Acupuncture for asthma may sound like an odd combination. One is a common disease that affects approximately 20 million Americans; the other is a mysterious, esoteric, alternative medicine technique. Lots of people have asthma, but not many people have tried acupuncture.

But if you are an asthma sufferer, it can seem at times that anything – even something as mysterious as acupuncture – is worth trying. Breathing is something that most us never think about. It’s an unconscious process and unless we’re ill, we easily get the oxygen we need. But for people with asthma, breathing is always on their minds. There is always the chance that an asthma attack will leave them gasping for air. Sometime these attacks are predictable and sometimes they are not, sometimes they are minor and easily handled at home, and sometimes asthma suffers end up in an emergency room. It’s no wonder that some asthma sufferers have turned to acupuncture for asthma.

Asthma is a chronic disease with no cure. There are different types of asthma, but they all produce the same signs and symptoms rapid breathing, sweating, rapid heartbeat, and the uncomfortable sensation of suffocation. The exact cause of asthma is not known there may be a genetic factor at work, but there is no doubt that environmental factors – cold, dust, pollution, etc – trigger the attacks. During the attacks, inflammation and constriction of the respiratory passages limit the amount of air that can be inhaled, the attacks can last for minutes or hours and as mentioned earlier, there is no cure. But although there is no cure, there are constant efforts to find new methods of treatment, and there are practitioners and patients who believe that acupuncture for asthma is the answer.

Acupuncture the word comes from the Latin words acus, meaning needle, and pungere, meaning to puncture is a very old system of medicine. It is not clear where acupuncture originates from, but it has been most closely associated with China. In acupuncture, very narrow needles are inserted into the skin just barely penetrating the surface at certain key points in the body. The needles are said to correct a disharmony in the flow of energy through the body, a disharmony that is said to be the cause of disease. Traditional, Western medicine has several theories about how acupuncture works e.g., it may stimulate the release of natural pain relievers, endorphins but has not yet completely explained how acupuncture.

Of course, the big question is, does acupuncture work? And can acupuncture successfully treat asthma? Well, not unlike the search for an explanation for how asthma works, the answers are not clear – and they depend on whom you ask. According to traditional acupuncturists, yes, acupuncture for asthma is an effective treatment, especially with asthma in young children. There are dozens of websites and thousands of testimonials that all attest to the effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for asthma. Acupuncture, they say, has worked where nothing else has.

But ask the same question – does acupuncture for asthma work – of doctors and scientists who have been trained in traditional, Western medicine and scientific methodology, and the answer will be quite different. Acupuncture, they say, is as interesting phenomenon, but the question of how it works is less important than the question does it work, and their answer to that is no. There is no conclusive evidence that acupuncture for asthma works, and a review of the scientific studies that have attempted to answer this question have not proven acupuncture to be a viable technique for treating asthma. If there are reports that it works, these can be explained by the placebo effect The placebo effect states that medications or medical techniques procedures may be perceived by the patient as effective because they believe they are effective, but there is no measurable effect.

So can acupuncture truly help someone who suffers from asthma? That seems to depend on your point of view. If you feel that illness is caused by disruption in energy flow and you are convinced by anecdotal reports, the only reasonable answer is try it and find out. Acupuncture for asthma is very safe; serious adverse effects are very rare. But if you are the type of person who needs proof in the traditional sense, it may make more sense to stick with the medicationstherapies you are taking and wait for solid evidence that acupuncture can help treat your asthma.

Getting pregnant can be a big problem for a lot of couples. Some of these couples use the latest technology the modern medicine has offered. According to the National Women’s Health Resource Center NWHRC, five percent of infertility treatments involve in vitro fertilization IVF or other kinds of assisted reproductive technologies. It is a method in which a laboratory is used to try to help a couple become pregnant. More than 70,000 babies have been born in the United States using assisted reproductive technologies, including 45,000 born as a result of in vitro fertilization. IVF makes pregnancy possible for more than half of the couples who pursue treatment.

Techniques like IVF have been in use since the 1970s, but they are still something of an inexact or inaccurate science. The success rates for each therapy range from as low as 1 to as high as 50, and a successful pregnancy depends on a variety of factors. It can include the age of the woman, the cause of infertility, and the skill of the technician performing the procedure.

But there is another procedure for aiding pregnancy that has been in use since the ancient times. Although modern medical science has failed to conclusively explain just how it works, acupuncture is said to be a an effective method for helping a couple to have a baby. Acupuncture is based in the Chinese belief that a balance in the energy flow known as qi and chi through the body is needed in order to stay healthy. When a blockage or imbalance occurs in that flow, one’s health is negatively affected. There are 20 major pathways that qi is believed to travel along and these pathways, or meridians, are accessible through 400 different acupuncture points.

Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicines believe that a variety of energy patterns can interfere with becoming pregnant. Acupuncture works in the treatment of infertility by increasing the production of endorphins in the brain, which then helps people de-stress and relax. The traditional treatment can help stabilize hormone levels of a couple trying to have a baby. This can lead to an increase in sperm production for men and the improvement of blood supply in the uterus and the ovaries among women. Doctors believe that integrating acupuncture, at least, helps relieve some stress and anxiety suffered by patients struggling with infertility.

Acupuncture can be used in combination with other Western Medicine treatments for infertility. Acupuncturist Jin Jin Hua claims that the 4,000-year-old practice of using hair-thin needles to penetrate and stimulate organs can work alongside IVF to create a successful pregnancy. It has a surprising success rate of sixty percent among infertile women. And there is some scientific evidence to back this up, said Ms Jin. A German study published in April 2002 showed that 42.5 per cent of women who underwent acupuncture, once before and once after the transfer of the embryos in the uterus, became pregnant.

Moreover acupuncture has helped a lot of women as it has shown promising results in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome in regulating their periods. In another study, almost all women suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome who undergone acupuncture had their periods regulated.

Acupuncture provides a holistic and a noninvasive approach to reverse infertility, and this traditional method has helped a lot of couples. Soon, getting pregnant will never be a problem, all it takes are some needles with a pinch of a balanced and positive outlook in life.

Almost everyone of us have been pricked by this tiny metallic thing called needles. These are the ones used by our grandmothers for stitching or sewing. But more often than not, this pointed little thing is usually used in hospitals for almost everything, like getting blood samples, injecting liquid medications, and so on. It is that thing that most of us are so afraid to even look at. Although, a lot of people fear them, needles for some are beneficial, especially when used right.
A lot of people have tried this ancient medication using hair like thin needles, and research have shown that it’s popularity is continually increasing. Acupuncture is a safe and effective natural therapy that is used to heal illness, prevent disease and improve well-being. Tiny, hair-thin needles are inserted into specific points in the body, where they are gently stimulated to trigger the body’s natural healing response.
The use of acupuncture can be traced back as far as the Stone Age in China. It was during the time when stone knives and pointed rocks were used to relieve pain and diseases. These instruments were known by the ancients as “bian.” In the Han Dynasty 206 BC to 220 AD an Analytical Dictionary of Characters “Shuo Wen Jie Zi” describes the character “bian”, meaning a stone to treat disease. Later these stones were replaced by needles made of bamboo and slivers of animal bone. During the Shang Dynasty, bronze casting techniques made metal needles possible, which conducted electricity and qi which led to the mapping of the meridian system or channels of energy within the body.
According to traditional acupuncture theory, there are twelve energy channels called meridians running vertically along the length of the human body, each one linking to a specific organ. The theory believes that illnesses are caused by obstructed energy flow at certain points along the meridians and acupuncture therapy stimulates meridian flow. It harmonizes the body’s energy to influence the health of both body and mind.
Acupuncture gained popularity and recognition in the United States when media followed President Richard Nixon visit to China in 1974. Representatives of major US news networks witnessed and reported on several demonstrations of serious surgeries being performed with acupuncture as the only anesthetic. While these demonstrations didn’t teach the American public how Acupuncture works, it did make the term a household word and drove millions of people into clinics for treatments when conventional medicine failed.
Acupuncture has become an increasingly popular alternative therapy for a wide variety of ills in the United States and other Western nations in the last 25 years. Acupuncture is practiced legally in most European countries and in the majority of states in the U.S. Countries such as Japan and China, which make up about a fifth of the world’s population, established acupuncture as a primary form of health care for thousands of years. Acupuncturists in these countries were comparable to that of the physician. Today, acupuncture treatment remains an integral component of the health care system of these two countries, offered with a combination of Western medicine.
Acupuncture can relieve a person from illnesses and discomforts such as headaches, neck pains, allergies, arthritis, digestive problems, painful menstruation and can even treat some causes of infertility. It is said that acupuncture can increase blood flow to the endometrium on women, helping to facilitate a thick, rich lining.
Function-related infertility is very often related to stress. This may be the reason that infertility seems to be extremely common in women who work in stressful office environments. Acupuncture is very beneficial for decreasing excess tension in the body by balancing the autonomic nervous system. There are some evidences that acupuncture increases the production of endorphins, or brain chemicals that make you feel good and help reduce stress.
Although there are minimal risks when using acupuncture for fertility treatment, there is a risk of miscarriage if incorrect acupuncture points are used when a woman is pregnant. This is one reason why those wishing to include acupuncture in their treatment regimen should only be treated by a certified acupuncturist who specializes in treating fertility disorders. In most states in the U.S., acupuncture is a licensed profession. You can visit www.nccaom.org to find a licensed and Board certified acupuncturist in your area. For couples who has fertility problems, going to an acupuncturist will definitely save them more money, since acupuncture is less expensive than intrauterine insemination which can cost hundreds of dollars and a single cycle of In Vitro Fertilization IVF can cost 10,000-20,000.
Acupuncture has made wonders for a thousand years now and this phenomenon is still evident even in the modern world where technology seems to never stop exploring and inventing cures for illnesses. Acupuncture is one alternative medication that has helped a lot of people in more ways than they can ever think of. Now, are you still afraid of needles?

