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5 Reasons to Try Acupuncture in 2020

Have you been thinking about trying acupuncture? Here are 5 reasons to get started:

Acupuncture is clinically-proven to reduce pain and inflammation. This means more pain-free days and ultimately the freedom to get off the sidelines and actively live your life.

For women, acupuncture is clinically proven to regulate menstrual cycles, boost fertility, balance hormones (puberty to post-menopause) and combat daily stress.

For men, acupuncture is clinically proven to boost libido, increase stamina, and improve sleep.

  1. For kids, acupuncture can help resolve “mystery ailments” that MDs and modern medicine can’t figure out. Children are generally fast responders to acupuncture and bounce back from allergies, digestive issues, asthma, sleep problems, mood disorders, and sports injuries.
  2. Acupuncture works when other treatments fail. Many (if not all) of our patients started acupuncture as a last resort for dealing with stubborn chonic pain or illness. Compared to physical therapy, surgery and pharmaceutical therapies, acupuncture is gentle and effective without negative side-effects. We often tell patients the most noticeable side-effect is better sleep!

Give us a call at 512-686-0777 to start off your new year with the benefits of acupuncture!
Or book online here to see us!

12 Ways Acupuncture Can Help During Pregnancy

If you’ve ever been pregnant, you know there is a long list of things to avoid: paint fumes, ibuprofen, dirty kitty litter, sushi, tobacco, aspirin, caffeine, hot tubs, raw cookie dough, scuba diving….the list goes on and on.  So what can you do to cope with the stress, aches, and pains of growing another human? The answer is…

​Acupuncture!

The great news is that acupuncture is effective at treating ailments in every trimester of pregnancy. The most common pregnancy-related conditions seen in the clinic include:

  • Morning Sickness
  • Back, Rib and Hip Pain
  • Headaches
  • Sciatica
  • Neck and Shoulder Tension
  • Heartburn
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Colds & Coughs
  • Fatigue
  • Seasonal Allergies
  • Anxiety
  • Breech Presentation

When performed by a Licensed Acupuncturist (not a Physical Therapist or Chiropractor)acupuncture is a safe option for mamas-to-be to consider when looking for gentle, natural help with pain or illness.

To find an acupuncturist skilled in pregnancy support, there are 3 important questions to ask:

  • Does the Acupuncturist have experience with your specific condition?
  • Does the clinic have treatment tables with adjustable backs to allow for reclined treatments?
  • Does the clinic have pregnancy pillows to ensure proper positioning and comfort?

To schedule a consultation at Indigo Healing Acupuncture and learn more about how acupuncture can benefit your pregnancy, click the button below.

What you Need to Know About CBD Oil

Chinese Medicine has known the health benefits of cannabis seeds (Chinese herb huŏ má rén) for over 2,000 years.  Now, modern medicine is catching up and learning about the health benefits of cannabidol (CBD). There is a tidal wave of CBD oil products hitting the market… here’s a quick overview of what they are and how they work.

What is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a naturally occurring neurotransmitter in the human body that is regulated by the endocannaboid system in the nervous system (central & peripheral).  CBD can also be harvested from the Cannabis plant.

How does the body produce CBD?
Omega-3 fatty acids* are converted to CBD in the central nervous system. There are two types of cannaboid receptors (for the science folks: CB1 and CB2) distributed throughout the body.

*Wait, what are Omega-3 fatty acids?
This could be a whole blog post, but here’s a quick explanation of Omega-3 fatty acids. There are three types:

  • DHA (docosahexaenoic acid): Found in chlorella, fish oil, anchovies, wild-caught salmon, wild-caught herring, wild-caught mackerel, wild-caught tuna, wild-caught halibut, organic chicken liver or organic grass-fed beef liver.
  • EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid): Found in wild-caught fish
  • ALA (alpha-linolenic acid): Found in organic flaxseed oil, organic hemp oil

What does CBD do?
The CBD produced in the endocannaboid system helps maintains homeostasis (biological balance) throughout the body. If your body does not produce enough CBD, you may experience chronic aches and pain, headaches, migraines, insomnia, poor appetite, digestive problems (heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, irritable bowel), reduced immunity to bacteria and viruses, allergies, fertility issues, and/or memory problems. As you can see from this list, the endocannaboid system works hard to keep us feeling good!

What are plant based sources of CBD?
CBD is harvested from Cannabis (Cannabis sativa). CBD is the 2nd most abundant compound in the plant (the most abundant compound is tetrahydrocannabinol aka THC).

What can CBD oil products do?
Cannaboids derived from the plant Cannabis sativa have many therapeutic uses. Research studies show CBD reduces anxiety (including social anxiety disorder), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), epilepsy, and pain. There are links to research studies at the bottom of this post for reference.

