Acid Reflux & Acupuncture

6 Jun 2017 Your Overall Health , ,

What is acid reflux?

Also commonly known as heartburn, acid reflux can range from mild and infrequent to severe and constant.  There are many causes of this painful problem.  Some cases are diet sensitive, meaning the issue is caused or exacerbated by the intake of specific foods and drinks.  Some common culprits are coffee, alcohol (especially red wine), citrus fruit and juices, eggs, chocolate, and spicy foods.

Other cases involve structural problems such as a hiatal hernia.  This is when a portion of the stomach pushes up above the diaphragm.  Other people might suffer from overproduction of stomach acid.  This is also a common issue during pregnancy especially during the later months as the uterus takes up more space in the abdomen and creates upward pressure on the stomach.  Also, during pregnancy, the hormones relax the valve separating the stomach from the esophagus, allowing acid to move up out of the stomach.

Not only is heartburn unpleasant and painful, it can also cause damage to the lining of your esophagus if left untreated.  You can read about the long-term effects of untreated heartburn here: http://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/guide/untreated-heartburn#1

How does Traditional Chinese Medicine help?

From a TCM perspective, acid reflux is diagnosed as Rebellious Stomach Qi.  The flow of the 12 main channels in the body all have a specific direction they follow.  The stomach channel flows from the face down to the feet.  This makes sense when you think about digestion in general.  We want the food to move down and out.  When the flow of qi is disrupted for whatever reason, the natural direction can be reversed which can cause belching, hiccuping, vomiting, and reflux. Think about when you have experienced indigestion.  Instead of food moving through your digestive tract as it should, it feels like it won’t go down and you may feel that upward movement of gas or food for several hours as your stomach and other digestive organs work hard to move it through.

Acupuncture redirects the qi in the stomach channel by opening blockages along the channel and restoring the channel’s natural downward movement.  Herbs are also extremely helpful, especially in cases of chronic heartburn.  Herbs can replace your over-the-counter heartburn medications such as Tums, Zantac, or Pepto Bismol as a natural alternative with fewer side effects and issues with long-term use.

What else can I do to lessen my discomfort?

Here are some simple tips for beating the burn:

  1. Sleep with your upper body slightly elevated.
  2. Don’t eat late at night.  Try to eat several hours before going to bed to give your body time to digest before laying flat.
  3. Try peppermint or ginger to aid general digestion.
  4. Take probiotics to ensure proper gut health.
  5. Reduce intake of exacerbating foods.  Pay attention to what flares your heartburn and remove it from your diet.
    Iris Martin, Light & Joy Acupuncture Inc.

7 Tips for Allergy Relief

6 Jun 2017 Tips & Tricks, Your Overall Health ,

Allergy Hygiene

Remove hat, outer shirt and shoes in your garage after a walk outdoors during pollen season. Pollen will cling to your clothes and keep exposing you long after you have come indoors. Wash your face as well which will help pollen stay away from your mucus membranes.

Keep Windows Closed and run your Air Conditioner with HEPA Filters

Consult your local HVAC professional to determine the correct filter for you and your household. You may also want to get the air ducts cleaned as this can be a source of dust and mold.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Take 1 tbsp in the morning during the allergy season. The theory is that it helps the mucous flow and cleanses the lymphatics so there is no build up.

Probiotics

They help balance the immune response since current research is stating that most allergies are due to an imbalance in the body. There are also studies that link large amounts of beneficial bacteria to fewer allergy incidents.

Quercetin Supplement

It is nature’s antihistamine. It stabilizes the mast cells so they don’t release any more histamine, which is the cause of all those miserable symptoms.

Diet Changes

Going on a GAPS based diet or an anti-inflammatory diet can be enough to reduce the allergy threshold and decrease allergy symptoms. It is especially important to remove any foods you know you are allergic to.

