The Ultimate Investment You Can Make…

If you're like most people, there are a few things in life that you consider to be important to invest in... your house, car, education, children's future, clothes, material items, and so on.

But if you think about it, there is one area of life that most of us DON'T invest in that is utterly critical to our overall happiness and fulfillment.

Without this, nothing else really matters...

You guessed it--your health.

Doesn't it seem ironic that we are all taught to invest in so many areas of life, but that our own basic level of health and well-being does not make it onto the top of our priority list?

Well, I want to suggest something radical here...

This may take a leap of faith on your part, or you may 'get it' already. But this has certainly been my own direct experience, along with so many of the patients I have worked with over the years.

When you invest in your health, every other aspect of your life becomes that much more abundant, fulfilling, and successful. This is because your health is the foundation for every aspect of your life.

Time and again, I have witnessed patients who commit to their health through acupuncture and the other natural approaches we offer, and almost as if by magic, they:

• Enjoy more success in their job or business because their internal energy is more balanced and heightened, giving them more confidence and clarity
• Attract relationships easier because they feel more beautiful on the inside and out
• Become more productive and organized because they have less stress and racing thoughts
• Acupuncture is a holistic form of medicine, meaning that this form of treatment is meant to improve you as a whole person, not just specific symptoms that you have. By investing in holistic treatment options, you will likely notice that every aspect of your life gets tuned up a few notches. Making your health and well-being your #1 priority will have a dramatically positive ripple effect though your entire life. Granted, most people don't do this.. But hey, most people are struggling more than they would like to, right?

So, if there's something inside of you that KNOWS how important your health is.. And how being proactive about it will only lead to amazing outcomes in very facet of your life, then we invite you to call our office today at 817.835.0885.

As they say, 'Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.'

Try something new.. Even if it's just coming in for a free consult. There's a good chance we can help!

To making your health first,
D. Mark Tryling, LAC, Dipl. AC,CH
Phone # 817.835.0885
www.mhaom.com

Oriental Medicine for Weight Management

I receive a lot of calls from people wanting to lose weight with acupuncture. Somehow they expect to magically lose the weight that's been accumulating for months or even years with just acupuncture. Most western patients have been misinformed about how medicine works. They've been told that all they have to do is take a few pills each day or have a particular surgery and all will be well and good for them. Quite honestly, medicine doesn't work that way. It requires a partnership of the doctor and the patient to successfully overcome health challenges. Those patients that embrace this concept tend to have the most success. Those that depend on the doctor to do all the work will receive little or no benefit from their treatments.

Oriental medicine is amazing and profound in its ability to correct imbalances in the body that are responsible for both acute and chronic disorders and diseases. However, for most patients this involves a process that takes various commitments in order to see quantifiable results. At Meridian Harmonics we make a commitment to each patient to do everything in our power to help them overcome their particular health crisis. All we ask in return is that they do the same by adhering to our treatment plans and lifestyle recommendations.

In Oriental medicine the root of excess weight is an imbalance within the body caused by malfunctioning of the spleen and liver organ systems. Acupuncture points, as well as foods and herbs selected to assist with weight loss can directly influence the Qi of the spleen and liver systems and treat the imbalances that have caused weight gain.

The spleen is responsible for the proper functioning of the digestive system, ensuring that the food we eat is transformed into Qi, the vital substance of life. Disharmony of the spleen will result in symptoms such as fatigue, slow metabolism, water retention, loose stool and a feeling of heaviness.

The liver’s job is to keep the flow of your body’s Qi, blood and emotions running smoothly. Our modern, fast-paced lifestyle and chronic stress can negatively impact the liver’s ability to function properly and smoothly, which, in turn, can cause the spleen and the entire digestive system to function poorly. One result can be a decrease in your metabolism. Liver disharmony can also cause some of the “triggers” that lead to cravings and compulsive eating.

Acupuncture and Oriental medicine have been shown to have positive effects on the functioning of the nervous, endocrine and digestive systems. Treatment can help with food cravings and metabolism. These functions all help energize the body, maximize the absorption of nutrients, regulate elimination, control overeating, suppress the appetite and reduce anxiety.

A Total Health Program

Acupuncture and Oriental medicine address the issues of over-eating and low metabolism with effective tools to control appetite and increase energy. Energy imbalances are corrected and the digestive and elimination processes are improved so that there is a physical shift in the body to naturally have more energy and desire less food.

By addressing both the physiological and psychological aspects of weight management concerns, acupuncture and Oriental medicine provide a comprehensive therapy for weight issues that promote better digestion, balance emotions, reduce appetite, improve metabolism and eliminate food cravings.

