July 15, 2021 by Acupunture TodayDepression is associated with cardiovascular disease via both lifestyle and physiological mechanisms. Depression makes one more likely to eat poorly, stop exercising, suffer sleep irregularities, etc.; and has been shown to elevate heart rate and blood pressure, reduce blood flow to the heart, and increase cortisol production.
New research suggests acupuncture use is associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease (CHD; the most common form of cardiovascular disease) in depressed patients. The study by Chia-Yu Huang, et al. (for full text, click here), found that patients diagnosed with depression who received acupuncture experienced a significantly lower rate of CHD than depressed patients who did not receive acupuncture. These findings were independent of age, sex, comorbidities and medication use.
The study involved more than 43,000 patients, identified through the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database, and divided into an acupuncture group and a non-acupuncture group for comparison based on a review of insurance claims records. TCM services are reimbursed through National Health Insurance, which covers more than 99 percent of the Taiwanese population, according to the study authors.
Both manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture use was identified via diagnostic codes in patient records (ICD-9-CM). Manual acupuncture was by far the most common treatment (88 percent of patients), with 3 percent receiving electroacupuncture and 9 percent receiving a combination of the two.
On average, patients received nearly nine acupuncture treatments apiece – with their first treatment more than three-and-a-half years after their depression diagnosis. Could earlier use of acupuncture save even more depressed patients from coronary heart disease?
April 15, 2021 Feel comfortable in knowing we are following CDC guidelines to keep you and ourselves safe during this pandemic. Here are some practices we've implemented:
-Rooms and treatment beds are thoroughly sanitized after every patient
-Staff ALWAYS keep their masks on along with glove use and frequent hand washing. A hand washing station is conveniently located in the office for patient use as well.
-Temperatures are checked each visit. New patients and patients returning after an extended leave must partake in a health screening upon arrival.
- Air purifiers are located throughout the office
While we continue to do our part, please make sure you do yours. For your health and the sake of others:
-Patients are required to wear their masks AT ALL TIMES.
- While we accept all major forms of payment (cash, card, check), you can avoid any hand exchanges by using contactless payment methods. We utilize: Zelle, Venmo, Apple/Samsung pay and other mobile wallets.
-Please arrive on time. Our waiting area may only be occupied by one person at a time. Our schedule is socially distanced so arriving late or early leads to avoidable close contact with other patients.
-If you feel unwell or know you have come in contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus, do not come in! We will happily reschedule your appointment after two weeks of being asymptomatic, possibly sooner if you test negative for the virus.
Together we can keep each other safe.
April 23, 2015 New Study: IVF Success Increased by 65%
Women undergoing IVF were 65 percent more likely to become pregnant when they combined the procedure with acupuncture, a recent study has shown.
The remarkable success rate occurred across seven acupuncture trials involving 1,366 women in a systematic review and meta-analysis published in a February, 2008 issue of the British Medical Journal.
Acupuncture was delivered either just before or just after embryo transfer -- a step in the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF) whereby one or several embryos are placed into the uterus.
The research was carried out by scientists from the University of Maryland in the United States and the VU University of Amsterdam in Holland.
It is thought that acupuncture stimulates the neurotransmitters that trigger the production of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone, which controls the menstrual cycle and a woman's ovulation.
Acupuncture is also thought to stimulate blood flow to the uterus and boost the production of endogenous opioids, inducing the body to relax.
Acupuncture has been used for centuries to regulate fertility. Please call us for more information.
