Varicose Veins

They are blood vessels which are enlarged or twisted.  It is common on the leg or feet area. Generally, the veins have a valve to prevent back-flow, called one-way valve. When the valves have problems, muscles or blood itself can allow blood to gather and make pools inside the vein. Therefore,  the veins tend to bulge or twist, which is known as varicose vein.^[2] 

 

Varicose veins are not dangerous themselves. It looks bad initially. However, they may cause the following symptoms^[1]

- aching, throbbing or burning leg pain

- itch, heaviness, cramping or restless legs

- darkening of the skin over your ankle, etc.

The worst comes when blood clots are developed, and it can be developed as a deep vein thrombosis. Very occasionally the clots can reach on lung, heart, brain, etc. 

 

The Treatment of Varicose Vein

There are a few treatment such as sclerotherapy, laser therapy, surgery.  You can talk to your GP or Specialist about this method if you are concerned about your varicose vein.

 

How Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine can help

In the Oriental Medicine (Eastern Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine), the varicose veins are similar to a lump which can be created by damp-phlegm, blood statis, blood dryness, or turbid energy. 

- Blood stasis : painful lumb, occassionally it bleeds. The pain stays in a fixed location and become sharp pain. If blood circulation is not good, then nose bleeding or haemorroids can happens.

- Turbid Energy: When Energy flow in our body become weak or Turbidy Energy flows in our body, then our blood stagnates and we get symptoms of varicose vein.  Not only the symptoms of varicose vein, but also indigestion, low appetite, borborygmus sounds in the stomach, constipation or diarrhea, phlegm on the throat can happens together. 

- Damp-Phlegm : Damp-phlegm can happen when circulation in our body is not working well. It is related to Spleen, Lung, Kidney, Tripple Energiser functions.  When you have Phlegm-damp in your body, stomach prolapse or stomach extending can happen. Furthermore, circulation related issues such as digestion issue, respiratory issue, or urology issue.

- Liver Fire Blood dryness: When Liver Fire appears, the function of transportation of Energy gets problem. Futhermore the circulation of Blood related to Liver also get problem. Blood heat can be created and blood can stagnate in one place which causes varicose vein

Therefore, we use acupuncture and herbal medicine to remove Blood stasis, Turbid Energy, Damp-Phlegm, and Liver Fire Blood dryness.  However this treatment takes a long time and our body keep produce these causes.

 

 

Reference:

[1]: Varicose veins. (2019, July 9). Healthdirect.gov.au; Healthdirect Australia. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/varicose-veins

[2]: Slideshow: Spider and Varicose Veins: What Causes Them? What Can You Do? (n.d.). WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/ss/slideshow-spider-varicose-veins

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Health Maintenance

In our body, there are nerve system, blood system, lymph system. which wrap and flow our bones, muscles, and organs. However, there is ENERGY (氣) flow in our body.  We maintain our body with food and exercise to use longer and live happy.

 

 

How to maintain Energy Flow(氣) in the body.

. Exercise - The most popular method

. Acupuncture - Specific method for boosting Energy Flow

. Food - The source of Energy.

. Herbal Medicine - Help Energy flow in our body.

 

How acupuncture helps Energy Flow(氣) in the body

Fine needle is used for helping energy flow(氣) in the body. Acupuncture uses a specific acupuncture points in our body to help energy flow for our organs and meridians. It stimulates our body not only muscles, but also organs by using nervous system, lymph system, blood system and hormonal system, etc. 

Regular acupuncture helps free flow of Energy (氣) and prevents from Energy flow stagnation symptoms, which is pain, discomfort, disease states.

 

Acupuncture is also used to fix our body problem.  In Eastern Medicine, we believe that all our body problems comes from the stagnation of Energy Flow, so helping free flow of Energy is solving our body problems. 

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Everybody know high blood pressure is not a good sign in our health. This increases the chances of developing Heart Disease, Stroke, Chronic Kidney Disease, Eye Pressure, Erectile Dysfunction and other conditions.

 

The causes of hypertension is still unknown, but the risk factors can be life style, smoking, obesity, high salt consumption, alcohol, high cholesterol level, family history, and diabetes. Some causes of hypertension can be narrowing the arteries of kidney or hormonal conditions ^[1].

The treatment can be taking medicine or changing the life style

What acupuncture can do

 

Acupuncture treatment can lower the high blood pressure according to the above journal for Stage 1 Hypertension^[2]. 

Acupuncture may have a similar effects or more strong effects of changing the life style by modifying the energy flow (氣 - 기, Qi, Chi) in the human body. Therefore regular treatment can have the effect of lowering high blood pressure. 

