Acupuncture Plays a Strong Role in Treating Pain, Cancer and Chronic Illnesses
By Veena Verma- Dzik, ND, FIAMA
Effective complementary therapies such as acupuncture address the underlying causes of illnesses as well as the symptoms. Natural therapies used with traditional medicines and alone see the whole person; mentally, emotionally, and physically. Chronic illness- es related to stress and environmental toxins have increased dramatically. Natural thera- pies address the root causes of these chronic illnesses and can be used successfully as primary care or as an integral component of an overall care plan for patients who are not healing and thriving in traditional therapies. The idea of autonomy in using natural thera- pies is of great importance to patients who want to regain their health and wellbeing and participate fully in their healing process.
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If you have never heard of the dramatic results of a natural medicine approach, I of- fer former President Bill Clinton’s decades long struggle with obesity and cardiovascu- lar disease. After leaving the White House in true cardiovascular risk, he consulted physicians who integrated traditional care with natural medicine, and after changing his diet and some aspects of his lifestyle, cured his blocked arteries.
Acupuncture, a treatment used successfully for thousands of years, is a successful treatment for pain, cancer and many chronic illnesses. According to the National Institute of Health, there are a number of studies that suggest acupunc- ture to be benefi cial in treating chronic pain. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, acupuncture is based on life energy, referred to as Qi, which circulates
atural therapies are underutilized as effective treatment for patients expe- riencing chronic health conditions.
through pathways or channels throughout our bodies. These channels are intercon- nected to organs throughout the body. When a disruption occurs in the fl ow of energy, illness and disease can occur. By inserting needles into points along the channels that correspond to different organs, this energy can be restored and healing occurs.
Acupuncture works by increasing
blood fl ow and tissue perfusion, which facilitates healing. To get even more de- tailed, the concentrations of β-endorphin, epinephrine, cortisol, prostaglandin E2 and many other chemicals within our bodies are altered by acupuncture, thereby further promoting pain relief. Acupuncture acts on the peripheral and central nervous systems to decrease cortical activation of pain perception. According to one study, where data was received for a total of 20,827 patients from 39 trials, acupuncture was found to be superior when compared to controls of both sham acupuncture, as well as no acupuncture, when it comes to treat- ing conditions associated with pain.
Acupuncture has been very benefi cial
in providing supportive care for cancer patients. Randomized clinical trials have shown acupuncture to be effective for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomit- ing, and in managing cancer-related pain, neuropathy, and fatigue, both during and after conventional cancer treatments. Due to the positive physiological effects it has, acupuncture is a well sought out treat- ment in alleviating symptoms associated with cancer and is now integrated in world renowned cancer treatment centers. It is in fact moving into “mainstream” care as a
viable method of helping cancer patients manage all the side effects of chemothera- py and non-narcotic pain relief.
Acupuncture is highly effective for
many in signifi cantly improving symp- toms and quality of life. It can be used for numerous physical and mental health conditions; including anxiety, depression, addiction, Lyme, infertility and more. Not only can effects be felt initially, but persist over time. Speaking from personal experi- ence, acupuncture helped me signifi cantly when I experienced postpartum depression and saves me whenever I experience physi- cal trauma from running. Due to the grow- ing prevalence of chronic diseases, as well as emotional stressors that people face, acupuncture serves as a highly benefi cial alternate and supportive therapy.
Dr. Veena Verma-Dzik, ND, FIAMA is a board certifi ed Naturopathic physician, certi- fi ed medical acupuncturist and specializes in Lyme and tick-borne illnesses, aller-
gies, fatigue, anxiety, ADHD, MTHFR, and gastrointestinal conditions. She uses many therapies that can be used solely or be integrated with conventional medicine, from botanical medicine, nutraceuticals and acupuncture for cancer, Lyme, anxiety, gastrointestinal conditions and more. She utilizes both conventional and functional laboratory testing, as well as spending a great deal of time, care and support to provide thorough, successful care for her patients. Insight Counseling, 105 Danbury Road, Ridgefi eld. 203.431.9726. insight-
counselingllc.com. See ad on inside cover.
www.NaturalNutmeg.com 27
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