Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture for Menstrual Disorders is about how to minimize or eliminate the bad symptoms of menstrual disorders.

More than half of women who menstruate have some pain for 1 to 2 days each month. Usually, the pain is mild. Others have severe pain with other symptoms, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, and dizziness. Above all, it keeps them from doing normal activities for several days a month. 

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 Menstrual Disorders.

 

What is Premenstrual Syndrome?

Premenstrual syndrome (P.M.S.) is a hormone mediated response to fluctuating levels of progesterone and estrogen (sex and reproductive hormones).  Symptoms generally represent the consequences of emotionaI lability (rapid, often exaggerated changes in mood, where strong emotions or feelings occur). For instance, mood swings, anxiety, and depression occur. Furthermore, hormonal effects on neuroendocrine (cells that release hormones into the blood in response to stimulation of the nervous system) function cause headaches, food cravings, fluid retention, breast tenderness or fullness, and back pain.  P.M.S. appears 7 to 10 days prior to menses and improves within hours to days following the onset of menses. After that, dysmenorrhea (menstrual symptoms) may appear.

What is Dysmenorrhea?

Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for pain with your period (menstruation) or menstrual cramps. There are two types of dysmenorrhea: primary and secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea is the name for common menstrual cramps that come back over and over again (recurrent). Secondary dysmenorrhea can be due to other diseases.  With secondary dysmenorrhea (due to endometriosis or fibroids), you may want to talk to your doctor (OB/GYN) about a diagnosis and treatment options.

 

Why Do P.M.S. (Premenstrual Symptoms) and Dysmenorrhea occur?

The pituitary gland, a pea-sized gland at the base of the brain, produces a number of hormones. Each of these hormones affects a specific part of the body.  Luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone produced by the pituitary, promote ovulation and stimulate the ovaries to produce estrogen and progesterone.

Estrogen and progesterone stimulate the uterus and breasts to prepare for possible fertilization. Estrogen causes the breast ducts to enlarge. Progesterone production causes the milk glands to swell. Both of these events can cause your breasts to feel sore.

Before a period begins, the cells that form the lining of the uterus begin to break down.   As a result, large amounts of inflammatory prostaglandins are released. During menstruation these chemicals constrict the blood vessels in the uterus and make the muscle layer contract, causing painful cramps.  Additionally, prostaglandins can cause symptoms of headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and urinary frequency.  Heavy contractions can lead to low back pain.  Similarly, lower abdominal pain can radiate into the low back.

 

Theories to explain why symptoms vary from woman to woman:

 -Some women may metabolize progesterone differently with the result of less allopregnenolone. (Allopregnanolone is a neuroactive steroid involved in modulating behavioral functions, stress). 

-Serotonin levels decreasing. Serotonin is a key hormone that stabilizes our mood, feelings of well-being, and happiness. 

-There is estrogen excess or progesterone deficiency (through stimulation of the renin-angiotensin system and increased levels of aldosterone) leads to fluid retention. The Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) is a hormone system within the body that is essential for the regulation of blood pressure and fluid balance. 

-There are nutritional imbalances in B6 and magnesium, altered blood sugar levels, and prostaglandin imbalance. 

 

Research on Acupuncture and How It May Alleviate Your Symptoms

Results of one study suggest that acupuncture might reduce menstrual pain and associated symptoms more effectively compared to no treatment or NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). And the efficacy could be maintained during a short-term follow-up period (1).

How acupuncture can alleviate your symptoms is not completely known.  There are studies on acupuncture treatments and the following:  

Firstly, Endorphins are released during acupuncture.  This acts as the body’s natural pain-relieving mechanism.  Additionally, this may reduce period pain intensity, duration, and symptoms.  This includes headaches, breast tenderness, and bloating.

Secondly, acupuncture improves blood flow to the abdomen and pelvic area.  This may help reduce pain/ menstrual cramping.

Thirdly, acupuncture may help with balancing hormones.  Indeed, hormonal imbalance may be a cause of your menstrual pain and stress levels.

Fourthly, by reducing inflammation Acupuncture provides pain relief.

Fifthly, acupuncture helps relax muscles.  So your uterine muscles will be cramping less.

 

Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture for Menstrual Disorders

If you are suffering from menstrual disorders 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 Menstrual Disorders.

This post is about Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture Helps Digestion. Acupuncture demonstrates a significant immediate effect in reducing discomforts for digestion and gastrointestinal disorders. Research shows the efficacy and safety of acupuncture to improve digestion and help gastrointestinal disorders.

Indeed, Acupuncture can help manage gastrointestinal disorders by regulating the nervous system, reducing inflammation, and improving gut motility. This is accomplished by stimulating specific acupuncture points that influence the digestive system, promoting relaxation and balancing hormones. Therefore, this can lead to improved digestion and reduced symptoms of gastrointestinal conditions.  Ultimately, you will have overall better gut health.

