Wanita Pun Gemar Lihat Payudara

Kebanyakan wanita merasa risih jika bentuk tubuhnya diperhatikan oleh orang lain, terlebih bagian itu adalah payudara. Namun, ternyata hal itu tidak harus terlalu dikhawatirkan. Sebab, sebuah studi baru telah membuktikan, baik pria maupun wanita memang lebih banyak menghabiskan waktu untuk memperhatikan tubuh dibandingkan wajah. 

Hal ini dibuktikan dari penelitian terhadap 65 orang pria dan wanita yang diminta untuk memakai semacam alat pelacak untuk melihat pandangan mata. Peserta kemudian diminta untuk memandang foto 10 orang wanita yang berpakaian memakai tank top dan jins. 

Kesepuluh wanita dalam foto-foto tersebut memiliki bentuk tubuh yang berbeda-beda. Ada yang bertipe tubuh jam pasir, yaitu berpayudara besar dan pinggang kecil, wanita dengan proporsi tubuh normal, yaitu ukuran payudara dan pinggang rata-rata, dan ada pula wanita dengan tubuh "lurus", yaitu payudara kecil dan ukuran pinggang yang lebih tebal. 

Selanjutnya, para peserta dibagi menjadi dua kelompok. Kelompok pertama diminta menilai penampilan dari skala 1 sampai 7, sedangkan kelompok kedua diminta menilai kepribadian wanita-wanita dalam foto tersebut. Mereka diberi waktu sekitar lima detik untuk menilai. 

Dari tes pertama, diketahui bahwa peserta pertama kali akan melihat wajah. Namun, perhatian mereka seketika akan beralih ke payudara dan pinggang. Baik pria maupun wanita menghabiskan waktu lebih lama dalam menerka ukuran tubuh wanita dalam foto daripada melihat wajahnya, meskipun pria lebih cepat dalam mengalihkan pandangan ke arah payudara. 

Ketika hal ini difokuskan dengan penilaian terhadap kepribadian, peserta wanita tidak terlalu terpengaruh akan bentuk tubuh dalam menilai kepribadian wanita lain. Lain hal dengan peserta pria, mereka menilai wanita dengan bentuk tubuh yang lebih berliku memiliki kepribadian yang lebih baik. 

"Wanita yang lebih menarik menjadi lebih dianggap memiliki kepribadian positif oleh pria," ujar peneliti Sarah Gervais, asisten profesor psikologi di University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

Gervais mengatakan bahwa penelitian ini menandai saat pertama kali seseorang mengukur apa yang disebut pandangan obyektif.

"Ini adalah perilaku halus, dan beberapa wanita justru menganggap ini merupakan sanjungan. Mereka pikir bagus karena dipandang secara obyektif, padahal ini adalah pengalihan. Terlebih jika terjadi di tempat kerja, sebenarnya ini menjadi masalah karena dalam kondisi ini seharusnya kita lebih fokus terhadap kompetensi dan intelegensi seorang wanita ketimbang penampilannya," ujarnya. 

Seorang ahli yang tidak terlibat dalam studi ini, Strefanie Johnson, asisten profesor manajemen di University of Colorado Denver, berpendapat, studi ini menarik karena menguak fakta bahwa sebenarnya tidak hanya pria yang senang melihat payudara, tetapi juga wanita. 

"Saya pikir mungkin ini karena wanita selalu ingin membanding-bandingkan dirinya dengan wanita lain," ujarnya.

Perempuan Pun Gemar Melihat Payudara

Sebagian besar perempuan merasa risih jika bentuk tubuhnya diamati oleh orang lain, terlebih bagian itu adalah payudara. Tetapi, ternyata hal itu tak harus terlalu dikhawatirkan. Karena, sebuah studi baru telah membuktikan bahwa, baik pria maupun wanita memang lebih banyak menghabiskan waktu untuk memperhatikan tubuh dibanding wajah.

Kasus ini terbukti dari penelitian pada 65 orang pria dan perempuan yang diminta untuk mengenakan seperti alat pelacak untuk melihat pandangan mata. Para peserta lalu diminta untuk menatap foto 10 orang perempuan yang berdandan memakai tank top dan jeans.

