by urban-acupuncture | Jan 1, 2021 | Community, Diet
Autoimmune Protocol
Are you struggling with an autoimmune disease and its associated symptoms, like brain fog, fatigue, joint pain, anxiety, GI issues? You could benefit from the Autoimmune Protocol.
The Autoimmune Protocol, or AIP, is a powerful science-based strategy that uses diet and lifestyle to regulate the immune system while reducing the inflammation and giving the body the opportunity to heal.
Collaborating with UAC’s Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) Certified Coach, Alissa Klein, can give you the support you need to go through the process (preparation phase, elimination phase at your own pace, re-introduction phase, etc), troubleshoot if needed and see amazing results.
More than 50 million Americans (20% of the population) is estimated to be affected by autoimmune disease (compared to 12 million with cancer and 25 million with heart disease). Despite that statistic, many people, including the individuals diagnosed with these diseases, struggle to understand the full scope of these conditions.
What is an autoimmune disease?
There are more than one hundred confirmed autoimmune diseases and many more diseases that are suspected of having autoimmune origins.
The root cause of all autoimmune diseases is pretty much the same: our immune system, which is supposed to protect us from invading microorganisms, turns against us and attacks our organs instead. Which organs are attacked determines the autoimmune disease and its symptoms. In Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the thyroid gland is attacked. In Rheumatoid arthritis, the tissues of your joints are attacked. In psoriasis, proteins within the layers of cells that make up your skin are attacked. However, the root cause is the same (genetic predispositions, inflammatory diet, chronic stress, lack of sleep, inadequate exercise).
The Paleo Autoimmune Protocol, or AIP, is a science-based powerful strategy that uses diet and lifestyle to regulate the immune system while reducing the inflammation and giving the body the opportunity to heal.
How does someone develop an autoimmune disease?
Autoimmune disease occurs because the body’s natural defenses — the immune system — attack the body’s own healthy tissue. Researchers have several ideas about why this happens.
When the body senses danger from a virus or infection, the immune system kicks into gear and attacks it. This is called an immune response. Sometimes, healthy cells and tissues are caught up in this response, resulting in autoimmune disease.
Many scientists believe this is what causes rheumatoid arthritis, a type of autoimmune disease that attacks the joints. It’s also common that after having strep throat, people develop psoriasis, an autoimmune condition that causes patches of thick, scaly skin.
Other types of autoimmune disease may come from the body trying to fight specifically against cancer cells. Orbai points to scleroderma, a disease that causes thickening of the skin and connective tissues. “The thought is that when the immune system gets rid of the cancer, there is a leftover inflammatory response because of that fight,” she says. Johns Hopkins researchers studied patients who developed both scleroderma and cancer to try to clarify this relationship.
Autoimmune disease symptoms:
The early symptoms of many autoimmune diseases are very similar, such as:
- fatigue
- achy muscles
- swelling and redness
- low-grade fever
- trouble concentrating
- numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
- hair loss
- skin rashes
Individual diseases can also have their own unique symptoms. For example, type 1 diabetes causes extreme thirst, weight loss, and fatigue. IBD causes belly pain, bloating, and diarrhea.
With autoimmune diseases like psoriasis or RA, symptoms may come and go. A period of symptoms is called a flare-up. A period when the symptoms go away is called remission.
What are the prominent root causes of autoimmune diseases?
Doctors don’t know exactly what causes the immune-system misfire. Yet some people are more likely to get an autoimmune disease than others.
According to a 2014 study, women get autoimmune diseases at a rate of about 2 to 1 compared to men — 6.4 percent of women vs. 2.7 percent of men. Often the disease starts during a woman’s childbearing years (ages 15 to 44).
Some autoimmune diseases are more common in certain ethnic groups. For example, lupus affects more African-American and Hispanic people than Caucasians.
Certain autoimmune diseases, like multiple sclerosis and lupus, run in families. Not every family member will necessarily have the same disease, but they inherit a susceptibility to an autoimmune condition.
Because the incidence of autoimmune diseases is rising, researchers suspect environmental factors like infections and exposure to chemicals or solvents might also be involved.
A “Western diet” is another suspected risk factor for developing an autoimmune disease. Eating high-fat, high-sugar, and highly processed foods is thought to be linked to inflammation, which might set off an immune response. However, this hasn’t been proven.
