Knee Arthritis Helped by Acupuncture

Any form of arthritis is painful, but knee arthritis can be especially problematic — causing great pain and limited mobility.

Aside from physical therapy and traditional mediations and pharmaceuticals, acupuncture can help. And now there’s research to prove it.

According to HealthCMi, a leading acupuncture news site, researchers at Dongzhimen Hospital and Puxiang Hospital in Beijing treated joint dysfunction and pain due to knee osteoarthritis successfully with abdominal acupuncture in their study that spanned multiple centers.

The report details how a total of 65 osteoarthritis patients were recruited and randomly assigned to standard body acupuncture, or abdominal acupuncture.

“Six male and 24 female patients were treated in the body acupuncture group. Two patients in this group were 40–49 years old, 8 were 50–59 years old, 15 were 60–69 years old, and 5 were 70–75 years old.”

In the abdominal acupuncture group, eight male and 27 female patients were treated. Four patients in this group were 40–49 years old, 14 were 50–59 years old, 12 were 60-69 years old, and 6 were 70–75 years old.

The outcomes of the study were measured with a self-rated score for pain intensity and a questionnaire that included questions about knee pain, swelling and function.

After four weeks of treatment, both groups showed significant improvement but the improvements were, “significantly greater in the abdominal acupuncture group.”

Therefore, the study concluded, “acupuncture is an effective tool in knee osteoarthritis treatment, with abdominal acupuncture offering greater pain reduction than standard body acupuncture.”

The Power of CBD (BTW - We Offer CBD Massage!)

The CBD Industry is booming and for very, very good reason.

Here at NJ Acupuncture Center, we are firm believers in the powers of CBD, and thats why we offer it (complementary!) in our therapies.

Short for cannabidiol, CBD is a popular natural remedy used for many ailments — ranging from stress, pain, sleep problems, and more.

Better known as CBD, it is one of the 100+ compounds that can be found in the marijuana plant Cannibis, yet it’s absent of THC which is the ”drug” or mind-altering component. It’s extracted and then mixed with a carrier oil to be applied to the skin, or ingested.

Plus, since it doesn’t contain THC, it’s completely safe, and legal.

CBD has many positives, and the two that we are most excited about here at NJ Acupuncture Center are its pain relieving properties, as well as its impact on anxiety and depression.

Pain

Medicinal marijuana is commonly used in places it is approved, but what about CBD? Recently, it’s been discovered that it is quite effective, too.

Studies have shown that those with chronic pain may find relief in using CBD, because it impacts endocannabinoid receptor activity within the body. In fact, Healthline reports, “Several human studies have found that a combination of CBD and THC is effective in treating pain related to multiple sclerosis and arthritis.”

Anxiety and Depression

Afflictions that affect so many, those who suffer from anxiety and/or depression can benefit, too.

Luckily, the use of CBD oil has shown to be effective in helping to alleviate symptoms naturally. According to Healthline, “In one study, 24 people with social anxiety disorder received either 600 mg of CBD or a placebo before a public speaking test. The group that received the CBD had significantly less anxiety, cognitive impairment and discomfort in their speech performance, compared to the placebo group.”

It has also shown to have positive antidepressant-like effects in several animal studies, and it’s believed CBD can help to increase serotonin.

Be sure to ask us about CBD and how we can incorporate it into both your treatments and your daily wellness routines.

Diabetic Nerve Pain + Acupuncture

A Diabetes diagnosis can be devastating.

Often it is life changing, difficult to manage, and requires constant monitoring. The side effects and symptoms are quote unpleasant, too. Primarily, nerve pain.

Also known as diabetic peripheral neuropathy,

According to HealthCMI, at the Gansu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (endocrinology department) researchers conducted a controlled clinical trial comparing drug therapy with acupuncture and herbs.

The patients who received acupuncture in conjunction with herbal medicine experienced a total effective rate of 96.67%, while patients who received Chinese herbal medicine alone (aka monotherapy( had a 73.33% total effective rate.

Drug-only therapy patients had a 53.33% total effective rate for the alleviation of their neuropathy.

Obviously, acupuncture and herbs worked most effectively.

