Acupuncture Gaining Popularity Among Students

By Iva Radman and Amy Via

VCU InSight

RICHMOND, Va. – In ancient times, acupuncture was a last resort medical treatment. Now people everywhere, including students at Virginia Commonwealth University, are using the Asian treatment to help everything from migraines to sports injuries.

Katherine Sammons, a VCU senior in social work, had acupuncture treatments because she said her lack of energy was interfering with schoolwork. After the four-month treatment, she noticed a difference.

“It was really beneficial to me so I definitely sing its praises,” said Sammons.

Acupuncture, along with acupressure, heat therapy, and nutrition, are traditional methods of Chinese medicine. According to Chinese philosophy, acupuncture helps to restore “qi,” or the flow of the body’s natural energy.

Keith Bell, a licensed acupuncturist and former VCU student, has been practicing acupuncture in Richmond for 10 years. He says the method of diagnosing a patient is more holistic than most Western practices.

“We look at the color of their skin; we actually smell the air around them, to see what they smell like,” said Bell.

After Bell consults with a patient, he begins a treatment by inserting needles into various pressure points on the body.

Monica Gittings is very familiar with the process, as she works in Bell’s office as a massage therapist and is also a regular acupuncture patient. She says the needles don’t hurt at all.

“Initially when he puts it in some spots I feel like a zing almost. Not always but sometimes a zing. Then after that I get a warming or kind of a fuzzy feeling that spreads out from certain points,” said Gittings.

But that zing costs up to $150 per session. A new bill, The Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act of 2009, is currently being debated in congress to have insurance cover the costs.

The National Institutes of Health issued a statement in 1997 announcing acupuncture to be an effective treatment for certain medical conditions. While the process has been deemed safe, there are still some reported side effects: slight bleeding after needle removal, bruising, fainting, or feeling tired after a treatment.

And sometimes acupuncture isn’t the right treatment option.

“It’s good at treating nearly anything but emergency medicine, I mean I wouldn’t go to an acupuncturist if you have a car accident,” said Bell.

While more and more patients are turning to acupuncture, Bell says he also benefits from the interaction.

“The relationships with the patients, the relationships with my students, that’s my favorite. The ability to actually connect with people one on one and make a meaningful change in their lives,” said Bell.

[Via http://vcuinsight.wordpress.com]

Whirlwind

This week, my life has resembled a whirlwind. I had so much to do. I taught a Reality Therapy class all week. Monday night, I taught an Empowerment Parenting class. Wednesday night it was Goal Attainment. Thursday night there was two group coaching calls. Friday, another coaching call. Then, Marcus and I went to the Rent performance.

Today, I went to the chiropractor’s for acupuncture and a massage. This is very relaxing and healthful for me. Thank God, I had that small reprieve. Because right after getting out of there, I went home to get ready for Marcus’ performance tonight with a singing group he performs with, The Notations. They began a week-long tour at a theater on the north side of Chicago. It was a packed house and a phenomenal show.

But you can believe after the week I had I was exhausted. I got home about 2 AM and went straight to bed. I am posting this post on Sunday after sleeping until 10 AM! That’s the latest I can remember sleeping in a very long time and it felt so good.

So yesterday had elements of health and adventure but mostly love. What did you do?

Acupressure and Migraines

Acupressure is a completely non-invasive treatment option that has a high success rate among migraineurs (people who suffer from migraine headaches). It has a proven track record as a successful pain abatement technique. Acupressure is also efficacious in reducing both the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, there are over 800 vital energy points in the human body. These points lie along meridians that run throughout a person’s body. Chi, or life energy, flows along the meridians and through the energy points in healthy people. Chi that is blocked or overabundant near particular energy points causes illness and pain.
Acupressure massage applies pressure to these energy points in order to release chi and stimulate the body’s own healing mechanisms. The energy points are massaged with the fingers, thumb, or occasional blunt object with medium pressure in a circular pattern.
The simplest acupressure a migraineur can learn is an all-over head massage. This technique just requires the practitioner to massage the scalp as though they were washing their hair. Sit with the elbows resting on a table to prevent arm strain and the head resting lightly in the hands to perform head and neck acupressure.

Moderate pressure applied to the GB20 points offers the best relief for migraine pain. They are on either side of the neck, approximately one inch to each side of the spinal column just below where the skull and neck muscles connect. GB20 also goes by the more romantic-sounding Chinese name “The Gates of Consciousness”.

Migraineurs seeking to relieve their headache and neck pain should practice deep breathing while using the thumbs of both hands to press firmly on the GB20 points for one to two minutes. If this is painful at first, home practitioners can start out by pressing and releasing the points in five to fifteen second intervals.

For some alternative treatment methods, Visit Here