"Ancient Philosophy Turn to Today’s Most Effective Treatment for complicated diseases: Acupuncture & Moxibustion treatment"

 

Acupuncture and its Mode of Action:

It is quite common these days to hear about people turning to real acupuncture and Herbal treatment- a natural medicine, as a last resort for relief from chronic health problems. The popularity of alternative therapies such as Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Herbal treatment is variable among developed countries, but public demand is strong and growing. In recent surveys published in the Journal of American Medical Association (1998), the percentage of the public reporting use of at least one alternative therapy in the U.S. increased from 38 % in 1990 to 42 % in 1997.  Estimates available from Europe show the corresponding percentage to be much higher, particularly for classical acupuncture (British Medical Journal, 1994). A few years ago, the Food and Drug Administration-USA estimated that 9 to 12 million acupuncture treatments were being performed annually, and this estimate is surely much higher now.

 

The report from a Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture held at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-USA in 1997 stated that acupuncture is being "widely" practiced—by thousands of physicians, for relief or prevention of pain and for various other health conditions.

 

At present Acupuncture, Moxibustion, and Herbal treatment (Complimentary Alternative Medicines-CAM), is widely accepted whole over the world among the patients suffering from chronic and complicated diseases. In our country patients are also turning towards the acupuncture, Moxibustion or Herbal natural healing science, specially those who are very conscious about their health and are not getting any or satisfactory result from other form of medical treatment. 

 

Therefore, we feel proud to provide our medical service by Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Herbal treatment / Complimentary Alternative Medicine to the patients suffering from many kind of physical and mental problems.

 

Acupuncture & Moxibustion Treatment is an ancient AYURVEDIC - CHINESE  system of treatment. In Acupuncture method,  several diseases or disorders are treated or manage by inserting one or more very thin pins at certain points on the body and treating by applying heat produced by burning specific herbs, is known as Moxibustion Therapy. It has been practiced in China and the orient for more than 5000 years.

 

Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medical science is practiced based on keeping or restore balance of vital energy in the body and treating accordingly. The imbalance can be caused by physical or emotional difficulties. The acupuncture doctor restores the balance by inserting fine sterilized pins in to the points of the channels of energy, through stimulating the body's own natural healing mechanisms. So, Acupuncture is the process of encouraging the body to promote natural healing. Throughout its long history, acupuncture treatment has established a solid reputation as an excellent alternative for health care and is very effective to treat some diseases, where other methods of treatment could not achieve good result or failed.

 

The modern scientific explanation is that needling the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain, including endorphins, enkephalins and other neurotransmitters. Either these chemicals will change the experience of pain, or they will trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones that influence the body's own internal regulating system, bringing about a normalizing effect on neuroendocrine function. The improved energy and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture, results in stimulating the body's natural healing abilities, and in promoting physical and emotional well-being.

 

These methods of treatment is recognized and recommended by WHO and National Institutes of Health-USA (NIH-USA) as a scientific, free from side effect, complimentary, simple and very effective method of treatment for various diseases. Acupuncture treatment is being widely practiced and getting popularity in many developed countries. This method of treatment is already quite popular in the countries like America, France, UK, Australia, Japan, China, Korea etc. and there are many research centers and hospitals established. Though this method of treatment has already been started in our country but due to quite less number of medically educated qualified acupuncture doctors available in our country and lack of proper perception about the application of this method, the patients are depriving from the advantages of Acupuncture & Moxibustion treatment.

 

An Acupuncture medical doctor should possess adequate knowledge and experience for providing proper treatment to the patients. To avoid the unwanted complications in Acupuncture treatment, please keep away from taking treatment by quack / fake Acupuncturist. There are many around us without proper qualifications. Inadequate education, knowledge and experience may lead to serious medical problems. So, we have made an attempt to provide service through this system of medicine by a well qualified and experienced doctor.

