Alternative Medicine Resources

Entropy affects everyone in the course of time.  After several decades, a once looking youthful and beautiful face loses its attractiveness and degenerates.  Though aging (or entropy) is a major factor for this various toxins, pollution and stress also play their part in the loss of a person’s attractive, youthful looking appearance.  These factors cause early aging, loose skin, dark spots, wrinkles, sagging laugh lines and sagging facial muscles.  Modern conventional treatments provide answers to these conditions but most people would prefer natural treatment methods when it comes to facial care and enhancing to avoid any regrettable side effects that affect the face.

Fortunately for these people seeking natural treatment, cosmetic acupuncture New York is one safe, natural and quite effective treatment for looking good that does not use any type of medication in its procedure.  This type of acupuncture is also known as facial rejuvenation or acupuncture facelift.  Acupuncture is based on the theory that there are points in the body called acupuncture points where needles inserted there can produce positive and beneficial results such as a better looking and healthier skin.  Acupuncture points lie along energy channels called meridians which carry vital life force known as chi throughout the body.  Chi is what the body needs to live, grow, be strong and be healthy.  Cosmetic acupuncture needles stimulate the meridians which carry blood and energy to the soft tissues and bones in the face.  Meridians in the face are inserted with needles to stimulate these effects.

The needles help remove any energy blockages in the meridians which disrupt the flow of energy, oxygen, blood and vital nutrients that make the skin healthy.  Under a licensed, well-trained acupuncturist, there should be no pain felt when the needles are inserted into the skin; instead a tingling sensation or no sensation at all should be felt when needles are inserted. The needles increase muscle tone, which tightens the loose skin removing the facial wrinkles and giving the facial skin a healthy complexion.  The needles also stimulate the production and release of collagen to enhance skin elasticity and help give the skin a younger looking look.  The needles also help in alleviating pain in the facial muscles and improve the range of motion of tensed and stiff muscles.

As mentioned, cosmetic acupuncture improves blood circulation, particularly to the face thus giving the face a much healthier glow.  It also can treat skin conditions such as pimples, acne and facial dark spots.  Some conventional cosmetic techniques such as a surgical facelift can cost so much money that most people can hardly afford it.  Cosmetic acupuncture, on the other hand probably costs a fraction of the amount spent on one cycle of Botox or cosmetic surgery.  Besides there are very few minimal risks of injuries with acupuncture compared to the very painful and invasive procedures of both cosmetic surgery and Botox.

Low back pain is one of the most common reasons people see doctors.  No one is immune to low back pain and it is a major reason why people miss doing activities and work.

Pain can have many causes; to name a few, diseases, structural deformities and trauma (pain from injuries and pain).  Vertebral problems that are structural in nature such as stenosis, herniated discs and other vertebral deformities generate pain and other chronic problems. Some diseases that can cause pain are osteoporosis and ankylosing spondylosis.  Symptoms of back pain usually manifest in the back’s lumbar region.  The pain can affect only the back muscles and is localized.  It may also travel to other parts of the body, particularly the legs.  Some typical symptoms of back pain include numbness, spasmodic pain, dull pain, stabbing pain and throbbing pain as well as pain from the back traveling down to the toes causing pain and numbness to the toes.  Back pain can be so severe that the victim may be unable to walk.

Conventional as well as alternative treatments for low back pain exist.  For conventional treatments, muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory drugs are the most often used.  For severe low back pain, back surgery is an option.  For alternative treatments to back pain, the most popular would be traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) incorporates all-natural modalities that have existed for thousands of years. Acupuncture New York is one of those modalities and is a very effective treatment for low back pain. TCM takes an entirely different view of the human body than Western medicine. TCM believes that life energy flows throughout the body along energy vessels called meridians.  The Chinese call this life energy chi. Sometimes chi is not properly dispensed throughout the body and some parts of the body experience deficient chi. When this energy imbalance happens, disease arises.  Factors such as blood and chi deficiency or pathogens caused by cold and wind can cause low back pain.  According to TCM, low back pain is often associated with problems in the kidney meridians.   With acupuncture problems in the kidney meridians and other affected parts of the back causing low back pain will be properly addressed.

