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EXCESSIVE, INTENSE EXERCISE DOES NOT = HEALTH

August 7, 2018/0 Comments/by Susan Scollon

Acupuncture, a biomedical perspective

HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK FROM A BIOMEDICAL PERSPECTIVE? When the question is posed “how does acupuncture work?, the answer “they don’t really know” is rather unsatisfactory. It is also not entirely true. Science is on the way to proving the existence of acupuncture points. Recent studies have used Photoluminescent Bioceramic Material at acupuncture point locations […]

April 14, 2018/0 Comments/by Susan Scollon

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EXCESSIVE, INTENSE EXERCISE DOES NOT = HEALTH

August 7, 2018/0 Comments/by Susan Scollon

News

Acupuncture, a biomedical perspective

April 14, 2018/0 Comments/by Susan Scollon

EXCESSIVE, INTENSE EXERCISE DOES NOT = HEALTH

The CONCEPT of ramping up exercise to improve health, needs to be checked out.
It is especially questionable when people are suffering from ADRENAL FATIGUE. A huge bunch of people rely on adrenaline as their energy source.
The adrenal glands are located just above your kidneys. If you feel uncomfortable when pushing in a small area ABOVE YOUR KIDNEYS on your lower back, (level with your belly button…or a bit higher), chances are your adrenals are a bit over worked.
People with adrenal fatigue… are constantly tired, get sick quite often, have low sex drive, suffer from allergies and for women experience regular PMS.
The list goes on…trouble getting out of bed, depression, skin problems, weak/sore muscles & regular sugar cravings.
In Chinese Medicine these symptoms are usually associated with SPLEEN and/or KIDNEY QI DEFICIENCY.
If you find yourself familiar with the above symptoms, intense, excessive exercise is NOT YOUR FRIEND.
I CRINGE when i see extreme motivational workout advertising, or a personal trainer screaming at people, pushing them way beyond their limits. The old “mind over matter” is more like “ignore your bodies important messages to stop causing damage”.
Have you ever looked at an ultra marathon runner’s chest cavity? It is sunken in. Do you think their lungs and heart are strong? EXCESSIVE ACTIVITY places a huge strain on these organs and ultimately weakens them.
But people’s beliefs die hard. Try telling a runner to give it a rest and let their ankle repair itself. They are offended that you even suggested it, as they are totally addicted!
Exercise has become an act of PUNISHMENT rather than motivation for health. The fuel for punishment is usually self-hatred, tied up with body image and the thought of NOT BEING GOOD ENOUGH.
If you are suffering from adrenal fatigue, MOVEMENT is still beneficial. But perhaps try a more GENTLE APPROACH, such as walking, yoga or tai chi. Working up to a light sweat is enough to get the heart blood pumping and liver cleansing activity.
For the more robust vigorous exercise lovers, you may just need to become more in tune with what your energy can handle at a given time. Take a PERIOD OF REST until your sex drive returns and you are waking up ready for the day without feeling hungover (when you haven’t even had a drink!).
In Chinese Medicine terms, our bodies enter this world with a certain amount of “Jing” or vital essence. Some have more, some have less. This genetic component is what it is. We do however, have some influence on how far we can stretch our reserves by the way we CHOOSE to live our life. For sure you can shorten your life by “BURNING THE CANDLE”. Obvious candle burning includes stress & over-work, but consider throwing EXCESSIVE EXERCISE in this category too.

Acupuncture, a biomedical perspective

HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK FROM A BIOMEDICAL PERSPECTIVE?

When the question is posed “how does acupuncture work?, the answer “they don’t really know” is rather unsatisfactory. It is also not entirely true.

Science is on the way to proving the existence of acupuncture points. Recent studies have used Photoluminescent Bioceramic Material at acupuncture point locations and observed changes in electrical conductivity. Similarly, CT scans have revealed the anatomical structures of acupuncture points, finding a higher density of micro-vessels and macro-vascular structures. And, MRI studies have shown that acupuncture stimulates major integration centres of the Central Nervous System.

But let’s stick to explaining Mechanisms of Action. It’s important we understand acupuncture from a Western Medicine Perspective. We are western people, suffering from western conditions. It’s nice and idealistic to paint the wonder of acupuncture as a magical enigma, but it does not serve our credibility as doctors of medicine. It’s like saying “this Buddhism is such a nice philosophy”, but in actual fact it’s more of a science and one of the main religions of the world. One could also say “oh, Chinese Medicine is a relaxing alternative therapy”, but in actual fact it’s a logical comprehensive system of medicine.

Without getting too heavy in jargon, let’s look at the effect on the body from acupuncture needling.

The initial insertion causes a minute local tissue trauma. This activates positive tissue damage and repair mechanisms such as:

Vasodilation – the widening of blood vessels which enhances permeability and accessibility of immune cells.
Immune Cells – release inflammatory agents that increase blood flow at the needling site
Blood Coagulation System – simultaneously produces chemical reactions that initiate restoration phases of tissue repair
Homeostasis is restored – inflammatory process shuts down and vessels return to normal blood flow

In short, the effects of acupuncture open blood and nutrient flow, initiate immune function, promote tissue healing and restore autonomic balance (homeostasis).

What about the analgesic “pain relief” effect of acupuncture?

Nociceptive neurons (pain receptors) relay messages from needling sites to the spinal cord – central nervous system (CNS). Needle insertion provides controlled means of activating propriospinal reflexes. These are our protective reflexes that would take your hand away from a thorn or hot iron. Because needles are inserted superficially in minute, controlled conditions, the reflexes are not triggered enough to pull your hand away but the response is enough to mediate pain relief processes from the CNS.

Do we ever enquire so much about how antibiotics work when a doctor prescribes them?

Not really, we seem to trust Western Medicine without too much questioning. It will take some time and stronger evidence based research before Eastern Medicine is met with the same credibility. A healthy curiosity and critical mind is necessary for all forms of medicine.

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EXCESSIVE, INTENSE EXERCISE DOES NOT = HEALTH

Acupuncture, a biomedical perspective

EXCESSIVE, INTENSE EXERCISE DOES NOT = HEALTH

Acupuncture, a biomedical perspective

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EXCESSIVE, INTENSE EXERCISE DOES NOT = HEALTH

Acupuncture, a biomedical perspective

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