In the US alone, thousands of people suffer from mild to severe case of migraine attacks. Migraine, which is a known neurological disease, may most likely develop from a simple everyday nuisance to a serious life-threatening experience. Since treatments for migraine headache are very costly, very few individuals consult their condition to a doctor. There are a number of recognized causes of migraine. According to experts, migraine may be triggered by the following factors
1.Loud noises and bright lights
2.Abrupt changes in sleeping patterns
3.Too much consumption of caffeine and alcohol
4.Fluctuations in menstrual cycle
5.Too much smoking
6.Allergic reactions
7.Emotional and physical stress
8.Changes in weather
However, there are times when a migraine occurs for no reason at all. With this, experts presuppose that migraine triggers most when one is exposed to a number of environment-related factors. Doctors always advise their patients to keep a note of their headache and migraine attacks, thus, making it easier for them to identify which factors commonly trigger the painful attacks. This will also help patients differentiate simple headaches from serious migraine condition.Many people often falsely refer headache as migraine. The truth is that migraine is not just a headache. Unlike the simple headache that can be easily cured by taking medications, migraine requires consultation to a neurologist followed by a series of treatment. Majority of the recommended treatments, however, are not entirely effective.

Differentiate migraine from headache Know the indicatorsAs stated earlier, many individuals confuse migraine from a bad headache. To know if what you have is already a serious migraine condition, the following are the three indicators to consider
1.A feeling of nausea
It is no longer a mere headache if you constantly feel nauseated. Most of the time you will feel a wave of nausea, but sometimes it goes with vomiting. Changes in body temperature coincides with this condition.
2.Unbearable pain
Another indication of migraine is the re-occurring pain on either the left or right side of the brain. The pain often starts in the eyes then goes down to the neck.
3.Visual defects
You will know if it is already a serious case of migraine when you are experiencing visual disturbances. If your eyes become overly sensitive to light; you often see flashing lights before you; or you somehow develop temporary blindness, now is the time for you to visit a neurologist to confirm your condition.
Most of the conventional treatments for migraines are not 100 percent effective. As such, many individuals suffering from migraine attacks resort to alternative cures. One of the known alternative treatments is the acupuncture, which helps prevent headache from further developing. While some make use of relieving scents and incense, others believe that sleep is the best solution for migraine. Since migraine attacks usually follow a series of pattern, doctors always advice patients to avoid interrupting the cycle by not taking any painkiller or other relieving treatment. Ignoring the pain is more likely to lessen the duration of the attack.

All women eventually experience the ending of their reproductive years as their menstrual cycle ceases. The hormonal changes that occur at this time can cause many different types of discomfort when our bodies are not in balance. Some problems women deal with at this time include hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, vaginal dryness, headaches, and stress. There has been much discussion lately about the use of soy products to ease the symptoms related to menopause. Soy contains phytoestrogens that are help to alleviate symptoms related to the drop in estrogen that a womans body experiences at this time.

In addition to supplementation with soy, there are many ways to balance the body and reduce discomfort during this natural change. In Chinese Medicine, the symptoms associated with menopause are considered to be a result of a decline in the yin energy of the body. Yin is the feminine, nourishing, fluidic, structural energy of the body. In this way, it is closely related to the feminine hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. The bone loss that some women experience at this time would also be related to yin deficiency and to deficiency of the Kidney in Chinese Medicine. The Kidney in Chinese Medicine relates to the health of the bones.

While many women seek out hormone supplementation, use of acupuncture and herbs along with lifestyle and dietary changes can alleviate menopausal symptoms naturally. One herbal remedy that Chinese Medicine practitioners often use for symptoms such as night sweats, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness is called Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, or Six Flavor Tea, which contains rehmannia, cornus, Chinese wild yam, moutan bark, poria, and alisma. These herbs are not commonly known here in the West, but this formulas function is to moisten the body and nourish yin. These herbs may also have phytoestrogenic properties. The herb, vitex agnus castus, or chasteberry can also be useful for reducing discomfort. Acupuncture is also used to treat the symptoms associated with menopause. Two commonly used points are Spleen 6, which is three finger lengths above the inside of the ankle, and Kidney 6, which is directly below the bump on the interior side of the ankle.

In addition to acupuncture and herbs, certain nutritional and lifestyle changes are very useful. Certain healthy oils, such as evening primrose oil and flaxseed oil, which contain essential fatty acids can help to alleviate the symptoms of menopause. It is also crucial to eat healthy food and reduce stress during this time in a womans life, and if possible, in the years leading up to this change. All of these natural remedies may help ease the symptoms of menopause naturally without the side effects of hormone supplementation.