Mesothelioma is sometimes referred to asbestos cancer. It is referred to this because the only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma in different ways depending on the variety of the malignancy.
Pleural Mesothelioma and Asbestos Pleural mesothelioma, the most common variety, is caused by inhaled asbestos fibers which lodge themselves in the pleural lining of the lungs. Asbestos fibers, which are microscopic but durable, then irritate the inner tissue, causing the growth of harmful scar tissue and eventually mesothelioma.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma and Asbestos Peritoneal mesothelioma is less common and doctors have not exacted relationship between the asbestos exposure and the malignancy. However, nearly all peritoneal mesothelioma patients have a history of asbestos exposure. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the abdominal cavity, near the digestive tract. Doctors surmise that ingested asbestos fibers lodge in the outer tissue of the organs and cause a similar inflammation as in the pleura.
Pericardial Mesothelioma and Asbestos Pericardial mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the heart and is extremely rare. Like peritoneal mesothelioma, very little is known about the relationship between the malignancy and asbestos exposure but nearly all patients have asbestos exposure history. Physicians surmise that because the cancer occurs in the heart’s lining, the asbestos fibers may impact the heart through the bloodstream.
Lung Cancer and Asbestos Asbestos has also been linked to cancers of the lung, as opposed to the pleural lining of the lungs. These are likely the result of malfunction caused due the exposure and inhalation of asbestos fibers, which can also cause chronic respiratory conditions such as asbestosis.
Acupuncture is a well known remedy for a very large number of diseases and conditions, so it doesn't come as a surprise the fact that it's also being used in helping mesothelioma cancer patients.
Acupuncture is not the cure for mesothelioma, or any kind of cancer, for that matter, but it is used as pain reliever, and a form of relaxation after a session of ordinary mesothelioma treatment, and a lot the patients using it say it works very well, alongside other such treatment methods.
Mesothelioma acupuncture benefits When treating this disease, and even when patients just got their diagnosed, they will be in a lot of pain, a result of many factors. Other mesothelioma cancer symptoms may also be hard to live with, and acupuncture can help in that way. Some of the benefits you can hope to achieve when using acupuncture:
relieve pain helps relax muscles and organs stimulates the growth of healthy cells treat nausea Asked about this kind of procedure, a large number of patients said that acupuncture helped them getting through the mesothelioma process. They experience almost no pain, they feel better, in general. Some of the subjects said they stopped taking pain relievers all together after starting acupuncture. Together with other such remedies, acupuncture can make a lot of difference, may just give you a better view of your situation, because of the fact that it helps you also relax.
Some studies conducted suggest that this kind of treatment may even help in conjunction with immunotherapy; because it helps the body strengthen its immune system even further.
How patients react during an mesothelioma acupuncture session In general, patients seem to react well to acupuncture, although some of them report sleepiness or some sort of pain during the procedure. Few of them said they experienced a form of anxiety when feeling the small needles piercing the skin, but after the physician was done, they felt great.
As far as mesothelioma alternative treatments go, acupuncture is one that patient can faithfully try. It will not cure their cancer, but it will most surely make their life a lot better. Not only is it cheap, but it also helps the mind, by relaxing the body.
Do you think you should try acupuncture, but have no start point? Contact Bamboowisdom@gmail.com and we will provide with all the information you need. It is free.
Theory of AcupunctureThe foundational theory of acupuncture is based on a principle that involves treating the entire body rather than just the affected organ or area. According to this set of theories, diseases are caused by an imbalance of factors called Yin, Yang, Qi, and Blood. In this practice, treating disease involves manipulation of the body to improve balance between these four factors.
Acupuncture employs the use of fine needles into the body's defined 'pressure points' to improve the flow of the four factors in the body, and improve the body's balance and harmony. There are almost four hundred different pressure points located all over the body. The pressure points that are stimulated during an acupuncture session may not be in the area where a patient feels pain. For example, a patient who is receiving acupuncture treatment for headaches may actually be treated in the webbing between the thumb and palm.
Many scientific theories have been proposed to account for how acupuncture works in the body. There is no doubt that it does provide symptomatic relief of pain, stress, and anxiety. One theory proposes that it is possible to modify the transmission of pain at many different sites in the body. Another is that acupuncture causes the release of hormones called endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are known to block pain and produce mild feelings of euphoria - these are what kick in during exercise, and are responsible for the so-called 'natural high' that many endurance athletes feel during events.
Acupuncture for the Treatment of Asbestos-Related DiseasesWhen it comes to the treatment of asbestos-related cancers, acupuncture is one of the most widely accepted alternative therapies. Those coping with asbestos-related diseases, such as asbestosis and mesothelioma, can use acupuncture to treat symptoms of pain, stress, and anxiety. Many patients with asbestosis who have tried acupuncture say the treatment helps relieve pain and makes breathing much easier.
During an acupuncture consultation, an acupuncturist asks their patient a number of questions relating to their health and symptoms. They also inspect certain points of the body, such as the face, mouth, and specific acupuncture points, to determine the best course of treatment. This initial examination allows the acupuncturist to determine which pressure points must be manipulated for the patient to experience relief from their symptoms.
During the actual treatment, very thin, sterilized needles are inserted into each pressure point. Once all needles are inserted, the patient may be left to rest for several minutes, or up to half an hour, before the needles are removed.
