Kathleen Blazek

When a muscle is used repeatedly (as in Michael Phelps swimming multiple heats a day) pain and lymphatic waste build up in the muscles and so can trigger points and chronic muscular tightness. Cupping works by using negative pressure against the surface of the skin. This is also known as myofascial release. The pressure separates the layers of muscle, tendons and tissue, allowing fresh oxygen, blood and lymphatic drainage to activate in the area around the cups. Studies have shown that cupping can effect tissue up to 4" deep and 4" wide from the actual area where the cup is applied. The type of cups, technique and pressure do effect the treatment. Old fashioned Chinese cupping with glass cups have been found to be more gentle on the skin than plastic cups that use pumps to apply them to the skin.
Will it help you keep your mind focused? I am not sure, but probably not. Cupping has more effect locally than it does systemically.

Acupuncture is effective in-and-of itself. One needle into the body causes a system reaction if you have an immune system. A licensed acupuncturist who has attended a school for Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture has been educated in human anatomy and internal medicine and is experienced in how and where to put needles to create a very effective medical treatment. For example, a specialty acupuncture used to treat eye diseases can be up to 85% effective without any other intervention, including herbs, supplements, drops, etc. For local pain such as muscle tightness, acupuncture is extremely effective without any topical creams, anti-inflammatories or analgesics. It is shown however, that when treating internal disorders such as digestive, hormonal, infections or bowel issues, acupuncture and herbal Chinese medicine are very effective together and are more likely to assist in resolving internal issues faster together, than they are separate. A licensed acupuncturist who is also educated in Chinese herbal medicine can provide a comprehensive treatment plan for you.

As an experienced Respiratory Therapist turned doctor of acupuncture, I am very familiar with smoking cessation. To stop smoking is one of the hardest addictions to stop and most smokers will try to stop upwards of 40 times before they are successful. First success step is you must be committed. You must be ready. You must be willing to do anything and everything it takes to stop. If you are looking for acupuncture to be miracle treatment and you are doing nothing on your part to stop, then you will be disappointed. Acupuncture is very effective in calming the mind and emotions often associated with smoking cessation, including anxiety. Successful outcomes require compliancy in treatments which usually includes treatments 2 times a week for upwards of 8 weeks. Emotional and social modifications such as affirmations as to your purpose for quitting, the health benefits, and analyzing the social situations that you might put yourself in that could cause you to be tempted to start smoking again. Usually, a life modification of some kind is in order. Quitting for good is up to you. Never forget your "why" for quitting.

Up to 80% of my patients have some kind of arthritis that is causing them pain. When we think of pain, we always consider arthritis as a cause. However, chronic pain and inflammation are actually the cause of arthritis (excluding RA), not the other way around. The longer you suffer with pain and inflammation in a joint the greater your risk of getting arthritis in that area. That is why seeking natural alternatives sooner than later to lower inflammation and lessen pain is so important.
Pharmaceutical steroids over time actually weaken the bone and inter-joint tissue so multiple steroid injections can actually contribute to degenerative joint disease.
Acupuncture is excellent in lowering inflammation and lessening pain. It stimulates your body to produce natural anti-inflammatories. Add in electrical stimulation that works from the inside to the outside and natural or homeopathic injectables (for licensed acupuncturists certified in this technique), you will be amazed at how much better your knees and other joints will feel.
Mixed results will be dependent upon how bad the joint has degenerated, how much joint tissue is left, how many steroid therapies have been injected, lifestyle such as smoking, poor diet, activity, etc., and of course the patient's compliancy to treatment. If a patient expects 3 or 4 treatments to cure years of pain and degeneration, that would be an irrational expectation. It might take 10 or more acupuncture treatments plus ongoing maintenance of once every month or two to keep the joint in good health. In my practice I have seen amazing results acupuncture and injection therapies for osteo arthritis.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in some cases has become an answer that physicians use when they have no answer as to why you are feeling the way you do. This does not mean that there is no hope for your condition outside allopathic medicines. There is. If you haven't had blood tests done, I would encourage you to have a complete workup of your blood panels, liver panels, metabolic panels, etc. These can be prescribed by your primary care doctor.
Chinese Medicine Practitioners and doctors diagnose conditions a little differently than allopathic doctors do. Patients diagnosed with CFS in western medicine may be diagnosed in eastern Chinese medicine as having a deficiency of yang and or yin (essence of internal function), Qi (oxygen/neuro energy) or even a stasis in their blood (blood that doesn't move well such as dehydration, poor nutrition, etc). Thus, they are treated with herbs, nutrients and acupuncture to help resolve these issues. Patients will likely be encouraged to participate in gentle meditative excises such as qigong or tai-chi to build their energy without exhausting themselves.
Here is a PubMed paper on a study that was done using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for CFS. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2816380/

