Acupuncture Helps Anxiety, Depression and PMS

Sep16

According to an article released earlier this month, new research has just been released demonstrating that acupuncture is effective for the treatment of PMS, anxiety and depression.

Acupuncture treats PMS, anxiety and depression. Researchers from the Harvard Medical School (Boston, Massachusetts) and the Advanced Integrative Rehabilitation and Pain Center (Washington, DC) conclude that “there is high-level evidence to support the use of acupuncture for treating major depressive disorder in pregnancy.”

In an additional study, researchers from the School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina (Beijing University of Chinese Medicine) conclude that acupuncture shows effectiveness in treating PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome). Continue reading →

Research shows Acupuncture can double chance of having a baby with IVF

Sep5

Every human body is different. Every pregnancy is different. Our bodies don’t always function the way we want them to. In a world where we have so much control and access to the world at our finger tips, there is still so much we cannot control in our own bodies.

This is certainly the case when it comes to pregnancy. However, there are ways acupuncture, alongside other assisted treatments such as IVF, can guide and assist our bodies in the right direction.

Continue reading →

How Acupuncture works for Stress, Anxiety and Depression

Sep5

Stress, anxiety and depression are some of the most common issues that patients come to me for, a demand for which, in my experience, has increased significantly over the last ten years.

Chronic stress manifests in a wide range of emotional, physical, cognitive and behavioral symptoms, many of which can relieved through acupuncture treatments. Continue reading →

Acupuncture Helps Relieve Menstrual Cramps

Jan20

According to a recent article, new evidence finds that acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine is very effective in the treatment of menstrual pain.

Ze XieOne study reveals a popular herbal medicine for the relief of cramping and pain. Another study found acupuncture as effective as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for menstrual related pain. The first and most recent study on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for the treatment of menstrual discomfort was conducted in Taiwan.

This new study finds Dan Gui Shao Yao San the primary herbal formula consumed in Taiwan for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. This type of dysmenorrhea is characterized by lower abdominal cramping and pain prior or during menstruation and is not due to endometriosis. Approximately 53% of Taiwanese women with primary dysmenorrhea use Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and over 90% of this group sought the relief of menstruation related pain. The study notes that Dan Gui Shao Yao San is the most commonly prescribed herbal formula for this condition and it contains both “sedative and anti-inflammatory agents.” Continue reading →

Acupuncture for Breast Cancer Side Effects

Dec30

A new study finds acupuncture effective for the treatment of breast cancer drug treatment side effects.

The study focuses on acupuncture for the relief of symptoms due to aromatase inhibitor treatment intake. The researchers noted two interesting findings. First, acupuncture is statistically more effective than clonidine for the treatment of hot flashes due to breast cancer treatment. Secondly, statistical differences between sham acupuncture and real acupuncture did not exist in some quality of life measures determined by questionnaires to participants. Oddly, the publication makes no mention of acupuncture needle techniques, types, brands, lengths, gauges, insertion angles and insertion depths.

Real acupuncture produced a mean reduction of 37% for hot flashes. The researchers note that this is superior to the 20% reduction achieved by the pharmaceutical drug clonidine but less than that achieved by paroxetine (45.6%). The researchers note that acupuncture, unlike the medications reviewed, “was not associated with any significant side effects, whereas clonidine and antidepressants were associated with multiple side effects….” Continue reading →

Acupuncture Can Reduce Dementia

Nov14

New findings conclude that acupuncture is effective for reducing the syndromes caused by vascular dementia. Investigators discovered that acupuncture helps to reduce dysfunction of reasoning, memory and general cognition for patients with this disorder. Vascular dementia is caused by damage to the brain from impaired blood flow.

This may be caused by a stroke or conditions leading to damaged blood vessels or poor circulation that cause deprivation of oxygen and nutrients to the brain. Risk factors include hypertension, high cholesterol, smoking and heart disease.

A total of 63 patients were studied. Group 1 was a randomized acupuncture treatment group. Group 2 was a non-randomized acupuncture treatment group that self-selected to undergo acupuncture care. Group 3 received conventional guided rehabilitation. Groups 1 and 2 showed significant improvement from acupuncture treatments whereas the conventional treatment group did not show improvement. Continue reading →

Acupuncture Relieves Fertility Procedure Pain

Sep18

New research finds acupuncture effective for relieving pain associated with transvaginal oocyte retrieval (TVOR), an egg collection procedure used in fertility treatments.

TVOR enables fertilization outside of the human body. In this study, application of acupuncture point LI4 (Hegu) was compared with a control group and a placebo group to determine the efficacy of using acupuncture as an anesthetic. The control group and the placebo group showed no significant post-operative benefits, however, the acupuncture group showed a significant reduction of post-operative pain.

A sample size of 90 participants were randomized into three groups. Group A received acupuncture at LI4 bilaterally, group B received placebo needles and group C received only routine oocyte retrieval. Pain intensity levels immediately after the operation and one hour later were significantly lower in the acupuncture group. Continue reading →

Acupuncture Fertility Success with IVF

Aug20

Researchers have discovered that acupuncture increases live birth rates and pregnancy rates for women receiving in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatments for infertility.

