Bipolar patients struggle with a lifelong disorder that causes unpredictable manic and depressive episodes from day to day.  An estimated 1.9 million Americans suffer from this illness, and their families, jobs, and relationships are often disrupted by the persistence of extreme ups and downs.  When properly diagnosed and treated, these individuals can enjoy a stability that allows them to be productive, functioning adults, however, there is currently no medication that can address all of the bipolar disorder symptoms.  A typical treatment plan involves medication, new lifestyle choices, and some form of alternative or complementary treatment.

One such treatment that is often used in conjunction with medication is acupuncture.  Developed in China more than 2,000 years ago, acupuncture focuses on promoting the flow of energy from the surface of our bodies in towards our organs.  This energy, or Qi, is critical to not only our spiritual health, but also to our emotional, physical, and mental balance.  The proper balance can be restored with the help of several thousand different acupuncture points that serve as a map to our primary and secondary meridians.  A practitioner can apply pressure along certain areas of the skin using a series of very fine acupuncture needles, clearing up any energy blockages and allowing the body to heal itself.  This ancient method of therapy has been shown to help bipolar patients better regulate their response to stress.  Chemically speaking, acupuncture treatment stimulates the central nervous system, releasing endorphins that bipolar patients may not produce in high enough quantities normally.  This process helps bipolar and depressed patients to enjoy a significant reduction in their symptoms of mania while following a regular course of acupuncture.

Dr. Tricia Suppes, a professor in the Psychiatry Department at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, began a formal study on the effects of acupuncture on bipolar disorder back in 2001.  The study was sponsored by the National Insititute of Mental Health, and served as a follow-up to studies done at the University of Arizona College of Medicine where acupuncture was used to treat unipolar depression.  Suppes found that over the course of 2 months, patients who received acupuncture with points specific to depression were able to lower their bipolar disorder medication doses when compared to patients who received a generalized acupuncture treatment.

Recovering bipolar patients may not regain complete control of their lives immediately and may need a series of treatments in order to attain long-term benefits. Consult your practitioner for a treatment plan that best suits your needs.

Massages for pregnancy, more commonly known as prenatal massages, are therapeutic massages that are scientifically proven to aid in depression in pregnant mothers, labor pains, and childbirth.
 
There are various research studies that focus on the benefits of prenatal massages, but none have advocated its advantages more than Dr. Tiffany Field, the leading expert in pioneering the field of medical research for massage therapy and its link to childbirth and pregnancy. Dr. Field of Touch Research Institute in the University of Miami Medical School, Florida, and Fielding Graduate University, has already provided a surreptitious amount of medical research data on how massage therapy improves the overall health of the newborn baby (2009a), how they can alleviate the pain in pregnant women (2007), and how they could positively affect depressed pregnant women (2004).

Other benefits include decreased pain and anxiety during childbirth (1997, 2010); shorter labor and hospital stay by an average of three hours and decreased necessity for medication (1997, 2010); improved fetal movement while in midgestation through vibratory stimulation (2002), and lessened norepinephrine (stress hormones) and anxiety during pregnancy as well as fewer postnatal and obstetric problems afterwards (1999).

Colds and the flu virus plague most people at least once a year. Hardly anyone manages to escape the typical runny nose, itchy eyes, and high fevers associated with a cold or the flu virus. However, traditional Chinese medicine has been very successful in treating patients who suffer routinely from colds and the flu virus. Individuals who are especially prone to contracting them should further investigate this viable alternative to standard treatment.

Traditional Chinese medicine uses natural herbs such as Angelica root and field, to rid your body of viruses. Acupuncture, a modality of traditional Chinese medicine, boosts your immune system by increasing cellular immunity. The ultra-fine needles are placed in specific points on the body to regulate and strengthen the body's Qi (energy) in order to prevent seasonal viral problems.

When used in combination with Chinese herbs, like those listed above, patients often recover from colds much quicker or avoid them altogether.

The spine can become damaged or injured in many ways, and the symptoms presented depend on the location and degree of the spinal injury.  Spinal problems may be caused by an accident, an infection, a disturbance in blood flow to the spine, or a disease such as multiple sclerosis, that alters nerve function.
Spinal problems can cause a patient major physical and psychological suffering and anyone suffering from spinal problems is advised to seek immediate medical attention from a physician. A patient presenting spinal problems will first have their symptoms assessed by a medical professional.  They may then be sent for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized tomography (CT) scan so that the spine can be looked at in more detail. Once a diagnosis has been sought, an effective treatment method will then be determined.

