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Posts Tagged: pain relief

Be Thankful for Good Health! Acupuncture Eases Pain, Depression

Posted by & filed under Mental Health, Pain Relief, Wellness.

Acupuncture Helps With Winter Blues - Visit our office in Wilton, Bethel or Fairfield, CT

Re-balance with Acupuncture!

We all overdo it – physically and mentally, and acupuncture is a natural way to ease pain and depression.

How does acupuncture do this? In cases of strains and sprains, it serves to reduce inflammation, and restore and improve circulation. Acupuncture helps injured muscles heal more quickly.

In the case of lower back strain, for example, acupuncture helps to relieve those stresses that are causing tension so that the hamstring muscles can recover, and also reduces the body’s reactive guarding that often contributes to further distress.

Acupuncture supports healthy hormone function which will help support your joints’ integrity, gives you more energy, and can help create pain relieving substances within the body to help it feel better! Acupuncture also promotes good sleep, and aids in digestion. 

Pain can come in all forms. Acupuncture is also an effective treatment for depression. Symptoms of depression include loss of interest or focus, fatigue, changes in eating habits and excessive sleeping, among many others. Depression causes people to lose pleasure from daily life, can complicate other medical conditions, and can even be serious enough to lead to suicide. As with many illnesses, early treatment is more effective and helps prevent the likelihood of serious recurrences.

Better Sleep with Acupuncture!

Better Sleep with Acupuncture!

Acupuncture is a wonderful addition to Western treatments, and for those who wish to bypass prescription drugs, treating depression with acupuncture has a positive and holistic effect on depressed patients, and avoids the potential side effects of traditional medication.

The energy systems we work with include the Liver system and many other point sites may be used to address what we find in individual cases – based on the history and complete exam, of pulses and tongue, as well. An initial and immediate sign of improvement is often sleeping improvements and the feeling of better and more energy.

Relief from pain, depression — acupuncture is certainly an ally for all seasons!

Want more information on how acupuncture can help you? Visit us at CT Acupuncture Center

Questions about acupuncture?  Frequently Asked Questions about Acupuncture

Back pain relief in action! Want to see an acupuncture session in action for yourself? Check this out…

 Acupuncture in Action with Ingri Boe-Wiegaard 

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Get Winterized — Boost Your Immunity (and more!) with Acupuncture!

Posted by & filed under Pain Relief, Wellness.

Get ready for winter with Acupuncture!

Get ready for winter with acupuncture!

Winter is on its way, and there is help for those who want a boost of energy and a strong immune system. Acupuncture!

How does it work? Acupuncture acts on the body’s own subtle energy system to clear obstructions and maximize the flow of energy and blood through the healing mechanisms of the body, including the nervous, endocrine and immune systems. This enhances the body’s own innate healing capacity and lead to an overall increase in energy and vitality.

But that’s not all. Treatments often bring about a sense of wonderful relaxation. It has been proven that such deep relaxation helps regulate the autonomic nervous system, which can help reduce stress and anxiety, and expand a sense of well-being. Who wouldn’t want that?

Acupuncture also works to strengthen your immunity. Acupuncture heals imbalances in your immune system and also restores energy channels that have become disrupted. When these channels are open, the immune function functions at an optimal level and your body stays healthy. Researchers have found that acupuncture enhances the production of natural killer cells, the body’s defense mechanisms against viruses and bacteria. Acupuncture also regulates the activity of white blood cells, which also fight against infection and allergic reactions.

Diet also plays an important role in keeping your immune system strong. Simple diet modifications can greatly improve the functioning of the immune system. There are also some power foods that can help.

Power Foods to Boost Your Immunity

  • Yogurt — Probiotics, or the “live active cultures” found in yogurt, are healthy bacteria that keep the gut and intestinal tract free of disease-causing germs.

    Boost your immunity with your diet (and acupuncture!)

    Boost your immunity with your diet (and acupuncture!)

  • Garlic — This potent relative of the onion contains the active ingredient allicin, which fights infection and bacteria.
  • Shellfish — Get crabby! Selenium, plentiful in shellfish such as oysters, lobsters, crabs, and clams, helps white blood cells produce cytokines—proteins that help clear flu viruses out of the body. Salmon, mackerel, and herring are rich in omega-3 fats, which reduce inflammation, increasing airflow and protecting lungs from colds and respiratory infections.
  • Sweet Potatoes — Not just for holiday meals anymore. Vitamin A  plays a major role in the production of connective tissue, a key component of skin.  One of the best ways to get vitamin A into your diet is from foods containing beta-carotene (like carrots and sweet potatoes), which your body turns into vitamin A.
  • Mushrooms — Brush them off and cook them up! “Studies show that mushrooms increase the production and activity of white blood cells, making them more aggressive. This is a good thing when you have an infection,” says Douglas Schar, DipPhyt, MCPP, MNIMH, director of the Institute of Herbal Medicine in Washington, DC.

