Don't Skip Sleep!

Many people do not get adequate sleep, and whether it's due to insomnia or other factors, attention must be paid. Sleep is completely essential to overall health and quality of life, and those deprived of adequate amounts are very likely to experience a range of symptoms, including weight gain, depression or anxiety, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

The following articles support different highlights on the importance of adequate sleep.

1. Recent studies suggest that doctors should include inquiries about patients' quality and quantity of sleep in a general check-up- as a new vital sign. Chinese Medicine agrees that sleep is vitally important, and has recognized through the ages that the body's systems are interconnected. Difficulty sleeping or lack of substantial sleep is almost always linked to other symptoms that the body is out of balance. Faster intervention is always best, since symptoms of illness can become more numerous and severe if the problem is ignored.

The study below concluded the following: "Insomnia and trouble sleeping are most often associated with high blood pressure, heart failure, anxiety and depression, according to a national survey of 31,044 adults. It had been thought that insomnia was quite prevalent on its own, but only 4 percent of the people [with] insomnia had it without any of those conditions."

Read more here: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_38855.html
2. Lack of sleep, in multiple studies, has been linked to weight gain. There are several explanations within Chinese Medical Theory for this phenomenon. Western research suggests that sleep deprivation alters hormones involved with appetite and metabolism.


Read more here: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_41631.html

3. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported this fall that 1.6 million Americans get treated for insomnia using Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and the majority find the treatments effective.


Read more here: http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/sep2006/nccam-18.htm

Many people who experience symptoms of insomnia are eager to find natural solutions. Prescription drugs may offer temporary solutions, but can be addictive and often cause unwanted side effects. The bigger problem with treatment via chemical pharmaceuticals is that they do not treat the underlying cause of the insomnia and associated symptoms.

Treatment with Acupuncture and Chinese herbs is different, and addresses both the underlying imbalance causing insomnia as well as other symptoms of disharmony in the body. Using this type of alternative medicine will truly allow a patient to rest easy!

Call to set up a free consultation to determine how Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs can help you!

Aiyana Center, NYC at 212-894-0767
Posted by Jessica Silver, Lic.Ac.
http://www.amazinghealing.com/jessica.php

Give Thanks for Cranberries!

This Thanksgiving, make sure to save room for the cranberry dish on your plate! They pack a punch when it comes to your health. Recent research is finding evidence that cranberries may help reduce the risk of gum disease, ulcers, heart disease, and cancer in addition to preventing urinary tract infections.

For the research articles click the following link:
http://www.uscranberries.com/eng/consumer/health.cfm

For something different this year, try the following recipe, from allrecipes.com:

Spicy Cranberry Chutney
"This is a delicious condiment full of chunky apples and apricots, zesty ginger, chewy raisins, and, of course, tart cranberries. Wonderful served on either hot or cold turkey."


INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup dried apricots, finely chopped
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup water
3 cups fresh cranberries
1 Granny Smith apple - peeled, cored and chopped
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup chopped crystallized ginger
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

DIRECTIONS
In a saucepan, combine apricots, brown sugar, raisins and water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and stir while simmering for 5 minutes. Stir in cranberries, apple and lemon zest; simmer for 10 minutes more.
Stir lemon juice, ginger and pepper flakes into the mixture before removing from heat. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

posted by Jessica Silver, Lic.Ac.
www.amazinghealing.com/jessica.php
Try Acupuncture, It Works!

Better Fertility with Better Blood!

From a Chinese medical perspective, a big part of our general health has to do with the quality and quantity of blood in our bodies. The concept of blood includes more than just the red liquid flowing through us- it's a type of energy. Although Qi and Blood are thought to move through the body together, they are different but cooperative substances responsible for different roles. Blood disorders in Chinese medical theory are varied: patients may present with blood deficiency in one or more system, blood stagnation, or a combination of both.

Although it cannot be automatically concluded, we often find that patients who have a blood deficiency in their energetic disharmony, also have anemia, or iron deficiency found in a blood test. Many symptoms of anemia overlap with symtoms of the idea of blood deficiency- such as fatigue, weakness, dizziness, feeling cold, depression, insomnia, and pale complexion.

The quantity and quality of blood in the system also plays a large part in all gynecological functions, including regulating the menstrual cycle, and optimizing fertility. Some women who seek treatment for infertility at Aiyana Acupuncture & Chinese Herbs, fall into the diagnostic group of blood deficiency.

