Re: Acupuncture: A Treatment for Achalasia?

[Guest guest]

Dear : I wondered if there were any alternative treatments -

especially acupuncture for achalasia. Would you be able to post the address

of the article from the Chinese Journal? You sound so good I want to take

that article to an acupunturist and try for myself. Thank you!!! Elena

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Good for you! It always seemed logical that there could be a successful

alternative treatment for achalasia, especially since traditional medicine

seems to be a " works for some/doesn't work for others " approach. Why should

alternative treatments be any different.

Two things struck me as I read your message. One, your difficulty with

coffee: after my myotomy last Nov., my MDs told me to avoid these 4 things:

caffeine, alcohol, mint and chocolate. Since I was " addicted " to 3 of those

4 (never did like mint), I was as devastated as I would have been if they'd

told me the surgery was a complete failure! In the 10 months since my

operation, I have avoided all caffeine. (I found no problems with an

occasional drink and can also eat chocolate without side effects.) I know

it's tough, but you might want to try cutting down or eliminating coffee

altogether to see if this helps your acupuncture be even more effective in

eliminating episodes of regurgitation.

The other point is stress management: I know if I am overly tired or under

stress, my chest spasms seem to occur more frequently. Other egroups

members have talked about relaxation exercises similar to tai chi to help

manage the disease. I'm thinking of signing up for yoga.

Good luck with the acupuncture. Since you're also here in Chicago, can I

ask who you went to? I might be a candidate someday myself.

Thanks!

Carol

Acupuncture: A Treatment for Achalasia?

Hi everyone!

I just tried my first acupuncture treatment directed toward achalasia

yesterday. I am a candidate for surgery but a little reluctant to go

down that path. Once the myotomy is performed, there is no going

back - and no hope of ever restoring the proper function of the

LES.

Plus, there's a 45% chance I'll have a reflux problem as a

result of

the operation. Call me a dreamer, but I am hoping for a " better

solution " .

I'd thought I'd share a little bit of what I've come up

with. I

started off being curious about what the world of alternative

medicine had to say about achalasia and somehow arrived at

acupuncture as a possible treatment. This was confirmed by a visit

to my local alternative medicine practice (actually run by a

traditional MD who reviewed my barium swallow, manometry results,

etc.) I then did a " Medline " search (a wonderful Internet

resource

of medical journal articles from around the world).

I was able to come up with a handful of articles that - lo and

behold - discussed the treatment of achalasia with acupuncture.

It

seems that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for achalasia

(sometimes) - the most encouraging article was one I found in the

Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The article makes actual suggestions of acupuncture points and

techniques - which I fed to the acupuncturist at the clinic.

And voila - I had my first treatment yesterday. I never tried

acupuncture before and found the experience pleasant and even

relaxing. There is a slight sting as some of the needles are

inserted but not a lot of discomfort. I also felt really positive

about harnessing my body's ability to heal itself. After all, I

am

told that it was my body that probably caused the problem (my immune

system attacking a healthy esophagus). It sounds simplistic but

perhaps my body can heal itself too.

So you are all probably wondering about the results. Well, I

can't

say I went out for a steak dinner, but today I tried drinking coffee

for the first time in awhile. In the past, coffee would trigger

regurgitation. Today it didn't. I cautiously attempted to drink

liquids faster than usual and felt that things were flowing faster

into my stomach with less discomfort - I get a lump in the throat

sensation when I drink too much too quickly. I'll have to keep

track

my progress and will use the drinking as a gauge. (Why not be a

little scientific about it?)

Honestly, I think acupuncture is a long shot treatment for achalasia,

but who knows. It could be that my swallowing is easier because I am

more relaxed and at ease. I obviously like being able to manage

achalasia this way. And this impacts my mood and stress level. Or,

the acupuncture could be working.

In any event, I am told that I will know whether or not this option

is working after a few treatments. Stay tuned.

Swack

Chicago, IL

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[Guest guest]

Thanks for your note, Carol.

Because of your past notes I specifically asked my " surgeon-to-be "

whether or not I would need to avoid such foods as coffee if I had

the surgery. He said no(!). I don't know if it makes a difference

or not, but I don't have " vigorous " achalasia, " just " classic

achalasia. I do like the occasional cup of Starbucks - but was never

that interested in coffee prior to the caffeine revolution. I could

probably live without it but have found lately that I can enjoy &

tolerate it again.

As for acupuncture, the guy I see is . He's affiliated

with the Miro Center in ton. He also teaches acupuncture out in

San Diego and claims to have experience dealing with other motility

problems. Miro's number is 847 733 9900. There may be an

alternative health clinic closer to you where you could have this

done. I know there is one in the western suburbs (don't remember

where, though). You might check with Dr. Connie Catellani (Miro

director & real nice) or .

Good luck and let me know if you decide to try this!

