Less well known is that it is also very effective for reducing negative effects of aging. This is particularly true when used preventively or in the early to mid-stages of signs of aging.

Here is a list of some of the major signs of aging and the effect acupuncture has on them:

Loss of Energy and Increased Fatigue

As we age, energy levels can drop. This is true even if we eat well, exercise and live a healthy lifestyle. This has to do with sleep issues, hormone imbalances, digestive inefficiency, etc.

There are major acupuncture points on the body that address these issues. Two points in particular, translated as “Three Mile” points, have the effect of increasing available energy in the body. The ancient Chinese walking through the mountains would get tired and stop to stimulate these points. Afterward, they’d have enough energy to walk three more miles.

Another cause of energy loss is poor blood sugar regulation as in diabetes and hypoglycemia. Research published in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine showed acupuncture effectively regulating blood sugar in obese women. Well-regulated blood sugar results in greater, more even energy levels.

Lower Immune Health

More frequent colds or even pneumonia, longer healing time from injuries and greater susceptibility to life-threatening health issues like cancer accompany reduced immune function.

Acupuncture stimulates T-Lymphocytes and NK Lymphocytes, two of the most important immune system guardians in the body. Stronger lymphocytes speed recovery from bacterial and viral diseases.

Insomnia

Lack of adequate sleep prevents healing and regeneration while at the same time increasing the likelihood of diabetes and other health issues. For some types of insomnia, acupuncture is up to 90% effective.

Hormone Imbalances

As we age, cortisol (the stress hormone) increases relative to other hormones and eventually creates permanent adrenal stress. This affects estrogen & testosterone production as well as quality of life.

Acupuncture can help the body break the cycle of stress and improve hormone profiles. It does this by:

Reducing the effects of stress on the body and regulating cortisol levels.
Balancing the autonomic nervous system, the master controller of hormone regulation.
Supporting and strengthening adrenal related sex hormones such as testosterone and estrogen.
Bone Loss

Bone loss affects both men and women over 50. This has a lot to do with hormone imbalances (see above). In addition to addressing hormone issues, acupuncture also has a direct effect of reversing bone loss from osteoporosis.

Loss of Mental Focus & Clarity

Some people loose their focus and clarity with age. Acupuncture can help strengthen the mind and improve focus issues.

Summary

If you review the above applications of acupuncture to fight aging, you will notice an interesting trend. The trend is that acupuncture has the capability of increasing healthy balance in the body.

For example, it increases energy, while also improving sleep. It strengthens the body (bone strength) while simultaneously relaxing it (reducing stress hormones). And it increases some hormones while regulating excesses of others.

The western medical term for this ability to balance both sides of a physiological process is “homeostasis,” which means self-balancing. You can probably see that the reason acupuncture is so useful for reducing signs of aging is it’s ability to trigger the body’s own self-balancing tendencies.

About this Author
Christy Callahan has been researching and writing in the integrative health care field for over five years, focusing on neuro-endocrinology. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, earned credits toward a licensure in traditional Chinese medicine and is a certified Pilates and sport yoga instructor.

Acupuncture is a holistic healthcare system that looks at the body differently than Western medicine. It is a safe, effective, natural and drug free way to address IBS. According to Chinese medicine, good health happens when all of the organs and meridian systems are balanced and working together.

Are you ready to be balanced?

PCOS was first recognized as a medical disease or syndrome in the West in 1845 in France. Its most distinctive sign is the pathologic appearance of sclerocystic changes on the larger than average ovaries, which appeared to have a thick, shiny, white coating overlying many rows of cysts on the surface of the ovary. These ovarian changes give PCOS its name. In 1990 a National Institute of Health conference decided the two most consistent elements which comprise the disorder of PCOS include elevated androgenic hormones and chronic lack of ovulation. Yet PCOS has a multitude of other symptoms as well, including obesity, acne, facial hair and increased body hair, and thinning of the hair on the head.

Most of the symptoms of PCOS are caused by the state of the ovary. The capsule of the ovary is thickened and waxy. Multiple small cysts exist inside the ovary which are not the same as active follicles, but have been arrested in their development. These cysts and the connective tissue surrounding them, the stroma, produce male hormones called androgens. Testosterone is very similar in chemical composition to estrogen, but it causes the male type effects so often seen in PCOS. The brain detects circulating levels of sex hormone, and inhibits ovulation accordingly.

Luteinizing hormone is often elevated higher than FSH in a woman with PCOS, and remains elevated throughout the cycle. LH stimulates the cells of the ovary to produce androgens, which block follicular development, causing the follicles to degenerate. This process is thought to be a result of an altered feedback mechanism within the hypothalamic – pituitary – ovarian axis, and makes ovulation unlikely.

