Thursday, March 24, 2011

6 Alternative Treatments for Chronic Pain

More often than not, patients must cobble together a variety of treatments, and increasingly those include some type of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) remedy such as yoga or acupuncture. One recent study found that 44 percent of chronic pain patients on narcotics (opioids) had used a CAM remedy in the previous year. They may seek these out because conventional treatments have failed, or because they mistakenly believe that CAM therapies have no side effects.

Because of such misconceptions, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) urges patients not to replace scientifically proven treatments with unproven CAM therapies. It’s also important to discuss with your healthcare provider any CAM treatments you’re considering; that’s especially key if you’re planning to take any supplements, as many can interact with prescription or even nonprescription drugs.

That said, the evidence showing that some CAM therapies are beneficial continues to mount. “There’s a strong mind/body component to managing chronic pain that some CAM treatments address—which drugs don’t,” says Russell Portenoy, MD, chair of the department of pain medicine and palliative care at Beth Israel Medical Center in new York City. “It’s about learning how to use all of your resources to function better.” Here’s a quick guide to some of the CAM therapies that may be worth pursuing.

1. Acupuncture. A popular option (nearly 60 percent of chronic pain patients try it), this traditional Chinese medicine method entails the insertion of fine needles into the skin at specific sites to disperse negative qi, or energy. In recent studies, patients with lower-back pain felt better after undergoing an average of 10 treatment sessions.

2. Massage. Since tense muscles often contribute to pain, it’s no wonder that massage, which works to relax the muscles, can also be effective at easing lowerback pain. According to a 2001 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, patients who had 10 massages (one per week) reported better pain relief than those who had acupuncture or followed pain-relieving techniques described in books or videos.

3. Spinal manipulation.The jury is still out on the efficacy of this technique, in which a chiropractor, physical therapist or osteopathic physician applies controlled force to a joint of the spine, but there’s some indication that it may minimize lower-back pain and chronic headaches. NCCAM is currently funding research to determine how often and how many treatments work best.

4. Yoga. It’s one of the most popular CAM therapies, and for good reason. One large study found that taking yoga classes twice a week for 24 weeks helped relieve lower-back pain. Other studies have indicated that it may help relieve arthritis symptoms.

5. Tai chi. A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that fibromyalgia patients who participated in this Chinese martial art for 60 minutes twice a week for 12 weeks fared better than those who spent that time on general wellness education and stretching.6. Acetyl-L-carnitine. This dietary supplement appears to be promtreating diabetes-related nerve pain. A review article published in The Annals of Pharmacotherapy found that patients who took at least 2 grams daily fared best.

By Rita Rubin, Woman's Day

Mon, Mar 21, 2011

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Enhance Your Endocrine Health with Acupuncture

The endocrine system is responsible for hormonal functions in the body and produces thirty distinct hormones each of which has a very specific job to do. This system controls your physical growth, mood, hormone output, reproduction, mental functionality, and immune system. When not working properly you become more susceptible to disease and your ability to fight off infection is weakened. Endocrine glands and their functioning impacts every area of your health.

The keystone of acupuncture and Oriental medicine has always been awakening the body's natural intelligence to heal itself and restore balance to the system of energy pathways (called "meridians") that crisscross the body. If the meridians within your body have become depleted you can suffer from tiredness, infertility, weight gain, depression, digestive problems, hair loss, arthritis, and feeling chilled no matter the temperature.

What are the endocrine glands and what do they do?

The major endocrine glands include the adrenals, pancreas, pineal, pituitary, reproductive and thyroid glands.

Adrenals - Adrenal glands regulate the body's response to stress and are made of two parts, each of which secretes a separate set of hormones. The outer part produces corticosteroid hormones that regulate the balance of salt and water, stress response, metabolism, immune function, and sexual development and function. The inner part secretes adrenaline hormones that increase blood pressure and heart rate in response to stress. Over time chronic elevated stress levels can lead to weight gain, decreased resistance to infections, fatigue, muscle aches and low blood sugar.

Pancreas - The pancreas produces insulin and glucagon-two hormones that work together to supply the body's cells with a constant supply of energy in the form of glucose.

Pineal - The pineal gland is also known as the epiphysis cerebri, epiphysis or the "third eye". It produces the serotonin derivative melatonin, a hormone that affects the modulation of wake/sleep patterns and seasonal functions.

Hypothalamus /Pituitary - A collection of specialized cells that provide the primary link between the endocrine and central nervous systems. Nerve cells and hormones signal the pituitary gland to secrete or suppress the release of various hormone messages to the other glands. The pituitary gland is also responsible for secreting growth hormones.

Reproductive - These glands secrete hormones that control the development of male and female characteristics. In males these glands secrete androgen hormones, most importantly testosterone. In females they produce estrogen, progesterone, eggs and are involved in reproductive functions.

Thyroid - Thyroid hormones control the growth, temperature and function of every cell in the body. The gland acts as the metabolic engine of the body - if it secretes too little hormone the body slows and dies; if it secretes too much the body burns out and dies.

A healthy endocrine system that continues to secrete adequate amounts of hormones will slow the aging process and keep you vibrant and healthy as you age.

When treating a suspected endocrine condition with acupuncture and Oriental medicine, the acupuncturist seeks the root cause of the patient's imbalance. The endocrine system is closely tied to the internal balance of the Yin energy and the Yang energy. Imagine that the Yang energy is like gasoline that fuels a car, and the Yin energy is the coolant for the car's engine. Without the coolant, the engine overheats and begins to burn out. Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine work to make sure the Yin and Yang are equal within the body restoring your essential internal balance. The root of the body's energy in Oriental medicine is the Kidney meridian. Treatment used to strengthen the Kidney Meridian also restores nourishment to your endocrine glands.

Acupuncture can be used to restore hormonal balance, regulate energy levels, smooth emotions and help manage sleep and menstrual problems. Treatments take all symptoms into account and are aimed at balancing the energy in your body, optimizing your health, restoring immune function and balancing the production and release of hormones through a variety of approaches ranging from acupuncture and herbal remedies to lifestyle changes and special exercises. Many patients benefit from an integrated Eastern and Western medical approach to endocrine health. The strong point of Western medicine is intervention in life-threatening illness, whereas the strong point of Eastern medicine is increased quality of life. Therefore it is optimal to have both Eastern and Western medicine options available for the most comprehensive care.

--Acufinder.com--