Friday, July 05, 2013

Acupuncture Protects Brain Cells From Stroke - New Study

New research demonstrates that acupuncture stimulates brain cell proliferation in the cerebrum. The researchers note that electroacupuncture “exerts a neuroprotective effect in ischemic stroke.” The researchers also successfully measured the biochemical pathway by which acupuncture exerts this medical benefit to the brain. Acupuncture helps brain cell proliferation after a stroke. Stimulation of two acupuncture points was shown to activate the extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) pathway, an important protein communication pathway involved in cell proliferation.

Click Here To Learn More About Acupuncture

The experiment measured the biochemical responses to electro-acupuncture delivered to acupuncture points LI11 (Quchi) and ST36 (Zusanli), bilaterally. LI11 is located at the lateral end of the transverse cubital crease, a point located somewhat near the elbow. ST36 is located near the anterior crest of the tibia on the lower leg. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, both acupuncture points are related by their location on the hand and leg Yangming channels respectively. The traditional uses of these acupuncture points varies greatly in many clinical circumstances. According to TCM theory, both ST36 and LI11 are He Sea and Earth points thereby giving them another similarity beyond sharing placement on a Yangming channel. Interestingly, a common pairing of ST36 is with LI10. ST36, Zusanli, is translated as leg three measures and LI10, Zhousanli, is translated as arm three measures. This refers, in part, to each acupuncture point’s ability to strengthen patients with weak conditions. Here, the researchers paired ST36 with LI11 instead.

Click Here To Learn More About Acupuncture in Boise, Idaho by Eagle Acupuncture

Traditionally, LI11 is commonly used to quell inflammatory conditions such as sore throats, toothaches, red & painful eyes, urticarria, various skin conditions and febrile diseases. LI11 is also used for the treatment of upper limb paralysis. ST36 is commonly used to nourish and strengthen patients with weak bodily constitutions. However, it is indicated for inflammatory conditions including enteritis, gastritis and breast abscesses. ST36 is commonly used by licensed acupuncturists for the treatment of gastric pain, vomiting, abdominal distention, diarrhea, constipation, mastitis, edema, asthma, anemia, indigestion, mania and neurasthenia. ST36 is also traditionally indicated for the treatment of apoplexy, shock and hemiplegia.

The investigators noted that electro-acupuncture “significantly ameliorated neurological deficits and cerebral infarction” in cases of cerebral injuries. In addition, specific biological responses showed a healthy stimulation reaction to the application of electro-acupuncture. The researchers discovered that electro-acupuncture significantly increased phosphorylation levels of ERK and protein expression of Ras, cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase. All of these findings led to the conclusion that acupuncture “exerts a neuroprotective effect in ischemic stroke.”

There have been numerous studies with similar conclusive evidence demonstrating the beneficial effects of acupuncture after a stroke and for brain repair. A study of the acupuncture points TB3 (Zhongzhu) and TB5 (Waiguan) demonstrated the ability of these points restore hand function and walking after a stroke. The study also concluded that general activities of daily living function improved.

Another study discovered that acupuncture is able to “promote the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in the brain… accelerate angiogenesis and inhibit apoptosis.” The research measured acupuncture’s role in angiogenesis, the physiological process involving the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels. Acupuncture at GV20 (Baihui) and GV14 (Dazhui) increased neural repair following cerebral ischemia. These researchers also noted that acupuncture points GV20 (Baihui) and GV26 (Shuigou) regulate cells which “increase the release of nerve growth factors (NGFs) to make nerve cells survive and axons grow, synthesize neurotransmitters, (and) metabolize toxic substances….” The investigation also revealed that needling acupuncture points CV24 (Chengjiang), CV4, (Guanyuan), GV26 (Shuigou) and GV20 (Baihui) “could inhibit excessive proliferation of the hippocampal astrocytes and promote cellular differentiation.”

Just last year, a study revealed that acupuncture is an “effective therapy for CVS (cerebrovascular vasospasm) after subarachnoid hemorrhage.” This is important because cerebral blood vessel spasms lead to vasoconstriction and subsequent cerebral ischemia, which causes necrosis and may lead to a stroke. In this study, acupuncture at points Baihui (GV20, Du20) and Fengchi (GB20) were tested. The researchers note that the acupuncture group’s medical improvements were ““superior to that in the conventional treatment group.” Also, patients receiving acupuncture combined with medications showed greater improvements that those who only received medications.

Scalp acupuncture has also shown benefits for the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhages (ICH). Clinical investigators note, “The evidence from clinical studies suggested that SA (scalp acupuncture) therapy may produce significant benefits for patients with acute ICH.” The researchers note that studies confirm that scalp acupuncture “has rapid and powerful effects to remove limb paralysis caused either by cerebral infarct or by cerebral haemorrhage….” Research also shows that acupuncture at GV20 and GB7 significantly and beneficially regulates the cascade of endogenous inflammatory chemicals released after a stroke. Additionally, the investigators note that neuro-electrophysiologic measurements of scalp acupuncture responses demonstrate that acupuncture at GV20 and Taiyang improves “coordination and compensation functions among cortical functional areas” in ICH patients.

It is often the everyday aches and pains that follow a stroke that cause difficulty for patients. A large sample size study concluded that acupuncture reduces shoulder pain after a stroke. A meta-analysis of 453 randomized controlled studies investigated the effects of acupuncture for the treatment of shoulder pain after a stroke. The findings were tabulated and the researchers concluded that “acupuncture is an effective treatment for shoulder pain after (a) stroke.”

References:

Xie, Guanli, Shanli Yang, Azhen Chen, Lan Lan, Zhicheng Lin, Yanlin Gao, Jia Huang et al. "Electroacupuncture at Quchi and Zusanli treats cerebral ischemia‑reperfusion injury through activation of ERK signaling." Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 5, no. 6 (2013): 1593-1597.

Cheng XK, Wang ZM, Sun L, Li YH. [Post-stroke hand dysfunction treated with acupuncture at Zhongzhu (TE 3) and Waiguan (TE 5)]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2011 Feb;31(2):117-20.

Research advances in treatment of cerebral ischemic injury by acupuncture of conception and governor vessels to promote nerve regeneration. Zhou-xin Yang, Peng-dian Chen, Hai-bo Yu, Wen-shu Luo, Yong-Gang Wu, Min Pi, Jun-hua Peng, Yong-feng Liu, Shao-yun Zhang, Yan-hua Gou. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, Jan. 2012. vol. 10, 1. Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Province, China.

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2012 Mar;32(3):193-7. Observation of clinical efficacy of acupuncture for cerebral vasospasm after embolization of ruptured aneurysms]. Jiang YZ, Li C, Xu JY, Lu YZ, Xu R, Han B, Lu WH. Department of Neurosurgery, Wuxi Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, Jiangsu Province, China.

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative MedicineVolume 2012 (2012), Article ID 895032, 9 pages. doi:10.1155/2012/895032. History and Mechanism for Treatment of Intracerebral Hemorrhage with Scalp Acupuncture. Zhe Liu, Ling Guan, Yan Wang, Cheng-Long Xie, Xian-Ming Lin and Guo-Qing Zheng. The Third Clinical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou. Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, General Hospital, Beijing. Center of Neurology and Rehabilitation, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou.

Jung Ah Lee, Si-Woon Park, Pil Woo Hwang, Sung Min Lim, Sejeong Kook, Kyung In Choi, and Kyoung Sook Kang. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. September 2012, 18(9): 818-823. doi:10.1089/acm.2011.0457.

Tony Burris, L.Ac., is a 17-year practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is an expert in safe and effective acupuncture therapy and herbal remedies. He is the only practitioner in the United States that offers a “Painless Acupuncture- Or Your Money Back!” Guarantee. Tony helps frustrated and injured athletes and chronic pain sufferers discover a unique therapy system that often provides long-lasting or even permanent pain relief. His patients include members of the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Tony also treats members of the Seattle Mariners, Olympic medalists, mixed martial artists and NCAA competitors. Visit Tony’s other blog at The Taoist Club of Boise or visit his website.

Tuesday, July 02, 2013

Acupuncture Ups Sex Drive & Function After Antidepressant Loss

Researchers have discovered that acupuncture successfully relieves the adverse effects of antidepressant medications on sex drive and function. Acupuncture ups sexual function and drive for SSRI and SNRI patients.

Men showed overall improvement in sexual function across a broad spectrum of health concerns. Acupuncture also enhanced relief from both anxiety and depression in the male group. Women benefitted from a more targeted response to acupuncture therapy rather than the broad spectrum of relief experienced by the men. Specifically, women benefitted from increased libido and vaginal lubrication as a result of acupuncture treatments.