 

Why we consider Acupuncture and Moxibustion Therapy for our treatment ?  Because :

01. It is very effective to treat some diseases,   where other methods of treatment could not achieve good result or failed.

 

02. This therapy doesn’t require any medicine. So  toxicity due to medicine will be avoided.

 

03. It is totally free from side effect.

 

04. It helps to increase immunity power of the body, therefore this treatment makes defensive mechanism of the body strong.

 

 

Efficacy of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Treatment in different diseases.

a. Application of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Treatment in different diseases.  

 

b. Statistics of the result of Acupuncture & Moxibustion treatment in different diseases.

 

a. Application of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Treatment in different diseases.

Since Acupuncture and moxibustion Medicine promotes the body's natural healing ability, many conditions can be treated. It is also a comprehensive system of preventative health care and maintenance. The effectiveness of acupuncture is well-documented. Throughout its long history, acupuncture has established a solid reputation as an excellent alternative for health care that actually works, and is very effective to treat some diseases, where other methods of treatment could not achieve good result or failed.

 

The World Health Organization recognizes Acupuncture as a viable means of treatment for a wide range of conditions. In an official report, Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials, the WHO has listed the following symptoms, diseases and conditions that have been shown through controlled trials to be treated effectively by acupuncture:

low back pain, neck pain, sciatica, tennis elbow, knee pain, periarthritis of the shoulder, sprains, facial pain (including craniomandibular disorders), headache, dental pain, tempromandibular (TMJ) dysfunction, rheumatoid arthritis, induction of labor, correction of malposition of fetus (breech presentation), morning sickness, nausea and vomiting, postoperative pain, stroke, essential hypertension, primary hypotension, renal colic, leucopenia, adverse reactions to radiation or chemotherapy, allergic rhinitis, including hay fever, biliary colic, depression (including depressive neurosis and depression following stroke), acute bacillary dysentery, primary dysmenorrhea, acute epigastralgia, peptic ulcer, acute and chronic gastritis.

 

On the other hand our experience shows that in following diseases Acupuncture treatment is also very effective:

      # Arthritis, Rheumatism / Different types of pains, Trigeminal neuralgia, Sciatica, Neck pain, Shoulder pain, knee joint pain, Sciatica, Backache / Low back pain, Degenerative Disk Disorders, Sports Injuries, Work Injuries, Spinal / Backbone pain, Elbow joint pain, Tennis elbow, Ribs pain, Angina pectoris, Palpitation, Asthma, Bronchitis, Sinusitis, Tonsillitis, Pharyngitis etc.

      # Autism (ASD), Cerebral palsy, Attention deficit disorder, Mental / Behavioral problems, Delayed speech, Epilepsy, Depression, Anxiety / Psycho-somatic problems, Problem in concentration, Sleep problems, Hyperactivity, Weakness in study, Weak memory / low intelligence, Weakness of brain, Various Headaches etc.

      # Muscular / Neurological problems, Paralysis / stroke, Motor neuron disease, Restless leg syndrome Polio, Gullain barre syndrome / GBS,  Writer tremor, Parkinsonism, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Optic nerve atrophy, Paralytic ileus, IBS, Constipation, Facial paralysis,  Angina pectoris (heart's pain), Irregular Heartbeat, Burger’s / Raynuad’s Disease, Chronic wounds, Drugs addiction, Pus from ear, Tinnitus, Nerve deafness, Allergy, Obesity / Overweight, Post-radio / chemotherapy effects endorsed problems, Cold sensitivity etc.

     # Certain males and females problems, Sterility, Uterus fibroid / tumor, Abortion due to unknown causes, Menstrual pain, Excess / Less menstruation etc.

