【Case Report】A Woman with 17-Year History of Facial Paralysis Bell's Palsy Cured by Acupuncture

Case reported by Jarry Liu

A Woman with 17-Year History of Facial Paralysis has been cured by Acupuncture treatments.

 I got a new patient  told me that he is referred by a lady, who had Facial Paralysis or Bell's Palsy for 17 years totally recovered after 12 sessions acupuncture treatments. She has been so happy and grateful for that and refer her friends to come to see me.

This lady is about 55 years old, in the last 17 years, she never stop trying different kind of treatments for her facial paralysis, including medication, physiotherapy, herbal also acupuncture, but nothing  working for her. 

Her right side eye and lips were dropped downward at the first time, it was worse when speaking or smiling. After 2 courses acupuncture treatments, her eye and lips back to normal.

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【病例】一位面瘫十七年的女病人被针灸治愈

一个新病人告诉我他是经一个朋友介绍来的，他的这个朋友面瘫17年之久，55岁女性患者，在过去十七年从没间断各种治疗：西药，草药，物理治疗甚至针灸治疗，皆未见效。最后是经过两个疗程的针灸治疗也就是总共十二次的针灸治疗，终于得到痊愈。她非常开心和感激，到处跟朋友介绍针灸治疗的神奇效果。原来她就是我几个月前的一个病人，要不是这个新病人提起她，我都已经忘记这个案例了，刚开始见到她时，她右边脸和嘴角是下垂的，特别是说话和笑的时候更为严重。最后经一个多月的针灸治疗达到了痊愈的效果。




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【Case Report】Lipoma Reduced after 8 sections acupuncture treatment

A 45 year-old lady got a horsebean size lipoma on her neck, which seemed growing fast. She was so worried, not sure what it was, so she came for Jarry's acupuncture treatment. After 8 sections treatment, the lipoma reduced to a soybean size, and after 2 more sections treatment, she said no more lipoma and continue the treatments for her other health condition.

Lipomas are masses of fat cells that grow together, forming a lump under your skin. Lipomas are usually small -- less than 2 inches in diameter -- and feel doughy or spongy to the touch. InTCM（Traditional Chinese Medicine） the cause of lipomas is due to a stagnation in your body's flow of qi - also referred to as "life force energy." You may experience pain if the lipoma is located near nerves or contains numerous blood vessels; however, most people experience little or no troublesome symptoms. Pain or cosmetic factors are the most common reasons for surgical removal.

Acupuncture treatments for lipomas may involve inserting needles around the lipoma or stimulation of the acupuncture point located along the spleen and liver meridians. The spleen and liver are common area of stagnating qi or energy congestion. This congestion can manifest as lipomas on your skin or cause other skin disorders as well as additional symptoms like fatigue, depression or anxiety. As such, acupuncture may help open energy blockages and help alleviate lipoma-related symptoms of pain or discomfort.
While acupuncture may provide some benefit for lipomas, you should not attempt to self-diagnose lipomas. A lipoma can resemble certain types of malignant or benign tumors. You should consult your doctor as soon as possible if you develop any swelling or lump on your body.

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Or Call Oriental Acupuncture Clinic today at 416-800-3978
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Healing from the root, beyond treating symptoms.

So you can experience greater health and well-being!

The Benefits of Acupuncture for Fertility

Acupuncture is based on the theory that vital energy (or "qi," pronounced "chi") flows through the body along certain pathways. Acupuncturists try to balance this energy and restore health by stimulating specific points along the pathways with thin needles. Although it has been a staple of Chinese medicine for some 5,000 years, acupuncture has gained acceptance in the North American medical community only in the past few decades.

In 2002, a team of German researchers discovered that acupuncture significantly increased the odds of pregnancy among a group of 160 women who were undergoing IVF treatment. Forty-two percent of the women who received acupuncture got pregnant, compared to 26 percent of those who didn't receive the treatment. The researchers speculated that acupuncture helped increase blood flow to the uterus and relax the muscle tissue, giving the embryos a better chance of implanting.

