Chinese New Year symbolizes new beginnings and a fresh start. Socially, it is a family affair, a time of thanksgiving, reunion, forgiveness and sharing. Traditionally people . . . → Read More: Happy Chinese New Year – Year of the Dragon 2012]]> Chinese New Year celebrates the Year of the Water Dragon beginning Monday, January 23rd, 2012. According to Chinese culture the Dragon is a symbol of power, superiority and rule.

Chinese New Year symbolizes new beginnings and a fresh start. Socially, it is a family affair, a time of thanksgiving, reunion, forgiveness and sharing. Traditionally people clean their houses from top to bottom to get rid of old stagnant energy and make room for positive energy of the New Year.

As we usher out the mercurial year of the Metal Rabbit, we can anticipate a much more positive year of the Water Dragon. Good sources say not to worry; it’s not the ‘end of the world’ next year. The Year of the Dragon offers much more opportunities than meets the eye. In 1964, another Year of the Dragon, we saw many advances with regards to racial discrimination. This was the year the 1964 civil rights act came into being which was the start of change the world over.

You can hardly imagine a Chinese New Year without a brightly decorated dragon winding its way through the glittering parade route. The Dragon is in the center of the action. The Year of the Dragon offers opportunity to those who are flexible to adapt to change and can creatively approach new possibilities. The Dragon represents passion and self-confidence, bravery and generosity. Dragons are known for being gifted, intelligent, and tenacious. The Dragon leads with energy and determination, bringing with it prosperity and abundance. Famous Dragons include Al Pacino, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Marlene Dietrich and Matt Dillon.

Health Problems During the Year of the Dragon

Water in Chinese medicine represents kidneys. Water related illnesses could include kidney stones, sexual organ problems or urinary tract maladies. This could also mean back problems.

The absence of the Fire element for this year is also unfavorable for people who have health problems related to the heart. So please just be careful and remember to maintain a good diet and try to get enough exercise. This will be a fast paced year, so you must not let yourself work too hard so it adversely affects your health. Spend some time traveling this year for pleasure if possible.

If you suffer from a weak immune system or back pain it is time to seek professional help. Try to avoid stress. You will need to take care of your health and diet this year because this will be a fast paced year. You might want to think about giving up smoking, starting a better diet and getting more exercise to strengthen your immune system to prevent from getting sick.

Health Solutions for the New Year

To celebrate Chinese New Year we are offering new patients and patients who have not been in our Minneapolis Acupuncture clinic for 3 months or longer a FR** exam. We don’t to this very often, so hurry! This offer expires February 17th. If you would like to become a new patient just call 612-866-4000 and ask for the “Welcome New Patient Consultation” and you will receive your first consultation for free. But remember…you have to do this by February 15th. That’s the last day for this offer for you and your friend or loved one.

May you and your family be blessed with abundant health and happiness this Year of the Dragon,
Steven Sonmore, L.Ac.
Complete Oriental Medical Care, LLC
Minneapolis, MN
612-866-4000
http://www.orientalmedcare.com“There are no riches above a sound body.” – The Apocrypha

• Poor memory • Irritability • Difficulty relaxing • . . . → Read More: Conquering Stress With Acupuncture]]> What happens when you’re really stressed out? Your body is keyed into your sympathetic nervous system or the “fight or flight syndrome.” Your adrenals are pumping, your breathing is shallow, heart beat is rapid, and digestion is incomplete. On a psychological level it can manifest as:

• Poor memory
• Irritability
• Difficulty relaxing
• Feeling overwhelmed

Imagine being able to relieve your stress easily and naturally. Acupuncture therapy helps your body to tune into your parasympathetic nervous system or relaxation response. After a treatment your heart beat is more regular, breathing is deeper, you’re bringing more oxygen into your blood stream, smooth muscles are relaxed and digestion is more complete. And on the psychological level it can help you to feel clear headed and refreshed.

Western medicine attributes only one organ to our emotions…the brain. But Chinese medicine figured out early on that emotional problems are attributed to the whole organ system. And that the quality of our thoughts are determined by the status of our organs.

