Acupuncture
Heal Chronic Pain with Acupuncture
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the healing medical practice of needle therapy.
During a treatment, very thin needles are inserted at specific points on the body. In Chinese Medicine these points are called neural nodes or jie. Acupuncture heals the body by stimulating these nodes which affect both the central and peripheral nervous systems.
These nervous system signals then trigger the brain to release the body’s internal chemicals such as endorphins and enkephalins. Both of which have pain-relieving properties and improve immune function.
Acupuncture is most commonly known to treat various conditions of pain such as low-back pain, neck pain, knee pain, headaches to name a few. Additionally, studies are continuing to show that acupuncture is effective for many other ailments.
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What Is Distal Needle Acupuncture?
Your treatment plan is based on what is best for your exact ailment(s). Dr. Lane often uses a style of treatment called Distal Needle Acupuncture (DNA). It is an evolved method from the commonly known Balance Method from Dr. Richard Tan. This specialized type of acupuncture is utilized due to its effectiveness and at times instant results. Patients describe it as “turning off a light switch” of symptoms or pain. DNA places needles distal, or far-away, from the symptomatic site. To the untrained eye, these placements may seem random. For example, a shoulder pain can be addressed with needles in the wrists, ankles and/or knees. These needles are strategically placed for optimal results. Relief is felt on the table within moments. To explain this physiologically, the practitioner is placing needles in specific areas of dense nerve tissue to signal to the brain to release certain natural pain-killing chemicals and to stimulate blood flow.
Relieving Pain with Acupuncture
Acupuncture for Pain Relief
Does Acupuncture Hurt?
There are neuropathic pain and structural pain
Neuropathic Pain
Neuropathic pain, or simply nerve pain, is defined as having no structural cause and the nerve fibers themselves might be damaged, dysfunctional, or injured. Generally, there’s a problem with aggravated sensory nerves, which will not stop firing and producing pain.
Treating Neuropathic Pain
Acupuncture is a neural procedure and it takes a neural procedure to solve a neural problem. Quite frankly, acupuncture is the very best way to treat these issues. Acupuncture stimulates neural nodes that affect both the central and peripheral nervous systems. These nervous system signals then trigger the brain to release the body’s internal chemicals such as endorphins and enkephalins. These both have pain-relieving properties and improve immune function.
If everything is working properly, the body will naturally release these pain-relieving chemicals. They plug up the pain receptor sites in the brain, all along the spine, and on the capillary beds where you feel the pain. They stop chronic pain and allow the body to return to normal function. For those patients who suffer from chronic discomfort, this mechanism is no longer working. The neural signal from the site of pain to the brain has diminished over time and is no longer triggering the brain to release the pain-relieving enkephalins.
Acupuncture will raise the signal strength and the result is a sudden and dramatic relief from pain. For this reason, we can treat an incredibly wide variety of pain problems.
Structural Pain
Structural problems are those where something in the body is actually pushing on a sensory nerve or a group of sensory nerves. A perfect example would be a bulging disc impinging on a group of spinal sensory nerves.
Treating Structural Pain
When a patient’s pain is caused by a structural problem, where tissue is pushing directly on a sensory nerve or group of nerves, raising the signal strength alone will not solve this type of problem. These patients usually need more invasive procedures, such as surgery, and we can assist our patients in a referral to the proper Western medicine specialist.
Back and Sciatica Pain
Back Pain
Whether caused by chronic sciatica, a bulging disc, or arthritis is very painful and can be disabling.
A person suffering from sciatica has an inflamed sciatic nerve. This nerve starts roughly at the base of the spine, travels down the back of the leg and then stops in your foot.
Sciatic Pain
Sciatic Pain is difficult to treat because nerve pain does not respond well to painkillers.
Acupuncture works by stimulating the nervous system and allowing for the body to regain its natural balance and function.
Whole-Body Medical System
Chronic low-grade pain can lead to inactivity or lack of enjoyment in activities because the pain is just too much to deal with. People that suffer from chronic pain are more prone to depression because they are no longer able to do things they once enjoyed. They may suffer loneliness and feel that they are suffering alone.
As a whole-body medical system, this is the kind of condition Chinese Medicine treats with high success resulting in an overall reduction of pain and an increase in your mood and vitality.
Shoulder Pain
The shoulder is a ball and socket joint, attached together by ligaments and protected by cartilage. Tendons of the muscles that provide movement to this joint are tightly packed in this small space. Shoulder pain is often difficult to treat because of the complexity of the shoulder joint.
Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is a condition in which the swelling in the shoulder joint prevents the arm from moving in a full range of motion and can be very painful. Often times an initial injury, like a tendon tear, will cause additional inflammation which in turn causes more swelling and pain in this joint. Acupuncture is very effective at reducing this secondary swelling and pain.