Diabetics can experience neuropathy over time. The Mayo Clinic explains, “High blood sugar (glucose) can injure nerves throughout your body. Diabetic neuropathy most often damages nerves in your legs and feet.”

Those with the condition can have experiences ranging from pain and numbness in their legs and feet to problems with their digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels and heart.

For some it may be mild, but for others it can be debilitating.

Acupuncture and Angina

When reliable, controlled studies are published that reveal or confirm the efficacy acupuncture on various ailments, we can’t help but get excited.

Recently, according to MedPage Today, a study in Shanghia revealed something we’ve yet to cover —”true” acupuncture can help with chest pain. (AKA angina.)

When properly applied, acupuncture reduced the frequency of chest pains that those with chronic, yet stable angina experienced within a controlled trial setting.

It explained, “those assigned to 4 weeks of acupuncture on the acu-points on the disease-affected meridian (DAM) had roughly eight fewer angina attacks per 4-week interval during the subsequent 16 weeks, from a pretreatment baseline of 13.5 attacks per 4 weeks, according to Fanrong Liang, MD, of the Acupuncture and Tuina School at Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China, and colleagues.

This reduction was “significantly better” than the three control groups.

The experiment revealed:

• Acupuncture on the non-affected meridian (NAM): patients had about four fewer attacks per 4 weeks

• Sham “fake” acupuncture: about three fewer attacks

• No acupuncture: about two fewer attacks

Suzanne Arnold, MD, of Saint Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City (not involved in the trial) said, "I think that this appears to be a well-done study, with appropriate levels of sham procedures. You clearly observe that there is some placebo effect -- with both the sham and NAM procedures, which have similar outcomes -- but the effect of DAM appears to be real.”

We believe it is real, too.

Acupucnture can help relieve symptoms such as anxiety and depression which is correlated with chest pain, as well. MedPage also quotes Arnold as saying, “It isn't completely crazy to think that some treatment, that is not directly associated with increased myocardial blood flow, might be associated with less angina.”

All About Ear Seed Acupuncture

Ear seed acupuncture is having a moment, lately. And with tons of ear seeds available online, it’s easy for people to think they can master this technique at home. But before you do, it’s important to understand exactly what it is and how to do it.

What is it?

Ear seed acupuncture seeds are different from traditional acupuncture needles called acuneedles. These seeds are used as a complementary approach and are rooted in the same belief system as traditional acupuncture.

Essentially, they are small metal seeds with adhesive backing that are applied along the ear, and work with the pressure points found in your ears. This method of treatment is also called auriculotherapy which translates to ear therapy (acupressure or acupuncture that focuses on ears.)

They can be used to help with a variety of ailments including ones not directly related to the ear. These include pain, mood disorders like anxiety and stress, headaches and migraines, addiction, weight struggles and even infertility.

Can you do it at home?

It’s our opinion that it is always better r to go to a trained and licensed professional and to have it performed by a clinician in a relaxing setting for a full and safe experience.

At NJ Acupuncture Center we believe that relaxation is important and the right center can provide calming music, a comfortable place to lay and clear your mind while having this performed for you – and that can make all the difference.

However, it is possible and relatively safe for someone to buy and attempt this at home (because it’s noninvasive) as long as they are familiar with the process and thoroughly clean their ears. The ear seeds are even available on Amazon, though you should of course do your research on which to buy.

Avoid These Mistakes

if you try this at home, you very well might put them in the wrong locations or think they actually go in their ears. (They do not, they are to be placed along the outside of your ear and NEVER in your ear canal.) 

Improper placement can result in discomfort, redness, swelling, and of course ineffective treatment. Also, if you don’t massage the points correctly or often enough, you probably won’t experience the results you are looking for.

It’s also really important not to try this on yourself if you are pregnant. Certain points along the ear are known to induce labor.

It’s important to know that ear seed treatment is not the same as acupuncture, and acupuncture should definitely never be tried at home.

Can Acupuncture Help with Type 2 Diabetes? (Yes!)

According to the latest report from the CDC, more than 100 million U.S. adults are now living with diabetes or pre-diabetes,

As of 2015, 30.3 million Americans (which is 9.4 percent of the population) have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Many are reliant on medication and other therapies to continue living healthy lives. But can acupuncture help?

In short, yes!