Kesepuluh perempuan pada foto-foto itu memiliki bentuk tubuh yang berbeda-beda. Ada yang bertipe tubuh jam pasir, yaitu dada besar dan pinggang mini, perempuan dengan proporsi tubuh normal, yaitu ukuran payudara dan pinggang rata-rata, dan ada pula perempuan yang tubuh "lurus", yaitu payudara mini dan ukuran pinggang yang lebih tebal.

Berikutnya, para peserta dibagi menjadi dua kelompok. Kelompok satu diminta untuk menilai penampilan dari skala 1 sampai 7, sementara kelompok kedua diminta untuk menilai kepribadian perempuan-perempuan pada foto itu. Mereka diberikan waktu sekitar lima detik untuk menilai.

Dari tes pertama, diketahui bahwa para peserta pertama kali akan melihat wajah. Tetapi, perhatian mereka sesaat segera bergeser ke payudara dan pinggang. Baik pria maupun perempuan menghabiskan waktu lebih panjang dalam menerka ukuran tubuh perempuan pada foto dari melihat wajahnya, meski pria lebih cepat dalam memindahkan pandangan ke arah payudara.

Pada saat kasus ini difokuskan dengan penilaian pada kepribadian, para peserta perempuan tak terlalu terpengaruh akan bentuk tubuh dalam menilai kepribadian perempuan lainnya. Lain hal dengan para peserta pria, mereka memberi peringkat perempuan dengan bentuk tubuh yang lebih berliku memiliki kepribadian yang lebih baik.

"Perempuan yang lebih menarik menjadi lebih diasumsikan memiliki kepribadian positif oleh para pria," ujar peneliti Sarah Gervais, asisten profesor psikologi di University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Gervais bilang bahwa penelitian ini menandai saat pertama kali seorang mengukur apa yang disebut pandangan obyektif.

"Ini adalah perilaku halus, dan sejumlah perempuan justru mengasumsikan ini adalah pujian. Mereka pikir baik karena dilihat secara obyektif, padahal ini adalah pengalihan. Terlebih jika terjadi di tempat pekerjaan, pada kenyataannya ini adalah masalah karena pada kondisi ini seharusnya kita akan lebih berfokus pada kompetensi dan intelegensi seorang perempuan ketimbang penampilan, "katanya.

Seorang anggota yang tak terlibat pada studi ini, Strefanie Johnson, asisten profesor manajemen di University of Colorado Denver, menganggap, studi ini menarik karena menguak kenyataan bahwa pada kenyataannya tak hanya pria yang senang untuk melihat payudara, tetapi juga perempuan.

"Aku pikir mungkin ini karena perempuan selalu ingin membanding-bandingkan dirinya sendiri dengan perempuan lainnya," katanya.

Diabetes and Acupuncture

Carnews7.blogspot.com - Diabetes is linked with many health problems: low thyroid function, early onset of stroke, eye problems and neuropathy. More and more Americans are developing type II diabetes. Why is high blood sugar so detrimental to your health? The reason is that high blood sugar is toxic to blood vessels and nerves causing inflammation. If you observe the blood vessels of a diabetic patient, you will find that they look purple and enlarged indicating bad circulation. If these blood vessels are in the brain, the inflamed nerves cannot get sufficient nutrients. This is how you can lose your memory and your vision in your early fifties. If blood vessels are damaged in your legs or hands, small cuts in those areas will not heal easily, eventually developing ulcers deep to the bone. If your blood vessels are damaged in your testicles or ovaries, you can develop impotence, ovarian cysts, an irregular period and possibly infertility. If the inflammation happens in your prostate, you can develop prostatis or even prostate cancer. If the inflammation is in your thyroid, you will develop a hypothyroid condition. That is why diabetes and thyroid dysfunction always go hand in hand.

How can you stabilize your blood sugar to achieve optimal health? Eating whole foods is the key. You do not have to get rid of carbohydrates; you can eat whole wheat in moderation with vegetables. Eating fruits instead of drinking juice will help your body process the fructose slowly because of the fibers in the fruit. Simple sugars in processed food can go to your blood within half an hour, making your blood sugar spike right away. Your body will try to produce more insulin to quickly move the blood sugar into your fat cells, and your sugar can drop to very low levels after an hour. You will need another fix to bring up your blood sugar. This up-and-down process not only damages your blood vessels and nerves, but also can make you very moody and tired. The good thing about eating simple sugars is that you feel happy for half an hour because the simple sugars induce endorphin release right away and you do not need enzymes to digest sugar, thus no gas and bloating. But simple sugars do not provide any nutrients, and slowly cause inflammation in every part of your body, including joints without you knowing it.

