Acupuncture by Donation
Phone: 928.963.1751 – Acupuncture by Donation – Acupuncture Healing Intensives – Philosophy of Acupuncture
We are offering an acupuncture by donation day to increase awareness for those who may be suffering from various mental, physical or spiritual disharmonies, and would like to know more about potential benefit from acupuncture treatment. All with sincere intent are welcome, and may schedule an appointment for acupuncture or an informational consult, without committing to receiving acupuncture treatment.
We are also offering:
An Acupuncture Group for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease
Days: Tuesdays
Time: Parkinson’s Group, 12-1pm
Individual Appointments 9am-3pm Practitioner: Sarah C. Mowdy, MSOM. L.Ac.
Location: St. Andrew’s Church
100 Arryo Pinon Dr.
Sedona, AZ 86336
For more information or to schedule an appointment,
call Sarah: 928-963-1751
Traditional Oriental Medicine Theory, Clinical Practice and Scientific Research indicate that Acupuncture may be helpful in mitigating Parkinson’s symptoms:
Traditional Chinese Medical approach to Parkinson’s Disease
In terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Parkinson’s disease is always characterized by internal Wind – as tremors always signify Wind. In terms of affected organ systems, the actual Wind always arises from the Liver; however, the root cause of the Wind may arise from pathologies within other organ systems. The main clinical manifestations of interior Wind are: tremors, tics, dizziness, vertigo, unsteady gait, loss of balance, ringing in the ears, scattered thought, confusion and numbness. In severe cases, Wind may take the form of: convulsions, unconsciousness, deafness, opisthotonos, hemiplegia and deviation of the tongue and mouth. In cases of Parkinson’s, Interior Wind is always related to a Liver disharmony as convulsions and tremors are explained in Chinese medicine as “shaking of the sinews.” The quality of the sinews, tendons, ligaments and fluidity of movement are controlled by the Liver system in traditional Chinese medicine theory.
Liver-Wind arises from any one of four conditions: Heat, Liver-Yang rising, Liver-Blood deficiency, Liver-Yin deficiency or Liver-Fire.
Thus, Liver-Wind, manifesting as tremor in Parkinson’s disease may arise from an Empty or a Full condition. The most common Empty causes of Liver-Wind are Liver-Blood, Liver-Yin or Kidney-Yin deficiency or a combination of these. When deficient Liver-Blood fails to nourish and moisten the sinews; the empty space in the vessels is taken up by Wind, which shakes the empty sinews, causing tremors. In more prolonged or severe cases, a deficient Kidney-Yin fails to nourish Liver-Yin and, in time, this may lead to the development of Liver-Wind, with resultant tremor. As mentioned above, the deficiency of Liver-Yin fails to nourish and moisten the sinews: this dryness of the sinews, combined with Liver-Wind, leads to tremors.
The above-mentioned pathological Liver-Wind conditions, can be observed in individuals with Parkinson’s. According to traditional Chinese medicine pattern differentiation, tremors in Parkinson’s Liver-Wind manifests when there is insufficient Fluid, Yin or Blood to nourish the channels and sinews. In professional practice it can be observed that the Heart is also often involved, especially in Empty conditions. Liver-Blood or Liver-Yin deficiency often manifests with Heart-Blood and Heart Yin-deficiency. An empirical point for tremors, Xiaochanxue (Stopping Tremor Point) located 1.5 cun below Shaohai (HT3) on the Heart channel validates this clinical observation.
There are many western scientific research articles assessing experiential benefits of individuals with Parkinson’s Disease. Here are just a couple referring to the potential positive impact on areas of the brain that tend to be affected. The point referred to Yanglingqiao (GB34), is considered to be the most influential point of the tendons, and can smooth shaky or uneven movements, such as those manifesting as Parkinson’s-related symptoms.
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder characterized by neural defects in the substantia nigra.Researchers, Yeo et al. discovered that in twelve patients with Parkinson’s, acupuncture at specific points that influence the tendons, facilitate fluid movement and remove obstructions impeding the flow of qi blood increased neural response within the brain areas affected in Parkinson’s patients such as, the substantia nigra, caudate, thalamus, and putamen. These findings confirmed previous studies that demonstrate the therapeutic benefits of specific acupuncture on the tendino-musculature; therefore, reducing symptoms such as tremors and gait issues in those with Parkinson’s.
(Yeo S, Lim S, Choe IH, Choi YG, Chung KC, Jahng GH, Kim SH. Acupuncturestimulation on GB34 activates neural responses associated with Parkinson’s disease. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2012 Sep;18(9):781-90. Department of Meridian & Acupoint, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.)
