1. The skin is white, indicating heavy Damp in the body
If there are small white water droplets in the skin color after cupping, it means that the Damp in the body is heavy, and some people have more Damp in the body, and the pores cannot be completely discharged from the body. Small blisters will appear on the skin during cupping. The Damp in the body cannot be completely discharged by cupping alone. The best way is to accept the sun, because the sunlight in the human body is the Yang Qi, and only a large amount of supplementary Yang can eliminate the cold. At the same time, the method of moxibustion can also be used, moxibustion at Guanyuan point and uterine point.
2. A yellow substance indicates that there are pathogens in the body
If yellow stains appear during cupping, it means that there are other pathogens in the body, yellow substances and a foul smell, indicating that it is a skin disease such as acne. You can use the lotus needle cupping method to treat the skin. Use lotus needles to break the surface before cupping, so that the congestion in the body can be discharged from the body together.
3. The skin is black and red, indicating that the cold is caused
If the skin appears dark red after cupping and there is no secretion reddish, it is usually a cold. After cupping, toxins can be discharged. In addition, you can relieve the cold by massaging acupuncture points.
4. Skin showing bias Black is tiredness caused
The darker skin after cupping is the blockage of blood congestion. Usually, the body is overworked or strained. Except for cupping, the better way is to use manual massage and hyperthermia to promote blood circulation and clear the collaterals.
Frank warm reminder: You cannot take a bath within three hours after cupping, because your body’s pores are in an open state after cupping. At this time, taking a bath may cause cold air to invade your body and cause the onset of other diseases. Be sure to use gentle techniques when cupping. Pay attention to warmth and fresh air in the cupping space. Fans and air conditioners should not be blown during cupping.
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TCM starts with smoothing the Liver energy and relieving depression. Chinese medicine says that ''all diseases are born from Qi." TCM has a lot of knowledge about mental illness, such as being shocked, Qi is slow. The early stage of depression is related to stagnation of Liver Qi. It is caused by poor Qi and Blood flow. Most patients with depression suffer from long term life and work pressure, or experience negative life events. Unsmooth emotions lead to the imbalance of the body's Qi and dysfunction. The Liver Qi stagnates over time, and even becomes a statement, and emotional symptoms are further aggravated. Excessive Liver Qi scavenges, invades the Spleen and Stomach, and affects the digestive function of the Spleen and Stomach, leading to loss of Qi and Blood, dysfunction, clustering of symptom, fatigue, insomnia, palpitation, pain, etc.. Treatment should start with smoothing the Liver and relieving depression, regulating the five internalk organs and regulate the brain.
Chinese Medicine pays more attention to syndrome differentiation and treatment.
Traditional Chinese medicine treatment includes Traditional Chinese herb powder and non-drug treatment, such as acupuncture, electroacupuncture, cupping, ear acupuncture, etc. Among them, acupuncture and moxibustion play a therapeutic role mainly by regulating the body's own nerve function, and it is a "green therapy" for the treatment of depression. From the clinical perspective of acupuncture and moxibustion, patients with depression can be divided into two types: "According to the different states of the human body, acupuncture is used to treat the deficiency and excess, regulate the qi and calm the nerves, balance the yin and yang, regulate emotions, and relieve emotional symptoms at the same time. It can improve the common physical symptoms of depression, such as insomnia, pain, abdominal distension, and loss of appetite." Acupuncture treatment can be used for mild depression patients, and acupuncture and western medicine can be used for moderately severe or severe patients. Efficacy, help reduce adverse drug reactions.
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B. Patients to wear a mask to their appointment if possible.
Acupuncture for Hot Flushes
Hot flushes are a common peri-menopausal and menopausal symptom in women. However other causes of hot flushes include side effects of chemotherapy and medication used to treat certain cancers (breast and prostate), andropause or “male menopause” and anxiety or panic disorders.