Click Here To Learn More About Acupuncture

Patient taking SSRIs (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRIs (serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors) for the treatment of depression may experience sexual dysfunction as an adverse effect from the medication(s). It is estimated that SSRIs and SNRIs have a 50% to 90% chance of inducing sexual dysfunction. The researchers sought to determine whether acupuncture may help in the management and resolution of these unwanted side-effects.

A standard protocol for the acupuncture treatments was performed. A Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) intake of the health history was taken following by the assessment of a TCM differential diagnosis. Ordinarily, the acupuncture point prescription is then customized based on the intake assessments. For purposes of this study, the acupuncture point prescription was standardized to eliminate variables from the research. The same acupuncture point prescription was administered to each patient over a 12 week period. The acupuncture points used in the study were P6, HT7, UB23, GV4 and K3.

The researchers measured significant improvements in sexual function for both the male and female groups in the study. They noted that, “This study suggests a potential role for acupuncture in the treatment of the sexual side-effects of SSRIs and SNRIs as well for a potential benefit of integrating medical and complementary and alternative practitioners.” These findings are consistent with other research. Researchers from the University of Nevada and Montana State University conclude that acupuncture is “effective for reducing some FSD (female sexual dysfunction) problems….”

Click Here To Learn More About Acupuncture in Boise, Idaho by Eagle Acupuncture

In related research, investigators at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan determined that acupuncture eliminates hot flashes and benefits patients suffering from mental depression. Additionally, the researchers concluded that acupuncture increases sex drive, mental clarity and overall energy levels in patients. The investigators note that acupuncture “appears to be equivalent to drug therapy” and is “a safe, effective, and durable treatment.”

Another recent study concluded that low frequency electro-acupuncture improved menstrual frequency and balanced sex steroid levels in women with PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome. The sex steroid levels in the electro-acupuncture group improved significantly, acne markedly decreased and menstrual regularity increased. In yet another study, acupuncture was found effective in alleviating schizophrenia and the side effects of psychiatric medication. Acupuncture caused a decrease in the “side effects of antipsychotic medication; decreased auditory, visual and tactile hallucinations; decreased anxiety and paranoia; improved sleep patterns… increased motivation including increased sex drive and ambition to further themselves in education and work; improved socialization and concentration… reduced addictive behavior in relation to alcohol and cigarettes; improved diet and weight loss; and improved exercise regimes.”

The extensive body of research on acupuncture and its effects on sexual function and sex steroid levels shows a positive correlation between acupuncture treatments and improved clinical outcomes. The new study of acupuncture for the treatment of sexual dysfunction caused by SSRI and SNRI side-effects went so far as to suggest an integrative medical model based on the findings. The investigators noted that there is a “potential benefit of integrating medical and complementary and alternative practitioners.” This new way of looking at medicine as a cooperative pooling of resources focused on positive patient outcomes is perhaps the medical model of the future.

References:

Khamba, Baljit, Monique Aucoin, Millie Lytle, Monica Vermani, Anabel Maldonado, Christina Iorio, Catherine Cameron et al. "Efficacy of Acupuncture Treatment of Sexual Dysfunction Secondary to Antidepressants." The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (2013).

Acupuncture and Female Sexual Dysfunction: A Time-Series Study of Symptom Relief. Alice Running, Julie Smith-Gagen, Mary Wellhoner, and George Mars. Medical Acupuncture. doi:10.1089/acu.2011.0867.

Paley CA, Johnson MI, Tashani OA, Bagnall AM. Acupuncture for cancer pain in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD007753. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007753.pub2.
Lee H, Schmidt K, Ernst E. Acupuncture for the relief of cancer- related pain-A systematic review. European Journal of Pain 2005;9 (4):437–44.

Elizabeth Jedel, Fernand Labrie, Anders Odén, Göran Holm, Lars Nilsson, Per Olof Janson, Anna-Karin Lind, Claes Ohlsson, and Elisabet Stener-Victorin. Impact of electro-acupuncture and physical exercise on hyperandrogenismand oligo/amenorrhea in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 300: E37–E45, 2011.

Ronan P, Robinson N, Harbinson D, Macinnes D. A case study exploration of the value of acupuncture as an adjunct treatment for patients diagnosed with schizophrenia: results and future study design.. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2011 May;9(5):503-14. Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, Kent, UK.

Tony Burris, L.Ac., is a 17-year practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is an expert in safe and effective acupuncture therapy and herbal remedies. He is the only practitioner in the United States that offers a “Painless Acupuncture- Or Your Money Back!” Guarantee. Tony helps frustrated and injured athletes and chronic pain sufferers discover a unique therapy system that often provides long-lasting or even permanent pain relief. His patients include members of the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Tony also treats members of the Seattle Mariners, Olympic medalists, mixed martial artists and NCAA competitors. Visit Tony’s other blog at The Taoist Club of Boise or visit his website.

-

Monday, June 24, 2013

Boise Acupuncturist Interviewed on Stress-Relieving Herbs!

Feeling Stressed?...




 Tony Burris, L.Ac., of Eagle Acupuncture in Boise, is interviewed on herbs for stress reduction in the July/August edition of Mother Earth News magazine.




Tony Burris, L.Ac., is a 17-year practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is an expert in safe and effective acupuncture therapy and herbal remedies. He is the only practitioner in the United States that offers a “Painless Acupuncture- Or Your Money Back!” Guarantee. Tony helps frustrated and injured athletes and chronic pain sufferers discover a unique therapy system that often provides long-lasting or even permanent pain relief. His patients include members of the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Tony also treats members of the Seattle Mariners, Olympic medalists, mixed martial artists and NCAA competitors. Visit Tony’s other blog at The Taoist Club of Boise or visit his website.


Tuesday, May 28, 2013

New Finding - Acupuncture Beats Drugs for Lower Back Pain

A new study finds acupuncture more effective for the treatment of lower back pain than a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) injection of diclofenac. Researchers applied acupuncture needles to patients with acute lower back pain and compared results with subjects injected with the NSAID medication. The drug diclofenac is used to reduce both inflammation and to reduce pain. The research uncovered important facts. The group receiving acupuncture experienced both greater pain relief and less physical disability than did the drug group. After two and then four weeks after treatment, the acupuncture group continued to have greater improvements than the group receiving drug therapy.

Acupuncture applied to the back is depicted here. Acupuncture TreatmentThe researchers note that the style of acupuncture used in the study was that of motion style acupuncture. This requires movement of the patient’s body either actively or passively during the acupuncture treatment. The results showed that acupuncture effectively reduces both pain and disability and that acupuncture is more effective than diclofenac injections for the treatment of acute lower back pain.

Click Here To Learn More About Acupuncture

These findings concur with those published in the Journal of Anesthesiology Clinical Research by another group of researchers. Here, the investigators discovered that acupuncture is effective for neck and lower back pain relief. Similar to the aforementioned study, these researchers found that acupuncture is sometimes more effective than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. Yet another group of researchers independently came up with more similar results. Investigators found that “acupuncture may be more effective than medication….” They note that, “Compared with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acupuncture may more effectively improve symptoms of acute LBP (lower back pain).”

Click Here To Learn More About Acupuncture in Boise, Idaho by Eagle Acupuncture

A great deal of acupuncture research for the treatment of lower back pain has emerged within the last year. Recently, researchers in Calgary, Alberta discovered that acupuncture is not only effective for the treatment of lower back pain but is also cost-effective. The investigators found that the use of acupuncture for the treatment of lower back pain reduces overall healthcare spending.

Researchers from Hunan University of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) decided to take an important step in yet another recent clinical investigation. They compared a standard application of acupuncture needles with the application of needles using the manual acupuncture technique of Dragon and Tiger Fighting. The researchers concluded that the use of the Dragon and Tiger Fighting technique greatly enhanced the efficaciousness of acupuncture for the treatment of lower back pain. This technique showed greater clinical improvements in lower back pain patients than did the uniform reinforcing-reducing method. In addition, the Dragon and Tiger Fighting manual acupuncture technique also demonstrated greater clinical efficacy than standard physiotherapy.

The data continues to mount showing the clinical efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of lower back pain. Additionally, the cost effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of pain found in recent studies suggests that acupuncture is an important modality needing greater inclusion in the healthcare system. Under Obamacare (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act), the US federal government has left the task of selecting specific preventative and complementary medical services for inclusion in the health insurance system up to individual states. Maryland and California subsequently chose to include acupuncture health insurance coverage for all of their citizens with small group and individual health insurance plans begining in 2014. In the meantime, the US federal government has not designated being a licensed acupuncturist as a standalone profession despite statewide legislation regulating educational and licensing standards. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not recognise a licensed acupuncturist as a profession but instead lists acupuncture as a procedure performed by nurses and chiropractors. The lack of a BLS listing prevents acupuncture from becoming covered under the Medicare system.