     # Cosmetic problems like Hair falling, Wrinkle, Face rejuvenation, Acne, Obesity / Overweight  etc.

In the field of acupuncture some good clinical researches have been completed, and there has also been some follow-up assessment of many of the conditions that have been treated by Acupuncture Doctors. Some diseases are more successfully treated by acupuncture and Moxibustion where other methods of treatment could not achieve good result or failed. Though this method of treatment has already been started in our country but due to quite less number of medically qualified acupuncture doctors available in our country and lack of proper perception about the application of this method in some specific diseases, the patients are depriving from the advantages of Acupuncture & Moxibustion treatment.

Here is a little information about the effects of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in few diseases. Many of the facts and figures quoted in the following sections are the results of my own experience and clinical trials carried out in China and others countries.

 

Diseases of the Muscles, Bones and Joints:

When disease or damage occurs to these area, it nearly always results in pain and most people use words such as rheumatism or arthritis to describe this type of pain. Damage that occurs to the musculo-skeletal system is a sudden injury or sprain which might be a domestic injury, or might be incurred during a sporting activity or road traffic accident. This usually causes local pain and bruising lasting for a few days, or even a few weeks or more. The other main group is arthritis and this can be divided into two important types, Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Sprains: Sudden injury or sprains usually respond well to acupuncture. The pain resulting from a sprained shoulder, ankle etc will often continue for some days or weeks after the initial injury. Once a clear diagnosis has been made acupuncture can usually be used to relieve this type of pain. The experience of a many of Acupuncture doctors including me, shows that, of the people treated for differing acutely painful conditions, about 70 percent obtain swift and significant pain relief. The main advantage of treating these acute pains with acupuncture is that chronic pain can be avoided. A sudden shoulder injury may produce pain and immobility for many months, sometimes years, but if acupuncture is used when the pain occurs then it seems that chronic pain may be avoided.

Osteoarthritis: A great deal of research work has been done to investigate the effects of acupuncture on the pain caused by osteoarthritis. Clinical trials have been completed on knee, hip, elbow, neck and lower back pain, and the information from these trials shows that significant pain relief can be achieved in about 70 per cent of those who receive acupuncture. Some work suggests that only 50 per cent of people benefit from acupuncture while other trials show 95 per cent of the patients benefiting. However, acupuncture is a safe and effective form of treatment for osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: This type of pain is amenable to acupuncture and responds in the same way as other osteoarthritic aches and pains. Chronic pain, due to disease of the musculo-skeletal system, is frequently amenable to acupuncture treatment. The published research shows that pain which has been present for many years can respond as well as pain that has been present for only a few months; therefore, from the available information, it is fair to say that acupuncture is 'always worth a try' in this type of condition.

Headaches: Acupuncture treatment has been used to treat a wide variety of headaches, particularly migrainous headaches, and the results obtained have been very encouraging. The published work suggests that between 65-95 per cent of all headache sufferers obtain significant and long lasting pain relief from acupuncture treatment. Migraines seem to respond as well as, if not better than, other types of headache. Acupuncture therapy for headaches may cause the headaches to vanish completely, or occur with a markedly decreased intensity and/or frequency. The pain relief resulting from acupuncture treatment can sometimes be maintained for some years and re-treatment is usually required less frequently for headaches.

 

Diseases of the Nervous System & Mental Problems :

Strokes: A stroke is caused by a disturbance of the blood supply to the brain. The blood vessels that normally supply blood to the brain can be compromised by becoming blocked or bleeding. This result in a deficient blood supply to the brain tissue and these events can be precipitated by a variety of factors such as raised blood pressure, hardening of the arteries and severe head injury. The brain is divided into many different functional areas, one area controlling speech, while another dominates the sensations of touch and pain. The functional impairment that occurs with a stroke depends on the area of the brain that is damaged; if the speech area is damaged by a lack of blood supply then the patient may be unable to speak properly. In China, acupuncture is the standard treatment for strokes. Both scalp and body acupuncture are techniques that can be used to aid recovery from a stroke. The research work suggests that acupuncture increases the blood supply to the brain, and for some unexplained reason this seems to improve functional ability and acts as a stimulus to recovery after a stroke.

