Acupuncture Provides Relief for COPD Sufferers

New acupuncture research offers promising results for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In a small (68 subjects) study, patients who suffered with COPD, were treated with acupuncture along with their meds. At the end of 3 months, the group that received acupuncture were able to walk further, reported improvements in the quality of their lives, and were able to

Acupuncture Before Or After Abdominal Surgery Reduces Pain

Several studies appearing in different, reputable journals conclude that acupuncture, either pre-op or post-op reduces pain following gynecologic and abdominal surgeries. This is particularly good news when we consider how rapidly patients are discharged from hospitals. To read more about this research check out HealthCMI's article here.

Electroacupuncture Fights Disease with Highest Burden -> Depression

Electroacupuncture is the use of electric stimulation on selected acupuncture points where needles have been carefully inserted. I use these technique in my Chicago acupuncture practice and have found it to be helpful. Now, a study has just come from the School of  Chinese Medicine, University of Hong Kong where researchers used electroacupuncture to stimulate seven points on the heads of 73 

Sinus Infections -> Antibiotics 0, Acupuncture 1

Walking out of a doctor's office with a prescription for antibiotics used to be as expectable as walking out of 31 Flavors with a double scoop of ice cream. No longer true. Antibiotics are being used more carefully these days, especially for sinus infections, 98% of which are viral not bacterial. A study in The Archives of Otolaryngology has found that acupuncture, acupressure and dietary changes

New Study Finds Acupuncture Can Help Stroke Recovery

Here is a brand new finding for acupuncture and the brain!  A Chinese study has reported that acupuncture has been effective in regenerating nerves in the brain following a stroke due to cerebral ischemia (restricted blood flow to the brain). Acupuncture was able to promote more neural stem cells in the brain and aid differentiation of neural stem cells. Learn more here.

Acupuncture Enhances the Effectiveness of Standard Therapies

Many people think about coming into my Chicago acupuncture practice just to get an acupuncture treatment.  Very often, that is the answer. Sometimes, it is half the answer.  Acupuncture has been found to be very useful when used in conjunction with other treatments, such as women undergoing fertility treatments or individuals trying to manage pain.  Acupuncture makes those treatments more

New Study Looks at How Acupuncture Helps Menstruation and PCOS

For many women who suffer with menstrual problems and/or PCOS, you may have already discovered the benefits of acupuncture. But, why does acupuncture work? Now, a new study has found that acupuncture normalizes estrogen activity, decreases androgens, and influences changes in the hypothalamus region of the brain.  To read more about this study click here.

For Geeks (and others) with Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

Last month, I posted (with affection) information that I thought would be especially helpful to Computer geeks with carpal tunnel.  Today, I have a study about acupuncture that you will like even better. This published study used randomized controls - an experimental design that you math and science types appreciate.  The acupuncture treatment group  received 8 acupuncture treatments and night 

More Research Shows Acupuncture Improves Pregnancy & Live Birth Rates For Couples Using IVF

The studies about acupuncture's effectiveness in improving pregnancy rates continue to emerge. The newest one that I just read concludes that acupuncture  improves clinical pregnancy rates and live birth rates for women  receiving IVF (in vitro fertilization). In another, live births  significantly increased when acupuncture was administered near the time  of either oocyte aspiration or

Acupuncture Can Relieve Both Chronic and Acute Headaches

Headaches are a common problem that bring people into my Chicago acupuncture office. Several million people suffer from severe headaches/migraines and it is an increasingly popular reason to seek acupuncture treatment - with good reason. Acupuncture is effective at treating all types of headaches, both acute and chronic. This includes tension headaches, sinus headaches, hormonal headaches and

Are You A Computer Geek Who Needs Acupuncture?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is common, especially among people who spend a lot of time working on their computers. Daily long hours at your computer can cause new health problems and exacerbate existing ones. Some common problems that computer geeks (I use that term lovingly since I am also on my computer a lot) experience include: eye strain, neck, back and wrist pain, anxiety, and carpal tunnel

New Acupuncture Research -> Rats Experience Stress Reduction

With more research on acupuncture, the evidence of it's ability to reduce stress grows. Scientists at Georgetown University Medical Center have concluded that "acupuncture reduces the levels of a protein-like substance in rats linked to chronic stress."

The implications are wonderful; it could mean advances in treating stress with acupuncture. As I learn more about this protein-like substance,

Acupuncture, Anxiety and Memory

Anyone who has ever experienced a situation of high anxiety (think public speaking, important test, new social situation) knows that memory slips away. The answers to the test disappear, people's names fade, and memorized speeches are forgotten. As anxiety goes up, memory goes down. A new study has reported that acupuncture can help memory in situations of stress. To read the report, click here.

Children and Acupuncture

One question that I am asked occasionally is, "Is acupuncture safe for children?" The simple answer is 'yes', but you certainly want to take your child (and yourself) to a well trained practitioner and someone who has experience working with children.

Here is a small study that examined acupuncture with children, investigated the cases in which the treatment did not work, and concluded that

Understanding Acupuncture From A Western Point Of View

We all try to understand new concepts by trying to fit these novel ideas into our existing mental framework. Sometimes, this does not work. For some people acupuncture is one of the treatments that doesn't easily fit into ideas we already own. During my first year of graduate school, I remember struggling with trying to understand acupuncture from a Western point of view; then I surrendered and

Electro-Acupuncture to Treat Parkinson's disease

Here is an interesting study from China that reports electro-acupuncture, on the acupuncture points Spleen 6 and Stomach 36, has a neuroprotective effect on the brain because it is antioxidant. This is particularly useful in treating Parkinson's because evidence shows that oxidative stress contributes to the progression of Parkinson’s disease.  Read more here.

Acupuncture Increases Blood Flow to the Brain

Acupuncture increases blood flow to the brain without raising arterial blood pressure or pulse rate. A new study, recently published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine  reports that  using acupuncture to increase blood flow to the brain has good implications for the treatment of  dizziness, hypertension, hypotension, deficient memory, ear ringing (tinnitus), headaches,

Yale Study: Acupuncture Reduced Hot Flashes By 30%

A Yale University/University of Pittsburg study of women with hot flashes brought on by conventional breast cancer treatment reveals that women who received acupuncture had a 30% reduction in hot flashes. You can read more about the randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial  by clicking here.

Want More? I Am Also Blogging About Chinese Medicine On Tree.com

I've been blogging for about 3 years now and loving the opportunity to share ideas from Traditional Chinese Medicine. I also have found that  blogging has encouraged me to stay very up-to-date about research and the practice of acupuncture and herbs.  Just recently, in addition to this blog, I've become a blogger for the Tree.com Health & Wellness channel.  I'm delighted that my posts for Tree

New Research Reports: Acupuncture Can Benefit Women With PCOS

By Cathy Margolin L.A.c.

A recently published study in the American Journal of Physiology – Endocrinology and Metabolism concluded that low frequency electro-acupuncture improved menstrual frequency and balanced sex steroid levels in women with PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea are common problems associated with PCOS. The study measured that