Acupuncture also aids with pain relief, easing depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and many other ailments. With acupuncture and a healthy diet, get set to enjoy the winter!

Want more information on how acupuncture can help you? Visit us at CT Acupuncture Center

Questions about acupuncture?  Frequently Asked Questions about Acupuncture

Back pain relief in action! Want to see an acupuncture session in action for yourself? Check this out…

 Acupuncture in Action with Ingri Boe-Wiegaard 

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Follow us on Twitter! Follow @AcupunctureCT

 

 

Want to Love Your Guts? Acupuncture Improves Digestive Health!

Posted by & filed under Uncategorized.

 
Improve Your Digestive Health with Acupuncture!

Improve Your Digestive Health with Acupuncture!

 Do you want to be friends with your belly again?

It’s been said that it’s the way to a man’s heart, and sometimes our eyes are larger than it is (which can definitely cause some digestive issues). Obviously our stomachs and digestive systems are a very central part to our well-being. We pat them when we’re satisfied. But sometimes there can be trouble in tummy paradise — between 60-70 million people are affected by some form of digestive disorder. That’s about 20% of our population.

Digestive function is a complex process, involving multiple organ systems, enzymes and hormones. Our digestive system is also home to many of the body’s immune cells. If our digestive system is not functioning properly, it needs to use enzymes normally associated with our immune system, thus weakening our immunity, and without proper elimination of waste products, the build up of toxic by-products in our body increases, leading to a greater chance of illness.

Poor digestive function can be affiliated with fatigue, accelerated aging, allergies, weak immune system and cancers, to a name a few. Happy life = happy guts!

Acupuncture has been used for a very, very long time to help people gain digestive health, and heal while improving immunity!

Acupuncture is very helpful for many common digestive disorders including:

  • Acid Reflux
  • Constipation
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
  • Diarrhea
  • Bloating/excess gas
  • Heartburn
  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Chron’s Disease
  • Celiac Disease

In traditional Chinese medicine, disease is seen as an imbalance of qi, or vital energy, in the body. The placement of needles at different points in the body helps unblock and stimulate this flow of energy. Acupuncture works to help your body heal and resolve the problem. I base treatment on each individual’s needs, which could include either an excess or deficiency of qi. 

Acupuncture heals the channels of the entire digestive system. Acupuncture helps ease symptoms and discomfort immediately, relieving indigestion, stomach ache and acid reflux, bloating and constipation. Acupuncture may also benefit patients who find their symptoms are brought on or worsened by stress, anxiety and emotional issues. Acupuncture works to relieve the body of these stressors by helping to calm the nerves thus inducing a state of relaxation. A relaxed body, and a happy, healthy belly!

Interested in acupuncture and how it can help you? Please visit us at www.ctacupuncture.com 

Questions about acupuncture?  Frequently Asked Questions about Acupuncture

Love your belly and would like to be a healthy weight? Check out the below!

Acupuncture for Losing Weight – CT Acupuncture Center

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Fist Bump! Acupuncture Works Wonders for Wrist Pain

Posted by & filed under Joint Pain.

 
Strong and Healthy Wrists with Acupuncture!
Strong and Healthy Wrists with Acupuncture!
Is wrist pain keeping you from doing all that you’d like to, or what you used to?

It’s amazing how much we rely on our hands and wrists. Wrist issues are becoming very common in many workplaces and can grow into much bigger issues if left untreated. Acupuncture is very effective at treating chronic pain, such as arthritis, low back, neck or muscle pain, and pain after surgery, and is also very helpful with wrist issues, including tendonitis, arthritis, and Carpel Tunnel Syndrome.

Tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendon or cord of fibrous tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone. It is often accompanied by tenosynovitis, which is an inflammation of the lining of the tendon sheath.  The symptoms of these conditions are pain and tenderness at or near a joint, especially upon movement of the joint; possible swelling over the area; and in some cases numbness and tingling. Stiffness, along with the pain can restrict movement of the joint involved.

Acupuncture can address the inflammatory effects, improving wrist motion and decreasing pain. In addition, acupuncture can be used to retrain muscle coordination, alleviating the initial cause of the inflammation.

