Traditional Chinese Medicine

With the “go-go-go” attitude of mainstream culture, sometimes it can be hard for the young ones to slow down enough to find rest. If this is something you are struggling with at home, please know that Traditional Chinese Medicine can help.

In his article Treating Infants and Small Children with Chinese Herbal Medicine Dr. Fratkin brings attention to the fact that in China, the experience of a young pediatric patient is very dissimilar to those here in mainstream Western medicine. Pediatric medicine in China (as with many pro-Eastern medicine cultures) follows a more natural and non-invasive approach to healing and wellness.

Is acupuncture safe for my child?

So many people can benefit from this wonderful medicine. Treatments are individualized to each patient, regardless of age. Acupuncture and TCM look at each individual as a complex and holistic system; therefore can be an incredibly effective treatment for common childhood ailments. In fact, children often respond more quickly to acupuncture than adults. This makes sense when you consider that in children, there are three systems most commonly affected, those are digestion (spleen-stomach), respiration (lungs), as well as common colds and infections from their building immune system. All three of these are known to benefit from TCM modalities including cupping, Gua Sha, Tui Na, acupuncture, and acupressure – all of which are safe, natural, and minimally invasive.

Consider a gentler approach with your precious little ones, consider TCM. If needles are an issue, don’t let that discourage you. TCM offers a great set of modalities above and beyond acupuncture. If your child suffers from insomnia, schedule their appointment today, we will discuss ALL of your options.

Sleep is a complex physical and mental state of restfulness and rehabilitation. The field of sleep disorders has become increasingly complex with more than 90 disorders of sleep described, each with clear diagnostic criteria. If you are suffering from insomnia or unable to get a good night’s rest, you are not alone. Many people turn to over-the-counter (OTC) sleeping aids and even stronger prescription medication without first considering a more natural alternative. If you are one of those people, consider this:

Antihistamines: over the counter sleeping pills including Benadryl, Aleve PM (aka Diphenhydramine), and Unisom (aka Doxylamine succinate) all contain antihistamines. Unfortunately and among other adverse reactions to antihistamines, our bodies are able to develop a tolerance to the consequent sedative effects quite quickly.

Benzodiazepines – estazolam, flurazepam (Dalmane), temazepam (Restoril), quazepam (Doral), and triazolam (Halcion) are approved by the FDA and often prescribed to treat chronic insomnia. Benzodiazepines need to be taken with caution to long term side-effects including chemical dependency, Ataxia (balance problems), loss of coordination, memory problems, slurred speech, and more.

Melatonin – Most people’s bodies produce enough melatonin for sleep on their own. The brain begins to release melatonin mid-to-late evening and continues production throughout the night.
Melatonin regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Melatonin is sold over the counter as a “dietary supplement” and is a less invasive sleep aid with fewer harmful side effects. However, studies show that melatonin is really only effective when used for the short-term treatment of insomnia — such as from jet lag or from night shift work.

Tips to help ditch the sleeping aids

• Begin to titrate off of your sleeping pills. Do this slowly and allow the body time to adapt.
• Stick to a regular schedule.
• Plan to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
• Stay active. Exercise regularly, but not within a few hours of bedtime.
• Don’t eat large meals or sugar before bed.
• Try not to nap. If you really need to nap, try to keep it short, less than 45 minutes.
• Limit caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. All of these can add to sleep problems.
• Relax. Try taking a warm bath, meditating, or reading to wind down before going to sleep.

Consider acupuncture. Traditional Chinese Medicine (or TCM) is a centuries-old practice that has proven to be a safe, natural, and effective treatment for insomnia.

Sleep aids: Understand over-the-counter options – Mayo Clinic
Medications for the Treatment of Sleep Disorders: An Overview

Most people are familiar with the terms diurnal and nocturnal. Diurnal means active during the daytime, while nocturnal means active during the nighttime. Together the two make up a 24-hour cycle known as a day. But, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, this 24-hour cycle is viewed as much more than just a day in the life. The 24 hours of the day are viewed as increments of time and every two-hour section is associated with a specific energetic meridian that runs through the body. This is known as the Qi clock.

Do you wake up every night or every morning about the same time? Have you ever wondered why? Some people call that an internal clock. In Chinese medicine, this gives a much deeper look into how the body functions though. Chinese medical theory divides the body based upon the 12 energetic meridians. Each of the meridians is assigned a two-hour time slot. For example, the liver meridian is associated with the hours of 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. If you wake up during this time frame, then there is an issue with your liver meridian. So knowing this information can be very important to an acupuncturist/Chinese medicine practitioner.

During a 24-hour period, your energy or Qi (pronounced “chee”) moves through the organ systems in two-hour intervals. Qi draws inward to help restore the body between the hours of 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. The liver cleanses the blood and performs other functions, such as getting the blood ready to travel outward into the rest of the body. Over the next 12 hours, Qi cycles through the organs that assimilate, digest and eliminate food through the body or our diurnal organs. By mid-afternoon, the body begins to slow down again in preparation for the nocturnal phase. The nocturnal phase is all about restoring and maintaining. So when one organ system is at its peak, its counterpart, on the opposite side of the clock is at its lowest point. An example is 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., which are the hours of the stomach. This is when the stomach is at its peak and also why it is recommended to eat a big breakfast. On the opposite side of the clock lies the pericardium, which is associated with the pituitary, hypothalamus and reproductive organs. The pericardium is at its weakest point between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Here’s a brief summary of the 24 hour Qi cycle:

3 a.m. to 5 a.m. is lung time
5 a.m. to 7 a.m. is large intestine time
7 a.m. to 9 a.m. is stomach time
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. is spleen time
11 a.m. to 1 a.m. is heart time
1 p.m. to 3 p.m. is small intestine time
3 p.m. to 5 p.m. is urinary bladder time
5 p.m. to 7 p.m. is kidney time
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. is pericardium time
9 p.m. to 11 p.m. is triple burner time (associated with the thyroid and adrenals)
11 p.m. to 1 a.m. is gall bladder time
1 a.m. to 3 a.m. is liver time

So if you have recurring problems at the same time every day, then there is a good chance that the organ/meridian associated with that time is in distress. This is why Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners ask so many questions and also why they look at the body as a whole instead of just one particular organ. By understanding that every organ/energetic meridian has a maintenance schedule to keep daily, you can then treat your body properly so you achieve the ultimate health and well-being and acupuncture can help you achieve that goal. Acupuncturists treat the body based on things like your symptomology, your pulses, your tongue and the 24-hour Qi clock indications you exhibit. The goal is to bring the body back into balance and knowing when the meridians are at their peaks and valleys is a great place to begin.