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Research

Electro-acupuncture can help reduce blood pressure

A study conducted on rats, by Dr. Longhurst, at the University of California, concluded that raised blood pressure was reduced as much as 50% with the use of electro-acupuncture.

The doctors conducting the study artificially inflated blood pressure in rats. Afterwards, acupuncture was applied to specific points on the forelimbs. These specific points were the equivalent to acupuncture points on our forearm.

When acupuncture was used alone, there were no significant changes; however, when a subtle electrical current was passed through the needles, blood pressure went down between 40 – 50%.

According to Dr. Longhurst, “this suggests that acupuncture can be an excellent complement to other medical treatments (including a healthy diet), especially for those treating the cardiac system.”

Tjen-A-Looi, S.C., Li, P., and Longhurst, J., Medullary substrate and differential cardiovascular responses during stimulation of specific acupoints. Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of California, APRIL 2004.

 

Acupuncture is an excellent remedy for osteoarthritis of the knee

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that acupuncture produces significant pain relief and improved function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

In the study, the subjects who experienced acupuncture had a greater reduction in pain and stiffness, improved functioning and a higher quality of life than the placebo group.

Berman, BM., et. Al., Effectiveness of acupuncture as adjunct therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, controlled trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, DEC. 21, 2004; 141(12)901-910.

Acupuncture to Fight the Stress that’s Killing Us

A new study has found that modern human’s stress reactions are doing us more harm than good. In the early days of human evolution human’s needed stress indicators to release certain chemicals in our bodies so we could hunt better or escape predators. Today, however, that stress compounds as it doesn’t find the same kind of outlet and this build up stress can lead to physical problems. Over active stress can lead to heart attack and can weaken the immune system. Acupuncture has been long been thought of as a powerful way to fight stress and modern medicine is finally starting to provide the necessary evidence to prove this. It’s difficult to process the idea that stress may be causing our physical issues as this thought can lead to more stress but consider acupuncture as a safe and natural way to treat stress without letting it get out of control.

 

Links to the Articles:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/199601/stress-its-worse-you-think
http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/news/20031015/acupuncture-calms-moms-stress-anxiety

Acupuncture Can Help Athletes Recover Faster

Injury is the most dreaded possibility for athletes, amateur or professional. The down time waiting for the wounds to heal can be mind-numbing and infuriating. And when you finally think that you’re ready to get back in the ring, you’re back in top health, your injury may flare up again keeping you from performing your best. This has caused athletes and athletic doctors and physical therapists to search for better ways to treat injuries incurred during the sport and faster ways to heal. Recent studies have lent credence to the belief among athletes that acupuncture can help you recover faster from athletic injury. Research included a test with three groups: a control group which received acupuncture, another group which received sham acupuncture and a third which received neither. The study tested the subject’s heart rate, oxygen consumption and blood lactic acid as signifiers of the health of the athlete’s performance. The acupuncture group tested better in all three categories. Further tests are in the works to truly pin point the efficacy of acupuncture on athletic injury but preliminary results are promising as they substantiate a previously, widely-held belief of many athletes.

 

 

Links to the Articles:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19606508

Acupuncture Shown to Help Alzheimer’s Patients

A study done just this month tested the effects of acupuncture on Alzheimer’s patients by MRI scan. The scan showed enhanced hippocampal connectivity in the subjects. The Hippocampus is the area of the brain associated with processing memory and emotion. Acupuncture has already been shown in the past to help offset dementia and Alzheimer’s by stimulating the brain before these diseases fully develop but to see that it may even help patients after they’ve developed the disease is truly a breakthrough. If a loved one is suffering from Alzheimer’s it affects the whole family so it’s certainly worth talking to an acupuncturist to help them live better, for themselves and the family. These tests are preliminary but promising and will certainly lead to further investigation into the possible benefits of acupuncture for those suffering from Alzheimer’s but for now this is a big step forward.

Links to the Articles:
– www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1281-acupuncture-mri-scan-shows-alzheimer-s-disease-benefit

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