Have you ever suffered from a headache? It could have been a tension headache, cluster headache, sinus headache, rebound headache or a migraine headache. The good news is that acupuncture can address ALL of these headaches. As you read further we will focus on migraines today.

Migraines can run in families. They . . . → Read More: Migraine Pain Relief with Acupuncture – Minneapolis, MN]]>

Have you ever suffered from a headache? It could have been a tension headache, cluster headache, sinus headache, rebound headache or a migraine headache. The good news is that acupuncture can address ALL of these headaches. As you read further we will focus on migraines today.

Migraines can run in families. They also affect more women than men. A migraine can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours. It can be on one side or both sides of the head. The quality of pain can vary from a mere throbbing to a moderate or even severe pain that interferes with normal activities. Some people have to literally lie down to recover. And even that will not always offer relief in some cases.

Other symptoms of migraines can include nausea and/or vomiting, as well as sensitivity to lights and sounds. A migraine aura can manifest as visual distortions and physical sensations. The visual symptoms can be flashes of bright light, wavy lines, seeing spots and distortion of the size and shape of objects. Physical sensations can be numbness in one hand or weakness on one side of the body.

So How Does Acupuncture Work and How Will It Relieve Your Headaches?

Acupuncture has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years to treat pain by activating the body’s natural painkillers. But how does it work at a cellular level? A University of Michigan study used brain imaging to provide evidence that acupuncture affects the brain’s long-term ability to regulate pain.

In the study, researchers at the University of Michigan Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center showed acupuncture increased the binding availability of mu-opoid receptors (MOR) in parts of the brain that process and dampen pain signals – specifically the cingulate, insula, caudate, thalamus and amygdala.

Here’s just a few more benefits of Acupuncture:

• Stimulates endorphins and other neurotransmitters to control pain

• Reduces stress and promotes a sense of comfort and well being

• Promotes homeostatic normalization and regulation of all body functions

• Stimulates prostaglandins to reduce inflammation and swelling to prevent tissue damage

At our Minneapolis clinic we use a pain rating system of 0-10 with 0 being no pain and 10 being the highest. Some patients have come in with migraines that they rate as high as a #9. Five minutes after the needles are inserted, the pain level can go down to a #2. Often by the time the patient leaves our clinic the pain is gone.

Suffering from migraines is unnecessary because acupuncture may offer you great pain relief. This ancient therapy is safe and effective. Discover your optimal quality of health with acupuncture and live migraine free.

“I’m thrilled to say that my headaches are controlled better than they have been in the last 4 years! I have given Steven’s cards to my neurologist today and he wanted me to let him know that he will be getting a lot of business from him.”
Thanks,
Linda Bergland
Minneapolis, MN

“I have tried many treatments to help reduce my pain. The acupuncture I received from Steven has made me feel better than anytime in the last ten years.” Greg Shaughnessy

If you suffer from migraines and live the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Twin Cities area be sure to click on this link and sign up for our newsletter to learn more. Migraine Acupuncture Treatment in Minneapolis

For more than 24 years Steven Sonmore helped people transform health problems into solutions for attaining better health. Steven is a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist and a certified instructor by Health Preservation Association. He maintains an active practice in Minneapolis, MN. To schedule an appointment call 612-866-4000 or visit www.orientalmedcare.com .

You’ve probably had headaches of some sort. Maybe you popped a Tylenol or Aspirin and forget about it. But some headaches need professional evaluation.

June 5-11 marks National Headache Awareness Week. Headaches obviously are complex, with a wide range of causes from sinus problems, to eyestrain, stress, lack of sleep or even drinking too much . . . → Read More: National Headache Awareness Week June 5-11]]>

You’ve probably had headaches of some sort. Maybe you popped a Tylenol or Aspirin and forget about it. But some headaches need professional evaluation.

June 5-11 marks National Headache Awareness Week. Headaches obviously are complex, with a wide range of causes from sinus problems, to eyestrain, stress, lack of sleep or even drinking too much caffeine.

The goals of National Headache Awareness Week are:
• to attract recognition that headache pain is a real and legitimate condition
• to encourage sufferers to see a licensed health professional for proper diagnosis and treatment
• to let headache sufferers know that there are treatments for their condition that works.