Impaired glucose tolerance and insulin abnormalities are also a factor in many cases of PCOS, and have to do with another endocrine gland, the pancreas. Insulin resistance affects ovulation by producing higher amounts of circulating insulin, which stimulates the activity of enzymes which help to manufacture androgens in the ovary. High insulin levels further may cause overstimulation of androgen receptors, leading to follicular atresia of developing eggs.

The etiology of this disease remains unknown. Doctors and scientists have been unable to pinpoint the actual causative factor, and thus have been unable to treat it effectively. Woman with PCOS are at risk for other health hazards like disorders in lipid metabolism, obesity and its health concerns, vascular disease and cancer.

So, how does PCOS affect fertility? By affecting the ability to ovulate. Less estrogen is produced, but more LH and testosterone. This affects not only the quality of the follicle, but also the state of the endometrium. As a result, menstrual cycles become more erratic and less predictable. Women with PCOS will often very long cycles and very heavy bleeding; or amenorrhea, or anovulation with scanty bleeding. (Each presentation, by the way, is addressed using different treatment protocols with Oriental Medicine.) When an egg is released, it is often released later in the cycle, and it is of poorer quality because of the surroundings in which it has been developing. Remember that follicular development is a process that takes approximately one hundred days within the ovary. Eggs are meant to develop in an estrogen and progesterone rich environment, not in an androgenic setting.

Women diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome historically do not respond positively to Western assisted reproductive techniques including in-vitro procedures; nor do they respond well to clomid alone, or any hormonal manipulation which does not address the state of the ovary’s endocrine milleau over the previous three or more months of development. If they do become pregnant, they are at higher risk of miscarriage, again presumably because of the health of the egg and therefore the developing embryo.

Chinese medicine seeks to redress the entire hormonal milleau.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome – The Traditional Eastern View
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is seen as a heterogenous disorder, consisting of quite a few possible pattern discriminations. They are broken down into two main subcategories:

Vacuity

• Kidney yang vacuity
• Kidney yin vacuity
• Spleen qi vacuity

Repletion

• Phlegm dampness
• Liver depression/depressive heat
• Blood stasis

They all have manifestations in the way in which the body ovulates, however. Most women with PCOS ovulate later in the cycle, if at all. Going back to the diagnostic checklist, you may categorize yourself into any combination of the diagnostic categories. Treatment will be based upon these differentiations.

Treatment
Treatment must first and foremost be based upon your individual diagnostic pattern. Follow the dietery guidelines for PCOS (below). Do the following exercise to increase blood flow to the ovaries:

Femoral Massage -
[This exercises increases the blood flow to the pelvic organs, providing more nourishment to the uterus and ovaries.]

Compress (or have your partner compress) the large artery just beneath the crease in your groin between your thigh and lower abdomen. This is the femoral artery, which comes from the iliac artery. The iliac artery gives off branches which supply blood flow to the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovary. (The ovary has an additional blood supply which branches off the same arterial section that supplies the kidneys.) When the flow has ceased and you feel the pulsation end at your finger tips, hold for 30-45 seconds. The blood is now backing up and increasing the pressure gradient in the iliac arteries and forcing more blood into the pelvic arteries, flooding the pelvic organs with more blood. When the hold is released, you should feel a sensation of warmth rushing down your leg as the blood supply returns to the lower extremity. Perform the femoral massage three times, twice daily.

NOTE: Do not perform this exercise if you are pregnant. If you have high blood pressure, heart disease or circulatory problems including aneurisms, varicose veins, phlebitis, thrombosis, or a history of strokes or detached retinas, do not practice these techniques. If you have diabetes or similar disorder which affects the circulation, but can perform normal exercises and daily routines, practice on one side at a time and repeat on the opposite side. Perform the femoral massage three times on each side, twice daily if possible.

If you will be l supplementing with herbs, include Gleditsia during the first half of your menstrual cycle, before ovulation. Gleditsia is categorized as a phlegm resolving medicinal in Chinese Medicine, and is known to dissolve the waxy capsule around the ovaries, and it promotes ovulation. Leonurus Fruit is a blood quickening medicinal with an inherent effect of encouraging ovulation in those who have any element of blood stasis. Women with ovulatory pain have blood stasis on ovulation.

Anovulatory women should begin to notice signs of ovulation after a couple months of treatment. Women with belated ovulation will often notice that their ovulation comes earlier and earlier in the cycle until they ovulate normally on cycle day fourteen.

Most women with PCOS also have endocrine abnormalities which are affected by diet.