 

What are gastrointestinal disorders?

Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are diseases or health problems of the digestive tract. Your digestive system includes your esophagus (tube leading to stomach from mouth), stomach, large and small intestines, liver, pancreas and gallbladder.  The digestive process involves breaking down of food and drink into nutrients that your body can absorb.  Next, your body uses these nutrients as energy and building blocks for cells.

The following are some common gastrointestinal disorders.

 

1. Reflux Esophagitis/ Hiatal Hernia/ G.E.R.D.

A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach pushes up into the chest through a small opening in the diaphragm, the muscle that separates the abdomen from the chest.  This results in retention of acid and other contents. These acids and other substances can easily reflux into the esophagus causing heartburn. So if heartburn continues and is more frequent it can become GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease).

The symptoms of GERD are also epigastric (upper central region of the abdomen) pain after eating a large meal and lying down. Your esophagus is a muscular tube that connects your mouth and your stomach. The esophageal sphincters (rings of muscle) contract and relax to allow food and liquid to pass. The tone of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) may decrease with age and also with ingestion of certain foods.  In addition, smoking and certain medications also will decrease the tone of the LES, leading to reflux.  Moreover, increased pressure from obesity may aggravate symptoms. However, esophageal reflux can be common in healthy athletes, such as conditioned runners, cyclists, and weightlifters.  Several mechanisms may account for this, including position, Valsalva (forcefully breathing out against closed windpipe), and indirect effects of exercise on lower esophageal tone.

 

2. Peptic Ulcer

Peptic ulcer disease, also referred to as stomach or duodenal ulcers, is usually caused by bacteria or the overuse of common pain relievers.  Although you may have pain after eating, for most people, pain occurs when the stomach is empty.  Moreover, it is four times more common in men than women. 

 

3. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

IBS is a condition with chronic recurrent abdominal pain with constipation or diarrhea.  However, there are no signs of bleeding or inflammation.  And  IBS is the most common chronic gastrointestinal disorder.  Indeed, it is stress related.

 

4. Regional Enteritis (Crohn’s Disease)

Crohn’s disease is a chronic disease that causes inflammation in your digestive tract (small and large intestine). The cause of Crohn’s disease is unknown. Researchers think that an autoimmune reaction may occur.  The symptoms are severe cramping and diarrhea.  Because of malabsorption of nutrients, anemia,  fatigue, and weight loss happens.

 

5. Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic, inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. It is usually only in the innermost lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum.  Again, the cause is attributed to autoimmune disease.

Symptoms include episodic cramping and bloody diarrhea. Ulcerative colitis is most common in young adults.  In addition, it may be accompanied by systemic (whole body) symptoms.  And there is a high risk for future colon cancer.

 

Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture Helps Digestion: Research and Empirical Evidence

Firstly, Acupuncture has been used for relief of acute illness, such as pain and indigestion in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Many case reports have demonstrated that acupuncture therapy was very helpful for a patient for pain relief. A Chinese case study reports the positive effects of treating ulcerative colitis with acupuncture (1).

Secondly, acupuncture was started in the Western world only after the historical visit of President Richard Nixon to China in 1972. So within this time, one of the reporters from the New York Times underwent an emergency apendectomy in China.  Afterward, he suffered from postsurgical paralytic ileus. This condition causes the muscles of the intestines to stop working, causing a blockage. It’s characterized by a lack of bowel movements and the inability to pass gas. Moreover, this leads to abdominal distention, pain, nausea, and vomiting. Paralytic Ileus can be caused by various factors, including abdominal surgery, infection, certain medications, and electrolyte imbalances. Lastly, the reporter’s problem was resolved by acupuncturists in China.  Thereafter, it was widely introduced to the west.

Thirdly, a Scientific Research trial investigated the effect of acupuncture on nausea and vomiting after minor gynecological surgery. Acupuncture significantly reduced both nausea and vomiting.(2)

Fourthly, A US research trial investigated the effect of acupuncture on the incidence of nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy. Compared to the control group (standard comparison group), the anti-emetic (anti nausea medicine) requirement was significantly lower in the group receiving acupuncture. 

 

Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture Helps Digestion

After a thorough exam to rule out any critical problems, a course of acupuncture may definitely help. Meiri Chiropractic offers acupuncture for digestion problems/ issues 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 and/or chiropractic treatment for gastrointestinal disorders and digestion issues at 561-253-8984.

 

References:

(1) Yue and Zhenhui, J Tradit Chin Med 2005

(2) Dundee et al, Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1986

(3) Roscoe et al, Altern Ther Health Med 2002

 

 

This post is about Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture Helps Dizziness and Vertigo.  Acupuncture demonstrates a significant immediate effect in reducing discomforts for both dizziness and vertigo. Research shows the efficacy and safety of acupuncture to treat dizziness and vertigo.

Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture Helps Dizziness and Vertigo; What is vertigo?

Vertigo is the sensation that you, or the environment around you, is moving or spinning.

This feeling may be barely noticeable or it may be severe.  So severe that you find it difficult to keep your balance and do daily tasks.

Attacks of vertigo can develop suddenly and last for a few seconds, or they may last much longer.

Vertigo is commonly caused by a problem with the way balance works in the inner ear, although it can also be caused by problems in certain parts of the brain.  Additionally, it can be caused by neuromusculoskeletal problems in your neck.

Depending on the condition causing vertigo, you may experience additional symptoms, such as ringing in your ears (tinnitus) and hearing loss.

Symptoms of vertigo are all dependent on each individual and may vary from this list. Some common vertigo symptoms may include:

• Swaying
• Unbalanced
• Headache
• Sweating
• Ringing in ears
• Loss of hearing
• Nausea
• Spinning

Here are some causes of vertigo:

Cervicogenic Vertigo

Cervicogenic means the problem is coming from a source in the neck. Either overstimulation of upper cervical (neck) proprioceptors or degeneration of these proprioceptors occurs with cervicogenic vertigo. A proprioceptor is a sensory receptor which receives stimuli (regarding position and movement) from within the body. Additionally, proprioceptive pathways may cause an imbalance of information. This leads to a perception of vertigo or disequilibrium.  

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

BBPV is vertigo lasting seconds to a couple of minutes. BPPV is due to “degenerative debris” (small bits of calcium carbonate) floating in the semicircular canal in your ear. The semicircular canals are three tiny, fluid-filled tubes in your inner ear that help you keep your balance.  Common head positioning changes causing BBPV are extension (i.e. looking up at a shelf) or rotation, bending over and straightening back up, or rolling over in bed.  Trauma and age appear to be important factors.  BPPV is the most common cause of vertigo.

Meniere’s disease 

These are paroxysmal (sudden and recurrent) attacks of severe vertigo accompanied by low-tone hearing loss, low-tone tinnitus, and a sense of fullness in the ear. The episodes last for several hours to a day. Vertigo-free periods last for weeks or months. Hearing loss is progressive, while vertigo attacks appear to “burn out” over time. Some patients have sudden “drop” attacks without loss of consciousness. Increased fluid maybe causing distention and symptoms.

Causes of  Vertigo Due to an Infection:

Vestibular Neuronitis (Neuritis) 

Vestibular Neuronitis is most commonly associated with an ear infection.  So severe vertigo occurs rather suddenly and lasts for days to weeks. There is often associated nausea and vomiting.  The cause is unknown. However, it may be due to a viral infection of the vestibular nerve (nerve of inner ear). Patients report a respiratory infection prior to this vertigo. Similarly, of patients with vestibular neuritis, 50% report having had a common cold.

Labyrinthitis 

The patient complains of an acute onset of vertigo with or without hearing loss.  A viral or bacterial infection (ie ear infection) causes damage to the inner ear leading to complete destruction of the inner ear. 

 

Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture Helps Dizziness and Vertigo

Firstly, Acupuncture has been used for relief of acute illness, such as pain, dizziness and vertigo in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. One case report demonstrated that acupuncture therapy was very helpful for a patient with peripheral vestibular (inner ear) vertigo. Moreover, it appears Acupuncture may be an option for patients who are intolerant to drug therapy.

Secondly, Acupuncture can reduce balance disorders caused by disorders of the inner ear. Furthermore, acupuncture targets the emotional disturbances or stress.  These are factors that can exacerbate or start an incident of dizziness and vertigo.

Thirdly, 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. In vertigo caused by abnormalities of the vestibular system, acupuncture can play a role in reducing dizziness through increasing microcirculation in the inner ear.

Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture Helps Dizziness and Vertigo

After a thorough exam to rule out any critical problems, a course of acupuncture may definitely help! Additionally, Chiropractic adjustments stop the overstimulation and balance out any misinformation in the nervous system pathways. Meiri Chiropractic offers acupuncture for dizziness and vertigo 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 and/or chiropractic treatment for dizziness and vertigo at 561-253-8984.

 

References: Med Acupuncture. 2023 Apr 13;35(2):89–93. doi: 10.1089/acu2022.0012

Acupuncture Therapy for Peripheral Vestibular Vertigo (with Suspected Ménière’s Disease) by Wahyuningsh Diaali, Christina Simadibrata, Irma Naraswari, Nur Asniati Diaali

 

This post is about Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture Helps Headaches. On the basis of the existing evidence, acupuncture can be a helpful complementary treatment for headaches.  This is particularly true for migraines and tension-type headaches.

