There has been a number of stories about acupuncture being used by Olympic athletes.    Indeed for the first time acupuncture is being offered at Olympic Village.

Tony Smith, the Canadian Gymnastics Team coast decided to try it for chronic lower back pain, after nothing else she had tried helped, and was “amazed” at the results.  She is now recommending it to her athletes.  Read more about it here.

In this short video interview Olympic gold, silver and bronze medalist in swimming Daniel Kowalski discusses his use of acupuncture to recover from injuries and general health maintenance.

Another interesting acupuncture story is about a 60 year old acupuncturist named Wei, from Guangxi province, who set out to demonstrate his patriotism, and break a worlds record by inserting 2008 decorative acupuncture needles in his head face and chest.  The previous record, according to the article, was 1790 set in 2004.  That’s pretty amazing considering the human body has only about 350 main points, not including some of the micro-systems used on the hands and ears!

So what exactly is in those little needles that I stick into people?  This is actually a really common question patients ask me.  People want to know what can be making them feel so relaxed, or be making their pain go away.

Well there is no medicine, or even herbs in, or on an acupuncture needle.  In fact, the needles we use are so skinny it would be impossible to give an injection with them.  Modern acupuncture needles are super thin flexible, solid pieces of stainless steel with a small metal, or plastic handle that allows manipulation.  They bear no resemblance to a sewing needle and are a great deal thinner.

The medicine really come from within the patient.  Studies have shown that needling certain points cause the release of the bodies natural opiates.  Some within the field of Chinese Medicine feel that the energy referred to as “qi,” is electrical in nature, and that the highly conductive metal of the acupuncture needle helps this qi to circulate.

So what role does the doctor play in all this?  I like to think that the acupuncture needle serves as the meeting point between the energy of the healer, and that of the patient.  When this is in balance, who needs a drug substance?

If you have more questions on acupuncture, perhaps they can be answered here.

A long time ago, before I became an acupuncturist, a co-worker’s husband related an amazing story to me about his experience with acupuncture.  After being plagued for years with low back pain, he had amazing results after just one treatment from an acupuncturist back on Long Island.  He said was playing tennis later that week without pain.  I don’t know if he even went back in for follow up visits. 

It is an amazing story.  I think many people, eager to quickly get out of pain, will decide to look up an acupuncturist after hearing one of these single-treatment miracle stories from a friend, or reading a testimonial.  But I want to prepare you for a possible let down.

Yes, these one treatment miracles do occur, but they are the exception rather then the rule.  Acupuncture can get extremely good results with many types of pain, but  major results usually come after a set or grouping of treatments, not a single stand-alone treatment.  In China a course of treatments is 10 fairly closely together spaced treatments.

Yet when many people say they “tried” acupuncture, they may mean they went in and tried it once.   Being a nation of instant gratification, many of people think that if they don’t feel any different after one visit then there is no point in continuing.  In many cases of chronic lower back pain,  I usually start seeing hearing patients report notable improvement after treatment five or six.

Now, if your spacing those treatments close together such as 2-3 times per-week, you can get this improvement in 2-3 weeks.  However if your coming in at a leisurely rate of once per week, your looking at well over a month!

If you’ve tried an acupuncture treatment on a cruise or in a spa setting, you’ve probably received a general introduction to acupuncture, and experienced the relaxation that accompanies a good session.  But, if you want to make some real progress on your health, you need to establish a relationship with an acupuncturist in your area, and invest the time to get the lasting results you are looking for.

With all the buzz about the US Open in San Diego right now, I thought I’d write a short post on how acupuncture can  help Golfers get out of pain and play better.  Pretty much everything I say for golfers applies to tennis players too.

Golfer’s Elbow is an acute, or chronic inflammation of the tendons that attach to the inside of the elbow joint.  The medical term is medial epicondylitis.  These tendons are part of the muscles that flex the wrist inwards, and close the fingers around an object such as a golf club.

Tennis elbow is the exact opposite.  An inflammation of the tendons that attach to the outer elbow, and are part of the forearm muscles that curl the wrist back and open the fingers.  The medical term is lateral epicondylitis.

These tendons become inflamed when micro-tears develop over time from shock and impact.  Tendons don’t have good blood circulation like muscles, so these tears are slow to heal and can become chronic, especially when not given adequate time to rest and recover.

The anti-inflammatory effect of acupuncture can greatly hasten the recovery from these sports injuries.  Acupuncture also enhances blood circulation to speed the healing.  I usually see rapid improvement in golfer’s, and tennis elbow, provided the arm is given enough time to rest and heal.

Aside from elbow pain, golfers frequently suffer from various shoulder and low back pain issues, which often develops from repeated training of one side of the body.  This can cause imbalances.  The pain and spasms that result can usually be addressed with several acupuncture sessions, which allow full mobility and a better swing.

Would you like more information?  Contact me here.

Headaches are one of the top pain complaint seen in our office, right up there with low back and neck pain. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can provide a powerful natural solution for many types of headaches, including chronic migraines.

