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FUNCTIONAL ACUPUNCTURE & NUTRTITION
Jocelyne Eberstein is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Doctor of Oriental Medicine. After graduating from the University of Cincinnati with a B.S. in Nuclear Medicine Technology, Jocelyne began her medical career as a nuclear medicine technologist at the University of San Diego Hospital. Four years later, she became Chief Technologist at Palomar Hospital in Escondido, and then moved in the same capacity to Cedars Sinai in 1979. The low levels of radiation Jocelyne had been exposed to during this time presented an obstacle when she decided to start a family. It wasn't until a cardiologist at Cedar Sinai proposed the idea of Traditional Chinese medicine to help with infertility that she began to explore alternative medicine. "It might help and it cant hurt," were his words, and so began Jocelyne's journey into natural medicine.
In 1984, she began her studies at the distinguished Emperors College in Santa Monica, California, and after completing the program in Traditional Chinese Medicine with honors, she was soon licensed as an acupuncturist. Deriving enormous motivation from her studies in China, she completed advanced coursework in Herbology, Gynecology, and Chinese Internal Medcine at Jiang's College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Hangzhou, China. She received her O.M.D. (Doctor of Oriental Medicine) from Samra University in Los Angeles, California, and was one of the first acupuncturists to become board certified in Acupuncture Orthopedics. In addition, Jocelyne is a Qualified Medical Examiner and a Diplomat in Acupuncture and Herbology (National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture).
Throughout her career, a relentless pursuit of excellence in service to her patients had driven Jocelyne to travel the world to discover both ancient and cutting edge methods to get sick people well without drugs or surgery. For the last 22 years, her unshakable and passionate commitment has been to serve this community by caring for children, teens, adults and seniors to educate and empower them to take control of their health naturally.
Her advanced training in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Functional Medicine, Allergy Desensitization, Infertility, Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy, and Nutrition have a proven track record in her hundreds of success stories. Whether she is working with an Olympic athlete, an A-list celebrity, or the everyday patient, Jocelyne leaves no stone unturned in her search to bring her patients to optimal health. Jocelyne is a member of the respected Foundation for Wellness Professionals, a national organization composed of healthcare professionals who educate their communities on wellness and disease prevention. In addition, she has received numerous awards for her work, including those from the Pediatric AIDS Society and Sojourn Womens Shelter.
Jocelyne believes that there is no formulaic answer to health issues, and individualizes every treatment plan to fit the specific needs of the patient. Jocelyne's education and continued passion for Western science and knowledge of Eastern medicine keeps her at the utmost forefront of healing.
Founded in 1990 by Jocelyne Eberstein, L.Ac., O.M.D. and conveniently located in West Los Angeles, the eCenter offers personalized health management programs that combine therapeutic treatments using a scientifically based systems biology approach to match a person's lifestyle and personal challenges. Patients receive the best possible treatment combinations to achieve optimal results. It is all done with care, compassion and an outstanding knowledge of the health needs of the total person.
Jocelyne has created one of the most respected and effective wellness practices in Southern California. She uses her proficiency in combination with her intuitive spirit to effectively treat the whole person with remarkable and sustainable effectiveness. Her expertise includes:
Acupuncture is a unique form of therapy that stimulates the body's vital energy potential (qi). It promotes blood flow and vasodilation, stimulates tissue healing, initiates analgesic neurotransmitter delivery, decreases chronic pain intensity and perception, relaxes muscle contraction, decreases nerve irritation, stress, and autoimmune activation, as well as regulates hormones and the sympathetic/parasympathetic balance. With over twenty years of experience, Jocelyne is one of the premier practitioners in her field, and the results she obtains are truly remarkable to observe.
Acupuncture orthopedics blends classical Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture with structural and myofascial techniques for the treatment of pain, soft tissue injuries, postural imbalances and other systemic disorders. Acupuncture is used as a physical therapy to release the muscular, skeletal, and emotional holding patterns that are the root causes of tension, pain, postural asymmetries, the precursors of injury, and the residues of internal disease. The aim of Acupuncture Orthopedics is to create a harmonious balance within the musculoskeletal and meridian systems to generate healing and promote overall health and wellbeing.
