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.
by urban-acupuncture | Mar 10, 2016 | Acupuncture
Treat Digestive Issues
Acupuncture helps direct the flow of digestive energy in the right direction, which is from the mouth downward through the complete digestive system to the anus. If any problem occurs during this directional movement due to nausea, constipation, gastric reflux or gastroparesis, it can be treated with acupuncture.
Acupuncture can re-direct the flow of digestive energy in its natural downward direction. It also helps with the absorption of nutrients and elimination of waste. The digestive energy helps to assimilate nutrients and supports the function of sorting the nutrients from waste. Board certified acupuncturist Steve Drugan provides treatments to patients in Columbus, OH and surrounding locations.
Acupuncture for IBS
Extensive research studies have been conducted to show that acupuncture has the ability to provide relief from the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). One US study involving 230 IBS patients revealed 41 percent improvement on IBS Global Improvement Scale after a series of six acupuncture treatments. After the treatments, patients reported average daily reduction in abdominal discomfort. Bloating, intestinal gas, and stool consistency also showed a similar level of improvement.
Faecal Incontinence
An Italian research study involving 15 female patients with a median age of 60 years were given one acupuncture treatment per week over a 10-week period. Prior to the treatment and at periodic intervals after acupuncture sessions, anal continence was evaluated. Patients experienced significant improvement in anal continence by the end of 10 weeks. Patients with loose stools or irregular bowel habits also reported significant improvement.
Gastrointestinal Diseases
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and IBS are some of the common gastrointestinal diseases that can be treated with acupuncture. Four clinical trials conducted to test the efficacy of acupuncture in treating these conditions found that the quality of life (QoL) of the patients improved significantly after acupuncture. The healing capacity of acupuncture is enhanced at both physiological and psychological level for the patients. Acupuncturist Steve Drugan receives patients from Columbus, OH and nearby areas.
Ulcerative Colitis
In a randomized, controlled clinical trial involving 29 patients with mild to moderately active ulcerative colitis, traditional acupuncture and moxibustion treatments were performed. Patients were treated for five weeks at the rate of two sessions per week, and followed up for 16 weeks. Colitis Activity Index reduced in all patients, and significant improvements in general well-being were noted.
Gastric Sphincter
Poor relaxation of the muscular lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) can result in heartburn and gastric reflux. Research studies have shown that acupuncture can reduce the rate of LES by as much as 40 percent. Electrical non-needle stimulation treatments can also be used to achieve improvements in gastric reflux and heartburn.
Bowel Obstruction
Obstruction of the small bowel (intestine) is a common condition. It may require hospitalization for several days, and surgical interventions may be necessary to treat the condition. Acupuncture can prove to be an effective alternative. The procedure involves stimulation of the small intestine directly by needling. It can lead to improved bowel motility and be an effective removal of an obstruction.
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.
by urban-acupuncture | Mar 1, 2016 | Acupuncture
Treat Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune diseases refer to a group of disorders in which the body’s own immune system becomes the enemy and attacks, alters or destroys tissues. Some of the common chronic illnesses in this category include type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, pernicious anemia, Addison’s disease, multiple sclerosis, celiac disease, and myasthenia gravis.
According to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA), as much as 20 percent of the population is afflicted by autoimmune disorders. In modern medical science, adequate and effective treatments for these conditions are generally not available till now. Acupuncture can provide an effective alternative solution for many patients suffering from these diseases. Steve M. Drugan is a board certified acupuncturist providing treatment for these disorders to patients in Columbus, OH and surrounding communities.
How does it Work?
Many patients want to understand how acupuncture can help to treat autoimmune disorders, which do not have an effective answer in standard medical care. Western medicine believes that autoimmune disorders occur to some kind of imbalance within the body. Such imbalance may arise from a deficiency or excess of yin and yang that disrupts the flow of vital energy in the body.
Acupuncture treatments are specifically designed to help the body restore this balance. It focuses on treating the root of the disorder, while specifically addressing symptoms that will be unique to a patient. Acupuncture treatment will create physical responses in parts of the brain, nerve cells and the pituitary gland. The body will release hormones, proteins, and brain chemicals based on these responses, which control a variety of bodily functions.
Due to these actions, acupuncture can have an impact on the immune system. Additionally, the treatment program may include management of the autoimmune disorder through a combination of therapies. Depending on the disorder, these therapies may include moderate physical activity, herbal medications, stress relieving exercises, and nutritional support. Acupuncturist Steve Drugan receives patients from Columbus, OH and nearby areas for treatment of autoimmune disorders.
