All winter long, we see patients suffering with headaches, runny noses, congestion, phlegm and feeling “blocked up” where they can’t breathe. And as the seasons turn, more patients pour in struggling with painful sinus headaches and discomfort associated with the change of temperature. In reality, they’re dealing with not only external temperature changes but internal ones, too.
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Sometimes patients receive a diagnosis that creates a tremendous amount of fear and stress—even when the problem is too small to warrant intervention. It’s a curious but common combination of circumstances that can destroy peace of mind even if it’s not destroying the body. Quite frequently, people come to Eastern Medical Center looking for help with getting off “lifelong” Western medications. Often I hear about symptoms such as sluggishness and tingling in the fingers and toes, which are common side effects of many drugs. Fortunately, acupuncture is a powerful tool for getting off of medications while balancing the body so that it doesn’t “need” the pills to sustain stable health. We can use acupuncture to taper off medications in a safe, gradual way and balance the chemicals in the brain so that the patient doesn’t suffer withdrawl symptoms. One of the most commonly asked questions about acupuncture is, “What does it treat?” Perhaps a better question is actually, “What doesn’t it treat?” Because Traditional Chinese Medicine is designed to balance the whole body (rather than just subduing a symptom or working in isolation), there are very few illnesses or health disorders beyond the [...] For some, acupuncture is a departure from the way they’d “typically” approach a health situation. In those cases, acupuncture brochures can come in very handy. This is especially true if you’re the one suggesting that somebody else consider trying acupuncture for the first time. You may not feel that you can adequately communicate what acupuncture [...] Last week, we compared the cost of acupuncture to the cost of Western medicine and touched upon the massive costs of Western prescription drugs for the average American. No part of the population has been hit harder by the rising costs of prescription medications than the elderly. A common question for those considering acupuncture treatment for the first time is to ask, “How much does acupuncture cost — especially in relation to Western medicine?” It’s a question that can be answered on a number of different levels. My thoughts immediately go to quality of life for those who aren’t finding relief using our society’s default approach to medicine. In our culture, we pop pills, treat symptoms (rather than root causes) and if things get really bad, have surgery. But if you’re still suffering through daily experiences with pain, low energy, emotional distress or a million other nagging conditions, what’s the cost of that? What do you miss when you’re always sick or weak … or are distracted by pain or symptoms? How many side effects do you have to deal with from prescription mediations before looking for a better way? How much do you have to struggle before you’re worth the cost of a better life? To me, the real “cost” is in not seeking natural and effective treatment methods to have a healthy body and well being. “Six years ago I was diagnosed with Meniere’s disease. Menieres is known as an inner ear disorder that causes a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear, tinnitus/ringing in the ear, fluctuating hearing loss, and episodes of vertigo/spinning. Unfortunately, the origin of Meniere’s disease is presently unfounded and for that reason, I was faced with many variables and ‘what ifs’ in the scope of coping with this disorder or the hopes of ever getting better and being ‘attack’ free.” Recently, a woman came into my office who had been struggling with headaches, vertigo, nausea and balance. Her ears frequently filled up with fluid. Her general practitioner had diagnosed her with Meniere’s disease, a disorder of the inner ear that causes these symptoms. She was taking antihistamines like candy, and it was still not helping her. Her doctor told her that her only options were surgery and ear injections. But with surgery, the results weren’t guaranteed. And with injections, there was a chance she would lose her hearing. |
Eastern Medical Center provides natural, non-invasive healing techniques from ancient Chinese medicine.
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