Clinical trials completed by the Chinese doctor’s state that some effect can be gained from acupuncture in about 80 per cent of strokes.  Western medicine often has little to offer the stroke patient and therefore acupuncture therapy is always worth considering. Ideally strokes should be treated within six months of the damage occurring.

The Neuralgias (Nerve Pain): Facial pain / Trigeminal neuralgia usually presents with severe unilateral facial pain. Its cause is unclear but the painful facial spasms are often precipitated by cold or wind. Acupuncture is able to gain improvement in about 70 per cent of cases of trigeminal neuralgia.

Postherpetic neuralgia: is the pain that occurs after an attack of shingles. Shingles is a viral infection of the nerves, and the nerves affected by shingles can occasionally continue to cause severe pain after the shingles has cleared. It seems that of those patients with established postherpetic neuralgia, about more than 40 per cent gain some degree of long term benefit from acupuncture treatment. There are a vast number of aches and pains that are often described as neuralgic / nerve pain. It is always worthwhile to attempt to alleviate these pains by using acupuncture treatment.

Nerve Paralysis: Paralysis can also be treated by a variety of acupuncture techniques. The acupuncture must be continued for a long period. Sometimes daily for six months and the results from some of the Chinese research works are very encouraging. Chinese doctors claim that some 50-60 per cent of patients are likely to gain significant return of function if treated with acupuncture.

Facial paralysis (Bell's palsy): is a disease of sudden onset that causes one side of the face to lose muscular power; the cause of this is unknown. Acupuncture and moxibustion can be used to treat this and the research claim a 75 per cent complete recovery rate but, again, this disease allows a significant percentage of spontaneous recovery. The Chinese research also claim that a further 20 per cent gain benefit from acupuncture, although not complete recovery. Even allowing for the known level of spontaneous resolution in facial paralysis it does seem that acupuncture has something extra to offer.

Parkinson's disease, Epilepsy, nerve deafness etc: Acupuncture has been claimed to be effective in Parkinson's disease, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, nerve deafness, and a large variety of other neurological problems. According to some studies, Parkinson's disease may be accompanied by an imbalance of energy along one or more meridians. The muscle stiffness, soreness, imbalance etc. of Parkinson's may be alleviated by a series of treatments. It is always wise to remember that acupuncture is a harmless technique and can sometimes give excellent results in above cases where other medical methods have failed.

Autism /ASD, Cerebral Palsy etc: Acupuncture along with herbal therapy have been found highly effective for treating children with brain dysfunction, resulting in improvement in the patient’s overall functional abilities. Excellent results are being achieved through simultaneous application of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine in the cases of ASD / Autism, Cerebral Palsy and other neurological diseases in different countries of the world. There are several research papers, articles etc. that has been published all over the world about the efficacy of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicines. In clinical practice DR. KHAN also getting very effective result by applying integration of Acupuncture and Herbal treatment. He noticed that, formulated Herbal Medicine along with acupuncture sessions gives much result other than only Acupuncture treatment or only Herbal Medicine. Like other diseases, He treated several patients. Some of them improved tremendously just after few sessions of treatment.

ADD / ADHD, Dyslexia (difficulty learning to read) / Weakness in study, Weak memory / low intelligence, Weakness of brain: Acupuncture can help the patient to manage above conditions and will provide some relief which will help the patient to gain greater benefit from the therapies available to him or her. It also can help with the side effects of those therapies. Acupuncture can be an excellent complementary therapy for the treatment of ADD and ADHD, Dyslexia (learning to read), Weakness in study, Weak memory / low intelligence, Weakness of brain etc. In some cases Acupuncture works as a magic bullet. A research showed that, Acupuncture treatment has a good effect on infantile attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, its total effective rate was higher and the changes in abnormal electroencephalogram and the curative effect were better.

Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia / sleep problem and Other Nervous Disorders: Many acupuncture doctors, including the Chinese, treat a wide range of 'mental disorders' and insomnia (sleep problem) with acupuncture. Many people have stated that acupuncture is clearly effective in helping symptoms such as insomnia, other psychological problems and bed-wetting, and can also create a feeling of general well-being. The Chinese doctors have completed trials on some of the more clearly defined and serious mental diseases, such as schizophrenia. In a trial involving over 400 patients they claim a 54 per cent cure rate for this disease, with a further 30 per cent showing 'significant improvement'. However, from a variety of excellent research papers it is clear that acupuncture can influence quite radically many areas of the central nervous system, as well as neurotransmitters and others brain functions also. Therefore this therapy has a great role in brain related problems or neuro-developmental dysfunction.

 

Diseases of the Digestive System:

IBS: An increasing number of studies have been conducted on treating IBS, with promising results. These studies have documented that Chinese medicine can effectively treat IBS in a safe and drug-free way.In some of cases, from the first session of treatment patients started to realize that Acupuncture works.  It was recently reported that acupuncture is able to affect the function of the bowel and suggests that it can be useful in treating irritable bowel.  A study in which 149 patients with IBS, which had not responded to standard medical care, were treated with two different acupuncture protocols. Found an overall 80% improvement in both acupuncture groups.

Indigestion, Ch. Dysentery, Pancreatitis, Constipation, Causeless abdominal pain etc : Exact figures for success rates are not available, but the 'clinical impression' that arises from a number of acupuncture doctors indicates that about 60 per cent of patients gain some long-term relief of their symptoms with acupuncture.

 

Diseases of the Respiratory System:

Asthma: Acupuncture causes the contracted muscular walls to dilate; the mechanism of this is unknown, but there is good Western research data to support this claim. A recent Chinese clinical trial on asthma showed that some 70 per cent of asthmatics gained a 'very good effect' from acupuncture and Moxibustion. The acupuncture treatment was able to decrease the frequency and intensity of asthmatic attacks over a period of a year or more. It also keep away the asthmatics from the side effects of drugs / medicines. In some of cases no further attack noticed.  This result is encouraging as it shows that acupuncture and Moxibustion can affect the response of the body to the environmental stimuli causing asthmatic attacks. Our clinical experience also supports this efficacy of Acupuncture and Moxibustion medicine.

Bronchitis: Acupuncture cannot rebuild lung tissue, but by opening up the breathing tubes it can allow the remaining lung tissue to function efficiently. The mechanism of acupuncture in bronchitis is probably much the same as in asthma, allowing more air to enter the lungs. Recent Chinese research works has shown that about 50 per cent of bronchitis 'benefit' from acupuncture. The treatment must be repeated regularly if the effect is to be maintained for long period. Acupuncture treatment also help to control the infection effectively in bronchitis.

Diseases of the Heart and Blood Vessels:
In China it is a common and acceptable form of treatment for some of these problems. A variety of experiments carried out in the western countries give clear support to the idea that acupuncture does have an effect on the circulatory system.

Angina: Using sophisticated measuring equipment the Chinese researchers have completed a variety of trials to assess the effects of acupuncture on the heart, and they have shown a marked increase in the functional ability and efficiency of the heart muscles after acupuncture. This is further supported by clinical work, which shows that some 80 per cent of patients with angina have improved after acupuncture. When acupuncture is used to treat angina a course of treatments is given, and then followed by booster treatments.

The Correction of Abnormal Heart Rhythms: Heart diseases can frequently cause an abnormal rhythm to the heart beat; this may manifest itself as palpitations, an irregular heartbeat, or dropped beats. Acupuncture can correct a small number of these arrhythmias. In established atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beats), acupuncture affects a small percentage of cases, some 1.5 per cent, although in recently acquired arrhythmias, acupuncture can be effective in up to 70 per cent of cases.