Whole Body Treatment Approach
Acupuncture will adopt a holistic or whole body treatment approach to address the autoimmune disease based on the idea of vital energy. This energy called Qi flows through meridians or pathways to nourish various body organs, provide protection against illness, and preserving general good health. When the flow of vital energy weakens or gets blocked, it can cause the disease.
During the treatment, the expert provider will insert fine, sterile needles at targeted points along the meridians so as to release any obstructions and allow the free flow of vital energy. The practitioner may combine this acupuncture therapy along with additional stress reduction, nutrition enhancement or exercise programs.
Some practitioners will also recommend tried and tested herbal supplements and remedies that are aimed at supporting health and boosting the body’s immune system. The patient should communicate with the provider about their progress and any concerns in order to optimize the treatment program. Acupuncture is widely accepted treatment approach that enables a patient to take control of their autoimmune condition.
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 | Feb 14, 2016 | Acupuncture
Infertility Treatment
Acupuncture has been used for a long time as a treatment for infertility. Experts in the field suggest that the role of acupuncture to treat this problem is not just limited to helping a woman become pregnant, but to sustain the pregnancy and have a healthy baby. As a primary requisite, reducing stress can increase the chances of fertility.
Acupuncture improves the blood circulation in the reproductive organs and balances the endocrine system. This creates a good foundation for fertility. Leading board certified acupuncturist Steve M. Drugan provides treatments for infertility and various other health conditions to patients in Columbus, OH and surrounding locations.
Benefits of Improved Blood Flow
Acupuncture offers a number of benefits, including improvement in the blood flow. This is particularly helpful in the treatment of infertility. An increase in blood circulation to the uterus and ovaries creates a better chance for an egg to receive nourishment and be carried to term. Under-functioning and over-functioning thyroid conditions also affect fertility, which can be addressed with acupuncture.
While acupuncture may not help to address tubal adhesions, which can result from endometriosis, it can increase the blood flow to the endometrium, which enables the building of a thick, rich lining. Combined with the enhanced follicular and ovarian function, it can help to increase the chances of fertility. Acupuncturist Steve Drugan receives patients from Columbus, OH and nearby communities for infertility treatment.
What to Perform the Treatment?
Just as in case of physical therapy, more acupuncture is usually better than less. In case of infertility treatment, the expert provider will usually treat the woman for three to four months before progressing to insemination, IVF or donor-egg transfer. This pace of treatment appears to have a better therapeutic effect. Some researchers suggest that acupuncture treatments should be received pre and post embryo transfer.
Clinical observations performed at leading reproductive wellness centers indicate that acupuncture combined with traditional medicine can provide highly effective fertility solutions. Miscarriages typically occur in the first three months of pregnancy. Therefore, acupuncture treatments will often last through week 12 to help prevent miscarriage.
Typical Candidates
Almost any type of fertility disorder, including spasmed tubes, can be treated with acupuncture. Acupuncture will usually de-spasmed the spasmed tubes. However, blocked tubes may not respond to the treatment. The treatment can be performed in conjunction with herbal remedies to address elevated follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), unexplained or idiopathic infertility, repeated pregnancy loss, luteal phase defect, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and male factor including men affected with sperm-DNA-fragmentation.
Risks
Some patients may be concerned whether any risks are involved in using acupuncture to treat infertility. Extensive patient feedback and research indicates that the risks in using acupuncture for infertility treatment are minimal. If the provider applies acupuncture on incorrect points during pregnancy, it can increase the risk of miscarriage.
Therefore, it is important to choose an experienced acupuncturist when a patient decides to include acupuncture in their infertility treatment regimen. Otherwise acupuncture is generally considered very safe irrespective of the patient’s medical history.
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.
Photo by D. Roseborough
by urban-acupuncture | Feb 4, 2016 | Acupuncture
Pain Management
Acupuncture is a widely used technique in pain management. The practitioner will stimulate specific points in the body, usually with the insertion of thin needles through the skin. Steve Drugan, a highly experienced and board certified acupuncturist, provides proven and effective solutions for pain management to patients in Columbus, OH and surrounding communities.
Effectiveness
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) website talks about the effectiveness of acupuncture in pain management. It says that results from several studies indicate that acupuncture may help ease certain types of pain, particularly the ones that are chronic. These could include pain in the lower back, pain in the neck, and osteoarthritis related knee pain. It may also help to bring down the frequency of headaches and prevent migraines.
Therefore, people suffering chronic pain conditions may consider acupuncture as an option in pain management, according to NIH. Researchers are slowly beginning to understand how acupuncture may impact the brain and body, and how such an impact can be measured. In terms of safety and side effects, scientific research shows that relatively few complications arising from the use of acupuncture have been reported.
