Chronic rhinosinusitis treated successfully with acupuncture

Acupuncture is a treatment developed by traditional Chinese medical practitioners to treat a wide range of health problems. Once only used in Eastern cultures, it has gradually gained respect and acceptance by medical professionals in the West. Acupuncture is now commonly used to treat everything from pain to nausea following surgery. Lesser-known uses, such as the treatment of allergies, are also gaining traction.

Acupuncture is an ancient practice, possibly dating to prehistory in what is now China. It is based on the belief that life energy, called qi (pronounced "chee"), flows throughout the body along pathways called meridians. By inserting thin needles at specific points, called "acupuncture points," skilled practitioners seek to restore the flow of energy to eliminate pain and disease.

Acupuncture and Allergies
What about acupuncture for the treatment of allergies? Preliminary research indicates that acupuncture may actually help allergy symptoms. A recent study conducted in South Korea examined the effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis and allergic rhinitis.

Chronic rhinosinusitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the moist tissues of the nasal passages and sinuses, which lasts for three months or more. It is associated with perennial allergies, and can sometimes be complicated by allergic rhinitis, or "hay fever," which is generally associated with seasonal inhalant allergies, triggered by exposure to allergens such as grass or tree pollens.

A study used patients suffering from both of these conditions. For five weeks, subjects submitted to two 20-minute acupuncture treatments, administered by experienced traditional medical doctors with at least seven years of acupuncture experience. Patients’ symptoms and quality-of-life scores were assessed at the beginning of the trial, at its end, and again eight weeks after the beginning of the trial.

Patients experienced statistically significant reductions in symptoms at five and eight weeks after the beginning of the trial. This study didn’t use controls, and the number of subjects, at 19, was small, but the investigators concluded that acupuncture was "clinically effective". They also noted that additional larger, controlled trials are warranted. Fortunately, German researchers have taken up the challenge.

Using Acupuncture to Lower Blood Pressure

A German study published in the June 2007 issue of Circulation found that acupuncture significantly lowers both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The extent of the blood pressure reductions by acupuncture treatments was comparable to those seen with antihypertensive medication or aggressive lifestyle changes, including radical salt restrictions.

For the study, 160 outpatients with uncomplicated, mild to moderate hypertension were randomized to six weeks of acupuncture performed by Chinese medicine practitioners or to a sham procedure. Patients underwent 22 sessions, each 30 minutes in length. By the end of the six weeks, 24-hour ambulatory systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly reduced from baseline in the acupuncture-treated patients (5.4 mm Hg and 3.0 mm Hg, respectively). No significant changes were seen in the sham acupuncture group.

After six months the blood-pressure reductions disappeared, leading investigators to conclude that ongoing acupuncture treatments would be required to maintain the blood-pressure reductions.

Alternative Approach to For Nocturnal Emission

Nightfall, else known as nocturnal emission is a common condition reported among young men. It is a condition characterized by uncontrolled ejaculation of semen during sleeping hours at night. As per studies, weakening of parasympathetic nervous system is found to be as the major cause of problem. Persisting condition of nightfall and nocturnal emission can give rise to several health problems in future life. Lifestyle of person plays a great role in forming Nocturnal Emission.

Erotic dreams occurring during rapid eye movement of sleep, accumulation of seminal fluid in body above holding capacity and stimulation from blankets are some among the major causes for the formation of nightfall condition in men. If not cured in early stages, chronic nightfall condition can lead way to several health problems like erectile dysfunction, misty vision, severe back pain and fatigue. Herbal medicine for nightfall is found to be very beneficial in treatment purpose. Following are some among the best recommended herbal remedies for curing nightfall condition in men.

Mixture of foliage juice and honey is an effective herbal remedy for nightfall problems. Intake of foliage juice before bed time consistently for two to three months time period reduces the risk of reproductive disorders like impotence, semen leakage after urination and oligospermia. Apart from curing nightfall troubles, regular intake of foliage juice and honey also helps in improving the over all well being of person. Increasing immune strength of person, improving oxygen consumption of cells and enhancing energy are other health benefits of using foliage juice and honey.

