Understanding and Using Chinese Medicine

Welcome!  This blog is intended to help you learn about acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, and how to use it to take care of your own health. Many of us live with chronic pain or other health issues, or simply want to feel more balanced and vibrant. Chinese medicine offers an entirely different way of understanding health; it corrects underlying causes and not merely symptoms, and gives you ways to take care of your own health with simple adjustments to diet or lifestyle habits.

Chinese medicine and Western medicine can be an excellent complement to each other, since they have different strengths.  Western medicine, for example, is outstanding in acute and emergency situations, and very good at diagnosis and screening.  Chinese medicine excels at treating chronic conditions and promoting overall wellness and health.  It can be used alongside standard medical care, to support healing and reduce side effects; or, in many cases, it can provide an alternative treatment that may be more effective or more gentle.

The articles on this site are meant to give ideas of how acupuncture and herbal medicine can fit into your health care strategy.  There is some general information about acupuncture, and what to expect from treatment.  And, there are articles on many different health conditions and how they are viewed and treated from the standpoint of Chinese medicine.  I’ve included suggestions, such as diet, exercise, herbal teas, and acupressure, that you can use to take care of your own health.  Finally, for those in the Boston area, I’ve added news about local events and programs, as well as information about my own practice.

I am happy to answer questions, or to address topics you would like to learn more about; please feel free to leave comments and I will respond as soon as I can.  Thanks for visiting my site!

Acupuncture for High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (also called hypertension) is a very common health concern.  In this country, 65 million people, or about 1/4 of Americans, are estimated to have high blood pressure.

In the early stages, hypertension is typically asymptomatic; people usually find out they have high blood pressure during a routine physical check-up.  Doctors are adamant about treating it, and with good reason – having high blood pressure greatly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.

Often, lifestyle changes are sufficient to control high blood pressure.  Helpful changes include losing weight, increasing exercise, decreasing salt intake, and practicing relaxation techniques.  If these measures do not control blood pressure, a number of different medications may be prescribed.

Unfortunately, the medications used to control blood pressure often have unpleasant side effects, such as headache, dizziness, fatigue, constipation, and problems with sexual functioning.  Many people have a hard time taking medications consistently when they don’t like the side effects – especially if they were not having any symptoms from the hypertension itself.

And, for many people, medication on its own does not solve the problem.  Only 58% of people being treated for blood pressure actually have it under control.

Using acupuncture and herbal medicine for high blood pressure can help at all stages of the disease.

• In the early stages, treatment with Chinese medicine can help you avoid going on blood pressure medications.
• Those who are already on medications may be able, under their doctor’s supervision, to reduce or eliminate their medication.
• In more difficult or advanced cases, the combination of Western and Chinese medicine may do a better job of controlling blood pressure than either one alone — with great benefits for your health and safety.
• Finally, acupuncture can help control some of the side effects of necessary medications.

Treating hypertension with Chinese medicine is relatively new, since they didn’t have blood pressure cuffs 2000 years ago.  Over the last few decades, Chinese physicians, acupuncturists, and herbalists have been able to observe which patterns of disharmony are most often associated with high blood pressure, develop new theory about how blood pressure works in the body, and use these observations to draw on a huge body of knowledge about bringing the body back into balance.

Often, the pattern underlying hypertension is related to other physical complaints.  These may be symptoms commonly associated with hypertension, such as headache, dizziness and irritability; or issues that are not connected to blood pressure in Western medicine.  I have found, when treating complaints such as digestive problems or menstrual disorders, that patients’ blood pressure readings improve — even without directly addressing this issue — simply by bringing the body into better balance.

There is extensive literature from Asia and Russia suggesting that acupuncture is effective in lowering blood pressure.  A current study at Mass General Hosipital shows very promising results, though the results are not yet complete or published.  For more information on the study, go to the ABC news website at http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Story?id=130455&page=1

A number of Chinese herbs have also been shown to lower blood pressure.  These herbs can be easily worked into a formula for any other health condition you may be treating, or can be part of a formula specifically targeting blood pressure.  Several hypertension formulas are also available in an easy-to-take pill form.

If you have concerns about your blood pressure, let your practitioner know so you can address this as part of your ongoing treatment.

Acupuncture for Headache and Migraine

Headaches are a nearly universal experience. I doubt there’s a person reading this blog who hasn’t had a headache at some point or another; for many people they are chronic or severe enough to seriously interfere with activities and quality of life.