Each treatment is customized to the needs of the individual patient. At Meridian Harmonics we use the Pulse Matrix diagnostic system for 1) correctly determining the underlying imbalances for each patient and 2) designing robust acupuncture and herbal treatment strategies.  Acupuncture points on the body are chosen for overall well being with the objective of increasing circulation of the blood and Qi (to stimulate the metabolism) and calming the nervous system. Treatments can include a combination of auricular (ear) and body acupuncture, ear tacks or pellets to leave on between treatments, herbs and supplements, breathing exercises, and food and lifestyle recommendations.

In addition to treating the root of the imbalance within the body, different acupuncture points may be used for each treatment as different symptoms arise. For instance, if you are experiencing a desire to overeat related to premenstrual syndrome (PMS) one week, then that can be addressed at that week’s appointment.

The herbs and foods that are chosen during a weight management treatment are for promoting healthy digestion, energizing the body, augmenting Qi, and improving elimination of water, toxins and waste products. Acupuncture can help improve digestion. It can also help with food absorption and the movement of food through the intestines.

Deep breathing with visualization can also strengthen will power and be used as a tool to curb hunger and cravings. Most patients report a marked decline in appetite and cravings with acupuncture treatment alone, but special herbs, healing foods and exercises can definitely enhance the efficacy of the treatments.

Acupuncture and Oriental medicine are powerful tools for achieving a healthy weight, by itself or as a supportive treatment in conjunction with other weight management programs. Schedule a consultation to see how acupuncture and Oriental medicine can assist you with your weight management goals and help you to live a long, healthy life!

Meridian Harmonics

Chinese Medicine: Can This Help Treat Mental And Emotional Health Issues?

My name is Mark Tryling. I am with Meridian Harmonics Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Bedford, Texas.

I provide traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture services to various age segments of population in our local area.

Personally, my focus is in the area of women’s health, fertility treatments, pain management and treating internal medical conditions using pharmacy grade Chinese herbal medicine to replace or supplement the traditional prescription medicines of my patients. So these are some of my conditions that I address and manage on a daily basis.

Chinese medicine is very useful as a tool and a medicine that can be helpful for a whole array of emotional issues ranging from depressions, anxieties to irritability and just even common menstrual-related or post-menstrual and post-menopausal related emotional issues.

In Chinese medicine we believe that emotions are very integrated into your physical body. It is actually a two-way street. Emotional imbalances can manifest physical problems, disorders and diseases and likewise, physical ailments can manifest emotional problems. It is all based on the concept that the energies that provide all the organs and tissues with health and nourishment become irregular in their movement, stagnant or deficient. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are designed to correct and harmonize these energetic imbalances allowing the body's emotional and physical levels to naturally balance themselves without the need for long-term use of prescription drugs that simply mask the symptoms.

So a lot of time when we look at and address emotional health issues we tend to also look at how our physical body plays a role in the emotional being.

So every time when we prescribe acupuncture treatment or prescribe some herbs for patients, we always look and examine that integration issue.

So we call this an integral medicine. We believe that the emotions are very much part of our physical body, so when we treat it we look at both sides of it.

So when we look at anxiety, for example, there are certain herbs that we would use. There are certain acupuncture techniques we would use.

Chinese medicine, being and integral medicine, encompasses a variety of techniques to re-establish health and wellness. In my practice I use a multifaceted approach for each patient in order to get the results we both want. The tools I use to help each patient are acupuncture, my Chinese herbal compounding pharmacy, Chinese dietary therapy, food energetics and a unique approach to exercise. In this way I tackle each patients health issues from various angles and perspectives to get them on the road to health and wellness and stay there. I love to work with patients who like having a partner in their long-term health care.


I also help guide my patients to look at how they can have a better lifestyle in dealing with anxiety. I give them tools, give them techniques, give them things that they can do at home, in their work, that can be helpful to really manage their nervousness and their anxiety.

For example depression, which can range from mild to moderate depression situations. Not every single depression situation needs medications. I have seen many of my patients respond very nicely to Chinese medicine without having to begin or continue prescription drug therapy.

So we are trying to teach a very important aspect of emotional health to our patients. We are trying to teach our patients to have a grasp, have a grip on what they can do to manage emotional issues especially relating to depressions, how they can work with their community, their support communities such as their spouse, such as their friends who can help them go through the depressions better.

So there are things that we do to help them, so that it's not just taking a medication or doing one technique to help them, but rather looking at all the ways that could help in their lifestyle to really help their condition.