Sage tea is found to be as a safe herbal remedy for curing nightfall or nocturnal emission problems. It acts as a natural health tonic for rejuvenating body cells. You can easily make this preparation by adding dried herb in boiling water. Multiple health benefits delivered by sage tea increases the energy level of person and prevent the risk of fatigue problems due to nightfall. Other advantages of drinking sage tea include purifying blood, relieving nervous disorders, preventing excessive perspiration and curing kidney troubles.

Acupuncture Approaches to menopause or andropause

Acupuncture and Oriental medicine offers help to women and men who continue to have health issues directly related to the changes they experienced during their menopause or andropause.

For women, this life transition occurs in a relatively quick frame of time, as opposed to the slower, less obvious mid-life process that men experience. A woman is technically in menopause if there has been no bleeding or spotting for one year after her last menstrual period. Her production of the hormone estrogen drops significantly at this time.

A man, on the other hand, starts a slow decline of testosterone production in his 20s or 30s. This may seem surprisingly early, but this early phase of declining testosterone is unlikely to cause any noticeable symptoms. Once symptoms do appear, a test from your physician can help determine when testosterone sinks to abnormally low levels.

Although the hormones affected by the mid-life transition are different in the male and female body, some common symptoms that stem from "the change" may continue long after menopause or andropause. Shared Symptoms that may continue after mid-life changes for men and women include:
osteoporosis
heart disease
fatigue
depression
night sweats
weight gain 
loss of libido
Insomnia

Support your Kidney Qi as You Get Older
An acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioner may associate one or more of these symptoms with the kidneys. The kidneys provide the foundation for the energy and vitality of the entire body. Other important functions reliant on this organ include brain marrow production, maintenance of the skeletal system (including the teeth), fertility, and the ability to conquer fear through willpower. While other organs may play a role in the presentation of symptoms, your practitioner will most likely choose acupuncture points to reinforce and nurture your Kidney Qi.

Healthy Kidney Qi is vital at all stages of life and, the older one gets, the more important it is to support it. According to acupuncture and Oriental medicine, the kidney is likened to an ocean and, like all water on earth, streams and rivers eventually drain into the ocean. This means the kidney is the ultimate filter for clearing toxins and hazardous substances from the body. Strong emotions contribute to the toxins which may plague the kidneys.

How Acupuncture Can Help to Treat Erectile Dysfunction

While the occasional struggle for an erection is not necessarily cause for concern, a persistent inability for a man to get and maintain an erection hard enough to engage in sexual intercourse, may be a symptom of a medical condition called erectile dysfunction (ED). Another term for this is impotence. It is important to keep in mind that symptoms of ED do not automatically indicate a long-term problem is at hand.

The three telltale symptoms of ED are:
Difficulty getting an erection
Trouble maintaining an erection firm enough and long enough for sex
Little to no desire for sex
For the vast majority of men over 50 years old, it is common to experience one or more of these symptoms. Still, there may also be problems with premature or delayed ejaculation.

Male dysfunction can occur for a variety of reasons. Most causes are physical, but some are psychological and involve stress, depression, anxiety, being unsatisfied with one's sex life, or the mental and emotional reverberations of not being able to impregnate a partner. Sometimes it's a combination of both physical and psychological factors. For example, a man experiencing difficulties in getting an erection because of medical reasons may develop low self-esteem or depression as a result of perceiving this as a failure to satisfy not just himself, but his partner as well. So, while the reason for his ED may have started off as physical in nature, his mental and emotional state can make it even harder for him to achieve an erection.

Some physical causes of ED include:
Heart disease
Diabetes
High blood pressure and high cholesterol
Certain pharmaceutical drugs (e.g. anti-depressants and antihistamines)
Certain diseases (e.g. Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis)
Medical treatments for enlarged prostate or prostate cancer
Trauma to the pelvis or spinal cord, including surgeries and accidents
Sleeping problems

And though physical and psychological factors are the biggest contributors to erectile dysfunction, a man's lifestyle choices may also make him susceptible to this condition. They include:
Tobacco and alcohol use
Drug addiction
Being overweight or obese
Excessive bicycle riding (may restrict blood flow to the groin)

Currently, there are a variety of prescription and over-the-counter medications available for treatment. However, they may not be entirely safe and can lead to adverse side effects. If you consult your acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioner as early as possible, you may reduce or eliminate the need for pharmaceutical drugs.

