Are you curious about a certain condition and wondering if Chinese medicine can help? Please call the office to discuss your condition or concerns. We are always happy to answer your questions. Also, please follow the links below to get more information about each condition.
Chinese Medicine and Menopause
Cosmetic Acupuncture
Fibromyalgia
Hay Fever/Seasonal Alergies
PMS
Chinese Medicine and Menopause
Dr. Fisher Spring 2010 Newsletter
It is very important to realize that menopause is not a disease, but rather a natural physiological change. According to Chinese medical theory, as a natural part of the aging process, a women’s body no longer produces sufficient blood to sustain a monthly period without this loss being a drain on her body. In this case, blood might be viewed as a metaphor for estrogen/progesterone. In Chinese medicine, the functions ascribed to blood are more numerous and varied than in Western biomedicine. As the periods cease, blood and essence that were once lost with the period are said to nourish the women’s heart and spirit. That is why Chinese medicine views menopause as a true change in life in which a woman ceases to be a biological mother and becomes a mother to the community. In many traditional cultures, including China, post-menopausal women are regarded as wise women since their spirits are now nourished and enlightened in a way that they were not before.
Unfortunately, the transition into menopause is not always a smooth one. Many women experience hot flashes, night sweats, depression, anxiety, fatigue, palpitations, insomnia, vaginal dryness and atrophy, or uterine spotting and flooding. Chinese medicine, acupuncture and/or herbal medicine, is often very effective in alleviating these menopausal symptoms. Studies reported in the Shandong Journal of Traditional Medicine (1992) and Sichuan Traditional Chinese Medicine (1993) discussed the successful use of Chinese herbal treatment in resolving menopausal complaints. In one study, 28 out of 30 women reported complete relief or marked improvement in their symptoms. Kim et al. in Menopause (March 2010), performed a randomized controlled trial of 175 women and concluded that use of acupuncture resulted in marked clinical improvement of hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms.
In addition to acupuncture and herbs, lifestyle, exercise, and diet can affect menopausal symptoms. When you visit for menopausal issues, I will review your health history and current symptoms to determine what course of treatment will most likely be effective for you. In most cases, a combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine tailored to your body’s symptoms and patterns will help to provide relief from symptoms and a smoother transition.
Many women have asked me about cosmetic acupuncture to reduce wrinkles, lift sagging areas, and enhance skin tone. Cosmetic acupuncture is a wonderful way to not only improve your looks, but your general health as well. While the results of cosmetic acupuncture do not have the dramatic changes of a surgical face-lift, many benefits can be realized. Some of these are:
- Improvement in the fine lines of the face and a diminishing effect on deeper wrinkles
- Improved muscle tone and firmer jaw lines, as well as a reduction in jowls
- Softer skin and a more even skin tone
- Reduction of puffiness
- Reduction or elimination of rosacea and acne
Many factors contribute to how the skin ages and how our appearance changes as we age. These include: sun damage, smoking, stress level, diet, exercise, and, of course, our genetic makeup. Today, there are many choices available to help maintain a youthful appearance. There are surgical face-lifts, laser resurfacing, various types of injectible therapies, among others. Most of these procedures only address what is seen on the “outside”. Some carry significant risks.
Cosmetic acupuncture seeks to help a person look as healthy and youthful as possible for their age. This is done through insertion of very fine needle into the face as well as body points selected to address the individual patient’s condition. The needling brings increased qi and blood to the face. Collagen and elastin production are stimulated. Typically, cosmetic acupuncture is done in a series of ten treatments, twice a week for five weeks. Results are maintained with monthly follow-up treatments.
Fibromyalgia is a condition that typically affects adults from 20-50 years of age. Women are more likely to suffer from fibromyalgia than men. Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic, widespread, severe muscular aching, pain, and stiffness accompanied by fatigue, insomnia, and depression. It is neither a degenerative, progressive, inflammatory, or rheumatic disorder, but is a major cause of disability. Fibromyalgia is usually diagnosed by the presence of pain or tenderness on pressure in at least 11 out of 18 specific points on the body.