Studies suggest acupuncture can reduce the frequency and severity of headaches, and may offer longer-lasting relief than some medications. It’s also safe and cost effective. Lastly, it doesn’t have the side effects as some medications do.  While not a cure, it can be a valuable option for those seeking alternatives or in conjunction with their headache management.

Causes of Migraines/Headaches: Neurologic Event

Firstly, Migraine is a common neurological disease.  It is characterized by an unilateral (one sided), throbbing recurrent headache.  Frequently, it is accompanied by photophobia (sensitivity to light), phonophobia (sensitivity to sound), or nausea.

Secondly, a neurologic event apparently occurs associated with an imbalance of serotonin during headaches. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that works with bodily functions.  This includes mood, sleep, appetite, anxiety, digestion, and sexual desire. So too little or too much serotonin may contribute to headaches.  And it matters where it occurs. Typically, too little serotonin in your central nervous system is the primary cause of headaches.

Thirdly, increased local vascular concentrations of serotonin may be part of an inflammatory cascade.  These inflammatory chemicals include substance P. Substance P is a neurotransmitter found in the brain and spinal cord.  It plays a role in transmitting pain signals.  Ultimately, a neurogenic (originating from nervous system) vascular inflammation results.  Truly, there are numerous chemical reactions causing headaches.

Causes of Headaches: Dopamine

Additionally, Scientist looked at the relationship between dopamine and migraine.  And Dopamine is a neurotransmitter. This is a chemical messenger in the brain.  Moreover, it plays a crucial role in bodily functions: reward system, movement, attention and focus, mood.

In one study, they assumed that depression and pain is caused by an imbalance or a deficiency of neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine).   Also, they found long-term relief for chronic headaches. In conclusion, acupuncture treatments can trigger the release of endorphins such as dopamine. Endorphins are natural, feel-good chemicals produced by the body. They act as natural painkillers and mood enhancers.

 

Acupuncture Treatment for Migraines

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.

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.

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.

 

Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture Helps Headaches

Acupuncture has been used for over 4000 years to treat pain and other health problems. The acupuncture treatment stimulates the imbalanced meridian pathways to bring balance back.  This activates the body’s natural healing abilities. It’s often used as part of a broader approach to healthcare. Indeed, Acupuncture has a beneficial effect when treating many diseases and painful conditions. 

Meiri Chiropractic offers acupuncture for headaches 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 headaches at 561-253-8984.

 

References: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7606388/

 

Did you know Acupuncture can help you get pregnant? Fertility can be difficult for some couples. However, there are many options to help. And extensive research shows that acupuncture can be a wonderful solution for couples with fertility issues (1).  In fact, Acupuncture has been utilized to improve Fertility since ancient times.  This blog is about Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture To Improve Fertility.

 

Acupuncture is Natural and Has Been Utilized To Improve Fertility For Centuries

Firstly, Acupuncture has been used for over 4000 years to treat pain and other health problems/issues. 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 and bring balance back to your body. It’s often used as part of a broader approach to healthcare.

Secondly, Research has shown the ability of acupuncture to improve sperm/egg quality.  This is due to how acupuncture treatments help balance your hormones.

Thirdly, many couples are undergoing acupuncture treatment in conjunction with fertility treatments to improve their pregnancy rates.

Fourthly, acupuncture helps with stress and overall wellness for a healthier pregnancy.

 

Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture To Improve Fertility and Research

In research, it was observed that acupuncture before and after invitro fertilization significantly increased the pregnancy rates in women with unexplained infertility. It was also found that acupuncture reduced anxiety and stress levels that occurred before invitro fertilization. Moreover, it takes a few months for the sperm and eggs to develop.  Therefore, couples usually start acupuncture months ahead of their fertility treatments. 

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How Does Acupuncture Help Fertility?

Acupuncture has been utilized in Asia to regulate the female reproductive system for thousands of years.  Studies have shown that acupuncture affects the nervous system.  Acupuncture triggers the nerves and brain. Additionally, it helps in the following ways to improve fertility:  

• Improving sperm count and motility
• Reducing stress and anxiety associated with infertility
• Normalizing hormone production and endocrine system
• Improving blood flow to the reproductive organs (uterus and testes)
• Decreasing chance of miscarriage
• Decreasing inflammation that may be causing infertility
• Regulating the menstrual cycle
• Increasing the chance of pregnancy for women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF)

 

Acupuncture Helps Improve Fertility by Reducing Stress

First, Stress is one of the most prevalent causes of infertility.  Furthermore, an outcome of infertility only makes the stress increase.  Acupuncture is extremely successful with decreasing stress.  

