Hot Flash Relief through Acupuncture

A researcher in Norway, a country where acupuncture is widely used, designed a study to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture on post-menopausal women being treated with Tamoxifen following surgery for breast cancer. Tamoxifen is a drug that interferes with estrogen and causes menopausal-like symptoms such as hot flashes, joint pain, vaginal dryness and leg cramps. Participants who received Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture had a 50% reduction in hot flashes, both during the day and the night, and this effect continued after the acupuncture treatments were discontinued.

A total of 59 breast cancer patients received either TCM acupuncture or sham (random) acupuncture for a total of 10 weeks. Acupuncture was administered twice a week for 5 weeks and once a week for the following 5 weeks. The subjects monitored and recorded the number of hot flashes they had for 4 weeks prior to treatment, during the treatment and 12 weeks after the treatments ended. Other symptoms measured included sweating, sleep disturbance, depression, palpitations and joint pain.

The head investigator reports “During the treatment, hot flashes were reduced by 50%, both day and night, in the acupuncture group. Three months after the last treatment a further reduction was seen. No significant changes were seen in the sham group during the day. At night there was a slight reduction during the treatment period but, once treatment had ceased, the number of hot flashes increased again.”

As acupuncture increasingly becomes more and more popular, researchers are continually designing studies testing its efficacy. To experience the many benefits of acupuncture, including pain relief, stress management, insomnia and hot-flash reduction, call Aletris Center of Integrative Medicine in Scottsdale, AZ to set up an appointment.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment

Acupuncture for FERTILITY

A recent study out of the University of Maryland investigated the effects of combining acupuncture with in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the treatment of infertility. Researchers found that women who received traditional acupuncture before and/or after IVF were 65% more likely to become pregnant than those who received random needling, or sham acupuncture. Additionally, the rate of live births was twice as high among women treated with traditional acupuncture than those who were treated with sham acupuncture.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treats infertility by restoring balance, whether the underlying cause is due to organ deficiency, stagnant energy, or inadequate blood and qi. Acupuncturists place needles along specific meridians in order to promote the smooth flow of energy and treat imbalances within these meridians and organs. Treatment plans are individualized according to patient symptoms and pulse and tongue observation.

If you would like to schedule an acupuncture treatment or complimentary 15-minute consultation with our naturopathic acupuncturist, please call ALETRIS at 480-443-7168 or email info@aletriscenter.com.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Healthy BACK

A recent study in the September 24^th issue of Archives of Internal Medicine found that acupuncture relieved back pain better than conventional treatment. According to Heinz Endres, M.D., almost twice as many patients were helped with acupuncture treatments than any other treatments.

Low back pain is a notoriously difficult to treat and is an extremely common complaint. According to the National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke, Americans spend at least 50 billion dollars a year on low back pain and almost everyone will have at least one occurrence of low back pain in his or her life.

Back pain can arise from muscle, bone, joint, or ligament irritation. If the issue stems from a muscle or ligament problem, acupuncture will most likely be highly effective. A single acupuncture treatment, which may include tuina, cupping and/or moxibustion in combination with needle therapy, will give you at least partial relief if this is the case. If the issue arises from a joint or bone misalignment, acupuncture may not work as well. In any case, acupuncture is a great place to start in order to manage your low back pain. It is relatively inexpensive and completely safe in comparison to conventional treatments.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.