Coming soon!
During Jocelyne's extensive studies at Jiang's College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Hangzhou, China, she completed advanced coursework in Chinese Gynecology. Chinese Gynecology is one of the most promising areas of Eastern medicine, able to contribute effective treatments and etiological explanations for conditions like menstrual disorders or infertility, for which conventional medicine can often do no more than temporarily mask symptoms.
Essential to getting healthy and staying healthy, our goal is to increase the individual's vitality on a cellular level. The eCenter's unique detox protocols are staged carefully, first building the patient's energy and mitochondrial function, shoring up the body to allow maximum detoxification without the debilitating side effects found in many detox systems. The liver is then not only flushed but also strengthened to allow optimal performance to continue after completion.
FAR Infrared Sauna- The fact is, there is no one on this planet with a body free from accumulated toxins exposure to chemicals and heavy metals is unavoidable and often exceeds the bodys abilities to excrete them. The source is everywhere in daily life cars, homes, the air we breathe. So what can be done about it?
The FAR Infrared Sauna is of the art technology allows you to sweat at a more comfortable temperature than a conventional hot sauna, promoting a hyperthermic state that leading to:
The FAR infrared sauna has also been shown to promote detoxification and accelerate removal of heavy metals, petrochemicals and drug residue.
The Heart-Brain Relationship
• The heart has its own complex
nervous system -- the "Heart-Brain"
• The heart sends far more information
to the brain than the brain sends to
the heart.
• The heart signals especially affect
the brain centers involved in
strategic thinking, reaction times,
and self-regulation.
The Central Role of the Heart
As the most powerful and consistent generator of rhythmic information patterns in the body, the heart is in continuous communication with the brain and body through multiple pathways:
• Neurologically
• Biochemically
• Biophysically
• Energetically
The magnetic component of the hearts field is approximately 5,000 times stronger than that produced by the brain. Electromagnetic fields generated by the heart penetrate every cell and may act as a synchronizing signal for the body in a manner analogous to information carried by radio waves.The heart is uniquely well positioned to act as the global coordinator in the bodys symphony of functions to bind and synchronize the system as a whole.
Heart Rate Variability
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a non-invasive measure of neurocardiac function that reflects heart-brain interactions and autonomic nervous system dynamics.
(Source: McCraty & Singer, 2002)
It is a measure of the naturally occurring beat-to-beat changes in heart rate.
Low HRV reflects the effects of depletion on the autonomic nervous system and is associated with:
•Weight Gain
•Metabolic Syndrome
•Hypertension
•Diabetes
•Congestive Heart Failure
Additionally, low HRV is associated with behavior problems and difficulties with emotion regulation, depression and generalized anxiety.
Developed by Joseph Heller, Hellerwork is a unique and powerful combination of deep-tissue structural integration bodywork, movement education, and dialogue. It makes the connection between movement, body alignment, and personal awareness. By freeing natural movement, balancing the body's structure and opening up expression, Hellerwork allows you to optimize how you use your body.
Bodywork
A 'hands on' process where the practicioner works with you to release chronic tension and rigidity in your body. This results in a more improved posture, greater flexibility and ease, and less discomfort.
Movement Education
Movement education helps you become aware of your set movement habits and assists you in finding new patterns of balance and alignment in your everyday life as well as in your sports and work activities. In turn, this prevents the return of tension to your body.
Dialogue
Dialogue with your practicioner allows you to recognize any of your ongoing attitudinal patterns which contribute to tension in your body. It will give you insights into how your emotions and beliefs influence your body's wellbeing. In dialogue, you will uncover new, easy ways to deal with your individual stresses and upsets.
