Autoimmune diseases can prove to be intricate and seemingly unsolvable puzzles for many people. And statistics prove this to be true as millions worldwide are impacted by autoimmune diseases ranging from rheumatoid arthritis to lupus, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, irritable bowel disease, and even Parkinson’s disease. Conventional medicine can diagnose 100 different autoimmune conditions, however the treatments offered don’t completely resolve the issues associated with the disease and in extreme cases, no treatment is available at all. And yet, in the midst of all these medical challenges that autoimmune diseases present, acupuncture emerges as a promising ally, offering relief to those grappling with these often-complex health conditions.

According to a study published in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture has shown significant efficacy in alleviating symptoms associated with autoimmune diseases, with an impressive success rate of more than 80%. This ancient practice, rooted in the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, operates on the belief that disruptions in the body’s vital energy, or qi, contribute to illness. By stimulating specific points along meridians, acupuncture aims to rebalance qi and promote healing from within.

Acupuncture and Autoimmune Diseases

While the exact mechanisms underlying acupuncture’s effectiveness in treating autoimmune diseases continue to be made known, emerging research offers insights into its multifaceted benefits. Studies suggest that acupuncture may modulate immune responses, dampening inflammation and regulating immune function. Additionally, acupuncture’s ability to stimulate the release of endorphins and other neurotransmitters can mitigate pain and enhance overall well-being.

Acupuncture continues to be celebrated for its holistic approach to managing various health conditions, addressing not only the physical symptoms of autoimmune diseases but also their emotional and psychological manifestations. By fostering a sense of relaxation and equilibrium, acupuncture nurtures the body’s innate capacity to heal, fostering a profound sense of empowerment and resilience.

In a landscape marked by the complexities of autoimmune diseases, acupuncture can be a light at the end of the tunnel for many patients struggling to find relief — a gentle yet effective ally in the quest for healing and wholeness. With its roots deeply intertwined with millennia of wisdom and tradition, acupuncture offers a pathway toward holistic wellness, harnessing the body’s innate intelligence to navigate the labyrinth of autoimmune challenges.

As we think about the boundless potential of acupuncture in the realm of treating autoimmune diseases, it’s important to hold equal parts of curiosity and expectation. Your practitioner will conduct a thorough health history prior to your first treatment so they can understand exactly what you have been dealing with. Together, you will develop a treatment plan and explore the possibilities that acupuncture can bring to the table. You may learn about different herbal remedies as well. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and share your concerns. It’s possible that your acupuncturist will uncover underlying conditions that also can be treated, leading to a clearer picture of your health. 

Sometimes we need to look in the past in order to move forward. How might the ancient wisdom of acupuncture illuminate new pathways toward healing and restoration in the modern era? If you suffer from an autoimmune disease, consider acupuncture as a holistic approach to achieving wellness. If you’ve tried everything else, make an appointment today to learn more about the possibilities acupuncture brings to treating disease and achieving whole-body balance.

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Life can be incredibly stressful. Even if things are going well, the constant pull of the needs of others including kids, coworkers, parents, and friends can leave us feeling drained and will often lead us into making poor lifestyle choices.
But what if there was a place you could go to heal your body and your mind? A sanctuary of sorts, where you can find serenity and healing through the art of acupuncture.

I can help you find the path to detoxification — a journey of renewal and revitalization for both body and soul.

What exactly Is The Science Behind This Ancient Practice?

According to a study published in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture has been shown to stimulate the body’s natural detoxification processes, aiding in the elimination of toxins through the liver, kidneys, and lymphatic system. Furthermore, statistics from the National Institutes of Health reveal a growing acceptance of acupuncture in the Western world, with over 14 million adults in the United States alone reporting its use as a complementary therapy.

Not only does it assist in flushing out toxins from the body, but it also promotes relaxation, reduces stress, and restores balance to mind and body.
Depending on your health concerns, I will work with you to determine the number of sessions that will help you achieve your goals. I might also advise you on changes to your diet and prescribe herbs and/or supplements that can help you detoxify your body. With each session, you may find yourself feeling lighter, more energized, and more vibrant — ready to face the world with renewed vitality.

Why not take the first step today?
Are you ready to rediscover radiance and embark on a journey of holistic healing with acupuncture? The journey of detoxification through acupuncture is a deeply personal and transformative experience. As you follow this path towards wellness, you may find solace in the gentle touch of ancient wisdom and the profound healing power of your own body.

It’s time to make your health and wellness a priority. Taking care of yourself helps you take care of the ones you love.

Contact me for more information.