Taking a pain reliever for a headache, while sometimes effective in relieving the symptoms of the headache, just suppresses the symptoms and doesn’t address the root cause one bit. This health imbalance will continue to manifest as a headache or other physical symptoms.

Imagine finally being rid of your migraines; without the drugs, without days in bed, without trips to the ER and without worry of when the next one might strike. Imagine finally being free from your migraines and enjoying life the way it’s meant to be.

Headaches are not normal. This is a sign that something is wrong. Your body was designed to be pain free. Even an occasional headache is a sign of something not functioning right.

At our Minneapolis Acupuncture clinic we help people enjoy life without the excruciating pain of headaches naturally. If you have not been to our clinic before, stop by and we will give you a free packet of information on how to prevent headaches. Or set up an appointment to be pain free. Just call 612-866-4000. You’ll be glad you did.

If you are a man or woman seeking headache or migraine relief living in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul, Twin Cities area be sure to click this link and sign up for our newsletter to learn more. Minneapolis Acupuncturist Headache Relief

About the author: For more than 20 years Steven Sonmore helped people transform health problems into solutions for attaining better health. Steven is a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist and a certified instructor by Health Preservation Association. He is licensed by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice and certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Visit www.orientalmedcare.com.

You’ve probably had headaches of some sort. Maybe you popped a Tylenol or Aspirin and forget about it. But some headaches need professional evaluation.

June 6-12 marks National Headache Awareness Week. Headaches obviously are complex, with a wide range of causes from sinus problems, to eyestrain, stress, lack of sleep or even drinking too much . . . → Read More: National Headache Awareness Week June 6-12]]>

You’ve probably had headaches of some sort. Maybe you popped a Tylenol or Aspirin and forget about it. But some headaches need professional evaluation.

June 6-12 marks National Headache Awareness Week. Headaches obviously are complex, with a wide range of causes from sinus problems, to eyestrain, stress, lack of sleep or even drinking too much caffeine.

The goals of National Headache Awareness Week are:
• to attract recognition that headache pain is a real and legitimate condition
• to encourage sufferers to see a licensed health professional for proper diagnosis and treatment
• to let headache sufferers know that there are treatments for their condition that works.

Taking a pain reliever for a headache, while sometimes effective in relieving the symptoms of the headache, just suppresses the symptoms and doesn’t address the root cause one bit. This health imbalance will continue to manifest as a headache or other physical symptoms.

Imagine finally being rid of your migraines; without the drugs, without days in bed, without trips to the ER and without worry of when the next one might strike. Imagine finally being free from your migraines and enjoying life the way it’s meant to be.

Headaches are not normal. This is a sign that something is wrong. Your body was designed to be pain free. Even an occasional headache is a sign of something not functioning right.

At our Minneapolis clinic we help people enjoy life without the excruciating pain of headaches naturally. If you have not been to our clinic before, stop by and we will give you a free packet of information on how to prevent headaches. Or set up an appointment to be pain free. Just call 612-866-4000. You’ll be glad you did.

If you are a man or woman seeking headache or migraine relief living in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul, Twin Cities area be sure to click this link and sign up for our newsletter to learn more. Minneapolis Acupuncturist Headache Relief

About the author: For more than 20 years Steven Sonmore helped people transform health problems into solutions for attaining better health. Steven is a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist and a certified instructor by Health Preservation Association. He is licensed by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice and certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Visit www.orientalmedcare.com.

The producer of Aspartame, Ajinomoto is initiating a new marketing push that will rebrand the sweetener as “AminoSweet”. Aspartame is commonly found in diet soft drinks (Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi), artificial sweeteners (NutraSweet, Equal, Splenda, Spoonful), candies and flavored medicines.

Aspartame is used in many foods and beverages touted as sugar-free or low calorie. But . . . → Read More: Aspartame Name Change, Don’t Be Fooled]]>

The producer of Aspartame, Ajinomoto is initiating a new marketing push that will rebrand the sweetener as “AminoSweet”. Aspartame is commonly found in diet soft drinks (Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi), artificial sweeteners (NutraSweet, Equal, Splenda, Spoonful), candies and flavored medicines.