Other research does suggest that acupuncture is effective in reducing stress. Since stress has been shown to interfere with getting pregnant, it makes sense that reducing your stress through acupuncture could theoretically improve your odds of conceiving. Some women find acupuncture helpful to cope with the stress they feel about trying to conceive.

Acupuncture also help male infertility.
For men, acupuncture can improve sperm motility(the strength with which the sperm swim), volume and concentration as well as increase libido.

A few studies have shown that regular treatments significantly improve sperm counts and motility . To be truly effective, though, acupuncture treatment would need to increase a man's sperm count over the threshold needed for conception — a minimum of 10 to 12 million moving sperm per ejaculate. And the men in these studies didn't get up to those levels.

However, new research shows that acupuncture can significantly improve the quality and health of sperm. In a study published in Fertility and Sterility in 2005, researchers analyzed sperm samples from men with infertility of unknown cause before and after acupuncture treatments. They found that acupuncture was associated with fewer structural defects in sperm and an increase in the number of normal sperm.

Acupuncture is a natural, safe and effective therapy for those who are facing fertility challenges and discomfort.

If you wish to minimize medications, acupuncture is an effective alternative and a great place to begin. This holistic treatment is both gentle and powerful in achieving results. We are committed to providing natural fertility solutions, and if necessary, we will support you through IUI and IVF treatments.

What are the benefits of acupuncture for fertility?

Increases the blood flow to the uterus, thickening the lining and supporting implantation
Balances the endocrine system and reproductive hormones
Lowers stress levels
Regulates menstruation and ovulation
Benefits male factor infertility

Acupuncture may assist with treating some of the following fertility imbalances:

Stress!
Studies show that women with high stress levels are up to 93% less likely to conceive. Stress not only reduces blood flow to your reproductive organs, it can inhibit communication between your brain, pituitary and ovaries, creating a hormonal disconnect throughout your endocrine system. Acupuncture can help soothe your nervous system by releasing endorphins; thereby reversing the effects of stress and regulating hormones.

Hormonal Imbalances
Acupuncture helps to regulate hormonal imbalances by starting at the source; the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian-axis (HPOA), which is responsible for releasing the right hormones from your endocrine system in the appropriate amounts. Women faced with luteal phase defects, high FSH levels, low estrogen levels or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), especially benefit from this treatment.

Male-Factor Infertility
Men who are disadvantaged from reduced sperm count, or lack of sperm production can benefit from Traditional Chinese Medicine. Motility (how they swim), morphology (how they look) and amount (how many) can all gain from acupuncture, and in particular from herbal remedies and proper supplementation. By remedying the underlying imbalances and increasing blood flow, acupuncture may improve sperm count, motility and morphology after only a few months.

If you fall into any of these following categories, you should seriously consider trying acupuncture:

Elevated FSH
Age related infertility
Poor Ovarian Response
Poor Egg Quality
Hormone imbalances
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Anovulation
Frequent Miscarriages
Unexplained infertility
Multiple Failed IUI/IVF Cycles

Book an Appointment with our Therapists online Now

Or Call Oriental Acupuncture Clinic today at 416-800-3978

to set up your first appointment!

Healing from the root, beyond treating symptoms.

So you can experience greater health and well-being!

With Jarry's 30+ years clinical experience,

you will feel the difference.

10 Ways that Acupuncture can help Fertility

Acupuncture Cupping Massage Herbs for a GOODNIGHT SLEEP

Sleep disorders plague millions of Canadians and can be attributed to a variety of causes. Perhaps the main cause of insomnia and restless sleep is the whirlwind pace that most modern people live with day in and day out. Our society emphasizes ‘doing’ much more than ‘being’. From the perspective of acupuncture, the yin aspect of life is quite depleted for the average modern Canadian. In case you have never heard of yin and yang, these are the polar forces that are reflected in everything in the natural world. Yin is related to stillness, tranquility, and contemplation. Yang is related to movement, accomplishment, and function. We need yin and yang to be in balance within ourselves in order to experience true health and wellbeing. When we are yin deficient, we easily become restless, irritable, and excessively busy. Our ability to rest and restore is compromised, as we never seem to get a break from the constant activity in our minds and our lives.

