HEADACHE

A needle in the foot for a headache.

ANXIETY

A prick in the little finger may cure anxiety.

HEMORRHOIDS (Almoranas)

Symptoms:
If there is contaminated gas and blood in the body which cannot get out, the veins and capillaries around the anus become swollen due to the pressure, and ultimately remain swollen. When this happens it is called 'developed piles.' When developed piles appear outside the anus they are called 'external,' and when the appear inside they are called 'internal.'

When, under pressure of the Apana Vayu (vital energy controlling the lower abdominal organs), blood starts oozing out of the developed piles, they are called 'bleeding piles.' But not all piles bleed. If, instead, they are painful, aching, burning or itching, they are called 'dry piles.'

Causes:
Constipation due to the defective functioning of the liver is the main cause of piles, but generally no serious ailment can develop for one reason only. Like other serious diseases, piles is a disease of the entire system, so there are many other reasons for its development also. The first and foremost of these reasons is lack of physical exercise and the second is sexual over indulgence. Straining at stool often aggravates the disease. Remember that without constipation and defective functioning of the liver one can never suffer from piles.

Treatment:
Morning - Utks’epa Mudra, Uddayana Mudra, Janushirasana, Shalabhasana or Mayurasana, Agnisara Mudra, Padahastasana and Ashvinii Mudra.

Evening - Agnisara Mudra, Bhastrikasana, Sarvaungasana, Matsyamudra, Shashaungasana and Ashvinii Mudra.

Diet:
If the patient of piles feels hungry early in the morning, he or she may eat some sweet or sour juicy fruit. At noon take a lot of leafy vegetables, or soup made from leafy vegetables, along with a small quantity of rice or fresh ruti (chapati-- flat bread made from whole wheat flour.) Arum (Amorphophallus campanulatus (Roxb.) Bl) curd water, soup, figs, mana kacu, patol, tomato, spinach, green pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo Linn), squash, (Lagenaria vulgaris Seringe), and nuneshak are particularly beneficial. The patient should drink a glass of curd water twice a day.

Do’s and Don’ts:
It is not possible to achieve a permanent cure by removing the developed piles through surgery or through stopping the bleeding by any method, because if the root causes are not eliminated, the disease may attack again at any moment, or the contaminated gas and blood in the body may cause some other disease. Therefore, though it may not be improper to employ some temporary expedient to stop severe bleeding at the critical stage, the liver has to be restored in order to obtain a permanent cure. If the liver becomes healthy, the piles will disappear without any treatment.

The patient has to be careful to have a sharp appetite at noon. With piles all extra alkaline food must be carefully avoided. It is desirable for the patients to avoid eating plantain spath, plantain flower, plantain fruit or meoya fruit. At the critical stage of the disease fasting is always recommended. During fasting, plenty of water, and, if desired, sweet or sour citrus juices mixed in water may be consumed. Piles patients should not eat hot (i.e. spicy), salty or rough foods.

Some remedies:
1. After defecation wash the anus with alum water. If one applies slightly warm neem ghee prepared from tender young neem, or margosa (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) leaves on the developed piles, the disease will be cured within a few days. It is desirable to use this neem ghee at bedtime also.

2. In the early morning take 2 tolas of dugdhaksira juice on an empty stomach. This will bring good results.

3. In cases of severe bleeding, drinking 1 tola of kuksima, or in its absence durba juice twice a day will produce good results.

4. A very favorable result can be obtained if 1 tola of husked black sesame seeds mixed with 2 tolas of butter are taken early in the morning.

5. The developed piles will gradually disappear, if, applying a piece of simula cotton soaked in kuksima juice on them like a bandage they are exposed to the sun every day for a few days.
6. 2 tolas of myrobalan pulverized in cow's urine, taken regularly along with cane gur (raw sugar) over a period of twenty one days, by licking it, will have a wonderful effect.

7. Slowly sipping old raw sugar of dates, mixed in water, early in the morning, will relieve the severity of piles.

8. Vyapaka shoaca before and after meals is a must for all piles patients.

Source: YOGIKA CHIKITSA

OBESITY — JIAN FEI

Overweight, or obesity, is the condition where the human body has an excessive accumulation of fat and the body weight is above 20% of the standard weight. Obesity is mostly seen in patients over 40 years old. Chinese medicine believes obesity is caused by overeating fatty food, or it may occur when the patient has a disease that causes a spleen and stomach dysfunction accumulating water, or the patient lacks physical activity resulting in Qi and blood lack of circulation that becomes stagnant, causing obesity.

