Posts Tagged ‘chronic prostatitis’
Featured in British Journal of Urology
Mar 6, 2012
I wanted to share recent article in BJUI which I am interviewed about integrative urology and acupuncture for Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome. Acupuncture is gaining acceptance in urology.
How to Choose Acupuncture Points?
Feb 29, 2012
Patients in my New York Acupuncture clinic are always curious how acupuncturists choose the correct acupuncture points. There are a number of ways to choose the acupuncture points.
The basic idea with acupuncture is to correct the underlying imbalance in the body. This can help to stimulate the body to heal itself. We acupuncturists will determine the imbalance by our examination. For example, if there is lack of circulation of the energy, what we call qi stagnation, we’ll choose points to move the qi. A common combination for moving the qi is Liv 3 and LI 4.
I find that acupuncture is most effective by changing the focus of the treatment overtime. At first, we may focus on releasing tension in the muscles, this is called moving qi and blood stagnation. But over time it may become more important to focus on boosting up the qi to support the overall health. This is often true in the acupuncture treatment of chronic prostatitis.
There are also points which are chosen based on the location of the illness. Pain on the urinary bladder channel ,which travels up the back, can be treated with acupuncture points on the urinary bladder channel located on the legs such as UB 40 or UB 60. These points can help with the treatment of chronic pelvic pain syndrome, chronic low back pain, and sciatica.
Acupuncturists will also search out for specifically painful areas at the location of the pain. In Chinese these are called ashi points. In English this means “ouch points.” Often, they may be referred to as trigger points in the West. Acupuncture will help to release these areas of pain to relax the muscle, increase circulation, and reduce pain. Trigger points are very important in the acupuncture treatment of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
Acupuncturists also may use a specific point because we know that it is clinically effective. For example, using PC 6 acupuncture point for nausea has been shown time and time again to reduce many types of nausea. Because we know this works through clinical experience, we call this an empirical point.
Every acupuncturist has their own style. We develop these through training, our personal interests, and clinical experience.
Electro-Acupuncture for Pain Relief
Jan 30, 2012
Acupuncture is a constantly evolving art. Electro-acupunctrue was only developed within the last 100 years. Electro-acupuncture is used to augment the pain relieving and anti-inflammatory aspects of acupuncture
Electro-acupuncture stimulator
Electro-acupuncture is very similar to regular acupuncture. That is the acupuncture point selection is generally the same and the treatment time is also similar. Electro-acupuncture provides additional small amount electric stimulation to the acupuncture needles. The electric stimulation enhances muscle relaxation, the release of natural pain killers in the body, as well as decreases inflammation.
Electro-acupuncture is most often used for chronic pain and inflammatory conditions. The pain relief with electro-acupuncture can be so dramatic it has been used for certain types of surgery in China.
History of Electro-acupuncture
Electro-acupuncture for pain, much like other medical discoveries, was somewhat of an accident. In the early 20th century, acupuncture doctors were looking for a way to enhance bone healing by adding electrical current to an acupuncture treatment.
While it did not speed the bone healing, the physicians found it worked wonderfully for pain relief. A new therapy in the long history of acupuncture was born.
How to use Electro-acupuncture
There are many choices when using the electroacupuncture. This is where the art and skill of the acupuncture technique comes into play.
Electro-acupuncture leads
The first is what points to put the leads on. Each lead has 2 clips. You can put them on two acupuncture points that are relatively close together if you want to focus on relaxing a specific region of the body, such as the lower back. Or you can put them farther away if you want to increase circulation in the channels. It is important to place the leads ipsilaterally, that is only one side of the body and not cross the spine.
Then one chooses the frequency. Generally, I use a lower frequency between 4hz and 10hz. This is because the low frequency has been shown to decrease both pain and inflammation (1). The higher frequency, such as 100hz or 200 hz can be powerful for reducing pain, but not as much reduction of inflammation.
After the points and the frequency for electro-acupuncture have been selected I will turn the simulator on. We gradually increase the amplitude of the each lead until the patient gently feels a light tapping. The body generally adjusts and you feel the tapping only for a few minutes.
Success is in the details: How to select frequency
Frequencies can be changed in order to focus on different types of pain. This can be useful for a short stimulation for acute muscle spasm. Or it can help someone who has been experiencing chronic pain with persistent pain or partial relief some lower frequencies, I will use a higher frequencies of electro-acupuncture to stop the pain.
For example, recently I was working with a patient with chronic pelvic pain syndrome. After 2 months of treatment with acupuncture and electro-acupuncture, we were able to reduce the pain to less than half of the initial pain levels. But there was a persistent low level of pain remaining.
