Acupuncture & Massage BLOG

SUPERSTITIONS AND CUSTOMS TO ENSURE A GREAT NEW YEAR

Let the old year out. At midnight doors must be opened to allow the old year to leave and the New Year to arrive.

Avoid breaking things. Breaking anything on New Year’s Day indicates wreckage throughout the year.

Sunrise celebrations. New Year’s Day sunrise celebrations and honoring of the ancestors and elders brings good luck for the year (Asia).

Wear white. Wear white clothes on New Year’s Eve for good luck during the year. If in a beach city, after midnight, jump seven waves in the ocean and make a wish while throwing flowers into the sea for good fortune (Brazil).

First footing. The first person to cross the household threshold after midnight will influence good luck during the year. Ideally the first footer should be a tall, dark-haired man carrying with him such objects as a lump of coal, a silver coin, a bit of bread, and salt. He must not be cross-eyed, flat-footed, or have eyebrows that meet in the middle. Blond or redhead male first footers signify bad luck and women first footers mean disaster (Scotland).

Deokguk. Rice Cake Soup (deokguk) and bowing to the elders are New Year’s Day sunrise celebrations (Korea).

Grapes. Eat 12 grapes at midnight, one for each month, for a lucky year (Spain and many Latin countries).

Carry a suitcase. Carrying a suitcase around the house on New Year’s Day ensures wishes for travel for the next year will come true (Venezuela).

Bang on doors and walls. Banging on the doors and walls with Christmas bread as the New Year begins chases bad luck away and brings good spirits into the house with promise of bread enough during the year (Ireland).

Chiacchiere. Eating honey drenched balls of dough ensures a sweet year (Italy).

Washing dishes. Washing dishes and doing laundry on New Year’s Day will lead to a death in the family during the year.

Fire. Letting a fire go out on New Year’s Eve is bad luck.

Dusting. Brush out bad luck of the past with the dust before New Year’s Day.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. It can be used as long as credit is attributed to the author by including the following section :

“Written by Rev. Dr. Richard Browne

http://www.amcollege.edu

http://www.acupuncturistmiami.com”

CAM TREATMENT FOR ALLERGIC DISEASES INCREASES

At a symposium held at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), a team of experts discussed the efficacy of CAM for the management of allergic diseases. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatment for allergies and other conditions has increased in the United States.

“As the United States has reached the 300 million person mark and with the world population approaching seven billion, only 10 percent and at most to 30 percent of our health care is actually delivered by what we consider conventional or biomedical-oriented practitioners,” said Leonard Bielory, MD, Director of the Asthma & Allergy Research Center at UMDNJ - New Jersey Medical School in Newark.

“The remaining 70 to 90 percent ranges from self-care according to folk principles to care given in an organized health care system based on an alternative tradition or practice,” said Bielory.

CAM modalities include: Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), herbals, massage therapy, vitamins/supplements, homeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic medicine, Ayurveda, energy therapies (qi gong), and mind-body practices (dance, meditation, prayer).

CAM for the treatment of allergic diseases is a topic of importance to the subspecialty of allergy and immunology because one of the most common reasons that patients turn to CAM is for treating allergic diseases.

“There has been a recent surge of interest in TCM in Western countries, as it has shown favorable safety profiles,” said Xiu-Min Li, MD, Director of the Center of Excellence for Chinese Herbal Therapy for Allergy and Asthma funded by NIH. For information on acupuncture treatment for allergies contact Dr. Richard Browne at (305) 595-9500.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. It can be used as long as credit is attributed to the author by including the following section :

“Written by Rev. Dr. Richard Browne

http://www.amcollege.edu

http://www.acupuncturistmiami.com”

Stop Smoking with Acupuncture Therapy

Can Acupuncture really help me quit smoking? That is the question I expect to answer over the next month to a number of callers. It seems that many people like to start of their New Year with the resolution to QUIT SMOKING. Wonderful idea and now for the goods news. Yes Acupuncture has been extremely helpful to the people who truly desire to Quit Smoking.