Many recent studies conclude that acupuncture enhances fertility but one recent study investigated success rates by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) differential diagnosis. They discovered that two types of diagnosis are more likely to respond with a higher success rate. Women diagnosed with either Kidney deficiency or Liver Qi stagnation have higher success rates than those diagnosed with phlegm dampness syndrome.

Three major groups of infertile women receiving IVF with embryo transplantation were studied. Group A consisted of 82 cases of Kidney deficiency syndrome. Group B consisted of 74 women with Liver Qi stagnation and Group C consisted of 54 cases of phlegm dampness syndrome. Electro-acupuncture was applied to all three groups. All three groups benefitted from electro-acupuncture as was quantified statistically with success rates and in the lab with increases in blood and embryo levels of HLA-G, a protein predictive of higher pregnancy and live birth rates. Continue reading →

Acupuncture Clears Acne

Jul29

New research finds acupuncture an effective treatment for the treatment of acne. Investigators examined the effects of four facial acupuncture treatments on patients suffering from acne vulgaris. Following the treatment regime, the investigators measured significant reductions in acne papules and nodules. Additional objective measurements revealed reductions in local inflammation of the skin and tissues. A survey measured a subjective satisfaction scale from patients that showed improvements as well.

The clinical data showed improvements in acne. The researchers also sought to measure the safety of acupuncture along with effectiveness. The researchers documented that no serious treatment related adverse effects resulted from acupuncture treatment. As a result, the investigation team concluded that standardized facial acupuncture is both safe and effective for the treatment of facial acne and its associated inflammatory conditions. Continue reading →

Acupuncture Protects Pregnancy and Prevents Miscarriage

Jun30

According to new research, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have been proven to assist in the treatment of recurrent pregnancy losses. A team of acupuncturists combined Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapies in a clinical study of a 42 year old female in Washington suffering from chronic, recurrent pregnancy losses.

The outcome of the study suggests that a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine enhances fertility and prevents miscarriages. The clinical study tracked the progress of the patient from six months prior to conception to the successful delivery of a healthy boy at full term using Traditional Chinese Medicine as the therapeutic modality to achieve a positive clinical outcome. As a result of these findings, the researchers suggest more research to confirm the level of effectiveness of the procedures. Continue reading →

Acupuncture Can Help Reduce High Blood Pressure

Apr2

Acupuncture treats HPB. High blood pressure is a common ailment for many people and is ever-increasing due to the pressure of today’s society and the way we eat.

I found the below article while researching new studies being conducted in this area. It is an easy read and will hopefully help explain to anyone suffering from high blood pressure how and why acupuncture can really help to lower blood pressure in patients with hypertension.

The study was based on patients between the ages of 32 and 65 some of whom were taking blood pressure medication for the treatment of high blood pressure and others not. Continue reading →

Acupuncture Really Does Relieve Stress

Mar18

Acupuncture really does help to relieve stress and don’t just believe me, a new study has just been conducted providing a closer look at why.

Below is an interesting article I found supporting this and recording a new study which explored the biological mechanisms involved in acupuncture’s stress-relieving abilities, something science has yet to fully understand. Continue reading →

Acupuncture Found to Increase IVF and Treat Infertility

Feb10

Acupuncture for IVF There is an incredible wealth of modern studies, carefully documented case histories and classic texts that demonstrate how acupuncture and herbal medicine contribute to healthy pregnancies and enhanced fertility.

I personally have been treating couples (both men and women) with acupuncture treatments for years and have been lucky to witness so many successful and heart-warming stories.However, there is always skepticism surrounding this and it is always refreshing to find new studies and research which helps confirm what so many people already know.

Here is an article I found in HealthCMI last week confirming findings released from a recent study which I thought I’d share. Continue reading →

Acupuncture Treatment for Sports Injuries

Jan12

Acupuncture for sports injuries Acupuncture has been clinically proven to accelerate the healing of sports injuries. In this post, I have taken the liberty of borrowing some great examples of sports injuries which can be effectively treated by acupuncture.

Warning, this is a long article but it covers such a comprehensive list of what acupuncture can help with (I doubt you’ll find a sports injury that is not covered in here) that I thought it important to include it all. Continue reading →

Acupuncture For Back Pain Relief

Dec15

Acupuncture for back pain relief Acupuncture has increasingly gained popularity with people looking for alternate methods to eradicate pain without the use of medicine.

Acupuncture can work for many injuries and is highly recommended by many people who have used it for pain like pain in the neck, back, arthritis and the lower back . Most people assume that alternate methods of therapy that don’t involve taking medicine or having surgery is relatively safer and its potential to do harm would be more negligible than regular medical treatments. It is also seen as a less expensive alternative to modern medicine and treatments. Continue reading →

Acupuncture Clinic

Acupuncture Clinic | Dun Laoghaire, Dublin | Anne O'Conor