We’re back! After a long cold winter of more work and less time for blogging, the MyAcuDoc blog is back. Jeanie Marie Kraft, who did an excellent job writing most of the blog posts last year, has moved her acupuncture blogging to her own site: www.fourpawsacupuncture.com. I’ll be picking up this blog, and I look forward to contributing more articles, news and updates on acupuncture, Chinese medicine, holistic health care and related environmental issues.

As most of my local patients already know, I’ve moved my practice. I am now located in the Museum Place Mall in Salem, MA (2 East India Square, Ste. 112). This new location has several benefits, and the most important of these (to patients) is parking. There are several lots surrounding the mall, and also a multi-level parking structure. For those interested, I have
pictures of the new practice space here.

I’ve also added a new feature to the MyAcuDoc.com website: a calendar. As my clinic hours will change somewhat over the summer, this new calendar has the most up-to-date information about clinic days.

Finally, in concert with Earth Day, the Salem Gazette printed an article of mine, “Green Therapies: How your health care choices impact the environment.” As we become more aware of climate and environmental issues, our health care choices have more influence than we might think on the such basic issues as clean water. Acupuncture is one of the most environmentally friendly health care therapies. It’s good for you, and helps the environment.

An interesting article in the New York Times reported acupuncture is more effective than drugs for back pain, the result of one of the largest studies ever conducted on the subject. According to the article:

Six months of acupuncture provides more relief for back pain than conventional treatments, according to a large new study. But surprisingly, fake acupuncture works just as well as the real thing.

The German study of nearly 1,200 patients, published today in the Archives of Internal Medicine, is the largest and most rigorous analysis yet of the use of acupuncture to treat back pain. Some of the patients received real acupuncture, which involves inserting thin needles deeply into the skin at specific points on the body. The acupuncturist then manipulates the needles to create a numb radiating sensation called de qi.

Another group received sham acupuncture: the needles were inserted around the back and legs, but only superficially, without manipulation and at points that aren’t traditional acupuncture sites. A third group received treatments based on their doctors’ recommendations, including physical therapy, massage and exercise.

All the study participants met regularly with their doctors, and each patient’s response to treatment was measured on a pain scale, as was the amount of pain medication required.

Though they comment that the “fake” acupuncture worked just as well, actually there were some significant advantages to the “real” points:

Nearly half the patients in the acupuncture group reported significant relief, compared to just 27 percent in the conventional therapy group. But nearly as many people in the fake acupuncture group — 44 percent — also reported significant relief.

Real acupuncture did reduce the need for pain medicine. Only 15 percent of patients who received real acupuncture used extra pain medication, but 34 percent of patients in the sham group and 59 percent of patients in conventional therapy needed extra pain pills.

To read more of this article visit the New York Times Article Moving The Needles

Acupuncture Can Help Relieve Pelvic Girdle Pain In Pregnant Women

May 12, 2007 11:36 a.m. EST

Nidhi Sharma - AHN Staff Writer

Washington D.C. (AHN) - Acupuncture is effective at relieving back and pelvic muscle pain during pregnancy, a common complaint among pregnant women as they enter into the final trimesters. A study has found that one in three pregnant women suffer severe back and pelvic pain as the pregnancy progresses.

This is because the center of gravity of a pregnant woman is off and she has to arch her back to balance her bulging tummy, leading to an extra strain on back and pelvic muscles.

Experts believe that stretching exercises, coupled with special pillows and acupuncture could help relieve back and pelvic pain that often occur during pregnancy.

The study tracked almost 1,500 pregnant women from Sweden, Iran, Brazil, Thailand and Australia and found that those who participated in the suggested exercises involving acupuncture reported a reduction in pain levels.

The review appears in the current issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates research in all aspects of health care.

Authors also found that expectant mothers benefited by the use of an Ozzlo pillow - a curved pillow designed to support the pregnant abdomen when lying down and that 60 percent of women trying acupuncture reported a substantial pain relief.

The study found no complications associated with the use of acupuncture in pregnant women. It was also found that women who followed the pelvic or back pain exercises experienced some pain relief and reported less need for pain medication, physical therapy and posture-support belts.

Acupuncture is a technique of inserting and manipulating needles into “acupuncture points” on the body to restore health and well-being, and is particularly good at treating pain. The definition and characterization of these points is standardized by the World Health Organization.

Acupuncture is thought to have originated in China and is most commonly associated with Traditional Chinese medicine. Different types of acupuncture (Japanese, Korean and classical Chinese acupuncture) are practiced and taught throughout the world.

To read more visitwww.allheadlinenews.com

Jeanie Marie Kraft, L.Ac. MyAcuDoc.com Acupuncture in Salem MA

Exercise, Acupuncture Help Women Turn Their Backs On Pregnancy Pain

Stretching exercises, special pillows and acupuncture could help relieve back and pelvic pain that often occur during pregnancy, according to an updated review.

