Did you know Acupuncture provides natural care for children? Many people ask, “is acupuncture safe and effective for children?” The answer is, “absolutely!” Acupuncture offers its unique ability to help children and it has centuries of evidence of its safety and effectiveness.
Acupuncture is Natural and Has Been Utilized to Treat Children for Many Years!
Acupuncture can be integrated into a family’s routine as a proactive approach to maintaining health. It consists of the insertion of one or several very thin metal needles into the skin and underlying tissues.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture have been used for over 4000 years to treat pain and other health problems. The acupuncture treatment stimulates the imbalanced pathways along the meridians to bring balance back. Mainly, the goal is to activate the body’s natural self healing abilities and bring balance back to your body. It’s often used as part of a broader approach to healthcare.
For children with chronic pain and other conditions, acupuncture is a safe, natural way of treating pain. Furthermore, the effects of acupuncture can be noticed immediately. However, often it can take several treatments to see relief in symptoms. Typically, your child should slowly start to feel better with each treatment.
Acupuncture can be beneficial for children with conditions such as:
Back pain
Neck pain
Headaches
Musculoskeletal pain
Complex regional pain syndrome
Juvenile fibromyalgia
Digestive issues
Mood disorders
Sleep problems
How Does Acupuncture Help Children Heal?
Scientists believe acupuncture stimulates the brain to produce chemicals (e.g. endorphins) that activate the body’s own self-healing abilities. Research suggests acupuncture calms the nervous system, relaxes muscles, tendons. ligaments, and increases blood flow. With continued regular treatments, acupuncture may decrease the number of medications for your child. However, acupuncture is a process that takes time. Realistically, it has taken some time for children’s bodies to become imbalanced to the point that they are feeling these symptoms. So Acupuncture’s gentle healing returns the child’s body to normal functioning gradually.
Acupressure Along with Acupuncture
Recent studies in China have shown that acupressure for a child from birth to 4 years of age improves the child physically and mentally.
Firstly, acupressure keeps children healthier and encourages better growth. Secondly, the child sleeps better after acupressure sessions. Thirdly, the child’s mood improves with acupressure. Fourthly, the child is more focused, learns faster, and has improved attention spans.
In conclusion, Acupuncture points may be stimulated without using needles through acupressure. This involves gentle stroking of the acupuncture channels with the hands. Additionally, other non-needle methods utilized are with “teishein” tools/balls.
Dr. Natalie Meiri
Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture for Children
Meiri Chiropractic offers acupuncture and acupressure for children. Acupuncture is a great natural alternative treatment alone or along with chiropractic care. Dr. Natalie Meiri is board certified in acupuncture and has been a chiropractic physician for over 20 years. Contact us today for an acupuncture treatment in West Palm Beach at 561-253-8984.
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a common complication and sequela (residual) of shingles/herpes zoster. It can termendously affect the life and emotional experience of a person. Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture for Facial Neuralgia from Shingles is about facial pain and dysfunction from PHN. Specifically, acupuncture can provide natural pain relief and restore function for PHN patients.
What is Shingles?
Shingles is a viral infection that is not life threatening. Typically, pain, itching, or tingling in the area will develop. Often this may happen several days before the rash appears. Although shingles can occur anywhere on your body, it often appears as a single line of blisters. The blisters usually scab over in 7 to 10 days and fully clears up within 2 to 4 weeks.
Shingles is caused by the same virus which causes chicken pox called the varicella-zoster virus. After you’ve had chickenpox, the virus lies inactive in nerve tissue near your spinal cord and brain. Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles. Shingles is triggered by a weakened or compromised immune system. Emotional stress is considered a trigger for shingles because it has been shown to weaken the body’s immune system. This can happen in those who face chronic work or life stress.
What is Post-Herpetic Neuralgia?
Post herpetic neuralgia is the most common complication of shingles. The condition affects nerve fibers and skin, causing burning pain that lasts long after the rash and blisters of shingles disappear.
The risk of post herpetic neuralgia increases with age, primarily affecting people older than 60. There’s no cure, but acupuncture can help.
Shingles triggers a painful rash on your skin that follows nerve pathways, causing a massive amount of inflammation and agitated nerves. A trip to the pain management clinic for the unbelievable pain is understandable, but it may not be the solution. All they can do is pump you full of drugs and wait out the virus.
