by urban-acupuncture | May 15, 2019 | Massage
Manual therapist doing manual adjustment on patient’s spine. Chiropractic, osteopathy, manual therapy, post traumatic rehabilitation, sport physical therapy. Alternative medicine, pain relief concept.
Traditional Chinese medicine promotes the stimulation and flow of energy or “qi” through the channels in a body’s energy network to improve circulation, movement and overall quality of life.
Reflexology, acupressure, acupuncture and massage have similar origins in Chinese medicine and share the concept of using pressure points on the body to relieve stress and promote the body’s ability to heal.
Benefits of Massage
Massage is an ancient and universal therapy found in cultures all around the world, including ancient Chinese medicine. Practitioners reduce stress and relieve muscle tension through rubbing and manipulation, and relax muscles by increasing the flow of blood. The benefits for a patient can include reduced anxiety and depression, pain relief, and a healthy decrease in heart rate and blood pressure. There are many styles of massage and massage practitioners often specialize in several techniques.
What are the different types of massage?
The term “massage therapy” includes many techniques. The most common form of massage therapy in Western countries is called Swedish or classical massage; it is the core of most massage training programs. Other styles include sports massage, clinical massage to accomplish specific goals such as releasing muscle spasms, and massage traditions derived from Eastern cultures, such as Shiatsu and Tuina.
- Swedish massage: This is a gentle form of massage that uses long strokes, kneading, deep circular movements, vibration and tapping to help relax and energize you.
- Deep massage: This massage technique uses slower, more-forceful strokes to target the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue, commonly to help with muscle damage from injuries.
- Sports massage: This is similar to Swedish massage, but it’s geared toward people involved in sport activities to help prevent or treat injuries.
- Trigger point massage: This massage focuses on areas of tight muscle fibers that can form in your muscles after injuries or overuse.
Benefits of Massage
Massage is generally considered part of complementary and integrative medicine. It’s increasingly being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions and situations.
Studies of the benefits of massage demonstrate that it is an effective treatment for reducing stress, pain and muscle tension.
While more research is needed to confirm the benefits of massage, some studies have found massage may also be helpful for:
- Anxiety
- Digestive disorders
- Fibromyalgia
- Headaches
- Insomnia related to stress
- Myofascial pain syndrome
- Soft tissue strains or injuries
- Sports injuries
- Temporomandibular joint pain
Beyond the benefits for specific conditions or diseases, some people enjoy massage because it often produces feelings of caring, comfort and connection.
Despite its benefits, massage isn’t meant as a replacement for regular medical care. Let your doctor know you’re trying massage and be sure to follow any standard treatment plans you have.
What you can expect during a massage
You don’t need any special preparation for massage. Before a massage therapy session starts, your massage therapist should ask you about any symptoms, your medical history and what you’re hoping to get out of massage. Your massage therapist should explain the kind of massage and techniques he or she will use.
In a typical massage therapy session, you undress or wear loose-fitting clothing. Undress only to the point that you’re comfortable. You generally lie on a table and cover yourself with a sheet. You can also have a massage while sitting in a chair, fully clothed. Your massage therapist should perform an evaluation through touch to locate painful or tense areas and to determine how much pressure to apply.
Depending on preference, your massage therapist may use oil or lotion to reduce friction on your skin. Tell your massage therapist if you might be allergic to any ingredients.
For more information about how massage 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. Taking new patients in and around greater Columbus, Ohio.
by urban-acupuncture | Aug 5, 2018 | Acupuncture
Chronic Pain Management & Treatment
More Americans are beginning to realize that they don’t want to consume modern medications, as they come with a myriad of side effects. Due to this reason, they started looking for alternatives, which are effective in treating a variety of problems.
Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is growing in popularity because it offers numerous advantages, minus the side effects. However, as alternative treatments become mainstream, a large number of questions arise in the minds of consumers. Today, you will get to learn everything about acupuncture, so that you can make the right and healthy choice for your body.