Read some of our fertility sucess stories: www.amazinghealing.com/fert.php

Hence, it comes as no real surprise to find a study published this week in the NY Times announcing the following:

Fertility: Iron Supplements May Reduce Risk of Infertility
By NICHOLAS BAKALAR
Published: November 14, 2006

Taking iron supplements may reduce the risk of infertility, a new study suggests.

Researchers examined data on women enrolled in the Nurses’ Health Study II, a prospective study of registered nurses, ages 24 to 42. Over eight years of follow-up, researchers recorded more than 3,500 cases of infertility among more than 18,000 women who were trying to become pregnant. Of these, 2,165 underwent medical investigation to determine the cause, and 438 were found to suffer from ovulatory infertility, or the inability to produce viable eggs.

After statistically adjusting for age, smoking, physical activity and dietary patterns, the women who used iron supplements had, on average, 40 percent less risk of ovulatory infertility than those who used none. Moreover, the higher the dose of the iron supplements, the lower the risk, so that women who took the highest doses — more than 41 milligrams a day — reduced their risk of ovulatory infertility by 62 percent.

Read more fertility research here: www.amazinghealing.com/fert.php

posted by Jessica Silver, Lic.Ac.
http://www.amazinghealing.com/jessica.php
Try Acupuncture, It Works!

A Vacation to Dance For!

Hello from Juliette!

A while back I posted an article called Stop Exercising to Lose Weight! (www.amazinghealing.com/excercise.php )

Well here is yet another opportunity to have fun, learn, and meet great people while getting into shape or staying in shape (see below).

If you have not tried African Dance then you have no idea what you are missing! African dance is so beautiful, fun and will work your body. Each dance has a purpose and usually a song to sing with it. Many dances are spiritual or celebrate coming of age or a wedding and so forth. Not only will your body feel good but so will your spirit.

I have posted an informational letter from the founder of Zawadi School of African Dance below with details about the camp.

"Peace, I'm Karen Miles, Director of Zawadi School of African Dance. www.zawadidance.com

We are hosting a dance camp up state New York, July 22-29, 2007 at the Hudson Valley Resort and Spa and we need at least 100 people to make it happen.

THIS WILL BE A VACATION TO DANCE FOR!

Price includes:
Overnight accommodations
Breakfast and dinner daily
Round trip Transportation from WISOMMM Center, Newark, NJ
All drum and dance classes + yoga by the pool every morning
Performance by Zawadi School
T-Shirt & more

Hotel Amenities, indoor & outdoor pool, whirlpool, sauna & steam room, health spa gym & more.

Our instructors;
Marie Basse Wiles, Youssouf Koumbassa, Malonge Bayo, Marima Basse, Julio Jean, Gwenette Hayes, Clyde Wilder, Hammam Taalib Dim & more.

So we've covered, African Dance, Haitian Dance, Salsa, Lindy Hop/Swing, Capoeira, Hip-Hop, Children Classes, Drum Classes & Yoga.

Price
Quad Occupany 775.00
Triple Occupany 825.00
Double Occupany 900.00
Children
5-12 yrs old 475.00
12-17 yrs old 600.00

Checks/Money Orders came be made to Zawadi School of African Dance
Post Office Box 1223
Hammonton, NJ 08037

This is our first time doing this and we want to make it a success so we can continue each year. So we need you to help us get the word out. Hope you and your company can make it. We have group rate of 12 or more available."

Please call or email Mrs. Karen Miles 908-380-8557 for more information.
www.zawadidance.com

Thanksgiving Day Fast: Is it what you think?

Over the next week consider fasting on Thanksgiving day.

Don't worry this kind of fast is not a fast from food or drink but rather a fast from complaining.

Yep, a fast from complaining.

Sometimes we don't even notice we complain. Here's an example of a complaint we might not even notice we have made, "Ugh! This computer program never works when I use it. This always happens to me!"

Both unconscious and conscious complaining manifests a discordant energy in our lives. But positive thoughts and refocused thoughts manifest an energy of acceptance and balance in our lives.

We can take back our power and harness our positive and creative energies the moment we realize we have been distracted by negative thoughts or influences. In that moment we can remember what Louise Hay teaches, "It is only a thought and thoughts can change."

