Acupuncture helps cluster headaches

DEAR DR. GOTT: I had cluster headaches for 40 years, from age 20 to 60. I am now 66 and haven’t had one for six years. The last time I had an attack, I went to an acupuncturist for a week of treatments. It cleared them right up. Before that, I had tried almost everything to no avail. Please pass this on to your readers.

DEAR READER: Cluster headaches occur in clusters or cycles and can be most painful. I have previously written about them, and you can review my articles on my website, http://AskDrGottMD.com/cluster-headaches-debilitating.
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Trigger points may be cause of joint, muscle pain

DEAR DR. GOTT: I find your column interesting and useful, but I am often frustrated by some of your answers when they concern muscle or joint pain. In your column about tennis elbow, you left out a very likely cause of the problem, but you seemed to disregard it or are unaware of it.

Trigger points may well cause this person’s tennis elbow and, while the pain could be coming from the forearm as you suggested, it could also be coming from the triceps. The trigger points can be caused by trauma or overuse of the muscle; but physical therapy, heat and massage treatments will not cure them, just provide short-term relief. Trigger points are small knots in the muscle that can cause constant pulling at the tendon, resulting in tendonitis. If you don’t release the trigger point, you won’t cure the problem. Physical therapy, heat and massage may relax the trigger point, but it will tighten up shortly after treatment and the pain will return.
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Acupuncture eases carpal tunnel syndrome

DEAR DR. GOTT: You recently answered a letter on carpal tunnel syndrome. I am a 74-year-old woman who has had tremendous relief from acupuncture for about 12 years. Back then, I had six treatments, and, until recently, I have had few symptoms. Now, owing to overuse of my hands by gardening, cooking, using the computer, etc., I am starting to have trouble again. Still, I do not awaken in the night and have to get up and shake my hands as I once did. Have you other input on this?

DEAR READER: The carpal tunnel is literally a passageway on each palm side of the wrist that protects the main nerve to the hand and accompanying tendons responsible for allowing the fingers to bend. The syndrome occurs when pressure is placed on the median nerve, causing pain, tingling, numbness and eventual weakness of the affected hand. [Read more...]

Treating Fibromyalgia Syndrome with Acupuncture

Fibromyalgia Syndrome affects an estimated 2 percent of the population. Current treatment is largely comprised of prescribing different medications to treat the varying symptoms. Many people with fibromyalgia have turned to complementary and alternative medicine to manage their symptoms. Acupuncture, in particular, has become a popular treatment choice and has shown to be an effective treatment for Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is a medically unexplained syndrome characterized by chronic widespread pain, a heightened and painful response to pressure, insomnia, fatigue, and depression. While not all affected persons experience all associated symptoms, the following symptoms commonly occur together:

chronic pain
debilitating fatigue
difficulty sleeping
anxiety and depression
joint stiffness
chronic headaches and jaw pain
difficulty swallowing
dryness in mouth, nose, and eyes
hypersensitivity to odors, bright lights, and loud noises
inability to concentrate
irritable bowel syndrome
numbness or tingling in the fingers and feet
painful menstrual cramps
poor circulation in hands and feet.
restless legs syndrome

Fibromyalgia is diagnosed when there is a history of widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of three months and pain when pressure is applied to at least 11 of 18 designated tender points on the body. This condition does not result in any physical damage to the body or its tissues and there are no laboratory tests which can confirm this diagnosis.

Symptoms often begin after a physical or emotional trauma, but in many cases there appears to be no triggering event. Women are more prone to develop the disorder than are men, and the risk of fibromyalgia increases with age.

The Chinese medical theory of pain is expressed in this famous Chinese saying: “free flow of QI= no pain, no free flow of QI= pain.”

Pain is seen as a disruption of the free flow of Qi within the body. The disruption of Qi that results in fibromyalgia is usually associated with disharmonies of the “Liver” median.

You can reduce your symptoms significantly by incorporating a few simple life-style changes into your daily routines and habits.

