Stress Management In The Face Of Infertility, Huffington Post →

Excerpt   "5. Try fertility focused acupuncture: .... “many patients who receive regular acupuncture attest to feeling a significant drop in stress levels when going through fertility treatment. Acupuncture has been shown to increase blood flow, stimulate the immune system, as well as the release of serotonin and endorphins. Getting acupuncture on the day of your embryo transfer can help not only reduce nervousness and anxiety before and after the procedure, but a helpful treatment for improving chances of conception. Lastly, acupuncture provides a weekly reprieve from the cumulative stress that builds throughout the infertility experience, and a chance to reflect on how you are dealing with the process.”   Read More

Can Poor Sleep Lead to Alzheimer's and Dementia? CNN.com →

Excerpt... One in three Americans doesn't get enough sleep, and 45% of the world's population doesn't either.   The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls that a "public health problem," because disrupted sleep is associated with a higher risk of conditions including diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular disease.  What about Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia?  Read More

Natural Treatments For Seasonal Affective Disorder Depression →

Natural Treatments For Seasonal Affective Disorder Depression

Excerpt "Seasonal Affective Disorder is an example of how a change in seasons can affect our emotional and physical well-being. Between 4 and 6 percent of the U.S. population suffer from SAD. It is more commonly observed in those who live at high latitudes . Seasonal changes are  more extreme in these regions, supporting the idea that SAD is caused by changes in sunlight availability.  While SAD can occur during summer with symptoms such as weight loss, trouble sleeping and decreased appetite, its winter symptoms tend to be more severe. Winter-time sufferers  can experience fatigue, increased need for sleep, decreased energy levels, weight gain, increase in appetite, difficulty concentrating and increased desire to be alone."  Read More

Acupuncture Relieves Pain In Emergency Patients, Science Daily →

Acupuncture Relieves Pain In Emergency Patients, Science Daily

Excerpt  "The world's largest randomized trial of acupuncture in emergency departments has found the treatment is a safe and effective alternative to pain-relieving drugs  The study found acupuncture was as effective as pain medicine in providing long-term relief for patients. But the trial, conducted in the emergency departments of four hospitals, showed pain management remains a critical issue."    Read More

Westen Doctor Trades Pills For Acupuncture Needles, Acutakehealth.com →

Meet A Western Doctor Who Traded Pills For Acupuncture Needles

Excerpt  "Leslie Smith, MD, is a Western-trained physician who prefers acupuncture needles to scalpels and herbs to pharmaceuticals. At her  practice in Chicago, she rarely prescribes medications, relying instead on  modalities from Asian medicine and nutritional counseling. She teaches courses on acupunctur, and on  alternative medicine, to medical students at the University of Illinois ."   read more

Acupuncture Relieves Sciatica, Reduces Inflammation, Healthcare Medicine Institute →

 Acupuncture relieves Sciatica, Reduces Inflammation

Excerpt "Acupuncture and herbs relieve sciatica, a condition characterized by lower back pain radiating through the hips, buttocks, and legs.  Researchers from the Rizhao Hospital  and the Shanghai University  investigated the efficectiveness of acupuncture for the relief of sciatica. Both acupuncture and acupuncture plus herbal medicine were effective and produced significant positive patient outcomes. Researchers document that acupuncture and herbs stimulate important biochemical changes causing pain reduction."   read more

To Curb Pain Without Opioids, Oregon Looks To Alternative Treatments, National Public Radio →

To Curb Pain Without Opioids, Oregon Looks To Alternative Treatments

Excerpt: "There should be an array of things for people to choose from," Eisen says, "whether it be chiropractic care, or naturopathic care, or acupuncture, nutrition, massage. Try those things — and if they don't work, you use opioids as a last resort."  ...Oregon wants more patients to try this approach. Denise Taray, coordinator of the Oregon Pain Management Commission, says Medicaid's traditional way of dealing with back pain involved bed rest and prescription painkillers.

Excerpt  "The only thing that might have been covered in the past was narcotics," Taray says. "But treatments such as acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, physical therapy and rehab would never have been covered."... Starting in January 2016, the state will fund many of these alternative treatments for patients who get their health care via Oregon's version of Medicaid. While treatments may cost more than pain pills, the hope is to save money by reducing the number of people who become addicted to opioids or abuse them."   read more