by urban-acupuncture | Jul 1, 2020 | Acupuncture
Panic Attack Treatment
If you have ever experienced a panic attack, you know just how scary, overwhelming, and even debilitating it can be.
Put simply, a panic attack is a sudden, short, and unexpected burst of extreme fear accompanied by physical symptoms such as shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, nausea, elevated heart rate or chest pains, dizziness, and muscle tension (to name just a few). In fact, a panic attack can be—and often is—confused with a heart attack or other medical crisis.
Panic attack are usually associated with extreme stress, a trauma or memory of trauma, extreme fear or discomfort, or a specific trigger like a frightening place or event. But whatever the immediate cause, panic attacks are sudden, unpredictable, and both physically and emotionally overwhelming.
And they are surprisingly common. It is estimated that nearly one-third of Americans today will experience at least one panic attack at some point in their lives. For individuals living with trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), recurrent panic attacks can be truly debilitating.
Acupuncture as a Treatment Option for Recurrent Panic Attacks
Whether you’ve had a single episode of panic or find yourself suffering from recurrent, debilitating panic attacks, acupuncture may be able to help reduce your anxiety and even prevent future attacks.
The root of ancient Chinese medicine stems from the belief that our mental health, as well as our physical health, is dependent on balance in our chi (qi), loosely translated as vital life energy. If the body and the mind are in balance, the chi can flow freely through our body’s meridians (energy channels). However, if that balance is disrupted, the chi becomes blocked or congested.
Acupuncture works by restoring the proper flow of chi along the body’s meridians, restoring the fundamental balance between the mind and the body. Restoring this balance can decrease the frequency, duration, and even the intensity of panic attacks. Even one treatment can help some patients find a greater sense of centeredness, control, well-being, and self-confidence.
Restoring the proper flow of chi and bringing the mind and body back into a health balance can also help treat some underlying conditions—such as stress and insomnia—that often contribute to recurrent panic attacks.
Is Acupuncture Scary or Painful?
If you suffer from anxiety or panic attacks, just the idea of acupuncture can be pretty intensive and even scary.
In fact, acupuncture is not painful and most patients find the treatment relaxing and soothing.
Your acupuncturist will place very small, sterile needles along so-called acupuncture points, or specific points along the body’s meridians. Different acupuncture points treat different physical or mental ailments. Anxiety and panic, for instance, usually involves acupuncture points along the breastbone, the eyebrows, and the insides of the wrists.
Acupuncture is generally considered to be a risk-free treatment option for many patients, when performed by an accredited, licensed acupuncturist. However, as with any medical treatment, it is important to discuss incorporating acupuncture into your treatment plan with your medical practitioner.
Contact Urban Acupuncture Center in Columbus, OH 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 | Jun 13, 2020 | Massage Therapy
Hand and Foot Massage Reflexology
Take a minute or two and think about how much we rely on our hands and feet each minute of each day. When you really stop to consider it, even the simplest, everyday activity often involves either our hands, our feet, or even both simultaneously! So it should come as no big surprise that tension in our hands and/or our feet can take a huge toll on our health and it should come as no big surprise that relieving that tension can have a huge positive impact on our overall well-being!
Reflexology is a specific massage technique based on the ancient premise that our entire body is fully interconnected, and that addressing pressure points in one area of the body impacts other organs and/or bodily systems. Reflexology, or put more simply hand and foot massage, is premised on the idea that applying restorative pressure to the hands and/or the feet can create a positive effect in specific other areas of the body. In other words, not only does hand and foot massage feel great, it can make you healthier as well.
Here are six specific benefits associated with hand and foot massage!
Reduces stress and anxiety.
Just the right amount of pressure on exactly the right spots on the hands and feet is literally relaxing. In other words, stimulating the body to release physical tension throughout the body by massaging the hands and feet helps the mind relax, unwind, and release tension as well. Whether as a stand-alone treatment or when incorporated into other massage techniques, a hand and foot massage is a great way to relieve stress and reduce anxiety!
Lifts depression and improves mood.
The power of human touch is amazing when it comes to fighting depression. Reflexologists—licensed massage therapists with specialized training in hand and foot massage—understand exactly what points on the hands and/or the feet are best for fighting depression, improving overall mood, and enhancing a sense of personal well-being.
Pain relief.
