Tag Archives: Acupuncture

Herbs That Increase Dopamine Level

Herbs That Increase Dopamine Level

Popularly known as the brain’s feel good hormone, dopamine is responsible for sending feelings of well-being and pleasure into the body.  Apart from this known function, other functions of dopamine include; control weight, energy levels, and supports brain and heart health. Without it, we would be more fat, unhappy, and tired. Dopamine is one of the most crucial neurotransmitters in the body. Dopamine has very many functions in the body but to many people it is famous for its good feeling effects that it is always identified with but this should not be the case as it has functions beyond the mesolimbic pathway. In the brain dopamine plays such roles as: It plays a big role in starting movement, and the destruction of dopamine neurons in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra is what produces the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Dopamine also plays an important role as a hormone acting to inhibit prolactin to stop the release of breast milk. Back in the mesolimbic pathway, dopamine can play a role in psychosis, and many antipsychotics for treatment of schizophrenia target dopamine. Dopamine is involved in the frontal cortex in executive functions like attention. In the rest of the body, dopamine is involved in nausea, in kidney function, and in heart function. Owing to its many functions that are all crucial, it is important that dopamine be in good levels for the optimal performance of the body.

Ginseng

Dopamine is crucial in our bodies but the use of drugs of abuse will lead to depletion of dopamine giving rise to some diseases like depression among others. Some drugs of leisure are loved for their euphoric feelings; they affect the normal production of brain chemicals. At the beginning they may induce a sudden surge in the production of feel good brain chemicals, however when you have used the drugs for some time they will lead to depletion in the levels of the brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine. In the brain the production of neurotransmitter happens naturally without intervention of any other drug. These basic neurotransmitters include; dopamine, serotonin, GABA, acetylcholine. The body also produces other chemicals known as endorphins which work as the body’s own opiates functioning to fight pain naturally.

These neurotransmitters have specific functions that they accomplish in the body. Each function is important and works in conjunction with the functions of the other neurotransmitters to make life what it ought to be. These functions are; Serotonin regulates sleep and appetite, Acetylcholine for processing information and memory, GABA acts as your calming neurotransmitter while dopamine is the feel good chemical, plays an important role in mood, energy, attitude, motivation.

When you use these drugs of pleasure thy hike the levels of dopamine in the brain beyond the accepted levels. This will force the brain to find a means by which to suppress the production of the neurotransmitter that has been hiked by drug use. naturally, the production of dopamine will be reduced by the brain after sensing that the hike in the levels of dopamine is caused by factors out of the body, therefore when a person who has been using drugs stops using them, the levels of dopamine and serotonin will be too low below the normal levels and this beckons such feelings of depression, anxiety, nervousness and lack of interest in everything. The level of dopamine in the body can however be restored naturally by use of herbs. Here are some of the herbs that are effective in restoring levels of dopamine even after drug use.

The Dopamine Boosters

St. John’s wort Ginseng– ginseng does not only increase the level of dopamine in the body but also works in rejuvenating, restorative, boosts energy and vitality and is tonic to the brain. Ginseng is often prescribed for patients fighting depression which is a common symptom of withdrawal from drug use. This herb is a better therapy for those who are under physical, emotional, mental or spiritual stress as it is a very strong antidepressant and adaptogenic. Ginseng promotes strong nerves, sound sleep, improves memory, clear thinking and enhances concentration.

Red clover -Red clover not only increases the dopamine levels in the brain but also nourishes the entire body, provides plenty of protein, B vitamins, and calcium, all essential brain nourishing nutrients.

St. John’s wort -St. John’s wort is effective against mild to moderate depression, alleviates anxiety, insomnia, and irritability and eases pain. It increases the level of dopamine in the brain as well.

Peppermint– contrary to what many people believe, peppermint is not psychoactive but is rather sedating, stimulating and pain relieving. Peppermint is one of the many herbs that can be used to restore the level of dopamine in the brain and restore the normal bodily functions.

Fenugreek -Fenugreek is a herb and a spice commonly eaten in many parts of the world, and has been used for centuries by practitioners of Ayurvedic Herb medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. It also increases the levels of dopamine and so can be used by patients whose dopamine level have floored as a result of drug use.

Today the patients have varied options when it comes to restoring the levels of testosterone in the body, however going the natural way is more beneficial as it is safe and inexpensive as well. It is good to note that by increasing the level of dopamine in your body, you are setting good grounds for addiction treatment and recovery. However, these problems need to be treated effectively through integrative medicine. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is an expert at this.  Call her on (843) 213-1480 for help.

Herbs That Increase Dopamine Level

 

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Integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine into Holistic Cancer Care

Integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine into Holistic Cancer Care

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?

The practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine is a complicated procedure that entails the use of different approaches to treat different types of diseases. One important thing about this system that makes it completely different from the conventional treatment methods as developed in Western scientific tradition is that TCM is based on a holistic approach to the human body. Diseases are treated as disruptions to the entire body system and the focus is on returning the body to its initial ideal state. Therefore, TCM is focused on providing patients with a completely personalized mode of treatment. This is seen right from the diagnosis stage to the way specific intervention measures are administered to a patient.

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Research in the use of TCM in cancer treatment

There has been a growing body of research on how traditional Chinese medicine can be used in treating cancer patients. From several studies, it can be seen that there has been general consensus among researchers that Traditional Chinese Medicine can be used to supplement conventional oncology care. Studies have indicated that when used alongside conventional methods of treating cancer, specific practices in the system can play a distinctive role in enhancing the overall outcomes of cancer treatments for patients. Known as integrative or holistic cancer care, this approach of combining conventional Western medicine with elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine has been growing in popularity over the recent past.

Use of acupuncture in holistic cancer care

Acupuncture is one of the many practices of Traditional Chinese Medicine that are integrated into holistic cancer care. The aim of acupuncture is to control the neurological processes in the body of a patient as a way of bringing about the desired effects. This is done by use of special needles which are inserted in the body of the patient at specific points. The application of the needles may be accompanied by several practices that are meant to enhance their effect on the body of the patient. For instance, it is common for the procedure to involve use of heat as a way of boosting the ability of the needles to restore the flow of energy within the body of the patient to an equilibrium state. Besides, it is common for the procedure to be carried out using heat from special herbs as a way of stimulating the specific locations within the body where the needles are inserted. As stated, all these alternatives are meant to enhance the overall way in which the procedure works. It is important to note at this point that the procedure itself is carried out by specially trained practitioners who understand every part of the process.

Its advantages in cancer treatment

Research has indicated that there are several ways in which this procedure can be useful when integrated into holistic cancer care. Basically, acupuncture has been found to be effective in relieving patients of many different and unpleasant side effects associated with different forms of therapy used in cancer. For example, findings from studies have indicated that when properly used, acupuncture is able to reduce the intensity of nausea and vomiting that cancer patients subjected to chemotherapy usually experience in the course of their treatment. Use of this procedure in such cases has indicated positive results, therefore strengthening the belief that such a procedure can be used to enhance the overall outcome of conventional cancer therapy in patients.

Further, studies have indicated that acupuncture can be an effective remedy to hot flashes, a condition experienced by patients of breast cancer. As a result of imbalance in the body hormones, any patients of breast and prostate cancer experience this condition over the course of time. Use of different forms of acupuncture or acupressure – a variant form of acupuncture – has been shown to play a key role of relieving the situation thus boosting the outcome of the therapy being used in general.

Use of herbal medicines in holistic cancer care

Herbal medicines are an integral part of traditional Chinese medicine. The herbs are usually applied to the patient using different methods like oral, topical application and even infusion. In practice, the method of application depends on the kind of effect that the herbs are intended to have on the patient and the nature of the herbs that are being used.

acupuncture

There are several important ways in which Chinese herbal medicine can be used as part of holistic cancer care. To begin with, the essence of Chinese herbal medicine is twofold: to restore the body to equilibrium state and provide nourishment to it. It is from this approach that the herbs have been found to be useful in helping cancer patients. For example, the fact that the herbs have been found to work by correcting any form of imbalance within the body means that they can be used to treat symptoms associated with different types of cancers in patients. From different studies that have been carried out, it has been found that traditional Chinese herbs can be effective in alleviating pain in cancer patients. The effectiveness of this mode of treatment has been found to be comparable to that of conventional pain relieving medications.

Another way in which Chinese herbal medicines have been used as part of holistic cancer care has been in providing nourishment for the body. Use of the different forms of the herbs has been found to be beneficial to the way the body actually responds to the conventional treatment in use.

Risks of TCM interventions in cancer patients receiving integrative care

There are several risks that are associated with using TCM treatments in cancer patients who are receiving integrative care. For instance, the fact that the traditional herbs used in Traditional Chinese Medicine can be applied by oral, infusion or topical application and contain a number of different herbs presents the risk of interaction with the conventional drugs that are being used on the patients.

Another risk of integrating traditional Chinese medicine in holistic cancer care has been with regard to how effective acupuncture really is when used in cases involving different forms of cancer. Although its efficacy in reducing particular effects in cancer patients has been established, the bone of contention has been that many of the studies upon which the results are based have involved relatively small samples. It then follows that the results obtained from such studies may not be extrapolated to cover entire populations. Although this is so, intense research on the subject is currently ongoing.

At AWAREmed, we understand the potential benefits and risks of using Traditional Chinese Medicine as part of Holistic Cancer Treatment. We have dedicated our time to keeping abreast with the most recent developments in this field, all for the benefit of our patients.

Integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine into Holistic Cancer Care

 

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