What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is the utilization of fine needles placed in the skin at various depths and locations to relieve pain or affect other physiological functions.

From a scientific point of view, the effectiveness of acupuncture in certain diseases has been proven. It works through electromagnetic or physical stimulation of acupuncture points that can have an effect on body function through the nervous system.

The Traditional Theory
Acupuncture has its roots in China. Early Chinese physicians discovered an energy network traversing just below the surface of the skin. According to Chinese theory this energy network communicates from the exterior to the internal organs and tissues at over 1000 “Acu-points” located on fourteen meridians (or pathways) throughout the body. The energy works in harmony with all of the systems including: the circulatory, nervous, muscular, digestive, and genitourinary systems. When this vital energy becomes blocked or weakened, an effect in a body system or anatomic location becomes evident producing pain or other signs. Stimulation of one or a combination of key points may restore harmony to the affected area.

Is Treatment Painful?
The needles used are narrow in diameter.  To give a perspective, four Acupuncture needles can easily be inserted into the hollow tube of a hypodermic needle. A phenomenon referred to as “CHI” occurs when the energy is contacted with the needle. This sensation is felt as a mild to moderate heaviness or tingling. Needles are sterile and are disposed of after each treatment.

How Many Treatments Are Usual?
The number of treatments varies with different conditions and is based o the individual case. Chronic issues generally require more treatment than acute conditions. Some patients notice an immediate improvement after the first treatment, whereas others may notice effect after the seventh or eighth visit. Most conditions that respond to acupuncture will improve with 8 to 12 treatments.

What Conditions Are Treated?
The partial list of the numerous conditions and symptoms that acupuncture has been credited with improving follows:

  • Headaches: migraine, tension, cluster and sinus headaches
  • Acute and Chronic Pain Relief
  • Bladder Dysfunction
  • Cervical (Neck) Pain
  • Low Back Pain and Sciatica
  • Sprains and Strains
  • Tennis Elbow
  • Digestive concerns
  • Anxiety
  • Neurological Syndromes (e.g. Bell’s Palsy)
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia
  • Bed Wetting
  • Upper and lower back pain
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Frozen Shoulder
  • Post-Operative Pain Relief
  • Fatigue
  • PMS and Menstrual Irregularities

Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture
This technique involves the superficial insertion of slender needles at specific points on the face.  It is based on the Traditional principles of Chinese Medicine utilizing an effective, non-surgical technique to reduce the signs of aging.

It functions to improve the local circulation to the face, stimulate collagen production.  The results are apparent in the resolution of fine lines, wrinkles, and dullness to the skin’s texture.  The result is a healthy, glowing, youthful complexion.

Mesotherapy
Mesotherapy is a treatment that involves the injection of various compounds to stimulate the mesoderm, or middle layer of the skin. The compounds injected into the mesoderm during Mesotherapy depend on the disease process. In general, the substances fall into the following classes: vasodilator, anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxant,  biologics (including vitamins, minerals, and plant extracts), hormones, and local anesthetics.

Injections are typically given once or twice weekly to start. Mesotherapy can involve between a few hundred of  injections at a site, depending on the condition and size of area covered. A minimum of three to five sessions of Mesotherapy is generally expected to evaluate a response.

Mesotherapy has been shown to be effective for the following conditions:

  • Sports Injuries: such as chronic joint swelling, ligament sprain, muscle tear, overuse
    injuries, plantar fasciitis, and shin splints.
  • Chronic pain: bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, low back pain, fibromyalgia,frozen shoulder, herpes zoster, myofascial pain, neuralgia, post-whiplash, reflex
    sympathetic dystrophy, tension headache, TMJ, trigeminal neuralgia.

Trigger Injections
Trigger points are discrete, focal, hyper-irritable areas located in a taut band of skeletal muscle. They produce pain locally and in a referred pattern and often accompany chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Acute trauma or repetitive micro-trauma may lead to the development of stress on muscle fibers and the formation of trigger points.

Patients may have regional, persistent pain resulting in a decreased range of motion in the affected muscle(s). Trigger points may also manifest as chronic symptoms such as; tension headaches, tinnitus, TMJ pain,  and low back pain.  Palpation of the trigger point will often elicit pain directly over the affected area and/may result in radiation of pain toward a zone of reference with a local twitch response. Various modalities, such as the Spray and Stretch technique, ultrasonography, manipulative therapy and injection, are used to inactivate trigger points.

Trigger-point injection has been shown to be one of the most effective treatment modalities to inactivate trigger points and provide prompt relief of symptoms.
(Am Fam Physician 2002;65:653-60. Copyright© 2002 American Academy of Family Physicians.)

Nutritional Therapies

MSM (Methyl -Sulfonyl-Methane) is a naturally occurring sulphur containing compound found in every cell of the body, with the highest concentrations present in our joints, hair, skin, and nails.  Sulfur plays many roles critical to the proper functioning and health of the body, and is necessary to form crucial blood proteins and amino acids. Studies have shown that MSM is non-toxic for a wide range of therapeutic dosages.
For significant inflammatory conditions, intravenous MSM is more potent than the oral form.  There has been tremendous success using an intravenous protocol that includes MSM in the treatment of many forms of arthritis.

