Health Intuitive

The knee is the largest joint in the body. It is made up of the lower end of the thighbone or femur, which rotates on the upper end of the shinbone (tibia), and the kneecap, which slides in a grove on the end of the femur. The knee joint also contains several muscles, which straighten the leg and bend the leg at the knee; tendons, which attach the muscles to the bones; ligaments, which help control motion by connecting bones; and cartilage, which serves to cushion the knee or help it absorb shock during motion.

Because of its size, and because it is such a complex structure, it is also one of the most frequently injured joints. Knee injuries can be caused by several factors. Most complaints of knee pain result from some form of trauma, such as a torn or ruptured ligament; a broken or fractured kneecap; torn cartilage; or an accident that causes damage to the area or strains the knee beyond its normal range of motion. Other conditions that can lead to knee pain are infections; arthritis; hemarthrosis (blood in the knee joint); cysts; and bone tumors. Being overweight can also contribute to knee problems by causing excess strain on ligaments and cartilage.

Many athletes experience knee injuries, particularly to the knee ligaments. Nearly everyone has become familiar with the acronym ACL, which stands for anterior cruciate ligament. ACL tears can be caused by rapidly twisting or changing directions; slowing down when running; or landing from a jump. Injuries to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) are usually caused by contact on the outside of the knee.

Knee pain isn’t restricted to professional athletes, however. As people get older, the amount of cartilage in the knee decreases and many ligaments begin to lose some of their elasticity. This makes them more susceptible to pain and/or injury.

Studies have shown acupuncture such as Acupuncture New York to be effective in relieving certain types of knee pain, especially arthritic conditions of the knee and knee joint. A 1999 study comparing electroacupuncture to ice massage and transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS) for subjects with osteoarthritis found that acupuncture decreased pain and stiffness levels and increased muscle strength and flexion in the knee. Another study published that same year suggested that patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome might benefit from weekly acupuncture treatments. Smaller studies have confirmed that acupuncture is beneficial in reducing knee pain, stiffness and physical disability in patients with knee and knee-related problems. It can ease the discomfort some subjects feel while waiting for knee surgery, and in some cases, it may even be considered an alternative to surgery.

As with any other form of care, however, remember that not all patients will respond to acupuncture. Make sure to discuss the situation thoroughly with your acupuncturist before undergoing treatment for knee or leg pain or any other condition.

New York Acupuncture is a Chinese medical practice in which specific body areas are pierced with fine needles for therapeutic purposes or to relieve pain. It is an imported practice that goes against the American way of practicing medicine which includes pharmaceuticals and surgery.

However, it has grown in popularity in the US. Hollywood stars swear by it along with other segments of the population who believe in a more natural way to treat illnesses. Some people even go as far as to have this procedure performed on their pets. So why has this non-traditional form of medicine grown in its use?

Although the benefits of acupuncture are not totally accepted by the medical community or insurance companies, data on its benefits show it can cover a span on conditions. This new information is why so many people are turning to it instead of using traditional forms of handling their maladies. The pro’s are that acupuncture has very few side-effects and can be done quickly and easily. Below are a few more reasons why many people are turning to it to solve their problems.

1) Acupuncture decreases cravings. Is your diet working? If it isn’t, you may need to get acupuncture. Acupuncture has been shown to help reduce cravings. It can also help with nicotine addiction. For the best results, you should do acupuncture in conjunction with a traditional treatment for these areas.

2) Acupuncture increases infertility. Are you trying to get pregnant? Try a little acupuncture. Women getting IVF increased their chances of getting pregnant by 50% if they got acupuncture.

3) Acupuncture eliminates wrinkles. Before you get that face lift, try to smooth out your wrinkles with acupuncture. Practitioners in the American Association of Oriental Medicine have found that it works as well as Botox.

4) Acupuncture reduces your number of headaches. The buzz on the street is that two months of acupuncture can reduce your number of headaches by seven. So, instead of stocking up on aspirin, go to your local herbalist and see if they can steer you to the right acupuncturist. He or she may be able to eliminate your migraines.

5) Acupuncture helps with your PMS. Many women complain of suffering from PMS on a monthly basis. It causes bloating and emotional issues that can interrupt a girl’s life. Acupuncturists claim they can help a majority of women with a few treatments. This may be a good alternative for women who don’t want to take over-the-counter drugs or prescribed ones from their doctor.

Now that you know about a few of the benefits of acupuncture, you may want to try out a few sessions. You can find an acupuncturist in your area by going to www.aaom.org. See for yourself if acupuncture is for you.

Are you aware that New York acupuncture can relieve stress? In Chinese medicine, stress, anxiety, depression or any strong emotion interrupts the smooth flow of energy throughout the body.  According to Chinese medical theory, energy flows through our body through a network of “roads”, almost like a highway system.  Stress, anger, or any intense emotion acts like a traffic jam, blocking the free flow of energy in the body.  For example, many people who are very stressed out complain of upper back, shoulder and neck pain.  This is due to stress which is causing tension in those areas, blocking the free flow of energy, causing pain, tightness, and often leading to headaches.

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.