Western medicine refers to this condition as obesity, which may be related to a genetic determinant or disease.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Differential Diagnosis :

1. Central Yang excess: Overweight, excessive appetite, gets hungry easily, eats large amounts of food, red face, high voice, red tongue with a white, sticky coating, and a slippery, fast pulse.

2. Damp-phlegm obstruction: Overweight, low energy, lack of sleep, no appetite, bland taste in the mouth, scanty menstruation or amenorrhea for women and impotence for men, a swollen and big tongue with teeth marks, and a deep, soft, or slippery pulse.

3. Blood stasis: Overweight, chest and hypochondrium area pain, palpitations, dizziness, dark red tongue with dark spots on the side of the tongue, pale coating, and a deep pulse.

Micro-Acupuncture Therapy
Ear Acupuncture
1. CHINESE AURICULAR THERAPY
Points:
Shen Men
Mouth
Stomach
Esophagus
Small Intestine
Endocrine
San Jiao
Hunger
Spleen
Excitation

2. EUROPEAN AURICULAR THERAPY
Points:
Zero
Sympathetic Autonomic
Stomach
Master Cerebral
Large Intestine
Small Intestine
Abdomen
Esophagus
Thalamus
Endocrine
Antidepressant
Aggressivity

Technique: Use 30 to 34 gauge, 0.5 cun (15 mm) long sterilized filiform needles. Select a few of the most tender points from the list for each treatment. You can use pressure or an electrical point finder to help locate points. Use Betadine to pre-clean the ear surface, and follow up with 70% alcohol to clean the ear. Use the thumb and index finger of one hand to hold the ear and the other hand to insert the needle in the selected point, using a quick jab and twisting to a depth of 1.0 to 2.0 mm. The needle should be inserted deeply enough to hold firmly. The direction and needle angle will be determined by where the point is located. Use the slow rotation technique to stimulate, and retain the needle for 20 to 30 minutes.

Electro-Acupuncture Ear Therapy: Insert the filiform needles into the selected point. Select the wave and frequency desired for the treatment. Use micro-gator clips to connect the inserted needles to the electro-machine, and slowly turn the machine on to the appropriate amount of stimulation. Maintain the current for 10 to 30 minutes. Treat the patient one to three times a week for 2 to 10 weeks.

Embedding Needles: Select a thumbtack-type intradermal needle. Use Betadine to pre-clean the surface of the ear, and follow up with 70% alcohol to clean the ear. Hold the ear with one hand and stretch the skin taut if possible. Use the other hand to pick up the intradermal needle with a hemostat and insert the needle quickly into the skin. Then use adhesive tape to cover the needle and press the needle in to its full depth. The needles may be retained for 3 to 5 days at a time.

Auricular Seed and Magnet Pressing Therapy: Use herb seeds, stainless steel, silver, gold, or magnetic balls to stimulate ear points. Use 70% alcohol to clean the ear. Hold the ear with one hand and apply the ball with adhesive tape using the other hand. Apply pressure to stimulate the point and obtain Qi sensation. The balls may be retained for 3 to 5 days, and the patient should be instructed to apply pressure to the balls two to three times daily. Five treatments constitute a course, with 1 to 2 days of rest between courses.

The active Qi treatment is a very important technique in the ear acupuncture therapy. It can increase local vessel expansion to improve blood circulation. Ask the patient to take deep breaths, or use deep abdominal breathing, perform a swallowing movement, listen to therapeutic music with different rhythms that match the patient’s breathing, and look at different colors on a picture that creates psychological, physiological, and pathological changes in the human body. The practitioner also uses spiritual support, suggestion support, and behavioral support to encourage the patient. This is an important step in building up the patient’s confidence to continue to receive treatments.

Tongue Acupuncture
Points:
Lung
Stomach
Spleen
Small Intestine
Large Intestine
San Jiao

 
Technique: Use fresh water to cleanse the patient’s mouth. Use 30 to 34 gauge, 1.0 to 1.5 cun long filiform needles. If needles are to be inserted on the surface of the tongue, ask the patient to stick his or her tongue out. If needles are to be inserted underneath the tongue, ask the patient to curve up the tongue with the tip of the tongue touching the incisors of the supramaxilla. Quickly insert the needle and use mild lifting, thrusting, and rotation techniques to manipulate the point. Retain the needles for about 5 minutes. Alternatively, use a three-edge needle to perform fast spot pricking on the tongue to release a few drops of blood. For the spot pricking technique, use fast insertion at the local point to a depth of 0.5 to 1.2 cun.