About Mark Tryling:
Mark Tryling is a Licensed Acupuncturist in the State of Texas by the Texas Medical Board and is a Diplomat of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology NCCAOM. He has been active in the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) profession as well as professional organizations. He has studied and practiced a unique and powerful style of acupuncture known as Balance Method and is the only Balance Method preferred provider in North Texas. Mark Tryling is well known for his groundbreaking work in Chinese pulse diagnosis, called the Pulse Matrix, which he uses to diagnose and treat complex medical conditions. He teaches Balance Method and the Pulse Matrix to other acupuncturists. Mark Tryling is a member of the Texas Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, International Balance Method Practitioners.

Visit Mark Tryling at Meridian Harmonics

Acupuncture Myths

Have You Heard These Acupuncture Myths?

As an acupuncturist, I do a lot of myth debunking. It’s understandable. After all, acupuncture speaks an entirely different language from the one through which most Westerners learned to see the world. However, with acupuncture continuing to grow in popularity and gain acceptance by mainstream medicine, it’s important to clarify a few myths and misconceptions that have a strong hold on our collective psyche.

Here are the five most common myths and misconceptions I hear about acupuncture.
“Acupuncture is only for pain.”

Ask most people what acupuncture helps with and the overwhelming majority will say pain. It is true that acupuncture can work wonders for back pain, headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain, leg pain, postoperative pain, and pretty much any other kind of pain you can think of. However, pain is just one of many ailments for which acupuncture can provide relief.

Acupuncture alleviates digestive problems, menstrual irregularities, allergies, insomnia, stress and anxiety, asthma, and several other conditions. While many acupuncturists are generalists who treat a wide range of ailments, some specialize. So do a little homework before booking an appointment to find out whether an acupuncturist has experience treating whatever you need help with.

“Acupuncture doesn’t work because I’ve had it once and nothing changed.”

I hear this one a lot. It’s a myth that is easily debunked by thinking about your car. If you go for years without getting your car checked, when you take it to the mechanic it’s going to require more work than if you had come in for regular tune-ups. Similarly, if you’ve been experiencing back pain for six months, it will probably take more than one acupuncture treatment before you notice results.

After your first treatment, an acupuncturist usually will provide an estimate for how many treatments you’re likely to need. This is always an estimate because response times to acupuncture can vary widely, but it’s a good guideline.

Acupuncture is a cumulative process, much like going to the gym: You don’t start running faster or lifting heavier weights after just one trip. That said, most people notice at least some changes after 10 acupuncture treatments. If you haven’t seen any improvement after giving it 10 appointments, I suggest trying another acupuncturist.
“Acupuncture doesn’t work because we don’t know how it works.”

This is an understandable misconception. When it comes to concepts with which we are unfamiliar, it’s comforting to have solid proof. Although there is tentative evidence of acupuncture’s efficacy, definitive, Western-friendly proof of how acupuncture works is unavailable.

There is good reason for this. Controlled, double-blind trials are inappropriate for studying acupuncture. Most acupuncture research models look at a standard selection of acupuncture points to determine if they are effective for a certain condition. But from an acupuncture perspective, one condition can have several different causes—and therefore would require completely different acupuncture points.

Researchers are beginning to look at acupuncture using MRI. I believe this method of studying acupuncture is the most promising yet. Rather than concentrating on people’s perceptions, which can be misled by placebos or prejudices, the MRI studies look directly at how acupuncture changes brain activity. These MRI studies also address findings from previous research that show effects from fake or “sham” acupuncture. Through MRI, we know that both real and sham acupuncture relieve pain but that the effects on the brain are considerably different.

We may not know yet exactly how acupuncture works, but we are gaining a better understanding of the therapeutic effect that acupuncture causes.

“Acupuncture hurts.”

I disagree with acupuncturists who say that acupuncture needles are so thin you can’t even feel them. In my experience, most people feel acupuncture.

When needles are inserted in the right places, they often produce a feeling of heaviness, like a dull ache. Since this sensation is unfamiliar for most people who have never had acupuncture before, it’s commonly interpreted as pain.

If I describe this dull-achy feeling to people before beginning a treatment, they are less likely to experience the sensation as pain. They are prepared, which means their bodies are less tense. Often the “hurt” associated with acupuncture can be attributed to anxiety about the unknown.

I also make a point of telling my patients that acupuncture—rarely, but on occasion—can cause pain after a treatment. Sometimes needles in certain acupuncture points, after they’re removed, can cause a residual feeling of ache, almost like a bruise. When people understand ahead of time that this is a completely normal outcome, their perception of acupuncture as something that hurts seems to shift.