I changed from low frequency to high level frequency electro-acupuncture at 200hz on lower back and pelvic regions using acupuncture points such as Bladder 23, Bladder 35, and Gall Bladder 30 for 10 minute treatment. After 3 weeks of this additional treatment, the pain was reduced to almost nothing.
References:
1. Lixin Lao section on electro-acupuncture for pain relief in review article. For full article, please see
Napadow V, Ahn A, Longhurst J, et.al. The Status and Future of Acupuncture Mechanism Research. J Altern Complement Med. 2008 September; 14(7): 861–869.
Conditions
Oct 5, 2011
Below is in-depth information about conditions we commonly treat. No list can be complete. If you do not see your concern please call and ask us about it.
Many of the diseases on this list are linked to articles we’ve written.
Pain:
- Chronic pain
- Arthritis
- Chronic low back pain
- Neck pain
- Knee pain
- Shoulder pain
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Sciatica
- Fibromyalgia
- Frozen Shoulder
- Tendonitis
- Neuropathy
Skin Conditions:
- Acne
- Psoriasis
- Eczema
- Atopic eczema
- Pompholyx eczema
- Nummular Eczema
- Perioral Dermatitis
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Hives
- Rosacea
Urology Conditions:
- Chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome
- Overactive bladder
- Interstital cystitis
- Bladder Spasms
- Frequent Urination
- Post Prostate Cancer Recovery
- Erectile Dysfunction
Headaches:
Wellbeing:
Respiratory Health:
- Seasonal Allergies
- Asthma
- Chronic Bronchitis
- Frequent colds
- Smoking Cessation
Women’s Health:
- Infertility
- Acupuncture for IVF
- Endometriosis
- Fibroids
- Painful and Irregular Cycles
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
- Hotflashes
Digestive Health:
- Poor Digestion
- Constipation
- Nausea and morning sickness
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
Chronic Prostatitis/ Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome
Oct 1, 2011
Joseph Alban, M.S., L.Ac, was recently featured in the British Journal of Urology International for acupuncture treatment of Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome.
Men with Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS), or Chronic Prostatitis Category III, suffer from pelvic pain, painful, frequent, urgent, or difficult urination, as well as sexual dysfunction. The pain can be intense or dull and is generally located in the between the testicles and anus, in the penis, scrotum, lower back, or the lower abdomen. These symptoms can be severe and affect all aspects of your life, resulting in depression, lost work and educational opportunities, and trouble in relationships. CPPS is the most common form of chronic prostatitis.
What Causes Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome?
The exact cause of Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome is not entirely understood. Prostatitis was originally thought to be caused by inflammation caused by a bacterial infection. But many men have symptoms without an infection (1) Some men who have CPPS symptoms do not even have any inflammation. Some physicians believe that CPPS may be caused by referred pain from muscle tightness in the pelvis and back, contracture of smooth muscle such as the bladder, emotional stress, and inflammation after an infection. Intrapelvic congestion of fluids may also be a factor (2).
How does acupuncture help treat Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome?
Treating CPPS requires a holistic approach addressing that naturally corrects the underlying cause of the pain and distress. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine provide a holistic approach to healing and are effective treatments to relieve the pain, improve sexual function, and decrease urinary problems, as well as relief depression associated with Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome. Acupuncture is also a natural treatment, so as opposed to many of the medications for CPPS, there are very few side effects.
In fact, Chinese medicine’s 2000 years of history could possibly make it the most used treatment for Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome of all time. In one of Chinese medicine’s earliest text called Elementary Questions, TCM has described the diagnosis and treatment many syndromes characterized by painful, frequent, and urgent urination with pain and distention of the lower abdomen and pelvis (3). Of course, this syndrome was not called Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome or Chronic Prostatitis at the time. But the practice of Chinese medicine has shown that those same principles of diagnosis and treatment are effective when applied to the symptoms caused by Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome.
Traditional Chinese Medicine has a holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment, identifying specific imbalances in the body and using acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and acupressure to correct them. Correcting the imbalance does not just treat the symptoms or mask the condition, but rather corrects the root of the problem by encouraging self-healing of the body. Generally, the root cause of painful urination, voiding difficulties, and depression is an imbalance of the body’s vital energy, or qi. The two most common imbalances in qi that cause CPPS are when there is too little qi or when the qi circulation becomes impaired. One way acupuncture and Chinese herbs work is by helping to improve the circulation and the amount of qi.