Chinese medicine discovered thousands of years ago that there is a link between the organs and emotions. So specific emotions relate to certain organs. For example, joy (or lack of joy) relates to the heart. Anger and frustration relates to the liver. Fear and procrastination relates to the kidneys. Grief or “letting go” is associated with the lungs. Worry relates to the stomach and spleen. Remember that saying: “My stomach is tied up in knots?” Well, there’s a perfect illustration.

Acupuncture Balances Emotions

Acupuncture reinstates balance to the organ so then the corresponding emotion balances, too. Just like when a plant is welted, you give it water and miracle grow. Acupuncture sends nutrition to the organ.

Emotional disorders can be the result of a number of different organs that are imbalanced. Licensed acupuncturists use Chinese pulse diagnosis to determine which organ is involved in a malady.

Anger, irritability, and frustration are all signs that the liver is imbalanced. The liver is responsible for the smooth flow of energy throughout your body and for the smooth flow of your emotions.

Liver imbalance is one of the most common health problems seen at our Minneapolis acupuncture clinic today. Symptoms can include irritability, pain in the area below the ribs, stuffiness of the chest, abdominal bloating, nausea, acid regurgitation, belching, diarrhea or constipation, feeling of a lump in the throat. And for women: irregular periods, painful periods and distention of the breasts prior to periods. Liver stagnation is commonly associated with PMS. Ideally in a health body the liver should be spreading energy to all the other organs evenly in a 360 degree pattern. If it is dysfunctional, it can shoot energy straight upwards and cause neck and shoulder tension, headaches, migraines, even high blood pressure.

When you get upset the muscles around the liver get tight. Then the blood flow through the liver becomes restricted, especially through the portal vein. Then the function of the liver is impeded. Restriction of the bile duct results in bile not getting properly distributed in the duodenum. Then there are digestive problems. If there is poor circulation in the liver there will be emotional ups and downs. If the liver is fatty there will be depression, anxiety and/or frustration. With acupuncture treatment we can get the musculature around the liver to relax. This will increase blood flow to this organ, help the liver to detoxify and then the patient will begin to feel better.

In Chinese medicine we are obsessed with improving the circulation of blood. We are the plumbers of medicine. All the anti inflammatory agents, nutrients, antibiotics are in the blood.

The function of blood circulation is what heals us. That function is at 100% when you are a baby. Remember the saying “in the pink?” As a person ages, the vascular system declines. There isn’t enough blood circulating to heal the problem areas. Now, the beautiful thing about acupuncture is that when it is done correctly, it pushes the blood into the sick area to heal it. In western medicine they run tests to see if the patient is sick. But often, patients feel terrible, but the tests come out normal. So they are sick, but not sick enough to show up on their tests.

If there is an obstruction in the blood, the corresponding body part will be affected. If it’s not fixed, it could turn into a malfunction. If it’s not addressed, it could become a disease that won’t go away. That’s why people come to our Minneapolis clinic. With acupuncture we can fix their plumbing to get their blood circulating again. Very frequently, patients come to us as a last resort. They’ve tried prescription drugs, they’ve been to their MD, or their physical therapist. And let’s make it clear that these other practitioners may be doing some good work but for whatever reason it’s not doing the job with the people that come to see us at our acupuncture clinic.

Traditional Chinese medicine was developed for your everyday citizen; to make him/her healthy, to increase energy and vitality. With acupuncture, we are actually improving the functioning of your internal organs. We can make the stress and pain go away. And we create a situation so the stress and pain does not come back.

If you suffer from stress and live in the Minneapolis/ St. Paul / Twin Cities area you are invited to download our free e-book Acupuncture For Cynics . In it you will find explanations on how acupuncture works along with research studies on the effectiveness of treatments. Click here –> http://www.orientalmedcare.com/ebook.htm

About the author: 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 is owner of Complete Oriental Medical Care in Minneapolis. For more information call 612-866-4000 or visit www.orientalmedcare.com

2011 was a surprising and transformative year. Moving productively from 2011 into 2012 – 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 . . . → Read More: New Years Resolutions For 2012]]> 2011 is rapidly fading away a little bit more each minute. Are you ready?

