stay with her family while he recovered. While there, he witnessed a family fight. The result of the fight was his mother had to find friends to stay with at once.

Another stressor for the boy is he just moved to a new, bigger school after going to the same school for 8 years.

The boy complained of daily headaches centered at the occipital area. He was fatigued and would vomit clear fluids every morning since the surgery. For the past year, he has been getting shots for his allergies which reduced his asthma. He also has a tendency to develop sore throats.
He was quiet and his mother did most of the talking for him.

His tongue was red, no coating, and his pulse was rapid and superficial. Palpation of his neck, shoulders and chest reveal tenderness and spasm of his muscles.

DIAGNOSIS: Wind Heat Attacking The Lung/Sinus

His Lung function was already compromised, as evidenced by his asthma, allergies, and sore throat. This was compounded by the sense of loss created by the situation with his mother’s family and leaving his old school. Any unresolved or suppressed anger will also turn into sadness and reduce immune (TCM: Lung) function.

His headaches resulted from sinus inflammation. Autumn weather is dry and increases mucus membrane sensitivity resulting in increased mucus secretion. Post nasal drip during the night caused the vomiting in the morning. Allergies (inflammation of the mucus membranes) overwork the immune system leaving him tired and unable to deal with his emotions.

The surgery created more inflammation in the muscles of the chest. The physical and emotional stressors manifest as a heavy sensation and constriction of his chest. Crying is the natural release.

TREATMENT

Treatment included acupuncture, soft tissue manipulation and Chinese herbs.

I needled his chest (R17) and he felt immediate relief. I also massaged his neck, face, scalp, upper back and his arms and hands along the Lung and Large Intestine meridians. This reduced the inflammation, improved lymph flow/drainage and relaxed the chest, neck and back. While treating, I emphasized deep breathing. Even breathing helps him to let go of the emotions he is holding. Deep breathing creates an “internal massage” allowing the intercostals (rib muscles) to fully relax. This improves lung function.

I demonstrated how he can improve his own Lung function with Qi Gong tapping along his Lung and Large Intestine meridians. I instructed him to do this every day; it would enhance his immune system. I am empowering him to take part in his healing and learn to deal with his emotions instead of holding them in.

I also prescribed an herbal formula to alleviate his allergies and reduce the post nasal drip.

OUTCOME
He came back a week later and said he is not vomiting since the visit. He feels less depressed and his chest and upper back are less sore. He didn’t have any headaches this week.

He manages to take the herbal formula only once a day instead of the recommended three times daily.

GOING FORWARD

My objective is to give the boy tools to deal with his depression and any other health issues.

Two percent of preteens and 5% of adolescents suffer from depression.2

The first step is to make him aware of his physical sensations and how he can change them. I encouraged him to use breathing and Qi Gong tapping to create more space in his chest to change his physical and emotional patterns.

Wellness is an active commitment to live a fulfilled life. I am happy I could initiate the healing process for him.

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1 In TCM sadness resides in the lungs (each emotion manifests in different areas of the body). He needed to strengthen his lungs to relieve his symptoms instead of using Sudafed which suppresses his natural lung function.
2 www.about-teen-depression.com/

Some Book Recommendations

My patients sometimes ask for more information to study at home. Here are some books I recommend.

The Coconut Oil Miracle (4th ed.) by Bruce Fife, C.N., N.D.
“If you were to travel the world looking for a people who enjoy a degree of health far above that found in most nations, a..."


Dao of Chinese Medicine: Understanding an Ancient Healing Art by Donald Edward Kendall
"The history of Chinese medicine, from its early beginnings five thousand years ago to the present, reveals a truly fascinating story..."

Molecules Of Emotion: The Science Behind Mind-Body Medicine by Candace B. Pert
"SCIENTISTS, by nature, are not creatures who commonly seek out or enjoy the public spotlight..."


Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life 2nd Ed Create Your Life, Your Relationships and Your World in Harmony with Your Values by Marshall B. Rosenberg, Ph.D.
“Most of us are hungry for skills to improve the quality of our relationships, to deepen our sense of personal empowerment or to simply communicate more effectively...”

The Tibetan Book Of Living And Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche
“In this major and comprehensive work, Buddhist meditation master and international speaker Sogyal Rinpoche brings together the ancient wisdom of Tibet with modern research on death and dying and the nature of the universe...”


Mind Matters: Psychological Medicine in Holistic Practice by J.R. Millenson
"A textbook of mind-body medicine written for students and practitioners of alternative medicine. It brings together in one coherent volume practical techniques in psychological medicine-what Plato called "healing with words"-for those wishing to work more deeply with the emotional and mental aspects of illness. ...balances a scientific approach towards health psychology with humanistic conceptions of medicine as an art. It presents a rigorous exposition of the theory and practice of health psychology from the standpoint of natural medicine, ..."

CREATE WELLNESS: Qi Gong Meditation

We held our monthly meditation last night. Thank you to all that attended.

The focus of the meditation this time was to “open the spine”. By opening the spine we are influencing the nervous, endocrine and immune systems.

When opening the spine, I would like to emphasize the importance of the neck area. There are many lymph nodes located here to engulf pathogens that invade the body. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the area of the upper back and neck correlates to respiratory function which influences immunity. By stimulating the energy flow in this area; you allow more lymph drainage and give your immune system a boost.

One of the techniques we used was Qi Gong [pronounced: chee kung]. Qi Gong means “Breath Cultivation” and refers to exercises that increase energy, health and longevity. Qi Gong is a self-healing art that combines movement and meditation. Regular practice of Qi Gong can prevent and treat illness, has been proven to reduce stress and improve immunity , and can integrate mind/body/spirit.

We started with opening the low back and traveled up the spine towards the neck area. I taught the meditation participants Qi Gong exercises for the neck and shoulder areas and then we explored the meridians along the arms.

The Lung meridian travels from the chest down the inside of your arm to the tip of the thumb. Energy traveling this meridian then moves back up the arm along the Large Intestine meridian on the backside of the arm, over the shoulder, up the side of the neck, and then crosses the face under the nose to just under the cheekbone. Stimulating the points on these meridians stimulates the immune system.

We incorporated face massage to open (drain) the sinuses and used eye exercises to, well, because I like it (they reduce tension in the eyes) and then incorporated Mindfulness Meditation observing our thoughts (mental images and self-talk) and sensations (physical and emotional). After “scanning” the body and mind this way, we transitioned to opening the spine some more with Chakra meditation.

This was a really good meditation. We were able to create a free flow of energy. I am happy I was able to incorporate different techniques from various teachers into a single practice. It proved to be uplifting and energizing for all of us.

Meditation is a great practice for this season. Enjoy your holidays.
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1
See: Candace Pert “Molecules of Emotion”

2
“Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy to prevent relapse in recurrent depression.”
Kuyken, Willem; Byford, Sarah; Taylor, Rod S.; Watkins, Ed; Holden, Emily;
White, Kat; Barrett, Barbara; Byng, Richard; Evans, Alison; Mullan, Eugene;
Teasdale, John D. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Vol 76(6),
Dec 2008, 966-978.

3
“Assessment Of Immunological Parameters Following A Qigong Training Program.”
Manzaneque, JM; Vera, FM; Maldonado, EF; Carranque, G; Cubero, VM; Morell, M;
Blanca, MJ. Department of Psychobiology and Methodology, Faculty of Psychology,
University of Malaga, Campus de Teatinos, 29071 Malaga, Spain.
Medical Science Monitor. 2004 Jun;10(6):CR264-70. Epub 2004 Jun 1.

4
See: Shinzen Young “Basic Mindfulness”