Acupuncture Health Blog

Acupuncture may seem mysterious and risky to many people.  Others may picture acupuncture as being performed by an ancient Chinese man in the back of a noodle shop, as seen in old movies.  The reality is much different, and I’d like to take some of the mystery out of acupuncture by telling you some things that you might not have known.  Hopefully you’ll be surprised either by how much you actually knew or how much you learned from my list.  Here goes:

1.   There are several different kinds of acupuncture.  Besides Traditional Chinese Medicine (what I practice), there is Japanese style, auricular (ear) acupuncture, Korean Hand acupuncture, and Five-Phase acupuncture, to name a few.

2.  Researchers are finding that acupuncture affects brain chemistry (in a good way), giving us some new clues as to how and why it works so well.

3.  Acupuncture is thousands of years old.  It began in China as a way of treating infections and fevers, and over the centuries it developed into a comprehensive system of internal medicine.

4.  There are over 365 acupuncture points in the body.  Each point has a name–some of my personal favorites are Armpit Abyss, Crouching Rabbit, and Celestial Tripod. 

5.  Acupuncture can treat a wide variety of conditions.  Most people think that it’s only good for pain (which it is!), but it can also be effective for things like emotional conditions, insomnia, digestive problems, menstrual/menopause issues, and even for facial rejuvenation.  (However, if you have a broken bone, appendicitis, or strep throat, go to your MD!)

6.  Acupuncture is actually very relaxing.  More than once I’ve found my clients snoring while the needles are doing their work!

7.  The needles used in acupuncture are about the diameter of a hair, and are not hollow.  No shots involved and fairly painless.

8.  Acupuncture works by treating the underlying source of your condition–not just symptoms.  For example, if you have insomnia, your acupuncturist would find out why and treat that, not just the sleeplessness.

9.  Licensed Acupuncturists have the minimum of a Masters degree in Acupuncture or Oriental Medicine and about 3,000 hours of education and clinical training.  They are also licensed by their State Board of Medical Practice.

10.  No two acupuncture treatments are the same.  Every person is unique, with different symptoms, health history, and lifestyle.  Acupuncture treatments are customized for each individual’s needs.

Ah, ah, ah…choo!  Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of people in my office who suffer from seasonal allergies.  If you’re among them, you’re no stranger to the itchy eyes, stuffy or runny nose, sneezing and that “blah” feeling that affects allergy sufferers everywhere.  Some people experience allergies year round, but most have symptoms in the spring or fall.  While we welcome the warmth of spring after a long winter, or the cool, dry weather of fall, seasonal changes can be physically stressful.

In Chinese medicine, our bodies are surrounded by an outer layer of energy which acts to protect our “exterior” and fight off outside pathogens that cause colds, flu and allergies (similar to our immune system).  Pollen, pet dander, dust and mold (to name a few) act like outside pathogens.  People who are susceptible to allergies, along with people who get sick a lot tend to have weak exterior energy.

Acupuncture and herbs can help allergy sufferers by reducing symptoms and by strengthening energy to head off problems before they start.  Some things you might try during the height of your allergy season include:

-Shower at night to wash the day’s pollen off your body and out of your hair.

-Wash your hands after petting your animals that have been outdoors–they’re covered with pollen.

-Close your windows at night, especially when it’s dry and windy.  The best time to open up is after it’s rained, because the rain causes pollen to settle.

-Try nasal irrigation.  Your nasal passages act like a filter for pollen, so cleansing them will clean out pollen and clear congestion.  We recommend using a Neti pot, which looks like a small tea pot and has been used in India for centuries.  You can find Neti pots at most drug stores, health food stores or coops, and should come with directions for use.

The effective treatment of depression and emotional conditions by acupuncture is best explained through the element of Wood, spring, and Liver Qi Stagnation.  Here in the north country, spring is here (okay almost here), which is traditionally a time of change, rebirth, and beginnings.  In Chinese medicine, spring also corresponds to the element of wood and the organ system of the Liver, which are all related to the concepts of movement and flexibility.