This is one of the main dilemmas that we face in terms of experiencing deep states of continuous sleep. We have forgotten how to turn our minds off due to the frantic speed of everything around us and we have become yin deficient. The common word is stress, but there is a lot more to this picture than is implied. Another way to look at this is that the sympathetic nervous system is on overdrive. We are stuck in fight or flight mode, as we are trying to keep up with our hectic schedules and myriad responsibilities. We have excessive amounts of cortisol and adrenaline in our systems, which keep us feeling amped up and unable to rest. With the pattern of yin deficiency and a hyperactive sympathetic nervous system, we often feel too warm, excessively thirsty, dried out, and anxious. This pattern is extremely common in menopausal women. Due to the fact that we are in fight or flight, we sometimes can’t tell if we are tired. We often feel wired or manic. Yet other times a deep-seated exhaustion is felt that penetrates into our bones.

There are many other factors that contribute to insomnia, but this is the primary issue that many people are facing. Other potential inputs are nutritional imbalances, suppressed emotions, relationship troubles, hormonal imbalances, and energetic imbalances.

Let’s take a look at a few of the top natural treatment options for insomnia:

ACUPUNCTURE: All of the major organs of the body are related to specific kinds of insomnia. For instance, there is a liver/gall bladder insomnia in which one is kept awake strategizing, planning and scheduling their lives at night. This person often can’t turn their minds off unless they read or watch TV before bed. Likewise, there are kidney, heart, lung and spleen forms of insomnia that all have specific manifestations. Acupuncture is an excellent treatment option for insomnia, regardless of its etiology. For chronic insomnia, We generally recommend receiving acupuncture once or twice a week for 4-6 weeks, then we can assess for progress.

Acupuncture helps to restore balance to the central nervous system and harmonize Qi, the functional energy that underlies our general state of health. Qi can either become stagnant, meaning that too much energy is locked up in a certain area or organ, or it can become deficient, meaning that there is not enough energy in an area or organ. Either pattern can cause insomnia and both are treatable with acupuncture.

Don't like needles check our TCM Herbal Formula for Insomnia or Cupping treatment for insomnia or Head Massage and our SOFT ACUPUNCTURE with no needles at all but works same as acupuncture for improving SLEEP , MOOD, ENERGY, IMMUNITY and more...Treat it from the root without any side effects. Call us @ 416-800-3978

Or Call Oriental Acupuncture Clinic today

at 416-800-3978 to set up your first appointment!

Healing from the root,

beyond treating symptoms.

So you can experience

greater health and well-being!

Improve Liver Function by Acupuncture in Spring

Spring is the season of growth, regeneration, increased activity and new beginnings. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that "the liver is connected to the spring qi" , and spring is a good time to nourish the liver and health care.

During the season of spring, people experience many changes. Allergies, high blood pressure, headaches, sinus pain and congestion, anger, irritation and tendon problems are just some of the issues common to the spring months. Many of these problems can be attributed to increased wind in the environment. And while there is nothing that can be done about external wind, internal wind can be addressed and diminished using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and the many modalities it incorporates.

In TCM, there are lots of correspondences and associations. Spring is the season of wood, the liver and the gallbladder. The liver is in charge of detoxification and keeping the energy or Qi flowing smoothly. The gallbladder governs decision making and controls the sinews of the body.

When the liver and gallbladder are not functioning properly, the Qi becomes blocked and disease can occur. Both the liver and gallbladder also help with digestion. But it frequently happens that repressed anger and excessive stress can lead to the development of gallstones.