Along with food and pharmaceutical grade supplementation, Chinese herbal formulas provide the basis for building the healthiest biochemistry possible. At the eCenter we understand the importance of a healthy, varied diet first to establish a stong nutritional base. Second; supervised, targeted supplementation to address individual needs quickly and effectively. Last; carefully designed herbal formulas. These plant-based formulations furnish broad spectrum of interaction not available through supplementation, and are used to maintain and restore body balance, as tonics and boosters, or (less often) for treatment of specific diseases only.
Not only a perfect way to get a quick and effective reduction in tension and stress, see how the Medlight 360 can deliver pain-relieving energy using the newest innovations in NASA technology! Within minutes you'll experience increased local blood circulation, resulting in reduced inflammation and pain. This therapy is an excellent adjunct to acupuncture as well as a powerful tool for children or patients too sensitive for acupuncture.
The lymph system is crucial to staying as healthy as possible.
Some of the benefits of optimized lymph function include more effective detoxification, improved digestive function, rejuvenation of skin and skin tone, and promoting healing, toning, and revitalization of internal organs.
At the eCenter, we perform a series of tests of the lymphatic system as part of the patient's initial exam, then work at unblocking and correcting lymphatic function utilizing acupuncture, lymphatic drainage massage, and recommendations for exercise and patient home care.
Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique (NAET) is a non-invasive, drug free, alternative therapy intended as a treatment for allergies and chemical sensitivities. The theory of NAET dictates that allergies develop due to energetic blockages, and that allergies can be eliminated by addressing these blockages through the use of acupuncture or acupressure. NAET practicioners use a form of applied kinesiology to compare the strength of a muscle before and during contact with a potential allergen, otherwise known as muscle testing, and subsequently formulate a treatment plan to eliminate the allergy.
Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) is a psychotherapeutic system that combines a number of techniques and principles from traditional Chinese medicine and applied kinesiology. It focuses on imbalances in the structure of the skeletomuscular system, unresolved negative emotional blocks or complexes (NEC), toxins in the body, and deficiencies in nutrition.
Taking root in the HCG Diet, the Skinny Gene Diet is truly life-changing. If done correctly, the patient is left with an entirely revised view of food, body image, exercise and lifestyle management. Jocelyne's vast knowledge of nutrition and passionate commitment to her patients, when combined with the science of Dr. Simeon's HCG diet, has created for something that is far more than a "diet" -- it is a new and freeing life perspective.
You will not only be healthy, but taught to maintain your health. The ancient Chinese proverb "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime" is truly embodied in Jocelyne's program.
At the eCenter, we partner with you to regain your health. We explore the internal and environmental factors which may be adversely affecting your health and vitality, and develop a wellness plan tailored to your needs. This enables you to get onto the path of health and wellness and enjoy a better quality of life.
Feel free to browse video testimonials from our fabulous patients!
JANUARY
FREE LECTURE
MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012
7:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.
SANTA MONICA CO-OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS
Jocelyne Eberstein, L.Ac., O.M.D., Q.M.E
Expert on How to Rock Your World at ANY AGE!
WEIGHT LOSS:
LOSE YOUR BAGGAGE FOR GOOD!
AT
THE SANTA MIONICA SYNAGOGUE
1448 18TH STREET & BROADWAY
SANTA MONICA, CA
SPACE IS LIMITED!
To RSVP, call 310.446.1968
FREE ADRENAL STRESS SCREENING AND
MINI-CONSULT
Feeling Fatigued? Low Energy? Can't Lose Weight?
Take advantage of this popular screening to see if adrenal stress could be the cause.
01.12.2012 11 A.M. - 4 P.M.
01.26.2011 11 A.M. - 4 P.M.
Pharamaca, Pacific Palisdaes
15150 Sunset Boulevard
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
9 Day Detox Program
The Amazingly Low Price of $520
More than 25% off
The eCenter is kicking off the New Year helping you stick to your New Years Resolutions!
Offer Includes:
2 Acupuncture Treatments
2 BIA Measurements (one at the start and completion)
2 Far Infrared Sauna Treatments
2 Cleanse Drinks
1 Isocort
18 UltraLean Thermo Capsules
1 Bottle Snacks
1 Metabolic ReBoot
Offer Expires: Enter January 15, 2012
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FEBRUARY BABIES!
