Acupuncture Point Injection Therapy
Acupuncture Point Injection Therapy or APIT is a modern technique used within the scope of Traditional East Asian Medicine. It combines traditional acupuncture point with the use of sterile, injectable solutions such as herbal, homeopathic, vitamin, nutritional substances and saline. These sterile substances are given inter-muscularly or subcutaneously, but never by I.V., using standard and proper hypodermic procedures.
Why is APIT a useful therapy for me?
- It’s a safe alternative to narcotic pain relievers and Non Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NASID’s).
- It by passes the “first pass effect” on the liver, resulting in quicker pain relief and less stress on the liver.
- It multiplies acupuncture’s effect on the body.
- It can decrease digestive sensitivity or the stomach upset some herbs or supplements can have.
What does AIPT commonly treat?
What is Biopuncture?
Biopuncture is similar to APIT, but differs in that Biopuncture uses not only acupuncture points, but other specific body points such as trigger points and skeletal structures such as connective tissue.
Biopuncture like APIT also uses sterile, injectable vitamins and homeopathic products which are manufactured by FDA approved pharmaceutical manufacturers and special compounding pharmacy’s which are held to very strict quality control standards.
Like APIT, Biopuncture is commonly used to treat pain and other bio mechanical issues such as painful inflammation, trigger points, low back pain, joint pain, sports injuries and to increase the range of motion after injuries.
Dr. Lee Wolfer, MD provides an excellent overview of biopuncture in the article linked below.
You can also see Dr. Oz and Dr. Wolfer discuss biopuncture in the following linked video.
Dr. Oz – What is Biopuncture?
Vitamin B-12 Injections
Vitamin B-12 is a very important vitamin for the health of our body. Vitamin B-12 plays a valuable role in nerve and brain health by maintaining the balance of hormones and neurotransmitters as well as assisting in the production red blood cells. B-12 also assist in the formation of DNA and the genetic material found in our cells. B-12 is most commonly obtained by eating animal products such as meat, eggs and dairy and most people obtain their B-12 from these foods. However some people due to existing conditions or lifestyle choices may not be getting the proper amount of B-12.
Who is commonly deficient in Vitamin B-12?
- Older adults – Many older adults do not have enough hydrochloric acid in their stomachs to absorb B-12.
- Vegetarians and Vegans – People who limit themselves to a plant based diet are often deficient in B-12 as this found primarily in animal products.
- People under extra stress – Stress burns B-Vitamins at a rate above normal replenishment.
- People who have had gastric surgery or have Celiac’s or Chron’s disease due to intestinal inability to absorb nutrients properly.
- People who take pharmaceuticals for heart burn or acid-reflux conditions due to interference with proper stomach acid production.
Do I have a B-12 deficiency?
You may have B-12 deficiency if you experience any of the following:
- Strange sensations, numbness or tingling in the hands, legs or feet.
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Difficulty thinking and reasoning (cognitive difficulties) or memory loss (brain fog, depression).
- Difficulty walking (staggering, balance problems)
- Anemia
- A swollen, inflamed tongue
- Paranoia or hallucinations
While B-12 can be obtained by food or supplements, there are advantages to taking B-12 by injection.
Some of these advantages are:
- Immediate effect
- Faster recovery from injury
- Increased energy for sports or exercise
- Weight loss due to B-12’s help with metabolism
- Mediates stress intolerance
