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Original article and pictures take www.examiner.com site
Palm acupressure points. Reflexology Secrets for Everyone
No matter where you hurt, you can cure the pain using acupressure points in the palms of your hands. There are specific pressure points in your hands that are able to relieve pain in other parts of your body.
Reflexology (acupressure therapy) is a holistic healing method that doesn’t just ease pain, but also restores peace of mind and tranquility. Reflexology has been used for centuries, long before today’s modern medicines were ever introduced.
What is Reflexology?
Reflexology utilizes the human body’s pressure points to relieve pain and other body-related problems. Reflexologists perform manual manipulation of the client’s reflexology points.
These spetial points are connected to relative parts of the body.
When manipulated, they can ease discomfort or diseases by relieving pain and easing tension. Reflexologists do not prescribe drugs or diagnoses diseases. However, they do sometimes recommend that their patients speak with a physician.
What Are the Principles of Acupressure?
The primary principle is that every organ and part of the human body is connected to points in your palms and soles. While people don’t know for certain why these body parts are related, it is believed that there’s a transfer of energy between the body parts and reflexology points.
Specific points on your palms and soles meets certain organs. When you apply pressure to one of these points, the energy flows to the related body part. It’s important that acupressure is never applied without purpose. There’s a specific way to perform acupressure. When used correct, the pressure is able to improve the related body part. While people aren’t entirely sure how acupressure works, it’s agreed upon that it does work.
Dr. Fitzgerald is considered to Zone Therapy’s Founding Father. This theory says that the ends of the palm’s and sole’s arteries can become hidden when certain problems block free travel of the body’s energy waves. When pressure is applied to these pressure points, free movement and health are restored. While each body part’s respective pressure point can be found on both the palm and the sole, some practitioners believe that one of the options is more effective than the other.
Hand Reflexology Therapy
When hand reflexology is performed fail for up to 15 minutes, it can have major health effects. In order to practice hand reflexology, follow these steps.
Acupressure method:
Press your thumb on a pressure point on your palm.
Maintain pressure for five seconds.
Release your thumb for three seconds.
Press the point again using your thumb and hold for another five seconds.
Repeat this series of five seconds on, three seconds off for 10 to 15 minutes.
For the best results, do this several times throughout the day.
There are two basic approaches to acupressure: constant pressure and intermittent pressure. In order to get the best results possible, each point on the hands and the feet should be pressed on a regular basis.
Benefits of Acupressure
There are several benefits of using acupressure, including:
1. Early Diagnosis: If one of your organs or body parts is starting to fail, the related pressure point will become soft. When pressure is applied to that point, it’s possible to diagnose the disease or problem early. This is important because it can prevent the health issue from become a threat.
2. Preventative: When the pressure points on your hands and feet are pressed, you can maintain good health. You can also help your body to ward off diseases.
3. Disease Deterrence: When pressure is applied regularly and methodically, you can regain any health you’ve lost.
Responsive Hand Therapy
The responsive hand therapy technique is often used by reflexologists, though some people do use this therapy at home through self-application.
1) First, hold your hand upward and spread lotion over your wrist and your hand – this will increase your flexibility. Once your hand begins to relax, pinch the top and sides of each fingertip. When doing this, remember to apply firm and gentle pressure – you should feel each fingertip start to tingle a bit.
2) Next, move the pressure down both the inside and the outside of each finger. Reflexologists will use both hands to manipulate the fingers in this way, but if you’re doing it yourself, you’ll only be able to use one hand at a time. Tug at the webbing between your fingers in order to relieve tension in your shoulder and neck.
3) Once you’ve toned the fingers and manipulated the webbing, it’s time to apply pressure to the palm of your hand and the back of the hand. Firmly stroke these parts of your hand, which will move nutrients and oxygen to other body parts.
4) Continue to massage, applying firm pressure as you work your way up your wrist, making sure to stop halfway to your elbow. This is the point when the reflexology is going to change direction.
5) Now you’ll start to use lighter strokes as you re-touch the areas from the wrist to the tips of your fingers.
Original article and pictures take eduwell.org site
Overactive Bladder Overactive bladder is caused by the bladder muscles’ contracting before the bladder is full.