Section 3502 of the new health reform law signed by President Obama states that primary health care practitioners must “provide coordination of the appropriate use of complementary and alternative (CAM) services to those who request such services.” The Maryland and California governors and state legislatures have already chosen acupuncture as a covered benefit. On the federal level, recognition of acupuncture benefits awaits a formal BLS listing and a formal response by President Obama to a recent petition requesting that acupuncturists become recognized as healthcare providers under the Social Security Act. President Obama has long recognized acupuncture as an effective modality. During his first run for the President of the United States, Barak Obama acknowledged the efficaciousness of acupuncture for the treatment of migraines during a public question and answer period of his campaign. While the recent petition to the White House triggers an automatic response by the White House on the inclusion of acupuncture into the Medicare system, it is unclear whether an administration spokesperson will draft the response or whether President Obama will speak out on the issue. Recent studies showing the cost-effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic and acute pain syndromes suggests that there will be an overall favorable response by the White House given the administration's stance on improving patient outcomes while controlling costs.

Tony Burris, L.Ac., is a 17-year practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is an expert in safe and effective acupuncture therapy and herbal remedies. He is the only practitioner in the United States that offers a “Painless Acupuncture- Or Your Money Back!” Guarantee. Tony helps frustrated and injured athletes and chronic pain sufferers discover a unique therapy system that often provides long-lasting or even permanent pain relief. His patients include members of the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Tony also treats members of the Seattle Mariners, Olympic medalists, mixed martial artists and NCAA competitors. Visit Tony’s other blog at The Taoist Club of Boise or visit his website.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Acupuncture Fights Pain

The executive editor at Harvard Men’s Health Watch has published on the efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of chronic pain. He cited research from the Archives of Internal Medicine and has Dr. Chen of Massachusetts General Hospital, a Harvard affiliated hospital, on record as supporting the beneficial effects of acupuncture. Dr. Chen, an anesthesiologist, noted that acupuncture is beneficial and has a low incidence of adverse effects. Many doctors have long supported the use of acupuncture as an effective procedure.

Click Here To Learn More About Acupuncture

Electroacupuncture is demonstrated here. ElectroacupunctureOne influential and early supporter in the west was Dr. Henry Sigerist, M.D., D.Litt., LL.D. who served as the Director of the Johns Hopkins Institute of the History of Medicine. He was inspired by Chinese Medicine in part by Mr. J. W. Lindau, an organic chemist who began the translation of the Neijing Su Wen, one of the most important works of Chinese Medicine. Dr. Sigerist then suggested that Dr. Veith take up the task of finishing the project after Mr. Lindau died. Dr. Veith succeeded and published the first English version of the great work. More recently, Maoshing Ni, Ph.D. also released an important and influential translation of the Neijing Su Wen.

Click Here To Learn More About Acupuncture in Boise, Idaho by Eagle Acupuncture

Another great supporter of acupuncture techniques in the USA was Dr. Janet Travell, M.D. She was a medical researcher and personal physician to Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. JFK is the first known sitting US President to receive acupuncture for the control of pain. Specifically, JFK required treatments for pain related to injuries sustained during World War II. Dr. Travell was an Emeritus Clinical Professor of Medicine at George Washington University and also taught at Cornell University. She published extensively on the use of trigger point therapy, a westernized acupuncture procedure, to control pain.

This latest article written by Daniel Pendick, Executive Editor of Harvard Men’s Health Watch, underscores the existence of quality research showing that acupuncture is successful in the treatment of pain. The research concluded that, “Acupuncture is effective for the treatment of chronic pain and is therefore a reasonable referral option.” This research reflects a co-emerging trend seen in the expansion of acupuncture health insurance benefits. In 2014, all small group and individual health insurance plans in both California and Maryland will be required to include acupuncture as a covered benefit.

Reference: Vickers, Andrew J., et al. "Acupuncture for chronic pain: individual patient data meta-analysis." Deutsche Zeitschrift für Akupunktur 55.4 (2012): 24-25. 1 Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 2 Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 3 Complementary and Integrated Medicine Research Unit, Southampton Medical School, Southampton, England 4 Complementary Medicine Research Group, University of York, York, England 5 Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Keele University, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England 6 Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 7 University Medical Center Charité and Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Berlin 8 Institute of General Practice, Technische Universität München

Tony Burris, L.Ac., is a 17-year practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is an expert in safe and effective acupuncture therapy and herbal remedies. He is the only practitioner in the United States that offers a “Painless Acupuncture- Or Your Money Back!” Guarantee. Tony helps frustrated and injured athletes and chronic pain sufferers discover a unique therapy system that often provides long-lasting or even permanent pain relief. His patients include members of the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Tony also treats members of the Seattle Mariners, Olympic medalists, mixed martial artists and NCAA competitors. Visit Tony’s other blog at The Taoist Club of Boise or visit his website.

Thursday, May 02, 2013

Acupuncture Beats Drugs for Eye Twitching - New Research

A new study concludes that acupuncture is more effective than anticonvulsant drug therapy for the treatment of blepharospasms, an abnormal contraction or twitch of one or more of the eyelids. In severe cases, the eyelids may clamp shut and cause functional blindness. Acupuncture had over a 93% success rate for the treatment of blepharospasms whereas medications had a 75% success rate.

Click Here To Learn More About Acupuncture

Eye twitches are treated with acupuncture. The main focus of the study was comparing the effective rate of acupuncture versus anticonvulsant medication. However, interesting patient vignettes emerged wherein the study participants had tried other procedures without successful long-term results. In one case, the study noted that a patient had tried botox injections to control the eyelid spasms but the results only lasted three months. The acupuncture treatments successfully resolved the condition for the patient.

Click Here To Learn More About Acupuncture in Boise, Idaho by Eagle Acupuncture

The anticonvulsant medications used in the control group were benzhexol hydrochloride and baclofen. Clonazepam was added to the treatment regime on an as needed basis. Acupuncture points used in the study were LI4 (Hegu), GB20 (Fengchi), DU20 (Baihui), UB2 (Zanzhu), TB23 (Sizhukong) and Taiyang (Ex-Hn5). Ahshi point were added for local spasms of the orbicularis oculi muscles. The ashi needles were 0.25mm in length and Ahshi points were spaced at a distance of 0.3cm between needles. Up to 2 or 3 rows of needles were applied to the muscles as needed with up to 5 needles per row. Sedation technique was applied to LI4 and GB20 after the arrival of Qi. All other primary acupuncture points were stimulated with even reinforcing-reducing manual techniques. The needles were administered up to one treatment per day and needle retention time was 30 minutes.

Click Here To Learn More About Acupuncture in Boise, Idaho by Eagle Acupuncture

The acupuncture treatment group had a total of 46 randomly chosen patients of which 32 were completely cured. A total of 7 had marked relief with only increased blinking due to external stimuli, 4 experienced partial relief marked by only a mild quivering of the eyelids and no functional impairment and 3 patients did not respond to treatment. The drug therapy group consisted of 32 patients of which 19 were cured, 4 showed marked improvement, 1 showed partial relief and 8 did not respond to treatment.

Many studies only test one acupuncture point for its efficaciousness whereas other studies such as this investigate an acupuncture point prescription. Acupuncturists use a variety of acupoints such as SI6, LV3 and GB37 for the treatment of eye disorders. The points chosen for the study represent a standard acupuncture treatment in that the point selection is in common use. Let’s take a look at some of the acupuncture points used in the study.

TB23 (Sizhukong), translated as silken bamboo hollow, is located in the depression at the lateral end of the eyebrow. It is traditionally indicated for the treatment of headaches, eye disorders and facial paralysis. This point is particularly effective for the treatment of eye disorders due to wind-heat. A branch of the main acupuncture channel separates behind the ear, enters the ear and then emerges in front of the ear where it then intersects SI19, GB3 and finally crosses the cheek to terminate at TB23, the final acupuncture point on the triple burner (Sanjiao) channel. This point is needled transversely either medially or posteriorly along the eyebrow.

UB2 (Zanzhu), translated as gathered bamboo, is located in the supraorbital notch at the medial extremity of the eyebrow. Together, TB23 and UB2 effectively needle both ends of the eyebrow as a matched pair. Like TB23, UB2 is indicated for the treatment of headaches and eye disorders.

