Archive for November, 2009

Controling High Blood Pressure

Posted by: Peggy Baxter in Health & Well-Being

Hypertension

Research has shown that younger people are now more afflicted by hypertension. A recent study showed 35% of teenagers have high blood pressure. Because heart disease, the number one killer of Americans and elevated blood pressure, significantly increases one’s risk for related heart conditions, it is easy to understand why the World Health Organization warns, “control of hypertension is one of the biggest challenges facing health authorities in the world.”

Common symptoms of high blood pressure include: recurrent
headaches, blurred vision, lack of sleep, and dizziness. Stress, excessive negative thinking, environmental pollution, diet, and exercise are all contributors to high blood pressure.

Drugs used to treat high blood pressure must be taken daily and carry with them potentially harmful side effects like fatigue, kidney failure, depression, and dizziness. There is extensive literature demonstrating that acupuncture effectively lowers blood pressure and is recommended as an alternative treatment for some patients. Researchers have found that by inserting acupuncture needles at specific points on the skin, nerves are stimulatded which reach up to the brain and to the cells in the brain that control blood
pressure.

Dr. John Longhurst, a professor of medicine at the University of California, Irvine says, “There’s evidence from our laboratory and many other laboratories to suggest that cells quiet down after acupuncture.” When those cells “quiet down,” or become less active, blood vessels relax and blood pressure lowers.

To support acupuncture treatments, a-z Therapy Center adjunctive therapies include; herbal therapy, dietary considerations, and other natural means to safely lower blood pressure.

by Acupuncturist, Annie Raddatz, LAc

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IBS-Digestion Irregularities

Posted by: Peggy Baxter in Health & Well-Being

Irritable Bowel Syndrome/Gastrointestinal disorders

Poor Auto-Immune function is the #1 cause, as seen through the eyes of Asian medicine. Stress is one significant drain on the immune system. There are many forms of stress. Emotional stress can be caused by the thoughts and feelings that we accumulate throughout our lives; i.e., worry, fear, anger, anxiety. Low self esteem or a glass half full view of life will contribute to creating an inner turmoil, which makes healthy digestion impossible.

Relationships with others in our lives can produce stressful results to our systems. Another source of stress is poor diet and lack of proper nutrition. Energy and blood circulation becomes constrained and causes blockages throughout the gastrointestinal system. In order to function normally again, these obstructions must be removed. Acupuncture opens the blockages and restores energy and blood flow. Herbal therapies will boost immune and thus overall body function. Coaching of stress reducing strategies and proactive choices in food and dietary practices are essential elements in restoring health.

by Annie Raddatz, LAc (Acupuncturist)

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Suffering from Asthma?

Posted by: Peggy Baxter in Health & Well-Being

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung disorder in which the walls of the airways become inflammed. Asthma attacks are often brought on by environmental triggers and various forms of stress that lower the resistance of the immune system.

An estimated 20 million Americans suffer from asthma, and fortunately, Chinese Medicine is a safe and effective means of treating the condition. A study from the Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care at the University Hospital of Vienna, Austria showed that after ten weeks of acupuncture treatments over 70% of chronic asthma patients achieved substantial results. Acupuncture reduced inflamation within the airways. In addition to acupuncture, various means of treatment may be appropriate.

These could include things chinese herbs to strengthen the lungs, lifestyle coaching and breathing exercises to reduce anxiety, and guided imagery meditations to promote overall relaxation and increase function within the body. Testing with our medical physician may be part of the evaluation and treatment.

by Annie Raddatz, LAc, (Acupuncturist)

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Problems Sleeping?

Posted by: Peggy Baxter in Acupuncture

Insomnia/Sleep Disorders

Not being able to stop thinking is the primary cause of insomnia. Emotions such as, worry, fear, anger and anxiety create responses in our brain that interfere with our natural ability to rest. Stressful thoughts or obtrusive invasion of negative thinking keeps our minds in a fight or flight mode and engages the sympathetic nervous system. Outside influences such as television, computers and other modern devices bombard us with things like advertising at the speed of light. Since the invention of electricity we have had a reason to prolong our active state of mind. Being out of sync, balance or lack of peace and serenity will cause stress as well.

Acupuncture creates an alignment of the energies of the body/mind. We are all made up of energy. We are self -regulating systems. This is called, homeostasis, or our ability to self-regulate. This cannot occur when the system is thrown out of balance by physical or emotional stress. Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep are frequently caused by stress. When this occurs the neuro-stimulators over react. Acupuncture regulates these neuro-stimulators and neuro-transmitters, creating a state of calm, peace and serenity through direct communication with the brain.

by Annie Raddatz, LAc, (Acupuncturist)

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Acupuncture to ease the pain

Posted by: Peggy Baxter in Acupuncture

Back Pain

Eight out of ten Americans have or will experience back pain. It remains the most common cause of job-related disability and costs Americans an estimated 50 billion dollars a year in trying to relieve it. Though commonly a result of injuries or strains to the area, low
back pain can be caused by numerous factors including: poor diet, sedentary lifestyles, obesity, and stress. Because acupuncture works to balance the body as a whole, it is very effective in relieveing back pain, whatever the underlying cause may be. A very recent study compared drug therapy, sham acupuncture-(acupuncture needles inserted into “random” points), and “real” acupuncture in their ability to treat back pain. Interestingly, both
the “sham” acupuncture and the “real” acupuncture were more effective in treating back pain than the drug therapy.

At AZ Therapy Center , patients back pain is evaluated and a specific program recommended that utilizes a combination of stratagies including acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, massage therapy, and Tui Na and Cupping.

Acupuncture should always be the first choice in the treatment of back pain, as well as any pain in the body including: neck pain, headaches and migraines, hip, knee and leg pain. Acupuncture is not always the answer to everyone’s issues; however because of its’ rapid rate of affectiveness and low cost, acupuncture should be the first choice.

by Annie Raddatz, LAc, (Acupuncturist)

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Acupuncture providing relief – Arthritis

Posted by: Peggy Baxter in Health & Well-Being

Arthritis

There are many types of Arthritis. However they all are inflammatory conditions. Arthritis affects various joints and connective tissue throughout the body causing pain and rigidity. Lack of ability to move can result in a less than normal lifestyle. Many people are suffering from the affects of this crippling disease. Acupuncture is quite effective in reducing inflammation and increasing circulation of energy and blood to the affected area. Acupuncture is well known to reduce pain through these methods. Many patients are able to reduce or eliminate dangerous medications and live a normal life after an Acupuncture treatment plan is completed.

Annie Raddatz, LAc, LMT – a-z Therapy Center Acupuncturist

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