A 2015 study focused on another theory called the hygiene hypothesis. Because of vaccines and antiseptics, children today aren’t exposed to as many germs as they were in the past. The lack of exposure could make their immune system prone to overreact to harmless substances.
Does conventional medicine really treat autoimmune diseases?
Treatments can’t cure autoimmune diseases, but they can control the overactive immune response and bring down inflammation or at least reduce pain and inflammation. Treatments can also help relieve symptoms.
Will a Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) diet/lifestyle help treat autoimmune disease symptoms?
The Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) is a diet that aims to reduce inflammation, pain, and other symptoms caused by autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Many people who have followed the AIP diet report improvements in the way they feel, as well as reductions in common symptoms of autoimmune disorders, such as fatigue and gut or joint pain. Yet, while research on this diet is promising, it’s also limited.
Contact us to schedule a introduction AIP coaching session and determine how we can work together.
An AIP coach can help clients navigate the autoimmune elimination and reintroduction diet and lifestyle protocol, which allows them to explore the potential root causes of their autoimmune disease(s). The goal of the protocol is to reduce inflammation in the body and promote nutrient density, giving the body the best chance at overcoming autoimmune symptoms.
Alissa is currently the only AIP certified coach in central Ohio. If you or someone you know suffers from an autoimmune condition call to talk to her today.
Contact her at 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 | Dec 23, 2020 | Community
Understanding Autoimmune Disease
by Urban Acupuncture Center’s Autoimmune Protocol coach, Alissa (central Ohio’s only certified coach)
Deepen your understanding of autoimmune disease, and learn the truth about the development, management, and reversal of symptoms.
Date And Time
About this Event
More than 50 million Americans (20% of the population) is estimated to be affected by autoimmune disease (compared to 12 million with cancer and 25 million with heart disease). Despite that statistic, many people, including the individuals diagnosed with these diseases, struggle to understand the full scope of these conditions.
This is your chance to learn the truth about autoimmune disease! Join Health and Wellness Coach and Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) Certified Coach Alissa Klein for an intriguing discussion that will deepen your understanding of autoimmune disease.
In the webinar, Alissa will address:
- What is an autoimmune disease?
- How does someone develop an autoimmune disease?
- Is an autoimmune disease truly your body’s attack on itself?
- What are the prominent root causes of autoimmune diseases?
- Does conventional medicine really treat autoimmune diseases?
- Is holistic medicine worth exploring?
- Is it possible to eliminate autoimmune-related symptoms?
- Can autoimmune diseases be cured?
Alissa is currently the only AIP certified coach in central Ohio. If you or someone you know suffers from an autoimmune condition, you won’t want to miss this talk!
Cost:
Urban Acupuncture Center is committed to providing professional and affordable healthcare services. This class will be offered on a sliding payment scale. Pay what you can between $15-30.
Virtual Event:
This event will take place via Zoom. An access link will be emailed to registered attendees prior to the event.
About Alissa: https://urbanacupuncturecenter.org
About Urban Acupuncture Center: https://urbanacupuncturecenter.org/about-us/
by urban-acupuncture | Dec 14, 2020 | Acupuncture, Massage
Virtual Acupressure Treatment
Balance is at the heart of your health and wellness. If your vital life energy, or qi, flows naturally and freely along your body’s meridians, your body is in balance and better able to resist illness and heal itself. When your qi becomes blocked, and doesn’t flow freely through the meridians, your body is out of balance, more susceptible to illness, and less capable of self-healing from disease and injury.
The goal of acupuncture and acupressure is to restore the flow of qi through the meridians and bring the body back into balance by stimulating specific points along the meridians. Acupressure utilizes very fine, sterile needles to stimulate those points. However, they can also be stimulated by pressure. This technique is called acupressure.
If you feel out of balance and in need of relaxation, but are either unable to visit our office or feel uncomfortable receiving in-office treatments during this time, self-applied acupressure can help!
Urban Acupuncture Center is now offering Telehealth for Acupressure. Using our safe and easy online portal, doxy.me, you can speak directly with a licensed acupuncturist who will guide you through a comfortable and effective acupressure self-massage routine designed to address your specific and unique health concerns.
Does Acupressure Self-Massage Really Work?
Yes, self-massage at specific acupressure points along the body’s meridians really does work to relax the muscles and bring the body back into balance!
During your telehealth consultation, our specialists will identify the correct acupressure points to massage and teach you the basic principles of acupuncture. Some tips to remember include:
- Be sure you are comfortable and relaxed before beginning self-massage. Closing your eyes and breathing slowly and deeply can help the effectiveness of the massage.
