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Five Reasons Acupuncture Helps Eczema

acupuncture models historic 1My patients with eczema are looking for natural and safe therapies. Acupuncture seems like an obvious choice because it is safe and has been used for skin conditions for thousands of years. But people don’t always know why it helps.

Acupuncture for Eczema

Acupuncture is a therapy that uses very thin needles to stimulate acupuncture points that have a specific healing effect. Its very safe and is very relaxing experience.

Here are a number of reasons why acupuncture is great for helping eczema.

1. Acupuncture helps to reduce itch. If you’re reading this article, then you probably know … Read More

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Acupuncture Treatment of Stress Incontinence

acupuncture lower back Stress incontinence is an all too common problem after having a baby, prostate surgery, or developing over time. It’s not something people always want to talk about, but it affects many aspects of your life.  Stress incontinence can occur because of weakening of the muscles of the pelvic floor and bladder sphincter.

The good news is that acupuncture can help reduce stress incontinence.

Electro Acupuncture for Stress Incontinence

I have treated many people with urinary incontinence and frequent urination with electroacupuncture in my clinic. My acupuncture therapy usually focuses on acupuncture points that lie on the urinary bladder and … Read More

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Acupuncture and the Healing Process

bamboo Acupuncture works by stimulating the body to heal itself.  In Chinese Medicine this is done by identifying the underlying imbalance in the body and tailoring the acupuncture treatment to correct this imbalance.  I like to describe this process as hitting the reset switch bringing the body back to balance.

Acupuncture also works by releasing pain relieving chemicals and reduce inflammation.(1)

Treating the Root and Branch

In Chinese Medicine we say we need to treat both the root cause of the issue and the branch, the symptoms.  The process is focuses on getting to the root cause of the issue in … Read More

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Getting the Qi

acupuncture on upper backDuring and acupuncture treatment there are many considerations: what acupuncture points to choose, how long should the acupuncture treatment last, and if to use electroacupuncture or not. Another goal is to “Get the Qi” at certain acupuncture points.

Getting the Qi

Qi is the energy which flows through channels on the body. Acupuncture stimulates the movement, production, and balance of Qi. Getting in the Qi, traditionally called De Qi, is when I stimulate the acupuncture needle to stimulate the acupuncture point. You will feel the acupuncture point grab the needle and if there is a trigger point, the muscle under … Read More

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Is Acupuncture Hocus Pocus?

acupuncture on back“I used to think that acupuncture was hocus pocus.  But now I am happy I tried,” a once skeptical now relieved patient said to me.

People new to acupuncture are sometimes wary because they think it’s magical.  But after experiencing an acupuncture treatment, they usually feel very different.  This is because acupuncture relaxes the body, decreases pain, and regulates the nervous system, so you physically feel different after an acupuncture treatment.

Research has shown that acupuncture works by regulating pain relieving chemicals in the brain , modifying pain patterns within the nervous system, as well as stimulating the release

… Read More
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Chinese Herb Tastes and Temperatures

Chinese herbal teaIf you’ve ever drank a cup of Chinese Herbs, you know they taste unique. It can range from strong tea, to cinnamon and ginger, to very twiggy and quite bitter.

Over the thousands of years of Chinese medicine, scholars have classified herbs according to taste and temperature to describe their healing function. The traditional way to test if the herb is of high quality is by tasting it. This process is called organoleptics. Sophisticated Chinese medicine doctors and herbal pharmacists know an herb’s quality from tasting, smelling, and the look of the herbs.

The Flavors of Herbs

There are 5 … Read More

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QiGong Exercises for Back Pain

tai chi in field copy 2I have been practicing tai ji and qi gong for over 20 years. These practices have been a huge part of healing my own back pain and have helped prevent it from returning. Over the last decade of my acupuncture practice I have been treated many patients with back pain and pelvic pain. I  often would teach my patients tai ji positions and movements as part of their rehabilitation.  I saw how the exercises helped my patients the same way in which the tai ji helped me improve.  Eventually, I created this qi gong exercise routine for my patients to … Read More

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Chinese Medicine Antioxidants

Traditional Chinese Medicine has a long history of promoting longevity and treating age related conditions. Recently, research shows that Chinese medicine therapies such as herbs, acupuncture, and tai ji all have antioxidant capabilities.

Oxidative stress can be understood as an imbalance between the creation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body’s ability to detoxify through antioxidants and other mechanisms.[1]  Health in TCM is based upon the idea of balance which can be understood as a homeostatic state.[2]

Herbal Antioxidants

chinese herbs 1 copyTraditional Chinese medicine has long focused on longevity and improving health for those with age related diseases such as arthritis, … Read More

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5 Things You Should Do (at Home) to Improve Your Digestion

blog constipation- 3As an acupuncturist I know that digestive health is central to feeling good and preventing illness. Unfortunately, if you have irritable Bowel Syndrome you know you can have bloating, gas, abdominal pain, and lots of other uncomfortable symptoms that stop you from feeling good. In addition to acupuncture for IBS, there’s a lot you can start doing today to help yourself feel better.

1. Acupressure at the acupressure point Stomach 36 can help reduce IBS symptoms. This point is one of the most important and frequently used acupuncture points. It helps regulate your GI tract to stimulate gastric motility … Read More

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Acupuncture for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Up to 45 million of people in the US live with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), a condition that comes with a number of uncomfortable symptoms including, bloating, gas, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, or mixed diarrhea and constipation. In addition to overall feeling unwell, IBS also impacts work, school, and social situations.[1]

There is hope to feel better. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine are helpful in treating IBS.[2,3]

In my ten years of practice I have helped hundreds of patients with IBS improve with acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Alban_052113_082 copy

What Causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome

According to acupuncture, not all people get … Read More