2011 was a surprising and transformative year. Moving productively from 2011 into 2012 – 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,” “eat healthier” and “reduce stress” 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, relieve stress, etc.
2. How will this change fit into the health vision for your life? Will you feel better, have more energy, and worry less about your long-term health?
3. Give your new health vision power. Write it down, share it with others, and 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 lose weight and quit 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, Qigong 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 traditional Chinese medicine has worked for thousands of years.

Don’t forget that healthy living is an ongoing process. It’s a lifestyle that is ongoing, not static. 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.
Complete Oriental Medical Care, LLC
http://www.orientalmedcare.com

If you would like to relieve stress, lose weight or quit smoking and you live in the Minneapolis/St. Paul/Twin Cities area be sure to sign up for our free newsletter at Minneapolis Acupuncture Health and Wellness. Or call our receptionist at 612-866-4000 to set up your first appointment for better health.

About the Author: For more than 20 years, Steven Sonmore has helped people transform health problems into solutions for attaining better health. He offers complete health care with acupuncture, Chinese herbs and nutritional counseling. He is licensed by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice and certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
Copyright by Steven Sonmore. All rights reserved.

According to Chinese medicine, winter is the time to rest and heal your body for the coming activities of spring and summer. Take this time to rest and revitalize your body.

“The wise nourish life by flowing with the four seasons and adapting to cold or heat, by harmonizing joy . . . → Read More: Chinese Medicine and Surviving the Holiday Season]]> Chinese Medicine and Winter Season

According to Chinese medicine, winter is the time to rest and heal your body for the coming activities of spring and summer. Take this time to rest and revitalize your body.

“The wise nourish life by flowing with the four seasons and adapting to cold or heat, by harmonizing joy and anger in a tranquil dwelling, by balancing yin and yang, and what is hard and soft. So it is that dissolute evil cannot reach the man of wisdom, and he will be witness to a long life.” - Huangdi Neijing Suwen

The ancient Chinese believed that human beings should live in harmony with the natural cycles of their environment. The cold and darkness of winter urges us to slow down. This is the time of year for reflection upon our health…time to replenish our energy, and conserve our strength.

Last Minute Holiday Decisions?

Are you looking for last minute Christmas gifts for your friends and loved ones? This is your last chance to grab some healthy, thoughtful gifts. You AND the person who receives the gifts will be happy with what these gift certificates, CD’s and DVD’s have to offer.

If you’re like most people, you can’t seem to fit meditation and relaxation into your daily schedule. Learn how to reduce stress, breath deeply and create a state of wellbeing with this guided meditation CD. Here’s the perfect solution! The Qigong Meditation CD

Do you know someone suffering from back pain, migraines, depression or low energy? Give the gift of health. Choose gift certificates for Acupuncture Therapy. click here–> Minneapolis Acupuncture Gift certificates

Learn to prevent neck and back pain, arthritis and high blood pressure. Purchase Tai Chi and Qigong DVD’s for yourself and your loved ones at http://www.orientalmedcare.com/qigong_dvd.html .

Wishing You and Your Family Holiday Season’s Joy

We wish to thank everybody that has supported our Minneapolis clinic during 2011. It’s been a great year! And we look forward to helping all of you that will be coming in for the first time during 2012 to gain optimal health.

We also want to let you know that our clinic will be closed Dec. 24- Dec. 25th. Steven and Michelle will be spending time with their families. Get your treatments in now to recharge your energy before the Holiday. We will be open again Monday Dec. 26th. To make an appointment please call 612-866-4000.

In Health,
Steven Sonmore, L.Ac.
Complete Oriental Medical Care, LLC
612-866-4000
www.orientalmedcare.com
“There are no riches above a sound body.” – The Apocrypha

China has long been known for having a population that was almost devoid of overweight citizens. Now with the advent of modern fast food infiltrating their society, things are changing.