Hot flushes are classified as a vasomotor symptom and are typically experienced as an uncomfortable feeling of intense heat accompanied by reddening of the face, sweating and rapid heartbeat. The exact causes and vasomotor mechanisms of hot flushes are poorly understood. In menopausal women hot flushes are triggered by a reduction of oestrogen, a normal natural hormonal change, and in around 10% of women they last longer than 12years (A). In western medicine menopausal hot flushes are commonly treated with oestrogen or progesterone in the form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), however the use of which may be associated with potential health risks (B).
Regardless of the origins of hot flushes the experience can vary from mild sensations to a physically draining and debilitating experience for some with a negative impact on quality of life (C). Acupuncture and TCM have long been used to treat hot flushes and research indicates an improvement in frequency and severity of vasomotor hot flashes with Acupuncture treatment among women in natural menopause (D). Because traditional Chinese medicine treats the root of the imbalance beneath the symptoms, its approach provides a safe and effective treatment for hot flushes.
(A) Politi MC et al. Revisiting the duration of vasomotor symptoms of menopause: a meta-analysis. J Gen Intern Med 2008; 23: 1507-13
(B) http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Hormone-replacement-therapy
(C) Stein KD et al. Impact of hot flashes on quality of life among postmenopausal women being treated for breast cancer. J Pain Symptom Manage 2000;Jun19(6):436-45
(D) Hsiao-Yean Chiu et al. Effects of Acupuncture on menopause-related symptoms and quality of life in women on natural menopause: a meta analysis of randomised controlled trials. Menopause 2014.
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Acupuncture for Menopause
Common signs and symptoms: hot flushes, night sweats, reduced libido, mood swings, depression, painful intercourse due to vaginal atrophy, fibrocystic lumps, osteoporosis, muscle spasm, forgetfulness, heart palpitations, loss of bladder control, frequent urination, joint pains, allergies, high cholesterol, dizziness.
How Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs) can help
Chinese Medicine is a gentle and yet a very effective and safe method of treating menopausal symptoms. The emphasis of the treatment is not to increase the level of a certain hormone, but rather to restore balance whilst the body is going through these natural changes, to help smooth the way in times of adjustment. Whether it is during your menstrual cycle, conception, pregnancy or menopause, Chinese medicine helps optimise a woman’s endocrine system, regulates the nervous system and stimulates the release of endorphins which are the “feel good” hormones, and calming the mind.
We are each born with a certain level of estrogen inherited from our parents genes, nevertheless a woman’s lifestyle and dietary habits from childhood to the cessation of menses can play an important foundation for how she goes through menopause. The sooner we look to balance the body and the mind, the easier or free of symptoms your journey during menopause will be.
Things to Avoid
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How does Acupuncture treat infertility
The benefits of acupuncture and TCM for conception problems can be found in early Chinese medicine literature dating back to 11 AD. Not only does TCM improve the probability of becoming pregnant and having a healthier baby, it also serves to enhance the function of the whole body. This holistic approach provides the key to unlocking unlimited potential in healing. This is especially important for people who are over age 40, as it stimulates overall health, which in turn, affects their reproductive system.
The condition of poor blood flow and energetic congestion manifests as amenorrhea, painful menstrual cycle, pain during intercourse, premenstrual symptoms, mid-cycle bleeding and pain, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, tuble blockage, uterine fibroids, menstrual clotting, migraine headaches coinciding with the menstrual cycle, elevated follicle stimulating hormone and poor quality of sperm analysis.
While the above signs and symptoms in and of themselves may or may not be the primary cause of infertility, they do reveal internal blockage of energy and blood which may be contributing factors.
How long will it take to get pregnant with acupuncture infertility treatments
In most cases, men and women need a minimum of 3 months of consistent regular treatment. Most couples conceive anywhere between 3 to 12 months. The consistency of receiving acupuncture treatments and taking herbal formulas is crucial because specific hormonal adjustments are made during each week of the cycle. Missing a week of treatment may be detrimental, in that an important opportunity to balance a particular segment of the four-phase menstrual cycle (follicular phase, ovulation, luteal phase, and menstruation) is lost.
