Acupuncture

Insurance policies are private contracts between insurance companies and those receiving benefits under that policy, so different health insurance policies are ultimately going to contract in and out of different forms of treatment. As a general rule, you can always look for policies that cover more kinds of integrative therapies if those are important to you and your specific course of treatment.

Outside of shopping around for policies that may have more of the types of services you’re looking for, one way to push for movement in this and any other issue area is to pursue some form of legislative advocacy. For integrative therapies, you can speak to your representatives and tell them that these types of treatments should be covered as “essential health benefits” in all plans.

For information on your elected officials go to: http://www.house.gov (to find your U.S. Representative), http://www.senate.gov (to find your U.S. Senators), and http://www.votesmart.org (to find your local elected officials).
Insurance policies are private contracts between insurance companies and those receiving benefits under that policy, so different health insurance policies are ultimately going to contract in and out of different forms of treatment. As a general rule, you can always look for policies that cover more kinds of integrative therapies if those are important to you and your specific course of treatment.

Outside of shopping around for policies that may have more of the types of services you’re looking for, one way to push for movement in this and any other issue area is to pursue some form of legislative advocacy. For integrative therapies, you can speak to your representatives and tell them that these types of treatments should be covered as “essential health benefits” in all plans.

For information on your elected officials go to: http://www.house.gov (to find your U.S. Representative), http://www.senate.gov (to find your U.S. Senators), and http://www.votesmart.org (to find your local elected officials).

I am in favor any therapy that has demonstrated a track record of success. And what might be best for one individual might not be the best for another person. That being said, when my colleague and friend, Dr. Andrew Weil, and I are asked, “For what conditions does hypnosis work best?” we usually respond, “Gut and skin conditions”. Dr. Weil feels that both the digestive system and skin have a greater abundance of nerve and blood supply that can be activated by hypnosis. I do not know all of the exact mechanisms that are activated anatomically, but in almost 40 years of practice experience, I have seen the best and most rapid results when hypnosis is used or added to the treatment of digestive disorders like irritable bowel, hyperacidity, inflammatory bowel, nausea… and for skin conditions like urticaria (hives), itching, burn recovery, acne, and even cases of psoriasis. I am in favor any therapy that has demonstrated a track record of success. And what might be best for one individual might not be the best for another person. That being said, when my colleague and friend, Dr. Andrew Weil, and I are asked, “For what conditions does hypnosis work best?” we usually respond, “Gut and skin conditions”. Dr. Weil feels that both the digestive system and skin have a greater abundance of nerve and blood supply that can be activated by hypnosis. I do not know all of the exact mechanisms that are activated anatomically, but in almost 40 years of practice experience, I have seen the best and most rapid results when hypnosis is used or added to the treatment of digestive disorders like irritable bowel, hyperacidity, inflammatory bowel, nausea… and for skin conditions like urticaria (hives), itching, burn recovery, acne, and even cases of psoriasis.

I am not sure this has been studied to any degree. But acupuncture is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a very ancient system but one that continues to evolve.
There may be a value but I do not specifically know. Some supplements that one might try have been suggested - again not many studies. There are some combos of herbs that are thought to support the brain - ask a naturopath or acupuncturist if they think they can help.

Our website may have some other ideas. www.annieappleseedproject.org search under chemobrain. I am not sure this has been studied to any degree. But acupuncture is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a very ancient system but one that continues to evolve.
There may be a value but I do not specifically know. Some supplements that one might try have been suggested - again not many studies. There are some combos of herbs that are thought to support the brain - ask a naturopath or acupuncturist if they think they can help.

Our website may have some other ideas. www.annieappleseedproject.org search under chemobrain.

Great question! There is substantial evidence that shows that there is a connection between emotional states and physical health, specifically between hormones (cortisol, adrenaline, etc.) and immune function. In other words, there is absolutely a mind-body connection.

Think about the common cold virus -- being stressed does weaken your immune system, and may therefore contribute to your catching a cold. However, it is still the virus that is the main cause of the cold. Reducing your stress while you have your cold may very well speed up your recovery time, because it will strengthen your immune system. So will anti-viral medications. In other words, emotions and stress absolutely play a ROLE in health, but they are not necessarily the only factors involved in any illness.

At Shuniya Health & Healing, we offer a range of services, including acupuncture and a deep form of energy work called "Sat Nam Rasayan" (similar to Reiki). Both of these techniques are designed to unblock and balance your chi (a.k.a. prana or life force). Blockages can be caused by physical things (e.g., a tumor) or by emotional things (e.g., the pit of fear you may sometimes feel in your stomach), or even by spiritual things. It is not uncommon for our patients to start crying unexpectedly during a treatment - this kind of release is very good! Often people hold stress or traumatic memories from their past deep within their bodies, and complementary treatments such as Sat Nam Rasayan or acupuncture can be very effective in releasing these difficult emotions. Traditional psychotherapy is, of course, another effective way to release suppressed emotions.

In Dr. Kelly Turner's research on exceptional cancer survivors, the theme of releasing repressed emotions came up in nearly every survivor's story. Therefore, our conclusion is - it can't hurt, and it may very well help your immune system.

Hope that helps,
Kelly Turner, PhD and Aaron Teich, LAc
www.ShuniyaHealing.com
Twitter @ShuniyaHealing
Great question! There is substantial evidence that shows that there is a connection between emotional states and physical health, specifically between hormones (cortisol, adrenaline, etc.) and immune function. In other words, there is absolutely a mind-body connection.

Think about the common cold virus -- being stressed does weaken your immune system, and may therefore contribute to your catching a cold. However, it is still the virus that is the main cause of the cold. Reducing your stress while you have your cold may very well speed up your recovery time, because it will strengthen your immune system. So will anti-viral medications. In other words, emotions and stress absolutely play a ROLE in health, but they are not necessarily the only factors involved in any illness.

At Shuniya Health & Healing, we offer a range of services, including acupuncture and a deep form of energy work called "Sat Nam Rasayan" (similar to Reiki). Both of these techniques are designed to unblock and balance your chi (a.k.a. prana or life force). Blockages can be caused by physical things (e.g., a tumor) or by emotional things (e.g., the pit of fear you may sometimes feel in your stomach), or even by spiritual things. It is not uncommon for our patients to start crying unexpectedly during a treatment - this kind of release is very good! Often people hold stress or traumatic memories from their past deep within their bodies, and complementary treatments such as Sat Nam Rasayan or acupuncture can be very effective in releasing these difficult emotions. Traditional psychotherapy is, of course, another effective way to release suppressed emotions.

In Dr. Kelly Turner's research on exceptional cancer survivors, the theme of releasing repressed emotions came up in nearly every survivor's story. Therefore, our conclusion is - it can't hurt, and it may very well help your immune system.

Hope that helps,
Kelly Turner, PhD and Aaron Teich, LAc
www.ShuniyaHealing.com
Twitter @ShuniyaHealing

Acupuncture can help relieve the nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy and may help alleviate many other side effects of cancer treatments. Please view the following links to understand more:
http://ow.ly/4VHBO" target=_blank>http://ow.ly/4VHBO
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/98469.cfm" target=_blank>http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/98469.cfm
Thanks Ann Begun for sharing the links! Acupuncture can help relieve the nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy and may help alleviate many other side effects of cancer treatments. Please view the following links to understand more:
http://ow.ly/4VHBO" target=_blank>http://ow.ly/4VHBO
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/98469.cfm" target=_blank>http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/98469.cfm
Thanks Ann Begun for sharing the links!