Those with too little qi may experience the symptoms of poor digestion, bloating, loose and sticky stools, fatigue, shortness of breath, sinus headaches, soft voice, cold limbs, a weak pulse, and pale tongue. Qi stagnation, when the qi is not circulating well, can also cause pain. Those with qi stagnation will often get a cold after a stressful or emotional situation. They also may be prone to headaches, irregular bowel movements, ribside pain, irritability, anger, and depression.
Physiological, acupuncture works to reduce pain and inflammation through regulating neural pain pathways, stimulating the release of natural pain relievers in the body, such as opioids, as well as regulating pain relieving opioid receptors. Many studies have also shown acupuncture to have a anti-inflammatory effect, reducing the circulating inflammatory hormones in the blood (4).
What is the Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine treatment like for Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome?
Chinese medicine works best as a combination therapy that includes acupuncture, tui na (acupressure), and other therapies such as cupping. Chinese herbs are also effective and may be required for certain people. Acupuncture diagnosis and treatment focuses on identifying the specific root imbalance causing the condition and tailoring the treatment for you.
During the first visit, I will complete a medical history and an in depth physical examination, which focuses on an examination of acupuncture points and trigger points of the hips and pelvis. This information creates the picture of the specific imbalance causing the problem.
Acupuncture is most effective through a treatment course. The treatment should decrease pain and urinary complaints, and improvement in sexual function. Many men find rapid relief, within a week or two of beginning the treatment. For others, it may take longer to have an effect. Generally, patients come in for acupuncture once to twice a week depending on the severity, and gradually get acupuncture less frequently. The treatment generally lasts 3-4 months.
The pain and other symptoms are gradually lessened. It is like peeling off the layers of an onion until you correct the root cause of the problem. The results are usually long lasting and patents have few symptoms.
Read More about Acupuncture for Chronic Prostatitis and Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome:
- Electro-acupuncture for Chronic Prostatitis
- Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: Chronic Prostatitis without an Infection
- Research on Acupuncture for Chronic Prostatitis
References:
1. Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (Current Clinical Urology)
2. Honjo H, Kamoi K., Naya Y, et al. The Effects if Acupuncture for Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome with Intravenous Congestion: Preliminary Results. International Journal of Urology. 2004 Aug; 11(8): 607-612.
3. Wiseman N, Feng Y. A Practical Dictionary of Chinese Medicine
4. Napadow V, Ahn A, Longhurst J, et.al. The Status and Future of Acupuncture Mechanism Research. J Altern Complement Med. 2008 September; 14(7): 861–869.
Written by Joseph Alban.
updated 10/12/2011
Integrative Urology
Jan 21, 2011
Integrative urology is essential. The field of integrative medicine is about how to best combine mainstream medicine and alternative medicine. It is essential because many people live with urologic conditions, such as chronic pelvic pain syndrome, chronic prostatitis, interstitial cystitis, and overactive bladder, without help. This impacts their work, education, social life, and overall wellbeing.
I have helped many people with these conditions in my New York acupuncture clinic. The acupuncture and Chinese medicine approach works to correct imbalances that are causing the condition. Mostly, urologic conditions are caused from inhibition of circulation and weakness of energy.
Here are the best posts about how acupuncture can help interstitial cystitis, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, chronic prostatitis, overactive bladder, and recovery from prostate cancer surgery.
Interstitial Cystitis
- What is Interstitial Cystitis?
- Acupuncture’s Approach for Interstital Cystitis
- Acupuncture for Interstital Cystitis
Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome
- More Research on Acupuncture for Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome
- Electroacupuncture works for Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome
- Chronic Prostatitis Without and Infection
- Acupuncture for Chronic Prostatitis and Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome
Overactive Bladder
Incontinence following Prostate Cancer Surgery
The Best Acupuncturist in New York
Mar 6, 2009
Who is the best Acupuncturist in New York City?
This is a great question, but impossible question to answer. Just like there is no one best physician for every condition, there is no best acupuncturist for every health concern. It is really about finding the best acupuncturist for your needs. There are a few questions to consider.
1. What is their Education and Experience?
Education and experience are obviously important factor for being a good clinician and acupuncturist.
After finishing Touro’s Graduate Program in Oriental Medicine, which is a 4 years master’s degree, I continued on to a postgraduate training in China at the Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. When I came back to become an NYC Acupuncturist, I received a National Institutes of Health research training grant in the Pediatric Immunology Department of Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
This education was very intensive, covering hundreds of acupuncture points, herbs, and herbal formulations. I also had unique and extensive training in acupressure and Tui na (Chinese medical massage), learning techniques and treatments that other acupuncturists don’t know.
