by admin | Oct 23, 2013 | Acupuncture, Acupuncturists
How did I end up from a Math degree from McGill University (Montreal, Canada) to a Professional Master’s Level degree in Acupuncture? My children had all flown the coop and were testing their wings (currently in Israel, New York City and San Jose), and I was at a crossroads. After several months of career counseling and trying to find out what color is my parachute, curiosity led me to an open house at the American Institute of Alternative Medicine (AIAM) and the rest ……is history.
I love this medicine. I love that it is a safe modality that empowers each of us to become aware of the healing potential that is within our mind and body and spirit. I love that each potential problem may be resolved in a myriad of ways because the body is so interconnected embryonically, neurologically and vascularly. I love that because of the giving and sharing nature of the acupuncture community, I can learn new ways and insights on how to tackle different disorders. But most of all I love the serene and amazed looks on my/our patients’ faces after having been treated.
I am grateful for the support of my family who encouraged me to pursue my passion and to the teachers of the world who pass on knowledge to avid minds.
Currently, I practice at a chiropractor’s office in Worthington and am an adjunct faculty at AIAM. I am honored to join the Urban Acupuncture team of dedicated practitioners.
by admin | Oct 15, 2013 | Acupuncture, Community
Lisa McLymont is a multi-disicplinary artist, designer, educator, and serial arts community volunteer. Lisa is involved with local art organizations such as tacocat, the Creative Arts of Women (CAW!), The Creative Women of Color, and The Ohio Art League.
Graduating in Visual Communication from The Ohio State University, Lisa has made a career of following her curiosity about concepts and systems. The subjects of interest in her art center on visual harmonies and textures. She utilizes varied materials and methods and is often known to incorporate copper wire and found materials on canvas and wood panel. Trusting in the hands-on meditations available in the making process, and through self-taught methods, Lisa has crafted earth-inspired, functional and visually pleasing designs for many other earth loving people to enjoy.
You may find her in her new studio at tacocat, located in Grandview, but more than likely, you will find her somewhere online. Start here: http://www.lisamclymont.com/ or Facebook.com/coppercurious
by admin | Oct 15, 2013 | Acupuncture
I had always wanted to be a doctor growing up. I just felt a calling to practice something that would be able to help people heal. In college at UC Berkeley I was on that path, studying pre-med coursework, when I was injured in a car accident. I was hit as a pedestrian and the concussion from the fall left me with constant migraines, vertigo and a complete and strange loss of my sense of smell. These problems continued for months, as I saw countless doctors who had no answer or solution for my condition. I decided to try acupuncture because I had always been curious about it. Within a week of treatments the headaches and vertigo had stopped, and over the course of the next couple months my sense of smell slowly started to return. I was completely in awe of this ancient medicine and how profoundly it had affected me. In answer to my incessant questions, my acupuncturist casually slipped me a book (“Between Heaven and Earth”) and gave me a knowing wink. I was enrolling in acupuncture school only a short time later.
I graduated from the American Institute of Alternative Medicine’s Masters Acupuncture program with the honor of summa cum laude. I also had the opportunity to spend a summer in China studying at the Beijing Integrated Hospital of Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. I have learned from so many wonderful practitioners of this medicine and continue to learn every day. In addition to Urban Acupuncture, I have a private practice in Grandview where I see patients a few days a week.
by admin | Jun 27, 2013 | Acupuncture
The concept of gardening gives us an excellent illustration for the theories behind Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and acupuncture. Imagine you are a gardener whose job it is to help a garden thrive. To help nature along, you must provide necessities such as water and fertilizer.
You must make sure plants receive the right amount of sun, and you must weed out any undesirable elements. Gardening takes time and effort, but the reward is a beautiful, healthy garden, abundant with flowers and vegetables.
One of the philosophies underlying Chinese medicine is that we are not separate from nature. Nature’s constant motion – its flowing seasons and cycles – coincide withour body’s natural rhythms. When we engage in gardening, we strive to be in harmony with nature’s rhythms. This allows us to reap a bountiful harvest. Life flourishes when the elements of air, water, light and earth are balanced.
There are basic principles of gardening that you can apply to facilitating the health of your body:
Fertilize: Just like plants need fertilizers, we need food in order to re-energize our bodies. In general, a healthy, balanced diet is made up of unprocessed, organic foods such as grains, fruits and vegetables.
Water: Our bodies are made up of 70% water. We need its life-giving force to cleanse our bodies of toxins, to regulate body temperature and to aiddigestion and circulation.
Sunshine: Just like plants, we also need sun’s energy to grow and thrive. Sun provides our bodies with Vitamin D, which promotes strong bones, supple muscles and a healthy immune system.
Weeding: Weeding your garden is vital to keeping the soil clean and properly oxygenated. Our body also needs cleansing. One of the easiest ways to cleanse our body is sweating through exercise.