 

However, we recommends that patients who takes high blood pressure medication should consult with their GP and may take combined treatment with acupuncture and medication. 

 

Reference:

[1]: Health Direct. (2018, November 27). High Blood Pressure (hypertension). Health Direct; Healthdirect Australia. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/high-blood-pressure-hypertension

[2]: Seo BN, Kwon O, Lee S, Kim HS, Kang KW, Seol IC, Shin C, Choi SM. Effects of Acupuncture on Lowering Blood Pressure in Postmenopausal Women with Prehypertension or Stage 1 Hypertension: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis. J Clin Med. 2021 Apr 1;10(7):1426. doi: 10.3390/jcm10071426. PMID: 33916003; PMCID: PMC8038045.

 

 

陰(음,Yin) & 陽(양,Yang) and Quantum Entanglement

Quantum entanglement of photons captured in real-time^[1],[2]

 

陰(음,Yin) & 陽(양,Yang) in Eastern Medicine

Korean Flag. & Yin and Yang in Eastern Medicine                  

 

Eastern Medicine & Acupuncture are all about balancing 陰(음,Yin) & 陽(양,Yang) in our body. Currently the science is proving how the Eastern Medicine works. 

 

Reference

[1] X, S. (2023) Visualizing the mysterious dance: Quantum entanglement of photons captured in real-time, Phys.org. Available at: https://phys.org/news/2023-08-visualizing-mysterious-quantum-entanglement-photons.html (Accessed: 23 August 2023).

[2] Zia, D., Dehghan, N., D’Errico, A. et al. Interferometric imaging of amplitude and phase of spatial biphoton states. Nat. Photon. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-023-01272-3

Haemorrhoids (1)

 

"Haemorrhoids, or piles, are varicose veins of the rectum or anus. They are common in middle and later life, often caused by years of chronic constipation." 
Haemorrhoids has 3 different types: internal Haemorrhoids, external haemorrhoids,  prolapsed haemorrhoids. ^[1]

Almost everyone after 40 to 50 years old will have some degree of haemorrhoids because we walk with 2 legs. Grad1, Grade 2 are not serious and it may not need to have a surgery. However, Grade 3, Grade 4 are recommended to have a surgery. 

Please Do Not Leave It until It gets WORSE.

How Eastern Medicine helps for haemorrhoids.

Eastern Medicine divides the haemorrhoids with 8 different types.^[2]

The causes of haemorrhoids: Heat in the small intestines causes haemorrhoids, and heat in the large instestine causes blood stool ^[2]

Anal Fissure 맥치(脈痔) : small abscess like grain in the anus, pain and itching
Perianal Abscesses 장치(腸痔)란  Prolapsed anus due to internal haemorrhoids. 
Haemorrhoids due to Qi disorder 기치(氣痔)란  swollen and painful caused by emotion
Bleeding Haemorrhoids 혈치(血痔)란  Mixed with blood in the stool.
Haemorrhoids due to immoderate drinking 주치(酒痔)란 painful and bloody stool after having alcohols
Male haemorrhoids (모치(牡痔)): Pimple like mouse'nipple near anus and have pus
Female haemorrhoids빈치(牝痔)란 Swelling near anus and have pus
Anal Fistula누치(瘻痔)란 hole in the anus due to chronic infected anus.

 

Treatment with Eastern Medicine

Acupuncture treatment according to each types of haemorrhoids are given as well as Traditional Eastern Herbal Medicine according to the types of disease and personal characteristics. 

 

If the haemorrhoids are painful and its grade is 3 or 4, then surgery is recommended and the surgery is a quick way to remove pain. 

 

Reference

[1] : Department of Health & Human Services (2000) Haemorrhoids, Better Health Channel. Available at: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/haemorrhoids (Accessed: 09 August 2023).

[2]: 한의학고전DB (no date) 한의학 고전 DB. Available at: https://mediclassics.kr/books/8/volume/8 (Accessed: 09 August 2023).

 

 

Digestion Issue (2) - Various Indigestion Issues

Stomach discomfort may be called a stomach pain which can be described as aching, stabbing, burning, twisting, cramping, dull, or gnawing. And It also can be described as bloating, burping, wind, fever, heartburn, vomiting, or loss of appetite.

With one sentence, "My digestion is poor".  With the above symptoms can be appeared due to from simple indigestion to very serious issue such as stomach cancer.  If this symptoms continuous and serious, you may suspect the following diseases such as peptic ulcer, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease(GORD), appendicitis, gall stone, or period pain. 

Otherwise, stomach discomfort occurs by indigestion, IBS, food poisoning, ulcer, GORD, diverticulitis, gall stone, ...., etc. [1]  

Well, most cases you go to GP, and GP will prescribe Nexium or Somac when you have Heart Burn or Acid Reflux.

