acupuncture houston tx
Houston Acupuncture and Herb Clinic
Houston Acupuncture and Herb Clinic
diabetes acupuncture houston tx
 

 

Acupuncture in Houston, TX - Houston Acupuncture & Herb Clinic

2405 South Shepherd, Houston, TX 77019.     TEL: 713-529-8332.

2431 West Holcombe, Houston, TX 77030.     TEL: 713-666-5667. 

We are one of the best, biggest, and oldest acupuncture clinics in Houston area.

                Acupuncture for infertility/fertility, male serm count, poor eggs quality, IVF/IUI, hormonal imbalance, age,  etc.

Acupuncture Houston TX - West Holcombe Clinic Acupuncture Houston TX - South Shepherd Clinic
acupuncture houston tx west holcombe clinic Houston Acupuncture and Herb Clinic at 2431 West Holcombe, Houston, TX. @ the corner of Kirby Drive and next to the Flower Corner.
713-666-5667
acupuncture houston tx south shepherd dr. clinic Houston Acupuncture and Herb Clinic at South Shepherd Dr., Houston, TX@ the corner of Westheimer Drive and next to the KFC. This location has been servicing Houston for more than18 years.
Click here for the West Holcombe Clinic location map.
The clinic is located at the corner of Kirby Drive and next to the Flower CornerTEL: 713-666-5667.
Click here for the South Shepherd Clinic location map.
Acupuncture Houston TX-South Shepherd Clinic
TEL: 713-529-8332.
   

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine help diabetes/blood sugar/ leg pain/ poor circulation.

                      Wen-Lung Wu, M.S., L. Ac., PHD as Doctor of Chinese Medicine in China

       Jo-Mei Chiang, M.S. L. Ac. Master of Chinese Medicine (China)

          Houston Acupuncture and Herb Clinic, Houston, Texas. 

 

 

Acupuncture for Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetes 2

Diabetes Mellitus was first recorded as a disease associated with “sweet urine” in ancient China. Diabetes Mellitus is commonly referred to as diabetes. It is a group syndrome with metabolic diseases and hyperglycemia, which results from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or a combination of both.

Type-1 diabetes is due to decrease in or the complete absence of the secretion of insulin. Blood glucose levels are normally maintained by insulin, which is a kind of hormone and produced by the pancreas, a large gland located behind the stomach. Glucose, the form of sugar in the blood, is the main source of fuel for the human body. After the food is digested, glucose enters the bloodstream.

When the blood glucose is elevated, insulin is secreted from the pancreas to regulate the glucose level, therefore the glucose is able to get into cells and utilized by cells for energy and growth. When a person is developing diabetes, the inadequate or deficiency production of insulin will result in hyperglycemia. Diabetes is a chronic disease, with multiple and complicated conditions, although it can be controlled for a while, but the medical condition and complication will continue getting worse with the lifetime. An elevated level of blood glucose overflows into the urine and passes out of kidney, hence the term sweet urine.

The four main types of diabetes according to Western Medicine are:

·         Type 1 diabetes

·         Type 2 diabetes

·         Gestational diabetes

·         Other specific diabetes

Type I diabetes

Over 90% of type I diabetes is the autoimmune-mediated type of diabetes. Only less than 10% of them is idiopathic type of type I diabetes. This idiopathic type has no evidence to support that the body developed autoimmunity against the pancreatic beta cells, causing insulinopenia or ketoacidosis.

Infection, toxic insult, autoimmune, genetic, dietary factors, and environmental factors are possibly involved in the

autoimmune response to attack the pancreatic beta cells in the Islets of Langerhans of the pancreas.

The autoimmune process damages and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells either against beta cell antigens or against the molecules of the beta cells resembling the viral proteins such as found in the Coxsackie virus family. Some toxic chemical agents and drugs specifically target the pancreas and selectively kill pancreatic beta cells, resulting in loss of insulin secretion and development of Type 1 diabetes. Special HLA immune response genes are also believed to cause the absent or insufficient insulin secretion (insolinopenia). Trauma, tumors or pancreatitis can also lead to loss of insulin secretion.

Some researchers believe that the antibodies against cow's milk proteins is also one of the factors triggering the autoimmune response. However, today no one know how the immune system attacks the beta cells, but most scientists believe that this catabolic disorder likely is possible from genetic influence, drug agents, toxic chemicals, viral infection, and free radicals.