What is acupuncture?
One of the most well-known TCM in the medical industry, acupuncture is a type of treatment, which involves the insertion of extremely thin needles into your body. The practitioner will identify the key points of your body and insert the needles in these areas.
Through acupuncture, the practitioner aims to balance the natural energy in your body, known as qi or chi. According to TCM beliefs, pain and illness in patients occur due to imbalance or blockage of this energy.
Is acupuncture an effective and valid form of treatment?
The most common question in every patient’s mind is whether acupuncture is a valid and effective form of treatment. According to UC San Diego, acupuncture is quite effective in promoting self-healing and improving the functions of your body. The practitioner may use electrical, heat, or pressure stimulation to boost the effects of this type of treatment. According to research conducted by the National Institute of Health (NIH), this treatment helps manage different health conditions.
Does it hurt?
As this treatment involves the insertion of needles, it is quite common to have this question on your mind. One of the benefits of choosing acupuncture treatment is that it doesn’t hurt. In fact, there will be times when you don’t even realize that the practitioner has inserted several needles into your body until pointed out. As the needles are in strategic points, it will decrease inflammation, while improving blood flow. The result is relaxing, as you will notice a sharp decrease in pain.
Advantages of acupuncture
Now that you have a proper idea about acupuncture, let’s take a closer look at some of its advantages:
Decrease in stress levels
Stress causes a lot of problems in your body without your knowledge. For example, it affects your immune and digestive systems, which decrease the amount of sleep you get every day. Also, there is a high chance that you may suffer from life-threatening diseases during the later stages of your life. Acupuncture helps in decreasing the stress levels, by balancing the hormones in your body.
Reduces headaches and migraines
The number of headaches and migraines will reduce significantly, thanks to acupuncture. According to a review of clinical trials, which involved 4,985 people, the frequency of headaches decrease by 50% – 59%. Even the American Migraine Foundation agrees that acupuncture is effective in combating migraines and headaches.
Reduction in chronic pain
Patients suffering from chronic pain, especially in their lower back or neck, will observe considerable relief, after undergoing acupuncture treatments. Also, patients with arthritis will notice a reduction in chronic pain.
Are you looking for the services of a reputable acupuncture practitioner in Columbus, Ohio? Contact Acupuncture of Columbus today so that you can start the process of getting relief from your medical problems as soon as possible!
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 3, 2018 | Art
Summer in the Canadian Rockies
Photographs by Cynthia Greenleaf will be on display at the Clintonville location through the end of September 2018.
by urban-acupuncture | Aug 1, 2018 | Acupuncture
Best Acupuncture Center in Columbus, OH
When it comes to your wellness and healing, you want to choose the right acupuncture center. However, in Columbus, Ohio, there are numerous acupuncture centers, who state that they provide great medical care to all their customers.
Choosing an acupuncturist is the equivalent of hiring the services of an artist, as every practitioner’s style is different. How do you know if you are getting the real deal? Steve Durgan, a certified professional acupuncturist, who has been in this industry for over 10 years, has made a simple, yet efficient checklist, so that you can make the right decision for your health:
Asks and answers all questions
The practitioners of the best acupuncture center will always ask you a series of questions so that they have a proper understanding of your body. As the job of the acupuncturist is to help you heal quickly, they need all the pieces of the puzzle.
Similarly, the acupuncturist should be able to provide satisfactory answers to all your questions, as it will make you feel comfortable. You can ask questions about how the center uses acupuncture to heal patients, safety practices, and training. These questions allow you to know whether the acupuncture center is acting according to your best interests.
Insurance coverage
As Medicare and Medicaid aren’t applicable for acupuncture, you need to ensure that the center provides insurance. Find out if the acupuncture center provides malpractice insurance, as it is beneficial to both the practitioner and the patient.
You need to make sure that the acupuncture center falls under the insurance company’s list of providers so that it covers your treatment. Also, ask them questions about the coverage, such as which conditions meet their terms and conditions and the number of treatments to name a few.