If have Birthday in February, let us know!
We have something special in store:
ONE FREE SUPER-C
30% ALL ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENTS FOR THE FIRST THREE WEEKS OF FEBRUARY
OFFER ENDS FEBRUARY 17, 2012
CALL 310.446.1968 TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT
NOW!
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a unique form of therapy that promotes natural healing of the body. The science and art of acupuncture has been practiced effectively for thousands of years, and involves the typically pain-free insertion of tiny needles into specific points along the meridians of the body.
How does acupuncture work?
Currently, there is not an overarching Western scientific theory that collaboratively explains all of the physiological responses elicited by acupuncture. This is because acupuncture has such a multitude of therapeutic effects on the body that the action must vary depending on the type of pathology. However, it is proven that acupuncture primarily produces its results via regulation of the nervous system. Doing so aids the activity of biochemicals, such as endorphins and immune system cells at specific sites in the body. Studies have additionally shown that acupuncture may alter brain chemistry by changing the release of neurotransmitters and neurohormones. The altered neurological function affects the parts of the central nervous system related to sensation and autonomic body functions, such as immune reactions and processes that regulate blood pressure, blood flow, and body temperature.
In the Traditional Chinese Medicine system, the body is viewed as a delicate balance of two opposing and inseparable forces: yin and yang. It is believed that health is achieved by maintaining the body in a balanced state, and that disease is due to an imbalance of yin and yang. Such an imbalance leads to blockage in vital energy potential, otherwise known as qi, along pathways known as meridians. It is essential for qi, as well as blood, to circulate in a continual and unobstructed manner for good health of the mind and body.
Does acupuncture hurt?
Pain sensitivity does vary from patient to patient, but in general the insertion of a needle is practically unnoticeable. The needles are single-use, individually packaged, and hair-thin -- if there is to be a sensation felt, it is one similar to a mosquito bite.
I've seen many Western doctors, why should acupuncture make a difference?
We see patients with these questions every day: patients who have sought help through conventional medicine for a variety of health concerns, to no avail. The mistake of utilizing acupuncture as a last-ditch effort is one often made. Acupuncture address the body as the true network system that it is, so as opposed to treating the symptoms, the true root of the problem and all subsequent effects are treated. We know that the body is comprised of systems that are constantly in communication with each other, but oftentimes a "band-aid" solution is what is provided in our current healthcare system. Acupuncture promotes not only healing, but long-term health maintenance.
What makes the eCenter different from the standard acupuncture clinic?
Jocelyne Eberstein's career speaks for itself; be it her work in the field of nuclear medicine technology that provides for an extensive knowledge of Western medicine, her revered work in the field of acupuncture, or her extended studies in China. However, what really makes her such an effective healer is her drive to further her education. Jocelyne was one of the first acupuncturists to become board certified in Acupuncture Orthopedics, and is a Qualified Medical Examiner and a Diplomat in Acupuncture and Herbology (National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture). She is continually travelling across the country to attend various conferences in a focused effort to keep herself at the forefront of technology and research, both Western and Eastern. In addition to constantly expanding her education, she offers free lectures in order to educate and empower the community to prevent disease and take control of their health. Also unique to her practice is how she actively works with Western doctors to create a cooperative plan of treatment for the individual patient. She has truly allowed people to change their perspective about what is possible for their heath and their lives. Jocelyne's practice is backed not only by decades of experience with Traditional Chinese Medicine, but by her status at the forefront of the healthcare community.
July 26th, 2011
A 5,400-year-old mummified man found in 1991 in a melting glacier in the mountains of Northern Italy bears a complicated system of bluish-black tattoos running along his back, right knee and left ankle, in the form of simple stripes or crosses that closely match Acupuncture locations.