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Cupping and acupuncture are a successful combination for dealing with chronic pain and muscle strains. Its popularity has grown in recent years, and you’ve probably seen professional athletes and celebrities with the telltale giant red welts all over their bodies. Here’s what you need to know if you are thinking about adding cupping to your acupuncture treatment.

What is Cupping?

Cupping is a technique used to stimulate acupuncture points by applying a glass, plastic, or bamboo cup to the skin. The suction created by the cups causes the skin and the superficial muscle layer to be drawn into the cup. This is what stimulates blood flow and relaxes muscle tissue. This process gives skin that “bruised” appearance, but it’s important to know that no blood vessels are being broken in this process.

How Long Will It Take?

Typically, the cups are left in place for anywhere from five to 20 minutes while you relax. Oil can be applied to the skin to help the cups slide over areas needing treatment and is usually done on the back. It’s also common to use four, six or 10 cups depending on the severity of the condition being treated.

What Will Cupping Treat?

Frequently applied after acupuncture, cupping is used for treatment of sprains, soft tissue injuries, fluid retention in the lungs, bronchitis, congestion, asthma, and chronic cough. Cupping is also recommended for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. Alleviating swelling and pain, cupping addresses a variety of acute ailments by removing stasis, or energy blockages. Cupping therapies often follow the acupoint selection pattern used in acupuncture therapy; back points in fleshy areas of the body are preferred sites. Increased blood flow into the cupping area allows the body region to heal more quickly and brings toxins to the surface, which can be released through the pores.

What is it Doing to My Body?

What’s happening in your body is that the cupping technique is activating your lymphatic system by causing your tissue to release toxins and clearing any energy blockages. Your acupuncturist might utilize cupping in addition to your traditional acupuncture treatment if you suffer from acute or chronic deep tissue pain. 

Is There More Than One Type of Cupping?

The short answer is: Yes! There are several cupping techniques that can be used depending on what condition is being treated.  

• Dry cupping: defined as generating negative pressure inside the cups with fire, a manual pump or electrical suctioning (also called retained or static cupping).

• Flash cupping: a practitioner uses quick suctions of light to medium pressure for less than 30 seconds at a time.

• Needle cupping: acupuncturist applies short acupuncture needles and then places the cups on the areas to be treated. 

• Herbal cupping: practitioner boils an herbal solution, soaks bamboo cups, and then applies the slightly cooled cups to the skin.

• Electrical simulation cupping: this technique uses transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). This technique is commonly used to treat muscular pain and to target specific points.

The combination of traditional acupuncture and cupping might just be the winning combination you have been searching for!

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If acupuncture is new to you, you might not know that there are different forms of acupuncture. While Chinese acupuncture is a bit more mainstream here in the West, Japanese acupuncture is becoming renowned for its effectiveness. Traditional Japanese acupuncture (which includes Meridian Therapy) is defined as “an imbalance in qi and blood flowing in the meridians which is considered to be the cause of disease.” The aim is to regulate the flow of both qi and blood.

Its roots are in Chinese acupuncture but there are some differences. Read on to learn what those are so you can see if Japanese acupuncture is right for you.

Needles

The first difference involves the types of needles used. Both Chinese and Japanese needles are often made from the highest grade surgical stainless steel, however Japanese needles are typically much finer than their Chinese counterparts. This is great news for patients who experience minimal pain or discomfort. 

Depth

In the Japanese style of acupuncture, needles are inserted at a shallower depth than in Chinese acupuncture. This is due to a difference in philosophy as Chinese practitioners’ believer the body’s energy (or qi) is reached through deeper insertion and stimulation, where Japanese practitioners believe this same energy is found closer to the surface. 

Tailored Treatment

Often, in Chinese acupuncture, a practitioner will place needles in certain channels of the body and leave them there for a desired amount of time, depending on what is being treated and the severity. The practitioner may leave the room and begin work on another patient. 

However, in Japanese acupuncture, importance is placed on the correct dosage for each patient. What this means is that diagnostic indicators are constantly monitored to make sure the desired changes are occurring within the body. This means the practitioner is present and working with the patient for most of the session to make sure the desired outcome is achieved. 

“Alive Points”

Perhaps the biggest difference between the two types of acupuncture is in the treatment of what Japanese acupuncturists term, “alive points.” Unlike Chinese acupuncture where a fixed anatomical location on the body is treated, Japanese practitioners will use palpation along the meridian to find an “alive point” requiring treatment. 

Two Styles

There are two main styles of Japanese acupuncture. The Toyo Hari involves palpation of the pulse, stomach (Hara) and channels along certain areas of the body to determine what needs to be re-balanced. Then, gold, silver stainless steel and/or Moxa are used to stimulate the flow of energy at active or “alive” points on the body. Sometimes, with this style of Japanese acupuncture, there is no insertion of needles at all. 