Glucose intolerance is the condition in which insulin cannot function normally due to too much sugar intake every day, which desensitizes insulin receptors. Even though you have normal fasting blood sugar, sharp elevated blood sugar levels right after a meal can damage blood vessels and nerves irreversibly. The following study indicates that acupuncture treatment can prevent blood sugar surges induced by chemicals artificially; thus acupuncture can prevent neuropathy, stroke and even dementia. Healthy blood vessels and nerves are crucial for the normal function of the heart and brain. If you would like to remember your children's names by the age of eighty, please avoid processed food.

In a 2011 Journal of Endocrinology Investigation, Dr. Jiang YL, et. al used a single abdominal injection of a chemical called streptozotocin (STZ) to induce high blood sugar in rats. Rats were randomly divided into six groups: control, diabetes, preventive acupuncture plus streptozotocin injection, STZ injection plus therapeutic acupuncture, streptozotocin injection plus preventive and therapeutic acupuncture, and preventive and therapeutic acupuncture control. Body weight, blood glucose, serum insulin, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzymes were measured by routine standard methods. Histological analysis of pancreatic islets was conducted. Their results showed that preventive acupuncture significantly reduced blood sugar levels, enhanced insulin efficiency, reduced body weight and pancreatic islet damage in rats with streptozotocin injection; it also significantly reduced serum lipid peroxidation and enhanced superoxide dismutase in the serum and the pancreas, which reduced oxidation stress and prevented the blood from clotting.

In clinical practices, when we applied acupuncture to type I and type II diabetes patients after each meal, their blood sugar reading usually is lowered within two hours. Since people cannot have acupuncture everyday to lower their blood sugar, eating low glycemic index food and doing regular exercise are also very important to resensitize the insulin receptor so that with the lowered level of insulin, people can still achieve an optimized blood sugar level. If you build more muscles through exercise, your body will use lower levels of insulin to stabilize blood sugar levels. Insulin itself is a growth factor, which can lead to an imbalance of hormones and chronic inflammation. If you pay attention to people who start using insulin for a couple of years, you will notice they all have a big belly and very thin limbs as they lose muscle mass.

Acupuncture not only can help the body stabilize blood sugar levels, but it also can be used to treat neuropathy because it can improve blood circulation to your hands and feet to facilitate peripheral nerve regeneration. The most recent article in Neuroscience. 2011 by Cidral-Filho FJ et. al. indicates that manual acupuncture inhibits mechanical hypersensitivity induced by spinal nerve injury in rats, which helps reduce the pins-and-needles sensation. Jin Z et. al did human clinical research in 2011 and found that electroacupuncture and acupoint injection with methylcobalamin can increase motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity, control and relieve the symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7696229

Acupuncture and Migraines

Carnews7.blogspot.com - A migraine is a type of headache, which can repetitively happen on one side or both sides of the head. Usually, it is a throbbing, stabbing pain, which can be debilitating to people.

Mechanisms of migraines: Abnormal brain cell activities trigger release of certain chemicals, causing changes of blood flow in the brain and surrounding tissues, according to an article in Medline Plus. CT's or MRI's do not show any organic changes in the brain.

What causes migraines:

• Changed sleep-wake cycle can cause imbalance of chemicals in the brain. If cortisol, melatonin and other chemicals peak and drop at the wrong time, brain activities will change.
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• Artificial light, such as computer and TV light, can reduce melatonin secretion, which is associated with the hyper- excitability of brain cells and increases of certain chemicals linked with pain sensation. Many teenagers develop migraines after prolonged playing of computer games.
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• Missing meals can cause a decrease of blood sugar, triggering adrenaline release, thus changing activity of brain cells.
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• Strong coffee or tea can over-stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and lead to an imbalance between exciting and inhibiting chemicals in the brain.
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• Taking medication for headaches daily can profoundly change the balance of the chemicals in our bodies.
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• Hormone changes during puberty, menopause and menstruation can also influence brain blood flow. Women tend to develop migraines during menopause.
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• Birth control pills not only dramatically change your chemical balance and brain activities but also cause swelling of the blood vessels.
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• Certain smells or perfumes.
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• Certain foods: any processed, fermented, pickled, or marinated foods, baked goods, chocolate, dairy products, foods containing monosodium glutamate (MSG), foods containing tyramine, (including red wine, aged cheese, smoked fish, chicken livers, figs, and certain beans.). Meats containing nitrates (bacon, hot dogs, salami, cured meats), nuts, onions and peanut butter.
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• Stress can cause increases of cortisol, adrenaline and prolactin, which lead to abnormal activities of brain cells.
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• Lyme disease can cause nerve damage.
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• Dehydration induces histamine release, which generally causes inflammation of the blood vessels, including brain blood vessels.
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• Some medications, such as beta-blockers, can cause swelling of the blood vessels.
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• Excessive noise can over-stimulate your sympathetic nervous system.
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• Women may have fewer migraine attacks during the last two trimesters because a high level of progesterone and a certain type of estrogen (estriol) stabilize their nervous systems.
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• Nicotine withdrawal can cause headaches. Weather changes may cause swelling of the blood vessels due to changes of humidity and air pressure.

