Christchurch Acupuncture Service

12/06/2023

Bruxism by acupuncture
Bruxism mainly manifests by unconscious teeth grinding during awake Did you know that grinding your teeth, also known as bruxism, can have harmful effects on more than just your dental health? Prolonged cases can lead to tight jaw muscles, pain in the ear and head, and even impact your sleep quality. Stress, age, medication, and family history can all contribute to this condition.

But here's some good news: a recent study found that Chinese medicine therapies can help alleviate the symptoms of bruxism by reducing stress and promoting muscle relaxation. Chinese medicine approaches the problem from a holistic perspective, considering emotions, diet, and constitution. During treatment, acupuncturists use channel and collateral theories and mainly focus on acupoints located on the spleen, stomach, and liver. So, if you're experiencing bruxism, consider exploring this natural and effective form of treatment.

Christchurch Acupuncture Centre provides the advanced Chinese acupuncture treatments with techniques from traditional Chinese medicine.

01/06/2023

Acupuncture in the treatment of Headache/Migraine
Headache is a subjective symptom and one of the most common conditions seen in clinical practice. It may occur on one side, on both sides, or over the whole of the head area.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), all six Yang channels traverse the head area. Disorders in any of these channels or internal organs will influence the Qi and Blood circulation in the head, leading to headache.
The following factors may contribute to the onset and development of headache in the theory of TCM:
Invision of external pathogenic factors such as wind, dampness, coldness, etc.
Emotional disturbance
Improper diet
Overstrain, prolonged sickness and constitutional weakness
Physical trauma and prolonged sickness
For the treatment by acupuncture, there will be a syndrome differentiation process to determine what kind of pattern(s) the patient is suffering. And then to get a treatment plan. Different patterns need to select different points combinations and different manipulation techniques. That's why there are no fixed treatment plans for individual patients with headache.

We provide high quality traditional Chinese Acupuncture service for people for a wide range of benefits including pain relief, injury recovery, stop smokin

15/12/2022

Acupuncture for Tinnitus

Tinnitus is an actual symptom that has to do with damage to the ear. This symptom may also be a result of damage to the Auditory System. It is often described as a sort of ringing in the ears. There are other sounds that patients with tinnitus have reported. Buzzing, clicking, humming, and roaring are included here.

There is no cure for this condition and each patient may have a different experience. In some cases, this noise is experienced for different time frames. It is likely to come and go during these times. For some people, it may last for hours and for other days. This causes difficulty when trying to concentrate or even sleep.

Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM describes the process of inserting thin needles into the skin to spark stimulation to certain points. This stimulation can work and have positive results on those with tinnitus and hearing loss. An acupuncture session is conducted this way to assist those struggling with different symptoms related to their conditions.

Acupuncture has become one of the solutions to help those with tinnitus and hearing loss, which is extremely hopeful for sufferers. It doesn’t matter whether blockage or some other cause is the problem. It is worthwhile to apply alternative approaches to solve these issues and to restore the body’s natural balance.

According to a clinical trial (Acupuncture for chronic non-pulsatile tinnitus: A randomized clinical trial) published in 2018, acupuncture is effective in reducing the loudness and severity of tinnitus and can be a useful treatment for non-pulsatile chronic tinnitus.

30/09/2022

Hay Fever/Allergic Rhinitis by Acupuncture

Hay fever (HF) is inflammation of the lining of your nose, eyes, throat and sinuses due to an allergy. It is very common in Aotearoa New Zealand. Hf is also known as allergic rhinitis. When symptoms happen at certain times of the year, eg, spring. Wind-borne pollens are the cause of seasonal HF, which usually occurs in spring and summer.

The result of acupuncture treatment is range from temporary relief to long-term remission. The majority of patients experience relief of nasal congestion and sneezing as soon as they complete the treatment. World Health Organisation (WHO) recognizes that “acupuncture is more effective than antihistamine drugs in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Acupuncture’s lack of side effects is a distinct advantage in treating this condition….”.

31/07/2022

Shingles/Postherpetic Neuralgia by Acupuncture

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After recovery, shingles can trigger a painful nerve condition on the areas where the blisters appeared. This nerve pain is called postherpetic neuralgia and can last for weeks, months, or even years.

Acupuncture may help to relieve symptoms in people with herpes zoster by:
1. Stimulating nerves located in muscles and other tissues, which leads to release of endorphins and other
2. Neurohumoral factors, and changes in the processing of pain in the brain and spinal cord ;
3. Reducing inflammation, by promoting the release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors ;
4. Enhancing natural killer cell activities and modulating the number and ratio of immune cell types;
5. Increasing local microcirculation, which aids dispersal of swelling.

05/07/2022

Frozen Shoulder by Acupuncture

Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis (AC), is a common inflammatory musculoskeletal condition that causes pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint. Frozen shoulder is caused by inflammation around the capsule of connective tissue that holds the joint together. When the tissue becomes inflamed, it tightens and thickens around the joint, triggering pain and reducing the range of motion.