Although the discovery of the oldest preserved human being ever found has had tremendous archaeological value, the tattoos so intrigued scientific investigators that experts from three Acupuncture societies were asked to examine the locations of the tattoos.
Nine tattoos were identified as being located directly on, or within six millimeters of, traditional Acupuncture points. Two more were located on an Acupuncture Meridian. One tattoo was used as a local point. The remaining three tattoos were situated between 6-13mm from the closest Acupuncture point, but later studies revealed that the mummys skin had been twisted by pressure from the glacier, which could mean these tattoos were actually exactly on the Acupuncture points.
This could mean that Acupuncture was practiced more than 2,000 years before its supposed origins in China, and in a different part of the world.
Tattoos Match Mummys Physical Problems
Even more amazing, studies of the ice mans body reveal that the tattooed Acupuncture points are those that would treat his major ailments. Forensic studies show he suffered from arthritis in the hip joints, knees, ankles and lumbar spine, and nine of the mummys 15 tattoos are located on the meridian commonly associated with treating back pain. In fact, one of the mummys cross-shaped tattoos is located on point UB60, which is considered by several texts a master point for back pain.
Forensic analysis also revealed that his intestines were filled with whipworm eggs, which can cause severe abdominal pain. Five tattoos corresponded with points that are traditionally used to treat stomach disorders.
The fact that corresponding groups of points were marked by tattoos, not randomly selected points, seems especially intriguing, the researchers noted. From an acupuncturists viewpoint, the combination of points selected represents a meaningful therapeutic regimen.
Taken together, the scientists added, the tattoos could be viewed as a medical report from the stone age, or possibly as a guide to self-treatment marking where to puncture when pains occur.
Named Otz, after the valley in which it was discovered, the mummy was remarkably well preserved, as were most of his clothing, tools and weapons. Scientist have examined the mummys remains thoroughly, learning much about the everyday life of ancient Europeans.
August 11, 2011
Even though Acupuncture has been around for well over 5,000 years, the concept is still very new and strange to many Americans. Almost everyone is familiar with the function of organs, blood vessels, muscles and nerves, but a discussion of such things as energy flows soon puts most into unfamiliar territory.
The main thing to know about Acupuncture is that it has everything to do with maintaining balance in the body. Abody operating in perfect equilibrium will have a much greater ability to maintain good health than one that is not.
A growing number of people have now heard about meridians in the body. Meridians are lines, or pathways, along which the bodys energy is believed to flow. Points used in Acupuncture are located along these pathways having evolved through thousands of years of practice in number of different counties.
The knowledge of energy flows and pathways is becoming increasingly recognized and utilized in Western medicine. Even though this energy cant be detected by sight, it is very much
present and can be tapped in both treatment and diagnosis in Western medicine.
Today we have such tools as electrical muscle exams (EMGs), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a variety of other similar tests. Science and the medical profession have accepted the existence of the meridian system as an integral part of human functioning. It controls and coordinates an electromagnetic system within the body and this may actually control all the other systems of the body.
It could be most simple to consider meridians as being similar to radio waves. The human eye can see neither of these; but both are present and operate at their best when they are totally tuned in. Aradio station broadcasting at 94.5 would provide static if it was tuned to 94.6. Similarly, a meridian operating out of balance would not produce optimum health.
With this knowledge in hand, an increasing number of chiropractors are working in conjunction with and making recommendations to patients to seek Acupuncture treatment. Its
another drug-free type of practice thats growing in acceptance in America and many are experiencing excellent results.
July 7, 2011
The World Health Organization (WHO) published an official report on four categories of symptoms, conditions and diseases that have been shown to benefit from Acupuncture. In a recent Health Report, we presented WHOs Category #1 list diseases, symptoms or conditions for which Acupuncture has been shown, through controlled trials, to be effective as a guide for patients seeking treatment, and to help patients and healthcare providers seek insurance coverage by showing WHOs official recognition of Acupuncture benefits.
The WHO report also contained three additional categories of conditions for which recognized controlled trials had not been done, but for which Acupuncture nevertheless has been shown to be helpful.
