Due to its ability to increase blood flow to the scalp, massage for hair loss holds many potential benefits. Massage for hair loss is the act of rubbing, kneading and applying pressure to the skin of the scalp with the fingers and hands. Of the wide range of benefits scalp massage can provide, perhaps the greatest benefit is considered to be the increased blood flow to the surface of the skin. This is the reason why individuals suffering from hair loss are turning towards massage for help.

Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage cushions between the joints break down, causing pain and stiffness. Cartilage is a firm, rubbery tissue that cushions bones and surrounds the joints, allowing bones to glide over one another. There are several factors thought to cause the breakdown of the cartilage surrounding joints. Cartilage can break down with age, but it can also tear away as the result of an injury. Other factors that could cause osteoarthritis include a genetic predisposition, a weight problem (being overweight increases the risk of cartilage wearing down in the hip, knee, and ankle joints), fractures, or long-term overuse from athletic activities.

Without the cartilage, when the bones rub together it can cause swelling, stiffness, and pain. There is also the possibility of a ripple effect when one joint loses cartilage. Other, related joints can over-compensate or can’t function normally, causing ligaments to become weak. An estimated 12 percent of Americans suffer from osteoarthritis between their early teen years and their mid-70s.

Menopause and its accompanying discomforts include hot flashes, insomnia, and mood swings. A natural, but dreaded condition for American women, menopause does not seem to have nearly the same effect on women in China. It’s an interesting fact that 75% of American women experience noticeable menopausal discomfort, while only 10% of Asian women experience the same. It’s worth considering that some of the factors involved in this difference are dietary and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) related, which are both comprised of natural elements, unlike the most common Western treatment for menopause: hormone replacement therapy.

The idea that food can be used medicinally is an inherent Chinese cultural belief, as well as a fundamental principle of TCM. The affect that diet has on one’s health is now commonly accepted. The three leading causes of death in the United States -- heart attack, cancer, and stroke, are closely related to a poor diet. Research has increased the study of the relation between women’s health and plants and plant chemistry. Specifically, chemicals found in plants called “phytoestrogens”. Western and Eastern medicine agree that diet rich in phytoestrogens can reduce the adverse symptoms associated with menopause. The phytoestrogens that are bound to the body’s estrogen receptors release slowly and naturally into the blood stream, providing a continuing source of estrogen as the body’s naturally produced estrogen supply diminishes. When phytoestrogens are replenished by phytoestrogen-rich foods, a natural supply of estrogen will be present in the body, providing an alleviated process of menopause.

Some of the best results of modern healthcare can be reached with an integrative approach, utilizing both Western and traditional Chinese medicine. A good example of this is how acupuncture can be used to relieve the side-effects of chemotherapy treatments. Long-term fatigue is one common side-effect of chemotherapy. In a recent study by the University of Manchester, acupuncture reduces fatigue by over a third, and radically improves patients’ quality of life.

In the University of Manchester’s latest study, 47 patients suffering from moderate to severe fatigue were enrolled in a randomized placebo controlled trial at Manchester’s Christie Hospital. The patients were randomly seeded into one of three groups to receive either acupuncture, acupressure or sham acupressure.

Traditional Chinese Medicine can provide an alternative treatment for seasonal allergies and sinus problems. Most medical practitioners will recommend using decongestants, non-steroidal nasal sprays, allergy shots, antihistamines, or nasal corticosteroids to combat these sinus problems. While these options have been successful for many patients afflicted with burning throats, itchy eyes, inflamed eyes, and stuffy nose, there are many individuals that do not respond well to these treatment plans, or who would like to go a more natural route.

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine? What is Acupuncture?

Bronchitis is a lung disease that is aggravated by industrial pollutants, dust, and smoke. If left untreated, bronchitis can result in the irreparable destruction of lung tissue. Asthma is a respiratory sensitivity to common irritants such as cigarette smoke, pollen, mold, and dust. Asthma is often associated with bronchitis, because a person with asthma has a higher likelihood of developing bronchitis. Asthmatic episodes are marked by the muscular walls of the breathing tubes in the lungs to contract in a sudden, sometimes violent, loss of oxygen, rendering a person unable to catch his or her breath.

In the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) view, qi (the vital energy proposed to regulate a person's spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health) circulates throughout the body on pathways called meridians. Qi can be heavily influenced by emotional, environmental, and elemental forces, and disruptions in the flow of qi are thought to be responsible for disease. TCM views bronchitis as a disruptive invasion of wind, either hot or cold, into the body system. Conversely, Western medicine sees the same symptoms as a standard respiratory infection. Each patient has a unique condition, and acupuncture sessions take into account the individual details of the patient, both physical and emotional. Acupuncture treatments are designed to stimulate specific points on the body by inserting thin metal needles into the skin. The needles work to remove blockages in the flow of qi, allowing the body to return to a state of balance.

Sciatica can be excruciatingly painful. The word ‘sciatica’ is sometimes used to describe any pain in the lower back, but the term specifically refers to pain along the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body. The sciatic nerve starts from the lower back (the lumbar spine) and runs down the buttocks and the backs of the legs. Sciatica is not a disorder in itself. Sciatic pain is a symptom of a problem related to the sciatic nerve, and can be caused by a herniated disk that presses on the roots of the nerve. Injuries are a common cause for sciatic pain. Massage for sciatica can relieve the pain and prevent further discomfort.

The more the scientific community learns about premenstrual syndrome (PMS), the more a hormonal imbalance is thought to be the primary culprit. TCM and acupuncture have been used for centuries to regulate the body, promote healing, and regain a proper balance of energy, blood, and biochemicals. Practitioners have identified a course of TCM that can be used to find permanent relief from PMS and bloating.

Several million women report painful periods, cramps, and PMS that can disrupt life for 7-10 days each month. The most common symptoms include bloating, headache, acne, and irritability or severe mood swings. Proper diet, exercise, medicinal herbs, and acupuncture can all be used to better regulate these hormonal fluctuations.

Hypertension, more commonly known as high blood pressure, affects one in three adults in America, the majority of who are aged 65 years or over. Hypertension is defined by the consistent measurement of a systolic blood pressure exceeding 140 mmHg and/or a diastolic blood pressure exceeding 90 mmHg. The systolic blood pressure refers to the pressure in the arteries during a heart beat and the diastolic blood pressure is the pressure in the arteries in between heart beats.

It is normal for individuals to experience high blood pressure during exertion. However, if a person’s blood pressure is consistently high, they are at an increased risk of stroke and heart disease, two leading causes of mortality in America. Hypertension often goes unnoticed, as no apparent outward symptoms are associated with the disease. The condition is commonly diagnosed in the physician’s office when a physician measures a patient’s blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer during a routine medical examination.