Pain relief is the most common reason people seek out the treatment of acupuncture. This is due to its amazing ability to treat a wide range of pain syndromes with efficiency and little to no side effects.

Pain is our bodies way of sending us a warning signal that an imbalance exists. The cause of the pain may or may not be easily traceable to a specific accident or lifestyle choice. Unfortunately, many people often ignore this signal and either "push through the pain" or take strong medication with many side effects. This approach neither examines or addresses the cause of the pain and it may become more intense or chronic.

The Chinese medical view of pain

Acupuncturists recognize that there is a vital life force, called Qi (pronounced "chee") circulating within the body. Qi flows through a series of pathways called meridians. Meridians can be thought of as rivers flowing in your body. Wherever these rivers/meridians flow they provide nourishment to your cells, tissues, muscles, organs, and glands. However, if these rivers become blocked and are not able to flow along their regular courses than problems/symptoms arise.

What causes Qi to become blocked?

The stresses of modern life easily can disrupt the flow of Qi, causing it to stagnate. These factors include; poor diet, physical trauma, emotional trauma, genetics, and chemical, physical and emotional stress.

Under normal conditions the body is able to properly regulate the Qi and return to good health. But when the disrupption of Qi is prolonged, excessive or if the body is in a weakened state then balance is difficult to regain and the symptom of pain may arise.

Acupuncture has the ability to treat the signs and symptoms of pain and also the ability to treat the root of what intially caused the problem. By inserting fine, sterile needles into specific points, acupuncture can break up the blockages that have disrupted the smooth flow of Qi and restore balance in the body.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be extremely useful in all stages of gynecological and obstetric care. For thousands of years women have been using this medicine to enhance their fertility and to contribute to a more comfortable pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience. Chinese medicine views pregnancy as a window of opportunity to enhance the woman’s well being. Value is therefore placed on promoting preventative care to strengthen the mother and baby, as well as dealing with problems as they occur during pregnancy.

Preconception

Acupuncture has been shown to increase blood circulation to the ovaries and uterus and hence increase the capacity for conception.
Through the use of acupuncture, herbs, and lifestyle advice Chinese medicine aims to:

Regulate the woman’s hormonal cycle
Improve the quality of women’s fertile mucous
Regulate ovulation
Promote efficient menstrual cycles
Enhance egg development
Improve sperm quality
Enhance the environment of the fallopian tubes
Promote embryo implantation
Reduce stress
Promote a viable pregnancy
Chinese medicine can be used to increase the chances of conceiving naturally or alongside medical interventions.

Pregnancy

Acupuncture offers women the choice of drug-free care during pregnancy and successfully treats a wide range of conditions.
Common ailments that respond wonderfully to this medicine are:

Nausea(morning sickness)
Muscular-skeletal pain(sciatica, back pain, rib pain, etc.)
Breech or posterior babies
Threatened miscarriage
Hypertension
Acid reflux(heartburn)
Common cold
Constipation
Fatigue
Insomnia
Anxiety
Sinusitis

In addition to treating these symptoms associated with pregnancy, acupuncture also prepares women for labor. Pre-birth treatments are offered once a week, starting at week 36, to prepare the woman for the most comfortable and efficient labor possible. Women who receive these treatments are much more successful at having the type of labor and birth they desire. Acupuncture has also proven very effective for inducing labor.

Postpartum

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to help mothers recover from delivery. Childbirth is an experience that drains energy, and Chinese herbs can provide a much needed boost to help with the blood-loss and fatigue most women feel. Other benefits include aid with insufficient lactation, wound healing, depression, and urinary incontinence.

The Essential Guide to Acupuncture in Pregnancy & Childbirth, by Debra Betts , is a wonderful resource that’s informed much of the information presented here. Please contact me if you would like additional information or to see research on any of the information in this article.

Chinese medicine considers the digestive system the main source of our vital energy. It’s comprised of a series of organs whose main responsibility is to bring nutrients into the body. To enjoy optimal health, it is essential that digestion be strong and capable of supplying our tissues with the nutrition they need.

Proper diet and adequate time to digest are often difficult standards to uphold in today's busy world. Our stressful lives often lead to unhealthy habits of overeating, poor food choices, and late night binging. And because the digestive system is so important, it is also very sensitive. Poor eating habits eventually effect our health and can cause uncomfortable symptoms or diseases.