Sinus headaches are common this time of year, due to allergies (see the article on allergies, in the “respiratory” category, for more information). Many people suffer from migraines, and an unlucky few experience cluster headaches. Most of us sometimes have tension headaches, attributable to stress and/or exhaustion.

Fortunately, headaches of all kinds respond well to acupuncture and herbal treatment.  I have seen many clients get remarkable relief, and research consistently shows that acupuncture is an effective treatment for headache (see http://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+News/Acupuncture+Helps+Chronic+Headaches+According+to+Largest+Study for the latest study!).

In Chinese medicine, headaches are caused by one of several dynamics in the body.

First, many headaches occur when the energy is not sufficiently anchored in the body, and flies up to bother the head. These headaches are often intense, throbbing, and usually occur on the temple or behind the eye.  They may come on suddenly, or be triggered by stress or emotional upset.

This type of headache responds especially well to acupuncture points on the legs and feet. Headaches may also be relieved by anything that brings energy to the lower part of the body, such as a foot massage, putting heat or cold packs on the feet, eating, or sexual activity.  Over the long term, meditation, tai chi, and yoga are also helpful.

Other headaches are caused by energy getting blocked or stuck in the channels of the head. This may be due to stress and tension, sinus congestion, or injury. These headaches vary; some are relatively mild and seem to move around the head; others may be a strong, stabbing pain always in the same location; and some create a heavy, foggy, pressure feeling in the head.

These headaches are often helped by using acupuncture points on the head, to help free the stuck areas. Acupuncture treatment will also target the underlying problems, such as allergies, congestion, stress, or overall energy flow in the body. Moderate exercise is usually helpful, as well as decreasing heavy, greasy foods and sugar in the diet.

Finally, some headaches are the result of depletion; the body simply doesn’t have the energy to nourish the head properly. These headaches are often dull, chronic, and worse at the end of the day; sometimes the person describes an “empty” feeling in the brain.

In these cases, building the energy reserves is key. Acupuncture is focused on helping the body create and store more energy, and nourishing herbs are especially helpful. Rest, relaxation, and eating well can make a significant difference with this type of headache.

For all kinds of headaches, it helps to make sure you are getting good nutrition and proper rest, to help keep the body’s energy strong and stable.  Stress reduction is also key to controlling headaches; this may mean making changes in your work or personal life, or prioritizing the activities that help you manage the stress you can’t control.

If you have any questions about your headaches, or how you can help control them, please feel free to post a comment!

Acupuncture for Asthma

More than 20 million Americans, or 1 in 15 people, suffer from asthma. People with asthma experience wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, and/or chest tightness in response to a number of possible triggers.

Symptoms of an asthma attack are usually controlled by a steroid inhaler; many people also take other medications to reduce the frequency of episodes. While often effective, Western medications for asthma have a number of short-term side effects as well as possible long-term health consequences, and many people are interested in other, non-drug approaches.

Acupuncture and herbs can be very helpful both in alleviating acute symptoms and preventing future asthma attacks. Acupuncture can ease breathing during an asthma attack, but more importantly, ongoing treatment addresses the causes of asthma and works to decrease the sensitivity of the airways and reduce the number of asthma attacks.

Chinese medicine diagnoses several different types and causes of asthma. “Excess” type asthma describes situations where something obstructs or constricts the flow of air in the lung. Phlegm or “heat” (think, inflammation, in this case) can clog the air passages. Or, stagnation of qi in the chest can prevent the Lung from moving and working properly. (Stress-induced asthma usually belongs to this pattern.)

“Deficient” type asthma occurs when the body’s qi is not strong enough to pull in enough air from the environment. (Exercise-induced asthma usually falls in this category.) In these cases, Lung qi always needs to be supplemented. Treatment may also focus on nourishing the Spleen, which directly supports the Lung, especially if there is an element of food allergy or digestive sensitivity. Kidney qi may also be treated. It sounds weird, but in Chinese medicine the Kidney play a role in bringing the breath into the body.  If inhalation is more difficult than exhalation, the Kidneys are usually involved.

Allergy-related asthma is also common, and often aggravated at this time of year.  This type of asthma is treated with a combination of techniques to strengthen and support the breathing, calm the allergic response, and open up air passages. Many people with allergic asthma also have eczema or other skin responses; these also respond remarkably well to Chinese medical treatment. For more information on treating allergies and eczema with acupuncture, see the postings under “respiratory” and “skin”.