Netti Pot or Nasal Rinse System

Put 1 teaspoon of Himalayan salt in 1 quart of boiled water then rinse (you can also buy pre-made solutions). Do 2 times daily for best results (morning and evening). It cleans all the particles out of the nose that may have collected at night with an open window or during the day while out and about.

Answers to Stomach Pain: Peptic Ulcers And Acid Reflux

6 Jun 2017 Your Overall Health , , ,

What are the common causes of stomach pain?

Some of the most common causes of stomach pain are gas, acid reflux, peptic ulcers, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, SIBO, food sensitivities and over eating.

What helps to differentiate the cause of the pain?

• Gas – Bloating and pressure in the tummy that may cause flatulence or just pain
• Diarrhea – bowel changes and frequent bathroom trips
• Stomach flu – Bowel changes, vomiting
• Food Sensitivities – stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea or bloating
• Constipation – bowel changes, straining during bowel movements, feel like have to go but not being able to
• Acid Reflux – burning in the throat, pain in the stomach or chest pain
• Peptic ulcers – stomach pain, burning in the stomach, belching
• SIBO – stomach pain, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, joint pain, fatigue

What is the treatment for each of these conditions?

• Gas – Activated Charcoal, removing gas causing foods, digestive enzymes or probiotics
• Diarrhea – change diet, probiotics, l-glutamine powder, food allergy testing
• Stomach flu – Drink broth and electrolytes when able, rest and BRAT diet
• Food Sensitivities – Remove irritable foods from diet, get allergy testing that tests both IgG and IgE antibodies (blood test), do a gut healing protocol with a doctor (see a standard protocol below).
• Constipation – change diet, probiotics, aloe vera liquid drink, fiber, food allergy testing, plenty of water, exercise, omega 3’s, prunes
• Acid Reflux – spoonful of baking soda (1/2 tsp baking soda in glass of water), aloe vera juice, no laying down after a meal, apple cider vinegar, stop smoking or drinking, chamomile tea
• Peptic ulcers – H. Pylori testing (stool or breath test), fenugreek, bananas, cabbage juice, DGL supplements
• SIBO – Glucose and lactulose breath testing, oregano oil, berberine, antibiotics, probiotics

When to go to the Doctor for stomach pain?

Any stomach pain that has lasted greater than 2 weeks and hasn’t responded to any of the home remedies you have tried warrants further investigation by a competent doctor. Pain that wakes you up at night is a good time to see the doctor, blood in your stool, eczema or rashes that won’t go away, not pooping daily even after taking probiotics, trouble eating or significant weight loss. If you have any of the above symptoms going on it is important to seek out a doctor. Our digestive health is very important and this is how we absorb nutrients to fight off infections. Living with an unhealthy gut can be detrimental to your overall health and your doctor will take these complaints very seriously.

What are Gut Healing Protocols? How would I do one?

Gut healing protocols usually come in several forms.
A stool sample can be taken to determine what imbalance exists. This type of individual should consult with a doctor to determine which substances can be used to help kill the harmful bacteria and restore balance to the Gut.
To determine true leaky gut, a blood test is needed and zonulin (intestinal permeablilty marker) is tested to determine if extra healing is needed in the tract to close the gaps and restore balance. If symptoms aren’t very severe, you can attempt an at-home protocol like the one seen below; however if more severe symptoms persist or the protocol isn’t helping, please seek a doctor for help.
Remove commonly gut harmful foods: Sugars, wheat grains (that aren’t sprouted), conventional meat products, dairy products, and sometimes eggs.
Add healthy Gut healing foods: Bone Broth, Fermented Foods (sauerkraut, kombucha, veggies, kimchi), Coconut products (medium chain triglycerides are easier to digest than other fats), Sprouted seeds (Chia, flax, pumpkin, hemp etc.)
Repair with Healing supplements: L-Glutamine, DGL, Quercetin, Digestive enzymes
Probiotic Balancing: Probiotics that have diverse species count and a prebiotic either from food (Soluble fiber items: legumes, beets, okra, apples, peas, carrots) or in a supplement form.

