Specialties

• InfertilityAcupuncture can allow you to cross the line from infertile to fertile by helping your body function more efficiently, which in turn allows other, more modern reproductive treatments, like IVF, to also work more efficiently. Acupuncture can increase fertility by reducing stress, increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs and balancing the endocrine system. Acupuncture may help increase IVF success rates by 65%.

  Acupuncture infertility treatment can improve almost every cause of this obstacle. While 40 percent of infertility is caused by problems in the female, another 40 percent of infertilities are is caused by problems in the male, such as low sperm count or motility. The cause of female infertility stems from problems such as anovulation and endometriosis. The remaining 20 percent is caused by unknown factors.

• Endometriosis
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
• Dysmenorrhoea
• Menopausal symptoms and syndromeSince the early seventies, studies around the globe have suggested that acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are effective treatments for hot flashes, anxiety, insomnia, vaginal dryness and many other symptoms associated with menopause. Recent studies show extremely positive results.
• Amenorrhoea
• Irregular Menstruation

Headache is one of the most frequent reasons for medical consultations, in both general practice and neurology clinics. They occur in up to around 80% of the adult population, and are more prevalent in women (65% of cases in one survey). Symptoms begin before the age of 10 years in 15% of people with chronic tension-type headache, and prevalence declines with age.

Traditional Chinese Medicine recognizes two categories of headaches: primary and secondary. A primary headache is a clinical condition, not a symptom of another disorder. Primary headaches include tension headaches, migraines and cluster headaches. Secondary headaches are caused by other medical conditions such as sinus disease, allergies, dental disorders, head injury or brain tumors. Acupuncture is used to effectively treat primary headaches, namely tension and migraine, which are the most common.

Tension Headaches

The origin of tension-type headache is multifactorial, but the pathogenesis is still unclear; there is a family history of some form of headache in 40% of people with chronic tension-type headache. Tension headaches, which occasionally affect most people, are the most common type of headache. They are recurrent headaches, and can last anywhere from minutes to days. These headaches are experienced as a dull pressure, mild or moderate in severity, bilateral, and pressing or tightening in quality but does not worsen with physical activity. There may be accompanying photophobia or phonophobia, but no nausea Symptoms begin before the age of 10 years in 15% of people with chronic tension-type headache, and prevalence declines with age.

Acupuncture helps to relieve tension-type headache by:

• Increasing endorphins (Han 2004) and neuropeptide Y levels (Lee 2009), which can help to combat negative affective states;
• stimulating nerves located in muscles and other tissues, which leads to release of endorphins and other neurohumoral factors, and changes the processing of pain in the brain and spinal cord (Pomeranz, 1987; Zhao 2008; Cheng 2009).
• Reducing inflammation, by promoting release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors (Zijlstra 2003; Kavoussi 2007);
• increasing local microcirculation (Komori 2009), which aids dispersal of swelling.

Migraines

Migraine headaches are usually one-sided, pulsating or throbbing, and moderate or severe in intensity. They can be worsened with activity and may be associated with nausea and/or vomiting, as well as sensitivity to light or noise. Some patients also experience auras, a neurological symptom that develops gradually over 5-20 minutes. The patient may see brief flashes or waves of light, or changes in their vision. Other common features of auras include vertigo, imbalance, confusion and numbness.

Many people with migraine can be adequately treated when the attacks occur, but some need prophylactic interventions, as their attacks are either too frequent or are insufficiently controlled in this way.

Acupuncture can help in the treatment of migraine by:

• Providing pain relief – by stimulating nerves located in muscles and other tissues, acupuncture leads to release of endorphins and other neurochumoral factors and changes the processing of pain in the brain and spinal cord (Zhao 2008, Zijlstra 2003, Pomeranz, 1987).
• Reducing inflammation – by promoting release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors (Kim 2008, Kavoussi 2007, Zijlstra 2003).
• Reducing the degree of cortical spreading depression (an electrical wave in the brain associated with migraine) and plasma levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P (both implicated in the pathophysiology of migraine) (Shi 2010).
• Modulating extracranial and intracranial blood flow (Park 2009).
• Affecting serotonin (5-hydroxytriptamine) levels in the brain (Zhong 2007). (Serotonin may be linked to the initiation of migraines; 5-HT agonists (triptans) are used against acute attacks).

Insomnia is defined as difficulty initiating, or maintaining sleep at least 3 nights per week, in addition to complaints of sleep-related daytime impairment. It is the most common sleep disorder, affecting up to 10% of adults. Sufficient and restful sleep is a human necessity. The average adult needs slightly more than 8 hours of sleep a day, but only 35% of adults consistently get this amount of rest.

Insomnia that is not due to an organic cause is also defined as a condition of unsatisfactory quantity and/or quality of sleep lasting for a considerable period of time (WHO 2007). It includes difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, or early final wakening (WHO 2007; American Psychiatric Association, 2000). People with insomnia tend to experience one or more of the following sleep disturbances:

• Difficulty falling asleep at night
• Waking too early in the morning
• Waking frequently throughout the night
• Sleep that is chronically nonrestorative or poor

Recent surveys indicate that 50% of people suffer from sleep difficulties, and 20 to 36% of them struggle with such difficulties for at least 1 year. Other studies show that 1 person out of 3 has insomnia, but only 20% tell their healthcare providers about it.

