Acupuncturist Los Angeles

Acupuncture Chemotherapy Neuropathy Relief

Patient with needles

Acupuncture alleviates neuropathic symptoms due to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in breast cancer survivors. A randomized-controlled trial was conducted at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Boston, Massachusetts). The results demonstrate that an 8-week intensive acupuncture protocol (18 sessions) greatly reduces pain intensity levels, pain interference, and average pain levels. [1] The results also show significant improvements in CIPN-specific and general quality of life scores, functional assessment of cancer therapy neurotoxicity subscales, and brief pain inventory short-form scores. In addition, stage I–III breast cancer patients with persistent CIPN after chemotherapy had better neurotoxicity questionnaire sensory scores (PNQ) over waitlist control patients. Moreover, low intensity acupuncture treatment regimens contributed to clinically significant reductions in sensory CIPN symptoms.

For the first week, researchers inserted acupuncture needles (0.20 × 25 mm and 0.25 × 40 mm) into specified main points to obtain the deqi sensation. From the second week to the eighth week, electroacupuncture was applied to TB5 (Waiguan) and Baxie (second) or SP6 (Sanyinjiao) and LR3 (Taichong), bilaterally. Acupoints were applied according to locations of CIPN symptoms, using alternating 2–10 Hz for 30 minutes each session. If the patients were very comfortable with acupuncture, researchers added Ex-LE12 (Qiduan) as a treatment point. Secondary treatment points included Ex-LE10 (Bafeng), LI11(Quchi), ST36 (Zusanli), SP9 (Yinlingquan), K3 (Taixi), and Yintang.

Chemotherapy drugs like Taxanes and platinum agents (especially paclitaxel and docetaxel) are widely used in the early stage and metastatic stages of breast cancer treatment, which can cause CIPN. The symptoms of CIPN vary, but usually present with pain and paresthesia. The incidence of CIPN in patients with breast cancer ranges between 30% and 97%, which is related with poor physical function, increased risk of falling, and greater disability in cancer survivors.

Many studies focus on medications or dietary supplements to treat CIPN in patients with cancer, including pharmacologic agents like duloxetine, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, non-narcotic and narcotic analgesics, or dietary supplements like glutamine, glutathione, vitamin E, and vitamin B12. Many treatments cause different types of side effects such as fatigue, dizziness, insomnia, and nausea.

Acupuncture is proven to be safe and demonstrates efficacy in alleviation of CIPN symptoms, improving nerve system conduction, and reducing symptom distress. [2–5] Importantly, acupuncture effectively prevents deterioration of CIPN from grade II to grade III in breast cancer patients after finishing paclitaxel chemotherapy. [7]

References:
[1]Weidong Lu, Anita Giobbie‐Hurder, Rachel A. Freedman, Im Hee Shin, Nancy U. Lin, Ann H. Partridge, David S. Rosenthal, and Jennifer A. Ligibel. Acupuncture for Chemotherapy–Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial. The Oncologist 2020;25:310–318.
[2]11. Bao T, Seidman AD, Piulson L et al. A phase IIa trial of acupuncture to reduce chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy severity during neoadjuvant or adjuvant weekly paclitaxel chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Eur J Cancer 2018;101:12–19.
[3] Garcia MK, Cohen L, Guo Y et al. Electroacupuncture for thalidomide/bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy in multiple myeloma: A feasibility study. J Hematol Oncol 2014;7:41.
[4] Molassiotis A, Suen LKP, Cheng HL et al. A randomized assessor-blinded wait-list-controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture in the management of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Integr Cancer Ther 2019; 18:1534735419836501.
[5] Han X, Wang L, Shi H et al. Acupuncture combined with methylcobalamin for the treatment
of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with multiple myeloma. BMC Cancer 2017;17:40.
[6]Xu WR, Hua BJ, Hou W et al. Clinical randomized controlled study on acupuncture for treatment of peripheral neuropathy induced by chemotherapeutic drugs [in Chinese]. Zhong guo Zhen Jiu 2010;30:457–460.
[7]11. Bao T, Seidman AD, Piulson L et al. A phase IIa trial of acupuncture to reduce chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy severity during neoadjuvant or adjuvant weekly paclitaxel chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Eur J Cancer 2018;101:12–19.

alternative2020-11-30T12:39:49-08:00November 30th, 2020|

The Health Benefits of Tai Chi

This gentle form of exercise can help maintain strength, flexibility, and balance, and could be the perfect activity for the rest of your life.