To keep the liver and gallbladder working smoothly, things like acupuncture, herbal formulas, nutritional counseling, tai chi and qi gong are all recommended. Acupuncture utilizes over 300 different pressure points on the body to help keep it in alignment and free from disease. And there are specific points that can be used to help balance the body during the season of spring. Here are some of them:

1. Liver 3 (Tai Chong) – This point is located bilaterally on the top of the foot, in the depression about one thumb-breadth from the edge of the webbing between the first and second toes. This point can be used to decrease headaches, nasal congestion and depression.

2. Large Intestine 20 (Ying Xiang)– Found bilaterally on either side of the nose, in the nasolabial groove, level with the lower border of the nostril. This point is very effective for decreasing nasal pain and obstruction, as well as helping decrease rhinorrhea, also known as a runny nose. These symptoms are quite common with allergies that occur during spring.

3. Gallbladder 34(Yang Lin Quan) – This point is located bilaterally on the outer side of the lower leg, in the depression behind and below the head of the fibula. Gallbladder 34 is the influential point of the tendons and is used specifically for pain in the lower extremities. The tendons can freeze up during spring after they have been somewhat dormant during the winter months.

4. Liver 14 (QIMEN) – Located bilaterally on abdomen, directly below the nipple, four thumb-breadths from the midline, in the sixth intercostal space. Liver 14 promotes the smooth flow of liver Qi and benefits the digestive tract.

5. Urinary Bladder 18(Gan Shu） – This point is located bilaterally on either side of the spine, at the lower border of the ninth thoracic vertebra, about one and a half thumb-breadths from the spine. This point benefits both the liver and the gallbladder, smooths liver Qi and decreases anger and irritability.

Any of these points can be used alone or in conjunction with others. They can be manually stimulated using pressure from a finger or dull, rounded tool. But for best results, acupuncture is recommended.

Don't like needles, call us at 416-800-3978 for "SOFT ACUPUNCTURE" which no needles needed.

Nourish the Liver in Spring and Prevent Allergies

Acupuncture for Stroke Recovery Rehabilitation

The Impact of Stroke in Canada

Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability in Canada and the third leading cause of death. Every year, nearly 14,000 Canadians die from stroke.
Every year in Canada, there are over 50,000 new strokes—that’s one stroke every 10 minutes.
About 426,000 Canadians are living with the effects of stroke.
Stroke costs the Canadian economy more than $3.6 billion a year in physician services, hospital costs, lost wages, and decrease productivity.

What's Stroke?

Stroke is a syndrome caused by a disruption in blood flow to a part of the brain. It occurs when the blood vessel either ruptures or becomes blocked. A stroke deprives the neurons and other brain cells of glucose and oxygen, which leads to cell death. The longer the brain is deprived of oxygen and nutrients, the higher the likelihood of permanent damage to the brain.

The medical term “cerebrovascular accident” (CVA) tells you what has happened – there is an accident inside the brain that relates to its blood vessels. It may be a clot blocking a vessel (an ischemic stroke) or bleeding from a rupture (a hemorrhagic stroke).

The layman’s term is “stroke”, or “wind stroke” in Chinese. These common terms describe more vividly the acute onset of the disease and its severe consequences. The patient is hit hard suddenly and becomes paralyzed.

What cause a stroke?

A plaque, which is a lump of cellular waste products, cholesterol, fatty substances, calcium and fibrin, can build up on the inner lining of blood vessels, making the vessels harder and narrower. When the plaque becomes too big, it completely blocks the flow of blood. So a person with high levels of cholesterol or triglycerides or very thick blood has an increased risk of ischemic stroke. Sometimes, a blood vessel in the brain is blocked by a clot that comes from the heart. This occurs more likely with people who have heart valve problems or atrial fibrillation. Clots do not form overnight. It takes years to build up. Therefore ischemic stroke patients are mostly among older population. You see no symptoms at all until suddenly one day a blood vessel is completely blocked.

Another possibility is the rupture of a blood vessel in the brain. It may be due to high blood pressure, or a traumatic injury like the head hitting an object or floor. Some people are borne with abnormalities in their cerebral vessels such as aneurysms or arterio-venous malformation (AVM). The walls of these vessels are weakened at certain spots and can burst without any warning. This type of stroke can happen on young patients, regardless of age.