This is typically what is called dysmenorrhea. It has always been a curious thing as to why some women have cramping but others do not. Why some months during your period it is worse than others.
Chinese medicine looks as dysmenorrhea from several different stand points. Mostly, it is a qi (oxygen/blood energy) stagnation issue. This is a lack of oxygen or blood that is not moving effectively in the uterus or in the tissue surround the female organs. This could be caused from hormones, emotional & physical health, birth control, or even exhaustion that can cause dehydration and lack of overall energy.
A licensed Chinese medicine practitioner will evaluate you using pulse diagnosis, asking you questions about your lifestyle, birth control, family history, etc., and with the treatment of acupuncture and Chinese herbs you will likely get the relief that you are looking for from dysmenorrhea.

Acupuncture is an effective modality in weight loss along with a healthy low simplex carb, low/no sugar diet and regular exercise. Acupuncture is most effective because it can stimulate digestive function and elimination, calm emotions, suppress cravings and help you get better sleep. All of these are an important part of maintaining a healthy weight.
With you giving 100% to your weight loss goals and keeping your promises to yourself and acupuncture giving you 100% with regular treatments helping your body perform at is best you are bound to have success in meeting your weight loss goal.

For a hyperactive thyroid I would recommend acupuncture and Chinese medicinal herbs in combination.
Hyperactive thyroid can cause a host of systemic issues. If untreated it typically does not get better but with treatment a patient can get a lot of relief and in some cases remain asymptomatic.
Something has set your body off into this autoimmune response. Finding that cause is the trick. Treatment with acupuncture and Chinese medicine is effective in treating this disorder. Find a licensed acupuncturist who specializes in this type of treatment, remain compliant to the treatment protocol that they recommend and you can treat this naturally.

If you haven't done so already, I would recommend a complete blood, metabolic and liver panel workup done on you. This can be done with a prescription by your primary care physician.
This will tell us your the function of your immune system, hormones, liver enzymes, blood deficiencies or excesses. Basically it gives a good foundation to see what is going on inside your body.
The inability to gain weight is mostly due to hormonal (thyroid/adrenal), inefficient bowel, malnutrition (nutrient poor), muscle wasting, smoking/alcohol consumption, hyperactivity or diseases such as cancer. There are other causes, but these would be the top reasons. I recommend that you see your primary care doctor first. Once you know the cause for the weight loss, an acupuncturist and Chinese medicine practitioner can help you find the right protocol to treat the cause. Treating the root/cause will take care of the branch/symptom.

Absolutely, I recommend acupuncture for children! I have treated my grandchildren since they were babies with acupuncture, herbs and shoni-shin a Japanese-style massage.
Allergies are an immune system response to a trigger. Homeopathics have actually shown to lessen a person's response to an allergen through homeopathic exposure to the pathogen, and acupuncture can change the immune system response such as histamine which is release by mast cells, a natural white cell produced by our bodies. A histamine response to an allergen doesn't mean that the allergen is bad, it just that for some reason our bodies react severely to it. Acupuncture helps our bodies lower and manage inflammatory responses. An allergic response is an inflammatory response.
A 9-year old will respond quickly to acupuncture, but in some cases, your acupuncturist might recommend other therapies such as shoni-shin that you can do at home to help your son between treatments.

