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July 5, 2011 | IHC Newsletter |
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| Fibromyalgia & Acupuncture |
Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) affects an estimated 2 percent of the population. Conventional therapies are limited in the success of treating this complex and unexplained condition. Current treatment is largely comprised of prescribing different medications for the varying symptoms in a trial and error approach. Research shows that as many as 90 percent of people with fibromyalgia have turned to complementary and alternative medicine to manage their symptoms. Acupuncture, in particular, has become a popular treatment choice and has shown to be an effective treatment for FMS.
What is Fibromyalgia Syndrome?
Fibromyalgia is a medically unexplained syndrome characterized by chronic widespread pain, a heightened and painful response to pressure, insomnia, fatigue, and depression. While not all affected persons experience all associated symptoms, the following symptoms commonly occur together:
· chronic pain
· debilitating fatigue
· difficulty sleeping
· anxiety and depression
· joint stiffness
· chronic headaches and jaw pain
· difficulty swallowing
· dryness in mouth, nose, and eyes
· hypersensitivity to odors, bright lights, and loud noises
· inability to concentrate (called "fibro fog")
· incontinence
· irritable bowel syndrome
· numbness or tingling in the fingers and feet
· painful menstrual cramps
· poor circulation in hands and feet (called Raynaud's phenomenon)
· restless legs syndrome
Fibromyalgia is diagnosed when there is a history of widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of three months and pain when pressure is applied to at least 11 of 18 designated tender points on the body. This condition does not result in any physical damage to the body or its tissues and there are no laboratory tests which can confirm this diagnosis.
Symptoms often begin after a physical or emotional trauma, but in many cases there appears to be no triggering event. Women are more prone to develop the disorder than are men, and the risk of fibromyalgia increases with age.
From an Eastern Perspective
The Oriental medicine theory of pain is expressed in this famous Chinese saying: "Bu tong ze tong, tong ze bu tong" which means "free flow: no pain, no free flow: pain."
Pain is seen as a disruption of the flow of Qi within the body. The disruption of Qi that results in fibromyalgia is usually associated with disharmonies of the Liver, Spleen, Kidney and Heart Systems.
The Acupuncture Treatment
Oriental Medicine does not recognize fibromyalgia as one particular disease pattern. Instead, it aims to treat the specific symptoms that are unique to each individual depending on their constitution, emotional state, intensity and location of their pain, digestive health, sleeping patterns and an array of other signs and symptoms. Therefore, if 10 people are treated with Oriental medicine for fibromyalgia, each of these 10 people will receive a unique, customized treatment with different acupuncture points, different herbs and different lifestyle and dietary recommendations.
Because the symptoms of fibromyalgia are highly variable form one person to another, a wide array of traditional and alternative treatments has been shown to be the most effective way of treating this difficult syndrome. A treatment program may include a combination of psychological or behavioral therapies, medications, exercise, acupuncture, herbal medicine and bodywork.
(courtesy of www.acufinder.com) |
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What exactly is Moxa? |
Moxa is a Chinese herb or Mugwort.
The moxa stick is the most common form in which moxibustion is used to promote healing. Here the dried mugwort is rolled up tightly and wrapped in paper forming a cigar-like stick. The moxa stick can be held in one place, rotated in circles, or 'pecked' in a motion similar to a sparrow pecking at food over the area of an acupuncture point. The practitioner places a finger next to the point being stimulated to maintain a comfortable level of heat and to guard the patient from the unlikely risk of burn.
The moxa stick is held approximately a half inch from the skin, although this may vary from patient to patient. Moxa sticks can be used on their own to stimulate an acupuncture point or can be used on a point where an acupuncture needle has been inserted. This simultaneous use of moxibustion along with the acupuncture needle intensifies the therapeutic benefit of the given acupuncture point.
The moxa stick is primarily used to treat a deficiency of 'yang' energy in the body. It is yang energy that governs movement and warmth, and a deficiency of yang results in cold symptoms. The patient may feel cold, or may complain of cold hands and feet. For patients who are very weak and deficient, stick moxa is chosen as a primary treatment due to the fact that it actually adds "yang qi" to the body. Yang qi deficiency can also manifest in incontinence or loose stools, although these symptoms must be carefully differentiated by the practitioner as they may have other causes.
Another popular use of stick moxa is in the turning of a breech baby. Stick moxa is applied to the outside edge of the little toe on both feet of the pregnant mother for 15 to 20 minutes a day. Best results are achieved when treatment starts in the 34th week of pregnancy. Moxibustion therapy should be discontinued once the baby turns. The stimulation of yang results in movement and prolonged use of moxibustion could cause the baby to continuously turn, once again moving into a breech position. Turning breech babies with moxibustion is a very common practice in Chinese medicine and success had been reported for centuries.
(Amanda, Ava & Andrew)
PATIENT TESTIMONIAL:
Our baby was in breech presentation and our OBGYN recommended coming for a Moxa treatment - which has proven to turn babies when in breech. The experience was excellent. The staff was very knowledgeable and helpful. The treatment rooms are warm and cozy which made me feel very comfortable. Domenic was so friendly and explained every step of the procedure to us.
The baby turned within one week of performing the home treatments Domenic showed my husband how to perform.
We had an excellent experience with IHC and would recommend it to our friends and family for the treatment of any condition acupuncture and the other therapies they offer may help. We hope to be able to use them in the future as well.
-Amanda Brune |
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What Does YOUR
Tongue Say About You? |
Oriental medicine has used tongue diagnosis for thousands of years. An experienced practitioner can look at your tongue and begin to understand your internal problems but you can also be aware of information that your tongue provides. Look for changes in the color of your tongue, teeth marks, shape, and coating. These changes may indicate that something is amiss. A healthy tongue is naturally the same pink-red color as your lips. Someone who is very stressed or irritable may have a tongue with a red tip and sides. Teeth marks may indicate a deficiency or insomnia. Note any changes in the shape of your tongue. If it's too pale, puffy or red it may indicate an imbalance.
Healthy tongues have a thin white coating. If you see a thicker coating developing, you may be catching a cold or flu. If the coating appears yellowish the illness has a hotter nature and you can also expect a sore throat and yellow phlegm. If the coating is thick and white, this indicates a cold with chills and clear/white phlegm but without a sore throat. So if you see a thick coat developing take precautions, rest, sleep more, and keep warm. Seasonal acupuncture treatments serve to nurture and nourish your kidney Qi which can greatly enhance the body's ability to thrive in times of stress and aid in healing, preventing illness and increasing vitality.
(courtesy of www.acufinder)
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| CIGNA |
 We are excited to announce that we are now in-network with Cigna PPO and OAP (Open Access). Please feel free to give us a call and we can check on your acupuncture benefits! |
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TOWSON
1300 York Road
Building B, Suite 149
Lutherville, MD 21093
PARKVILLE
9403 Harford Road
Suite #7
Parkville, MD 21234
BEL AIR
407 E. Churchville Road
Suite 103
Bel Air, MD 21014
(inside the Gold Medal Physical Therapy Building)
www.AcupunctureBaltimore.com
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| GIFT CARDS |
Integrative Health Centers Gift Cards are the perfect gift for the ones you love! The cards can be used towards acupuncture
co-pays & co-insurance, massages, and nutrition consults! They are available all year long and in any denomination! Feel free to call us or stop in to pick up your gift card today! | | Avaliable All Year Long! |
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