Acupuncture & Massage BLOG

Acupuncture provides effective relief from hot flashes in women who are being treated with the medication tamoxifen following surgery for breast cancer, according to recent research presented at the Breast Cancer Conference in Berlin.
Jill Hervik, an acupuncturist at Vestfold Central Hospital in Norway, stated that breast cancer patients who received traditional Chinese acupuncture had a 50 percent reduction in hot flashes, both during the day and night, and that this effect continued after the acupuncture ceased.
“Acupuncture is increasingly used in western countries to treat the problem of hot flashes in healthy postmenopausal women, so we wanted to see whether it was effective in women with breast cancer suffering from hot flashes as a result of their medication,” Hervik said.
Tamoxifen can cause many of the symptoms that occur during menopause, including hot flashes. For healthy women, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has traditionally been used to alleviate symptoms, but HRT is associated with an increased risk of specific types of cancers.
In a prospective, single-blind, controlled trial, Hervik randomized 59 breast cancer patients to receive either ten weeks of traditional Chinese acupuncture or sham acupuncture. All were taking tamoxifen following surgery and were postmenopausal. She delivered both the real and the sham acupuncture to the patients and maintained a neutral treatment atmosphere in order to reduce the placebo effect of the treatments.
The patients recorded the number of hot flashes they experienced for four weeks before the treatment, during the treatment and during a 12-week follow-up period. Other menopausal symptoms were also measured over the same periods using a quality of life index that incorporates symptoms such as sweating, sleep problems, depression, dizziness, palpitations, joint pain, and headache.
Both the acupuncture and the sham acupuncture were given twice a week for the first five weeks and then once a week for the next five weeks. The real acupuncture was given using needles inserted at several well-known acupuncture points. For the sham acupuncture, the needles were not inserted as deep (a maximum of 3mm), and in places distant from acupuncture points.
“During the treatment, hot flashes were reduced by 50 percent, both day and night, in the acupuncture group,” said Hervik. Three months after the last treatment a further reduction was seen. No significant changes were seen in the sham group during the day. At night there was a slight reduction during the treatment period but, once treatment had ceased, the number of hot flashes increased again.
“Acupuncture seems to provide effective relief from hot flashes, both day and night, for women taking tamoxifen after surgery for breast cancer. This treatment effect seems to coincide with a general improvement in well being,” said Hervik.
Acupuncture has an advantage over other treatments for hot flashes: it does not cause adverse side effects. Study findings suggest that acupuncture could be used more widely for treating breast cancer patients suffering from symptoms related to their medication.
For more information about acupuncture for the treatment of hot flashes call Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician, at (305) 595-9500.

Using acupuncture before and during surgery reduces the pain and the amount of medications needed by patients after the surgery is over, according to Duke University Medical Center anesthesiologists who combined data from 15 small randomized acupuncture clinical trials.
“While the amount of opioids needed for patients who received acupuncture was much lower than those who did not have acupuncture, the most important outcome for the patient is the reduction of the side effects associated with opioids,” said Tong Joo Gan, M.D., a Duke anesthesiologist who presented the results of the analysis at the annual scientific conference of the American Society for Anesthesiology in San Francisco. “These side effects can negatively impact a patient’s recovery from surgery and lengthen the time spent in the hospital.”
Based on the results of this analysis, Gan recommends that acupuncture should be considered a viable option for pain control in surgery patients. Patients who received acupuncture had significantly lower risk of developing the most common side effects associated with opioid drugs compared with the control group: 1.5 times lower rates of nausea, 1.3 times fewer incidences of severe itching, 1.6 times fewer reports of dizziness, and 3.5 times fewer cases of urinary retention.
While opioids, a class of medications that act on the body similar to morphine, are effective in controlling pain, the side effects of opioid drugs often slow a patient’s recovery from their surgery. “The results of this study add to the growing body of evidence that acupuncture can play an effective role in improving the quality of the surgical experience,” said Gan.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that acupuncture can be more effective than conventional medications in lessening the occurrence of post operative nausea and vomiting, the most common side effect experienced by patients after surgery.
“Acupuncture is slowly becoming more accepted by American physicians, but it is still underutilized,” Gan said. “Studies like this, which show that there is a benefit to using it, should give physicians sitting on the fence the data they need to integrate acupuncture into their routine care of surgery patients.”
While it is not completely known how acupuncture works, recent research points to its ability to stimulate the production of hormones known as endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers. In addition to effective pain management, acupuncture can increase energy, strength and vitality as well as enhance well being in recovering patients.
For information about Acupuncture & Massage College’s Oriental Medicine and Massage Therapy programs call Joe Calareso at (305) 595-9500. For information about acupuncture for health and wellness ask for Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician. .