Co-founder of the Hendricks Institute http://www.hendricks.com/ , Gay Hendricks, offers a free e-mail Manifestation Course. Lesson number four of the course, presented here, recommends that we take a complaint fast.

"HOW TO STOP UNCONSCIOUS MANIFESTATION"

Unconscious manifestation thrives on complaining. We keep our childhood programming in place by complaining to willing listeners that we've been victimized. When people challenge us to take charge of our lives, we often get defensive and argue that our limiting beliefs are valid and necessary.

If you want to stop your unconscious patterns cold, stop complaining. Put yourself on a radical complaint-fast for one day: Don't let a single complaint out of your mouth. Then go a second day, and a third. Many years ago I went on a complaining-fast, and my old patterns started to drop away effortlessly. I soon found I could go days and weeks without complaining about anything. Eventually my complaint-fast stretched into years, and by then the miracles were unfolding so rapidly I could scarcely believe it. The circumstances of my life improved so radically that there was nothing to complain about.

Your first task: Discover what you complain about.

Your second task: Discover the people you complain to, the listeners of your complaining. When I started these discoveries thirty years ago, I found to my horror that I complained about lots of things, and my "friends" were exclusively people who would willingly listen to my complaints over and over. I put "friends" in quotes, because I now realize that they weren't friends at all--they were my co-conspirators in the slow sabotage of my life. We were all sinking together, barely noticing our descent because we were having such glee complaining all the way.

Will you commit to a life completely free of complaints?

If so, speak the following sentence aloud, from the bottom of your heart:

I,___________, commit to a complaint-free life.

As you flow through your week, float this affirmation through your mind and body:

Blessings flow in the areas of my life I used to complain about. Thank you for the gift of your participation in my life.

Posted By: Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.
www.amazinghealing.com/juliette.php

"Smells like weed in there"

That is what some people think when they pass by our office and smell smoke from an herb burning.

And it does kinda smell like weed...

But it is not weed. It is moxabustion!

Moxa is a therapeutic herb which traditional Chinese medicine has used for thousands of years. When we burn moxa it is called moxabustion.

Moxa is used for a variety of health conditions from fertility to pain syndromes.

Learn more about Moxa
Read a full article and view photos here;
http://www.amazinghealing.com/moxa_magic.php

and here:

http://www.amazinghealing.com/moxa2.php

FDA ALERT: Acetaminophen Recall

From the FDA Website posted on November 9, 2006

Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

FDA Informs Public of Nationwide Recall of 500mg Strength Store-Brand Acetaminophen Caplets

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting the public to a voluntary recall being conducted by Perrigo Company (Perrigo) of Allegan, Michigan for 383 lots of acetaminophen 500mg caplets manufactured and distributed under various store-brands as a result of small metal fragments found in a small number of these caplets. Approximately 11 million bottles containing varying quantities of acetaminophen 500mg caplets are affected by this recall. For a list of batches affected, please see www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/perrigo/perrigobatchlist.html.

Consumers can determine if they are in possession of a recalled product by locating the batch number printed on the container label. A list of stores that carry store-brands potentially affected by this recall is located on FDA's website at www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/perrigo/perrigocustlist.html.

To date, there have been no illness or injuries received related to this problem and no consumer complaints have been reported to the FDA or to Perrigo. Based on information currently available, the FDA believes the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote; however if a consumer were to swallow an affected caplet, it could result in minor stomach discomfort and/or possible cuts to the mouth or throat. Consumers should consult their physician if they suspect they've been harmed by use of this product.

Consumers who believe they are in possession of the affected products should discontinue use immediately and call Perrigo's Consumer Affairs Department, 877-546-0454 for further instructions. Any adverse reactions experienced with the use of this product should be reported to Perrigo at the above number and the FDA's MedWatch Program by phone at 800-FDA-1088, by fax at 800-FDA-0178 or on the MedWatch website at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

FDA is currently investigating the cause of the metal particles found in the acetaminophen 500 mg. caplets. Perrigo originally informed FDA of this problem after discovering through their own regulatory quality control procedures that their tableting equipment was wearing down prematurely. The company is also investigating the cause of the problem. The ongoing investigations have revealed the presence of the metal fragments in caplets of acetaminophen, 500 mg. Perrigo reported to the FDA that 70 million caplets were passed through a metal detector; resulting in the discovery of approximately 200 caplets containing metal fragments ranging in size from "microdots" to portions of wire 8 mm in length.

