As of April 2011, Kya Isaacs will be the new face of Moray Acupuncture. Operating out of Forres and Rafford, Kya is an experienced practitioner of both acupuncture and various forms of massage. She brings a great passion to her work as well as a clear focus.
Welcome, Kya!
Man with headache
Headaches are a common symptom – almost all of us will have had one at some point in our lives. However, for some people they can be chronic and debilitating. This short article explores whether acupuncture can be beneficial for headaches.
There are numerous types of common headaches, such as tension-type headaches, migraine headaches, cluster headaches and hormone headaches. These headaches are differentiated in Western medicine by their characteristic symptoms and behaviour.
Acupuncturists also characterise headaches by their symptoms and behaviour to assit in forming a diagnosis. As pain, according to Chinese medicine, is a symptom of an imbalance or blockage in a the flow of energy through the channels of the body, we consider which of the Meridians are implicated in the headache.
This provides an additional dimension to investigating and understanding the nature of headaches. For example, a sharp throbbing headache found at the temples and behind the eye (as seen in migraine) indicates an excess of energy in the Liver Meridian pathway. As the Liver Meridian passes through the stomach, nausea is often associated with this type of headache.
Acupuncture points are used to pacify this Meridian and in doing so the symptoms are alleviated. However, Chinese medicine goes one step further than this in trying to ascertain why the Liver channel is imbalanced in the first place. Treatment is also aimed at correcting the underlying cause in order to prevent the return of symptoms in the long run. Most acupuncturists will also provide dietary and lifestyle advice to assist in maintaining a healthy flow in the Liver Meridian (in this case).
An acupuncture study: “Acupuncture for chronic headache in primary care: large, pragmatic, randomised trial” published in the British medical Journal revealed that acupuncture leads to ‘persisting relevant benefits for primary-care patients with chronic headache, particularly with migraine.’ The study also revealed that acupuncture had long lasting effects, where severity of headaches was reduced nine months after acupuncture treatment had been stopped.
Widespread pain and fatigue are characteristic of fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterised by fatigue and widespread stiffness and aching in the muscles, tendons and ligaments. Other core symptoms are chronic sleep disturbances and hypersensitive pain response to pressure.
Fibromyalgia affects an estimated two per cent of the UK population and yet, until less than 20 years ago, it was not even recognised as a condition. The diagnosis of fibromyalgia is still controversial and it is not considered a disease by many scientists.
Some of the secondary symptoms commonly associated with the condition include irritable bowel and/or bladder, numbness and tingling of the limbs, chronic headaches, chest pain and cognitive disorders. Many patients describe periodic “fibrofogs”, where short and long-term memory and attention span becoming impaired. Depression, anxiety and confusion are also frequently linked to fibromyalgia.
Because of the psychological element of the illness, treatment often involves cognitive therapy as well as a combination of drugs and exercise. The long term prognosis for fibromyalgia is uncertain, with significantly varying results found from different studies.
Finding the specific causes of fibromyalgia has proved an elusive goal, contributing to the scepticism about its recognition as an independent disease. Possible causes include: hereditary factors; childhood stress; emotional trauma; viral or bacterial infection; and insomnia.
Recent research has shown those suffering from fibromyalgia may be unusually sensitive to pain responses in the brain. They have been found to have low levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which calm the perception of pain, and high levels of the excitory neurotransmitters, glutamate and substance P, have been found in the spinal fluid.
Because acupuncture has been found to stimulate the release of neurotransmitters and to mediate the perception of pain in the brain, it has the potential to directly rebalance some of the patho-physiological processes involved in fibromyalgia.
There are numerous studies showing how acupuncture may assist in the treatment of fibromyalgia. A random controlled trial by Martin et al (2006) from the Mayo clinic found that acupuncture significantly improved symptoms of fibromyalgia. Symptomatic improvement was not restricted to pain relief and was most significant for fatigue and anxiety. This study was based on six sessions of acupuncture.
New life bursts forth in spring
According to the Inner Classic of Chinese medicine written around 2,300 years ago, we can help to maintain a healthy lifestyle by living in harmony with the seasons.
The reality is that most of us follow the cycles of the seasons to a large extent anyway – it’s instinctive. We naturally tend to eat warmer foods in the winter and to spend more time tucked up out of the cold indoors. That said, a few simple pointers can help us to reassess our lives and perhaps take some small steps towards healthier living.
As the days get longer and the sun higher in the sky, we are advised to start rising earlier and to get out and do brisk exercise (walking is good!). This assists the body in breaking free of its winter sluggishness, burning off any excess weight and eliminating toxins left in the system.
If we pay close attention to our bodies, we may also find that we are naturally inclined to eat less during this period. By reducing our intake of food, we further help the body and mind to cleanse. Along the same lines, this can also be a beneficial time to fast for short periods (under the supervision of a qualified nutritional advisor).
