Acupuncture has a long history of use to treat many conditions, including pain, depression, fatigue and addictions. It is known to effect local responses as well as distal changes through neurological and endocrine systems. When used together with heat treatment it can cause multiple biological responses, seen both in animals and humans. However, the mechanism and …
IVF (in vitro fertilization) is a modern miracle, responsible for 3% of babies born in the UK. However undergoing IVF treatment can be extremely stressful. For the women with fertility problems, it is often a lonely road speckled with feelings of failure, guilt and desperation. This is made worse when seeing friends, family and colleagues …
Electroacupuncture (EA) may be the answer to improving regulation of blood sugar levels in overweight and obese women. New research published in the FASEB Journal reported that scientists found that a single bout of (EA) activated the sympathetic and partly the parasympatheric nervous system which increased whole-body glucose uptake, an important consideration in the treatment …
A ‘trapped nerve’ describes compression on the nerve, usually due to pressure applied by the surrounding tissue, muscle, tendon or bone. This can present as pain in the neck and shoulder, back, legs, arms and wrists. Common examples include; bulging of the spinal discs and carpel tunnel syndrome. In other less serious causes it can …
Gradually we are moving from spring to summer and the combination of sun, fresh flowers and warm air, but for some its means puffy itchy red eyes, runny noses, sneezing and headaches. Good News! although the seasons are unavoidable, the need for antihistamines and a constant supply of tissues can be avoided with a few …
Stress is a normal response of the body to unwanted stimuli. These can be physical, mental or environmental. When stress becomes continuous with little reprieve it can elicit negative body responses. Often it can affect your health without you realizing it, e.g. headaches, heartburn, insomnia and memory problems. Thoughts and feelings are also affected which …
Part 9: Mechanical signaling as a mechanism for Acupuncture To date much of the acupuncture mechanism of action has been related to the nervous system, linking it to the medical physiological concept of ‘‘Gate control theory of pain’. Based on this theory acupuncture needling or electrical stimulation is said to activate relevant neural pathways. However …
Part 8: Arrival of Qi (De Qi) The phenomenon of “Arrival of Qi” (De Qi) has been described as a vital part of the effectiveness of an acupuncture treatment. It is described as a sensation of soreness, numbness or a feeling of distension around the point after the needle is inserted to a certain depth. …
Part 7: Do Meridians lines lie in fascia? Fung (2009) hypothesized that TCM meridian system upper boundaries are the skin with dense sensory receptors of various types, while the lower boundaries are another layer of connective tissue with intersititial fluid flowing through. Numerous other studies suggest the most probable location is the fascia just beneath …
Part 6: What are TCM meridians ? According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) text Qi flow in a network of meridian channels found all over the body, but despite scientific efforts we have yet to find the modern biomedical equivalent. There are 12 major meridians, supported by 8 extra meridians, 15 collaterals and others. Each …