Some people say that nicotine is one of the most addicting drugs. Who cares? That is not an excuse to be a slave to the American tobacco industry. Tobacco smoking is the cause of at least 30 % of all illness today. This includes hypertension, atherosclerosis, lung cancer, prostrate inflamation, respiratory disorders just to name a few. According to American Heart Association cigarette smoking is responsible for over 440,000 preventable deaths each year.

What should you do? Contact a licensed Acupuncturist in your neighborhood. Tell them Dr. Browne recommended this treatment for you. What should you expect from a skilled practitioner of Oriental medicine? You should ask them do they have a Stop Smoking Program. If they say yes, then you know you have called the correct practitioner.

There are a number of ways to treat substance abuse. Yes I said substance abuse that is exactly what tobacco smoking really is all about. For the most part I recommend a series of 12 treatments to be completed in six weeks. During the first two week you will be helped to cut down so that when you actually quit it will be a breeze.

Your Acupuncturist may give you an herbal formula to help ease the craving and discomfort during the first week. Once you have managed the first week off tobacco, the next three weeks will be much easier. I must say that the people who complete the entire six weeks program have the best statistic for Stop Smoking.

Acupuncture has been very successful with a number of substance abuse issues, to include heroin, cocaine, tobacco and food. Again I will like to emphasize that Acupuncture alone will not do the job, it needs your help and that means your strong desire to make a change in your life for the better. You put in 30 % drive and we will help you get to your goal.

Dr. Richard Browne has been practicing Acupuncture since 1978. He is licensed in Florida, and he is also the President of the oldest school of natural medicine in Florida the Acupuncture and Massage College in Miami. For more information call him at 305-595-9500

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. It can be used as long as credit is attributed to the author by including the following section :

“Written by Rev. Dr. Richard Browne

http://www.amcollege.edu

http://www.acupuncturistmiami.com”

EATING DISORDERS AND ACUPUNCTURE

A large percentage of those afflicted with eating disorders are adolescent and young adult women. These illnesses can also affect older women and men. Types of eating disorders include: Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS). Bulimia is the most common type of eating disorder.

Treatment addresses both the psychological and physical aspects of the eating disorder. A consistently effective therapeutic treatment plan has not been identified. Standard treatment for eating disorders combines psychotherapy, nutritional counseling and medication. An interdisciplinary approach is most effective.

Alternative therapies may complement psychological and medical treatment of eating disorders. TCM, especially acupuncture, can address the emotional and physical discomforts of various eating disorders. Given the psychological nature of these disorders, therapies that ease distressed moods and calm agitation are most effective. A feeling of mental and physical relaxation is often the first effect of acupuncture a patient becomes aware of. As an adjunct therapy for eating disorders, acupuncture releases endorphins that affect the digestive and hormonal systems and aids in stress reduction.

Auricular points are effective in harmonizing eating, digestion, absorption, metabolism, and have a calming effect. Body points selected can tonify qi and circulate oxygen and blood with an emphasis on the stomach. Acupuncture can reduce cravings and manage uncontrollable appetite by restoring qi energetic balance. Treatment can strengthen the endocrine and digestive systems and correct the energy imbalances that may be underlying factors in eating disorders.

In the United States, as many as 10 million females and 1 million males suffer from eating disorders according to the National Eating Disorders Association. For more information about acupuncture as an adjunct therapy for the treatment of eating disorders contact Dr. Richard Browne at (305) 595-9500.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. It can be used as long as credit is attributed to the author by including the following section :

“Written by Rev. Dr. Richard Browne

http://www.amcollege.edu

http://www.acupuncturistmiami.com”

SWEDISH MASSAGE BENEFICIAL IN TREATMENT OF KNEE OA

Swedish massage therapy reduces pain and improves joint flexibility in adults with osteoarthritis of the knee, according to a new study reported in the Dec. 11 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The 68 study participants with x-rays confirming knee OA diagnosis were randomly assigned to an intervention massage therapy group or control group. The massage therapy group received twice-weekly hour-long massage therapy sessions in the first four weeks and once-weekly sessions in weeks five through eight. The control group received delayed massage during the last eight weeks of the 16-week trial.