Acupuncture treatments are particularly desirable because when practiced by a skilled acupuncturist, there are virtually no harmful side effects in most cases. Around 3 percent of patients may experience some minor bleeding at points where needles were inserted. Around 2 percent of patients may experience some bruising at the site, while approximately 1 percent may experience some dizziness (usually as a result of anxiety relating to the treatment). It has been advised that people with bleeding disorders and those taking blood thinners should avoid acupuncture. In addition, those with infusion pumps, cardiac pacemakers, or any other electrical device are advised to avoid electroacupuncture.
Insomnia is a frequent complaint in the acupuncture business. Chronic insomnia is defined as no restorative sleep for at least three nights a week for one month or longer. Sleep can be disturbed by a number of reasons, such as stress, anxiety, medications and physical conditions. Western medicine has very little to offer patients in the way of relief. Antidepressant medications can help, but for people who are hesitant about living on drugs, then acupuncture is the way to go. Acupuncture has an extremely calming effect on the nervous system, and over time, it can help to correct the imbalances causing insomnia without creating side effects, according to Annie Sturmn, a licensed acupuncture physician and owner of Annie Sturman Acupuncture. She has been treating patients for the past 20 years with pain and illnesses.
Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points of the surface of the body. These points lie along conduits of energy called meridians. When these points are stimulated the benefits are endless. When insomnia is treated, points of the heart or pericardium meridians are commonly chosen. According to some acupuncturists, some of the points that calm the mind also have the effect of helping the heart to pump blood more efficiently. Chinese medicine also has many forms of insomnia, and each is treated with a different combination of points as well as different herbal formulas. "Unless you take time for yourself and find the time to eat well, exercise and relax, no treatment is going to eliminate your insomnia completely," Sturman says. However, "Chinese Medicine can eliminate or greatly reduce your symptoms as long as you keep your diet and lifestyle together."
Sturman says that one of the key ingredients in treating insomnia is to ask specific questions as to what causes insomnia. "We have to find out why they have it, what's going on in their body that's causing it, why the flow of energy isn't working properly and which system isn't working or which meridian," she says. Each form of insomnia has as many variations on the theme as there are people who suffer from it.
Sleep disturbances sometimes require a combination of therapies. In addition to acupuncture, psychological counseling and lifestyle changes may be needed as well to treat insomnia. For example, "I had a guy who could not sleep at night," Sturman says. "I asked him if there was a TV in his bedroom. He said 'yes, I don't watch it, but it is on at night.' He said his wife would fall asleep with it on at night, and then he would just listen to the background noise. After consideration I recommended for him to take the TV out of his bedroom and the insomnia went away. Sometimes it just takes common sense and intuition."
Chinese Aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, self-massage, recipes for medical wines, teas and porridges, all are self-help ways to treat insomnia.
Acupuncture is the insertion of ultra-thin, sterile needles into specific acupuncture points on the body which reside on channels or meridians; these are pathways in both the exterior and interior of the body. These points, when needled, can regulate the way in which the body functions. Acupuncture helps by addressing problems that affect fertility such as under-functioning (hypothyroidism) or over-functioning (hyperthyroidism).
Can acupuncture be used to treat infertility? Acupuncture, frequently combined with herbal medicine, has been used for centuries to treat some causes of infertility. For example, acupuncture and herbs will not work to address tubal adhesions which can occur as a result of pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis. However, in this situation, an individual could still benefit from acupuncture and herbs because of the potential effect of improved ovarian and follicular function. Additionally, it is shown that acupuncture can increase blood flow to the endometrium, helping to facilitate a thick, rich lining.
When should acupuncture treatment begin? Acupuncture is similar to physical therapy in that it is a process oriented method of medical intervention. It is better to do more than less. Patients are commonly treated for three to four months before an insemination, in vitro fertilization (IVF), or donor-egg transfer. This period of treatment seems to have a therapeutic effect.
In a study by Stener-Victorin et al from the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology Fertility Centre, Scandinavia and University of Gothenburg, women are encouraged to receive acupuncture treatments pre and post embryo transfer. Clinical observations from the Berkley Center for Reproductive Wellness suggest that the most effective fertility treatments involve a combination of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and traditional medical interventions. However, conception does sometimes occur when acupuncture and herbal medicines are used without traditional medical interventions.
When should I stop getting acupuncture? Typically most miscarriages occur within the first three months of pregnancy. Therefore, treatment of patients may often last through week twelve to help prevent miscarriage.
Are the acupuncture points different after an insemination, IVF, or donor-egg transfer than before? Your acupuncturist should not place needles in the abdomino-pelvic area after insemination or transfer. There are 6 contraindicated acupuncture points which should be avoided when the patient is pregnant or pregnancy is suspected. These include Gallbladder 21, Stomach 12, Large Intestine 4, Spleen 6, Bladder 60, Bladder 67 and any points on the lower abdomen.
What are the risks of using acupuncture? There are minimal risks when using acupuncture for fertility treatment. A risk of miscarriage may develop if incorrect acupuncture points are used when a woman is pregnant. This is one reason why those wishing to include acupuncture in their treatment regimen should only be treated by an acupuncturist who specializes in treating fertility disorders. Acupuncture is not contraindicated for anyone regardless of their pathology or what medications they are taking.
What types of fertility patients typically get acupuncture? Acupuncture can be used to treat any type of fertility disorder including spasmed tubes. (Spasmed tubes are often de-spasmed with acupuncture, though blocked tubes will not respond to acupuncture). Acupuncture is often combined with herbs to treat elevated follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), repeated pregnancy loss, unexplained (idiopathic) infertility, luteal phase defect, hyperprolactinemia (when not caused by a prolactinoma), polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) with annovulatory cycles, and male factor including men affected with sperm-DNA-fragmentation.