- Identify the specific acupressure point or points to massage, then use firm, deep pressure to stimulate that point.
- Stimulate that point for several minutes at a time by firmly moving your finger in a rotating or up-and-down movement across the acupressure point.
Your acupuncturist may also teach you specific breathing techniques and calming exercises to augment the effectiveness of the self-massage.
Acupressure is safe and can be repeated as often as you want throughout the day, as long as it is comfortable and does not cause pain. If you would benefit from acupressure in a hard-to-reach spot, a family member or close friend can perform the massage on you as well.
What to Expect from your Telehealth Consultation
Taking advantage of our Telehealth for Acupressure service is simple and easy.
The first step is to make an appointment for your consultation with one of our licensed specialists.
To utilize our telehealth platform—doxy.me—you will need a tablet, phone, computer, or other electronic device with an internet connection, camera, and microphone.
To check in before your appointment, simply follow these easy steps:
- Start your device and test out the microphone and camera and microphone to be sure they are working correctly.
- Enter the Urban Acupuncture Center doxy.me web address into your internet browser.
- When asked “Would you like to share camera and microphone with doxy.me?”, click “Allow”.
- Type your name where required and click “Check In”.
- Once your telehealth visit starts, you will be able to see and hear your practitioner quite normally.
During your telehealth acupressure consultation, your acupuncturist will ask questions about your overall health and specific concerns. After working with you to develop a customized acupressure plan, your acupuncturist will demonstrate and guide you through the proper acupressure techniques.
You should feel comfortable and safe discussing your health and concerns with your acupuncturists. And you should feel free to ask questions yourself! Acupressure self-massage will only work if you fully understand the techniques to use, so if you are unsure, ask! The more questions you ask, the more you will be able to ensure that you achieve your acupressure goals.
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 | Dec 1, 2020 | Acupuncture Columbus
Herbal medicine treatment is a natural and time-tested approach to healing that uses plant-based remedies to support the body’s health and restore balance. Rooted in ancient traditions from cultures around the world, herbal medicine offers a holistic alternative to conventional treatments by addressing the root cause of illness rather than just the symptoms. Whether you’re managing chronic conditions, boosting immunity, or seeking natural ways to enhance overall wellness, herbal treatments provide gentle yet effective support using the power of nature.
Herbal Medicine Treatments
You’ve probably heard people talking about taking herbs to help aspects of their health: ginko to boost memory, flaxseed to prevent high cholesterol, or Echinacea to prevent colds, for example. And you may have asked yourself: Do these herbal remedies really work?
On the one hand, it’s true that certain herbs can be highly effective in addressing certain ailments. On the other hand, it’s usually not as simple as picking up an “herbal supplement” from your local drug store.
Herbal medicine is an integral and highly complex element of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It has been used for thousands of years to prevent and treat a wide range of different conditions and ailments. And to be truly effective, it requires a prescription developed just for you by a licensed and experienced herbalist.
What is Chinese Herbal Medicine?
Like acupuncture, herbal medicine is premised on the belief that a body that is out of balance is more susceptible to pathogens and injury, and cannot self-heal effectively. Your unique herbal medicine formulation is designed to help bring your body back into balance and boost its ability to fight pathogens and heal itself from illness and injury.
The key to the effectiveness of herbal medicine lies in the properties of each herb and how they interact synergistically within a unique formula to address your specific imbalances. Most formulations contain four or more distinct plant-based ingredients, including leaves, flowers, bark, roots, and seeds. Your specific herbal medicine formula may be in the form of tea, powder, pills, tinctures, syrups, or topical ointment.
When is Herbal Medicine Appropriate?
By helping to re-establish your body’s natural balance—or homeostasis—Chinese Herbal Medicine can be highly effective in helping the body cope with:
- Fatigue and sleep issues
- Cold and flu symptoms
- Breathing
- Digestion
- Autoimmune disorders
- Pain management
- Mental and emotional health, including stress, anxiety, and depression
- Menstrual concerns
- Morning sickness
- Menopausal concerns
- Male and female fertility issues
- Assisting in recovery from side effects relating to cancer treatments
- Assisting in rehabilitation from chronic disease
Chinese herbal medicine is not a substitute for conventional diagnosis, treatment, or medications. However, Chinese herbal medicine can complement more traditional treatment options. Before beginning an herbal remedy, be sure to consult your medical provider.
