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Can You Use $20.00
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Bring the coupon in this Newsletter to Ballantyne Acupuncture and Receive $20.00 OFF your First Visit. Already a Patient? Please pass this Gift of Good Health along to a friend, co-worker, or family member. and Remember..We also have Gift Certificates Available. Dr. Wang invites you to read his patient testimonials!
CLICK HERE FOR TESTIMONIALS
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September 2010
Wang's Acupuncture and Herbal Clinic. Welcome to our July Issue!
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Greetings!
Welcome to our September Newsletter. It is our objective to bring you interesting and informative articles on topics that we frequently address at our practice.
We hope you will enjoy these articles and pass them along to anyone you believe might also be interested in learning more about Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Please enjoy reading,
Dr. Jeffrey Wang, DOM (NM), and Dr. Mary Ren, DOM (NM)
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FERTILITY
Acupuncture during IVF and IUI Support
 IVF (in vitro fertilization) and IUI (intra-uterine insemination) are assisted reproductive techniques offered to couples who have been having trouble conceiving. IVF involves the uniting of an egg and sperm in the laboratory (in vitro) followed by the transfer of fertilized embryos into the woman's womb. IUI is performed by collecting a sample of the best sperm from the partner and passing it into the womb during ovulation time.
IUI and IVF can be costly procedures. Despite the considerable costs, success rates can be low, and with the average couple needing 6 cycles of IUI, or 3 cycles of IVF to get pregnant, the overall cost of fertility treatment can easily exceed $15,000
 How does Acupuncture help with IVF and IUI?
A recent publication in the British Medical Journal reviewed the evidence from seven clinical studies (1366 participants) involving Acupuncture used in conjunction with IVF treatments. The article concluded that Acupuncture can help to increase the chances of achieving a clinical pregnancy with IVF by a considerable 65%. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can effectively improve chances of success during IVF in the following ways:
For her during the natural cycle
- Improving the egg quality, especially important for older women
- Improving thickness and quality of the endometrial lining
- Increasing ovarian and uterine blood flow
- Regulating the hormones FSH and LH, estrogen and progesterone
- Normalize follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle
- Regulating ovulation
- Relieving stress-related fertility problems.
For her during the IVF/IUI cycle
- Improves the body's response to hormones
- Improves implantation rates
- Reduces rates of miscarriage
- Reduces anxiety levels
- Reduces side effects of IVF/IUI medications.
For him
- Increase low sperm count
- Increase sperm motility
- Improving sperm morphology
- Improve sperm genetic abnormalities.
When should I start Acupuncture?
Most patients who seek fertility treatment are interested in enhancing their natural fertility before they move onto the next steps of IVF and IUI, especially if they are suffering from gynocological conditions such as endometrios and polycystic ovaries. For these patients, starting their acupuncture treatment in the two or three months preceding their scheduled IVF or IUI gives their bodies time to prepare. This gives the Acupuncture a chance to regulate differing aspects of the woman's cycle prior to starting IVF.
How often do I need to have Acupuncture?
Most patients will require weekly treatments prior to their IVF and IUI treatment. This allows treatment at differing stages of the natural cycle and to influence the hormones dominant during those particular times of the cycle.
Acupuncture needs to be performed at certain stages of the fertility treatment cycle and has been shown to be particularly influential when carried out at egg collection and embryo transfer for IVF procedures. For IUI the acupuncture sessions are timed around the insemination procedure.
Please contact us at 704.968.0351 for a comprehensive evaluation.
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Acupuncture for the treatment of Anxiety
Most people experience anxiety at some point in their lives. Anxiety is an important factor in survival, triggering the fight or flight response. However, when even the simplest tasks generate an anxi ous response, there is cause for concern.
Symptoms of anxiety range from constant worrying to debilitating panic attacks. It can cause an increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and even dizziness and confusion.
Though certain medication may be useful to anxiety sufferers, many times, the reported side effects are disconcerting to the patient and they may seek alternative care instead.
How it works
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) embraces a deep and inseparable connection between mind and body. Optimal health is based on a precise balance of energy between each organ in the body.
According to TCM, energy or "chi" travels along pathways throughout the body. When the body experiences pain, dysfunction, or disease it means that the pathways are encountering a blockage and chi can no longer pass through.
TCM utilizes acupuncture needles to create a state of profound relaxation which promotes rest and healing for the mind and body. The needles inserted into acupoints in the body stimulate the parasympathetic system which ultimately slows the heart rate and allows the body to relax. The blockage is then removed and energy can begin to flow through again.
During an initial visit, the acupuncturist asks a series of questions to determine what kind of anxiety the patient suffers from. Each physical symptom paints a kind of picture which the acupuncturist uses to diagnose and treat the patient's particular state of anxiety.