“Acupuncture is religious.” (Also known as “Acupuncture is voodoo.”)

I have been told, “I don’t believe in acupuncture because I’m a Christian.” Although it’s becoming less common as the general public gets more educated about acupuncture, the myth of acupuncture as a religion or supernatural phenomenon remains.

Acupuncture is not religious, nor is it voodoo. There is nothing supernatural or otherworldly happening during an acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture is a healthcare modality designed to help balance your body’s various, interconnected systems.

You don’t need to “believe” in acupuncture in order to experience its benefits because there is nothing to believe in.

I think some of the misinformation surrounding acupuncture’s origins and intentions stems from the word “qi,” which is often described as “vital energy.”

A better interpretation of what ancient Chinese practitioners meant by qi is simply oxygen. They understood that oxygen and nutrients were needed throughout the body in order for it to function properly. They called it qi and Blood, but acupuncture is merely a tool for moving the oxygen and nutrients that our bodies need to thrive.

For more information on acupuncture and Chinese medicine, check out my website.

Acupuncture can be a remedy for chronic headache pain

Acupuncture is a form of complementary or alternative medicine, and many of my patients ask about it. It first gained recognition in the United States in 1971 when a well-known New York Times columnist, James Reston, developed appendicitis on a trip to China. His pain following surgery was treated not with conventional pain medicines but with acupuncture. Reston reported that his pain had been completely relieved by acupuncture. His standing and credibility caused many people to take acupuncture seriously.

Acupuncture has long been used to treat headaches. But until recently, there hadn’t been strong evidence to support its use for headache pain. Two large scientific reviews have changed that. One review found that acupuncture may help people with episodic or chronic tension headaches. The other review found that acupuncture may prevent migraine headaches as well as or better than medications.

The tension headache review looked at 11 studies involving about 2,300 people. In two large studies included in the review, nearly half of people who received acupuncture in addition to their usual headache treatment said their headache days were cut by at least half. Only 16 percent of those who received typical headache treatment, but no acupuncture, reported the same level of headache relief.

The migraine review found evidence that getting regular acupuncture treatments in addition to typical migraine treatments (such as taking painkillers) cut the frequency of migraines. Also, when acupuncture was compared to taking a preventive drug, people who received acupuncture improved more and had fewer side effects than those taking medications.

According to Chinese medical theory, acupuncture works by affecting the flow of energy, called “qi,” through pathways or channels of energy that run through the body. The practitioner inserts very fine needles at specific points along these pathways.

Acupuncture has many variations. It typically involves four to 10 needles left in place for 10-30 minutes. A course of treatment may include six to 12 sessions. Most people report that acupuncture needles cause little or no pain.

Acupuncture is among the most promising of nontraditional headache therapies.

Some patients may require additional therapies, such as Chinese herbal medicine as an adjunct to their acupuncture treatments. Typically, the frequency of acupuncture treatments is one to three times per week. On the other hand, Chinese herbal medicine to treat headaches can be used daily. Patients who are able to incorporate acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to treat their condition get the best results.

If you decide to try acupuncture, do your homework before choosing a practitioner. If possible, choose a therapist with a state license. If you live in a state that doesn’t require licensing, seek out one who’s certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

You may also want to get a referral from your doctor. (In any case, inform your doctor if you are going to try acupuncture.)

Meridian Harmonics provides various acupuncture and customized Chinese herbal therapies to treat the many different types of headaches and migraines.

Herbal Medicine: What it Is, What it Does

Herbal medicine is an integral component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It is also one of the oldest (and most popular) forms of health care. Studies have shown that as much as 40% of all American adults use herbal products, with the amount of money spent on herbal remedies in this country each year in the tens of billions. The use of herbal medicine is even higher overseas, with some countries reporting a usage rate of 75% or greater.

The term "herbal medicine" refers to the use of a plant's seed, berries, roots, leaves, bark or flowers for medicinal purposes. While the scientific study of herbs in the United States began just over two centuries ago, herbs and botanical's have been used to treat a wide range of health problems in Asia for thousands of years.

When used to facilitate healing in chronic, ongoing problems, herbal medicine has a great deal to offer. Studies have shown that herbal products can treat a variety of conditions, including colds, digestive disorders, insomnia, headaches, arthritis, skin disorders, asthma, and a host of other problems usually treated with pharmaceuticals and prescription medications.

INSOMNIA

For example, patient complaints of insomnia are on the rise. Various factors contribute to insomnia in its three basic forms: 1) difficulty getting to sleep, 2) difficulty staying asleep once waking and 3) a combination of these two. Acupuncture itself can offer great relief for insomnia sufferers. However, most patients are not going to receive acupuncture treatments on a daily basis. 

