According to the most recent first-of-its kind study, Acupuncture was incorporated into a treatment plan and its effectiveness compared against anti-depressant drugs, which are now commonly used in ther­apy. The aim was to see how these two treatment programs compared in bringing relief from the side effects of breast cancer surgery including hot flashes, night sweats and excessive sweating. The results were pre­sented in September at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology in Boston, Mass.

The anti-depressant Effexor^® (venlafaxine) produced by the drug company Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has become part of the normal drug therapy treatment plan for women suffering from hot flashes. Usu­ally, hot flashes are treated with hormone therapy, however, breast cancer victims can’t receive hormone therapy as it increases the chance the disease will return.

There are many good reasons, including weight gain, nausea, constipation and fatigue, not to use the powerful anti-depressant drugs. Many women prefer not to use the drug because of additional problems it is known to present such as insomnia, decreased libido and dizziness. And, some women simply don’t want to take drugs.

The study conducted at Henry Ford Hospital’s Department of Radiation Oncology in Detroit, much, in­volved 47 breast cancer patients. Following their surgery, each was experiencing at least 14 hot flashes per week. What was discovered was that Acupuncture was equally effective in reducing the hot flashes as the anti-depressant drug, but it also provided additional health benefits.

The researchers noted that the women who received Acupuncture had an increased sense of well-being about them. They also had more energy and, in some cases, a higher sex drive than those who underwent drug treatment for their symptoms.

“Our study shows that physicians and patients have an additional therapy for something that affects the majority of breast cancer survivors and actually has benefits, as opposed to more side effects,” said Eleanor Walker, M.D. who was the lead author of the study. “The effect is more durable than a drug commonly used to treat these vasomotor* symptoms and, ultimately, is more cost-effective for insurance companies.”

Source: The Henry Ford Hospital Department of Radiation Oncology. “Acupuncture Reduces Side Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment.” September 2008.
http://www.henryford.com/body.cfm?id=463358taction=detaildtref=864

* Vasomotor: Relating to the nerves and muscles that cause the blood vessels to constrict or dilate.

Here are several cases in point of people who have been helped by Acupuncture after they endured a condition for years, even decades.

Linda had been suffering from severe headaches for the past 25 years. The cause of her condition was isolated to food and inhaled allergies. After trying numerous remedies, her life changed within just several weeks when she began Acupuncture treatments. “I’m happy to say that after only 3 treat­ments my headaches are almost gone, and I feel happier and I have a better outlook on life.”

Jim Curran didn’t wait 3 years, just 1 year before he visited an acupuncturist to seek help for recurring ear infections. Before Acupuncture, his typical trip to a doctor would include having his ear drained and paying $75 for medications. While this was occurring, his hearing in the ear was getting worse. That’s when a friend suggested Acupuncture. Jim admits that little happened during his first three visits. “On the fourth treatment, there was a burning sensation in the ear. It felt like it was on fire. I heard a little pop and from that day forward I have never gotten the ear infection back and my hearing has almost returned to normal.” He is definitely convinced that Acupuncture works.

Rebecca had been suffering from excruciating dry eyes and insomnia for 3 years. She said she never felt rested as she could never fall into a deep sleep. Her dry eyes were so painful that she said she literally had to peel her eyelids off of her eyes. Countless visits to doctors and even a dietician pro­duced no help. Finally, her last resort was Acupuncture.

Help for Rebecca was not instant, but after 3 visits she had such trust in her acupuncturist that
she was determined to continue. “I kept going for treatment mainly because she was the only person
who acknowledged I wasn’t well. But, to my amazement, after 14 treatments I got better overnight. I
was amazed that the insomnia, dry eyes and a host of other symptoms disappeared at the same time.”
Rebecca says that she has been well for a year, and that she has now become an Acupuncture student.

Acupuncture has been known to help people with all sorts of bodily conditions. Many of these people, like the ones here, had pretty much given up hope that any help could be found for what was plaguing them. And, frequently, in Western culture, many people try lots of other remedies first.

One day in the near future, as more and more folks find out that Acupuncture does indeed work, people may seek out an acupuncturist first and save a great deal of time and money on the way to bet­ter health.

Source: Acupuncture.com. Testimonials. http://www.acupuncture.com/testimonials/allergy3.htm and
http://www.acupuncture.com/testimonials/earinfection.htm and http://www.acupuncture.com/testimonials/dryeyes.htm

The common solution for sleeping problems for Americans has been to “reach for a pill.” Drug companies have promoted this with almost $300 million in TV advertising. With over 43 million sleeping pill prescriptions filled in 2005, drug companies raked in over $2 billion in sales.

While pills may be offering a sleeping solution for the vast majority of Americans, a recent analysis of a National Health Interview Survey points to a significant number of persons using alternative methods to treat their condition. Some 1,615,600 people have used alternatives, including Chiropractic and Acupuncture, in their search for a night of sound
sleep.

The survey polled more than 31,000 U.S. adults to find out why they chose to use alternative therapies over drugs and other treatments. While 67 percent of the people responding simply found alternatives to be interesting, a full 64 percent thought that adding an alternative approach would be helpful in treating their insomnia.

A further breakdown of those using alternative care showed that 4.6 percent of the people used Chiropractic care or massage to manage their condition. By comparison, 8.5 percent utilized alternative medical systems (i.e. Acupuncture, homeopathy), 39.1 percent used mind-body systems (i.e. yoga, meditation), and the remainder using biologically based systems (i.e. natural herbs, megavitamins).

It is of interest to note that younger respondents and those who had attained a higher level of education were more likely to use alternative therapies to treat insomnia or trouble sleeping.

While the information gained from the survey does have limitations, the data points to a positive trend about how Americans perceive the effectiveness of alternative medicine and therapies in general. With expanded education and the maturing of the younger population, the use of alternatives to pills as sleep aids will continue to rise.

SOURCE: http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/24/23/16.html