Alexandria acupuncture | Washington DC acupuncture | Virginia acupuncture

Are You Stuck in First Gear?

admin — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 21:11:29 +0000

Imagine you are driving down the road with your gas pedal to the floor. Your car runs great and gets you to where you need to be.
All is good.
But then you look around and notice that everyone else is whizzing right by you. Determined to keep up with those around you, you take your car into the shop and
have the mechanic give it a good once-over. The mechanic finds that while you have been getting to where you need to be, you have been doing so while driving in only one gear. In actuality, he discovers that your car has an entire set of gears that have never even been utilized!
Many people live out their lives the same way; stuck in first gear and never living up to their full potential; not quite hurting, but definitely not at their best. The problem
is that while most people realize that they simply are not living up to par, they don’t
know how to access their hidden gearbox to take their health to the next level.

These are the people that need to be under acupuncture care! The old misconception that acupuncture care is just for those in pain or battling symptoms is quickly being exposed for the fallacy that it is. Those who get the most out of their acupuncture treatments are the ones who take their care beyond the relief phase and work with their acupuncturist to maintain lifelong health and wellness.

The true essence of acupuncture actually has nothing to do with the treatment of pain and symptoms. Acupuncture treatments remove meridian system blockages by detecting and
correcting imbalances in the meridian system. Symptoms are relieved as a
byproduct of building a healthier body. A blockage within the meridian system, ones that are continually out of balance, will never allow the body to run at maximum speed and
efficiency. The blockage and imbalance in effect acts as a governor on your body’s engine, limiting it to a certain speed that it can’t rise above.

You are not designed to sputter through life in first gear. You are created to live all out at full throttle. Settle for any less and you not only short-change yourself, but also
those who depend upon you. Your meridian system is housing a whole new set of gears that most of us never even tap into. By unleashing the full scope of your body’s innate potential, acupuncture can help you take your health and your life to unparalleled heights.

How can I benefit from Chinese Herbs?

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:06:07 +0000

It may come as a surprise to know that in China, herbs are usually prescribed to patients before acupuncture is given. Many people are nervous about taking Chinese herbs because of concerns with quality and safety. In reality, Chinese herbs have a very low toxicity level, and are usually even safer than common medicines you would buy over-the-counter. It is rare to have any side effects from them at all. We also ensure that the herbs we sell in our practice are safe according to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards.

Another great benefit to Chinese herbal medicine is that formulas can be made to fit each individual patient, whereas Western drugs often have a ‘one drug fits all’ mentality, which just doesn’t work for everyone. In fact, when we see patients in our clinic, many of them are coming in with complaints that stem from side effects of Western drugs. There is definitely a time and a place for Western drugs, as they can help save lives in many cases. However, many issues can be alleviated with Chinese herbs alone, or in conjunction with acupuncture treatments. In most cases where patients are taking prescription drugs, Chinese herbs can be added in to further help without any worry of interaction.

Chinese herbs can help with many different issues that people have, from acute colds or aches and sprains, to more chronic problems such as degenerative diseases, migraines, menopausal symptoms, infertility, anxiety, allergies, and many more.

In our clinic we provide herbs in the forms of capsules or granules, depending on which is most convenient for the patient. Granules are mixed with a few ounces of water to drink down 2-3 times a day, and can often be a bit stronger than capsules. However, for busy on-the-go patients, we are happy to provide herbs in capsule form, which is still very beneficial.

It is important to note that Chinese herbs are not regulated in the state of Virginia, meaning anyone with an acupuncture license with no training in herbs can prescribe them. We have taken a 27 month long Post Baccalaureate program certifying us in Chinese herbal medicine, and are currently studying for the National board exams.

We are happy to answer any other questions that you may have about Chinese medicine, and how it can help you. Feel free to call us at 703-370-1077, or email at Stephanie@acupuncturenova.com or Linda@acupuncturenova.com. Please visit our website at www.acupuncturenova.com for more information about Chinese medicine and our practice in general.

Acupuncture and Pain Management

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:05:16 +0000

Okay, okay, I know what you’re thinking. How is putting a needle, something that I think will hurt me, into my foot, going to stop my head from hurting? It’s a reasonable question. Before I started practicing acupuncture I asked the same question. But the reality is that acupuncture and Chinese Medicine have helped thousands of people manage and in most cases eliminate their pain where nearly all other types of therapies-mainly pharmaceutical, have failed. And it has done this without the side effects that come from traditional therapies.

