Turmeric is one the most thoroughly researched plants in existence today.  Its medicinal properties and components (primarily curcumin) have been the subject of over 5600 peer-reviewed and published biomedical studies.  In fact, our five-year long research project on this sacred plant has revealed over 600 potential preventive and therapeutic applications, as well as 175 distinct beneficial physiological effects. This entire database of 1,585 ncbi-hyperlinked turmeric abstracts can be downloaded as a PDF at our Downloadable Turmeric Document page, and acquired either as a retail item or with 200 GMI-tokens, for those of you who are already are members and receive them automatically each month. Given the sheer density of research performed on this remarkable spice, it is no wonder that a growing number of studies have concluded that it compares favorably to a variety of conventional medications, including medications for: cholesterol, inflammation, depression, diabetes, and more. Read the entire article here.... http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/science-confirms-turmeric-effective-14-drugs

For more than 2,500 years, acupuncture has been one of the world's most popular forms of health care to treat all types of chronic pain.  The ancient technique of acupuncture helps relieve chronic back pain better than standard care such as medications or physical therapy.  According to recent studies, acupuncture outperformed sham treatments and standard care when used by people suffering from osteoarthritis, migraines, and chronic back, neck and shoulder pain. Acupuncture, which involves inserting needles at specific “acupoints” on the body, is among the most widely practiced forms of alternative medicine in the country and is offered by many hospitals.  Most commonly the treatment is sought by adults looking for relief from chronic pain, although it is also used with growing frequency in children. According to government estimates, about 150,000 children in the United States underwent acupuncture in 2007. In clinical practice, the most common types of pain that patients turn to acupuncture for are neck pain, upper/mid back and low back pain, arthritis pain, knee pain, shoulder pain migraine pain, tendonitis, carpel tunnel syndrome, menstrual pain, and even cancer pain. So exactly how does inserting acupuncture work to relieve pain?  Acupoints are tiny areas on the skin that contain relatively concentrated levels of nerve endings, lymphatics, and blood vessels.  Acupoints can be readily identified by their lower electrical resistance, and are usually located in small palpable depressions detectable by trained acupuncturists.  Stimulation from placing acupuncture needles in acupoints initiates pain relief, relaxation, and healing. There are several theories as to how acupuncture relieves pain.  It is widely accepted that acupuncture stimulates the secretion of endorphins in the body (specifically enkephalins). Endorphins are our bodies’ natural painkillers.  They are 1000 times stronger than morphine.  Also, certain neurotransmitter levels (such as serotonin and noradrenaline) are affected by acupuncture.  This is why acupuncture is so successful with depression, mood disorders, and weight loss, and often why many people feel so amazing after an acupuncture treatment. The pain-gate theory explains that pain signals must pass through a number of high traffic gates as they move from the area of injury upward through the spinal cord into the brain. Like a road or a highway, these nerves can only handle a limited number of nerve signals at one time.  Acupuncture generates competing stimulus and effectively interrupts the neurotransmitters of the pain signals from reaching the brain.  This results in the patient never getting the pain signal and therefore never getting the pain.  This is the most popular theory among Western scientists. In summary, it seems that there are several systems in the body involved in carrying the effects of acupuncture and that there are messages being delivered to both the brain and body that promote health and pain relief.  Acupuncture is truly an amazing drug-free medicine, with no side effects. The cost of treating chronic pain with surgery, narcotic pain killers, NSAIDS, injections of cortisone, and other short-acting analgesics is extremely high when compared to the cost of an acupuncture treatment, which can cost only $85.00. It is important for medical physicians and patients with pain to recognize that acupuncture is extremely effective in regard to pain relief.  So many people with pain, whether from low back pain, headache or a chronic, unexplained condition, rely on prescription NSAIDS and narcotic pain killer medications, which can become addicting and cause serious side effects. Acupuncture has no side effects, and studies have shown the pain relief it provides can last for months, not to mention the improved quality of life for individuals suffering from chronic pain. References: Arch Intern Med. 2012;172(19):1444-1453. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2012.3654 Pediatrics. 2000 Apr;105(4 Pt 2):941-7. Pain 1999;83:235-241. Kleinhenz J, et al. Randomised clinical trial comparing the effects of acupuncture and a newly designed placebo needle n rotator cuff tendonitis. Susman E. Bran scans show acupuncture dulls pain. Excite News, December 1, 1999 Dr. Helene Pulnik is a board-certified, licensed Acupuncturist and Naturopathic Physician with a private practice in Glastonbury, CT for over 13 years.  She has helped many patients become pain free; often eliminating the need for drugs and surgery for chronic pain.  She is now accepting new acupuncture patients.