What we can do to prevent migraines:

• Go to sleep and wake up at regular times in order to maintain normal brain cell activity. It is harmful to go to sleep and wake up at random times. Healthy people hardly disturb their circadian cycle. Night-shift people rarely live up to 90 years old in good condition.
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• Avoid too much caffeine. If you have migraines currently, you need to gradually cut down the amount of caffeine that you take in. Technically, caffeine can constrict the blood vessels and help relieve headaches, but too much caffeine is always linked with frequent headaches, because caffeine can also over-stimulate your sympathetic nervous system, causing over-reaction to environmental changes. Moderation is the key.
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• If you want to quit smoking, do it gradually, because a sudden drop in nicotine can lead to hyper-excitability of brain cells. You might want to drink some green tea when you want to light a cigarette, because theonine in green tea can help us relax but still stay alert.
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• Do not drink wine or any other alcohol if you have frequent migraines. If you continue this habit, eventually the medication will not help you anymore.
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• Find out what causes your allergies: nuts, onions or other kinds of food. Abnormal levels of histamine due to allergies can change our brain cell activities.
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• Avoid intense exercises such as running more than 5 miles every day, which can trigger adrenaline release.
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• Avoid artificial sweeteners because they have similar structures as certain brain chemicals and thus can potentially change brain cell activities.
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• Avoid occurrences of low blood sugar by eating the right foods at the right times. Sweets make your blood sugar level go up and down like a roller coaster.
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• Apply a cool towel during a migraine attack; it helps to reduce the swelling of the blood vessels.
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• Avoid triggering food. Once you break the vicious cycle of your migraine attacks, your nervous system and its chemicals reestablish a new balance. You can eat small amounts of those triggering foods, such as chocolate, wine, and nuts, once or twice a week. Finding out the amount and frequency of each of these foods that your body can tolerate is the key to avoiding migraines and enjoying your life in the long run.
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• Drink half of your weight in fluid ounces of water at least three times a week, meaning a person who weighs 150 pounds should drink 75 ounces of water 3 days during each week. When you are dehydrated, your blood vessels tend to constrict to maintain your blood pressure. Furthermore, dehydration can induce histamine release.

Research about acupuncture and migraines:

Li Y published results in Headache 2009 about how acupuncture can relieve the acute attacks of migraines. A total of 218 patients with migraines were recruited for the study; 180 met the inclusion criteria; 175 completed the callback process and were randomized into 3 groups. One group received real acupuncture, whereas subjects in the other 2 groups were treated with sham acupuncture. Each patient received 1 session of treatment and was observed over a period of 24 hours. The main outcome measure was the differences in visual analog scale (VAS scores for the pain level before treatment and 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 hours after treatment.)

Significant decreases relative to baseline in VAS scores were observed in the fourth hour after treatment. The VAS scores in the fourth hour after treatment decreased by a median of 1.0 cm, 0.5 cm, and 0.1 cm in the real acupuncture group, sham acupuncture group 1, and sham acupuncture group 2. Similarly, there was a significant difference in the change from baseline in VAS scores in the second hour after treatment among the 3 groups (P =.006), with only patients treated with real acupuncture showing a significant mean decrease in VAS score at this time: median decrease 0.7 cm (P <.001). Many patients in the acupuncture group experienced complete pain relief (40.7%).