The WooHoo of Chiropractic

30 Mar 2017 Pain, Your Overall Health , ,

How Adjustments can benefit more than just the bones, joints and muscles.  The most common time for a patient to seek out a Chiropractor is when they are in pain or have just been injured.

We as a profession are known for our ability to treat Headaches, Neck pain and Low back pain.  For optimal health of the back, neck and head, it is suggested to get adjusted at least twice a year. We get our teeth checked twice a year but we never really think about the spine and how the nerves are affected when a spine or muscle isn’t functioning properly.  The common objection people have against seeing a chiropractor is: “if I start going, I will always have to go”.  The answer is, “Yes, if your body would only be so lucky to see a chiropractor all the time!”. The actual answer is NO, you will not have to keep coming back week after week.  We ask that you get checked two times a year to make sure you are maintaining proper function.  Every function in your body is determined by the nervous system as a whole and we know that the nervous system protector is the spine.  When a nerve is affected because your body is misaligned in the spine, we can measure that its electrical output goes down, meaning whatever that nerve controls will have a decrease in function.

Based on research, an adjustment of the L4 vertebra in athletes will strengthen the quad muscle.  We can measure this and see an improvement after an adjustment.  Do we know exactly how this happens?? “No” this is the WooHoo factor.  We also see that babies with constipation getting adjusted will suddenly be able to poop more effectively; we can observe it and measure it but we haven’t exactly been able to explain it yet and until our understanding of neurology expands in the medical profession we may not know, we have ideas but no proven mechanism.

  • In our office I have also seen where adjusting the T9 vertebra will improve someone’s stomach pain and because I am a bit of a skeptic myself I always try this as a last resort looking for more organic and more explainable causes first.  But we are now taking a more holistic approach if someone comes in with stomach pain or a cough we will treat those symptoms and disease classically through oral supplementation as well as to adjust the patient, because there is no known way to tell by examining a patient externally if the nerve and interference to the nerve are part of that problem or not.  So we always make sure the spine is aligned so that we remove nerve impingement as part of problem, leaving other issues to be treated and dealt with.  Here is a short run down of what nerves innervate what organs:
    Heart T1-T8
  • Lung T3-T9
  • Esophagus T5-T6
  • Stomach T5-T9
  • Doudenum T6-T10
  • Jejunum T8-T11
  • Large Bowel T8-L1
  • Appendix T9-L1
  • Liver T6-T11
  • Spleen T7-T10
  • Gallbladder T6-T11
  • Pancreas T7-T10
  • Kidney T9-L2
  • Ureter T9-L2
  • Testis/Ovary T10-T11
  • Prostate T10-T11
  • Uterus T12-L1

Before you go too long between your next adjustment remember two things; first, your nerves affect your organs and misalignments don’t just come from falling down but simple repetitive activity like sitting at a desk in front of a computer. Second, a joint that is unmoving for as little as one month will begin to show and develop arthritic changes (meaning that arthritis can develop from simply sitting at a desk and allowing a joint to remain stuck for long periods of time).

What is the Definition of Running?

30 Mar 2017 Your Overall Health , , , , , ,

Running: to go quickly by moving the legs more rapidly than at a walk and in such a manner that for an instant in each step all or both feet are off the ground.

What are the main Muscles and Joints Involved?

Muscles used during running:

  • Hamstrings – works when your foot leaves the ground and your leg moves forward to the next foot strike.
  • Quadriceps- this muscle is used when your lower leg move from bent to a straight position.
  • Gluteal Muscles – these muscles move your foot from a parallel position to the back of the body and you will especially notice the glutes when you run up hills.
  • Hip Flexors- you feel the motion after your foot leaves the ground behind you and moves it forward to the next foot plant.
  • Calves: once your foot leaves the ground when your heel is in the air behind and places behind your body, you will feel the calf muscle with running up hill specifically.
  • Tibilais Anterior- this muscle dorsiflexes the foot and plants it down on the ground.
  • Peroneals- this muscle works when your heel is elevated then drops to the ground.

