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Research
Does Acupuncture Treat Heart Disease?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. And ethnicity doesn’t matter, as people of all racial and ethnic groups are impacted. With such serious statistics, many might wonder what treatment options are available. Did you know that acupuncture can help with treating heart disease, as well as many of its contributing factors? Read on to learn how. continue reading
Acupuncture Research Roundup
According to the National Institutes of Health, research has demonstrated that acupuncture could be helpful for a variety of pain conditions including back pain, knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, and postoperative pain. There is also evidence to suggest that it helps relieve joint pain “associated with the use of aromatase inhibitors.” continue reading
Gratitude’s Link with Love & Happiness
A glass half full – grateful people have a particular view of the world and themselves. They choose to notice the positive things in the world and their own lives and have an appreciation for things that other people may take for granted. In a growing body of research, the importance of gratitude suggests that it is a cornerstone of positive psychology.
Love: Research from Psychologists Dr. Robert Emmons from UC Davis and Dr. Michael McCullough from the University of Miami go so far as to say that not only does gratitude promote feelings of happiness and love but that it is also a form of love itself. Open communication is necessary for healthy relationships. People who focus on the positive qualities of their partners experience more feelings of closeness and are often more aware of their partner’s needs and wishes, resulting in healthier, happier, more intimate relationships.
In 2010, Dr. Sara Algoe of UC Berkley sampled 67 heterosexual couples who had been together for at least 3 months. The partners wrote in a diary every night for 2 weeks and recorded both their own and their partner’s thoughtful actions, their feelings toward the actions and how they felt about the relationship that day. This research found that gratitude reminds romantic partners of the quality of the relationship, the quality of the individual’s partner and enhanced feelings of closeness.
Other studies, like one by Kubacka, Finkenauer, Rusbult and Keijsers in 2011 showed that gratitude begets gratitude. Kind gestures toward a spouse led to feelings of gratitude (of course!) and that gratitude motivated the other spouse to reciprocate with kind gestures. None of that should be too surprising but the ultimate result was a positive cycle of gratitude and caring behavior that continued to increase.
5 Proven Health Benefits of Gratitude:
- Improved sleep
- Can strengthen your physiological well-being
- Longevity
- Increased Energy Levels
- Increased likelihood of physical activity
Life Satisfaction:
Ever wonder how some people continue to stay genuinely happy, even though they get hit with hardship after hardship and other people seem miserable even though they have everything anyone could ever want. Studies show it may come down to gratitude. “A key determining factor of well-being is the ability to notice, appreciate and savor the elements of one’s life”, say Dr. Emmons and Dr. McCullough. Three studies conducted by the pair looked into whether focusing on negative or neutral life events versus focusing on positive ones can lead to improved psychological and physical function. All three studies concluded that “an effective way to produce reliably higher
Is practicing gratitude a cure-all? Of course not! But research demonstrates its many benefits with no drawbacks. It is a powerful tool that can be utilized to live a good, meaningful life.
One thing to consider is being gracious with yourself. Show some gratitude to YOU, and treat yourself to an acupuncture treatment. Give us a call today!
https://positivepsychology.com/gratitude-research/
Health Benefits of Acupuncture and Yoga
The Health Benefits of Acupuncture and Yoga
Acupuncture is an ancient healing technique originating in China over 5000 years ago. It is the process of moving qi (chee) or energy, in the body to decrease pain, facilitate health, wellness, and allow the body to heal itself. Disruption of qi energy is responsible for pain and illness in the body. By using certain acupuncture points, this energy is allowed to move freely and decrease pain and improve health.
The practice of yoga can be traced back to Northern India 5000 years ago. It incorporates body postures, meditation, breathing and relaxation techniques all dedicated to moving prana or energy.
Acupuncture and yoga share the philosophy of connecting the body, mind, and spirit. Through the practice of acupuncture and yoga, you can experience many health benefits.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine the benefits of acupuncture and yoga include….
*Pain relief, in particular, improving back pain.
*Easing arthritis symptoms.
*Benefiting heart health
*Relaxation for improved sleep
*Increased energy, brighter moods and mental clarity.
*Stress relief
Both and acupuncture and yoga benefit the whole person by enhancing health of multiple body systems and increasing the sense of well-being.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes acupuncture to be helpful for many conditions affecting the body, mind, and spirit. These include pain, stress, nausea and vomiting, headache and sciatica, plus many more medical conditions.
Come enjoy Acupuncture with Jean Donati Acupuncture in Towson, MD., and Yoga with Janet. Your body will thank you for it.
Schedule an acupuncture appointment with Jean Donati Acupuncture in Towson, MD here https://www.East2WestMedicine.com
Schedule a virtual yoga class with Yoga with Janet here https://www.yogawithjanet.yoga/
Notes:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/286745
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/9-benefits-of-yoga
https://holistic-health.org.uk/acupuncture-evidence-project-deeper-look/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156488#what-is-acupuncture
Seasonal Affective Disorder and Acupuncture
Acupuncture and Seasonal Affective Disorder Symptoms
Acupuncture is known to be one of the cures to combat symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. SAD affects millions of Americans a year and can turn a once productive person to a tired and depressed individual. Although, SAD has various symptoms, probably the most common is depression. And, acupuncture has been shown to work great when treating symptoms of depression.
WHAT IS SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER?
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is related to the change in seasons and tends to begin and end around the same time each year for those affected by it. SAD is a type of depression and should be taken seriously.
WHAT THE STUDIES HAVE TO SAY
A study published by the National Institute of Health looked at the management options for treating depression. Depression is one of the most prevalent symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. This study was conducted by the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments.
They looked at multiple complementary and alternative methods for treating depression, including light therapy, acupuncture, exercise, yoga and natural health supplements like Omega 3 fatty acids and St. John’s Wort. The study concluded acupuncture is most commonly used as a third line of treatment for those seeking alternative methods to deal with depression, despite the fact it tends to be very effective.
Researchers recognize acupuncture does provide benefits to treating depression, but more work must be done to truly realize the full capacity of those benefits.
ACUPUNCTURE FOR SAD
Clearing the meridians or pathways of energy in the body can be beneficial in the alleviation of symptoms of SAD. Here are some calming acupuncture points.
- GV 20: There is a point located on the top of the head, midway between the apexes of your ears. This point is known as governing vessel 20 (GV 20). GV 20 is one of the most powerful points in the acupuncturists’ arsenal. It raises emotional energy, which in turn can help alleviate depression.
Applying pressure or lightly tapping this point is a great way to counter depression on your own and it can be done pretty much anywhere. - LV 3: Liver 3 (LV 3) is located on the top of the foot between the big toe and the second toe, where the metatarsal bones meet. Stimulating this point helps stagnant blood to move freely again.
Imagine a beaver dam on a river. If there is a lot of debris built up against the beaver dam, then the river can’t flow freely. This same analogy can be used when describing what happens to blood flow
in the body. When the blood flow becomes stagnant and minute, then depression can set in because the body isn’t getting the proper nutrients it needs to function. In Chinese medicine theory, stagnant blood flow can lead to depression. Liver 3 is used frequently in traditional Chinese medicine treatments to re-establish the flow of blood throughout the body. - HT 3: Heart 3 (HT 3) is located on the inside of the elbow. When the elbow is flexed, the point is midway between the inner end of the elbow crease and the tip of the elbow bone itself. In traditional Chinese medicine, the heart meridian is often treated when depression is a presenting complaint. Depression causes the heart meridian to become deficient in energy. HT 3 stimulates the energy needed to combat depression symptoms.