Acupuncture works by utilizing a system of meridians that correlate to the systems of nerves and blood vessels in the body. By knowing where these meridians flow, an acupuncturist can activate the circulation of blood and regulate the nervous system, which will in turn reduce pain. For example, there is a meridian that starts in the head, and runs all the way down the side of the body into the foot. So if a point on the foot is treated on the foot, it will relieve pain in the head.

Imagine a small stream in the middle of a lush forest. If some careless hikers come and dump a bunch of garbage into that stream, it will clump together and block the flow of the water. And if the water does not flow, then the plants and small pools at the end of the stream will not get enough water, and the entire ecosystem will be disrupted and eventually die off. If I clear the stream of this garbage, then flow will be restored, and the ecosystem will once again thrive. The saying in Chinese Medicine is that “if there is no circulation pain will result, and if there is pain, there is a lack of circulation.”

Pain is caused by the brain recognizing something is not quite right, and that immediate attention should be paid to this problem. Now the problem may have started long ago, but when pain is experienced, it is a signal that it has become so severe, that if it is not corrected, the function of the body may be in jeopardy. Now the brain also knows that if you are in so much pain that you can’t move or think, then you can’t take steps to correct the problem in the body, and so the brain triggers the release of natural pain relieving chemicals into the blood stream to help us cope with the pain. Acupuncture abides with this natural response to dysfunction in two ways. First it will directly affect the muscles and blood vessels which may be too tight or constricted, and cause a decrease in circulation to the tissues. And secondly, it will assist in the release of these natural painkillers that help regulate pain. So acupuncture both relieves the pain itself, and the underlying cause of it.

Yes, an acupuncturist is putting a needle into your body, and that sounds painful. But the needles used are only about as thick as the hair on your head, and are often not even felt as they are inserted. Once the needles are in, they are not felt by the body, and often people fall into a calm restful state. The relaxation a patient feels alone is enough to relieve pain. By resetting the muscles, regulating the nervous system, and promoting the release of the body’s natural pain killers, all kinds of conditions from low back pain to arthritis can be managed.

But the best and most effective means of managing pain, by far, is the proper management of the body that will prevent blockages and traumas from occurring in the first place. Acupuncture can balance and energize the body so that the circulation is consistent and efficient. If the muscles have proper blood supply, then they are less likely to become sore or tight. If the nervous system is balanced and not overly excited by stress, then the blood vessels will not constrict and will not cause headaches. If the body’s digestion is efficient, then the nutrients that control the contraction of muscles will be better assimilated, and more available to the muscles, which will prevent spasms and twitching.

The greatest benefits acupuncture offers are a whole new level of pain relief, the kind that stops pain before it starts. Consistent, monthly acupuncture treatments in the absence of any severe complaints will ensure that you have nothing to complain about except excessive amounts of energy, vitality, and relaxation.

Michael Padilla, L.Ac. is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, practicing Chinese Medicine out of Four Pillars Acupuncture in Lake Elsinore, CA. To learn more about acupuncture and Chinese medicine, visit his website at http://www.fourpillarsacupuncture.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Padilla

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3934129

Can Acupuncture Help You Quit Smoking?

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:03:52 +0000

Alternative Therapy

Alternative medicine is big business and it is estimated that Americans will spend $34 billion on a variety of alternative treatments over the course of a single year. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese therapy and is usually considered within the ‘alternative medicine’ category. The alternative medicine category contains an interesting and diverse group of therapies although not all these therapies are considered legitimate by contemporary modern medical practice; many are simply strange and consequently of no therapeutic worth (that’s right homeopathy, I’m talking about you). Alternative therapies, if they are to be taken seriously, should be able to stand up to scientific and medical scrutiny.

Acupuncture

In traditional acupuncture, fine needles are placed in various parts of the body and are rotated or otherwise stimulated. The needles are placed along specific energy channels, or meridians. Acupuncture practitioners contend that meridians contain the body’s life force, or chi and the placement of needles along these channels influence the body’s energy for the good. There is no space in this article to consider the traditional Chinese approach to disease and how acupuncture can alter physiological processes. It is sufficient to say that most modern medical practitioners would disagree with the traditional Chinese explanation. However, this does not mean that acupuncture has no beneficial medical effects.

Acupuncture- does it work?

Does acupuncture actually work and should it be considered as an effective and legitimate medical treatment? It is important to establish that acupuncture’s effectiveness is more than that expected over and above the placebo effect. Acupuncture’s validity can only be established by conducting well designed double blind clinical trials. It won’t do for adherents of acupuncture to say that their technique does not respond to scientific scrutiny. If acupuncture cannot stand up to the rigours of scientific evaluation then it should be disregarded as an effective therapy.

Practitioners of acupuncture claim that it is a useful therapy for a range of medical conditions. Most studies have focussed on whether acupuncture is an effective treatment for the management of pain. Acupuncture has been proposed as a treatment for drug addiction, asthma, epilepsy and depression, to name but a few. Although acupuncture has been thoroughly investigated by medical research bodies there is little evidence to suggest that it is an effective treatment for anything. There is some evidence which supports the contention that acupuncture helps in the management of pain however, it is no more effective than medically prescribed analgesics.

Acupuncture and Quit Smoking

This article is specifically concerned with the question: acupuncture to stop smoking- is it effective? Acupuncture therapists say it helps to reduce nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms. We can’t rely on so called evidence given by acupuncture practitioners for a variety of reasons. Firstly, their accounts of the effectiveness are anecdotal and do not qualify as medical evidence. Secondly, their testimony will be biased, consciously or unconsciously. As mentioned previously, this is big business and acupuncture specialists are hardly likely to say that their therapy is not effective, especially as their livelihood is at stake. There have been a number of independent clinical studies looking at acupuncture to stop smoking and sadly I have to say that I have not found any evidence to support the case that acupuncture to stop smoking is effective.

Of all the alternative therapies, acupuncture, at least to me, seemed to hold promise as an effective treatment. At least there seemed a sound physiological basis for the technique; surely inserting needles into the body must have some effect! But the best of current medical evidence does not support this notion, certainly with regard to acupuncture to stop smoking. This is why it is so important to apply scientific methodologies to acupuncture, or for that matter any medical treatment, because after all, we all have our own particular prejudices and subjective bias.

For useful information and treatment reviews about smoking cessation, visit Tips To Help Stop Smoking. The almost complete quit smoking guide.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_S_Davis

Acupuncture: A Walk Through History

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:03:13 +0000

Acupuncture is a whole medical system that is said to originate from China. It is a basic Chinese tradition that is based on the theory that an illness or disease results from a disturbance in the flow of qi (chee) or energy and an imbalance in the forces of yin and yang – Yin representing cold, slow, or passive aspects of the individual, while yang representing hot, excited, or active aspects. Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points on the body by inserting thin metal needles through the skin. It is intended to remove blockages in the flow of qi in order to restore and maintain health.

In China, acupuncture can be traced back as far as the Stone Age, with the use of bian shi, or sharpened stones. Archeologists in Inner Mongolia have discovered Stone acupuncture needles dated back to the 3000 B.C. More archeological evidence has been identified acupuncture with the period of the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD). Not only in China, but acupuncture methods have been described in the literature of traditional Korean medicine, also called chimsul. While in Japan, acupuncture is an important practice in their traditional medicine system called Kampo.

Recent investigations on a 5,000-year-old mummy found in the Alps, named Ötzi, have identified over 50 tattoos on his body, and some even located on acupuncture points. Some scientists believe that this may be proof that practices similar to acupuncture were also practiced in Eurasia during the Bronze Age.

Acupuncture scattered from China to Japan, Korea, Vietnam and parts of East Asia. Portuguese missionaries in the 16th century were among the first to bring the practice of acupuncture to the West.

In the 1970s, acupuncture became known in America after American visitors to China brought back firsthand reports of patients undergoing major surgery using acupuncture as their sole form of anesthesia. Since then, acupuncture treatments are now performed in this country each year for many types of conditions such as back pain, headaches, infertility, stress, and many other illnesses.

The first forms of acupuncture to reach the United States were brought by non-TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) practitioners, such as Chinese rail road workers, many using styles that had been handed down in family lineages, or from master to apprentice (known as “Classical Chinese Acupuncture”).

There was an outbreak of primitive acupuncture testing by physicians in France, England, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and the United States in the first three decades of the 19th century, which did not renew itself in Europe until a century later and in the United States until the 1970s. The most significant impact on the development of 20th-century European acupuncture was the work of George Soulie de Morant, a scholar-diplomat engaged in the French diplomatic service in China between 1901 and 1917. Soulie de Morant published articles and French translations of Chinese and Japanese medical texts and on his return to France taught clinical procedures of acupuncture to French physicians. In 20th century France and throughout much of Europe since the 1950s, clinical acupuncture has co-developed with biomedical science. Europe has thus served as another influence for acupuncture approaches that integrate into the practice of conventional Western medicine.

Over the past two decades acupuncture practice has grown significantly within the United States. Although scientists don’t fully understand how or why acupuncture works, some studies show that it may provide a lot of medical benefits.

In modern science and research, pain transmission can also be adapted at many other levels in the brain along the pain pathways. This includes the periaqueductal gray, thalamus, and the feedback pathways from the cerebral cortex back to the thalamus.

Other studies suggest that the pain-killing action of acupuncture is connected with the discharge of natural endorphins in the brain. There was one study on monkeys recording the neural activity directly in the thalamus of the brain pointed out that acupuncture’s analgesic effect lasted more than an hour. Recently, acupuncture has been shown to increase the nitric oxide levels in treated regions, resulting in increased local blood circulation, in essence allowing a bit of blood cleansing taking action through acupuncture procedure.

Whether as an ancient tradition or as modern science, acupuncture has made a significant impact across the world through the centuries. Acupuncture has evolved from the concept of an imbalance of forces to the actual application of it in the present medical technology.

10 Health Benefits of Acupuncture

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:02:20 +0000

Do you ever wonder if acupuncture really does work? Studies show that acupuncture certainly does work for some ailments but not all. Generally, it can treat illnesses such as angina, depression, headaches, infertility and more. If you want to know which ailment acupuncture can be applied to, read more below.

Angina.It is otherwise called chest or heart pain. Studies show that this can be relieved using electro-acupuncture. Electro-acupuncture makes use of a pair of needles that are connected to a battery. It creates electric impulses that are used to help patients with angina.
Balance Disorders.A promising study shows that patients with balance disorders caused by whiplash yielded positive results after having undertaken acupuncture. However, further research needs to be done in order to strengthen this claim.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.Patients with CTS experience aches and pains on their hands and fingers. This is caused by repetitive motions and movements such as too much use of the keyboard or mouse. Studies show that individuals with CTS showed great improvement (little or no pain) after undergoing acupuncture.
Morning Sickness.This is usually experienced by pregnant women during the early stage of their pregnancy. Many studies have suggested that acupuncture is an effective method in relieving this very common symptom.
Epicondylitis.This is popularly known as Tennis Elbow and is a condition that involves chronic tenderness and soreness of the elbow. Acupuncture can help relieve this condition especially if it is done on a regular basis. Several studies have proven and strengthened this claim.
Weight Loss.Acupuncture can help anyone who wants to battle the bulge. Acupuncture offers another alternative to obese individuals’ journey to a healthier and thinner body as it aims to suppress the appetite.
Depression.Patients with depression can utilize acupuncture in treating symptoms associated with this disorder. It does not only treat the symptoms but it also works to improve the benefits of anti-depressive drugs.
Infertility.Several studies have supported acupuncture’s effect in improving the quality and strength of the male semen. Make sure that this process is done by a certified and medically-trained acupuncturist for better results.
Hypertension.Many studies revealed how hypertensive patients showed great improvement after being treated by acupuncture. So if you are suffering from high blood pressure, it would be beneficial if you see an acupuncturist and take into consideration this alternative treatment.
Headaches. A number of studies have shown that acupuncture can relieve short-term and chronic headaches such as migraines. Consult your doctor and discuss this option. Detroit acupuncture is full of medically-trained acupuncturist who can help you with your problem. If in case your physician is not convinced you can give him a copy of the March 2004 issue of The British Medical Journal for reference.

Stolman Acupuncture is owned by a trusted physician who has built his reputation as a Detroit acupuncturist. He has performed over 15,000 treatments, and is well respected in the Detroit acupuncturecommunity. So for a board certified physician who is an expert in acupuncture and pain relief, visit StolmanAcupuncture.com TODAY!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carol_Simon

Menopause and Chinese Medicine

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:01:49 +0000

The bulk of our practice here at the Acupuncture Center of Northern Virginia consists of middle-aged women experiencing menopausal symptoms. The important thing that we try to stress to these patients is that menopause is not a disease; it is a normal cycle of life.

As many women are shying away from hormone replacement therapy because of the negative findings published in the Womens’ Health Initiative Study, they are experiencing many of the signs and symptoms which hormone replacement was able to mask such as poor memory, joint pain, insomnia, night sweats, hot flashes, mood swings, and irritability. From a Chinese medical perspective, these signs and syndromes are indications that there is an underlying imbalance within the body that can be corrected by using herbal formulas and acupuncture which address the root cause of the imbalance.

These imbalances are commonly attributed to a depletion of Jing Qi or in common terms, a depletion of our battery system; a yin deficiency, or inefficiency in our cooling system; or, a decline in our Yang energy responsible for our body’s metabolic processes. Jing qi provides us with the life force that powers all of our life functions. It is in abundant supply when we are young and we can therefore adapt to life stressors. As we age, our Jing Qi naturally drains from our battery which impairs our ability to adapt. This may manifest as loss of libido, weakness of knees, urinary difficulty, poor memory, backache and fatigue.

The aging process also reduces the efficiency of our cooling system resulting in a yin deficiency. Just as an inefficient air conditioner cannot cool a house, a yin deficiency causes the body to overheat resulting in hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, irritability, mood swings, and heart palpitations.

Just as a decline in yin will cause an imbalance resulting in heat signs and symptoms, a decline in yang will cause an imbalance resulting in signs and symptoms associated with cold. These signs and symptoms may include cold limbs, edema, water retention, weight gain, indigestion, hypertension or raised cholesterol levels.

Here at the Acupuncture Center of Northern Virginia, we conduct a thorough evaluation to determine the cause of the underlying imbalance. Usually acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal formulas are necessary to help regain balance. As every patient is unique, we design the treatment protocol to specifically target the underlying cause of the imbalance. Often, the cause is not only one factor, but a combination of factors such as Jing Qi depletion combined with yin deficiency.

If you are interested in pursuing a safe and natural way to address your menopausal symptoms or would like to discuss your symptoms with us, please call us at 703-370-1077 or visit our website at www.acupuncturenova.com

Relieve the Symptoms of Menopause with Chinese Herbal Medicine

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:01:28 +0000

The bulk of our practice at the Acupuncture Center of Northern Virginia consists of middle-aged women experiencing menopausal symptoms. The important thing we try to stress to our patients is that menopause is not a disease; it is a normal cycle of life.

As many women are shying away from hormone replacement therapy because of the negative findings published in the Womens’ Health Initiative Study, they are experiencing many of the signs and symptoms which hormone replacement was able to mask such as poor memory, joint pain, insomnia, night sweats, hot flashes, mood swings, and irritability. From a Chinese medical perspective, these signs and syndromes are indications that there is an underlying imbalance within the body can be corrected by using herbal formulas and acupuncture which address the root cause of the imbalance.

These imbalances are commonly attributed to a depletion of Jing Qi or in common terms, a depletion of our battery system; a yin deficiency, or inefficiency in our cooling system; or, a decline in our Yang energy responsible for our body’s metabolic processes. Jing qi provides us with the life force that powers all of our life functions. It is in abundant supply when we are young and we can therefore adapt to life stressors. As we age, our Jing Qi naturally drains from our battery which impairs our ability to adapt. This may manifest as loss of libido, weakness of knees, urinary difficulty, poor memory, backache and fatigue.

The aging process also reduces the efficiency of our cooling system resulting in a yin deficiency. Just as an inefficient air conditioner cannot cool a house, a yin deficiency causes the body to overheat resulting in hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, irritability, mood swings, and heart palpitations.

Just as a decline in yin will cause an imbalance resulting in heat signs and symptoms, a decline in yang will cause an imbalance resulting in signs and symptoms associated with cold. These signs and symptoms may include cold limbs, edema, water retention, weight gain, indigestion, hypertension or raised cholesterol levels.

Here at the Acupuncture Center of Northern Virginia, we conduct a thorough evaluation to determine the cause of the underlying imbalance. Usually acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal formulas are necessary to help regain balance. As every patient is unique, we design the treatment protocol to specifically target the underlying cause of the imbalance. Often, the cause is not only one factor, but a combination of factors such as Jing Qi depletion combined with yin deficiency.