LI4 is also indicated for headaches and eye disorders but is also a Source Point and Entry Point. LI4 disperses wind, relieves exterior conditions, suppresses pain and clears the channels. LI4 is also commonly used for the treatment of toothaches, deafness, facial edema and paralysis, sore throat, trismus and for febrile conditions. LI4 may be connected to SP6 with electroacupuncture to induce labor. LI4 is also combined with HT6 for the treatment of night sweating and with K7 to induce diaphoresis. LI4 is also combined with LU7 in a Source-Luo point combination.

Tony Burris, L.Ac., is a 17-year practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is an expert in safe and effective acupuncture therapy and herbal remedies. He is the only practitioner in the United States that offers a “Painless Acupuncture- Or Your Money Back!” Guarantee. Tony helps frustrated and injured athletes and chronic pain sufferers discover a unique therapy system that often provides long-lasting or even permanent pain relief. His patients include members of the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Tony also treats members of the Seattle Mariners, Olympic medalists, mixed martial artists and NCAA competitors. Visit Tony’s other blog at The Taoist Club of Boise or visit his website.

Monday, April 08, 2013

Allergy sufferers getting rid of over-the-counter allergy meds for acupuncture

CLEVELAND - We're all anxious for the spring sun to shine, but with spring comes allergy season. There is a treatment you can start today that may help with all those seasonal sneezes. Spring flowers brighten the landscape and mood until the sneezing and wheezing starts leaving allergy suffers miserable.

“Of course with Northeast Ohio we get plenty of opportunity for congestion,” Michael Page said.

Page's seasonal allergies are no longer a headache. His pain relief comes from acupuncture.

"I was a little anxious I must admit," Page explained. Page doesn’t really like needles, but he likes the results.

"As long as I don't look at it I’m fine,” Page said laughing.

Click Here For More Information on Acupuncture

Jamie Starkey understands the fear. She once had a needle phobia too, until she saw the power of a perfectly placed needle. She's now the lead acupuncturist at the Cleveland Clinic's Center for Integrative Medicine. Starkey said a new study supports this ancient treatment.

"Acupuncture actually decreased the symptoms of allergies. Itchy, watery eyes, nasal congestion and you needed less medication," Starkey explained of the study.

Instead of spending money on medicine, and dealing with those side effects some allergy sufferers are spending their money on acupuncture and preventing the symptoms before they can start. If your insurance won't cover the treatment, the Cleveland Clinic's Center for Integrative Medicine offers group treatment.

"It drops the price point from $100 to $40," Starkey said. It's an investment that paid off for Page. He’s breathing easier, and looking forward to those spring flowers. The average treatment lasts eight sessions for allergy sufferers.

It's best to start "before" the symptoms get bad. With the initial consult, the cost would be just under $400 out of pocket. Some insurance providers cover the treatment.

Click Here for More Information on Tony Burris and Eagle Acupuncture

Tony Burris, L.Ac., is a 17-year practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is an expert in safe and effective acupuncture therapy and herbal remedies. He is the only practitioner in the United States that offers a “Painless Acupuncture- Or Your Money Back!” Guarantee. Tony helps frustrated and injured athletes and chronic pain sufferers discover a unique therapy system that often provides long-lasting or even permanent pain relief. His patients include members of the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Tony also treats members of the Seattle Mariners, Olympic medalists, mixed martial artists and NCAA competitors. Visit Tony’s other blog at The Taoist Club of Boise or his website.

Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Redskins’ Dry Needles Speed Recovery Time

In 2012, the Redskins became one of just five teams in the NFL to embrace a revolutionary form of physical therapy called dry needling.

Dry needling has its roots in Far East medicine, where physicians attempted to stimulate the energy flow, or chi, along the body’s energy lines. While the practice resembles acupuncture, it was both deeper and more effective than this other Far Eastern practice.

“A western view is that we’re using the same needles as acupuncture, but we go significantly deeper into the tissue and we actually find the trigger point,” explained Redskins assistant athletic trainer Elliott Jermyn. “Trigger points are areas of hyper-irritated tissue, and most people have these points in their bodies.”

In the past, trainers used their hands and foam rollers to massage out areas of irritation. This process is often laborious and can take upwards of 30 minutes per injury.

With dry needling, the trainers can conduct a screening for areas of tightness or weakness, comparing the results to the baseline testing. The effects of 30 minutes on the foam roller can be equaled with only one-two minutes of needling.

“Once we identify an area that’s irritated, we can go in and palpate with the needle and find the trigger point,” Jermyn said. “As soon as the needle goes into the area, what we’re looking for is a local twitch response. The local twitch response is the body’s reaction to the trigger point loosening.

“Once that trigger point has been eradicated, one of the things we usually see right away is an increased range in motion, and an increase in muscle production. The effectiveness is immediate, and there’s no doubt that these guys like them.”

Jermyn said that no formal surveys have been conducted with the players, but that roughly half of the players get treated with this procedure on a weekly or biweekly basis. Of those, 75 percent have had a good rate of success, with 50 percent experiencing “extremely good success.”

“[In 2011], we found that a lot of guys were going to get this technique done outside of our training room,” he said. “Obviously, with the Redskins, we want to make sure we have as much contact with our players as possible, so we’re not sending them out. We want to keep them in-house as much as we can, and we identified this as a need.

“When we started, there was definitely some hesitancy from some of the guys, with the needles,” he said, holding up a particularly intimidating model. “But once some of the guys had it done and some of the stories got passed down the line, certainly they were a lot more willing to try.”

While it may sound like a cure-all for damaged muscles, Jermyn cautioned that it has limitations.

First of all, the affected area may perform better with needling and rest, but the process temporarily leaves muscles sore and weakened. As a result, most players do not get needled after Friday afternoon, leaving them in prime condition for gameday.

There are also ethical considerations with correcting an irritated muscle that should be examined further.

“We have to be careful that we’re not correcting somebody who maybe shouldn’t be corrected right away,” he said. “To give you an extreme example of what I’m not going to do: if someone comes off the field with a torn hamstring, I’m not going to throw a needle in him right away to get him back on the field.

“There is an ethical dilemma. Our job is to get guys ready to go out and play, but we never ever sacrifice a player’s safety. Player safety is No. 1 all the time, but our job is to get guys ready to go out on the field. It is possible that with the needles and some of our other therapeutic resources, we could potentially mask a bigger problem.”

With that being taken into account, Jermyn said the procedure has already paid dividends for what they are able to do for the athletes.

“During training camp, we might be dealing with upwards of 30-35 athletes per day, and your hands get extremely tired from massaging,” he said. “I can have someone come in for 15-20 minutes and try to manually release the trigger point, or I can spend two minutes and let the needle do the work for me. That’s really where we’ve found some good success.”

Jermyn noted that only physical therapists, chiropractors and physicians were able to conduct dry needling. But don’t be surprised if this becomes mainstream practice in the next few years.

“I would imagine that in the next five-six years, we’re going to see the number of teams using this rise drastically,” he said. “We really try to identify where the problem is and address the problem at its source.”

Tony Burris, L.Ac., is a 17-year practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is an expert in safe and effective acupuncture therapy and herbal remedies. He is the only practitioner in the United States that offers a “Painless Acupuncture- Or Your Money Back!” Guarantee. Tony helps frustrated and injured athletes and chronic pain sufferers discover a unique therapy system that often provides long-lasting or even permanent pain relief. His patients include members of the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Tony also treats members of the Seattle Mariners, Olympic medalists, mixed martial artists and NCAA competitors. Visit Tony’s other blog at The Taoist Club of Boise.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Acupuncture Relieves Stress: New Understanding Of Why The Ancient Practice Eases Anxiety

Good news, acupuncture fans: It really does help relieve stress. And now, a new study is giving a closer look at why. The new study explores the biological mechanisms involved in acupuncture's stress-relieving abilities, something science has yet to fully understand.

The researchers discovered that stress hormones were lower in rats that had received electronic acupuncture. Results were published in the Journal of Endocrinology.

"Many practitioners of acupuncture have observed that this ancient practice can reduce stress in their patients, but there is a lack of biological proof of how or why this happens. We're starting to understand what's going on at the molecular level that helps explain acupuncture's benefit,” study researcher Dr. Ladan Eshkevari, an associate professor of nursing at Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies, said in a statement.

For the study, Eshkevari and colleagues designed a series of tests with electronic acupuncture to ensure that each rat received the exact same dose of pressure. Eshkevari targeted the spot below the knee, or the “Zusanli” point, with the needle. This area is the same in rats and humans and it is reported that stimulating it can alleviate stress and other conditions.

