A Wellness Center for Health and InspirationAcupuncture
Acupuncture is one of the oldest medical therapies in the world, dating back over 3,000 years. At FirstHealth of Andover PC, we use the increasing amount of research done on acupuncture to offer our patients the latest efficacy based treatments to find solutions for today’s healthcare challenges. Our acupuncturists often work in concert with your existing healthcare professionals to insure you receive the best quality care. This is an exciting time for patients seeking acupuncture. During this time in history, a growing body of acupuncture research has combined with educated and experienced licensed acupuncturists to offer the public quality options for their healthcare needs.
The practitioners of FirstHealth of Andover PC have been serving the communities of the Merrimack Valley for many years. We invite you to explore the acupuncture articles in our blog and research that we’ve made available.
Our Acupuncture brochure is in a convenient form that can be passed on to others or printed out. Our brochure Acupuncture for Medical Professionals was created to provide our patients with an educational tool to bridge understanding for their doctors and other healthcare practitioners. Feel free to explore the rest of our website. Please contact the office with any questions or to schedule an appointment. Be well.
ARTHRITIS AND JOINT PAIN
While often referred to as if it were a single disease, arthritis is actually an umbrella term used for a group of more than 100 medical conditions that collectively affect nearly 70 million adults and 300,000 children in America alone. According to the National Arthritis Foundation, the most common form of arthritis - osteoarthritis (OA) - is most prevalent in people over 60 years of age. Arthritis in its various forms can start as early as infancy. Some forms affect people in their young-adult years as they are beginning careers and families and still others start during the peak career and child-rearing years.
ALLERGIES, ASTHMA and SINUS CONDITIONS
Safe and Natural Solutions for Allergy Relief
Do you suffer from watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, and a runny nose during this time of year? You're not alone. It is estimated that over 40 million Americans will be affected with seasonal allergy/sinus symptoms this year.
While conventional treatments help some allergy sufferers, other alternative options and treatments are available that can be far more pleasant and effective.
At FirstHealth of Andover, our safe and natural solutions for allergy relief include acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, homeopathy, essential oil therapy, and at-home care instruction. Each treatment is individualized to your needs, so specific symptoms can be targeted and addressed to help you achieve and maintain lasting relief this allergy season.
According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAI), seasonal allergies, often referred to as seasonal allergic rhinitis, are one of the most common allergic conditions in the United States. Spring allergies are typically caused by tree and grass pollens, and include symptoms such as sneezing, congestion, runny nose, itchiness in the nose, scratchy throat, watery/itchy eyes, and itchiness in the ears.
Typical conventional treatment includes the use of over-the-counter or prescription anti-histamines and corticosteroid nasal spray. In more severe cases, desensitization injections may be necessary. And while some people find these treatments to be perfectly adequate and effective, many others do not. Side effects may include drowsiness, nervousness, nasal irritation and dryness, and dizziness, to name a few. In addition, some people may find conventional treatment to be successful for specific symptom relief, but still may have other symptoms that linger.
At FirstHealth of Andover, our alternative solutions have been successful in helping rid allergy sufferers of all of their symptoms. Free from side effects, acupuncture has long been one treatment of choice for many of our patients—and for good reason. In 2002, a research study from the American Journal of Chinese Medicine demonstrated that acupuncture is an effective and safe alternative treatment for the management of seasonal allergic rhinitis. Similarly, in 2004, a German study found that Traditional Chinese therapy was an efficacious and safe treatment option allergy sufferers. Compared with patients in the control group, patients in the active treatment group showed a significant after-treatment improvement in quality of life.
For more severe allergy sufferers, acupuncture is often combined with Chinese herbal medicine to optimize treatment results. Chinese herbal formulas offer a unique blend of 8-15 single herbs, and can be combined in order to best address your individual allergic presentation. And since herbal formulas can be taken daily at home and follow the same treatment approach as acupuncture sessions, they are ideal to maintain consistency and to build up a strong cumulative total effect. Altogether, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are beneficial for reducing inflammation and swelling, as well as boosting the body’s own natural defense system.
