Treating The Effects Of Multiple Sclerosis With Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Formulas

 

Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Formulas are very effective in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an  autoimmune disease.  A person's immune system attacks the myelin sheath that covers and protects  the nerves of the brain and spinal cord. A simple way of understanding the disease is this:  imagine the outer casing that holds and protects many electrical wires wears away leaving tears and holes that expose the internal wiring.  The wires inside the casing short circuit, burn, smoke, and malfunction due to exposure to environmental elements (your bodily fluids, etc).  The wearing down of the myelin sheath leads to injury and inflammation; consequently, electrical or nerve signals to and from the brain to different organs, muscles, nerves and other connective tissue are blocked.  The end result is debilitating - the patient can experience difficult vision, burning pain in the extremities, loss of muscle coordination and strength, loss of organ and other bodily functions, and a downward spiral of degenerating health.  Multiple sclerosis can affect any sex or age group but is common in ages 20 to 40 years of age.  Women are twice susceptible to MS as men.

Traditional Chinese Medicine looks at the patient as a whole in determining treatment for MS or any other condition.  All lifestyle and physical aspects of the patient are evaluated.  Tongue and pulse diagnoses offer much information about the patient's condition.  There are 18 pulse positions that are felt and evaluated; the condition of the tongue can determine heat, cold, organ dysfunction, build up of toxins and a plethora of other indicators pertinent to the individual case.  In evaluating the MS patient, the demyelization of the neural sheath is considered to be a heat condition; heat dries bodily fluids and builds toxins; this in turn, leads to organ and connective tissue malfunction.  Acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulas address these symptoms effectively and can help reduce or eliminate various symptoms of this autoimmune disease. 

Case Study:  A 62 year old post menopausal female presented with burning pain in both legs, travelling to lower legs and the soles of her feet.  The patient was unable to walk 2 city blocks without pain. The patient experienced nocturnal body heat and woke up every other hour in the evening in 'pools of sweat'.  The patient had  been diagnosed with MS 4 years prior to her visit to my office and had recently gone on disability because of her inability to walk and work.  Her quality of  life had suffered and had been suffering mild depression.  The patient's tongue was overall red with a very dry, thin coat (this denotes a heat condition and drying of internal bodily fluids.  Her pulses overall were thin, rapid, wiry and small.  I determined a diagnosis of Yin Deficiency as root cause and a secondary condition of Qi Stagnation.  In plain English, this means that the MS was caused by a heat condition (Yin Deficiency); the night sweats and neuropathies were being caused by the secondary condition (Qi Stagnation).  Because of the heat, the internal bodily fluids were drying, causing the normal flow of blood, lymph, fluids, red and white blood cells to reach the extremities and provide the necessary cellular nutrition for proper physical function.  The treatment strategy:  clear the heat, tonify the immune system, clear the stagnation and calm the mind (to address the depression).  Acupuncture treatment twice weekly for 4 weeks, with nutritional modifications ( no spicy foods, acidic foods, alcohol, sugar or dairy) and water therapy were additive to the protocol.  An herbal pill formula to address the nocturnal sweat and fluids was prescribed to be taken on a daily basis.

After 4 weeks of this treatment protocol, the patient reported she could walk more than half a mile, could swim for 20 minutes in the pool, and the burning pain had dissipated from a 9 of 10 on the pain scale to a 3 of  10.  The nocturnal sweats had disappeared and she was beginning to feel more like herself.  The protocol was modified to one treatment weekly for 8 weeks; yoga was suggested in addition to water therapy and the continued diet modifications.  After 8 weeks, the patient reported that she was pain free and had spoken with her employer - she was going back to work and felt wonderful.  This patient continues with treatment once monthly and continues to do yoga and swim; she can now dance and is living a productive and happy life once again.

Traditional Chinese Medicine cannot offer a cure for MS, but a good practitioner can help reduce or eliminate certain afflictions of the disease.  While results vary from case to case, this is one of the many pathologies that I treat on a daily basis.  Traditional  Chinese Medicine is over 2,000 years old for a reason.

