- Tahoe Neuro HealingVan Harding, LAc, Dipl.OM
Truckee, CA Life's A Journey. Make It A Healthy One.
Articles by Van Harding
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Acupuncture has been studied for years in the west to scientifically understand how these little needles provoke healing. Here are a few of the conclusions:
1. Acupuncture increases the circulation of blood- reducing pain and swelling
2. It causes the release of certain neurotransmitters- benefitting mental health
3. Acupuncture stimulates the natural release of opioids- reducing pain
4. A reaction with the central nervous system occurs- benefitting overall health.See the Scientific Research section under FAQs.
Why Herbs & Nutraceuticals instead of pharmaceutical drugs?
Herbs and Nutraceuticals correct the underlying dysfunctional biological mechanism that causes the symptoms whereas drugs only seek to alleviate the symptom.
Herbs and nutraceuticals are safer than drugs. According to the CDC there are “0” deaths annually due to herbs and nutraceuticals whereas prescription drugs cause approxiamtely 250,000 deaths annually.
2010 Drug Overdose Deaths: 38,329 and of that 30% were Anti-anxiety meds and 18% were Anti-depressant.
2008 Pain Relief Medication deaths: 14,800
2007 NIH: Surveillance of prescription drug-related mortality using death certificates
Military Pokes Holes in Acupuncture Skeptic’s Theory
by Blake Farmer Feb. 16, 2012The US Army has begun to make Acupuncture more widely available to troops returning home for P.T.S.D, Traumatic Brain Injury and back pain.
Research Articles
Acupuncture vs Acupressure of Brain Activation via fMRI
J Altern Complement Med. 2010 Apr;16(4):489-95. doi: 10.1089/acm.2009.0395.
Abstract OBJECTIVES:
The objective of this study was to assess differences in brain responses between
Acupuncture & Poststroke Rehab Review
Stroke. 2010 Apr;41(4):e171-9. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.109.573576. Epub 2010 Feb 18.
Abstract BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:
Acupuncture is a low-risk treatment with purported claims of effectiveness for poststroke rehabilitation. To comprehensively assess the efficacy of acupuncture in poststroke rehabilitation,
Neurological Therapy & Motor Skills
Noninvasive cortical stimulation enhances motor skill acquisition over multiple days through an effect on consolidation (Neurological Therapy)
Early Edition > Janine Reis, doi: 10.1073/pnas.0805413106 National Academy of Science of USA
Edited by Emilio Bizzi, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, and approved November 25, 2008 (received for review June 5, 2008)
Abstract
Motor skills can take weeks
Acupuncture,Herbs & Cerebral Infarction
[Article in Chinese] Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2010 Jan;30(1):6-9.
Abstract OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the therapeutic effect of comprehensive therapeutic protocol of electroacupuncture combined with active-blood-and-dissolve-stasis herbs
Acupuncture & fMRI
Bioengineering assessment of acupuncture, part 4: functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Crit Rev Biomed Eng. 2006;34(4):327-45.
Abstract
In the fourth part of this review article, research on the topic of acupuncture and functional magnetic resonance imaging is described. Needle as well as painless laserneedle stimulation have led to significant changes
Ginseng & Diabetes-Induced Neurodegeneration
Ginsenosides Attenuate Methylglyoxal-Induced Impairment of Insulin Signaling and Subsequent Apoptosis in Primary Astrocytes
Neuropharmacology. 2014 May 28;85C:215-223. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.05.029. [Epub ahead of print]
Source: PubMed
Chu JM1, et al.
Diabetes mellitus (DM), which is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, is known to increase the risk of neurodegeneration. In type 2 diabetes, hyperglycemia could cause insulin resistance and neurodegeneration
Electroacupuncture & Partial Bowel Obstruction
Therapeutic Effect and Mechanism of Electroacupuncture at Zusanli on Plasticity of Interstitial Cells of Cajal
BMC Complement Altern Med.2014 Jun 7;14(1):186. [Epub ahead of print]
Source: PubMed
Peng MF, et al.
BACKGROUND: Electroacupuncture (EA) is one of the techniques of acupuncture and is believed to be an effective alternative and complementary treatment in many disorders. The
Acupuncture & Parkinson’s
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014 Sep 15;14:336. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-14-336. Acupuncture on GB34 activates the precentral gyrus and prefrontal cortex in Parkinson’s disease. Yeo S, Choe IH, van den Noort M, Bosch P, Jahng GH, Rosen B, Kim SH, Lim S1. Continue reading