Ramsey Hunt Syndrome/ Peripheral Facial Paralysis
Firstly, the cause of facial paralysis of Ramsey Hunt Syndrome can be reactivation of the herpes zoster virus in the geniculate ganglion. And the geniculate ganglion is a crucial sensory part of the facial nerve (Cranial nerve VII). It is located in your temporal bone in your skull. The facial nerve carries both motor and sensory fibers. It is the 7th cranial nerve and carries nerve fibers that control facial movement and expression. The nerve is also involved in taste to the anterior 2/3 of the tongue). Moreover, it carries general sensation (touch, pain, temperature) from the outer ear (pinna), ear canal, and eardrum.It has small branches involved in moderating our sensitivity to noise volume (stapedius muscle). Additionally, it provides motor function for tear/saliva production.
Secondly, in cases like Ramsay Hunt Syndrome there is inflammation. This causes severe ear pain and facial paralysis. It is the second most frequent cause of non-traumatic peripheral (Nerves outside the brain/spine) facial paralysis. So Ramsay Hunt syndrome occurs when a shingles outbreak affects the facial nerve near one of your ears. Furthermore, in addition to the painful shingles rash, Ramsay Hunt syndrome can cause facial paralysis. It can even cause hearing loss in the affected ear. Patients with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, may also experience ringing in the ears (tinnitus). And even a sensation of vertigo (spinning or moving). Additionally, because of the difficulty closing one eye, dry eyes can occur.
Postherpetic neuralgia/ Trigeminal Nerve Pain
Firstly, an outbreak of herpes zoster, the virus that causes chicken pox and shingles can affect the trigeminal nerve as well. This is the fifth cranial nerve. It carries sensations from the face to the brain. The trigeminal nerve divides into three main branches, with each leading to a region of the face.
Secondly, the three main branches on each side of the head, with each branch connecting to a region of the face are: Ophthalmic (eyes), Maxillary (upper jaw), Mandibular (lower jaw). The nerve helps control functions such as biting, chewing and swallowing.
Thirdly, symptoms of trigeminal nerve pain include intense stabbing pain. The facial areas affected can be the lips, eyes, nose, scalp forehead and jaw. Trigeminal neuralgia often affects one side, but can affect both sides at different times.
Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture for Facial Neuralgia from Shingles
Acupuncture has been confirmed as an effective and safe treatment for PHN by researchers. And the World Health Organization (WHO) supports Acupuncture for many ailments including PHN.
In one study, a young woman suffered unilateral (one sided) facial paralysis due to Ramsay Hunt syndrome. She received conventional treatment with acyclovir (antiviral medication), analgesics, corticosteroids and eye protection measures 48 hours after the onset of symptoms. At three weeks, due to the lack of improvement of the facial paralysis, acupuncture was started. An almost complete improvement was obtained at 14 weeks since the onset of the condition. The study showed Acupuncture and related noninvasive techniques such as chiropractic may be an effective alternative treatment for PHN. Moreover, there are very few adverse effects (side effects) with acupuncture.
Dr. Natalie Meiri
How Does Acupuncture Help Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN)?
Acupuncture has been used for over 4000 years to treat pain and other health problems safely and effectively. Acupuncture consists of the insertion of one or several very thin metal needles into the skin and underlying tissues. The acupuncture treatment stimulates the imbalanced pathways called meridians. This activates the body’s natural healing abilities. Ultimately, this brings balance back to your body. Indeed, Acupuncture has a beneficial effect when treating many diseases and painful conditions.
Researchers believe when an acupuncture needle is inserted, the sensory and proprioceptive nerves are stimulated. This sends a message to our brain and nervous system. Recently, a team of researchers led by neuroscientists at Harvard Medical School has looked at the underlying neuroanatomy of acupuncture that activates a specific signaling pathway. In this study, they specifically investigated acupuncture as a potential treatment for inflammation. They found “acupoints” or acupuncture points on the body’s surface are mechanically stimulated, triggering nerve signaling that affects the function of other parts of the body, including organs. Ultimately, Acupuncture improves blood flow and calms the nervous system.
Meiri Chiropractic offers acupuncture for Post herpetic neuralgia and many other ailments. Dr. Natalie Meiri is a chiropractic physician, board certified in acupuncture with over 20 years of experience. Call today for your acupuncture treatment for PHN at 561-253-8984.
This post is about Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture For Frozen Shoulder. Did you know acupuncture can be a helpful complementary treatment for a frozen shoulder?