At this time FDA does not anticipate that this action will cause a shortage of acetaminophen. Currently, only one strength (500 mg caplets) is affected. Consumers may wish to take additional amounts of the lower strengths of acetaminophen tablets or caplets, which are not affected by this recall, to reach the 500 mg dose or access acetaminophen produced by alternate manufacturers. In all instances, FDA advises consumers to follow labeled instructions for maximum daily dosage.

Perrigo is notifying its distributors and retailers of this issue and will inform them of steps it will take to facilitate product replacement.

Posted By: Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.
www.amazinghealing.com/juliette.php

Vegetables Prevent Wrinkles

This article is from the Journal of the American College of Nutrition 2001;20:71-80

A fountain of youth may be as close as the kitchen, new study findings suggest.
A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and unsaturated fats may ward off wrinkles by boosting the skin's natural defenses against sun damage.

In an international study of eating patterns and skin aging, investigators found that dark- and fair-skinned people who ate plenty of wholesome foods but passed on sugary confections were less prone to wrinkling. And the effect of diet was consistent from sun-drenched Australia to sun-deprived Sweden.

Some of the skin-smoothing foods included:
green leafy vegetables
beans
olive oil
nuts

The researchers found that even when they factored in age and smoking -- which is linked to premature skin aging -- diet still played a role in wrinkling of sun-exposed skin.

Overall, people who ate more of the foods that are universally recommended for good health had smoother skin. The study authors speculate that certain foods offered skin protection due to their high levels of antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E. The skin, they note, is a "major target of oxidative stress."

Monounsaturated fats such as olive oil may offer protection through the same mechanism. Fatty acids are present in the skin, and monounsaturated fats resist oxidative damage, the team explains.

For more information on another natural way to keep your skin young, check out this article on Acupuncture for Facial Rejuvenation! http://www.amazinghealing.com/top5.php
written by Jessica Silver, Lic.Ac.
Aiyana Acupuncture, NYC

Benefits of Green Tea

by Jessica Silver, L.Ac.

At Aiyana Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs, we work with patients to resolve a wide variety of health conditions. We also make recommendations for lifestyle and dietary changes based on individuals' concerns and wellness goals. One healthy and easy adjustment that benefits almost every health condition is drinking green tea daily. Green tea is one of the three main types of tea, along with Black and Oolong. All three come from the leaves of the camellia sinesis plant, but each type differs in the processing.

Green Tea for Beauty
Some say that beauty is only skin deep, but inner-body balance will always lead to a natural and radiant outer beauty that shines with health! Cosmetically, green tea can beautify the skin when taken both internally and applied topically to reduce puffiness. It evens out the complexion by reducing acne, smoothing the skin and tightening the pores.

Green Tea For Weight Loss
Also, green tea is an excellent part of an effective weight loss plan! Chinese Herbs and acupuncture for weight loss, along with green tea and other simple lifestyle changes, can be extremely instrumental in shedding those unwanted pounds.A study from the December 1999 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition¹ shows...
To read the rest of this article click here:
www.amazinghealing.com/green_tea.php

The Tao

"At the very roots of Chinese thinking and feeling there lies the principle of polarity [yin-yang theory], which is not to be confused with the ideas of opposition or conflict. In the metaphors of other cultures, light is at war with darkness, life with death, good with evil and the positive with the negative, and thus an idealism to cultivate the former and be rid of the latter flourishes throughout much of the world. To the traditional way of Chinese thinking, this is an incomprehensible as an electric current without both positive and negative poles, for polarity is the principle that + and -, north and south are different aspects of one and the same system, and that the disappearance of either one of them would be the disappearance of the system."

-Allan Watts from his book "Tao The Watercourse Way".

Posted by: Juliette Aiyana
www.amazinghealing.com

Quote o' the Day - Erica Jong

"Do you want me to tell you something really subversive? Love is everything it's cracked up to be. That's why people are so cynical about it. It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don't risk everything, you risk even more."

-Erica Jong

Why Integrative Medicine?

The following information on Integrative Medicine is published by Andrew Weil, M.D. in his book:
Healthy Aging: A Lifelong Guide to Your Physical and Spiritual Well Being.
New York , Knopf, 2005.