Certain acupuncture procedures have a nearly 90% success rate for the treatment of insomnia. Through a complex series of signals to the brain, acupuncture increases the amount of certain substances in the brain, such as serotonin, which promote relaxation and sleep.

Several clinical studies have found that auricular acupuncture, using needles placed at various point in the ear, is effective in reducing symptoms of insomnia, such as difficulty falling asleep and remaining asleep.

A preliminary report in 2004 found that in patients with anxiety, acupuncture increased nighttime melatonin production and total sleep time. The patients who received acupuncture also fell asleep faster, were less aroused at night, and were less stressed. The researchers concluded that, “acupuncture treatment may be of value for some categories of anxious patients with insomnia.”

Acupuncture can help in the treatment of insomnia by:

• Increasing nocturnal endogenous melatonin secretion (Spence et al 2004)
• Stimulating opioid (especially b-endorphin) production and µ-opioid receptor activity (Cheng et al 2009)
• Increasing nitric oxide synthase activity and nitric oxide content, helping to promote normal function of brain tissues, which could help to regulate sleep (Gao et al 2007)
• Increasing cerebral blood flow (Yan 2010)
• Reducing sympathetic nervous system activity, hence increasing relaxation (Lee 2009a)
• Regulating levels of neurotransmitters (or their modulators) such as serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine, GABA and neuropeptide Y; hence altering the brain’s mood chemistry to help to increase relaxation and reduce tension (Lee 2009b; Samuels 2008; Zhou 2008)

Acupuncture can be safely combined with conventional medical treatments for insomnia, such as benzodiazepines, helping to reduce their side effects and enhance their beneficial effects (Cao et al 2009).

The World Health Organization estimates that 15 million individuals suffer from stroke annually worldwide, most of whom live in developed countries, where hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and cardiac diseases are prevalent. Stroke is the third leading cause of fatality and ranks highest as a cause of disability. Acupuncture treatment of stroke has been increasing over the last five years with much of the recent research being carried out in the Scandinavian countries and the USA. Traditional Chinese medicine claims that the symptoms of stroke and its sequaelae respond well to acupuncture treatment. Known as “wind-stroke”, such treatment involves either the use body points alone, with or without electrical stimulation, or the combination of body points with scalp acupuncture.

There is an increase in interest in using acupuncture as a treatment modality for stroke (Ernst & White 1996),and the recent Consensus Development Statement from a panel convened by the US National Institutes of Health to consider the evidence for acupuncture (NIH 1997) finds “positive clinical reports” for its use in this context. Series of clinical trials have shown that acupuncture primarily regulates the release of neurochemicals, hemorheology, cerebral microcirculation, metabolism, neuronal activity, and the function of specific brain region.

Animal studies showed that the effects of acupuncture therapy on stroke were possible via inhibition of post ischemic inflammatory reaction, stimulation of neurogenesis and angiogenesis, and influence on neural plasticity. Mechanisms for its preconditioning effect include activity enhancement of antioxidants, regulation of the endocannabinoid system, and inhibition of apoptosis. It would seem that the evidence to date suggests that acupuncture has a valuable role to play in helping stroke recovery.

Acupuncture instantly decreases most spasticity and loosens up affected muscle groups, resulting in an increased range of motion. Acupuncture also helps strengthen muscles, allowing for a more stable movement. Rehabilitation becomes much easier and more effective for both therapists and patients.

Acupuncture treats chemical addiction and behavioral compulsions that feed a person’s addiction to abuse harmful substances, such as pharmaceutical and recreational drugs and alcohol. Acupuncture treatment reduces withdrawal symptoms, aids in relaxation in cases of anxiety, improves sleep, and reduces cravings for drugs or substances.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neuro-psychiatric problem, affecting 7-9% of children. In recent years, acupuncture has become a popular therapy for children suffering from ADHD. Auricular acupuncture, specifically, has been proven most effective. The ear may be used alone or in combination with body acupuncture to solve countless illnesses through the stimulation of specific points on the body with micro-thin needles, electricity, laser, or other devices. Since the ear may be stimulated through noninvasive procedures, it is the favored treatment for children, as it can relieve ADHD-associated symptoms and avoid the side effects of conventional medication.

Acupuncture has been proven to be effective in:

• Improving focus and attention
• Reducing wriggling and fidgeting
• Enhancing concentration
• Managing mood

A new study shows that acupuncture is an effective treatment for nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting). Nocturnal enuresis is involuntary urination during sleep and is most typical among children. Most children overcome this disorder by age seven but clinical conditions may persist indefinitely in some patients if left untreated. In a surprising finding, acupuncture was shown to be more effective than bedwetting alarms. Bedwetting alarms, a standard in conventional medicine, detect moisture and wake the patient with an audible tone. The study also concluded that electro-acupuncture achieved better clinical results than acupuncture without electricity. The researchers note that “acupuncture can influence spinal micturition centers and parasympathetic innervation to the urinary tract and is known to modulate brain function via the descending serotonergic system.”