Your goal is to learn how to cultivate and support your inner garden. Your acupuncturist’s goal is to help balance your inner ecosystem so that it can flourish—and you can enjoy health and harmony.
Your body is just like a garden, and you and your acupuncturist are the gardeners. He or she will work closely with you to strengthen and balance your internal garden. By taking your entire self into account, your practitioner can help identify—and weed out—any imbalances that could cause problems.
Acupuncture isn’t a “quick fix.” It does provide you with the tools and knowledge needed to nourish the garden from within. Your participation in the process is essential. After all, you wouldn’t simply plant seeds in the ground and expect them to bloom unattended. It’s the same with your health. Working with your acupuncturist and committing to long-term care can create positive changes for your overall health.
by admin | Jun 25, 2013 | Acupuncture, What we sell at our clinic..
It’s official! We have passed the final ‘Occupy Westerville’ inspection! It is one good looking clinic, thanks to all who have been a part of the build out.
We will be opening July 1 st 2013! Scheduling is now available on Clickbook. Be sure to select the location.
UAC Westerville
405 W. Main Street
Westerville, OH 43081
(614) 426-4406
View Map / Directions
July Hours 2013
Monday
8 am-12 pm Acupuncture Steve
4pm-8pm Acupuncture Tessa
Wednesday
8am-12 pm Acupuncture Sue
12-2pm (Cupping) Sue
Thursday
1-5 pm (Cupping) Steve
4-8 pm Acupuncture Alicia
Friday
8am-12 pm Acupuncture Sue
12pm- 2pm (Cupping) Sue
Sunday
10am-2pm Acupuncture Alicia
by admin | Mar 5, 2013 | Acupuncture
Just as trees have roots and braches making up pathways for water and nutrients for their optimum vitality, so do the human bodies. In Western medicine, we may consider blood vessels, nerves, or the lymph system to be the equivalents. In Chinese Medicine, we call these pathways meridians and collaterals.
Since the 2nd century, through decades of observing the therapeutic effects obtained from stimulating certain points on the body, Chinese Medical practitioners have mapped out the courses of Qi and Blood. Overtime, they gradually reshaped and expanded the knowledge to what we now know as the Channel Theory, the basis of acupuncture therapy practiced worldwide today.
The Channel theory determines that there are 12 main meridians that run throughout the human body, crisscrossing horizontally, and vertically. Found along the meridians are acupuncture points where more Qi and Blood are gathered. A combination of these points is selected during acupuncture treatments depending on the patient’s symptoms. Together, they access the therapeutic effects and re-direct the Qi and Blood to minimize or diminish the patient’s ailment.
The meridians are connected to the major organ systems as well as skin, muscles, and bones. These primary channels bear the name of the 12 vital organs, namely: Lung, Large Intestine, Heart, Small Intestine, Liver, Gall Bladder, Spleen, Stomach, Kidney, Bladder, Pericardium and the (elusive) Triple Burner. Most of the meridians either start or end at their organ system, but the course of each meridian can travel far and wide.
For instance, you might wonder why a practitioner places an acupuncture needle on your leg, right below your kneecap, if you come in with stomach pain. This is because one of the major points to treat any stomach or digestive problems is Zhusanli, or Stomach 36. Its location on the stomach meridian is about 3 inches below the lateral side of your patella, but its function directly impacts the stomach, the organ system to which it belongs.
Chinese medical theory believes that when the 12 meridians are free of blockages and stagnations, the body is in harmony and void of pain or disease. Though all the 12 main meridians are connected, some have deeper relationships with one another.
Out of the 12, 6 of them are considered Yin meridians, and the other 6, Yang meridians. Each Yin meridian has a deep connection with its corresponding yang meridian. Using the Stomach meridian as an example; it is a Yang meridian, so it is paired with the Spleen meridian, its Yin counterpart.
Clinically, the relationship between these Yin and Yang meridians allows us to utilize both meridians for optimum therapeutic results. For instance, not only can Stomach 36 be a good choice for stomach pain, but a Spleen point on the spleen meridian can benefit the treatment as well. Your practitioner may choose Spleen 6, on the medial side of lower leg, in addition to Stomach 36. Together, the two points work together to reduce or diminish the stomach pain. As they say, two points are better than one!
The Channel theory includes several other meridians and collaterals. Besides the main meridians, there are divergent meridians, extra meridians, muscle channels, and more. Together, they create a web of roots and branches, making up a whole complete system.
How did I end up from a Math degree from McGill University (Montreal, Canada) to a Professional Master’s Level degree in Acupuncture? My children had all flown the coop and were testing their wings (currently in Israel, New York City and San Jose), and I was at a crossroads. After several months of career counseling and trying to find out what color is my parachute, curiosity led me to an open house at the American Institute of Alternative Medicine (AIAM) and the rest ……is history.
