Acupuncture for Back Pain When faced with back pain, acupuncture should be the first line of defense, not a last resort. Acupuncture works to dissolve trigger points that cause pain, reduce inflammation in the muscle, and block pain signals from the nerves. It also helps address emotional and energetic causes of back pain. Acupuncture has…
Most people think of going to massage for pain relief and acupuncture for more chronic or internal conditions. This isn’t wrong, it’s just not the whole picture. Let’s take a deeper look into the training required for both scopes of healing as well as where each modality excels. Training required for Acupuncture License In order…
What pain teaches me, and how it helps you Desperation for pain relief is primal. I experienced some of the most acute physical pain I’ve experienced in years recently. A sinus infection that felt like someone stabbing me in the left eyeball evolved into the worst (and maybe only) earache I’ve had as an adult….
CBDs are gaining national attention for their incredible therapeutic effects. CBDs are a potent natural anti-inflammatory, with the potential to replace riskier pharmaceuticals. As marijuana becomes legalized in more states, the body of data on using cannabinoids as medical treatments will grow. Stay tuned my friends, this is an exciting topic in healthcare! It’s all…
Fibromyalgia (FM) means “pain of the muscle fiber,” and the most characteristic symptom is a high level of pain in muscle tissue. It wasn’t until 1987 that the American Medical Association (AMA) recognized it as a “distinct condition that is responsible for significant disability (Marcus, 1).” The typical sufferer of fibromyalgia is: female, over 30, and has some…
I find one of my greatest challenges, is helping my patients understand all that acupuncture can do! It isn’t just for pain. Although, it does a fantastic job of relieving pain. Here is a list of some of the things acupuncture can do for you: heal injuries relieve pain improve digestion improve sleep reduce stress…
Acupuncture sessions come with side effects. Fortunately, they don’t read like the typical advertisement for prescription meds. If you have ever read the small print that comes with a prescription medication, you were probably alarmed at the long list of potential “side effects”. Most people never read anything about the medication they are prescribed, and therefore…
1. Neurotransmitter Theory Acupuncture affects higher brain areas, stimulating the secretion of beta-endorphins and enkephalins in the brain and spinal cord. The release of neurotransmitters influences the immune system and the antinociceptive system. 7,8,9 2. Autonomic Nervous System Theory Acupuncture stimulates the release of norepinephrine, acetylcholine and several other types of opioids, affecting changes in…
(This is adapted from Clare Mallory O’Nan’s thoughtful Facebook post) Many of my patients have been asking me about dry needling lately. Dry needling (DN) is included in the scope of practice of physical therapists (PTs) in Colorado, which is why you’re hearing the term more and more. As it gains in popularity, many people are…
1. It treats more than pain! Chinese Medicine is designed to be a complete healthcare system, which can treat literally ANY problem. This doesn’t mean that Chinese Medicine treats every problem as well as other medical interventions, but it does broaden the scope of what most people assume acupuncture can do. Many “incurable” conditions according…
