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“The Top 10 Reasons to Try Acupuncture”
Latest Articles:
- 5 Reasons to get Acupuncture this Fall
- Herbal Tonics for Fall
- Acupuncture and Hay Fever
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Women’s Health
Fibromyalgia and Tuning Forks
Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Hypersensitivity to Pain, Multiple Joint Pain and Aches.
Can Acupuncture with Tuning Forks and Essential Oils Help?
Fibromyalgia affects about 3-6% of the world’s population, an estimated 200-400 million people worldwide, with higher numbers among women than men.1 People diagnosed with fibromyalgia experience a wide range of symptoms, including fatigue, pain, stiffness, aches and muscle tenderness, along with sleep disorders and intestinal and bowel troubles.
The diagnosis of fibromyalgia can be confirmed when eleven out of eighteen specific points on the body are tender to pressure. Interestingly, some of these tender points closely correspond to the location of ancient acupuncture points.2
Many experts link fibromyalgia symptoms to injury that affects the head and neck. Other types of trauma not related to the cervical spine that may trigger fibromyalgia symptoms include major surgical procedures, being deployed to war, certain types of infections, emotional trauma, childhood separation from your mother for more than six months.
Whip lash type of event may lock the head and neck in a forward position, resetting the body’s trauma response in some people so that their central nervous system continues to react as though it’s under threat. The sympathetic flight-or-fight system is working overdrive, while the parasympathetic system is unreactive.4
Unfortunately, not everyone whose fibromyalgia is triggered by trauma will find relief in the same way. But if you think your fibromyalgia pain stems from a traumatic event that may be emotionally or physically based it may be worth it for you to try our techniques.
A study conducted in 2010, suggests that acupuncture treatment is effective in relieving pain and improving quality of life for fibromyalgia patients.3 Not only can Acupuncture treat the pain and discomfort, but it can also address the underlying problems that have caused the imbalance.
In other research, subjects who received acupuncture experienced an overall improvement in fatigue, anxiety and the hypersensitivity associated with fibromyalgia.5
How Acupuncture And Chinese Medicine Can Help.
According to the theories of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, an imbalance in the flow of Qi can create symptoms and signs that reflect a Western diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Qi (pronounced “chee”) is the vital energy that animates and supports the functions of the body. It flows through specific pathways, called meridians,
and provides nourishment
for the entire body.
When Qi is abundant and freely circulating throughout the body, there is health and pain-free living. When Qi becomes “blocked,” or the supply is inadequate, pain, stiffness
and other symptoms related to fibromyalgia can appear.
What Does An Acupuncturist Do?
An acupuncturist will take a complete health history in order to find out where Qi has become blocked, and/or why the amount of Qi within the body has changed. He or she will then develop a treatment plan tailored to address the meridian pathways that are out of balance. The goal of such a plan will be to eliminate visible symptoms, while addressing the root cause(s) and underlying imbalances.
What Is Out-Of-Balance?
The body constantly strives to maintain a healthy balance of Qi traveling through the meridian pathways. When the flow of Qi has been disrupted, or the supply of Qi has changed, the body becomes unbalanced and the meridians cannot properly nourish the body. This is when signs and symptoms appear.
Most cases of fibromyalgia fit into the Chinese diagnosis of a Liver, Spleen, and/or Heart disharmony. This does not mean that these organs have a problem, it means that the functions of these organ/meridian pathways according to Chinese medical diagnosis are out of balance.
Liver. The functions related to the Liver organ, according to Chinese medicine, are to control the smooth flow of blood, Qi, and emotions and to nourish the tendons. When the Liver meridian becomes blocked there will be an inadequate supply of blood and Qi flowing throughout the body. The tendons and muscles will not be properly nourished, leading to stiffness and pain. Other symptoms of a blocked Liver are depression, anger, anxiety, and insomnia. A Liver imbalance may be caused by improper diet, stress, deep, unexpressed anger, drugs, and alcohol.
Spleen. The Chinese function of the Spleen is to transform the food that we ingest into Qi and blood. The health of the Spleen is affected by diet, over-concentration, and worry. An unbalanced Spleen can result in fatigue, digestive troubles, muscle stiffness, and pain.
Heart. When there is an insufficient amount of Qi and blood produced by the Spleen, the Heart organ will be affected. The role of the Heart is to pump blood throughout the body. It is also considered to be the home of the Spirit. If the Spleen cannot generate enough blood to nourish the Heart, the Heart Qi does not have enough control to properly house the Spirit. Symptoms can include anxiety, palpitations, insomnia, and emotional unrest.
AromaTune is our method to help bring your body back into balance. We select 100% pure essential oils such as basil, lavender, lemongrass, peppermint and marjoram, and we apply them along the spine. Oils are chosen specifically that offer immune support, promote relaxation, stress relief, decrease pain and inflammation and lift the mood. The energetic frequencies of the oils are enhanced with the application of vibrational sound waves from tuning forks on Acupuncture points. The feeling of vibration from tuning forks and the aroma calms stress & anxiety, relaxes tense muscles, and gives a deep healing experience.