A minimum of 3 menstrual cycles (12 consecutive treatments) usually begins to regulate a woman’s hormonal system regardless of biological age. However, if you use acupuncture with assisted reproductive technology (ART), the treatment period varies, depending on the success of the procedure. Because of the cumulative healing affect of acupuncture and herbal formulas, and their ability to increase one’s fertility quotient, most patients continue receiving acupuncture for the duration of conception. Acupuncture treatments can also detoxify the body from chemical medications or other toxic substances, hence enhancing the body’s likelihood of conception.
Trying to get pregnant is a numbers game. The longer you try, naturally or with ART, the better your chances are. This applies to acupuncture and herbs as well. The longer you allow your body to reach homeostasis through the use of Chinese medicine, the better your chances are. If you have gone through multiple ART procedures without success, receiving long-term regular acupuncture and herbal medicine treatments will significantly improve your chances of conception. Therefore, the couple must expect to devote 6 to 9 months of consistent treatment before evaluating results. There is no quick-fix-path when it comes to conception, full-term pregnancy, and the health of a baby, but it’s well worth the long wait!
What else can help to improve acupuncture treatment results
Besides regular acupuncture treatments and herbal medicine, eating healthily (a variety of food that includes more fresh green vegetables, high quality lean protein, whole grains, plenty of water and fruits, limited consumption of coffee, alcohol, cigarettes, sugar, juice, and greasy food, eating in smaller portions, and thoroughly chewing your food), daily exercise, good sleep, and less stress can help improve treatment results.
Your goal in using diet as a therapy for fertility is to feed your body only food that will increase and support optimum health.
Even household cleaning agents, such as oven cleaners, mold treatment products, and ammonia-based products, have been shown to have negative affects on the health of sperm and ova. It is best to use cleaning agents that are eco-friendly and contain more natural substances.
Caffeine is suspected of having several affects on the reproductive process, including a possible impairment of or delay in conception. This effect was noticed in a large European study on infertility risk factors.
There is no doubt that long-term alcohol use can lead to impotence, poor sperm quality, and further fertility complications due to liver damage. Many believe that drinking alcohol, even moderately, can alter the fertility of both women and men. In women, alcohol affects the liver’s ability to clear hormonal debris, disrupting hormonal levels and interfering with egg production. While the amount of alcohol required to alter brain chemistry and hormonal levels varies from woman to woman, evidence suggests that even moderate drinking can contribute to infertility.
Being significantly under or over your ideal weight can affect the level of fertility in both male and female.
Regular, quality sleep – having regular, quality sleep is extremely important for fertility. Studies indicate low fertility rates and early pregnancy losses among shift workers. Regular, quality sleep is particularly important if a woman is suffering from an irregular menstrual cycle, anovulation, amenorrhea, or PCOS. All of these issues are considered to be part of a biological rhythm disorder.
Stress relief and relaxation – stress has an extremely detrimental impact on our brain because of the hormonal imbalance it causes. Many studies have confirmed the incredible impact which stress has on fertility. Too much stress will drain the adrenal glands and thus inhibit the proper production of hormones.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
How We Breathe
The nature of our breathing is dependant on a number of factors including our stress levels, emotional state, posture, degree of muscular tension and diet. The diaphragm is the core breathing muscle and is strongly affected by all of these conditions.
Observing a baby or animal we notice that their whole abdomen inflates like a balloon as they breathe. This is because they naturally engage their diaphragm to draw air into their lungs.
As we grow older, our breathing tends to become shallower and more constricted as our diaphragm tightens and our breathing moves into our chest. We begin to use our intercostal muscles and other accessory muscles to help us breathe, rather than our diaphragm.
The diaphragm has strong connections with many of the internal organs, including the heart, lungs, liver, stomach, spleen and kidneys. When it moves during diaphragmatic breathing, the internal organs are exercised and more blood and oxygen is circulated within them.
Diaphragmatic breathing habits can have a wide range of beneficial effects such as:
Learning to Breathe Diaphragmatically
During qigong we’ll be exploring different techniques to help us return to natural diaphragmatic breathing.
We will begin with exercises to become more aware of the breath:
Quote from College of Integrated Chinese Medicine