 

 

What causes a stomach discomfort or pain in Eastern Medicine 

According to DongUi BoGam^[3] (Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine), Stomach discomfort or indigestion can be caused by the following reasons^[2]:  

1. Tofu poison : Stomach discomfort or pain happens by eating a tofu. When a tofu become hard, it is hard to digest.

2. Noodle poison : After eating a food made of flour such as noodle, one gets affected by cold energy(weather or water) or his/her stomach transportation function down due to SPLEEN deficiency , a stomach discomfort or pain happens. 

3. Noodle stasis:  One of food stagnation, Similar to the Noodle poison. It happens when eating food made of flour and Stomach discomfort occurs

4. Lump in the abdomen : Due to Stomach and Spleen Energy stagnation with deficiency, Phlegm, food, and blood combine together and make a lump in the abdomen. when food stagnation happens, food cannot be digested.

5. Spleen and Kidney chronic deficiency : Due to Kidney Yang energy deficiency, Kidney and Spleen yang energy both become deficient. Food cannot be digested easily with knee cold sensation, back pain, swollen body. 

6. Indigestion : Food doesn't get digested. 

7. Food(old) stagnation: Food stagnation has been there for a long time. Overeating or Spleen deficiency cause indigestion.

8. Stomach Energy is not harmonised:  Stomach function becomes weak. Loss of appetite, Bloating, Cannot sleep well, Bowel motion is irregular.

9. Meat stasis: When eating too much meat or raw meat while Spleen and Stomach are weak. Bloating, vomiting, diarrhea happens.

10. No digestion : Due to Stomach and Spleen's transfer and transportation function deficiency. Bloating and chest stuffiness

11. Diarrhea : Diarrhea due to food stagnation

12. Bird Meat poison: Indigestion by eating Bird Meat

13. Pain by Stomach Cold : Spleen and Stomach are not strong and become cold. or due to eating too much cold food. 

14. Chest tightness and stuffiness: Damp turbidity blocks Stomach which causes energy (氣-기,Chi,Qi) stagnation, which causes dry cough and burping. Annoying but doesn't have a pain.

 

In the Eastern Medicine, we treat each cause differently. 

 

 

Reference

[1]: Abdominal pain (no date) healthdirect. Available at: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/abdominal-pain#:~:text=Key%20facts,many%20causes%20of%20abdominal%20pain. (Accessed: March 10, 2023).

[2]: 소화불량(消化不良) / 소화기 계통 (no date) 소화불량(消化不良) / 소화기 계통 | 익생닷컴. Available at: http://www.iksaeng.com/disease/disease_Main.jsp?diseaseno=tts3exyc&from=iks (Accessed: March 10, 2023).

[3]: 한의학고전DB (no date) 서적정보 > 동의보감. Available at: https://mediclassics.kr/books/8 (Accessed: March 10, 2023).

Digestion Issue (1) - General Understanding

Simply, the digestive systems are organs which are related to the digestion. They consist of GI tract organs and Other helping organs such as Liver, Gall Bladder, and Pancrease. For digestions, a lot of enzymes are involved to absorb a good nutrition into our body. The tube organ is divided into many different organ depending on its functions - GI tract are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus.

Mainly we call Digestive system as Stomach. When we have a problem with digestion, we go to GP and get some prescription such as Nexium or Somac for acid reflux, some digestion enzymes. or gaviscon from the chemist.

 

However, the digestion doesn't occur by stomach itself. It is helped by other organs such as Liver, Spleen, Pancreas, GallBlader

How Eastern Medicine sees the digestive system

Eastern medicine also explains the same as western medicine anatomically. However the functions of each organ are explained differently. 

Digestion part of our body is represented as EARTH energy, which is the main energy source after we were born.

 

Digestive system in the Eastern Medicine consists of Stomach and Spleen (including Pancreas). Spleen is a storing organ and Stomach is a tube organ. Eastern Medicine thinks food passes into the Stomach and the Stomach breaks food and make it ready to absorb. Spleen absorbs the energy from Stomach and sends a clear energy to Lung.

Therefore, the digestion is not the stomach issue alone. Digestive system affected by Liver and GallBladder, get helped by Spleen (&Pancreas)

 

How the Eastern Medicine solve digestion Issue

The Eastern Medicine deals all about the energy flow in our body. Generally the digestion issue can be solved by acupuncture and herbal medicine to break out the blockage of Energy (氣 - Qi) to make the energy of Stomach move freely. Then we tonify and boost the energy of Stomach and Spleen by acupuncture methods and various herbal medicine formula. 