According to the theory of acupuncture and Oriental medicine, many men experience symptoms of ED due to the decline of "Ming men fire." This fire, so to speak, resides in both men and women, and is located between the kidneys. Also known as the Gate of Life and the Gate of Vitality, it provides the essential energy needed to animate our bodies. The nature of this energy is likened to the heat from fire. Without it, the body dies. When it is in decline, symptoms such as tiredness, cold limbs, frequent urination, sore low back or knees and symptoms of ED may ensue.

Your practitioner of acupuncture and Oriental medicine can design an acupuncture treatment to meet your specific needs, depending on your specific signs and symptoms. It may also be necessary to treat any underlying conditions or diseases contributing to symptoms of ED, such as high blood pressure or Diabetes.

Infantile Asthma treated with Moxibustion

Researchers from China’s Southern Medical University and Hospital of Integrated Chinese have determined that moxibustion applied to acupuncture points with or without a new massage apparatus successfully treats asthmatic infants.

The research tested sixty infants with asthma. They were randomly split into two groups of 30 patients each, and given either standard suspended moxibustion to six points or moxibustion with the moxibustion-massage apparatus to the same six points. The treatments were given daily for a period of three months.

After the three months, the moxi-massage apparatus group had a "total effective rate" of 90% (27 out of 30 patients), while the moxibustion-only treatment resulted in a total effective rate of 83%.

The acupoints used by the researchers were Fengmen (BL 12), Feishu (BL 13), Geshu (BL17), Pishu (BL20), Acupuncture Single Point Juque, and Acupuncture Single Point Zhongwan.

Total effective rate was gauged on whether the treatment resulted in a significant reduction of asthma attacks and asthmatic symptoms.

The researchers concluded that: "It is held that the combination of new moxibustion-massage apparatus and Chinese medicine for infantile asthma in remission stage has obvious therapeutic effect, which can reduce the attack of asthma and alleviate symptoms. The result is better than suspended moxibustion."

The treatment also resulted in no adverse side effects. This is typical for acupuncture and moxibustion. Moxibustion is a process whereby a ‘cigar’ or ‘cone’ of rolled mugwort herb is burnt and after it smolders, it is pressed against the skin at acupuncture meridian points. Burning the skin is prevented by using a variety of protective devices, making it completely safe.

Moxibustion can also be used by heating acupuncture needles with lit mugwort herb before using the needles. Suspended moxibustion does not incorporate the needles. Moxibustion has a great track record of success in Chinese Medicine, and has been the subject of thousands of clinical trials.

Acupuncture Treatment for Frequent Urination, Sexual Function

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been treating problems of urination and sexual dysfunction for over than 2000 years.  Starting in the ancient text called Elementary Questions, TCM has described the diagnosis and treatment many syndromes of incontinence as well a frequent and painful urination.   Obviously there was no surgery for prostate cancer at that time, but the modern practice of Chinese medicine has shown that those same principles of diagnosis and treatment are effective when applied to the symptoms caused by prostate cancer surgery.

TCM, Frequent Urination, and Sexual Function
Traditional Chinese Medicine works by correcting imbalances in the body.  Treating the imbalance does not just treat the symptoms or mask the condition, but rather corrects the root of the problem by encouraging self-healing of the body.  Generally, the root cause of incontinence and sexual function is an imbalance of the kidneys.  Sometimes an imbalance of the spleen or liver is also involved.  Please note that while the organ names and some of the functions are the same in both TCM and Western medicine, a dysfunction of the TCM kidney, spleen, and liver does not mean a disease in the western medicine organ. 