Tai chi is often described as “meditation in motion,” but it might well be called “medication in motion.” There is growing evidence that this mind-body practice, which originated in China as a martial art, has value in treating or preventing many health problems. And you can get started even if you aren’t in top shape or the best of health.

In this low-impact, slow-motion exercise, you go without pausing through a series of motions named for animal actions — for example, “white crane spreads its wings” — or martial arts moves, such as “box both ears.” As you move, you breathe deeply and naturally, focusing your attention — as in some kinds of meditation — on your bodily sensations. Tai chi differs from other types of exercise in several respects. The movements are usually circular and never forced, the muscles are relaxed rather than tensed, the joints are not fully extended or bent, and connective tissues are not stretched. Tai chi can be easily adapted for anyone, from the most fit to people confined to wheelchairs or recovering from surgery.

Tai chi movement

benefits of Tai chi; movements help maintain strength, flexibility and balance

A tai chi class practices a short form at the Tree of Life Tai Chi Center in Watertown, Mass.

A growing body of carefully conducted research is building a compelling case for tai chi as an adjunct to standard medical treatment for the prevention and rehabilitation of many conditions commonly associated with age. An adjunct therapy is one that’s used together with primary medical treatments, either to address a disease itself or its primary symptoms, or, more generally, to improve a patient’s functioning and quality of life.

Belief systems

You don’t need to subscribe to or learn much about tai chi’s roots in Chinese philosophy to enjoy its health benefits, but these concepts can help make sense of its approach:

Qi — an energy force thought to flow through the body; tai chi is said to unblock and encourage the proper flow of qi.
Yin and yang — opposing elements thought to make up the universe that need to be kept in harmony. Tai chi is said to promote this balance.

Tai chi in motion

A tai chi class might include these parts:

Warm-up. Easy motions, such as shoulder circles, turning the head from side to side, or rocking back and forth, help you to loosen your muscles and joints and focus on your breath and body.

Instruction and practice of tai chi forms. Short forms — forms are sets of movements — may include a dozen or fewer movements; long forms may include hundreds. Different styles require smaller or larger movements. A short form with smaller, slower movements is usually recommended at the beginning, especially if you’re older or not in good condition.

Qigong (or chi kung). Translated as “breath work” or “energy work,” this consists of a few minutes of gentle breathing sometimes combined with movement. The idea is to help relax the mind and mobilize the body’s energy. Qigong may be practiced standing, sitting, or lying down.

Getting started

The benefits of tai chi are generally greatest if you begin before you develop a chronic illness or functional limitations. Tai chi is very safe, and no fancy equipment is needed, so it’s easy to get started. Here’s some advice for doing so:

Don’t be intimidated by the language. Names like Yang, Wu, and Cheng are given to various branches of tai chi, in honor of people who devised the sets of movements called forms. Certain programs emphasize the martial arts aspect of tai chi rather than its potential for healing and stress reduction. In some forms, you learn long sequences of movements, while others involve shorter series and more focus on breathing and meditation. The name is less important than finding an approach that matches your interests and needs.

Check with your doctor. If you have a limiting musculoskeletal problem or medical condition — or if you take medications that can make you dizzy or lightheaded — check with your doctor before starting tai chi. Given its excellent safety record, chances are that you’ll be encouraged to try it.

Consider observing and taking a class. Taking a class may be the best way to learn tai chi. Seeing a teacher in action, getting feedback, and experiencing the camaraderie of a group are all pluses. Most teachers will let you observe the class first to see if you feel comfortable with the approach and atmosphere. Instruction can be individualized. Ask about classes at your local Y, senior center, or community education center.

If you’d rather learn at home, you can buy or rent videos geared to your interests and fitness needs (see “Selected resources”). Although there are some excellent tai chi books, it can be difficult to appreciate the flow of movements from still photos or illustrations.