Manaka involves the use of polarity devices and magnets to stimulate deeper channels. This style is often helpful in treating liver conditions. 

There are other different techniques used including contact needling, simple insertion, sparrow pecking (once the needle reaches a certain depth it is repeatedly moved up and down by a few millimeters), twisting, flicking, and electro acupuncture just to name a few. 

If you are considering Japanese acupuncture, talk to your practitioner about your health goals. They can answer your questions and will do a full health history to determine the best course of treatment for you. 

To get a more in-depth understanding of Japanese acupuncture, a great resource is the Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion.

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. And ethnicity doesn’t matter, as people of all racial and ethnic groups are impacted. With such serious statistics, many might wonder what treatment options are available. Did you know that acupuncture can help with treating heart disease, as well as many of its contributing factors? Read on to learn how.

Whether as a solo treatment or in combination with other traditional medical treatments, acupuncture is a great option for those suffering from heart disease, particularly as a preventative measure. Not surprisingly, the top three risk factors for developing heart disease are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. While lifestyle changes are also key to preventing heart disease, there are some additional steps you can take through regular acupuncture treatments to mitigate the risk factors of heart disease.

Acupuncture Points and Herbs for Treating Heart Disease

There are six common points related to treating heart disease:

• HT1 (Ji Quan) – located under the arm and is used for heart pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, anxiety, and palpitations.
• HT9 (Shao Chong) – located on the pinky and is used for heart attack, stroke, and heart pain.
• SP3 (Taibai) – located on the bottom of the foot and is used for heart pain.
• UB15 (Xin Shu) – located near the spine and is used for heart palpitations, anxiety, and heart pain.
• Hu Po – herbal formulation used for tremors, to stop palpitations, to help with insomnia, and used for coronary heart disease.
• Xue Fu Zhu Yu Wan – herbal formulation used for coronary artery disease, angina, and other cardiovascular health issues.

What the Research Says

Northwestern Medicine is currently studying acupuncture as an effective treatment for heart rhythm disorders, pain, and nausea, and for use after cardiac surgery. Researchers sought to answer three main questions: 1. Would patients embrace acupuncture during heart surgery? 2. Is it logistically feasible in a cardiac surgery setting to provide daily acupuncture to patients? 3. Does acupuncture impact medical outcomes such as AFib and post-surgical symptoms like pain, nausea, stress, and anxiety?

According to lead researcher Dr. Kim Feingold, “We learned that acupuncture after open heart surgery is feasible in this fast-paced environment – even in the intensive care unit the day after surgery – and was well tolerated by patients with no adverse effects.” The research team concluded that acupuncture used after heart surgery produced lower rates of post-operative atrial fibrillation, reduced pain, nausea, stress and anxiety, less time in the intensive care unit, and a reduced need for antiarrhythmic medication.

Help with Risk Factors

As mentioned previously, acupuncture can also help patients address risk factors that can lead to future heart issues. For example, acupuncture is great at treating high blood pressure, helping people to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, and regulate sleep. Acupuncture looks to return balance to the body, thus improving overall health and wellness. If you suffer from one or more of these risk factors, it will likely take many sessions to address these issues. Your acupuncturist will work with you to conduct a complete health history and treatment plan addressing each of your concerns. The treatment plan may also include herbal formulas to help patients reach their health goals. 

Don’t wait until a more serious issue arises, if you are looking to jumpstart your New Year with new health goals, make an appointment today. Share your concerns, be honest with your practitioner and let them help you to achieve your health goals. Better health is within your reach and acupuncture can help you get there.

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This is the time of year when many are looking to start (or restart) their wellness routines. Self-care Saturdays may have fallen by the wayside during the holiday season so now is the time to get back on track.

As you examine your health goals and priorities this year, consider adding acupuncture to your wellness program. 

Health Benefits

Acupuncture provides a holistic, non-pharmacological approach to wellness and addresses a variety of physical and emotional concerns you might be struggling with.

1. REGULATES EMOTIONS It’s a less intrusive alternative to drug therapies for many types of mental/emotional issues including depression, anxiety, or just stress.
2. CORRECTS DIGESTIVE IMBALANCES The World Health Organization acknowledges acupuncture’s role in effectively treating digestive issues like heartburn, lactose intolerance, and irritable bowel syndrome.
3. IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF YOUR SLEEP Prescription and over-the-counter sleep remedies only treat the symptoms associated with insomnia. By reducing stress and inducing a feeling of calm and balance of the mind and body, acupuncture targets the core issues to regulate your body’s energy and restore the sleep cycle.
4. REDUCES PAIN AND INFLAMMATION Stimulating specific points on the body, acupuncture can treat headaches, back pain, and arthritis, to name just a few. It activates the body’s natural defense against inflammation by helping the body release more cortisol and stimulating the vagus nerve.

