Of all types of pain, headaches are the most common, as well as the most intimate and disturbing, considering their location. For the majority of us, the occasional headache presents no real problem. It can be relieved by a couple of aspirins, provided the stomach can tolerate them. But a few individuals experience headaches with such frequency and severity that the quality of their lives is diminished. Work and relationships suffer, and they simply feel miserable.

Conventional medical therapy offers no real solution. Most commonly prescribed drugs are not particularly effective at relieving headaches, and a look at The Physician’s Desk Reference indicates that they all cause undesirable side-effects. Even over-the-counter medications are not immune from this criticism. Over time, aspirin can cause stomach ulcers and bruising, while acetaminophen can damage the liver.

There are, of course, many types of headaches—tension, migraine, cluster, hypoglycemic and hypertensive, to name the most common. A person who suffers from chronic headaches should first consult a medical doctor to make sure the condition does not involve a tumor. This having been done, one can make an appointment with an acupuncturist because most types of headache respond well to acupuncture, though of course, the length of treatment will differ from case to case.

It is the experience of many acupuncturists that fast results are obtained with tension headaches. Migraine and cluster headaches respond well also, though in the case of migraines, the emphasis is on reducing frequency and intensity of occurrence rather than relieving pain during an attack. Sinus headaches also respond well to acupuncture. A patient commonly experiences a draining of the sinuses and relief from pressure during or after the first treatment. Subsequent treatments reduce the allergic response and hence the frequency of headaches. Hypoglycemic headaches respond well also, but in this case, acupuncture is also used to improve pancreatic function. In the case of hypertensive headaches, acupuncture points are selected that have the effect of lowering blood pressure. Even in cases where blood pressure has not been affected by acupuncture, patients usually report fewer headaches and improved health.

Given the fact that there are different types of headaches, no universal prescription can be offered regarding the number of treatments required to achieve significant results. Generally, patients commit to a series of treatments and should notice improvement, at times dramatic, within four to six treatments. After a series, a treatment every month or two will help to maintain the level of health that has been achieved.

The most popular form of pain relief that Western medicine has to offer is pain medications and anti-inflammatory drugs. If you’ve spent a lot of time in pain, you know that these medications have unreliable results. After a while, their effectiveness wears off. The side effects from prescription medications can often be worse than the pain conditions you are dealing with.
Acupuncture for chronic pain is a powerful and natural treatment. The needles stimulate points on your body that release endorphins and other natural pain relievers. They also, according to research, increase the electromagnetic signals between the different cells in your body. This can encourage healing and eliminate pain.

Acupuncture increases blood circulation to different parts of your body and will re;ax your muscles. It also helps promote emotional well-being and can increase the effectiveness of your immune system. Instead of bringing the rest of your health down in order to reduce pain (like conventional medications do) it raises the level of your whole body health.

There are many different types of pain that people can experience, and acupuncture is an effective treatment for them all. Back pain is very common and is a result of sprains or strains. Your acupuncturist may use local needles on your back to treat your pain, but most treat it with distal needles placed on other parts of your body. Your acupuncturist may use cupping or electrical stimulation along with needle insertion.

Arthritis is another common form of pain that can be treated with acupuncture. Arthritis can affect many different joints in your body. Depending on where you are experiencing arthritis pain, your acupuncturist may insert needles directly at the site or at other important points along the meridians.

If you think acupuncture is limited to treating skeletal or muscular pain, think again. It’s also been proven effective in treating migraine headaches. You can use acupuncture to relieve pain and even prevent future migraine attacks. By targeting areas that regulate blood flow to your head, your emotional state and hormonal balance your acupuncturist can eliminate migraines entirely.

No matter what types of pain you are experiencing, acupuncture has the solution. During your first consultation, your acupuncturist will work with you to identify your pain and create a treatment that is designed to heal your body. In a matter of just one session, you’ll feel the benefits of using acupuncture to treat pain.

Homeopathy is the practice of combining certain ingredients in diluted preparations that take into consideration the psychological and physical status of a patient for treatment. Homeopathy practitioners believe that sickness and disease is caused by disturbances in the body’s life forces which are then manifested through a variety of symptoms. Homeopathy combines minerals, plant products, animal products and some synthetic materials into remedies and tinctures.

Folk medicine has been practiced in every culture for centuries, incorporating healing techniques, cultural beliefs, and at times with traditional medicine, including Chinese or Ayurvedic medicine practices, to create an all around approach to health care. Folk medicine employs the use of many types of plants that may be cooked into poultices or teas for use on burns, to stop blood flow, or to treat a headache.

