Acupuncture can be a Springboard for a Healthier You!

by urban-acupuncture | Aug 8, 2024 | Acupuncture

According to Phillipa Lally, a psychological researcher, it takes approximately 66 days to create a new behavior pattern. The amount of time it takes each individual to change or create a new behavior pattern can vary from 18-254 days!  Acupuncture can provide the small step you need to start feeling better. Acupuncture has myriad general health benefits including: improving blood flow, calming & resetting the brain, balancing Qi & clearing blockages, stimulating the central nervous system, releasing hormones & chemicals into the body, reducing pain & inflammation, and improving mood.

Acupuncture is gentler on the body than surgery or medications and is also able to promote healing post-surgery. Research suggests that regular acupuncture treatments can improve outcomes for digestive, emotional, mental health, ear-eye-throat, fertility, musculoskeletal, neurological, respiratory, and addiction related conditions. While one acupuncture treatment may not counteract the long term impact of chronic issues, it has the capacity to stimulate positive change. Over time these effects will compound, aiding your body in achieving equilibrium.

Change starts with one small step. As Aristotle says, “we are what we repeatedly do,” so we’d love to be part of your routine. Whatever your health goals, we will offer a compassionate ear & work with you to achieve them.

Reference Articles:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2009/aug/how-long-does-it-take-form-habit
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-long-does-it-really-take-to-form-a-habit/

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, Columbus, Ohio (Clintonville) (614) 725-2488   or  click here. Taking new patients in and around greater Columbus, Ohio.

Acupuncture Can Reduce the Frequency of Migraines

by urban-acupuncture | Aug 1, 2024 | Acupuncture

Anyone who has experienced migraines understands that they are debilitating.

The intense, throbbing pain can also be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. During the duration of a migraine, many individuals cannot work or complete daily activities or tasks. Therefore, people suffering from migraines will pursue a variety of treatment options until they find relief. It is estimated that up to 40% of the global population experiences some form of headache disorder that impairs their ability to function effectively on a daily basis, with 10-15% reporting migraines. Up to 21.5% of individuals suffering from migraines have also been diagnosed with PTSD.

Migraines are a unique condition that rarely have a structural or organic basis in the body. You simply cannot see it. Instead, migraines result from a sudden disruption in the body’s homeostatic, sensory systems which triggers a chain reaction causing the blood vessels of the brain to suddenly dilate. Whether it be stress, lack of sleep, dehydration, food, hormones, or weather, the key is prevention. Acupuncture has a strong counter-irritant effect on the body which tends to stabilize its internal environment.

The National Institute of Health states that, “a sound body of evidence exists supporting the use of acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis.” Furthermore, a 2016 Cochrane review of 22 acupuncture trials determined that acupuncture provided positive benefits and outperformed all other treatments including sham* acupuncture, no treatment, and standard migraine pharmacological treatments. Additionally, acupuncture has been shown to be more effective than standard therapy for tension headaches.

As well as reducing the frequency of migraines by 50% or more, regular acupuncture treatments relax muscles, improve blood circulation, and release pain-relieving chemicals and endorphins into the system. These positive results can persist for more than 6 months at a time and there are little to no side effects unlike standard medications utilized for migraine treatment. For best results, the NIH and American Migraine Foundation recommend keeping a log or journal to document migraine triggers. Once these triggers have been identified, a plan can be made to manage and possibly modify behaviors or lifestyle choices that contribute to migraine triggers.

*Sham acupuncture is the term used to differentiate acupuncture that uses points specific to migraines (actual acupuncture) in clinical studies from points that are not actually migraine treatment points (sham acupuncture). The term “sham” implies that the acupuncture treatment is inactive or a placebo. “Sham” acupuncture treatments often have a positive effect in clinical studies because all acupuncture has a positive impact on the human body even when the points being utilized are not specific to the health condition being treated. 

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, Columbus, Ohio (Clintonville) (614) 725-2488   or  click here. Taking new patients in and around greater Columbus, Ohio.

The Thyroid: Its function, Imbalances & How Acupuncture Can Help Rebalance the Body

by urban-acupuncture | Aug 1, 2024 | Acupuncture

The thyroid plays a vital role in our health.

It produces hormones that regulate metabolic rate and our growth and development. Additionally it plays a critical role in controlling our heart rate, muscular and digestive function, brain development, and skin & bone maintenance. As with all bodily functions, balance is key to maintaining homeostasis in the system. When the thyroid is hyper or hypoactive, it can have a negative, cascading effect on the entire system.

When treating conditions of the thyroid, acupuncturists focus on the channel/pathway of which the thyroid is part. Acupuncture channels/pathways are named after the primary internal organs that they innervate. The body plane is woven 3-dimensionally by the fascia that runs longitudinally from head -to-toe or toe-to-head. As such, it encompasses all the organs, bodily tissues, nerves, and blood threaded into its matrix. Therefore, any disorder of the thyroid is related to and treated via the Stomach and Spleen acupuncture channels.

The thyroid may not seem related to the Stomach or spleen at first, but we will break it down, starting with iodine. The thyroid gland requires a lot of iodine to make hormones. Iodine is extremely important for brain development and brain health. It also prevents toxin buildup in cells and can treat both UTIs and bladder infections. Iodine kills all single-celled organisms including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. Interestingly, iodine is a required ingredient for your body to make strong stomach acid with a pH of less than 2. Proper stomach acid pH is necessary for effective digestion.

Sub-clinical hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid with a normal range TSH*) is very prevalent in the United States. It has been estimated that 80% of North Americans might fit the criteria for this condition and exhibit signs and symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland. The thyroid is like a sponge for toxins and tries to protect the body from chemicals, radiation, and background electrical frequencies that permeate our current environment including our food and water sources. Excess fluoride, glyphosates (insecticides), and GMOs in our food, too little iodine, and soy sensitivity are often part of the problem. Eating too much of the “unhealthy whites” (flour, rice, sugar, and potatoes) will often lead to chronic hypothyroid and metabolic syndrome characterized by abdominal obesity, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

Another common cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s Disease which affects approximately 14 million people in the US. It is linked to weak stomach acid and/or iodine deficiency as well. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Hashimoto’s disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in countries with widely available iodized salt and other iodine-enriched foods. Iodine deficiency is the most common cause in other countries.”  While genetics play a role, it can also be triggered by environmental factors including: carbohydrates, GMOs containing bacterial or viral DNA, and pesticides. When weak stomach acid fails to break down proteins into amino acids, the proteins are mistakenly absorbed in the small intestine, enter the blood steam, and the immune system attacks. As this process gets repeated over and over, chronic inflammation and leaky gut syndrome results in a full-blown autoimmune disease that can be difficult to turn around.

There are ways to reverse these types of conditions with a restricted diet including non-processed foods, supplements, and limited exposure to chemicals. Electroacupuncture is also an excellent therapy to charge up the acupuncture channels with free electrons so that the thyroid gland, spleen, stomach, and small intestine may heal together and return the body to a more balanced homeostatic state.

*Thyroid Stimulating Hormone. TSH  is produced and released into the bloodstream by the pituitary gland.

References:
Steve & Jeff 
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17665-hashimotos-disease
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/hashimotos-disease#
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/symptoms-causes/syc-20350284
https://naturemed.org/do-you-have-hypothyroid-or-hashimotos/

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, Columbus, Ohio (Clintonville) (614) 725-2488   or  click here. Taking new patients in and around greater Columbus, Ohio.