Setting Yourself Up for Success

Here are some ways you can successfully integrate acupuncture into your wellness routine.

• Create a schedule to plan your regular acupuncture sessions; consistency is important when it comes to integrating acupuncture.
• Acupuncture can be extremely effective when combined with other wellness practices like meditation, yoga, and a healthy diet. Don’t be afraid to explore different approaches to see what works best for you.

Contact me and find out how acupuncture can become a valuable addition to your wellness journey, helping you achieve balance in your overall health!

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There are a variety of gastrointestinal and autoimmune diseases that can contribute to what is known as leaky gut syndrome.
So, what exactly is leaky gut syndrome? It’s close to exactly what it sounds like. Each one of us has semi-permeable guts. What that means is the mucous lining of our intestines is designed to absorb water and nutrients from our food. Your intestinal lining is responsible for acting as a barrier to bacteria. With leaky gut syndrome, your intestinal lining “leaks” allowing more water and nutrients through, but also potentially allowing toxic molecules to come through as well. 

Some common causes of leaky gut include suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, undergoing chemotherapy or radiation, chronic overuse of NSAIDs or alcohol, and even food allergies. Symptoms can include gas, bloating, low energy levels, and painful indigestion. Basically, your immune system is compromised when you have leaky gut. 

If you think leaky gut syndrome might be an issue, there are some steps you can take that may provide some relief. Dietary changes are typically the first order of business:

• Avoid alcohol, processed sugars, caffeine, and dairy products.
• Try eating more organic fruits and vegetables loaded with antioxidants that fight off free radicals.

The next step is to make an appointment for acupuncture to rebalance your energy. Chinese medicine can be an extremely helpful tool in repairing your leaky gut. I’ll take a full health history to examine the underlying causes of the issue that is creating this imbalance in your body. Duration and frequency of treatment will vary depending on the severity of the condition.

Traditional medicine often just prescribes various drugs to address the symptoms of leaky gut, but it doesn’t get to the root of the problem.
Make an appointment today to begin the journey to rebalance your energy and heal your gut from the inside out.

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The meridian system is a phrase that comes up often during acupuncture treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that energy (also referred to as qi) flows throughout the body much like blood does. When this flow of energy becomes disrupted, symptoms and disease can occur. Acupuncture and other forms of Eastern medicine work to restore the flow of energy throughout the body using the meridian system.

Meridians are channels that direct the flow of energy through specific pathways of the body. Think of it like a superhighway the energy in your body uses to move about your organ systems. Picture a body divided in half from top to bottom. Each side of the body is traversed by six meridians: three yin and three yang. Here are the 12 major meridians of the body and the function they perform.

Each meridian is assigned to what could be called a circuit, called an element. There are five elements: Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal. Here are how those five elements work in the meridian system:

• Fire: Heart and small intestine meridian, circulation and three-fold warming meridian.
• Earth: Stomach and spleen meridian.
• Metal: Lung and colon meridian.
• Water: Kidney and bladder meridian.
• Wood: Liver and gallbladder meridian.

Lung (Arm Tai Yin, Metal Element): Regulates respiration and the intake of energy. 

Large Intestine (Arm Yang Ming, Metal Element): Extracts and processes water from waste material before expelling it from the body. 

Stomach (Leg Yang Ming, Earth Element): Digests and extracts energy from food and then distributes that energy through to the spleen and intestines.

Spleen (Leg Tai Yin, Earth Element): Distributes nutrients throughout the body, maintains muscle tone and regulates blood flow.

Heart (Arm Shao Yin, Fire Element): Circulates blood to all the organs in the body.

Small Intestine (Arm Tai Yang, Fire Element): Distributes nutrients throughout the body.

Bladder (Leg Tai Yang, Water Element): Removes liquid waste from the body.

Kidney (Leg Shao Yin, Water Element): Stores sexual energy, regulates the reproductive system, and produces blood and bone marrow.

Pericardium (Arm Jue Yin, Fire Element): The pericardium is an important part of the body and is the area that surrounds the heart, protecting it and removing excess energy. This meridian channel disperses energy throughout the body, thus preventing the heart from receiving too much energy.

Triple Warmer (Arm Shao Yang, Fire Element): Also called San Jiao, it controls the body and is not just responsible for a particular organ system. It helps to control metabolism and regulates heat, moisture, and body temperature.