When we talk about the element of wood, many people immediately think of the hard wood from mature trees.  However, the tiny green sprouts of new plants are also considered wood, and in many ways give us a better understanding into this element.

The characteristics of plants and wood are also the characteristics of the Liver system in Chinese medicine.  Plants grow strongly, yet maintain their flexibility.  Without flexibility, or the ability to bend, plants will break.  Likewise, one of the key jobs of the Liver system is to govern the strong, yet smooth flow of everything in our body–energy, digestion, menses, and emotions.

When we are not flexible emotionally, Liver energy, or Liver Qi, stagnates and causes illness.  When we’re stressed or life throws us a curve ball, our ability to “go with the flow” is a huge determinant in our health–both physical and mental.  We live n a world of many wants, expectations and the idea that we can control almost everything.  However, when we don’t get what we want or try to “muscle” a situation that’s beyond our control, we become frustrated or angry, which stagnates our Liver energy.  This is figuratively like leaving a shovel covering the new sprouts in your garden.  Things don’t grow or flow very well.  In your garden the result is crushed and deformed plants.  In your body, the consequences can be broad–depression, digestive problems, insomnia, and pain.

So when you herald Spring, remember to allow room in your life not only for new growth, but also for the flexibility to grow in unexpected directions.  Open your mind to new ideas and experiences, get outside and move, brainstorm new solutions to old problems, and get acupuncture if you need help in moving stagnant energy and emotions.  Above all else, enjoy the incredible phenomenon that is spring!

If you’ve never had acupuncture before, choosing an acupuncturist can be a little bit overwhelming.  It’s the brave soul who just opens the Yellow Pages and picks the closest practitioner or the one with  biggest listing, knowing nothing about who they are or how they practice acupuncture.

A better plan would be to ask some questions before you book an appointment to make sure you’re getting the right practitioner for you and your particular needs.  As a practitioner, I’m always impressed when a new patient asks a few questions about me, my education or licensing, or how I treat their particular condition. 

The following is a cheat sheet as to what questions you should be asking before you book that first acupuncture appointment.

Are you a licensed acupuncturist?  What’s your education in acupuncture?  This is probably the most important question you can ask anyone before they perform acupuncture on you!  Frequently consumers are led to believe that any practitioner who’s trained or certified to practice acupuncture has extensive training in Chinese Medicine.  Don’t hesitate to ask a prospective practitioner about their credentials and training.

Physicians are only required to have 50 hours of training in the technical use of acupuncture prior to using it as a treatment.  This is considered “medical acupuncture”.

Many chiropractors advertise that they offer acupuncture.  It’s important to know, however, they are only required to have 100 to 150 hours of unspecified training in acupuncture.  They typically take a test sponsored by their local Chiropractic Board and pay a fee to become “certified”.  Chiropractors who perform acupuncture call themselves “Board Certified Acupuncturists”.  In addition, they are legally limited to performing acupuncture treatments that augment chiropractic adjustments.

Licensed Acupuncturists (L.Ac.) in most states are required to have a minimum of 1,800 to 2,400 hours of education which includes clinical training.  In some states they’re required to have more.  They also have to be board certified with the NCCAOM, a national regulatory agency governing Oriental medical credentials.  L.Ac.’s are also licensed by their state’s Board of Medical Practice.

Licensed acupuncturists practice internal Chinese medicine, which focuses on the underlying source of a problem rather than just relieving symptoms.  As a result, their treatments go beyond simple pain relief and may include the use of Chinese herbs, dietary therapy, body work and lifestyle changes.

Do you have a specialty?  What’s your experience and success with my particular condition?  Some acupuncturists treat any and all conditions. Many specialize, however, in treating certain problems, such as muscle and joint pain, stress and anxiety, infertility, or women’s conditions.  It’s important to ask whether a prospective practitioner has some experience in treating your condition. 