Another natural approach that FirstHealth of Andover offers is homeopathy. For many people, homeopathy can be the best hope for ridding allergy symptoms, also without side effects. Unlike medications, homeopathy can actually change the way your body responds to allergens, instead of merely suppressing the symptoms they cause. Homeopathic remedies can remove the underlying cause for the allergic tendency and eliminate it completely. Homeopathic treatment is safe and gentle, and remedies are prescribed on the basis of physical, emotional and genetic make up of the person. Homeopaths prescribe a "constitutional medicine," a remedy that is individually chosen to the totality of symptoms that the person is experiencing. Finding a person's constitutional medicine requires the care of professional homeopath, and treatment can lead to a permanent long-lasting cure.
Essential oil therapy is one more treatment option for you, and can be used alone or in-combination with our other treatment solutions. Across the globe, essential oils have long been used to boost the immune system and fight infection. Oils such as rosemary and eucalyptus stimulate blood circulation and have a clearing and energizing effect when inhaled, to help clear blocked sinuses and relieve nasal congestion. Essential oils can either be used topically during one of your treatment sessions or combined into a specific blend for you to use at home. Along with essential oils, we also have the neti pot available for purchase. The neti pot is a nasal irrigation system that can be used daily at home to help soothe and calm inflamed nasal passages.
SINUS RELIEF ... BREATHE EASIER
Selfcare Tips to Use with Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine for Sinus Symptoms ... A Win-Win Combination!
Sinus-related problems are one of the top reasons that people in the U.S. see a doctor. For some people sinus pressure, congestion, and post nasal drip are a year round problem, for others it is an occasional nuisance. For anyone suffering from acute or chronic sinus symptoms we have some selfcare tips that can be used alone or in conjunction with acupuncture or herbal medicine to ease the misery and make breathing through your nose again a real possibility.
First a little bit about structure and function of the sinuses. The sinuses have three main functions: to control temperature and humidity of the air we breathe in, to lubricate the upper respiratory system by production of mucus, and to provide 1st line defense against infection by external factors. The vestibules of the nose leads back into a series of parallel chambers that are lined with highly vascular mucus membrane which support a forest of tiny mucus coated hairs that help to trap foreign particles and move them back out. There are two common types of sinus problems: Acute Sinusitis which often follows a viral infection or allergy attack, causes tenderness and pain in the face (cheek bones, above the eyes, bridge of the nose) and is usually characterized by dark or green discharge and possibly a fever, and Allergic Rhinitis which is characterized by clear watery discharge and itchiness of the eyes, ears, nose, or throat. Most of the discomfort associated with sinus conditions is caused by over production of mucus and loss of effective drainage.
Sinus lavage is a very old, very safe technique to help open up the sinuses, clear out accumulated mucus and reduce swelling of the sinus passages. There are a number of different lavage techniques that can be effective so you many need to experiment a bit to find what works best for you. My personal favorite lavage tool is the neti pot. The neti pot, comes to us from Ayurvedic medicine (the native medicine of India). It looks like a little Aladdin’s lamp, you fill it with warm water add a pinch of sea salt and a pinch of baking soda (or use a convenient prepared packet), the spout fits in one nostril and you tip your head forward and away from the pot and voila, the water runs through your sinuses and exits the other nostril. Of course the first couple of times you try this there may be a certain amount of swearing, snorting, and water up the nose sensation but eventually you’ll get the hang of it! I like this technique for several reasons, 1) the volume of water flowing through the sinuses, my neti pot holds about 1 cup so if you do both sides as recommended on the box you’ve really given your sinuses a good rinse, and 2) gravity feed, since the water is not introduced to the sinuses with any force other than gravity it is very gentle and safe. You will notice as you experiment with this that if you are very blocked the water will drip through very slowly but if everything is unblocked and draining well it runs right through. If you use the neti pot as part of your daily personal hygiene routine this will help you gauge how often you need to do it. You can use the neti pot daily or as needed for acute situations. As always common sense is your best guide so if you are using your neti pot somewhere where you can’t drink the water please use bottled water in your pot! For your convenience we have neti pots available in the clinic. Please inquire at the front desk or ask your practitioner about this easy and effective technique
Diet can have a big impact on the production of mucus, so as much as you may prefer not to hear this, for some people giving up ice cream is indeed the secret to better sinus health. You may remember your pediatrician telling you to go light on the milk products when your child was sick with a phlegmy head cold. Sadly this is not something that we grow out of. For many people dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt and products made from the same) increase the secretion of mucus and can add to the misery of chronic sinus conditions. Some people may find that eliminating dairy from their diet can greatly reduce chronic sinus symptoms. This is a fairly easy thing to test out by yourself, if you are having chronic sinus problems just conscientiously eliminate dairy from your diet for two weeks and see what happens. If you feel like it makes a substantial difference in your comfort level then it is a good idea to follow-up with a specialist like our Kate Alsup, RD, LND to make sure that you are substituting and supplementing appropriately so that your nutrition doesn’t suffer. The second big food irritant for the sinuses seems to be wheat but if you think this might be your issue I’d go to Kate for help with an elimination diet since this one is much harder to track. Once again let common sense be your guide, trying an elimination diet around the holidays is extra hard and if you have other conditions please do this under professional supervision.