Acupuncture and massage has been practice in the Far East for thousands of years to treat and restore the flow of Chi, or energy, through the body. Practiced throughout Southeast Asia, acupuncture and massage divides the human body into meridians, each of which controls certain areas of the body. Both acupuncture and massage are considered popular complimentary alternative medical approaches and are often combined with traditional medical practices in the relief and treatment of conditions such as arthritis and chronic pain.
Treatments like ozone therapy, live cell therapy, and chelation therapy are considered a type of new age medical treatments. Chelation therapy utilizes a variety of chemical infusions  designed to remove heavy metal wastes from the body, enabling the body to heal itself from illness. As a detoxification therapy, the practice is designed to reduce or lower the amount of heavy metals such as lead, magnesium, and copper in the blood, which helps restore circulation and vitality to body organs and processes.

Ozone therapy, also known as O3 therapy, has not been scientifically tested, but is believed to help provide holistic benefits when offered in monitored and precise therapeutic doses. Also known as oxygen healing, O3 therapy is a type of naturopathic alternative medicine that believes that oxygen therapy is a powerful antifungal, anti bacterial and antiviral substance that may help the body detoxify as well as cleanse the lymph system.

Live cell therapy has been used for decades in the treatment of a variety of health issues, from arthritis to antiaging. Also called cellular therapy, the practice became popular in the 1930s, utilizing the use of sheep cells to rejuvenate dormant cells in the body to activate, producing new numbers of healthy cells and tissues in the body.
Naturopathy, (also known as naturopathic or natural medicine) is an alternative medical discipline that focuses on natural remedies for the treatment of a variety of illnesses or disease processes. This practice minimizes surgery and medication in the treatment of illnesses and focuses more on diet and lifestyle for treatment.

• Korean Acupuncture- This type of acupuncture is probably the least known among western patients but Korean acupuncture has a rich tradition. One aspect of Korean acupuncture is placing the needles in the hand that one can treat all of the organs. This is believed to be a very powerful treatment modality.
• Japanese Acupuncture- This type of treatment is well known in the west and this originated from the teachings of Keiko Matsimoto. She emphasized that physical touching of the body particularly the abdomen for diagnosis. The treatment methods used in Japanese acupuncture often follows the principle of extraordinary vessels and the needles are often placed shallower than in TCM. In Japan, herbs are prescribed by an M.D. so acupuncturists will rely on sophisticated needling techniques.

More than anything Oriental Medicine is considered a clinical science. There are over thousands and thousands of books written about Chinese Medicine. Aside from that, there are books about theory, herbology, acupuncture and case studies. Unfortunately the only downside about these books is they are written in Chinese and other Asian languages. This is mostly the reason why Oriental Medicine has yet to be accepted as a Western science.

In Asia it is considered immoral to withhold a treatment from a patient if it is believed it will help. For that reason there are few “control-group” studies in the 2000 years of Oriental medicine. The control-group is a mainstay of western scientific proof.

Oriental diagnosis does not neatly translate into western diagnosis. A disease category such as asthma has a dozen or more causes in Oriental Medicine. “Asthma” could be from Cold Excess, Heat Excess, Heat Deficiency, Excess Above-Deficiency Below, etc… Each of these has a completely different treatment strategy and uses different herb formulas and acupuncture points. The medicine itself demands that the treatment is modified according to each patient. In addition, the acupuncture or herbs change with the progression of the disease or cure. It would be bad medicine to prescribe the same herbs over a series of treatments when the patient’s conditions change.
The constituents of the herbs are so complex that it will take years to analyze them. Most herb formulas use about one to 20 types of different herbs. These are used in differing amounts according to the signs and symptoms of the patient at that time. A single raw herb used in a formula may contain a dozen or more chemical constituents.

Needling the acupuncture points can influence the meridians: the acupuncture needles unblock the obstruction at the dams, and reestablish the regular flow through the meridians. Acupuncture treatments can therefore help the body’s internal organs to correct imbalances in their digestion, absorption, and energy production activities, and in the circulation of their energy through the meridians.

According to the needling methods, acupuncture can be divided into traditional acupuncture, ear acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, scalp acupuncture and hand acupuncture etc. Over the last few decades, traditional acupuncture was widely used combining with other techniques, like moxi-needling, cup-needling etc, to increase the therapeutic effects.

Modern science explain the functions of acupuncture as following: Needling the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These chemicals will either change the experience of pain, or they will trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones, which influence the body’s own internal regulating system.