Talk to the instructor. There’s no standard training or licensing for tai chi instructors, so you’ll need to rely on recommendations from friends or clinicians and, of course, your own judgment. Look for an experienced teacher who will accommodate individual health concerns or levels of coordination and fitness.

Dress comfortably. Choose loose-fitting clothes that don’t restrict your range of motion. You can practice barefoot or in lightweight, comfortable, and flexible shoes. Tai chi shoes are available, but ones you find in your closet will probably work fine. You’ll need shoes that won’t slip and can provide enough support to help you balance, but have soles thin enough to allow you to feel the ground. Running shoes, designed to propel you forward, are usually unsuitable.

Gauge your progress. Most beginning programs and tai chi interventions tested in medical research last at least 12 weeks, with instruction once or twice a week and practice at home. By the end of that time, you should know whether you enjoy tai chi, and you may already notice positive physical and psychological changes.

No pain, big gains

Although tai chi is slow and gentle and doesn’t leave you breathless, it addresses the key components of fitness — muscle strength, flexibility, balance, and, to a lesser degree, aerobic conditioning. Here’s some of the evidence:

Muscle strength. Tai chi can improve both lower-body strength and upper-body strength. When practiced regularly, tai chi can be comparable to resistance training and brisk walking.

Although you aren’t working with weights or resistance bands, the unsupported arm exercise involved in tai chi strengthens your upper body. Tai chi strengthens both the lower and upper extremities and also the core muscles of the back and abdomen.

Flexibility. Tai chi can boost upper- and lower-body flexibility as well as strength.

Balance. Tai chi improves balance and, according to some studies, reduces falls. Proprioception — the ability to sense the position of one’s body in space — declines with age. Tai chi helps train this sense, which is a function of sensory neurons in the inner ear and stretch receptors in the muscles and ligaments. Tai chi also improves muscle strength and flexibility, which makes it easier to recover from a stumble. Fear of falling can make you more likely to fall; some studies have found that tai chi training helps reduce that fear.

Aerobic conditioning. Depending on the speed and size of the movements, tai chi can provide some aerobic benefits. If your clinician advises a more intense cardio workout with a higher heart rate than tai chi can offer, you may need something more aerobic as well.

Stay Well and Be Healthy!

Dr. Lucy Postolov, L.Ac. DACM Dipl

alternative2020-11-02T15:39:27-08:00November 2nd, 2020|

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Woman in Field October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. My grandmother passed away from breast cancer at the age of 35 ( when my mom was only 3 month old) . My mom passed away from breast cancer at the age of 62….so now you can understand why 60 % of my practice is Breast Cancer Patients!! Why my mission in life is to fight for survival of these Women!!
According to American Cancer Society 1 out of 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime. 1 out 38 will die.

NIH Panel Issues Consensus Statement on Acupuncture from 1997

A consensus panel convened by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) today concluded there is clear evidence that needle acupuncture treatment is effective for postoperative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting, Research published in JAMA Oncology including contributions from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York), RMIT University (Australia), and Guangdong University (Guangzhou) researchers finds acupuncture effective for the relief of cancer pain and reduces the need for opioids. The investigators determined that true acupuncture produces significantly greater pain reduction than sham controls. They add that hospitals need to include acupuncture services to address this demand based on the “growing evidence of the efficacy of acupuncture.” [5]

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston) and Fudan University Cancer Center (Shanghai) researchers conclude that acupuncture reduces the frequency and severity of xerostomia (dry mouth). The investigation of acupuncture’s effects on head and neck cancer patients receiving radiation finds that acupuncture “resulted in significantly fewer and less severe RIX [radiation-induced xerostomia] symptoms 1 year after treatment vs SCC [standard care control].” [6]
#thewomenwellnesscollective #selflove #womenshealth #mother #female #breasthealth #breastcancer #breastcancerawareness #divinefeminine #womensupportwomen #holistichealth #acupuncture #empowerment #balance #menopause #nih #cancercentercommunity #research #dalailama #oncology #jama

All acupuncturists providing treatment were licensed acupuncturists and were trained at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The acupuncture point prescription in the study was the following:

CV24
LU7
KD6

alternative2020-10-29T14:06:04-07:00October 29th, 2020|

Acupuncture and Infertility-Scientific proof that it works!

