Acupuncture
What is Acupuncture?
How does acupuncture work?
Why should I see an acupuncturist?
Does acupuncture hurt?
How are needles sterilized?
What type of illness or injuries can Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture help?
Homeopathy
What is homeopathy?
What is homotoxicology?
Ear, Nose and Throat
How can Chinese Medicine & Natural approach help common Ear, Nose and Throat problems?
Digestion
What can digestion tell you about your health?
Parasites and Worms - it could happen to you!
How do I know if I have an unwelcome parasite or worm?
Infertility
How can Chinese Acupuncture & Natural Approach help my infertility issues?
Menopausal Years
How can Chinese Medicine & Natural approach assist with Menopause?
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the practice of inserting ultra fine needles into specific points of energy that are located along 14 Meridians, or Channels, that run the length of the entire body. There are 349 points that are divided into 49 individual points and 300 double points. Also, there are 40 "extra" points that are not associated with any particular meridians. These points and meridians, mapped out millions of years ago, and confirmed by consistent practice, have shown that skillful insertion and manipulation of specific points will produce predictable results in the body.
How does acupuncture work?
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine there is a continuous flow of energy (called Chi or Qi) throughout the body. Blockage of the energy flow is the cause of illness or pain. Stimulating the acupuncture points gets the energy flow flowing, thereby relieving pain or illness.
Why should I see an acupuncturist?
Acupuncture is not meant to replace Western medicine for certain types of conditions like severe trauma. However, it does have a place in the treatment of ailments associated with our modern lifestyles and the general changes our bodies experience with aging. Chinese medicine offers a natural alternative to surgery, or pills, as well as a different way of looking at health. Chinese medicine views the body as a whole, and considers the effect of the mind and spirit on it, while Western medicine tends to separate and focus on specific parts of the body only. Chinese medicine is a gentle and minimally invasive form of treatment.
Does acupuncture hurt?
Acupuncture is relatively pain free, and meant to relieve pain, not inflict more. Most patients say they don't feel the needles. Most patients find the treatment extremely relaxing. Occasionally there is a slight sting upon inserting or stimulating the needle. When your practitioner inserts a needle, he looks for signs that Qi has arrived by a number of signs. You may feel a dull ache, or perhaps a feeling of electricity or tingling, a sensation of heat or cold. You may feel strange, sometimes you can fell Qi running up and down the body, or no sensation at all.
How are needles sterilized?
Only single-use, pre-sterilized needles, made of stainless steel are used, to ensure your comfort and safety.
What type of illness or injuries can Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture help?
Acupuncture treats a wide range of conditions including, but not limited to pain, infertility, menstrual pain, stress injuries, migraines, asthma, post operative pain, allergies, TMJ, chronic illness, women's health, constipation, nausea, anxiety, addiction and many other chronic conditions. There has been much research on acupuncture and its effects on the body. Studies have shown that acupuncture relieves pain by causing the release of endorphins (the body's natural pain killers). Other studies have revealed that acupuncture stimulates certain areas of the brain's cortex to help in pain control as well as regulate organ systems.
Homeopathy
What is homeopathy?
Dr. Samuel Hahnemann developed the area of medicine known as homeopathy over 200 years ago. Homeopathic medicine can best be described as activating the body's own defense mechanism, stimulating the immune system into action. This is accomplished by using natural pharmaceutical science that uses various plants, minerals or animals in very small dose to stimulate the sick person's natural defenses. The medicines are individually chosen to go with, rather than against, the person's natural defenses. The "law of similars" is the basic principle of homeopathy, and is even used in some conventional medical therapies, such as immunizations and allergy treatments. These treatments are not pure homeopathy, since homeopathic medicines are more individually prescribed, given in smaller doses, and used to treat sick people and to prevent disease. However, immunizations and allergy treatments illustrate the concept of homeopathy.
What is homotoxicology?
