In the world of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver energy flows upward into the eyes. When this energy is flowing smoothly and working as it should, your vision is clear and sharp, you have efficient night vision and the eyes are bright and well-lubricated. 

When out of balance, the liver can generate heat that rises upward. This heat can manifest in dry eyes, itchy eyes or eyes that are red and irritated. Think about how red one’s eyes can get after a night of drinking. Alcohol adds heat to the liver, which in turn rises upward and creates hot, red eyes. The facial flushing you see after a night of imbibing is also indicative of this heat.

When the liver blood is deficient, you will see symptoms of dryness throughout the body, particularly in the eyes. Dry, scratchy eyes are a sign of liver blood deficiency, and floaters (those little black spots that can appear in the periphery of your vision) are also indicative of this deficiency. 

When liver blood deficiency becomes more pronounced, patients can develop something we acupuncturists refer to as “Internal Wind.” Wind manifests as symptoms of shaking, tics, tremors or issues such as rashes that move around from place to place within the body. You know that annoying eye twitch you get that you are convinced the world can see, even though everyone tells you they don’t notice it? Those tics are a sign the body is deficient in energy, and wind has developed to shake things up. Internal wind can also show up as issues that itch, such as dry, itchy eyes.

The kidney plays a role in keeping the body well-oiled and lubricated. If the kidney yin is lacking, you might experience dry, creaky joints, dry skin and eyes.

If you suffer from any type of chronic pain, you may have considered trying alternative medicine. But, if you’re like many people who suffer from chronic conditions, you probably have some questions about its effectiveness, especially if you’ve never tried it. How could alternative medicine possibly make a difference where traditional medicine has failed you? Can alternative medicine really change your life?
 
The short answer, yes. Alternative medicine can change lives. But only if you approach it like any other treatment and do your due diligence in finding the best care out there. Here are a few things to consider when seeking care from alternative medicine so that you can experience life-changing results:
 
Research
Depending on the type of condition you want to treat, there may be a variety of different treatment options from which you can choose. You could start by doing online research for alternative therapies that have been effective for your condition.
 
Documentaries are also a great source of information on alternative medicine. Here is a small sample of the many documentaries available that explore various aspects of alternative medicine.
 

• “The Critical Eye: Alternative Medicine” - Discovery Science
• “The Science of Acupuncture” - BBC
• “Almost Sunrise” - independent film
• “9,000 Needles” - independent film

 
Some of these documentaries are only available in certain regions, though. If you have trouble accessing the video to stream a particular documentary, you could try using a proxy software service to bypass the regional content filter and get access to the video you want to see.
 
You could also try asking friends and family about their experiences. You might be surprised how many people you know who have tried acupuncture or some other form of alternative medicine to treat various conditions.
 
Find a Provider
Just as with any medical provider, it’s important to find someone with whom you feel comfortable and share a certain rapport. Again, this is an area where recommendations from trusted friends and family can be really valuable.
 
As you’re researching providers, read the information on their websites and try to understand their approaches. Check out reviews left by other patients, or talk with your insurance company. While most insurance providers don’t cover services like acupuncture, many will have a list of preferred providers and include discounts at those locations.
 
After you’ve narrowed your list, it’s a good idea to call the providers you’re interested in working with to discuss any concerns you might have. It will give you a feel for which providers will be the best fit.
 
Give it a Chance
While alternative medicines like acupuncture can achieve some amazing results for people with chronic conditions, they aren’t a miracle cure. You can’t expect to achieve complete and perfect healing from a single treatment. 
 
To get the maximum benefits, you need to work with your provider and follow your treatment plan, including any out-of-office recommendations, such as stretches or dietary changes.
 
If you have a condition and traditional medicine isn’t providing you with any relief, an alternative treatment might prove to be the perfect solution. At the very least, you can consider the treatment choices available in your area and consider your options. Alternative medicine may very well have the answers you’ve been looking for all along.

Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD is usually associated with past and present military personnel. However, PTSD can affect anybody who has had some sort of traumatic or life changing event, such as a car crash, physical abuse, natural disasters or even the death of a loved one. Any situation causing emotional, physical or mental trauma can result in PTSD. In the U.S. alone, it is estimated around 24 million people are affected by PTSD. That means there are a whole lot of people who need help coping with the disorder. Luckily, Traditional Chinese Medicine offers hope for those people.

Some symptoms of PTSD include insomnia, anxiety, irritability, flashbacks, as well as feelings of shame, despair and hopelessness. All of these can lead to problems at work and home. It can also lead to serious health problems like clinical depression and even alcohol and drug abuse. The effects of PTSD are far-reaching and can be a lifelong battle for those afflicted with it.   
Acupuncture treatments for PTSD focus on specific auricular (or ear) points on the body.  These points are responsible for controlling areas of the brain that help control nervous functioning while decreasing stress levels. Many military personnel experiencing PTSD can become violent if they are not helped. This is why the military is starting to offer battlefield acupuncture for soldiers in the field even before they are discharged from active duty. The Pentagon has been investigating the benefits of acupuncture for PTSD and so far, it has been found that combat veterans were relieved of most of their symptoms and their levels of depression and pain were greatly reduced. 

Many PTSD sufferers are leery of opening up about their trauma and thus are reluctant to seek psychological counseling. This is where acupuncture can play a key role in helping these individuals. While acupuncturists should be taking an in-depth medical history for each patient they treat, the questioning does not need to become as personal as that required when seeking psychiatric help. This makes it easier for PTSD sufferers to feel safe and somewhat more relaxed. Also, acupuncture has been shown to provide rapid benefits to patients through faster healing, whereas psychological counseling can take years.

Auricular acupuncture is especially beneficial for those suffering from PTSD.  There are a multitude of auricular acupuncture points that specifically focus on different areas of the brain. For instance, there is a point located at the base of the ear, where the ear lobe attaches to the side of the head that is labeled the limbic point. This point specifically addresses emotional life, the formation of memories, amnesia and alcohol or drug dependency. By needling this point, the patient can get relief from one or all of the aforementioned symptoms. This is quite remarkable and it makes the treatments require fewer needles. 

Those suffering from PTSD should consult a doctor about the proper treatment and also discuss alternative medical options like acupuncture. If you or somebody you know suffers from PTSD, please consider acupuncture as part or all of the treatment protocol. 

Skin cancer is no joke. Sunburns received as a child can end up resulting in skin cancer as an adult. The good thing is that both sunburns and skin cancer are easily preventable, you just need to take action against the sun’s powerful ultraviolet rays. Follow these tips in order to protect your children from the power of the sun. 

1.    Choose the right sunscreen. Choosing the right sunscreen is very important, you want to make sure you are selecting a sunscreen that is water-resistant and at least 40 SPF. Also choose a lotion type of sunblock as compared to the spray kind. Spray sunscreens can miss spots sometimes and don’t always guarantee protection.   

2.    Dress appropriately. Make sure to dress the right way when you will be experiencing lots of exposure to the sun. Wear hats, sunglasses and garments that have an ultraviolet protection factor rating.  

​3.    Reapply! Reapply! Reapply! Make sure to always reapply sunscreen during your outings in the sun. This is the most crucial step, if you only put sunscreen on initially you could still get burned. So, avoid this, and make sure to reapply.