SJ was referred to my practice for the 1st time in December 2018 by her #obgyn . She was informed that with her Ovarian Assessment Score was below average, even with #ivf her chance of getting #pregnant was very minimal. One month after #acupuncture and #Chinese #herbs #treatment the #patient got pregnant 🤰!!!! 9 month later she delivered a healthy baby 👶 👦 boy!!!!
4 month after , while still #breastfeeding and in the time of #covid_19 she came to me and told me that she wants another child…. after checking her #pulse and #tongue I had to be honest with her. I admitted that this time it will take me 3-6 month before she will get pregnant again women become depleted from pregnancy, #sleeplessnights😴 , breastfeeding #bloodloss . After 6 month of #chinesemedicine treatment she is pregnant again!!!! I feel privileged and honored 🙏. For more information see: Medicine (2019) Systematic review and Meta-Analysis . Acupuncture for #infertile #women undergoing #art . LiuYun, #md , Wu Liqun MD. #infertility #parenting #parents #chieldren #motherhood #mother #fatherandson #lucypostolov #mothernature #father

alternative2020-10-23T12:08:33-07:00October 23rd, 2020|

Celebrating World Menopausal Day!

Natural Woman, Natural Menopause

How Oriental Medicine Can Help You Cope With The Change

By Lucy Postolov, L.Ac.

“Going to Hollywood to talk about menopause

was a little bit like going to Las Vegas to sell savings accounts”

-Gail Sheehy (author of “The Silent Passage”)

Of all the wondrous miracles of our world, none is more miraculous than the

female body. It is to be appreciated, it is to be worshipped, and it is to be

amazed with its timely changes that occur throughout a woman’s life. One

change that is destined and brings a range of emotions from anxiety to

elation is menopause. The French say life begins at forty. Something else

is on its way as well.

River of Night Sweats! The Fire of Hot Flashes! Terror in the Ovaries!

No, these are not summer blockbusters coming to a theatre near you. In

reality, these are a few symptoms a woman can experience when the change is

at hand. Whoever said being a goddess was going to be easy.

Defining the Change

The Merck Manual of Medical Information defines menopause as the time in a

woman’s life when the cyclic function of the ovaries and menstrual periods

cease. Also known as “climacteric”, it is important to note that menopause is

not a disease but a normal physiological transition that indicates a phase in

a woman’s life where she makes the passage from a reproductive to a non-

reproductive state.

The basis for the decline of a woman’s reproductive power lies in the ovary

itself. The ovarian follicles are formed before birth in the fetus. At that

time they number approximately 6,000,000, decrease to 600,000 at birth, and

actually, number about 10,000 at the time of the menopause. Keeping this in

mind, it would be correct to say that menopause is not so much an event

that takes place suddenly in a woman’s life, but a natural, gradual

physiological process throughout her lifetime.

As ovaries age, response to pituitary-produced gonadotropins (follicle-

stimulating and luteinizing hormones) decreases, initially with shorter

follicular phases (hence, shorter cycles), fewer ovulation’s, decreased

progesterone production, and more cycle irregularity. Eventually, the

follicle fails to respond and, without feedback of estrogen, the circulating

gonadotropins rise substantially. Circulating levels of estrogen and

progesterone is greatly reduced.

Symptoms and Age of Occurrence

Essentially the symptoms of menopause usually occur between the ages of 48 and 55

with the median age being about 51. Remarkably, this has remained a

constant throughout the world and through the centuries. Chinese medicine

refers to cycles occurring in women at 7-year intervals and changes in men at

8-year intervals. Using these markers, the woman would begin her menstrual

cycle at 14 (2 x 7) and shows signs of menopause at age 49 (7 x 7). The same

formula can be used with the assumption that men mature at age 16 (2 x 8),

affirming the belief that men mature later in life. The symptoms of

menopause will vary in a woman depending on her lifestyle and dietary habits

to that point. As if you needed another reason not to smoke, smoking will

contribute to an early menopause.