From there, a shoulder may need time to resolve the initial tear, or in more severe cases a surgery to correct the structural problem. In this case, acupuncture can be a successful way to help keep pain at bay while you wait for a surgical procedure, and to aid in post-surgical recovery.
Arthritis
Arthritis can be widespread or it can be concentrated in a knee, low back, or shoulder.
Arthritic pain can be felt anywhere in the body where there is a joint. It is a very common health ailment for the general public and with early management, arthritis pain does not have to be disabling.
Those that suffer from arthritis will likely find relief from acupuncture treatments because acupuncture treats the whole body and promotes overall wellness. Arthritis sufferers likely have arthritis in more than one place and analgesics only help for so long. You can live with arthritis for a long time without pain if you make changes in your lifestyle that include a whole-body approach to your well-being. Our treatments for arthritis involve a combination of pain relief, reduction of inflammation, dietary assessment, and emotional support.
Acupuncture for Women's Health
The healthcare system can be an intimidating place. Sometimes, you need a coach in your corner who can cut through the red tape and lead you through the fray so you can get the care and treatment you deserve.
At Elemental Natural Medicine, we have years of experience helping our patients get the most out of their primary care physicians and medical specialists. Our team can act as the bridge between you and your providers to ensure that you reach your health and wellness goals.
In addition, we can support all your healing efforts through individualized food, supplement, exercise, and lifestyle-optimization protocols.
What to Expect
At Elemental Natural Medicine you can expect a relaxed consultation with the support of Dr. Lane. You’ll walk away with a recommended treatment course that will bring vitality back to your life. Below are some of the common conditions we treat.
Menstruation
A woman’s menstrual flow is a sign of good health. When the body is out of balance various symptoms show up such as having no period, excessive bleeding during your period, spotting, pain, or cramping.
Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help restore better hormone function to achieve the correct rhythm, flow and address the following issues:
- Cramps
- Irritability
- Lower abdomen pain
- Fibroid cysts
- Endometriosis
PMS
As mentioned above, during a woman’s menstrual flow there are a number of symptoms that may arise. These are often categorized as PMS or premenstrual syndrome.
PMS refers to a wide range of physical or emotional symptoms that typically occur about two weeks before a woman starts her menstrual flow or period. In Chinese Medicine, PMS is commonly attributed to poor blood flow through the liver during menstruation. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can encourage better circulation through the hepatic artery. This is a short blood vessel that supplies 70% of oxygenated blood to the liver.
Fertility
Many women are being diagnosed with infertility and undertaking procedures such as IUI and IVF without anyone treating the root cause of the issue. The inability to get pregnant can be due to many unexpected reasons including low sperm count or motility issues in men. Treating infertility with Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine has not only been around for centuries but now is validated with results from multiple health research studies.
- Acupuncture and herbal medicine can support conception by increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs, which dramatically improves a woman’s response to hormonal therapy.
- Acupuncture has been shown to be a hormone regulating therapy.
- Acupuncture can improve ovulation by reducing stress and a hyperactive sympathetic nervous system response.
- Acupuncture can possibly improve pregnancy rate by decreasing stress around embryo transfer during IVF.
- The American Society of Reproductive Medicine Fertility & Sterility Journal has included the utility of acupuncture in conjunction with assisted reproductive technology.
Postpartum
The journey of pregnancy and birth is an empowering life-changing experience. The woman’s body is capable of nurturing another human being for nine months. In doing so the women’s physical and emotional body goes through various changes.
Acupuncture can support women through this important transition by addressing any physical symptoms or emotional symptoms such as fatigue, anxiety, and depression. These are all common postpartum experiences. Women use a large amount of energy and blood to create and give birth. This is why postpartum acupuncture and herbal medicine aid with the physical recovery process, support milk production and restoring hormones.
Menopause
Menopause is a natural biological process, not a medical illness. It is the permanent end of menstruation and fertility, defined as occurring 12 months after your last menstrual period. When the body is in balance, women are able to go through this natural biological process without the bothersome symptoms often associated with menopause. Acupuncture and herbal medicine can bring the body back to balance to address any physical and emotional symptoms of menopause. Such as night sweats, hot flashes, sleep disruption, energy loss, fatigue, and emotional symptoms such as sadness and loss.
Acupuncture for Immune System
A weak immune system can lead to frequent colds, allergies, chronic fatigue, and other immune compromising symptoms. Chinese Medicine is curative and boosts your immune strength while at the same time reducing symptoms. Many patients with allergies or respiratory issues usually experience a noticeable improvement in the first two weeks.
Restoring the Immune Function
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs regulate your immune function by,
1. Increasing circulation into areas that require more immune presence.
2. Directly enhancing immune system components via herbal medicine.
3. Resolving chronic states of dysfunction and thereby freeing up the immune system for other defense projects.
Allergies
Symptoms of runny nose, sneezing, and watery or itchy eyes, specifically during Spring and Fall, are common conditions for which many individuals seek acupuncture and Chinese Medicine treatment. Poor nutrition, stress, and/or exposure to harmful environments all lead to a declining immune system. We consider a successful outcome to be an 80% reduction in these symptoms.