The Principles of Integrative Medicine:
1. A partnership between patient and practitioner in the healing process.
2. Appropriate use of conventional and alternative methods to facilitate the body’s innate healing response.
3. Consideration of all factors that influence health, wellness and disease, including mind, spirit and community as well as body. A philosophy that neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative therapies uncritically.
4. Recognition that good medicine should be based in good science, be inquiry driven, and be open to new paradigms.
5. Use of natural, effective, less-invasive interventions whenever possible.
6. Use of the broader concepts of promotion of health and the prevention of illness as well as the treatment of disease.
7. Training of practitioners to be models of health and healing, committed to the process of self-exploration and self-development.

posted by Jessica Silver, Lic.Ac.
http://amazinghealing.com/jessica.php
Try Acupuncture, It Works!

Thai Spiced Pumpkin Soup- spiced, vegan, yuumyness

I found this recipe on 101 Cookbooks website.
http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/001525.html

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine this recipe will
Warm Yang & Supplement Spleen Qi

Keep in mind that different Thai curry pastes have differing strengths. Start with a teaspoon to start and then build from there until the soup has a level of spiciness and flavor that works for your palete. Top with toasted pumpkin seeds.

2 acorn squash, pumpkins, or other smallish winter squash
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 14-ounce can coconut milk
1 teaspoon (or more) red Thai curry paste
water
2 teaspoons fine grain sea salt (or to taste)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and place the oven racks in the middle.
Carefully cut each squash/pumpkin into halves (or quarters). Slather each piece of squash with butter, sprinkle generously with salt, place on a baking sheet skin sides down, and place in the oven. Roast for about an hour or until the squash is tender throughout.

When the pumpkin/squash are cool enough to handle scoop it into a large pot over medium high heat. Add the coconut milk and curry paste and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat and puree with a hand blender, you should have a very thick base at this point. Now add water a cup at a time pureeing between additions until the soup is the consistency you prefer - a light vegetable stock would work here as well. Bring up to a simmer again and add the salt (and more curry paste if you like, I used just shy of 6 teaspoons but the curry paste I use is not over-the-top spicy).

Serves six.

Posted by: Juliette Aiyana
Read More about Healthy Eating:
www.amazinghealing.com/nutrition

Help Kids with life threatening illness

Readers: Please spread the word about this wonderful event! Thanks-Juliette

Hi Everyone,

I need help getting in contact with children that have life threatening illnesses.

This summer while working with children that have cancer, I was struck by how scary and lonely it must be for them to have this horrible disease. One of the saddest side effects of cancer for many of these kids was that after chemotherapy ravaged their bodies, it also scared away all their friends. It doesn’t have to be that way.

LAFF (Laughter, Awareness, Friendship & Fun) is hosting a 3 hour, festive cooking event in which children ill with life threatening diseases and their friends learn to make pizza with chef Robert Rosenthal, the kitchenMC. (Imagine lots of children ages 9 -13, all wearing chef’s hats, jamming to some tunes while learning to make gourmet pizza.)

Do you know any way I can get in touch with these ailing kids? It's been a challenge connecting with them and their families. We have the location, the chef, the pizza now all we need are the kids! Oh yeah, and the event is FREE!

Please help me spread the word, or let me know if you can think of any other ways to connect with these kids.

Thanks for your help and I look forward to hearing from you!

Best Regards,
Mitchell Goldman
212.925.8282
www.mitchellgoldman.com

The Great Pumpkin- Therapeutic & Delicious

Autumn is my favorite season of the year. It is the time of year to put on a soft cozy sweater and walk through a pumpkin patch. The crunch of leaves underfoot is a magical sound to me. As I walk, I inhale autumn's cool, crisp, clean air and take in the warm colors she brings to the trees and vegetables of the season: maple red, amber, burnt orange, yellow, Nile green. This season is special because it leads us into a series of celebrations, gatherings and, of course, to delicious food.
Pumpkin pie is a personal favorite of mine because it is traditionally served on Thanksgiving and my birthday falls on Thanksgiving every five years. Growing up, family would incorporate my birthday celebration with Thanksgiving. It seemed that the table full of food, family and pumpkin pies was set out especially for me. Those memories bring me a sense of warmth and happiness. The spices in pumpkin pie, like cinnamon and nutmeg, are warming and help digestion. Scroll down to the end of the article on my website for several delicious pumpkin recipes here:
http://www.amazinghealing.com/pumpkin.php

Traditional Chinese Medicine Classifies the Medicinal Qualities of Pumpkins:

Pumpkins are cooling, sweet and slightly bitter.