Second, many recent studies have established a link between a woman’s day-to-day stress levels and lowered pregnancy chances.  When a woman’s body undergoes stress, they recognize it is not an ideal time to have a baby and react accordingly. Also, periods of stress greatly impact our lifestyles and can cause a less frequent sex life. Lastly, Stress can also cause couples to turn to unhealthy habits.  For example, this includes: drinking alcohol/ drugs, caffeine, smoking.  All of these are key factors for infertility.

Third, stress can affect semen quality and quantity.  This is because stress can negatively impact the production of certain hormones (e.g. testosterone). 

Fourth, Acupuncture can help reduce depression.  Sadly, this can be common in couples undergoing infertility treatment.  

 

Acupuncture Helps Improve Fertility by Improving Circulation

The theory is that many cases of infertility arise due to not enough blood flow.  Acupuncture treatments increase your blood circulation. This will ensure that proper blood flow is reaching your reproductive organs. Research has shown that acupuncture has a positive effect on blood flow.  In one study, acupuncture’s ability to increase circulation in the uterine arteries of infertile women was recognized. 

 

Acupuncture Helps Improve Fertility by Improving Sleep

Numerous studies have confirmed that sleep issues can greatly affect men’s and women’s overall and reproductive health. In fact, acupuncture has been used to help treat insomnia. Studies on couples who have sleep issues found that those with insomnia are more likely to have fertility issues. 

The exact mechanism by which acupuncture relieves insomnia is unclear. However, it appears that acupuncture needling on certain acupoints can have effects on or transfer information to the appropriate organs. Furthermore, an explanation is found in the “meridians theories” in Traditional Chinese Medicine. For instance, in one study, it appeared acupuncture altered the electrical activity of multiple meridians in insomnia patients.

Moreover, basic science and various clinical studies have indicated that acupuncture regulates various neurotransmitters and hormonal factors.  This includes endorphins, serotonin, norepinephrine, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, acetylcholine (Ach), melatonin, substance P, other neuropeptides, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and nitric oxide.  And all of these play major roles in sleep regulation and overall health.

 

Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture To Improve Fertility

Research has shown that acupuncture has a positive effect and no adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes.  Meiri Chiropractic offers acupuncture to improve fertility. 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.

 

References: (1) Journal of Clinical Medicine, March 4, 2021: Article Acupuncture for Poor Ovarian Response: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Jihyun Kim 1,† , Hoyoung Lee 1,†, Tae-Young Choi 1 , Joong Il Kim 1 , Byoung-Kab Kang 2 , Myeong Soo Lee 1 , Jong Kil Joo 2 , Kyu Sup Lee 2,* and Sooseong You

 

 

 

 

 

This post is about Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture Helps Tinnitus. One third of adults in different countries at some points of their life have experienced tinnitus. About 12 million people in the United States suffer from tinnitus. According to the National Center for Health Statistics of the United States, about 32% of all US adults report having tinnitus at one point in their lives. And about 6.4% of them characterizes tinnitus as severe. Tinnitus is more common in men than women.  Moreover, its prevalence increases with age, which is not related to noise exposure. 

So Tinnitus is relatively common. Ultimately, the causes and mechanism of tinnitus are complicated. While there is no cure for tinnitus, acupuncture can be helpful. 

 

Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture Helps Tinnitus

Tinnitus is the experience of one or more sounds being in the ear or head despite the absence of an outside source. Mostly, you will complain of “ringing and buzzing” in the ears.  

Furthermore, there are many causes as to why it happens: vascular, ototoxicity (drug induced), cochlear (inner ear), small muscle spasms (close proximity to the ear), temporomandibular (jaw) joint or cervicogenic (neck), insomnia, depression and anxiety.

Acupuncture has been utilized as an alternative treatment for acute and chronic tinnitus.  And this applies to patients with tinnitus of various causes.  It appears acupuncture may nourish the nerves. And this improves cochlear blood flow dysfunction in the ear.  Therefore, reducing the symptoms of ringing in the ears. 

Causes of Tinnitus

Firstly, tinnitus is a symptom and not a disease. It could be in one or both ears. It is a symptom of a disease or dysfunction in your ear, the auditory (sense of hearing) nerve connecting your inner ear to your brain and/or the parts of your brain that process sound. And tinnitus could simply be due to ear cerumen (wax) impaction, a side effect of medications or due to a more serious problem. 

Secondly, tinnitus could be caused by hearing loss.  An example is noise-induced hearing loss due to exposure to environmental noise. For instance, it could be machinery, loud music, or earphones.  So along with the hearing loss, you may develop tinnitus from the damage induced to the inner ear. Moreover, tinnitus is sometimes the first sign of presbycusis (hearing loss in older people). Also, otosclerosis is a condition in which there’s abnormal bone growth inside the ear causing hearing loss. Otosclerosis happens in young people and causes hearing loss along with tinnitus. 

