Acupuncture: all links so far

acupuncture

• Acupuncture explained

• Melanie’s acupuncture story

• Why you want to get Acupuncture

   

Melanie’s acupuncture story

Melanie has been a client of mine for years. I have always enjoyed our health and diet discussions during her monthly visits. She is an avid reader about diet and how it affects the body. She is a fit, thirty-something mother of three wonderful boys.

 

Melanie has always had some problems with breakouts—generally around her mouth and chin area. Through the years, I have cautioned her to keep her cell phone away from her face. She is on the phone all day long and as you might guess, resting the phone on your face can and will cause problems—eventually if not immediately.

Melanie has pared down the amount of sugar in her diet, yet her problems persist. Something else you need to know about Melanie: she has never had a normal menstrual cycle. This is a very important key to this story. As with so many bodily functions, menstruation is a clue to a woman’s health. If you are not menstruating, or your cycle is abnormal, it is your body warning you that something is out of balance.

Because of her monthly irregularities, for years I have encouraged Melanie to start getting regular acupuncture treatments. This is exactly the kind of imbalance that I believe acupuncture is so proficient at helping to normalize. When the hormones are out of whack, it can and does throw off so many of our body’s normal cycles. This keeps us from being in a balanced state of health; this keeps us from enjoying our daily lives.

Years ago I moved from Dallas to Chicago to open another skin care salon. When I would return for my quarterly trips to Dallas, Melanie was always on my schedule. On one of my Big D visits and having not seen Melanie for over 5 months, I was pleased to see her skin had made an obvious improvement. Melanie told me that she finally committed to experimenting with acupuncture and had been going regularly for the past year. Well, not so regularly as you will find out.

She started to go and saw improvements in her skin and also in her menstrual cycle; things did seem to be changing for the better. But then life took over, and Melanie was unable to keep her regular appointments with her acupuncturist. Over the past summer, she hardly went for treatment and finally fell off the wagon completely. What she noticed was surprising to her, but is what convinced her to start up again. Melanie noticed, once she wasn’t getting acupuncture treatments, that her period was becoming nonexistent again and her skin problems were also returning. She hadn’t given much credence to the whole alternative treatment course she had begun months earlier. But now, the evidence of how beneficial the treatments had been was in.

Melanie once again began getting regular acupuncture treatments, but this time she was more dedicated to not missing any appointments and going as prescribed by her acupuncturist. She saw and felt undeniable results after this second go-round with acupuncture. Melanie insists it is acupuncture alone that has regulated her menstrual cycle and therefore, finally, helped to clear up her persistent skin problems.

For more information, see:

• Acupuncture explained
• Why you want to get Acupuncture
• Wholistic or Holistic: However you spell it—make the healthy choice

Acupuncture explained

What is acupuncture and how can it help skin problems? 

The following is an explanation of what acupuncture is, what it does, and how it can help you in many different ways, including helping your skin problems. This article was written by my dear friend and acupuncturist, Sharon Kraus, L.Ac.

---

When some people think of acupuncture, they cannot get past the word “needle.” For them it conjures the image of thick hypodermics and the pain of an injection or perhaps some comedic Hollywood image of a person with 400 needles stuck into every square inch of his or her body. Well, this could not be further from the truth!

Imagine instead walking into a serene setting, complete with soft music and gentle lighting. You are arriving at the end of a hectic day of meetings and frantic work deadlines. Your shoulders are so tense that they practically touch your ears. Your head aches and is heavy, and your stomach is slightly queasy from the greasy lunch you grabbed on the run. Imagine entering this tranquil space after your long and stressful day. You change into loose-fitting clothing and lie down on a soft massage table.

Your acupuncturist enters the room and begins a series of gentle diagnostic procedures such as feeling your pulse, looking at your tongue, and palpating certain areas of your body such as your arms and legs, belly or back. You will have a chance to tell your acupuncture practitioner what’s been on your mind and your concerns about your body. In addition to paying attention to what you say, he or she will be noticing the sound of your voice, the color and tone of your skin, and your general state of well-being. All of this goes into the diagnosis of your condition and the course of your treatment.

As the treatment begins, he or she may gently insert fine filaments (aka needles)—about the width and diameter of a hair—into specific points on your body. These points are chosen for their location on what is called an acupuncture meridian. Although sometimes there is a sensation of pressure, tingling, or the occasional pinch when the needles are inserted, it truly should be a comfortable process. As you lie on the table, you begin to feel your shoulders relax and the pressure begins to drain from your head. The queasiness in your stomach begins to subside as you float into a state of heavy relaxation. When the hour is up, you leave feeling renewed and perhaps a little sleepy. Or, if you lacked energy before, you might feel like going home and cleaning your house or tackling a project. You might just notice that you feel back in harmony with your world again.

