Acupuncture Loves Seniors, and Seniors Love Acupuncture!

ARLINGTON, WA – Cole Alexander doesn't care if his clients think he's boring.

"I know I'm having a really good day if there's a lot of snoring," he joked.

Alexander said acupuncture is good for whatever ails you. Most of the clients in Arlington are seniors who get help for mobility issues. Clients who just want to feel better can be treated for general health and wellness. Others get more-specific help for pain or arthritis in their shoulders or elsewhere.

"The bread and butter of acupuncture is pain treatment," Alexander said.

Alexander said for many of the seniors it's an all-day event.

"They get out of the house, increase their social interaction, see each other and then stay for lunch," he said.

He added it's good for "almost anything: anxiety, stress, insomnia, digestion, hot flashes …"

"It increases your quality of life," he said. "It kind of helps with everything."

Alexander said acupuncture is a 3,000-year-old medicine, and "when it comes to being sick things haven't changed much."

Acupuncture can be popular this time of year for people who set New Year's resolutions wanting to lose weight. He said people still need to eat right and exercise, but acupuncture can "even out the cravings" that are brought on by stress and anxiety.

"Don't expect the needles to do all the work," he said.

Using straight Chinese theory, Alexander said weight gain means there's a problem with the digestive system.

"The body's not using food in the best way," he said, adding it's then stored and becomes toxic. By helping to even out your emotions, acupuncture can strengthen the digestive process, he said.

Alexander said the process is not painful. It takes 16 acupuncture needles to make one syringe needle, which are big and hollow so medicine can go through. In acupuncture the needles barely break the surface. If there's any pain at all, Alexander said just tell him, and he will take it out or adjust it.

Patients lie back in a lounge chair after checking in and "cook" for a half hour. They then should rest for another half hour to get the full effect, Alexander said.

Normala Ram is one of his patients. She has been getting treatments for neck, shoulder, back and breathing issues.

"I'm going to stay with it," she said. "It's helping a lot."

Sylvia McFadden also is a believer. She has come six times for shoulder and bicep pain.

"It's helped more than other things I've tried," she said.

Barb Condon of Arlington has been coming for 1 1/2 years. She has had back and leg surgeries.

"They didn't work out that well, so I thought I'd give this a try," she said.

Condon said her results are nothing short of amazing.

"The pain is less or even gone," she said.

Condon said she keeps coming back because there's always "something else to work on. When you're older there's always something."

She added she has not had as good of luck with medical doctors.

Condon has led a very active lifestyle. She has shown horses and did lifting in a job at Albertson's for years. She also said she's been in some car wrecks. Almost 73, she more recently turned an ankle. After receiving a few treatments, the pain went away.

"It wasn't long before I felt better and forgot about it," she said.

Linda Wright, who grew up in Arlington, said she has had so many medical issues since she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1993.

"If I wake up, and I put my foot on the floor it's a good day," she said. "So many drugs, so many problems."

Modern medicine says she is clinically depressed and has anxiety.

"Who wouldn't be anxious if they had M.S.?" she asked, adding among other benefits acupuncture has made her less anxious.

Wright has been seeing Alexander and fellow acupuncturist Kristan Rutski for about five months.

The most-recent ailment she was treated for was shingles.

"It was the most excruciating pain I've ever had," she said. "My chiropractor suggested acupuncture. After three treatments the pain was gone."

Another problem that keeps Wright coming back is a right foot that has turned purple. She said modern medicine has told her that she does not have a circulation problem. But the color has faded some thanks to acupuncture.

"It's been around thousands of years so why wouldn't it work?" she said.

by STEVE POWELL,  Arlington Times Managing Editor 

A Story on Asthma & Acupuncture

Coming from a conventional medical background working as a nurse, generally in the intensive care unit or the emergency room, the switch to acupuncture school was quite the culture shock! I went to acupuncture school never having had traditional acupuncture before. After having met my educational requirements, I was able to start my internship. This is where my story really begins.

I had just stepped into the clinic on my first day of my internship, when I heard a rushing noise behind me. I whirled around, to find three men, practically carrying a mostly-limp man between them. The man in the center was having a severe asthma attack, and was cyanotic. He was in bad shape. I would expect most people to take someone like this to a conventional emergency room or call 911. But they hadn't. He wanted acupuncture.