Problems that a woman is likely to experience are: fatigue, headaches,

irritability, nervousness, vaginal dryness, night sweating, and the most

common of symptoms which is found in 75% of women, hot flushes or flashes. A

woman also may experience loss of bladder control, inflammation of the bladder

or vagina, and pain during intercourse.

Osteoporosis (severe deterioration of the bones) is a major health hazard of

menopause. Slender Caucasian women are at highest risk. Women who smoke

cigarettes, drink excessive amounts of alcohol, take corticosteroids, have a

low intake of calcium, or have a passive lifestyle are also at risk.

Cardiovascular disease progresses more rapidly after menopause, when estrogen

levels decrease.

Traditional Chinese Medicine View

To understand the Chinese philosophy and classifications of menopause,

we need to define the foundation that Chinese medicine is based upon, and that is the

concept of yin and yang.

The terms yin and yang are used by a traditional Chinese medicine

practitioner to describe the various opposing physical conditions of the

body. These terms stem from a basic Chinese concept describing the inter-

dependence and relationship of opposites. Much as hot cannot be understood or

defined without first having experienced cold, yin cannot exist without its

opposite yang, and yang cannot exist without yin. Together, the two

complementary poles form a whole. –Alternative Medicine, The Burton

Goldberg Group

Here are a few examples of Chinese diagnosis, patterns and clinical

manifestations of menopause:

1. Kidney-Yin deficiency. Dizziness, hot flush or flashes, night-sweating,

sore back, dry mouth, dry hair, itching, and constipation.

2. Kidney-Yang deficiency. Hot flushes but cold hands and feet, night-

sweating, pale face, depression, chilliness, backache, swelling of the ankles.

3. Kidneys and Heart not harmonized. Hot flushes, palpitations, insomnia,

Night sweating, blurred vision, dizziness, anxiety, backache, poor memory.

Chinese medicine does not refer to Kidney and Heart as a reference to an

organ, but to a channel of energy that flows through that organ. The Kidney

channel is responsible for reproductive and sexual activity, whereas the Heart

channel is responsible for the emotional and mental aspect of the body. Herbal

formulas will nourish the kidney essence; the acupuncture will regulate the

flow of Qi (vital energy). Research reveals that acupuncture stimulates

points that trigger the release of endorphins, natural analgesics found in

the spinal cord, brain, and pituitary gland.

Chinese Approach to Treatment and Prevention of Menopausal Symptoms

Chinese medicine can help a woman in this period of transition from

reproductive to a non-reproductive age in a gradual and healthy way. Herbal

treatment, acupuncture, meditation and a correct diet will help a woman with

menopausal problems. The treatment of a woman with oriental medicine will not

yield quick results, but will give a natural and balanced protection.

Chinese medicine with its gentle and safe manner will tonify Kidney essence

without side effects. Chinese medicine can be combined with HRT. There is no

contraindication of combining the two treatments because both work in

separate ways of treating menopausal problems and symptoms.

There are many different Chinese herbal formulas and acupuncture treatments

that will help the menopausal woman based on the diagnosis of the individual.

Each woman’s diagnosis is different and there is a combination of acupuncture

and herbal treatments suited just for her.

There are dietary recommendations that will ease and/or prevent the

menopausal symptoms and strengthen the Kidney essence, such as black beans,

sesame seeds, soybeans, walnuts, mulberries, yams, licorice, Chinese black dates,

lotus seeds and chrysanthemum flowers. Certain dairy foods contain the best

sources of calcium, notably milk, cheese, and yogurt. Certain seafood

(shrimps, oysters, canned sardines, and salmon with bones) and vegetables

(broccoli and parsley for example) also contain high quantities of this

Mineral. Kelp is one of the most calcium-rich plants available.

Daily meditation and proper rest are integral to the prevention of menopausal

symptoms. Lifestyle habits that will produce a severe transition include

stress, tension, overworking, smoking, excessive or lack of sexual activity,

stimulants and drugs.