Massage for spinal problems is a common form of integrative treatment. During a massage for spinal problems, the massage therapist will deal with sore areas by gently pressing the area in a circular motion, increasing the pressure when the pain experienced subsides. The hands are used to glide up and down the spine from the neck to the base of the spine and back again, pausing wherever tenderness is experienced. Tender areas along the spine may also be treated with the use of constant yet moderate finger pressure on the spot lasting around 90 seconds in duration. The pressure is directed against the spine and the opposite side of the body should be raised up against the pressure in order to relax the muscle treated. The movements made during a massage serve to increase blood flow to the spine, reduce pain and tension, improve motion of the spine and reduce anxiety.
The effectiveness of massage has been investigated by Tiffany Field, Maria Hernandez-Reif, Sybil Hart, Tory Field, Iris Burman, Bernard Brucker and Miguel A. Diego of the Touch Research Institute of Miami, Florida. The study looked into the effects of massage for specific areas of the spine and involved twenty participants. The participants were split into two groups: a massage group and an exercise group. Patients in the massage therapy group were in receipt of two 40-minute massage sessions per week for a period of five weeks. Patients in the exercise group were required to practice exercises targeting the neck, shoulders, arms and back twice a week for five weeks. While both groups benefited from the treatment they received, the group in receipt of massage therapy reported increased muscle strength, greater wrist motion range, reduced anxiety, and improved mood.
Daniel C. Cherkin, Karen J. Sherman, Richard A. Deyo and Paul G. Shekelle conducted a review of the evidence presented by studies looking into the effectiveness of massage, among other therapies. The review involved evaluating and analyzing the findings of randomized, controlled trials of the effects of massage therapy, acupuncture and spinal manipulation on non-specific back pain, published from the year 1995 onwards.  Three of the randomized, controlled trials evaluated massage, particularly for spinal problems. Evaluation of these three trials led to the conclusion that massage is effective in improving sub-acute and chronic back pain.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammation that may affect many tissues and organs of the body, but primarily attacks synovial joints, which is the most common and movable type of joint in the body of a person. This autoimmune disease that usually causes chronic inflammation to the joints, also affects the tissue around the joints. Autoimmune diseases normally occur when the body's tissues are erroneously attacked by their own immune system.
Since rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic illness, it can last for years, and patients suffering from this disease may experience it for longer times without showing any symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis in a typical manner is a progressive illness that may potentially cause joint destruction and permanent disability. The symptoms that are experienced are joint pain, swelling, stiffness and general discomfort.

Traditional prescription medicines are not always the effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. An alternative treatment for this autoimmune disease could be natural treatments such as Traditional Chinese medicines or Acupuncture.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine and healing method that started back more than 3,000 years ago. For Chinese people, it is used to effectively treat the symptoms of arthritis, and some health problems. Acupuncture is a procedure performed in which specific body areas and points are punctured with fine needles for therapeutic purposes, to relieve joint pains, produce regional anesthesia, or provide body relaxation.

Acupuncture is an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis because as a natural medication, it does not have any negative side effects, whereas most prescribed medications do, making it difficult for patients suffering from this chronic joint illness.

Acupuncture works by inserting thin needles into several body points or "meridians", clearing any energy blockages. This allows the illness and the uncomfortable feeling to be quickly alleviated. Acupuncturists may focus on the heart, kidney, back of head, and internal secretion points.

Traditional acupuncturists typically treat the person as a whole rather than focusing on the symptoms of the disease. They consider the lifestyle of the sufferer and also environmental factors that triggered the problem.
There was a study of auriculo-electropuncture (AEP) in Russia with 16 patients that suffered from arthritis. AEP is a treatment of essential points on the ear.  They used a double blind method which resulted into a "statistically significant" improvement in their blood samples.

In another research, there were 54 rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing acupuncture with the use of a Chinese herb called Zhuifengsu,  also called warm needling. It resulted positively and has shown to be 100% effective. 

