City Acupuncture Pain Clinic

05/09/2016

The U.S. National Institutes of Health has accepted the effectiveness of nondrug approaches for treating common pain conditions. These complementary health approaches, including acupuncture and yoga, have long been disregarded by the mainstream medical community.

In the latest issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, the NIH said, "Some of the most popular complementary health approaches -- such as yoga, tai chi, and acupuncture -- appear to be effective tools for helping to manage common pain conditions."

A group of NIH researchers randomly selected 105 controlled trials relevant to pain patients and conducted in the U.S. between 1966 and 2016. They reviewed the results of clinical trials involving more than 16,000 subjects who were treated for five painful conditions -- back pain, osteoarthritis, neck pain, fibromyalgia, and severe headaches and migraine.

The review found that acupuncture and yoga were particularly effective for treating back pain, acupuncture and tai chi for osteoarthritis of the knee, massage therapy for neck pain, and relaxation techniques for headaches. Though less effective, spinal manipulation may also help people with back pain, it found.

05/09/2016

Heart Healthy Tips to Reduce Stress

In this fast-paced world we find it’s pretty hard to slow down. Everyday stressors are the norm and although some stress is good, too much can hurt the body not only mentally but physically as well. Work, family, finances and everything in between can start to take a toll on your health. Below are tips that not only help to reduce stress but are good for heart health as well.

Exercise

Not only is exercise a good way to relieve stress, but is great for strengthening the heart as well. Try getting some sort of physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day. Focus on activities that get your heart pumping. Exercise will reduce your stress and improve your overall health short term and long term.

Give yourself a break

It is easy to forget to give yourself time to relax when you’re busy taking care of others. Schedule time devoted to yourself and what relaxes and makes you happy. Go for a walk, read a book or take a bath. These activities can calm you and clear your head.

Meditate

Meditation and deep breathing has the power to slow your body and mind down. Try meditating for even just five minutes a day. Practice deep breathing to help lower your heart rate. When you’re feeling overwhelmed and handling too much, meditation is a great way to slow down.

Break your habits

Consistent stress can lead to unhealthy habits such as drinking too much alcohol and smoking. Although you may feel these substances help you cope in the moment, the long term damage far outweighs the short term benefits. Both smoking and alcohol can cause heart damage. Turn to alternatives if you’re reaching for a cigarette or a drink and reach out to family and friends to help you break the habit.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an effective alternative medicine that can help improve heart health as well as lower stress. By the specific placement of needles on acupuncture points, the treatment works to treat the entire body back to optimal health. Acupuncture can help reduce blood pressure, decrease stress and improve sleep.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is another alternative treatment that is beneficial in lowering stress. The treatment has been shown to reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure and increase blood circulation. Through manual manipulation, massage can relax not only the body but the mind as well.

Let go

It can be hard to accept that things in life don’t go exactly as planned. Practice letting go of what you can’t control and accepting that the future is unknown. It is easy to stress about the future. Remind yourself to live in the moment.

Sources:
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05/09/2016

Acupuncture for high blood pressure and healthy food for the heart

28/09/2014

Boost Your Immune System Using These Two Points

Although they are invisible to the naked eye, we are exposed to millions upon millions of germs. Bacteria, viruses , fungi and protozoa are found on nearly every surface,  including doorknobs, furniture, office supplies, phones, remote controls, and even the food we eat. Thankfully, most of these germs are harmless and pose no direct threat ...

25/09/2014

Feng Shui for a Healthy Home

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), all of life is influenced by seasonal cycles.  You are probably familiar with this in acupuncture, but did you know that these cycles also affect your home?

The practice of making a home “healthy” is called Feng Shui.  By directing the flow of Qi through your home in a balanced way, you can cr...

25/09/2014

Acupuncture 101: Kidneys

Winter is the season for the kidneys & bladder.

In Western medicine, kidneys are the organs that filter and purify blood.  They maintain pH, mineral and electrolyte balance by removing excess water and salts to create urine.  The urine is then stored in the bladder until you p*e.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the kidn...

18/09/2014

What You Need to Know about Food Allergies

Food allergies are common these days. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that food allergies among children increased approximately 50% between 1997 and 2011.[1]

No one knows why food allergies are increasing, although several theories exist. This leaves doctors and scientists unsure about what to recommend in ord...

18/09/2014

If You Want to Improve Your Posture Try This

Do you suffer from poor posture? Whether you’re sitting down at a desk, standing, walking or running, you should focus on maintaining your body’s natural position. This means keeping your head and neck up while avoiding slouching or slumping. The good news is that you can reverse the effects of poor posture by following some simple steps.
Some o...

18/09/2014

7 Superfoods That Can Change Your Life

You are what you eat is an adage that holds more truth than you may realize. Unfortunately, many people today focus their diet around processed foods that are high in sugar, sodium and fat. Diets such as this can increase a person’s risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and more. You can protect your body and health against such il...