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 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 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 | 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.
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 | Mar 10, 2016 | Acupuncture
Treat Digestive Issues
Acupuncture helps direct the flow of digestive energy in the right direction, which is from the mouth downward through the complete digestive system to the anus. If any problem occurs during this directional movement due to nausea, constipation, gastric reflux or gastroparesis, it can be treated with acupuncture.
Acupuncture can re-direct the flow of digestive energy in its natural downward direction. It also helps with the absorption of nutrients and elimination of waste. The digestive energy helps to assimilate nutrients and supports the function of sorting the nutrients from waste. Board certified acupuncturist Steve Drugan provides treatments to patients in Columbus, OH and surrounding locations.
Acupuncture for IBS
Extensive research studies have been conducted to show that acupuncture has the ability to provide relief from the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). One US study involving 230 IBS patients revealed 41 percent improvement on IBS Global Improvement Scale after a series of six acupuncture treatments. After the treatments, patients reported average daily reduction in abdominal discomfort. Bloating, intestinal gas, and stool consistency also showed a similar level of improvement.
Faecal Incontinence
An Italian research study involving 15 female patients with a median age of 60 years were given one acupuncture treatment per week over a 10-week period. Prior to the treatment and at periodic intervals after acupuncture sessions, anal continence was evaluated. Patients experienced significant improvement in anal continence by the end of 10 weeks. Patients with loose stools or irregular bowel habits also reported significant improvement.
Gastrointestinal Diseases
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and IBS are some of the common gastrointestinal diseases that can be treated with acupuncture. Four clinical trials conducted to test the efficacy of acupuncture in treating these conditions found that the quality of life (QoL) of the patients improved significantly after acupuncture. The healing capacity of acupuncture is enhanced at both physiological and psychological level for the patients. Acupuncturist Steve Drugan receives patients from Columbus, OH and nearby areas.
Ulcerative Colitis
In a randomized, controlled clinical trial involving 29 patients with mild to moderately active ulcerative colitis, traditional acupuncture and moxibustion treatments were performed. Patients were treated for five weeks at the rate of two sessions per week, and followed up for 16 weeks. Colitis Activity Index reduced in all patients, and significant improvements in general well-being were noted.
Gastric Sphincter
Poor relaxation of the muscular lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) can result in heartburn and gastric reflux. Research studies have shown that acupuncture can reduce the rate of LES by as much as 40 percent. Electrical non-needle stimulation treatments can also be used to achieve improvements in gastric reflux and heartburn.
Bowel Obstruction
Obstruction of the small bowel (intestine) is a common condition. It may require hospitalization for several days, and surgical interventions may be necessary to treat the condition. Acupuncture can prove to be an effective alternative. The procedure involves stimulation of the small intestine directly by needling. It can lead to improved bowel motility and be an effective removal of an obstruction.
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 | Feb 4, 2016 | Acupuncture
Pain Management
Acupuncture is a widely used technique in pain management. The practitioner will stimulate specific points in the body, usually with the insertion of thin needles through the skin. Steve Drugan, a highly experienced and board certified acupuncturist, provides proven and effective solutions for pain management to patients in Columbus, OH and surrounding communities.
Effectiveness
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) website talks about the effectiveness of acupuncture in pain management. It says that results from several studies indicate that acupuncture may help ease certain types of pain, particularly the ones that are chronic. These could include pain in the lower back, pain in the neck, and osteoarthritis related knee pain. It may also help to bring down the frequency of headaches and prevent migraines.
Therefore, people suffering chronic pain conditions may consider acupuncture as an option in pain management, according to NIH. Researchers are slowly beginning to understand how acupuncture may impact the brain and body, and how such an impact can be measured. In terms of safety and side effects, scientific research shows that relatively few complications arising from the use of acupuncture have been reported.
However, it is important that the acupuncture treatment for pain management should be administered correctly. If not, it may lead to severe adverse effects, including punctured or collapsed organs, infections, and injuries to the central nervous system. Acupuncturist Drugan receives patients from Columbus, OH and nearby areas who need pain management solutions.
Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Effects
Acupuncture has both anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, which combine to create a potent pain management solution. Studies show that when acupuncture is used to treat a swollen arthritic knee joint, it is likely to result in reduced swelling and improved range of motion, apart from pain relief. These studies present objective of reduction in inflammation with acupuncture.
In Berman et al.’s landmark study conducted in 2004, which included 570 subjects, the patients received 25 acupuncture treatments over six months, starting with two treatments per week. The primary outcomes of the trial were measured for pain as well as function. Results showed a 40 percent decrease in the pain score from the baseline, and an almost 40 percent improvement in function was also recorded. No adverse effects of the treatment were attributed.
Osteoarthritis of the hip is one of the conditions that have shown to respond well to acupuncture in many cases. The treatment is also used to manage neuropathic pain of various etiologies. Generalized burning pain that follows a spinal cord injury can be treated effective with a specific acupuncture protocol. It involves insertion of three needles into the scalp along the midline at points close to the vertex and on the occiput, and another one between the brows.
This acupuncture protocol may be useful to treat neuropathic pain such as post-nerve injury pain, post-herpetic neuralgia, perineal burning pain, and burning mouth syndrome. Acupuncturist Drugan receives patients from in and around Columbus, OH for pain management and other conditions.
Pain Management in Serious Diseases
In one of the trials, acupuncture has shown to deliver major relief from severe neuropathic pain caused by spinal cancer in a UK hospice patient. Adequate data is not available about the benefits of acupuncture in managing neuropathic pain arising out of diabetes. However, neuropathic associated with drugs for HIV is known to respond significantly to acupuncture.
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.
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.