The Category #2 list includes diseases, symptoms or conditions for which the therapeutic effect of Acupuncture has been demonstrated but for which further proof is needed.
Here is the list:
Abdominal pain
Acne vulgaris
Alcohol dependence
Bells palsy
Bronchial asthma
Cancer pain
Cardiac neurosis
Chronic cholecystitis
Cholelithiasis
Competition stress syndrome
Craniocerebral injury, closed
Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin)
Earache
Epidemic haemorrhagic fever
Epistaxis, simple
Eye pain due to injection
Female infertility
Facial spasm
Female urethral syndrome
Fibromyalgia and fasciitis
Gastrokinetic disturbance
Gouty arthritis
Hepatitis B virus carrier status
Herpes zoster (human)
Hyperlipaemia
Hypo-ovarianism
Insomnia
Labor pain
Lactation, deficiency
Male sexual dysfunction
Ménière disease
Neuralgia, post-herpetic
Neurodermatitis
Obesity
Opiate/opioid dependence
Osteoarthritis
Endoscopic exam pain
Thromboangiitis pain
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Postextubation in children
Postoperative convalescence
Premenstrual syndrome
Prostatitis, chronic
Pruritus
Radicular/pseudorad pain
Raynaud syndrome, primary
Recurrent urinary infection
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
Retention of urine, traumatic
Schizophrenia
Sialism, drug-induced
Sjögren syndrome
Sore throat (and tonsillitis)
Acute spine pain
Stiff neck
Temporomandibular pain
Tietze syndrome
Tobacco dependence
Tourette syndrome
Ulcerative colitis, chronic
Urolithiasis
Vascular dementia
Whooping cough (pertussis)
If you or someone you know is having trouble with any of the above conditions, check with your acupuncturist to see if they can help.
July 19th, 2011
Scientists at the University of Rochester have taken a new step toward understanding how Acupuncture works at the molecular level to ease pain.
In a paper published in http://www.nature.com/neuro/index.html Nature Neuroscience, a team at the University of Rochester Medical Center described how the molecule adenosine, a naturally-produced chemical compound found in the body, appears to be a central player in creating at least some of the beneficial results of Acupuncture.
Adenosine, is a natural compound called a nucleoside, which is known for its role in regulating sleep, its effects on the heart, and its anti-inflammatory properties. But adenosine is also a natural painkiller. It becomes active in the skin after an injury where it inhibits nerve signals and eases pain very similar to the painkiller lidocaine, only natural.
The researchers found that adenosine is also active in the deeper tissues affected by Acupuncture. They studied the effects of Acupuncture on the peripheral nervous system the nerves that arent part of the brain and spinal cord complementing established work that has shown that Acupuncture creates signals in the central nervous system, causing the brain to produce natural pain-killing endorphins.
Acupuncture has been a mainstay of medical treatment in certain parts of the world for 4,000 years, but because it has not been understood completely, many people have remained skeptical, said Nedergaard, co-director of the Universitys Center for Translational Neuromedicine, where the research was conducted. In this work, we provide information about one physical mechanism through which Acupuncture reduces pain in the body.
The research included Acupuncture treatments on mice with discomfort in a paw, with each mouse receiving 30 minutes of treatment at the same, well-known Acupuncture point near the knee. Very fine needles were used and rotated gently every five minutes, similar to standard Acupuncture treatments in people.
Observations regarding adenosine included:
In mice with normal functioning levels of adenosine, Acupuncture reduced discomfort by two-thirds.
During and immediately after an Acupuncture treatment, the level of adenosine in the tissues near the needles was 24 times greater than before the treatment.
In special adenosine receptor knock-out mice not equipped with the adenosine receptor, Acupuncture had no effect.
When adenosine was directly turned on in the tissues, discomfort was reduced without Acupuncture.
Scientists were able to triple the beneficial effects of Acupuncture in mice by adding a medication that delays the clearance of adenosine from tissue, further verifying the adenosine effect. This increased the effects of Acupuncture treatment dramatically, nearly tripling the accumulation of adenosine in the muscles, and more than tripling the length of time the treatment was effective.