Menopause is inevitable; there is no denying that fact. How a woman copes

with this period of her life is entirely in her hands and her trusted

practitioner. Embrace the wondrous changes that occur in all phases of your

life. #menopause #hotflashes #nightsweats #vaginaldryness #lowenergy #healing #Balance #lucypostolov #aging #healthyaging #womanempowerment #womansupportwomen #dalailama #women #worldmenopausemonth #worldmenopauseday #menopausesupport #menopauseday2020 #hotflashclub #womenshealth

alternative2020-10-22T13:25:24-07:00October 22nd, 2020|

The Role of Acupuncture in Managing Cancer Treatment Symptoms

Come see me and let me help you with managing any side effects you may be experiencing.

alternative2020-10-19T15:05:54-07:00October 19th, 2020|

The Balance of Yin and Yang

The Dao Masters believed that the key to a happy life is the balancing act of Yin and Yang within yourself. This individual balance centers you and makes it possible to strike a balance with another person ! What is Yin? It is a feminine, receiving, cooling, moistening-Moon Energy 🌙. What is Yang? It is male, proactive, giving, doing, achieving, warming, activating, initiating- the energy of the Sun 🌞! So….. we are all responsible for being centered and balanced within yourself and only then can we have happy and healthy sexual relationships with our partners 💥💫✨🔥 We are in a New Moon Phase of Lunar calendar right now, which is Yin. It requires the most Yin nourishment… herbal and acupuncture. Read about it in my chapter in the Textbook of Clinical Sexual Medicine published by Springer International in 2017 or please come to visit me or give me a call at 310-444-6212 to find more about it…🌔#moon #moonlight #yinyang #male #female #balance #sexualbalance #love #healthysexy #healingjourney #acupuncture #lucypostolov #waguihsiag

alternative2020-10-19T13:48:41-07:00October 19th, 2020|

Our Acupuncture office is open and COVID SAFE-Come See Us

alternative2020-10-12T15:58:43-07:00October 12th, 2020|

Acupuncture before surgery may reduce pain, opioid use

A new pilot study concludes that using acupuncture before surgery can reduce a person’s need for opioids following surgery. The Detroit-based researchers believe that acupuncture is a low-cost, safe method that reduces pain and anxiety in some people.
In the United States, the opioid crisis claimed the lives of 47,000 people in 2018, and almost a third of those deaths involved prescription opioids.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2018, two-thirds of drug overdose deaths involved an opioid. A 2018 report from Substances Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) states that 10.3 million people in the U.S. aged 12 or older misused opioids in the past year.

Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin and the prescription drug fentanyl. Other prescription opioids include oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and codeine.

According to a 2017 paper, over 80% of people receive a prescription for opioids after low-risk surgery. Almost 87% of these prescriptions include oxycodone or hydrocodone, which are the most common culprits in drug overdose deaths.

Doctors often use these opioids in inpatient settings and prescribe them to people when they leave the hospital.

In 2020, researchers found that opioid-related overdoses are 28% higher than reported because of incomplete death records.

Veterans are twice as likely to die from an accidental overdose compared with the general U.S. population. One study showed that the number of veterans’ who died due to an opioid overdose increased by 65% from 2010 to 2016.

In light of this opioid epidemic, there is an urgent need to decrease opioid use before or during surgeries.
Alternative methods

In a recent pilot study, a team of researchers evaluated the efficacy of two different acupuncture techniques before a group of veterans underwent surgeries: battlefield acupuncture and traditional acupuncture.

They presented their findings at the Anesthesiology 2020 annual meeting in Chicago, IL, on October 5.

The researchers conducted two experiments. In the first, they divided participants into two groups of 21 veterans due to undergo hip replacement surgery.

The first group received traditional acupuncture before their surgery, and the second group received sham acupuncture. Sham acupuncture, or placebo acupuncture, mimics acupuncture.

People in the control group needed an average of 56 of morphine milligram equivalent (MME) in the first 24 hours after surgery. MME is a method of calculating a patient’s cumulative intake of any opioid drugs over 24 hours.

In comparison, those who had traditional acupuncture received an average of only 20.4 MME. Almost two-hirds less than the control group.