My first thought as I observed what was before me, was "where's the epinephrine or oxygen or nebulizer?" I was clearly out of my element, so I briskly sat the man down in the waiting room sofa and ran off to get the head physician/Clinic Director. He responded amazingly quickly, prepared with 4 needles in hand. In a flash, he expertly inserted the first two needles. The asthmatic man instantly calmed, drew in a good breath, and pinked up. We're talking 30 seconds. I was stunned. Never had I seen any treatment in the emergency room work that fast! He inserted the other 2 needles and the man relaxed into a deep sleep. I looked at the Doctor with an obvious shock to my countenance, and said "Wow! This stuff really works!" He laughed and walked back to his other patient.


I hate to admit it, but the culture of acupuncturists tends to be a bit odd. I think to be an acupuncturist, you have to think differently. When I first started acupuncture school, I kept trying to pigeon-hole what I was learning within the context of conventional medicine, because that's what I knew. Nursing and conventional medicine was my background. I came from a family of nurses, and started in medicine at an early age. Now, in acupuncture school, I was really struggling and not doing well the first few weeks. It wasn't until a teacher in acupuncture school told me to forget everything I know about conventional medicine and learn with a clean slate, that I finally got it. Now as a seasoned practitioner, I can explain it in conventional medicine terms.


The most important thing that I took from school, and from that first day, and first real experience in clinic, is that acupuncture works. After a number of acupuncture treatments, that first man was eventually cured of his asthma. Since then, I have seen some pretty remarkable ailments resolved with acupuncture. While I still believe the first place to go to while in an acute asthma attack is the emergency room, I sure enjoy helping people resolve or lessen their asthma condition.

Holly Carling/Doctor of Oriental Medicine

Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist, with more than 35 years of experience. Her clinic is located in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. 

Ready to Breath Freely?

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice that targets focal points on the skin using needles. It’s commonly used as a holistic approach to alleviating pain, and now allergies by stimulating the nervous system.

Mark Stoehr, a licensed acupuncturist says, “It can also help modulate the whole histamine response with allergies. It helps you not be as itchy or not have as much of a runny nose.”

Acupuncture essentially activates the immune system where allergic reactions start. Mark Stoehr has been practicing acupuncture since 2009 and has felt the results of it himself.

He used to suffer from severe headaches back in college. Acupuncture basically changed his life, but each patient is on their own timeline.

Stoehr goes on, “Some people get immediate relief, and it can take a little while.”

I decided to give it a shot. I've suffered from hay fever my entire life. I explained my symptoms to Stoehr, “I wake up and it never fails. Sneezing automatically, congested, I can't go back to sleep.”

Armed with that information, and needles, Stoehr targeted focal points to help with sneezing and congestion. Those points happen to be on the face.

He also put a few needles in my hands to access acupuncture meridians. Meridians are pathways that stem from the hand and influence symptoms in the head.     

I may or may not be cured of my allergy issues, but some people have. In a study published by the American Journal of Chinese medicine, 26 out of 26 hay fever patients reported reduced symptoms after acupuncture, without any side effects.

Stoehr says allergy relief is not one size fits all. Acupuncture may work for some and not for others. However, Stoehr says one method that should help most people is a change in diet.

Avoiding foods heavy in diary will decrease mucus which is a big help for people suffering from severe allergies.

Treating Infertility with Acupuncture and Modern Medicin

East Meets West: Treating Infertility With Acupuncture and Modern Medicine

Acupuncture can increase blood flow to the pelvic area, regulate the menstrual cycle and trigger ovulation, experts say.

The ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture is fast-becoming an accepted supplement to modern-day assisted reproductive technology that helps infertile couples become parents.

“More doctors are open to referring patients to complementary medicine for their reproductive health as well as for their emotional well-being,” says Mimi Baker, a licensed acupuncturist in Princeton, New Jersey, who practices traditional Chinese medicine and works in conjunction with fertility experts.

Dr. Frederick L. Licciardi, a professor at the NYU Langone Fertility Center, where he directs the Fertility Wellness Program, says more women are seeking ancillary services while they pursue fertility treatments. The program offers acupuncture, yoga, psychological services, nutrition and mind-body classes.

“Women and couples face many pressures when they are undergoing fertility treatment. Anything we can do to promote their emotional well-being and make the process easier so they can continue with their treatment is beneficial,” says Licciardi, a reproductive endocrinologist and co-founder of the fertility center.