There are three main types of headaches for which people seek out alternative medicine. All three can be chronic, reoccurring, and interfere with life and work. These are migraines, tension headaches and sinus headaches. These all will usually respond well to acupuncture treatments, with tension headaches being the most amenable, next Sinus headaches followed by migraines.

Tension headaches are usually associated with stress, poor posture, vision problems, structural problems or injury, and have a high response rate to acupuncture after only a few weeks of treatment. Sinus related headaches require treatment of the underlying infection, and draining of the sinuses cavities. This can be accomplished well with acupuncture and herbs working in together.

Migraines are a much more complicated situation, and the treatment requires patience and consistency. Many people arrive at our acupuncture clinic with a migraine history of many years. Migraines indicate an enduring imbalance in the body that can be related to genetics, stress, diet and the menstrual cycle. Again, although the main treatment may be acupuncture, herbal medicine may play an important roll in achieving good results.

Most people have been to a western trained doctor, and have tried a number of medications without success by the time they seek out an acupuncturist. Some patients, such as pregnant women, are looking for a treatment that doesn’t involve taking medications. With chronic headaches, it is important to see an MD in order to rule out other possible health problems such as tumors, meningitis or hypertension, which may present with headaches. It is also important to remember that excessive use of pain medications, even over the counter ones such as ibuprofen and aspirin (NSAID) all carry the risk of stomach and intestinal bleeding. Frequent use of these medications may also trigger headaches themselves, known as a “rebound headache.”

After understanding what kind of headache you have from a western diagnosis, an acupuncturist needs to translate this into the system of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). To do this, I need to know what makes the pain worse or better, times of onset, patterns of pain, location and type of pain and any foods, or emotional states that may trigger it. This is why we start with a fairly extensive questionnaire. I also will combine this with a reading of your pulses and a brief examination of your tongue to further complete the picture.

After we have this information we can begin the treatment. Many people are anxious about where the needles will be placed. Most of the needles are placed on the lower legs, feet and hands and wrist areas. A few may be placed on the head in areas of recurrent pain, and a few may be put in the ears (called auricular acupuncture). In treating tension headaches, needles are often put on the neck, shoulders, and places where tension builds. The treatments are relaxing and restful.

The best time to treat headaches are at the very onset, before it has gotten too severe. However, prevention is the true goal of headache treatment. And this means regular treatment between times of headache occurrence.

To successfully prevent migraines, it is important to commit to treatment at least twice weekly for about 8 weeks, regardless of whether a headache is occurring. After this period there should be a noticeable reduction in the frequency and intensity of the headaches. Treatment should be continued once weekly for several more months with continual improvement noted.

Acupuncture benefits for treating headaches:

• Stimulates the release of the bodies natural pain killing opiates
• Eases neck and shoulder tension, and the muscle spasms that start headaches
• Releases bodily stress
• Balances the nervous system
• Drains and clears sinus pressure
• No Harmful side effects

Australian researchers, conducting a study with nearly 3,500 women in several countries compared the effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine to other therapies, and a placebo in relieving menstrual cramps.  Menstrual pain effects half of all women, and an even larger percentage of teenage girls.

The lead author Xiaoshu Zhu from the Centre for Complementary Medicine Research at the University of Western Sydney, said the trials confirmed the effectiveness of  Chinese herbs over NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories) Heat treatment, placebo, no treatment, and interestingly, even acupuncture.  Significantly, the researches found the treatments to reduce the recurrence of the pain for over three months.

A new German study released this February showed that acupuncture can help relieve menstrual pain.   The study comprised of 201 women compared acupuncture to a group receiving no treatments.  Although the researchers admitted there was no control group, such as a group receiving “sham acupuncture,”  they still felt the study was able to show the benefits of acupuncture in treating dysmenorrhea, and recommended it be made available through the health-care system.  The research was published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Although larger and more thorough studies need to be done, these two western studies confirm what I see in my clinical practice daily.  Chinese medicine and acupuncture excels at treating menstrual cramps for both woman and teenage girls.  I am not surprised the herbs edged out acupuncture in the first study.  Herbs can be taken in advance of the pain, which can do a great deal in preventing it’s onset.  In addition, certain types of severe pain that we acupuncturists refer to as “blood stasis,” will respond better to herbs, especially when given over time.

I do find acupuncture quite effective for other types of menstrual pain, especially if a patient comes in complaining of cramps or low back pain.  It can usually be greatly improved by the end of the session.

Spring is here and the flowers are going crazy in San Diego.  Unfortunately, so is another fixture of our local canyons and parks, poison oak.  I have been an avid mountain biker for years, and have never allowed poison oak to dissuade me from riding a favorite trail.  Usually, I never pick it up unless I get lazy and forget to apply my secret mountain biker’s tip that I am about to share with you.