May 3rd, 2011
It would be wonderful to be able to report that a person who suffered a spinal cord injury was able to get up and walk or return to a normal life following Acupuncture treatment. Unfortunately this is not the case. However, a recent study review conducted at the Mayo Clinic does reveal the positive effects of Acupuncture in helping a person with such a devastating injury to achieve better body functions as well as physical relief from pain caused by the condition.Acupuncture can help
Each year in the United States, an estimated 12,000 people suffer a spinal cord injury (SCI), adding to the total of some 250,000 who are living with the condition. Beyond various degrees of paralysis, many of these individuals have sensory loss, endure chronic pain, have bladder and bowel control difficulties and have additional skin and bedsore problems as a result of their immobility.
Researchers Peter T. Dorsher and Peter M. McIntosh of the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., undertook a review of 10 separate studies to determine both the short- and long-term benefits of Acupuncture for a person with SCI. The goal was to see if Acupuncture could serve as a useful and beneficial treatment for a victim and to determine if it could enhance body function to make a person more comfortable or even contribute to a more positive life.
What they discovered may not be earthshaking, but it does provide enough positive evidence to encourage a person with SCI to seek help through Acupuncture. There is evidence that the use of electro-acupuncture in acute spinal cord injured subjects may significantly improve their long-term neurologic recovery including motor, sensory and bowel/bladder function. Acupuncture may even improve neurologic function in spinal cord injured individuals with chronic neurogenic (Starting with or having to do with the nerves or the nervous system) bladder and may also be a useful adjunct in the management of their chronic neuropathic musculoskeletal pain conditions.
For a person whose lifestyle has change dramatically as a result of injury and especially someone who needs round-the-clock care to maintain life, the fact that Acupuncture can possibly offer some help and relief should be widely known. Certainly there is no guarantee that Acupuncture can help, but the fact that it has helped others as outlined in these studies should make it a treatment to be sought out and tried.
Researchers added this piece of information regarding the function of Acupuncture: The Acupuncture effects appear to result from stimulation of appropriate spinal cord segmental levels or peripheral nerves. The known release of endogenous opioids* at the spinal cord level produced by Acupuncture treatment and electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves provides a plausible mechanism for its effects in pain relief and limiting SCI after acute trauma.
The results of this study were originally published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
*Endogenous opioid, an opiate-like substance, such as an endorphin, produced by the body. Opioid, denoting naturally occurring opiate-like effects by interacting with opiate receptors of cell membranes.
August 9th, 2011
The authors of a large German research study comparing the effectiveness of Acupuncture to the drug metoprolol in treating migraine headaches found that German patients suffering from the dreadful pain and misery of migraine expressed a strong preference for treatment with Acupuncture rather than risk the potentially life-threatening side-effects of the drug.
The researchers were forced to reduce the number of participants to 114 from the planned 480. Also, patients receiving metoprolol rather than Acupuncture were considerably more likely to discontinue treatment, the authors stated. Thus the recruitment phase of the study was ended prematurely after 114 patients had been randomized.
The headache study was part of a larger nationwide research project to study the effectiveness of Acupuncture for headaches, chronic low back pain, and pain from osteoarthritis. The methodology called for real Acupuncture treatments, sham or minimal Acupuncture, and no treatments, as well as drug treatment in the case of the headache trials.
The results showed that, for all three conditions, Acupuncture produced a clear benefit that lasted for at least several months, and whose benefit was greatest in the osteoarthritis groups. In all three categories, Acupuncture proved extremely effective at reducing pain and inflammation compared to either traditional drug or other treatments, or no treatment at all.
The study was aimed at providing more information for the government to ascertain whether Acupuncture for these conditions should be covered by medical insurance. As a result, insurance in Germany has been extended to include osteoarthritis of the knees. Further research is planned in the other areas surveyed.
June 10th, 2011