Fibroids & Acupuncture

A Fibroid is well-known disease in the women's field. A uterine-fibroid grows in the wall of uterus known as myoma. It can grow from tiny size to large size. More than 8 cm, doctor's recommend a surgery to remove a fibroid. 

Fibroids are not cancerous myoma and can cause so many symptoms such as^[1],[2]

- heavy periods
- prolonged periods.
- painful periods
- bleeding between periods
- back pain
- frequent urination 
- other symptoms

Currently, we don't know the causes of fibroid, a female hormone such as oestrogen is related to the growth of fibroids. 

Image source:https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/uterine-fibroids

 

How acupuncture can help fibroids

Acupuncture is all about manipulating Energy(氣-기,Chi, Qi) flows. In the Eastern Medicine (including Tradition Chinese Medicine), we see the fibroids are caused by stagnation of Energy and Blood. In details, these kind of masses are caused by emotional fluctuation, energy and blood stagnation, foods, phlegm-damp stagnation, imbalance of hot and cold, low good energy and high bad energy.^[3] 

Acupuncture helps removing the causes of fibroids by helping circulation of Energy and Blood in our body.  However, once the fibroid forms and the size of fibroids is bigger than 7~8 cm, we recommend a surgery to remove it. Acupuncture may help to reduce the size of fibroids. However it would take more time and we cannot guarantee the reduction of size.  

In additions, Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan, one of well-know herbal medicine, has effective to reduce the size of fibroids in animal studies^[4].  This herbal formula has been used to treat fibroids for a long time.

Our goal is to reduce the fibroid as well as to balance hormone(Yin&Yang) which is causing the fibroid growth. We recommend at least 3 months acupuncture & herbal medicine treatment to check whether it is effective or not.

 

 

[1]: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/fibroids
[2]: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/uterine-fibroids
[3]: https://herba.kr/boncho/?m=view&t=dict&id=1852
[4]: Li M, Hung A, Yang AWH. Guizhi Fuling Wan for uterine fibroids: A systematic review of in vivo studies. J Ethnopharmacol. 2019 Dec 5;245:112177. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112177. Epub 2019 Aug 21. PMID: 31445128.

Gong Jin Dan

Gong Jing Dan, known as the Super Tonic Ball, is a combination of very specific Traditional Chinese herbs. It is for the improvement of energy and strengthening of the mental and physical constitution. This works by tonifying the body fluid and balancing between organs. Gong Jin Dan, also known as the “Emperor’s Medicine” was quite popular among the imperial family.  In a history, Gong Jin Dan had been offered to an emperor in ancient China by one of great physician because the emperor was busy and stressed with politics at daytime and spend energy with ladies at night times. 

Gong Jin Dan is mainly used for treating fatigue and it has anti-fatigue properties.^[1]

During treatment, you might feel energy enhancement and improvement of the internal organs by reducing chronic fatigue. It may also treats low blood pressure, dizziness and light headedness. This treatment is also suitable for those who always feel cold, since it warms up the body and improves overall blood circulation.

Gong Jin Dan is know for helping the following issues: 

• Treating low energy and chronic fatigue
• Eliminating physical exhaustion
• Treating hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Increasing energy following any surgery
• Regulating menstrual cycles (amenorrhea)
• Eliminating physical exhaustion
• Strengthening muscles and bones
• Improving Qi (energy) and blood
• Boosting up the immune system
• Harmonizing internal organs
• Preventing various diseases
• Warming up the body
• Enhancing memory and concentration

However, the benefits and results may vary by person.

 

 

 

Gong Jin Dan is expensive. However, you need to take at least 30 days continuously to get a good effect of this herbal medicine. 

 

In my experience, with MokHyang Gong Jin Dan, you need to take at least 5 day continuously by taking one a day to notice the effect of Gong Jin Dan. If serious cases, you can take 1 pills twice a day to get better and faster effect. 

 

 

[1] An Herbal Drug, Gongjin-dan, Ameliorates Acute Fatigue Caused by Short-Term Sleep-Deprivation: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Clinical Trial, https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.00479

Pain Management

For the pain management, many methods exist. You might use drug to reduce pain or other alternative medicine to reduce pain. Acupuncture is one of the best method for pain management. Acupuncture is well-known for pain reduction method such as migraine, low back pain, headache, neck pain, post-operative pain, heel pain, cancer pain, pelvic pain, restless leg syndrome, sciatica, shoulder pain, labour pain, elbow pain, TMJ pain, etc.

 

Pain occurs when Energy and Blood (氣血 -기혈, Qi and Blood ) do not flow freely.  Acupuncture can be used to help Energy and Blood in our body flow freely. So, Acupuncture has wonderful method for pain management