Professional or highly dedicated visual artists and crafters sometimes find that their passions can be hard on the body and mind. Let’s face it: artists and crafters are passionate about their arts and crafts! This is especially true for those who make a living this way or are very dedicated, as they spend a great […]
Hives or Urticaria, is an allergic reaction anywhere on the skin that presents with red, itchy, often raised, welts that vary in size from a half of a centimeter to a few centimeters. Occasionally it is accompanied by swelling in the lips, eyelids, and the throat. When acute, hives are a common but severe skin […]
Many people are aware of using acupuncture for the treatment of aches and pains. Less people know about using Chinese medicine for internal issues such as endocrine or metabolic problems. I would bet even fewer still have heard of using Chinese medicine to treat skin conditions like acne. Great news is that it works very […]
Recently, physical therapists (PTs) have added acupuncture to their repertoire in order to help treat musculoskeletal problems. PTs call their style of acupuncture “dry needling” and the law allows them to use it to release “trigger points”. A few PTs will use this acupuncture technique for other reasons, but they are operating illegally, outside their […]
Dizziness is a very disturbing, but extremely common problem. Officially termed vertigo, it is distinguished from being light headed and syncope, by a feeling that the room is spinning and a loss of balance. Frequently, vertigo is accompanied by: nausea, vomiting, nystagmus (eyes ticking back and forth), and an inability to walk or even move […]
This year, I completed training in Jiao’s Scalp Acupuncture, a modern acupuncture technique that capitalizes on the neuroanatomy of the brain. Discovered fairly recently for an acupuncture method – about 60 yrs ago – it combines traditional needle techniques with our growing body of knowledge of the cerebral cortex. This powerful method has been reported to […]
Depression is a sometimes hidden, but very common mood disorder. It is estimated that 16 million Americans suffer with chronic depression. Depression casts a dark cloud over all aspects of living, robbing a person of experiencing daily joy. It can impact all aspects of life including relationships to self and others. Similar to anxiety, most […]
Anxiety is a mood disorder that plagues a great many people in the U.S. It is estimated that as much as 18% of the population have been diagnosed with anxiety disorder and that there is additional 10-15% who might be undiagnosed. Like stress or blue moods, all of us are likely to experience some anxiety […]
Drug withdrawal can be one of the most difficult experiences a person can go through. Whether quitting cocaine, narcotics, cigarettes, alcohol, or foods, it can be a dark period filled with emotional and physical pain that makes it hard to see the light beaming from the end of the tunnel. Often people keep their addictions quiet to begin with and thus, go through the drug withdrawal process alone and unsupported. They may erroneously believe that the strength of their intention alone is the determinant of success.
Undoubtedly, in the initial stages of letting go of the addiction, will power is important. However, to ensure success one should also have the support of alternative healthcare professionals. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners have much to offer here. They can be a part of their client’s support team by providing acupuncture and Chinese herbs to ameliorate the physical symptoms of drug withdrawal, as well as offering suggestions and strategies to help avoid relapse. To round out the healthcare team, the client should consider having access to a good counselor and a support group of people who have struggled with the same addiction. Because those in support groups have had similar experiences, they can provide emotional, mental, and spiritual support in a way that friends and families may not be able to do.
Recently, during a conversation with a colleague, I was reminded that arthritis is one of the top chronic ailments that plague Americans.
Chinese medicine has a long history of successfully treating most types of arthritis. Through the use of herbs, acupuncture, massage, exercise, and nutritional counseling, the symptoms are relieved and the causes are eliminated.