If you visit China, you might be shocked at how many KFC’s and McDonald’s there are now. . . . → Read More: Weight Loss With Acupuncture – Minneapolis, MN]]> Click here to view the embedded video.

China has long been known for having a population that was almost devoid of overweight citizens. Now with the advent of modern fast food infiltrating their society, things are changing.

If you visit China, you might be shocked at how many KFC’s and McDonald’s there are now. And if you go inside any of these fast food restaurants you’ll find dozens of teenagers. With China’s recent economic rise, some Chinese have changed their lifestyle and eating habits for the worse. Some Chinese parents have checked in their overweight teenagers into the Aimin Fat Reduction Clinic in Tianjin in northern China.

The Aimin hospital specializes in treating weight loss with TCM (Traditional Chinese medicine)– acupuncture, herbal medicine and diet. They also encourage exercise such as swimming, badminton and basketball. According Dr. Shu Li Dong, director of Aimin hospital, the goal is to not only lose weight but help patients learn a healthy lifestyle to prevent gaining the weight back in the future.

Even some people from the US have flown to the other side of the world to get to this innovative weight loss clinic. But truth be told you don’t have to fly all the way over to China to loose weight with acupuncture. At our Minneapolis clinic we treat weight loss naturally daily.

The Acupuncture Weight Control is effective in making it easier to lose weight and maintain that loss.

Here’s how it works:

• Reduces hunger and food cravings so you can lose weight.
• Allows your body to take in less fat from the food you eat.
• Feel full so you can eat less.
• Eases the frustration and anxiety that triggers overeating.

Just read this testimonial from one satisfied acupuncture patient:

“The MOST amazing thing for me is…for the last FOUR weeks, I have not been binge eating! I had been binge eating for months and months, maybe years! This is something I really didn’t think I could stop! I also have not been eating after 8:00 at night! I usually graze with a junk food feedbag on from 8:00 – 10:00 at night! This was really quite spectacular for me! That’s a lot but wait…there’s more! I also have stopped drinking coffee and I haven’t had any sugar or sweets! Four weeks! That’s pretty much a miracle in my world! So…one would have to think that just MAYBE there IS truth to the fact that acupuncture can help you lose weight! I am a BELEIVER!

Did I mention that I haven’t had any cakes, cookies, donuts, ice cream or various heavenly delights? Even grocery shopping, I usually am compelled to purchase some yummy thing I see on display and I have been able to pass by my usual triggers!

I should tell you that part of the weight loss acupuncture stimulation is to help curb your appetite. It also helps with cravings! I wouldn’t have believed it, not a chance with me…but I’m winning more battles against my favorite non-healthy food choices than I ever thought possible!” J. Coulton, one delighted, continuing to slim down, acupuncture recipient!

The Acupuncture Weight Control includes 10 sessions with dietary and herbal prescriptions to fit your diagnosis. Call us NOW to schedule your Acupuncture Weight Control and experience a healthier you. 612-866-4000. Or visit us at http://www.orientalmedcare.com/loss_weight_acupuncture.html

About the author: 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.

Be sure to sign up for our newsletter at Minneapolis Acupuncture Weight Loss Clinic to learn more.

Your skin is the largest organ in your body – it protects you against infection and disease. Your skin also helps regulate body temperature and it helps your body remove excess salt and water. From a Chinese medicine perspective the skin circulates the Wei Qi or defensive energy . . . → Read More: Celebrate Healthy Skin Month With Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture]]> Click here to view the embedded video.

Your skin is the largest organ in your body – it protects you against infection and disease. Your skin also helps regulate body temperature and it helps your body remove excess salt and water. From a Chinese medicine perspective the skin circulates the Wei Qi or defensive energy that protects you against colds and flu. For thousands of years the emphasis of Chinese medicine has always been to help people live longer and healthier naturally.

The health of your skin is affected by many factors such as stress, diet, quality of sleep, environmental pollution and holistic skin care.