Type 1 diabetes, known as childhood diabetes, juvenile diabetes, Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus' (IDDM), Juvenile Onset Diabetes, it is most commonly increased in children before school age and young adults around puberty, but it can also happen at any age.

The incidence rate between adult and children diabetes is the same. Many adult with Type 1 diabetes is misdiagnosed as Type 2 diabetes. Gender of Type 1 diabetes has an equal ratio among males and females. Whites are more common than non-whites. However, some countries in Northern Europe, including Finland and Sweden, have a higher incidence of Type 1 diabetes. The reason for this is unknown.

In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not secret or secret little insulin. Insulin is a hormone, which convert the blood sugar, starches, and other food into energy for daily life. Most of the time, the beta cell destruction already begin years earlier before the symptoms appear.

The destruction rate of the beta cells can be quite different. Some persons shows the symptoms rapidly, but some other person may be very slow to develop the symptoms. If the Type 1 diabetes patient with hyperglycemia is untreated properly with insulin, it can lead to a life-threatening ketoacidosis, known as diabetic coma, or even death. The Type 1 diabetes also increases higher risk for many serious complications. The most complications of Type 1 diabetes include: retinopathy, cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, nephropathy, etc.

The symptoms of Type 1 diabetes usually develop suddenly once the circulating insulin is diminished or virtually absent. The consequence is because the pancreatic beta cells fail to respond to all insulinogenic stimuli. The major symptoms include polyuria, thirst, polydipsia, polyphagia with weight loss, nocturnal enuresis, and extreme fatigue or weakness.

The sustained hyperglycemia causes the increased urination because of the increase of osmotic diuresis. Because the kidney excretes the excess glucose, free water and electrolytes are continually lost into the urine. A person expectedly develops a mild hyperosmolar state at the beginning. Postural hypertension occurs due to the lowered plasma volume. The thirst and blurred vision appears due to the hyperosmolarity.

Due to failure of the body cells to upload and utilize glucose, protein is used for energy. The catabolism of muscle protein and loss of potassium cause the weakness and fatigue. Weight loss with polyphagia is due to loss of triglycerides, water and glycogen from the muscle. When ketone bodies, a side product from protein metabolism, are present in the body for a long time in elevated levels, serious illness or coma can result.

The lab test shows a random (taken any time of day) plasma glucose value of 200 mg/dL or more, or a fasting plasma glucose value of 126 mg/dL or more after a person has fasting diet for 8 hours.

The fasting plasma glucose test is much more reliable and preferred test for diagnosing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes when it is done in the morning. Or an oral glucose tolerance test show the plasma glucose value of 200 mg/dL or more in a blood sample taken 2 hours after the patient has a drink containing 75 grams of anhydrous glucose dissolved in water and then measuring the plasma glucose concentration 2 hours later at timed intervals over a 3-hour period. The most effective laboratory test to distinguish a Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes is the C-peptide test, which obtain the amount of insulin being secreted in the body.

Type 2 Diabetes (Non insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus/NIDDM)

The most common form of diabetes is Type 2 diabetes, previously known as Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM), obesity related diabetes, or adult-onset diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the more prevalent form and is characterized by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency. Finally, the symptom of hyperglycemia occurs. According to research, about 90 to 95 percent of diabetes patient belonging to Type 2.

About 80 percent of patient with Type 2 diabetes are obese. In most cases, symptoms of Type 2 diabetes are often absent or very mild during the earlier years. It means that the onset symptoms of Type 2 diabetes slowly appear instead of suddenly occurring.

The acute onset of Type 1 diabetes usually occurs suddenly with absolute insulin deficiency. In Type 2 diabetes, either the impaired beta cell of the pancreas does not secret sufficient insulin because of the deficiency in the response of pancreatic beta cells to glucose, or the body tissues increases insensitivity or resistance to the insulin. These patients generally manifest the symptom of hyperglycemia (glucose toxicity).

The most common patient of Type 2 diabetes is an obese patient. In the earlier years, most Type 2 and obese patients have an insensitive body tissue to endogenous insulin, called insulin resistance. To be able to respond to more and more glucose production from body tissues and circulating blood glucose from food, the pancreatic beta cells become hyperplastic. The compensation action induces the hyperinsulinism.

After several years duration of hyperinsulinism combined with other stimuli, insulin production then decreases. At this phase, the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes are just about the same as Type 1 diabetes. Many evidences support that the Type 2 diabetes already has abnormalities over 10 years but it is never diagnosed. 