Expanding on the fundamentals of homeopathy, Dr. Hans Henrich Reckeweg developed homotoxicology during the 1940's. Although homotoxicology is based on the principles of homeopathy, there are both similarities and key differences. Practitioners consider homotoxicology to be an updated renewal of homeopathy on a more extensive, scientific base. At the time Dr. Hahnemann developed the "science" of homeopathy (late 1700's) very little was known about molecular biology, biochemistry, etc. In this century Dr. Reckeweg (Germany 1930's - 1970's) developed homotoxicology to take advantage of the explosion of knowledge in basic medical sciences, in conjunction with the principles of homeopathy. One key difference is homotoxicology depends more on physical based anatomical and clinical findings, than emphasizing mental and emotional symptoms. However, homotoxicology does utilize homeopathic remedies designed to restore the patient's vital energy, restoring balance to the biological flow system. Homotoxicology is indeed very complicated; however, the main concept simply states that every organism is a flow-system, attempting to maintain equilibrium of flow. When toxins enter the body, they disturb this flow and cause damage. The organism then attempts to defend itself. The battle between normal biological flow and the intruding toxins, manifest as disease. Many of the chronic diseases that we see today are actually the result of toxins. Symptoms may be absent until the damage is quite widespread, which is even more reason to visit a knowledgeable Practitioner.
Ear, Nose and Throat
How can Chinese Medicine & Natural approach help common Ear, Nose, and Throat problems?
Sinusitis, allergy, asthma, acid reflux and chronic nasal congestion are some of the most common problems seen by an ear, nose and throat specialist. The standard medical treatment for these ailments has been based on the use of nasal steroid sprays, oral steroids, and antihistamines. In severe cases surgery is required. Each of the above treatments has one thing in common; they treat the symptom, not the source of the problem. The root cause of common ear, nose and throat problems is inflammation. In most cases, the body is unable to digest nutrients from food and/or there is an allergy to a food or an environmental trigger such as pollen or animal dander. Once the inflammatory process begins, it leads to swelling, fluid retention, constriction of blood vessels and a slowing or increasing of the movement of food through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It is important to keep in mind that the GI tract begins at the nose and ends at the anus. So, complaints throughout the system are common. For example, swelling of the nose tissues will cause nasal congestion, which then leads to sinusitis; swelling in the stomach can lead to acid reflux or heartburn; and swelling in the lung can lead to asthma. Detoxifying the system is important to cleanse the system of waste and toxins. It is the use of various herbal remedies, and enzyme therapy are some examples. The use of enzymes, minerals and vitamins are integral to maintaining a balanced healthy system.
Respiratory System Function
The primary functions of the respiratory system are to bring oxygen into the lungs, transfer the oxygen to the blood, and expel the waste product called carbon dioxide. Difficulties in the Respiratory System can be caused by many situations. The most common symptoms are; Chronic Bronchitis, Asthma, Emphysema, Inhaled Particles, and Allergic Reactions. Poor breathing can result from obesity, sleep apnea or drug intoxication. Homeopathy offers an alternative to the use of cortisone puffs. However, a full investigation of all body functions must first be evaluated in order to understand a Respiratory System issue.
Sinusitis, allergy, asthma, acid reflux and chronic nasal congestion are some of the most common problems seen by an ear, nose, and throat specialist. The standard medical treatment for these ailments has been based on the use of nasal steroid sprays, oral steroids, and antihistamines. In severe cases surgery is required.
What can digestion tell you about your health?
Think of your body as a finely tuned engine, and food is its fuel. If you aren't completely digesting foods and absorbing nutrients, you're not adequately fueling your body. The lack of adequate fuel or the inability to use it properly can lead to a variety of health problems. Poor digestion or imbalances in your intestinal flora can result in many illnesses, from annoying gastrointestinal complaints such as chronic constipation and abdominal pain to more serious illnesses which may appear to be unrelated to digestion, such as asthma or migraines. For proper gastrointestinal health your body must carefully coordinate the breakdown, absorption and elimination of food. Bacteria must be in proper balance, and immune function must be adequate.
Parasites and Worms - it could happen to you!
How do I know if I have an unwelcome parasite or worm?
