by urban-acupuncture | Mar 17, 2017 | Uncategorized
Photographs by TOM GRIFFITH
On display at Urban Acupuncture Center, Clintonville through April 2017.
Artist Statement:
Before becoming a yoga teacher and massage therapist I studied visual communications, photojournalism and, ultimately, Buddhist art history. I have had a lifetime love affair with the camera; behind the lens, always the observer in mostly silent contemplation. As a child I was fascinated by the visual documentation held within the family album. After inheriting my brother’s camera as a teenager I began to document my hikes and wanderings through the city and woods. My interest is in natural light and the extraordinary of the seemingly mundane. Movement, pattern, flow and physical expression are what drive my compositions. I see these pieces like tiles that could be endlessly rearranged to emphasize or change the perspective, writing and rewriting the story within.
by urban-acupuncture | Mar 13, 2017 | Acupuncture
Acupuncture & Women’s Health
Women today are choosing to continue with their careers before diving into marriage and motherhood later on in life. This choice can cause a slight shift in their body resulting in complications during pregnancy. Traditional methods to help women during this time have proven to be beneficial. Acupuncture has also paved its way into mainstream treatments to help deal with fertility issues. With the right therapist, one can control stress, regulate the menstrual cycle, prevent miscarriages, and balance the hormones.
Menopause Treatments
Menopause has also been quite a problem with women all over the world, and dealing with issues like hot flashes, night sweats, acute fatigue, high stress, acute mood swings can take a toll. Women going through the change invariably feel depressed, weight fluctuates, insomnia is often on the cards, digestion becomes a focal point and menstrual disorders are a done deal. Regulating the body clock can take some getting used to for the menopausal woman. Help in the form of non-invasive methods has many subscribing to ancient Chinese treatments methods.
The average woman, after maturity, faces a series of women-centric problems, such as heavy periods, painful intercourse, hormonal imbalances, pain in the breasts, spotting, heavy periods, to name a few. Naturally, the first solution is to pop a pill and wish the problem away. Unfortunately, over time, the woman may end up with serious complications. Traditional medication usually works but help with alternative sources of treatment like so with acupressure and acupuncture definitely works as well. Both have been around for centuries and have proven invaluable to the female.
Stress Treatments
Stress disorders are a thing today with everyone feeling the heat at any given time. Kids face it with exams and peer pressure while adults have a series of problems with health being quite a constant. Women have the extra burden of balancing home and office, which results in extra burden. Due to this, the additional load can have a bearing on their overall performance in the boardroom and the bedroom. Over-the-counter medication may deal with basic problems, but over time, this can become a bane rather than a boon. The right therapist can help iron out the tension resulting in a happier person at home and at work.
Finding out that you have a lump in your breast or heavy periods may not be a biggie. One may be just a cyst that needs to be removed with medication or a series of Chinese treatments. The other may be because of improper eating habits or a sedentary lifestyle. Help is at hand across the board with many doctors in Columbus, OH, welcoming some of these alternative solutions for women. At the end of the day, it is about a positive approach with the right specialist that can make a woman feel better. Woman’s health cannot be taken lightly and if there are solutions around the corner, the best bet is to capitalize on this, right away. Read up on the website www.acupunctureofcolumbus.com for more details on the methodology used.
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 | Mar 1, 2017 | Acupuncture
Bell’s Palsy Treatments
Bell’s palsy is defined as partial paralysis on one side of the face. Patients suffering from this condition suddenly wake up to something strange happening to them, which is the inability to control facial muscles. The illness has multiple reasons as to how it manifests. One can put it down to the weakness of a nerve. Waking up to this illness can leave a patient feeling confused and traumatized.
Here are some of the symptoms:
- Difficulty closing one eyelid – one may work but one does not close
- A difference in the taste buds from what one used to have
- Drooling on one side of the mouth
- Acute dry eyes with limited tears production
- Slight drooping of the face to one side
- Sensitivity to sound with considerable pain on the affected ear side
Naturally, if you notice any of these symptoms, you need to contact the doctor immediately. After a series of tests, he/she may suggest medication and probably therapy. There is an additional method to help a patient suffering from Bell’s palsy and that is in the form of an ancient Chinese treatment called acupuncture. This works on the basis where needles are positioned on certain trigger points to get the best results. A suitable practitioner is the need of the hour here to ensure correct treatment. A considerable number of people are opting for alternative medical treatments to help them deal with their illnesses.
Treatment Combinations
Combinations of medical treatments have shown encouraging results for patients suffering from Bell’s palsy. The alternative method works as a complimentary to traditional medication but not as the only solution. At the treatment center run by Steve Drugan, detailed on the website www.acupunctureofcolumbus.com, patients are provided with ways to deal with health related issues. The medians in the body are streamlined with the right methodology, thereby improving not only their quality of life but energizing them to avoid any triggers, if any.