Breakthroughs Can Happen When You Believe In Yourself

I've worn out my patellar cartlidge in my left knee and the right one is complaining it's quitting soon - bummer to say the least.  So, while I wait for some 'goop' to be injected into my knees to buy me a few more years of jumping and kicking fun, I'm back to yoga and sometimes some good old boxing.  This is a self reinvention; the warrior is becoming a yogi again.   I've bought myself proper yoga clothing so I don't stick out in the class like Godzilla in my Muay Thai shorts.  I've been wearing a specially fit hinged brace for my left knee which enables me to walk, do yoga and box - basic activities we all take for granted that have been impossible or just plain painful.  Hence, the reservations of taking a chance to do different yoga poses (although I taught yoga to martial artists for years)....ah, fear and what torments it will play with your mind.  Today, I went into class and decided that my 'magic brace' was going to hold me steady as my physical therapist swears.  I had a mental and physical breakthrough.  For the first time in a few months, I jumped back into my chattaronga pushups, bent my left knee without pain and truly enjoyed the class....my mantra and devotion to today's practice was 'I CAN'...not the "I can't" I've allowed fear to shout to me previously.  I forgot how much yoga could be fun and challenging.  Breakthroughs and transformations...I think I'll explore this thought a bit more and get back to you on it....to be continued....

Heres Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Believe in Yourself...breakthroughs CAN happen!

Low Impact Exercises

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Very often, people who have not exercised in quite some time ask me what exercises they can do that would kickstart them into healthy living.  If you have no other medical issues that would prevent you from engaging in low impact exercise, here's a list: yoga, exercise bikes, walking, swimming, elliptical machines, weight training, pilates.

I Like To Swim, I Like To Swim, I Like To Swim

When you learn how to swim, you are invariably taught the mantra to chant with every stroke into the water, 'I like to swim'.  As a novice swimmer who had less than 3 months to learn how to swim a mile for a  triathlon some years back, swallowing cold chlorine water, nearly drowning and struggling 3 days a week in the pool had me making my own mantra of 'I hate to swim, I hate to swim'.... Several triathlons and many miles later, I'm proud to say that yes, I CAN swim a mile.  I just don't like pools that are cold and filled with other people; it's like being in a community bathtub...ugh!

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Although I really hate to swim, I get into the pool and do laps.  I practice drills with and without a pullbuoy, use a kickboard and practice all the exercises I was taught when training for triathlons.  Swimming is good for you; it's non-impact on the joints; the cool water can aid in reducing inflammation of joints and you really will get a  good workout in a half hour.  Just remember your mantra....I LOVE to swim, I HATE to swim, I LOVE to swim.....it's just one of those relationships.....

Pilates Reformer An Experience

Yesterday, I was treated to a private Pilates class.  Many different exercises on the reformer and 55 minutes later, I was standing straighter and taller - a most pleasant experience.  The instructor was knowlegable and pleasant, but it was my years of yoga training and athleticism that made a huge difference in the quality of the session.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  If you are interested in taking a Pilates class, make certain you do your research before you go.  Inquire about the instructor's credentials and get some opinions of the studio from those who have attended.  If all lights are 'green', I am sure you will enjoy lengthening your muscles, strengthening your core and experience a wonderful workout.  What I didn't know was this:  Joseph Pilates came from a boxing background and was put into an internment camp during WW1.  He developed the reformer from the hospital beds and the springs within the mattresses and created a machine to help rehab many an amputee....how about those apples??

Practice What You Preach

I am a huge fan of the benefits of yoga.  It's not that I love doing yoga - it's like eating your veggies, only better.  I encourage all my patients to engage in a yoga practice, whether they are professional athletes or couch potatoes.  Yoga is all about you and your mat; no one else matters. 

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  If you are recovering from an injury, want to improve your sports performance, digestion or lower your blood pressure - here's what you do.  Schedule regular acupuncture treatments and sign yourself into a nice yoga studio.  That's what I'm doing today as part of taking care of ME, so I can better take care of YOU!