Thirdly, otitis media (ear infections) may cause tinnitus.  Similarly, repeated ear infections can cause scar tissue in the middle ear. This scarring can cause irritation of the nerve endings and cause tinnitus as well as hearing loss.

Fourthly, tinnitus can be due to an endocrine (e.g. hormonal) problem, vascular (e.g. heart/cardiac murmur) problem, or a tumor (e.g. acoustic tumor). Tinnitus has the potential to be the result of a problem occurring anywhere in the auditory system.  This includes cochlear damage and hyperexcitability of the auditory centre.

Fifthly, tinnitus could be due to trauma to the head, ear or neck (e.g. whiplash).

 

 

Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture Helps Tinnitus

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 Tinnitus.

Meiri Chiropractic offers acupuncture for tinnitus 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 Tinnitus at 561-253-8984.

 

 

Inflammation is found in numerous diseases. Read on to find out how acupuncture helps inflammation. This post is about Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture Helps Inflammation.

 

What is Inflammation?

Firstly, Inflammation is part of the body’s defense mechanism. It is the process by which the immune system recognizes and removes harmful and foreign stimuli.  Next, your body can begin the healing process.

Secondly, Inflammation can be either acute or chronic. Acute inflammation starts rapidly, becomes severe in a short time and symptoms may last for a few days.  And sub acute inflammation is the period between acute and chronic inflammation and may last 2 to 6 weeks.

Thirdly, Chronic Inflammation is also regarded as a slow, long-term inflammation.  It could last  for prolonged periods of several months to years. Generally, the extent and effects of chronic inflammation vary with the cause of the injury.  Furthermore, it depends on the ability of the body to repair and overcome the damage.

 

Chronic inflammatory diseases are the most significant cause of death in the world.

The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks chronic diseases as the greatest threat to human health. The prevalence of diseases associated with chronic inflammation is anticipated to increase.  This will persistent for the next 30 years in the United States. In 2000, nearly 125 million Americans were living with chronic conditions and 61 million (21%) had more than one. In recent estimates by Rand Corporation, in 2014 nearly 60% of Americans had at least one chronic condition, 42% had more than one and 12% of adults had 5 or more chronic conditions. Worldwide, 3 of 5 people die due to chronic inflammatory diseases.  This includes diseases like stroke, chronic respiratory diseases, heart disorders, cancer, obesity, and diabetes. Moreover, other chronic inflammatory diseases include arthritis/joint diseases and allergies.

 

Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture Helps Inflammation

Acupuncture has strong anti-inflammatory effects in the human body.  The body systems acupuncture affects include: immune, digestive, respiratory, nervous, locomotor, circulatory, endocrine, and genitourinary systems. The exact mechanism by which acupuncture relieves inflammation is unclear. However, it appears that acupuncture needling on certain acupoints can have effects on or transfer information to the appropriate organ systems.

As mentioned above, Inflammation is an important defense mechanism in the body. Many diseases are accompanied by inflammation, which plays an important role in disease occurrence and development. In the early stages, an inflammatory response helps the body fight the disease and restore homeostasis (balance). However, prolonged inflammation can cause havoc. A good example of this is the long-term inflammatory response of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).  This type of inflammation eventually leads to joint deformity and multi-system functional impairment. Drugs such as Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or steroid anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used to treat RA and inflammatory diseases. Of course, they do not alleviate the inflammatory reaction. Also, these drugs are accompanied by serious side effects. For instance, these include:  hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, cataracts, and glaucoma. Additionally, immunosuppression brought on by these drugs can make patients more prone to fungal and viral infections.

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends acupuncture for the treatment of 16 types of inflammatory diseases. 

Firstly, Acupuncture helps with digestive system inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). So acupuncture helps in the healing and recurrence of digestive diseases.

Secondly, Studies show that acupuncture improves both nasal symptoms and lung function of patients.  Subsequently, this improves the quality of life of patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis and acute pharyngitis.

Thirdly, muscle and tendon injury respond well to acupuncture. Joint pain, swelling, stiffness are all inflammatory symptoms. Also, synovial inflammation, articular (joint) cartilage damage, and low bone density occur due to inflammation.  This is often seen in patients with osteoarthritis (OA).

 

Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture Helps Inflammation

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 and bring balance back to your body. It’s often used as part of a broader approach to healthcare and to help inflammatory diseases/disorders.

Acupuncture has a beneficial effect when treating many diseases and painful conditions. Therefore, is thought to be useful as a complementary, alternative and integrative therapy for inflammation.

Meiri Chiropractic offers acupuncture for Inflammation 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 Inflammation at 561-253-8984.

