Tuesday, September 14, 2010

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Chiropractic Care

Welcome to September, the time of year every parent has been waiting for.....back to school!!! In the days leading up to getting the kids off to school once again, have you experienced any of the following:

- Lower back pain
- Tension/stress in neck/shoulders
- Pain between shoulder blades
- Sciatica
- Headaches
- Numbness/tingling in extremities
- Sore muscles
- Joint pain
- Stiff neck
- TMJ pain/dysfunction
- Herniated/bulged discs
- Pinched nerves

If you have experienced any (or all) of the above, you may benefit from a chiropractic adjustment...

Benefits of Chiropractic

Chiropractic places an emphasis on nutritional and exercise programs, wellness and lifestyle modifications for promoting physical and mental health.

• Increased range of motion in spine
• Correction of vertebral misalignments
• Pain reduction
• Tension / stiffness reduction
• lncreased endorphin release
• Increased flexibility
• Increased mobility
• Reduction of nerve interference
• Improved posture

Frequently Asked Questions about Chiropractic

What conditions do chiropractors treat?
Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.

Is chiropractic treatment safe?

Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects.

The risks associated with chiropractic, however, are very small. Many patients feel immediate relief following chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild soreness or aching, just as they do after some forms of exercise. Current literature shows that minor discomfort or soreness following spinal manipulation typically fades within 24 hours.

Neck pain and some types of headaches are treated through precise cervical manipulation. Cervical manipulation, often called a neck adjustment, works to improve joint mobility in the neck, restoring range of motion and reducing muscle spasm, which helps relieve pressure and tension.

It is important for patients to understand the risks associated with some of the most common treatments for musculoskeletal pain -- prescription and over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) -- as these treatments may carry risks significantly greater than those of chiropractic manipulation. According to a study from the American Journal of Gastroenterology, approximately one-third of all hospitalizations and deaths related to gastrointestinal bleeding can be attributed to the use of aspirin or NSAID painkillers like ibuprofen.

How is a chiropractic adjustment performed?

Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is a manual procedure that utilizes the highly refined skills developed during the intensive years of chiropractic education. The chiropractor typically uses his/her hands to manipulate the joints of the body, particularly the spine, in order to reduce pain, and restore or enhance joint function. Chiropractic manipulation is a highly controlled procedure that rarely causes discomfort. The chiropractor adapts the procedure to meet the specific needs of each patient. Patients often note positive changes in their symptoms immediately following treatment.

Is chiropractic treatment ongoing?

The hands-on nature of the chiropractic treatment is essentially what requires patients to visit the chiropractor a number of times. To be treated by a chiropractor, a patient needs to be in his or her office. In contrast, a course of treatment from medical doctors often involves a pre-established plan that is conducted at home (i.e. taking a course of antibiotics once a day for a couple of weeks). A chiropractor may provide acute, chronic, and/or preventive care thus making a certain number of visits sometimes necessary. Your doctor of chiropractic should tell you the extent of treatment recommended and how long you can expect it to last.

Why is there a popping sound when a joint is adjusted?
Adjustment of a joint may result in release of a gas bubble between the joints that makes a popping sound - it's exactly the same as when you "crack" your knuckles. The noise is caused by the change of pressure within the joint that results in gas bubbles being released. There is no pain involved.

For more Frequently Asked Questions, visit our website.

Acupuncture and Stress

Stress is a word that is heard often in our society to describe many different parts of life. There is job stress, family stress, emotional stress, physical stress, but what exactly is "stress" and more importantly what does it do to your health and quality of life?

Stress is the body's reaction to a change that requires a physical, mental or emotional adjustment or response. Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, nervous, or anxious. However, stress is not necessarily negative. There is a distinction between healthy and unhealthy stress.

Healthy stress includes appropriate physical exercise, good eating habits, positive thinking, adequate rest, and a natural response to emergency situations. These stressors keep us alert and motivated, and support our body's strength and vitality. Unhealthy stress, such as negative emotions and thinking, overexertion, poor eating habits, lack of sleep, and chemical and environmental pollutants and toxins, challenge our health and can trigger physical and mental problems, particularly if they are experienced over a prolonged period of time.

In ancient times, our stress response, also known as our "fight or flight" response, provided us with energy to preserve life during difficult situations, such as an attack or threat by a wild animal. Today, we don't have to look much further than our windows, or computer screens, to view various forms of stress--everything from prime-time news and road rage, to the 40-hour work week, terrorism, and cell phones. All of these combined can send even the most serene person into a stressful frenzy.