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7728631

Acupuncture for Insomnia and Other Sleep Issues

Carnews7.blogspot.com - Sleep issues can wreak havoc on your body: not getting a decent night's sleep can have a variety of detrimental effects on your health, including the following :

• shortened life span
• headaches
• obesity
• heart disease
• diabetes
• high blood pressure
• depression
• lowered immune system

Obviously the risks around not getting enough sleep are serious, and so getting the right health care treatment is essential. Luckily, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have been treating sleep issues for thousands of years. Sleep concerns that are often treated with TCM include (note that the term 'insomnia' could relate to a number of the following symptoms):

• difficulty falling asleep
• frequently waking up
• sleeping restlessly
• dream-disturbed sleep
• grinding your teeth while sleeping
• difficulty with waking in the morning
• shallow breathing while sleeping
• excessive daytime sleepiness
• restless leg syndrome
• sleep apnea

In TCM, it is your Spirit (capitalized here to differentiate from other definitions), also known as your Mind, or in Mandarin, your 'Shen', which your quality of sleep depends upon (note that this is a simplification: other sources may distinguish between the Spirit and the Mind as two separate entities). The organ system responsible for nourishing your Spirit is your Heart, and specifically the Yin portion (each of your 5 major organs in TCM have both a Yin and a Yang side to them). If your Heart Yin has been nourished properly your sleep will be okay, but if it is deficient or agitated, you will suffer from sleep concerns.

Deficiencies in your Heart organ system generally come from genetic predisposition, poor diet, childbirth, and the after-effects of external pathogens. Agitating factors usually involve emotional disturbances such as stress, anger or depression, but may also involve natural TCM elemental disturbances, such as Fire or Wind. Essentially, emotional issues as well as Fire and Wind are often related to your Liver, and so Liver Yin deficiency can also affect your sleep.

Dream-disturbed sleep (i.e. dreams that are so intense or disturbing that your sleep is affected), while usually indicative of a deficiency, may sometimes be the cause of an excess as well. For example, it is said in ancient TCM texts that dreaming about flying while seeing strange objects made of gold or iron indicates a Lung deficiency (your Lungs govern your breathing and immune system). Dreaming about crying however, can mean an excess in your Lung organ system (the emotion associated with your Lungs is sadness or grief). Incidentally, it is also believed that your sleeping position, i.e. if you prefer to sleep on your stomach, your back or one side, this may indicate a certain deficiency or excess pattern. Snoring affecting your sleep is often correlated to an excess pattern.

When pursuing acupuncture as a treatment for sleep issues, it is important to seek the help of someone who is a qualified TCM practitioner, as a proper diagnosis is essential to getting adequate results. Proper diagnosis of your sleep issue will first determine whether your condition is one of deficiency or excess, and furthermore what type thereof. For example, difficulty in falling asleep usually indicates one type of deficiency, whereas falling asleep easily but waking up frequently through the night may indicate a different type of deficiency altogether. By asking a number of questions, taking your pulse and possibly even looking at your tongue, a TCM practitioner can diagnose you quite accurately, and therefore choose the appropriate course of treatment specific to your needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7773727

Case Study: Acupuncture for Insomnia and Depression

Healthcare21.blogspot.com - A 38 year-old male patient presented with insomnia. He said he had been having trouble sleeping since his divorce 2 years previous. He was having trouble falling asleep and was also waking up frequently during the night - approximately 3 or 4 times, and was not feeling rested. He also claimed to have been very depressed and sad since his divorce. He did not have any children with his wife, and had not been the one that chose to pursue divorce. He said that he was depressed and sad about his inability to repair the relationship with his estranged wife.

He also complained of frequently having dry eyes, and felt that his memory was poorer in the previous 2 years than it had been before his divorce. He also claimed to be in the beginning stages of feeling rather anxious and unsettled, especially in the latter part of the day around dinner time.

Although his concern was mainly for the insomnia, it was believed that acupuncture could help with the depression as well. Nonetheless, it was recommended to him that he also seek the professional help of someone whom he could talk to about his emotional state. He agreed that we would do so.

His tongue was red and dry, with a fairly thin coating. His pulse was quite weak, and was slightly wiry on the left side.

Diagnosis: Insomnia due to Liver Yin and Heart Yin deficiencies. The Liver Yin deficiency could be seen in his depression, as well as the patient's dry eyes. The Heart Yin deficiency was evident in the patient's trouble falling asleep and frequent waking in the night, as well as his poor memory. The anxiety starting may have been indicative of empty heat beginning to form due to the lack of Yin in his Heart system.