In 2012 I graduated form the Avicenna Diploma in Chinese Medicine Dermatology in London taught by world renown Chinese Medicine Dermatologist Mazin Al-Khafaji.
My experience and training provided an opportunity to develop a specialty in treatment of pain, chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, interstitial cystitis, and dermatology.
2. What is their Specialty?
Find our where your acupuncturist has special training in any specific area.
While I worked in China and through my postgraduate training I developed a specialties in a few specific areas.
- Treating and managing chronic pain: shoulder and neck pain, frozen shoulder, migraine, sinus headaches, back pain, sciatica, knee pain
- Skin Conditions: acne, eczema, psoriasis, hives, and shingles.
- Integrative Urology: Interstitial Cystitis, Chronic Prostatitis , Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome, and prostate surgery recovery.
- Immunology: Asthma and Sinusitis.
If you are looking for someone who is an expert on issues of pregnancy or mental health, I would recommend my colleague Jessica Yunker. If you are looking for facial rejuvenation acupuncture, then call Jessica Silver. And if you would like support in Cancer Care, you should contact my good friend and colleague Kejian Xiao.
3. Do you like their bedside manner?
Communication is important with your health care provider is very important. Your practitioner should listen to you with patience and compassion and you should feel comfortable asking them to explain their honest opinion about the treatment outcomes and assessment.
4. What do their patients think about them?
You should ask around with your friends and family to see if anyone knows a good acupuncturist. If none of your friends know anyone. You can also look at their website , see if they have a lot of reviews and testimonials.
If you’re interested, click here for my reviews and testimonials.
5. Do they offer free consultations?
Your acupuncturist should be open to discuss your health concerns and situation before you commit to treatment. This will help assure you that Chinese medicine is the right choice for you as not everyone is familiar with the benefits of acupuncture treatment. We are happy to schedule a telephone consultation.
To schedule an appointment, please call us at 917.887.4946 or request an appointment through e-mail.
This post was updated May 17th 2013.
Chronic Prostatitis Without an Infection
Jan 16, 2009
Chronic prostatitis sounds like it is a chronic bacterial infection of the prostate. But in fact most men that have chronic prostatitis symptoms do not have any bacteriaal infection. This is called Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS) and is classified as Chronic Prostatitis Category III. CPPS is the most common form of chronic prostatitis.
If you have Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome then you can suffer from generalized pelvic pain, urinary problems, and sexual dysfunction. Urination can be painful, frequent, urgent, or inhibited urination. The pain can be intense or dull. It can be located on the pelvic floor, in the genitals, lower back, the lower abdomen, in the back of the legs, or other areas. CPPS affects every aspect of your life causing depression, lost work, and difficulty in relationships.
The exact cause of Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome is not entirely understood. Of course, Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis is caused by a bacterial infection. But men with CPPS have symptoms without an infection. Some men who have CPPS symptoms have inflammation, but most in fact do not have any inflammation. It is possible that CPPS is caused by referred pain from muscle tightness throughout the pelvis and back. Contracture of smooth muscle such as the bladder may lead to the frequent and or painful urination. Emotional stress is also important. Stress causes muscles to become tight and spasm. This can cause a significant amount of pain.
Is there a treatment for CPPS?
Yes, there is. Although they are often prescribed, antibiotics are not effective because CPPS is not caused by bacteria. Manual therapies, combining both western physiology and massage and eastern theories of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, is perhaps the most powerful way to address this condition.
These holistic treatments will naturally corrects the underlying cause of the disease and provide a holistic approach to healing. Traditional Chinese Medicine works by identifying specific imbalances in the body and using acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and acupressure to correct them. Correcting the imbalance does not just treat the symptoms or mask the condition, but rather corrects the root of the problem by encouraging self-healing of the body.
Massage and trigger point stimulation helps the acupuncture to relax the muscles of the hips and pelvis. Sometimes electric stimulation is needed to help relax the muscles of the pelvis. The results of a combination treatment are long lasting. Relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, tai ji, or yoga should also be done to relieve stress and prevent tension from returning.
Acupuncture for Chronic Prostatitis Category III: Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome
Jan 12, 2009
Joseph Alban, M.S., L.Ac, was recently featured in the British Journal of Urology International for acupuncture treatment of Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome. (updated May 1st, 2013)
Men with Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS), or Chronic Prostatitis Category III, suffer from pelvic pain, painful, frequent, urgent, or difficult urination, as well as sexual dysfunction. The pain can be intense or dull and is generally located on the pelvic floor, in the genitals, lower back, or the lower abdomen. These symptoms can be severe and affect all aspects of your life, resulting in depression, lost work and educational opportunities, and trouble in relationships. CPPS is the most common form of chronic prostatitis.
