An Overview of Acupuncture – Alternative Healing that Works

One of the oldest and most trusted forms of alternative health care practices is acupuncture, and there are many different practitioners of it in the country today. And with over two and a half million residents in DFW area, North Texas is home to many different acupuncture clinics that can help you get relief from a variety of different ailments and regain your wellness. If you’re trying to find the best possible care for the different issues that this type of ancient remedy can help, knowing a bit more about it can help you do so.

Basically, acupuncture is the process of using hair-thin needles to help promote proper flow of energy throughout the body. It’s commonly believed that issues with the flow of energy in your body can cause muscular pain, headaches, digestive pain, and a wide range of other issues. And recent studies have found that in some cases acupuncture does indeed provide relief for certain types of pain and for certain issues. By alleviating stress and helping stimulate various aspects of your wellness, many have reported less pain, more energy, and better overall well-being as a result of their treatment.

Some experts suggest that a large part of why acupuncture is so effective at helping with so many different issues is that it manages to help alleviate stress and calm the mind and body. Since stress is such a leading cause of various illnesses and issues, just the ability to reduce that stress and relax the body’s muscles can often deliver very real results that can’t be ignored. Results could be immediate or cumulative, but the millions who swear by this alternative health care treatment will tell you that they are simply too real to be ignored.

To really get the maximum benefit from your acupuncture treatment, you’ll want to use it as part of a broad-spectrum treatment. This means that you should add it to a regular exercise regimen, nutrition counseling, massage, and other options. By focusing on a wide range of different issues you’ll be able to develop the best possible results. Try to find a good alternative health care center that utilizes acupuncture along with these other treatments to ensure you find the success that you’re looking for.

Call us today at 817.835.0885

To trying new things,
Mark Tryling, L.Ac.,
Phone # 817.835.0885
www.meridianharmonics.com

Meridian Harmonics Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine
2044 Bedford Rd.
Bedford, TX 76021

Pain Management Using Oriental Medicine

How does Acupuncture treat Pain?

In Chinese medicine, acupuncture meridian theory states that there are 14 primary channels of energy within the body. These channels or meridians are similar to a highway system. Qi, pronounced chee, (energy and information) is transmitted through the meridians so the body can perform specific tasks. When there is an interruption of the flow of energy or information in the meridian systems, one of the first signs can be discomfort or pain. Each of the meridians has internal and external branches or pathways. Acupuncture points lie on the external branches. The internal branches connect to other meridians or channels and to the internal organs. In this way acupuncture points can treat both pain and disharmony in the organs.

How does Tai Chi and Qi Gong help to relieve pain?

Chinese medicine is rooted in several major concepts and laws that govern the physical universe. One of these concepts is that Movement = Health and Non-movement (Stagnation) = Disease. To use this concept we need to understand that the body consists of meridians that transport Qi, blood vessels that transport Blood and tissues/organs that transport specific body fluids or food. These systems are designed to be dynamic or moving. When they cease to move efficiently or effectively, then the body will suffer. Longstanding lack of movement will, eventually, cause pain. To prevent or reduce pain, the ancient Chinese discovered that physical movement was one of the keys to health.

How does Chinese Herbal Medicine treat Pain?

They’re numerous pathogenic causes to pain. In western medicine most of these causes are rooted in nervous system disorders. Chinese Medicine, however, is not based on the nervous system. Therefore, pain can be caused by disharmonies with Qi, Blood, Body Fluids and environmental factors. Some examples of these disharmonies and just a few herbs to treat them are listed below.

Qi (Energy) Deficiency: Pain is worse with exertion; fatigue, weakness, swelling, distending pain; pain alleviated with pressure

Astragulus Root – augments Qi, strengthens blood; for numbness in limbs and painful obstructions

Licorice root – replenishes Qi, reduces toxicity, relieves spasms & pain

Qi (Energy) Stagnation: Achy pain, especially in the rib cage; anxiety, irritability, depression; pain aggravated with pressure

Tangerine Peel – regulates Qi, normalizes Spleen and Stomach functioning

Bupleurum – soothes Liver for pain in abdomen, chest and rib cage

Blood Deficiency: Heart palpitations, restless, irritable, fatigue, depression, anxiety, dizziness, insomnia, inability to concentrate, poor memory, muscle weakness, spasms, numbness, irritability; pain alleviated by pressure

Angelica Root – nourishes and invigorates blood to stop pain; especially beneficial for all female disorders

White Peony root – nourishes blood, soothes Liver, stops pain

Blood Stagnation: Heart palpitations, cold extremities (hands, feet, legs, arms), sharp stabbing pain, insomnia, dark or purplish coloration, restless; pain aggravated by pressure

Turmeric – aids with pain due to stagnation of blood

Lovage Root – invigorates blood, moves Qi, stops pain

Heat: Pain is aggravated by heat; red coloration with possible swelling

Phellodendrum bark – clears heat & inflammation, reduces swelling

Gypsum – strongly clears heat and inflammation to stop pain

Cold (Yang Deficiency or Cold Climate): Pain is aggravated by cold; pale, blue or purplish coloration with possible swelling

Peppers – contain Capsaicin (extremely hot): best for pain aggravated by cold 

Aconite – dispels cold to stop pain

Damp: Pain is aggravated by damp, humid conditions; swelling or edema

Ginger – aids in resolving damp/phlegm accumulations in joints; also helpful with nausea and vomiting due to damp/phlegm/food

Atractylodes – resolves dampness to stop pain, especially in knee and foot joints

Dry (Yin Deficiency or Dry Climate): Aggravated by dryness, low grade fever, irritability, irritability, dry mouth and throat, dry skin, thirst, restless, low back pain, bone pain, constipation due to dry stools

Foxglove Root – nourishes Blood to stop pain, relieves dryness

Scrophularia root – clears heat nourishes Yin, purges heat, relieves toxity to stop pain

Food Stagnation: Stagnation of food in the gastrointestinal track can cause pain in the chest, abdomen, rib cage, back and intestines.

Pinellia rhizome – dries damp accumulations, lowers adverse Qi to stop nausea, vomiting and pain

Hawthorn fruit – dissipates clumps, reduces food stagnation for abdominal distention, pain, chest pain

Caution! Do not self medicate. To determine the correct herbal combinations for your specific type of pain, obtain an herbal consultation with an Oriental Medical practitioner to get an accurate diagnosis and proper course of treatment recommendation.