Treatment Principle: Tonify the patient's Liver and Heart Yin, and calm his Mind.

Acupuncture Points Used: SP 6, ST 36, HT 7, LR 8, Yintang, Sishenchong, SP 10, PC 6

After 4 treatments performed once per week, the patient was able to fall asleep, but continued to wake up a few times during the night. His depression and anxiety seemed to be lifting as well, and after this first month had passed he began seeing a psychotherapist about his feelings surrounding his divorce. With a treatment every 2 weeks, in 3 more months he was able to sleep through the night, and seemed much happier.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7788434

Acupuncture: An Alternative Medicine

Healthcare21.blogspot.com - Acupuncture is an alternative medicine methodology originating in ancient China that treats patients by manipulating thin,solid needles that have been inserted into acupuncture points in the skin.

According to Traditional Chinese medicine, stimulating these point scan correction balances in the flow of qi through channels known as meridians.

According to recent study, Acupuncture stimulates PAG (Periaqueductal gray), RN (Raphe nuclei), RF (Reticular Formation). The human body secretes endogenous morphin, encephalin, dynorphin, that reduce pain symptoms. Acupuncture can reduce the level of inflammation of joints, tendon, fascia, ligaments. 

The effectiveness of acupuncture can be applied widely from musculoskeletal to internal diseases.

Migraine, Tension, Headaches, acute and chronic sprain of joints, neck stiffness, shoulder pain, back pain, cervical and lumbar radiculopathy, osteoarthritis, stroke rehabilitations, facial palsy, functional dyspepsia, Irritable Bowel syndrome and many more are treated effectively by acupuncture.

There are many types of acupuncture treatment.

Heated-Acupuncture 

Heated-acupuncture is a variation form of acupuncture that adds heat on the top of the needle to further reduce inflammation of tendons and ligaments. 

Areas that make use of heated acupuncture are all kinds of ligament injuries, tendonitis and sprained ankles, wrists, lower back, tennis elbow, golf elbow etc.

Electro-Acupuncture 

Electro-Acupuncture is a form of acupuncture where a small electric current is passed between pairs of acupuncture needles. Another name is Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. By inducing low frequency electric current, the nerves and muscles are stimulated to reduce pain and to enhance rehabilitation. The most common use of electro acupuncture is for pain control and rehabilitation especially after a stroke.

Electro-Acupuncture is good for stroke rehabilitation, lumbar radiculopathy, cervical radioculopathy, and chronic pain, arthritis, etc.

Cupping therapy 

Cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which a local suction is created on the skin; practitioners believe this mobilizes blood flow in order to promote healing.

Suction is created using heat (fire) or mechanical devices (hand or electrical pumps).

Nowadays it is used to reduce local pain and stimulate muscles and ligaments.

The cycle of pain flows as below:

Painful event leads to trauma. Trauma makes inflammation which induces pain, and pain makes reflex muscles contract. Reflex muscle contraction creates restricted movements which in turn causes bad circulation increasing pain and spasms in the body.

Local stimulation of cupping is useful to relax these contracted muscles therefore reversing the process and reducing pain. Yet again, safety and hygiene are given key importance at every treatment and disposable cups are used.

Acute and chronic sprain of ankle and lower back, neck areas, lumbar and cervical radiculopathy. Neck stiffness, shoulder pain, back pain are treated by Cupping therapy.

Moxibustion 

Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy using moxa, or mugwort herb.

It plays an important role in the traditional medical systems of China (including Tibet), Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Mongolia.

Suppliers usually age the mugwort and grind it up to a fluff; practitioners burn the fluff or process it further into a cigar-shaped stick.

It can be used indirectly, with acupuncture needles, or burn it on the patient's skin. Heat created by burning of moxa promote blood circulation and bowel movement.

It is used for constipation, chronic diarrhea, indigestion, functional dyspepsia, chronic gastritis, and menstrual pain, functional infertility, etc.

Infertility, functional dyspepsia, menstrual pain, pre menstruation syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, Irritable bowel syndrome are treated by Moxibustion.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7626491

Acupuncture for Neck Pain

Healthcare21.blogspot.com - Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in general terms, is formed by the practice of acupuncture, herbs, and Tui Na (Chinese massage). When it comes to neck pain, there are a few herbs that can be used, both topically and internally (e.g. notopterygium root), but it is the acupuncture and Tui Na that are most effective in treating this type of pain.

