Migraine headache is a fairly common condition afflicting more than twice the amount of women than men and research is showing that the number of incidences is increasing in these stressful times.  A migraine usually affects one side of the head, causing an intense throbbing or pulsing and is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Some migraines are preceded by sensory warnings like flashes of light, blind spots, or tingling on the arms or legs. For some, the pain is so debilitating that normal social functioning is a challenge and missed work is a common occurrence.

For the symptomatic treatment of migraines, western medicine (a.k.a. allopathic medicine) has non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), ergot alkaloids, serotonin agonists, and opioid analgesics, just to name a few. Many of the serious side effects of some of these drugs have led patients and doctors alike to seek alternative cures.

Much research has been done on acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of migraines. One research purports “acupuncture treatment led to significant clinical reduction in both migraine frequency and intensity.” While another reads “Acupuncture leads to persisting, clinically relevant benefits for primary care patients with chronic headache, particularly migraine.”

An abstract from The Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry titled Acupuncture Versus Medical Treatment for Migraine and Muscle Tension Headaches claims “Twenty-four of 41 patients improved on acupuncture, the improvement being very marked in nine; nine of 36 patients improved on medical treatment, the improvement being marked in three.” The combination of acupuncture and western medicine means that the need for potentially harmful pharmaceuticals may be dramatically reduced; hence some undesired side effects may be avoided. But the goal of your acupuncturist, of course, is to free you from the need for these drugs entirely.

In Chinese Medicine your migraine is a symptom (a branch) of a deeper problem (the root). With acupuncture and herbs your acupuncturist addresses both the branch and the root. It’s a good thing to put a bucket under a leaking roof. It’s even better overall to patch the roof once the rain has stopped.

As many of us are able to attest to, our region of Texas is known as one of the worst areas for seasonal allergies. Austin wins the not-so-distinguished award as the 4th worst capitol in the country for fall allergies. Never mind winter allergies like the dreaded Cedar Fever, fast approaching!

Most of us buck up and brace ourselves for the inevitable coming season. Our eyes water just thinking of what’s in store for us in only a few months, sometimes wishing we could board up our homes and padlock our nasal passages. Then we ride out the season with limited artillery that carry with it side effects rivaling the allergy symptoms themselves.

In Chinese medicine the very best time to start treating for allergies is before they even happen! More specifically, the best time to treat is the season before the onslaught. The intention is to identify any imbalances in the general constitution of the patient and restore them back to balance so that their bodies are resilient, strong, and prepared to endure the deluge of their dreaded allergen when it inevitably becomes airborne.

Your Acupuncturist will most likely use Chinese herbs in addition to the acupuncture to fortify the body in preparation for the approaching season. Both the herbs and the acupuncture points used will change slightly once the actual season begins. The art of Chinese medicine is its ability to assess the process of a disease or condition and guide the body toward a preferred state of equilibrium. It is not the disease or disorder your practitioner is treating. It is your unique being that they are working with. The body has infinite capacity to heal itself and your acupuncturist is tapping into that river of knowledge, reminding your own body of what it already knows.

We are not immune from the processes of nature, regardless of how we are living our lives. The seasons affect us not only in weather or as witness to the passing of time, but also in matters of health. There are subtle patterns that we can be more prepared to deal with if we simply remember the past while using both foresight and preparation for the future.

At one point or another we’ve all had neck pain: strained neck, sprained neck, stiff neck, etc. Most of these pains resolve with time and rest. Then we get back to our daily lives, easily forgetting those few days of discomfort.

For some, however, their neck pain is what they think of most every moment of every day. Finding relief for these people is often challenging and getting an accurate diagnosis is equally difficult. There are several orthopedic tests that can indicate to a practitioner where the pain is emanating from and educated guesses may be made as to the actual cause. X-Rays, MRI’s and CT Scans can help identify what is actually going on within the neck, yet many folks cannot afford these out of pocket or cannot get coverage with their insurance.

Possible causes of neck pain (aside from muscle strain or sprain) can be cervical spondylosis, stenosis, spondylolisthesis, herniated or ruptured disc, spinal tumors, degenerated discs, etc. In any of these cases there is typically a force being applied to a nerve root in the neck creating the pain sensation (radiculopathy). Often times, the pain from the nerve compression is not felt solely in the neck, but is also felt in areas such as the shoulder or down the arm. This type of pain is “radiating” from the neck and is traveling down the nerve pathway. Ouch!

Several research trials show acupuncture to be more effective than conventional care in the treatment of neck pain. Patients at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, for example, found acupuncture more effective than physical therapy, analgesics or anti-inflammatory medicine for their post-surgical neck pain.

Can acupuncture help to relieve your neck pain? Research shows it very well could. Should you try acupuncture for your neck pain? Absolutely, you should. Your acupuncturist will ask you a series of questions and may perform orthopedic tests in order to pinpoint the source of your pain. In addition to acupuncture they may also use heat therapy, cupping, or Tuina (a form of body work). Your acupuncturist will work closely with you in order to find a plan that works best for you.

We’ve all seen the images on the television screen: a group of people, usually in a park or outdoors somewhere, moving in unison in a beautiful, slow, rhythmic, dance-like pattern. They each have a calm, serene look on their face and, instinctively, we think “I want to do that!”

The initial appeal of Tai Chi (a.k.a. Tai Chi Chuan or Taijiquan) is the grace and beauty that one experiences simply through observing it. The second appeal is that it actually looks do-able. And it is! Tai Chi is recommended for all ages because of its slow, rounded, gentle movements. Though it is actually a martial art, few teachers choose to focus on this aspect, preferring instead to highlight the health benefits… of which there are many.