Acupuncture is a safe and effective modality for treating frozen shoulder. Acupuncture needles are inserted around the shoulder area (front and back), upper arms, elbow, hand, and in any relevant myofascial trigger points.

The benefits of acupuncture for frozen shoulder are:
1. Reduced inflammation.
2. Less pain and modifying the way the body responds to pain.
3. Decreased shoulder stiffness and improved range of motion and mobility.

30/06/2022

Plantar Fasciitis by Acupuncture

Plantar fasciitis is caused by straining the plantar fascia ligament which can happen by overstretching this area (the sole of your foot) during exercise and exercising on hard surfaces or with tight calf muscles. Wearing poorly cushioned shoes or sneakers, excessive running or walking, standing up for too long, and carrying excess weight are also contributing factors to plantar fasciitis.

Acupuncture has shown to be an effective treatment for plantar fasciitis as it improves plantar heel pain and inflammation through several pathways. It works by inserting the acupuncture needles into specific points to stimulate the nerve endings in the foot to promote the release of neurotransmitters and hormones that regulate pain and inflammation in the body.

20/06/2022

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome by Acupuncture

The carpal tunnel is a canal connecting the forearm and hand. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) pain and numbness is due to compression of the median nerve traveling through the canal. Usual care for late-stage CTS often includes surgery. Usual care treatment for early to mid-stage CTS typically involves pharmaceutical medications, physical therapy; or alternatively, acupuncture and tui na massage.

Researchers demonstrate that acupuncture benefits the median nerve and alleviates pain. Acupuncture can be an effective alternative to medical treatments for some cases of mild-to-moderate CTS. A 2021 Trusted Source systematic review similarly notes that acupuncture can help with mild-to-moderate symptoms of CTS. Treatment will affect everyone differently, and some people may not respond to acupuncture for CTS or choose other treatment options

07/06/2022

Acupuncture for Constipation

Chronic constipation often involves infrequent and hard stools, straining during bowel movements, and incomplete evacuation. Stomach cramping, pain, and abdominal bloating or distention may be secondary symptoms.

When someone has fewer than 3 bowel movements per week without an underlying condition or medication as the reason for the infrequency, the problem is known as chronic severe functional constipation.

The researchers note that acupuncture effectively treats the root causes of constipation and that acupuncture patients have lower relapse rates than patients having taken mosapride, a medication used to facilitate bowel movements. Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for patients who suffer from functional constipation.

25/05/2022

Meniere's Disease by Acupuncture

Meniere's disease (MD) is an idiopathic inner ear disorder characterized by episodic vertigo, fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and aural pressure.

The symptoms of MD have been observed by Chinese antiquity and have been recorded in Huangdi Neijing. The history that acupuncture, moxibustion, and massage were used in otorhinolaryngology could even date back to the 5th century BC, much earlier than the time the masterpiece was written. Nowadays, different acupuncture points are widely adopted in controlling vertigo caused by various reasons including MD.

Modern searches (including case reports/RCTs/systematic reviews) found that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of Meniere's disease. Acupuncture can not only relieve clinical signs and symptoms of MD, but also can prevent the recurrence of MD, and improve the living quality of the patients.

16/05/2022

Knee Pain by Acupuncture

Knee pain usually results from overuse, poor form during physical activity, such as lack of warming up or cooling down, or inadequate stretching. Knee pain caused by a simple reason often lasts for a short time and will clear up on its own with self-care. Being overweight or carrying something heavy, perhaps during work, for example, can be another reason for knee pain.

According to TCM theory, it can be caused by invasion of the knee joints by External Wind, Cold, Damp and Heat, deficiency of the Liver and Kidney, or deficiency or stagnation of the Qi and Blood.

Although there are situations in which surgery is required, most knee pain is treated conservatively, because most knee conditions respond to a combination of non-invasive treatments. Acupuncture is an example of these non-invasive treatments. When acupuncture is properly applied, the pain and inflammation could possibly be diminished.

08/05/2022

Achilles Tendonitis by Acupuncture

Achilles Tendonitis is the irritation and inflammation of the tendon at the back of the foot. It is a common injury amongst recreational athletes. Such as long-distance runners (upon increasing the distance of the run or the amount of hill training completed).

The two most common causes of Achilles Tendonitis are lack of flexibility in the tendon and overpronation of the foot. Treatment includes rest, ice for inflammation, and therapeutic ultrasound to increase the healing process. Stretching, eccentric strengthening, and acupuncture are also needed.

A patient with an acute condition may need only a few treatments versus a patient with a chronic condition that is being regularly aggravated by the same repetitive motion that caused the injury in the first place. A patient’s overall health, age, and lifestyle also affect the speed of recovery.