What kind of acupuncture do you practice?  Most people don’t know that there are many different kinds of acupuncture, such as Traditional Chinese medicine, ear acupuncture, Japanese style, Korean Hand acupuncture, cosmetic acupuncture and scalp acupuncture.  Some of these different styles are more effective for specific conditions.  For example, ear acupuncture is effective for people with addictions, like quitting smoking and weight loss; and scalp acupuncture is frequently used for conditions affecting the nervous system.  Be sure to ask what conditions are best helped by your practitioner’s kind of acupuncture.

How many treatments will I need?  This is actually a trick question.  No practitioner should answer this question on the phone before they have seen you, taken your health history and made a diagnosis.  In fact, everyone heals at a different pace.  Your condition may be resolved in one or two treatments, or it may take many more, especially if it’s a chronic condition.

Do you accept insurance?  Many health care plans currently don’t pay for acupuncture treatments.  As a result, many acupuncturists are fee for service (cash) providers.  If you think your health insurance plan may cover acupuncture, check with them to be sure and that the acupuncturist you ultimately choose will accept your insurance as payment.  If you have a health savings plan, acupuncture qualifies for reimbursement.  Be sure to ask your practitioner for a receipt.

I frequently get calls from people who want to know if acupuncture can help them lose weight.  Unfortunately, most have this picture in their mind that after a few sessions on the table, their excess weight will magically melt off their body.  If this were the case, acupuncture would be a multi-billion dollar business with an endless amount of buzz.

The reality is that acupuncture can help people who are trying to lose weight, but there is no magic bullet or acupuncture point that will make the pounds melt away. 

However, acupuncture helps with weight loss in a couple of ways. First, it’s really effective if you are trying to break an addiction, whether it’s smoking, alcohol, or food.  There are several acupuncture points (many of which are in your ear) that can help decrease cravings–and that includes those craving for those Krispy Kremes and potato chips.

Acupuncture can also support your weight loss efforts by decreasing stress.  While many people think of acupuncture as an alternative therapy for pain relief, it is also effective in treating stress, anxiety and depression.  How is this helpful in your efforts to drop some weight?  Well, most people tend to turn to the refrigerator or the drive through at Wendy’s when they’re really stressed or down.  And let’s face it, who doesn’t feed those PMS emotional swings with chocolate–and lots of it?  By supporting your emotional health with some acupuncture treatments, you will avoid some of the situations when emotional eating kicks in instead of common sense and good food choices.

Finally, acupuncture supports weight loss by improving your digestion.  You may be thinking, ”If I’m digesting better, wouldn’t that be adding weight?”  Actually, just the opposite is true.   With good digestion, your body won’t crave those foods that derail your weight loss efforts and you’ll have the energy you need to get through the day without crashing (and maybe even do a little exercise). 

In addition, poor digestion leads to a condition called dampness.  The best way to describe dampness is to compare your body to a farmer’s field.  A healthy field has good soil, plenty of sun and adequate water–all to nourish the plants that will be growing in that field.  However, a damp field is one that doesn’t drain well.  When it rains, the water sits around in puddles and creates boggy spots in the field. 

On our bodies fat is considered damp tissue.  It’s the result of overeating, poor digestion and your inability to metabolize moisture very well.   It sits on your body just like soggy puddles in the farmer’s field; it feels heavy, and it kills your motivation to exercise. 

So how does acupuncture address dampness?  The first order of business is to work on improving your digestion.  This is done through a combination of acupuncture, Chinese herbs and food choices that enhance the digestive process.  As your digestion gets better, the tendency towards dampness will also improve. 

A few tips for better eating include:

-Cooked foods are easily digested.  Try to eat lots of soups, stews, and stir fried dishes.

-Avoid drinking ice cold liquids, and limit the amount you drink with meals.

-Go for the lighter foods, like vegetables, some fruit, a little protein and complex carbs.

-Avoid foods that are particularly dampening, like overly greasy foods, concentrated juices, saturated fats, sugar and sweeteners, and alcohol. 

If you are one of millions of Americans who struggle with insomnia, you’re familiar with that feeling of lying awake and checking the clock for hours while sleep eludes you.

