The acupuncture practice

Tired of Not Sleeping?

23/8/2017

Over the last couple of months I have noticed how many patients comment that their sleep is ‘rubbish’ when questioned about it. This can vary between having difficulty falling asleep to not being able to sleep at all.
These chronic sleep problems can lead to chronic health problems. Studies suggest that inadequate sleep may adversely affect our immune system. Many of the major restorative functions in the body like muscle growth, tissue repair, protein synthesis, and growth hormone release occur predominantly or only during sleep.

Types of Insomnia:

Difficulty falling asleep (sleep-onset insomnia) – the most common type
Waking up in the night and not being able to get back to sleep
Waking up too early in the morning and not being able to get back to sleep
Not feeling refreshed after sleep

Acupuncture for Insomnia

In clinical research trials, acupuncture for insomnia appears to be at least as effective as existing conventional drugs without the side effects and should be considered as one of the therapeutic options for insomnia.

Acupuncture may specifically benefit people with insomnia by:

Increasing production of nocturnal melatonin, a hormone believed to regulate sleep
Stimulating natural opioids which reduce anxiety and pain
Promoting normal function of brain tissues
Calming sympathetic nervous activity, promoting relaxation
Altering the brain’s mood chemistry to calm and reduce tension

See https://www.acupuncture.org.uk/a-to-z-of-conditions/a-to-z-of-conditions/insomnia.html for more evidence based research

I have seen fantastic results using acupuncture to help with sleep problems. It can sometimes take regular treatment over time to get the best results but in some cases one or two treatments is enough to reset the body and help achieve a good nights sleep.

Here’s what a patient had to say after receiving acupuncture for insomnia:

‘Having suffered insomnia for the last year since going through the menopause, I decided to try acupuncture. I was waking many times in the night, often waking at 2 or 3am and not being able to go back to sleep. I was left extremely fatigued all day and completely drained by the end of it.

After treatment, I immediately felt relaxed. From having five sessions so far, my sleep has definitely improved. I have noticed that I am waking less frequently in the night and when I do wake, I am going back to sleep faster. I am also not getting so hot at night either. As a result of having deeper sleep, I am waking feeling more refreshed and ready for the day for the first time in ages.’ I am definitely going to recommend acupuncture to a few of my friends who are also struggling with sleep’.

For more information on acupuncture see www.acupuncture.org.uk

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Acupuncture for Headache Relief

20/7/2017

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When it comes to headaches the first thing to recognise is that not all headaches are the same. Therefore, one treatment method may not be right for treating all types of headaches. There are five main categories of headaches: Tension headaches, Cluster headaches, sinus headaches, Rebound headaches and Migraine headaches.
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), these classifications do not exist as much, instead each individual is diagnosed by what ‘channel’ or ‘organ’ pathology is being affected and therefore, causing the headache. In TCM, a headache has two parts: the root and the branch. The root is whatever is causing the headache, and the branch is the pain itself. Acupuncture works to treat both the root and the branch, so the result is more long-term, instead of just temporarily relieving the pain.
A new study concludes that acupuncture is effective for relieving headaches. Investigators note that acupuncture reduces the intensity and duration of headaches. In addition, they suggest that acupuncture can reduce the need for “drug therapies and is a valuable option for patient suffering from CDH [chronic daily headache].”
In this controlled study, verum acupuncture was compared with sham acupuncture. The verum acupuncture group improved significantly over the control group. Verum acupuncture significantly reduced the frequency, intensity and duration of chronic daily headaches. The research notes that acupuncture is effective for reducing the intensity of pain for chronic tension headaches and migraines. In addition, patients suffering from nausea due to headaches and migraines showed a significant decrease in nausea levels.
In related recent research, acupuncture was found more effective and safer than a migraine medication. Researchers discovered that acupuncture effectively reduced migraine pain intensity levels and no adverse effects occurred. In the same study, patients receiving the medication valproic acid did not have the same level of clinical benefits as acupuncture and with nearly 50% of patients experiencing adverse side effects from the drug. The outcomes were measured six months after the study had been completed. This demonstrates that acupuncture has long term benefits for patients with migraines and that it is both safe and effective. Read More -Health CMI

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Feeling Stressed? Acupuncture can help

26/4/2017

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Stress is a normal part of life. Each of us can manage certain levels of stress. But when stress exceeds these levels our bodies suffer a wide variety of consequences – muscle tension being the most common. When muscle tension lingers particularly in the neck and shoulders, we can further experience muscle spasms, knots, headaches, jaw pain, migraines and even nausea.