If you are experiencing pain in your hands or your feet, then the benefit of a relevant hand or foot massage is pretty straight-forward; for example, if you spend all day, every day on your feet (especially if you cannot wear supportive footwear), a daily foot massage, even just for a few minutes, will go a long way towards reducing resulting discomfort. However, a well-performed reflexology massage, hitting specific pressure points in the hands and feet, has been shown to relieve pain and discomfort in other areas of the body as well!
Improved blood flow.
One of the primary benefits of massage in general is improved blood flow, and this is especially true of the hands and feet. Located at “the extremity” of the body, it can be difficult for blood to easily reach the furthest points in the hands and feet, resulting in a lack of sufficient oxygen to the nerve endings. In the worst cases, this can lead to extra sensitivity, tingling, and even numbness. A restorative massage of the hands and/or the feet can help restore proper blood flow for better oxygenation.
Better sleep habits.
Some experts argue that a good night’s sleep is the ultimate foundation for health and wellness. Unfortunately, given our busy lives and jam-packed schedules, getting to bed on time and letting the mind settle in order to fall asleep quickly can be challenging. The overall relaxation and well-being that comes from a hand and foot massage can significantly improve your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep, in order to ensure that you get the rest you need to make it through your busy day.
Healthy feet and hands.
Perhaps the most obvious, yet the most overlooked, benefit of a hand and/or foot massage is the impact such a massage has on the health of your hands and feet. Whether we spend all day typing at a keyboard or standing on our feet, we rely on our hands and our feet all day, every day! So giving your hands and feet a little TLC with a gentle, stimulating massage performed by a licensed massage therapist can be just what they need to stay healthy so you can stay healthy!
Contact Urban Acupuncture Center in Columbus, OH 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 | Jun 3, 2020 | Acupuncture, Acupuncture Columbus
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a condition in which your airways narrow and swell and produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.
For some people, asthma is a minor nuisance. For others, it can be a major problem that interferes with daily activities and may lead to a life-threatening asthma attack.
Asthma can’t be cured, but its symptoms can be controlled. Because asthma often changes over time, it’s important that you work with your doctor to track your signs and symptoms and adjust treatment as needed.
Using Acupuncture to Treat Asthma Symptoms, Respiratory Issues & Allergies
People living with asthma use a variety of methods to keep their condition under control. Common methods include taking daily medicine to lower inflammation in the airways, and using inhalers for quick relief when an asthma attack strikes, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
For some people, complementary treatment options can boost the effectiveness of conventional treatments and help keep symptoms under control. A complementary option could include acupuncture.
In Chinese medicine, asthma is called “xiao chuan”, which means wheezing and dyspnea, respectively. Chinese medicine classifies xiao and chuan as two separate illnesses with different treatments. Xiao (wheezing) is characterized by a whistling sound during breathing, increased respiration rate, dyspnea and inability to rest in a horizontal position. Chuan (shortness of breath) is characterized by dyspnea, constant opening of mouth to grasp air, raised shoulder, flared nostrils and inability to rest in a horizontal position. Patients with xiao (wheezing) generally will have chuan (shortness of breath), while patients with chuan (shortness of breath) may or may not have xiao (wheezing). In Western medicine, wheezing and shortness of breath are both considered as symptoms which may be present in many different types of pulmonary syndromes such as asthma, acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
What Science Says About Acupuncture Relieving Asthma Attacks
Researchers find acupuncture effective for relieving allergic asthma, a type of asthma triggered by allergens (e.g., dust mites, mold, pollen, foods). Symptoms include wheezing, difficulty breathing, itchy eyes, sinusitis, rhinitis, a general feeling of malaise, and sneezing. In a randomized controlled trial of 1,445 patients, acupuncture provided lasting relief for six months.
The researchers note that after the three months of acupuncture treatments, patients had significant improvements in global quality of life scores and individual parameters such as symptoms, activities, emotions, physicality, and mental function. An important finding, the durability of acupuncture was confirmed by a six month follow-up. Despite not having any acupuncture for three months following the completion of the study’s treatment regimen, the six month data point measured improvements “comparable to the 3 months’ improvements.”
If traditional treatment options don’t seem to be working or are giving you unpleasant side effects, acupuncture may be your solution.
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 | May 16, 2020 | Acupuncture
Hemorrhoids are characterized by inflammation and edema of the vessels surrounding the anus and rectum. It is a common condition effecting millions of people all around the world. Hemorrhoids typically are caused by the effort to evacuate stool, pregnancy, chronic constipation or a low fiber diet.
We can classify the hemorrhoid by its localization: Internal (inside the anus) and external (outside of the anus). Main symptoms include: pain upon evacuation, anal burning, anal itching and anal bleeding or any combination of these.