Joints:

  • Hip joint – Acetabulum joint
  • Knee Joint- Tibiofemoral Joint
  • Ankle Joint – Talus joint

What are the most common Injuries from running?

  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Hamstring tendonitis
  • Shin Splints – tibial stress syndrome
  • Iliotibial band Syndrome
  • Achilles Tendonitis
  • Runner’s Knee – Patellofemoral pain syndrome

How do to prevent Running Injuries?

  • Improve flexibility by stretching after runs – will prevent most tendonitis issues by properly stretching and keeping someone flexible
  • Include strength training to keep muscles equal and balanced
  • Stay hydrated and eat proper meals to prevent a glucose crash during running
  • Warm up before any run
  • Gradually increase mileage to prevent overuse injury
  • Take periodic breaks in the training

How to Start Running?
Keep it simple, start running 20 minutes a day for 3 days. Then gradually add more time to your run and more days. Never increase either the time or the days till you feel comfortable at your current amount.

How are running Injuries treated?
This will depend on the severity of your injuries. Some injuries will require surgery, while others are treated with surgical alternatives like chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy and massage. Some botanical or pharmaceutical options can help with pain and inflammation.

In our office we use muscle release, massage and adjustments to keep our athletes healthy and running a peak efficiency.

Sports Injury Special:
Sports injuries can occur while either falling down while running or getting kicked in the shins during a soccer game, either way we have pain and want to get back on the field to continue to play. Homeopathic medicine is about healing the body at a basic level relieving the discomfort of the symptoms while allowing your body to do its natural healing process.

The following items are 3 homeopathic remedies(called the Acute injury trio). We suggest you have on hand to be ready to treat a young players injuries. Or for the husband/wife who likes to run half marathons, or even for work related tired joints and muscles after a long day.

  1. Rhus Tox – for joint pain and inflammation take 3 pellets 4 times a day away from food.
  2. Arnica – for all over body soreness or injury 4 pellets 4-5 times a day.
  3. Bryonia – When it is painful to get back to running or back to your sport 4 pellets 4 times a day.

*If symptoms or pain persist please seek direct professional or medical care.

TMJ and Acupuncture

6 Feb 2017 Pain, Your Overall Health , ,

TMJ and Acupuncture

What is TMJ/TMD?

TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint.  The actual disorders associated with this joint are more appropriately termed TMD and refer to issues in the muscles and bones around the jaw.  Often patients report pain, clicking, lock jaw, headaches, and neck pain associated with TMJ dysfunction.

What causes TMJ/TMD?

The patient might have a history of clenching or grinding their teeth or inflammation in the joint itself.  This could be from an injury in the area or chronic muscle tightness in the neck that affects the jaw. Dental work can also contribute to TMJ pain.  The patient may feel jaw pain following a root canal, implant work, wisdom teeth extraction, amalgam removal etc.  Other possible issues that can contribute to or exacerbate pain in the jaw are fibromyalgia, stress, systemic imbalances, and sinus problems.

What can I do to relieve TMJ/TMD pain?Acupuncture can work wonders!

We look at patterns in the body and use needles and/or massage to open the channels and bring balance to the affected area.  Acupuncture helps to move qi and blood thereby reducing inflammation, increasing circulation and relieving pain.  Other specialists can help in conjunction with acupuncture such as chiropractors and physical therapists. We recommend seeking practitioners who look at the body as a whole to identify stress/injury patterns. Please ask for referrals if needed!

