In Oriental
Medicine, the 12 organs and the overall
digestive
tract
produce and move all the blood and oxygen in
the body.
Physical,
chemical, or emotional stressors can cause
the blood to stagnate, resulting in a
malfunction of the organs. The function and
healing process of vital body parts are
affected at this point. Once this takes
place, extreme health problems can occur.
However, more often than not, these changes
go unnoticed. If the condition goes
untreated, the body will attempt to support
the affected area. As the problem increases,
however, the area starts to degenerate and
symptoms appear. The body is now in a
state of dis "ease."
The longer the condition is allowed to go
untreated, the less chance there is for
recovery. What began as a minor problem or
discomfort may lead to irreversible damage.
However, if detected early, organ
malfunction as well as blood stagnation can
respond well to Oriental Medicine with an
excellent chance for a complete and painless
recovery. |
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Before you can
be treated, your acupuncturist will first
need to make a diagnosis. A diagnosis
involves obtaining a complete health
history, performing pulse and tongue
diagnosis, and palpation to specific body
areas and acupuncture points. These
techniques allow your practitioner to
determine exactly what imbalances are
causing your particular health problem(s).
Once the diagnosis is complete, a treatment
plan can be outlined and discussed.
The goal of this clinic is to remove the
root of the problem, also known as
corrective care, and not merely eliminate
the symptoms. As treatment progresses, your
acupuncturist will regularly check to see
how your body is progressing. This will
ensure that you remain firmly on the path
toward correction.
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The purpose of
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is to
return the flow of blood and oxygen to
normal and to reinstate optimal organ
function. This will in turn, awaken the
body's natural self-healing abilities and
catapult it into a greater state of ease,
stability and harmony.
Your acupuncturist has many treatment
modalities available to help you. Which ones
will be used depend on your unique
diagnosis. Some of these treatments may
include:
Acupuncture: Tiny, sterile
needles, barely larger than a cat's whisker
or human hair, are inserted at precise
acupoints. When the needles are inserted,
you may experience a feeling of tingling,
warmth, heaviness, or a dull ache. The goal
of acupuncture is to eliminate pain,
rebalance the flow of blood and oxygen and
restore the body's natural healing ability.
Cupping: Small glass or plastic
cups are placed at specific points on the
body. A vacuum is created inside the cup
with heat or suction to stimulate
circulation.
Gua Sha: A special Gua Sha tool
is gently rubbed over specific areas to
promote blood and oxygen circulation.
Herbal Therapy: Various ancient herbs
may be suggested to aid in treatment or
provide long-term wellness therapy.
Tui Na: This type of massage
moves blood to the affected parts of the
body to relieve pain, tension and
inflammation.
Diet Therapy: Ancient wisdom
dictates that disharmonies in the body can
be cured by eating the proper foods.
Appropriate foods may be suggested in order
to restore health and support longevity.
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The National
Institute of Health (NIH) points out that
"the occurrence of adverse events in the
practice of acupuncture has been documented
to be extremely low." Because the
acupuncture needles are sterile and
disposable, there is little risk of
infection. Any minor soreness or redness
resulting from other treatment modalities
such as cupping, Gua Sha or Tui Na usually
dissipates quickly.
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There really is
no set number of treatments for specific
issues. The number of treatments needed to
remove the cause of the problem will depend
on many factors, including the specific
diagnosis, the severity of malfunction and
your individual constitution.
Once the root of
the problem has been removed, patients can
begin their ongoing maintenance care by
regularly scheduling "body tune-ups", even
though no specific illness is present.
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I first came to Nature's Balance for acupuncture on January 13, 2009. I had a whole laundry list of problems that needed to be addressed, starting with lower back and hip pain. The back pain was from an auto accident and subsequent lumbar fusion, and the hip pain was of an indeterminate origin. I also suffered from numerous perimenopausal and PMS symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, hot flashes, mood swings, joint swelling and irregular and painful periods. These issues began approximately three years ago and had been getting progressively worse. I had seen no less than half a dozen doctors and specialists over that three year span. I had had steroid injections, physical therapy and surgery, been prescribed hormones that made me even more ill, and given various narcotics for pain. Nothing worked. I was depressed, drugged, and exhausted every day. My hips got so bad that I could not even climb stairs, put on shoes and socks, get through a grocery store, or get in and out of my vehicle. I had very limited energy and had to give up nearly all my hobbies and interests. In short, my life was miserable! Acupuncture was my final chance at regaining some semblance of a normal life. I am still amazed to say that the results from acupuncture were almost immediate! The first problem to go away was the insomnia. I was sleeping through the night for the first time in three years! I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to get a solid eight hours in one night when I was barely able to get that in one week before. My energy levels sky-rocketed as a result. Over the next few weeks, the back and hip pain eased more and more with each session. My PMS was eliminated and my periods returned to normal. So much for perimenopause! The herbals that I was prescribed worked as soon as the second dose, and my restless leg syndrome went away, enabling me to get an even more restful nights' sleep. After three months, I am now very happy to say that my pain has improved by at least 95%. The other 5% that is left is only due to the physical damage done by the injury sustained in the accident. Considering those figures were literally the reverse when I started this process, I consider acupuncture much more than a success story. I can sleep, I can drive, I can climb stairs and dress with ease, and I can make it through all my daily activities without pain or medication. Acupuncture has given me my LIFE back!! I recommend it now to everyone, no matter what the problem may be!
Paula B.
Elgin
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