HEALTH CONDITIONS

ALERGY

The main clinical manifestations of allergic rhinitis are nasal congestion, a watery nasal discharge and sneezing. In a few cases it affects the eyes and the conjunctiva may become red and itchy.
Allergic rhinitis is due to an antigen-antibody reaction in the nasal mucosa. If the antigens responsible are only pollen particles then it is called seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever). If the antigens are dust, house-dust mites’ faecal matter, fungal spores and animal dander, it is called perennial allergic rhinitis. As for furry animals such as dogs and cats, the most allergenic substances are protein from their skin, urine and saliva.
In perennial rhinitis the nose becomes more reactive to non-specific stimuli such as cigarette smoke, petrol fumes, perfumes…
In Traditional Chinese Medicine allergic rhinitis is due to an over-reactivity of the immune system to certain allergens. Like asthma, this is due, from the Chinese point of view, to a deficiency of the Lung and Kidney’s Defensive-Qi (energy) systems, combined with retention of chronic Wind in the nose.

ASTHMA

Asthma is a chronic disease that causes inflammation of the lungs and makes it hard to breath. asthma is known by its obvious symptoms, like wheezing, but it can be a silent and potentially fatal disease. The severity of asthma symptoms may not always reflect the severity of the disease.
Traditional Chinese Medicine has been treating asthma for thousands of years. In 1979, the World Health Organization listed forty diseases that can benefit from acupuncture. Respiratory tract diseases, including asthma and bronchitis, were included on that list. There are many studies relating to the success of acupuncture and Chinese herbs for the treatment of asthma in last twenty years.
In most of the cases, acupuncture and Chinese herbs are very effective. After a series of treatments, asthmatic symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath are reduced. The frequency of an asthmatic episode can also be minimized. In fact, many people can usually resume an active lifestyle.

HEADACHE

According to the National Headache Foundation, over 45 million Americans suffer from chronic or recurring headaches and of these, 28 million suffer from migraines. About 20% of children and adolescents also have significant headaches. There are several types of headaches which below is a list of the most common ones:
TensIon: Also called chronic daily headaches or chronic non-progressive headaches, tension headaches are the most common type of headaches among adults and adolescents. These muscle contraction headaches cause mild to moderate pain and come and go over a prolonged period of time.

Cluster headaches: The least common, although the most severe type of primary headache, the pain of a cluster headache is intense and may be described as having a burning or piercing quality that is throbbing or constant. The pain is so severe that most cluster headache sufferers cannot sit still and will often pace during an attack. The pain is located behind one eye or in the eye region, without changing sides. The term “cluster headache” refers to headaches that have a characteristic grouping of attacks. Cluster headaches occur one to three times per day during a cluster period, which may last 2 weeks to 3 months. The headaches may disappear completely (go into “remission”) for months or years, only to recur.

Sinus headaches: Sinus headaches are associated with a deep and constant pain in the cheekbones, forehead or bridge of the nose. The pain usually intensifies with sudden head movement or straining and usually occurs with other sinus symptoms, such as nasal discharge, feeling of fullness in the ears, fever, and facial swelling.

Migraines: are classified as one of two types: classic or common. Classic migraines include an aura (a subjective sensation that precedes the headache) which typically includes visual disturbances such as double vision, flashing lights patterns, or a partially blocked field of vision. Classic migraines are characterized by severe, throbbing, one-sided headache pain, usually behind the eye, frequently accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting. Sensitivity to light, sounds, and smells is common.

Those who suffer from migraines also may experience speech difficulty, mood changes, confusion, muscular weakness, tingling in the limbs, and clumsiness either before or during the headache. The attacks can last up to 72 hours. Given the severity of the symptoms, migraines can greatly undermine the quality of an individual’s life, requiring the use of medication, missed days from work, and disrupted family and personal time.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Migraine can be caused by a variety of imbalances, very often involving the Liver and Gallbladder organs and meridians. In the simplest terms, this imbalance can be characterized as too much or too little of a particular energy/substance. In clinical practice, both an excess and a deficiency can and do frequently co-exist. If a substance is either excess or deficient, this disrupts the flow of Qi (energy) and generates pain.