Case Study

A 48 year old male presents with TMJ pain after having several amalgams replaced by his dentist.  He was experiencing acute pain in his jaw accompanied by neck and shoulder pain, headaches, and sinus congestion. The range of motion in his jaw was limited. He had a chiropractic treatment to address the alignment and spacing in the jaw area and felt that after being adjusted, the pain remained and the range of motion had not improved. He had also tried physical therapy and diligently did the recommended stretches and strengthening exercises.  With this treatment, he felt some improvement but the issue was still unresolved.  The patient had been dealing with high levels of work-related stress for the past 6 months.

Outcome: After 6 acupuncture treatments, the TMJ pain had completely resolved and the range of motion returned to normal. The patient reported improved sleep as well!

The practitioner focused on opening circulation in the face and jaw area.  Reducing stress and rebalancing the channels was also a major component of the treatment plan.  His high levels of stress were causing an underlying holding and tightening in the body and face that was preventing the release of pain. The chiropractic treatment addressed the misalignment of the jaw. Physical therapy worked to strengthen and balance the muscles in the face area. Acupuncture addressed the stress patterns so the body was able to relax and release the tension.

written by Iris Martin

Craniopathy: relief from migraine pain, TMJ, and sinus congestion

6 Feb 2017 Women & Pregnancy, Your Overall Health , , ,

Craniopathy is used to determine and adjust misalignments of the separate cranial bones.  The cranial bones each have their own movement pattern with each breath as the CSF surges in the skull with each breath. The movement should be equal and free on both sides. One side or both sides of a particular cranial bone can be restricted due to muscle tension on the outside of the skull or due to an increase in pressure on the inside of the skull if the CSF flow is inhibited and therefore building up.

Sacro-occipital therapy (SOT) is a chiropractic technique that analyzes the body through the membranous connection of the sacrum to the occiput or skull. This membrane is called the dura. The dura has connections inside the skull, at certain points in the spine, and in the sacrum. The dura surrounds the brain and the spinal cord and holds them in the cerebral spinal fluid. This system works very closely with the respiratory system. With each breath the sacrum tilts forward just enough to create a pumping mechanism for the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). Circulation of the CSF serves an important role in flushing the brain of waste products and toxins.

Craniopathy includes craniosacral therapy but is more specific in correcting distortions in the cranial bones and in the micro movements of the cranial bones. The technique will include palpation of the cranial bones and of the palate to determine which corrections may be needed. The palate is an important part of the analysis as it relays information of the position of all the cranial bones. For this reason, it is important for all infants to have their palate felt by a certified practitioner as the infant may have a distorted pattern present due to the passage through the birth canal. The infant’s latch and suck reflex is directly affected by their palate as well.

The corrections are often performed with breaths and there are extra-oral (outside the mouth)and intra-oral (inside the mouth) techniques to make the adjustments. This technique is extremely gentle and is performed with light holds with the finger tips. Craniopathy is a branch under the Sacro-Occipital Technique (SOT) which is considered a low-force technique. Practitioners certified in Craniopathy and SOT often will work in conjunction with dentists because the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) can be directly addressed with Craniopathy.

You may have cranial misalignments or asymmetries if you continue to have migraines or headaches, jaw pain, recurring sinus congestion, or low back pain or tightness that is not resolving with traditional care. Other issues that have plateaued may also be helped with cranial work.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

5 Dec 2016 Your Overall Health , ,

As the seasons change and the weather gets colder, do you feel yourself getting glum?  The days are shorter, and we don’t see much sunlight after work hours as the sun sets earlier.  If you are among the 10-20% of people who suffer from some seasonal depression, there are things you can do to combat these shifts.

Get acupuncture

Acupuncture is extremely effective at treating many forms of depression.  There are many points to help calm the spirit which is helpful in easing anxiety as well.  Depression is different for everyone so the treatment is tailored to each patient’s specific needs and manifestations.  Some common depression-related issues we treat are insomnia, overthinking, lack of energy and/or motivation, and changes in appetite.  You can feel better and acupuncture can help you get there.

