by urban-acupuncture | Aug 22, 2016 | Art, Community, What we sell at our clinic..
Natalie Hess – Artist Statement
By day I work as a graphic designer, and many times that skill-set flows over into my painting and printmaking through text or layout. This body of work, however,
focuses on more abstract themes. I rarely had a subject in mind when creating these pieces. Rather, this work was driven by process and detail.
I love learning new techniques, but my main goal isn’t to master a particular style. Learning the style and then changing it or pushing it to be my own is what drives my
art. Bold, rich colors draw me in, and I tend to work with such colors often. Details in my art include subtle lines and added pieces, such as embroidery. I enjoy
being able to look at a piece as a whole, but then get closer and see the intricate lines and strategically placed details. For me, this adds another layer to the piece.
by urban-acupuncture | Aug 5, 2016 | Acupuncture
Depression Treatment
Acupuncture is gradually becoming the most effective alternative treatment for a number of medical conditions. Until recently, it was used only for treating inflammation and other sorts of pain. But now it is quite favored to treat depression as well. Acupuncture has become quite a successful alternative to antidepressant medication.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine needles into the skin on the different pressure points and near different organs in the body. Researchers and experts believe that these needles trigger the production of natural painkillers in the brain. These painkillers then correct the various imbalances in the body.
How does it treat depression?
The Electro acupuncture treatment is used to treat depression. In electro acupuncture, gentle electric current is passed on through the needles. According to a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, electro acupuncture is as effective as fluoxetine (commonly known as Prozac). It, too, reduces the symptoms of depression.
The study
Researchers signed up patients for this trial and divided them into two groups. The trial lasted for 6 weeks. One group was administered electro acupuncture five times a week and the other group was given a stipulated dose of fluoxetine or Prozac on a regular basis. The symptoms of the patients were monitored regularly and they were assessed every 2 weeks.
The level of glial cell line in each participating patient was recorded. The glial cell line is a combination of the derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and a neuroprotective protein. Patients with extreme depression have low amounts of GDNF. The level of neuroprotective protein generally increases after the patients are given antidepressant medication.
The result
At the end of 6 weeks, both groups of patients showed similar signs of improvement. It restored their GDNF to the normal level. It was also found that the patients who were administered electro acupuncture showed signs of improvement much earlier than the other group. Signs of improvement were seen in weeks 2 and 4.
It was also found that acupuncture can treat other aspects and side effects of depression. Antidepressant medicines almost always affect the sexual functioning of men and women. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine published a report supporting this belief. After being treated with acupuncture for 12 weeks, both men and women regained various aspects of their sexual functioning.
A number of studies and trials are all indicating that the traditional Chinese practice of acupuncture is surely becoming a successful alternative to a lot of medications and treatments. It treats anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and nausea among other things. Acupuncture can end up completely replacing different medications and ease their consequent side effects.
So what are you waiting for? Depression is quite a common occurrence these days. If you are aware of anyone in your family or anyone in Columbus, or any other part of Ohio, who would benefit from this kind of a treatment, do pass the message on. Or for yourself, you can talk to an acupuncture specialist today.
Contact Us For More Information
For more information about how acupuncture, massage therapy and other alternative healing treatments can help you, please contact the Urban Acupuncture Center Board Certified Licensed Acupuncturist’s team at Indianola Ave, Clintonville (614) 725-2488 | Main St, Westerville (614) 426-4406 or click here. Taking new patients in and around greater Columbus, Ohio.
by urban-acupuncture | Aug 1, 2016 | Acupuncture
Chronic Pain Treatment
Acupuncture, nowadays, is proving to be quite valuable in treating chronic pain. Sometimes, the usual treatments of applying heat or ice, physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory medicines, and regular exercising stops having any effect on joint and muscle related pains. The sufferers of chronic pain can then resort to acupuncture.
All patients suffering from some kind of a chronic pain have always gone through some kind of a treatment or another. Acupuncture serves as an alternative treatment when injections and other pain relieving treatments do not work.
Acupuncture is still not the established method of treating chronic pain, but it is often recommended. The medical director of Osher Clinical Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital which is affiliated with Harvard, Dr. Donald Levy, believes that there is ample evidence to aid the recommendation of Acupuncture to heal chronic pain.
Research has proven that about 50% of the pain can be treated by acupuncture. Near about 18,000 people complaining of chronic pain were treated with acupuncture. They had shoulder pain, back (especially lower back) and neck pain, chronic headache, and osteoarthritis. Almost all of them reported that their pain had reduced by at least 50%.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture involves inserting very thin needles into the skin at certain pressure points in the body. It is believed that when the needles are inserted they rectify the imbalance in the flow of energy in the body. It affects and adjusts the neurotransmitters, the immune system and the hormone levels in our body.
Is it absolutely safe?
As long as acupuncture is carried out by an expert and experienced practitioner you are definitely safe. Rarely have any negatives impacts been reported by any of the patients. Although, there are those rare times when some reports have shown that patients have picked up some kind of infection due to inappropriately sterilized needles. Sometimes the acupuncturist doesn’t have enough experience and as a result cannot handle the needles well.
Pain Management Tips
You should not begin an acupuncture treatment as soon as you start having pain somewhere. You first need to be diagnosed properly to determine what the cause of that pain is. If it is something extremely serious and cannot be treated by acupuncture you would need some other medical aid. If it is confirmed that acupuncture can treat the pain, only then should you opt for this kind of a treatment.
Weekly treatments are a good way of starting. If you start seeing benefits, increase the length between consecutive treatments. You can then go for a treatment once every month. Always ask a doctor to refer a trusted acupuncture practitioner.
Dr. Lucy Chen, practicing acupuncturist at Massachusetts General Hospital and a specialist in pain medicine, feels that the advantage of acupuncture is distinct and also that the side effects and potential adverse impact of acupuncture is low as compared to medication.”
So what are you waiting for? Chronic pain is quite common. Hundreds of adults in Columbus and other parts of Ohio prefer acupuncture to treat their chronic pain. Talk to an acupuncture specialist today and relieve yourself of any pain.
For more information about how acupuncture and other treatments can help you, please contact the Urban Acupuncture Center Board Certified Licensed Acupuncturist’s team at Indianola Ave, Clintonville (614) 725-2488 | Main St, Westerville (614) 426-4406 or click here. Taking new patients in and around greater Columbus, Ohio.