 

 

 

Almost everyone has had some time in their life when their sleep was interrupted.  Typically, they can relate this to a particular situation such as a stress or health related issue.  However, when it is a chronic problem, it becomes a concern. The result of sleep dysfunction is excessive sleepiness, tiredness, and fatigue. Good sleep allows the body to boost immunity, reduce stress, manage weight, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Sleep is essential for good health.  You can not be productive in everything you do in life without proper sleep. This post is about West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Acupuncture Treats Insomnia.

 

What is insomnia?

Firstly, you have insomnia if you have: difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or nonrestorative sleep.  Secondly, this difficulty is present despite the opportunity and circumstance to sleep.  Thirdly, Insomnia leads to daytime distress.   Fourthly, this sleep dysfunction occurs at least 3 times per week and has been a problem for at least 1 month.

Your insomnia may make you tired, tense, lazy, or have delayed reactions, distraction, or headaches. Lastly, the most severe consequences of insomnia can be depression.

While Insomnia can be treated with medications, these can have dangerous side effects. Indeed, there are some non-drug therapy options including acupuncture.

 

Acupuncture is a Complementary and Alternative Medical Therapy for Insomnia

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 and bring balance back to your body. It’s often used as part of a broader approach to healthcare and help disorders such as insomnia.

Studies show that acupuncture improves sleep quality, fatigue, cognitive problems, and emotional symptoms without the side effects of drugs. Acupuncture seems to help prolong total sleep time and improve sleep efficiency.

 

The exact mechanism by which acupuncture relieves insomnia is unclear. However, it appears that acupuncture needling on certain acupoints can have effects on or transfer information to the appropriate organs. Furthermore, an explanation is found in the “meridians theories” in Traditional Chinese Medicine. For instance, in one study, it appeared acupuncture altered the electrical activity of multiple meridians in insomnia patients.

Moreover, basic science and various clinical studies have indicated that acupuncture regulates various neurotransmitters and hormonal factors.  This includes endorphins, serotonin, norepinephrine, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, acetylcholine (Ach), melatonin, substance P, other neuropeptides, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and nitric oxide.  And all of these play major roles in sleep regulation.

 

 

West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Acupuncture Treats Insomnia

Meiri Chiropractic offers acupuncture for Insomnia 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 Insomnia and/or better sleep at 561-253-8984.

 

Acupuncture West Palm Beach: Relief For Menopause and Perimenopause is about how to minimize or eliminate the unpleasant side effects of menopause.

Did you know acupuncture treatments can significantly reduce menopause and perimenopause symptoms?  Your quality of life will improve.  In one study, they found the benefits after a course of acupuncture treatments lasted for at least 6 months and beyond. 

 

What is Menopause?

Menopause is the point at which a woman stops ovulating and menstruation ceases, indicating the end of fertility. It is a natural progression in life. Many women experience few if any symptoms during this time.  However, others may suffer.  The following are some symptoms: anxiety, dry skin, fatigue, feelings of bloating, headaches, heart palpitations, hot flashes, insomnia, irritability, decreased interest in sex, loss of concentration, mood swings, night sweats, reduced stamina, urinary incontinence, vaginal dryness and itching, weight gain, cold hands and feet, joint pain, hair loss, and skin changes.

Menopause is actually a natural progression in life.  Above all, it is also the time women become increasingly vulnerable to other, potentially serious health problems. Over the long term, the diminished supply of estrogen increases the likelihood of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and vaginal atrophy. Remarkably, all the above can be avoided through a proper diet, nutritional supplements, exercise and acupuncture treatments.

Menopause Symptoms

After 12 months without menstruating, a woman is in menopause. The average age of menopause onset in the Unites States is 51.  Decreased circulating levels of estrogen with menopause appear to affect the central nervous system via the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a small but important area in the center of the brain between the pituitary gland and thalamus. It plays an important role in hormone production and helps to stimulate many important processes in the body. The hypothalamus controls body temperature, thirst, hunger, and other homeostatic systems.  It is also involved in sleep and emotional activity.

So 95% of perimenopausal and menopausal women experience “hot flashes”. These flushing and sweating episodes are sudden in onset and last several minutes.  A sensation of face and neck hotness extends to the front of the chest. The skin temperature may increase as much as 5° and may result in wetting of clothing through excess perspiration. Physiologic responses that also occur include an increase in heart rate perceived sometimes as palpitations.

Furthermore, there may be symptoms of headache, dizziness, and nausea during the episodes.  Many women have night sweats and also have difficulty falling asleep. And often awaken early without being able to fall back to sleep. Approximately 80% of women experience these episodes for more than 1 year. And as many as 20% of women have symptoms for more than 5 years.