For the 10-day experiment, researchers split the rats into four groups. One group was a control group with no added stress and no acupuncture; one group was made to be stressed out for an hour each day but didn't receive acupuncture; one group was made to feel stressed for an hour each day but received "sham" acupuncture by their tails; and one group was made to feel stressed and received the genuine acupuncture treatment at the Zusanli area.

The body secretes an assortment of hormones into the bloodstream as a reaction to stress, which the researchers were then able to measure in the rats. They assessed blood hormone levels secreted by the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland and the adrenal gland -- together these are known as the hypothalamus pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. They also measured a peptide involved in creatures' "fight or flight" responses, called NPY.

Researchers discovered that the "...electronic acupuncture blocks the chronic, stress-induced elevations of the HPA axis hormones and the sympathetic NPY pathway,” Eshkevari said in the statement.

Since stress has been linked with detrimental health effects includingheart disease and even brain shrinkage it’s important to study any measures to combat its detrimental nature.


Tony Burris, L.Ac., is a 17-year practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is an expert in safe and effective acupuncture therapy and herbal remedies. He is the only practitioner in the United States that offers a “Painless Acupuncture- Or Your Money Back!” Guarantee. Tony helps frustrated and injured athletes and chronic pain sufferers discover a unique therapy system that often provides long-lasting or even permanent pain relief. His patients include members of the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Tony also treats members of the Seattle Mariners, Olympic medalists, mixed martial artists and NCAA competitors. Visit Tony’s other blog at The Taoist Club of Boise.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Pins and Needles by Karleen Andresen: How an Eagle acupuncturist takes you off pins and needles

Tony Burris, L.Ac., was featured in an article in the Business Insider section of the Idaho Statesman newspaper on March 19, 2013. Tony Burris uses acupuncture in Boise to relieve chronic pain and has had amazing success with his treatments. Read the full story next!

Karleen Andresen: Publisher of the Idaho Women's Journal, marketer and speaker

Sitting on pins and needles leads the mind to uncomfortable places. The idea of pins and needles seems like code for "run away as fast as you can." Yet my visit with Tony Burris of Eagle-based Eagle Acupuncture dispels that perception. I met Burris, a licensed acupuncturist, a few months back through his email invitation. He invited me to meet in his office to become better acquainted.

I walked into a lovely kind of feng shui environment. It almost gave me a sense of being in church. It was that still. It was quiet yet productive.

Burris, a tall and strapping George Clooney-styled man with a peaceful demeanor, met me. He invited me to have our meeting in a treatment room toward the back of his office building.

On the way, there was a hallway lined with autographed photos of professional football players, baseball players, Olympians and professional motocross riders. I begin to inquire before I made it to the back room.

Burris left California and the high-rent office spaces to bring his family to the serenity of Idaho. Rearing a family in Idaho was a perfect tradeoff for Burris.

He wanted to help people more than he wanted to live in tinseltown.

During our meeting, I went from skeptical to educated. That's what happens when we learn about things we didn't know about. Acupuncture and pins and needles are stratospheres away from each other.

Acupuncture is an ancient oriental modality that actually aligns the soul with the physical through its healing process. It doesn't begin with pins or needles at all. It begins with a conversation, and I put Burris to the test.

Burris can gently touch pulse points on your wrist to gather an understanding of your health. He looked at my tongue and could tell me a couple of health issues I had and the overall condition of my organs. That was impressive.

For More Information on Chronic Pain Read Here

What I realized is that if we think of pins as painful, we are misled. The pins are so small that they aren't even uncomfortable.

His practice helps chronic pain sufferers gain improved or permanent relief. There are options to throwing in the towel, and Burris provides the alternatives.

There are cases where athletes suffering from chronic pain gained literal relief. I heard stories where surgeries were avoided through his treatments. He told me of a woman who had chronic headaches for 30 years. After about four weeks under his care, her headaches were eliminated.

Those photos that lined his walls showed people who were in such desperate pain that they opened their minds to unconventional ideas. Their flourishing physical lives are the evidence of success.

So before getting squeamish about pins and needles, consider the potential.

Burris deals with chronic suffering. His wife, Kristen, who is also a licensed acupuncturist, has achieved staggering success among people who suffer from infertility.

Before conceding that pain as part of the equation of life, I would consider a conversation with Burris.

Being a licensed acupuncturist requires several years of additional schooling beyond college. Burris has been to as much schooling as traditional physicians have. •••

KarleenAndresen@gmail.com

Read the article in the Idaho Statesman here!

For More Information on Acupuncture Read Here

Tony Burris, L.Ac., is a 17-year practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is an expert in safe and effective acupuncture therapy and herbal remedies. He is the only practitioner in the United States that offers a “Painless Acupuncture- Or Your Money Back!” Guarantee. Tony helps frustrated and injured athletes and chronic pain sufferers discover a unique therapy system that often provides long-lasting or even permanent pain relief. His patients include members of the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Tony also treats members of the Seattle Mariners, Olympic medalists, mixed martial artists and NCAA competitors. Visit Tony’s other blog at The Taoist Club of Boise.




















Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Chinese herbal remedies to soothe throats

As the whole world knows by now, a number of big cities across China have experienced extremely bad air quality over the last few weeks. The cold and dry weather, thick smog and a seasonal flu outbreak have combined to make almost everyone's throat feel awful.

While some rely on consuming large amounts of water or taking medicine to relieve symptoms, some Chinese prefer other methods - herbal cuisines that are not only helpful but also tasty. Best of all, many are easy to make at home, even for green hands.

You may wonder how certain foods can cure illness, but Chinese herbal medicine experts say there are a number of items used in daily life that have medicinal effects. For example, ginger can warm your stomach while celery can clear heat in human bodies. And with the help of some herbs, the effects can be stronger.

According to Ma Yuqi, director of the department of traditional Chinese medicine at Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, most people are currently suffering from a dry throat, cough and sometimes a bit of viscous sputum. Common foods that help to relieve these symptoms are white fungus, pear, lily bulbs, lotus root, radish, carrot and Chinese water chestnuts.

For Chinese herbs, people can choose from dwarf lilyturf tuber, honeysuckle, chrysanthemum, dark plum and licorice.

Following Ma's suggestion, while white fungus should be boiled, all the other fruits and vegetables can be eaten raw. And they can all be used in soups as well.

As for the herbs Ma suggested, they can be used individually in teas or combined into soups. One prescription Ma gives is to take two to three grams of each of the above herbs and make them into a soup. "And if you are a little infected by the virus, you can add in some da qing ye [dyer's woad leaf]," Ma added.

For green hands, here are recipes for three herbal soups most commonly made in Chinese kitchens. They are easy to learn and do not take very long to whip up. All of them can be prepared in one afternoon, drawing from several online recipes and making adjustments. Each serves four.

Useful tips for these recipes: 1. Either fresh lily bulbs or dried ones can be used. 2. Fritillaria bulb and licorice can be bought in shops that sell Chinese medicinal herbs. 3. It's better to buy dark plums in a Chinese medicinal herb shop rather than a snack shop. 4. Honey can be used instead of crystal sugar if desired. 5. The amount of crystal sugar or honey can be reduced or increased according to personal preference. You can even omit it and still enjoy a healthier throat. 6. All three of the soups can be served either hot (in winter) or cold (in summer).

And as Dr Ma reminds us, the above foods and herbs are not omnipotent. On really polluted days, wearing a mask and avoiding prolonged activities in the open air are also necessary for protecting our throat and lungs.

White fungus soup with Chinese water chestnuts and lily bulbs

Ingredients: -2 grams dry white fungus (yin er or bai mu er) - 120 grams Chinese water chestnuts (bi qi or ma ti) (about three chestnuts) - 50 grams lily bulbs (bai he) - 20 grams crystal sugar (bing tang) - 1 liter water

Instructions: 1. Steep dry white fungus in hot water for about 20 minutes until softened. 2. Meanwhile, skin water chestnuts and then dice. 3. Wash the lily bulbs and tear them apart into pieces. 4. Cut off stems of white fungus and discard. Chop caps into small pieces. 5. Combine white fungus, water chestnuts, lily bulbs and crystal sugar into a pot. 6. Add the water and bring to a boil over high heat. 7. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Leave the pot cover open a bit to reduce the chance of soup spilling out. You will find the soup gets a little thicker when it's ready. 8. Turn off flame and allow to cool slightly before serving. Dark plum soup with licorice and sweet olive blossoms

Ingredients: - 40 grams dark plums (wu mei) - 5 grams licorice (gan cao) - 1 grams sweet olive blossoms (gui hua) - 30 grams crystal sugar - 1 liter water

Instructions: 1. Place dark plums, licorice and crystal sugar together in a pot. 2. Add water, turn flame on high and bring to a boil. 3. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. Leave pot cover open a bit and stir occasionally. 4. Add sweet olive blossoms and cook 10 minutes more. Plums will soften when ready. 5. Turn off flame, cool and serve. Pear with fritillaria bulb

Ingredients: - 450 grams pear (one or two pears) - 5 grams fritillaria bulb (chuan bei) - 10 grams crystal sugar - 1 liter water

Method 1: 1. Cut pear into slices about 1 centimeter thick. There is no need to peel. 2. Put the pear slices into a pot together with fritillaria bulb and sugar. 3. Add water and bring to a boil. 4. Reduce heat and cook 40 minutes. Leave the lid slightly open and stir from time to time. 5. Turn off flame, cool and serve.

