Tuesday, December 20, 2011

The Importance Of Good Supplies

Besides needles, acupuncture makes use of a number of suppliers. As a practitioner, you will have a constant list of supplies that need to be replenished at your practice. You may need treatment charts, or specialized needles for detox. Some practitioners require seven star dermal needles or the intra-dermal embedding needle. Your needs may be unique and finding a supplier who will be able to cater to all of this will go a long way in ensuring your practice is smooth and your clients satisfied.

Finding a good supplier can take a while. Acupuncture supplies are a specialized field and you will need someone who knows his stuff. You will find several suppliers with websites of their own. Get in touch with those in the vicinity and ask them for their rate charts. This is a quick way in which you can get a comparisons chart of your own. Look at how extensive their range of products is and the brands they stock. Also check on their ability to customize orders and take some last-minute ones as well.


You could even have trial runs with a few suppliers and see how they work out in actual delivery. This can be packaging, the range of products and how right they have got your customized order. A good supplier is also a person who keeps abreast of all that is going on in the industry. If there is a new product in the market, he should be able to provide you with it. Latest information on acupuncture and literature on the newer means of therapy would be an added plus point.

One smart thing to do if you find two good suppliers is to split or alternate your business with them. This way you always have someone on standby if the need arises. Getting into a contract with them would be a good idea, especially with clauses such as a refund on faulty supplies or penalties for late deliveries. Of course, it could work both ways in terms of payments - if you default on payment, you could face a penalty as well.

Building a good rapport with your supplier would be a good idea as it will ensure that you get good quality products at all times. A good supplier is also one you can trust to keep you updated on the newer ways of enhancing your practice. Therefore finding the right one is essential.

Friday, December 9, 2011

How Can Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Help Your Allergies or Hayfever?

What is Rhinitis?

Rhinitis is a common seasonal or recurrent complaint with signs and symptoms that include nasal congestion, watery nasal discharge, sneezing and discomfort of the conjunctiva, pharynx, & ala nasi. The causal agent is hypersensitivity of the nasal mucosa to pollen, dust mites, fungal spores, animal dander, saliva, fumes and certain foods.

What is Hay fever?

Seasonal rhinitis is usually referred to as hay fever. It is a heightened reaction to grasses and pollens that have a restricted seasonal dispersion. It can be symptomless during the off times of the year. The primary characteristics include sneezing, profuse watery nasal discharge and sensitive itchy eyes.

Perennial rhinitis happens throughout year. It is a heightened response to animal dander, dust, fungal spores, cold air, and certain fumes. Signs and symptoms can be intermittent or recurring. Generally signs and symptoms are less pronounced, and will include a low-grade itch, discomfort or congestion of the nose and eyes, with episodic aggravations.

How does Chinese medicine see Rhinitis?

Chinese medicine considers rhinitis as an insufficiency of Wei qi. Wei qi is the body's defence system operating beneath the dermis. The foundation of it is in kidney yang and is sent by the lungs up to the surface. The surface includes the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. In cases where this is poor it cannot fight a pathogenic onslaught resulting in increased reactions to inhaled particles.

Each individual's rhinitis is unique. Even though they may seem alike, the weakness dwelling in a person's organs could alter the symptomology, length and presentation. Sufferers could have more congestion than nasal discharge, or their rhinitis could have had a late onset, ie when they became adults.

How will a Chinese medicine physician handle my hay fever?

A Chinese medicine physician will deal with rhinitis stage by stage. First, they will seek to control the acute stage. Following this they will look at the underlying causal agent, and aim to correct this. This phase of therapy could vary greatly in duration and may comprise of acupuncture and herbal prescriptions along with food and lifestyle tips. While many patients will respond inside of two or tree months, others could possibly take over 12. It is worth considering this when thinking of seeking Chinese medical therapy. Supposing your hay fever is seasonal then undergoing treatment ahead of the anticipated time of year may well diminish the hardship of the conditions when the time of year begins. If you act ahead of time you could potentially not have any problems at all!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Electro Therapy for Effective Pain Relief

For pain relief, a person might be given many recommendations. Some physicians will suggest him to go for painkillers while others might tell him to get physiotherapy.

Electro therapy is one of the ways used for pain relief. It makes use of small electric stimuli to reduce chronic and acute pain. Using electricity to treat pain has been around for more than 100 years. Its safe and non-invasive nature is making it a preferred choice of many acupuncturists.

These medical devices can be used on a standalone basis or with other therapies such as painkillers or massage. Many people were able to reduce their consumption of prescription drugs after getting these sessions.

Below are some electro stimulation devices which people use to reduce pain:

Back Pain TENS Belt

This device makes use of principles of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS). Small electric stimuli are generated by the belt, which stimulate nerve endings through the skin. They block pain signals from reaching the brain. The use of belt reduces discomfort and pain.

Electric stimuli also enhance production of endorphins which are body's natural painkillers. You might have a tingling sensation on your back where the electrodes come in contact with your skin.

Electro acupuncture TENS

This makes use of TENS principles too in which electric stimuli block pain signals from reaching the central nervous system.

In traditional Chinese acupuncture, needles are inserted over specific points on our body to re-balance the normal energy flow in body. This electronic device helps you locate acupoints on your body.

You can then choose between the various programs available such as kneading, tapping and massaging, each having varying intensity levels. It is useful for toothache, joint pain, shoulder and neck pain and upper abdominal pain.

Interferential device

An interferential device can be used for patients with deep pain. It uses two separate frequencies which work together to create a deep penetrating pulse. It faces less resistance in penetrating the skin than TENS. The frequencies interfere with pain signals at the spinal cord level and hence you feel less pain.