Insomnia Treatment and Health Care

Posts Tagged ‘Acupuncture’

The practice of acupuncture relies heavily on intuition and the relationship between the practitioner and patient. That is why their effectiveness is variable, because two cases which may be identical to a doctor, are completely different to an acupuncturist.

This does not mean that one of them is in error, but pay attention to different phenomena. A doctor looks for symptoms while a traditional doctor is interested in the welfare of the person.

This may be one reason why a study at the University of Hong Konk in April 2011 concluded that the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating insomnia is irregular, compared with the tablets.

However, the study recognizes that people treated with acupuncture, acupressure or electrical stimulation of the meridians had better sleep quality than those given placebos or no treatment.

In general, there is no certainty that acupuncture solve the problems of sleeplessness.

Some proponents of acupuncture say that China-based therapy in needles, can help treat hay fever and hay fever. Although scientists have yet to confirm the effectiveness of acupuncture for the relief of allergy , several studies have shown that acupuncture may be beneficial for people with allergies .

In people with allergies seasonal produce an immune system overreacts to normally harmless substances like pollen from plants. Acupuncture, which involves inserting fine needles into specific body points, is to regulate the immune response to allergens. By stimulating these points, the acupuncturist unblocks the flow of vital energy in the body and restore balance to the immune system and the entire body.

Does acupuncture really work for allergies?
In a report published in 2009, scientists reviewed 12 trials and found that acupuncture has not demonstrated superiority over placebo in the treatment of seasonal allergies. In a review published last year, researchers found “sufficient evidence to support or refute the use of acupuncture in patients with rhinitis allergic”. Read the rest of this entry »

Evolution and development of acupuncture
With this work we intend to review, briefly and concisely the historical evolution and development of acupuncture. From the mythical origins to the present, from pre-scientific explanations that explained how they function and neurochemical theories that are opening hole to back up their therapeutic actions. The reason for the choice of subject is related to our own positive experience as patients and for lived, in some cases, his practice in the family. chose individualize acupuncture and traditional medicine in China because it is a technique, only treatment that can be separated from the doctrinal body of theoretical and Chinese medical system because, our opinion, is more scientific approach easy for the rest of the medical system.

Indeed all this accumulated knowledge to develop a true system allows caregivers, pathogenesis, clinical (an extremely precise semiology), diagnostic procedures, and so on. But as these, while interesting, are hardly affordable sometimes with scientific methodology, therapeutic techniques, especially acupuncture is relatively easy to verify. As a good medical system has different therapeutic techniques, both therapeutic and preventive as well as all systems that are related to natural medicine, there is a group of therapeutic techniques that are implemented by the therapist and other group which is given the responsibility for your health to the patient.

In the first group of techniques, which are prescribed and conducted by the therapist are particularly relevant:
1. Acupuncture and moxibustion.
2. Pharmacotherapy China (not only herbal remedies).
3. Massage therapy techniques (Tui-Na, An-Mo).
In the second group, which require a willingness by the patient:
1. Dietary and healthy lifestyle.
2. Exercises spiritual and bodily expression as Qicong concentration (Chi Kun) and Taijiquan (Tai Chi). Read the rest of this entry »

Acupuncture is a therapy that is part of traditional Chinese medicine in which thin needles are used to stimulate points on the body.

What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a fundamental technique in the Chinese medical system. By inserting needles at precise points, helps to rebalance the energy system-vital. These points are located in a series of channels or “meridians,” ten basic (corresponding to the five viscera organs and five blocks), through which vital energy is distributed or “chi” throughout the body.

Each of these points have some specific applications based on three principles: rebalance, stimulate or sedate, the flow of life. The most important points, those that regulate energy fund, are placed elbows to fingers, forearms, knees and feet in the leg. Read the rest of this entry »

Background
Acupuncture is often used for prophylaxis of tension-type headaches, but its effectiveness remains controversial. This study (along with a review of “Acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis”) represents an updated version of the Cochrane review first published in number 1, 2001, the Cochrane Library .

Objectives
To investigate whether acupuncture is a) more effective than just prophylactic treatment or care that the simple standard of care, b) more effective than sham acupuncture or use of placebo, and c) as effective as other interventions in reducing the frequency of headache in patients with headache or chronic tension-type episodes.

Search strategy

We used the major databases among which: The Cochrane Pain, Palliative & Supportive Care Trials Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Complementary Medicine Field Trials . The review study began in January 2008.

Selection criteria

Randomised trials randomized after an observation period of at least 8 weeks comparing the clinical effects of acupuncture with a control intervention (acute treatment of headaches or usual care only), an intervention sham acupuncture or other interventions in patients with type headache, episodic or chronic tension.

Data collection and analysis

Two reviewers checked eligibility; extracted information on patients, interventions, methods and results, and assessed risk of bias and the quality of the acupuncture intervention. Extracted results included in the responses (at least 50% reduction in headache frequency, results of primary interest), days of headache, pain intensity and analgesic use.

Main results
Eleven trials with 2317 participants (median 62, range 10 to 1265) met the inclusion criteria. Two large trials compared acupuncture to treat acute headaches or routine care only. Both found statistically significant and clinically relevant short-term (up to 3 months) the benefits of acupuncture in controlling the response, the number of days of headache and pain intensity. The long-term (beyond 3 months) were investigated.