Treating Asthma in Children

Asthma is becoming increasingly common in children, and many parents struggle with decisions about medication and its effect on their childrens’ health.

Acupuncture and pediatric massage can be helpful in controlling asthma symptoms and decreasing inhaler use. Children respond very well to extremely thin, tiny needles; non-insertive techniques are also available, and parents can learn massage techniques to use at home.

Dietary changes can also make a big difference for children with asthma. Chinese medicine especially suggests decreasing phlegm-producing foods such as dairy, peanut butter, fried foods, sugar, and too much raw cold food.

For more on asthma in general, see the above post!

Spring Cleaning for Good Qi Flow

In Chinese medicine, spring is the time of year when what has gotten stuck gets moving again. The season is associated with the Wood element, and the Liver organ, whose job in the body is to ensure the smooth flow of physical and emotional energy. When Liver qi is flowing well, our body systems work smoothly, and emotions come and go in an appropriate, no-big-deal kind of way. However, if the Liver qi is stuck, we may experience tension, irritability, depression, lack of motivation, or a worsening of various physical symptoms.

Spring is a good time of year to clear out clutter from your body and your environment so things can flow. Here are some suggestions:

1. Do a good spring cleaning/decluttering - you can donate used items to Big Brother/Big Sister (donations are tax deductible, and they will schedule a pick-up at your house – see www.bbbsfoundation.org for more info), or any other organization.
2. Cleanse your own system. Eating more whole grains and vegetables, after the heavier food of winter, will help lighten your body and unblock the energy channels. You can also cleanse your Liver with milk thistle tea or capsules — or buy some milk thistle seeds, toast them, and sprinkle on salads and other foods (thanks to Mischa Schuler at Wild Carrot Herbs for this tasty tip!).
3. Air our your space and your lungs. We finally have access to the outdoor air, after a winter of breathing whatever comes through our heating systems. Find a warm-enough day, open the windows, put on some fans, and invite the outside air to flow through your space (if this is problematic due to asthma or allergies, please read the next article!). Spending some time outdoors also helps air out your own lungs and freshen the mind.
4. De-clutter your schedule. Notice where you spend your time and energy, and see if you can let go of something unnecessary or taxing.  Making room for something new in your life helps keep the qi flowing and life fun.
5. Schedule a seasonal acupuncture tune-up. Acupuncture treatment is designed both to balance your body’s energy, and to align it with the environment around you. Many people schedule quarterly acupuncture treatments to ease the change of seasons and maintain their health and balance through the year.

Chinese Medicine and Stress

It’s official. A recent survey by the American Psychological Association found that 80% of Americans are stressed about the economy, 60% are angry about it, and 52% are having trouble sleeping.

It’s not news that most of us are stressed out about the economic situation. But these numbers suggest a serious health concern. In the West, we tend to take stress for granted. We are used to being under pressure, and we often think about stress as a kind of unimportant background noise, or as something that is inevitable and therefore acceptable. Or worse, we may see it as a sign of our virtue or importance. It’s quite common to hear people actually brag about how busy and stressed out they are.

Chinese medicine views stress as a very important health issue. The physical and mental tension that accompanies stress inhibits the flow of qi, or energy, causing body systems not to work properly. Stress in Chinese medicine is considered to be the source of many diseases, and to complicate and aggravate any existing imbalance or poor health.

The American Institute of Stress has estimated that 75-90 percent of visits to primary care physicians are for stress-related problems. In my opinion, Chinese medicine’s success as a preventative medicine is largely due to its effectiveness in reducing stress and its impact on the body.

Of course there is always stress in life. If you are participating in the world, and stretching your limits at all, there will be some stress, and that’s a good thing. But if it’s affecting sleep, appetite, mood, relationships, pain level, or the frequency or severity of symptoms like headaches, asthma attacks, or digestive problems, then it’s not just unpleasant, it’s important to address. See below for a few suggestions!

First Aid for Stress

Here are some suggestions from Chinese medicine to help reduce your stress level and maintain balance.

1. Get regular acupuncture treatments, especially if you feel stress affecting you mentally or physically.  It’s easier (and takes fewer treatments) to prevent stress-related health problems than to wait until they really take hold. And, it will make you feel more relaxed and balanced throughout the week.
   