Respiratory Diseases
Chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, asthma and chronic bronchitis are also conditions that can be treated with acupuncture. While these are case-by-case scenarios, each session begins with an accurate diagnosis to determine how we can best support you. In some cases, we feel the problem is beyond our ability to help, and in those cases, we refer to a trusted Western medical physician.
Acupuncture for Digestive Issues
Digestive issues are uncomfortable, painful and sometimes embarrassing, but they can often be aided with the help of acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. Our professional and caring providers are highly skilled in treating digestive and gut-related issues.
Treating Digestive Issues with Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a safe and effective way to treat many chronic conditions of the digestive tract. Patients come to us most often because traditional Western Medicine is not very effective at treating digestive problems.
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine are known for effectively treating:
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS
- Functional Dyspepsia
- Peptic ulcers
- Heartburn
- Lactose intolerance
- Gastrointestinal tract bleeding
- Inflammatory conditions
- Hiatal hernia syndrome
- Bacterial infections
Chinese Medicine seeks out what we consider to be the causes of the problem and treats the root cause, rather than the symptoms of the disease.
Typical causes of digestive issues as detected by Chinese Medicine are heat or inflammation of the large or small intestines, emotional disturbances such as depression affecting the digestive system, or liver inflammation affecting the digestive system. Recovery time is usually one month of treatment for every year you have had the problem.
Mental Health
Your thinking, feeling, and mood are what make-up your mental health. When the health of your mind starts to decline your ability to relate to others and function each day becomes challenging. Nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness. Depression is one of the most common symptoms we treat at Elemental Natural Medicine.
Depression and Anxiety
It’s estimated that 16.2 million adults in the United States have had at least one major depressive episode in a given year. Depression and anxiety are two of the most common diseases we treat at the clinic. In Chinese Medicine there are at least 10 different causes of these conditions. Once we are certain of the cause, we can provide a treatment plan. By properly diagnosing the causes of emotional disturbance, we assist our patients in finding the appropriate treatment, even if it is not in our clinic.
Addiction
Addiction creates a body-wide imbalance that affects the physical and mental health of anyone who suffers from this disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) listed 64 medical problems that are considered suitable for acupuncture treatment, including the treatment of smoking, drug, or alcohol addiction. At Elemental Natural Medicine, we treat our patients with the most effective methods using both acupuncture and Chinese herbs, which greatly increases the success rate. In many cases, we will also use auricular (ear) acupuncture to help the patient retain the effects of acupuncture between treatments.
Insomnia
70 million US Americans suffer from sleep disorders. Sleep is the time when your body and mind are fully recovering. Lack of sleep can lead to many other symptoms, such as pain, anxiety, and/or digestive disorders. In Chinese Medicine, insomnia is a symptom of lack of health and function, not simply a disease of its own. Instead of getting a prescription with countless side-effects, many people turn to acupuncture. Insomnia is often the result of a dysfunction in the heart or liver. If blood flow to the heart is slightly diminished the patient will have a hard time falling asleep.
Chronic Fatigue
If the fatigue is not drug-related, then Chinese medicine is an excellent solution. Either the patient has too much toxicity in their system, or they are simply devoid of nutrients and low-level anemia is present. In either case, these problems can be improved using Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and nutritional counseling. An analogy we often use is one of a garden hose which has no water coming out at the nozzle. Either the hose is pinched (too much toxicity) causing a reduction in water flow, or there simply is not enough water in the hose (weakness and anemia). Even though the complaint, fatigue, is the same for both problems, the methods of fixing the problems are completely different.
Cancer
There is no evidence in the United States or in China that Chinese Medicine can remove cancer from the body. What we can do is help strengthen the immune system while a patient is undergoing chemotherapy or radiation. Western Medicine is capable of killing cancer, but unfortunately these caustic approaches also harm the body’s immune system; and because the immune system is weakened, the cancer may return. Chinese Medicine has proven itself to be effective in strengthening the body’s immune system and restoring vitality to the patient, even those who are currently undergoing Western medical treatment for cancer, or for those who have finished chemotherapy and radiation.
Hepatitis
Over the years we have treated quite a few cases of chronic hepatitis or Hepatitis C. The results have been very encouraging. In the cases we have treated there has been a statistically significant improvement in liver function as measured by Western medical tests. For this reason, there are medical doctors throughout the country who refer patients to Traditional Chinese Medicine clinics for the treatment of liver diseases.
Urinary Incontinence
Clinically we see two types of urinary incontinence. One type involves a low-level bladder irritation or infection. This type responds well to Traditional Chinese Medicine. The other type comes under the category of a “Deficiency” in Chinese Medicine, and unfortunately takes a longer time for a response to treatment. Patients can expect to see an improvement in several months if their condition is not too drastic.