Aspley Acupuncture

What is Reflexology

admin — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:46:49 +0000

Reflexology is a natural therapy which creates a physiological response within your body – stimulating the reflexes sends signals to all of your organs, glands, and the various systems to work as efficiently and effectively as is possible for your body, helping to:

Ease Stress & Tension
Improve Circulation
Improve Nerve Flow
Boost Lymphatic function
Promote detoxification
Increases energy & Vitality
Improves Sleep Patterns
Reduce Pain
Improves the Immune System

Reflexology is a natural healing therapy involving no medication or drugs. It is based on the principle that every organ, system and part of the body has a corresponding reflex area or zone in the feet. By applying gentle but firm pressure to these reflexes it stimulates the body’s natural energy flow, and can help release any blockages along these energy pathways. This relaxes tension and improves nerve and blood supply. Because circulation is improved, this subsequently helps the elimination of waste toxins accumulated within the tissues and cells of the body, and helps bring vital nutrients to the cells. Thus the free flow of energy restores balance to the whole body. This gentle therapy encourages the body to heal itself at its own pace.

About Therapeutic Massage

admin — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:27:42 +0000

There is many different types of massage. Some ‘styles’ are used to relax the body while other forms focus on specific therapeutic benefits. Most massage effects the soft tissue of the body (muscles, tendons, ligaments). Tui-Na is an advanced form of Chinese physical therapy that involves joint mobilization, stretching, and acupressure to unblock stagnation and correct imbalances. Shiatsu is an ancient Japanese system of acupressure based on the body’s meridians or pathways. It involves pressure at specific points to relieve tension, release adhesions/knots and relax the body. Therapeutic oils, herbal liniments, and plasters are often used adjunctive to massage. These oils penetrate deep into soft tissue to quicken recovery time and promote healing.

Orthopedic/Sports Medicine. Orthopedic and soft tissue injuries require a multidisciplinary approach. We combine western physical assessment, oriental medicine, physical therapy and nutrition to heal specific injuries and correct underlying imbalances.

The very first goal of acupuncture is to stop the inflammatory process which is at the root of most musculoskeletal pain. Acupuncture is anti-inflammatory, relieves pain, restores elasticity to shortened muscles, deactivates trigger points, activates motor points, promotes relaxation and improves blood circulation to painful areas. In many cases however, this is not enough. The postural and movement (biomechanical) errors of the patient are so significant; they must be corrected in order to relieve all the pain. In other cases, the acupuncture and herbal therapy are enough, but the neuromuscular component is addressed to prevent future injury or return of symptoms. Neuromuscular Reeducation begins with learning how to effectively and safely stretch tight shortened muscles and tendons, and then special exercises are assigned to strengthen weakened muscles. Finally, after evaluation of the biomechanics of the patient, specialized exercises are assigned to actually correct improper joint movements and restore mobility.

About Herbal Therapy

admin — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:26:25 +0000

In the course of your treatment Chinese herbal medicine may be prescribed. They may be dispensed as raw herbs or in pills, capsules, granules, or tinctures which make them easier to ingest. Most herb formulas can treat a wide variety of symptoms while stimulating the body’s natural healing process.
In recent years, herbs have become very popular. They’re available in health food stores, supermarkets, and on the internet. While herbs are promoted as safe, gentle, inexpensive, “natural” alternatives to pharmaceutical drugs, many health care professionals have concerns about safety, effectiveness, and potential misuse of herbal products, especially when self-prescribed. There are also questions of purity, strength, and standardization of herbs, and considerations of side effects when taken in combination with other drugs. Chinese herbal medicine has been practiced safely and effectively for centuries and has the greatest potential for beneficial results when prescribed by a trained professional who recognizes the benefits and risks. Be sure to notify your acupuncturist if you notice any side effects from the herbs.
Laser Acupuncture is a non invasive therapy that works similar to needles. Light has been used for healing for thousands of years, starting with the Chinese, Greeks and Romans who recognized the positive effects of sunlight. Our present scientists have come to understand more about the nature of light and its restorative capacity; techniques and devices have been developed in the last few years that use light as part of the healing process.
Sometimes referred to as soft or cold, with the Low-Level Laser the light is compressed from a wavelength of the cold, red part of the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation. It is different from natural light in that it is one precise color; it is coherent (it travels in a straight line), essentially monochromatic (a very narrow bandwidth of two or three wavelengths) and polarized (it concentrates its beam in a defined location or spot.) These properties allow laser light to penetrate the surface of the skin with no heating effect, no damage to the skin and no known side effects. Laser light directs bio-stimulation light energy to the body’s cells, which the cells then convert into chemical energy to promote natural healing and pain relief. In the past decade there have been over 2000 scientific studies to illustrate the therapeutic effect of the low level laser.

What is Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

admin — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:24:16 +0000

The theory and practice of acupuncture is based on Oriental Medicine, a comprehensive natural health care system that has been used in Asia for thousands of years to preserve health, diagnose, treat, and prevent illness. The general theory of acupuncture is that proper physiological function and health depend on the circulation of nutrients, substances and energy called Qi (pronounced chee) through a network of pathways or meridians. These meridians have direct correlation to muscle, nerve and lymphatic distribution. This network connects every organ and part of the body, providing balance, regulation and coordination of physiological processes.

Pain and illness result when the flow of Qi through the body is disrupted or blocked by many things, including disease, pathogens, trauma/injuries, and medication (side effects), as well as lifestyle factors such as overwork, poor diet, emotions, lack of rest and stress.

Stimulation of acupuncture points helps to restore the proper physiological function of the central nervous system, digestive, hormonal and musculoskeletal systems. The acupuncturist uses a complex system of diagnostic methods that take into consideration the person as a whole, discerning the body’s pattern of disharmony rather than isolated symptoms. The aim is not only to eliminate or alleviate symptoms, but more importantly to treat the underlying cause, increase the ability to function and improve the quality of life.

People who benefit from Acupuncture

admin — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:21:50 +0000

With chronic pain or other symptoms not responding to Western medical treatment.

Who are taking a lot of medications and are reluctant to take more, or are interested in cutting back, or concerned about drug interactions.

For whom there are limited medical interventions, as with chronic degenerative diseases, nutritional and metabolic disorders, arthritis, fibromyalgia, allergies, hypertension, acute viral infections, tendonitis, neuropathy, depression, and anxiety.

Who feel something is “wrong” though tests are inconclusive.

Whose symptoms may be associated with or worsened by stress (asthma, migraines, etc.)

Who would like additional support for their prescribed treatment or to help cope with the side effects and improve vitality.

Who are in basic good health and want to facilitate their well-being and prevent illness.