Look for credentials
Even though acupuncture falls under the Chinese medicine category, the practitioners still need to meet the requirements for their licensees to be valid. Also, like every other medical professional, the practitioners need special training in acupuncture needs and techniques, as they will use them to treat patients.
In the state of Ohio, it is important that the practitioner in the acupuncture center has a National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). Also, the practitioner should be a disciple of the Ohio Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (OAAOM).
Maintains a safe and clean treatment room
As acupuncture is a medical treatment which involves the use of needles, it is mandatory that the center uses only sterile ones and dispose of them after a single use. They should keep the treatment area clean, to prevent any infections. Also, the treatment table should be cleaned or covered with a clean cloth. All the materials for acupuncture should be stored properly, inside tables, shelves or on top of carts. The acupuncture center should also dispose of the used needles safely.
By following this simple checklist, you will be able to choose the best acupuncture center in Columbus. If you are looking for a center which meets all the conditions in this checklist, you should check out Acupuncture of Columbus!
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 | Jul 10, 2018 | Acupuncture
Acupuncture can treat CPS
Chronic pain is a terrible condition where patients are continuously plagued by aches and pains. It drains their energy, disturbs their mental balance and ruins their ability to get on with normal life. It often leads to depression and the collapse of personal and workplace relationships. Where modern medicine falls short, acupuncture is the holistic solution that can help patients manage their chronic pain.
What is chronic pain?
In medical terms, chronic pain can be defined as an unpleasant sensation or experience due to tissue that has already occurred, is ongoing or likely to occur in the near future. It outlasts the period of ill health and persists well beyond the time by which any physical damage from the trauma or sickness should have healed. In some cases, the pain stretches out indefinitely. Some common conditions of chronic pain include:
- migraine, headaches, sinus issues,
- neuropathic pains, like post-herpetic neuralgia, sciatica neuritis, trigeminal neuralgia,
- neck and shoulder pain, lower back aches, sprains,
- fibromyalgia,
- abdominal pains due to menstrual cramps, interstitial cystitis, irritable bowels,
- wear and tear problems like tendinitis, osteoarthritis, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis,
- cancer and the side effects of chemotherapy.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient medical practice that originated in China. It was later refined by generations of Asian practitioners and today, it enjoys popularity among chronic pain patients as a safe and effective treatment.
Traditionally, acupuncture consists of piercing extremely fine needles into specific points on the skin. At a time, four to ten needles may be used and they are placed on the skin for ten to thirty minutes. Under the deft fingers of the expert acupuncturists at our clinic in Columbus, OH, this would be quite safe and pain-free. Based on the treatment needs, our practitioner may recommend a number of such sittings. Patients can get detailed information regarding acupuncture by visiting our website http://acupunctureofcolumbus.com, and further, by booking an appointment and consulting experts in the field at our Columbus, OH clinic.
How does acupuncture help in chronic pain syndrome (CPS) management?
According to the theory of ancient Chinese medical practice, Qi, or vital life force circulates in the body through certain meridians. It is when this flow is disturbed that we fall prey to illnesses. Acupuncture is said to work by removing the obstacles and correcting the imbalances in the flow of Qi. In this manner, it restores our body’s natural health and vigor and alleviates pain.
Though it is difficult to explain this process in terms that Western medicine can comprehend, the efficiency and efficacy of acupuncture cannot be questioned. Countless number of studies prove this. Many researchers believe that acupuncture uses the body’s own immune, endocrine and nervous systems to effect pain relief. In response to the needle piercings, when the body releases endorphins, the hormones that have the capacity reduce pain, and alters the levels of serotonin, a hormone related to mood-changes, pain disappears.
As acupuncture addresses the root cause rather than just the symptoms, there are no side effects. As a cost-effective and safe alternative treatment for patients suffering from chronic pain, acupuncture is truly a blessing.
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.
