Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture Helps Dizziness and Vertigo

 

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

 

 

Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture Helps Headaches

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.

 

Dr. Natalie Meiri
Dr. Natalie Meiri

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. 

Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture To Improve Fertilityi

 

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. 

 

Dr. Natalie Meiri
Dr. Natalie Meiri

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. 

Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture Helps Tinnitus

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).

 

Dr. Natalie Meiri
Dr. Natalie Meiri

 

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.

 

 

 

This post is about Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture Helps Inflammation. Inflammation is found in numerous diseases. For example, it is found in rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), psoriatic arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Chronic inflammation can also contribute to diseases like heart disease, cancer and Type 2 Diabetes. Read on to find out more.

 

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

 

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 is 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).

 

Dr. Natalie Meiri
Dr. Natalie Meiri
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.  Mainly, the  goal is to activate the body’s natural healing abilities. 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.

 

 

 

West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Acupuncture Treats Insomnia

 

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.

 

 

Dr. Natalie Meiri
Dr. Natalie Meiri

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.

 

West Palm Beach Acupuncture: Relief From Menopause and Perimenopause

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.

 

Dr. Natalie Meiri
Dr. Natalie Meiri
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

 

Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture During Pregnancy

 

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.

 

Dr. Natalie Meiri
Dr. Natalie Meiri

 

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.

 

 

West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Acupuncture for Fatigue and Performance for Athletes

 

Did you know acupuncture is used to increase energy and to enhance performance by many athletes?  Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neil and NBA star Kobe Bryant both received acupuncture treatment to improve in their sport.  Read below on West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Acupuncture for Fatigue and Performance for Athletes.

How Does Acupuncture Help Fatigue and Performance in Athletes?

Acupuncture isn’t just for pain management.  Indeed, acupuncture helps you with more endurance and recover faster. It gives you the extra ability to achieve more.

Firstly, acupuncture improves peak oxygen levels, maximum heart rate, delayed-onset muscle soreness, pain, swelling, explosive force production, and joint mobility. Furthermore, acupuncture appears to be similar in effect regardless of age and sex.

Secondly, a Japanese study (1) investigated the effect of acupuncture regarding exhaustion in elite female soccer players during a competition period. Only the athletes treated with acupuncture experienced a better rating in the study.

Thirdly, the cardiovascular benefits of acupuncture for athletes has been documented. Studies revealed that athletes who receive acupuncture exhibited improved regulation of blood pressure and heart rate compared to those who didn’t receive acupuncture.  The same athletes receiving acupuncture in the study  showed improvements in maximal physical performance.

Fourthly, the great effects of acupuncture can sometimes be the psychological benefits. Competition anxiety and cognitive anxiety (having negative thoughts), have been observed to be reduced among athletes who receive acupuncture.

West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Acupuncture for Fatigue and Performance for Athletes:

Acupuncture Has a Holistic Approach

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.

Every athlete is different and so treatments are different for everyone.   For example, an athlete with digestion issues will not get the same treatments as someone with hormonal issues or allergies.

Athletes may also use acupuncture immediately before or after a major event. And then as part of the recovery phase afterward.

 

Dr. Natalie Meiri
Dr. Natalie Meiri

 

West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Acupuncture for Fatigue and Performance for Athletes

If you’re recovering from an injury, acupuncture can be especially helpful when used in conjunction with chiropractic. Dr. Natalie Meiri is an experienced chiropractic physician who is board certified in acupuncture, why go anywhere else? Call 561-253-8984 today to schedule a chiropractic evaluation or an acupuncture session.

 

References: Akimoto et al, Med Sci Sports Exerc 2003

 

 

Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture Does Help Asthma

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 13 people have asthma. More than 25 million Americans have asthma.  This is 7.7 percent of adults and 8.4 percent of children.  Asthma is a leading chronic disease in children.  Asthma may be rising due to rising levels of environmental pollution, food additives, genetics, toxins and allergens.

There is no cure for asthma, but it can be managed with proper prevention of asthma attacks and treatment.  Indeed, acupuncture is effective in ameliorating the symptoms of asthma.  Additionally, acupuncture can be a complementary treatment for asthma.  So while Acupuncture does not treat asthma directly, many asthmatic patients receiving regular acupuncture treatments have found it beneficial. Read below about chiropractor West Palm Beach: acupuncture does help asthma.

