Acupuncture  - Zen Shiatsu  -  Massage  -  Yoga

Acupuncture

 

A Western way in which acupuncture’s function could be illustrated, would be to say that it is essentially causing three things to occur. Reduction of inflammation, optimizing the balance of the endocrine system and inducing anesthesia.

 

There are many styles of acupuncture that are practiced around the world. Each share the points and meridians in common. However, techniques and equipment differ widely between practitioners. In China, most treatment focuses on multiple needle forms and electro-stimulation of needles. In Japan, acupuncture is an occupation for the blind. Techniques are based more on palpation diagnosis. Perhaps the single greatest condition which people use acupuncture for is pain management and soft tissue injury.

 

However, there are many conditions for which acupuncture is suitable. The following is an alphabetical list of the conditions, which the WHO (World Health Organization) officially recognizes as treatable by acupuncture:

• Neurological disorders Bell’s palsy Cardiac neurosis Craniocerebral injury, closed Facial pain Neuralgias Reflex sympathetic dystrophy Stroke TIA Tourette syndrome Pain

• Arthritis (rheumatoid and osteo)

• Abdominal pain of various etiologies

• Cancer pain

• Earache

• Eye pain

• Golfer’s elbow Intermittent claudication

• Musculoskeletal pain

• Renal colic

• Post-operative pain

• Sciatica

• Shingles

• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction

• Tennis elbow Digestive disorders Biliary colic Colelithiasis Diarrhea (various etiologies) Cravings Gastritis Gastrospasm Peptic ulcer Nausea and vomiting (various etiologies) Ulcerative colitis Metabolic disorders Diabetes type 1 and 2 Thyroid disorders 

• Gynecological disorders Amenorrhea Dysmenorrhea (painful periods) Infertility Induction of labor Insufficient lactation Labor pain Mastitis Malposition of fetus (breach presentation) Menopause Morning sickness Polycystic ovarian syndrome Premenstrual syndrome Urinary tract infection

• Pediatric disorders Bedwetting Colic Insomnia Failure of closure of fontanel Failure to breast feed

• Respiratory disorders Asthma (various etiologies) Bronchitis Pleurisy Cough (various etiologies)

• Other disorders Acne Addictions Allergies Erectile dysfunction Insomnia Meniere disease Pruritis (itching) Schizophrenia

 

What is health? If we were to take the Webster’s Dictionary definition it would be defined as follows:

Health -a state of being free from illness and injury. 

While this may seem to sum it up for most of us, I would like to offer up another, shorter one: Empowerment. To be empowered is to have the power to change any aspect of one’s life. The first condition, which must be met in order to achieve this, is self-knowledge. Knowing when we feel ill or well is fairly evident to all of us, but knowing how to stay well is beyond many. There are many tools that can be used to achieve health and stay healthy including Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs, Therapeutic Zen Shiatsu, Massage and Yoga (including Corrective Exercises). It is through the use of these modalities that I help others achieve empowerment.