The majority of idiopathic Type 2 diabetes patients are none obese Type 2 patients. These patients generally have deficiency of insulin secretion at the earlier phase. These groups of Type 2 diabetes patients have recently been reclassified within a group of “other specific type of Diabetes Mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes usually occurs predominantly over age 55 years of age and obesity, but it happens in all ages and races. Some group populations have a higher degree risk and prevalence for developing the Type 2 diabetes than others such as Asian Americans, Native Americans and Alaska Natives, African Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islander Americans, and Hispanic/Latino Americans.

A person with obesity, a sedentary life style, previous history of gestational diabetes, physical inactivity, family history of diabetes, aging, genetic factors, and deficiency in the response of pancreatic beta cells to glucose has more chance to develop and aggravate the Type 2 diabetes. Today, Type 2 diabetes is increasingly being diagnosed in children and adolescents.

Many obese patients are initially asymptomatic or have increase in urination and thirst. Frequently, during the routine.

laboratory test, the diabetes is diagnosed due to the findings of hyperinsulinism, hyperglycemia or glycosuria.

Many other patients may complain of chronic skin infections, pruritus, vaginitis, neuropathy, hyperglyceridemia, distal symmetric polyneuropathy, retinopathy, diabetic cataracts, and cardiovascular complication prior to diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. Therefore, the complicated and multiple metabolic changes will continually impair many organs and tissues. The most impaired organ is the cardiovascular system. Most patient with Type 2 diabetes have very little tendency toward ketoacidosis.

In Chinese medicine, the diabetes including Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetes Insipidus are called Wasting and Thirsty disease or syndrome, known as ‘Xiao Ke' Syndrome. The Etiology of ‘Xiao Ke' is most due to congenital defect, improper diet, insufficient rest, emotional stress, overwork, and excess sexual activities. The abnormal pathogenic factors can result in deficiency of Yin, excess of dry heat, and weakness of the five Zang. Usually, the excessive pathogen of dry heat and deficiency of Yin impair the Lungs, Stomach (Spleen), and Kidneys. Deficiency of Yin and the Pathogen of dry heat leads to the symptoms of diabetes. The most common clinical manifestations are polydipsia, polyphagia, polyuria, emaciation, and urine with sweet taste. Sometimes it may have obstruction due to blood stasis, when the condition of deficiency of Yin and excess of dry heat become worse. In many circumstances, Chinese medicine can help to reduce and prevent the symptoms and the complications from the diabetes.

The main result of pathogenesis is

·         The root of deficiency of Yin and the secondary cause of excess of dry heat

·         Deficiency of yin essence due to depletion of the kidney essence

·         Deficiency of both Qi and Yin

·         Deficiency of both Yin and Yang

·         Obstruction due to blood stasis, due to deficiency of upright Qi

·         Deficiency and depletion of Zang and Fu organs can cause hundreds of pathogenic and changeable symptoms.

Differential diagnosis

Thirsty syndrome: thirsty symptom may appear in many different diseases especially in excessive heat of febrile diseases. The thirsty symptom is very similar to diabetes thirst except for absence of polyuria, weight loss, polyphagia, and urine with a sweet taste.

Goiter disease: Goiter syndrome mainly results from phlegm accumulation due to stagnant Qi and hyperactivity of fire due to deficiency of yin. The symptoms that appear are hunger, weight loss, palpitation, irritability, bulging eyeballs and swelling on one or both sides of the frontal neck. However, this syndrome doesn't have the polyuria, polydipsia and urine with a sweet taste, swelling in the neck, and bulging eyeballs.

Key points of differential syndromes:

·         To distinguish the affected locations

·         To identify the root and branch

·         To clarify the original or associated syndromes

Differentiating pathologic syndromes in accordance with San Jiao

According the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, Xiao Ken syndrome is divided into three major types or areas (the Triple Burners):

·         The Upper Jiao: The upper Jiao is involving the lung heat impairing the Jing. The clinical manifestations are extreme thirst and polydipsia. It is also called Upper Jiao diabetes. The pulse is usually full and rapid. The tongue has dry and red at side and tip with thin or yellow fur.

·         The Middle Jiao: The Middle Jiao is involving the excess of flaming-Up heat in the stomach, which causes the extreme polyphagia and emaciation. The tongue is yellow fur. The pulse is slippery and forceful.