Studies found that acupuncture is safe and effective for pain reduction, restoring shoulder function, and range of motion for Frozen shoulder. Furthermore, acupuncture was beneficial for patients in the acute or chronic condition. In addition, studies found that physical medicine such as chiropractic in conjunction with acupuncture is extremely effective for frozen shoulder.
What is a Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)?
The cause of frozen shoulder/adhesive capsulitis is unknown. It has been associated with diabetes, thyroid disorders, lung disease, trauma, immobilization, and cervical (neck) disk disease. Primarily, thickened shoulder capsular contractures is how it occurs. This capsule is a fibrous sheath (tissue composed of bundles of collagenous white fibers and between are rows of connective tissue cells) which encloses the structures of the joint. Secondary contractures of other areas of the shoulder occur in the following: shoulder ligaments, bursa (sac of fluid that reduces friction between the surfaces of a bone and soft tissue), tendons. Adhesive Capsulitis is more common in 40-65 year olds and is prevalent in sedentary individuals.
The process of developing a frozen shoulder begins as an inflammatory stage/ phase lasting from 2 to 9 months (i.e. similar to acute tendonitis). Next, a stiffening stage lasting 4 to 12 months, where there is a loss of range of motion. Finally, in the thawing stage lasting 6 to 9 months, range of motion is increasing and pain is decreasing.
Frozen shoulder can be formally classified as: (1) primary frozen shoulder due to adhesive pericapsulitis/adhesive capsulitis as mentioned above. Additionally, it can be a secondary frozen shoulder resulting from a sprain, strain, tendinopathy, tendon tear, or bursitis.
Acupuncture Treatment for Frozen Shoulder- Research and treatment
Firstly, Acupuncture improves blood flow and soothes the nervous system. Researchers believe acupuncture stimulates the nerves. And this can dramatically relieve pain. Additionally, once these neurotransmitters are moving about, our blood vessels vasodialates. And this gets blood into the affected areas, initiating healing. This triggers nerve signaling that affects the function of other parts of the body, including organs.
Secondly, for conventional treatment with drugs, many outcomes are not a full resolution. So, acupuncture may be the final option for full resolution. Acupuncture is natural and has fewer adverse side effects than drugs.
Thirdly, perhaps acupuncture has its effects by releasing natural opioids in the body that relieve pain. Scientists believe that acupuncture overrides pain signals in the nerves. In Traditional Chinese medicine, it is said acupuncture allows energy (qi) or blood to flow freely. This thereby heals a frozen shoulder.
Fourthly, electroacupuncture is a method of delivery of a pulsed electric current to the acupoints. Moreover, researchers investigated the effects of electroacupuncture. The results point out that electroacupuncture plus rehabilitation such as chiropractic may provide earlier pain relief. Electroacupuncture may positively influence the metabolism during treatment. Thereby promoting blood circulation, improving tissue nutrition, and eliminating inflammation and edema. Studies have shown electroacupuncture relieves frozen shoulder pain and helps restore range of motion.
Dr. Natalie Meiri
Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture for Frozen Shoulder
The acupuncture treatment stimulates the imbalanced meridian pathways to bring balance back. This activates the body’s natural healing abilities. Indeed, Acupuncture has a beneficial effect when treating many diseases and painful conditions for over 4000 years.
Meiri Chiropractic offers acupuncture for frozen shoulder and many other ailments. Dr. Natalie Meiri is a chiropractic physician, board certified in acupuncture with over 20 years of experience. Call today for your acupuncture treatment for frozen shoulder at 561-253-8984.
If you have fibromyalgia you feel achy, fatigued, and stiff in multiple muscle groups. You may have other associated symptoms as well. So fibromyalgia is a systemic disorder that acupuncture can provide care for naturally. Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia is about the above.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia affects two – four percent of people, women more often than men. It is a type of rheumatism (condition with pain in muscles, joints, or fibrous tissue). Although it most often starts in middle adulthood, it can occur in the teen years and in older ages. You are at higher risk for fibromyalgia if you have a rheumatic disease (health problem that affects the joints, muscles and bones). These include systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis.
Fibromyalgia is a Syndrome
Fibromyalgia is a syndrome (condition characterized by a set of associated symptoms) of chronic pain of musculoskeletal origin, but uncertain cause. Recent research says it is a neurologic health problem that causes widespread pain and tenderness (sensitivity to touch). Many fibromyalgia patients report that certain weather conditions seem to aggravate their symptoms, but scientists have not found out why.