What happens after a stroke?

Our brain is the body’s control center. The trillions of brain cells need blood supply for oxygen and nutrients. When a stroke occurs, blood supply is interrupted at the lesions. After 4 minutes or more without oxygen, brain cells become damaged and may die. Consequently the body parts controlled by those cells cannot function. For example, a patient may feel numb (loss of sensory function) and cannot move his arm (loss of motor function).

For a hemorrhagic stroke, things are often worse. The blood that leaks out of the vessel take up space in the brain, compressing on surrounding tissues. Damages are therefore more extensive. Many hemorrhagic stroke patients suffer from an excruciating headache or lose consciousness (in coma). If bleeding is massive, the brain may even be shifted to one side or pushed downward through the foramen of the skull. The latter case is fatal.

As the cells die, edema is formed, thus causing more damages. So, symptoms continue to deteriorate for a few days before they stabilize. The peak is around Day 4 or 5.

The loss of function from a stroke may be mild or severe, and temporary or permanent. This depends on where and how much the brain is damaged and how fast the blood supply can be returned to the affected cells.

Conventional Treatments for Stroke:

Stroke is an emergency that requires immediate medical care. Patients are usually hospitalized for monitoring of vital signs and life support. Once symptoms are stabilized, patients will be discharged. As the brain starts to heal, some functions will return slowly but only to a limited extent. In order to recover more, rehabilitation therapy is needed.

Hemorrhagic stroke patients may require a surgery to drain the blood that has accumulated, to relieve the compression in the brain. Ischemic stroke patients are often given Warfarin (also known by brand name Coumadin). Warfarin is an anti-coagulant, a blood thinner. It prevents formation of new clots but it does nothing about clots that have already formed. In other words, it does not help stroke patients recover. Over-dosage of Warfarin or Coumadin can cause internal bleeding. This side-effect is not surprising for it was originally developed as a potent rodent poison.

In 1996, FDA approved the use of a new drug called tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, to treat ischemic stroke because it can dissolve clots. However the use of tPA has been very limited. First, it must be administered within 3 hours from the first signs of a stroke; second, only well trained medical personnel at approved stroke centers provide this service; third, tPA is contraindicated for certain conditions. For instance, patient with a recent history of bleeding, or with seizures or very high blood pressures cannot receive tPA. Finally, tPA increases the risk of bleeding. There are reports of death or secondary hemorrhagic stroke caused by tPA.

Does Acupuncture benefits a stroke patient?

YES! Acupuncture is definitely beneficial to stroke patients. The earlier the intervention, the better are the results. Our therapy helps in several ways:

It prevents or reduces edema in the brain, thereby stops further damage to brain tissues.

It promotes perfusion in the brain, restoring blood and oxygen to brain cells and save them from dying.

It helps to break down blood clots.

Our approach accelerates functional recovery.

Rehabilitation from a stroke can start in the hospital soon after the stroke is over. In a stable patient, the rehab usually can start within 48 hours of the stroke. It should be continued after the patient leaves the hospital for as long as is required. The treatment of stroke and its rehabilitation is a specialty that demands certain skills and knowledge. Acupuncture can significantly benefit stroke patients if it is done right; otherwise it is of little value. If you are looking for an experienced acupuncturist for the stroke recovery, feel confident to book an appointment online at Oriental Acupuncture Clinic or call 416-800-3978 for your appointment.

Acupuncture for Optimal Health

6 tips for TCM Autumn Health Preservation

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Fall has a nature all its own: it is the season where the dynamic, warming, and active Yang energy of the summer wanes into the more structured, cooler, and introspective Yin phase of the year as we prepare for Winter. Autumn is associated with the Metal element and Lungs which govern the skin, respiratory system, immunity, and the emotions of grief/sadness.