While modern technology has enabled us to use surgery and Botox (injecting botulinum toxin into facial muscles) to look younger, you might ask what are these people going to do 5 years down the road? Before you schedule an appointment for Botox, you might want to know a little more about it.

Botox uses the substance that causes botulism, a sometimes fatal form of food poisoning. Botox interrupts nerve impulses to muscles in the face. The crow’s feet that appear when you squint, the lines that furrow your brow when you raise your eyebrows and the creases between the eyebrows when you frown can be caused by tension in underlying muscles, which contract the skin. Botox keeps this from happening temporarily.

If your doctor makes a mistake you can lose the ability to raise your eyelids all the way. If you’re getting shots around the mouth, a mistake could leave you drooling. Or you may not be able to raise your eyebrows, squint or frown.

Although muscles can cause some wrinkles, many result simply from the loss of elasticity that comes naturally with the aging process, causing the skin to sag and droop. Botox will NOT help wrinkles caused by aging and may make these kinds of wrinkles look even worse.

So what is the natural cure to looking younger? Many people including celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston and Sandra Bullock are using the Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture also known as cosmetic acupuncture. I prefer the former name because this treatment works on not just the cosmetic level. Procedures like Botox or surgery are only band-aid solutions. Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture addresses the reasons of why we look old. While adjusting internal organ functioning, Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture will increase collagen production, tone facial muscles, make your skin look tighter, reduce fine lines AND you’ll feel more energy and vitality. Plus there is no recovery time with Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture like you experience with plastic surgery.

Research by the International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture revealed that 90% of participants got better (i.e. better complexion, leveling of wrinkles, general rejuvenation not just confined to the face) using Cosmetic Acupuncture. But don’t take our word for it. Listen to this Cosmetic Acupuncture Testimony at Minneapolis Clinic at our Minneapolis clinic.

What Are The Benefits of Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture?

Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture can take years off your face. It helps to eliminate fine lines and makes the deeper lines look softer. It can also help to minimize dark circles, puffy eyes, sagging skin, and dropping eyelids.

Other benefits include:

• Increases circulation, oxygenates the skin
• Tightens the pores
• Nourishes the skin, giving you a healthy complexion
• Moisturizes the skin from the inside
• Helps lift sagging skin, puffy or droopy eyelids
• Increases collagen production
• Brightens the eyes
• Improves muscle tone and dermal contraction
• Improves hormonal balance to reduce acne
• Improves facial color and tone
• Softens scars
• Increases blood, energy and lymph circulation
• Leaves you feeling refreshed, relaxed and rejuvenated

Q: Can I do Cosmetic Acupuncture if I already had Botox?

A: Yes, Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture will maintain the effects of Botox naturally.

Schedule Your Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture Series for a Younger Looking You Today! Call 612-866-4000. Or sign up for our newsletter by clicking here–> Minneapolis Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture

About the author: Steven Sonmore, Licensed Acupuncturist in Minneapolis, is certified in Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture. He has designed his own powerful system of Facial Rejuvenation. He was recently interviewed by The Fox 9 Buzz KMSP TV as well as by The New York Times and Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine about his own brand of the Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture.

The good news is that now less than 2 out of 10 adults smoke. The number of American adults who smoke has dropped below 20 percent for the first time in our nation’s history. The bad news is health officials said that cigarettes kill almost a half-million people . . . → Read More: Great American Smokeout Nov. 17th, Quit With Acupuncture in Minneapolis]]> Click here to view the embedded video.

The good news is that now less than 2 out of 10 adults smoke. The number of American adults who smoke has dropped below 20 percent for the first time in our nation’s history. The bad news is health officials said that cigarettes kill almost a half-million people a year. The 1990s showed adult males in the U.S. lost an average of 13.2 years of their lives and females lost 14.5 years due to smoking. Compared to people who continue smoking, smokers who quit before age 50 cut their risk of dying in half over the next 15 years, according to the American Cancer Society.

The third Thursday of November is The Great American Smokeout (GASO) day. It all started back in the early ’70s, when Lynn Smith, a newspaper publisher in Minnesota, announced the first smoke-free observance day and called it “D-Day,” or Don’t Smoke Day. In 1977, it went nationwide under the sponsorship of the American Cancer Society.