I have treated some big digestive disorders with acupuncture & Chinese herbs. Your success with acupuncture is dependent upon your condition(s). Digestive disorders aren't as simple and a one-stop-shop fixes all so I can't give a definitive answer. We know that our digestive system creates its own hormones and enzymes and has been know to be the "second brain" of the body. When one area gets off balance, it effects the digestive system as a whole. It can also effect the other organs and glands, hormones, gut flora, blood and brain function.
I would recommend that you contact a license acupuncturist and Chinese medicine practitioner in your area experienced in treating digestive disorders and have them to a complete assessment on you including pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis (the only muscle that we can see with direct connection to your digestive system), nutritional and lifestyle assessment.

It is important to determine what is causing your mother's nausea. Several factors can be involved such as medications, allergic responses to food, changes in health, etc. Acupuncture has been shown to be very effective for nausea associated with chemotherapy, pregnancy, stress/depression and system deficiencies.

Acupuncture is very effective for depression and anxiety, which are often associated together. Depression is most effectively treated with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicines together. A full consult with an acupuncturist is definitely in order for patients suffering from depression, especially patients who suffer from side effects from Western medication.

I have never seen acupressure slippers, so it is difficult for me to give an experienced answer on this question. However, I would assume that they would be more likely to work like reflexology than Chinese acupuncture/acupressure. Reflexology is more of a micro-system on the bottom of the feet that images the human internal organs.

Fatigue and exhaustion is in the top three health complaints for Americans. Acupuncture is very effective as a treatment for fatigue and exhaustion, but it doesn't work alone. It is first important that you are getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods and exercising moderately at least three to five times a week. Stress is one of the major causes of health problems among Americans. Do an assessment with your lifestyle. If you are getting enough sleep and eat healthy, try Tai chi and Qigong as a low impact, relaxing exercise for the body.

An ulcer is usually an indication of something else that is going on with your body. Stress, incompatible foods, alcohol, and other things can cause the body to produce too much acid and leave the stomach vulnerable to ulcers. If you are on PIPs, it is important to find an alternative to these, as long term use has shown to cause many issues with the digestive organs. Chinese herbs are extremely effective for ulcers and ulcer pain. Acupuncture helps to move blood which in turn can supply great anti-inflammatories, white blood cells, pain-killing endorphins, oxygen and other great healing factors to damaged areas.

I personally have treated many patients with CF with both acupuncture and Chinese herbs, and have seen good success. I would encourage you to have a current diet analysis, a low intensity exercise program and a positive supportive environment to surround yourself with. Studies have shown that patients with CF that take a very "healthy" approach to their lifestyle, not letting the illness control them, doing daily meditation, etc., have better outcomes to their CF.

Skin disorders are typically a symptom of something that is going on within the body. In Chinese medicine, skin rashes are typically due to heat either in the digestion or lungs. If your sister has recurring bouts of eczema, I would encourage her to have a food allergy test and a skin allergy test done. In my experience, patients with eczema and psoriasis have heat manifestations due to reactions to spicy foods, wine and alcohol, asthma and breathing issues, stress, not drinking enough water, etc. Acupuncture is not as effective as the proper Chinese herbs and lifestyle modifications.

Acupuncture is very helpful for arthritis. Both RA and OA. The most important part about using acupuncture to treat arthritis is consistency with appointments. I encourage my arthritis patients to see me at least 2x a month in low inflammatory states, and 1x week if they are in an inflamed state. 50% of patients who received acupuncture for arthritis stated that they saw improvement. Why does it work? Acupuncture encourages blood flow and removes stagnation. This increases inflammatory factors, oxygen, fresh blood and encourages the production of stem cells by our own bodies.

Anemia is difficult because it can be caused by genetic conditions or other serious issues going on in the body. There is more to fighting anemia than just taking iron supplements. Proper diet, exercise, lowering stress, and increasing other nutrients such as B vitamins are very important. Chinese herbs are very effective in helping with the struggle of anemia. There are several Chinese herbs that move blood, help the liver and the digestive system, plus encourage RBC production. Acupuncture will increase oxygen in the blood.