Back Shu Acupuncture
Points:
UB 13 (Fei Shu)
UB 18 (Gan Shu)
UB 20 (Pi Shu)
UB 21 (Wei Shu)
UB 25 (Da Chang Shu)
 

Technique: Use standard clean needle technique. Use 30 to 34 gauge, 1.0 to 1.5 cun long filiform needles. Insert the needle at an oblique angle on the upper back and a perpendicular angle on UB 25 (Da Chang Shu) then push the needle in to a depth of 0.5 to 1.2 cun. Use the rotation technique to elicit Qi. Retain the needles for about 15 to 30 minutes. Treat the patient every other day with 10 treatments to a course.

Abdominal Acupuncture
Points:
Ba Gua Zhen
 

Technique:
Ba Gua Zhen Technique: The Ba Gua technique divides the abdominal area into eight sections. Each section indicates one organ disease. This system is based on the post heaven Ba Gua. Choose 32 to 34 gauge filiform needles and select the insertion area from north, south, east, west, northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest. Each needle has 45 degrees between and use an oblique insertion toward the umbilicus or needle from the umbilicus and insert toward the outside. Gently manipulate the needles and use the waiting Qi, moving Qi, and increase Qi technique. Retain the needles for 30 minutes.

Hand Acupuncture
1. KORYO HAND THERAPY
Points:
A 3, 4, 5, 8, 12, 16; F 5, 7, 19; N 5, 18; M 28; D 7

 
Technique: Choose a comfortable position for the patient with the hand in a loose, relaxed position. Use a very fine, sharp, and short Seo Am needle, which is usually 0.5 cun in length. Using a needle dispenser, place the dispenser on the point to be needled. Release the dispenser lever and the needle will penetrate the skin at a very shallow depth (approximately 0.5 mm). Alternatively, use a Sooji needle that is inserted with an automatic needle dispenser for a nearly pain-free insertion. Ask the patient to take deep breaths, or use deep abdominal breathing, perform a swallowing movement, listen to therapeutic music with different rhythms that match the patient’s breathing, and look at different colors on a picture that creates psychological, physiological, and pathological changes in the human body. The practitioner also uses spiritual support, suggestion support, and behavioral support to encourage the patient. This is an important step in building up the patient’s confidence to continue to receive treatments. Retain the needles for an average of 30 to 40 minutes.
 

Koryo hand therapy often uses pellet therapy for a longer duration of treatment. The pellet is made of an aluminum plate with one or more protrusions. The plate size can be chosen according to the width of the application area. Detach the pellet with its adhesive tape and place it on the point. The pellet can remain in place for several hours to a few days.

SUMMARY:
Using acupuncture and micro-acupuncture to lose weight has been proven effective in the clinic. From research, it has been determined that acupuncture stimulation on the points can decrease appetite and hunger sensations. In addition, it adjusts nerves and the endocrine system so it can change metabolic activities to help the body absorb less fat from the diet and eliminate extra body weight. Acupuncture and micro-acupuncture have better results for the patient with a simple type of obesity, but for the patient who has obesity due to family history or genetics, it is less effective. Patients should control their food and total calorie intake each day. Patients who are overweight should consume low-calorie foods and fewer carbohydrates and sweet foods, such as candy, cookies, and soft drinks, and fewer fatty meats and deep-fried foods. The patient should eat more vegetables and lean meat. Limit intake of foods that contain high carbohydrates, such as potatoes, rice, and starchy foods. Ear, mouth, back Shu, and abdominal acupuncture have been proven to have better results in the clinic.

Source:

MICRO ACUPUNCTURE IN PRACTICE, by  Yajuan Wang

Asthma - PALMISTRY

Troubles of Respiratory Organs - PALMISTRY

INSANITY Revealed by the Colors of the Lines - PALMISTRY

PALMISTRY - Poisoning

How To Detect INTESTINAL CANCER Through Palmistry

Chengjiang (Ren 24)

Location: In the depression in the center of the mentolabial groove.

Indications: Facial paralysis, facial swelling, swelling of the gums, toothache, salivation, mental disorders.

