What brings the majority of patients to initially seek out acupuncture? Back pain. It has been estimated that a whopping 85% of the population suffers from back pain at some point in their lives, so it is no wonder why this is such a popular complaint. Many of the patients complaining of back pain spend a lot of time sitting and working on the computer. When your body is in a static position for an extended period of time, this restricts blood flow, leading to chronic pain

Yintang is an acupuncture point located between the eyebrows that we intuitively rub when we are stressed or anxious. Translated as "Hall of Impression", Yintang is one of my absolute favorite acupuncture points because of its extremely calming effect. It is a point I use on almost all of my patients because who couldn't use stress relief these days?! Yintang helps your body and mind to feel calm and relaxed and reduces stress, anxiety, insomnia, and agitation. In fact, most

Collagen is all the rage right now and it’s no wonder – the benefits are spectacular! Plus, everyone wants to look and feel younger, right? I mean, who doesn’t want that? Supplementing with collagen even for just a few weeks now can make a difference in the appearance and health of your hair, skin, and nails. Collagen offers other benefits to the body as well. Keep on reading to learn why we need it and the benefits of it. Why We Need Collagen? Collagen is the major comp

Coconut water (Cocos nucifera) is the clear liquid found inside a young, green coconut which is usually about the size of a basketball.

Zheng Xie Gu Shui, also translated as "Evil Bone Water" is a very strong topical Chinese herbal liniment which has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 500 years for its analgesic (pain relieving) properties. Now I know what your thinking, “this sounds pretty interesting, but 'Evil Bone Water'?!” The "evil bone" part translates to any bone pathology - arthritis, sprains, strains, broken bones, etc. Rest assured, the results of this helpful liquid are anything

Cardiac arrhythmia refers to an improper beating of the heart due to improper electrical stimulation. Symptoms and signs of arrhythmia include: Palpitations Chest pain Dizziness Irritability Anxiety Insomnia Fatigue/poor quality sleep Western medicine may prescribe beta-blockers or the anti arrhythmic Amiodarone, which have adverse side effects including nausea, headaches, weight loss, tremor, and in some cases heart block or tachycardia. Acupuncture can regulate heart beats

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure on the median nerve in the wrist that leads to tingling, numbness, and weakness in the hand. Though women are up to three times more likely to get carpal tunnel than men, it can affect anyone at any age. Western treatment includes over-the-counter pain relievers, cortisone injections, and surgery involving cutting a ligament in the wrist to relieve the pinched nerve. Unfortunately none of these treatments are ideal. Prolonged corti

Urinary incontinence is a condition involving uncontrolled urine leaking from the urethra. It most commonly affects women, but men can also experience urinary incontinence. The most common type of urinary incontinence is stress urinary incontinence (SUI), that occurs during physical activities such as sneezing, lifting something, coughing, or laughing. Current treatment methods include pelvic exercises to strengthen muscles, and pharmaceutical medications for more extreme cas

Fibromyalgia is one of the most common chronic pain disorders, affecting 10 million people in the United States. It is most common in women, but can also occur in men and children of all ethnic groups. Chronic widespread pain is the most common symptom of fibromyalgia. Other symptoms include: Moderate/extreme fatigue Sleep disturbance Sensitivity to light or sound Cognitive difficulties Depression Anxiety Western medicine prescribes anti-depressants and anti-seizure medicatio

Sports injuries are injuries that typically (but not always) occur while participating in organized sports or fitness activities. Sports injuries can be the result of repetitive action such as running or throwing (chronic) or the result of a single application of force (acute). The most common types of sports injury is a sprain or muscle strain. While Western medicine might prescribe painkillers or steroids with addictive qualities and negative side effects to treat these inj

Kidney stones, or calculi, are hardened mineral deposits that form in the kidneys. 35,000 Americans a year suffer from kidney stones. While they are usually painless, when larger stones dislodge and enter the urinary tract they can cause symptoms such as: Severe pain in the back, belly, or groin Bleeding Urinary blockage Discolored urine Nausea and/or vomiting There are four types of kidney stones formed by different crystals in the kidneys, and before treatment the stone typ

Depression is a mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness as well as loss of interest. Other symptoms may also be present, including but not limited to: anxiety insomnia or fatigue weight loss/gain excessive crying agitation social isolation lack of concentration suicidal ideation A reported 50-60% of patients with depression do not respond completely to anti-depressant medication, and many patients stop taking medication due to the negative side effects. Acupu

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is the second most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder and affects more than 200,000 people in the United States. The characteristic motor symptoms of Parkinson's include slowed movement (bradykinesia), resting tremors, and muscle rigidity. It is distinguished from essential tremors in that PD tremors worsen when at rest, whereas essential tremors are more prevalent during activity. Studies have found that acupuncture can effectively allevia

Recent research has confirmed the effectiveness of acupuncture for cervical spondylosis, a type of arthritis caused by wear and tear of the discs in the cervical spine. As the spinal discs degenerate over time, osteoarthritis occurs and bony spurs form, causing pain and stiffness in the neck. More than 85% of people over the age of 60 in the United States suffer from cervical spondylosis. If the condition is left untreated, it can lead to spinal compression or pinched nerves.

Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug that can be taken in powder, pill, injection, and even smoked. It increases higher nervous system function and is extremely dangerous and addictive. Over 6% of the population (aged 12 and older) have used methamphetamines at least once. When someone decides to receive help for their methamphetamine addiction, Western medicine often prescribes medications after the initial detoxification. Acupuncture can help to reduce withdrawal symptoms an

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is reported to affect one million Americans each year. PID is an infection of the female reproductive system, namely the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. While it may initially present with no signs or symptoms, it can lead to infertility and chronic pelvic pain. Signs of PID include: Pain in lower abdomen or pelvis Heavy vaginal discharge with foul odor Abnormal uterine bleeding Pain or bleeding during intercourse Fever (with or without

Did you know that tendonitis is the most diagnosed chronic connective tissue disease in Western medicine? Tendonitis is also called repetitive motion disease, since it can occur after repetitive long-term movements as well as after an injury. According to Western medicine, tendonitis is caused by inflammatory cells in the tendons that cause them to become irritated over time. In reality, tendonitis is caused by degeneration of the tendon fibers, causing swelling and increased

Indigestion, or dyspepsia, is a common but very uncomfortable condition. Symptoms include, but are not limited to: Abdominal pain Bloating Nausea Belching Acid reflux Uncomfortable sensation of heaviness/fullness after eating Dyspepsia is often linked to gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD) and gastritis, but can occur without these conditions present. In western medicine, dyspepsia is often treated with proton pump inhibitors (PPI). However, long-term use of PPIs has been

Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa (plural bursae), a small fluid-filled sac that cushions joints and minimizes friction. When inflamed, symptoms include severe pain, stiffness, swelling, and, in severe cases, joint infection. The inflammation that causes bursitis usually stems from a repetitive action or an injury. It most commonly occurs in the shoulder, hips, knees, and elbows, but can affect any joint in the body. Western medicine recommends icing the affected area and t

Endometriosis affects more than 6.5 million American women a year, and millions more worldwide. Endometriosis is a disorder where tissue that normally lines the uterus grows in areas outside of the uterus. While it usually occurs in the lower abdomen or pelvis, it can be found anywhere throughout the body. Symptoms of endometriosis include: Pain in pelvic or lower abdominal area (usually worse during menstruation) Infertility Bloating Constipation Painful bowel movements Pain