About 7.4 million women of childbearing age have used infertility services, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Assisted reproductive techniques include medication, artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization, which involves the transfer of an embryo created in a laboratory dish to the uterus.

An ancient form of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture involves the painless placement of ultrathin needles into strategic points on the body to balance Qi (pronounced chee) – a form of “life energy” believed to flow throughout the body. A blocked Qi can lead to physical and emotional illness.

“Acupuncture helps to stimulate the body’s own healing mechanism,” says Baker, who is treating an increasing number of women in their mid-30s to early 40s.

Experts believe acupuncture can increase blood flow to the pelvic area (which could help with embryo implantation), regulate the menstrual cycle, trigger ovulation and reduce the side effects of medications associated with assisted reproductive technology. It also increases the release of endorphins, the body’s mood-enhancing hormone that reduces stress and relieves pain.

“A lot of good hormonal things happen when people are deeply relaxed,” says Steve Blumenthal, a licensed acupuncturist with the Green Hills Natural Health Clinic in Nashville, Tennessee, and a fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine. Women with fertility issues represent about 70 percent of his practice.

Women undergoing high-tech fertility treatments may have acupuncture for many weeks, including the day of the embryo transfer during IVF. A 2002 study of 160 women found that adding acupuncture to the IVF treatment protocol increased pregnancy rates by 42.5 percent versus 26.3 percent for those who did not have acupuncture.

“This study catapulted acupuncture into the world of in vitro fertilization because it made physicians aware of some of merits of doing acupuncture,” Baker says. 

Acupuncturists also treat women with fertility problems – like a lack of ovulation – who choose not to pursue modern medical options.

“Western medicine believes that egg quality can only continuously go down,” Blumenthal says. “Whereas in Chinese medicine, we feel we can nourish egg quality with herbs and a little bit of acupuncture."

Blumenthal uses acupuncture along with a basal body temperature chart to track hormonal and temperature changes during the menstrual cycle. Women take their basal body temperature every morning before getting out of bed.

“Modern technology such as the basal body thermometer, can help us know if we are actually regulating the energy and hormones,” he says.

Despite its growing popularity, many experts believe conclusive scientific evidence on the efficacy of using acupuncture to treat infertility remains elusive.

“Women should not have acupuncture because they were told it will increase their chances of becoming pregnant,” Licciardi says. He cites the conclusion of a leading medical journal that reviewed 20 top studies: “There is no evidence that acupuncture improves live birth or pregnancy rates in assisted reproduction.”

“I do embrace acupuncture,” he adds. “I just don’t want to oversell it.”

Fertility specialists cite the importance of seeing a medical doctor to identify any physical problems that might require traditional medical and surgical interventions. Experts also advise patients who want acupuncture to seek a licensed professional.

In the future, Blumenthal expects more women will use acupuncture as a first-line treatment for infertility rather than after failed IVF attempts.

“I see women trying Chinese medicine first for six to nine months before moving along to more invasive and expensive techniques,” he says.

By Magaly Olivero

Hot Flashes & Acupuncture

The ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture has been used to treat physical, mental, and emotional conditions - from headaches to asthma - for thousands of years. New research has been released indicating it may help with menopause-induced hot flashes.

Acupuncture has the ability to detect energetic changes that occur in the body and quickly relieve symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, foggy mind, and irritability. In fact, there is evidence that acupuncture and herbal medicine have been used for women's health in early medical literature dating back to 3 A.D.

Traditional Chinese medicine does not recognize menopause as one particular syndrome. Instead, it aims to treat the specific symptoms that are unique to each individual, using a variety of techniques such as acupuncture, Chinese herbs, bodywork, lifestyle/dietary recommendations and energetic exercises to restore imbalances found in the body.

A study published in the journal Menopause (July 2014) analyzed 12 studies and found acupuncture has the power to reduce hot flash frequency, severity, and other menopausal symptoms This was the first study to look specifically at acupuncture's effect on hot flashes for women in natural menopause.

Hot flashes are the most common symptom of menopause. They happen to more than two-thirds of women in North America. The sudden feeling of heat can cause red blotches to appear on your chest, back, and arms followed by heavy sweating and cold shivers to cool the body back down. Approximately half of all menopausal women use complementary and alternative medicine therapies, such as acupuncture instead of drug therapies to manage their symptoms.