 

Obviously the above is an idealized view of an acupuncture experience. Your acupuncturist may run a noisy, busy clinic with five tables, each separated by a cloth. But if you have a qualified acupuncturist, the setting is not the main issue. Once the treatment begins, it is likely that your body will relax and go into a slightly altered state of relaxation and healing. It is important, however, to find an acupuncturist who is licensed either statewide or nationally, and whom you can relate to. There are many styles of acupuncture, so I encourage you to try a few different people until you find the person who is right for you.

What is acupuncture and how does it work?

Acupuncture is a system that balances the flow of bioelectrical energy in the body. We are conductive beings, composed largely of water, and the functioning of our very cells is regulated by the flow of positive and negative ions. Although modern science still cannot explain it, the ancient Chinese, probably about 3,000 years ago, began mapping the electrical flows of energy in our bodies through a series of channels called acupuncture meridians. These channels invigorate the organs and the tissue, the flow of the blood, as well as the free-flowing expression of emotions. In that culture there was an understanding that the health of an individual depended on the harmonious interrelationship between all of one’s parts.

Over the centuries, this body of information grew and has continued to be refined throughout China, Japan, and other Asian cultures until present times. Now we see the vast tradition of Oriental medicine, which is a primary system of health care for millions of people, interfacing with modern medicine and Western science. More and more we see Oriental medicine being looked to here in the West to address the “gray” areas for which Western medicine has no clear answer, such as hormonal imbalance, fatigue, fibromyalgia, insomnia, chronic pain, arthritis, menstrual discomfort, and even infertility. The fact is, Oriental medicine can address any condition because it’s not treating the symptom, but the underlying imbalance. Regardless of the other therapies you might be receiving, acupuncture can be a very helpful addition.

In relation to skin care, most of us know that our skin is a major organ of elimination. In Oriental medicine, the skin is associated with the lungs and large intestine, otherwise known as the “metal” element. As you may also know, a buildup of toxicity in the body can lead to problem skin. If toxins can’t be properly eliminated through the bowel, they are likely to be expelled through the sinuses and the skin. Obviously the liver and the kidneys play an important role in the detoxification process as well. Keeping the metal element balanced with all of the other elements and their related organ systems through the use of acupuncture and herbs is one way to assist in the detoxification and maintenance of healthier skin.

Hormonal changes can cause breakouts and sometimes deep, scarring acne. Although hormones were an unknown entity 2,000 years ago in ancient China, there was an understanding that supporting a free flow in all the acupuncture meridians eased stress in the body, allowed for better assimilation of food and elimination of waste, normalized sleep, and improved the regulation of all the body’s cycles. In fact, acupuncture and Chinese herbs are known to be particularly helpful in regulating menstrual cycles and menstrual discomfort, as well as easing symptoms associated with menopause.

In the clinic, I have found that improving the flow of the lymph fluid in the upper part of the body with acupuncture, especially when there is a lot of upper body tension, helps to clear up acne. I have also discovered that many women with hormonal imbalances have either blood stagnation or weak “qi” (or diminished energy flow) in the lower abdomen, often accompanied by tight upper bodies—stiff neck and shoulders. We sometimes diagnose this as weak kidney or spleen qi, with liver qi or blood stagnation that can lead to “damp heat” conditions such as hormonal acne.

Let me translate! What this actually means is that a weakness in the body leads to stagnation of fluids, sometimes referred to as “dampness” in Oriental medicine. Many things can lead to this type of weakness or “qi deficiency,” but it’s important because in some cases the resulting accumulation of fluids can lead to a heat buildup in the body. Toxicity due to sluggish functioning of other organ systems such as the liver and large intestine can also lead to localized heat accumulations. In fact, heat buildup can be generated through repressed or expressed emotions like anger or overexcitement, as well as through elements of diet. Foods such as alcohol, coffee, greasy and spicy foods, excessive intake of “the whites” (i.e., refined sugar and flour), or foods to which one may be allergic can also lead to heat or damp conditions. Truly, the term damp heat can encompass all sorts of inflammatory, viral and bacterial conditions, including acne or herpes, as mentioned before.

Skin problems can have many different etiologies, but the beauty of Oriental medicine is that we examine the cause in each individual and balance the body accordingly. Acupuncture is becoming increasingly popular in the West as our society begins to realize the importance not just of healing a single part but of considering the whole. This concept is inherent in Oriental medicine. We can no longer afford to focus on just one part at the expense of all others, whether it be in relationship to our bodies and our skin, to our planet, or to the whole of humanity.

---

Thank you, Sharon, for such a lovely piece on the importance of acupuncture and how it relates to (and helps) the skin’s balance and wellness. For anyone in the Ashland/Medford Oregon area, you can contact Sharon through her website: CLICK HERE.