Unfortunately, modern day stress is considerably higher, more frequent and more consistent than what our predecessors experienced. Over time this excess stress can actually be detrimental to our health. Our body's natural response to stressful situations is to activate all available resources for survival, and to get us out of a scary situation fast. However, with the increase in physical, emotional and mental stressors, our stress response gets "locked in", resulting in the depletion of the body's resources. Even if the stressors are no longer present, the body continues to keep the stress response active. This results in the depletion of our nervous system, lymphatic organs (spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes), kidneys, and adrenal glands, and can pave the way for a wide variety of symptoms and signs. Medical studies have shown that with increased and consistent stress, our white blood cells, which defend our body against viruses, decrease. This decrease results in lower immune resistance, ultimately leading to physical disease and emotional instability.

Signs and Symptoms of an overactive response to stress:

- Anger
- Anxiety
- Asthma
- Depression
- Depressed Immune System
- Digestive Disorders
- Headaches
- Heart Disease
- High Blood Pressure
- Joint Pain
- Weight Problems

Acupuncturists have been helping people cope with stress for thousands of years. The ancient theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on how stress affects the organs are similar to those of Western medicine; however, TCM theory and treatment go far beyond treating just symptoms, TCM addresses the root cause(s) of the problem.

One way that stress affects the body is by causing a depletion or blockage of qi, especially that of the kidneys and adrenals. Qi (pronounced "chee") is the vital energy or power that supports the functions of the body. It flows through specific pathways, called meridians, and provides nourishment for the entire body. When qi becomes "blocked" or the supply is inadequate, the body and organ systems become "stressed out" and our health is then compromised. Acupuncture can support and restore the integrity of the various organs affected and depleted by the stress response, along with enhancing the quality and quantity of qi.

Acupuncture along with proper eating habits, exercise, stretching, meditation, as well as chiropractic adjustments, massage, and reflexology can support a balanced and healthy body, mind and spirit.

Acupuncture can provide a safe, effective and drug-free alternative for the treatment of stress.

Things you can do to help combat stress:

1). Practice Yoga - When you practice yoga, you can create an awareness of your body and mind connection, freeing your mind of stressful thoughts.

2). Start a Hobby - Hobbies require a mindful presence and can break a hectic, stressful pace.

3). Do One Thing at a Time - Many of us believe that multitasking allows us to get more done, faster. If you focus on one task at a time, you can get more done with fewer mistakes.

4). Meditate - Meditation teaches us to stay focused on our breath and posture. When you are in a meditative state, you are present and in touch with your innate wisdom.

Infertility and Acupuncture

In the United States, approximately 9 million people are currently having difficulty trying to conceive. There is a one in eight chance that either you or someone you know is affected by fertility problems.

Lately, more and more woman are contacting the office inquiring about natural alternatives during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or trying to conceive and suffering from any of the following, why not try acupuncture to alleviate symptoms naturally without the harmful side effects of medications...

• Female/Male Infertility
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
• Morning Sickness
• Nausea
• Lower Back Pain
• Postpartum Depression
• Fatigue
• Sciatica
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• PMS
• Irregular Periods
• Painful Menstruation

GETTING PREGNANT: Infertility and Acupuncture

Pregnancy is a time of extraordinary physical and emotional change. It is also a time when it is more important than ever to support and care for your well-being. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help you meet the unique challenges of pregnancy, ensuring optimal health for you and your baby in a safe and natural way, without the use of harmful medications.

What to Expect...

Acupuncture has been used in China for thousands of years to regulate the female reproductive system. Acupuncture and TCM is based on the concept that Qi (pronounced "chee") is the vital energy (the "life force") that flows through the body in channels called meridians. Practitioners of acupuncture work to balance the Qi in the body's meridian and organ systems by manipulating corresponding points on the body. Regular acupuncture during pregnancy sets the foundation for a healthy mother and baby. In addition, women who receive acupuncture during pregnancy often have a shorter and easier birth experience than women who do not receive acupuncture. Several European studies concluded that women who received acupuncture once a week during the last month of pregnancy had significantly shorter labor than women who did not receive any acupuncture.

For a healthy pregnancy, treatment is often recommended once a month, with weekly treatments in the last month. However, your practitioner will tailor your treatment entirely to your needs and choose points based on your unique systems and concerns.