Method 2: 1. Cut off the top of the pear and core. 2. Insert fritillaria bulb and crystal sugar into the cavity. 3. Replace the top of the pear and fix to the body with a few toothpicks. 4. Steam for about 40 minutes.

Tony Burris, L.Ac., is a 17-year practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is an expert in safe and effective acupuncture therapy and herbal remedies. He is the only practitioner in the United States that offers a “Painless Acupuncture- Or Your Money Back!” Guarantee. Tony helps frustrated and injured athletes and chronic pain sufferers discover a unique therapy system that often provides long-lasting or even permanent pain relief. His patients include members of the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Tony also treats members of the Seattle Mariners, Olympic medalists, mixed martial artists and NCAA competitors. Visit Tony’s other blog at The Taoist Club of Boise.

Sunday, March 03, 2013

Acupuncture Treats Fibromyalgia - New Research

New research concludes that acupuncture reduces pain sensitivity for patients suffering from fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). The study also showed that patients receiving acupuncture had significant reductions in anxiety and depression. Further, the overall quality of life score improved for FMS patients receiving acupuncture therapy.

Acupuncture reduces pain in patients with FMS. The treatment method was the application of five acupuncture points at a rate of once per week. The points were located in areas of discomfort near the occipital bone, rhomboid and trapezius muscles and in the region of the upper chest and lateral epicondyle. The results were published in the Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies.

Fibromyalgia is a pain syndrome affecting the soft tissues and often involves sleep disturbances, tenderness at specific points, muscle pain, fatigue and depression. A literal translation of the term is pain of the muscles and fibrous tissues. Fibromyalgia is distinguished from most other forms of pain because it is non-nociceptive. Nociceptive pain involves inflammation and is triggered by pain receptors in the skin, muscles, joints and other tissues. FMS and other non-nociceptive types of pain conditions do not inherently involve inflammation and is a result of a disruption in central processing. Examples of non-nociceptive pain include irritable bowel syndrome, migraine headaches and FMS. It is estimated that FMS affects up to approximately 4% of the US population. In Chinese Medicine, FMS is due to Liver Qi stagnation, Bi syndrome, dampness with Wei Qi obstruction, Qi deficiency and Yin deficiency. Acupuncture and herbal medicine are commonly used to treat FMS. Biomedical treatments for FMS include anti-depressants, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, sleep drugs, pain medications and nutritional supplements.

More Research

Another recent study published in Clinical Rheumatology concludes that acupuncture is effective for the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome. The researchers concluded that acupuncture demonstrates definitive “beneficial effects” in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore also conclude that acupuncture is significantly effective in the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome in their new research. Other research performed at the prestigious Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester concluded that acupuncture is effective in treating fibromyalgia and showed specific efficaciousness in its ability to reduce pain, fatigue and anxiety.

The mounting evidence suggests that acupuncture is a primary treatment for FMS. Emerging integrative medical clinics within the hospital and general medical system are helping in the delivery of acupuncture services to patients. However, most acupuncturists have individual or family group style medical practices in the US.

Acupuncture Numbers

Currently, there are slightly over 20,000 licensed acupuncturists in the USA. California has the most acupuncturists with a total of 6,682. New York has 1,909 licensed acupuncturists followed by Florida with a total of 1,719. Those numbers are up from 2009 when California had 6,578 acupuncturists, New York had 854 licensed acupuncturists and Florida had only 2,027 licensed acupuncturists. Massachusetts comes in fourth place with a total of 1,048 licensed acupuncturists. Colorado has 893 acupuncturists, Oregon has 830 acupuncturists, Texas has 796 acupuncturists and Washington has 753 acupuncturists. The numbers begin to drop-off at this point with Maryland having 667 acupuncturists, Illinois with 587 and New Jersey with 567 acupuncturists. Many states have under 100 acupuncturists and 6 states do not even have acupuncture licensing laws at all. Acupuncture has been proven to be an important and effective method for the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome but access to care remains an issue.

- See more at: http://www.healthcmi.com/acupuncturist-news-online/713-acupuncturefmsresearch#sthash.G3S1FYOZ.dpuf

Tony Burris, L.Ac., is a 17-year practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is an expert in safe and effective acupuncture therapy and herbal remedies. He is the only practitioner in the United States that offers a “Painless Acupuncture- Or Your Money Back!” Guarantee. Tony helps frustrated and injured athletes and chronic pain sufferers discover a unique therapy system that often provides long-lasting or even permanent pain relief. His patients include members of the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Tony also treats members of the Seattle Mariners, Olympic medalists, mixed martial artists and NCAA competitors. Visit Tony’s other blog at The Taoist Club of Boise.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Acupuncture for Drug & Alcohol Withdrawal - New Study

New research concludes that ear acupuncture helps reduce anxiety and other symptoms caused by drug and alcohol withdrawal. The new study published in the Journal of Psychiatric And Mental Health Nursing notes that the patients experienced increased relaxation and well-being. Anxiety reduction and reduced drug and alcohol consumption were directly related to the use of the ear acupuncture therapy.

Ear acupuncture, also known as auricular acupuncture, is the placement of needles on the tissue of the outer ear. The acupuncture protocols used in the study followed those created by NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association). The study noted that no negative side-effects were reported and the study notes that the ear acupuncture had an overall positive physical impact on the patients. Given the success of acupuncture therapy for the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction in this study, the investigators suggest continued research into the use of the NADA acupuncture techniques for addiction withdrawal.

Another recent study finds acupuncture effective for the treatment of withdrawal symptoms and anxiety associated with heroin addiction. In this controlled study, the use of two acupuncture points located on the arm, HT7 and P6, were investigated. The research concluded that both acupuncture points were successful in the treatment of heroin withdrawal symptoms.

The use of acupuncture point HT7 is widely used for the treatment of anxiety. Also known as Shenmen, Spirit’s Gate, HT7 is valued by licensed acupuncturists for its ability to induce sustained relaxation and benefiting sleep. Another recent study found HT7 had a “markedly reduced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking” in lab rats. The inhibition rate exceeded 85%. In yet another study of human subjects conducted at Yale University it was discovered that acupuncture is significantly effective in the treatment of cocaine addiction. The subjects were much less likely to return to cocaine use if they had received acupuncture treatments.

References: Bergdahl, Lena, A. H. Berman, and Kristina Haglund. "Patients’ experience of auricular acupuncture during protracted withdrawal." Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing (2013). Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science. Volume 10, Number 3 (2012), 155-159. Therapeutic efficacy observation on acupuncture for post-withdrawal syndrome of heroin dependence. Yan Liang, Lei Zong, Yu Li, Bo Cheng, Jing Xu and Yue-lai Chen. Psychopharmacology. Effects of acupuncture on stress-induced relapse to cocaine-seeking in rats. Seong Shoon Yoon, Eun Jin Yang, Bong Hyo Lee, Eun Young Jang, Hee Young Kim, Sun-Mi Choi, Scott C. Steffensen and Chae Ha Yang.

 Arch Intern Med. 2000;160(15):2305-2312. Randomized Controlled Trial of Auricular Acupuncture for Cocaine Dependence. S. Kelly Avants, PhD; Arthur Margolin, PhD; Theodore R. Holford, PhD; Thomas R. Kosten, MD. Yale University School of Medicine and Department of Psychiatry. New Haven, Connecticut. - See more at: http://www.healthcmi.com/acupuncturist-news-online/705-acupuncturedrugalcoho-withdrawal#sthash.8ExP8jpH.dpuf


Tony Burris, L.Ac., is a 17-year practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is an expert in safe and effective acupuncture therapy and herbal remedies. He is the only practitioner in the United States that offers a “Painless Acupuncture- Or Your Money Back!” Guarantee. Tony helps frustrated and injured athletes and chronic pain sufferers discover a unique therapy system that often provides long-lasting or even permanent pain relief. His patients include members of the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Tony also treats members of the Seattle Mariners, Olympic medalists, mixed martial artists and NCAA competitors. Visit Tony’s other blog at The Taoist Club of Boise.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Scalp Acupuncture Helps Multiple Sclerosis Into Remission

A new scalp acupuncture clinical case study concludes that acupuncture benefits patients with multiple sclerosis. The study finds that acupuncture relieves the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, increases the patient’s quality of life, slows the progression of physical disability and reduces the frequency of relapses.