Acupuncture has traditionally been utilized to treat a variety of urinary bladder dysfunctions and symptoms.
Research studies have suggested that acupuncture may be effective in treating chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome, preventing recurrent urinary tract infections, and relieving recurrent cystitis and overactive bladder. The exact mechanisms by which acupuncture works for certain individuals with urinary symptoms are unknown. However, it has been suggested that acupuncture elicits autonomic responses that exert a modulation effect on the nerves that control bladder function. In addition, acupuncture has been shown to positively influence the immune system and psycho-emotional status, and these effects may also benefit certain individuals with urinary symptoms. Here, I primarily discuss how acupuncture works in the management of overactive bladder symptoms.
What Is Overactive Bladder?
According to the International Continence Society, overactive bladder is a condition characterized by urinary urgency, with or without urgency incontinence, usually with urinary frequency and nocturia.[1] A diagnosis of overactive bladder is made based on the patient’s symptoms and is appropriate in the absence of a proven infection or other obvious pathology. Overactive bladder is caused by the bladder muscles’ contracting before the bladder is full.
Symptoms of overactive bladder and explanation of terms:
• Urinary urgency: The sudden, strong need to urinate immediately.
• Urge incontinence: Leakage or gushing of urine that follows a sudden, strong urge.
• Urinary frequency: Bothersome, frequent urination occurring eight or more times a day or two or more times at night. • Nocturia: Awaking at night to urinate.
Acupuncture has traditionally been utilized to treat a variety of urinary bladder dysfunctions and symptoms.
Research studies have suggested that acupuncture may be effective in treating chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome, preventing recurrent urinary tract infections, and relieving recurrent cystitis and overactive bladder. The exact mechanisms by which acupuncture works for certain individuals with urinary symptoms are unknown. However, it has been suggested that acupuncture elicits autonomic responses that exert a modulation effect on the nerves that control bladder function. In addition, acupuncture has been shown to positively influence the immune system and psycho-emotional status, and these effects may also benefit certain individuals with urinary symptoms. Here, I primarily discuss how acupuncture works in the management of overactive bladder symptoms. Read the full article on AcupunctureMoxibustion.com.
Original article and pictures take www.pacificwellness.ca site
Overactive Bladder (4) Acupuncture can be a reasonable overactive bladder treatment option to consider before proceeding to more aggressive conventional treatments.
An overactive bladder can considerably impair a patient’s quality of life. The International Consultation on Incontinence guidelines state that when the first-line approach, including medications, behavioral therapy, and lifestyle modifications, is not fully satisfactory or fails after 8 to 12 weeks, alternative therapies should be sought out.[18]
Acupuncture can be a reasonable treatment option to consider before proceeding to more aggressive conventional treatments. It may be also suitable for patients who did not respond to previous drug treatments.
Consumers who wish to try acupuncture should look for a qualified practitioner in their region. It is best to look for a practitioner who has been formally trained in traditional acupuncture and also has sufficient knowledge of overactive bladder and urinary-bladder physiology.
Tim H. Tanaka, PhD. is a Japanese licensed acupuncturist, certified herbalist, and board-certified biofeedback therapist.
References:
1. Abrams P, Cardozo L, Fall M, Griffiths D, Rosier P, Ulmsten U, van Kerrebroeck P, Victor A, Wein A: The standardisation of terminology of lower urinary tract function: Report from the Standardisation Sub-committee of the International Continence Society. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2002, 187(1):116-126.
2. Boyce WH, Lathem JE, Hunt LD: Research related to the development of an artificial electrical stimulator for the paralyzed human bladder: A review. The Journal of Urology 1964, 91:41-51.
3. Cooperberg MR, Stoller ML: Percutaneous neuromodulation. The Urologic Clinics of North America 2005, 32(1):71-78, vii.
4. van Balken MR, Vandoninck V, Gisolf KW, Vergunst H, Kiemeney LA, Debruyne FM, Bemelmans BL: Posterior tibial nerve stimulation as neuromodulative treatment of lower urinary tract dysfunction. The Journal of Urology 2001, 166(3):914-918.
5. Geirsson G, Fall M: Maximal functional electrical stimulation in routine practice. Neurourology and Urodynamics 1997, 16(6):559-565.