Can CBD oil make me feel high?
No, but it does have a calming effect.
Is CBD oil legal? 
Yes, hemp-derived CBD oil is legal to purchase and use in the US.

Who should not use CBD?
If you look at the latest research on pubmed.gov about “cannabidiol and pregnancy” or “cannabidiol and breast” you’ll see that CBD crosses the placenta and changes the morphology and physiology of cells in a developing fetus. Animal testing has demonstrated CBD is excreted in high concentrations in breast milk. The many benefits of CBD do not outweigh the risk it poses to fetal or infant development; therefore, we do not recommend it to pregnant or breastfeeding patients. There are much safer herbal alternatives available.

Book an appointment to find out if CBD is right for you!

 

Research on CBD…​

  • Esposito, G., Filippis, D. D., Cirillo, C., Iuvone, T., Capoccia, E., Scuderi, C., … Steardo, L. (2012). Cannabidiol in inflammatory bowel diseases: A brief overview. Phytotherapy Research27(5), 633-636. doi:10.1002/ptr.4781
  • Feinshtein, V., Erez, O., Ben-Zvi, Z., Erez, N., Eshkoli, T., Sheizaf, B., … Holcberg, G. (2013). Cannabidiol changes P-gp and BCRP expression in trophoblast cell lines. PeerJ1, e153. doi:10.7717/peerj.153
  • Russo, E. B. (2016). Clinical endocannabinoid deficiency reconsidered: Current research supports the theory in migraine, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel, and other treatment-resistant syndromes. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research1(1), 154-165. doi:10.1089/can.2016.0009
  • Schier, A. R., Ribeiro, N. P., E Silva, A. C., Hallak, J. E., Crippa, J. A., Nardi, A. E., & Zuardi, A. W. (2012). Cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa constituent, as an anxiolytic drug. Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria34, S104-S117. doi:10.1016/s1516-4446(12)70057-0
  • Wang, G. S. (2016). Pediatric concerns due to expanded Cannabis use: Unintended consequences of legalization. Journal of Medical Toxicology13(1), 99-105. doi:10.1007/s13181-016-0552-x
  • Yoo, S. D., Fincher, T. K., & Holladay, J. W. (1994). Mammary excretion of cannabidiol in rabbits after intravenous administration. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology46(11), 926-928. doi:10.1111/j.2042-7158.1994.tb05717.x

What are Chinese herbs? Are they really magical?

  • Do you think you may suffer from anxiety, but don’t want to admit it?
  • Are you looking for a natural approach to managing anxiety?

You’re not alone… anxiety is incredibly common with over 40 million adults currently affected in the US. ​In the timeframe between puberty and middle-age, women are twice as likely to suffer from anxiety as men.

You may have anxiety if:

  • You’re afraid something awful might happen
  • You’re feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge
  • You’re worrying too much
  • You’re not able to calm down, relax, or sleep
  • You’re unable to sit still
  • You’re easily annoyed or irritable

If you think you might have anxiety, consider visiting a licensed acupuncturist. We have lots of tools that can help ease anxiety symptoms naturally, without the unpleasant side effects of commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals like benzodiazepines.

Chinese Medicine approaches anxiety by identifying the root cause and treating you holistically as a mind-body-soul.  

Scientists have researched the effects of acupuncture on anxiety and several studies have shown a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms in as little as one month of treatment. In some cases, research proved that acupuncture is just as effective as conventional treatments with pharmaceuticals or cognitive behavioral therapy.
Acupuncture treatments twice a week are relaxing and allow your mind-body-spirit to regain balance and heal. Patients generally sleep better, worry less, and feel more in touch with their emotions after receiving regular acupuncture treatments. If you’re feeling anxious about needles, laser acupuncture is a great alternative!

Chinese herbal medicine can also help ease anxiety symptoms in a gentle manner and can be taken as capsules, tablets, tinctures, or as a decoction (such as Enlighten Herbal Elixir).

If you’re interested in learning more about how Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture can help with anxiety, contact Michelle for an appointment.  It’s truly never too soon to feel better!

 

A few research studies on acupuncture and anxiety from pubmed.gov:

Goyatá SLT, Avelino CCV, Santos SVM, Souza Jr DI, Gurgel MDSL, Terra FS. Effects from acupuncture in treating anxiety: integrative review. Rev Bras Enferm [Internet]. 2016;69(3):564-71. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167.2016690325i

Isoyama, Daniela, et al. “Effect of acupuncture on symptoms of anxiety in women undergoing in vitro fertilisation: a prospective randomised controlled study.” Acupuncture in Medicine, vol. 30, no. 2, 2012, pp. 85-88.

Sniezek, David P., and Imran J. Siddiqui. “Acupuncture for Treating Anxiety and Depression in Women: A Clinical Systematic Review.” Medical Acupuncture, vol. 25, no. 3, 2013, pp. 164-172.