The latest report from HealthCMI reveals that acupuncture therapy can help with weight loss and to reduce blood sugar levels in adults who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This is wonderful news!

In China, researches from the Sanming County Hospital of Integrated Medicine led a clinical trial of obese patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

In short, it was determined that acupuncture treatment, “in addition to routine care is more effective in promoting healthy weight loss and improved blood chemistry than routine care monotherapy.” (Meaning, routine care alone.)

124 obese patients recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were assigned to receive either acupuncture plus routine care or routine care on it’s own..

Overall, the results of this study indicates that, “acupuncture not only increases weight loss in obese diabetes patients, but also stabilizes blood glucose and insulin levels.”

These new findings further support the notion that acupuncture is an effective, noninvasive treatment for diabetes when used in conjunction with other therapies as directed by your healthcare provider.

Will Medicare Pay for Acupuncture?

As with any medical treatment or self-care endeavor, the issue of cost arises.

Do you have insurance, or are a self-pay patient?

Is your plan in-network, or out?

Do you have a copay?

It’s enough to stress out the best of us. But perhaps, Medicare can change that.

The Washington Post reports that the Department of Health and Human and Services has said that, “in response to the U.S. opioid crisis, HHS is focused on preventing opioid use disorder and providing more evidence-based non-pharmacologic treatment options for chronic pain.”

Acupuncture has long been known for its pain relieving effects, and it’s efficacy at treating chronic pain.

HHS said it hopes “to determine if acupuncture for [chronic low-back pain] is reasonable and necessary under the Medicare program.” They are researching, and a proposal is due this by July 15, with a final decision being made by Oct. 13.

If all goes well, acupuncture for chronic low back pain may end up being a covered benefit, as currently, Medicare covers, “injections, braces, implanted neurostimulators and chiropractic care as well as drugs for chronic low-back pain,” under certain conditions .

Why Acupuncture Will Become Even More Popular For Spinal Issues

It’s likely that you or someone you know, at some point, has or will deal with back or neck pain. Nearly 80% of us will seek medical care because of these types of issues, which all start with one of the most important areas of our body—the spine.

The problem is, the treatment for these types of pain has traditionally been relatively narrow. There’s almost certainly a link between the prevalence of neck and back pain and the growing opioid crisis across the United States. More people are being prescribed addictive, harmful drugs to treat pain, which only creates a negative cycle.

But as Acupuncture Today reports, there’s a good chance that more people will soon be seeking acupuncture to help with spine-related issues rather than turning to medications. That’s partially because as we learn more about the spine itself, the evidence is growing that natural, conservative care can not only be the best form of relief, but is better positioned to help prevent pain from getting worse in the first place.

“Advanced diagnostic imaging will continue to expose new features of pathology associated with neck and back pain,” Acupuncture Today writes. “Greater emphasis will be places on biomechanics assessment, conservative pain management, and biological solutions which promote favorable tissue regeneration, remodeling, and repair.”

Acupuncture, through, harnessing the body’s energy, promotes self-healing. Without the need for any invasive, external chemicals like those found in most medications, acupuncture allows for natural pain management and relief. When it comes to back and neck issues, the root problem is in the spine, where energy is being blocked. Acupuncture opens up the pathways that allow the energy to regulate and flow freely.

As more and more research shows that spinal issues can be better prevented and treated through holistic, biological solutions, acupuncture will continue to grow as the best way to treat back and neck pain.

Struggling with Summer Sleep? We can help.

Summer time and the living’s easy — right?

Well, not exactly.

Many of us find summer to be even busier than before, albeit with fun social events, warm temperatures and hopefully a few trips to the beach.

If you’re feeling summer burnout and are finding it hard to get restful slumber at night, let us help because if your sleep pattern isn’t consistent, it can impact nearly every aspect of your life. So, it’s important to get your sleep back on track, stat.

Acupuncture can help you achieve increased levels of melatonin — the hormone responsible for sleep — and it also works to reduce insomnia and anxiety.

Acupuncture has also been proven to help manage a fairly common culprit for less-than-worthy Zzz’s: sleep apnea. It’s thought that acupuncture can help strengthen the tongue, which can prevent it from dropping back during the night which blocks the airway, resulting in apnea.