In addition to the above mentioned symptoms, 70-90% of fibromyalgia sufferers will experience one or more of the following: post-exertional malaise, migraine or tension headaches, swollen feet, numbness and/or tingling, difficulty thinking or concentrating, sleep disturbances, sensitivity to light, noise, and/or smells, painful menstruation, dry mouth, and hypersensitivity to stress.
Because fibromyalgia involves a number of symptoms, Western doctors tend to treat this condition by prescribing various medications for each symptom. For example, antidepressants are commonly prescribed to deal with the sleep and mood problems, while non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS), such as aspirin or ibuprofen, are used for pain. Unfortunately, not all patients tolerate antidepressants or even NSAIDS well. It is ironic that some of the side effects of these medications may mimic some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Chinese medicine views conditions such as fibromyalgia as a manifestation of disharmony in the body. In most cases, a liver/spleen disharmony underlies the symptoms caused by fibromyalgia. On top of this pattern, various other disharmonies may exist. Because each patient’s presenting patterns are individual, each patient receives their own individualized treatment. This will likely include a combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. In addition, moxibustion ( a type of heat therapy) and/or Chinese massage may be performed. Typically, Chinese medical treatment of fibromyalgia lasts several months in its active phase and may be followed up by several more months of periodic acupuncture and/or Chinese herbs to maintain health and prevent future recurrences. If you or someone you know suffers from fibromyalgia, please call the office at (802) 253-8900 to discuss how Chinese medicine and acupuncture may be able to help you.
Hay Fever and Seasonal Allergies
What is Hay Fever?
Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, affects over 35 million people or 12% of the population. It is the single most common chronic disease experienced by Americans and those living in developed countries. It is likely that you or someone you know is affected by hay fever.
Hay fever is basically a mistaken reaction by the immune system to airborne particles, such as pollens, dust, animal dander, and molds, that do not normally cause a reaction from the body. For most people, inhaling these airborne particles is not a problem and causes no symptoms in the body. For hay fever sufferers, however, the body reacts as if it were being invaded by a pathogen (germ) and mounts an immune response including sneezing, runny nose, full sinuses, itching and watery eyes. In some cases there is even asthmatic wheezing and coughing.
How Does Chinese Medicine Treat Hay Fever?
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine seek to restore balance to the body which, in turn, allows the body to regulate the immune system and other functions. The practitioner accomplishes this by doing a Chinese medical diagnosis to determine what patterns of disharmony are causing the symptoms to appear. Once this is done, the practitioner can then design a treatment plan to address the symptoms and treat the underlying disharmony. This is commonly accomplished through the use of acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulations.
During the acute phase of hay fever, when the allergens and symptoms are at their peak, the acupuncturist will concentrate more on relieving the discomfort of the symptoms. In between allergy attacks, the practitioner will concentrate more on addressing the underlying patterns that are considered the root of the allergies. This root treatment should help to regulate the immune and other body systems.
Many patients have received significant relief from their hay fever and allergy symptoms through the use of acupuncture. If you or someone you know suffers from allergies or hay fever, please cal l the office to discuss how we can help you.
Chinese doctors have been treating premenstrual syndrome (PMS) safely and effectively for millennia. According to Chinese medical theory, every one of the symptoms of PMS can be explained by very definite mechanisms that are treatable using Chinese herbs and acupuncture as well as dietary changes, exercise, and/or lifestyle changes. Some of these symptoms include:
- Breast distension, pain, and lumps
- Nervous tension and fatigue
- Abdominal distension and pain
- Headache and body pain
- Diarrhea
- Constipation, bloating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Nosebleed, bloody stools, or urine
- Fever, asthma, or recurrent colds
- Acne breakouts
- Changes in appetite and cravings
Typically, the Chinese medical treatment for PMS spans 3-4 cycles with the number of treatments declining with each cycle. The goal of treatment is not merely to suppress symptoms, but to rebalance the entire body’s energy system resulting in vibrant good health and a renewed sense of harmony.
Please call the office to discuss any questions that you have or to schedule an appointment (802) 253-8900.