The veterans who underwent traditional acupuncture also reported higher satisfaction with their pain management 24 hours post-surgery.

After rating their treatment satisfaction on a scale of 1–10, those who had acupuncture reported less pain. They also experienced 15% less anxiety than the control group, although this was not statistically significant.
Traditional versus battlefield

In the second experiment, 28 veterans scheduled for general surgery procedures received battlefield acupuncture. In the control group, 36 participants received sham acupuncture.

Battlefield acupuncture involves putting needles on ear acupoints. The needles remain in the ear for around 3–4 days. This technique targets points on the ear that practitioners think might interfere with how the body processes pain in the central nervous system.

A French doctor, Paul Nogier, popularized ear acupuncture in the 1950s. In 2001, it became known as battlefield acupuncture after Richard C. Niemtzow, a U.S. Air Force radiation oncologist, adapted the technique of ear acupuncture to provide rapid pain relief on the battlefield.

The veterans who received this acupuncture technique required half as many opioids in the first 24 hours after the surgery as the control group (17.4 MME versus 35 MME). They also reported lower scores at a median of 8 versus 6 in the control group.

While 38% of participants in the control group experienced nausea and vomiting after surgery, only 3% of those who had undergone battlefield acupuncture reported these symptoms.

Proponents of traditional medicine believe that acupuncture points in the ear affect trigger points in the stomach, gall, bladder, and small intestines and reduce nausea and vomiting.

Speaking with the American Society of Anesthesiologists, Brinda Kish, lead author of the study and an anesthesiology resident at Detroit Medical Center, MI, said:

“Some patients were open to trying acupuncture right away, and others became more interested when they learned more about the risks of opioid use. It’s easy, patients love it, it’s not just another medicine, and it’s very safe. Because battlefield acupuncture was developed by an armed services doctor, veterans also were more willing to participate.”

It is important to note that, although the findings are interesting, this research has not yet been peer-reviewed. Additionally, the study’s are small, so scientists will need to conduct much larger trials before reaching a firm conclusion about acupuncture’s usefulness.

alternative2020-10-12T14:56:31-07:00October 12th, 2020|

Selma Hayek swears by Acupuncture to help her relax

Selma Hayek has her Acupuncture Treatment

Salma Hayek has shared a steamy shot of her having acupuncture for ‘health and wellbeing’.

The Oscar-nominated actress celebrated reaching 12 million followers on Instagram by posting a picture of her back covered in a dozen of the needles.

And Salma is not the only star who swears by acupuncture to keep her feeling her best.

Proving beauty is pain, Kim Kardashian snapped a picture while having acupuncture in her face in 2013, which she ironically captioned ‘relaxing’.

Supermodel Miranda Kerr is also said to be a fan and even credited the alternative practice for helping her overcome whiplash after a car accident in 2013.

With more and more people turning to acupuncture for everything from insomnia to chronic pain, Yahoo looks at what the ancient Chinese medicine is and who could benefit.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture involves inserting fine needles into the body to stimulate nerves beneath the skin and in the muscles.

Research has shown this triggers the release of feel-good chemicals called endodorphins, which help to relieve pain. It may also dampen down pain transmission to the area of the brain that processes feelings of discomfort.

Practitioners of traditional acupuncture maintain it restores the flow of ‘life force’, called qi, through the body. Blocked qi is said to cause illness. No evidence supports this.

Headaches and migraines

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), which provides guidelines for the NHS, only recommends acupuncture to relieve chronic tension headaches and migraines. Even then, it advises doctors try conventional medicine first.

The ancient medicine was first assessed for headaches in 2001 when a group of global scientists looked at 16 studies with more than 1,150 headache sufferers between them.

They concluded ‘the existing evidence supports the value of acupuncture for the treatment of idiopathic headaches’, ie those that have no clear cause.

Further studies with thousands of participants later showed the alternative treatment’s potential in relieving migraines. Critics argued, however, this is simply due to placebo.

Most medical studies require both patients and scientists be blinded to the treatment a participant is receiving to reduce the risk of a placebo effect.

This is tricky with acupuncture, with patients being acutely aware if needles are being inserted into their skin.