What Causes Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome?
The exact cause of Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome is not entirely understood. Prostatitis was originally thought to be caused by inflammation caused by a bacterial infection. But many men have symptoms without an infection (1) Some men who have CPPS symptoms do not even have any inflammation. Some physicians believe that CPPS may be caused by referred pain from muscle tightness in the pelvis and back, contracture of smooth muscle such as the bladder, emotional stress, and inflammation after an infection. Intrapelvic congestion of fluids may also be a factor (2).
How does acupuncture help treat Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome?
Treating CPPS requires a holistic approach addressing that naturally corrects the underlying cause of the pain and distress. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine provide a holistic approach to healing and are effective treatments to relieve the pain, improve sexual function, and decrease urinary problems, as well as relief depression associated with Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome. Acupuncture is also a natural treatment, so as opposed to many of the medications for CPPS, there are very few side effects.
In fact, Chinese medicine’s 2000 years of history could possibly make it the most used treatment for Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome of all time. In one of Chinese medicine’s earliest text called Elementary Questions, TCM has described the diagnosis and treatment many syndromes characterized by painful, frequent, and urgent urination with pain and distention of the lower abdomen and pelvis (3). Of course, this syndrome was not called Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome or Chronic Prostatitis at the time. But the practice of Chinese medicine has shown that those same principles of diagnosis and treatment are effective when applied to the symptoms caused by Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome.
Traditional Chinese Medicine has a holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment, identifying specific imbalances in the body and using acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and acupressure to correct them. Correcting the imbalance does not just treat the symptoms or mask the condition, but rather corrects the root of the problem by encouraging self-healing of the body. Generally, the root cause of painful urination, voiding difficulties, and depression is an imbalance of the body’s vital energy, or qi. The two most common imbalances in qi that cause CPPS are when there is too little qi or when the qi circulation becomes impaired. One way acupuncture and Chinese herbs work is by helping to improve the circulation and the amount of qi.
Those with too little qi may experience the symptoms of poor digestion, bloating, loose and sticky stools, fatigue, shortness of breath, sinus headaches, soft voice, cold limbs, a weak pulse, and pale tongue. Qi stagnation, when the qi is not circulating well, can also cause pain. Those with qi stagnation will often get a cold after a stressful or emotional situation. They also may be prone to headaches, irregular bowel movements, ribside pain, irritability, anger, and depression.
Physiological, acupuncture works to reduce pain and inflammation through regulating neural pain pathways, stimulating the release of natural pain relievers in the body, such as opioids, as well as regulating pain relieving opioid receptors. Many studies have also shown acupuncture to have a anti-inflammatory effect, reducing the circulating inflammatory hormones in the blood (4).
What is the Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine treatment like for Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome?
Chinese medicine works best as a combination therapy that includes acupuncture, tui na (acupressure), and other therapies such as cupping. Chinese herbs are also effective and may be required for certain people. Acupuncture diagnosis and treatment focuses on identifying the specific root imbalance causing the condition and tailoring the treatment for you.
During the first visit, I will complete a medical history and an in depth physical examination, which focuses on an examination of acupuncture points and trigger points of the hips and pelvis. This information creates the picture of the specific imbalance causing the problem.
Acupuncture is most effective through a treatment course. The treatment should decrease pain and urinary complaints, and improvement in sexual function. Many men find rapid relief, within a week or two of beginning the treatment. For others, it may take longer to have an effect. Generally, patients come in for acupuncture once to twice a week depending on the severity, and gradually get acupuncture less frequently. The treatment generally lasts 3-4 months.
The pain and other symptoms are gradually lessened. It is like peeling off the layers of an onion until you correct the root cause of the problem. The results are usually long lasting and patents have few symptoms.
References:
1. Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (Current Clinical Urology)
2. Honjo H, Kamoi K., Naya Y, et al. The Effects if Acupuncture for Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome with Intravenous Congestion: Preliminary Results. International Journal of Urology. 2004 Aug; 11(8): 607-612.
3. Wiseman N, Feng Y. A Practical Dictionary of Chinese Medicine
4. Napadow V, Ahn A, Longhurst J, et.al. The Status and Future of Acupuncture Mechanism Research. J Altern Complement Med. 2008 September; 14(7): 861–869.
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