Gluthathione is a small protein composed of three amino acids cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine.  These are involved in detoxification and antioxidant processes. When administered intravenously, gluthathione has been shown to be useful in treating Parkinson’s disease, preventing clot formation during operations, reducing the side effects of certain chemotherapy drugs, and increasing sperm count.
Other nutritional therapies include:  Phosphatydalcholine, N-Acetylcysteine, N-Acetylcholine, Hyaluronic Acid, Melatonin, Silymarin, Licorice Root, trace minerals, and Colchicine.

Antibacterial Therapies

At NEX we believe that infection (as well as cancer) is not an all or nothing concept. Our body deals with bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic pathogens on a daily basis. Many bacteria are not cleared entirely from the body in some cases. Our immune system does not allow the infections to cause symptoms when we are healthy. When the immune system functions poorly or is overly stressed, the load of chronic infection becomes excessive, we feel unwell, tired, fatigued and sore.

In chronically ill individuals we make an extra effort to screen for more common chronic infections such as: Nanobacteriumsanguineum, Lyme Disease, Helicobactor Pylori, ASO Titre, and Mycoplasma to name a few. In addition we test for inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP, etc) or markers of immune dysfunction (abnormal Vitamin D ratios, elevated heavy metals, etc).

If the test results or the clinical picture suggests an underlying chronic infection we can suggest a range of treatment options using both traditional methods (antibiotics), or low grade multiple antibiotic therapy (Marshall protocol) or alternative therapies such as Intravenous Vitamin C, Glutathione, Colloidal Silver, Ozone, UVB etc.

What is Acupuncture?
At first glance, the concept of Acupuncture seems peculiar, as its primary notoriety is the utilization of needles placed in the skin at various locations to relieve pain or affect other body functions.

From a scientific point of view, the effectiveness of acupuncture in certain diseases has been proven. How it works though, still remains a theory. It is believed that electromagnetic or physical stimulation of acupuncture points can have an affect on body function through the nervous system. Simply stated, acupuncture is a health science, which is used to successfully treat pain and other physiological dysfunction.

The Chinese Theory
Acupuncture has its roots in China. Early Chinese physicians discovered an energy network traversing just below the surface of the skin. According to Chinese theory this energy network communicates from the exterior to the internal organs and tissues at over 1000 “Acu-points” on the body. The energy works in harmony with all of the body’s systems including: the circulatory, nervous, muscular, digestive, and genitourinary systems. When this vital energy becomes blocked or weakened, an effect in a body system or anatomic location becomes evident producing pain or other symptoms. Stimulation of one or a combination of key Acu-points located on the fourteen meridians on the body may restore harmony to the affected area.

The human body’s energy flow courses over twelve meridians or channels that are normally well balanced. If a disruption of energy flow exists, it can alter the entire system. The main goal of Acupuncture’s is to restore normalcy to the body’s energy balance by stimulating a combination of Acu-points by a variety of means.

Is Treatment Painful?
One would assume inserting a needle into the skin would be painful, however the needles are so fine that four Acupuncture needles can easily be inserted into the hollow tube of a hypodermic needle. Because of the extreme slenderness of the needle most people compare the sensation to being “less than a mosquito bite”. A phenomenon referred to as “CHI” occurs when the energy is contacted. This sensation is felt as a mild to moderate heaviness or tingling. Needles obviously still have their place in clinical practice. However, many practitioners certified in Acupuncture and licensed Acupuncturists are employing electronic and laser stimulation to the Acu-point with similar effectiveness as needling. Both of these procedures are painless and are quickly becoming standard worldwide.

How Many Treatments Are Usual?
Obviously the number of treatments varies with different conditions and is based o the individual case. Chronic issues generally require more treatment than acute conditions. Some patients notice an immediate improvement after the first treatment, whereas others may not notice any effect until the seventh or eighth visit. Most conditions that respond to acupuncture can be helped with 8 to 12 treatments.

What Conditions Are Treated?
Acupuncture textbooks list well over one hundred different conditions that respond well to Acupuncture. The World Health Organization working in close harmony with the International Acupuncture training centre of the Shanghai College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, has indicated Acupuncture as being especially effective in treating the following conditions:

  • Headaches: migraine, tension, cluster and sinus headaches
  • Acute and Chronic Pain Relief
  • Bladder Dysfunction
  • Cervical (Neck) Pain
  • Low Back Pain and Sciatica
  • Sprains and Strains
  • Tennis Elbow
  • Digestive concerns
  • Anxiety
  • Neurological Syndromes (e.g. Bell’s Palsy)
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia
  • Bed Wetting
  • Upper and lower back pain
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Frozen Shoulder
  • Post-Operative Pain Relief
  • Fatigue
  • Menstrual Problems

This is only a partial list of the numerous conditions Acupuncture has been credited with helping.