Other common symptoms associated with stress include:

Inability to concentrate or complete tasks
Difficulty falling asleep or waking frequently at night
Changes in appetite
Anxiety
Flare ups of illness

Although stress is an inevitable part of life, we don’t have to live with it! Acupuncture is an effective treatment for dealing with stress.
A study from Georgetown University Medical Centre, published in the Journal of Endocrinology, studies how acupuncture works to treat stress. In this study it proves that Acupuncture targets the same key pathways that are affected by stress. Acupuncture can block the NPY sympathetic pathway and the chronic, stress induced elevations of the HPA (hypothalamus – pituitary – adrenal axis) which is involved in the production of the stress hormone, cortisol. The study also confirms that acupuncture is not only an effective treatment for stress, but also effective in treating anxiety and depression.

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Acupuncture and Arthritis

6/1/2017

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We are in the midst of winter, the weather is cold and we are all in hibernation mode. Therefore, joint stiffness can become more noticeable – it is the worse time of year for arthritis suffers!

To date no cure has been found for OA and RA but the symptoms can be eased. Traditional Chinese medicine is a great treatment for these conditions. One of the main reasons is that it has been proved that Acupuncture boosts the activity of your body’s natural painkillers, helping to eliminate aches and pains.

Arthritis in Chinese Medicine
Have you wondered why arthritis is worse in cold and damp weather? Well Chinese medicine has the answer. In Chinese medicine arthritis arises when the flow of Qi and Blood are blocked and prevented from passing through the body’s energy pathways. In Chinese medicine this is caused by Wind, Cold and Damp.

Wind: the pain moves from joint to joint – like the wind in the trees, it creates movement

Cold: the pain is in one joint and is intense – when we are cold, we tend to freeze to the spot

Damp: there is swelling in the joint – like a balloon full of water, it swells up

Wind and Damp settle in the joints causing an intense ache. Dampness obstructs the free flow of the channels, joints, muscles and sinews and causes swelling, ache, numbness and a feeling of heaviness of the limbs.
Dampness frequently generates Heat – when something is unable to move freely it generates friction, and the by-product of friction is heat! This Heat settles in the joints, causing redness of the joint and makes them feel hot to the touch. Which is seen in many cases of rheumatoid arthritis.

Acupuncture treatment helps to open the blockages, balance the energy and harmonise Qi and Blood. Therefore, to improve all symptoms such as pain, inflammation and lack of mobility, as well as related symptoms like insomnia, depression or anxiety.

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Why Am I Tired All The Time?

9/11/2016

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I had a client come to me about a month ago saying, ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m tired all the time. I’m sleeping 8 or 9 hours a night, and I still don’t want to get out of bed. I don’t feel like doing much during the day. I’m not usually this unmotivated’.

This client is not alone, many of us tiredness experience ongoing tiredness that is interfering with our enjoyment of life. And we often don’t know what to do about it.

The problem is, fatigue can come from so many different underlying causes, it’s hard to know how to respond. Chinese medicine recognises two major categories of fatigue: depletion and stagnation. They feel similar (tired is tired, after all), but they have different causes, and different cures.

The better you understand your tiredness, the easier it is to do the things that helps get your energy back. Following is a quick and easy guide to diagnosing your fatigue and responding to it.

Type 1: Depleted
This is the most logical form of fatigue: you are simply, genuinely worn out. The hallmark of this tiredness is that rest helps. If you find you feel better in the morning or after a nap, and are more tired at the end of the day or after exercise, you’re dealing with depletion fatigue. To use an automotive analogy, it’s like having an empty fuel tank. Out of fuel equals no energy.
The three best things to do for this kind of tiredness:

Prioritize sleep and rest. You can actually solve your tiredness problem by recharging your batteries, so make whatever changes you need to sleep later, have a restful relaxing weekend, and say no to some of the things that are tiring you out.
Stop eating sweets. This can be hard, because you’re probably craving sugar. But sugar actually weakens the systems that convert food to energy. It also causes blood sugar crashes that only make you more hungry and more tired. Try eating “sweet” vegetables (squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips, onions) – they balance the blood sugar and help with sugar cravings.
Eat bland, nourishing, easy-to-digest food. This is especially important if you are experiencing loss of appetite, bloating after eating, or other digestive symptoms. Chicken, rice, and vegetable soup are good choices.