There are environmental factors to consider too, when it comes to improving sleep. Here’s what else you can try:

• Ensure your room is kept between 68-70 degrees

• Avoid blue light emitting electronics at least one hour before bedtime

• No caffeine after 3pm

• Try black out curtains or a sleep mask if you’re sensitive to light

• Consider trying CBD oil or essential oils to help relax

Acupuncture + Herbs More Effective Than Leading SSRI

Anxiety and depression are, unfortunately, more common today than ever before.

Our busy lifestyles, stressful jobs, hectic personal schedules and the stressors of every day life can lead many feeling a sense of sadness, worry, or inability to focus leading them to head to a physician. In many situations, SSRIs are prescribed.

SSRI's (also known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) work by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a class of neurotransmitters that carry signals between brain cells, so this form of medication blocks the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain, thus making more available.

Yet perhaps unsurprisingly, the most recent study out of China via HealthCMi reveals that when used in conjunction with herbs, acupuncture is more effective than paroxetine, also known as Paxil.

In the study led by Ganzhou City Third People’s Hospital in Jiangxi, 80 patients who had a clinical diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder were assigned to either receive the prescription paroxetine, or acupuncture and herbs.

The study used the HAM-A (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale), the SAS (Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale), and the treatment total effective rate to analyze the results.

While both groups experienced overall improvement, they rates of improvement were significantly higher in the group that experienced acupuncture and herbs, which produced a total effective rate of 97.5% versus the paroxetine group which had 80%.

Good Morning America Writer Tries Facial Acupuncture (and Loves it!)

Joining the ranks of mega-celebrities who are turning to acuneedles to maintain their youthful glow, GMA writer Jacqueline Laurean Yates shared her experience this week.

Surprise — she’s a fan.

Yates said, “After noticing celebrities like Ashley Graham, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kim Kardashian posting photos of themselves with acupuncture needles coming out of their faces, I was really intrigued to learn what it was all about.”

So she did.

After a phone consultation with her acupuncturist where she explained her overall concerns consisted of moderate stress, lack of energy, oiliness, some dullness and noticeable inflammation, she was told acupuncture could help.

Nervous and excited, she arrived at the acupuncture center in New York City and felt “instant calm.”

As far as the results?

“Once the needles were removed, I took a look in the mirror and couldn't believe how much healthier my skin looked,” she said, saying there was an instant glow and lift near her cheeks.

In fact, “My husband even wondered if I had secretly done botox. Nope, just acupuncture to the face!”

So if you’re looking to ditch invasive, chemically based Botox or other procedures, it’s time you give acupuncture a try to help reach your skin and anti-aging goals. And we are here to help.

As Yates would tell you, “ it's truly an investment worth the shot(s).”

Psoriasis and Acupuncture

Just last week, Medical News Today released an exciting and confirming article that reaffirmed the belied that acupuncture can help those suffering from psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

While we always believed in the power of acupuncture to treat both of these related conditions, examining the literature was quite uplifting.

The multitude of ways in which acupuncture possess powerful healing abilities are seemingly endless, and while science sometimes has a way of making it hard to provide tangible proof, the cited studies are certainly reassuring . while there are still more larger scale, supervised studies to be performed.

Because of how acupuncture can help with inflammation and immunity, it is believed it can help with the skin-based symptoms of psoriasis which can often lead to itchy, peeling, painful and scaly patches of skin.

As if that isn’t enough to deal with, some people with skin-based psoriasis symptoms may also have PsA, or psoriatic arthritis, which leads to joint pain, swelling, stiffness and immobility.

Traditionally, over the counter and prescription medications are often prescribed by physicians as the first line of defense, in addition to steroid injections or pills, and the avoidance of things that worsen inflammation like alcohol, smoking, and certain foods high in acidity.

Medical News Today shared the following breakdown of literature reviews and studies that . are supportive of acupunctures benefits in treating these symptoms.

• A 2015 systematic review found "some evidence of benefit" in treating psoriasis. However, its authors explain that they based their conclusions on a small number of studies, and that there were some conflicting results.

• A 2017 overview of the literature on acupuncture for psoriasis was more optimistic. The authors claim that acupuncture treatment for psoriasis is "simple, convenient, and effective," with minimal side effects and little risk of toxicity.