 

The Use of Acupuncture in Addiction and Obesity:
A large number of Western countries acupuncturists are using a variety of acupuncture techniques to treat obesity, smoking and hard drug addiction. There is some excellent physiological and clinical evidence to support the use of acupuncture method in these areas. The withdrawal symptoms experienced by people giving up smoking, or drugs, can be alleviated by raising the levels of endorphins in the nervous system. Some people believe that the desire to eat is also mediated by the endorphin level in the brain. It is clear that endorphin levels throughout the nervous system can be increased by Acupuncture. It must be stressed that acupuncture cannot replace willpower. It can only help the withdrawal symptoms, or hunger pains, experienced by those already motivated and committed to solving their articular problem.

Obesity: Acupuncture seems to relieve the problem of hunger usually created by dieting. Many people who receive acupuncture to help with weight loss also go on a diet at the same time. It is difficult to assess exactly which factors are responsible for weight loss, the acupuncture or the diet, or both in combination. Most acupuncturists claim that 40-50 per cent of their patients experience some significant weight loss during treatment.

Hard Drug Addiction: Some excellent research work has been done in this field, especially in Hong Kong. It is clear that acupuncture can help to solve the severe withdrawal symptoms experienced by those coming off hard drugs like heroin.

Smoking: Acupuncture treatment helps about 40 per cent of people to give up smoking. Again, it is essential to be well motivated before embarking on a course of treatment. Acupuncture does seem to decrease the desire to smoke and also to alleviate the withdrawal symptoms produced by abstinence from tobacco.

 

Reduce the Discomforts and Side Effects of Chemo/Radiotherapy for Cancer:

The effect of acupuncture on chemotherapy-induced nausea, vomiting etc. has been studied over the past 20 years, and clinical evidence gathered to date has been favorable. Current practice guidelines recommend acupuncture as a complementary therapy for uncontrolled nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy.

 

The Use of Acupuncture in Obstetrics:

Fertility and Gynecologic Problems: Women who are having problems with conception, premenstrual symptoms or menopausal issues will often see positive results with Acupuncture medicine. It may be possible to reduce or eliminate the need for Western pharmaceuticals. If drugs or hormones must be used, side effects may be reduced. For women who are experiencing disorders of conception, experience suggests that acupuncture and Herbal medicine is more effective and much less unpleasant and dangerous than hormonal treatments or in vitro fertilization procedures.

Foetal Malposition: The correction of foetal malposition is achieved by applying moxibustion to an acupuncture point. In about 60 percent of women the foetus turns naturally prior to the thirty-fourth week of pregnancy; this can be increased to 90 per cent with the aid of moxibustion. After the thirty-fourth week, when natural version is less likely, the Chinese claim that 80 per cent of foetal malpositions will be corrected permanently by this procedure. Once corrected, the malposition does not recur, provided moxibustion is applied daily. There seems to be no available physiological basis with which to explain this finding.

 

Acupuncture Anaesthesia:

Acupuncture anaesthesia is widely used in China and it has been used in a wide variety of operations, from minor procedures to open heart surgery or brain operations. It is undoubtedly an effective form of pain relief in the majority of people, but there is always a small percentage who fail to gain adequate analgesia from acupuncture. In general, acupuncture allows for a safer operation, with less likelihood of complications, and a swifter post-operative recovery.    

Anaesthesia for Labour and Delivery: Acupuncture anaesthesia is widely used for caesarean sections in China. A report recently published, discusses the results of 1,000 cases managed in this manner. The Chinese Acupuncturist claim a 98 per cent success rate in the abolition of pain, a quicker recovery rate from the operation, less blood loss, and the obvious advantage of the mother being able to see the baby at, or soon after, birth. This report finds acupuncture a superior form of analgesia compared to other forms of pain relief (general or epidural anaesthesia) for caesarean section. Acupuncture can also be used to provide pain relief in normal obstetric deliveries. Adequate assessment of this form of obstetric analgesia has not yet been published, although the experience of a wide variety of acupuncturists in the western world would indicate that it is a useful and effective procedure.