What is Asthma?

The presentation of asthma is variable depending on the type. In a child with an allergic form of asthma, there will be recurrent episodes of wheezing, coughing, difficulty or labored breathing, and a feeling of chest tightness. These attacks may be related to exposure to an environmental allergen or may be aggravated by stress or exercise. The attacks may be occurring in the early morning. In an adult, it is common to have similar symptoms. However, the adult asthmatic will not be aware of allergies. There is often a history of a prolonged respiratory infection, exposure to occupational toxins, and/or a history of smoking.

What Causes Asthma?

Asthma is a multi-factorial dysfunction of the respiratory system. Nutritional, environmental, genetic, and emotional factors all play an important part in the etiology (cause) of this condition. Asthma is a lung disease that causes obstruction of the airways.  During an asthma attack, spasms in the muscles surrounding the bronchi (small airways in the lungs) constrict, impeding the outward passage of air. Additionally, bronchoconstriction, mucus (phlegm) production, mucosal edema (swelling), and underlying inflammation join together to cause wheezing with associated dyspnea (difficult or labored breathing).

These spasms are a result of inflammation and hypersensitivity of the airways to certain stimuli such as:

  •     Environmental allergen/pollution

              (mold, fumes, tobacco smoke, dust mites, animal dander)

  •     Food additives, chemicals, drugs
  •     Extreme cold/dry/humid air
  •     Emotional stress
  •     Exercise
  •     Respiratory infection such as bronchitis

Research on Acupuncture Treatment and Asthma

The mechanisms underlying the effects of acupuncture in asthma are not fully understood. Nevertheless, acupuncture is beneficial in the prevention and treatment of asthma. Existing evidence has shown that acupuncture might facilitate the prevention and treatment of asthma via its anti-inflammatory effects. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective for preventing and treating several kinds of diseases, including allergic disorders, infections, autoimmune diseases, and immunodeficiency syndromes. Furthermore, Acupuncture has been traditionally used to treat allergic asthma and chronic bronchitis in China for more than a thousand years.

In one study (1), 192 patients with bronchial asthma were treated with acupuncture. And 98.9% of the patients experienced an immediate improvement. Moreover, the rate of remission plus marked improvement was 76.5%. However, the best therapeutic results were achieved for allergic asthma.  

In another Chinese prospective study (2), the effect of acupuncture in the treatment of children with bronchial asthma was compared to a control group treated with conventional drugs. The clinical effectiveness of acupuncture was significantly higher than treatment with drugs (89% vs 64%). In addition, in the acupuncture group the level of eosinophils and IgE was highly significant and significantly lower respectively than in the control group (base group not receiving treatment). And Eosinophils are white blood cells involved in the body’s response to parasites and allergens, while IgE is a type of antibody that plays a crucial role in allergic reactions.

 

Dr. Natalie Meiri
Dr. Natalie Meiri
Co-management of Medically Treated Asthma

Conventional medical treatment of asthma includes avoidance of known allergens or other triggering substances, desensitization shots, and drugs.  Asthma can be life threatening sometimes, in which case, drugs are simply necessary. Nevertheless, patients are turning to acupuncture, chiropractic and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies since all conventional drugs carry the risk of side effects.  Also, for long term management of asthma, many patients found a combination of conventional and acupuncture more effective. Drugs were for symptom relief and only masked the problem.

 

Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture Does Help Asthma

Meiri Chiropractic offers acupuncture for Asthma and many other ailments. All asthmatics have gone through periods when symptoms were minimal, even though no obvious environmental changes had occurred. These treatments may make the periods of freedom from asthma more frequent and longer lasting.  

Asthma is generally a deep-seated chronic illness, but that doesn’t mean the symptoms have to dominate your life.  Even though you can expect to need standard drugs at times, with regular acupuncture treatments overall improvement is possible.

Call Meiri Chiropractic today for your acupuncture treatment for Asthma at 561-253-8984.

 

References:

  • Zang, J Tradit Chin Med 1990 
  • Gao et Zhu, Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi 2005