6. McGuire EJ, Zhang SC, Horwinski ER, Lytton B: Treatment of motor and sensory detrusor instability by electrical stimulation. The Journal of Urology 1983, 129(1):78-79.
7. Stoller ML: The efficacy of acupuncture in reversing the unstable bladder in pig-tailed monkeys. The Journal of Urology 1987, Suppl. 137:104A.
8. Chang PL: Urodynamic studies in acupuncture for women with frequency, urgency and dysuria. The Journal of Urology 1988, 140(3):563-566.
9. Stoller ML: Afferent nerve stimulation for pelvic floor dysfunction. European Urology 1999, 35 (Suppl 2):1-196.
10. McGuire E, Morrissey S, Zhang S, Horwinski E: Control of reflex detrusor activity in normal and spinal injured non-human primates. The Journal of Urology 1983, 129(1):197-199.
11. van der Pal F, van Balken MR, Heesakkers JP, Debruyne FM, Kiemeney LA, Bemelmans BL: Correlation between quality of life and voiding variables in patients treated with percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation. BJU International 2006, 97(1):113-116.
12. Kitakoji H, Terasaki T, Honjo H, Odahara Y, Ukimura O, Kojima M, Watanabe H: [Effect of acupuncture on the overactive bladder]. Nihon Hinyokika Gakkai Zasshi 1995, 86(10):1514-1519.
13. Bergstrom K, Carlsson CP, Lindholm C, Widengren R: Improvement of urge- and mixed-type incontinence after acupuncture treatment among elderly women – A pilot study. Journal of the Autonomic Nervous System 2000, 79(2-3):173-180.
14. Emmons SL, Otto L: Acupuncture for overactive bladder: A randomized controlled trial. Obstetrics and Gynecology 2005, 106(1):138-143.
15. Kelleher C: Acupuncture and the treatment of irritable bladder symptoms. Acupunct Med 1994, 12(1):9-12.
16. Philp T, Shah PJ, Worth PH: Acupuncture in the treatment of bladder instability. British Journal of Urology 1988, 61(6):490-493.
17. van Balken MR, Vergunst H, Bemelmans BL: Prognostic factors for successful percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation. European Urology 2006, 49(2):360-365.
18. Abrams P, Andersson KE, Birder L, Brubaker L, Cardozo L, Chapple C, Cottenden A, Davila W, de Ridder D, Dmochowski R et al.: Fourth International Consultation on Incontinence Recommendations of the International Scientific Committee: Evaluation and treatment of urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and fecal incontinence. Neurourology and Urodynamics 2010, 29(1):213-240.
Overactive Bladder (3) Urology specialists have recommended that PTNS (or electroacupuncture) is useful for treating refractory urinary urge incontinence and should at least be considered as a therapeutic alternative before resorting to an aggressive surgery.
The posterior tibial nerve is a mixed nerve, containing both motor and sensory nerve fibers. PTNS involves inserting a fine-gauge needle just above the ankle (at the site of the posterior tibial nerve). The inserted needle is attached to an electric stimulator; the tibial nerve then carries electrical signals in an afferent direction to the sacral spine. The procedure typically lasts 30 minutes and is administered weekly over a period of 12 weeks.
The “needle” used in PTNS is actually a 36-gauge acupuncture needle inserted by using a specially designed guiding tube. The guiding tube was invented by a blind Japanese acupuncturist, Waichi Sugiyama, in the 17th century; it is currently used by the majority of acupuncturists worldwide.
It is reasonable to consider the PTNS technique is a variation of the electroacupuncture technique commonly used by acupuncturists, not only because of the needling materials used in PTNS but also because its concept was derived from the practice of acupuncture. The stimulation site used in PTNS is the SP6 acupuncture point. This well-known acupuncture point has been traditionally used to treat a wide variety of urological conditions.