1. Eliminate processed foods from your diet, especially white sugar and white flour products. These products give our bodies little nutrition and over time can damage our digestion.
2. Include all unprocessed foods in your diet, such as proteins, complex and unrefined carbohydrates, vegetables, whole grains and legumes .
3. Avoid overly greasy foods, ice cold drinks, alcohol, raw and uncooked foods, hot, peppery foods, coffee, and too much fruit. Avoid daily juice drinks since these are the same as eating a candy bar in the amount of sugar introduced into the body.
4. Do not drink sodas. Sodas are acidic in nature and are loaded with sugar and chemicals. Sodas are detrimental to both the spleen and the kidneys.
5. Find some type of exercise that you really enjoy and just do it. You would probably benefit most from some kind of cardiovascular exercise to keep to blood moving, such as swimming, yoga, stretching, and bicycling.
6. Take a walk every day. If you live with a dog or cat, play with them daily. Animals live in the moment and love to play. This is a great way to break stressful daily routines.
7. Buy some relaxation tapes with guided imaging. Learn how to really relax. This means bodily relaxation as well as mental repose. Use these tapes daily for the best results.
8. If you know that you have too much stress in your life, then find a solution. This may be finding a new job or new, more supportive relationships. Understand that stress alone can kill you, and if you smoke and consume alcohol to escape stressful situations, you are only fooling yourself.
9. Find a Chinese medical practitioner who can help you maintain good health with Chinese medicinal herbs and acupuncture. If you visit with a practitioner on a regular basis, before you become ill, then you avoid many other more serious problems later. Remember that the strong suit of Traditional Chinese Medicine is prevention.

Alan Rivenson, L.Ac, Dipl in Acupuncture
Affordable Acupuncture
25 Main Street
Canaan CT 06018
860-824-7727
arivenson@att.net

Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Traditional Chinese Medicine

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is an intestinal disorder causing a variety of symptoms, which may include cramping, abdominal pain, gas, bloating, and irregular bowels. Some people with IBS have diarrhea with frequent loose stools, while others have constipation causing infrequent bowel movements that are difficult to pass. Still other IBS patients will suffer from alternating diarrhea and constipation. Symptoms are frequently triggered by stress, emotional factors, or the ingestion of food. IBS is the most common gastrointestinal disease seen by general practitioners and makes up 30-50% of all referrals to GI specialists. Women are affected three times more than men, with the average age of onset being between 20 and 40.

IBS is described as a ‘functional’ illness — the small and large intestines are not functioning appropriately although there is no structural damage found through diagnostic testing. No anatomic defect can be found in IBS patients, and the cause of the illness is not known. What is known is that there is a link between the onset of symptoms and emotional triggers. There are two major clinical types of IBS described in Western medicine: diarrhea-predominant IBS and constipation-predominant IBS. Diarrhea-predominant IBS is characterized by diarrhea, which occurs immediately after waking up or immediately after eating. Other common symptoms include pain, bloating, urgency, and urinary incontinence. Constipation-predominant (or ‘spastic colon’ type) IBS manifests with pain over at least one area of the colon and periodic constipation. This pain may be continuous or it may come in bouts, and is frequently relieved by moving the bowels. There may be constipation alternating with normal stools or constipation alternating with diarrhea. The stool often contains mucus. Associated symptoms include bloating, gas, nausea and dyspepsia. Eating can commonly trigger these symptoms. Western medicine treats IBS with anti-spasmodic or anti-diarrhea medication, diet modification and stress reduction techniques.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a medical system which combines the use of acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and nutrition to bring the body into balance. Whereas Western medicine looks closely at a symptom and tries to find an underlying cause, TCM looks at the body as a whole. Each symptom is looked at in relationship to all other presenting symptoms. The goal of the TCM practitioner is to assess the entire constitution of the patient — considering both physiological and psychological aspects. The practitioner first observes the general characteristics of the patient, and then tries to discern a relationship between symptoms in order to establish what is called a “pattern of disharmony.”

To look at the body as an integrated whole, one also looks at the theory of the ‘Internal Organs.’ The TCM definition of an Internal Organ is very different from the Western concept. In Western medicine, an organ is a material-anatomical structure. In Chinese medicine, each Internal Organ encompasses much more. There can be an anatomical structure, but there is also a corresponding emotion, tissue, sensory organ, color, and element. In addition, twelve of the Internal Organs correspond to the twelve main acupuncture meridians that run through the body. There is energy (Qi) flowing through each meridian. If an Internal Organ is out of balance, the energy of that organ will be damaged. IBS affects the large and small intestines in Western medicine, but in Chinese theory, the Spleen, Liver, Kidney, and Large Intestine can all play a role in the pattern of disharmony.