2. Do acupressure on yourself, or with a friend.  Your acupuncturist can show you some pressure points to do at home to help extend the effects of your treatment (there are also many books available on this subject).  One good point for stress is Liver 3.  For instructions on using this point, look on this blog under “emotional health and sleep” for a post entitled Acupressure for Stress.
3. Chinese herbal medicine can also be a good support.  There are some great formulas for reducing stress, depending on your constitution and how stress affects you.  The most famous is named Xiao Yao Wan, or “the Free and Easy Wanderer”, because it releases your spirit from tension and allows you to roam happily through the world.  Most of these formulas are available in pill form, so they are easy to take and inexpensive. Ask your practitioner for suggestions.
4. Exercise. I know, I say this all the time.  But it’s one of the best things you can do to blow off steam, promote relaxation, and help your body and mind stay balanced.  Often exercise is the thing we cut out when our schedule gets tight.  Make it a priority, even if it’s just fitting in a short walk or dancing around the kitchen!
5. Maintain some kind of balance between action and allowing.  It’s tempting to think we should eliminate our stress by fixing whatever it is we’re stressed out about.  I’m all for constructive action, but it needs to be balanced with relaxation and self-care, or it becomes yet another source of pressure.  Some things we can’t fix by ourselves (the economy, for example), and other things take quite a bit of time to change even with our good efforts.  In the meantime, it’s actually more important to accept how things are at the moment and be kind to ourselves in the midst of it.
6. Do things that make you happy. Anything you enjoy will help get your energy flowing.  Spend time with people you love; eat your favorite foods; go dancing or hiking; get a massage; see a funny move; you get the idea!

Veterans’ Acupuncture Benefit Event

Please join us in Cambridge and Hingham for an evening of community-style acupuncture to benefit the Veterans Community Acupuncture Project (VCAP). VCAP provides free acupuncture treatment to veterans to help with pain, stress, anxiety, and other problems related to their service.

Drop in any time from 5:30 to 7:30, make a donation to VCAP, and receive a stress-relieving community style acupuncture treatment. This is a great way to check out acupuncture, get a relaxing treatment, and help the veterans in your community, all at once.

Community Style Acupuncture will consist of:

• Acupuncture needles on ears only
• 30 – 45 minute treatment
• Done in a group
• All needles are pre-packaged, sterile, and disposed of after use.
• treatment is designed to reduce stress and anxiety, help with insomnia and pain, and provide a general sense of well-being.

This style of acupuncture has been used to help over 7000 New Orleans residents and relief workers, and is currently being offered around the country to help veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Your donation will help this work continue.

When: Monday, March 16, 2009, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Where: Cambridge Health Associates, 335 Broadway (between Central and Inman Squares)
And: The Lane Center, 160 Old Derby Road, Suite 457, Hingham
Suggested donation for treatment: $10-20, or whatever you can!
Contact: Marilyn Yohe, Licensed Acupuncturist, 617-354-2274

I hope to see you there!

Weigh in on the Obama Health Plan

President-elect Obama has identified national health coverage as one of his top priorities for his first year in office.  As part of this effort, Obama’s transition team has set up a website to gather ideas from ordinary citizens on how to mitigate or solve some of the problems in our current health care system.

This allows us — practitioners and users of “complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)” — an opportunity to explain what these therapies offer to us as individuals, and to the health care system as a whole.

Acupuncture is a low-cost, low-tech health care option that could potentially play a role in reducing health care costs and increasing efficiency.  It might be especially helpful for Obama’s team to hear from people who have avoided surgery, elimiated the need for expensive diagnostic tests, or have been able to discontinue medication or ongoing care.

Interestingly, auto insurance companies almost all pay for acupuncture, as well as chiropractic and massage, as part of their personal injury coverage; apparently, they realize this is more cost-effective.

To put in your two cents’ worth on health care (and any number of other topics), go to www.change.gov.

How to Get the Most from Your Acupuncture Treatments

As many of you know, getting acupuncture treatment can be a wonderful investment in your quality of life and long-term health.  People who get acupuncture often report better energy and emotional balance, a stronger immune system, and less susceptibility to stress, along with relief from specific symptoms.