BACK PAIN

Back pain can include:
• Mechanical back pain
• Disc-related back pain
• Arthritis pain
• Stress fracture

Symptoms:
Pain in back, stiffness, muscle spasms, leg symptoms if nerve irritation is present (numbness, pain, and/or weakness in the legs)

Treatments:
(Among the possible treatments are)
Rest, medication, physical therapy, bracing, cortisone, surgery, and Acupuncture.

TENNIS ELBOW & GOLFER'S ELBOW

Tennis elbow is an inflammation, soreness, or pain on the outside of the upper arm near the elbow. Golfer’s elbow is an inflammation, soreness or pain on the inside of the upper arm near the elbow. Tennis elbow is actually more common among golfers than golfer’s elbow.

Symptoms:
Pain and tenderness on outer side of left elbow (tennis elbow) and inner side of right elbow (golfer’s elbow).
Pain may be greatest at the top of the backswing and at impact.

Treatments:
Among the possible treatments are: Rest, medication, physical therapy, counterforce bracing, cortisone, surgery, and Acupuncture.

SHOULDER PAIN

Shoulder pain in a golfer might be caused by any of several different underlying conditions, including: rotator cuff tendinitis, or a tear or impingement in the rotator cuff; A-C joint arthritis; or instability in the joint. Shoulder pain includes: Rotator cuff tendonitis, tear, impingement A-C joint arthritis Instability, scapular lag.

Symptoms:
Pain in the shoulder or upper arm at various phases of the golf swing, night pain, pain with overhead activities.

Treatments: Among the possible treatments are: Rest, medication, therapy, cortisone, surgery, and Acupuncture.

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a repetitive stress disorder that occurs in the nerves of the hands. At its worst, carpal tunnel is extremely painful and sometimes incapacitating.

Symptoms:
Numbness and tingling of the fingers (particularly at night), hand weakness and clumsiness.

Treatments:
Among the possible treatments are: Rest, medication, splinting, surgery, and Acupuncture.

KNEE PAIN

Knee pain in golfers can be caused by any of numerous underlying issues, among them: Knee pain includes: Torn meniscus Knee arthritis (osteoarthritis) Kneecap pain (chondromalacia)
Symptoms: Pain, clicking, swelling of the knee aggravated by twisting, squatting, and walking.
Treatments: Among the possible treatments are: Rest, medication, arthroscopic surgery (meniscus tear), total joint replacement surgery (severe arthritis), injection treatments, bracing, physical therapy, and Acupuncture.

FOOT & ANKLE

The foot and ankle are two of the most versatile and complex areas of your body. One foot alone contains 26 bones supported by a network of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. When everything is working well, you hardly give them a thought. But when a problem arises, it’s often impossible to ignore. More than 11 million visits were made to physicians’offices in 2003 because of foot and ankle problems,including more than 2 million visits for ankle sprains and strains and more than 800,000 visits for ankle fractures.
Some conditions that may affect your foot and/or ankle could be: A fracture and/or sprain – Tendonitis – Tarsal tunnel syndrome – Plantar fasciitis (heel pain) – Bone spurs – Morton’s neuroma – Bunions – Hammertoes – Ingrown toenails – Diabetic foot ulcers – Gout

Your Treatment Options for Foot and Ankle Pain:
Fortunately, most cases of foot and ankle pain respond well to treatments like rest, ice, orthotics (shoe inserts), prescribed exercises, and anti-inflammatory medications. Local cortisone injections can also provide pain relief, However, when these medical treatments fail to provide adequate painrelief, Acupuncture may be an option.

Among the above conditions, Gout, Plantar fasciitis, and Tendonitis have shown to promise immediate results with Acupuncture & Auricular treatments. As a last resort surgery maybe an option, too. Often foot and ankle surgery is performed on an outpatient basis using minimally invasive techniques. These techniques may mean less pain and less risk, as well as a faster recovery time.