Dietary Therapy
If you are overweight, this condition responds much better to weight loss. Fat cells store estrogen, and there is usually relatively too much circulating estrogen and LH in women with PCOS. The liver metabolizes these hormones, so a healthy functioning liver is mandatory for proper therapeutic effect. Include dietary sources of the B vitamins, which keep the liver healthy.

Because of the insulin resistance and impaired glucose metabolism found in PCOS, it is very important to modify dietary intake if you have this condition.

Insulin is a hormone secreted by the beta cells of the pancrease and is designed to maintain the blood glucose level within a certain range. Insulin stores glucose in the form of fat. Insulin resistance means that the body’s response to insulin in various tissues is impaired. Hence, the pancreas secretes more insulin. When the body fails to respond to insulin, glucose intolerance and diabetes and its many complications may become the eventual result.

The best natural management for insulin resistance and impaired glucose metabolism is to lower the level of sugar intake from the diet, and eliminate the ingestion of any food substance that the body can utilizes as simple sugar.

• Cut out all forms of refined sugar
• Cut out all forms of refined carbohydrates. The body immediately turns these into sugar. This includes white bread, pasta, potatoes, white rice, most breakfast cereals, rice cakes, popcorn, or any starchy, low fiber food.
• Do not adhere to the fertility diets that advocate massive yam consumption. This can actually delay or prevent ovulation if you have PCOS.
• Avoid soda, fruit juice, and any drink which rapidly raises the blood sugar level.
• Consume adequate amounts of protein, either in vegetarian form or in the form of lean meat which has not been treated hormonally.
• Eat as many fresh vegetables as you wish.
• Eat only complex, whole grains.
• Eat fruits like berries which are not too sweet.
• Avoid milk and dairy products which tend to exacerbate the condition of internal dampness.
• Eliminate alcohol and caffeine.
• Increase your dietary fiber intake.
• Exercise.

A Swedish/Italian controlled study from the Biology of Reproduction Journal, (date): involved inducing a state of poly cystic ovaries in rats, with injections of estradiol valerate. Increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system resulted, followed by increased concentrations of nerve growth factor in ovaries, and the adrenal glands. Within 60 days the rats developed polycystic ovariess. The control group received no therapy and maintained features of PCOS. Those treated with acupuncture showed a reduction in the hyperactivity of the ovarian peripheral sympathetic nerve fibers, reduction of the increased nerve growth factor concentrations within the ovaries to normal and reduced the weight of the poly cystic ovaries. This group of doctors then set out with the aim of reproducing similar results in women with PCOS. The study concluded, “We have shown that repeated electroacupuncture treatments restore regular ovulations in the anovulatory women with PCOS. In addition, acupuncture influenced neruoendocrine and endocrine parameters indicative of PCOS, such as LH/FSH ratios, mean testosterone concentrations, and beta-endorphin concentrations, which reduced significantly.”

This study illustrates the hormonal origin of this disease process, and the fact that it can be induced artificially. The induction of this hormonal trauma produces a physiologic state of stress which raises the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, producing a disease syndrome. Acupuncture treatments were effective at resolving this pathologic process because it reduces the level of hypersympathetic nervous system response, relaxing the whole neuroendocrine system.

About the Author

Randine Lewis, MSOM, L.Ac., Ph.D., a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, has studied both Eastern and Western medicine. After suffering from “infertility” herself, she earned her graduate and post-graduate degrees in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, always focusing on fertility enhancement. In addition to resolving her own fertility issues, she has helped thousands of women throughout the world – with natural, health enhancing methods. She lectures, and publishes articles for RESOLVE, the American Infertility Association, and medical organizations, and is a medical expert on numerous online fertility boards.

Dr. Lewis authored “The Infertility Cure, the Ancient Chinese Wellness Program for Getting Pregnant and Having Healthy Babies”, and has appeared on multipe radio and television shows throughout the country, all featuring her successes in helping women conceive with Traditional Chinese Medicine.

She now offers her phenomenal treatment methods, combined with the mind-body medical program for overcoming infertility in her fertility enhancing retreats, which take place in Austin, Texas at The Crossings in 2006.  Each retreatant receives a thorough Eastern medical evaluation, and dietary, nutritional and herbal plans based upon this
individual diagnosis.

For details regarding retreats or Dr. Lewis’ speaking availability, please visit www.thefertilesoul.com or call 713-869-8842.

Can acupuncture treat depression and anxiety?

A resounding “yes.” Acupuncture is indeed a powerful treatment for depression and anxiety. Before I became an acupuncturist, I worked as a psychotherapist in a community mental health clinic. For those patients who received psychotherapy, it was helpful, sometimes invaluable and life-saving, but the gains were usually small and slow, and often didn’t get the whole job done. I frequently saw an over-reliance on pharmaceuticals which helped for a season but eventually had to be changed due to a loss of effectiveness.