Arthritis sufferers are also helped by acupuncture. Arthritis may develop at several possible sites in the hand. Acupuncture can help control the inflammation and pain. Many cases will benefit from treatment of the neck region as well, since the hand region receives neural input from the spinal cord in the neck. 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common job-related injuries and is responsible for the highest number of days lost among all work related injuries. It is also the most frequent surgery of the hand and wrist. Many attribute the rise of CTS to poor computer ergonomics or uncomfortable body positioning for long hours. And for hairdressers, computer programmers, seamstresses, woodworkers, artists, and musicians and many more — this serious injury can mean the sidelining of a livelihood.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a painful progressive condition caused by compression of a key nerve in the wrist. It occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. The median nerve controls sensations to the palm side of the thumb and fingers, as well as impulses to some small muscles in the hand that allow the fingers and thumb to move.

Symptoms usually start gradually, with frequent tingling, burning, or numbness in the palm of the hand and the fingers, especially the thumb, index and middle fingers. The symptoms often first appear during the night. As symptoms worsen, people might feel pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, that radiates up the arm during the day. It can lead to decreased grip strength, which may make it difficult to form a fist, grasp small objects, or perform other manual tasks. If not properly treated, CTS can cause irreversible nerve damage and permanent deterioration of muscle tissue. But drugs, shots or surgery may not be necessary.

Acupuncture has been shown to be very effective in clearing the causes to carpal tunnel symptoms. Acupuncture is safer than NSAIDs and cortisone shots, and it actually eliminates the pain source rather than temporarily masking symptoms.

Point sites chosen are located in the wrist, forearm, and the neck, upper back area. There is often quite a bit of tension in the muscles and tendons in these areas, and acupuncture releases this tension. The energy supply is restored which also improves the blood and fluid flow pathways to these soft tissue structures. Often the patient experiences immediate improvement. Acupuncture addresses any headaches, neck pain, shoulder stiffness and sleeping problems that often accompany this condition, as well as reducing the swelling, inflammation and pain in the wrist.  High five!

Interested in acupuncture and how it can help you? Please visit us at www.ctacupuncture.com

Questions about acupuncture?  Frequently Asked Questions about Acupuncture

Or…check out this video below and see those questions answered by Ingri!

Ingri Answers Your Questions About Acupuncture!

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Acupuncture Brings Sweet Dreams – Ease Insomnia and Nightmares!

Posted by & filed under Insomnia.

 
Sweet Dreams with Acupuncture!

Sweet Dreams with Acupuncture!

Are you more than ready for a good night’s sleep?

We’ve all been there — sleepless nights. When it happens regularly, it can have serious consequences to one’s health — in fact, it can affect all areas of one’s life. Whether it’s due to a hectic schedule and the wheels that won’t stop turning, poor lifestyle choices, or an emotional crisis, a sleep disorder is never cause for celebration. And often, when we do fall asleep, it’s not always restful. Sometimes sleep brings more stress.

A reported estimated 30 percent of adults have nightmares at least once a month. They usually indicate a release of stress from your recent day’s experience, the brain’s reaction to the information it has gathered during the waking hours, and how it deals with change, stress, or new concepts. This can be a dumping ground for the subconscious, a mix of physiology and psychology.

But when the daytime stress and the nighttime bad dreams keep you from a good night’s sleep for subsequent days…time to call in the reinforcements! Acupuncture!

Treatment for sleep disorders is based on the specifics of the patient and the diagnosis, family and medical history as well as the patient’s overall emotional health. Also important to factor in is the age of the patient; treatment for children with sleep disorders will be different from that for adults who have the same symptoms. Looking into diet issues, as well as the body ph (acid/base balance) can be helpful.

Acupuncture is helpful and relevant for treating all sleep problems. Acupuncture provides fast relief to break the cycle of bad sleep, and rebuild your quality of life. Acupuncture is often thought of for the treatment of stress, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and chronic fatigue. And it’s very helpful for ceasing nightmares. Acupuncture works by approaching the mind and body holistically to address internal imbalance, encouraging the flow of natural energy, and releasing physical and mental tension.

At the initial consultation, we gather information to get a complete picture of what is causing the bad dreams and disturbed sleep. Acupuncture can free up energetic and physical blocks, leading to ideal movement and function throughout the body. Patients typically feel a sense of relaxation after the needles are inserted.

The therapy boosts your mood and immune system. It relaxes muscle tension, enhances circulation, and…promotes better sleep! These and other benefits of acupuncture stop that vicious cycle of stress and bad dreams. As your mental and physical well-being improve, bad dreams become less intense and less frequent, and nightmare-related stress, anxiety, and depression fade, letting you get the restful sleep you so need and deserve. 

