by urban-acupuncture | Aug 5, 2018 | Acupuncture
Pain Management
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!
For more information about how acupuncture and other treatments can help you, please contact Board Certified Licensed Acupuncturist, Steve Drugan,B.S., L.Ac., at 614.218.6287 or click here. Taking new patients in and around 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!
For more information about how acupuncture and other treatments can help you, please contact Board Certified Licensed Acupuncturist, Steve Drugan,B.S., L.Ac., at 614.218.6287 or click here. Taking new patients in and around 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.
For more information about how acupuncture and other treatments can help you, please contact Board Certified Licensed Acupuncturist, Steve Drugan,B.S., L.Ac., at 614.218.6287 or click here. Taking new patients in and around Columbus, Ohio.
by urban-acupuncture | Jul 1, 2018 | Acupuncture
Can acupuncture treat pain?
Acupuncture isn’t some primitive voodoo trick that involves sticking needles into your skin. It is a traditional Asian medical practice that has the power to heal both the mind and the body by tapping into its self-healing mechanism.
Invented in China many centuries before the advent of modern medicine, the science of acupuncture was further perfected by practitioners in Japan and Korea. Over the years, it gradually spread across the globe and finally reached the shores of the Western nations. In 1996, this ancient art of healing got its first green flag from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Ever since, it has become increasingly popular as a risk-free and effective pain management treatment.
Acupuncture for pain relief
For patients suffering from chronic pain, acupuncture offers an efficient and safe remedy. As a cost-effective alternative, it gives patients a choice to free themselves from the shackles of pain without the need for any expensive chemicals, some of which may even be harmful in the long term.
A few of the conditions that can be treated with acupuncture include headaches, nerve pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, lower back aches, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, menstrual cramps, and sprains. In certain cases, it can even aid cancer treatment and provide relief from the side effects of chemotherapy. Women undergoing fertility treatment also acknowledge the help of acupuncture in improving the success rates.
Health is defined by the well being of both the body and mind. As a holistic art, acupuncture has the ability to cure not just physical pains, but emotional and mental distress such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well. Visit http://acupunctureofcolumbus.com for more details.
How does it work?
In its original form, acupuncture typically consists of expert practitioners carefully inserting four to ten fine needles at a time into specific points on the skin called acupoints. It is said that this helps restore wellness by correcting the imbalances in the flow of energy, or Qi, through the body.
Acupuncture’s exact pain relief mechanism is still open to debate. But it is believed that acupuncture ropes in the body’s immune, endocrine and nervous systems to effect these positive changes. Some studies say that as a result of these micro-punctures, the body releases endorphins which are hormones that have the capacity alleviate pain. Seratonin, a hormone related to mood-changes, is also said to be balanced using this technique to ensure wellbeing.
The needles may be left in place for ten to thirty minutes. For effective pain relief, patients may require up to a dozen sittings over a period of three months to start with. In a Chinese variant of this technique, slight movements of the needle, heat, mild electric pulses or burning a specific herb near the area may also be used in combination with the piercing of the needles. Japanese techniques may use needles with shallower penetration and Korean methods focus on the hands and feet. Upon paying a visit to the reputed acupuncture clinic located in Columbus, OH, patients can get detailed information regarding the course of treatment best suited for them.
For more information about how acupuncture and other treatments can help you, please contact Board Certified Licensed Acupuncturist, Steve Drugan,B.S., L.Ac., at 614.218.6287 or click here. Taking new patients in and around Columbus, Ohio.