• A 2017 review of 13 randomized trials states that acupuncture-related treatments "could be considered" as an alternative therapy for the short-term treatment of psoriasis, and that more well designed studies would be helpful.

Measuring acupunctures success is not easy, as each persons treatment and progress is highly individual and personal. However, these studies all seem to be reaffirming and in the right direction.

Acupuncture is an affordable, minimally invasive way to treat your symptoms, so you have quite literally nothing to lose by giving it a try, and quite a bit to gain.

Acupuncture Doesn't Just Help Cancer Patients, But Caregivers Too

Learning that a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer can be one of the most difficult things for someone to experience. It not only changes the life for the person who is fighting the battle themselves, but it can radically alter the life of those closes to them.

Depending on each situation, close family or friends may have to take a lot of time out of their schedule to help care for their loved one. Often times, caregivers can put forth such an effort in taking care of their loved one that their own self-care gets ignored. This can lea to a snowball effect, causing emotional stress as well as pain and discomfort.

The benefits of acupuncture for cancer patients reach far and wide. But it can also do wonders for those who are taking care of cancer patients, whether professionally or for somebody close to them. Tamera Anderson-Hanna, herself a cancer survivor, wrote on CureToday.com about her experiences as a caregiver for family who were also diagnosed with cancer, and how acupuncture became a crucial part of her self-care regimen.

Most of her discomfort was emotional, as she explains, “I was definitely experiencing stress with the news of family members being diagnosed with cancer after the new year and have found acupuncture has helped me to experience improved sleep and feeling less stressed as a caregiver.”

But as we know, emotional stress also takes its toll on the physical body. Tamera’s acupuncturist also treated her neck, which is where she was carrying most of her stress. Acupuncture helped Tamera “sleep better at night, assists in experiencing less pain or tension in my body and allows me to redirect my energy to a more positive focus and perspective, thus having more good energy.”

If you or anyone you know is experiencing emotional or physical distress from taking care of someone else, acupuncture isn’t just there for those who have been diagnosed with an illness. Caregivers must ensure they’re taken care of as well.

Arizona Acupuncture Board Tackles Opioid Crisis

We’ve previously talked about how acupuncture can help on the fight against opioid addiction by providing holistic pain relief and helping the symptoms many addicts face, too.

But now, Arizona is doing something about it.

According to TheSentinel.com the State of Arizona Acupuncture Board of Examiners has approving chemical dependency programs for a form of acupuncture that involves the outer ear, also known as auricular acupuncture.

This type of acupuncture is known in traditional Chinese medicine to help break the chains of addiction.

A supporter, Dr. Mario Fontes who is the clinic director of Natural Medicine & Detox in Phoenix says, “I don’t think (auricular acupuncture is) the complete answer, but I think it can really help change the tide.”

In Arizona alone, opioids are responsible for more than 3,000 deaths in only the past two years, with over 21,000 overdoses happening concurrently. (This according to dataf rom the Arizona Department of Health Services.)

Auricular acupuncture, also called “acu-detox:” works by using needles in one of 5 points located along the outer ear and is believed to help reduce pain, stress, and PTSD along with opiate withdrawals.

To help make this available to more who are struggling, the Arizona Acupuncture Board is trying to make it easier for auricular acupuncturists to gain certification.

The director of the board is quoted as saying, ““We are hoping that by providing chemical dependency programs, auricular acupuncture will become more accessible to more people and more parts of the state, especially in rural areas.”

With the program approved last year, certified auricular acupuncturists can now apply to work in approved chemical dependency programs as long as they are supervised by a licensed acupuncturist.

*If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid dependency, it’s important to seek treatment right away.

Meet Ani

Owner and lead acupuncturist, Ani Baran, L.ac was born in Yerevan Armenia, and moved to New Jersey at the age of three.

Growing up in Fort Lee, she then attended Fordham University for pre-med studies, and then Columbia University for research — but she knew deep down she wanted to help people more naturally.

As the opioid epidemic and crisis began to peak, her calling weighed heavily on her heart and so she began researching natural pain relief options instead.