Pain in the neck area is a very common type of pain, as you tend to hold a lot of your stress here, especially where your neck meets your shoulders. In our society, stress is a common contributor to neck ache, as is posture, which tends to be forgotten as we rush from place to place and sit at a desk for a large portion of our workdays. The symptoms of neck pain usually involve stiffness, along with varying degrees of pain, which might spread into your shoulder, upper back, or arms. Along with the neck pain you may also experience headaches, a lack of ability to properly move your neck, and even some numbness, tingling, or weakness in one or both of your arms. Long-term (chronic) neck pain can also lead to fatigue, depression, or anxiety.

In scientific terms, neck ache is usually caused by stress and/or poor posture, and can also be caused by poor sleeping position or injury (especially in sports). Less commonly, this type of pain is caused by infection, cervical spinal stenosis, or rheumatoid arthritis. In TCM terms however, neck pain is diagnosed in terms of a completely different paradigm. In Chinese medicine, a fundamental belief is that everything that exists in the universe can also exist within us. Thus, we can be affected by Wind, Cold, Heat, Dampness, and more (note: these terms are capitalized to differentiate from the scientific definitions).

In TCM, your neck can be affected in the short term (i.e. acutely) by Wind-Cold invasion, or by a simple sprain. The symptoms are the same, i.e. neck pain with sudden onset, stiffness and a limitation of movement. Sometimes a preexisting condition of Liver deficiency or excess can encourage this type of neck pain (your Liver is sensitive to Wind). Chronic neck pain can come about because of repeated acute attacks that are not treated properly, and there is almost always an underlying Liver pattern present. Thus, acute flare-ups of chronic neck pain are almost always caused by Wind invasion. Plus, if you have a tendency towards Qi (energy) stagnation, Dampness accumulation, or another condition that may encourage blockage, this will also need to be addressed.

Since much of the information related to TCM is fairly esoteric in nature, and since acupuncture is usually very successful at treating this type of pain, it is best to have your acupuncture performed by someone who is trained as a TCM practitioner. Other types of professions practicing acupuncture will likely not be very well versed in TCM diagnosis, and so their acupuncture will be limited in scope. In addition, if herbal consultation is called for, it is certainly only a TCM practitioner who should be sought out.

If Tui Na is performed to treat your neck pain, your practitioner will likely focus on treating your neck in a fashion that is dictated by their knowledge of meridians (pathways of energy and nutrient-flow throughout your body). This means that your TCM practitioner, if massage is part of their treatment, will work on a certain meridian looking for sore points. For example, your Gall Bladder meridian runs along the side of your head, down your neck, through your shoulders, and down the side of your body. This meridian is often a great focus for massage in terms of neck pain, as you may have more than one point that is tender, or experiences some kind of discomfort.

One of the great advantages of seeking treatment with TCM is that it treats your whole body, and not one part at a time. Thus, if you're suffering from something else, e.g. depression or fatigue, your TCM treatment can have a profound effect on that symptom as well as your neck pain.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7793340

Acupuncture for Upper Back Pain

Healthcare21.blogspot.com - Your upper back is considered by most to be your thoracic spine, which runs from your neckline (where it attaches to your cervical spine) to the lower portion of your mid-back (where it attaches to your lumbar spine). Since your thoracic spine provides you with a lot of stability and protection (i.e. protecting your heart and lungs), it has a special place on your back. But despite its strength, you can still feel pain in your upper back, often due to one or more of the following reasons:

• muscle strain
• poor posture
• overuse
• injury or trauma
• joint dysfunction
• pressure from spinal nerves
• osteoarthritis
• myofascial pain

Please note: if you experience upper back pain along with any of the following symptoms, you should consider the pain a serious issue and should seek a doctor's advice immediately:

• weakness in your arms or legs
• numbness or tingling in your torso or arms
• loss of bladder or bowel control

More often than not, your doctor will not be able to find much if anything wrong, although it never hurts to have some tests done just in case. When nothing can be found as a source of your pain, more than likely it's time to seek the help of natural medicine, such as acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Acupuncture (a modality of TCM) doesn't need a conventional medical diagnosis to help ease your pain - you simply describe where the pain is coming from, and the practitioner will ask you some other questions and feel your pulse. Once they've achieved a TCM diagnosis in this manner, they will more than likely choose some acupuncture points in your upper back where you're feeling pain, and possibly also in other areas of your body to help reinforce the treatment so that you remain pain-free for longer. Some of these other points include ones on the top of your head, your wrist or hand, and your lower legs.