Acupuncture: Does it hurt?

The sensation experienced by the patient with acupuncture is largely subjective and may be quite variable. Needling sensation is not painful, but it is a dull, bursting or numb feeling around the site of the inserted needle. Occasionally sensations may travel up and down the channel on which the acupuncture point is situated; for example, the stimulation of an acupuncture point on the left leg may precipitate a strange warm or numb sensation in the right shoulder.

Acupuncture needling sensation is probably best defined by some patient’s statement: “When needling sensation is experienced, the needle no longer feels like a needle!”

Most people have a “weak” point in their body that will react first when the person is under stress. For example, it may be that a person gets headaches when they are highly stressed, or perhaps they will experience digestive trouble in stressful situations.

Learning to manage stress can be an important tool to improving a person’s overall health and well being. Not only can stress reduction create a positive impact on physical health. It can also help you sleep, communicate better in relationships and even perform better in school or at your job.

Traditional techniques for stress management have included things such as visualization, relaxation and meditation exercises. But increasingly, people in Western society are beginning to recognize the value of the Chinese therapy of acupuncture.

Acupuncture is commonly used to control and treat chronic pain, but it is also increasingly being used to treat a number of both common and rare illnesses. Because acupuncture is based on the idea of creating and maintaining the natural, harmonious flow of life energy or ‘chi,’ it can also be used to combat stress and the problems that it causes.

The World Health Organization has recognized a list of disorders and ailments for which acupuncture can be helpful. The list includes headaches including migraines, paralysis that is due to a stroke and back pain such as sciatica or lower back pain issues.

The practice of acupuncture uses thin needles of different lengths that are inserted into particular points along channels that conduct the body’s energy. These energy streams are called meridians. Acupuncturists are knowledgeable with more than 350 acupoints that are used to clear any blockages along the meridians. They may also use a tiny electronic pulse to increase the stimulation to the tissues, or they may use herbal therapy as well.

Regular acupuncture treatments can help to restore the normal flow of chi throughout the body so that it is better equipped to withstand the pressures and stresses of daily life. If any particular areas of the body are weakened by stress, then acupuncture can be used to help strengthen those areas of the body or organ systems as well.

Needles are inserted to stimulate the blood flow to a certain area as well, bringing a fresh supply of oxygen to the tissues. It also helps to clear toxins from an area that has not been receiving its necessary energy flow. A trained, licensed acupuncturist may also recommend the use of particular herbs in order to supplement the acupuncture. Or, they may be able to teach you some self-applied acupressure techniques in order to help with stressful situations.

Acupuncture treatment is relaxing and refreshing. You will most likely find that treatment by a qualified acupuncture specialist will greatly assist your body cope with the potentially damaging effects of stress.

At one time or another, all of us experience stress.  These feelings are a healthy response to events in our lives that may feel beyond our control.  Whenever we are healthy and the stress is short-lived, we usually recover without too much wear and tear to our overall health.  However, when the stress is extreme, or if it lasts a long time, our emotional health and ultimately, our physical health begin to suffer.

Our bodies are hardwired to help us react to stressful events.  At the first sign of a threat, whether real or perceived, our sympathetic nervous system kicks in and facilitates what is called the “fight or flight” response.  Our heart rate increases, our pupils dilate, and our digestion temporarily shuts down, directing blood to our extremities, so that if need be, we can either fight what is threatening us, or turn and run if the threat is too formidable.

Unfortunately, the “fight or flight” response, which worked well in caveman days, does not serve us as well if the threat is a demanding boss, nasty co-worker or even a worrisome situation that is not being resolved.  More often than not, the stress in our lives is long-term, and as a result, we find ourselves in a constant state of “fight or flight”, or stress.  Over time, the constant state of stress takes its toll.  Cortisol, the body’s stress hormone elevates, blood pressure increases, and our immune function is suppressed.  Over time, these symptoms become worse and can develop into anxiety, depression, fatigue, digestive problems, and tension headaches.

In a highway system, when there is road construction or an accident, traffic may be also backed up on other secondary roads that feed into or out of the affected area.  This is true in the body, too.  Stress may affect many other parts of the body, most notably digestion, the ability to sleep, pain conditions, and blood pressure. Stress can also aggravate an already troublesome health condition.

Through acupuncture, theses energy blockages can be addressed. Acupuncture points serve as the on and off ramps to the energy highway, and can help energy flow smoothly, and alleviate not only the symptoms of stress and anxiety, but the stress and anxiety itself.