As pregnancy progresses, back and pelvic pain can interfere with daily activities such as carrying groceries, cleaning and walking, and can disrupt work or sleep also. More than two-thirds of pregnant women experience back pain and almost one-fifth report pelvic pain.

“When you’re pregnant, your center of gravity is off. You have to arch your back to balance this huge tummy, so you end up with extra strain on your back and pelvic muscles,” said Victoria Pennick, M.H.Sc., registered nurse and lead review author.

Women who participated in a variety of intervention programs recognized some relief of back and pelvic pain, said Pennick, a senior clinical research project manager at the Institute for Work & Health in Toronto.

The review looked at eight studies that examined the effect of adding pregnancy-specific strengthening exercises, water exercises, acupuncture and other pain-relief interventions to regular prenatal care. None of the studies dealt specifically with back or pelvic pain prevention.

The studies involved 1,305 pregnant women from Sweden, Iran, Brazil, Thailand and Australia. To read more of this article by the Science Daily News visit www.sciencedaily.com

Acupuncture a relief from chronic pain
Independent Online South Africa

Hamburg - Your knee hurts, and every little movement is sheer torture for your aching back too. If medication or other therapy fails to help, acupuncture can bring relief.

Inserting fine needles into the skin and underlying tissues can also combat allergies, menstrual pain and even moderately severe depression.

“Acupuncture helps primarily in cases of chronic and acute pain such as migraines and arthrosis, but also stress and asthma,” said Helmut Ruedinger, vice chairperson of the Hamburg-based German Medical Association for Acupuncture (DAEGFA).

Timo, a 30-year-old from Berlin, suffered from severe, stabbing headaches during his studies, particularly when he was at the computer writing his final paper.

“First they prescribed physiotherapy, then massages,” he recalled. “Only acupuncture helped.” After just eight acupuncture sessions, Timo was completely pain-free - and still is.

Critics continue to question the technique’s effectiveness, though.

In 2006 in the German city of Siegburg, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA), a body made up of doctors and public health insurance company officials that helps regulate Germany’s medical services, included acupuncture in the list of treatments covered by public insurance - but only for chronic knee and back pain.

The G-BA said it was unclear whether other ailments could be successfully treated with acupuncture. In those cases the patient has to pay out of their own pocket.

An extensive series of tests found no differences between acupuncture and medication in treating headaches and migraines.

Experts who conducted the tests said that improvement in the patients’ condition may have been merely subjective, with psychological factors playing a role.

Acupuncture is a mainstay of traditional Chinese medicine. It seeks to influence the flow of what is believed to be the body’s vital life force by inserting needles at certain points. There are more than 360 acupuncture points, which are arranged along meridians or pathways.

The meridians are the same on both sides of the body, and the points are associated with particular locations in the body.

Western acupuncturists surmise that the effects of acupuncture have a physiological basis. “When a needle is inserted into the body, it strikes small nerves that send impulses to the spinal cord and brain,” Ruedinger said. The brain then gives the signal for the release of endorphins, which cause patients to feel happy and relaxed.

“Acupuncture affects different people differently,” Ruedinger warned. The needles eliminate some people’s symptoms entirely, while they do nothing for other people. “One reason for this could be fields of interference in the body such as scars or infections, which hamper the effect,” Ruedinger said.

The procedure has few side effects. Sometimes no bruising occurs.

Patients often wonder how to find the right acupuncturist. “The most important thing is how much experience the therapist has,” Ruedinger said. If a physician has the additional title of acupuncturist, it means that he or she has had at least 200 hours of recognised training. - Sapa-DPA

Say ah to acupuncture

By Catherine Price
Health.com

I don’t usually stick my tongue out at my doctor. But that is exactly what Bianca, a clinic intern at the Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College in Berkeley, California, has asked me to do.

The college offers a discount on acupuncture if you agree to let students like Bianca observe your treatment. And because nothing else seems to be helping curb my back pain, I’ve decided to play along.

“Like, really stick it out?” I ask, glancing at the five other interns clustered around Bianca, all leaning forward and staring at my mouth.

“Yes,” she says. “We all want to take a look.”

Reluctantly, I open wide and extend my tongue as far as it’ll go. Bianca has already asked me about my menstrual blood and vaginal discharge in front of the group (both are pretty normal, thank you). Now, as the students debate various aspects of my tongue –like its color (dusky purple) and coating (thin and white). I think of a different question: What, exactly, does this have to do with my backache?