Millions of people in the United States have benefited greatly from acupuncture treatment, especially for the treatment of acute and chronic low back pain.  For the resolution of acute low back pain a few to less than 10 sessions are needed while in chronic low back pain cases, treatment duration tends to be longer.  Some chronic cases are impossible to cure and acupuncture then is used to help manage their painful symptoms.  Acupuncture is also extremely affective for back conditions such as arthritis, stenosis, herniated discs and sciatica.

Acupuncture New York is many times combined with moxibustion therapy in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).  These combined modalities are so inextricably related to each other that they have a corresponding name; zhenjiu.  Zhen means needle while jiu means to burn.  Because these two treatments are used very often, a neologism called acu-moxa is now used for this treatment.  To better appreciate this treatment, the need to understand their origins becomes necessary.

Moxibustion is one of the modalities comprising TCM.  It treats sicknesses by energizing the meridians and acupuncture points with heat. Moxibustion was invented directly as a consequence of the discovery of fire by primitive humans.  Plants and animals tend to thrive in warm climate than cold.  Using heat as a form of treatment is universal and can be proven by evidence of its usage in the ancient Rome and Greece.  Early humans have figured out that fire can not only keep them warm and cook their food but also can cure or relieve their maladies.

With needles, however, allowing oneself to be stuck with needles is not a normal activity one does to one’s body even when in pain or sickness.  Most, if not all people would rather not be inserted with needles; in fact, needles to humans is associated to injury and/or pain.  Being pricked with a needle always elicits an uneasy or painful sensation even if the needles used are thin and/or short.  A recent study reported that needles with the size of acupuncture needles when used on rabbits can cause damage to more than a dozen nerve fibers.  When one reflects on how thick and big the needles were used in antiquity, one can probably guess the trauma of the patient then when these needles were used in his/her body.

Even if acupuncture, under the hands of a less skilled acupuncturist, can be painful, it does not cause lasting or severe injury.  Many people, especially those suffering from acute or chronic disorders can and are willing to endure the needles if it meant treating their problems.  Most people in the West are frightened of pain and acupuncture treatment for them may seem a frightening prospect.  It does not help when inexperienced and poorly trained acupuncturists are in the news and reported to have botched treatments.

Acupuncture is a uniquely Chinese invention or discovery.  There are no chronicles of this type of treatment recorded in other ancient cultures.  Traditional and medical acupuncturists up to a point still follow the same doctrines and apply needles in the same manner as were espoused on the earliest discourse on acupuncture (around 104-34 BC). Even with the integration of modern technology and other modern techniques such as point stimulation or acupressure, needle use is still the more common method that acupuncture treatment uses.

Chronic back pain is an ailment that daily affects millions of people in the United States.  This type of back pain can have factors such as poor posture, extreme stress, muscle stiffness in the back and neck or even causes of unknown origin.  Sometimes prevention is unavoidable as some of the causes are part of one’s daily living.  Some people suffering from back pain have discovered the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating chronic back pain, which if left untreated can lead to other debilitating conditions.

Acupuncture New York treatments not only address the pain but the factors that caused this pain.  However, traditional Chinese medicine or TCM is not exactly the same as Western medicine in terms of their paradigms.  The Chinese theorize that the basic flow of the life force of a person should be allowed to flow unimpeded.  With the aid of acupuncture, blockages in the flow could be removed allowing for the smooth unobstructed flow of the life force, which the Chinese calls chi.  Acupuncture is the use of needles inserted at sites where electromagnetic energy stimulated by the needles helps remove energy blockages and balances the energy of the body.  This paradigm makes it difficult for Western medical science to understand how acupuncture works and this causes some researches to be skeptical of the benefits, which acupuncture claims to give.  Regardless of their views, the treatment does relieve many types of pain and stress.  There are many individuals that have benefited from acupuncture and some are willing witnesses of its efficacy.  Relying on medications that give transitory relief, sometimes unsatisfactory relief while there is a superior treatment that gives long-lasting relief for chronic back pain without the addition of harmful side effects to the body needs to be realized by chronic back sufferers who have not tried acupuncture.

