by urban-acupuncture | Sep 10, 2014 | Cupping Therapy
We have noticed that certain conditions seem to improve much more quickly when we use cupping to regular acupuncture treatments. We recommend several cupping sessions for almost everyone who comes in with upper back and lower back tension. It is our go-to treatment for those tight traps and the tension between the scapula and spine, and many people feel a profound improvement almost immediately. Ask your acupuncturist if this would be a good adjunct with your current acupuncture treatments.
Cupping is a technique often used in conjunction with acupuncture. Cupping pulls blood to a region to stimulate healing. It is effective at releasing tight fascia and muscles. Cupping helps the tissues develop new blood flow and also stimulates anti-inflammatory chemicals in the body. That’s why it works so well for pain.
So how does cupping work?
As we age, especially after 40 years old, our bodies begin to break down. This includes loss of muscle, the formation of adhesions in fascia and a decrease in blood flow. You can see this as your muscle tone decreases, we get stiffer and wrinkles start to appear in new places. As we move less and decrease our physical activity the blood supply to tissues decrease, and the fascia gets knotted and scarred up, further limiting movement and it becomes a vicious cycle.
Initially, it pulls blood into an area (no bleeding involved, it is under the skin). As new blood is forced into the tissues around the cups the body will begin to develop new blood vessels called neovascularization, new blood vessel formation. We believe this is why cupping can cause a lasting effect. As the new vessels form, they will have the capability to feed the tissues with nutrients and oxygen.
Next, the fascia and tissue can be stretched with cupping. The new blood vessels are forming and the blood and nutrients are starting to flow to the affected area. When you put cups on the back or around the injured area it can begin to stretch the connective tissue and fascia for better movement. Many people start out very tight but over a series of treatments, generally 3 to start with, the area becomes much more loose.
Cupping Therapy is Available at the Westerville Clinic:
405 W. Main Street
Westerville, OH 43081
(614) 426-4406
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 | Sep 10, 2014 | Community
By Alicia Nolan
Yang begins it’s transformation into yin and we call it Indian Summer. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) calls it late summer and recognizes it as its own season. TCM theory also associates each season with an energy system and organ. Late summers trademark is the Spleen/Stomach system. In the physical body this is our digestive system and imbalances that might be more abundant include: loss of appetite, or increased appetite, poor digestion, and bloating. the spleen also rules thought and influences our capacity for thinking, studying, focusing, concentration and memorization. So we might see a lot of over thinking, over-worry, distraction, dwelling on things, obsession and anxiety etc…
Change in Season
Even if you don’t have a complaint each change in season is a good time to receive acupuncture to help the bodies energy assimilate to the change of the energy in the season. In this season it is to help the bodies yang transform smoothly into yin. Calm down the physical manic activity of the summer into a nice contemplative focused energy of Fall…. and stay tuned for Winter 🙂
Tao
“In ancient times those people who understood Tao (the way of self cultivation) patterned themselves upon the Yin and the Yang and they lived in harmony” The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine
by urban-acupuncture | Apr 8, 2014 | Acupuncture Columbus
Rubbing acupuncture points with your finger for 30 – 60 seconds can stimulate and promote the circulation of Qi within your own body, restoring health and well-being.
- Lung 7 (LU 7 in photo): Roughly 2 inches above the base of the thumb. Functions: Used to treat several disorders of the upper body, including headaches, asthma, neck stiffness, cough, sore throat and facial paralysis.
- Lung 5 (LU 5): On the thumb side, at the elbow crease, just off the biceps brachii tendon. Functions: Useful for hot skin conditions, upper body edema, local point for tendonitis, relaxes the sinews and frees water passages.
- Large Intestine 20 (LI 20): On the face, level with the bottom of your nostril, on the groove that is formed when you smile. Functions: Opens the nasal passages and strengthens the activities of the contractile elements in the nasal cavity. Also useful for itchy eyes and facial pain with swelling.
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 | Apr 8, 2014 | Community
Instructed by the Taoist Tai Chi Society of the USA, Columbus Branch
WHEN: Starting May 6th. 6-7 pm. Meeting every Tuesday in May.
COST: $50 for all 4 classes.
WHERE: Meet at Westerville clinic. 405 W Main St. Call 614-426-4406 to sign up.
Must pre-pay and register by April 30th
This is an introduction to the movements of this ancient Chinese Exercise form which is practiced for the health benefits as it provides physical as well as mental stimulation. The slow graceful movements can be beneficial to people of all levels of fitness, helping reduce stress, improve strength and balance and increase focus and concentration. This class can be followed by a more advanced class only a few minutes away.
by urban-acupuncture | Apr 8, 2014 | Acupuncturists, Community
“Sometimes you don’t know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” Georges Duhamel Almost 4 years after completing chemotherapy I was still experiencing an intense amount of neuropathy in my feet. I tried physical therapy, medications and exercise. The feeling in my feet flowed from stinging needles to shooting pain. The pain was relentless 24/7 and I had accepted that this was simply the way my life would be. As a LAST resort I decided to try acupuncture, after-all, the thought of anyone > sticking anything into me was not at all appealing.
A friend recommended Urban Acupuncture Center. This place had a soothing effect as soon as I walked in. It’s quiet, yet friendly and smells really good! The treatment room is calming with comfortable chairs, relaxing music quietly playing in the background and interesting artwork on the walls. After the very first session, all the pain in my feet disappeared. This is no exaggeration. I realize this might not be the result for everyone, but it was for me!
I was so amazed, and of course relieved, that I continued to go for weekly treatments. The sessions eventually focused on other aches and pains, my insatiable appetite and my sleepless nights and, of course my practitioner made whatever adjustments were needed to try to address my current issue. After one and a half years I thought that maybe I was “good to go” and even thought that maybe the acupuncture was really a placebo, where because I thought it was working, that it did. So I decided to take a break. I stopped going for approximately 5 weeks. It didn’t take long for my body to start to feel off-centered. By the end of 5 weeks I couldn’t wait to return.
The acupuncture brought me back to center because the acupuncture gives my body a focus of attention that nothing else does. I now recommend to people that acupuncture become their FIRST resort. I am grateful that the persistent moments of the aftermath of my chemotherapy is now a memory.
Ellen, Columbus, OH
