The confusion between dry needling and Acupuncture
There is constant confusion over the differences between dry needling and acupuncture from a patient’s point of view. I akin it to the difference between a “backyard” mechanic, and a fully trained mechanic. The backyard mechanic knows enough to fix a few problems but doesn’t have a deeper understanding of the workings of the vehicle he is trying to fix. Dry needling is a form of acupuncture performed largely by western health professionals such as osteopaths, myotherapists, chiropractors etc. They use what they’ve identified as “trigger points” in muscles to help relieve pain and relax the tissue. This falls under what the Chinese have for centuries called “ashi points”, basically meaning a tender point which isn’t a recognised acupuncture point. From a western medical perspective the approach is the same as with acupuncture, they know it works, but can’t explain how, they simply use identified “trigger points” to treat certain muscle groups. Chinese medicine however still uses their very comprehensive diagnostic method to diagnose musculoskeletal problems and formulate a treatment plan accordingly. Here in lies the problem with dry needling, for most they simply do a course spanning a few weekends and they are then allowed to needle. Chinese Medicine practitioners study for several years and undergo 400+ clinical hours before are qualified to needle the general public. Though I don’t believe any real harm can be done by dry needling, the public needs to be aware that they are not the same, and if dry needling didn’t achieve a satisfactory result, this doesn’t mean acupuncture won’t either. The case being that proper acupuncture will always achieve a better result than dry needling, simply due to the practitioner being better trained in the art and having a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanism at work. Attached is an article published by the Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association in regards to their opinion on “dry needling”.
Reduce fevers with Raspberry Jam
A simple old folk remedy, take one table spoon of good quality raspberry jam and dissolve in hot water to make a tea. Within 20min you should feel a sweat coming on. Jump under the covers and sweat out that nasty cold or flu. Traditionally Raspberry Leaves are used, but can be hard to come by, whereas a jar of jam can be stored away in the pantry and used whenever necessary.
Flaxseed oil helps reduce cholesterol and blood clots
A great source of antioxidants and Omega-3
Flaxseed has become the latest basic ingredient to receive a lot of attention in the medical community for its many health benefits. High in omega-3 fatty acids, it helps reduce the bad cholesterol in the blood (LDL) and in turn helps reduce the likelihood of blood clots developing. Recent studies have shown that adding flaxeed to your diet can help lower your cholesterol levels, and reduce hot flushes in menopausal women. It also contains lignans (an antioxidant) and aids digestion through being a good source of fibre. Since it is a natural blood thinner, you should consult your Doctor about adding it to your diet since it can interfere with certain blood thinning medications and supplements. For others though it is a great preventative measure to improve your long term health.
Fertility and bones, proving the ancient link
In Chinese medicine, the Kidneys play a large role in fertility. They store our Jing (Essence), which we use to create life. In men the essence is transferred in the sperm and in women the egg. One of the primary causes of infertility is a decline in the strength of our Kidney energy, which can result from many factors such as poor lifestyle or chronic illness. The Kidney Essence also plays a pivotal role in our development and growth, which is why the tissue that relates to them is Bone and the essence is also reflected in bone marrow. A recent study into male fertility has shown that the hormone osteocalcin (released from the bone) boosts testosterone which supports the survival of the sperm, hence improving fertility. Though this study deliberately ignores female fertility, it is possible this hormone may play a role in female fertility also. Slowly slowly modern science is providing further evidence to support age old chinese medicine theories…
Hay Fever Survival Tips
Though the rain this year has been great, its caused a terrible time for hay fever sufferers. Spring according to Chinese Medicine is a time of growth and renewal, which also means a lot of wind. Certain people are naturally susceptible to this element due a deficiency in their Wei Qi (akin the the immune system in Western Medicine). The wind gets lodged in the head and sinuses causing local blockages and irritation, which results in itchy nose/eyes etc. Similarly Western Medicine describes it as people who’s immune system abnormally reacts to the pollen in the air and brings about an allergic/inflammatory response. Though Acupuncture and herbs are very effective in alleviating the symptoms there are a few things to can do yourself to help manage and prevent attacks. Avoid eating larges amount of dairy and drinking red wine, as the dairy can increase nasal mucous and red wine can activate histamines which will make the symptoms worse. Increasing your vitamin C can help as it acts as a natural anti-histamine. Another very effective method is nasal irrigation using a Neti Pot. This physically flushes the pollen out of the nasal cavity. Though some may find it a not so pleasant experience, irrigating the sinuses with a saline like solution is harmless and one of the best ways to help ease this allergy.
Chinese Medicine can help prevent Cervical Dysplasia
Infections caused by variants of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a leading cause of the development of cancerous cells in the cervix. Many women are tested each year and found to have precursor cancer cells developing. A recent study showed that stress does affect how these HPV cells develop in women, as stress weakens the immune system’s ability to fight off the HPV virus. From a Chinese medicine perspective, these types of disorders are caused by disruption to the Liver’s energy flow (which is often affected by perverse emotions) which rules the reproductive organs. Since Acupuncture is very effective in reducing the affects stress has on the body (as well as boosting the immune system) it can help control and even prevent such disorders developing, and in turn protect the cervix from developing dangerous precursor cancer cells. A copy of the journal article can be downloaded here (198kb).
The Importance of Regular Maintenance
In ancient texts it was always written that a practitioner should treat people while they are healthy to prevent illness ever occurring. This of course was during a time when communities were much smaller and the practitioner knew and saw everyone regularly, so symptoms and illnesses were spotted early. Now days communities are much larger and people only seek treatment when they have already fallen ill, or have had an ailment for an extended period of time. Sadly many of these conditions could be avoided if people looked after their bodies in a similar manner we cared for our vehicles.
We service our cars to try and prevent them breaking down, which has many long term benefits; It increases the longevity of the vehicle, decreases the chances of faults occurring -which reduces long term expenses, and the vehicle runs more efficiently. This theory also applies to our health, keeping our body’s well maintained will decrease our chance of falling ill as well as improve our quality of life. This means less expenses in the long run, as fewer doctor visits will be needed, which means fewer drugs, less time off work, and more time and energy to do the things you really want to do. Chinese Medicine is proven to be able to keep you both physically and mentally strong. This means your ability to cope with life’s daily stresses is improved which further reduces your chances of falling ill.
Though western medicine cannot yet prove it, much research points to the idea that many diseases have an emotional root, which is a concept that has existed in Chinese Medicines for a thousand years. Your health is a very precious commodity, one which cannot be fully replenished if damaged severely. In the grand scheme of life, many of the forces which impact on our health can easily be avoided or cancelled out by simply having some form of regular maintenance. Whether it be bi-monthly acupuncture treatments, or weekly yoga and meditation classes, simple little practices can make a huge difference to the quality of your life in the long term.
