Props to Acupuncture on MSNBC!

This is a great video, but I hate how he keeps saying the needles were "jammed" in to his ear. There is no "jamming" technique in acupuncture!

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Is Acupuncture Right For You?

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be used for a variety of conditions. Below is an introductory video explaining the many conditions that can benefit from these safe, natural and effective therapies. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule a consultation or appointment.

Hit the Links Pain-Free! Acupuncture for Golfer's Elbow

The weather is starting to warm up and several local golf courses are open for business. It’s time to dust off your clubs and start hitting the driving range!

The quiet and concentrated nature of golf gives the impression that it’s not a very physically demanding sport. However, there is much more physical ability required than most people think and golfers experience their fair share of injuries. A golf swing is a motion with several components that involves strength and balance from the bottoms of the feet to the top of the head. Because of this, the whole body is vulnerable to injury, and any pre-existing injuries can affect one’s swing.

What is Golfer's Elbow?

One particular injury is so prevalent in the sport that it has earned its own name. Golfer’s Elbow is an injury to the medial (closest to the midline of the body) portion of the elbow. Also known as medial epicondylitis, it is characterized by pain and inflammation at the inside of the elbow that is aggravated by flexion of the wrist and/or gripping objects with the hand. Tennis Elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a similar injury except that it is located on the outside of the elbow. In addition to pain and stiffness at the elbow, epicondylitis can also cause pain, weakness and numbness in the forearm, wrist, hand and fingers.

The epicondyles, the bony prominences on the inside and outside of the elbow, are where the muscles and tendons of the forearm connect to the humerus (the bone of the upper arm). Medial epicondylitis is not limited to golfers. It can occur in anyone who grips or throws with improper form such as baseball or softball players, racquet sports, painters, typists, construction workers, etc. Basically, any repetitive wrist, arm or hand motion can, over time, cause medial epicondylitis.

Treating Golfer's Elbow with acupuncture

The traditional treatment for medial epicondylitis is rest, ice and anti-inflammatory drugs. Rest is key, but if you belong to a league, have a golf tournament coming up, or don’t want to give up your weekend outings you will want to get back out on the course as fast as possible.

Acupuncture is a natural, drug-free, safe and effective treatment for Golfer’s Elbow (or any injury). Studies have shown that acupuncture stimulates the body to release endorphins, the body’s natural pain-killers. It also encourages healing by increasing circulation to the area, reducing inflammation and unblocking the stagnation of qi or energy in the affected area. More recent studies have shown through functional MRI scans of the brain that acupuncture has an effect on brain activity in the areas that regulate sensation and fear. So that means decreased pain, faster healing, and perhaps a better golf game!

Getting A Jump On Your Springtime Allergies

You may be saying to yourself "It's only March! Why is she talking about spring allergies already?" Acupuncture and herbal medicine are not only effective for the treatment of acute symptoms of allergies, but can also be used as a preventative medicine. For the prevention, or at the very least a decrease, of spring allergy symptoms it is best to start a treatment regimen two to three months in advance in order to strengthen your body's defenses. By the time peak allergy season rolls around, the body's immune system should be strong enough to defend against the influx of allergens. Preventative treatment can be as simple as one treatment a week, or every other week, and a small daily dose of herbs. Because this is an overall immune boosting treatment, it can help to prevent colds and flus as well.

In Chinese medicine, the approach to treating allergies is similar to that of treating colds and flus. Chinese medical theory believes that sickness is due to pathogens in the surrounding air entering the body when the immune system becomes compromised. Pollen, dust and mold are the pathogenic culprits the body works to defend itself from. Acupuncture and herbal medicine helps to "release the exterior" (a metaphorical term that refers to pushing pathogens out of the body) while strengthening lung and respiratory health.

While symptomatic, acupuncture can help alleviate your stuffy sinuses, itchy eyes, sneezing, and all the other irritating symptoms that come with allergies. During this time it is especially important to reduce your intake of foods that have a tendency to increase inflammation and aggravate allergy symptoms (i.e. wheat, processed sugars, dairy and alcohol).

As a sufferer of springtime allergies myself, I know exactly how miserable one can get during this time of year. Allergy medications can make you feel fuzzy-headed, drowsy and dried out. They can also have dangerous side effects when combined with other medications. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are safe, natural, chemical-free and effective therapies that can combat the symptoms of spring allergies.