Whilst winter is said to be a time of strong desires, where it is natural to eat foods richer in fats and salt, spring heralds the arrival of new life and fresh beginnings. We should adopt a peaceful approach to life and strive to avoid getting angry or impatient. Ideally, foods should be stir-fried or steamed in the spring to provide enough warmth to help support the digestive fire until the arrival of summer without overly heating the body.
Foods particularly recommended for this season include: green vegetables (which help to cleanse and move the Liver energy); the onion family (which help to cleanse the body, as well as moving stagnation and spreading the energy in the body); herbs such as mint, basil, marojoram, rosemary and fennel (which also move and lift the energy); and raw and sprouted foods (though these should be avoided by anyone who is especially sensitive to the cold).
On the other hand, overly heavy and/ or fatty meals should be avoided (because these cause the Liver energy to stagnate and generate heat in the body), as should salty foods (which cause the energy to sink). Where the Liver system becomes clogged, this can result in fevers during the spring. Other common symptoms include: mood swings, depression, impatience, irritablity and frustration.
Finally, the Inner Classic states that we should strive to relax at this time, (literally) to ‘let down our hair’ – which, frankly, doesn’t sound all that bad!
Asthmatic toddler using inhaler
Over 5.2 million people in the UK suffer with asthma. There are many factors that can be involved in the development of asthma, so it is often difficult to say for certain what the original cause was. However, risk factors include: genetic predisposition (family history); environmental factors (such as poor hygiene or pollutants); smoking during pregnancy (or childhood passive smoking); diet; long-term stress; and post viral infection.
From an acupuncturist’s perspective, asthma is due to an imbalance in the lung and/or kidney meridian and organ systems. The aim of treatment is to correct this imbalance
By strengthening the lung’s function, this boosts the immune system, helping to prevent the recurrence of viral infections (typically coughs and colds) that can trigger attacks and further weaken the lungs. If the energy in the lungs and chest can flow freely, this helps to prevent asthmatic symptoms arising, and also makes the body less susceptible to allergic reactions.
The kidney system assists the lungs in drawing full, deep breaths (diaphragmatic breathing) and also governs the fluids of the body, supplying vital moisture to the lungs. Where these functions are impaired, treatment is aimed at resolving this imbalance.
In general terms, Chinese medicine considers 3 broad types of asthma:
1. Congenital Childhood Asthma: this type of asthma usually starts in early childhood and is often accompanied by eczema. It is caused by a pre-birth weakness in the kidney organ and meridian system, which needs to be gradually strengthened over a period of months. Typically, the earlier the condition is treated, the easier it will be to treat.
2. Childhood Asthma Caused by Repeated Chest Infections: the recurrence of infections leads to a build up of deep-seated phlegm in the lungs, which disrupts the free movement of the chest and restricts the functioning of the lungs. This predisposes the child to further respiratory invasions, creating a vicious cycle. This type of asthma is usually easier to treat, as the problem is not as deeply rooted.
3. Late-Onset Asthma: this type of asthma can be caused by a number of factors, including: repeated respiratory infections, irregular diet, emotional strain and overwork. Ultimately, this diminishes the function of the kidney and lung systems. The amount of treatment required varies, depending on the type of imbalance, and its duration.
IBS is often characterised by painful abdominal cramps
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a condition that has become increasingly common over recent years. It is characterised by abnormal contractions of the intestinal muscles, which can produce abdominal pain, constipation and/or diarrhoea. Episodes may be triggered by stress, diet, hormones or drugs.
In simple terms, intestinal contractions are regulated by the nervous and endocrine (hormonal) systems acting on the muscular walls of the intestines. From a western perspective, acupuncture is thought to help IBS by interacting with and harmonizing the hormonal and nervous systems.
Acupuncturists primarily view IBS as an imbalance within the Spleen and Liver systems. The Spleen (a rough translation of the Chinese term ‘Pi’) is responsible for the ‘transformation and transportation’ of food. In short, it governs the enzymes in the digestive tract and assists the intestines in moving and also in absorbing nutrients from food.
When there is Spleen deficiency, common signs and symptoms may include soft or loose stools, muzzy head and tiredness. This organ-meridian system is often weakened through excessive mental activity (e.g. studying and/or worrying), irregular eating habits, and/or cold or mucus-forming foods, including raw foods, wheat and dairy products.
The Liver system ensures (amongst other things) the healthy movement of the muscles in the body (including the digestive tract) and in doing so aids the function of the Spleen. When the Liver system is out of balance, stagnation can occur, causing abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea and frustration. The most common factors leading to imbalance in this system are: lack of exercise, stress, high levels of toxins in the body and suppressed anger or resentment.
Acupuncture can be very successful in the treatment of IBS and is usually combined with dietary and lifestyle advice.