In TCM, the kidneys are responsible for both sexual function and water metabolism.  It is said that the kidney "governs water."   In other words, the kidneys regulate urination.  Just like in western medicine, the kidneys filter out the urine.  But unlike western medicine, kidney qi (or energy) also contributes to the ability to hold urine in the bladder as well as the ability to urinate completely.  The kidney is also the main contributing organ for libido and sexual function.

The functions of the kidney can be described in terms of yin and yang.  The ability for the bladder to sufficiently hold urine is a yin function.  When there is too little kidney yin, the bladder cannot hold urine and may result in stress and urge incontinence.  Stress incontinence occurs when one's bladder leaks while laughing, coughing, or sneezing while urge incontinence is the sudden and urgent need to pass urine.  Other symptoms of kidney yin deficiency are night sweats, red face, thirst, frequent nighttime urination, a rapid pulse, and a red tongue.  

The ability to smoothly urinate is a yang function.  When there is too little kidney yang, the bladder cannot properly control the opening and closing of the urethra, which can lead to inhibited urination.   A problem with kidney yang may lead to overflow incontinence, which is described as difficulty in starting urinating and then there is dribbling after it begins.  Other signs of yang deficiency are a feeling of cold in the body, possible loose stool, fatigue, a slow pulse, and pale tongue.  Impotence and poor libido is also a sign of kidney yang vacuity.  Just as it is common to have many types of incontinence at the same time, it is also common for both kidney yin and yang to simultaneous be damaged. 

The spleen is also an important organ in water metabolism and urination.  If the frequent urination is accompanied by extreme fatigue especially in the morning, loose stools, poor digestion, and a pale swollen tongue, the imbalance may be in the spleen.  If it is worsened by stress or anger, the liver may also be involved.

Another factor post prostate surgery is qi and blood stagnation.  Qi and blood naturally circulate in the body. Injury or trauma can cause them to slow down or stop, what is called stagnation.  This is common following surgery of any kind.  It can also develop from any chronic disease and may naturally occur as one ages. Following prostate surgery, it is often a factor in recovery and should be treated with acupuncture and possibly Chinese herbs.  Signs of blood stagnation can be pain, dark spots on the tongue, or a purplish hue in the tongue color.  The urine may also have blood in it, and it may be difficult to completely void.  Blood stagnation usually does not occur alone, but is combined with kidney or spleen vacuity.

Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Treatment
The acupuncture and Chinese herbal treatment are focused on correcting the root imbalance in the body.  The treatment is usually once or twice a week with acupuncture and a treatment series is usually 10-12 sessions.  The treatment should increase one's ability hold urination, decrease number of times one urinates at night, decrease urinary urgency, and create a smoother urine flow.  In addition, patients can see an improvement in sexual function over the same period of time. 

Acupuncture points such as Ren 4 and 6 on the lower abdomen as well as Bladder 23 and Du 4 on the lower back all tonify the Kidney.  Kidney 7 can be added to tonify the yang, while Kidney 2 will be used if there is more yin deficiency with heat. Other points, such as Ren 3 and Bladder 64 can directly tonify the Bladder and help with incontinence. If the spleen is involved, Spleen 3 and 9 will be helpful.  If the liver is in disharmony, Liver 5, 3, or 2 can help move the qi and open the channels in the genitals. 

Also, many points on the lower back and sacrum help move the Qi and blood, such as Bladder 32 and 33.  Spleen 6 also helps move qi and blood and can be used.  Moxibustion, the warming of acupuncture points with a smoldering herb called ai ye, can be helpful for incontinence and libido.  Warming the lower abdomen and lower back can be very effective for this problem because moxibustion both warms yang while moving Qi and Blood stagnation.

Herbal formulas such as liu wei di huang tang can be used for kidney yin deficiency, while ba wei di huang tang is effective for yang deficiency.  If the root imbalance is in the spleen, wu ling san or bu zhong yi qi tang can be a very effective formula.   For blood stagnation, herbs such as dan shen and wang bu liu xing can be added.  When taking Chinese herbs, it is very important to get diagnosed and treated by a trained practitioner of Chinese medicine.