At Middleway Medicine, we combine the use of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and nutritional counseling to guide you toward healthy habits, great digestion and proper elimination.

The use of acupuncture helps the body and mind to relax, allowing for inflamed tissues to heal, stomach acid secretion to regulate and proper intestinal motility to return.

Chinese herbal medicine is often recommended in addition to the use of acupuncture. We combine personalized herbal formulas to treat the root cause of your ailment. This approach does not mask preexisting symptoms, therefore allowing you to regain lasting health. The herbs are extremely effective, have little to no side effects and are very affordable.

The following symptoms/diseases are treated most effectively by Chinese Medicine:

*heartburn/acid reflux/GERD
*acute/chronic constipation
*acute/chronic diarrhea
*nausea
*irritable bowel syndrome
*ulcerative colitis
*irregular appetite
*ulcers
*pancreatitis
*diabetes
*weight loss
*fatigue
*gas/bloating
*stomach pain
*Crohn’s disease
*food sensitivities

We have prepared the following articles to further assist you:

Chinese Medicine for the Treatment of Digestive Disorders
What should we eat to be healthy?
Local Food: Nature’s Best Medicine

For thousands of years, Gynecology and obstetrics have been specialties within the field of Chinese medicine. A woman’s body goes through many cycles in the course of a lifetime. From the onset of puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, a woman’s body is in a constant state of change. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine work to restore balance and overall vitality to women along any stage of her journey.

The Chinese have long believed that the overall health of a woman can be judged by the regularity and harmony of her menstrual cycle. Achieving a proper rhythm and smooth menstrual flow better positions a women to be free of the common complaints of menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.

Commonly treated conditions with Chinese medicine include:

*loss of menstruation
*irregular menses
*painful menses
*PMS -mood swings, breast tenderness, bloating, etc.
*infertility
*pregnancy related conditions
*frequent miscarriage
*hot flashes
*night sweats
*depression/anxiety
*insomnia
*vaginal dryness
*weight gain
*fatigue
*uterine fibroids

We have prepared the following articles to further assist you:

Uterine Fibroids and Chinese Medicine
Chinese medicine and menopause

The pain that headaches and migraine sufferers endure can impact every aspect of their lives. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine offers powerful relief without the side effects that prescription and over the counter drugs cause. This medicine has been used for thousands of years to treat the underlying cause behind headaches.

Chinese medicine does not recognize recurring headaches as one particular syndrome. Instead, it aims to treat the specific symptoms that are unique to each individual. This personalized approach allows Chinese medicine to be particularly effective and efficient in the treatment of headaches. Patients commonly report pain relief immediately and find nearly total relief within 1-2 months of treatment. At Middleway, we have found that the quickest and most lasting results are achieved when acupuncture, herbal medicine and massage are combined during treatment.

Motor vehicle accidents (MVA) are often quite traumatizing and painful. At Middleway, we help many people recover from the physical and emotional results of an accident and are well equipped to guide you through your insurance claims.

In Oregon, all medical bills resulting from a MVA are paid by personal injury protection insurance(PIP). This insurance covers the services of acupuncture and massage 100%. By law, you and all passengers in your car have up to $15,000 each to cover any medical bills resulting from an accident. You are completely free to choose what type of care you wish to receive and who you receive it from. Our office is well trained and happy to help you with your insurance claim. No doctor referral is necessary, all we need is your claim # and adjuster’s name.

After a automobile accident, the most common injury is whiplash (though back ache, general muscle pain, and stress/anxiety are commonly reported as well.) Symptoms of whiplash include:

• Neck and Should pain or stiffness
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Difficulty focusing
• Sleeplessness
• Irritability

We have found that combining both acupuncture and massage offer the most effective healing results for a MVA. The acupuncture allows you to relax while your body releases pain blocking endorphins. The release of these endorphins helps to turn off the cascading inflammation response that results after trauma. Thus, the body starts to “let go” of tight muscles and the memory of the accident. We then follow the acupuncture treatment with massage. The massage further helps the body to relax, and also breaks up scar tissue and adhesions. This allows for the muscles to lengthen and stretch, gradually restoring the range of motion to the joints and decreasing pain.