The Fall is also dominated by dryness and wind which can attack the Lung, leading to common symptoms such as a scratchy throat, a dry nose, chapped lips, dry cough, etc. To protect the body from these factors, preventative health for Fall focuses on warming and strengthening the body.

So as the temperature drops, leaves change, and cold-season abounds, here are some ways to stay healthy this Fall according to TCM:

Tip no.1: Promote blood circulation by Combing Hair and Rubbing Ears
In the autumn the yang energy is reduced, people tend to feel depressed and fatigue. Combing hair by fingers can dredge the meridians of the head, promote blood circulation, keep the mind clear, and help eliminate fatigue. At the same time, rubbing ears with hands, which will also help reduce fatigue.

Tip no.2: Strengthen heart and lungs by Deep Breathing or Practice Baduanjin Qikong

The main purpose of health preservation is to nourish the lungs, while Chinese medicine believes that the lungs govern qi. Every morning, you can practice breathing and respiration or Baduanjin, and also go out to breathe fresh air frequently during break, which can promote blood circulation and maintain good respiratory system function. In addition, moderate exercise can enhance cardiopulmonary function.

Tip no.3: Keep bowel movement by rubbing belly

Massage the abdomen clockwise with the palm of hand, which can help digestion, eliminate siltation, replenish qi and strengthen the body, and prevent autumn dryness and constipation. In addition, when getting up every morning, you must remember to have regular bowel movements. People with constipation can drink more lemon honey water. Because the temperature drops in autumn, the metabolism slows down, and toxins tend to stay in the body. Regular bowel movements can help detoxify and reduce the burden on the body.

Tip no. 4: Have foot bath every night before go to bed

With the temperature drops in the fall, the blood circulation slows down, and it is easy to get cold hands and feet. Therefore, people with cold body may wish to use pepper water or ginger water to soak their feet at night to warm the meridians and collaterals to remove cold; after the foot bath, they can also massage the soles of the feet to clear the meridians, eliminate turbidity, relieve fatigue, promote sleep, and vomit the cold. Superb!

Tip no.5: Enjoy Warm-cooked Food and Soup

Warm pear soup with honey and ginger can moisturize dryness, nourish yin, so it helps strengthen our lungs, and relief the common symptoms in the fall such as scratchy throat, a dry nose, chapped lips, and dry cough.

Tip no.6: Get Acupuncture & Herbs Preventatively

Acupuncture has been shown to reduce inflammation, release endorphins, promote circulation while restoring the proper functioning or energy (called “Qi") to your body’s systems. Acupuncture and herbs help to alleviate sinus pressure, stop headaches, reduce allergies, clear phlegm, relieve cough and strengthen the Lungs.

Conclusion: Traditional Chinese Medicine has a lot of knowledge about health preservation and health care, and the most important thing is to be able to persist in it . The above tips are simple and practical. They can be maintained from the feet to enhance one's righteousness and make autumn regimen no longer complicated.

By Oriental Acupuncture Clinic

中医秋季养生六个小妙招：

1、常梳发，多弹耳
常言道，春困秋乏，秋季阳气收敛，人容易感到精神不振。经常梳理头发可以疏通头部经络，扩张皮下毛细血管，促进气血循环，保持头脑清醒，帮助消除疲劳。同时还可以用手多揉搓耳朵，也有助于减轻疲劳。

2、多擦脸，咽唾液
秋季容易寒邪入侵，用干净的双手经常揉搓面部，使面色红润，面部气血通畅，对于预防秋季感冒有一定的作用。秋季寒冷的气候让脾胃容易失和，上下牙齿经常轻轻叩击，顺便咽唾液，可促消化、开胸理气、增强胃肠道功能。

3、呼浊气，强心肺
秋季养生以养肺为主，而中医认为肺主气。每天清晨可以在空气洁净的地方练习呼吸吐纳，平时休息时也应该经常走出户外呼吸新鲜空气，可以促进血液循环，保持良好的呼吸系统机能。另外适度的运动，增强心肺功能。