Relief of Common Concerns...

Regular balancing treatments throughout your pregnancy can enhance your health as well as your baby's health, potentially preventing complications and positively influencing the development of your baby. Many mothers-to-be find themselves facing anxiety, fatigue, back pain, heartburn, nausea, and other symptoms as a result of the many new demands being placed on their bodies. Acupuncture has been found to relieve many of these symptoms.

Morning sickness responds particularly well to acupuncture, and your practitioner can even show you specific points that you can massage at home to help restore your appetite. Recent studies have also show promising results in using acupuncture for depression during and after pregnancy.

Breech Babies and Other Issues...

Acupuncture can also help with more serious issues during pregnancy. Specific acupuncture points and techniques are very useful for turning "breech babies" (those positioned feet first). One study concluded that fetal malpresentation is a relatively simple, efficacious and inexpensive method for breech birth presentation. Treatment involves moxibustion, or applying heat from the burning of the herb mugwort to a point just outside the nail of the little toe. The treatment causes no adverse side effects.

If your due date just passed, acupuncture can also be used to induce labor through gentler means than traditional Western labor inducing treatments and medications. Acupuncture and acupressure can even be used to help control pain, calm the mind and reduce stress during delivery.

After Baby Has Arrived...

It is important to recover properly after childbirth. Acupuncture can help you heal and regain your strength and vitality, balance your energy, boost your body's defenses, and help address concerns such as pain, fatigue, and postpartum depression. Acupuncture provides a holistic, gentle way to nurture and care for yourself and your baby's heath throughout your pregnancy and beyond without the risk of harmful side effects that may occur from medications.

If you are pregnant or considering having a baby, contact Lighthouse Wellness Center today!

Click here to view video from WebMD on Infertility and Acupuncture.

Acupuncture and Allergies

Does this time of year make you not want to go outside due to the following symptoms...

• Runny nose and nasal congestion
• Watery or itchy eyes
• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Itchy nose, roof of mouth or throat
• Sinus pressure and facial pain
• Swollen, blue-colored skin under the eyes (allergic shiners)
• Decreased sense of smell or taste
• Headaches
• Trouble sleeping
• Clogged ears/ear pain
• Post nasal drip

If you are allergic to pollen you are not alone, 15% of the population suffer from outdoor allergies. Grass and tree pollen is the cause of many of the symptoms allergy suffers experience. Pollen counts tend to be highest on warm, dry and breezy days, after a recent rain or humid weather. The pollen count is usually at its high this time of year.

What else can you do besides stay indoors through the high pollen count days? This month's newsletter will give you information on an alternative to your nasal spray, medications or allergy shots this season. Read on and see how acupuncture can help you survive the height of the pollen season this June. Why wait until your allergies get worse? Try acupuncture today and start feeling better now!

According to Chinese medical theory, the symptoms and signs that indicate a Western diagnosis of allergies relate to imbalances in the meridian and Organ Systems of the body. These imbalances may stem from a variety of causes, including stress, poor diet, pollutants and environmental toxins...such as pollen.

Over time, if imbalances remain within the body, they will affect the functions of the Organ Systems. Some of these Organ Systems are involved in the production of Wei Qi (pronounced "Way Chee").

According to the theories of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, it is important to have the correct quality and quantity of Wei Qi circulating around the body in order to stay healthy and allergy- symptom free.

What is Wei Qi?

The Chinese concept of Wei Qi is similar to the Western concept of the immune system. Wei Qi functions to protect and defend the body against foreign substances, that if not caught, can lead to allergies. When Wei Qi is strong and abundant, the body remains healthy. If the supply of Wei Qi becomes inadequate, health is compromised and your body become vulnerable to foreign invaders such as dust, mold, animal dander, bacteria, viruses, tree and grass pollen.

Acupuncture supports the systems of the body that are involved in the production of Wei Qi. Regular acupuncture treatments can strengthen the body's supply of Wei Qi, as well as help it flow smoothly through the body. Healthy and abundant Wei Qi will greatly reduce or eliminate the symptoms and signs related to allergies.

What Can Lighthouse Wellness Center Do?

During your visit to Lighthouse Wellness Center we will conduct a thorough exam, taking a complete health history. We will then develop a unique treatment plan that will address your specific concerns. The goals of the treatment plan will be to eliminate the symptoms of your your allergies, while addressing the root causes and underlying imbalances affecting the quality and quantity of Wei Qi.