You can try pumpkins for the following conditions:

Clear dampness conditions like dysentery, eczema, and edema.

Unbalanced blood sugar levels. Hypoglycemic and diabetic patients may eat a slice of pumpkin with each meal or as a pie mashed with sweet yams (do not add sugar or other sweeteners contraindicated for your condition).

Intestinal worms. Eat a handful of seeds 2 times a day for about 3 weeks. Chew the seeds well. You can also eat fresh pumpkin slices then take some sesame seed oil a couple of hours later to help expel roundworms. Do this for two days.

Spleen qi vacuity or malnutrition. Steam pumpkin with sweet rice (available at Chinese food grocery) or you can boil it with ginger and brown sugar, mash, then serve.

Childhood vomiting. Pumpkin stem and top cap can be boiled and administered as a tea.

Bronchial asthma and/or thick sputum due to a bronchial infection. Boil chunks of pumpkin. In a separate pan, sauté organic, lean beef. Mix pumpkin and beef in a bowl. Eat to resolve phlegm and build your body's resistance to disease.

Pregnancy abdominal pains. Eat cooked pumpkin. You can steam it and/or add to stir fry, eat as soup or pie. (And make sure you see your healthcare provider.)

Nutrition Facts About Pumpkins:

According to The Healing Cuisine of China, one serving of pumpkin contains:
1.3 g Protein, 0.3 g Fat, 9.9 g Carbohydrates, 26,908 IU Vitamin A, 0.03 mg Vitamin B1, 0.07 Vitamin B2, 0.4 mg Niacin, 5mg Vitamin C, 32mg Calcium, 42 mg Phosphorus, 1.7 mg Iron

Pumpkin also contains lutein, alpha and beta carotene, Vitamin E, magnesium and zinc.

You can increase your health via diet, acupuncture and Chinese herbs.

Posted by: Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.
Read more articles like this at our website:
http://www.amazinghealing.com/nutrition.php

Report: Acupuncture for Arthritis

From : Reuters Health: Arthritis & Rheumatism, November 2006.
Monday, October 30, 2006

By Amy Norton

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Acupuncture may help bring lasting pain relief to people with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, researchers reported Monday.

In a study of more than 3,600 adults with knee or hip arthritis, German researchers found that those who had acupuncture added to their usual treatment showed a greater improvements in pain, stiffness and joint function.

What's more, the benefits were still there three months after patients' last acupuncture session, the study authors report in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism.

Along with past research, the findings offer enough evidence to recommend acupuncture for knee and hip osteoarthritis, said lead study author Dr. Claudia M. Witt of Charite University Medical Center in Berlin.

Acupuncture has been widely used to treat various musculoskeletal disorders, and other chronic pain conditions. Scientists speculate that acupuncture may alter signals in nerve cells or affect the release of various pain-related chemicals of the central nervous system.

This latest study followed 3,633 older adults with either knee or hip arthritis. There were 712 patients who were randomly assigned to either remain on their standard treatment or to have acupuncture added to their regimen for three months. The rest of the study participants did not want to be randomly assigned to a group and were allowed to have acupuncture.

All of the patients completed a standard questionnaire on arthritis pain, stiffness and disability at the start of the study, then again three and six months later.

After three months of therapy, Witt's team found that the acupuncture patients showed an improvement in their questionnaire scores on average, while the comparison group remained unchanged. About one third of the acupuncture group had an improvement of 50 percent or more. The benefits were still apparent three months after their last acupuncture treatment.

The study is one of the largest clinical trials of acupuncture to date. Based in part on the findings, the German government is considering a proposal to cover acupuncture under its health system, Witt and her colleagues note.

Patients in the study received their acupuncture from a doctor, Witt told Reuters Health. However, she added, studies in the U.S. have found therapy delivered by acupuncturists to also be effective for chronic pain.

"The most important point," Witt said, "is that the professional who provides the acupuncture treatment is well educated and experienced."


posted by Jessica Silver, Lic.Ac.
http://www.amazinghealing.com/jessica.php
Try Acupuncture, It Works!