As a treatment method for Bell’s palsy, acupuncture is safe without any evidence of harm. The traditional Chinese practice that uses extremely fine sterilized needles help patients suffering from acute nerve/partial paralysis disorder. The efficacy of the treatment improves good facial muscle recovery and the quality of life. The main criterion is to source out the right person for the job. At the Acupuncture of Columbus center in Columbus, OH, run by experts in this ancient medicine, patients notice a considerable change. As stated earlier, while this alternative treatment is a great science, the overall treatment may require traditional methods as well. The use of prescription medication coupled with the ancient Chinese treatment is a positive way to deal with the illness.
People who suffer from frequent migraines may be prone to Bell’s palsy. However, with the right doctor on the job, treatment for Bell’s palsy is possible. The point is that using a mix of traditional and alternative medication to treat a condition can help patients get on with their lives without facing any problem. Therefore, from a simplistic perspective, this ancient treatment does help in the treatment of the illness.
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 | Feb 13, 2017 | Cupping Therapy
Cupping Therapy in Columbus, Ohio
The process of creating suction by placing special cups over the skin is called cupping. This therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine. The benefits of cupping are many; it is mostly performed to provide relief, reduce inflammation, and improves blood flow. It is a variant of deep tissue massage, as well. The specially designed cups used are made of silicone, glass, earthenware or bamboo.
Cupping therapy types
The practice of cupping, like acupuncture, dates back to ancient Chinese, Egyptian and Middle Eastern Cultures. The first mention of cupping is in the text Ebers Papyrus from 1550 B.C. There are two types of cupping: Wet and Dry.
In both types of cupping, the therapist at Acupuncture of Columbus, OH, places an inflammable solution like alcohol mixed with herbs or paper placed in a cups and sets it on fire. As the fire dies, the cup is placed inverted on the skin. This creates suction as the air contained within the cup cools. As a result, the skin covered in the cup rises and turns red as blood vessels dilate. Generally, the cup is placed over the skin for 3 minutes.
The modern twist on this ancient practice involves the use of rubber pump in the place of fire to create vacuum. Some therapists also prefer to use silicone cups which are easier to handle. Silicone cups are constantly moved along the skin to provide a massage effect.
Wet cupping creates a suction which is milder than dry suction. After 3 minutes, the cups are removed and small incisions on the skin are made. These light cuts ooze out a minimal quantity of blood during the consecutive second cupping session. The practice of wet cupping is believed to expel harmful toxins from blood.
Is cupping effective?
There have been many reports which scientifically support the benefits of cupping in relieving pain. Persistent pain associated with medical conditions like carpel tunnel, chronic neck pain and lumbar pain, is effectively treated with cupping. There is however, lack of the evidence for the healing properties of cupping. The process of cupping is the equivalent of sterile inflammation. The region which is raised from the vacuum created, mimics injury (given the gush of blood to the site). With it, an inflammatory response is triggered, deploying antibodies to the region in an attempt to heal.
Benefits of cupping
- Relief from pain: The most common reason to seek cupping is pain relief. Those who seek a safe and natural remedy to diminish joint aches and muscle soreness, have found relief through cupping. Cupping has shown promising results in reduction of lower back pain in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Cupping also offers deep tissue relaxation and eases stiff muscles. It can provide relief from rheumatism, neck pain, fatigue and migraine.
- Healthy skin: The use of cupping reduces herpes, inflammation, acne and cellulite. There are studies which have proved that cupping helps in weight loss and helps in making the skin firmer.
- Improved digestion: Cupping helps in relieving irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) by reducing the stress response of a patient. As a result, digestion is improved.
For more information on cupping, visit http://acupunctureofcolumbus.com
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 | Jan 18, 2017 | Art, Community
New exhibition featuring quilts by Sara Deever January through February 2017
SARA DEEVER
SANE QUILTS FOR A CRAZY WORLD
ARTIST STATEMENT
I stitch for self-expression and therapy. I love to play with color, stitches, line,
and texture. When I sit and sew, I find great comfort and peace. Often insights will
come as the needle moves in and out in a slow meditative way.
My grandmother was an excellent embroiderer, who insisted that my sister and I
learn. I loved it and have continued; moving from stamped purchased designs to those
of my own creation. I discovered Mariska Karasz’s book ‘Adventures in Stitches’ in
1962. Later, in the 70’s, while making patches for jeans with a variety of sayings
on them, I decided to set myself a challenge: to see if the only text I stitched all
year could be scripture. It became a prayer process that I’ve continued and which
sustained me through my years as an urban high school teacher, when many of these
pieces were sewn.
For the crazy quilt pieces, I baste together interesting fabrics that may or may not
already have stitches on them. Then I embroider the edges together fastening them to
a muslin lining, binding the edge when I’m done. For the circles, I tightly sew the
fabric ground to a macramé ring and then stitch it. Sometimes I draw shapes or text
with chalk or pencil or air-erase pen. Sometimes I just stitch what feels right,
mostly working intuitively, playing with color, shape and stitch. As I begin, I may
or may not know what the saying or final design will be.