For more information, see:

• Why you want to get Acupuncture
• Alternative Medicine—the power of choice
• HEADSPACE: Get your meditation on

Why you want to get Acupuncture

I love receiving acupuncture!

New clients who come in for facials or return clients who may have a major skin change are asked a series of questions geared to help me determine areas in their lives that may be contributing to their skin problems. I am looking for dietary habits with the number one offender being sugar. However, sometimes a client has major skin eruptions, but clearly follows a strict and clean diet, free from sugar and other toxic foods. If my client is female, I ask if she is having normal (for her) periods along with other questions that might lead me to believe she has some imbalances hormonally. If it is a male client, he could also be experiencing some hormonal fluctuations that might be factors in skin problems.

When it comes to hormonal matters, this is where my expertise ends, and I send them to a specialist. And my specialist of choice is an acupuncturist. Unlike some medical doctors, a doctor of acupuncture has a unique and wholistic* view of the human body and how it functions. Acupuncture and its medicinal attributes have been practiced, as far as recorded history tells us, for well over 2,000 years. How can I ignore the potential benefits of something that has survived this long? I can’t! And I welcome you to explore this ancient healing technique, not only to help balance your skin problems, but also to ensure the health of your entire body—on a regular basis.
*I always spell “holistic” with a “w” because it is about wholeness!

I get acupuncture as a matter of course once a month. I do this not because I have health issues or problem skin, but as a preventative measure to ensure my body stays in a balanced state. Twenty or more years ago, when I initially started receiving regular treatments, I noticed a normalizing of my monthly cycle. The duration of my periods was shorter, cramping was less severe, and I just felt more in balance. I directly related these changes to my acupuncture treatments. Most acupuncturists say it is optimal to get the treatment just before the monthly period starts. Back then, when I still had periods, I would schedule an acupuncture appointment just before I was expecting to menstruate.

Why should you get acupuncture? Speaking as an aesthetician, I would send someone to an acupuncturist if he or she is having skin problems that I cannot identify as having a dietary base. I realize some of my clients don’t admit to all the bad things they may be eating, but there are some people for whom diet is not the issue with their skin.

Many women have irregular menstrual cycles. This not only can affect their skin, but it is simply not good for a healthy, balanced body. So even if skin is not a problem, if a female client comes in who I know has menstrual problems, I will recommend acupuncture.

Speaking as an acupuncture client, I think everyone should get acupuncture. It helps to balance and maintain health. Who couldn’t benefit from that? I realize there is a stigma in the West concerning services like acupuncture. If the fear of needles doesn’t stop you, then perhaps the intangible nature of the healing power of acupuncture will. I assure you the needles are not an issue in the slightest. In most cases you won’t even know when they are being used—really! I have a client who I sent to get treatment. She was so apprehensive—mostly because of the needles. Once she was on the treatment table for a few minutes, she asked the doctor when he was going to start working on her. He chuckled and told her to look down where he was standing. She had several acupuncture needles already going to work, and she didn’t feel a thing as he administered them. By the way, this was years ago, and this client continues to get regular acupuncture treatments today.

What should you look for in an acupuncturist? I think whenever you are looking for a therapist, finding someone who speaks your language is important. I don’t mean your language as in English or Spanish. I mean finding a doctor who you can relate to and who can relate to you—someone you are comfortable with. If you don’t have a good feeling about your therapist or they relate to you in some way that makes you feel uncomfortable, this can compromise the efficacy of your treatments.

I always recommend making an initial phone call to the person you are thinking about going to. This way you can ask some basic questions and also get a feel for who this person is and how he or she might treat your problems. Obviously the information you receive over the phone will be limited, but still you can gain some insight into your prospective therapist by calling first.

Where can you find acupuncture? Getting referrals is always a good place to start. Ask around and see if you can find someone in your circle of friends who gets acupuncture or knows someone who does and who is satisfied with his or her specialist. If you see a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy), many times they are in the know about “alternative” treatments such as acupuncture. You can try the National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine website (NCCAOM). They list everyone who is licensed, so it may be a bit daunting to “pick one” from this extensive list, but you can give it a try.

How often should you get acupuncture? This question is best answered by your acupuncturist. For years I have gotten monthly acupuncture treatments. I do this for the benefit of prevention, not because I have specific needs. My need is to keep my body in balance and to do as many things possible to ensure this state of health. Acupuncture is one of my favorite ways of staying well. And acupuncture is something I highly recommend.

For more information, see:

• Acupuncture explained (a detailed explanation of what acupuncture is and how it can help you, written by a licensed practitioner)
  
• Melanie’s acupuncture story
• Alternative Medicine—the power of choice