BACK PAIN
DIGESTIVE ISSUES
Acupuncture treats all types of indigestion: IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), gas, bloating, nausea, ulcer, stomach aches, abdominal pain, etc. Many times these symptoms are a result of poor diet, irregular eating habits, or not chewing food properly.
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We ask a series of questions, take your pulse and look at your tongue (two Chinese diagnostic techniques) and determine where the imbalance lies. From there we develop an individual point prescription and/or herbal formula to combat your indigestion. There will be a nutritional consultation to discuss the right foods for your body.
There are many causes of back pain. Pain in the low back can relate to the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, and the skin covering the lumbar area.
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We ask a series of questions to determine where exactly the pain in your back is. There are various channels or meridians that run through the body. These channels are like rivers. When the rivers flow smoothly, a person is balanced and in harmony. When there is obstruction to these rivers, the body becomes imbalanced and pain and or organ dysfunction occurs. Much like a siphoned hose, the needles relieve the obstruction so that qi, blood, fluids, lymph, etc. can flow smoothly again, therefore alleviating the pain in your back. There is a neurological and vascular response to every needle. They increase circulation, lessen inflammation, ease tension, and boost the immune system. Basically, they relieve the built up dam, so that the river can flow smoothly again, bringing the body back into harmony or balance.
STRESS
People with depression and/or anxiety can experience a variety of emotional and physical symptoms: Feeling sad, overwhelmed, or stressed out, aches, pains, fatigue, and other physical problems are part of their emotional imbalance.
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Depression and anxiety can be caused by an imbalance of the naturally-occurring chemicals or neurotransmitters— serotonin, dopamnie, GABA, aceytlol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine — in the brain and the body. In the brain, these chemicals are associated with mood; regulating and reducing feelings of pain that come from the body.
Certain acupoints are used to stimulate the brain’s neurotransmitters, activating serotonin, domapine, etc. , causing you to feel good.
We ask a series of questions, take your pulse and look at your tongue (two Chinese diagnostic techniques) and determine where the imbalance lies. From there we develop an individual point prescription and/or herbal formula.
We will also discuss your lifestyle and habits. Many things we do (exercise, sleep, food) can exacerbate anxiety and depression and conversely, there are many things we can do to alleviate these symptoms and feel good. ie. staying away from sugar and alcohol (things that excite or depress the system) and exercising to produce the feel good polypeptides of endorphins.
ALLERGY SENSITIVITIES
Allergies occur when the body's immune system misidentifies a normally harmless substance as a threat to the body. Common allergens are certain foods, pollen, animal dander, mold, drugs, environmental pollutants and dust mites. An inflammatory reaction takes place in an attempt to eject this substance from the system, resulting in a variety of symptoms. Sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and throat, a heavy sensation in the head with copious mucus.
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In terms of Chinese Medicine, several Chinese patterns of disharmony may be involved - such as wind cold, wind heat, wind damp, or it could be due to a weakened immune system or digestive organ function. The Acupuncturist performs a differential diagnosis to identify the imbalance. They then choose an acupoint prescription to bring the body back to homeostasis. And many times there will be herbal and dietary recommendations. Yes, the allergens are in the air, however the copious amounts of mucous are usually a result of a diet rich in phlegmy, mucus producing foods (see attached phlegm guide) and the itchiness comes from too much inflammation in the system caused by consuming sugar, alcohol, and other heat producing foods (see anti-inflammatory guide)
WOMEN'S HEALTH
Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can treat such issues as:
Menstrual Disorders
The Chinese have an ancient saying, “where there is pain, there is obstruction. Where there is obstruction, there is pain.” The chief mechanism of dysmenorrhea is the stagnation of qi and blood and the obstruction of the meridian relating to your female organs, resulting from an internal dysfunction.
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Acupuncture and Chinese herbs have been proven to regulate hormonal balance during the menstrual cycle. After asking a series of questions, we identify where the imbalance is and treat it with an individual point prescription and or herbal formula to alleviate the discomfort associated with your period.
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PMS
Many women suffer both emotional and physical symptoms associated with PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome). These include depression, anger, irritability, anxiety, confusion, breast tenderness, bloating, low back pain, and swelling.
The use of acupuncture and Chinese herbs can alleviate these symptoms. PMS is a function of stagnant energy. There is a build of qi and blood so that your body can menstruate and shed the uterine lining. In a lot of women, this build up gets stuck creating a lot of heat within. Picture a 10 by 10 room filled with 40 people and all windows and doors shut. The people would start to get hot, anxious, irritable, uncomfortable. By opening the windows, and sending some people out of the room, people could breathe again. This is what the acupuncture and herbs are doing, they are “venting” your insides, moving your qi, alleviating all those aggravating symptoms.
Menopause
Menopause is when a women’s menses stops. Menopause symptoms can range from hot flashes and night sweats to spotting for a few months, where others bleed heavily for years. These symptoms are caused by hormonal imbalances and changes, not necessarily estrogen loss. They are also related to diet, lifestyle and genetic factors.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can rebalance your hormones. We ask a series of questions, take your pulse and look at your tongue (two Chinese diagnostic techniques) and determine where the imbalance lies. From there we develop an individual point prescription and/or herbal formula.
Fertility
Acupuncture and Chinese herbs have been clinically proven to:
• reduce stress and strengthen the immune system
• decrease the negative side effects of fertility drugs
• increase blood flow to the uterus
• help regulate and thicken the uterine lining
• regulate the timing and quality of ovulation
• regulate hormonal balance during the menstrual cycle
• improve the quality and vitaLITY OF EGGS and embryos
• improve semen quality, quantity, and motility.
Fibroids and Cysts
It is believed that approximately 20 to 30% of women have fibroids. Uterine fibroids are growths, or tumors, that develop in the muscular wall of the uterus. Fibroids are generally benign, meaning they are not cancerous (malignant). Fibroids are the most common kind of growths of the uterus and can be found either: Beneath the outer surface of the uterus, within the wall of the uterus, or inside the uterus.
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Not much is known about the cause of fibroids, but evidence suggests that their growth is related to estrogen and hormones. In fact, increased levels of these hormones may speed up the growth rate of fibroids.
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Acupuncture and Chinese herbs have been clinically proven to shrink the size of fibroids. We can prepare an herbal formula based on the location of the fibroids and your individual body constitution.
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