by William Alexander | Oct 16, 2015 | Uncategorized
By now, we all know that massage therapy is great for relaxation and even pain relief. What most people don’t realize is that it offers some surprising health benefits, as well.
1) Counteracts postural stress caused by too much sitting
2) Eases chronic back pain
3) Reduces inflammation after a workout
4) Soothes anxiety and depression
5) Improves sleep
6) Boosts immunity
7) Relieves headaches
If you are living with these discomforts, relief is a phone call away. Call 615-939-2787 to learn more about the variety of massage therapy we have available to our clients.
by William Alexander | Sep 2, 2015 | Uncategorized
Fibromyalgia is a condition affecting an estimated 5.8 million Americans. Symptoms include but are not limited to chronic, widespread, and severe muscle pain; insomnia; fatigue; headaches; sensitivity to light, noise, and smells; dizziness; heart palpitations; skin rashes; and depression. It primarily affects women between the ages of 35-50.
There are no lab tests to confirm a fibromyalgia diagnosis, because it does not present evidence of damage to muscle and tissue. The generalized body pain and stiffness, along with severe fatigue, must last for at least three months for an official western diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Additionally, a test palpating 18 points is often used as a diagnostic tool. When at least 11 out of 18 points have pain or tenderness, it suggests fibromyalgia.
Western medicine often treats fibromyalgia with medications for depression and seep, and NSAIDs for pain.
Unfortunately, these medicines have adverse side effects, which can mimic fibromyalgia symptoms, when used for prolonged periods. These include headaches, nervousness, dizziness, fatigue, and sleeplessness. Additionally, the medications treat the symptoms as opposed to the underlying causes of fibromyalgia.
At Affinity Acupuncture, we have had many clients respond well to acupuncture treatments for fibromyalgia.
The insertion of very fine, sterile needles into specific points on the body promotes the body’s response to heal itself.
Increased and redirected blood flow loosens tight muscles, relieves pain and tension, and flushes out inflammation.
It also triggers certain hormones which promote sleep and relaxation, calm the mind and relieve stress.
While acupuncture can be effective, it is not an immediate cure. Most people see improvement after two or three weekly treatments, including increased energy and reduction of pain, insomnia, and depression.
Because every fibromyalgia sufferer experiences different symptoms, treatments are customized to the individual’s needs. Typically, three to 10 treatments are required depending on the severity of the condition, and the individual’s personal response to treatment. Over time, treatments are extended into a maintenance schedule. Specific diets and herbal formulas may also be recommended.
If you or someone you love is living with fibromyalgia, acupuncture may be a highly effective treatment. Call 615-939-2787 to learn more.
by William Alexander | Feb 5, 2015 | Uncategorized
This week, the news is full of articles about a link between long-term, higher dosages of a class of drugs called anticholinergics (often used for hay fever, depression, and bladder control) and dementia. While it is not a cause and effect relationship, there does seem to be a correlation. Long-term use of medications is not always necessary. Acupuncture can be effective for conditions usually treated by medication, such as allergies, sleep disorders, and high cholesterol. Additional information is available at https://www.affinityacupuncture.com/conditions-treated/. While we do not recommend stopping medication without consulting with your doctor, we welcome you to contact us with questions to see if acupuncture may be an effective alternative for you.
Here are links to just a few of the articles about the recent findings:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/common-allergy-depression-meds-may-increase-odds-of-dementia/
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/838788
http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?libid=19546
by William Alexander | Jan 15, 2015 | Uncategorized
Looking to help your body without causing a lot of hurt to your wallet? Affinity Acupuncture has treatment packages available – 5 acupuncture sessions for $325 or 10 acupuncture sessions for $600. That’s a savings of 20% off standard rates. If you’re interested in learning more about how acupuncture can help you, call 615-939-2787 today.
by William Alexander | Jan 8, 2015 | Uncategorized
1) It’s customized to fit you and your needs.
Two people might come in with knee pain on the same day, but they won’t get the same treatment. The body is made of numerous components, and things such as your digestion, the appearance of your tongue, your energy level, and the sound of your voice factor in to determining the treatment protocol specific to you and your needs.
