Acupuncture has been used for centuries as a holistic form of medicine to treat many conditions, including acute injuries, arthritis, and headaches. Contemporary Medical Acupuncture is the biomedical and scientific refinement of Chinese acupuncture methods and is based on current concepts of neurophysiology, neuroanatomy, and pathophysiology.
Medical Acupuncture is an effective and simple treatment to reduce pain, stiffness, and dysfunction from daily life or performance and sports injuries.
Research shows that acupuncture :
Decreases pain and inflammation
Increases circulation and promotes tissue healing
Increases range of motion
Increases strength
Promotes rehabilitation of the joints, nerves, muscles, and other soft tissues.
How Medical Acupuncture works
As with traditional acupuncture, Medical Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles at specific points on your body, and stimulating them manually or electrically to enhance their effect. Your Chiropractor will take a complete history and perform a physical examination to diagnose the source of your pain or injury and determine the correct anatomical points to help treat it. The needles target nerves to produce the following effects:
Interrupt the transmission of pain from the injury site to the brain
Stimulate healing at the injury site by stimulating the nervous system to release specific pain controlling and anti-inflammatory chemical
Relax muscle spasms by fatiguing the muscle through the electrical stimulation of the specific muscle
Increase circulation at the injury site, which helps to decrease inflammation at the site of injury
ART® is a patented, state of the art soft tissue system/movement based massage technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART. These conditions all have one important thing in common: they are often a result of overused muscles.
How do overuse conditions occur?
Over-used muscles (and other soft tissues) change in three important ways: acute conditions (pulls, tears, collisions, etc)accumulation of small tears (micro-trauma)not getting enough oxygen (hypoxia)Each of these factors can cause your body to produce tough, dense scar tissue in the affected area. This scar tissue binds up and ties down tissues that need to move freely. As scar tissue builds up, muscles become shorter and weaker, tension on tendons causes tendonitis, and nerves can become trapped. This can cause reduced range of motion, loss of strength, and pain. If a nerve is trapped you may also feel tingling, numbness, and weakness.
Cupping is an alternative therapy used in traditional medicine in several parts of the world. It involves creating suction on the skin using a glass, ceramic or plastic cup. Negative pressure is created in the cup either by applying a flame to the cup to remove oxygen before placing it on the skin or by attaching a suction device to the cup after it is placed on the skin. Cupping can be used to relieve tension and pain in muscles, promote relaxation and help with increase blood flow.
Massage Therapy is a natural choice that offers so many benefits to new moms and moms-to-be. Imagine relieving your body of any aches, pains and alignment issues during pregnancy and beyond. Increase your comfort levels and truly enjoy the transformation your body is going through.
Prenatal Massage Benefits:
-Alleviates muscle tension, cramps and spasms in the legs, hips, lower back, rib cage and neck areas
-Improved blood and lymph circulation, which can reduce swelling especially in the lower body
-Helps prevent possibilities of compensations (ie. poor posture due to expanding belly)
-Relaxation and stress reduction, which benefits both mom and growing baby
Postnatal Massage Benefits:
-Alleviates muscular tension and fatigue
-Improves circulation due to changes in postures as a new mom
-Helps to balance hormones and reduce postpartum emotional challenges
-Aids in correcting posture
Naturopathic medicine or Naturopathy is a form of primary health care that integrates research based natural medicine with modern scientific knowledge. Our Naturopathic Doctor Sarah Penney works to identify and treat the underlying cause of disease while helping to relieve symptoms of various health concerns.
Naturopathic medicine can address all forms of health concerns, whether managing acute illnesses, chronic conditions or providing advice on preventative care and health promotion strategies. Treatment plans are customized for individual patients and may include therapies such as clinical nutrition, acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, botanical medicine, homeopathy and lifestyle counselling.
Consider Naturopathic Medicine for your health concerns, including:
Chronic pain
Bloating
Digestive concerns
Low EnergyAnxiety
Depression
Stress
Thyroid issues
Lowered immune function
Allergies or Sensitivities
Arthritis
Autoimmunity Eczema
Psoriasis
Manual LymphaticDrainage ( MLD) is a treatment that works to stimulate the natural drainage pathways for fluid and waste products to return from the tissues back to the heart. The lymphatic system depends on intrinsic contractions of the smooth
muscle cells in the walls of the lymph vessels (peristalsis), the movement of skeletal muscles and assisted pressure from deep breathing to propel lymph through the vessels and lymph nodes to ultimately return to the cardiovascular system. Manual lymph drainage uses very light pressure and rhythmical, repetitive techniques to help relax the nervous system and stimulate lymph flow. Conditions which may be helped by MLD include those involving inflammation, healing from injury and pain reduction (for example surgery, sprains, burns, headaches, sinusitis/allergies, anxiety, constipation, lymphedema).
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on manual therapy that releases tensions and restrictions deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and to improve overall health. Gentle touch is used at various parts of the body to monitor the rhythm of the craniosacral fluid flowing around the central nervous system. By monitoring the flow, CST therapists are able to determine areas of restriction and sources of dysfunction. CST complements the body’s natural healing processes. It is reported by clients to be effective in helping to relieve symptoms associated with Post-Traumatic Stress, Stress and Tension related Disorders, Post Concussion Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Neck and Back Pain, TMJ Syndrome, and Chronic Fatigue to name a few.
Your CST treatment is done over clothing. It is recommended to wear comfortable clothing such as active/lounge wear. You will be asked to remove a belt if you are wearing one and your shoes. The treatment takes place while you are lying face up. You can be supported by pillows if desired and a blanket for comfort. If you are unable to lay on your back, adjustments can be made for comfort. Your initial appointment should be 60 minutes in length. This allows the therapist to properly assess your concerns, provide a full body balancing with a focus on your primary concern. After your initial appointment thirty, forty-five, or sixty minute appointments can be booked. During the appointment you may become so relaxed you fall asleep, you may have emotional
releases, your body may twitch from time to time, these are all normal responses.
If you have any concerns about this please address it with your therapist before your treatment. After your treatment you may want a few minutes to regroup. Please take some time in our waiting area to have some water before driving home. The healing begins during the treatment but can take a few days to transpire. During this time you may need extra rest.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns about CranioSacral Therapy please address them with your therapist. Upledger CranioScral Therapy is recognized worldwide and was developed by Dr. John E. Upledger, an Osteopathic physician.