The number of acupuncture points was originally established to be the same as the number of days in the year: 365. These points were mapped to 14 major channel lines, one channel for each of the 12 inner organs, one channel along the spine (called the governing vessel), and another along the midline of the abdomen (called the conception vessel).
More recently, the number of points identified by acupuncturists has expanded. There are additional channels with their own sets of points, special points located off channels and complete mappings of body structures by points along the ears, nose, scalp, hands, feet, wrists, and ankles.
Despite the growing number of acupuncture treatment zones, most acupuncture physicians utilize the traditionally identified points on the 14 main channels. Each channel has a small number of points used repeatedly for their versatility in treating a wide variety of diseases.
Although a list of disorders and diseases treated by each point can be given, sometimes the points are selected on the basis of the Chinese theory of balancing the qi flow in the channels, so that the point might be used for other kinds of disorders aside from those listed, due to its usefulness in this balancing process.
Some commonly used acupuncture points include:
Large Intestine Channel: LI4, Hegu
This point is located on the back side of the hand between the thumb and first finger. The primary uses of this point are to relieve pain and treat inflammatory and feverish diseases.
Lung Channel: LU7, Lieque
This point is located above the wrist on the inside of the arm. It is used to treat several disorders of the upper body, including headache, neck stiffness, cough, asthma, sore throat, facial paralysis, and wrist conditions.
Stomach Channel: ST36, Zusanli
This point is located on the front of the leg, just below the knee. It is helpful for digestive disorders. Research has been conducted with treatment of this point, demonstrating positive effects in treating anemia, immune deficiency, fatigue, and numerous diseases.
Spleen Channel: SP6, Sanyinjiao
This point is located on the inner side of the leg just above the ankle. Although it is on the spleen channel, which generally influences the digestive system, this point is also valuable for treating hormonal disorders (irregular menstruation) and immune disorders.
Gallbladder Channel: GB20, Fengchi
This point is located at the base of the skull where it joins the neck in back. It is used in the treatment of acute disorders, such as common cold, influenza, headache, neck pain, and fever. In addition, it lowers blood pressure.
Liver Channel: LV3, Taichong
The point is located on the top of the foot, between the first and second toes. It is used to balance emotional energy, to regulate menstruation, to reduce pain in the chest, treat eye disorders, alleviate headaches, and reduce high blood pressure.
Pericardium Channel: PC6, Neiguan
This point is located on the inner arm, just above the wrist. Like other points on this meridian, it is useful for cardiac disorders, such as heart palpitation and angina pectoris. It is also useful for nausea, vomiting, spasms, and convulsions.
Heart Channel: HT7, Shenmen
This point is located on the outer side of the wrist. It is used in the treatment of a variety of mental disorders, such as absent mindedness, insomnia, disturbing dreams, hysteria, depression, agitation, and mental illness. It is also used in the treatment of heart disease and fatigue.
Urinary Bladder Channel: BL40, Weizhong
This point is located at the back of the knee. It is utilized in the treatment of back pain, hip impairment, muscular atrophy, leg pain, abdominal pain, nausea, and many other symptoms.
Kidney Channel: KI3, Taixi
This point is located just behind the inner ankle. It is used for disorders in several areas of the body, including sore throat, toothache, deafness, tinnitus, dizziness, asthma, thirst, insomnia, lower back pain, and menstrual irregularities.
Triple Burner Channel: TB5, Waiguan
This point on the channel is located on the outer side of the arm, above the wrist. It is mainly used in treatment of disorders along the pathway of this meridian, that is, of the fingers, hand, arms, neck, ears, cheek, and top of the head.
Small Intestine Channel: SI3, Houxi
This point is located on the side of the hand, below the little finger. It is used for treating mental disorders, stiffness and pain in the neck, seizures, night sweats, and fevers.
Governing Vessel: GV20, Baihui
This point is located at the top of the head. It is traditionally applied in the treatment of various mental disorders, and for headache, vertigo, ringing in the ears, and nasal obstruction.
For information about Acupuncture & Massage College’s Oriental Medicine and Massage Therapy programs call Joe Calareso at (305) 595-9500.

Music has a profound effect on your body and psyche. Certain music helps to focus attention, accelerate learning and enhance health. Music has also been found to bring many other benefits, including lowered blood pressure and reduced risk of stroke. Music is increasingly being utilized as a tool to help the body maintain health and prevent illness.

People are increasingly discovering ways music can be leveraged for the benefit of health. Listening to any music that is personally enjoyable has positive effects on cognition. In addition, music can strengthen memory. Musical recitation enhances the coding of information by activating neural networks in a more optimal manner. Researchers have found that individuals who are given musical training have better verbal memories than those who have not had lessons. These findings can also aid in helping people recover from brain injury.

Music with a quick tempo can stimulate brainwaves to resonate with the beat, resulting in sharper concentration and more alert thinking. Alternatively, music with a slower tempo can produce a calm, meditative state. The change in brainwave activity can bring lasting benefits even after you’ve stopped listening to music by aiding the brain to function more effectively.

Listening to classical music, such as Mozart, produces positive neurological effects that can enhance performance on cognitive tests and improve learning and concentration. Classical music can aid in getting a better night’s sleep by boosting levels of melatonin (the sleep-inducing brain chemical). Additionally, classical music has been found to lower blood pressure in college students.

Music can also benefit Alzheimer’s patients by boosting memory. Alzheimer’s patients have improved recall of words, faces and names after listening to certain types of music. Singing and playing an instrument can increase and deepen breathing capacity, which can aid in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients who experience breathing difficulties. Music can also combat cases of chronic stress by slowing breathing and heart rate.