Six trials compared acupuncture with sham acupuncture intervention, and five of the six provided data for meta-analysis. We found small but statistically significant benefit of acupuncture over sham acupuncture for the response, as well as several other results. Three of the four trials comparing acupuncture with physiotherapy, massage or relaxation had major methodological flaws or reporting. Their results were difficult to interpret, but together they suggest slightly better than some results in the control groups.

Conclusions
In the previous version of this review, evidence supporting acupuncture for headache tension-type were considered insufficient. Now, with six additional tests, the authors concluded that acupuncture could be a valuable non-pharmacological tool in patients with frequent episodes of pain or chronic tension-type headache.

The laser acupuncture is a relatively new method, which generally uses a laser with low energy beams instead of the traditional needle acupuncture to influence the current flow of the acupuncture points. Beyond the conventional medicine, acupuncture, laser is usually the preferred method for the effective treatment of painful disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, arthritis of the knee and chronic headaches in children. Most practitioners of laser acupuncture have a deep knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine, and a clear understanding of the acupuncture points.

An acupuncturist laser typically has a beam of laser light on an acupoint, stimulating the acupuncture needles do. During the laser acupuncture procedure, a doctor may have a constant beam in an acupuncture point for a period that can range from ten seconds to a maximum of two minutes. The length of the beam usually depends on the amount of tissue that the laser must penetrate, and the power that acupuncturist must apply at one point. Sometimes a doctor may also use invisible infrared lasers.

Acupuncture laser is mainly used for two purposes: to produce an anesthetic effect and the stimulation of acupuncture points in a treatment program. The procedure has some advantages over traditional needle method. Many patients are afraid of needles, such as children, prefer laser acupuncture. The use of a laser makes it a general non-invasive, and a sterile procedure, which significantly reduces pain and recovery associated with invasive treatments. In general, laser acupuncture can treat the same problems as the acupuncture needles.

While alternative therapies laser reduces patient trauma and are usually a good option for treatment, there are also testimonies to acupuncture where they state that the risk of cross infection is high, the efficacy of this treatment is often limited to peripheral points. The acupressure points in the hands of a patient, feet and ears often respond to laser acupuncture. the deepest points as the abs do not usually benefit from treatment, since most of the lasers used can not penetrate beyond the 0.19 inch (5 mm).

It is a therapy that has more than 5000 years of evolution. Throughout history, has been used successfully in millions.
The oldest book of medicine on earth and yet oddly today is SO NEI JIN WEN, a book that was written around 2500 BC. It seems that he is a most ancient collection of books on the subject. The picture you see next is the first page of a modern edition of this book.

Acupuncture was used not only in China but in all realms of influence, such as Japan, Korea, Vietnam, etc. And since the seventeenth century in the West.
Naturally, in all times and in every country, every year invent dozens of healing techniques and endure only those with a real and proven utility, the rest forgotten.

Acupuncture serves humanity for over 5000 years, being re-enacted and refined in each time.

Across Europe, taught at universities in many countries SeguridadSocial enters, or is recognized by the state.

Finally, the most reluctant to accept new therapies, the DFA U.S. government, made an experience to test the effectiveness of this therapy. In “The Country” 10/11/97 on page 33, as the title reads: “The U.S. health official blessing to acupuncture.” An article that describes, as finally and after much hesitation, a group of 12 researchers from the National Institute of Health found that acupuncture is really effective, and soon decided that would be reimbursed treatments performed with this technique.

Anxiety is a state of apprehension or fear. The cause of this uneasiness is not always known or recognized, which can increase the distress you feel.
Normally, the cause of anxiety, stress often comes from that although it is a normal part of life of all individuals and at low levels is good, and motivating and can help people be more productive. However, excessive stress or a strong response to stress is harmful. This may predispose us to have a poor general health, like physical and psychological illnesses such as depression or anxiety. The persistent stress often this leads to anxiety and unhealthy behaviors like overeating, consuming alcohol or drugs or lead to a state of waking dream in which will lead to insomnia.

To determine whether our lack of sleep, is caused by anxiety, other symptoms can be observed, such as:

• Frequent headaches.
• Dizziness and irregular heartbeat.
• Sweating and dry mouth.
• Tiredness and irritability.
• Lack of concentration.
• Sexual problems.

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Insomnia can be treated, and is likely to get back to your sleep routine every night and feel refreshed and able to work again like everyone else. However, most drugs on the market today create dependency and, therefore, it is possible that you will never sleep without taking a pill first.
Before starting any treatment with pills, let’s hand to medicinal plants such as lemon balm, lemon blossom, passionflower, hawthorn, lime, or lemon balm, among others can help improve sleep quality as they have mild tranquilizing effects and at all we would create dependency.
The form can be found in dry plant for tea, as a tincture (drops) dissolved in drinking some water or even come as capsules or tablets combined in the latter case.

If relief does not notice the plants, we can try acupuncture. Acupuncture is an ancient Oriental technique, so it is sufficiently proven its effectiveness, and every day there are more people concerned with it. The goal of acupuncture is to restore the balance of life energy that acts freely throughout the body, is used for healing and relief of many illnesses and states of psychological disturbance, such as anxiety, agitation and sleep disturbances

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