Acupuncture is a type of traditional Chinese medicine that’s been practiced for at least 2,500 years. It’s partly based on the idea that backaches (and any other complaints) aren’t singular problems. “You’re taught that what happens in one part of the body is reflected in the rest of the body,” says Jill Blakeway, a renowned acupuncturist in New York. “It emphasizes the interconnectedness of everything in the universe.” (Health.com: Feel better, naturally )

Acupuncture also teaches that the body contains two opposing forces: yin and yang. Together, they contribute to your chi (pronounced “chee”), a Chinese word roughly translated as “vital energy.” If this energy flow is interrupted or blocked, it can cause pain and disease. This is part of the reason that Bianca’s examining my tongue — acupuncturists think your tongue can reveal energy imbalances in your body. Turns out a purple color suggests stagnation in your chi, which could lead to a range of disorders, including a sore back.

Acupuncturists try to restore balance in the body by stimulating specific points, often by inserting thin metal needles into the skin. Sometimes electrical currents are even added to the needles to increase their effectiveness.

To read the rest of this article visit www.cnn.com

Proof that acupuncture does not hurt!

Watch Chula, a 12 year old shepherd/lab mix with arthritis get an acupuncture treatment….and enjoy it!

Protecting Your Pet News Segment

Protecting Your Pet, a weekly news show produced by Boston’s WHDH Channel 7 will be featuring Jeanie Marie giving an acupuncture treatment to her patient Chula, a 12 year old Shepherd/Lab mix. Her owner David will also be interviewed about Chula’s progress and his experiences with acupuncture.

The show is scheduled to air on Monday, March 26, 2006 on Channel 7 at 5:am and perhaps at 5:30pm along with the news. It will also show that night on the news at 10:00 pm on Channel 56. This schedule may change. For more info visit the WHDH Channel 7 website at www.whdh.com

Jeanie Marie Kraft, Lic.Ac. is keeping tails wagging on the North Shore of MA with K9 acupuncture house-calls, and in Boston’s South End at the DoggieDay Playcenter.

To schedule an appointment please call 978-729-9593 or email Jeanie at woof@fourpawsacupuncture.com

Acupuncture & Migraines

Carmel Thomason
12/ 3/2007
EACH week our team of health experts tackle your most pressing problems. We’ve got an acupuncturist, nurse, osteopath and dentist all on hand. This week they tackle migraines, tennis elbow and itchy skin.

THE ACUPUNCTURIST

Da Peng Zhang is a doctor of Chinese medicine based at Dr & Herbs in Manchester’s Arndale Centre.

Q: How can traditional Chinese medicine deal with migraine?

Dr Da Peng Zhang says:

In terms of traditional Chinese medicine, there are different types of migraine.

External wind-cold or wind-heat both cause headaches but they are not classified as migraine.

1. For migraine the primary pathogenic changes are mainly due to one of the following: rising of Liver Yang, due to stress, emotional problems, Liver Qi stagnation or Kidney Yin deficiency, which causes the Liver Yang to rise and disturbs the head.

Symptoms include migraine, blurring of the vision which is made worse when stressed, also the sufferer may experience hot flushes, thirst and a taut pulse.

2. Blood deficiency, caused by failure of the blood to nourish the head correctly.

Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, palpitations, often worse in the afternoon, tiredness, pale complexion, associated with a heavy periods for women.

3. Blood stagnation also causes migraine, with symptoms including migraine pain in a certain place or a needle-like pricking pain.

This may occur if the patient has a history of external injury, which is often seen in head injury victims and may include a stubborn headache.

Acupuncture is a very effective treatment for migraine. Most cases can be relieved during or immediately after acupuncture. The selection of acupuncture points will depend on the different types of migraine.

click here to read more of this article.

Website dedicated to treating Endometriosis and Uterine Fibroids

Announcing a new website dedicated to treating endometriosis and uterine fibroids with acupuncture and alternative medicine. Visit ScreamingUterus.com for more info.

For more research, news and comments on treating endo and fibroids visit the ScreamingUterusBlog

Jeanie Marie Kraft, L.Ac. MyAcuDoc.com Acupuncture in Salem MA
www.bodysoulsalem.com

Acupuncture growing popular as complement to Western medicine

WESTMINSTER, Md. (AP)
Information from: Carroll County (Md.) Times

Like many people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, Robin Nodes of Westminster takes prescription pain medication every day to cope with the disease that causes her immune system to attack her organs.

To help relieve her from the side effects of these medications, she turns to Greg Padrick, an acupuncturist who practices in Westminster.

Acupuncture, a traditional medical practice rooted in ancient Chinese history, is often used in conjunction with mainstream Western medicine to help patients like Nodes manage chronic health problems.

Doctor Peter Hindenberger of the Ruscombe Mansion Community Health Center in Baltimore says Western medicine is the only type of medical practice in the world that works solely on the physical body. He says it does not involve the concept of energy, which is what makes people individuals rather than clusters of cells.

Nodes, who acknowledges she initially was a bit hesitant about trying alternative treatments, says she was amazed by the relief she felt after only a few appointments.

Jeanie Marie Kraft, L.Ac. MyAcuDoc.com Acupuncture in Salem MA
www.bodysoulsalem.com