Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a chronic and debilitating gastrointestinal disorder that fits into the category of 'functional' diseases in Western medicine. This basically means that, while there are clear and present symptoms for the patient, Western medicine has not yet figured out the cause of the distress. This kind of disorder ('functional', a wide range of symptoms across systems, partly connected to emotions), is exactly the kind of situation where Traditional Chinese Medicine shines forth. Plus, the British Dietetic Association recently published some dietary guidelines for sufferers of IBS.
Read moreAcupuncture In The News
What's Good For You?? Acupuncture! Seems like acupuncture has been in the news more and more recently. Integrating Health has picked out a few recent highlights to share with you. Whether you're suffering from seasonal allergies, knee pain, digestive distress, or just plain stress, acupuncture can help!
Read moreThe calmest revolution: Making alternative medicine more affordable
Community acupuncture is in the news again, this time from Canada! Reblogged from National Post | News: By Howard Akler
Read moreImagine Your Body As A City
Australia's RMIT University has made a short video explaining the basics of acupuncture theory.
Read morePut Out The Welcome Mat: A Buddhist Approach to Pain for When You Can't Get to the Acupuncturist
Acupuncture can do wonders for pain - both acute and chronic. It both eases the pain and helps you bring greater awareness to your body as a whole entity. Your acupuncturist can't be there in the middle of the night, however, or at your desk at work, or at your dinner table. This approach has helped many people deal with pain in a healthy way, no pills required!
Read moreAcupuncture Reduces Protein Linked To Stress
Acupuncture reduces protein linked to stress in first of its kind animal study.
More news on the possible mechanisms of acupuncture! A researcher at Georgetown University Medical Center has found molecular evidence of acupuncture's ability to reduce stress by lowering the blood levels of a protein called neuropeptide Y. This protein is secreted by the sympathetic nervous system during stressful periods and constricts blood flow to many parts of the body. Although this is a preliminary animal study, it follows that by reducing this protein, acupuncture can help return blood flow to the extremities and digestive organs so people may feel less pain and more relaxed overall. This experiment will need to be replicated in humans before we can say for sure, but this finding may prove to be one more piece of the mechanism puzzle!