What Happens to Your Body When You Get Acupuncture

What Happens to Your Body When You Get Acupuncture

When hair-thin stainless-steel needles are strategically placed into your skin at specific acupuncture points, they help balance out your qi, or energy center, leading to a calmer, healthier you. At least, that's the traditional Eastern explanation. The modern scientific hypothesis? The pricks cause tiny sensations that activate your nervous system and brain, promoting a relaxation response. Whatever the exact mechanisms, regular acupuncture plays a role in easing...

Physical Pain

Just a few precise insertions can stimulate your peripheral nervous system, triggering a chain reaction involving painkillers such as endorphins. A recent analysis of 18,000 patients found acupuncture quelled chronic headaches, neck aches, and backaches. Bonus: Needles placed around specific injury sites can act like natural cortisone shots.

Stress

That relaxation response means less stress for you—and a reduction in related symptoms like insomnia, headaches, and fatigue. (One theory: The needles block the release of stress-related hormones cortisol and neuropeptide Y.)

Mood

Smile! That uptick in endorphins and other "happy" neurotransmitters, including serotonin, leads to a palpable mood lift, especially if you're a frequent patient.

Allergies

The practice can quell inflammation in your nasal passages (don't worry, no needle up the nose required). Experts suspect it might also stimulate your immune response, leaving you less sensitive to allergens or less dependent on medications.

Addiction

One analysis found that acupuncture could be an effective quitting aid. The aforementioned endorphin release may block cravings or make withdrawal easier.

PMS

Say adios to bloating and breast tenderness: A review revealed that getting pricked cuts PMS pains by up to 78 percent, possibly because it helps dial down stress and regulate hormones.

Sources: Ladan Eshkevari, Ph.D., Georgetown University; David Mischoulon, M.D., Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital; Jongbae Park, M.D., Ph.D., L.Ac., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Jamie Starkey, L.Ac., Cleveland Clinic; Jingduan Yang, M.D., Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

Original article and pictures take www.womenshealthmag.com site

What Cupping Can Do For You

What Cupping Can Do For You

New research shows that an ancient therapy can significantly decrease pain. Cupping, a close cousin of acupuncture, involves placing glass cups on your body (on either the affected area or the acupuncture points used to treat it) to create suction. While it may sound odd, cupping reduced chronic neck pain by an average of 45% among people in a 2011 study from the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany. Here are the details:

[sidebar]Why it works

The suction caused by cupping is meant to free up and balance the flow of qi (pronounced CHEE), or life energy, in the body, says Bryn Clark, a licensed acupuncturist and diplomate of Oriental medicine. It also seems to improve blood circulation.

How it's done

The practitioner may create suction either by using a flame to burn the oxygen from the cup and then applying the cup to your skin or by placing the cup on you first and then removing the air through a valve. Any bruises that result clear up within 5 to 10 days.

Who can benefit

Practitioners have traditionally treated many ailments with cupping therapy. Clark uses it—often along with acupuncture—to treat pain, colds and sinus problems, high blood pressure, asthma, hot flashes, arthritis, painful or irregular periods, and more.

Find a practitioner by searching the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine's directory at nccaom.org

More from Prevention: 20 Mind-Body Solutions That Actually Work

Original article and pictures take www.prevention.com site

What Ayurveda Signifies

What Ayurveda Signifies

Ayurveda is closest to our hearts as an in-depth system for holistic healing based in the ancient, spiritual beliefs of India.

All of us have experienced at different times that not only human beings but also the smallest life-forms always struggle to survive; all beings strive to prevent pain caused by disease, loss, injury, indignity and ignorance, and strive to remain happy always. Ever since human civilization began, we have been engaged in a continuous effort to fulfill our natural needs for food, water and sleep and to ward off disease and discomfort. Ayurveda has its genesis in this context as a reflection of our natural inclination towards health and happiness. Today, we use modern medicine, homeopathy, naturopathy and many other systems of medicine which improve our overall well-being. However, Ayurveda is closest to our hearts as an in-depth system for holistic healing based in the ancient, spiritual beliefs of India.

In daily life, we see that people suffering from simple problems like stomach ache or digestive disorders are advised to use thymol seeds (ajavayana) and asafoetida (hlhga); they are advised to avoid drinking cold water in case of common cold, sore throat or cough, rather they are encouraged to use ginger (ardrakd) and holy basil (tulasi) tea, black pepper, honey mixed with ginger juice and turmeric powder along with warm milk. Each and every ingredient according to Ayurveda is ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ in its nature and has corresponding uses. Such Ayurvedic practices have passed down through many generations, which we have learned from our ancestors.

Most of the ingredients for these 2nd lead 3simple remedies are available in our homes. We can utilize them from our kitchens and gardens and they can be consumed likewise as beneficial remedies. Thus Ayurveda is an integral and inherent part of our daily life, rather than a treatment for disease.

Therefore, it is important for us to understand what Ayurveda actually is and the many ways it can benefit us. Hence, it is relevant to know the origin of the word ‘Ayurveda.’ Etymologically, the word ‘Ayurveda’ is a combination of two words: “Ayusah” which means ‘life’ and “Veda” which means ‘science.’ Hence, “Ayurveda” means the ‘Science of Life(1).’ Yet this science or Veda is not theoretical or superficial knowledge about diseases and their remedies, but a profound understanding of the essence or true nature of things. Simply stated, A”’Source:— By FPJ Bureau For The Free Press Journal

Original article and pictures take www.corespirit.com site