Take herbs

We have several herbal formulas that can help to get you over the hump of these seasonal changes.  Herbs can be extremely helpful for those who feel they just need an extra boost as well as for those suffering from more severe depression.  We offer herbal consultations for those interested in herbs but not acupuncture.

Take supplements

Some supplements we recommend for depression are:

Vitamin D–When the weather shifts and we aren’t getting it from the sun, taking it orally can do just the trick.

Fish oil–This is helpful in boosting our brain chemistry and making sure nerve signals are transmitting as they should.

B-complex vitamins–B3, and B6 help boost serotonin and B12 helps to boost dopamine and norepinephrine.If you are feeling down, it is important to share it with people you care about and your health care providers so that you have the support you need to feel better.  We are here to help you feel your best!

Natural Digestion Aids for your Gut

5 Dec 2016 Tips & Tricks, Women & Pregnancy, Your Overall Health , ,

So the holidays are coming or your neighbors annual BBQ is around the corner, but all of these events just give you heartburn, gas, constipation or diarrhea.  This may be a sign that you have some food allergies, our gut needs to heal from something, or it may be as simple as needing some digestive assistance.  Here are our quick and easy digestive help aids. Remember if these aren’t the answer, talking to one of our doctors may be a better long-term solution.

  • Heartburn – Marshmallow tea or Slippery Elm powder (powder’s are nice since they heal mouth the stomach)
  •  Slow Digestion – Digestive enzymes (amylase, lipase, proteases)- help break down items like steak or holiday goodies
  •  Tummy ache – papaya enzymes or activated charcoal
  •  Diarrhea – Probiotics 50 Billion, Glutamine Powder
  •  Constipation – Probiotics 25 Billion, Yellow aloe

Gut Brain Axis

5 Dec 2016 Your Overall Health

We have long since discovered the brain to be the master control center of of the body and its organ systems. More recently we have begun to understand that the body has a “second brain” via the vast network of neurons in the gut known as the enteric nervous system. The number of neurons in our gut equals that in our spinal cord which we suspect is so vast for the purpose of regulating the trillions of microbes that reside there.

Though it seems some people still want to believe that what we eat doesn’t have a big impact on health, there is plenty of research to suggest otherwise. For example, our diet and gut health directly impacts our mood because ninety percent of the serotonin in our system is made in the gut. Serotonin keeps our mood balanced and a deficiency leads to depression. In turn, neurotransmitters including serotonin are key regulators in gut function.

The brain is still the master controller of the body and it communicates with the gut via neurons, neurotransmitters and hormones. We would have to further discuss each one of these pathways to see all the ways our digestion can be affected. Digestion is so much more than eating and having a bowel movement. It determines the health and integrity of our tissues and if structure is negatively impacted then so will function.

Let’s see what poor function means for the two systems in question. Some indications of poor brain function are poor memory, inability to find words, and difficulty learning new things. Indications of poor digestive function are difficulty digesting food, constant episodes of bloating and gas, alternating constipation, etc.

The first thing we can do to directly impact and help our gut’s micro biome is to take probiotics. If there has been no significant change after a course of probiotics, it would be wise to do an anti-inflammatory diet or a blood test to rule out any food intolerances that would be causing inflammation and an adverse environment in the gut. We can also rule out vagal nerve involvement by doing a few tests in the office. Let’s discuss the vagus nerve more and give it its due reverence.

The vagus nerve is the direct nerve pathway by which the brain communicates with the gut but it also innervates the heart, lungs, throat and facial muscles. The vagus nerve is responsible for calming down the organs after stress or a period of the fight or flight response. The better your vagus nerve is working, the more quickly your body can be calm again and resume its healthy and regular activities. If the vagus nerve is functioning sub optimally and one of its organs, such as the gut, is compromised we can prescribe exercises that would bring it back into full gear. The vagus nerve can also be kick started with coffee enemas.

Here is the take-home message: If your brain or gut function is not working at the level you want it to, you can take steps now to begin to address that. We can help.

1 2 3 4 … 7

Search

+