The secret is, never letting the oils stay on your skin long enough to start the reaction.  What you need is to keep a bottle of Windex and a roll of paper towels in your car.  There are some more pricey  products on the market that you can buy at REI, but I find ordinary Windex works just fine.  If you suspect you’ve touched poison ivy, after your ride or hike, spray down your exposed skin and wipe of with the paper towels.  The glass cleaner will break down the oils from the poison oak before it gets a chance to start causing a reaction.  Time is of the essence here, so try not to delay wiping down when you get back to your car.  Once you get home, shower off to remove the Windex, and be sure to wash any clothes that may have contacted the offending plant as well.

Enjoy the flower viewing while it lasts!

How many of us are not affected by the daily toll of stress?  Most of us living in San Diego are aware of the stress that comes from trying to make it in one of America’s most expensive cities.  It is said that stress plays a roll in a majority of complaints that bring people to the doctor’s office, from migraine and tension headaches to ulcerative colitis.  It plays a role in our illnesses, and having the illness creates more stress in a seeming vicious cycle.  Western medicine does not have a lot to offer in treating stress related disorders, which often tend to be chronic conditions. 

In the fertility clinic, stress is huge.  Many women, who are already stressed out from daily life, suffer the greatly added stresses of not being able to conceive.  Chinese Medicine understands the role of mood and emotions in the menstrual cycle.  Western medicine recognizes the “hypothalamic, pituitary ovarian axis.”  It is hard to imagine the brain playing no role in our reproductive health.  In fact, stress is often the fertility patients main secondary complaint.

Stress plays a major role in back pain, especially upper back pain and neck pain.  The “fight or flight response” come into play when we feel “under attack.”  We instinctively tighten up those muscles that would protect our vulnerable neck area.  When animals fight, they bite.  I can’t tell you how many times I see “jaw clenching, or grinding” checked off on the intake chart. 

After being set off by stress, one condition gives rise to another.  Tension headaches may follow the previous example.  Tense low back muscles are more easily pulled, and sprained.  These low back injuries may seem to come out of nowhere.

An acupuncturist should factor in stress whenever they create a treatment plan for a patient.  The effects on a patients stress levels are immediate and sometimes dramatic.  Some points have a very direct effect.  Certain acupuncture points have been shown to stimulate the brains secretion of natural opiates  These have a calming, pain reliving effect.  The pulse usually slows and relaxes, and the blood pressure usually goes down.

There is a very profound calming effect from the insertion of an acupuncture needle, that most people will notice shortly after they begin acupuncture treatments.  Even simply treating tender muscle spasms on the back or neck will usually leave the patient melting on the table, reluctant to get up.

Although acupuncture can help mitigate the effects of stress on the body, we ultimately need to counter stress with proper relaxation, recreation, exercise and sleep.  I refer to this method as “relaxation, recreation and meditation,” which will the the subject of a future article.

It might be a bit of a chore, but I find temperature charting to be an invaluable tool in the treatment of female fertility related problems. Tracking your basal body temperature allows us a glimpse into the unique cycle of your body. It gives me, the acupuncturist, objective information that we can compare to your pulse, tongue and case history info, in order to correctly diagnose your problem. It is best to have at least three months of charts to see what the established patterns are.

Some patients come in to the acupuncture clinic with a number of charts, which is great. If you have never done it before, you will need a regular digital thermometer. Any kind is good, as long as it gives tenths of a degree. The other thing you will need is a chart. You may down load them here free to print out from my resource page. It has places to note everything about your cycle, such as the days of the month, boxes to check if you are ovulating, and many more important details.

Start charting on day 1 of your cycle (first day of your menses). The temperature needs to be taken first thing upon waking, before you get up, go to the rest room, or start moving about. It is important to note that you will need to take you temperature around the same time each day. If you take your temperature at different times each day, you will get false readings.

After a month goes by, you will end up with a nice chart, which can tell us many things about your body. It can confirm if ovulation did happen that month, and about when it did. It can give us some indication on the strength of your progesterone levels, after you have ovulated. It can help an acupuncturist know if your treatments, or Chinese herbal therapies are working. And if you miss your menses, it can help indicate if you are pregnant.

Men with sperm quality issues may do well to cut down on cell phone usage.  In a study published by Fertility and Sterility, research suggests a tie between cell phone usage and poor semen quality.  I fear this study may not get enough attention.

Using 361 male subjects, the study found that the more hours the men spent talking on cell phones, the greater the percentage of abnormal sperm.  How cell phones could alter sperm quality was not known, only that there appears to be an association with heavy cell phone use.

In advising fertility patients at our San Diego clinic, I recommend to our male patients  to avoid carrying cell phones in their front pockets, or belts.  Now, I am inclined to ask them to reduce excessive talking on them if they can.  Although I am not convinced of the safety of Blue Tooth devices, they are probably a degree safer, and allow you to keep the more powerful phone away from your body.  Since the pituitary gland in your brain is considered the “master gland” it would best to expose it to as little electromagnetic radiation as possible.

Low morphology is becoming an increasing factor with couples experiencing infertility.  My concern is that the advent of the iphone, and other such devices, will only encourage longer exposure to cellphone radiation.