The short answer is; you may not know. With most parasites, there are very few symptoms if any at all. Or symptoms are not recognized as having to do with parasites or worms. There are thousands of worms, parasites, protozoa and amoeba. After years of infestation, severe breakdowns occur in a patient's health. With time, symptoms may increase. The list is long; diarrhea (sometimes alternating with constipation), an ashen complexion, gas, a gurgling or growling stomach, an increase or decrease of appetite, anorexia, bulimia, an inability to gain or to lose weight, low grade fevers, coughing, hyperactivity, anemia, nausea, dizziness, seizures, rectal itching, insomnia, vaginal itching, shortness of breath, intestinal bleeding, hair loss, low grade infection, blood sugar problems, colon blockage, tumor-like masses, irritability (especially around the full moon, when most parasites are active), hair thinning or loss, bad breath, body odour, mucus in stools, joint pains, abdominal pains, rashes and a multitude of others. Infestation can come from a number of sources: Walking barefoot in contaminated soil; eating unclean fruits and vegetables; raw meat, raw fish (sushi), drinking tap water; sexual intercourse, auto-intoxication from poor nutrition, liver flukes, kissing pets, working in the garden, mucus-forming foods, lack of proper bowel flora or proper digestive enzymes.
Parasites are seldom picked up on blood tests, as they largely travel at night, not in the day when blood tests are generally given. Since they live in the liver, pancreas, lungs, bile duct, brain, muscles, joints, appendix (a favorite spot for parasites!), small intestine, large intestine, prostate, uterus, fallopian tubes, vagina, and gall bladder, they are difficult to detect. Unfortunately, most traditional medicines largely relieve or mask symptoms, and don't eliminate the root causes of symptoms. It is important to eliminate these parasites from the body. Your Natural Practitioner can help detect which parasite or worms are affecting you, and the best course of treatment.
How can Chinese Acupuncture and a Natural Approach help my infertility issues?
The term "infertile" is the inability to conceive after at least a year of regular sexual intercourse without the use of contraceptives. Chinese and Natural Medicine treats the whole person. What is affecting the reproductive organs will also affect other areas of the body. If there is no irreversible pathology causing infertility, a Natural Approach can create favorable conditions for reproduction or help with the Western Medicine approach.
The course of treatment is individual to the person and situation. Speak to your Chinese Medicine Practitioner or Natural Health care Practitioner for more information. Each individual man or women will have treatments that suit them best. Identifying the problem is part of the skill of a specialized practitioner.
How can Chinese Medicine and a Natural Approach assist with Menopause?
Meno (menstruation) Pause (stop) is the last menstrual flow of a women's life. For most women the years just before and just after the menopause (Climacteric) spans from early/mid 40's to late 50's and early 60's. For most of us this entire period is popularly known as the Change of Life. Each women's Change of Life includes three stages (before, during and after). Each stage is different, has special needs, and offers special challenges. By learning and understanding our body we can achieve a more healthy balance, halting and reversing deficiencies like digestive disorders, hot flashes, thyroid problem, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, arthritis, estrogen and progesterone-sensitive tissues in the vagina and bladder, heart and circulatory system. A Natural Approach can assist in all three phases of Menopause.
Three Phases of Menopause:
Pre-menopause Years:
The actual age varies Depending on the individual women; the norm is 45, but the range is 35 - 55. During these pre-menopausal years, menstrual periods may become noticeably different (closer together, farther apart, scantier, more profuse). Night sweats or hot flashes come, but are not that noticeable. Usually blamed on too many blankets, or on a rich meal.
Menopausal Climax Years:
Include the year or two before, and a year or more after your last menstruation. Most experience this time in their mid-50's. However, it is not unheard of to experience this change in the 20's, 30's or 40's; due to surgery, chemotherapy or radiation, and some due to natural means. During this 2-5 years climax period, the bones refuse to take in calcium. Bone scans will show growing osteoporosis; flashes, flushes and night sweats may be frequent, palpitations, emotional sensitivity, and sleeplessness are common. Depending on the individual women and her circumstances, other physical and emotional changes may come with the Change, or she may experience next to nothing at all.
Post-Menopausal Years:
May bring a compromised immune system, aching joints, heart disease, incontinence, vaginal atrophy, and broken hips. These health concerns may diminish your quality of life. Therefore, during this phase of Menopause it is most critical to take care of ones health.
