by urban-acupuncture | Aug 7, 2017 | Acupuncture
Treat Stress With Acupuncture
Acupuncture, one of the main components of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), helps to relieve stress. Although it was in use for thousands of years, a new study finally helps us understand why acupuncture helps in relieving stress.
The study done by researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center explores how acupuncture uses the biological mechanisms to relieve stress, an area that science didn’t completely understand. According to the study, the researchers found that the level of stress hormones was lower when the rats were given electronic acupuncture. The researchers published the results in the Journal of Endocrinology.
The associate professor of nursing at Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies, Dr. Ladan Eshkevari was one of the researchers. According to her, the practitioners of acupuncture found that this ancient practice was capable of reducing stress in their patients. However, they didn’t have any biological proof to back their observation. By understanding what takes place at the molecular level when patients receive acupuncture, helps in understanding the benefits of this ancient practice.
The study
The researchers designed a handful of tests to ensure the rats receiving electronic acupuncture, got the same dosage of pressure. Eshkevari targeted the needle on the ‘Zusanli’ point or the area that is just below the knee. By stimulating this area, acupuncture relieves stress in humans and rats.
The rats were split into the following four groups to understand the effects of electronic acupuncture:
- The first group was the control group; no stress and no treatment.
- The second group was stressed out every day for an hour. However, they didn’t receive acupuncture.
- The third group had to face stress for an hour every day. Fake acupuncture treatment was administered to their tails.
- The fourth group got acupuncture on the Zusanli area after the rats faced stress.
The result
When the body is under stress, it secretes a variety of hormones into the rat’s bloodstream, which was measured by the researchers. They also measured the level of hormones secreted by the adrenal gland, pituitary gland, and hypothalamus. Together, these three areas are called hypothalamus pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. They also observed a peptide which is a component of fight or flight response in animals, known as NPY.
The researchers found that acupuncture is effective in blocking out hormones and peptides of HPA axis and NPY pathway respectively. As a result of this, rats that had to face stress felt relieved when they received electronic acupuncture.
As stress can lead to brain shrinkage, heart diseases, and many other medical conditions, these findings were extremely useful. Also, they support the fact that acupuncture is effective in fighting against stress. The best part about acupuncture is that it isn’t like Western medicine; there are no side effects after you receive acupuncture.
Are you interested in getting acupuncture to relieve your stress? If yes, then why don’t you take an appointment at Acupuncture of Columbus. This acupuncture clinic has been open since 2006 and has been effectively treating patients that are under large amounts of stress.
For more information about how acupuncture and other 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.
by urban-acupuncture | Aug 2, 2017 | Art, Community
A new exhibition of artwork by Jonathan Juravich’s first grade students at Liberty Tree Elementary School is on display at the Clintonville location.
French Impressionistic painter Claude Monet loved painting water lilies and the Japanese bridge that crossed this pond. He painted with a style that was loose, expressive, and gave the impression of floating flowers…not a photo-realistic view.
Peter Max is a contemporary artist who works with layers of paint, oil pastels, and other mixed-media to create works of art. Max often produces images that are based upon famous works of art. He says that he is not out to “fix” a beloved image, but to honor the artist and put his own spin on the painting!
First grade students worked like Peter Max as they paid homage to the famous painter Claude Monet. They collaged photographs of water lily flowers on to photocopies of Monet’s paintings. They then built up layers of marker, paint, and oil pastels to create images inspired by these two diverse artists. Each completed image is as unique and expressive as the individual student artist.
by urban-acupuncture | Aug 1, 2017 | Acupuncture
Headache & Migraine Treatment
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, headaches fall into two main categories: primary and secondary. Primary headaches are a medical condition and not a symptom of another medical disorder. Cluster headaches, migraines, and tension headaches come under the primary category. Secondary headaches occur due to medical conditions such as brain tumors, head injury, dental disorders, allergies, and sinus disease. Acupuncture is quite effective in treating migraine and tension headaches, which are quite common.
Why is Acupuncture effective in treating headaches?
The framework Traditional Chinese Medicine uses for headache pathophysiology, diagnosis, etiology, and treatment is effective and philosophical. For thousands of years, people have been using acupuncture to treat headaches. One of the greatest advantages of opting for acupuncture over Western medicine is the fact that it is harmless. When you compare synthetic drugs to acupuncture, the latter doesn’t have any side effects. Also, the procedure in acupuncture for treating headaches is minimally invasive.
Using Acupuncture to treat migraines
To treat migraines, the specialist will insert fine needles into certain points on your body. To stimulate the needles, the specialist will either do it electrically or manually. As a result of this, the small blood vessels around the needle dilate and blood flow inside the tissues increases. While this is the general procedure to treat pain, it won’t be useful in treating migraines. The pain that comes with migraines occurs because the blood vessels in the head dilate. Trying to increase blood circulation in the head can worsen the situation. In Acupuncture of Colombus, we use a different approach to treat migraines. We avoid points in the upper body, neck, and head. Instead, only the points in the lower body will be used to stop dilation of blood vessels in the head. To make it easy, the patient has to lie down during the course of the treatment. When a patient lies down, the dilation of blood vessels minimizes significantly.
Using Acupuncture to prevent migraines
One of the major triggers for migraines is emotional stress. The autonomic nervous system of people living in the city will be imbalanced. As a result of this, the nervous system will be unable to relax as it is constantly under stress. If the system continues to be in this state, it will lead to premenstrual syndrome, hypertension, insomnia, and heart disease.
In Acupuncture of Columbus, the acupuncture technique is effective in keeping migraines at bay as it keeps the system in a relaxed state and it decreases muscle tension. For this technique to work, acupuncture points on the lower legs and forearms are chosen.
People suffer from migraines because of the muscle tension in the upper back and neck increases. As acupuncture reduces muscle tension, it is effective in preventing migraines.
Also, to reduce the occurrence of migraines, Acupuncture of Columbus, asks you to follow these recommendations:
- Avoid alcohol (red wine in particular), caffeine, dairy, corn, wheat, spices and chocolates as they trigger migraines
- Avoid mental and physical fatigue
- Sleep for at least seven to eight hours every day
Why don’t you come to Acupuncture of Columbus for treating your headaches? We have over 11 years of experience in this field!
For more information about how acupuncture and other 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.