Not all acupuncture sites related to back pain treatment are located in the back.  The nervous system may have nerves associated with the pain that reach out to other areas other than the back.  A trained and qualified acupuncturist knows exactly what part of the body to insert the needles in for one’s particular back pain.

Stress affects the nervous system in a way that causes the muscles to stiffen resulting in muscle pain and spasm.  The relief of stress relaxes the muscles and releases the pressure on the muscles caused by stress, pressure that had been accumulated throughout the day.  In this manner, acupuncture can help the person weather the daily mental and physical stresses that can lead to disease and ailments.

What are the benefits of long-term regular acupuncture? Normal and regulated blood pressure, better circulation, improved eating and sleeping habits and of course, the removal of stress from the body as well as improved vitality and emotional joy.

Acupuncture New York was invented in China more than 2500 years ago as a way to treat different kinds of illnesses and disorders.  It is a treatment where ultra thin needles are inserted at vital points in the body to regulate and allow the smooth flow of chi.  Sterile, stainless steel, single use, newly packaged disposable needles are used to prevent infection and are inserted at energy entrances called acupuoints to control chi flow and improve blood circulation.  The purpose is to create balance among the energies that comprise chi flow and aid the body in treating diseases.  Acupuncture is an established treatment for pain therapy and/or pain management and for treatment of assorted kinds of chronic disorders.  Acupuncture also increases body metabolism allowing for the efficient burning of fat and calories and is superior in weight loss treatment than diet programs or diet pills when it comes to safety and efficacy.  It also is a good way to cure sleeplessness, extreme emotions such as depression, anger or anxiety and substance abuse.

The kidneys play a key role the body’s overall health.  To understand the importance of the kidneys in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), an introduction to the concepts of yin and yang might be required.  To simplify the concept of yin and yang, they are the two complementary but opposing forces in chi, just like the positive and negative force in electricity.  Chi itself and blood can be termed as yin (blood, passive) and yang (chi, active).  The kidneys are yin by orientation and are paired with yang bladder that governs or controls the lower back.  The kidneys according to TCM is where the energy of the body originated and is the repository and mover of Jing throughout the body.  Jing creates (bone) marrow and when robust, leads to healthy, plentiful hair, hard bones, strong teeth and a healthy functioning mentality.  When the kidneys are healthy, the person is strong, physically and mentally. Weak kidneys beget a weak Jing making the body vulnerable to sickness and mental and body dysfunctions.  Symptoms of weak kidneys are lower back pain, kidney stones, sleeplessness, skin disorders, tinnitus, foot problems, poor bladder functions, sluggishness, feeble thinking, poor eyesight, infertility and nausea to mention a few.

Although the principle of correcting kidney conditions is basically the same for different acupuncture treatments of kidney disorders, the techniques may vary per person because of each person’s unique constitution.  Acupuncture improves blood flow to the kidneys reducing pain caused by ailments such as kidney stones and purges toxins accumulated on the kidneys.  A well nourished kidney helps in the reduction of stress and extreme emotions such as depression and anxiety all of which benefits both the physical and mental aspect of the individual

Even when modern living has managed to make facets of life much more comforting, a great number of individuals still manage to feel emotionally unhappy.  Why?  Modern lifestyle itself has made personal relationships and normal living untenable to keep and difficult to hold.   Anxiety is a widespread psychological and emotional condition that individuals suffer nowadays. Acupuncture provides a natural alternative treatment from this emotion and helps one to go back to a relaxed and saner life.

Acupuncture  New York and traditional Chinese Medicine believe the mind as well as the body to be integral aspects of an individual.  External factors (Cold, Heat and Wind) and internal factors of illness were believed to caused by extreme emotions. Extreme emotions such as worry, fear, joy and sadness correspond to the five body organs associated with yin and imbalances or injuries in these organs are due to these extreme emotions festering over time.

