Diabetic Neuopathy & Acupuncture

Billy Shonez Singh of Red Rooster Acupuncture in Commack, NY wrote a comprehensive article in his newsletter on treating diabetic complications with acupuncture, particularly diabetic neuropathy. I am posting it all here.

"It is a disease that is defined as a metabolic disorder that is characterized by either abnormally low or high blood sugar levels that lead to a variety of metabolic derangements. It is commonly characterized by fatigue, excessive urination, excessive thirst, and excessive hunger. In this country, it is the biggest cause of death or disability. In developed countries, the incidence of diabetes has doubled in the last 15 years and its going to double in the next 15 years.

The worst part of this situation is that one out of three people do not know they have diabetes. For those that are diagnosed have had it for much longer amount of time and wind up with complications such as neuropathies. According to Clinton J. Choate's article "Diabetes Mellitus (Part One)", it is estimated that 60% to 70% of diabetics have mild to severe forms of nervous system damage.

The symptoms range from:

• Pain in the feet and legs.
• Cramping, tenderness, and muscle weakness. They can occur in the legs and feet along with the arms and hands.
• Paraesthesias- pricking, tingling, or numbness along the skin.
• Blurred vision.
• Impotence

In allopathic medicine, the treatment for diabetic neuropathies involve physical therapy, medications and in severe circumstances, surgical intervention. Some of the medications used to treat paraesthetic pain and other neuropathies are tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Even though these specific medications are used in the treatment of depression, they are also used in treating peripheral neuropathies. However the side-effects are numerous and seem counterintuitive when one looks at them. For example, the antidepressant Imiprine (Tofronil) treats peripheral neuropathies by releasing norepinephrine in the central pain modulating pathways located in the brainstem and spinal cord. However a side-effect of Imiprine is impairment of mental or physical abilities and cardiovascular disease. When you look at those side-effects and compare them to the risk that diabetics have with cardiovascular disease, it seems rather counterproductive.

According to Subhuti Dharmanada, "Acupuncture therapy is a common approach to treating diabetes in China. Many Americans assume that acupuncture is only suitable for treating pain, perhaps because the initial introduction of acupuncture was mainly for this application. Increasingly, people with pain and other health problems for which acupuncture is selected also have diabetes." Acupuncture can treat neuropathies by bringing blood flow and nerve conduction to the skin to treat numbness and tingling in the extremities. Another point to mention is that blood flow and nerve restoration can also be accomplished in regards to the treatment of blurred vision and impotence. Unlike the medications mentioned, acupuncture has no side-effects.

Bibliography
Dharmanda Ph.D., Subhuti "Treatment of Diabetes with Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture" web posting date: January 2005 www.it monline.org pg.14

Choate, Clinton J. "Modern Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine: Diabetes Mellitus (Part One)" Journal of Chinese Medicine Number 58 September 1998 pg.4

Echeverry, MD, MPH, Diana M. "Diabetic Neuropathy: Treatment and Medication" updated April 4th, 2007 http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/315434-treatment

NYCTCM Open House events - 2009

Join us to hear about the exceptional programs at New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine that prepare you for a career in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

Prospective students are invited to attend an NYCTCM Open House for an overview of the Acupuncture school & Traditional Chinese Medicine school programs, a tour of the facility, open discussion, and information on the application process.

Spring Trimester dates: May 4, 2009 to August 20, 2009. Please call NYCTCM or

email: NYCTCM Admissions

Mineola Open House events

Location: NYCTCM, 155 First St., Mineola, NY 11501

Saturday, April 4 - 10:30 am to 12 noon with an option to be a guest student after the Open House. Appointments with the Financial Aid office are available.

Contact: Please call (516) 739-1545 to reserve your spot or email

NYCTCM Admissions

Prospective students are welcome to call ahead to schedule an appointment with admissions and financial aid before or after an Open House they plan to attend.

