Can Acupuncture Help Your Back Pain?
By Steven Sonmore L. Ac. | January 27, 2010
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical attention. It is one of the most frequent causes of missed workdays and one of the most expensive conditions in the United States; according to a recent government report nearly one million people in the U.S. took time away from work to treat and recover from some sort of back pain.
Back problems can be caused by an inordinately wide range of problems. It can exist alone, or it can be caused by a condition that occurs elsewhere in the body, with the pain being transmitted (referred) to areas of the back by the nervous system. The majority of backache sufferers complain of pain in the lower back; the second most common site of discomfort is the base of the neck.
Who Suffers From Back Pain?
Half of all adults will experience some form of low back pain during their lifetime. The fact that humans walk upright puts great pressure on the spine and the muscles that support it. Over time, factors such as disease, accidents, poor posture and overexertion can lead to immediate and/or long-term back problems.
Most back pain is muscular in nature. Muscle pain perpetuates what is known as the pain cycle, a phenomenon of which the back is particularly susceptible. In the pain cycle, pain causes a muscle to spasm, which may distort the discs, joints and nerves of the spine. This spasm leads to further pain, leading to further spasm, which compounds the original problem. If the nerves are irritated enough, it may cause pain to radiate down into the leg, similar to pain experienced via a herniated disc.
In most cases, people who experience an episode of acute back pain will recover in 3-12 weeks. For those who don’t recover, however, chronic back pain can be a significant source of inconvenience and suffering.
What Can Acupuncture Do For You?
Acupuncture plays a vital role in the reduction or elimination of back pain by reducing recovery time and preventing a chronic condition from developing.
Research has shown that acupuncture causes the body to produce natural steroids and promote the production of natural endorphins. Steroids decrease inflammation, while endorphins are produced by the body to kill pain. Both substances can play an integral part in the breaking up of the pain cycle.
By reducing acute back pain, acupuncture can also reduce the chances of chronic back pain from occurring. It can help avoid the need for costlier and more invasive surgical procedures. And if back pain can be significantly reduced with acupuncture, it also lowers the need for painkillers or other medications that can either cause unwanted side-effects or prolong a patient’s condition. To schedule your appointment for a pain free back call our Minneapolis Acupuncture Clinic at 612-866-4000 TODAY or visit http://www.orientalmedcare.com/ .
Topics: Acupuncture, Back Pain | No Comments »
Pomegranate A Day Keeps The Doctor Away?
By AHHA | January 24, 2010
Pomegranates are becoming a popular subject of research for prevention and treatment benefits for a wide range of conditions. Pomegranates are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, but could there be synergetic actions from other aspects of this fruit? The most headline-catching research is detailed in “Anticancer Effects of Pomegranate” as compiled by the Natural Standards Research Collaboration and presented in the January, 2010, issue of Integrative Medicine Newsletter. You might find this information worth reading.
Source : AMERICAN HOLISTIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION
http://ahha.org
Topics: Dietary Therapy | No Comments »
H1N1 Boosts Natural Products Sales
By John Weeks | January 17, 2010
Research from Nutrition Business Journal (NBJ) suggests that the H1N1 virus has fueled supplement sales around the globe. NBJ research cited accounts from Australia to South Korea to Germany to the Philippines to South Africa which affirmed the view. The chief spike in sales is in immune-support supplements. Richard Henfrey, director of people and strategy at Blackmores, an Australia-based firm, is quoted as saying the “in recent months, global health concerns, including H1N1, have resulted in a high demand for general health and immunity products.” The NBJ reports that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have issued 147 warning letters since May 2009 to companies marketing products—from air filters and face masks to shampoos and supplements—for prevention or cure of H1N1 flu.
Reprint from January 2010 edition of John Weeks’ Integrator Round-up http://integrativepractitioner.com .
Topics: Swine Flu H1N1 | No Comments »
Longevity Qigong Class in Minneapolis Starting January 15th
By Steven Sonmore L. Ac. | January 10, 2010
Have you been feeling tired and run down? Ready to say good-bye to your stress? Learn how to put more energy into your body naturally with Chinese Qigong. (pronounced “chee gung”) This is an ancient Chinese healing art that combines the use of your mind, body, and breathing to strengthen your vital energy. Qigong uses special movement exercises and visualizations that can benefit people of all ages and physical conditions.
Studies have shown that Qigong can lower blood pressure, help balance (prevent falls for seniors), reduce incidence of stroke, increase bone density and increase longevity.
Learn to:
• maintain your health
• improve circulation (good for cold feet & hands)
• regain balance and flexibility
• quiet your mind
• decrease stress
• prevent illness (improve immune system)
You will learn Longevity Qigong, Treasured Vase Qigong, Arm Swinging Qigong and more!
No experience is necessary because the exercises are fun and easy to learn.
Date/Time: Fridays, 10:30-11:30am, January 15th – February 19th
Cost: Only $100 for all 6 sessions. Or pay drop in rate of $19 per session. Over age 65 is only $10 per session.