Insomnia can be an annoyance for most people at one time or another, but for many it’s a chronic problem that leaves its sufferers exhausted, irritable, and unable to handle the physical and emotional stresses of everyday life.

Sleeplessness comes in many forms.  For people with mild insomnia, dropping off to sleep may be a problem.  Many sufferers are able to fall asleep, but wake during the night and spend the early morning hours staring at the ceiling.  In the extreme, people who are plagued by severe insomnia may be sleepless all night long.

Acupuncture is effective for insomnia because it treats the cause sleeplessness.   In Chinese medicine, there are a number of underlying conditions that might result in sleep disturbances, and one of the most common is an imbalance between Yin and Yang.

When it comes to sleep, Yin is the most important player because Yin is related to darkness, rest, and nighttime.  Yang, on the other hand, is warm, active and related to the daytime.  In order for sleep to happen, the activity of daytime Yang must pass into the restful darkness of the nighttime Yin.  While this may seem like a no-brainer, many people actually sabotage this process through the activities they choose before bedtime.

If your insomnia is severe or if you’ve been a long time sufferer, get some help; the combination of acupuncture and herbs will likely get the job done.  The following tips may also help you drop off to sleep more easily:

-While this may seem obvious, limit your exercise routine to the daytime hours. Avoid physical activity in the two to three hours before bedtime.  Instead try reading, meditating, or relaxing the some way before you turn off the lights for the evening.

-Turn off your computer at night for two reasons.  First, your computer screen puts off more light than being outside during the day; and second, whatever you may be doing on your computer is keeping your mind in a state of activity making it hard for you to shut down and get to sleep.  (Ditto for the TV.)

-Avoid eating a large meal before bedtime.  Allow a good two to three hours for your food to digest before heading off to bed.

-Keep the room where you sleep cool.  The Yin of nighttime is cool, and too much heat (Yang) can make you restless and  wake up hot.

-If your mind is racing from a stressful day (or life), try to sidetrack it by visualizing yourself in a favorite place.  Occupy your mind with filling in all the details of that place and then put yourself relaxing into the middle of the scene. 

-Avoid caffeine late in the day.  Alcohol and rich foods can also interfere with sound sleep.

We all want to feel our best—to have bright eyes and a bushy tail. Whether we’re squirrels or humans, one important component of feeling good is having good energy. There’s nothing worse than dragging yourself through the day feeling exhausted and ready to collapse into bed the moment you get home.

In Chinese medicine, having plenty of energy is a sign of good health, and that energy is made from the food we eat. (Also from the air we breathe, but I’ll save that for another post.) For the most part, we eat well and think we’re covered. Unfortunately, if you aren’t digesting well, it makes it hard for your body to convert food into fuel/energy. Many people are unaware that their digestion is not up to par. They say they digest their food well, but complain of heartburn, rumbling, bloating, gas, constipation, and/or diarrhea–all signs of poor digestion.

Practitioners of Chinese medicine view food as medicine that you get to eat three times a day, and digestion as important to your health as the food you’ve eaten. They think of the digestive process like a pot of nutritious soup in your body simmering over a low flame. Foods that are added to the soup can enhance or dramatically hinder how well it cooks. For example, if you add ice cold foods (the 24. oz Mister Freezee) to the soup, it will dampen the flame and the soup will stop cooking. This ultimately takes energy to bring the soup back to the simmering point. The same is true for a lot of raw fruits and vegetables, especially if you have digestive problems. Rather than enhancing your energy level, eating the wrong foods can actually contribute to fatigue. A better plan is to “predigest” foods, if possible, by cooking them slightly first, to make the nutrients more available and enhance your energy.

Here are some things that you can do to improve your digestion and get the most nutrition from the food you eat:

-Very cold or raw foods take a lot of energy to digest, and if eaten frequently can put a strain on your digestion. “Predigest” your fruits and vegetables by sautéing or steaming them briefly. Think soups, stews and stir fries.

-Drink room temperature or warm liquids. Avoid iced drinks.