Tired Type 2: Stuck
In this type of fatigue, you actually have plenty of energy in your system, but for some reason it’s not available. Rather than an empty tank, this is more like a clogged fuel line. It doesn’t matter if the tank is full, nothing’s getting to the engine, and the effect is exactly the same. In fact, filling an already-full tank only causes more problems.
The hallmark of this type of fatigue is that anything that gets you moving will increase your energy level. If you have a lot more energy after you exercise, or when you’re having fun or feeling interested and engaged, that’s the stuck pattern of tiredness. People with this kind of fatigue often feel terrible when they wake up, or when they’ve been sitting still for a long time (long meetings can be especially brutal). Stress usually makes this kind of tiredness worse, as well.
The three best things to do:

Have fun. I’m totally serious about this. Stress, tension, and boredom cause the energy in your body to clamp down and stop flowing. Anything you find fun, interesting, or connecting will help get your energy moving again. Something that makes you laugh is perfect.
Exercise. This can be hard because you might feel too tired and unmotivated to want to exercise. Commit to doing it anyway and make it fun. It could be as simple as dancing in the kitchen or playing with the dog.
Avoid greasy, heavy foods. These clog the energy channels in the body and weigh you down. Green vegetables are particularly good for the systems that keep energy flowing in your body.

Tired Type 3: Wired and Tired
Ever have that feeling where you’re exhausted and hyper at the same time? This is a particularly tough one, since it’s impossible to relax or get any real rest, but activity only makes you more tired.
This type of fatigue is actually a specific kind of depletion, known as “yin deficiency” in Chinese medicine. Yin refers to the deep, quiet, cooling, soothing, nourishing and grounding aspect of your energy. This is the reserve you tap into when you’re running on empty. When you start burning through too much of that reserve, you’re left with nothing but nervous energy and underlying exhaustion.
This is really common in our culture, because we’re all about doing, and doing, and doing more. We’re not so great at resting, or just letting things be, or replenishing our reserves.
If you feel profoundly drained and highly agitated at the same time, this is probably you. You might be irritable, anxious, or easily overwhelmed. Sleep is often restless, with frequent waking. You might also feel dried-out, thirsty, or hot.
Three best things to do for this:

Make room for quiet relaxation. You’re tapped out on the deepest level, and you need to nourish yourself on that level. Anything that brings you to a state of deep relaxation and/or spiritual connection is helpful. Yoga, quiet time in nature, listening to music, are things that work for people. (Watching TV doesn’t count, it’s too agitating).
Stop using caffeine and other stimulants. Completely. I know, it may seem like the only thing that’s keeping you going, but it only creates false energy and further depletes your reserves. Try doing what you need to do from a more authentic energy, even if it’s lower-key than the pushing-through style you’re used to using. You might be surprised at the effectiveness and connection that can come from this place.
Incorporate foods that help nourish the “yin”: Almonds, eggs, soy products, small amounts of high quality dairy are good choices. Avoid hot spicy food, especially if you feel overheated or agitated.

Just Do One Thing
The hardest part, of course, is getting started with any of these changes. When you’re tired, the last thing you want is to start a new habit, or give up something you’ve been using to get yourself through the day.

Start with the suggestion that sounds easiest, and as you feel better the other changes will seem more manageable too.

Severe or persistent fatigue may require treatment in addition to diet and lifestyle adjustments -Acupuncture can be very effective in treating fatigue. It is particularly helpful for the “stuck” kind of tiredness, since it quickly and effectively gets energy moving, and can address the underlying causes of stagnation.

Patients often find that treatment for fatigue also improves other symptoms, such as digestive problems, headaches, insomnia and anxiety.
It’s really okay if you need a little jump-start — it’s what your practitioner is there for! Treatment can help you find the energy to make changes that ultimately put your health and energy in your own hands.

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Tired of Not Sleeping?

Acupuncture for Headache Relief

Feeling Stressed? Acupuncture can help

Acupuncture and Arthritis

Why Am I Tired All The Time?

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