The history of Tai Chi, like so many things Chinese, is steeped in myth, mystery and legend. Some believe its origins began with a man named Chang San Feng in the 13th century after he witnessed a battle between a snake and a crane. In awe of the soft, spiraling movements the snake used to evade capture, Chang was inspired to create a form of defense using those same principles.

Tai Chi is looked upon kindly by health practitioners of all kinds. Much research has been performed on the benefits of Tai Chi and the results are nearly always favorable. Some known benefits include improved flexibility, balance control, cardiovascular fitness, reduced blood pressure, and pain control. Tai chi has been known to reduce the risk of falls in the elderly and to reduce the symptoms of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder. Patients with Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Fibromyalgia have been shown to benefit from this ancient art form. Known as a “moving meditation” Tai Chi is also known as an exercise that improves one’s sense of well-being and may be used for certain forms of depression.

So, “Why Tai Chi”? Considering the information we have on the benefits of the art, and knowing what we know about the preventative qualities of any form of exercise, the question really becomes “Why not Tai Chi?”

Peripheral Neuropathy is a condition that affects the nerves of the body, especially those of the legs and feet. The symptoms can be particularly painful and may include numbness, weakness, burning sensations and loss of reflexes. There are many causes of Peripheral Neuropathy including, but not limited to, diabetes, HIV, alcoholism, vitamin deficiencies, and side effects to drugs such as statins and chemotherapy.

Western medicine treats the underlying condition resulting in the Peripheral Neuropathy (like Diabetes, for example), then tries a variety of methods to alleviate the painful symptoms, most which achieve only marginal results or carry with them undesirable side effects. Treatments that doctors may attempt include prescription pain killers, anti-seizure medications, Lidocain patches, and antidepressants.

People affected by Peripheral Neuropathy live with constant pain and, quite often, limited motility. Even light touch, like a bed sheet, can be excruciating. Some patients have the unusual sensation of wearing an invisible “glove” or “sock” over the affected limb. To understand this fully, simply recall a time that your leg or arm has fallen asleep due to an awkward position. First it is completely numb, then, as the blood flows back to the limb, there is that “pins and needles” sensation which is momentarily debilitating. Now try to imagine that moment is every moment of your day and night.

In Chinese Medicine Peripheral Neuropathy is due to the obstruction and/or deficiency of Qi and Blood. Qi in this case would be the “energy” that carries the blood and nutrients to the far reaches of the body. The goal of your acupuncturist is to determine where the imbalance lies, open up the meridians in the affected regions and tonify the Qi and Blood, thereby alleviating the pain.

In one published research 21 patients received acupuncture for Peripheral Neuropathy while 26 received appropriate medical care, but no acupuncture. 76% of patients in the acupuncture group improved symptomatically and objectively while only 15% of the control group did. Reputable medical institutions are now taking note of how acupuncture can help with Peripheral Neuropathy. For example, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is currently conducting a study on Acupuncture for Chemo-induced Peripheral Neuropathy. Stay tuned!

One online medical dictionary defines sciatica as such: “pain along the course of a sciatic nerve especially in the back of the thigh caused by compression, inflammation, or reflex mechanisms.” While a sufferer of sciatica is likely to describe their experience as “excruciating”, “debilitating”, ”stabbing”, “burning”, “crippling”, or “incapacitating”. Either way, you can be sure it’s something you don’t want to experience!

The sciatic nerve is the largest and, arguably, the longest nerve in our body. Beginning in the lumbar region, it passes through the sciatic notch of the pelvis, through the buttocks area and runs down the back of the leg to the knee, branching off and innervating the leg all the way down to the feet. Any obstruction of this nerve can result in horrible pain.

Examples of obstructions are:
• Lumbar Spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spinal foramen in the lumbar region.
• Spondylolisthesis, which is a condition in which one vertebra slips out of alignment with the one near it, thereby putting pressure on the nerve.
• Piriformis syndrome, which is the pressure put on the sciatic nerve by an inflamed piriformis muscle as they travel together through the bony sciatic notch of the pelvis
• Tumors
• Trauma

Treatment options range from bed rest to surgery, and include chiropractics, physical therapy, and of course, Acupuncture.

Acupuncture is especially known for its pain relieving abilities and can be very effective at relieving sciatic pain. The trajectory of the pain informs an Acupuncturist of which acupuncture meridians are involved. Most sciatic pain travels down the back of the leg, though quite often it travels down the lateral side. Some people’s pain stops at the knee, while for others it carries on all the way down to the feet.

Your acupuncturist will ask you questions, like:
• What time of day or night is the pain worse?
• What is the quality of the pain (dull, sharp, throbbing)?
• Does heat help?
• Does ice?
• Is sitting worse or is standing?
• Does rainy weather exacerbate it?
• Cold weather?
• Hot weather?”
• And they will ask you a series of seemingly unrelated questions, like: How’s your hearing? Do you have knee pain? Urinary problems? Muscle cramping?, etc.

The answers to these questions vary from patient to patient and allow the Acupuncturist to form a pattern differentiation and determine the root of the problem. For example, a patient who experiences relief with ice and has no spasms will most likely receive a different treatment than one who finds relief with heat and has persistent cramping. And if herbs are prescribed the formulas will be fundamentally different.

There is no “one treatment fits all” nor is there a “one pill cures all” approach to Chinese Medicine. Each person’s situation is as unique and as dynamic as they, themselves, are. Furthermore, with each visit the patient is reassessed and treated according to the presenting symptoms which may have changed from previous visits. Your herbal formula will most likely change as well. It is in this way your Acupuncturist travels alongside of you, assisting in your healing process, honoring both your uniqueness and your particular path to wellness.