In the past years, the American Cancer Society has promoted local and nationwide activities on the GASO day. We are spreading the word that acupuncture can help with SO MANY things, not just pain. Did you know that acupuncture can help you to quit smoking?

Kick the Butt in the Butt!

As acupuncturists, we help people kick the habit and lead healthier lifestyles. The Great American Smokeout has remarkably changed America’s health. Millions stop smoking for a day, but many people successfully quit for good. It has helped keep young people from starting smoking and protected nonsmokers from the dangers of second-hand smoke.

When the event began in 1974 smoking was accepted as a cultural norm. Now smoking is viewed for what it actually is…a killer. Smoking, as well as secondhand smoke, kills 443,000 people every year from cancer, lung disease, heart disease and other causes, said the CDC. Half of all long-term smokers, especially those who start as teenagers, die much too young, many in middle age.

Quit Smoking Acupuncture in Minneapolis, MN

You can quit smoking easily and naturally with acupuncture. Just watch this video above and see how easy it is.

How Does Quit Smoking with Acupuncture Work?

1. Detoxifies your body of the nicotine.
2. Reduces your cravings for tobacco.
3. Helps you to relax.

One of our clients, Thomas said, ” I used the Quit Smoking Today Acupuncture Program and I was amazed at how easy it was to quit.” Complete Oriental Medical Care, LLC is pleased to announce that our team will host a kickoff event for the annual Great American Smokeout this Thursday, November 17th, from 10 a.m. to 6pm. Our Minneapolis clinic will be handing out information on how to naturally quit smoking for good using acupuncture. Plus, receive a $10 discount when you sign up for our Quit Smoking Today Acupuncture Program on Nov. 17, 2011. Call us today at 612-866-4000 to learn how you can kick the nasty habit. Or visit us at http://www.orientalmedcare.com/quit_smoking_acupuncture_program.html.

Putting Insomnia To Rest

Do you toss and turn at night only to wake up unrefreshed? You’re not alone. An estimated 30 percent of men and 40 percent of women fail to get a good night’s sleep. This situation gets worse as we age. If you suffer from . . . → Read More: Acupuncture Better Than Pills For Insomnia]]> Click here to view the embedded video.

Putting Insomnia To Rest

Do you toss and turn at night only to wake up unrefreshed? You’re not alone. An estimated 30 percent of men and 40 percent of women fail to get a good night’s sleep. This situation gets worse as we age. If you suffer from depression, you might be more likely to have problems sleeping. Consider there are over eight million doctors’ visits per year are for insomnia.

A significant study on treating insomnia concluded that acupuncture was more effective than benzodiazepines (sedative hypnotic psychoactive drugs) for treating insomnia. The effective rate for acupuncture was 91%, while benzodiazepines were only 75% effective. (Traditional needle acupuncture treatment for insomnia: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Sleep Med. 2009 Mar 18.)

Both Acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulas can greatly improve sleeping patterns. Insomnia may have a variety of causes such as stress, depression, medication, irregular work schedules, major life changes, chronic pain or arthritis. Plus, acupuncture does not have any of the risks that drugs have, such as toxic accumulations in your body, addiction or withdrawal.

How Does Acupuncture Work For Insomnia?

At our Minneapolis clinic we use a special system of acupuncture that has a calming effect on your nervous system by enhancing your parasympathic nervous system. The benefits of acupuncture include deeper breathing, more regular heartbeat, improved digestion, relaxation of smooth muscles, better sleeping patterns, decrease in various pains and a general sense of well being (all excellent treatments for insomnia). A general acupuncture protocol for treating chronic insomnia may include 6-12 initial treatments at two to three time per week, followed by a two to four week observation period and possibly treatments later on.