From a Western viewpoint, acupuncture works to alleviate stress by releasing natural pain-killing chemicals in the brain, called endorphins.  In addition, acupuncture improves circulation of blood throughout the body, which oxygenates the tissues and cycles out cortisol and other waste chemicals.  The calming nature of acupuncture also decreases heart rate, lowers blood pressure and relaxes the muscles.

New research suggests that acupuncture is the best form of treatment compared to standard medical care alone for headaches. The results of the study shows that acupuncture offers substantial benefits in preventing headaches and improving the quality of life for people who suffer headaches including migraines. Published in the March 15 issue of the British Medical Journal, researchers randomly separated 401 adults aged 18-65 years old with at least two headaches a month into two treatment groups.

This is the largest study completed using acupuncture for headaches. One group received up to 12 acupuncture sessions during a three-month period in addition to standard medical care, and the other group received standard care alone. A year later, researchers found those who received acupuncture visited their physicians 25% less, used 15% less drugs, had 15% less sick days from work compared to the control group, and experienced 22 fewer days with headaches. Although some results may be due to placebo effects, acupuncture has shown in this study to have significant impacts to individuals with headaches.

The exact mechanism of acupuncture is still unknown. According to various studies conducted through NIH funding, there is evidence that there is a release of endorphins and other “pain killers” in the pain site. However, a recent BBC TV has also shown that acupuncture “deactivates the brain” by affecting the area of the brain that governs pain. Scientists at the University College London, Southampton University, and the University of York found that the deep needling deactivated the limbic system, even though most scientists believed that acupuncture activates parts of the brain.

Early History of Acupuncture

Acupuncture has a clear record of history for more than 2,000 years and there are many claims that it has been practiced in China for more than 4,000 years. People in China believed that acupuncture started during the Stone Age when stone knives were used to drain and puncture abscesses. The Chinese character “Bian” as a matter of fact means “used of a sharp edge stone to treat diseases”. The modern Chinese character “Bi” on the other hand, represents a disease of pain and is most certainly derived from the use of Bian stones for treating painful complaints.

The origin of Chinese medicine has a very fascinating story and acupuncture represents one part of their medical system. The first record of treating and conceptualizing disease dates back from 1500 BC during the Shang dynasty. From that time, tortoise shells with inscriptions were found and it has been though that these were used for divination in the art of healing. Early Chinese medicine bases their philosophy on seeking harmony between the living and their dead ancestors and the good and evil spirits that inhabit their dead that dwell in the earth.

Nowadays, acupuncture is being practiced in all 50 states by over 9,000 practitioners and 4,000 of which are MDs including it in their practices. Acupuncture has shown notable accomplishment in treating many conditions and 15 million Americans have used it as a therapy but in some cases acupuncture remains largely unsupported by the medical establishment. The American Medical Association has been resistant to researching it, as it is based on concepts very different from the Western scientific model.

Neck pain has a variety of causes and one thing that can cause neck pain is keeping your head in an awkward position since it can cause your neck muscles to fatigue and the joints in your neck to “lock” in place. This usually causes discomfort, stiffness and limited range of motion. Sudden force can also cause neck pain such as an automobile accident or medical conditions like a disease, swelling, tumors, inflammation, bleeding, and etc. One of the things that people hate about neck pain is that it can cause headaches.

A lot of suffer from neck pain and perhaps almost everyone will experience some sort of neck pain or stiffness during their lifetime. In fact certain occupations however appear to be predisposed to neck symptoms. For instance, manual laborers have more symptoms than office workers and the type of work seems to affect the risk. Another thing that can contribute to neck pain is a person’s age and history of twisting and bending during work. The most that are risk of developing mechanical neck pain are workers who have been required to do repetitive tasks with their upper extremities who undergo periods of prolonged sitting with their head in a flexed position such as typing on a keyboard at a desk.

How can Acupuncture Help With Neck Pain

In relieving certain types of neck pain studies have shown that acupuncture can be very effective especially those caused by whiplash. In those studies, it suggested that acupuncture can treat degenerative neck disorders such as cervical spondylosis and ankylosing. In many cases, acupuncture has worked for patients whose conditions could not be solved using conventional approaches.

Herbal medicine and acupressure are often used in conjunction with acupuncture for neck pain. To get that relaxed state and heightened sense of well-being, applying acupressure to the neck muscles can reduce spasm and lessen pain. Certain herbal products can be used to improve circulation and blood flow and ease muscle circulation depending on the patient’s condition.