4、捂下身，暖脊背
俗话说，春捂秋冻。秋冻指的是在初秋时期，不着急加衣服增强抗寒能力。但记得冻的重点在于胸部以上，而秋天也要捂好背、肚子和下身。背部保暖可预防疾病，减少感冒几率；“寒从脚下起”，脚下敏感，保暖才能使身体适应越来越寒冷的气候变化。

5、揉肚子，通大便
用手掌顺时针按摩腹部，适当揉搓，可以助消化、消除淤积、益气强身，防止秋燥便秘。另外每天早晨起床，一定记得规律排便，便秘者可以多喝柠檬蜂蜜水。因为秋季温度降低，新陈代谢减慢，毒素容易滞留在体内，规律排便可以帮助排毒，减轻身体负担。

6、勤泡脚，搓足心
秋天温度降低，尤其是深秋时，气血循环减慢，容易手脚冰凉。因此体寒的人不妨晚上经常用花椒水或姜水泡泡脚，温经通络，祛除寒气；洗脚后还可以在床上按摩脚心，通经络，消浊气，解除疲劳，促进睡眠，起到吐故纳新的效果。

结语：秋季中医养生保健知识非常多，重在能够有效坚持。以上的几点技巧简单实用，从到脚养护起来，增强自身正气，让秋天养生不再复杂。

2 Acupuncture Points for Dizziness and Vertigo

Feeling light-headed and dizzy? Maybe you feel like your head is spinning, or that the world is spinning around you? Headache, nausea, dizziness, and vertigo are symptoms that can be caused by a variety of health problems.

Symptoms that may accompany vertigo include nausea, nystagmus (abnormal spastic eye movements), headaches, sweating, hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Symptoms of vertigo can last anywhere from a few minutes to many hours. In some cases, professional treatment is unnecessary as the condition may resolve itself.

However, in other cases, medical treatment may be essential to treat the problem. Fortunately, acupuncture and Oriental medicine can offer help in this department. Often, this medical condition is linked with the element of wind and is even described with the same words as this naturally-occurring phenomenon.

A practitioner of acupuncture and Oriental medicine is able to influence the effects of wind in a patient's body through the use of specific acupuncture points. For example PC6 (Neiguan) and ST36(Zusanli).

PC6 has a couple of functions which are particularly useful.

First, PC6 is a primary point for treating nausea, no matter the cause. Its effect on nausea is what has earned PC6 the rare distinction of being able to treat a condition without the addition of other points. Whether it is post-operative opioid-induced nausea, motion sickness, pregnancy-related nausea or simply indulging a bit more than you should have at that killer party the night before PC6 is the place to start. Some of you may be familiar with the popular "Seabands," Seabands use magnets to activate PC6 and help fight motion sickness.

Another use for Pericardium 6 is to "calm the Shen." In more common language, this translates to calming the mind and reducing anxiety. PC6 also "opens and unbinds the chest." This refers to some of the types of physical symptoms that can be experienced with anxiety such as tightness in the chest and palpitations. Sometimes anxiety can produce nausea as well, in which case PC6 can help on both fronts.

Stomach 36 acupressure point is regarded as the most useful acupressure point on the body by most licensed acupuncturists as it has so many key functions in the manifestation of Qi and Blood in the body. Acupressure point Stomach 36 can be used with any digestive disorder as the Stomach is in charge of receiving the food along with “rotting and ripening” the food. Stomach Qi is also involved in the downward flow of Qi allowing for proper digestion and elimination. Points on the Stomach channel also impact the Large Intestine more-so than points on the Large Intestine channel, so even issues such as constipation are addressed with Stomach points. Ancient Chinese military troop often made it a habit to stop each mile and stimulate Stomach 36 to give them more energy to continue their forward march; three li equals about a mile, so the name Leg Three Li came from this historical reference. As you might imagine, it is an excellent point for enhancing your own innate vital energy!

ACUPUNCTURE FOR MENIERES DIZZINESS / VERTIGO