--

> Hi,

> Good for you! It always seemed logical that there could be a

successful

> alternative treatment for achalasia, especially since traditional

medicine

> seems to be a " works for some/doesn't work for others " approach.

Why should

> alternative treatments be any different.

>

> Two things struck me as I read your message. One, your difficulty

with

> coffee: after my myotomy last Nov., my MDs told me to avoid these

4 things:

> caffeine, alcohol, mint and chocolate. Since I was " addicted " to 3

of those

> 4 (never did like mint), I was as devastated as I would have been

if they'd

> told me the surgery was a complete failure! In the 10 months since

my

> operation, I have avoided all caffeine. (I found no problems with

an

> occasional drink and can also eat chocolate without side effects.)

I know

> it's tough, but you might want to try cutting down or eliminating

coffee

> altogether to see if this helps your acupuncture be even more

effective in

> eliminating episodes of regurgitation.

>

> The other point is stress management: I know if I am overly tired

or under

> stress, my chest spasms seem to occur more frequently. Other

egroups

> members have talked about relaxation exercises similar to tai chi

to help

> manage the disease. I'm thinking of signing up for yoga.

>

> Good luck with the acupuncture. Since you're also here in Chicago,

can I

> ask who you went to? I might be a candidate someday myself.

> Thanks!

> Carol

>

> Acupuncture: A Treatment for Achalasia?

>

>

>

> Hi everyone!

>

> I just tried my first acupuncture treatment directed toward

achalasia

> yesterday. I am a candidate for surgery but a little reluctant to

go

> down that path. Once the myotomy is performed, there is no going

> back - and no hope of ever restoring the proper function of the

> LES.

> Plus, there's a 45% chance I'll have a reflux problem as a

> result of

> the operation. Call me a dreamer, but I am hoping for a " better

> solution " .

>

> I'd thought I'd share a little bit of what I've come up

> with. I

> started off being curious about what the world of alternative

> medicine had to say about achalasia and somehow arrived at

> acupuncture as a possible treatment. This was confirmed by a visit

> to my local alternative medicine practice (actually run by a

> traditional MD who reviewed my barium swallow, manometry results,

> etc.) I then did a " Medline " search (a wonderful Internet

> resource

> of medical journal articles from around the world).

>

> I was able to come up with a handful of articles that - lo and

> behold - discussed the treatment of achalasia with acupuncture.

> It

> seems that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for achalasia

> (sometimes) - the most encouraging article was one I found in the

> Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

>

> The article makes actual suggestions of acupuncture points and

> techniques - which I fed to the acupuncturist at the clinic.

>

> And voila - I had my first treatment yesterday. I never tried

> acupuncture before and found the experience pleasant and even

> relaxing. There is a slight sting as some of the needles are

> inserted but not a lot of discomfort. I also felt really positive

> about harnessing my body's ability to heal itself. After all, I

> am

> told that it was my body that probably caused the problem (my immune

> system attacking a healthy esophagus). It sounds simplistic but

> perhaps my body can heal itself too.

>

> So you are all probably wondering about the results. Well, I

> can't

> say I went out for a steak dinner, but today I tried drinking coffee

> for the first time in awhile. In the past, coffee would trigger

> regurgitation. Today it didn't. I cautiously attempted to drink

> liquids faster than usual and felt that things were flowing faster

> into my stomach with less discomfort - I get a lump in the throat

> sensation when I drink too much too quickly. I'll have to keep

> track

> my progress and will use the drinking as a gauge. (Why not be a

> little scientific about it?)

>

> Honestly, I think acupuncture is a long shot treatment for

achalasia,

> but who knows. It could be that my swallowing is easier because I

am

> more relaxed and at ease. I obviously like being able to manage

> achalasia this way. And this impacts my mood and stress level. Or,

> the acupuncture could be working.

>

> In any event, I am told that I will know whether or not this option

> is working after a few treatments. Stay tuned.

>

> Swack

> Chicago, IL

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> _____NetZero Free Internet Access and Email______

> http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html

[Guest guest]

Elena: Here is where I found the info on the article:

http://130.14.32.46/cgi-bin/VERSION_A/IGM-client?13934+rresults+-99

The article is entitled " Acupuncture at Jianjing for Treatment of

Achalasia of the Cardia " . It was published in the Journal of

Traditional Chinese Medicine in the September 1994 issue. I was not

able to find a copy of the article online. I did a little calling

around and found this journal at one of the college (medical)

libraries in the city.

My acupuncturist(?) though had experience with motility disorders and

found little new info. He felt that the recommendations were " pretty

standard stuff " . But then again, the info reinforced his intuition.

By all means, I encourage you to give it a try and to report back how

it works out.

Good luck!!

> Dear : I wondered if there were any alternative treatments -

> especially acupuncture for achalasia. Would you be able to post

the address

> of the article from the Chinese Journal? You sound so good I want

to take

> that article to an acupunturist and try for myself. Thank you!!!

Elena