The conservative clinical treatment includes the targeting dietary factors (increase of fiber and water intake) and a regularization of the daily evacuation habits. For more severe cases, surgical treatment is routinely prescribed. This approach often lacks satisfactory results and can lead to various severe complications.
Within the teachings of Chinese medicine, blood-vessel/ hemmorhoid related problems can result from an imbalance of yang energy of the Du Mai meridian. This meridian also known as “Sea of Yang” has the following principle functions: regulating the Yang energy of the body and maintaining the strength of the body. The 28-point Du Mai meridian originates at the perineum, moves up along the spine and skull and terminates in the mouth.
Contact Us For More Information About Acupuncture Treatments
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 | May 7, 2020 | Acupuncture
Treat insomnia and other sleep disorders with acupuncture
The CDC (Center for Disease Control) declared sleep deprivation to be a public health epidemic.
Think that sounds a bit extreme? Not when you consider the true impact of sleep deprivation. Chronic sleep loss takes a big toll on your body – both inside and out. We see the short terms signs of sleep deprivation manifested every morning in the mirror after a restless or sleepless night. Dull complexion. Dry skin. Bags and dark circles under our eyes.
Struggling to sleep at night is frustrating, and can lead to health problems. When you think about ways to get more zzz’s, being poked with needles probably doesn’t come to mind—but perhaps it should. Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese practice, has been linked to improved sleep and has also been shown to help treat insomnia.
Acupuncture for insomnia
Multiple studies have demonstrated acupuncture to be an effective treatment for insomnia. Acupuncture lessens anxiety, stimulates melatonin production, induces sleep onset, and reduce sleep disruption and arousal during the night. All of these effects amount to an overall increase in total sleep time. In some instances, acupuncture is used as a treatment not for insomnia itself, but for pain from other physical conditions that in turn make it difficult to fall asleep at night.
In traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture addresses the following qi-related issues that cause insomnia:
TREATED BY ACUPUNCTURE CLASSIC CHINESE EXPLANATION
- Difficulty falling asleep | Yang qi is blocked from yin qi, so the body is unable to relax
- Interrupted sleep during the night | Heat is trapped in the body
- Waking up too early | Yin energy is blocked in the kidneys
- Vivid nightmares | Too much energy in the heart, or not enough in the liver
- Extreme insomnia | Blood issues in the spleen or liver
Not only does acupuncture help with better sleep but also can address those symptoms that are keeping you up at night and get to the root of why those symptoms are occurring in the first place. Traditional acupuncture utilizes tiny needles to access distinct points on the body to restore balance, alleviate pain, stress and anxiety, enhance sleep, and improve overall well-being. When systemic balance is restored, symptoms disappear and greater overall health is achieved. After one session, regardless of what you are being treated for, many notice better sleep that same night, reduced stress, and a feeling of calm and well-being.
Risk Factors For Insomnia
Anyone can and will have an occasional sleepless night, but on average 30 percent of adults report having short terms bouts of insomnia. Most people will toss and turn for a night or two and get back on track after a few days. Others aren’t so lucky. Ten percent of adults suffer from chronic insomnia lasting months or even years. For those who suffer from chronic insomnia, the issue is threatening to their overall health and well being. Your risk for insomnia is greater if:
- You’re a woman – any age
- You’re over the age of 60
- You have a mental or physical health condition
- You’re under a lot of stress daily
- You don’t have a regular schedule
- Symptoms of Insomnia
The American Sleep Association estimates that 50-70 million US adults have some form of sleep disorder. The most common sleep disorder is insomnia, which is characterized by trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. Insomnia symptoms may include:
- Difficulty falling asleep at night
- Waking frequently during the night
- Waking too early and can’t fall back asleep
- Feeling tired even after a night’s sleep
- Daytime tiredness, drowsiness or sleepiness
- Irritability, depression or anxiety
- Difficulty focusing on tasks or memory loss
- Increased mistakes and risk for accidents
Each of these particular types of insomnia indicates a unique energy imbalance in Chinese medicine unlike any of the others. No one type of insomnia will ever be treated in exactly the same way during acupuncture, each is related to a particular imbalance.
Insomnia symptoms are not cured with one trip to the acupuncturist. Fact is your practitioner will likely advise you to return for subsequent therapies a few times a week over the course of a period of time, depending upon the nature of your insomnia. Many patients report a calmness and relaxation they’ve not experienced in a long time while in an acupuncture session and others report an almost involuntary release of emotions.
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.