-Eat smaller meals more often to keep your blood sugar even and ease your digestion.

-Eat at least two hours before bedtime to give your system time to digest. Eating too close to bedtime can cause heartburn or insomnia.

-Ginger and Hawthorne are two common herbs used in Chinese medicine to help digestion. Ginger is good for calming an upset stomach and can be found whole in the produce section of your grocery store and can be grated raw into hot water or foods. Ginger teas are delicious and widely available. Hawthorne is used to help ease digestion and can be found in capsules, teas, or candy.

-If you have stubborn digestive problems, check in with a practitioner of Chinese medicine. Acupuncture can offer very effective relief.

We are so lucky to live at a time when it’s not unusual to live healthfully into our 70’s, 80’s, and even our 90’s. With our increased life expectancy and the fact that many of us will stay vital and active into our later years, many women and some men have turned their attention to looking as young as they feel.

We spend billions of dollars annually in the United States on anti-aging creams and cosmetics, and I admit to being a frequent contributor to that number. Plastic surgery and Botox injections have moved out of the realm of the rich and famous and are increasingly used as a routine first line of defense for anyone looking to take a few years off their face.

There are many people, however, who find the invasive nature and risks associated with surgery or injections more than what they are willing to undergo to look younger. If you’re reading this blog, chances are that you’re one of them. For those of us who are looking for a safer and more natural alternative, an ancient treatment is taking on a new spin. Lately, more and more people have been turning to cosmetic acupuncture to look younger and improve their health at the same time.

Based on the ancient principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, cosmetic acupuncture works to increase the circulation of energy and blood to the face, causing more nutrients, collagen and elastin to move to the area.

While the idea of having a little work done is to look better, most of us don’t want people judging us on the vanity scale. The effects of cosmetic acupuncture are subtle and can vary, but include a more even, glowing complexion, a decrease in fine lines and softening of wrinkles, diminished puffiness around the eyes, and a general lifting of the face. In fact, in a 1996 study reported by the International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture, 90% of the 300 participants reported improvements, such as better complexion, diminished lines and wrinkles, and feeling rejuvenated overall.

Also, during a cosmetic session, the acupuncture is working to iresolve underlying health conditions as well as improving your face. In our clinic, clients have reported improved digestion, decreased stress, less menstrual discomfort, fewer hot flashes, decreased acne breakouts, and less TMJ symptoms from a series of cosmetic acupuncture treatments.

Almost anyone can benefit from cosmetic acupuncture, but in general, people in good health will see the most improvement. If you’re a smoker, have poor digestion, frequent migraines, or suffer from a chronic illness, you should resolve your health issues as much as possible before undergoing cosmetic acupuncture.

If there are any drawbacks drawbacks of cosmetic acupuncture, it would be that unlike the immediate effects of Botox or surgery, 10 to 12 acupuncture treatments are needed to see results. And while the results are noticeable, they can be unpredictable as to where and how much improvement is achieved.

If you’re like me in wanting to look your best naturally, cosmetic acupuncture might be worth checking out. It’s extremely safe; there’s no risk of disfigurement and no recovery time needed. Most people go back to work after having cosmetic acupuncture feeling relaxed and refreshed. Because cosmetic acupuncture benefits your health and decreases stress while it improves your looks, it is considered a rejuvenating therapy in every sense of the word.

Go here for more on cosmetic acupuncture.

My friend, Karla, is one of those people who seems to catch every cold or flu that’s going around. She recently caught that throwing-up flu that her kids had. This was right after she’d gotten over a nasty cold, with the hacking cough that seemed to linger for about a decade. Last week she was laid out with a headache that sent her home from work and straight to bed.

When I think about Karla, I realize that she is one of the most stressed women I know. She worries about her husband’s job, struggles to balance work and her kids’ after-school activities, and is the consummate volunteer. She is overwhelmed and on the go, and it makes perfect sense to me that she doesn’t feel well much of the time.