Acupuncture combined with lifestyle changes can make a big difference. Luckily most people experience improvement quickly, with few treatments. Before turning to prescription drugs, give acupuncture a try! It might be the answer you’re (about to be) dreaming of! Here’s to happy dreaming!

Interested in acupuncture and how it can help you? Please visit us at www.ctacupuncture.com

Questions about acupuncture?  Frequently Asked Questions about Acupuncture

Or…check out this video below and see those questions answered by Ingri!

Ingri Answers Your Questions About Acupuncture!

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Follow us on Twitter! Follow @AcupunctureCT

 

Summer Health and Happiness – Acupuncture Can Relieve Worry and Pain

Posted by & filed under Uncategorized.

Acupuncture Helps You Be Worry and Pain Free!

Acupuncture Helps You Be Worry and Pain Free!

Imagine how it would be if you had added energy, relief from stress and freedom from pain.

Acupuncture has been around for centuries, and for good reason — it works!

Most everybody worries sometimes. But sometimes the worry gets out of control. In the United States, anxiety disorders affect about 40 million adults — women twice more than men. In Western medicine, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a psychological and physiological state characterized by excessive, exaggerated anxiety and worry about every day or upcoming life events with no obvious reasons for the worry. People with symptoms of GAD tend to always expect disaster and seemingly can’t stop worrying about things such as health, money, family, work, or school, and the worry is often unrealistic or out of proportion for the situation. Daily life can become a constant state of worry, fear, and dread. Eventually, the anxiety dominates the person’s thinking and eventually interferes with daily functioning. This is not what we want for anybody! 

Acupuncture is a safe and natural way to treat many cases of anxiety and depression, including GAD. It’s an excellent complementary therapy as well. In more severe cases that are interfering with your daily activities and responsibilities over the long term, acupuncture can work in conjunction with other treatments such as therapy or medication, helping to maximize the effectiveness of the treatment and minimize side effects.

What is causing this imbalance? There can be many different reasons for the disharmony within the body that result in emotional disorders, but anger, irritability, and frustration are all signs that our qi (energy) is not moving smoothly. Often irritability and moodiness can be the consequence of built up stress in your life. Those little things can really add up! Over time these emotions can develop into more serious emotional conditions such as anxiety and depression, as well as other health concerns such as digestive problems, trouble sleeping and the tendency for a weakened immune system.  

The liver is responsible for the smooth flowing of qi throughout the body and for calming our emotions. When the liver’s function of moving qi is disrupted, qi can become stuck or stagnant. This is referred to as liver qi stagnation. Liver qi stagnation is one of the most common patterns of disharmony that we see in patients.

Here’s the good news! Acupuncture is excellent at relieving liver qi stagnation. The treatment for irritability and moodiness associated with the stagnation focuses on moving qi, and supporting the liver and spleen organ systems with acupuncture, lifestyle and dietary recommendations. Acupuncture often gives an immediate improvement on the symptoms present, as well as a deeper improvement on the underlying causes. 

Acupuncture can help smooth your emotions and bring your hormones into balance. It can also help improve the overall health of your liver as well as treat stress, anger and frustration — which will make everyone happier…and you much more healthy!

Acupuncture is also helpful for relieving pain.

It serves to reduce inflammation and help injured muscles heal more quickly. In the case of lower back strain, acupuncture helps to relieve those stresses that are causing tension so that the hamstring muscles can recover, and also reduces the body’s reactive guarding that often contributes to further distress. Acupuncture also restores and improves circulation to your injured parts, enabling them to heal more quickly.  It will also promote good sleep, and aid in digestion. Acupuncture supports healthy hormone function which will help support your joints’ integrity, gives you more energy, and can help create pain relieving substances within the body to help it feel better! 

Interested in acupuncture and how it can help you? Please visit us at www.ctacupuncture.com

Questions about acupuncture?  Frequently Asked Questions about Acupuncture

Or…check out this video below and see those questions answered by Ingri!

Ingri Answers Your Questions About Acupuncture!

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Follow us on Twitter! Follow @AcupunctureCT

 

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes — Acupuncture Naturally Relieves Stress and Strain

Posted by & filed under Uncategorized.

 

Acupuncture is good for the whole body!

Acupuncture is good for the whole body!

Sometimes the natural approach just works best!

Acupuncture has been used to relieve pain from head to toe for thousands of years, and without side effects! Let’s take a look at what acupuncture can do for your head, shoulders, knees and toes!

Acupuncture Works for Headaches/Migraines

Acupuncture can provide patients who suffer from tension and migraine headache an alternative treatment for their pain.In addition to treating the symptoms of headaches, acupuncture always looks to the underlying causes as well, and thereby can help to prevent any future occurrences. A migraine can last from a few hours to as long as three days, which in some cases may completely incapacitate the person suffering an attack.