Free first Acupuncture Treatment - NYCTCM Manhattan

When my chi begins to stagnate I head right to the New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine where, for a mere $25 per session, supervised students of acupuncture and herbal remedies will evaluate, advise, and acupuncturate me. It’s a no-frills experience—the furnishings are minimal, the walls are stark white, and there’s nothing remotely cushy about the place, but there’s a whole fleet of interns, students, and a doctor who will tend enthusiastically to my pulse, tongue color, and symptoms. The last time I was in I lay on the acupuncture table surrounded by six people; I felt like I had an entourage. “You’re VIP!” one of the interns joked as he stuck a needle in my scalp. Left for twenty minutes to let my channels unblock, I closed my eyes and fell asleep, comforted in knowing that soon I would be feeling a lot better without feeling like I’ve been needled out of my bank account.

Notfortourists.com

Coupon for Free first acupuncture treatment at NYCTCM Teaching Clinic for new patients

Chinese herbs for weight loss

Treating Weight Loss With Chinese Herbs

Dampness is caused by the failure to burn off moisture in the body. Dampness primarily affects the middle and lower part of the body...hence putting on weight in these areas. We use herbs as well as foods that drain the dampness. Usually a formula is prescribed using many herbs together in a synergistic manner.

By Steven Sonmore

Being overweight can become a matter of life and death. People who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop a number of potentially serious health problems. Also, the overall risk of death increases with obesity. If you are obese or overweight your health is at risk. It is important that you loose that weight and develop a healthy lifestyle. There are many weight loss programs out there and it is important to find a program that is fits your needs.

Nine dangers of being overweight:

— High Blood Pressure - 26% of obese people have hypertension.

— Diabetes - 80% of type II is related to obesity. Excess fat makes your body resistant to insulin. When your body is resistant to insulin, your

cells can’t get the energy they need.

— Abnormal blood fats - A diet high in saturated fats increases the level of LDL (bad) cholesterol.

— Stroke - the American Stroke Foundation listed obesity as one of the risks to stroke that can be controlled with medical treatment and

lifestyle changes.

— Osteoarthritis - Excessive body weight adds pressure to joints and wears away at the cartilage that protects them.

— Sleep apnea - The more overweight a person is, the greater more severe the sleep apnea will be.

— Cancer - Men and women who are overweight have a higher risk of developing many different kinds of cancer.

— Gallstones - Gallstones are more common in people who are overweight. According to Chinese medicine gallstones are caused by “damp

heat.”

— Physical Discomfort - If fat accumulates, it crowds space occupied by your internal organs. People who are overweight may have difficulty

breathing, walking or sitting.

Most weight loss programs in the US focus strictly on diet. Some medical statistics show that nearly 95% of dieters who use conventional weight loss programs either gain some or all of the weight they had lost back. However, with Chinese medicine we look at the root cause of being overweight. Excess weight is considered to be just one symptom of an underlying health problem. It is the outcome of a series of chain reactions in your body that usually begins with a Qi (pronounced chee) or energy deficiency or imbalance. Unless the root cause is addressed, the weight loss won’t be permanent. According to Chinese medicine, to have good health you must have sufficient Qi (energy) and your organs must work together in harmony. If there isn’t enough Qi, one or more of your organs can be out of balance and will develop an energetic dysfunction. When this happens, your organs cannot perform their responsibilities, like promoting healthy metabolism and ridding your body of excess fat and water.

Perhaps you have experienced problems like headaches, emotional problems, depression and/or allergies prior to a weight gain? Ever wondered why? Chinese medicine considers these as signs that your body is having functional difficulties. Often the problem is an imbalance in the relationship between your liver and your spleen. Both are crucial to proper digestion. Chinese medicine teaches that when your body is in balance, you won’t have weight issues. When your Qi is strong and balanced, weight will be lost naturally and normal weight will be maintained.

Chinese medicine generally views being overweight as “dampness.” Dampness is the body is not properly transforming and transporting fluids.