Chinese herbal medicine offers many effective remedies for acute and chronic sinus conditions from a variety of causes. Patent medicines, prepared pills, tablets, or liquids can be useful items to have on hand just in case. Some of them work directly on the symptoms at the time and others are used before the symptoms occur to support and re-balance the immune system so that symptoms will not occur or will be reduced in intensity and frequency. Custom herbal formulas may focus directly on the symptoms, work on an underlying situation that contributes to sinus problems, or do both simultaneously. One interesting correlation that my teacher has noted is the connection between depression/anxiety and sinus symptoms. He has found that 60%-70% of the patients that he treats for a main complaint of depression or anxiety also suffer from chronic sinus problems, sometimes in treating the underlying blockages inherent to those conditions the sinus symptoms are alleviated without direct treatment! Just goes to show how profound an impact depression/anxiety can have on the immune system. Speak with your practitioner or contact the front desk if you are interested in meeting with one of our herbalists to customize an herbal prescription for your sinus condition.
Acupuncture offers a great 1st line response to sinus symptoms both on the level of blockage and pain and on the level of immune system support. Since much of the discomfort associated with sinus problems is because of inefficient drainage, acupuncture may be just the right technique to get you flowing again. Acupuncture stimulates an effective anti-inflammatory response in your body. Acupuncture therapy can create the much needed circulation for relief of tight and painful sinus cavities. Very often we find that people experience relief and improved drainage even while they are lying on the table with the needles. With just a couple of treatments some people are able to get enough ahead of the problem to be able to control it with self care techniques like lavage or diet changes. There are no magic bullets, but with a little effort and a combination of treatment and self care most people are able to get substantial relief from sinus symptoms and breathe easy again.
MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS
Wisdom and Wonder of the Golden Years
More women are being asked to share their wisdom and expertise in the boardroom while multitasking their way with family and friends. Their accumulated skill is valued by their children who have now become parents and by service organizations who want someone that they can rely on to get the job done. More than most of our mothers, women are identifying themselves through achievements at home and in a career.
Women throughout history have used many of the therapies we offer at FirstHealth of Andover to assist them with the symptoms of menopause. We offer a wide variety of safe and effective solutions for such symptoms as hot flashes, fatigue, facial wrinkles and weight management.
INFERTILITY
As practitioners, one of the most rewarding experiences we have encountered is to be part of a team of healthcare providers who successfully assist a couple with having a baby.
AN INTEGRATED APPROACH
We continue to work in concert with many of the regions physicians and fertility clinics. Both partners are advised to have medical evaluations in order to assist us in planning your acupuncture treatment protocol. Patients are encouraged to share their experiences with all their health care providers, and we are most willing to facilitate better communication. Acupuncture therapy is used most successfully to compliment your existing care.
The practitioners of FirstHealth of Andover PC have been serving the communities of the Merrimack Valley for many years. We invite you to explore the articles on infertility and research that we’ve made available to the right of this paragraph. Our Infertility brochure is in a convenient form that can be passed on to others or printed out.