GOUT

Gout is a painful condition afflicting the joints, primarily in the feet and the knees. Most people who have gout get flare-ups, which are due to excessive amounts of uric acid accumulating in the joints. This uric acid is not appropriately processed by the kidneys and occurs in high amounts. With the exception of diseases causing gout that may be untreatable, there are ways to modify lifestyle and diet if you are subject to the condition, which can help reduce the symptoms of gout. Eating foods or drinking liquids high in uric acid often brings on gouty attacks. To reduce the symptoms of gout you should avoid the following foods and drinks: Red meat/ Oily fish like anchovies, salmon, trout, cod and most shellfish/ Turkey and goose/ Certain vegetables high in acids like asparagus, and cauliflower/ Mushrooms/ Legumes like peas, lentils and beans/ Products containing yeast like bread/ All fried foods/ Alcohol/ Caffeinated products/ Sodas/ Cream sauces, or any foods containing cream like ice cream or rich desserts

PLANTAR FASCIITIS

Plantar fasciitis – pronounced plan-ter fash-ee-eye-tis is a condition that creates pain in the feet, most frequently the heels. Pain or burning are caused by inflammation of the supporting structures of the foot. There are several causes for this inflammation, and they often work in conjunction with one another. Standing for several consecutive hours on a hard surface, running too much or too hard, wearing improperly fitting shoes or those that don’t have enough arch support, being overweight, and unusual tightness in the feet or legs, are all related to plantar fasciitis.
This condition can usually be diagnosed without extensive testing, since the most common sign of plantar fasciitis is heel pain upon awakening in the morning, or after an extended period of rest. Usually, the pain will decrease to some extent after a person has had time to loosen up and become fully engaged in an activity. Applying ice or soaking the feet may help alleviate discomfort temporarily, as will over-the-counter pain relief medications and putting the feet up to rest them. However, plantar fasciitis should be treated to avoid further damage. One of the simplest and most productive treatments is stretchingexercises. Stretch the foot by picking up small items off the floor with the toes and placing them into a box. This is an exercise that anyone can do at home with little to no cost, and without special equipment.
Custom made orthotics can be expensive and it does take a while to have them made, but if your pain is severe, it may be well worth the time and expense. Acupuncture may be advised by your doctor and have been proven quite effective in treating plantar fasciitis. Surgery is necessary in rare cases to unbind ligaments.

FOOT TENDONITIS

Foot Tendonitis – is an inflammation in the tendons of the foot. It is accompanied by pain in the posterior tibial tendon and is common in athletes and those who undergo large amounts of physical exertion. In general, the recurring pain is caused by an injury or overuse of the foot. Certain activities can lead to foot tendonitis, including standing continuously for a long period of time, performing physical activities on rough grounds, and negotiating steep hills.
Most of the time, foot tendonitis starts with para-tendonitis — a swelling pain of the tendon’s outer cover. The tendon deteriorates, causing it to thicken. It then begins to weaken and can eventually result in a total tendon rupture. A person with foot tendonitis will have a hot feeling on the affected foot. Pain will also be felt at the instep of the foot, particularly along the path of the tendon. Likewise, a stabbing pain will be felt on the arch of the affected foot when standing on the toes.
A person can treat foot tendonitis on his own. He should start by discontinuing the activity causing or exacerbating the tendonitis at once. He should then employ the R.I.C.E. treatment method. R.I.C.E. stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
A person can get Acupuncture treatments as an alternative to anti-inflammatory drugs. The Acupuncture treatments should be religiously maintained until the symptoms of foot tendonitis are gone. If the Acupuncture treatments do not work and the symptoms become severe, a person may also be given cortisone injections or may even undergo surgery.

TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DISEASE (TMJ/ TMD)

How do you know if you have a TMJ or TMD?
If you answer “yes” to a number of the following you are a candidate for TMJ or TMD.
– Do you have frequent headaches?
– Does your neck, back of your head or shoulders hurt frequently?
– Do you hear popping, clicking or cracking sounds when you chew?
– Do you hear a grating sound in your jaw joint?
– Do you have stuffiness, pressure or pain in your ears?
– Do you have crooked, missing, “bucked” or crowded teeth?
– Do you have an overbite?
– Do you hear a ringing or buzzing sound in either or both of your ears?
– Do you experience dizziness (vertigo) frequently?
– Do your jaws feel tight or difficult to open?
– Do your jaws ache after eating?
– Do you wake up in the morning with sore facial muscles?
– Are you aware of clinching or grinding teeth while you are asleep, frustrated or under stress?
– Do you suffer from depression or decreased energy level as a result of any of the above symptoms?
– Are your teeth sensitive, loose broken or worn?
– Have you been hit in the jaw or had a whiplash injury?
– Is it hard to use your front teeth to bite or tear food?
– Have you been told that you might have TMD?
Most headache sufferers go from doctor to doctor looking for some kind of answer. Each new physician or therapist ‘knows’ our problem and proceeds to treat us accordingly.

What is TMJ?
TMJ refers to pain in the jaw region with possible swelling, limited range of motion, muscle spasms, earaches, grinding of teeth, facial asymmetry, clicking or popping noises, and occasionally, ringing in the ears. common causes of TMJ pain include blows to the jaw, over-stretching as a result of dental or surgical procedures, arthritis, and excessive grinding or clenching of the teeth. Up to 25 million Americans experience some form of TMJ, with women seemingly at greater risk.

How does Western Medicine Treat TMJ?
Western medical treatment of TMJ consists of both dental and medical approaches including anti-inflammatory drugs, a soft diet, hot compresses, and oral splints. Permanent dental corrections and prostheses in 5-10% of patients. When TMJ is mostly due to muscular tension, biofeedback and other stress management techniques may be recommended.

Can Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine Treat TMJ?
Yes, Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture most definitely can treat TMJ. Not only can acupuncture typically relieve the pain, tension and discomfort of TMJ within a matter of minutes, Dr. Mike can help you understand the disease mechanisms that leads to this disorder and what you yourself can do about them. This may mean relaxation and stress reduction, or modifications in one’s diet. The beauty of Chinese medicine is that it takes the whole patient into account and prescribes a treatment plan that brings the entire person back to sense of vibrant and dynamic balance

Can I Combine Chinese & Western Medicine?
Yes again. The combination of oral splint (worn within the mouth at night during sleep) and acupuncture/Chinese herbal medicine, often is a very effective combination for the treatment of TMJ. In this case, the oral splints help treat the problem mechanically, while the acupuncture and Chinese herbs seek to redress the internal causes for this condition at their roots.

SMOKING/ ADDICTION

Chinese Medicine has beneficial effects on addiction to various substances. The most commonly treated addictions are smoking and alcoholism. Smoking has a severe impact on the circulatory, respiratory and digestive systems.
In TCM, smoking weakens the Lung’s function of commanding the overall movement of (energy) Qi and Blood. It creates Heat in the Lung and Stomach, which in turn will cause Fire in the Heart and/or stagnation of Liver (energy) Qi, hence withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, palpitations, mood swings and restlessness occur. Chinese medicine can reduce the craving for cigarettes. Experience shows that patients after treatment often report a metallic taste in their mouth or feeling of dislike for the smell of tobacco.