2) It’s not as scary as it seems.
Yes, acupuncture uses needles, but they are about a tenth the size of a hypodermic needle. You’ll feel them, sure, but most people describe feeling a pressure, and rarely even feel discomfort. And look at it this way: isn’t getting past chronic pain, nausea, or illness worth 30 minutes with needles?
3) It’s non-invasive.
Unlike surgeries, acupuncture does not cause scar tissue. There’s no need for anesthesia, or even bandages. The risk of infection is minimal. Some clients feel their bodies healing after an acupuncture session, but it’s not as significant as recovery post-surgery.
4) It treats the problem, not just the symptoms.
Consider infertility, for example. IVF and hormone therapies can be effective, but they are invasive and disruptive to life, not to mention expensive. And they don’t necessarily treat the underlying challenges to conception. We consider the whole body, and look at the conditions within the male and female body that are making it hard to get pregnant. Stress levels, digestion, sleep quality, and more all affect reproductive health. Acupuncture, sometimes in conjunction with herbal remedies, can be highly effective in restoring the body to balance so it can conceive and foster a healthy pregnancy (at a fraction of the cost).
5) Its side effects are helpful, not harmful.
Numerous individuals come in for treatment of a specific condition, such as high blood pressure, and find that acupuncture sessions improve their stress level, sleep, overall mood, and digestion also. Medications for blood pressure, cholesterol, and more can get good results – for treating their target conditions. They also make the body work incredibly hard to process the foreign substance, and over time can cause damage to the liver and other vital organs, not to mention other side effects. One of the most common types of overdoses seen in hospitals is over the counter pain medicine.
6) It works.
Acupuncture has been around since before recorded history. That’s why it’s difficult to determine if it’s 2,500 years old, 4,000 years old, or more. Tens of billions of people have used it over the millennia. It isn’t as familiar in the US, because we only really started using it here in the 1970s. Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of medicine in the world. Nothing gets that kind of staying power if it doesn’t work.
7) It’s your time and money – we respect that
Your health is your most important resource, and our job is helping you reach your wellness goals. You deserve to have someone focus their attention on you for long enough that you get all of your questions answered and receive the treatment that you require. We reserve at least 60 minutes for each session to make sure you get the time you need.
There are no silver bullets in life. Healing takes time. You and your health are our priority. We offer acupuncture, massage therapy, and various forms of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and will schedule enough time to make sure you get all of the treatments that you need.
8) It isn’t all in your head.
We get a lot of calls from people who say “I’ve tried everything else,” or “They say it’s XYZ, but I just don’t think so,” or even “I’ve had tons of tests and they’re all inconclusive, but I know something is wrong.” You know your body and when something is off, but the symptoms you have might not make sense to someone with Western medicine training. That doesn’t mean they’re bad physicians by any means, but Traditional Chinese Medicine can effectively treat syndromes and symptoms that aren’t clearly defined by Western standards.
9) It’s a great preventative treatment, too.
Every so often, a client calls and asks for a “general tune up”. The acupuncture treatments they received several months ago fixed their neck or back pain, but they generally feel out of sorts, or off-balance. Acupuncture is the practice of restoring balance in your body. It increases circulation, improves immunity, and much more.
10) It’s more affordable than you think.
We’re so used to having insurance cover our medical expenses that when we’re asked to pay for care out of pocket, it feels expensive. Minor surgeries cost at least $10,000, and major operations can easily be ten times that. A year’s worth of cholesterol or blood pressure medication can cost over $1,000 out of pocket, even if you have insurance. Many of those require other medications to counteract the side effects, too! Certain surgeries and medications can be avoided with lifestyle changes that include preventative care.
11) It’s more popular than you realize.
Acupuncture really only started to become popular in the US in the 1970s, and because it’s so new here, the practice has its fair share of critics. Chiropractic work and yoga went through the same thing. But roughly two billion people around the world currently use acupuncture as their primary form of medicine. Many insurance companies are slow to include acupuncture in their range of covered services, but an increasing number of doctors and nurses are realizing the “pill for every ill” approach to medicine can be improved by treating the whole person with a variety of modalities.