How Can I Get a Prescription for an Herbal Remedy?
Herbal formulations must be prescribed by a Board certified herbalist who has extensive training in Chinese herbal medicine. At Urban Acupuncture Center, your initial consultation with our herbalist can be in-person or through our safe and secure online telehealth system.
During your consultation, which should last about an hour, your herbalist will discuss your general health, medical history, and lifestyle patterns, as well as your specific medical concerns and symptoms you are experiencing. If in-person, they may also perform several diagnostic measurements, such as pulse and heartrate.
Based on this initial assessment, our herbalist will prescribe a formula for the treatment of your specific health concerns. Through our convenient email system, you can purchase your prescription from our safe and reputable suppliers to be shipped directly to your home. Regular follow-up appointments with the herbalist will review the efficacy of the treatment and make adjustments as necessary.
Contact Urban Acupuncture Center in Columbus, OH For More Information
For more information about how acupuncture, massage therapy, electroacupuncture and other alternative healing treatments can help you, please contact the Urban Acupuncture Center Board Certified Licensed Acupuncturist’s team at Indianola Ave, Columbus, Ohio (Clintonville) (614) 725-2488 or click here. Taking new patients in and around greater Columbus, Ohio.
by urban-acupuncture | Nov 13, 2020 | Acupuncture Columbus
What is a Health and Wellness Coach?
When we identify a problem in our lives, our first instinct is to seek help from a specialist, someone who can help us solve that particular problem. When we are sick, we see a doctor. When we are feeling depressed or stressed, we see a therapist. When we are feeling unhealthy, we see a fitness coach or a nutritionist.
This approach—while often effective at certain times—fails to take into account the fact that we—as human beings—are not composed of distinct, separable bits that can be treated in isolation from each other. Instead, we are a complex, interconnected system. A problem in one part of that system will, inevitably, impact the whole system.
A health and wellness coach approaches health and lifestyle problems from a comprehensive, holistic perspective. By helping you understand the root causes undermining your overall health and well-being, a health and wellbeing coach can then help you create sustainable strategies to take charge of your health and develop healthy lifestyle habits.
Working with a health and lifestyle coach should be collaborative, motivating, and empowering.
- Collaborative: Because your wellness is totally unique to you, your health and wellness coach should spend a lot of time asking questions and listening to your responses. They should work closely with you to identify your unique concerns and help you develop a customized, actionable plan to improve your health and lifestyle habits.
- Motivating: Big, dramatic change—while sometimes necessary to improve your health and wellness—can feel overwhelming and unachievable. A health and wellness coach can help you stay motivated to make the necessary changes by breaking longer-term goals down into small, achievable steps.
- Empowering: You have the power to advocate for yourself and take the steps you need to bring your mind, body, and spirit back into balance and harmony. A health and wellness coach should facilitate and promote your ability to spark change, while helping you identify self-limiting behaviors that may have been undermining your health in the past.
What Kinds of Services Does a Health and Wellness Coach Offer?
A health and wellness coach seeks to offer guidance across the fields of traditional healthcare, behavioral psychology, and lifestyle management. While a health and wellness coach cannot diagnose or treat a specific physical or mental health disorder, he or she can help empower you to create a healthy, balanced lifestyle by affecting change in areas such as:
- Prioritizing self-care techniques
- Nutrition and weight loss
- Fitness and exercise
- General health
- Interpersonal relationships
- Maintaining a positive work/life balance
- Managing and coping with stress
- Setting and achieving short- and long-term goals
- Practicing positive thinking and mindfulness
Do I Need a Health and Wellness Coach?
If you are concerned about your health, wellness, or overall well-being but find yourself “stuck in a rut” and unable to effect lasting change, a health and wellness coach may be able to help.
A health and wellness coach may be able to help if you:
- Have been diagnosed with an acute or chronic medical condition that requires long-term lifestyle changes;
- Want to make a major lifestyle change to improve your long-term health and happiness, such as quitting smoking/vaping or losing weight; or,
- Find yourself overwhelmed by stress and anxiety but aren’t sure how to create a healthy lifestyle balance in response.
These are just a few of the most common reasons why many people have sought help from a health and wellness coach. The underlying reason, of course, is change. If you feel that you need to make a change in your life—whether to solve a problem or simply to improve your overall health and well-being, a health and wellness coach can help.
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.