In most cases, I like to combine acupuncture with a customized herbal solution to address their problem. Chinese herbs can be used on a daily basis to treat many health conditions, especially insomnia. Chinese herbs are very affordable. A single daily dose of customized herbal remedies can cost less than a pack of cigarettes! 

Prescription drugs to treat insomnia can be very effective. Unfortunately, all drugs have various side affects and may interact with other medications. Typical side affects of insomnia medications are: Diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness (including daytime drowsiness); "drugged" feeling; dry mouth; headache; nausea; nose or throat irritation; sluggishness; stomach upset; weakness. 

More SEVERE side affects can include: Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the hands, legs, mouth, face, lips, eyes, throat, or tongue; throat closing; unusual hoarseness); abnormal thinking; behavior changes; chest pain; confusion; decreased coordination; difficulty swallowing or breathing; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; hallucinations; memory problems (e.g., memory loss); mental or mood changes (e.g., aggression, agitation, anxiety); new or worsening depression; severe dizziness; shortness of breath; suicidal thoughts or actions; vision changes.

Most patients want to minimize their number of medications, side affects and drug interactions. Integrating Chinese herbal medicine into their lifestyle can easily do this. The nice thing about Chinese herbs is they’re safe, effective and actually treat the root causes of a particular problem, as well as the symptoms. Chinese herbs help to restore balance to the body’s internal organs, regulate blood flow throughout the body, strengthen the immune system, increase energy, reduce stress and provide a deep sense of health and wellness.

Meridian Harmonics

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.

Acupuncture gains momentum in military health care

According to an Army News Service article published June 25, a report released by the Army's surgeon general June 23 recommended more than 100 changes in the Army's health care system. "The Pain Management Task Force's final report, which was initiated by Lt. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker in August of 2009, addresses the lack of a comprehensive pain management strategy across the Army, and suggests alternative treatments to medication such as acupuncture, meditation, biofeedback and yoga.

Also noted in the report is the fact that pain management has changed very little since the discovery of morphine in 1805. Warner Barracks is one of a few Army health clinics to respond to the pain management strategy with the use of auricular acupuncture for mild Traumatic Brain Injury patients. Auricular acupuncture refers to points located on the ears. "This and further concerns about combining medications in drug therapy have led to an increase in alternative medicine throughout Army health care communities. I believe that the 'spread' going on reflects the fact that more and more physicians are pursuing training in acupuncture," said Lt.Col. Larry R. Patterson, Bamberg Health Clinic commander. "Treatments become more available because of a larger pool of trained physicians."

Dr. Natalia Whitman, a neurologist and medical director of the clinic has seen in past years that this method of treatment would greatly benefit patients suffering from a variety of ailments. Whitman is encouraged by findings published in "The American Family Physician." Volume 80, No. 5, Sept. 1, 2009 reads, "Acupuncture was found to improve headaches and health-related quality of life when added to medical management in patients with chronic daily headache." Multiple doctors at the Landstuhl Regional Medical center are qualified to perform acupuncture and are doing so through the Anesthesia Interventional Pain Management department and have begun utilizing acupuncture or hope to do so in the near future.

Study Links Weight Loss and Acupuncture

Could a few pinpricks make someone thinner? Evidence weighs heavily in favor of that proposition, according to the results of a new study to be presented at the Pacific Symposium in San Diego this week. The groundbreaking study, "The Effects of Acupuncture on Weight-Loss in Over-Weight and Obese Adults Over 24 Years Old," reports that 95 percent of its subjects lost weight in a six-week period after receiving regular acupuncture treatments. Of those subjects, another 50 percent continued to lose weight after treatments stopped. Dr. Edward Lamadrid, a doctor of acupuncture and oriental medicine, conducted the study and authored its findings. Lamadrid has treated thousands of patients with a variety of problems and health conditions, and he has long suspected that acupuncture assists in weight loss. However, it wasn't until this controlled, scientific study that the Chicago-based expert could positively confirm a more formal hypothesis and the positive conclusions.

"What's particularly interesting and somewhat shocking about the study's findings is that weight loss occurred across the board without much exercise or dieting, something everyone believes is essential to trimming down," Lamadrid says. "I certainly don't want to discount the importance of healthy habits such as good fitness and eating nutritionally, but this study confirms that acupuncture is a viable tool for successful weight loss." Key conclusions found that 81 percent of participants in Group A, which received three weeks of acupuncture treatments, lost weight, averaging 2 lbs. per week for men and 1 lb. per week for women. After the treatments ceased, 54 percent continued to lose weight. Meanwhile, 79 percent of those in Group B, the control group, which didn't receive acupuncture, gained weight over the three-week period.