Aspartame is used in many foods and beverages touted as sugar-free or low calorie. But you might want to stay away from this artificial sweetener because of studies that have investigated reports of ill effects.

Some of the side effects of aspartame can include:

• Headache
• Joint pain
• Change in vision
• Convulsions and seizures
• Hallucination
• Nausea and vomiting

Aspartme can cause many other problems as well.
Sources: FoodBev 2010
Dr. Mercola

Did you know that the National Headache Foundation has estimated as many as 28 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches? More women than men suffer from this condition. Migraines are one of the most severe kinds of headaches, creating a throbbing or pounding pain in the head. Migraine headaches can occur on one or both . . . → Read More: Treating Migraines with Acupuncture]]>

Did you know that the National Headache Foundation has estimated as many as 28 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches? More women than men suffer from this condition. Migraines are one of the most severe kinds of headaches, creating a throbbing or pounding pain in the head. Migraine headaches can occur on one or both sides of the head, lasting anywhere from 4 to 72 hours, and are often accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light, sound or smells. Here we will focus on migraine headaches, although acupuncture can be an effective treatment for any kind of headache.

Migraines often run in families. They can be triggered by a variety of factors including stress, poor diet, hunger, allergens, red wine, cheese, chocolate, menstruation, changes in the weather, inadequate sleep, bright lights, changes in barometric pressure or lack of exercise. We treat them everyday at our Minneapolis Acupuncture clinic.

When you get treated here at Complete Oriental Medical Care, migraine prevention acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles into specific points located on the arms and legs. Acupuncture point selection varies from person to person based on their traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis. This is determined through a thorough medical history plus Chinese pulse diagnosis. Using this information the acupuncturist is able to develop an acupuncture treatment plan for you, as well as suggestions for herbal or dietary therapies.

At our Minneapolis clinic we use a pain rating system of 0-10 with 0 being no pain and 10 being the highest. I have had patients who have come in with migraines that they rate as high as an #8. Five minutes after I get the needles in, that pain level can often come down to a #2 level. Often when the patient leaves our clinic the pain is gone.

Acupuncture can be used as a preventative in the treatment of migraines as well as during an acute attack. Studies show that acupuncture is an effective treatment for migraines, decreasing the duration and severity of an attack as well as the frequency of occurrences. The National Institutes of Health have recommended acupuncture as a treatment for headaches. Some studies show a 90% effectiveness in decreasing the frequency and duration of migraines and a reduction in medication used for the treatment of migraines after a series of acupuncture treatments. An Italian study published in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine revealed that patients who received acupuncture experienced fewer migraine episodes, missed fewer days from work, and suffered no side effects compared to the patients using conventional drug therapy.

If you suffer from migraines, acupuncture may be of great benefit to you. Acupuncture is safe and effective. Improve the quality of your life with acupuncture and live migraine free.

Tired of agonizing migraine pain? Call now for your FREE REPORT on the Real Truth About Your Headaches And How To End Them.

Dial 612-866-4000 for complete relief. Or visit us at www.orientalmedcare.com

Copyright 2009

Did you know that not all acupuncturists are not the same? Yes, it’s true. Selecting the right acupuncturist to treat your health problems is an important decision that can either make your acupuncture a success or turn it into a disaster. The sad fact is that there are people who go out and take a . . . → Read More: How To Choose An Acupuncturist]]>

Did you know that not all acupuncturists are not the same? Yes, it’s true.  Selecting the right acupuncturist to treat your health problems is an important decision that can either make your acupuncture a success or turn it into a disaster. The sad fact is that there are people who go out and take a few weekend courses on acupuncture, buy some needles and themselves “acupuncturists.” This is like someone buying a stethoscope and calling himself a doctor! In the state of Minnesota it is sadly legal for chiropractors to take only 100 hours of training in acupuncture. (They are not allowed to used the term “acupuncturist”) Would you get brain surgery from someone who had just a weekend of training?

Many people ask, “How do I select an acupuncturist?” “Aren’t they all the same?” The fact is that each acupuncturist is unique and, like in any other profession, there are acupuncturists who are great, some who are good, some mediocre and some who should never be allowed to work! 