Several theories have been proposed focusing on lowered pain-threshold levels and decreased serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter. It acts as one of the body’s chemical messengers used by the nervous system to transmit messages from one area of the brain to another. So brain cells related to mood, sleep, memory and some social behavior could be affected by this. Additionally, it is believed that stage 4 sleep (deep sleep that lasts for about 30 minutes) is interrupted in fibromyalgia patients. This could be due to intrusions of alpha rhythms (pattern of slow brain waves in normal awake persons at rest with closed eyes) during stage 4 sleep. Consequently, fibromyalgia is accompanied by severe fatigue, sleep issues (waking up unrefreshed), memory/thinking clearly and mood issues.
Moreover, some patients also may have:
Depression and anxiety
Persistent early morning stiffness
Paresthesia (pins and needles feeling)
Digestive problems: irritable bowel syndrome (commonly called IBS) or gastroesophageal reflux disease (often referred to as GERD)
Irritable or overactive bladder
Pelvic pain
Temporomandibular disorder – often called TMJ (a set of symptoms including face/jaw pain, jaw clicking, and ringing in the ears)
Diagnosis and Causes
There are no lab or imaging (i.e.,x-rays, MRI) tests for diagnosis of fibromyalgia. It is diagnosed by the tender sites and the associated symptoms experienced by the patient. Also, there should be no other health problems that would explain the pain and other symptoms. Therefore, lab tests or x-rays may be done to rule out any other cause for your symptoms.
There is most often some triggering factor that sets off fibromyalgia. It may be spine problems, arthritis, injury, or other type of physical stress. Emotional stress also may trigger this illness. The cause may be different in different people. Nevertheless, the result is a change in the way the body communicates with the spinal cord and brain. Fibromyalgia is not an autoimmune or inflammation based illness, but current research suggests the central nervous system is involved (brain and spinal cord).
Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia: Treatment
Seeing a chiropractor who is also certified in acupuncture can provide excellent care for fibromyalgia. This is done by getting your nervous system working at its best through acupuncture and adjustments (chiropractic manipulative therapy).
Acupuncture has been used for over 4000 years to treat pain and other health problems. The acupuncture treatment stimulates the imbalanced pathways along the meridians to bring balance back. Mainly, the goal is to activate the body’s natural healing abilities. It’s often used as part of a broader approach to healthcare.
Acupuncture has a beneficial effect when treating many diseases and painful conditions. Therefore, acupuncture is thought to be useful as a complementary, alternative and integrative therapy for Fibromyalgia.
Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia: Research
The mechanism by which acupuncture provides pain relief is unclear. However, studies suggest neuromodulation is happening. Neuromodulation is when a therapy alters nerve activity by delivering stimuli to the nervous system. Furthermore, this re-calibrates faulty signals to treat various conditions. So Acupuncture treatment leads to neurotransmitters’ release into the plasma and CSF (cerebrospinalfluid) that promotes pain alleviation. Our body’s enkephalins and endorphins are released. These are our body’s natural opioids and can dramatically relieve pain. Additionally, once these neurotransmitters are moving about, our blood vessels vasodilates. And this gets blood into the affected areas, initiating healing.
Several clinical trials were carried out and were able to show alleviation in pain and improvement in accompanying symptoms and quality of life with acupuncture; Acupuncture improves blood flow and calms the nervous system. Researchers believe when an acupuncture needle is inserted, the sensory and proprioceptive nerves are stimulated. This sends a message to our brain and nervous system.
Recently, a team of researchers led by neuroscientists at Harvard Medical School has looked at the underlying neuroanatomy of acupuncture that activates a specific signaling pathway. In this study, they specifically investigated acupuncture as a potential treatment for inflammation. They found “acupoints” or acupuncture points on the body’s surface are mechanically stimulated, triggering nerve signaling that affects the function of other parts of the body, including organs.
Dr. Natalie Meiri
Where can I find the best chiropractor certified in acupuncture for fibromyalgia in West Palm Beach?
While there is no cure, there are treatments for the management of Fibromyalgia.
Jan Chambers, President of the National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association (2015), states, “…I started seeing a chiropractor who provided a thorough examination, ordered x-rays and then …created a very rigorous program to address the problems in my neck and lower back. Years later, I still do therapy at home, but it is the chiropractic care that was my lifesaver. I feel like chiropractic care literally saved my life.” (1)
If you are suffering from Fibromyalgia contact Meiri Chiropractic. Your chiropractic physician certified in acupuncture in West Palm Beach will get you better. Call 561-253-8984 to make an appointment or to learn more about Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia.