If you are interested in pursuing a safe and natural way to address your menopausal symptoms or would like to discuss your symptoms with us, please call us at 703-370-1077 or visit our website at www.acupuncturenova.com

Can Acupuncture Help Infertility?

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:01:05 +0000

For many women, the excitement that comes with the decision to have a baby is often followed with disappointment as months or years pass without conception. Whether a oman is given the frustrating diagnosis of “unexpected infertility” or something else such as endometriosis, fibroids, polycystic ovarian syndrome or premature ovarian failure, among other things, it can still be upsetting and confusing time trying to sort out how to proceed.

when faced with diagnosis of infertility, most women are told to proceed with In Virto Fertilization (IVF) or Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), not realizing that Eastern medicine can provide a great alternative. Not only are acupuncture treatments and Chinese herbs cheaper than IVF or IUI ( usually $1500 for 3-4 months of weekly treatments vs. $5000-$15000 per cycle of IVF or IUI) but most women also often experience many other benefits aide from being able to conceive.

Acupuncture and herbs can help to relieve pain and stress among other things. Once a woman becomes pregnant, treatments can continue in order to help improve sleep, minimize morning sickness, and even prevent miscarriage!

If there is some sort of physical or structural problem, and IVF is the only possibility for conception, acupuncture can help to increase the chance for a successful cycle. Scientific studies have shown that women receiving acupuncture treatments in conjunction with IVF or IUI have a 40-60% better chance of conception.

Acupuncture is a safe, and virtually painless way to help improve fertility. At our clinic, the Acupuncture Center of Northern Virginia, we have helped many women in their journey to start a family. We have hours six days a week, and can be reached via phone (703-370-1077) or email (Stephanie@acupuncturenova.com). Also, please visit our website (www.acupuncturenova.com) for more information about our practice and about Chinese medicine in general!

Why GPs should be prescribing acupuncture to patients branded hypochondriacs

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:00:09 +0000

Millions of patients with ‘unexplained symptoms’ could benefit from acupuncture on the NHS, it is claimed.

Just 12 sessions led to health improvements for patients taking part in the first study of its kind.

British researchers want GPs to prescribe acupuncture for the one in five patients whose symptoms remain ‘medically unexplained’ despite a battery of tests and investigations.

Health benefits: A study has suggests that GPs should prescribe acupuncture for ‘unexplained’ symptoms that many patients suffer
They deny such patients can be seen as hypochondriacs and claim acupuncture could save the NHS money because it would cut unnecessary work including GP appointments, hospital stays and MRI scans.

The study involved 80 adults who had consulted their GP at least eight times in the past year with problems such as headaches, muscle pain, extreme tiredness, joint and back pain.

Half were sent for acupuncture, up to 12 sessions in six months, while the remainder were given no extra treatment. Those having acupuncture had a ‘significant and sustained’ benefit in their symptoms, says a report in the British Journal of General Practice.

Patients said the change in energy levels was ‘marvellous’.

The study was carried out by a research team from the Institute of Health Services Research, Peninsula Medical School, University of Exeter.

Professor Andrew Gould, who led the study, said it was important to offer patients another option alongside conventional medicine – where it wasn’t working.

He denied it was a charter for hypochondriacs, saying the problem of unexplained symptoms was well recognised.

Studies have shown the cost to the NHS of managing the treatment of a patient with medically unexplained symptoms can be twice that of a patient with a diagnosis.

Professor Gould said: ‘It’s soul-destroying for the patient and soul-destroying for the doctor when there’s no clear reason for the symptoms they are suffering.

‘We don’t know how acupuncture is making a difference, but it seems to be something to do with the treatment rather than just a placebo or one-to-one care they’re getting.’
In the three months before taking part in the study, the 80 patients from London had been in frequent contact with the NHS.

They accounted for: 21 patient in-days; 106 outpatient clinic visits; 52 hospital clinic visits (for treatments such as physiotherapy, chiropody and counselling); 44 hospital visits for investigations (including ten magnetic resonance imaging – MRI – scans); and 75 visits to non-NHS practitioners such as opticians, dentists and complementary therapists.

Researcher Dr Charlotte Paterson said a cost-effectiveness study would take place, but GPs could be confident that prescribing acupuncture was ‘safe and potentially effective’.
By JENNY HOPE

for more information: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1392181/Accupuncture-help-millions-patients-unexplained-symptoms.html