Thus, she took her passion for biology and healing and trained to become an L.ac — a licensed acupuncturist. With these credentials, she gained over 2000 hours of training, passed all necessary exams, studied Chinese medicine theory, and spent over three years honing her clinical skills.

After marrying her husband Mike and moving to Bayonne who was born and raised in town, she opened both NJ Acupuncture Center locations and has never looked back.

Truly loving her job, she says the best part of her job is how, “I get to help others become pain free, assist in their pregnancy goals, manage their stress, all different treatments but the end result is a side effect free therapy for their concerns.”

Most rewarding to Ani, is helping couples achieve their fertility goals through supportive acupuncture. “I love being able to be part of their journey through a very special time.”

While many may seem apprehensive to try acupuncture for the first time, Ani says, “Once you give it a try you'll never want to stop! It's an amazing feeling, your body being recharged and reenergized, you'll always want to feel that way!

Ready To Get Some Sun? Acupuncture Is Here If You Get a Little Too Much

Bust out the umbrellas, bathing suits, flip flops and pool toys—summer is just around the corner! A week from now Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial start of everybody’s favorite season. But one of the things that can hold you back from enjoying your summer to the fullest is a result of one of the things that makes summer so great.

Getting some sun is great. Getting too much of it is…well, not so great. In fact, it can be downright terrible.

You know the deal. Burning, scratchy, itchy and peeling skin that can take days to heal, all the while any movement or clothing touching the skin causes you to wince. There are some topical remedies that can help, but many of them are chemical based and can even dry out your skin even further.

When you’re sunburned, your body needs to be able to release heat and inflammation. Acupuncture is the best and most natural way to do both of those things.

We can hear you: the last thing I want to do after being badly sunburnt is to have needles inserted into my body!

The good news is that there are many acupuncture points that we can target to treat sunburn, and many are located in areas where sunburn is incredibly rare or not nearly as painful. Specifically to treat sunburn, acupuncturists can utilize the point UB 40, which is located on the back of knee and helps circulate cool blood. Additionally, GB 20 points on the base of the skull also help reduce body heat.

So if you plan on heading to the beach or pool this summer, you should always take the proper sunburn prevention precautions. But sometimes the best laid plans go awry. If you don’t want one fun day to ruin the next few, know that acupuncture can help you recover quickly and safely.

Acupuncture Proven To Beat Drugs For Gout Treatment

One minute you’re fast asleep, and the next you wake up feeling like a part of your body was just lit on fire.

No, you don’t need to douse yourself with a bucket of water, but you may feel like you want to anyway.

What you could be dealing with is gout: a form of arthritis that cause sudden, severe bouts of pain, swelling and redness in particular joints. Often, the big toe is affected, making it very hard to move around since an area affected by gout is often hot, swollen and tender. Gout pain comes and goes, which can make life for those who suffer from it unpredictable.

Gout pain is caused by high uric acid levels in the blood, which causes urate crystals to form in the joints. It’s most often treated with various painkilling medicines like NSAIDs and steroids prescribed by doctors.

One of the NSAIDs that is often prescribed by doctors to treat Gout is indomethacin. Recently, researchers at Dongguan Tangxia Guanhua Hospital in China tested indomethacin treatment for Gout against acupuncture. The study was conclusive: those who were administered acupuncture rather than given the medication reported reduced pain, swelling, and redness, and also noted increased mobility and improved function of the affected joints.

It’s no surprise here that acupuncture is an effective treatment for Gout. Pain is a result of the qi in our body being blocked and out of sorts, and acupuncture promotes self-healing of the body by regulating the qi an helping to open up the pathways that are being blocked during bouts of pain and discomfort.

If you or anyone you know suffers from Gout, be sure to come by and begin the lasting, holistic treatment that only acupuncture can offer!

Acupuncture Can Improve Cataract Surgery outcomes

Surgery is invasive. Acupuncture is not. When used in conjunction with one another, acupuncture can typically help to alleviate post-surgical symptoms and pain, and increase the overall efficacy of the procedure.

This has just been proven once again in regards to cataracts.

And we age, our vision can often get blurry or cloudy due to a cataract. If this happens, an ophthalmologist may suggest surgery to replace your eye’s lens. Incredibly common and reasonably safe, many Americans have this done each year.