Since rheumatoid is autoimmune system illness, acupuncture is a perfect medication because it effectively works to boost the immune system. When the immune system is strong, this disease can be prevented as well as other illnesses.

Most importantly, acupuncture is a form of preventive medicine, because individuals can undergo this procedure without any specific illness or ailments. People experience Chinese medicine to help them prevent rheumatoid arthritis and any other illnesses, while at the same time, they make use of it to keep their minds and body relaxed and stress free.

Gout is a common form of arthritis. The condition presents itself as a sudden onset of swelling, redness and pain in and around the joint of the big toe. The condition is caused by high uric acid levels in the blood and the result of this is needle-like crystals formation in and around the joints. In the past two decades, the prevalence of this condition in the United States has been increasing steadily. Approximately 1-2% of the population of the U.S. are estimated to suffer from the disease.
The most common causes of gout include consumption of a diet high in protein, being male in gender, having a family history of gout, excessive alcohol consumption, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diuretic use, obesity, uric acid overproduction and metabolic syndrome. Treatment for gout varies depending on whether the condition is chronic or acute. Complementary therapies such as massage are commonly sought in addition to the available medical treatments.
Massage focuses on the whole body, but in particular, on areas that experience pain due to diseased joints. It is an ancient therapy designed to enhance the body's natural healing mechanisms. Massage is designed to stimulate the metabolism, improve the circulation of blood to the damaged joints and to the muscular tissue surrounding them, reduce experience of pain, and avoid spasms. Pain relief from massage may be quick or make take numerous massage sessions, depending on the degree of pain experienced.
Acupressure is a form of stiff, deep massage performed only with bare hands. Massage practitioners utilize the palms, thumbs and fingertips to perform the massage. Movements are made with the hands in firm yet smooth manner on specific pressure points on the body. Conventional massage and acupressure differ in that conventional massage adopts use of massage oils.
While massage may be an ancient therapy, there is sufficient evidence to prove its effectiveness. Much of the research into massage focuses on osteoarthritis caused by gout-related generative joint changes in the big toe, foot, ankles, knees, fingers, elbows and wrists. The Touch Research Institute based at the University of Miami investigated the effectiveness of massage on wrist/hand arthritis in 22 adults. Participants in the massage group received massage on the area affected by arthritis once a week for four weeks in duration and also performed self-massage on the area on a daily basis. Participants in the massage group reported less pain and greater relief from their arthritis than participants in the other research group.
Adam I. Perlman, Alyse Sabina, Anna-Leila Williams, Valentine Yanchou Njike and David L. Katz conducted a randomized controlled trial into the effectiveness of massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee joint, a joint commonly affected by gout. The study involved 68 adults, all of whom were confirmed to have been suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee, were split into two groups: a treatment group and a control group. Those in the treatment group received twice-weekly Swedish massage therapy during weeks 1-4 and once-weekly massage sessions during weeks 5-8. The control group received what was described as delayed intervention. The results of the study, published in 2006, demonstrated significantly reduced experience of pain and improved functionality of the knee in the treatment group. This led researchers to conclude that massage therapy appeared to be effective in the treatment of arthritis of the knee joint.

While, at present, there are no cures for gout, massage can help to control the symptoms of gout and aid sufferers in maintaining a normal lifestyle whenever they experience a gout flare-up.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can originate from various causes ranging from aggression to violence or disasters. Any situation causing emotional, physical or mental trauma can result in PTSD. The use of acupuncture for PTSD has been scientifically proven to show reduced anxiety levels and stress in individuals. Through such Chinese forms of treatment, it is easier for affected individuals to regain composure in daily life activities.

Typically acupuncture for PTSD is administered by stimulating specific auricular points in the body. These points of the body are responsible for controlling particular brain areas that help control nervous functioning as well as mitigate stress levels. Many soldiers who have been victims of PTSD after violent wars are being treated with acupuncture to provide successful results. Recently, the Pentagon has been investigating the beneficial effects of acupuncture for PTSD on soldiers affected with this condition. As per findings from recent trials, it has been found that combat veterans were relieved of their symptoms and experienced reduced depression, as well as pain. The improvements due to acupuncture were also found to be very rapid and significant.

