Al Ladesic

About Al Ladesic

Posts by Al Ladesic:

October 1 2021

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome affects between 25 and 45 million people in the U.S., and 67% of sufferers are female. Although the exact causes are unknown, a contributing factor is a neuron imbalance that leads to gut sensitivity. Patients typically present with one of four subtypes:

IBS-D: the main symptom is diarrhea
IBS-C: main symptom is constipation
IBS-M: with mixed symptoms of diarrhea and constipation
IBS-U: which presents with other symptoms such as stomach cramping

Often disruptive symptoms may include pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, disruptive patterns of defecation, and general intestinal unease. The syndrome can often impair one’s physical, emotional and social well-being. Although several therapeutic interventions exist to treat IBS, results tend to be mixed and inconsistent focusing mainly on controlling symptoms. Dietary adjustments are encouraged as well that may include limiting high-gas foods, gluten, and FODMAP’s (carbohydrate sensitivity).

Given the multivariate nature of the causes of IBS, many patients choose to seek out alternative solutions such as acupuncture and herbal medicine. There are numerous clinical studies that confirm the efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in treating IBS.

In the attached study, acupuncture was compared to drug intervention for providing symptom relief and improvement of bowel movement quality. After a course of 20 treatments, acupuncture showed a total effective rate of 97.96% compared to drug intervention at 83.61%. The acupuncture group also showed a lower rate of symptom recurrence after a six-month follow up.

Research

September 22 2021

Get the Gout OUT

Al Ladesic Acupuncture

Nearly 9 million Americans suffer from gout, which is a form of inflammatory arthritis that typically affects the big toe. It presents with sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness and tenderness, often waking you up in the middle of the night.

Symptoms include:

Intense joint pain
Lingering discomfort
Inflammation and redness
Limited range of motion

Gout occurs when elevated levels of uric acid in your body form into crystals. The crystals tend to settle in joints, which lead to inflammation and pain. Uric acid is formed when your body breaks down a substance called purine. Purines are found in certain foods, including red meat and organ meats, such as liver. Purine-rich seafood includes anchovies, sardines, mussels, scallops, trout and tuna. Alcoholic beverages, especially beer, and drinks sweetened with fruit sugar (fructose) promote higher levels of uric acid.

Risk factors include:

Diet…of course. Eliminate sources of uric acid;
Excessive weight can limit your body’s ability to process uric acid;
Medical Conditions. Including untreated high blood pressure and chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and heart and kidney diseases;
Certain medication. Including Low-dose aspirin and some medications used to control hypertension — including thiazide diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and beta blockers;
Family history of gout.
Age and sex. Men are more likely to develop gout, but women become more at risk after menopause;
Recent trauma or surgery – may trigger an attack.

Recent research shows that acupuncture can significantly enhance the treatment of gout. A recent study showed that when acupuncture is added to drug therapy (NSAID in this case) combined with diet restrictions, the efficacy of treatment increased from 82% to 95%. Treatments were administered daily for 10 consecutive days.

Have questions? Send me an email at: al@restorativeacu.com

Ready to schedule an appointment?
Call (847) 607 9957 or click here to schedule online

Research

September 14 2021

TMJ Pain – What is it?

Al Ladesic Acupuncture

TMJ Pain – What is it and the effectiveness of acupuncture.

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint – it attaches the jaw bone to the skull and allows for the jaw to move up and down, side to side, and forward and back. Thus, it’s critical for life-supporting activities such as talking, eating and breathing.

TMJ disorders is characterized by pain in the jaw joint that can involve several other systems in the body. In fact, 85% of TMJ patients report to suffer pain and non-pain conditions such as allergies, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic headache, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, neck and low back pain, and sleep disorders.

Estimates report that anywhere from 10 to 30 million people in the US are affected by TMJ, with the majority tend to be women in their child-bearing years.

Although causes of TMJ can vary, the known causes are:
• autoimmune diseases (in which the body’s immune cells attack healthy tissue)
• infections
• injuries to the jaw area
• dental procedures (even prolonged mouth opening)
• insertion of a breathing tube before surgery
• various forms of arthritis

And symptoms can include:
• pain in the jaw muscles
• pain in the neck and shoulders
• chronic headaches
• jaw muscle stiffness
• limited movement or locking of the jaw
• ear pain, pressure, fullness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• grating in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth
• a bite that feels “off”
• dizziness
• vision problems

A recent study demonstrated the efficacy of acupuncture to treat TMJ. Acupuncture was used in conjunction with a warm needle technique to achieve a 93.3% efficacy rate – meaning patients either fully recovered or symptoms improved during the treatment period. Sessions were conducted daily over a 7 day span.

An earlier study looked at comparing acupuncture to drug treatment, namely diclofenac (a NSAID) and glucosamine hydrochloride (a dietary supplement). The study also demonstrated a higher efficacy among the acupuncture group that was sustainable for at least six months after treatment.
Reference

Have questions? Send me an email at al@restorativeacu.com
Ready to schedule an appointment for your TMJ pain? Click here to schedule.

August 31 2021

Insomnia

Al Ladesic Acupuncture

Modern research shows that acupuncture is linked to insomnia relief, anxiety reduction and increased melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that helps to regulate sleep.

Specific studies showed acupuncture improved sleep for veterans suffering from PTSD with brain injuries as well as breast cancer survivors.

The research cited includes a meta-analysis of over 1100 patients that showed acupuncture is superior to placebo for improving sleep quality. Several types of acupuncture were used including auricular (ear), electroacupuncture and standard body points.

Reference

It is estimated that between 10-30% of adults contend with chronic insomnia, and older adults are proportionately more affected. As a result, statistics show that this may affect our ability to drive safely, be more prone to have work-related accidents and can be a symptom of a mental health issue.

In fact:

Around 75% of adults with depression suffer from insomnia.
More than 90% of people with PTSD related to military combat have been found to have symptoms of insomnia.

Reference

How does acupuncture help to improve sleep?

Acupuncture is an effective therapy for regulating our nervous system and thus providing homeostasis by moving us out of a ‘fight or flight’ state and back into a ‘rest and digest’ state. Research shows that acupuncture increases serotonin and aminobutyric acid and reduces glutamate levels.

Reference

How many treatments will I need?

Acupuncture is a cumulative medicine, which means each treatment builds on all the previous treatments. So, frequency and consistency are key factors for ensuring lasting results. Research and experience dictate that patients need to commit to treatment at least twice a week for the first four to five weeks. At which, if symptoms are improving, we can reduce to once a week until we establish a sufficient reduction of symptoms. Maintenance treatments may be needed every four to six weeks to prevent symptoms from recurring.

August 23 2021

Six ways acupuncture affects your brain & body … for the better!

Al Ladesic Acupuncture

It helps your brain to operate optimally by increasing its capacity to communicate with the body better through the release of neurotransmitters.
It stimulates the brain to release our own natural pain killers.
It improves blood flow.
It lowers anxiety.
It boosts your mood.
It helps manage stress.

Not bad, right?

Here’s a link to the full article if you’d like to read further: https://www.bustle.com/p/7-ways-acupuncture-changes-your-brain-according-to-science-8860049

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Al Ladesic

About Al Ladesic

Posts by Al Ladesic:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Get the Gout OUT

TMJ Pain – What is it?

Insomnia

Six ways acupuncture affects your brain & body … for the better!

Have you been in pain for way too long?