Results When You Least Expect Them

Me and my partner began our second 90 day round of P90X this week.  I never really pay attention to my progress; I just write down what I do that morning and mumble about it all being a nightmare at 6am every day.  Today, my workout buddy showed up with freshly printed workout log sheets for us...oh joy......He then told me to look back at what I did during week one (3 months ago).  I was really surprised.  I increased my weights from 7 or 9lbs to 13 and 17lbs.  I went from blue resistance bands to purple and I am entertaining the thought that I might actually be able to do a pullup on the bar.  Where I have just been doing this program day by day and not really giving results much thought at all, I've been curious lately when we meet people we haven't seen in a while.  The comment is 'you both look so healthy'.  I've always wanted to look 'elegant', but I suppose 'healthy' can be the new 'elegant'.  All sarcasm aside, I've just achieved some results when I least expected them, just by adhering to a proper exercise program.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Don't get discouraged over the short term.  Sure, there are going to be days and sometimes a week here and there where your schedule is upset, you become ill or life just gets you out of the regular routine of well being.  Pony up, pull up your boot straps and get on with your motis operandum.  The long term results will surprise you over time and after a while, people won't say 'you lost weight, you gained weight, you've got more grey, etc'.  They're going to say 'you look so healthy!'  It's really not a bad thing, you know....P90X is coming out with P90X2 in January.  Now that I'm starting to get serious about this morning routine, I'm going to pony up and get ready for the next generation of training!  This year, I turn 50.  I'm going to be the poster child for '50 is the new healthy'.  If you're 50 or older and would like to share your wellness stories and results, please write in and be an inspiration to others!

The Overtraining Drain

Are you extremely fatigued for up to 72 hours after your workout?  Just can't seem to put some 'juice' into your sporting activity?  Do you become dizzy or confused after exercise?  You might be experiencing 'workout burnout'.  Overtraining results in diminished results over the longterm.  The rest and recovery phase in the exercise cycle is crucial to your overall wellbeing.  Without proper recovery and rest, the 'Mighty Mitochondra' or your cellular batteries cannot recharge; giving you muscular energy.  Without the 'recharging' of the mitochondria of muscle cells, you will be constantly operating on a 'low battery charge'.   Signs of overtraining include:  constant fatigue, confusion, dizziness, chronic muscle fatigue and weakness, and inability to concentrate or perform your usual workout at a normal intensity.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  If you are experiencing workout burnout, take a rest between sets, maintain more than adequate nutrition and hydration, stop when you experience any type of pain, and make a workout schedule that is sensible, not insane.  Above all, come in for a few treatments to boost back your battery, ease muscle soreness, eliminate fatigue and rebuild striated muscle tissue!

Weight Training For Health

Did you know that stronger people live longer healthier lives?  Strong muscle mass is a leading factor in regulating your blood sugar.  The energy spent during weight training burns beaucoup calories, which leads to overall weight loss.  Weight training is also beneficial to building stronger bone mass, which will help you during your senior silver years.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  If you're enrolled in a weight training program, stick with it!  If you're not doing any type of exercise, join a gym, purchase a few sessions with a qualified trainer and get yourself going with circuit training.  You'll feel better, look better and you'll longer and healthier.

You Can Never Learn Enough

I recently went for advanced training for orthopedic pathologies/sports injuries.  I've done hundreds of treatments over the years to treat various orthopedic conditions/sports injuries, but my philosophy is...you can never learn enough, you can never know everything.  I returned from a grueling week of intensive training and learning and was able to successfully begin to repair a torn tendinous tear in a patient's rotator cuff yesterday.  The patient is so happy that his pain is relieved by over 60% and his range of motion improved by over 40% with just one treatment, he is referring me to other potential clients just one day after treatment.  I'm delighted....I learned something new, I applied my craft and made the quality of life for another person more complete.  This is what excites me; puts a smile on my face; completes my day.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  You can never know everything.  Get yourselves enrolled in a class or seminar and learn something new.  You will enrich your lives, broaden your spectrum of thinking and knowledge and at the end of the day, you just might light up someone else's life with your new found learning!