At the end of those three weeks, this control group then received regular acupuncture treatments, and 77 percent then lost weight at a rate similar to Group A. Feedback from the subjects noted significant improvements both physically and emotionally. "Patients understand the importance of preventative medicine and a holistic approach to treatment," Lamadrid says. "This body of evidence on the acupuncture-weight loss link is groundbreaking for the worldwide healthcare and fitness community, considering obesity is now a global epidemic."

Chinese medicine approaches weight gain and obesity as imbalances or irregular functioning of one or more internal organs. All of the body’s organ systems are designed to interact with each other in a dynamic supportive manner. However, there are a variety of pathological conditions that contribute to the breakdown of each organ to operate at its optimal energy state. The key to successful treatment is to identify the key players and treat them at their source. In this way the body is able to resume maintaining its health on its own. 

Meridian Harmonics

Acupuncture Improves Exercise Tolerance

German cardiology researchers have found that acupuncture can improve exercise tolerance in patients with heart failure.

Their study included 17 patients with congestive heart failure with mild or marked limitation to their activity, all on optimized medication.

Patients were randomized to receive acupuncture or placebo – a needle that simulates the procedure without piercing the skin.

No improvement in cardiac ejection fraction or peak oxygen uptake was seen. But the six minute walk distance was ‘remarkably increased’ in the acupuncture group by 32m on average, compared to a drop of 1m in the placebo group.

Post-exercise recovery and ventilatory efficiency were both improved in the acupuncture group but not in the placebo group.

Study leader Dr Johannes Backs, head of the research group at the department of cardiology of Heidelberg University Hospital, said: ‘This is the first indication that acupuncture may improve exercise tolerance in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients, when given in addition to optimized standard heart failure medication.'

The Science of Chinese Medicine

A major concept of Chinese medicine is Qi, (also chi or ki), pronounced chee. But what is it really? If you ask most acupuncturists or doctors of Oriental medicine, chances are you will receive a wide variety of answers.

Have you ever played the game, where in a large group of people someone whispers a message to the person sitting next to them and the idea is to whisper the exact same message to the next person and so on, until the last person receives the message and in a normal voice tells everyone in the room what the original message was "supposed" to be? Chinese medicine, in many of its major theories and ideas, is very similar to that.

Over the centuries and even thousands of years, early concepts have changed, or more accurately, were mangled, as a result of varying interpretations or translations of the original language and syntax. What this has produced, in our modern culture, is a population of practitioners who have no idea how acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine really work and more importantly, do not know how to intelligently explain the medicine to their patients or inquisitive doctors in other fields (MD's, DO's, DC's, etc.).

Traditional schools of alopathic medicine do an excellent job of preparing doctors. Medical students are extensively taught the hard science of their medicine: organic chemistry, biochemistry, endocrinology, anatomy and physiology. Acupuncture schools do a fairly good job of preparing students to become competent practitioners. Unfortunately, schools of Oriental medicine do a poor job of teaching the hard science of our medicine. This is evident whenever a practitioner of Oriental medicine is asked a technical question and is unable to satisfactorily answer the question. Most likely, this is due to the fact that most Oriental medical school faculties are not trained or have backgrounds rooted in these sciences. When I was in school my classmates and I were taught that Chinese medicine was much different from alopathic medicine and operated under different rules or laws. This is not entirely true. There are universal laws that govern everything in the universe. All matter in the universe must comply with these laws. There are no exceptions. Western medicine and Chinese medicine have unique paradigms, though, the laws that govern both must comply with universal laws. The way for western and eastern medicine to be integrated is through these universal laws.

What's unfortunate is most practitioners do not have a background or education rooted in hard or difficult sciences. In a followup post, I'll discuss the foundational sciences of Chinese medicine and how amazing it is that the ancient doctors of Chinese medicine had extensive knowledge of these sciences and how to apply them to physical, mental and spiritual health.

Improving Vision With Chinese Medicine

Researchers in Hong Kong have found acupuncture to improve the eyesight of children suffering from lazy eye.

Two studies found that a course of acupuncture along with wearing spectacles improved the eyesight in almost 60 per cent of children aged 3 to 6, compared with 14 per cent of those who wore glasses alone.

Lazy eye, or amblyopia, is a condition that affects around 4 per cent of children under 6 worldwide. It occurs because the brain does not acknowledge signals from one eye and, left untreated, can cause loss of vision and depth perception.