Acupuncture benefits MS patients. Acupuncture for MS Scalp acupuncture was applied to several standard scalp zones: motor, sensory, foot motor and sensory, balance, hearing, dizziness, tremor. Acupuncture was applied once a week for the first ten weeks followed by once a month for the next six treatments. The patient in the study had multiple sclerosis (MS) for 20 years.

After the application of 16 acupuncture treatments, standing and walking improved significantly. There was also a marked reduction in numbness and tingling in the limbs. Overall, the patient showed increased energy levels and reported less dizziness. The patient’s condition went into remission after the acupuncture treatments. At the time the research was published, the patient had been in remission for 26 months.

Tony Burris, L.Ac., is a 17-year practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is an expert in safe and effective acupuncture therapy and herbal remedies. He is the only practitioner in the United States that offers a “Painless Acupuncture- Or Your Money Back!” Guarantee. Tony helps frustrated and injured athletes and chronic pain sufferers discover a unique therapy system that often provides long-lasting or even permanent pain relief. His patients include members of the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Tony also treats members of the Seattle Mariners, Olympic medalists, mixed martial artists and NCAA competitors. Visit Tony’s other blog at The Taoist Club of Boise.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Immediate effect of acupuncture on the sleep pattern of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea

The pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is complex but it is probably due to a combination of an anatomically small pharyngeal airway1 in conjunction with a sleeprelated decline in upper airway dilator muscle activity.2 Control of upper airway muscle activity is complex. Factors that may affect upper airway muscle activity include direct input from the brainstem respiratory central pattern generator,3 chemoreceptive inputs,4 vagal input due to changes in lung volume5 and a tonic wakefulness drive that is present in the respiratory system.6 During wakefulness, patients with OSA have augmented activity of upper airway muscle such as the genioglossus muscle and tensor palatine.7 This increased activity is thought to represent a neuromuscular compensatory mechanism for an anatomically small and more collapsible pharyngeal airway. At sleep onset, this augmented upper airway dilator muscle activity is diminished or lost in association with pharyngeal collapse.

We have recently demonstrated that acupuncture is more effective than placebo treatment (sham acupuncture)-providing significant changes in the respiratory events assessed by polysomnography, and improving the quality of life of patients with OSA.9 Manual acupuncture (MA) has been practised for thousands of years in China for the treatment of various diseases.10 Only in the past century has its potent alternative, electroacupuncture (EA), been used with increasing frequency in clinical and basic research,11 and several studies suggest that the results of EA and MA differ.12 EA causes the release of â-endorphin and adrenocorticotrophic hormone into plasma, whereas MA releases only â-endorphin.13 In addition to possible differences between EA and MA, a number of studies have suggested that EA at different frequencies causes different types of responses.13 14 Further evaluation showed that low-frequency (2 Hz) EA activated many more somatic afferents than high-frequency stimulation such as 10 and 20 Hz.15 These findings suggest that the central nervous system might have a frequency-specific response to peripheral electric stimulation.16

In our previous study the most prominent finding was the reduction in the Apnoea- Hypopnoea Index (AHI) after 10 sessions of MA. This result encouraged us to continue investigating the effects of acupuncture, which can be an affordable treatment for OSA. It is known that treatment with acupuncture requires time and several sessions are recommended for adequate results. However, we decided to test the immediate effect of only one session of acupuncture owing to the instant relief related the patients and also to compare the two techniques (EA and MA) in an acute model.

Between January 2007 and August 2008, we screened individuals for inclusion in this research. Eligible patients had a signifi cant symptomatic OSA confirmed by a full polysomnographic (PSG) study with an AHI >15/h and <30/h (moderate OSA), were aged 30-70 years and were all acupuncture naïve. Patients with a high alcohol intake (>80 g/day), morbid obesity, signifi cant lung disease, neurological disease, intellectual defi cit, problems in the skeletal facial framework, central apnoea, insomnia, who had already undergone oropharyngeal operations, who had been treated with continuous positive airway pressure or oral devices and were taking any hypnotic drugs were excluded.

A total of 40 patients were eligible for the study and were submitted to a new PSG at the start of the study. They were randomly allocated by a blinded independent researcher to the following four groups: MA group, EA 10 Hz group, EA 2 Hz group and control group (n=10 each group). After randomisation, study procedures remained blind except for the researcher who applied MA/EA. All patients signed an informed consent form after receiving details of the possible risks of acupuncture such as infection, fainting, haematoma and life-threatening risks if the needle was inappropriately handled. The ethical committee of the Universidade Federal de São Paulo approved the study protocol (number 0503/06). The study was conducted according to a strict protocol.

We used single-use, sterile, cooper-handle, prepacked needles with guide tubes, 40×0.25 mm (Dongbang Acupunture; Boryeong City, South Korea). Before insertion of the needles all the points were sterilised with ethanol. The location and depth of insertions were as described in traditional texts.17 The points used were as follows: LU6, LU7, LI4, LI20, GV20, CV23, ST36, ST40, SP6, KI6. An extra point is located between the hyoid bone and the menton symphysis (Shanglianquan).

For EA the electrodes were placed in the points of the neck (deep enough to reach the genioglossus muscle -CV23 and Shanglianquan) (figure 1) and also along the body in LI4 and ST36. The electrodes were connected to LI4 and ST36 at both sides. The EA stimulation, consisting of 0.45 ms2 wave pulses at 2 or 10 Hz, was delivered by a constant current EA machine (Plexus AP 585 electrostimulator; Accurate Pulse/Biotherapy, Lautz, Brazil) to produce a moderate muscle twitch. The intensity of stimulation was typically 0.6-0.8 mA.

The choice of acupoints was based on their specifi c characteristics, as already described.9 In the MA group the needles were inserted and manually stimulated until the deqi sensation of heaviness and numbness was elicited.18 All acupuncture procedures were done by an experienced doctor, specialist in acupuncture, according to traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture methods.18 Body needles were left in situ for 30 min in the ventral part of the body. Immediately after the acupuncture or electroacupuncture stimulation the subjects were prepared for the PSG recordings.

Every subject went to bed, in the laboratory, at their usual bedtime, and had a minimum of 7 h of PSG recordings. The following sleep variables were collected and stored using amplifi ers and preamplifi ers (Meditron) and a computerised 32-channel sleep system (Sonolab; Meditron, São Paulo, Brazil). A total of four electroencephalograph leads, two electro-oculogram channels, two electromyogram channels (chin and both legs) and one electrocardiogram channel were recorded. Respiration was monitored as follows: (1) nasal cannula with fl ow measured using a pressure transducer; (2) mouth thermocouple to monitor mouth fl ow; (3) two channels for chest and abdominal efforts with calibrated inductive respiratory plethysmography; and pulse oximetry was obtained using a Nellcor oximeter.

Sleep recordings were scored according to the criteria of Rechtshaffen and Kales19 and respiratory events were considered according to the criteria published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine in 1999.20 Two blinded experienced doctors assessed all the results.

Baseline characteristics of the patients were recorded as the median and compared between groups by the Kruskal- Wallis test. The results among groups were compared before and after the procedures by the Kruskal-Wallis test. The differences between the groups before and after the procedures were compared using a Mann-Whitney test.21 The level of statistical signifi cance was set at 0.05. All data were computer-analysed using Statview software.

Forty patients who entered the study, were randomly assigned to the MA group, EA 10 Hz group, EA 2 Hz group or control group (n=10 each group). Baseline characteristics of the three groups were similar (table 1).

Table 2 shows the PSG parameters before and after procedures for each group. It also shows the statistical differences between the groups before and after treatment. The MA and the EA 10 Hz groups showed a marked signifi cant improvement, in respiratory parameters. However, the control group and the EA 2 Hz group had no signifi cant differences.

Comparison of the results between the groups after treatment showed that the MA group and the EA 10 Hz group signifi cantly differed from both the EA 2 Hz and control groups in all the respiratory parameters, specifi cally in the primary outcome the AHI (figure 2). Those differences were supported by signifi cant changes in other outcomes. The EA 10 Hz group differed from the control group and EA 2 Hz in the respiratory events (p=0.006; p=0.025, respectively). The MA was signifi cant different only from the control group (p=0.015). Nevertheless, in the Hypopnoea Index the MA differed from the control group and EA 2 Hz (p=0.010; p=0.034, respectively) and the EA 10 Hz group only differed from the control group (p=0.019). No adverse events occurred during the trial.