You may now be wondering how these other points on your body are chosen. Essentially, TCM diagnosis of upper back pain tends to focus on whether your underlying energy pattern is one of excess or deficiency. Since TCM is a natural medicine and believes that everything which exists in the universe also exists within us, excess patterns can include blockage created from Cold, from Dampness, or from Qi (energy) and Blood stagnation (please note that some words are capitalized here to differentiate from the scientific definitions). Deficiency patterns generally evolve from Qi and/or Blood deficiencies. Thus the acupuncture points chosen on your body, aside from the points in your upper back, are chosen to help either remove excess from your body in general, or to generally boost your energy and/or nourish your Blood.

More than likely, after an acupuncture treatment your TCM practitioner will want to also perform some Tui Na (Chinese Massage), as an adjunct to the acupuncture. A massage of this type after an acupuncture session helps to further move blockage in the local area. You will probably note that Tui Na is a little different from a Swedish massage: its principle are based on the same as those which define acupuncture and the rest of TCM.

Next, if your pain is severe enough, your TCM practitioner may suggest some cupping, which involves the placement of (usually) glass or plastic cups in the local area. The cups will also help to remove blockage, and will help rid your body of toxins as well. Other modalities, such as herbs, may be suggested but are not always necessary. Each of us is unique, and so each treatment by a qualified R.TCMP (Registered TCM Practitioner) is unique to an individual's situation.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7801343

Acupuncture - Healing With Needles

Healthcare21.blogspot.com - When we hear 'acupuncture' the image of bare skin tingling with needles comes to mind. Originating in China, this alternative branch of medicine employs a set of techniques, including puncturing of the skin with needles, to cure diseases. It is one of the oldest healing practices of the world with a history that can be traced back to the Stone Age. And it is still practiced globally, including Europe and America.

Qi and Meridians

A branch of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture believes in Qi, an energy that flows in specified channels called meridians through our body. Though the existence of neither Qi nor meridians has been conclusively proved by medical research, acupuncturists claim that all diseases are caused by a disruption in the smooth flow of Qi. To correct irregularities in the flow, an acupuncture practitioner will stimulate locations beneath the skin called acupoints using different techniques. A widely used method is piercing the skin with stainless steel or copper needles, which are then stimulated manually or electrically. Acupoints in general are located at specific points along the meridians or outside them, while 'A-shi' are non-specific acupuncture points observed during illness.

Diagnosis and Treatment

The practice of acupuncture is individualized, the practitioner relying a lot on philosophy and intuition. On a visit to an acupuncturist, our tongue and pulse will be examined. While the shape, size, color, coating, presence or absence of teeth-marks, and tension of the tongue are carefully noted, the acupuncturist will also feel the radial artery for our pulse. The rhythm, volume and strength of the pulse at different points along the artery are thoroughly examined. Based on the observations a diagnosis is reached. This is followed by ten to sixty minute sessions to cure the condition.

Effectiveness

Opinions vary and research studies have come up with conflicting results. But it is widely accepted that acupuncture is effective in treating nausea and pain. It is especially beneficial in relieving neck pain and chronic lower back pain. In the case of post-operative nausea, and vomiting following chemotherapy, acupuncture brings patients relief. On some occasions it has been found to be more effective than anti-nausea drugs. Other likely cures are those for knee arthritis, migraines, infertility, neurological problems etc. However, research indicates that the effects are short-term - seen immediately after the session and lasting only till the next immediate follow-up.

Safety

When administered by a skilled practitioner it is safe, adverse effects being very rare. The needles are required by US law to be disposable. In countries where they are allowed to be reused, needles are first sterilized before being used again. Unsterilized needles pose the threat of blood-borne and bacterial infections. The pain felt by the patient during acupuncture varies with the skill of the practitioner, and at the hands of a very good acupuncturist we might not feel any pain at all.

For chronic pains of the neck and back, if no other treatment brings us relief, acupuncture is worth a try. Since it has hardly any side effects, acupuncture can be safely used in conjunction with other treatment routines. But it is ethically important that a patient who arrives at the acupuncturist's office be referred to the appropriate specialist when needed, so that he/she is not denied correct diagnosis and timely treatment.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7794117