In 1982, McGuire et al. [6] stimulated acupuncture points near the posterior tibial nerve (SP6 acupuncture point) with TENS and obtained good symptomatic results among patients diagnosed with detrusor (urinary bladder muscle) instability, intestinal cystitis, and neurological conditions. In 1987, Stoller [7] reported “prompt relief of unstable bladder” with acupuncture stimulation on the SP6 point on monkeys. With repeated treatments on the SP6 acupuncture point, progressively longer periods of bladder stability were noted. In 1988, Chang [8] reported results using acupuncture, showing statistically significant changes in the urinary parameters (maximum cystometric capacity and maximum flow rate) in a group of 26 women immediately after a 30-minute treatment. Acupuncture was administered on the SP6 point, which is located near the ankle over the posterior tibial nerve. In 1999, Stoller [9] reported the outcomes of their study using posterior tibial nerve stimulation (electroacupuncture on the SP6 point). Patients were having pelvic-floor dysfunction with symptoms such as urinary urge, incontinence, and/or pelvic pain. Stoller described an 81% clinical success rate in 90 patients after a mean follow-up of 5.1 years. Despite these promising results from administering acupuncture on the SP6 point, the therapy was not commonly used in urological practice. However, an FDA-approved electric stimulator (PercSANS™) became available commercially in February 2000 and has been used by a growing number of urology clinics.
An increasing number of research papers have been published on PTNS treatment. Most of these papers show good results for various urinary symptoms; however, the success rates were not as high as Stoller had initially reported.[9] It should be noted that although pioneers of PTNS obtained the idea from traditional acupuncture practice [6, 7, 10], research papers on PTNS and its promotional materials rarely mentioned the word “acupuncture” once the commercial version of the PTNS unit was introduced.
Nevertheless, urology specialists have recommended that PTNS is useful for treating refractory urinary urge incontinence and should at least be considered as a therapeutic alternative before resorting to an aggressive surgery.[11] PTNS is contraindicated for patients wearing pacemakers or defibrillators. It is also not recommended for patients with coagulopathy (a tendency toward bleeding) or neuropathy, or for pregnant women.
Original article and pictures take www.acupuncturemoxibustion.com site
Oh owl! Acupuncturist treats bird of prey learning to fly again with needles in its talons
The patient opens his yellow eyes wide but makes no sound as acupuncturist Edurne Cornejo pricks four fine needles into his legs.
It is hard to tell whether he is surprised, as his eyes are wide at the best of times. He is an owl - and no newcomer to acupuncture therapy.
Two months ago this 10in 'little owl', or Athene Noctua, hurt his back when he flew by mistake into a stovepipe at a factory in eastern Madrid. The city lies on a mountainous plateau teeming with such birds.
What a hoot: A 'little owl', or Athene Noctua receives acupuncture treatment at Brinzal, an owl-rescue charity based in a park in the west of Madrid. Aerial accident: The owl hurt his back when he flew by mistake into a stovepipe at a factory in eastern Madrid
He was sent to Brinzal, an owl-rescue charity based in a park in the west of the city.
Now he lies, his speckled brown and white breast puffing in and out, as the acupuncture needles stimulate key points in his nervous system.
'When he first came, he couldn't stand up. Then he started taking little steps. Now he is flying again,' says Cornejo.
She has given the unnamed owl 10 weekly acupuncture sessions so far.
'It stimulates self-curing mechanisms in the organism. It does not cause side-effects' as some medicines do, she says.
Acupuncturist vets recommend it in animals for muscle and joint problems - such as the owl's bad back - as well as for nerve, skin, breathing and gut complaints The unnamed owl has had 10 weekly acupuncture sessions so far and is recovering well 'It stimulates self-curing mechanisms in the organism. It does not cause side-effects' as some medicines do,' the vet said
The use of the ancient Chinese technique in animals is growing worldwide, according to the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, a U.S.-based body formed in 1974.
Acupuncturist vets recommend it in animals for muscle and joint problems - such as the owl's bad back - as well as for nerve, skin, breathing and gut complaints.
A family vet specialising in acupuncture for dogs and cats, Cornejo visits Brinzal as a volunteer to treat some of the hundreds of ailing night birds brought there each year by the public.
Elsewhere in the Brinzal centre, about 80 eagle owls, tawny owls, little owls and other species at various stages of recovery relax or practise flying again in covered enclosures.
Trays of dead chicks with fluffy yellow feathers are laid out for the predators to feed on. Inside one shed, live mice wriggle in the hands of staff preparing them for the owls' lunch.
Original article and pictures take www.dailymail.co.uk site