The results of our study demonstrate that median frequency EA 10 Hz and MA exerts better immediate effects than low frequency EA 2 Hz in reducing the AHI as well as the number of nocturnal respiratory events of patients presenting with moderate OSA. In a previous study our group showed that MA was effective in providing significant changes in polysomnographic evaluations as well as in the quality of life of patients with OSA after 10 weekly sessions of acupuncture.9 The speculative hypothesis for this improvement was the involvement of serotonergic pathways22 23 in the responses mediated by acupuncture as well as its anti-inflammatory effect.24

Electrical acupoint stimulation has been widely used as a substitute for classical acupuncture. Nevertheless, the studies dealing with electroacupuncture mainly consider its analgesic effect.25 It has been shown that acupuncture analgesia can be induced by either low-frequency stimulation such as 2 Hz or high-frequency stimulation such as 100 Hz.26 In our study pain was not the focus, but rather a lack of motor competence due to an inflammatory condition or to a central mechanism underlying reduction of activity of the airway dilator muscles.3 We observed that a low and medium frequency (2 and 10 Hz) showed divergent results in promoting acute relief of the apnoea symptoms. This led us to speculate about the differences that exist between other different frequencies and not only frequencies such as 2 and 100 Hz. Perhaps between two near frequencies, such as 2 and 10 Hz, or 15 and 20 Hz, particular properties exist that exert specifi c effects.

The significance of frequency-specific EA stimulation on analgesia and the human brain has been recognised in several studies. One observation is that the release of neurotransmitters may differ between the stimuli of high (100 Hz) and low (2 Hz) frequencies.26 This finding is compatible with an aspect of traditional Chinese medicine theory strongly emphasised by Chinese doctors-namely, the importance of needle manipulation during insertion. While EA has the advantage of objective settings of stimulation parameters, it is certainly possible that EA and MA elicit different brain reactions.27 Our study demonstrated clear evidence of a difference in the acute effect of low-frequency EA and MA. The reason why two similar frequencies elicit different results is not known. We speculate that EA 10 Hz promotes a greater muscle toning effect than EA 2 Hz. Or perhaps the EA 2 Hz low frequency inhibits the effect of acupuncture?

The relation between EA and the muscular system has been little studied. One study by Yang et al (written in Chinese) observed that EA signifi cantly increased an athlete's performance, improving the biomechanical indexes, and thus enhancing the athlete's strength.28 However, for cardiovascular diseases and also pain, both EA and MA have positive therapeutic effects. Zhou et al29 observed that stimulation of low-frequency EA of superfi cial (ie, cutaneous) somatic nerves exerted either a prolonged or no attenuation of the refl ex sympatho excitatory cardiovascular responses. On the other hand, the inhibitory influence of EA on the pressor refl exes was observed in the stimulation of acupoints overlying deep somatic nerves (ie, ST36 acupoint). The stimulation of the ST36 acupoint overlying the deep peroneal nerve reduces the visceral pressor refl ex response, as well as stimulating LI4, an acupoint located in the hand. In our work we used both acupoints, ST36 and LI4, obtaining stimulation of the deep somatic nerves. These data may have direct clinical implications for the practice of EA. We speculate that local EA or MA as well as distant-point EA or MA may have promoted a cascade of reactions ameliorating the nocturnal apnoeas. In our previous work the PSG examination was carried out 2 weeks after the last treatment, and in this recent work we have shown that just one application produces a positive result.

The central mechanism underlying reduction of activity of airway dilator muscles with sleep is related to the projection of caudal raphe serotonergic neurons to upper airway moto neurons. Schwartz et al30 showed that stimulation of the lingual muscles can increase or decrease airfl ow, depending on the specifi c muscles stimulated, without arousing patients from sleep. In this work, specifi cally, we used mainly a muscle whose action protrudes the tongue (genioglossus) for MA and EA stimulation (we should also consider the mylohyoid, but the main stimulation was in the genioglossus, because the needles were deeply inserted). The influence of this lingual muscle on airflow dynamics in the upper airway is well known and we speculate that the effect on this muscle was one of mechanisms underlying the improvement of symptoms. Measuring the electric activity of this muscle was not the reason for our trial, but a study of this aspect may help to elucidate the mechanisms of acupuncture.

Another point to be considered is that we used EA both locally and systemically in two acupoints. Thus, further investigations are currently underway to investigate (1) the improvement of those patients after 10 sessions of EA and MA; (2) the effect of these treatments 3 months after the last treatment session. As we know, acupuncture treatment must be repeated weekly and for sustained effects should be carried out over a long period of time in chronic diseases- for example, once a month after the main protocol, if necessary; (3) the involvement of 5-hydroxytryptamine and anti-inflammatory substances in this effect; (4) the difference between acupuncture treatment and the current 'gold standard' treatment for OSA-namely, continuous positive airway pressure.

Although we concluded that a single session of both MA and EA 10 Hz had an acute effect in reducing the AHI of patients presenting with moderate OSA, larger studies are needed to validate the possible clinical signifi cance of these findings.

Tony Burris, L.Ac., is a 17-year practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is an expert in safe and effective acupuncture therapy and herbal remedies. He is the only practitioner in the United States that offers a “Painless Acupuncture- Or Your Money Back!” Guarantee. Tony helps frustrated and injured athletes and chronic pain sufferers discover a unique therapy system that often provides long-lasting or even permanent pain relief. His patients include members of the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Tony also treats members of the Seattle Mariners, Olympic medalists, mixed martial artists and NCAA competitors. Visit Tony’s other blog at The Taoist Club of Boise.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Acupuncture ‘promising’ way to boost exercise response, recovery

By Helen Albert, Senior medwireNews Reporter

Results from a systematic review suggest that acupuncture may improve exercise performance and postexercise recovery.

Birinder Singh Cheema (University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown, Australia) and colleagues evaluated the results of four studies on the effects of acupuncture on the performance of and/or recovery from aerobic exercise. The studies were all small, involving 10-30 participants per trial with 84 participants overall. Three used a randomized crossover method and one a parallel group design.

Two of the studies focused on professional athletes and the other two did not specify level of fitness of participants-just that they were "apparently healthy." Fourteen acupuncture sites -DU 20, LI 15, LI 13, PC 6, ST 36, SP 6, PC 5, LU 7, LI 4, GB 37, GB 39, GB 34, and LI 11, and LR 3 - were used across the four studies.

One study observed significant improvements in peak power output, rate pressure product, and blood pressure in individuals who had electroacupuncture stimulation of PC 5 and PC 6 or LU 7 and LI 4 versus controls. However, two other studies showed no improvement in performance after acupuncture, using point combinations of the sites DU 20, LI 15, LI 13, PC 6, ST 36, and SP 6 or DU 20, ST 36, GB 34, LI 11, and LR 3.

The study that assessed recovery from aerobic exercise found significant improvements in blood lactate levels, consumption of oxygen, and heart rate following acupuncture at the sites PC 6 and ST 36 versus controls at 30 or 60 minutes after exercise completion.

Despite somewhat promising results, the authors highlight the limitations of the studies such as a failure to control for confounding interventions, and a failure to report on adverse events that might be associated with acupuncture.

While they note that they found "only preliminary evidence that acupuncture methods may enhance exercise performance and postexercise recovery," Cheema et al conclude in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine that "further investigations involving more-rigorous study designs and methods of reporting are required."

Tony Burris, L.Ac., is a 17-year practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is an expert in safe and effective acupuncture therapy and herbal remedies. He is the only practitioner in the United States that offers a “Painless Acupuncture- Or Your Money Back!” Guarantee. Tony helps frustrated and injured athletes and chronic pain sufferers discover a unique therapy system that often provides long-lasting or even permanent pain relief. His patients include members of the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Tony also treats members of the Seattle Mariners, Olympic medalists, mixed martial artists and NCAA competitors. Visit my other blog, the Taoist Club of Boise.

Tags: Herbal remedies, acupuncture boise, acupuncture meridian, meridian acupuncture, meridian acupuncture and herbal medicine, meridian acupuncture & wellness, meridian acupuncture points, meridian family acupuncture, boise community acupuncture, boise chinese acupuncture, boise idaho acupuncture, boise herbal store, boise herb pantry, boise herbalist, boise herbs, boise herbal license, boise pain management, boise pain center, boise pain clinic, boise pain, idaho acupuncture.