Various forms of acupuncture were found to be beneficial for hot flashes. These include traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture, acupressure, electroacupuncture, laser acupuncture, and auricular (ear) acupuncture.

Researchers found menopausal women between the ages of 40 and 60 had lessened the frequency and severity of their hot flashes for as long as three months after an acupuncture treatment.

The study stopped short of explaining the exact mechanism underlying the effects of acupuncture on hot flashes, but a theory was proposed to suggest that acupuncture caused a reduction in the concentration of beta-endorphin in the hypothalamus, resulting from low concentrations of estrogen.

Dr. Wendy/Hayden Health 

Want to lower your blood pressure?

 

Acupuncture successfully lowers blood pressure in patients with hypertension. Researchers conducted a randomized, controlled clinical trial of 120 patients. Groups 1 and 2 received medications but group 1 also received acupuncture in addition to usual care. The group receiving acupuncture had significantly lower blood pressure. In addition, the acupuncture group had significantly less anxiety. 

A related hypertension study had similar findings. A randomized, controlled clinical trial compared two groups. Group 1 received health education and lifestyle intervention. Group 2 received acupuncture in addition to the health education and lifestyle intervention. The hypertension reduced in both groups, however, the acupuncture group had significantly superior patient outcomes.

The researchers used a protocolized acupuncture point prescription to achieve the clinical results. Acupuncture point Baihui (DU20) was threaded towards acupuncture point Qianding (DU21). DU20, located at the vertex of the head, is considered one of the most important acupuncture points in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Classical indications for using DU20 include the treatment of hypertension.

The hypertension research supports the ancient TCM principles with a modern scientific investigation. According to TCM principles, DU20 is a sea of marrow acupuncture point that clears the senses, calms the spirit, extinguishes liver wind and stabilizes the ascendent yang. In modern terms, this indicates acupuncture at DU20 for the treatment of hypertension, dizziness, headaches, vertigo, tinnitus, nasal congestion, coma, shock, mental disorders and prolapsed organs. 

Another group of researchers investigated acupuncture’s anti-hypertensive effects in a laboratory experiment and discovered something very powerful. The researchers gained insight as to how acupuncture lowers blood pressure in cases of hypertension. Acupuncture has the ability to regulate microRNAs, small RNA molecules that regulate gene expression. 

The researchers investigated the effects of needling Taichong (LV3) on laboratory rats. They found 222 differently expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in the medulla of rats receiving acupuncture at LV3. The researchers note, “Our findings have demonstrated significant changes of specific and selective miRNAs in rats when taichong acupoint was stimulated. Our data have revealed the specific miRNA profile changes in response to acupuncture treatment and strongly suggest that a selective panel of miRNAs play an important role in the antihypertensive activity of acupuncture therapy.”

There are numerous investigations finding acupuncture effective in lowering hypertension. Another research team concludes that needling acupuncture point Taixi (KD3) has an “antihypertensive effect for essential hypertension.” To eliminate the placebo effect, a true acupuncture group was compared with a non-acupuncture group and a sham acupuncture group. The data indicates that true acupuncture has a “stable antihypertensive effect.”

5 Reasons to Try Acupuncture

From IBS to insomnia, 5 reasons to give acupuncture a go

Don’t let the thought of those needles put you off – acupuncture can help ease everything from fertility to migraines.

 

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From boosting fertility to easing Irritable Bowel Syndrome and helping you get a good night’s sleep, acupuncture is fast becoming the country’s go-to complementary treatment.

Some 2.3 million acupuncture appointments are made each year in the UK, according to the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has given it their seal of approval for the treatment of lower back pain, migraine and chronic tension headaches.

But many people still only discover acupuncture as a last resort, says the BAcC, whose Acupuncture Awareness Week runs from March 2-8, 2015. And some 21% of Brits think the needles are the same size as those used for injections, when they’re actually only as thick as a human hair.

Celebrity fans include Gary Barlow, Jodie Kidd, Julie Walters, Helena Bonham Carter and TV presenter Donna Air.

So what is acupuncture?

Based on 2,000-year-old Chinese healthcare principles, acupuncture is a holistic approach that sees pain and illness as signs that the body is out of balance. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners believe symptoms occur when the body’s qi (vital energy – pronounced ‘chee’) is blocked due to a combination of emotional, physical and mental reasons, such as stress or poor nutrition.

How does it work?

The fine sterile needles are inserted into specific acupuncture points to re-establish the free flow of qi, restore balance and trigger the body’s natural healing response. In Western medicine, it’s understood that the needles stimulate nerve endings and alter the way your brain responds to pain.

Acupuncture reduces cortisol levels, so the ill effects of stress are modified. It soothes over-thinking and anxiety, so we feel relaxed and optimistic and it promotes immunity and balances our internal environment,” says Maureen Cromey, founder of Good Acupuncture Clinics and a researcher for the BAcC, who has been practising for 30 years.

“The mechanism isn’t always clear, so we don’t understand exactly why it works, but now we know it’s effective.”

Who can have it?

Acupuncture is considered suitable for all ages including babies, children and the elderly.

At her clinics at London’s Harley Street and Chiswick, Cromey sees everyone from men with severe stress and anxiety problems, back pain or hay fever, to women with period problems, migraines or menopausal symptoms.

“They are civil servants, artists, filmmakers, teachers, school kids, parents, OAPs, doctors, midwives, entrepreneurs,” she says.

“I see pregnant ladies needing the baby turned, a widow still grieving and suffering from arthritis since the sudden death of her husband, and ladies recovering from breast cancer.”

What happens at an appointment?

The BAcC explains that your acupuncturist will do a full diagnostic consultation asking questions about your medical history including all aspects of your health and wellbeing.

Your acupuncturist will also look at your tongue and feel your pulses on both wrists. This comprehensive diagnostic consultation allows the practitioner to create a bespoke treatment plan including lifestyle and dietary advice as well as acupuncture.

What can it treat?

Research has found acupuncture to be effective for the following common conditions, among many others:

Fertility: Acupuncture can help to regulate fertility hormones, reduce the number of ovarian cysts, stimulate ovulation and increase blood flow to the ovaries and uterus, thickening the endometrial lining and boosting the chances of embryo implantation.

Insomnia: By altering the brain’s mood chemistry, acupuncture can reduce serotonin levels and increase endorphins and neuropeptide Y levels, which help to improve sleep.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: IBS occurs when stress causes the sympathetic nervous system to stimulate spasms in the colon, resulting in abdominal pain. Acupuncture activates the opposing parasympathetic nervous system, which initiates the ‘rest and digest’ response.

Migraine: The treatment stimulates nerves in the muscles and other tissues, releasing endorphins and changing the way pain is processed in the brain and spinal cord.

Depression: Acupuncture is believed to stimulate the nervous system and cause the release of ‘neurochemical messenger molecules’, which alter the body’s internal feedback systems, promoting emotional and physical wellbeing.

AcuFinder.com is a Valuable Resource

Finding a qualified acupuncture practitioner

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How to find a qualified practitioner who understands the needs of oncology patients?

Many patients seek acupuncture to help manage their chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and pain. How can nurses help patients find a qualified practitioner who understands the needs of oncology patients? —Name withheld on request

The National Cancer Institute recommends patients seek treatment from a qualified acupuncture practitioner who uses a new set of disposable (single-use) needles for each patient. AcuFinder.com is an online acupuncture referral service. The search page lists several criteria for refining your search, such as location, style of acupuncture, and technique. Its Area of Expertise menu includes “Oncology Support.” Search results include contact information, profile of the practitioner, link to practitioner's web site, and directions.

Acupuncturists may be licensed (L.Ac.) or certified, and patients should understand the difference when considering a practitioner. Although requirements to be a licensed acupuncturist in the United States are regulated by individual state law, general requirements include completion of an accredited acupuncture and Oriental medicine program that includes didactic instruction and clinical hours (a master's level program) at a nationally recognized college of acupuncture, pass the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) exam, and complete continuing education courses to maintain their license.

Certified acupuncturists may be chiropractors and physicians who completed additional training. They are required to complete a certificate program, which can be completed in home study. They are not required to pass the NCCAOM certification exam, nor are they required to complete continuing education to maintain their certification.

Lastly, patients should ask their health insurance provider whether their plan covers complimentary and alternative medicines. Most insurance plans do not at this time; however, portions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) may lead to changes in some states. —The Editors