First, your might want to call a L.Ac. (“licensed As an acupuncturist”) who is a full-time acupuncturist and has had years of experience. Why? The answer is simple: You can relax and rest assured that your acupuncturist had the superior training and experience (instead of a recent graduate) to do what it takes. You want to make sure your acupuncture is done right. That it solves your health problem instead of creating another one.

Then there is the issue of patients going to so-called ‘medical acupuncturists’ instead of selecting treatment by fully licensed acupuncture practitioners. The 4 year L.Ac (Licensed Acupuncturist) qualification requires over 3,000 hours of intense study and research. The ‘medical’ acupuncturists are ‘certified’ after only 220 hours of study, some of which is home study without the benefit of the tutoring of experienced acupuncturists. Indeed, in some US states, medical acupuncturists require as little as 100 hours of training before practicing acupuncture.

Zhu Dan Xi, a spokesperson for MedicalAcupunctureFacts.com said the value of the L.Ac qualification should not be underestimated, and patients should be aware of the potential dangers of receiving treatment from an unlicensed practitioner.

“We hear horror stories on a daily basis from patients undergoing treatment from medical acupuncturists, which just further underpins our belief that 100-200 hours of training simply isn’t enough. In the same way you wouldn’t trust a so-called doctor with 100 hours training, we believe you shouldn’t trust so-called medical acupuncturists either. These practices create a negative perception of acupuncture, and destroy the confidence of patients in what is truly a remarkable healing practice.”

“As a result of the lack of training of ‘medical’ acupuncturists, we’ve seen a rise in recent years in the levels of bad feeling towards acupuncture, with frequent claims of painful and uncomfortable treatments which have little healing effect. As any L.Ac licensed practitioner will testify, this couldn’t be further from the truth with well-executed acupuncture treatments, which can have a dramatic impact on health and wellbeing.”

Make sure your acupuncturist has experience treating your specific problem. You wouldn’t go to a fertility expert to treat your chronic pain. Go to www.orientalmedcare.com to review the many health problems we treat at our Minneapolis clinic.

You’ve probably had headaches of some sort. Maybe you popped a Tylenol or Aspirin and forget about it. But some headaches need professional evaluation.

June 7-13 marks National Headache Awareness Week. Headaches obviously are complex, with a wide range of causes from sinus problems, to eyestrain, stress, lack of sleep or even drinking too much . . . → Read More: National Headache Awareness Week June 7-13]]>

You’ve probably had headaches of some sort. Maybe you popped a Tylenol or Aspirin and forget about it. But some headaches need professional evaluation.

June 7-13 marks National Headache Awareness Week. Headaches obviously are complex, with a wide range of causes from sinus problems, to eyestrain, stress, lack of sleep or even drinking too much caffeine.

The goals of National Headache Awareness Week are:
• to attract recognition that headache pain is a real and legitimate condition,
• to encourage sufferers to see a licensed health professional for proper diagnosis and treatment
• to let headache sufferers know that there are treatments for their condition that works.

Taking a pain reliever for a headache, while effective in relieving the symptoms of the headache, just suppresses the symptoms and doesn’t address the root cause one bit.  The imbalance will continue to manifest as a headache or other physical symptoms.

Imagine finally being rid of your migraines; without the drugs, without days in bed, without trips to the ER and without worry of when the next one might strike. Imagine finally being free from your migraines and enjoying life the way it’s meant to be.

Headaches are not normal. This is a sign that something is wrong. Your body was designed to be pain free. Even an occasional headache is a sign of something not functioning right.

At our Minneapolis clinic we help people enjoy life without the excruciating pain of headaches naturally. If you have not been to our clinic before, stop by during the week of June 8-12th and we will give you a free packet of information on how to prevent headaches. Or set up an appointment to be pain free. Just call 612-866-4000. You’ll be glad you did.

About the author: For more than 20 years Steven Sonmore helped people transform health problems into solutions for attaining better health. Steven is a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist and a certified instructor by Health Preservation Association. He is licensed by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice and certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Visit www.orientalmedcare.com.