Electroacupuncture:
Electroacupuncture is quite similar to traditional acupuncture in that the same points are stimulated during treatment. As with traditional acupuncture, needles are inserted into specific points along the body. Using small clips, the needles are then attached to a device that generates continuous electric pulses that differ in frequency and intensity, depending on the condition being treated. Several pairs of needles can be stimulated simultaneously, usually for no more than 30 minutes at a time.
Interferential Neurostimulation:
Interferential neurostimulation (IFN) is a noninvasive therapy used primarily to provide symptomatic relief from edema. inflammation, chronic intractable pain, and post-surgical and post-trauma acute pain. It is a safe and effective alternative to pharmacological approaches, for it has minimal side effects and is non-addictive. The only adverse reactions associated with electrotherapy may include skin irritation beneath the electrodes.
IFN has been used in physical therapy treatment for many years and has been proven to be very safe. It has been found to be especially helpful in treating back pain, arthritis, strains and sprains, neuralgia, complex regional pain syndrome, shingles, and degenerative joint disease. However, use should be avoided on individuals with pacemakers and near the low back or abdomen of pregnant women.
Transcranial Stimulation: The Alpha-Stim
The Alpha-Stim AID is a Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) device that uses low-level electrical current to safely and effectively treat anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Alpha-Stim treatments are cumulative; however, most patients show at least some improvement after the first treatment. Alpha-Stim technology is safe, with no serious adverse events reported in over 30 years of clinical use.
Initially cleared for marketing by the FDA in 1992 as a prescriptive, noninvasive treatment, Alpha-Stim has an extensive safety record, with few side effects (less than 1%) and considerable scientific evidence of the significant results patients can achieve.
After 5 weeks of treatment, the active Alpha-Stim CES group reported an average decrease of 94% in their anxiety. By tracking the anxiety levels of patients over 6 months, Alpha-Stim was reported to reduce feelings of anxiety by an average of 76%.
We have found that the Alpha-Stim can also be used to suppress cravings in patients who have quit smoking, who are losing weight, or who are reducing their pain or other prescription medications. By using it in combination with Interactive Guided Imagery(sm), nearly every one of our patients has been successful in dealing with these difficult challenges.