National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) has been developed a particular protocol to treat the addiction/ alcoholism/ drug dependencies. This method is performing by insertion of five needles in each auricle through the points correspond to the following internal organs, liver, spleen, kidney, lung and also shenmen (Gate of Spirit) and Parasympathetic.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

IBS is a disorder of the intestines. It causes belly pain, cramping or bloating, and diarrhea or constipation. Irritable bowel syndrome is a long-term problem, but there are things you can do to reduce your symptoms.
IBS is quite common. Most people’s symptoms are so mild that they never see a doctor for treatment. But some people may have troublesome symptoms, especially stomach cramps, bloating, and diarrhea. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), irritable bowel syndrome is considered to be primarily a disorder of the (energy) Qi pertaining to the Liver and Spleen.
During periods of emotional turmoil or disharmony, the Liver (energy) Qi, which is responsible for the free flow of (energy) Qi in the body, may become stagnant. This stagnation may cause constipation, abdominal pain, and cramping, which is considered to be an intestinal Wind. Factors such as overwork, poor diet, insufficient rest, or excessive worry may cause the Spleen (energy) Qi to become weakened, which can lead to diarrhea, abdominal pain, and distention. In Chinese Medicine Spleen and Liver are the major organs involved in IBS and the relationship between them differentiated to three types:
1. Liver Qi Stagnation
2. Spleen Qi Deficiency
3. Liver Invading the Spleen
Chinese Medicine balances the entire body by strengthening and harmonizing the digestive system, and helps avoid the disruptions of IBS episodes.

INSOMNIA

Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by an inability to sleep and/or inability to remain asleep for a reasonable period. It can be caused by fear, stress, anxiety, medications, herbs, caffeine, depression, or bipolar disorder and sometimes occurs for no apparent reason. An overactive mind or physical pain may also be causes. Finding the underlying cause of insomnia is usually necessary to cure it.

Three types of insomnia exist: transient, acute, and chronic

Transient insomnia lasts from one night to a few weeks. Most people occasionally suffer from transient insomnia due to such causes as jet lag or short-term anxiety. If this form of insomnia continues to occur from time to time, the insomnia is classified as intermittent.

Acute insomnia is the inability to consistently sleep well for a period of between three weeks to six months.

Chronic insomnia is regarded as the most serious; persists almost nightly for at least a month.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the term “insomnia” covers a number of different problems such as inability to fall asleep easily, waking up during the night, sleeping restlessly, waking up early in the morning and dream-disturbed sleep.

The amount and quality of sleep depends on the state of the Mind (Shen). The Mind is rooted in the Heart and specifically in Heart-Blood and Heart-Yin. If the Heart is healthy and the Blood abundant, the Mind is properly rooted and sleep will be sound. If the Heart is deficient or if it is agitated by pathogenic factors such as Fire, the Mind is not properly rooted and sleep will be affected.

FIBROMYALGIA

Fibromyalgia is a non-life-threatening, chronic disorder of the muscles and related soft tissue, including ligaments and tendons. Its main symptoms are muscle pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and tender points at certain parts of the body. Many people describe Fibromyalgia as feeling like a persistent flu.
Muscle pain, either throughout the body or only at certain points, is the primary symptom. It may range from mild discomfort to pain severe enough to limit work, social activities, and everyday tasks. Pain commonly occurs in the neck, shoulders, chest, rib cage, lower back and thighs and may feel like a burning, gnawing, throbbing, stabbing, or aching sensation and may develop gradually. It usually seems worse when a person is trying to relax and is less noticeable during activity.
A related, key aspect of Fibromyalgia is the presence of “tender points,” muscles and tendons that are tender when pressed. Typically, tender points are located in the neck, back, knee, shoulder, elbow, and hip.
In conventional medicine still we do not know what causes Fibromyalgia. There are several theories about possible causes or triggers. Inadequate sleep is a possible trigger. Another is suffering an injury or physical or emotional trauma that affects the brain, spine, and nerves. Some experts believe that a viral or bacterial infection plays a part.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fibromyalgia is a type of Bi syndrome which by definition Bi means obstruction and could be caused by wind, cold and dampness. Due to the obstruction of channels (energy) Qi and Blood cannot circulate so that Painful Obstruction Syndrome will develop.
Painful Obstruction Syndrome is due to the combined invasion of Wind, Cold and Dampness, causing swelling and pain. It is due to a weak body condition and the space between skin and muscles being open, which allows the Wind to penetrate