We all know that stress makes us sick (and it feels really bad). That’s because when we’re stressed our bodies produce extra cortisol and other hormones that in overabundance cause all kinds of damage to our health. Also, prolonged stress keeps our bodies in a constant state of hyper-readiness, which is really depleting and just plain wears us down.

We practitioners of Chinese medicine have a different explanation as to how stress makes us sick. According to the Chinese, energy flows in your body through a network of “roads”, like a highway system. (Don’t get hung up on the energy thing—it’s made in the mitochondria of every cell in your body.) Stress and anxiety can interrupt the smooth flow of energy, acting like road construction on a hot summer day. (Traffic Jam!) For example, a lot of people who are really stressed complain of upper back and neck pain and tension headaches. If you’ve ever had this kind of pain, you know what I’m talking about. The pain occurs because stress is causing tightness in those areas, blocking the free flow of energy, causing pain that can travel into your head (remember those roadways?) leading to headaches.

In a highway system, when there’s road construction or an accident, traffic may also be backed up on secondary roads that feed into or out of the affected area. This is true in your body, too. Stress and anxiety may affect many other parts of your body, most notably your digestion, the ability to sleep, pain conditions, and immunity. Stress also makes existing health conditions worse.

Through acupuncture, these energy blockages can be addressed. Acupuncture points serve as the on and off ramps to the energy highway, and can help energy flow smoothly, and alleviate not only the symptoms of stress, but the stress itself.

Beyond acupuncture, Chinese medicine offers other ways to reduce stress and anxiety and move energy including:

-Breathe. While we’re all sick of hearing “just breathe”, your breath is a source of energy in Chinese medicine, and slow, deliberate breathing can be very calming.

-Gentle exercise, such as Tai Qi or Qi Gung is a great way to cultivate and move energy. However while very strenuous or prolonged exercise sessions might make you look really good, they’re considered to be depleting over time.

-Good nutrition and digestion. The Chinese consider digestion to be as important as nutrition. They shy away from very cold foods or iced drinks, too many raw fruits and vegetables, and very greasy foods mostly because they mess with your digestion.

With my friend Karla in mind, I would also like to add that taking a little time each day for yourself can be a great way to break the stress cycle. Sometimes a few moments of quiet are all it takes.

January is typically a time for change. We tend to set goals for ourselves during this time of the year, whether it’s to lose weight, improve your business, quit smoking, or write that novel that you’ve had on the back burner for decades. It make sense after the indulgence of the holidays and the “fresh start” of the new year that we make resolutions.

In Chinese medicine, resolutions for change also make sense, but for a different reason—one related to the concept of Yin and Yang, which is a way of describing the world around us. Yang represents things that are light, warm, and active. In contrast Yin describes things that are relatively cooler, darker and more nourishing. The recent winter solstice on December 21 is the most Yin day of the year. The solstice heralds the beginning of winter, which is a cool (well, cold here in MN!) dark, and nourishing time of year. The winter solstice also brings longer days as it moves toward summer, so it is also considered the birth of spring and the birth of Yang.

Like the black bear that goes into hibernation during winter, we tend to slow down, try to stay warm, drink eggnog, and put on a few pounds—all physically nourishing Yin activities. Directionally, the cool and darkness of Yin moves down and inward. Physically we slow down and move inward, or indoors, during the winter mostly out of necessity to stay warm, but also because we have less light.

We also tend to move inward emotionally during this time of year which brings us to the New Year’s resolutions part. Yes, we make resolutions because it’s the new year. But it’s also natural to turn inward during this season and reflect on our lives, the state of our health, our relationships, our work, and our dreams. By taking stock we’re taking the opportunity to nourish ourselves emotionally; by asking the question, “How can I make my life or the life of others better?”

It’s important to honor this opportunity to nurture and revitalize our souls not only by asking the question, but by taking the time to hear the answers. We suggest that you write down your answers, which are really your goals and dreams, so you can look at them later. By writing them down, you’re more likely to achieve them, and if you look back at what you’ve written six months or a year later, you’ll be surprised at how many of your goals you’ve achieved.