Method: Puncture obliquely upward 0.2-0.3 inch. Acupressure and moxibustion is applicable.


Regional Anatomy
Vasculature: The branches of the inferior labial artery and vein. Innervation: The branch of the facial nerve.

LEMON GRASS (Herbs Power)

Hindi: Gandhatrana, Harí-chaha
English: Lemon grass
Latin: Andropogon citratus DC. (A. Shoenanthus)

Part Used: Essential oil, herb
Habitat: Grows wild in gardens in India, Sri Lanka, Philippines and other tropics, in cultivated areas
Energetics: Pungent, bitter-cold-pungent PK- (V+excess)
Tissues: Fat, nerves
Systems: Nervous, metabolic
Action: Antispasmodic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, stimulant; oil—carminative, refrigerant, stomachic, tonic

Uses: Bowel spasms, colic, diarrhea, dysmenorrhea (neuralgic), fever, gas, colds, G.I. spasms, intestinal mucus membrane tonic and stimulant; vomiting. Oil/external—bath, perfume, and hair oils; with coconut for lumbago, rheumatism, neuralgia, sprains, pains, ringworm; excellent tea for Pitta and kidneys.

Precautions: None
Preparation: Infusion or decoction of leaves, powder

ALOPECIA (Hair Loss)

Western medical concept:

Researchers have determined that this form of hair loss is related to hormones called androgens, particularly an androgen called dihydrotestosterone. Androgens are important for normal male sexual development before birth and during puberty. Androgens also have other important functions in both males and females, such as regulating hair growth and sex drive.

There are various types of alopecia. A common pattern of male hair loss is that it begins above both temples or at the vertex, and may progress to complete baldness (Figure 6.8). In women, the hair usually becomes thin all
over the head, and the hairline does not recede.

Our head hair is nourished by Kidney yin and Liver Blood. Thinning or loss of hair occurs when overworked or stressed, when there is blood loss or anaemia or when the climate is very dry. Dryness makes the hair brittle and causes split ends. Blood deficiency (also due to stress and overwork, because stress consumes Liver Blood) makes the roots weak, and the individual strands of hair thin and dull. The mechanical strain of washing, combing or even moving the head on the pillow is enough to cause the loss of large handfuls of hair. When treating hair loss, it is necessary to nourish and moisten the hair, and it will flourish again in growth. It is important to initiate treatment as soon as symptoms develop as, once complete baldness sets in, it will be very difficult to make a difference.

I have addressed general hair loss and partial hair loss in certain areas of the head as the two types that give good results with acupuncture. Both energy treatment and local treatment is given. The patient should take some vitamin–amino acid combinations such as Panthovigar N®, which contains thiamine, calcium pantothenate, cystine and keratin, and some local care.

Explaining the treatment:

In hair loss of any type, the Kidney yin must first be tonified, ideally on point K 7. The patient should also drink water more regularly and rest more. Where possible, a midday rest would be excellent, as midday is the worst time energetically for those who have Kidney yin deficiency. If Kidney yin is deficient, this would generate uncontrolled Kidney yang, which rises to the head.

If Liver Blood deficiency can be established, then Blood should be tonified with points Ren 14, UB 15, UB 17, Sp 10, GB 39 and an iron supplement.

The next thing to do would be the local treatment. This is done (a) in the area with hair loss and (b) on the organs associated with the areas of the hair loss.

Local treatment on the area of hair loss:

This area should be examined well. If there is some hair and the scalp has normal roughness, then electrical stimulation should be used. This will cool the scalp in the area.

The technique – electrical stimulation on area of hair loss:
The area with thinning hair is treated with four subcutaneous needles, two on each side, and these are connected to two outlets of an electrical  stimulator (taking care to connect the two needles on the same side of the body to one outlet). The needles are then stimulated at continuous frequency, around 10 Hz, for 20 minutes.

This needling is relatively painful, and is therefore difficult to repeat more than twice weekly for 2 weeks, and then has to be done once weekly for a further four to eight sessions (Figure 6.9).

When there is no hair at all in the affected area, this area can be treated locally with plum-blossom tapping to bleed. The tapping therapy has to be done daily for up to 14 days. It would be more convenient and  practical for the patient to take a plum-blossom hammer home and get a family member to do it for them (Figure 6.10).