We use Meridian Tuning Forks that are tuned to the vibrational frequency of healthy meridian-organ systems. Together they stimulate homeostasis in the autonomic nervous system for balance in the body and mind.
This works through what is called entrainment. It is the phenomenon of sound, in which the powerful rhythmic vibrations of one object will cause the less powerful vibrations of another object to lock in step and oscillate at the first object’s rate. For example, if it is found that your liver meridian is out of balance, the liver tuning fork can be applied or held above the body to help your liver meridian meet the same frequency as the tuning fork.
This protocol can be beneficial for fibromyalgia, hypersensitive people, chronic fatigue, and for those with numerous joint and health complaints.
References
- National Fibromyalgia Association.
- http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fibromyalgia-symptoms/AR00054.
- Itoh K, Kitakoji H. Effects of acupuncture to treat fibromyalgia: A preliminary randomised controlled trial. Chinese Medicine Journal. 2010, 5(1):11.
- Buskila, D., Neumann, L., Vaisberg, G., Alkalay, D. and Wolfe, F. (1997), Increased rates of fibromyalgia following cervical spine injury. A Controlled study of 161 cases of traumatic injury. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 40: 446-452. doi:10.1002/art.1780400310.
- Sletten, C., Berger, I., et al., Mayo Clinic Proceedings Report, June 2006.
Book your appointment with Dr. Michele Arnold or Licensed Acupuncturist Tracey Whitney to experience this effective form of energy medicine.
$125 for 60 minutes.
Acupuncture and Cervical Health
Women’s health is a big part of the healthcare industry. And acupuncture can be very beneficial in caring for the overall health of women. Acupuncture has been especially effective in helping with things like infertility, turning breech babies, inducing labor and clearing up infections. The cervix is just one small part of the uterus. Specifically it is the lower part of the uterus that opens to allow passage between the uterus and the vagina. The cervix widens during childbirth to allow the baby to pass, it also allows the passage of menstrual fluids from the uterus out of the body and it is vital for sperm to pass through the cervix to reach the uterus when trying to procreate.
The cervix is very vulnerable to several health conditions, such as chronic inflammation, polyps, dysplasia and even cancer. Cervical conditions rarely present symptoms in the early stages, which makes it extremely important for women to get regular pap smears. If an abnormality is detected, there are several ways to address it, depending on the severity. In the early stages of any of the aforementioned conditions, acupuncture can be a positive addition to Western medical treatments. Acupuncture is very good at decreasing inflammation and helping to dissolve polyps and tumors. Acupuncture can also balance hormones, which allows the body to correct any imbalances.
One of the most studied areas of acupuncture is in treating fertility issues. When invitro fertilization by itself does not get the job done, adding acupuncture may be the last piece of the puzzle. Acupuncture does much more than just balance the hormones. When a woman is trying to get pregnant and struggling with it due to fertility issues, the stress levels are extremely high. And high stress levels have been proven to disrupt the body’s ability to conceive. One of the things that acupuncture is really successful at is decreasing stress levels. This can make it easier for the fertility treatments to work. Acupuncture has also been shown to increase blood flow to areas of the body, including the uterus. This can help to make a very hospitable place for a baby to grow.
Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine are also widely used for treating infections and sexually transmitted diseases. In traditional Chinese medicine, most infections have some sort of heat or discharge associated with them. This medicine uses principles, herbs and acupressure points that have specific properties that can drain heat and expel toxins from the body. This can lead to an overall improvement in both uterine and cervical health.
Another area where acupuncture can help with cervical health is at the time of birth. About four percent of babies are presented in the breech position prior to birth. An accessory modality known as moxibustion, has proven time and time again, that it can actually turn the baby to the proper birthing position. Moxibustion involves the burning of an herb, dried mugwort, very near the skin on a specific acupressure point that is located on the outer edge of the pinky toe. By performing moxibustion several times a day, the baby and the body somehow know that there needs to be a repositioning and the baby tends to turn during the night.
When it comes to women’s health, acupuncture is an amazing resource. Contact us to schedule your appointment today.
Geranium Essential Oil Spotlight
Geranium is the “Oil of Self-Nourishment”.
It is often referred to as the poor man’s rose. Love potions will often contain both rose and geranium. What is noteworthy about geranium is its power to draw people in to you, as this is often seen as the oil of “self-nourishment. When our souls and hearts feel mended, and we no longer neglect our own needs, suddenly our spirit is visible to attract others.
The best places to apply this oil to fulfill these properties is over the heart center, located on the breastbone, and upon the inner arches of the feet.
It can also help with physical complaints of blood sugar imbalances or poor skin quality.
A drop rubbed into the soles of the feet and the arches every night will help you maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
Add a drop to your facial lotion, or almond oil for a replenishing, rejuvenating skin supplement.
Seven Ways Acupuncture Can Help Mothers
One of the best gifts you can give your mother this Mother’s Day is the gift of acupuncture. Acupuncture can help with an abundance of health problems and get you feeling one hundred percent again. Mom’s make the world work, it’s a known fact. So this holiday season you should give your mother the gift of acupuncture, here are seven reasons why.