As with any surgical procedure, there are some side effects that are possible. These include:

• Infection

• Bleeding

• Detached retina

• Pressure-type pain

• Loosening of the new lens implant

• Fluid buildup

• Drooping appearance of eyelid

Thankfully, acupuncture can help.

As HealthCMI reports that researches have concluded acupuncture treatment increases positive post-surgery outcomes for those with comorbid glaucoma.

In fact, patients reported, “better intraocular pressure, aqueous outflow (F value), pain relief, and visual acuity when receiving acupuncture and tuina massage.” (Tuina massage is a massage that focuses on a specific problem area and often accompanies acupuncture.)

In the study, one group received acupuncture and tuina while the control group received phacoemulsification monotherapy only.

Acupuncture and tuina started three days before the operation. Tuina was administered by ophthalmologic nurses and acupuncture was administered by licensed acupuncturists. Treatment lasted a total of 60 days.

After the duration of treatment, he number of patients that presented with general clinical symptoms in the TCM treatment group were significantly lower than in the control group.

It’s been well established that acupuncture, when paired with surgical recovery, can be effective. This study helps to, once again, prove the point. (Pun intended.)

Horses Staying On Track Thanks To Acupuncture

It’s the time of year, where every few weeks we gather around the television for a couple thrilling minutes in anticipation of who’s going to win the big race (or have the greatest hat, the best tasting mint julep, and win the most money, of course).

And while this year’s Kentucky Derby ended in bigtime controversy, there’s a crystal clear winner when it comes to treating horses for many of their physical issues.

Acupuncture is one of the best ways to treat equine injuries and illnesses, whether the horse is being groomed for racing or not. One disorder that is debilitating to horses that acupuncture is uniquely suited to treating is laminitis. Laminitis is a very painful hoof disease that can result in lameness—greatly affecting the horse’s mobility and total quality of life.

California-based veterinarian Kevin May conducted a study of 12 horses with laminitis, ensuring their caretakers didn’t give them any other treatments while he administered acupuncture to each horse. Despite the horses ranging in age, condition, and breed, all 12 responded positively to the treatment.

This is important, because while laminitis sounds like it may not be serious, it can often lead to serious outcomes.

According to May, “Thirteen percent of barns and/or owners deal with laminitis each year, with 50% of those referred to hospitals eventually euthanized.”

Thankfully, May seems to have found a way to help horses affected by laminitis stay on their feet, happy, and healthy.

Acupuncture More Effective than Pills for Gout Relief

A unique form of arthritis, gout is most often experienced as a sudden and painful attack of swelling, redness and pain in the joints — commonly the feet. It can appear out of nowhere, and can come and go, only adding to the frustration of the disease.

Thankfully, it has been proven acupuncture can help. In fact, it’s even more effective than traditional medicine in treating gout.

All patients in the study were, “given standardized lifestyle and dietary advice to help them manage their condition. This included reducing their dietary intake of high-purine foods, organ meats, and alcohol. Patients were counseled on avoiding stress, cold temperature exposure, and overwork. All patients were advised to increase water consumption.”

These are healthy habits that can hep to improve anyone’s lifestyle and overall health.

As far as the two study groups, those in the drug group were prescribed indomethacin enteric-coated 75 mg tablets to be taken twice daily for 10 days.

Patients in the acupuncture group did not take the medication, and instead had acupuncture treatment administered at the following primary acupoints:

• Zusanli (ST36)

• Sanyinjiao (SP6)

• Yinlingquan (SP9)

• Quchi (LI11)

• Ashi points

Overall, HealthCMI reports that . acupuncture produced a higher total effective rate than the medication, including greater reductions in pain, swelling, and redness.

The study yielded an 86.96% effective rate in improvements in a patients clinical symptoms, as opposed to those who were taking the pharmaceutical. Unsurprisingly, acupuncture also caused fewer adverse reactions, with an incidence of just 2.17% compared with 23.91% in the drug group.

The numbers speak for themselves.

There are ways to prevent gout, too. The MayoClinic recommends:

• Drinking plenty of fluids

• limiting or abstaining from alcohol

• Increasing protein from low-fat dairy . products

• Limiting intake of fish, meat and poultry

• Maintaining a healthy body weight