 

The Hormones involved in Menopause and Acupuncture

Firstly, many years before a woman stops ovulating, her ovaries slow their production of the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Estrogen and progesterone are commonly thought of as sex or reproductive hormones. While estrogen is indeed essential for reproduction, it also acts on many nonreproductive organs and systems in the body. Cells in the vagina, bladder, breasts, skin, bones, arteries, heart, liver, and brain all contain estrogen receptors. And they require this hormone to stimulate these receptors for normal cell function.

Secondly, vasomotor symptoms (VMS), which include hot flashes and night sweats, are the most common and troubling symptoms associated with menopause. Although some women report experiencing the menopause without any VMS, for other women, these symptoms can be frequent and severe.  Furthermore, it interrupts their daily activities and quality of life. And this can continue for almost 10 years. It appears, VMS are the main menopause-related problems for which US women seek treatment.

Thirdly, Estrogen therapy, alone or in combination with progesterone, is currently the most effective treatment of VMS. However, Hormone therapy (HT), is associated with a number of risks.  For example, they are thromboembolic (blood clot) events and breast cancer.  Additionally, breast tenderness and irregular bleeding have been reported. Indeed, women seek alternatives such as, herbal, dietary remedies, or behavioral therapies. Unfortunately, it may not be enough.

Fourthly, Acupuncture treatments can have a positive benefit on reducing hot flashes and improving sleep and other menopausal/perimenopausal symptoms. Many times, the clinical benefits are observed after just a few acupuncture treatments and can have lasting effects.

 

Menopause, Perimenopause and Joint Pain

A common symptom often associated with hormonal changes is pain. More than half of women experience arthralgia (pain in a joint) around the time of menopause. The causes of joint pain in postmenopausal women can be difficult to determine.  This is because the period of menopause coincides with a rising incidence of chronic rheumatic conditions such as osteoarthritis. Nevertheless, the prevalence of arthralgia does appear to increase in women going through the menopausal transition.  Studies have shown this results from a reduction in estrogen levels. Moreover, this may have to do with various interactions. And these interactions are between sex hormones and pain processing pathways. And immune cells and chondrocytes (cartilage cells) are part of these interactions.

Given a growing concern regarding estrogen replacement therapy, a search for alternatives in the management of menopause is prevalent. Many studies have found that the use of alternative therapies for menopause symptoms is common.  And women who use them generally find them to be beneficial. Also, Acupuncture along with Chiropractic can be a great intervention in the treatment of postmenopausal climacteric symptoms especially in the area of joint pain.

 

Acupuncture West Palm Beach: Relief For Menopause and Perimenopause

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 Menopause and Perimenopause.

If you are suffering from menopause or perimenopause 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 West Palm Beach Acupuncture: Relief From Menopause and Perimenopause.

 

References:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4874921/

Thomas Souza, (2018) Differential Diagnosis and Management for the Chiropractor

 

Did you know Acupuncture provides natural care during and after pregnancy?  Many people ask, “is acupuncture safe during pregnancy?”  The answer is, “it is absolutely safe during pregnancy.” Acupuncture offers its unique ability to help women during pregnancy when less intervention is generally worth more. And Acupuncture has centuries of evidence of its safety and effectiveness.

Acupuncture is Natural and Has Been Utilized During Pregnancy

for Many Years!

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 and bring balance back to your body. It’s often used as part of a broader approach to healthcare.

Acupuncture during pregnancy can provide benefits for:

-a healthier pregnancy

-controlling nausea and morning sickness

-relieving headaches and body pain

-digestive problems

-sleep issues and fatigue

-stress and anxiety

-headaches and body pain

-digestive problems

Pregnancy Related Changes and Problems

Firstly, there are several physiological and endocrinological changes that occur in preparation for creating the environment for the developing baby. During pregnancy, a woman may experience discomfort. In fact, individual differences are so significant that the discomfort felt during one pregnancy may not occur during the other. Research has shown that discomfort during pregnancy is related to hormonal changes.

Secondly, during pregnancy, taking drugs is a great challenge. This is because of the potential risk of in utero drug exposure to the baby.   Indeed, drugs may impede your baby’s growth and development leading to malformations.

Thirdly, research studies suggest acupuncture can be a safe and potentially effective treatment for various pregnancy-related concerns.

 

Acupuncture During and After Pregnancy

Acupuncture can be helpful for various post-pregnancy issues, including postpartum depression (PPD), pain management, and lactation challenges. Moreover, the use of acupuncture for treating PPD was found effective in studies. For instance, acupuncture is both safe and helpful for breastfeeding women who are experiencing emotional discomfort.  Finally, it can alleviate a variety of symptoms in your body from becoming a new mom and post-delivery issues.

 

 

Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture During Pregnancy  

Meiri Chiropractic offers acupuncture during and after pregnancy. 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.