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Acupuncture

Alternative Treatment for IBS

peppermint-tea-1109Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disease suffered by an estimated 25-45 million people in the United States. Symptoms include chronic abdominal pain, bloating, excess gas and irregular bowel movements. Symptoms can be brought on by a number of triggers including anxiety, insomnia and stress. Although there is no known cure to IBS, there are numerous alternative treatments to prescription medication that can help relieve symptoms. continue reading »

Alternative Treatments for Fertility

pregnant-422982About 10 percent of couples struggle with infertility and an inability to conceive, according to the Centers for Disease Control. For those struggling to have children, fertility treatment can become tiring and expensive very quickly. There are numerous alternative treatments including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that have been thought to improve fertility. continue reading »

The 7 Secrets You Never Knew About Acupuncture

acu-03092015There’s a certain level of mysticism surrounding the ancient holistic practice of acupuncture. Those who haven’t tried it may view it as some sham practice with no real value or benefit. On the other hand, those who have tried are fully aware of its powerful effects on the human body.

#1) There Are Hundreds of Acupuncture Points Throughout The Body

Acupuncture is typically performed on specific points throughout the body, including points both along the meridian and outside the meridian. The number of acupuncture points continues to change on a regular basis, but the latest estimate is around 695 (not including ear treatments). continue reading »

Yin & Yang: The Impact Of Connectedness

By Elizabeth Fellows, M.Ac., L.Ac., CHHC

Acupuncturist and Holistic Health Counselor

Director, Center Point Healing

ba577c7b-7b36-406f-9244-b2388ed730e1Most people are familiar with the Taijitu symbol, but how many of us understand its meanings?

In Taoist thought, everything that has ever existed, will ever exist and could potentially exist, are part of the infinite nothingness. The number associated with this nothingness/everything-ness is the number one.

The state of one-ness means that everything is connected. Everything that manifests – including each of us – comes from the same source.

As soon as we identify something, we move into the number two. Now we have something and nothing, and distinctions can be made. The Taijitu symbol is known to us as the Yin-Yang symbol. The Chinese characters for yin and yang are the shady side of the mountain and the sunny side of the mountain, respectively.

Yin and yang are often characterized in our culture as “feminine” and “masculine”, but that definition misses out on the richness contained in this symbol. Yin and yang are opposites, but opposites that are interconnected. There is no way to have one without the other. Each gives context to the other: What would day mean if we didn’t have night? What would our experience of warmth be without cold? To understand one, we must understand the other.

We are made up of both yin and yang elements as well. For example, blood is yin, but the electrical conduction that keeps our heart muscle contracting to pump that blood is yang. Generally speaking, our fluids are yin and the processes that move them throughout the body are yang.

Yin and yang can be found in nature also. Yang is more daylight, the growing season, the flurry of activity in the animal kingdom (new babies being born and hatched), the wind and the heat. The seasons of spring and summer are more yang than autumn and winter.

Conversely, yin is more darkness, the harvest and storing seasons, the hibernation and dying back seen in the plant and animal kingdoms, the rain and the cold.

When we experience disease – dis-ease – it is important to check in with what is happening in nature. Are we living in harmony with the laws of nature, or are we trying to subvert them? It is natural to feel more energized in the spring and summer, perhaps to even need less sleep. However, in the autumn and winter, if we listen to our bodies, they will let us know we need more rest and sleep.

It is also natural to be much more active and to do more vigorous types of exercise in the spring and summer – that feeds our yang energy. However, during autumn and winter – the yin times of the year – we may want to turn to different kinds of exercise that supports our yin energy – like yoga.

As we move into Spring, moving from yin to yang, we may notice the stirring of yang energy. Sometimes that movement shows up as headaches, restlessness and irritability. So even though we are moving rapidly out of winter, it is still really important to support our yin by getting plenty of rest, staying warm, eating well and staying well-hydrated.

Lifestyle changes and acupuncture can help you feel to better by balancing your yin and yang energies.

Ways To Ring In The Chinese New Year

ring-in-new-year-01Cleaning

Part of celebrating the Chinese New Year (February 19) involves cleaning. Traditionally, homes are cleaned before the New Year, but sweeping and dusting isn’t done until the third day after New Year out of fear that good fortune will be swept away. The floors can be swept, starting by brushing the dust and dirt towards the middle of the house or building. Once the debris is piled into the center, it’s moved to the corners where it remains until the fifth day, at which point it can be thrown out. continue reading »

2015: Year of The Goat

3250264788_cd7d359095_z2015 is the Year of The Goat in Chinese astrology. Ranking eighth in the long list of animals tied to the Chinese zodiac, people who are born under this sign are said to be calm, mild-mannered, good-hearted, sympathetic, dependable and intelligent. They also prefer to avoid being the center of attention – a trait that’s rare among other Chinese zodiacs. Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the characteristics of the Year of The Goat. continue reading »

Acupuncture Erases Pain: Here’s How It Works

meridian-woman-011215The thought of treating pain by sticking yourself with dozens of tiny needles might sound like a misnomer. After all, wouldn’t this make the problem worse by creating more pain? The holistic practice of acupuncture is a safe and effective solution for relieving pain. Whether it’s chronic or temporary pain, acupuncture has proven effective time and time again at relieving pain. continue reading »

Can Acupuncture Really Help You Lose Weight?

belly-2354_1920-12-29-14Obesity remains a top concern among health professionals in the U.S. According to a study published in the Journal of American Medicine (JAMA), more than one third of adults in the U.S. are clinically obese (source). People who fall under this category are more likely to develop heart disease, diabetes, and even certain types of cancer.

While there’s no substitution for exercise and a well-balanced diet, the ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture may promote weight loss in adults battling obesity. Numerous studies have reinforced the belief that acupuncture can aid in weight loss. So instead of embarking on a potentially dangerous “fad” diet, such as an all-liquid lemon detox diet, consider acupuncture treatment to assist in your weight loss efforts.  continue reading »

Tour de France Winner Gains Edge With Acupuncture

Vincenzo Nibali-01
Vincenzo Nibali TDF2012 by Denismenchov08

In case you didn’t get the memo, 29-year-old Vincenzo Nibali of Sicily, Italy won the 2014 Tour de France last month. Rightfully known as the “Shark of Messina,” he was able to outperform 218 other cyclists to finish first in the world’s largest bike race. Nabili finished the race with a lead of more than seven minutes, which is the biggest winning margin since 1997.

But here’s something that you probably didn’t know about Nabili and his team: they were the only team at the 2014 Tour de France to bring their own licensed acupuncturist. Throughout the course of the physically enduring race, an acupuncturist treated Nabili and his team, usually twice a day. Nabili and his team would receive a treatment in the morning before they raced and another at night while they were relaxing and resting in the hotel.  continue reading »

Can Acupuncture Help Treat Depression?

acupuncture-depression-01Depression is a serious medical illness that can lower a person’s quality of life while contributing to the onset of symptoms such as headache, insomnia, fatigue, and malnutrition. According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1 in 10 adults in the U.S. say they are depressed. Depression a growing problem that’s often masked with prescription drugs, forcing some to look for alternative forms of treatment.

Most cases of depression are treated with prescription drugs that trigger a range of problems of their own. Fluoxetine, ertraline, paroxetine, fluvoxamine, citalopram, and escitalopram are just a handful of the most frequently prescribed antidepressants, all of which have a long list of adverse side effects. However, researchers are now saying that acupuncture may effectively treat depression in some individuals. continue reading »

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