Depending on how the anxiety presents itself to the patient, the acupuncturist will determine which organ's energy is being depleted. Then, needle points are painlessly inserted into corresponding locations in the body to stimulate and strengthen the energy of that organ.
Generally, a patient will experience immediate relief of acute symptoms during a treatment. Once a patient begins regular treatments, symptoms will lessen in frequency and severity.
The number of treatments necessary depends on the severity of anxiety and the how long the patient has suffered. When the patient does achieve an optimal state of mental and emotional health, either monthly or quarterly treatments will be required to maintain balance.
Acupuncture, Anxiety and Research
A study performed at Yale University School of Medicine and Yale-New Haven Hospital used three randomized treatment groups to test the efficacy of acupuncture. The results indicated that, "Analyzing anxiety levels using repeated-measures analysis of variance has demonstrated a significant difference between the three treatment groups." The study concluded that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for chronic anxiety disorders and can notably decrease anxiety levels.
Please contact us at 704.968.0351 for an
evaluation. |
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IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and Acupuncture
Can IBS be treated successfully through acupuncture? Yes, it can. An increasing number of studies have been conducted on treating IBS with Chinese medicine, with promising results. These studies have documented that Chinese medicine can effectively treat IBS in a safe and drug-free way.
What is IBS?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is also known as spastic colon or mucus colitis. It is labeled a syndrome because is involves a group of symptoms that varies for each individual who is affected. It is a motility disorder (involving abnormal movement) of the small and large intestines. Symptoms of IBS include abdominal cramping and pain, and constipation and/or diarrhea (often in alternating episodes). IBS may also be accompanied by other gastrointestinal problems, such as flatulence, bloating, and nausea. Symptoms are almost always aggravated by stress. Episodes may also be aggravated by eating, and are frequently relieved after a bowel movement. An estimated 10 percent to 20 percent of all Americans are affected by symptoms of IBS, with three times as many women as men being affected.
The cause of IBS is not yet known. However, we do know what does not cause IBS. IBS is not a structural problem, meaning there is no anatomical change, nor is it biochemical or infectious in nature. Researchers are exploring the theory that there are direct links between the brain and the gastrointestinal system, which would explain why flare-ups of IBS are sometimes triggered by emotional upsets or stress.
IBS according to Chinese Medicine
While other patterns may be present, IBS is almost always considered a disharmony between the liver and the spleen in traditional Chinese medicine. The liver is responsible for the smooth flow of substances throughout the body. This flow can be upset by emotions or stress, causing stagnation of Qi (energy) or blood. Traditional Chinese medicine views the spleen as being associated with the function of digestion and transforming food into energy (Qi and blood). The spleen can be weakened by a number of factors, including overeating unhealthy foods, overwork, too much worry, fatigue, and lack of exercise. When the spleen is weak and the liver is not moving smoothly, the liver overacts on the spleen and can manifest as symptoms of IBS.
 A liver/spleen disharmony is similar to the short-term loss of appetite or a bout of diarrhea that occurs during an occasional emotional upset. With IBS, however, the phenomenon occurs in slow motion; the emotional trauma or stress takes place over a long period of time, and the digestive symptoms of IBS can last for years.
Practitioners of acupuncture or traditional Chinese medicine may use a variety of modalities to correct a liver/spleen disharmony. They may use acupuncture, Chinese herbs, dietary therapy and lifestyle changes to facilitate healing of this condition.
Some lifestyle changes that may help alleviate symptoms include:
Getting adequate exercise, which helps relieve stress, moves energy, regulates the bowels, and helps alleviate constipation.
Practicing stress relief measures, such as meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, or quiet time, is key to keeping IBS symptoms under control.
Dietary changes should be individualized, and should focus on eliminating foods that trigger symptoms and adding adequate fiber to the diet. Soluble fiber is gentler on the GI tract, and includes foods such as oatmeal, berries, and legumes like lentils and garbanzo beans. Crude fiber, such as bran and raw vegetables and their skins may be too irritating, and should be monitored as a trigger for symptoms. Other foods that are common triggers include greasy or fatty foods, diary products, alcohol, caffeine, chocolate and drinks that are carbonated.
Probiotics may be helpful for some sufferers of IBS. Probiotics are supplements that replace the good bacteria in the gut necessary for digestion. A common form is Lactobacillis acidophilus, which can be found in most natural foods stores.
Adequate sleep is important for sufferers of IBS, because stress, which is the most common trigger for IBS, is aggravated by lack of sleep. In addition, adequate sleep helps the body heal and rejuvenate.
Please see our website for more information on pain management and our other Areas of Specialty.
If you are experiencing
issues relating to back pain, or pain in general, please contact Dr. Wang at
704.968.0351 for a consultation. |
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