by urban-acupuncture | Apr 7, 2016 | Acupuncture
Relieve Allergies the Natural Way
Acupuncture has been used to treat a number of allergy symptoms, from sneezing and runny nose to puffy eyes.
People suffering from food allergies aren’t always aware that their symptoms are caused by the food they are eating. It often can be more difficult to discover that a person is allergic to a certain type of food, as opposed to discovering that a person is allergic to a bee sting, for example. Some people suffering from food allergies continue their day-to-day life with symptoms such as headaches or fatigue and have no idea that their symptoms could be from food allergies.
What is a food allergy?
A food allergy is a reaction of the body’s immune system to otherwise harmless substances in certain foods. This is different from a food intolerance, which does not necessarily involve the immune system. Although 25% of people believe they are allergic to certain foods, only 4 to 8% of children and 2% of adults have diagnosed food allergies. While most food allergies are mild, in some cases they can cause anaphylactic shock, a serious, sometimes life-threatening reaction. Food allergies affect mostly young children, and about 90% of these allergies are caused by 8 foods: cow’s milk, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, fish, and shellfish. With the exception of peanut allergy, the majority of children outgrow their food allergies by early adolescence.
Symptoms of food allergies include:
- fatigue
- hives
- eczema
- abdominal pain
- diarrhea
- nausea
- vomiting
- nasal congestion
- cough and asthma
More severe symptoms:
- difficulty breathing
- decreased blood pressure
- increased heart rate
- dizziness
- mental confusion
- slurred speech
- anxiety attack
- cardiovascular collapse
Food allergy causes:
In most cases, allergies occur when an individual who has a genetic sensitivity to certain allergens is exposed to the substance. Foods frequently responsible for food allergies include:
- Shellfish, such as shrimp, crab, and lobster
- Tree nuts, including walnuts, almonds, and pecans
- Peanuts
- Fruits, particularly strawberries, but also melons, pineapple, and other tropical fruits
- Tomatoes
- Fish
- Food additives such as dyes, thickeners, and preservatives, (monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a common food allergy in this category).
Foods that may cause intolerance include:
- Wheat and other gluten-containing grains
- Cow’s milk and other dairy products
- Corn products
Food allergy natural treatment options
Many herbalists consider two major systems when dealing with allergies – the immune system and adrenal-stress handling system. These two systems are under great pressure due to environmental changes. The fast pace of modern living and working may have an adverse effect on these systems, as well.
There are many natural ways to nourish the immune system and lessen the impact of stress on the body’s systems: meditation, walking, breathing exercises, a diet of whole, organic foods and a network of loving relationships.
The most obvious way to avoid an allergic reaction to food would be to take that type of food out of a person’s diet. But, if a person is allergic to many different kinds of foods, it can be impossible to stop eating everything he or she is allergic to.
Acupuncture Treatment
The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture endorses the use of acupuncture for allergies such as food allergies. Acupuncture can help restore normal immune function. A Chinese medicine practitioner will select acupuncture points and herbal formulas that support the functioning of the organs, dispersing unhealthy excess patterns and nourishing deficiencies. Chinese medicine is a safe and effective way of treating food allergies.
Herbal Treatment
A study published in 2002 reported a 95 percent effective rate when using Chinese medicine to treat 20 patients suffering from food allergies. The patients, all between six and 67 years old, complained of food allergy gastritis after eating certain food. They were each given a daily formula consisting of prepared Chinese herbs. In result, 14 patients were considered cured, and five patients improved. The Chinese medicine approach for some in the study, helped the body respond normal to certain foods instead of having to completely cut these foods out of a person’s diet.
For more information about how acupuncture and other treatments can help you, please contact Board Certified Licensed Acupuncturist, Steve Drugan,B.S., L.Ac., at 614.218.6287 or click here. Taking new patients in and around Columbus, Ohio.
References: Zhang Xin-Cheng, et al. Xin Zhong Yi. #9 pp. 59-60. 2002
by urban-acupuncture | Apr 6, 2016 | Art, Community
5th grade artists at Liberty Tree Elementary School, in the Olentangy Local School District, looked at the strong compositions of flower paintings by artist Georgia O’Keeffe. Students then set to work simplifying a flower into simple shapes and lines with an emphasis on the composition itself. Their goal was to reach all 4 sides of the paper and abstract the flower to take on a new life all its own. These images were rendered in water-soluble oil pastels, with attention to thoughtful color selections and pairings. The work will be on display at the Clintonville location until early May.
by urban-acupuncture | Apr 1, 2016 | Acupuncture
Approximately 38 million Americans suffer with chronic anxiety or depression. One out of eight adults are currently taking antidepressant medications. While these medications can offer support and benefit on certain occasions, there are indeed many people that do not respond well to this form of treatment. This can be due to a number of factors including:
- Various side effects that outweigh the benefits of the medication
- A developed tolerance to the medication that causes the benefits to diminish
- Excessive sensitivity to the concentrated nature of these medications
- A belief system that suggests that the depression is not due to a biochemical imbalance, or that this imbalance is the result of a deeper spiritual issue.
