(NaturalNews) Anyone who has tried to quit smoking knows how hard it can be. The withdrawal symptoms can be too much for many people to cope with for long, and as the stress and edginess builds the first thing they reach for is their trusty old smokes. There are many products and therapies such hypnosis, chewing gum, patches and yoga that all claim to take the edge off and help ease you through the difficult process of quitting smoking. But there is ... Read More

Tags: Acupuncture , stop smoking

A pilot study suggests that the treatment, when combined with exercise, is good for pain in the lower back.  Auricular acupuncture also appears to have a wider good-health impact on patients.  Details were presented to the prestigious North American Conference on Complementary and Integrative Medicine by Professor Suzanne McDonough, Dr Siobhan McCann and Ms Ruth Hunter from the Schools of Health Sciences and Psychology at Ulster. They said small acupuncture needles in the ear are potentially a very cost effective and innovative approach that could ... Read More

Tags: Acupuncture , auricular acupuncture , low back pain , pain relief

Millions of Americans have tried acupuncture, the ancient Chinese practice of healing through the insertion of needles into specific points on the body, but locating and selecting a practitioner can be difficult. Some things to consider: * Get advice from friends or people you trust who have received the treatment. * Ask if the practitioner is willing to work as a partner with your medical doctor. * Will he or she take time to listen to the reasons you are seeking help? * Make sure needles ... Read More

Tags: Acupuncture

Survivors of breast cancer are usually given Tamoxifen for five years following their remission of cancer. Breast cancer can be estrogen dependent and the drug inhibits estrogen, thereby reducing the chance of cancer reoccurring. However, it can have some side-effects including blood clots, uterine cancer and menopausal symptoms like vaginal dryness, leg cramps and hot flashes. Doctors have traditionally treated hot flashes with anti-depressants but they have their own side-effects and have been shown to limit the effectiveness of Tamoxifen. Now research has shown that ... Read More

Tags: Acupuncture , breast cancer , pain relief

High-tech images of the brains of chronic pain sufferers have found that the ancient practice of acupuncture fights pain by making key brain cells more sensitive to the pain-dampening effects of opioid chemicals. The study, published online in the August issue of the journal NeuroImage, comes less than a year after the publication of a controversial study that concluded acupuncture was no more effective than sham treatment at reducing pain. Researchers at the University of Michigan's Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center used ... Read More

Tags: Acupuncture , pain relief

Stuffed up and miserable from allergies? A traditional Chinese mix of 11 herbs called Biyan Pian can relieve congestion and help you breathe easier, according to companies that sell it. Western scientific evidence for the formula is scant, though one recent preliminary study found it effective. Biyan Pian literally means “nose inflammation pill.” In the U.S., it is sold in supermarkets and natural-food stores and through acupuncturists either as tablets or as a strongly flavored tea. Its ingredients include Xanthium fruit, magnolia flower, ... Read More

Tags: Acupuncture Brookfield , herbal therapy , nasal congestion

By Bruce R. Posten Reading Eagle Mae "Hazel" Wansley, 64, Reading, a retired certified nursing assistant, struggled with walking for years because of chronic arthritis in her back. But as a backseat passenger in a car that got rear-ended at a stoplight last August, she said her condition only became aggravated with neck strain and misaligned vertebrae. "I couldn't stand or sit or lie down for long periods," said Wansley, who was prescribed medication, topical shots for pain and physical therapy by doctors. "I had trouble ... Read More

Tags: Acupuncture , pain relief