However, it is important that the acupuncture treatment for pain management should be administered correctly. If not, it may lead to severe adverse effects, including punctured or collapsed organs, infections, and injuries to the central nervous system. Acupuncturist Drugan receives patients from Columbus, OH and nearby areas who need pain management solutions.
Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Effects
Acupuncture has both anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, which combine to create a potent pain management solution. Studies show that when acupuncture is used to treat a swollen arthritic knee joint, it is likely to result in reduced swelling and improved range of motion, apart from pain relief. These studies present objective of reduction in inflammation with acupuncture.
In Berman et al.’s landmark study conducted in 2004, which included 570 subjects, the patients received 25 acupuncture treatments over six months, starting with two treatments per week. The primary outcomes of the trial were measured for pain as well as function. Results showed a 40 percent decrease in the pain score from the baseline, and an almost 40 percent improvement in function was also recorded. No adverse effects of the treatment were attributed.
Osteoarthritis of the hip is one of the conditions that have shown to respond well to acupuncture in many cases. The treatment is also used to manage neuropathic pain of various etiologies. Generalized burning pain that follows a spinal cord injury can be treated effective with a specific acupuncture protocol. It involves insertion of three needles into the scalp along the midline at points close to the vertex and on the occiput, and another one between the brows.
This acupuncture protocol may be useful to treat neuropathic pain such as post-nerve injury pain, post-herpetic neuralgia, perineal burning pain, and burning mouth syndrome. Acupuncturist Drugan receives patients from in and around Columbus, OH for pain management and other conditions.
Pain Management in Serious Diseases
In one of the trials, acupuncture has shown to deliver major relief from severe neuropathic pain caused by spinal cancer in a UK hospice patient. Adequate data is not available about the benefits of acupuncture in managing neuropathic pain arising out of diabetes. However, neuropathic associated with drugs for HIV is known to respond significantly to acupuncture.
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.
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.
by urban-acupuncture | Jan 29, 2016 | Acupuncture
Headache and Migraine Treatment
Many researchers agree that acupuncture offers a better solution in preventing and treating headaches and migraines as compared to standard medical care. People suffering from recurring headaches and migraine can hope to find lasting relief and improve their quality of life with acupuncture treatments. Board certified acupuncturist Steve Drugan provides solutions for headaches and migraines to patients in and around Columbus, OH.
Relief from Headache
In acupuncture treatment, the provider will insert fine needles into pre-determined points on the body, followed by gentle stimulation of the needles. This stimulation can be performed manually or electrically. The treatment is designed to cause small blood vessels in the affected area of the head to dilate. This promotes blood circulation in the tissue, providing a relief from headaches.
When the treatment is received over a period of time, patients suffering from frequent headaches will tend to find lasting relief. For a normal headache, the acupuncture treatment process and the principle behind it will be similar to that of other pain management techniques involving acupuncture.
However, the traditional approach is not suitable for the treatment of migraines because the migraine pain may be related to blood vessel dilation in the head. Therefore, an increase in blood flow in these vessels may lead to a worsening of the problem. Acupuncturist Drugan receives patients from Columbus, OH and nearby areas for the treatment of headaches and migraines.
Relief from Migraines
Migraine treatment through acupuncture requires a unique approach. The acupuncturist will avoid points in the head, neck, and upper body areas for inserting the needles. Only the points in the lower body will be used in order to eliminate the risk of blood vessel dilation in the head. The patient is placed in a recumbent position rather than a prone position during this treatment. This position ensures that the dilation of blood vessels is minimized during the procedure.
Preventing Migraine Recurrence
Emotional stress is known to trigger migraines, and it usually affects individuals with an imbalanced autonomic nervous system. In this condition, the para-sympathetic or relaxed state is inhibited, while the sympathetic or stressed state is activated. Acupuncture techniques are aimed at activating the para-sympathetic nervous system in order to reduce muscle tension and prevent migraines. Target points on the lower legs and forearms are generally chosen to perform this procedure.
Many migraine patients also complain of heightened muscular tension in the upper back and neck. Therefore, the treatment provider may include minimizing this tension as an integral part of the migraine prevention plan. The acupuncturist will identify and treat the most reactive of the key diagnostic points to instantly improve the blood flow in tense and sore muscles.
Acupuncture needles may be stimulated with a low frequency electrical current of 1 Hz. This will help to further improve blood circulation in the affected muscle and tissue. The provider may also recommend certain lifestyle changes such as getting sufficient sleep, avoiding alcohol and caffeine, and avoiding or minimizing activities that cause physical or mental exhaustion.
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.