In TCM, the Spleen is considered to be the key organ to regulate digestion. Keep in mind; this is not the same as the Western spleen. Its functions actually have a closer connection to the Western pancreas. IBS patients with a pattern of Spleen Qi deficiency will suffer from fatigue and diarrhea, which becomes worse when they are overexerting themselves. This is often accompanied by abdominal pain, which may be relieved by exerting pressure over the painful area. Patients may also have gas and bloating. Hemorrhoids are an additional indication of Spleen Qi deficiency. Acupuncture points are chosen which will help nourish the Spleen Qi. There are also specific techniques used in needling that strengthen the body when the patient is deficient. Another important part of treatment is the Chinese herbal formula. In Chinese herbalism, a group of herbs is combined together to specifically address a person’s unique constitution. This is one way in which treatment is very individualized — a master herbalist treats no two patients with the same combination of herbs. Most herbalists use a “classical formula” as a foundation. Many classical formulas written up to 2,000 years ago are still commonly used today. Groups of herbs can be added or taken out of classical formulas on order to customize them for patients. One classical formula used for Spleen Qi deficiency is called Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Ginseng and Astragalus Combination). By adding and subtracting herbs from this formula, it can be individualized to fit the precise needs of the patient.

Another pattern is Spleen Distressed by Dampness. In this pattern the patient may experience symptoms of nausea or heaviness. Bowel movements may feel incomplete, or the patient may even have constipation lined with mucus. This condition is often caused by eating too much fried or greasy food, but may also be caused by emotional factors such as over-thinking or over-worrying. Acupuncture points are chosen to nourish the Spleen and eliminate dampness. The classical herbal formula to address this pattern is called Shen Ling Bai Zhu San (Ginseng, Poria & Atractylodes Powder). Patients are additionally advised to keep a very clean diet. In Chinese medicine, dairy foods and excessive sugar intake create dampness, so these foods should be avoided altogether.

Other patterns include “Cold in the Spleen”, “Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency”, “Liver Qi Stagnation”, and “Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine”,

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is clearly a complicated illness in both Western and Chinese medicine. Its many manifestations require very different treatment approaches in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The patterns of disharmony mentioned above may even appear in combination and treatment must be adjusted appropriately. In any severe case of IBS, TCM treatment will be customized for the individual and classical herbal formulas will be modified for the patient.

An Australian study published in 1998 in the Journal of the American Medical Association lends strong scientific support to treating IBS with Chinese herbs. In this double-blind study, 116 patients with IBS were divided into three groups. One group was given a standard Chinese herbal preparation, a second group was given customized herbal formulas individually written for each patient, and a third group was given a placebo. Each patient had regular consultations with both a Chinese herbal-medicine practitioner and a gastroenterologist. Both groups taking the Chinese herbs showed significant improvement over the patients taking the placebo. Positive results were reported by both the patients themselves and the gastroenterologists. Although there was improvement in both groups of patients taking herbs, it is important to note that the positive effects were shown to last longer in the group that was given individualized formulas. This study clearly shows that Chinese herbalism is most effective when each patient is treated not only for their condition, but also for their bodily constitution and other presenting symptoms.

Alan Rivenson, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac.
Affordable Acupuncture
PO Box 298, Canaan, CT 06018
860-824-7727
ARivenson@att.net
www.BerkshireQi.com

Daily Column

DEAR DR. GOTT:
My name is Crystal and I am currently in school to become an acupunturest AC. D.O.M. (Doctor of Orientel Medicine) . I Have to say I was appaled by your news paper article. Just because you are uneducated about acupunture ,might I suggest not making any comments on a subject you know nothing about. And quiet frankly Dr. Gott there is all kind of scientific research available .
In fact if you where watching the Olympics as the hole world was on August 17,2008, their was a small piece on acupunture you might have been interested in .
Then again you are a Doctor in a box, as per usual to the stereo type of Doctor , than when you can’t think out side the box , your patients come looking for an acupunturest, thanks for the business.
I think you are one of the dumbest DR.’s I have ever come across, And I meet alot of doctors I work in an E.R. [Read more...]

Acupuncture and artery disease

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have severe renal artery stenosis on my right side. I’m a 73-year-old male and have a history of heart bypass surgery.

Would acupuncture be an effective treatment or at least worth a try in your opinion, or are my thoughts misdirected?

DEAR READER: If you are in pain, this alternative form of therapy might help, but acupuncture is not ordinarily a consideration for treatment of arterial blockage (stenosis) or heart disease. Without knowing more about you, I can only recommend you speak with your primary care physician or cardiologist. They both should have your complete medical history and can better direct you.