Signs that a migraine is imminent include the Prodrome phase (typically involving mood swings, fatigue and muscle tightness) followed by the Aura phase (visible bright flashes, dizziness and loss of sensation in extremities).

Triggers for a migraine include stress, changes in sleep and eating patterns, foods containing monosodium glutamate (MSG) and sensory overloads (such as bright lights, loud sounds and certain smells).

Migraines can be treated preventatively with acupuncture, and a few treatments will clear up most migraine patterns, permanently! Each person is evaluated individually – history and other problems (symptoms) are taken into consideration, so the treatment points will vary. The treatment is painless and gentle.

Acupuncture for Shoulder (and Neck) Pain!

Acupuncture is very effective for muscle sprains and strains. Often relief is felt at the first treatment, and usually only a few are needed, with range of motion restored. When longstanding pain or injuries are the cause, then more treatments will be needed, and acupuncture will help speed the healing process. In addition, acupuncture is good at reducing the tension in the neck tendons and muscles, in the shoulders and also the back. It can help relieve pain and tightness by increasing the circulation of blood and energy, and it can also help to relieve stress.  Acupuncture has a relaxing effect on many people and some even fall asleep during the treatment.

Acupuncture for Knee Pain!

Knee pain usually arises from injury or a degenerative problem.  Acupuncture can revitalize the energetic systems surrounding the knee, enabling the body to heal the knee tissues. Acupuncture helps to stabilize the knee muscles during the healing process and decrease pain and swelling.

Acupuncture for Foot Pain!

Acupuncture reduces the pain, inflammation and tension of Plantar Fasciitis, which is one of the most common orthopedic complaints. It also relaxes muscles in the lower legs and low back which relate to the soles of the feet through the fascia.

Acupuncture is also a very effective treatment for acute or chronic muscle tension and soreness, even if there is no diagnosed injury. Acupuncture relaxes the individual muscle fibers, releases endorphins, and increases blood flow to tense and blocked areas. This lets you feel better, and move forward!

Please visit us at www.ctacupuncture.com

Questions about acupuncture?  Frequently Asked Questions about Acupuncture

Stressed out? Check out this video below…

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Hey There, You Delicate Flower! Acupuncture Gives the Beat Down to Bruises!

Posted by & filed under Uncategorized.

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Acupuncture Speeds the Healing of Bruises!

Whether it’s from a serious spillage on an icy sidewalk, a bit of a rough game of backyard ball, or an argument your hip had with the corner of the kitchen table, a bruise can sure be painful!

A bruise is a traumatic injury of the soft tissues of the body that results in breakage of the local capillaries and leakage of red blood cells. A bruise forms when blood vessels near your skin’s surface are broken, allowing a small amount of blood to leak into the tissues under your skin. The trapped blood appears as a black-and-blue mark. 

Trauma sufficient to cause bruising can occur from a wide variety of situations including accidents, falls, sports injuries and surgeries. How often and how badly you bruise depends on many factors, including your health. Easy bruising can occur when the blood vessels are weakened by diseases (such as scurvy), and certain medications (such as aspirin and prednisone, and especially blood thinners) also make it more likely for you to bruise. Age is also a factor. Bruising can occur at any age, but as you age, your skin becomes thinner, and the capillaries under your skin become more prone to breaking.

Acupuncture aids in the healing and resolution of injuries of all kinds, and bruising is no exception. Treatments are effective for reducing pain in the affected area, as well as increasing the local circulation and attracting white blood cells to the area of injury, which increases the delivery of nutrients and removal of waste elements. This speeds the healing process and lets that bruise be a thing of the past!

For more information, visit us at www.ctacupuncture.com

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Back Pain Treated Wonderfully with Acupuncture! Here’s What It Looks Like!

Posted by & filed under Uncategorized.

Back pain is one of the top reasons people seek medical treatment, in fact, over 30 million Americans will experience back pain at some point in their lives.

It is also the number one reported reason for seeking acupuncture. Acupuncture heightens the effectiveness of the areas of the brain responsible for regulating pain signals, and is an effective treatment option for chronic back pain, especially in patients with a long history of unsuccessful conventional treatment.

Many patients feel immediate improvement!

If you’ve ever wondered how the process works, enjoy this video by CT Acupuncture!

Featuring Ingri Boe-Wiegaard, L.Ac. CT Acupuncture
Offices in Wilton, Fairfield, and Bethel, CT
www.ctacupuncture.com