The group receiving massage therapy demonstrated significant improvements in the WOMAC scores for pain, stiffness and physical functional disability. No significant changes were observed in the control group during weeks one through eight. During weeks nine through 16, the control group had similar benefits to those receiving the initial massage therapy. “We think that the primary role for massage therapy will be to reduce dependence on pharmacotherapy and to delay any functional decline rather than reverse the disease,” said senior investigator David L. Katz, M.D., director of Yale’s Prevention Research Center.

The authors noted that recent research has suggested benefits from acupuncture and adding massage therapy as an OA health care modality would provide an additional benefit. “So-called ‘alternative’ treatments like massage are most important when conventional treatments are far from ideal. Currently available non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are often not well tolerated by older adults with osteoarthritis,” said Katz.

OA is the most common chronic medical condition in the elderly population, affecting as many as 21 million Americans. For more information on TCM treatment modalities for osteoarthritis including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and massage therapy contact Dr. Richard Browne at (305) 595-9500. Acupuncture & Massage College offers a Masters degree program in Oriental Medicine and a Massage Therapy certificate program. For more information about TCM/Massage Therapy education, ask for Joe Calareso.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. It can be used as long as credit is attributed to the author by including the following section :

“Written by Rev. Dr. Richard Browne

http://www.amcollege.edu

http://www.acupuncturistmiami.com”

HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK?

Chinese medicine is based upon the belief that there is need for balance in the flow of energy in the body. The energy we are referring to is a) Chi, b) blood and c) electrical energy form the nervous system. These energies must be in balance and in harmony to maintain health.
When these energies become blocked and cannot circulate, pain and/or loss of body function occur. This is what we call Chi stagnation. Acupuncture treatment has the effect of removing the energy blockages, increasing the circulation of chi and blood and it also exerts effect on the autonomic nervous system. This combination activates the healing process. The result is relief of pain and the restoration of body function, or organ balance.

What are the internal effects of Acupuncture?

Acupuncture heals the body in a number of ways.
Research has indicated that the immediately effect of Acupuncture is the increased production of endorphin. Endorphins are “ internal morphine” which has two major effects: 1) it relaxes the body and 2) it serves to reduce the level of pain. Another aspect of the effect of the endorphin production is to increasing the circulation of blood, which sends nutrition via the small blood vessels to all parts of the body. Endorphins are the body’s natural pain relievers that have an analgesic, anti-depressant, and anti-allergic effect. They relieve pain and give a sense of euphoria.

WHAT RESULTS CAN I EXPECT?

Some patients experience immediate relief after the first treatment. In some cases it last for only a few hours and in other cases the relief lasts for a few days.

In many cases patients begin to feel better after a few treatments. We encourage you to experiment with our therapy try 4 to 6 treatments to see how well our therapy can benefit you.

Historically we have rarely witnessed patients with no relief during the course of treatment. Symptomatic relief can be expected after 4 to 8 weeks of continued treatment. And corrective care can be expected after 24 to 36 treatments.

To protect your health investment we highly recommend that you continue to have treatment four to six times each year. The maintenance care will benefit you and you family in many ways.

HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL I NEED?

For RELIEF CARE in acute cases you can expect to see results after 4 to 6 treatments. We determine your level of care based upon the depth of your disease acute or chronic. Each patient has different needs and different degrees of immune function. Chronic conditions and neurological conditions require more treatments in order to obtain lasting results. In Chronic conditions you can expect to see results but it will take longer. Complete relief may need 12 to 18 treatments.

HOW LONG WILL ACUPUNCTURE RELIEF LAST?

From our standpoint disease can be identified as either acute or chronic and we generally classify treatment into two types A) Relief Care and b) Corrective Care.
Relief care will generally work within18 treatments and will give temporary relief for up to six months. It works on what we cal Qi stagnation

Corrective care takes over where relief care ends that is after you have been treated for say 12 to 18 treatment and you no long feel your original pain. Corrective care begins to treat at the deeper level, at the cause of the pain to correct the Organ imbalance. Corrective care seems to last indefinitely.

