How Does Oriental Medicine work for Pain?
How can acupuncture help manage pain?
Acupuncture treats pain by releasing tight muscles and reducing inflammation at the source of the pain. This not only relieves pain, but also stimulates self-healing of the injury. The National Institutes of Health has conducted numerous studies that point to acupuncture as a safe and effective drug-free option for chronic pain management
How does it work?
Dr. Lee inserts ultra-thin acupuncture needles into trigger points, knots in muscle that cause pain and tension throughout the body. This releases the trigger point, loosens the muscle, and activates the body’s natural healing processes. Tight muscles relax, pain is relieved, and the body begins to heal itself so that eventually pain will not reture.
Why is acupuncture better than other pain management treatments?
The most common medical treatment for chronic pain management is opioid drugs. These medications carry high risk of addiction and overdose, and often have many undesirable side effects. Further, prescription drugs simply dull sensations, and do nothing to treat the source of the pain.
Acupuncture offers a research-backed, drug-free alternative for pain management, that not only alleviates pain, but also addresses the problem that is causing pain in the first place. Acupuncture relieves chronic pain and helps the body to heal itself.
What kinds of pain can acupuncture address?
Acupuncture is safe and effective for treating many kinds of pain, and can be used for a variety of conditions all over the body. Acupuncture has been shown to be particularly successful at relieving the pain of osteoarthritis, chronic headaches, and the treatment of pain in the shoulders, back, and neck.
Does acupuncture treatment hurt?
The hair-thin needles used for acupuncture are virtually painless when inserted by a skilled acupuncturist like Dr. Lee. Pain relief occurs quickly, there is seldom bruising, and patients can return to their normal daily activities immediately following treatment.
HOW DOES ORIENTAL MEDICINE WORK FOR STRESS RELIEF?
What is stress?
Stress is a natural response to the demands of life and is part of the “fight or flight” response that helps humans and animals manage dangerous situations they encounter in the world. A little stress is perfectly normal and can help people perform better under pressure. However, the body is not designed to be in a constant state of stress and can develop numerous health problems when it is not given a chance to relax. Chronic stress can manifest as bodily pain, sleep issues, digestive problems, and mental disorders. Acupuncture is proven to reduce symptoms of chronic stress and help with stress management.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is an emotion often associated with chronic stress. It presents as a feeling of constant worry, uneasiness, and fearfulness about the future. A little anxiety is perfectly normal in some situations, such as before a job interview or big test, but when anxiety is experienced constantly it begins to interfere with living a happy life. Numerous clinical studies have found that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of anxiety when used alone, and improves outcomes when used in conjunction with pharmaceutical treatments.
How can acupuncture help relieve stress and anxiety?
Acupuncture helps the mind and body to relax and find balance. This diminishes the effects of stress and anxiety, and helps patients learn to manage them more effectively from a relaxed state. Acupuncture is an ancient, drug-free method of easing the mind, and is clinically proven to reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety.
How does it work?
Dr. Lee stimulates acupuncture energy channel by pressing, rubbing, or pushing to release tension from body. He also inserts tiny, hair-thin needles into specific points on the body, relaxing the muscles and restoring a harmonious flow of energy. The process is nearly painless, carries little risk of bruising, and patients can return to normal activity when they leave the office. Many patients are so relaxed during treatment that they fall asleep, awaking to a fresh, peaceful mind.
Understanding chronic stress
We should know about stress
Stress is often described as a feeling of being overwhelmed, worried or run-down. Stress can affect people of all ages, genders and circumstances and can lead to both physical and psychological health issues. By definition, stress is any uncomfortable "emotional experience accompanied by predictable biochemical, physiological and behavioral changes."1) Some stress can be beneficial at times, producing a boost that provides the drive and energy to help people get through situations like exams or work deadlines. However, an extreme amount of stress can have health consequences and adversely affect the immune, cardiovascular, neuroendocrine and central nervous systems.2)
How stress harms your health
In addition, an extreme amount of stress can take a severe emotional toll. While people can overcome minor episodes of stress by tapping into their body's natural defenses to adapt to changing situations, excessive chronic stress, which is constant and persists over an extended period of time, can be psychologically and physically debilitating.
Unlike everyday stressors, which can be managed with healthy stress management behaviors, untreated chronic stress can result in serious health conditions including anxiety, insomnia, muscle pain, high blood pressure and a weakened immune system.3)
Research shows that stress can contribute to the development of major illnesses, such as heart disease, depression and obesity.4) Some studies have even suggested t hat unhealthy chronic stess management, such as overating "comfort" foods, has contributed to the growing obesity epidemic.5) Yet, despite its connection to illness, APA's Stress in America survey revealed that 33 percent of Americans never discuss ways to manage stress with their healthcare provider.
Chronic stress can occur in response to everday stressors that are ignored or poorly managed, as well as to exposure to traumatic events. The consequences of chronic stress are serious, particularly as it contributes to anxiety and depression. People who suffer from depression and anxiety are at twice the risk for heart disease than people without these conditions.6) Additionally, research has shown that there is an association between both acute and chronic stress and a person's abuse of addictive substances.7)
Managing your stress
Studies have also illustrated the strong link between insomnia and chronic stress.8) According to APA's Stress in America survey, more than 40 percent of all adults say they lie awake at night because of stress. Experts recommend going to bed at a regular time each night, striving for at least seven to eight hours of sleep and eliminating distractions such as television and computers from the bedroom.
Many Americans who experience prolonged stress are not making the lifestyle changes necessary to reduce stress and ultimately prevent health problems. Improving lifestyle and behavioral choices are essential steps toward increasing overall health and avoiding chronic stress. The key to managing stress is recognizing and changing the behaviors that cause it, but changing your behavior can be challenging.