It is usually treated by occlusion therapy, covering the good eye with a patch to train the lazy eye, and also with spectacles. The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Chinese University in Hong Kong and Shantou University in southern China did the research, involving 171 children.

In the two clinical trials, two groups of children, aged 3 to 6 and the other aged 7 to 12, were given acupuncture as supplementary or alternative therapy. The needles were applied to five points on the head, ankle and hand five times a week.

In the younger group, an improvement was seen in 57.5 per cent of those who underwent acupuncture within 15 weeks, compared with 14.6 per cent of the children who were treated with spectacles only.

In the older group, an improvement was seen within 25 weeks in 42.1 per cent of those who underwent acupuncture, compared with 30 per cent of those who wore spectacles only.

Professor Dennis Shun-chiu Lam, who led the research, said the acupuncture accelerated the treatment response, improved the overall treatment results and shortened the total treatment duration.

He said the study also opened up the potential use of acupuncture in treating other eye disorders and diseases. In addition to lazy eye, there are acupuncture and herbal strategies for treating such eye disorders as macular degeneration.

The Chemistry Behind Acupuncture For Pain Management

Medical science is getting a better understanding of how acupuncture works, and some of the findings could demonstrate why it works well for many people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. The research revealed that acupuncture activates several biochemical and electromagnetic mechanisms in the body. One of these biochemical mechanisms involves the release of adenosine, which produces an anti-inflammatory affect.

Researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center say that acupuncture triggers the release of adenosine, a natural painkiller in the body, as well as metabolites of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the major source of cellular energy.

Adenosine blocks pain signals to keep them from being sent to the brain. It's typically released in response to injury. While the acupuncture needle typically causes little or no pain, it damages enough cells to trigger adenosine release.

The results are interesting for sleep and energy, as well as pain. Adenosine is believed to be involved in regulating the sleep cycle, which is typically deregulated in people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. ATP, which was also increased in the study, provides energy for cellular function -- and some studies have suggested that ATP is deficient in people with these illnesses.

After an acupuncture session, patients report feeling less pain, more relaxed and energized. Another side affect is they sleep really well for a night or two, following their treatments.

Acupuncture has been a mainstay of medical treatment in certain parts of the world for over 4,000 years, but because it has not been understood completely, many people have remained skeptical.

Even though the ancient Chinese physicians were unfamiliar with the complex biochemistry of the body, their concept of re-establishing harmony and balance is designed to reflect a variety of changes in order to facilitate the goal of relieving pain or some other internal medical disorder. What’s so amazing is that this ancient medicine does exactly that!

Signs & Symptoms of Exterior Pathogenic Cold

Cold is prevalent in winter. It usually attacks the body when the temperature is low and one fails to adapt oneself to the change by dressing properly. Pathogenic Cold may attack the Exterior of the body or invade the interior of the body directly. Diseases in the former case are called affliction of pathogenic Cold, and those in the latter case, direct attack of Cold on the interior.

Pathogenic Cold has the following features:

First, being a Yin pathogen, Cold tends to impair Yang Qi. Cold is the prevalent climate in winter, in which Yin Qi of nature is flourishing, so it is a Yin pathogen. Like attracts like. So Yin of the body will become hyperactive in the case of invasion of Cold and Yang Qi is over-restricted. For example, Cold attacking the Exterior often obstructs Defensive Qi (the immune system), leading to failure of the Exterior to be warmed and resultant chills. Direct attack of Cold on the Spleen and Stomach usually cause Cold pain in the abdomen, watery diarrhea, etc., meaning that Spleen Yang is impaired and its transforming and transporting actions are disturbed.

Second, cold is liable to cause coagulation of Blood and retention of Body Fluids. Blood and body fluids depend on the propelling effect of Yang Qi and a moderate temperature for their free circulation. If Cold invades the body, Yang Qi will be impaired and body temperature will be lowered. So the flow of Blood and Body Fluids will become sluggish, or even coagulated, which is clinically marked by pain. For example, rheumatic arthralgia is marked by Cold pain of the joints, which is usually severe and fixed.

Third, contracting nature of Cold. Cold often leads to inward movement of Qi, contraction of the muscle tissue and convulsion of tendons and vessels. If attacked by pathogenic Cold, the muscle tissue and the sweat pores will be closed, leading to obstruction of Defensive Qi, fever or chills and an absence of sweating. Cold Invasion into the vessels will cause coagulation of Qi and Blood and contraction of the vessels, leading to headache, pantalgia, tense pulse, etc. Inability of the limbs to flex and extend freely or Cold and numbness of the limbs will follow if the Cold attacks the Channels and joints and results in contraction of the tendons and Channels.

Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture can be used to treat pathogenic Cold preventing it from creating more serious problems.

Meridian Harmonics

Brief History of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine

The origin of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can be traced back to three legendary Emperors/mythical rulers: Fu Xi, Shen Nong, and Huang Di.

Shen Nong and Fu Xi are believed to be early tribal leaders. Fu Xi developed the Yi Jing (I Ching) or Book of Changes.

Shen Nong was known as the "Divine Cultivator" by the Chinese, because he is considered the founder of herbal medicine, and taught people how to farm. In order to determine the nature of different herbal medicines, Shen Nong sampled various kinds of plants, ingesting them himself to test and analyzed their individual effects.

Shen Nong is believed to have tasted a hundred herbs, including 70 toxic substances in a single day, in order to rid people of their illnesses. As there were no written records, the discoveries of Shen Nong were passed down verbally from generation to generation. Many years later, the oldest known book on agriculture and medicinal plants was compiled - Shen Nong Bencao Jing.

In 1578, Li Shizhen completed the Bencao Gangmu, also known as the Compendium of Materia Medica, which has been translated into 20 languages and used as a Chinese herbal reference until today. Clinical diagnosis and treatment in TCM are mainly based on the yin-yang and five elements theories. These theories use natural laws to study of the physiological activities and pathological changes of the human body and its interrelationships.

TCM diagnostics are based on overall observation of human symptoms rather than laboratory tests. There are four types of TCM diagnostic methods: observe, hear and smell, ask questions and palpation.

The diagnostics of an ailment includes its cause, mechanism, location, and nature, and the confrontation between the pathogenic factor and body resistance. Treatment is not based only on the symptoms, but differentiation of specific patterns.

Consequently, those with identical ailments may be treated in different ways, and on the other hand, different ailments may result in the same syndrome and are treated in similar ways.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine comprise one of the oldest organized systems of medicine the world has ever seen (8000 years) and has been used to address nearly every health concern that allopathic medicine traditionally has been treating the last 200 years.

Meridian Harmonics

Chinese Pulse Diagnosis - Part 1

8000 years ago, ancient Chinese physicians developed a simple way to diagnose diseases and disorders, without the use of all the fancy toys of western medicine. In fact, there are times when the western lab tests fall short when it comes to picking up imbalances that don’t “fit” within the range that the western lab test is designed to reveal. The pillar of diagnostic procedures in Chinese medicine is rooted in pulse diagnosis, which is more than how fast or slow a person’s heart rate is. There are several different methods for deciphering pulse qualities, some ancient, others more modern.

Meridian Harmonics has developed a unique style of pulse diagnosis combining several different methods with some new strategies. We call this the Pulse Matrix ©. Each person has a unique set of pulse qualities that constitute their individual Pulse Matrix ©. One’s Pulse Matrix © can change, but often only varies within a small span along the Pulse Matrix © scale. A persons individual Pulse Matrix © discloses a great deal of information: the underlying pathogenic factors affecting them, the acupuncture meridians and points to use in treatment, the affected organ systems, the correct herbal strategies, vertebral misalignment and the affected endocrine organs, to name a few. Pulse assessment and interpretation only takes a few minutes and leads to more accurate diagnosis and robust treatment strategies.



Read more at The Pulse Matrix

Meridian Harmonics

Exercise Holds Off Aging

Physically active people have cells that look younger on a molecular level than those of couch potatoes, according to research that offers fundamental new insight into how exercise may help stave off aging.

Researchers have found that exercise appears to slow the shriveling of the tips that protect bundles of genes inside cells, perhaps keeping frailty at bay. Being physically active reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer and other diseases, potentially extending longevity. Researchers examined structures inside cells known as telomeres. They are using telomere length as a marker of biological aging. Telomeres cap the ends of chromosomes, the structures that carry genes. Every time a cell divides, telomeres get shorter. When telomeres get too short, cells can no longer divide. Scientists believe that aging occurs as more and more cells reach the end of their telomeres and die - muscles weaken, skin wrinkles, eyesight and hearing fade, organs fail and thinking clouds.

In Chinese medicine, exercise stimulates healthy cellular activity in all the body’s organs. Cardiovascular exercise dramatically increases oxygen levels in the body. Abundant oxygen seems to be the catalyst for a cascade of beneficial physical activities that lead to delayed aging. Both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can minimize those deficiencies responsible for premature aging.

Meridian Harmonics