Anxiety
Anxiety is one of the most common mental illnesses worldwide. Many people suffer some form of anxiety occasionally but others cannot manage this natural response to a stressful situation. When a person experiences a highly stressful or threatening scenario, the mind can be overloaded and fail to develop ways of coping.
Although the symptoms can be as manageable as an ominous feeling in the pit of the stomach, some suffer much worse. Anxiety can trigger the following responses:
- Physical, such as an irregular heartbeat
- Cognitive, which can cause negative thoughts
- Behavioral, which may include uncharacteristic aggression or restlessness
- Emotional, such as fear
Depending on which of these symptoms are suffered, different anxiety disorders may be diagnosed. These include:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Panic disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Managing severe anxiety can be tricky because it generally includes therapy, which might not provide results for months, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. What’s more, it can require medication, which can have serious side effects, says Ladan Eshkevari, PhD, CRNA, LAc, a certified acupuncturist, a physiologist, and the assistant director of the Nurse Anesthesia Program at the School of Nursing & Health Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Yet when acupuncture for anxiety is effective, symptoms lessen after the first few visits, and practitioners like Eshkevari are confident it attacks the problem at its roots.
Not just for pain, acupuncture is a natural way to treat anxiety. It works faster than therapy and keeps you drug-free.
Traditional Chinese medicine relates anxiety to an imbalance of the heart and kidney. Fire represents the heart and joy according to the five elements. The diagnosis is that too much heat in the heart will imbalance the interaction with the kidney (represented as water and fear). This will result in the water organ failing to contain the fire organ rising up to the mind, leading to anxiety. Acupuncture on points around the heart, kidney, spleen and ear are used to treat anxiety.
How Acupuncture for Anxiety Works
How does it work? Led by Eshkevari, researchers at Georgetown University used lab studies to demonstrate that acupuncture slows the body’s production of stress hormones.
Like blood in the circulatory system, Qi moves throughout the body via pathways called meridians. When factors like injury, stress, poor nutrition, or a change in environment disrupt the flow of Qi, health issues follow, according to the University of Miami Health System. By inserting needles at specific points in the body, acupuncturists restore the balance of Qi and the body’s overall health, University of Chicago Medicine reports.
Depression
It is estimated that approximately one in five people will experience clinical depression at least once in their lifetime. Although it is natural to feel sad and down at times, especially after experiencing loss, these slight effects can be managed with gradual lifestyle adjustments. Clinical depression, however, refers to a long-lasting and intense emotional, physical and cognitive state that greatly affects day-to-day life. Symptoms include:
- Loss of positive associations and sense of achievement (lack of interest in normally pleasurable activities)
- Negative thoughts (often worrying about the future)
- Irritability, agitation and exhaustion
- Changes in sleeping patterns (too much or too little)
- Hopelessness (feeling trapped or suicidal)
The causes of depression are known to be similar to the causes of anxiety. It is traditionally treated with antidepressant medication, psychological methods or a combination of both.
Depression is also considered to be a problem with circulating Qi around your body. Anxiety and depression remain two of the most common mental disorders worldwide. As further research continues, acupuncture and other forms of complementary therapies are gradually being proved to be legitimate treatments for anxiety, depression and other illnesses. Perhaps more important than anything for our health is varying our lifestyles by trying alternative therapies, including exercise, yoga and meditation. It is important, however, to always get a second opinion and consult a doctor any time complementary therapies are tried.
What are the side effects?
When it comes to trying acupuncture, you have nothing to lose. With a certified acupuncturist, the risks are almost nonexistent and are far outweighed by the potential benefits.
Contact Us For More Information
For more information about how acupuncture, massage therapy and other alternative healing treatments can help you, please contact the Urban Acupuncture Center Board Certified Licensed Acupuncturist’s team at Indianola Ave, Clintonville (614) 725-2488 | Main St, Westerville (614) 426-4406 or click here. Taking new patients in and around greater Columbus, Ohio.