Western lifestyle has made life too complex, stressful and impersonal rather than just allowing for a laid back way of life and more time to unwind and this affects the body and mind to become stressed up, creating anxiety. Acupuncture is a fantastic therapy that can treat this psycho-emotional disorder.  Acupuncture involves inserting needles to specific points in the body and these needles cause a very tranquil and relaxing state during the treatment.

Anxiety comes from worrying about future events that is beyond a person’s control.  Symptoms of anxiety are post-traumatic stress disorder, panic episodes, chest pain, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, stomachache, nausea, or headache among others.  Anxiety is an expected reaction to the pressures of daily living but excessive anxiety or anxiety occurring randomly is a disorder.

According to TCM way of thinking, anxiety can be related to the imbalanced energies of the kidneys and heart.  The heart organ or yang organ invariably sends blood all over the body. Extreme excitement, such as excessive joy imbalances the yang (fire) inside and causes heat in the heart resulting in anxiety and sleeplessness. The kidney represents yin (water) and balances the fire in the heart. If the kidney is lacking in energy, the heart fire increases disturbing the mind.

Acupuncture therapies such as body and ear acupuncture at specific points are applied to normalize the kidneys and heart, balance their yin and yang and reduce anxiety.  Sometimes, ear tacks are placed at the ear acupuncture points to prolong and maximize the healing until after the next treatment.

Depending on the severity of the anxiety, treatment may last a few days or half a year.  Without the need for any pharmaceutical drugs, acupuncture is a relatively safe and superior treatment for anxiety without any side effects to worry about and is a treatment that allows the mind to remain calm and placid amid the constant pressure brought about my modern living.

Acupuncture has been around for over 2000 years and is part of traditional Chinese medicine.  Acupuncture New York believes that a block in the vital energy flow in the body causes chi imbalances and this is believed to be the root cause of many of the diseases among humans. These blockages can be removed and the energy flow of the body can be manipulated by inserting reed thin needles into specific locations of the body.

In treating infertility, acupuncture’s role is to increase the amount of blood flow to the sexual organs and stabilize the hormones in the body. With this, the ovaries can function well to produce healthy eggs while in men; sperm cells are produced in large amounts and with greater quality.  Acupuncture is used for infertility treatment when a couple experiences fertility issues such as erectile dysfunction or infrequent ovulation. Acupuncture is now often used as a complementary treatment for in vitro fertilization, helping women to relax during this stressful program.

Acupuncture is quite a painless and non-stressful procedure and side effects very rarely occur. The only things considered adverse would be needles broken beneath the skin, needle contamination leading to the transmission of diseases or minimal bleeding at the insertion point. It is best to consult with an experienced, licensed and professional acupuncturist, a board passer and one who has logged 2000 to 3000 hours of acupuncture training.  Acupuncture for infertility treatment usually lasts months.  It usually involves 12 individual appointments, lasting about an hour in length per week. During this hour-long session, a physical examination will be done and any complications or issues encountered since the last appointment will be examined.

Acupuncture, at the very least, assists the body to achieve fertility.  With proper blood flow because of acupuncture, the organs that have been undernourished with nutrients for some time become energized and function well again.  For men, blood flow in their genitals can prolong erection and assist in high semen production and high semen quality.  Hormonal balance is gained with acupuncture hindering the proliferation of hormones inimical to pregnancy. For couples who are now opting for In Vitro Fertilization, acupuncture will greatly help them make this program a success.  For pharmaceutical therapy such as Clomid, studies have proven that acupuncture is as effective as Clomid in assisting fertilization.  Furthermore, the toxins inherent in pharmaceutical drugs can cause side effects on women taking the drug.  Acupuncture, as mentioned before, does not have any side effects.

Sometimes, acupuncture is used combined with herbal medicines to make the treatment more potent.  There are a number of fertility herbs that can greatly aid a woman achieve pregnancy.  These products are usually determined by the acupuncturist depending on what type of infertility problem a person has.