Increasingly, I felt something was missing from conventional treatment. In traditional Chinese medicine, I found the mind-body link I was looking for. TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) is not only highly effective in treating emotional problems, it also addresses the physical realm. When I treat a physical complaint, I often find a corresponding emotional/spiritual disharmony. Conversely, while treating emotional problems, there often seems to be a corresponding physical component. In short, I find acupuncture an effective way to address the whole person.

Acupuncture seeks to address body, mind, emotions and spirit. It is a holistic medicine whose 5000 year old roots began in China. It is often accompanied by herbology, diet, energy-cultivation exercises and life-style counseling. The goal is to create harmony within ourselves and between ourselves and the world. It is understood that “intellect” and “feeling” reside in all the cells of the body. If a person is depressed, Chinese medicine understands this as the result of deficient or stagnant energy, or imbalance of yin and yang (the two polar opposite forces of which all things are comprised). This imbalance can take many forms, and is ultimately discerned by the acupuncturist through an ongoing evaluation process which encompasses observation of posture, gait, demeanor, skin tone, brightness of eyes, voice, smell, tongue and pulse diagnosis, palpation and asking about symptoms and history.

Our TCM diagnosis describes a pattern of harmony or disharmony. This involves assessing the condition of spirit, essence, energy, blood, fluids, organs and channels. There are fourteen (14) main channels which can be described as rivers of energy (referred to as “qi” which means “vital energy”). The channels connect with each other and run through every part of the body. On the surface are the acupoints (over 365) which can be described as wells or vortexes which tap into these energy rivers. Each point has several functions. Basically, what we are doing when we place a needle into a point is facilitating the flow of life force. We bring energy into areas of deficiency and unblock the flow where there has been stagnation.

The experience of having acupuncture is pleasant, relaxing and energizing. The needles are hair thin, sterile and generally painless and never used twice. There may be a brief soreness or pulling sensation which means that your qi has connected with the needle. You are made comfortable and draped appropriately. A good treatment feels like being in “the zone” or a deep meditation as your body moves back into balance.

My approach in treating depression and anxiety is to check in with my patients both to catch up and see how they are doing. This is followed by tongue and pulse readings after which my patient can get settled on the treatment table lying on his/her stomach. I often do a brief 10 minute acupuncture prescription involving points on the back. These are as follows: lung points for unresolved grief, heart points to treat the absence of joy, liver points to treat anger or depression and kidney points to treat fear or shock. After this, the patient is turned over and made comfortable with pillow and knee bolsters for points that increase and move energy and settle the spirit. For this, needles are usually placed on the lower arms, the lower legs, the stomach and the head. I often use points which correspond to the seven energy vortexes called chakras found in yoga. I also apply auricular acupuncture (on the outside of the ears) to balance the brain neurotransmitters and create a sense of well being. The entire session can take between 45 minutes and an hour and a quarter. Patients are often sent home with magnets placed in key auricular points to extend the treatment.

Like many others, you may respond well to the holistic approach acupuncture offers. I encourage you to give it a try and wish you health, wellness and peace.

About the Author

Carol Morton, L.Ac., L.C.S.W. has worked in the field of mind-body healing for the past 25 years. Originally coming from the discipline and physical artistry of the professional ballet world, in which she performed with the Los Angeles Ballet Company and Loring Dance Players, she moved on to obtain a master’s degree in clinical social work as U.C.L.A. and a full practice in the South Bay as a therapist helping many people with emotional and mental problems.

While continuing to hone her skills over many years of experience as a psychotherapist, Carol became increasingly aware of how intricately and powerfully the mind and body are linked. Her focus became one of finding ways to enlist the whole person in the healing process thus facilitating a more rapid and complete recovery. She began to practice and eventually became certified to teach White Lotus Style Yoga and strove to integrate this into her healing practice.

She eventually was drawn to study Traditional Chinese Medicine at Yo San University. During her 5 years of study there she became immersed in the Taoist arts of healing alongside conventional Western biomedicine. She embraced the expansion of her healing tools to include this ancient art of bio-energetics and became more committed to healing on a holistic level.

Carol is an expert at helping people release blocked energy and reconnect with their core selves. It is her philosophy that lasting healing involves participation of the while person. She has successfully treated a wide variety of health problems and guided many people compassionately through their healing journey. Her specialties include the treatment of all types of pain, orthopedics, stress and anxiety, emotional and psychological disorders and women’s health.