Acupuncture and Cytokine Storms

One of the most recent acupuncture studies has just revealed promising results — acupuncture was shown to activate “different signaling pathways that triggered either a pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory response in animals with bacterially induced systemic inflammation.” Essentially, the treatment was shown to dampen a potentially fatal “cytokine storm” which is defined as a “severe immune reacting in which the body releases too many cytokines into the blood too quickly.”

Having a large amount of cytokines released at once can be quite harmful, and is usually the result of an infection, an autoimmune disorder, or other diseases. It can also occur after treatments that include immunotherapy.

Why was this study important?

We are constantly looking for scientific data to back up what we already know to be the true power of acupuncture. This is another positive piece of evidence, albeit in mice.

According to Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News, the lead investigators out of this Harvard study believe, “that the experiments will help to define the neuroanatomical mechanisms underlying acupuncture, and offer a roadmap for harnessing the technique to help treat inflammatory diseases.”

They said, ““Our findings represent an important step in ongoing efforts not only to understand the neuroanatomy of acupuncture but to identify ways to incorporate it into the treatment arsenal of inflammatory diseases, including sepsis.”

We look forward to following more on this, and are proud that our practice has once again proven to be effective in healing and health.

Eat Too Many Sweets For Halloween? Let Acupuncture Get You Back on Track

Happy Halloween!

It’s time for jack-o-lanterns and elaborate costumes, bobbing for apples and scary stories…and, of course, trick-or-treating, and all the candy that comes with it.

It’s okay to indulge in sweets from time to time, particularly around a holiday like Halloween where it can seem like there’s a communal bucket of chocolate bars everywhere you go—home, stores, the office. And trust us, we know that once you start, it can be hard to stop.

While a few days of eating some sweets isn’t cause for concern, we know that often times just a few days off the wagon can cause us to feel sluggish, mired down and bloated. That’s because eating too much sugar causes some pretty not-so-deal results inside our bodies. According to Healthline, studies show that diets high in added sugar lead to obesity, insulin resistance, increased gut permeability and low-grade inflammation. And it’s particularly those last parts that tell us that acupuncture can help if you’re feeling fatigued and bloated because of a few too many days snacking on the sweets.

As we previously documented when talking about acupuncture’s ability to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis, acupuncture is unique suited as a natural and safe way to treat and ultimately reduce inflammation. Through opening up the body’s energy pathways, acupuncture naturally regulates the body’s functions, including what happens in the gut. When we intake too much sugar, extra bacteria and toxins more easily move out of the gut and into the bloodstream, which causes inflammation throughout the body. That can result in fatigue, headaches, and other discomfort throughout the body. Targeted acupuncture can help reduce gut permeability, ensuring that those toxins stay put and don’t inflame the rest of the body. And the good thing is that when our body doesn’t have much sugar in it, it’s less likely to crave it anymore.

So this Halloween, it’s ok to (smartly!) enjoy some sweets. If you overdo it and start feeling the effects, or if you think you’re feeling off because your diet includes too many sweets in general, think about how acupuncture can help you get back on track.