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Is Acupuncture Hocus Pocus?

acupuncture on back“I used to think that acupuncture was hocus pocus.  But now I am happy I tried,” a once skeptical now relieved patient said to me.

People new to acupuncture are sometimes wary because they think it’s magical.  But after experiencing an acupuncture treatment, they usually feel very different.  This is because acupuncture relaxes the body, decreases pain, and regulates the nervous system, so you physically feel different after an acupuncture treatment.

Research has shown that acupuncture works by regulating pain relieving chemicals in the brain , modifying pain patterns within the nervous system, as well as stimulating the release

… Read More
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Chronic Prostatitis Without an Infection

Acupuncture MeridiansChronic 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 bacterial 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. The pain can be intense or dull. It can be located on the pelvic floor, in the genitals, … Read More

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Acupuncture for muscle rehabilitation

man runningMany people find it hard to recover from an injury even with rounds of therapy. Stellar athletes, weekend warriors, people working in an office with with repetitive stress injuries,  and older individuals can all have problems recovering from an injury.  Many of my patients have tried dozens of therapies before finding their way to our acupuncture office.

Electro-acupuncture has a unique effect to help individuals who have stubborn injuries and chronic pain. Not only does acupuncture reduce pain and inflammation, but acupuncture also stimulates the growth of muscle tissue.

In a report at the Experimental Biology 2012 meeting suggests that … Read More

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Acupuncture Treats Depression

blog feeling better -1Acupuncture is a holistic medicine which works to treat both the mind and the body.  Acupuncture is very effective at treating depression without medications or side effects.  Recently, a new study shows that acupuncture treatment for depression not only works quickly but also has long lasting results.

In this study, 755 patients were given acupuncture, psychological counseling, or standard care which is depression medications. After only 3 months with an average of 10 visits, the depression levels in the acupuncture group were significantly less than in the group that took medications. This reduction in depression was not only fast but … Read More

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Acupressure for constipation

Constipation is an all too common issue causing discomfort, pain, frustration, and stress. (1) Digestion is central to health and wellbeing.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), healthy digestion is central to overall health.  We obtain nutrients and energy, the Qi of the food, for all of our body’s activities through digestion. In TCM terms, the stomach’s digestive Qi extracts energy from food in order to make Qi for the heart, brain, muscles, and other organs to function properly.

In my acupuncture clinic, I have helped many people with chronic constipation.  I find that a combination of multiple therapies is the … Read More

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Acupuncture reduces itch in atopic eczema

Atopic eczema causes profound itching.  Often the itching is the first sign of the condition and scratching leads to the inflammation.

A recent research report examined acupuncture treatment of itch in atopic dermatitis (1).  This study was quite sophisticated.  They compared acupuncture versus antihistamine treatment to reduce itching.  They also compared acupuncture and antihistamine to an acupuncture and an antihistamine placebo.  Finally, they looked at if acupuncture was better for preventing the itch or treating the active itching.

The acupuncture was stronger than the antihistamine in its ability to reduce itching.  In fact, the acupuncture was the only clinically relevant … Read More

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Bladder Spasms

The bladder can have a mind of its own. Normally, the bladder relaxes as it fills and contracts only when you need to urinate. Bladder spasms can occur when the bladder muscles suddenly contract causing a sudden need to urinate.  In some people this can also cause pain.

The symptoms of bladder spasms can be intense, impacting your work, education, and social life. Bladder spasms can occur in overactive bladder, interstitial cystitis, and other conditions.

Acupuncture is an excellent way to reduce bladder spasms. Acupuncture works by resetting the body to be healthy and allowing the bladder to … Read More

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The Healing Process

I like to say that the acupuncture healing process is like hitting the reset switch.  It works in the body to correct once healthy pathways that were knocked off kilter.

There is a process to getting to the root cause of the issue in order to reset the body.  Like peeling off layers to get to to the core issue.

Many patients come to me with intense symptoms, often severe pain. The first goal is to reduce the pain to make them comfortable.  Then we work on correcting the root issue causing the pain which can lead to long term … Read More

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How Long is an Acupuncture Treatment

Acupuncturists have a choice in terms of how long the acupuncture treatment is. Different times have different clinical effects.

Most often, the acupuncture needles are retained in the acupuncture points for 20-30 minutes.  Traditionally we say it takes 30 minutes for the qi, the body’s energy, to circulate in the channels.

But if it is an acute situation, such as a back spasm, it is generally better to leave the acupuncture needles in for 15 minutes or less.  This is because the muscles will relax quicker in an acute injury like a back spasm.

When the energy is weak, what … Read More

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Acupressure Class Tonight

acupressureMy class Acupressure for Self Healing at the New York Open Center starts Tonight, Monday, June 6th.

Register here at the The New York Open Center.

What is acupressure?

  • Acupressure is a traditional Chinese healing art in which physical pressure is applied to acupuncture points with the hand (rather than with needles as in acupuncture), so it can be practiced by everyone.

How does acupressure work?

  • Acupressure can helps to circulate and balance our qi (energy) to improve our overall health and wellness or help address specific conditions

What will I learn in the class?

  • This course will introduce you
… Read More