Center for Complementary Medicine

As brilliant as Western (allopathic) medicine is at emergency medical procedures and various surgical techniques, this makes up a very small percentage of what people see doctors for. Both infectious disease and more chronic degenerative disease are treated with drugs that are aimed at symptom suppression, and bring with them vast deliterious side-effects. With the development of antibiotics in the 1940′s, the pharmaceutical industry became the major player in the world of medicine, but it does not, and has not, pursued methods to tap into and activate the innate healing powers of the human body. The focus of allopathic mediine is on the symptoms, and not the root cause of the dis-ease. Interestingly, the treatment of infectious disease became the strength and backbone of Western medicine, but no infectious disease has been eliminated by the use of antibiotics. We have come to the woeful realization that the use of these antibiotics has even contributed to the recent phenomenon of emerging infections which are antibiotic-resistant. In short, these meds are creating a super bacteria. Pain meds have even more dire consequences on the liver and kidneys, and an alarming percentage of people on kidney dialysis; end stage kidney failure, are there because of the use of these analgesics.

Today, the use of drugs is the dominant resource used by the medical mainstream to treat most conditions of humankind. 70% of the world’s prescriptions are written by U.S. doctors. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Associatio(JAMA) in 1998, deaths due to legal drugs in hospitals were the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. The other major medical option is surgery. It is estimated that as much as 50% of all surgeries performed today are unnecessary. It seems that Western medicine has abandoned the famous Oath of Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, which simply states medicine should “Do No Harm”.

Oriental medicine seeks to find the root cause of one’s “imbalance”. But even more that that, it’s primary objective is to promote a level of health to keep one as vital, energetic, and balanced as possible so that they don’t get sick in the first place. This preventive approach is now being referred to as Wellness medicine, and implies more than just an absence of disease. An acupuncturist seeks to discover the underlying energetic imbalances that if not treated, eventually manifest in a disease process. It can much more readily, in many instances, determine disease that can potentially occur later if these imbalances are not addressed. The acupuncturist is also interested in restoring Function rather than just suppressing symptoms. To take a pill for a headache is literally robbing you of the opportunity to learn why you are getting the headache in the first place, and from determining what needs to be done to address the cause of the problem. Afterall, to treat a dying tree you don’t just snip off the yellow leaves. Rather, you address the condition of the soil and the roots, and see if the tree is getting too much water, or too little. This “root” therapy approach is the essence of Chinese medicine.

Chinese medicine has been practiced for over 4,000 years and is the most utilized health care system in the world today. The reason that it has survived for so long and adapted to different cultures is that it offers a vast and potent repertoire of healing benefits that are so widely needed in our modern world. Acupuncture has enjoyed an enormous surge of interest lately, as the media is really catching onto the widespread benefit that this treatment option is offering to so many people. There are literally hundreds of studies validating its efficacy for treating such things as pain, nausea, infertility, digestive complaints, and many respiratory and neurological ailments. The World Health Organization recognizes over 30 conditions for which acupuncture may be beneficial. Most importantly, there are no side effects, other than a good night’s rest. Most insurance companies cover at least a percentage of the fees. So try it, you have nothing to lose!

Yours in health,

Rick Bernard, L.Ac.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most poorly treated conditions in medicine today. Carpal tunnel is a common source of hand numbness and pain due primarily to repetitive hand movements required in typing and mousing. However, any overuse activity can lead to this condition. I have seen it prevalent in pregnant women and new mothers who are carrying extra water weight, or who have to transport their babies in a car seat.

The carpal tunnel is a narrow, funnel-like structure in the wrist. The median nerve travels from the forearm into the hand through this tunnel in the wrist. This nerve controls feeling in the palm side of the thumb, index finger, and middle finger. The tendons that allow you to bend your fingers and thumb also travel through this tunnel. In short, when the tendons become irritated from overuse, the tissue around these tendons, called synovium, swell and put pressure on the median nerve causing tingling, numbness, or pain. Some people are born with a smaller carpal tunnel making them more susceptible than others to develop this problem.

Treatment for carpal tunnel may involve:
*Bracing or splinting. A brace or splint worn at night keeps wrist in neutral position which prevents the nightly irritation of the median nerve when the wrists are curled during sleep.
*Medications. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen.
*Steroid injection. Cortico-steroid injection can provide short term relief.
*Physical therapy. P.T. will sometimes prescribe an exercise routine which often serves to aggravate the condition. These tendons require rest, not more use.
*Surgery. Commonly surgery which cuts the transverse ligament in the wrist to make more room for the median nerve is employed. Complications-bleeding, infection,nerve injury,scar tissue,additional surgery.
In my opinion carpal tunnel surgery is one of the most over-used, inappropriate methods to treat this condition.Certainly if this has been a very long standing condition where there is constant numbness and wasting of the thumb muscles is present, surgery is appropriate as a last measure. True healing can only occur by dealing with the increased tension in the flexor muscles and tendons of the forearm and wrist, which have caused this condition. Massage and acupuncture are the only two techniques which actually address and alleviate this built up tension. Together, they relax these overused tendons, reduce the swelling of the surrounding tissue, and restore the integrity of the underlying structures. When the soft tissue is relaxed, blood flow is restored and the symptoms subside.

There is a self massage technique that I teach so patients can work on themselves while at their desks, and only takes a few minutes. Furthermore, the proteolytic enzyme, serrapeptase has shown very encouraging results in reducing inflammation in the soft tissue. I recommend a product called Zymactive, which has twice the potency of anything on the market today.

Final thoughts…Carpal tunnel surgery is not something to jump into without exhausting more conservative therapies. Often, this surgery is not successful, and you are left with some undesirable complications, including a possible second surgery. Remember, any therapy chosen should address the real cause of this condition. Cutting a ligament in the wrist does nothing to alleviate the tension of soft tissue of the forearm and wrist. Eventually this can lead to this problem re-occuring, or another condition such as medial epicondylitis from developing.

Yours in health,
Rick J Bernard, L.Ac.