Dr. Richard Browne is one of the oldest licensed Acupuncture Physician in Florida. He is co- founder of the Acupuncture and Massage College. He can be contacted at 305-595-9500.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. It can be used as long as credit is attributed to the author by including the following section :

“Written by Rev. Dr. Richard Browne

http://www.amcollege.edu

http://www.acupuncturistmiami.com”

ALLERGIES AND ACUPUNCTURE

Allopathic treatment of allergic rhinitis relies mostly on the use of antihistamine agents (antihistamines, nasal corticosteroids, allergy shots, and decongestants), which often treat symptoms by immune system suppression. Medication side effects (drowsiness, fatigue and insomnia) cause many to seek alternative therapies including acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to manage their allergies.

The acupuncture physician develops a plan that treats the acute symptoms and corrects the underlying immune system imbalance. It can aid in strengthening the body’s ability to process allergens and regulates antigen-antibody reactions. This is important in minimizing allergic reactions such as sinus headache, fatigue and asthma. Treatments also prompt the brain to release endorphins and other chemicals that relieve congestion by improving blood circulation.

Chinese herbs may be prescribed in conjunction with acupuncture to lessen the effects of allergies. Huang Qin (Radix Scutellaria Baicalensis) has a cooling nature, which clears heat in the upper respiratory tract and eliminates nasal congestion. Xin Yi Hua (Flos Magnoliae) is an “exterior-releasing” herb that aids the body in release of allergens through the skin pores and is frequently used to treat conditions such as chronic sinusitis and nasal congestion. Cang Er Zi (Fructus Sibirici Xanthii) opens up nasal passages and eliminates sinus headaches.

In addition to acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, an acupuncture physician considers the diet to be an integral component of allergy treatment. Allergic reactions can often be reduced through dietary modifications, including avoidance of dairy products, spicy foods or red meat, which can have a congesting effect on the system and amplify sinus/allergy symptoms.

Acupuncture is effective in treating allergic reactions due to seasonal changes, diet, or chronic illness. For more information on acupuncture for allergy management contact Dr. Richard Browne at (305) 595-9500.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. It can be used as long as credit is attributed to the author by including the following section :

“Written by Rev. Dr. Richard Browne

http://www.amcollege.edu

http://www.acupuncturistmiami.com”

College Bound? Think About it.

According to government stats only 54% of all students entering four-year colleges graduate with a degree. That means 46 % spend from one year to three years in colleges only to end up with a large debt and no real career to help them pay it off. Where are we going? Nobody knows for sure, yet the educational experts are constantly upgrading and revamping the educational standards and competency as if that can make an impact to solve the problems of retention.

The experts say the blame lies on the high schools, or in some cases the students themselves.

At the high school level the drop out rate of kids who aren’t graduating is well over 50%. You may well ask what’s the matter with this institution? The fault lies in the educators. But at the college level people say what is the matter with these students? We gave them a chance to improve themselves and they show no responsible.

While student lack of responsibility is a factor, the institutions must assume some of the blame. It seems that getting the students in the doors of the colleges is the most important objective, as oppose to getting them to graduate.

Florida State University reports on First Time In College students (FTIC) indicated that 16% of all freshmen do not return. On the average that is an incurred debt of at least $15,000. At the same time University of New Mexico reports that of its 10,500 student base over 2300 are listed as undecided for a major. Most of these students will drop out before graduation day arrives.

Before entering college students should have an idea of where they want to go in life. Liberal Arts is an expensive major. Besides the 46% of college students who do not graduate we have another situation to consider, how many people who go to college and graduate actually are employed in a field in which they majored. I studied accounting and philosophy while in college. Today I work as an Acupuncture Physician. My wife studied science (premed) and graduated with a BS, today she is the Executive Director of the Acupuncture and Massage College. I could list hundreds of cases of college graduates who are employed in areas that are far removed from their major in college. So I ask the question what is the real value of a college education?