Gallbladder (Leg Shao Yang, Wood Element): Stores and expels bile produced by the liver.

Liver (Leg Jue Yin, Wood Element): Circulates energy, regulates menstruation and the female reproductive system. It also maintains flexibility of the tendons and ligaments.

At your first visit, I will conduct a thorough health history and determine the best treatment options to get your qi balanced and flowing properly. I will also discuss your daily routine and habits and provide recommendations for your diet and exercise routine, as well as your acupuncture treatment options. 

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese medicine look at the whole body and will work with you to get every system back to its optimal performance by addressing the root cause and not just your symptoms. If you are looking for a holistic and natural drug-free alternative to your health care, make an appointment today.

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You might think breathing is second nature…you’re doing it right now as you are reading this. Did you know, however, that there are different kinds of breathing and that what is called ‘deep breathing’ can have important health benefits?

Read on to learn three of the most important reasons you should add deep breathing to your daily routine.

Manage Anxiety and Depression

Deep breathing, also known as diaphragmatic breathing, activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is also known as the “rest and digest” system. The job of the parasympathetic nervous system is to conserve energy that is then used for bodily functions like digestion and urination. Deep breathing helps to activate the vagus nerve which oversees mood, digestion, and even heart rate. 

Improve Focus and Reduce Stress

As part of my lifestyle recommendations, I always suggest taking a minute to check in with oneself throughout the day, especially in times of stress or when you feel like you can’t focus; it’s a great way to incorporate deep breathing.

Here’s how: 

Your diaphragm is the small muscle just below your lungs. If you breathe correctly, it contracts and moves downward so your lungs expand to take in fresh air. When you exhale, the opposite occurs, and your diaphragm relaxes and slides further up your chest cavity. 

First, put one hand over your heart and one hand on your abdomen. Breathe in through your nose, allowing the air to fill your belly. Notice how the hand on your stomach moves while the hand on your heart doesn’t. Draw your navel toward your spine as you exhale. If it helps, pretend you are blowing out the candles on your birthday cake. Notice how the hand on your stomach slides back to its original position. Repeat these steps three to five times to start paying particular attention to how you feel after each breath.

This process will improve your focus and lower your stress levels the more you incorporate it into your day. Maybe set an alarm on your phone to stop once in the morning, once during lunch and once in the evening to practice deep breathing. 

Improves Sleep

If you find yourself in high stress situations and suffering from anxiety or depression, then you probably aren’t sleeping very well either. Use these steps to slow yourself down before bed to clear your mind and slow your heart rate. Keep a journal once you begin deep breathing regularly and you may notice that the more you do it the better you find yourself sleeping. 

And just like almost everything in life, there is an app for that! There are several apps available to help you manage your breathing. If you own an Apple Watch, you already have access to a breathing app, perfectly named Breathe. The app will check in with you, prompting you to take one-minute breathing breaks and guiding you when to exhale and inhale. There are other apps available so a quick search in your app store will help you find the one that is right for you. 

The best part about incorporating deep breathing into your daily routine is that you can do it anywhere and nobody even realizes that’s what you are doing. When you know you are going to head into a situation that is stressful or gives you anxiety, practice deep breathing ahead of time and during the event. 

Deep breathing is a fantastic tool for your mental health toolbox so take the time to incorporate it into your daily routine and pay attention to how you feel before and after. Adjust how often and what time of day you might practice deep breathing and watch your body and your mind adapt to that increase in oxygen throughout the day.

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According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 20 million people in the United States suffer from peripheral neuropathy. The NIH also notes that it is particularly common among those suffering from diabetes.
So, what is peripheral neuropathy and can acupuncture help to relieve its symptoms?

Peripheral Neuropathy Defined

Medical professionals define peripheral neuropathy as a disease affecting the nerves that causes weakness, numbness and pain in the feet and hands. Symptoms vary but can include tingling and/or numbness in the hands and feet, sharp, stabbing pain, a weak or heavy feeling in the arms and legs and even a drop in blood pressure for some.

How Acupuncture Can Help

Although more research is being done, early research does suggest that acupuncture can help with the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. A pilot study done in 2007 provided promising results and a 2017 study also found that, “acupuncture appears to improve nerve conduction study parameters in both sensory and motor nerves.”

In addition to improving the immune system and improving the flow of energy in the body, acupuncture can work to relax muscles and reduce pain.
It’s important to have a proper medical diagnosis; I will then take a complete health history, determine the underlying cause, and provide the proper treatment recommendations.

If you suffer from peripheral neuropathy, acupuncture treatment just might provide the relief you are looking for.

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