The technique – plum-blossom tapping on bald area:
Clean the area well with surgical spirit and allow it to dry. Holding the plum-blossom hammer, tap hard vertically on the bald area with no particular direction. When finished, this area should be covered with droplets of blood, which should be wiped off.

This treatment is very effective in small areas of baldness, or in alopecia areata. It is not as successful in large areas or if the entire head is bald. Within 14 days of treatment, one can see and feel fluff-like hair growing in this area. The initial growth is grey coloured, and is not the colour of the rest of the hair. But within 1–3 months the hair will become thicker and more coloured. Once the ‘fluff’ starts to appear, the bleeding tapping should be stopped. Local treatment is no longer necessary. If needed, electrostimulation could be given (Figure 6.9).

Treatment on the organs associated with hair loss:
The common areas for hair loss are the temples and vertex. In alopecia areata, it can be anywhere in the head. There is empirical knowledge that different parts of the head are related to different organs of the body, and that imbalances of these particular organs will manifest as pain, hair loss, greying or skin problems in these parts of the head.

According to the table on TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE VIEW the frontal head (including both temples) is associated with the Stomach and Large Intestine, the bright yang organs. Headache that is due to hunger or low blood sugar will occur in this area. A headache that accompanies gastritis will also manifest in this area. Hair loss in this area is due to excessive heat in the Stomach or Large Intestine (more often the Stomach). Just as hair grows more in areas which are cold, to insulate and protect these areas, so the body will lose hair in areas which are hot, in an attempt to keep cool.

Thus, hair loss only in the area of the Stomach or Large Intestine needs to be treated by balancing the energy there – tonifying the yin and sedating the yang (the yin needs to be tonified, because this is a long-term imbalance and there should be some deficiencies too. As there is heat, the deficiency must be with the yin aspect).

Energy-balancing points for vertex hair loss:

"Balance Liver yin deficiency and yang excess"

■ Liv 5 and GB 40 sedation – Luo-connecting point of yin organ and sedate yuan-source point of yang organ.

■ Avoid sour foods, alcohol and stress, all of which will increase Liver yang aspect.

In the case of both hair loss and premature greying of head hair (the second is a symptom of Kidney yang deficiency), patients seem to express concern only when it is too late. In traditional Chinese medicine, we worry about tendencies of the body rather than extreme symptoms, predominantly because the more chronic and far gone an imbalance, the more difficult it becomes to correct. When imbalances are detected early, however, they are easier to correct and prevent from going into a chronic state.

It is normal to lose hair during climate changes and when the weather is dry, during at least two cycles of the year. But then the hair grows again and returns to the earlier state. If one notices hair loss in large quantities – covering the pillow or the shower base – it is alarmingly high and needs treatment. Because, even if hair grows again, it will be less and thinner than before, and will gradually lead to serious proportions. If we notice hair loss when we are overworked, when we have long periods of poor sleep and when we are generally run down, then we need to treat the hair loss. 

Hair loss – dos and don’ts:

■ Gently massage the scalp with coconut, olive or sesame oil, leave it on for 30 minutes or overnight, and then wash. This will cool and nourish the hair roots and is much better than any conditioner; this can be done once a week.
■ Take a multivitamin product.
■ Take a herbal iron supplement if there is Blood deficiency.
■ Go to bed before midnight.
■ Post-menopausal women, or men of the same age, should have an afternoon rest when ever possible (the heat tends to rise up because of the Kidney yin deficiency).
■ Drink plenty of water regularly. Eat watery foods and greens.
■ Keep head cool (not cold!). If one has a hot head and cold feet, then a warm foot bath will change this order.
■ Don’t wash hair too often – twice weekly is fine. If hair is too greasy, there is a fault with the diet. This can be caused by excessive milk products, cheese, processed meats such as sausage, fatty meats and oily preparations and excessive refined sugars.
■ Avoid close caps and hats when possible: they increase the damp–heat in the head.
■ The hairdryer is not a plumping machine for a head with less hair! It dries and scorches the roots. Do not use a hairdryer regularly unless it is necessary to go out soon after washing the hair – and then keep it at a reasonable distance. Ask your hairdresser (who uses it too close to the scalp) to do the same.
■ Avoid direct sunlight on the head for long. Carry an umbrella if you need to stand in the sun.
■ Avoid coffee and alcohol.

Source:

COSMETIC ACUPUNCTURE, by Radhah Thambirajah