To overcome this, some studies have not penetrated the needles as deeply as they otherwise would, while others have wrapped them in sheath. Critics maintain, however, the nerve fibres beneath the skin may still be stimulated.

When compared to no treatment, one study found acupuncture reduced the number of ‘headache days’ by 34% after 12 sessions. It also caused medicine use to go down by 15%.

Fertility

With infertility affecting up to one in seven couples, more women are turning to alternative medicine to help them conceive.

While a lack of evidence means Nice does not recommend acupuncture as a fertility remedy, studies suggest the ancient medicine may help women become pregnant.

A trial by Tel Aviv University found women were 65% more likely to conceive when they combined acupuncture with the fertility treatment intrauterine insemination (IUI). This involves placing sperm directly into a woman’s womb.

Of the participants who had just IUI and no alternative treatment, 39 per cent became pregnant.

Although unclear exactly why this occurred, acupuncture is thought to reduce stress. When a woman is feeling frazzled, she releases the hormone cortisol. This has been shown to disrupt reproductive hormones.

Dr Hana Visnova, an assisted reproduction specialist at the IVF Cube in Prague, has seen first hand the benefits of acupuncture in those having IVF.

After looking at thousands of women, she noted a six per cent increase in pregnancies among those who had the alternative treatment. Although this may seem small, the outcome can be significant.

“When it comes to fertility treatment, you’re already talking about fine margins between successful and unsuccessful outcomes,” Dr Visnova told Yahoo Style.

“It’s our view anything we can do to tip the balance further in favour of a positive pregnancy is to be encouraged and studied further.”

The team believe acupuncture boosts blood flow to the womb, which may make it more receptive to an embryo during IVF.

“Even if we’re talking about a placebo effect, if the patient is more relaxed then that’s still beneficial,” Dr Visnova said.

“Undergoing IVF can be a stressful time. That is not conducive to reproductive health.

“So if acupuncture can help to reduce this stress then it clearly has its place as part of clinical fertility treatment.”

Pain

Acupuncture is commonly used to relieve back, neck and joint pain, however, the evidence supporting this is mixed.

A 2012 study found the alternative treatment to be no better than ‘sham’ acupuncture at easing back, neck or shoulder pain.

And a report released this year by the Cleveland Clinic similarly found lower back pain and knee osteoarthritis are not better relieved with ‘real’ acupuncture than when the needles are just shallowly inserted into the skin.

However, a 2012 study found acupuncture better eased back and neck pain than no treatment or a sham version of the ancient Chinese medicine.

A 2014 trial then found acupuncture was better at dampening knee pain caused by osteoarthritis compared to no treatment but not when compared to sham acupuncture.

Despite the mixed results, an increasing interest in non-drug pain relief means many still turn to the ancient Chinese medicine to ease their aches and pains.

When carried out correctly, the procedure is generally ‘very safe’, according to the NHS. Side effects tend to include pain at the site of the needles, as well as bleeding or bruising.

Cancer

Perhaps most controversial of all is the suggestion acupuncture could help in the fight against cancer.

Martin Ledwick, head information nurse at Cancer Research UK, told Yahoo Style: “Some people feel that complementary treatments like acupuncture, given alongside conventional medicine, might help with some symptoms and side effects of cancer and its treatment.

“But there is no scientific research to demonstrate that acupuncture, or other complementary therapies, help in curing cancer or stopping cancer progressing.

“Anyone considering talking a complimentary treatment should check it with their doctor first to make sure that there are no known interactions with any conventional treatments they are taking.”

Scientists are, however, looking into whether acupuncture could relieve side effects of chemotherapy, such as nausea, fatigue and pain.

Where to get acupuncture

In some cases, the NHS will cover the ancient Chinese medicine to relieve migraines and headache. Most patients, however, have to pay for the alternative treatment themselves.

Prices vary between practitioners but often start at around £70 for an hour session.

Unlike conventional medicine, acupuncture is not overseen by an official government body in the UK. The British Acupuncture Council self-regulates the treatment and lists accredited practitioners.

alternative2019-10-21T11:22:50-07:00October 21st, 2019|