In general, those who get the most benefit from acupuncture are people who cultivate balance and health in their daily lives, and are willing to make changes that reinforce the effects of acupuncture treatment. During these times, especially, all of us are concerned with using our money and time efficiently and wisely.  To that end, there are definitely things you can do to make your acupuncture treatment more effective and make sure you are getting the most out of each session. Here are some suggestions:

1. Commit to a full course of treatment.Acupuncture has a cumulative effect; in order to achieve lasting health effects, treatment needs to be consistent for a period of time.  Acupuncture sessions should be frequent enough that symptoms don’t backslide a lot between meetings, and treatment should last until the underlying causes have been corrected.  Following these guidelines will ultimately get you the best, most lasting, and most cost-effective results.  You and your acupuncturist can discuss the best schedule for you, taking into account your condition, health goals, budget, and time constraints.
2. Pay attention to your day-to-day health and let your acupuncturist know how you are doing. It can help to keep a log of symptoms if it’s hard to remember. This helps your practitioner assess progress and fine-tune your treatments for maximum effectiveness.
3. If herbs are prescribed, make a commitment to take them on a regular schedule. If you have questions or concerns about your Chinese herbs, call your practitioner right away so they can correct any problems and keep you on track.
4. Make room for relaxation in your life. We live in a very active, busy, and often pressured society; it is hard to maintain any kind of balance between activity and rejuvenation without making a conscious and consistent effort to slow down sometimes.  This balance between yang (activity) and yin (quiet) is a fundamental component of health in Chinese medicine.  Try meditation, yoga, relaxed cooking and eating, listening to music, making art, spending time in nature, or whatever helps you calm and settle your energy.
5. Get exercise regularly. A major source of health problems, especially in the West, is “qi stagnation” — energy not moving freely and evenly in the body.  Stress, unfortunately, tends to shut down energy flow, and the fact that many of us spend a lot of the day sitting doesn’t help.  Getting your body moving helps restore the normal flow of qi and aids healing.
6. Commit to making other lifestyle changes as suggested. For example, your acupuncturist may suggest avoiding or eating certain foods, eating on a regular schedule, changes in sleep schedule, or trying to eliminate certain stressors. Recommendations that are tailored to your particular pattern of disharmony will help reinforce the effect of your acupuncture treatments.

I know.  In the context of our daily lives, doing all of these things all the time is a tall order.  You don’t have to be perfect about it, but anything you can do will help your treatments move faster and help you feel better. The big plus is, these are also things that will help you stay healthy when you are done with treatment, and ultimately put you in charge of your own health.

Acupuncture for Insomnia

Everyone, at some point, has experienced a period of not getting enough sleep, whether from insomnia, sleep disruption (kids and pets are famous for this), or simply not having enough time to sleep. And, the effect of sleep deprivation on mood, energy, focus, and overall quality of life can be profound.

Insomnia can take many forms, including trouble falling asleep, frequent or early waking, difficulty falling back to sleep, and restless or unrefreshing sleep. In Chinese medicine, the specific pattern of sleep disruption points to the underlying imbalance, and to the correct treatment. Unlike most Western treatment for insomnia, the main idea of Chinese medical treatment is to balance the body and mind so that good sleep begins to occur naturally and regularly.

There are many underlying “patterns of disharmony” that can cause insomnia. For example:

• Insomnia with restless sleep, night sweats, hot flashes, and dry eyes may be due to Kidney yin deficiency.
• A person who lies awake worrying and has sweet cravings, sensitive digestion, and fatigue may have underlying Spleen qi deficiency.
• Feeling restless, tense, irritable or agitated when trying to fall asleep may indicate Liver qi stagnation; there may also be chronic pain, PMS, irregular periods, irritability, or chest pain.
• Someone who sleeps lightly and wakes early, and has anxiety, heart palpitations, and dizziness, may have Heart blood deficiency.

Most people, of course, exhibit a combination of patterns, and acupuncture treatments and herbal formulas are adjusted to your particular situation. Acupuncture and herbs can help calm the nervous system and interrupt the cycle of disordered sleep, without the grogginess and potential for dependence that come with pharmaceutical sleep aids. More importantly, acupuncture and herbs can correct many of the actual causes of sleep disturbance, so that healthy sleep patterns continue long after stopping treatment.

Sleep can also be disrupted by physical symptoms, such as pain, digestive problems, or frequent night urination. In these cases, treating those health problems is often the key to improving sleep. And, the body heals much better when it is getting adequate rest, so sleep is also often the key to making progress with other health issues.

In addition to treating insomnia with acupuncture and herbs, there are many things you can do on your own to improve the quality of your sleep and address insomnia. See the article below for suggestions.