The Essence of Gua Sha Gua sha is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. Practitioners of this medicine believe that a person’s qi, or energy, must flow unhindered throughout the body so you can feel your best. When qi becomes stagnant, health problems occur. With Gua sha, your acupuncturist uses a smooth-edged tool to gently scrape areas of your body where inflammation or stagnant qi exist to help improve circulation and promote healing. When done correctly, Gua sha can help you unlock radiant skin and achieve holistic well-being. Gua Sha in Practice: Techniques and Scientific Backing Gua Sh ..read more

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, springtime associates itself with the emotion of anger. Most of us regard anger as a negative emotion, something to evade or eliminate. So, why does TCM shed light on it? Well, we don’t inherently classify emotions as good or bad. It’s our handling of challenging emotions that can ultimately harm ourselves or our loved ones. TCM describes springtime as a highly yang period, brimming with new energy and natural growth, both within nature and within ourselves. In human experiences, growth or change typically arises from a catalyst—a dissatisfaction or inspiration ..read more

Migraine headaches are debilitating for those who suffer from the pain. According to the Migraine Research Foundation, approximately 39 million people in the U.S. suffer from migraine disease. Some migraine studies predict that up to 12% of adults in the U.S. have migraines, with 4 million suffering from chronic migraines. Worldwide, it is estimated that 1 billion men, women, and even children suffer from migraine disease.  Migraines are serious and often incapacitating. Here are some additional statistics from the Migraine Research Foundation: Migraine disease is the 6th most disab ..read more

Prostate health might not be at the top of every guy’s health checklist but it’s important for men to get checked and get checked early if they have a family history of issues or cancer. And while it isn’t talked about very much, there is some promising research showing acupuncture is an effective treatment option for prostate health issues.  What the Research Says A 2018 review of three published studies found that acupuncture has the potential to reduce prostatitis symptoms without the side effects associated with pharmaceutical drugs. Prostatitis might not sound familiar, but it is ac ..read more

More than 34 million Americans have diabetes, and approximately 90 percent of them have type 2 diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes in the United States Type 2 diabetes, while its exact cause is unknown, develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin, or the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin. Because of this, treatment often involves taking “insulin sensitizers” or medication that helps the body increase its sensitivity and therefore ability to process insulin, keeping the blood sugar from getting too low. Let’s dis ..read more

Some men might not consider acupuncture as a first resort when wanting a health reset, but acupuncture can be a great way to deal with some of the issues that come with getting older. Let’s discuss how there are certainly more than four, but here are the top four ways acupuncture can improve men’s health.   Reducing Stress Many lifestyle factors can help in reducing stress levels. What many may not understand is how effective acupuncture can be at helping to reduce stress and anxiety levels. Acupuncturists can stimulate specific points on the body which can release endorphins that produce ..read more

You might think breathing is second nature, right? You’re doing it right now as you are reading this. But did you know that there are different kinds of breathing and that what is called deep breathing can have important health benefits? Read on to learn just three of the most important reasons you should add deep breathing to your daily routine. Manage Anxiety and Depression Deep breathing, also known as diaphragmatic breathing, activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is also known as the “rest and digest” system. The job of the parasympathetic nervous system is to conserve e ..read more

As we get older, those aches and pains become a little more pronounced and life begins to create some new challenges. For many seniors, schedules become impacted with doctor’s appointments and trips to the pharmacy. Let’s discuss the three reasons you should give it a try as it can greatly help some of the greatest health challenges facing seniors today.  Pain Relief Studies have shown that acupuncture is highly effective at treating chronic pain conditions. For example, rheumatoid arthritis is commonly treated with acupuncture. Of course, the frequency, length and number of treatments wi ..read more

For many of the afflictions acupuncture can treat – allergies, back pain, headaches, the list goes on – reducing inflammation in the body is a primary reason acupuncture is successful. Let’s discuss how for decades now, doctors and medical researchers have been trying to learn what the biological mechanism is that allows acupuncture to reduce inflammation in the body.  In a study published in August of last year, it seems scientists got a little closer to the answer. Through inducing a system-wide inflammatory response in mice, the scientists found acupuncture signaling pathways ..read more

Acupuncture as a Drug-Free Alternative for Hypertension Those suffering from hypertension, or high blood pressure, are at risk for a host of other health issues including suffering a stroke or heart attack. And for some people, the prescription drugs used to treat high blood pressure either aren’t effective enough or bring on undesirable side effects. Let’s discuss how in recent years, studies have shown that acupuncture can be an effective and drug free alternative to combating high blood pressure.  Understanding the Dangers of High Blood Pressure High blood pressure is not something you ..read more