·         The Lower Jiao: The Lower Jiao is involving the deficiency of kidney Yin that causes polyuria. The tongue is little fur. The pulse is thready and rapid.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatment according to differential syndromes

Upper Xiao or Upper Jiao diabetes

Symptoms: extreme thirst and polydipsia, dry tongue and mouth, frequent urination with copious urine, red tongue at tip and side, a thin yellow fur, and a full and rapid pulse.

Therapeutic principles: to clear the heat and increase the production of the fluids for moistening the lungs

Acupuncture treatment: mainly select the acupuncture points from the Hand-Taiyang and Hand-Taiyin Meridians.

Chinese herb treatment and modifications: mainly select the Xiake Fang

Seven-Star needling treatment: around the lung and heart points at upper back.

Middle Xiao or Middle Jiao diabetes

Symptoms: polyphagia, hunger, thirst, weight loss, constipation. The tongue has a yellowish fur and the pulse is forceful.

Therapeutic principles: to clear the stomach heat and reduce the fire, to increase the Jing and nourish the Yin Jei.

Acupuncture treatment: mainly select the acupuncture points from the Foot-Yangming and Foot-Taiyin Meridians.

Chinese herb treatment and modifications: mainly select the Bai Hu Jia Ren Shen Tang

Seven-Star needling treatment: around the spleen and stomach areas at middle back.

Lower Xiao or Lower Jiao diabetes

Symptoms: polyuria with turbid and sweet urine, profuse urine, weakness in the loins and knees, dizziness, dry mouth and lips, dryness and itching skin, and tinnitus. The tongue is red with little feathering. The pulse is rapid and thready.

Therapeutic principles: to nourish yin and to tonify the kidneys. To relieve the thirst by moistening the dryness.

Acupuncture treatment: mainly select the acupuncture points from the Foot-Taiyang and Foot-Shaoyin Meridians.

Chinese herb treatment and modifications: mainly select the Liu Wei D Huang Wan.

Seven-Star needling treatment: around the kidneys and bladder areas at lower back.

Deficiency of both Yin and Yang

Symptoms: polyuria with large quantities of turbid urine, dry and withered helixes, weakness in the loins and knees, cold limbs, aversion to cold, impotence, dark complex. The tongue is pale with a white and dry coating. The pulse is deep and thready.

Therapeutic principles: To nourish Yin, warm the yang, and to tonify the kidneys.

Acupuncture treatment : mainly select the acupuncture points from the Foot-Jieyin and Foot-Shaoyin Meridians.

Chinese herb treatment and modifications: mainly select the Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan.

Seven-Star needling treatment : around the kidneys and bladder areas at lower back.

Obstruction of blood stasis

Symptoms: dry mouth, polyuria, weight loss, dark and unclear complexes, numbness of extremities, stabbing pain; the tongue is dark with blood stasis or expansion of veins under the tongue. The tongue coating is either white or with little fur. The pulse id slippery, or deep with resistance or irregular intervals

Therapeutic principles: to remove the stasis and invigorate the blood

Acupuncture treatment: Mainly select the acupuncture points from the Foot-yang Ming, foot-Taiyang, and Foot Shaoyang, Foot-Taiyin, Foot-Shaoyin, Foot-Jieyin, Hand-Shaoyin Hand-Yangming, Hand-Taiyang, and Hand Shaoyang, Hand-Taiyin, and Hand-Jieyin Meridians.

Chinese herb treatment and modifications: mainly select the Xie Fu Xu Ye Fang.

Seven-Star needling treatment: around twelve Zang-Fu organs.

Diet and exercise

Diet and exercise also play important roles for diabetes. Avoid taking carbon hydrates, sweet and greasy food. Quit alcohol, take more vegetables and coarse grains.

Exercise can help the circulation for both Qi and blood as well as promote the immune system. Exercise daily about 20 to 30 minutes.

Click here to view acupuncture articles for diabetes.

              
 

Office Hours:

Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
acupuncture houston tx - south shepherd clinic

acupuncture houston tx west holcombe clinic

1. South Shepherd Clinic Location:
  2405 South Shepherd @ Westheimer (between Westheimer and Fairview), Houston, TX 77019.
  Tel: 713-529-8332    
Click here for the South Shepherd Clinic location map.

2. West Holcombe Clinic Location:
  2431 West Holcombe @Kirby (between Kirby and Fannin Street), Houston, TX77030.
The clinic is located at the corner of Kirby Drive and next to the Flower Corner.713-666-5667
  Click here for the West Holcombe Clinic location map.

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