Dampness is caused by the failure to burn off moisture in the body. Dampness primarily affects the middle and lower part of the body...hence putting on weight in these areas. We use herbs as well as foods that drain the dampness. Usually a formula is prescribed using many herbs together in a synergistic manner. It is important to get a proper diagnosis by a Chinese medicine professional. Diagnosis includes pulse reading, tongue diagnosis, and health history. Chinese medicine uses very individualized care. The fundamental prescriptive methodology is to treat the patient’s personal pattern of disharmony. This kind of treatment is both safe and effective because it addresses that person’s own metabolic reasons for being overweight. Using this method, each patient receives their own individually tailored treatment plan, using Chinese herbs, diet and lifestyle modifications. If you want to make your weight loss program even MORE powerful add acupuncture to your treatment regime. Chinese medicine tailors your treatment to your unique energetic disharmony instead of just treating symptoms.

Chinese medicine emphasizes building up your digestive energy. For weight loss, the importance of your digestive system cannot be over emphasized. You depend on your digestive system to absorb and assimilate the nutrients that you require in order to support and sustain your body’s normal function. If your digestive system isn’t working efficiently you will still gain weight. Frequently we use herbal formulas to help strengthen the energy of your stomach and digestive system. This helps speed up the process of digestion before the food has a chance to change into excess fat. Dieting without sufficient digestive energy results in lose of energy, dehydration and undernourishment of the body. This can eventually lead to further weakening and impairment of the digestive system. Once that happens permanent and natural weight control will become quite difficult.

It is also important to maintain regular bowel movements. For weight loss with Chinese medicine, we sometimes use herbs and formulas to help facilitate regular bowel movements. Irregular bowel movements over a long period of time will cause stagnant/undigested food, toxins and other impurities to accumulate in the colon. Excess accumulation of waste material will ultimately overheat and weaken the digestive system, preventing the absorption of essential nutrients. This will gradually lead to symptoms of undernourishment as the body develops a craving for sweets and a constant urge to eat as well as gain weight.

Some herbs help suppress the appetite. Taking Chinese herbal formulas can aid weight loss. They help by increasing the body’s metabolism as well as suppressing the appetite. Sometimes we can treat other problems at the same time in conjunction with weight loss. Several examples are acid reflux, insomnia or depression.

Here we may use 2 formulas together. When treating weight loss we also look at a person’s emotional health, something Chinese medicine excels at.

For more than 20 years Steven Sonmore helped people transform health problems into solutions for attaining better health. Steven is a licensed acupuncturist, Qi Gong instructor, herbalist and Oriental bodywork therapist. He is licensed by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice and certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

Find free, high quality articles you can republish from www.copypastearticles.com

Acupuncture helps high blood pressure

Older people often have acute incidents of high blood pressure. Acupuncturist Chan Hur of Answers with Acupuncture in Queens, NY tells how an 81 year old woman called him; her blood pressure was 190. He gave two acupuncture needles to calm her heart, and in 30 minutes her blood pressure came down and her chest pain disappeared.

Acupuncture Treatment at NYCTCM Acupuncture School

Acupuncture Treatment
Originally uploaded by NYCTCM

See photos of an acupuncture treatment at New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Teaching Clinic in Manhattan, NY.

Answers with Acupuncture

Acupunctureforpains.com is a new website of Chan Hur, L. Ac., who specializes in Korean style acupuncture, called the 4 needle technique. He only uses 4 acupuncture needles.

His office is located in Queens, NY in Forest Hills.

"I mainly use Korean needle techniques, using only 4 needles most of the time. In Korean 4 needle technique (also known as Sa-am acupuncture) most acupuncture points are located below the elbows and knees.

The concept of Korean 4 (four) needle acupuncture techniques is to tonify or sedate related organs’ function. Two needles are used for tonification and another two for sedation; they then balance each other.

During my study and practice, I found that the Korean 4 needles technique brings much better results than traditional acupuncture because Korean 4 needle technique adjusts all the important organs directly. Many famous practitioners in Korea use this technique.

I sometimes add one or two extra points from traditional acupuncture with Korean 4 needles technique. This method provides better results, as I use the better parts of two different systems.

I specialize in the treatment of pain with acupuncture and in preventive medicine."

Check out Chan Hur's website to find out about Korean 4 needle acupuncture technique.