Tips To Improve your Sleep

• Value your sleep…feel good about making time for it.
• Create an evening ritual and a fixed bedtime. Being creatures of habit, our internal rhythms thrive on ritual and routine.
• Refrain from eating and drinking for at least two hours before bedtime.
• Slow down, don’t come screeching halt. Make the last couple of hours before bed a gradual process of transitioning from activity and stimulation. Turn off the TV, radio, and computer.
• Try not to have intense conversations before bed. Allowing your nervous system to unwind and preparing for sleep is important.
• Treat yourself to a hot foot soak or hot bath.
• Make sure your bedroom is dark and stays dark.
• Wear warm socks to bed. Our temperature drops almost a full degree from evening to morning. Cold feet can wake you up in the night. Keep them warm.
• Find some sunlight in the middle of the day. In accordance with darkness at night, sunlight during the day promotes a healthy circadian rhythm. If you are in the northern reaches of the country, think about full-spectrum lights designed just for this purpose.

It can be scary and frustrating when any health problem takes away your control. Acupuncture leads you back to a place of calm, giving you the power to “lay your insomnia to rest permanently.”

If you suffer from insomnia and live in Twin Cities / Minneapolis / St Paul area call our Minneapolis clinic today at 612-866-4000 to set up your appointment for better sleep. And be sure to click on this link and sign up for our free newsletter Minneapolis Insomnia Relief .

To get this celebration started right watch and listen to this lighthearted and humorous video by a fellow licensed acupuncturist friend of mine. He even wrote . . . → Read More: Celebrate Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Day in Minneapolis October 24th]]> October 24 is the day we celebrate Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day every year. This day increases public awareness of the progress and benefits of acupuncture and Oriental medicine.

To get this celebration started right watch and listen to this lighthearted and humorous video by a fellow licensed acupuncturist friend of mine. He even wrote you a song for this special day.

Beyond Treating Pain

You might be more familiar with the pain mamgement benefits of acupuncture. But you might not know that acupuncture is also very effective in treating colds and flu, insomnia, depression, anxiety, PMS, stress, IBS, quit smoking and more.

Here is just a brief list of the benefits of Acupuncture:

* Reduces allergic reactions and helps decongest sinuses

* Relieves many types of headache

* Reduces TMJ pain and toothache

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

* Helps relieve depression

* Promotes restful sleep

* Balances female hormones to normalize
cycle and reduce PMS, perimenopause or menopausal symptoms.

* Normalizes bowel function

* Benefits eyes, ears and brain function

Acupuncture Stimulates:

* Endorphins and other neurotransmitters to control pain

* Nerve conduction to regenerate healthy tissue and restore muscle tone

* Quicker recovery from soft tissue injury, surgery, or fracture

* Leukocytes to fight infection and boost immune response

* Prostaglandins to reduce inflammation and swelling to prevent tissue damage

* Homeostatic normalization and regulation of all body functions

It is estimated that 36% of U.S. adults use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), according to a survey by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a component of the National Institutes of Health. There was an amazing 62% increase in the number of U.S. adults using some form of complementary and alternative medicine in the past year. Among the common CAM practices identified by the survey were acupuncture, acupressure, herbal medicine, tai chi and qigong.

The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine conducted a survey that found about one in ten adults had received acupuncture at least one time and 60% said they would readily consider acupuncture as a potential treatment option. Nearly half (48%) of the individuals surveyed who had received acupuncture reported that they were extremely satisfied or very satisfied with their treatment. These studies clearly demonstrate that complementary and alternative medicine therapies such as acupuncture and Oriental medicine are commonly used in today’s health care system. This also supports the need for accurate and reliable information treatment with acupuncture and Oriental medicine.

At our Minneapolis acupuncture clinic we are spreading the good word and benefits of acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Stop by between 10am – 6pm on Monday, Oct 24th to pick up free information about acupuncture and how it can help your specific health problem. Our Minneapolis clinic is here to help as many people get well and stay pain free naturally.

If you are a man or woman seeking pain free, optimal health and live in the Minneapolis / St. Paul / Twin Cities area be sure to sign up for our newsletter to learn more. Just click here –> Minneapolis Acupuncture Wellness Clinic .