Many natural remedies are used to treat PTSD disorders in affected individuals. However, out of all these remedies acupuncture seems to be most effective for treatment. Different studies like those conducted by Dr. Hollifield at Department of Psychiatry in University of New Mexico, show that acupuncture can be used successfully as natural treatment for PTSD symptoms like depression, anxiety, insomnia as well as pain originating from psychosomatic disorders. The healing effects of acupuncture last over three months post-treatment. Unlike other conventional psychiatric treatments that are exposure-oriented (in that they require patients to reconstruct traumatic incidents), acupuncture for PTSD does not expose the patient to such elements and hence is safer and non-intrusive.
Studies conducted by the Pentagon have revealed that most soldiers affected by PTSD would be more inclined to accept non-exposure treatments such as acupuncture for PTSD. The biggest reason for this is because the soldiers need not share such traumatic experiences with their psychiatrist. Besides, acupuncture has been revealed to provide rapid benefits to patients through faster healing. Ear acupuncture on veteran soldiers located in Vermont has helped many overcome sleep disorders originating due to PTSD. The benefits of acupuncture for PTSD has translated into greater word of mouth as more people recommend acupuncture as a successful alternative medicine and treatment to conventional treatments.
As per a recent collaboration between Nityamo Lian DOM and another student from International Institute of Chinese Medicine, there has been the development of a conventional "point prescription" mode of treatment along with scope for individual variation. Thus, while the standard treatment details a holistic set of points in the body that need stimulation through acupuncture, these point treatments can also be customized to suit individual cases. Persons with severe PTSD symptoms might require a slightly different form of acupuncture as compared to those persons with milder symptoms.

Hyperglycemia is a condition where a person's blood sugar level is higher than they should be. Fasting blood sugar levels for a normal person are between 70-100mg per deciliter. After eating a meal, they generally do not get higher than 150mg. Anything over 180mg is cause for concern. As opposed to that, hypoglycemia is where a person's blood sugar level is 65mgs or lower.

Both of these conditions are detrimental to good health. A person with consistent high blood sugar may eventually develop diabetes and require medication to keep their blood sugar levels in check. Someone with low blood sugar levels will experience decreasing mental functions and adverse physical side effects up to and including seizures.

Both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia are dietary problems in nature, which comes from eating too many foods that cause the blood sugar to rise or not getting enough food to supply the energy your cells need. There are several ways you can correct either condition. Your doctor will usually recommend that you first make changes to your diet and exercise regimen to help you maintain healthy sugar levels.

Another reason for abnormally high or low sugar levels in the blood is due to the action of insulin. Insulin helps cells absorb the sugar in your blood. If you produce too much of it or not enough, you will experience hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia respectively. Depending on the severity of your condition, you may be prescribed medication.

One question that comes up frequently from suffers of either issue is whether or not massage is helpful for controlling blood sugar levels. Massage therapy is a manipulation of the body for health and wellness purposes. Practitioners utilize their hands to work the body using a variety of techniques including kneading the muscles and stroking the skin. It is known for improving circulation, reducing tension, and alleviating pain.

Diabetics have reported that massage helped reduce their blood sugar levels by as much as 100 points. Some have also reported they have been able to maintain healthy sugar levels when they get massages on a regular basis. This may be true for one important reason: massage helps reduce stress. When a person is under stress, a chemical is produced in the body called cortisol. It is secreted by the adrenal gland and one of its primary functions is to increase blood sugar in order to provide the body with the energy it needs to handle whatever crisis is happening. Unfortunately, people find themselves under constant stress which can lead to hyperglycemia because cortisol actually counteracts the effects of insulin. Getting a regular massage helps reduce stress levels and the resulting production of cortisol thereby lowering the amount of sugar in the blood and giving insulin a chance to so its work.

Research conducted by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine found that test subjects that underwent massage therapy experienced a 31% decrease in cortisol levels.

Massage is also good for improving circulation, which is important in people with high blood sugar levels. Too much sugar in the blood slows down the circulatory system which in turn causes problems such as diabetic neuropathy and atherosclerosis. These conditions can lead to loss of feeling in the extremities (hands and feet), blindness, and heart failure.

Maintaining good circulation is the key to preventing these side effects if you suffer from blood sugar problems. Getting a massage on a regular basis from a professional is an easy way to lower your stress levels and promote good circulation for optimum health and wellbeing.