Location: Richfield Lutheran Church, 8 W 60th St., Minneapolis, MN 55419
To register: call 612-866-4000 or go to http://www.orientalmedcare.com/qigong_class.html
About the Instructor: Naijin Sonmore has dedicated her life to bringing true Chinese culture and health practices to the US. Originally from China, she has studied from several famous Qigong and Tai Chi masters. Naijin started learning Qigong as a teenager. In 1987 she began studying Chen Style Tai Chi from a disciple of Chen Wanting. In 1995, she obtained her Qigong teacher certificate. She teaches Qigong as a way of self empowerment to easily enhance your own health. She will teach you how to cultivate a joyful, relaxed, optimistic and energized state of mind.
“If you want to be healthy and live to 100, do Qigong.”
- Dr. Oz
Topics: Qigong, Tai Chi | No Comments »
Top Ten New Year’s Resolutions
By Steven Sonmore L. Ac. | December 30, 2009
Are you getting excited about 2010 – I am! It’s coming at us quick.
Have you noticed?
And 2009 is losing its grip a little bit more every day. I’m ready, are you?
2009 was a great and transformative year. Moving productively from 2009 into 2010 – and having someone you can count on to support you to do it makes it easier. That’s why we at Complete Oriental Medical Care are here to assist you in creating a whole new possibility in your health.
It is no surprise that many of the top ten New Year’s resolutions are related to better health. Number 1 is to “lose weight,” number 2 to “quit smoking,” with “exercise more” and “eat healthier” also among the top ten.
But no matter how committed you may be to your new health resolution, it is much too easy to become sidetracked. We are all constantly bombarded with commercials that make the least healthy foods look and sound irresistible. Smoking is promoted as something that makes you look “cool” and calms you down. This is where your vision comes in:
1. Define what you want to change – lose weight, quit smoking, etc.
2. How will this change fit into the health vision for your life? Will you feel better, have more energy, worry less about your long-term health?
3. Give your new health vision power. Write it down, share it with others, find images from magazines to make a collage that represents your new vision. Hold images of yourself in your mind achieving your goal, feeling better, and having more energy. Imagine exactly how it will feel to take excellent care of yourself. Picture yourself walking through your life feeling confident about your health. Write all of this down to review whenever you feel tempted to quit.
4. Activate your new health vision. Take the first action toward your goal. Don’t fall into the trap of needing immediate gratification. Think of each step that you take as one step closer to your ultimate goal. Whenever you feel tempted to give up, go within and connect with your vision.
Your Plan for Better Health
In order to stick with your New Year’s resolution and see it through, you need to have a plan, and you need to have ways to deal with temptation when it hits – because it will! Here are some tips to get you through the rough spots:
1. Create a detailed plan to reach your goal. If you’re not sure how to reach it, do some reading, or find someone who can help you. There are numerous diets and recipes available for healthier eating, as well as many strategies to help you stop smoking.
2. Find a great exercise professional to help you with your health vision. Exercise helps detoxify the body and makes you feel more alive. This can be a yoga teacher, Qi Gong instructor, and/or personal trainer. Do whatever you need to nurture your body and mind through the process.
3. Remind yourself that YOU are in control of your life and your health. Your cravings are not in control. If eating better is your resolution, keep a log of everything you eat. This will not only prevent you from cheating, but it will help you discover which foods make you feel best.
4. Find one great person who completely supports your new health vision. This will be someone you can call if you are struggling to stay with your resolution. Make sure it’s someone who will hear you without judgment and offer gentle but firm encouragement to keep going. In other words, find positive influences to counteract the negative influences that come from the media.
5. Work with affirmations and images. Write positive affirmations to keep you focused on the goal and to saturate your subconscious mind with your intention. “Every day, in every way, I am getting better and better” is a simple and classic affirmation. Another possibility is “I draw people to me who support my smoke-free lifestyle.”
6. Find an experienced, licensed acupuncturist to help you quit smoking, lose weight, and reduce cravings. This time proven system of Oriental medicine has worked for thousands of years.
Don’t forget that healthy living is an ongoing process. It’s a lifestyle that is evolutionary, not fixed. So, make this the year that you devote yourself to greater health. Live longer, increase your energy, and enjoy your life more!
In Better Health,
Steven Sonmore, L.Ac.
612-866-4000
www.orientalmedcare.com
About the Author: For more than 20 years, Steven Sonmore has helped people transform health problems into solutions for attaining better health. Steven is a licensed acupuncturist, Oriental bodywork therapist, and herbalist. He offers complete health care with acupuncture, Chinese herbs, nutritional counseling, Oriental massage, and facial rejuvenation. He is licensed by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice and certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.For more information visit www.orientalmedcare.com or call 612-866-4000,.
Copyright by Steven Sonmore. All rights reserved.
Topics: Acupuncture, Quit Smoking, Weight Loss | No Comments »