Richard Browne is the President of the Acupuncture and Massage College (AMC). AMC offers a Master Degree program in Oriental Medicine and a Diploma program in Massage Therapy. For more information Call 305-595-9500

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. It can be used as long as credit is attributed to the author by including the following section :

“Written by Rev. Dr. Richard Browne

http://www.amcollege.edu

http://www.acupuncturistmiami.com”

PAIN RELIEF AND ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture is effective in treating conditions such as fibromyalgia (chronic pain condition affecting muscles and connective tissues), neck pain, arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis), knee pain, myofascial (connective tissue) pain, lower back pain, musculoskeletal injuries, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

There is a strong correlation between acupuncture point locations and the nervous system’s pain pathways. Many acupoints are near nerves. When stimulated, these nerves cause the release of endorphins (morphine-like chemicals). In chronic pain conditions, acupuncture points are frequently trigger points (painful muscle areas). Trigger point needling causes the painful muscle area to disappear. The traditional Chinese “Ah Shi” points (translates ‘oh yes’ or ‘that’s it’ as palpation reproduces the pain) are frequently equivalent to trigger points. “Where there is a painful spot, there is an acupuncture point.”—Neijing—The Yellow Emperor’s Classic.

TCM diagnoses of pain conditions identify several illnesses as Cold Bi syndromes. Back pain, sciatica, shoulder/arm pain, myofascial, and osteoarthritis have similar characteristics including: Inhibition of blood supply, alleviation of pain with warmth and a worsening of the pain severity with cold and damp. Most of these syndromes are related to trigger point activity. Myofascial trigger points act as pain generators. In arthritic conditions such as osteoarthritis, trigger points frequently act as pain amplifiers. TCM’s aim in the treatment of Cold Bi pain syndromes is to remove the obstruction to the flow of qi/blood and warm/nourish the muscles.

The near-and-far acupuncture technique is the most commonly used method for the resolution of chronic pain states. Needles are placed at the trigger/Ah Shi points as well as distal analgesia producing points below the elbow or knee, which induce muscle relaxation and remove trigger points.

The improved energy and reduced pain produced by acupuncture results in enhancing the body’s natural healing abilities. For more information about acupuncture for pain management contact Dr. Richard Browne at (305) 595-9500.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. It can be used as long as credit is attributed to the author by including the following section :

“Written by Rev. Dr. Richard Browne

http://www.amcollege.edu

http://www.acupuncturistmiami.com”

HEADACHE AND ACUPUNCTURE

Most types of headaches occur as a mixed headache disorder, in which tension headache, sinus headache and vascular (migraine) headache arise at different times and under different circumstances. Headaches may be diagnosed in TCM practice by nature of pain. Sharp pain is usually from excess energy imbalance, dull pain from deficiency energy imbalance. In addition, certain area pain can be caused by either external or internal pathogenic factors. Excess external factors include wind cold (headache combined with common cold symptoms or seasonal allergies), wind heat (splitting headache with fever) and wind damp (headache combined with appetite loss).

Excess internal conditions may indicate: Liver yang rising (throbbing headache caused by emotional factors, diet), liver fire (progression of liver yang rising with worse headache), phlegm turbidity (headache with pain worse in damp weather, poor diet), and blood stagnation (strong localized headache pain due to injury or chronic illness). Deficient internal conditions may indicate: Qi deficiency (consistent dull headache, palpitations, mental/physical stressors), blood deficiency (dull headache with insomnia, fatigue, long term illness), liver kidney yin deficiency (headache with fatigue, dizziness, weak back/knees, old age).

Sometimes a headache is just a headache and sometimes it is an indication that the internal organs are stressed. In Chinese medicine here are basically four types of headaches, each appearing at different sites in the head and each indicating a problem at a specific organ. An occasional headache is nothing to be concern about but should you have a monthly headache or if it develops into more that one headache per month you should seriously have it treated by a professional. Both Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are indicated for the treatment of headaches. An occasional headache is nothing to be concern about but should have a monthly headache or if it develops into more that one headache per month you are in the need of help.
For more information about headache prevention and treatment contact Dr. Richard Browne at (305) 595-9500.

Dr. Richard Browne is the President of the Acupuncture and Massage College (AMC). AMC is the oldest school of natural medicine in the state of Florida, offering a Masters Degree program in Oriental Medicine and a Diploma program in Massage Therapy.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. It can be used as long as credit is attributed to the author by including the following section :

“Written by Rev. Dr. Richard Browne

http://www.amcollege.edu

http://www.acupuncturistmiami.com”