Tuesday, November, 30th, 2010
Posted by Dr. Hsu
Chronic pain may cause depression and irritability. This depression and irritability often leads to insomnia and weariness, which in turn compounds the emotional distress and pain.
This vicious cycle is called the “terrible triad” of suffering, sleeplessness and sadness. The urge to stop the pain can make some people drug dependent, and may drive others to have repeated surgeries, or resort to questionable treatments.
In the treatment of pain, the primary difference between Traditional Chinese Medicine and western medicine is that TCM methods such as acupuncture and herbal treatments have virtually no side effects.
Tuesday, November, 2nd, 2010
Posted by Dr. Hsu
It’s marathon season! Many of you will have trained long and hard to run the marathon. But do you know what to do in the days, weeks and months after the race? There will be impending muscle soreness, stiffness, spasms and tears. Your joints will ache and your energy levels will be low. Some may even experience the post marathon blues. You may know to ice your sore joints and muscles and to drink plenty of electrolyte rich fluids like orange juice or tomato juice. But did you also know that acupuncture can help you recover from all of your physical injuries as well as your post-race depression. Try a few acupuncture sessions after the race. You’ll be glad you did!
Tuesday, May, 18th, 2010
Posted by Dr. Hsu
Sunday, May, 9th, 2010
Posted by Dr. Hsu
Exercise is called “nature’s best tranquilizer.” Studies show that regular exercise works well for preventing insomnia among older adults who find it harder to sleep as they get older.
- Exercise also helps everyone experience a deeper, more restful sleep.
- Exercise is most helpful if it is undertaken well before bedtime and dinner.
- Do any doctor approved moderate-intensity exercise that you enjoy, for about 30-45 minutes, several hours before bedtime.
- If possible, exercise before eating dinner.
Some types of exercise, such as yoga and tai chi, have been studied for their effects on insomnia. In a Harvard study, people who did yoga for 30-45 minutes daily feel asleep 30 percent faster and had 35 percent fewer night waking than people who did not do yoga every day.
Most people with chronic insomnia have increased levels of stress hormones in their blood, keeping them chronically hyperaroused and awake. Exercise increases stress hormones initially, but several hours after exercise ceases, stress hormone levels drop.
Monday, October, 5th, 2009
Posted by Dr. Hsu
Newly discovered acupuncture points come up every now and then. There is one new point that is very effective for headache and migraine sufferers. I teach my patients to use acupressure on this point to help relieve their headaches and migraines. The point is called “Che Qian” and it is located on the arm. Ask your practitioner to show it to you!
Sunday, September, 27th, 2009
Posted by Dr. Hsu
The days are getting shorter. Autumn is here and soon, winter will be upon us. Many of us who work long hours in office buildings will leave for work before the sun come comes up and go home after the sun goes down. We may not see any sunlight for weeks or even months on end.
During this time, if you experience some of these symptoms: fatigue, lack of interest in normal activities, social withdrawal, craving for foods high in carbohydrates, weight gain, then you may not have a simple case of the “winter blues”. You may have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This is a type of mood disorder that happens at a similar time every year. Symptoms start in the autumn and can continue through the winter. What causes SAD is still debated. Western Medicine treatment includes light therapy (phototherapy), psychotherapy and antidepressants.
So, how can acupuncture help with SAD? Acupuncture releases serotonin and noradrenaline-norepinephrine which are common stimulants used in the treatment of SAD. Recent studies indicate that electro-acupuncture may be a viable alternative to the use of antidepressants. Furthermore, acupuncture can regulate the hypothalamus in the brain which controls circadian rhythms and hunger.