Music has been shown to effectively treat depression by producing a more positive mind state. Upbeat music combined with aerobic exercise can reduce symptoms of depression by as much as 25 percent. Using music during a workout can also keep up energy levels during cardiovascular exercise.

Music therapy has been used to treat cancer patients and individuals with ADD. Music has also been integrated into pain management health care along with guided imagery to combat chronic pain.  Music decreases pain by increasing production of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. Additionally, music therapy has been integrated into hospital health care programs to promote patient mental, physical and emotional well being.

For information about Acupuncture & Massage College’s Oriental Medicine and Massage Therapy programs call Joe Calareso at (305) 595-9500. For information about acupuncture for wellness ask for Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician.

Brain foods improve cognitive fitness and enhance mental power. It’s possible to improve the brain’s performance by including brain foods in our diet. Eating the right foods can boost IQ, improve mood and concentration and sharpen memory.

A diet containing specific brain foods also helps to decrease the effects of oxidation and inflammation on the brain. The development of neuronal degeneration such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease has been thought to be caused by oxidative stress on the brain. Foods rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, protein, B vitamins and other vitamins and minerals contain brain-enhancing and general health benefit properties.

Antioxidants
Products of normal metabolism known as free radicals can damage brain cells. Antioxidants found in vegetables and fruits neutralize free radicals before they can harm cells. Vegetables are a great source of antioxidants, which may reduce the risk of developing cognitive impairment by diminishing oxidative stress. Spinach, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower are especially rich in antioxidants.

Like vegetables, fruits are also an excellent source of antioxidants. Some of the healthiest options are blackberries, cranberries, raspberries, oranges, cherries, kiwis, strawberries, plums, red grapes, and avocados. Blueberries, also known as the ‘brain berry,’ contain a high level of antioxidants. Blueberries protect the brain through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action.

In addition to vegetables and fruits, Japanese Matcha (Tencha-grade green tea powder), mixed into hot water, is an excellent source of antioxidants and C and A vitamins. EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate, a compound found in green teas) possesses anti-aging, anti-cancer and general health benefits. Matcha contains higher amounts of EGCG than regular brewed green tea, including Sencha green tea. Matcha also has over 30 times the antioxidant levels of blueberries.

Cacao beans, found in chocolate, are an excellent source of antioxidants, catechins and flavonoids. Cacao beans improve cognitive processes and mood states. Most candy and chocolate products contain low levels of cacao bean. Health properties and high levels of cacao bean are found in high cacao percentage dark chocolate bars and organic non-alkalized cocoa powders.

Coffee beans are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and amino acids. Freshly-ground organic coffee powder carries several brain and general health properties. Coffee consumption has been linked with reduced risk of Alzheimer’s, Dementia and other mental diseases.

Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids, found in salmon, tuna, sardines, herring, mackerel, flax seed oil, olive oil, and walnuts have been linked to improved memory, alertness and increased attention span. Omega-3s are essential to optimal brain performance. Omega-3 diet deficiencies can lead to poor memory, low IQ, learning disabilities, dyslexia, and ADD.
Omega-3s are known to be particularly crucial constituents of the outer membrane of brain cells. DHA is a particular omega-3 fatty acid found in fish that appears to boost brain development. Wild salmon is an excellent food for brain health. One of the best sources of Essential Fatty Acids (such as omega-3); wild salmon is a rich source of protein and can reduce risk of stroke, Dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Protein
The brain’s neurons are basically composed of fat, but they communicate with each other through proteins that we eat. Proteins are essential to make neurotransmitters which are vital for the thinking process. Include plenty of protein rich foods in your diet, such as lean meat, dairy products, seafood, poultry, seeds, and nuts. Protein foods enhance the brain’s production of dopamine, a natural brain chemical that optimizes alertness and enhances mental tasks like memory, concentration and reaction time.

B Vitamins
B vitamins aid in the production of neurotransmitters. Particularly important for the brain, B vitamins enhance mental performance and play a role in producing energy. B vitamins are found in broccoli, asparagus, carrots, whole grains, seafood, eggs, dairy products, spinach, and leafy greens. Choline, the fat-like B vitamin in eggs, enhances memory and reaction time and minimizes fatigue. In addition to B vitamins, vitamins A, C and E are antioxidants which can promote and preserve memory.

Minerals are also critical to mental functioning and performance. Magnesium and manganese are needed for brain energy. Sodium, potassium and calcium are important in the thinking process and facilitate the transmission of messages.

Iron is also required to carry oxygen to the brain cells and aids in the formation of brain neurotransmitters, which affect attention and learning capacities. Sources of iron include lean beef, whole grain breakfast cereals, whole grain breads, raisins, dried apricots, legumes, and bran muffins.

Brain foods, when added to your diet, optimize brain health, have anti-aging properties and increase longevity. Brain foods should be incorporated into a healthy food diet along with well-being practices and physical exercise.

For information about Acupuncture & Massage College’s Oriental Medicine and Massage Therapy programs call Joe Calareso at (305) 595-9500. For information about nutrition for health and wellness ask for Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician.