Allendale Acupuncture & Nutrition Clinic

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Tag: anxiety

Research on Acupuncture’s Effectiveness on Anxiety and Depression

Posted by on in Anxiety and Depression

There are numerous other research studies on the efficacy of acupuncture in dealing with emotional/mental disorders.

One study funded by the National Institutes for Health (NIH) found that among women suffering from depression, 70% of participants experienced at least a 50% reduction of symptoms. This research marked the first U.S. randomized, controlled, double-blind study of acupuncture’s effectiveness in treating depression. The NIH funded study concludes, “Acupuncture may alter brain chemistry by changing the release of neurotransmitters and neurohormones in a good way.”

In another study conducted by Stanford University found that those who were given acupuncture treatments had significantly fewer depressive symptoms. The researchers conclude that “acupuncture holds promise for treatment of depression during pregnancy” and may help with the long term management of depression.

A study published by researchers from the University of York in the United Kingdom showed patients who suffer from depression may benefit more from acupuncture or counseling alongside their medications, compared with medications alone. In this randomized controlled trial of 755 patients with moderate to severe depression, after three months of treatment, patients who received acupuncture showed a significant reduction in average depression scores.

What is Fibromyalgia Syndrome?

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Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) affects an estimated 2 percent of the population. It is diagnosed when there is a history of widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for at least three months, and pain in at least 11 of 18 designated tender points on the body.

What is Fibromyalgia Syndrome?

From the perspective of western medicine, Fibromyalgia is an enigma since there’s no medically explained syndrome. There are no laboratory tests that can confirm this diagnosis either.

While not all affected persons experience all associated symptoms, the following symptoms commonly occur together:

  • Chronic pain
  • Debilitating fatigue
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Joint stiffness
  • Chronic headaches
  • Dryness
  • Hypersensitivity
  • Inability to concentrate (called “fibro fog”)
  • Incontinence
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Numbness
  • Tingling or poor circulation in the hands and feet
  • Painful menstrual cramps
  • Restless legs syndrome

Symptoms often begin after a physical or emotional trauma, but in many cases there appears to be no triggering event. Women are more prone to develop the disorder than are men, and the risk of Fibromyalgia increases with age.

fibromyalsia

Research shows that up to 90 percent of people with Fibromyalgia have turned to complementary or alternative medicine to manage their symptoms. Acupuncture, in particular, has become a popular treatment choice and has been shown to be an effective treatment for FMS.

From A Chinese Medical Perspective

Chinese medicine does not recognize Fibromyalgia as one particular disease pattern. Instead, it aims to treat the symptoms unique to each individual depending on their constitution, emotional state, the intensity and location of their pain, digestive health, sleeping patterns and an array of other signs and symptoms.

Since symptoms of Fibromyalgia vary greatly from one person to another, a wide array of traditional and alternative treatments have been shown to be the most effective way of treating this difficult syndrome.

From a Chinese medical perspective, Fibromyalgia is viewed as a classical case of “Severe Stagnation of Qi and Blood.”

The theory of pain is expressed in this famous Chinese saying: “Bu tong ze tong, tong ze bu tong” which means “free flow: no pain, no free flow: pain.”—which means when the Qi (vital energy force) and blood flow smoothly, there can’t be any pain. The disruption of Qi that results in Fibromyalgia is usually associated with disharmonies of the Liver, Spleen, Kidney, and Heart systems.

Since pain is a hallmark symptom of Fibromyalgia, our treatment protocols focus on pain reduction primarily, along with stimulating the flow of Qi and blood in patients’ bodies. We also look into emotional/psychological components very seriously in treating Fibromyalgia.

fibromyalsia2

If you have Fibromyalgia, acupuncture and Chinese medicine may be what you’ve been looking for to ease your symptoms and reclaim your health and vitality.

Call us today – don’t delay, don’t live in pain – we are here to help you! Call us at 201-760-8811!

Self Acupuncture for Grief, Depression, Anxiety and Exhaustion

Posted by on in Anxiety and Depression

Lu 1: The 1st Lung Meridian Point called  Zhong Fu (Central Palace)

lung meridian 1A

Lung 1 is located on the top of the chest, under the shoulder. First locate the depression under the end of the clavicle, next to the muscle. LU-1 is one thumbwidth under this point, slightly to the side. These acupressure points on both sides of your can facilitate letting go of deep-seated fear, anxiety, depression, or grief. This point is also excellent for cough, asthma, and wheezing.

When your energy system is blocked, you can become fatigued, anxious, depressed, overwhelmed, and despondent because your supply of energy is impaired.  Use your fingertips to press the Lu 1. Inhale slowly and deeply as you gradually release your finger pressure, bring your arms outward, lift your chest, and tilt your head back. Hold your breath for a few second to assimilate the oxygen.  Exhale as your head comes downward and your fingertips return to the Lung 1 acupressure points. Repeat this exercise four or five more times.

lung meridian 1B

Try this acupressure point several times a day, along with deep breathing techniques, if you want to lessen your anxiety/depression.

Insomnia, Acupuncture and Nutrition Response Testing

Posted by on in Anxiety and Depression

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty falling and/or staying asleep. People with insomnia have one or more of the following symptoms:

  • Difficulty falling asleep
  • Waking up often during the night and having trouble going back to sleep
  • Waking up too early in the morning
  • Feeling tired upon waking

Major Causes of Insomnia

  • Significant life stress (job loss or change, death of a loved one, divorce, or moving)
  • Illness, pain, or discomfort at night
  • Environmental factors like noise, light, or extreme temperatures (hot or cold) that interfere with sleep
  • Medications (notably those used to treat depression, asthma, or high blood pressure) may interfere with sleep
  • Interferences in normal sleep schedule such as jet lag switching from a day to night shift
  • Depression and/or anxiety
  • Hormonal imbalance

Millions of people suffer from insomnia these days. Sleep deprivation is the root of many health issues like memory impairment, a weakened immune system and stress that can lead to cardiac disease, heart disease and digestive disorders. Sound sleep is the foundation of good health. We need 6-8 hours of sleep every night to recharge our batteries. Practicing good sleep hygiene and keeping your body in sync with the rhythm of day and night can help your body cope with sleep deprivation and give it an opportunity to get stronger and heal.

insomnia

We can address the root cause of insomnia by applying the yin-yang principle. In Chinese medicine, sleep occurs when the yang energy of the day folds into the yin energy of night time. Yin energy of the body is cooling and restorative; it is the time of day when our bodies turn inward and regenerate. Conversely, day time is yang, which is expansive. We expend the energy we have built up from the process of sleeping. This yin-yang principle provides invaluable tips to improve our sleeping patterns.

What to Do:

Keep your body and mind as much Yin as possible by following: Exposure to the diminishing light at dusk, eating your last meal at least three hours before going to bed, gentle and slow-moving exercise such as yoga or Tai-Chi, and Unwind your mind through meditation (Meditation is best practiced dung the day to help improve your sleep patterns at night.)

What to Avoid:

Cool your Yang energy down by avoiding hot and spicy food and drink. Avoid alcohol, coffee, chocolate and any other stimulants, especially late in the day. Excessive lighting at night, evening shift work, evening computing, video games, television, and late-night eating all serve to counteract the body’s natural rhythms.

Nutrition:

Just like any other human health issues, insomnia can be caused by: improper diet, immunological challenges, heavy metal or chemical toxins in your body, and unhealed scar tissues. Fruits and vegetables, seaweeds, bone-marrow soup, foods rich in minerals, and Vitamin B Complex can induce peaceful sleep at night..

If you or someone you know suffers from insomnia, call today to see what Acupuncture and Nutrition Response Testing can do for you!

Peaceful Sleep by Massaging An-Mian Point

Posted by on in Anxiety and Depression

Anmian literally translates into “peaceful sleep.” This point is located point on either side of the neck, a little bit under the lobe of the ear. Not only can it be used for sleep, but is also used for anxiety, headaches, vertigo, as well as palpitations.

Clasp your hands behind the base of the head so that the neck and head is supported.

Place your thumbs over Anmian on both sides and lift the base of the skull gently via these points. It is a great pressure release point.

anmian

Detox for Seasonal Allergies

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Latest statistics show that more than half of the US population suffers from seasonal allergies. With the rapidly declining immune functions of the majority, this number is likely to increase.  Please refer to an earlier article (Nutrition for maximum health) for the major reasons why our immune functions have deteriorated. Over-the-counter and prescription medications provide temporary relief for typical symptoms of seasonal allergies, but they cannot address the deeper  causes for incessant sneezing, inflammation of sinus cavities, itchy and red eyes, headaches and brain fog. What can we do to combat seasonal allergies?

gallbladder cleansing

Before we jump into this topic, here are some interesting perspectives in Chinese medical theories on seasonal allergies: Spring is associated with the liver, meaning the liver is most vulnerable during spring. The liver is also responsible for emotions such as frustration, anxiety, and anger. The relative health of the liver shows up in the eyes—can you see a connection between conjunctivitis (itchy, red, crusty eyes) and the liver? The taste associated with the liver is “sour” and the color is “green“ which means we need to take a lot of green/sour foods during springtime.  The liver is also connected to the gallbladder as a yin-yang pair, which means one cannot have a perfectly healthy liver and a weak gallbladder because they are mirror images of each other.

gallbladder cleansing 3

Liver/Gallbladder cleansing

Arguably, the most effective measure to combat seasonal allergies is Liver/Gallbladder Cleansing.

Dr. Hilda Clark’s Liver/Gallbladder cleansing protocol

This cleansing method surpasses any other widely-known allergy elimination protocol because it addresses the root cause of all allergies, including environmental, seasonal, food-related (gluten included), and chemical- or metal-related allergies. Commonly known as the Liver/Gallbladder Flush, this protocol is designed to remove calcified (gallstones) and non-calcified fat deposits from the liver and gallbladder.

Suggested to be repeated as many as 20 times every 2-3 weeks, this protocol will restore healthy functions of the liver and gallbladder. For those who removed their gallbladders, it is even more critical to adopt this approach in order to reduce the extra burdens placed on their liver and pancreas.

gallbladder cleansing 2

When one’s liver is completely clean, not only allergies but other diseases are likely to disappear because a healthy liver produces clean blood, which is the single most important factor in maintaining optimum health.

(Personal note: During the 3rd liver/gallbladder flush, I removed more than an inch-long, bright green, non-calcified gallstone along with thousands of smaller fat deposits stuck in my liver and gallbladder.)