Cures The Size of A Pin Prick

by Carole Jackson of Bottom Line's Daily Health News

I received a great deal of enthusiastic E-mail in response to articles that we have published regarding acupuncture and its benefits. So, with that for inspiration, I asked Matthew Bauer, a licensed acupuncturist in La Verne, California, author of Healing Power of Acupressure and Acupuncture (Avery) for the top five uses of acupuncture.

The exciting thing about acupuncture is that it is not for "fixing symptoms." Rather, it stimulates the body's ability to heal itself. It can be used on its own, or it can be used in conjunction with Western medical techniques to, as Bauer describes it, "tie up the loose ends" left by medications or procedures. And unlike drugs, acupuncture is almost entirely free of negative side effects -- and often has many positive side effects.

BAUER'S TOP 5

Pain relief. This is a broad category. Physical pain of virtually any type can be helped by acupuncture. Doctors who are trained in Chinese medicine look at each patient as an individual, and make a diagnosis using techniques that seek what is unbalanced in the body. For example, if an affected area feels better when the doctor applies pressure, the patient is said to have a "deficiency." But if the affected area feels worse, the patient has an "excess." In this way, different patients can come in with seemingly the same problem yet may be treated differently. People are treated for back and neck pain, joint pain, pain that comes from the nervous system, and even phantom limb pain.

Because acupuncture aids in the body's ability to heal itself, it often happens that the body not only heals the intended part but also heals other areas as a happy result. One word of warning: Patients often enter an extremely relaxed state when they have a session. You may want to have a friend drive you to your first appointment to gauge how you will react.

Hormone imbalances/female disorders. The majority (70%) of acupuncture patients are female, and many of them deal with hormone imbalances that manifest as menstrual problems, premenstrual syndrome and symptoms of menopause. Additionally, women often seek acupuncture for pain relief, such as migraines, and find that the migraine is a result of a hormonal imbalance. That said, remember that although acupuncture can assist with hormonal symptoms, underlying issues related to hormone imbalance (such as osteoporosis and vulnerability to reproductive cancer) are not addressed. Acupuncture will not fix the underlying problems of these issues, so do not abandon the regular oversight of your obstetrician/gynecologist and naturopath team just because you may be feeling better.

Interestingly, Bauer points out that the hormone is a relatively new scientific discovery and that Chinese medicine doesn't have a word for it. Instead, a practitioner might refer to a "blood imbalance" based on the color of the patient's tongue or the strength of their pulse.

Chinese medicine can relieve the symptoms of menopause as well as menstrual cycle problems. Acupuncture also can be used to treat couples with fertility problems. (Both partners are treated.) For all "blood imbalance" treatments, Bauer recommends a practitioner who is trained in herbal remedies as well as acupuncture, preferably a doctor of Ortental medicine (OMD), as many of these disorders can be treated with teas and herbs as well.

Men, too, can use acupuncture to assist with hormone imbalances that manifest as mood swings, fatigue, headaches and sexual and reproductive issues.

Immune system boost. Acupuncture helps to build the body's immune system because it helps the body heal itself by opening up pathways of energy flow. It is effective in treating patients with all sorts of illnesses and complaints, from the common cold to AIDS.

While acupuncture is by no means a cure for HIV or AIDS, patients who receive such treatments get fewer colds and flus, and they experience a better quality of life.

Bauer recommends a series of treatments for people with a low immune history to build the system, followed by occasional "booster" treatments. He notes an old Chinese saying: "To wait for symptoms is to dig a well after you are thirsty." But he also notes that for 2,000 years, human nature has basically remained unchanged. Few people come in for their ounce of prevention, and instead wait for their pound of cure.

Stress relief. Acupuncture usually puts people in a state of deep relaxation. "Most of us are too focused outwardly, and that is where stress comes from," says Bauer. He also notes that stress is a plague in the modern world. "The way I see it, there are two kinds of stress," Bauer explains. "The first I call obvious stress. This is your job, or your marriage, or the other pressure you feel from society. But the second I call insidious stress. This is the uneasiness that is a part of our culture regarding the uncertainty of the future of humanity. We now have the ability and see how possible it would be to destroy life on the planet. This is stressful. And it is so ubiquitous that we often don't notice how it is affecting our daily lives. But when we are in the relaxed state that acupuncture can bring on, it opens the energy pathways, eases blockages and places the body into a state of calm and balance.
Pediatrics and geriatrics. Babies and children under age five will benefit from acupressure more than acupuncture, but the touch therapy is a great way to create balance in both little ones and older folks while building up their immune systems. "Kids' systems are continually swaying from one extreme to the other," Bauer says. "And their nervous systems are not yet fully developed. They need to be touched to help them develop, which is why parents are encouraged to hold and cuddle their babies." As children age and move through hormonal and psychologically vulnerable stages, acupressure, and as children get older, acupuncture, can continue to help them maintain balance.

At the other extreme, older patients are usually "hanging by a thread," Bauer says. "While a little nudge in the wrong direction could send them over the edge, a little nudge in the right direction can vastly improve their quality of life."

Bauer would like to see facilities in retirement homes and communities that offer both acupuncture and acupressure. He believes it would significantly reduce the need for drugs, thereby reducing the side effects and the cost to older patients.

To find a licensed acupuncturist (LAc) or OMD in your area, visit the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture's Web site at www.medicalacupuncture.org.

Be well,

Carole Jackson
Bottom Line's [ Daily Health News ]

Article Source:

Cures the Size of a Pin Prick - Matthew D. Bauer, licensed acupuncturist, La Verne Acupuncture, La Verne, California. He is author of Healing Power of Acupressure and Acupuncture (Avery).

For more information on how Acupuncture and TCM can improve your health & wellness,
contact Dr. Hardman by email
wellness@hardmanacupuncture-tcm.com
or by telephone 604-524-6855.

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