Points of Wellness Blog

working back points for GI distress

 Is your child cranky?  Have stomach problems?  Is his/her lack of sleep affecting your life?  Pediatric Tui Na can help!

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Mark Twain said “Quitting smoking is easy. I’ve done it a thousand times.”  Smoking, which is better described as nicotine addiction, is a complex addiction, with both psychological and physical components.  If you’ve tried to quit, you KNOW how difficult it is.  Acupuncture and oriental medicine are effective all natural modalities to aid in quitting because of their ability to curb withdrawal symptoms and manage cravings, stress and anxiety. 

Taking into account each person’s unique smoking habits and physical and emotional make-up, every patient’s acupuncture treatment is tailor-made and designed for him or her.  On your first visit you learn to identify your particular triggers for smoking and how to avoid them. Lifestyle changes are also part of this visit.  Often you are prescribed herbs or supplements to control cravings or withdrawal symptoms.  Exercise is encouraged and dietary recommendations are given (foods to avoid and foods to be included during the withdrawal phase).   Acupuncture treatments will help reduce the cravings and lessen the withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting smoking.

Got a pain in the neck?  Stiffness and limited range of motion?  This is a very common ailment seen here at the Center often due to over work, inadequate sleep, not sitting ergonomically in the car or work.  Stress compounds the issue and eventually that occassional neck tightness turns into a major pain in the neck.  Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine are all natural and effective treatments to alleviate your pain and increase range of motion.  Here’s a concise article from Acupuncture Today: http://acupuncturetoday.com/abc/neckpain.php

Did you remember to thaw out the turkey?  Did you remember to pick up those special little (impossible-to-find) rolls that Aunt Dot MUST have for Thanksgiving?  Did you just realize that the kids have the entire week off from school and you have clients in from out of town?  All the while waiting for your new dishwasher to be delivered to replace the old one that suddenly died in the middle of the wash cycle so the counter and sink are full of half clean/half dirty dishes?  With all of our responsibilities this time of year it is not surprising that so many are feeling the negative effects of stress. Unhealthy stress caused by “I can do it all” syndrome, worry, anxiety, lack of sleep, lack of exercise, and poor eating habits push one physically and mentally.  The body’s reaction to stress activates the ‘fight or flight’ system. Cortisol levels increase the functions of our kidneys and adrenal glands and lymphatic system get depleted. Research shows that prolonged, constant exposure to stress reduces our white blood cell count which results in lower immune system resistance.

Some physical and emotional symptoms of stress: 

• Depressed Immune System (getting sick often)
• Heart palpitations
• Panic/anxiety attacks/Depression
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Irritability
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Chronic fatigue (constant tiredness)
• Chronic headaches
• Insomnia
• PMS – Premenstrual tension

Here are some simple ways to help bring down stress and anxiety:

• Learn and practice relaxation techniques
• Exercise regularly
• Eat healthy and well balanced meals
• Get plenty of rest and sleep
• Drink plenty of water
• Listen to music
• Reduce caffeine intake
• Play with a child or pet
• Laugh

See your Acupuncture Physician.  A combination of acupuncture, oriental medicine, shiatsu, lifestyle and nutritional guidance will get you and your kids on the path to health and reduce the stress response by getting to the root cause of the problem, not just masking the symptoms.  

So this holiday season take a deep breath, have a cup of tea, and know that the ‘perfect meal’ is not essential to everyone having fun, making new memories and staying healthy (and tell Aunt Dot to bring her own darn rolls!)