Taking one small step to reduce your stress and improve your emotional health, such as going on a daily walk, can have a beneficial effect. Being active is a small but powerful change you can make to manage stress. Physical activity increases your body's production of feel-good endorphins, a type of neurotransmitter in the brain, and helps in treating mild forms of depression and anxiety.9) In addition, eating a healthy diet and enhancing both the amount and quality of your sleep may be beneficial.
But remember, if a high stress level continues for a long period of time, or if potential problems from stress continue to interfere with activities of daily living, it is important to reach out to a licensed mental health professional, such as a psychologist. Research has shown that chronic stress can be treated with appropriate interventions such as lifestyle and behavior change, therapy, and in some situations, medication.10) A psychologist can help you ovecome the barriers that are stopping you from living a healthy life, manage stress effectively and help identify behaviors and situations that are contributing to your consistently high stress level.
Referance
1) Baum, A. (1990). "Stress, Intrusive Imagery, and Chronic Distress," Health Psychology, Vol. 6, pp. 653-675.
2) Anderson, N.B. (1998). "Levels of Analysis in Health Science: A Framework for Integrating Sociobehavioral and Biomedical Research," Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Vol. 840, pp. 563-576.
3) Baum, A. & Polsusnzy, D. (1999). "Health Psychology: Mapping Biobehavioral Contributions to Health and Illness." Annual Review of Psychology, Vol. 50, pp. 137-163.
4) Ibid.
5) Dallman, M. et al. (2003). "Chronic stress and obesity: A new view of 'comfort food.'" PNAS, Vol. 100, pp. 11696-11701.
6) Anderson, N.B. & Anderson, P.E. (2003). Emotional Longevity: what really determines how long you live. New York: Viking.
7) Sinha, R. (2008). "Chronic Stress, Drug Use, and Vulnerability to Addiction." Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Vol. 1141, pp. 105-130.
8) Vgontzas, A.N. et al. (1997). "Chronic insomnia and activity of the stress system: a preliminary study." Journal of Psychosomatic Research, Vol. 45, pp. 21-31.
9) Fox, K.R. (1999). "The influence of physical activity on mental well-being." Public Health Nutrition, Vol. 2, pp. 411-418.
10) McEwen, B.S. (2004). "Protection and Damage from Acute and Chronic Stress: Allostasis and Allostatic Overload and Relevance to the Pathophysiology of Psychiatric Disorders." Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Vol. 1032, pp. 1-7.
Learn More
A study published in 2012 in Archives of Internal Medicine pooled results of 29 studies, involving nearly 18,000 people, of acupuncture for chronic pain (including back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, chronic headaches, and shoulder pain).
About Dr. Bup Lee, Ph.D, La.c
Mind Body Healer
Having a background in Buddhism, Dr. Bup Lee was drawn to heal the mind and body with Meditation practice and Oriental Medicine. After practicing Won Buddhism more than 10 years, he received a Bachelor and Masters degree in Won Buddhist Studies and became a ordained Won Buddhist Minister in 2008.
He also realized first hand that acupuncture and Oriental medicine bring balance to a person as a whole being – the body and the mind and the spirit. He contined studying Oriental Medicine and earned a master degree and a PhD in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine with an emphasis in integrative oriental medicine.
While completing his graduate degree in Oriental Medicine, He was inspired to complement training with the study of the Mind and Body Healing Medicine. This science-based model of medicine views the body as an integrated whole and aims to treat the underlying cause of chronic pain and stress related problems by acupuncture treatment.
Dr. Bup Lee's patients see him for a wide range of issues. Patients seek his services for anxiety, stress, depression, pain, digestive issues, gynecological and fertility treatment, and sleep disorders. He has extensive training in Tui-Na (Acupressure) and cupping. As an acupuncturist and health&wellness expert, he focuses on helping people restore balance and bring vibrant health to their lives. He wants everyone to lead a life of happiness, filled with hope and grace. If anxiety, stress, depression, or any pain are part of your story and/or diagnosis consider acupuncture. It might lead to better days, and more sleep-filled nights, free from the destructive patterns stress can relate.
He also has pursued the practice of meditation for over 20 years and Tai Chi for 15 years. He offers Tai Chi Meditation Therapy to augment his clients’ healing, and provide them with tools to cultivate balance, beauty, and connection to spirit in their lives. Since his first experience in teaching Taichi and medtitation in 2005, he has guided various meditative programs in university, meditation center and community service center settings. He is currently teaching Tai Chi at Denver City Recreation Centers and many other senior centers.
He is a licensed acupuncturist both in California (AC17289) and Colorado (ACU 2476). He is also nationally board certified in acupuncture and Oriental medicine by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM: 162168).
EDUCATION
- Ph.D. in the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at American Liberty University, New Fort Beach, CA.
- M.S. in the Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture at South Baylo University, Los Angeles, CA.
- M.S in Won Buddhist Studies, Won Institute of Graduated Studies, Glenside, PA.
- Bachelor of Won Buddhism Studies, Wonkwang University in South Korea
EXPERIENCE
- Acupuncturist, Frais Spa, Los Angeles, 2016
- Acupuncturist, Health Atlast, West Los Angeles & Santa Monica, 2017
- Acupuncturist Assistant, Joy Acupuncture Clinic, Los Angeles,2016
- Assistant Manager, Jaseng Center for Integrative Medicine, Los Angeles, 2016
- Internship (900 Hours), South Baylo University Oriental Medicine Clinic, 2015-2016 (Treated over 700 patients)