What is Acupuncture?

Most of us have heard of acupuncture and that this practice has been around for over 2000 years but here in the western part of the world have only recently been exposed to this whole health system. We may have lots of questions about this ancient health approach.

Just to give a little background, acupuncture was created over time and primarily observation of how our environment works as a unit to create the continuum of the Earth. The people of this time frame worked closely with nature and observed the many cycles of to continue with life as we know it. This being said, between observations of cycles, seasons, night and day cycles, how nature behaves in response to the five primary elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water), the observers noticed that our bodies act in the same manner.

Consider this brief example of how water sinks to the low spaces – if our hearts are not functioning as they should, we tend to have swelling in our ankles. Water tends to have a downward trajectory. When it rains at the tops of the mountains, the water makes its way down the mountain creating streams, rivers and then flows into the ocean.

Theory of body workers of the past noticed that when they touched a certain area of the body, the patient noticed they felt it in another part of the body and that pushed the practitioners to explore more deeply and found that certain points on the body affect certain organs. For example, a point on one’s leg made their stomach calm down and feel better.

What does all this mean to us today? Since we have been able to advance our study of the nervous system, we have been able to clue into the science of Acupuncture and we are discovering more and more every day. The best way I know how to simplify and explain how it works is using physics of the body via the nervous system.

We know that the nerves of the body conduct communication throughout the body in order for our bodies to function. The nerves that travel from the brain down through the spine then from there to the rest of the body. Our bodies are impressively intelligent and are constantly adapting to our internal and external environments in order to survive. As an organism we must survive and our bodies do so by blocking and bypassing diseased areas to keep functioning. Unfortunately there is a cost that goes with that. This means part of our systems are working really hard and other parts are not working efficiently, and over time this causes our bodies to manifest pain, issues in the organs, and eventually cause disease. This is where acupuncture and herbs can help. Acupuncture helps remind the nervous system how it should function, freeing the blockages that have occurred, and reestablishing balance in the system.

One of the greatest aspects of acupuncture is that this medicine application includes the body, mind and spirit. What does this mean? We look at low back pain, indigestion and anxiety all at the same time. We look at all of your symptoms from physical and emotional, and this paints a picture for us so that we see the patterns in place to help the whole body, not just your low back pain.

Massage can be a powerful tool to help you take charge of your health and well-being.

What is massage?
Massage is a general term for pressing, rubbing and manipulating your skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Massage may range from light to deep pressure. Call our clinic if you have questions about what type of massage or which of our therapists is best for you. At Balanced You Clinic our therapists offer these types of massage:

Swedish Massage:
This is a gentle form of massage that uses long strokes, kneading, deep circular movements, vibration and tapping to help relax and energize you.

Deep Tissue Massage:
This massage technique uses slower, more-forceful strokes to target the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue, commonly to help with muscle damage from injuries.

Sports Massage:
This is similar to Swedish massage, but it’s geared toward people involved in sport activities to help prevent or treat injuries.

Trigger Point Massage:
This massage focuses on areas of tight muscle fibers that can form in your muscles after injuries or overuse.

Ashiatsu Massage:
Ashiatsu massage therapy involves the therapist using their feet and the support of bars anchored in the ceiling to apply ranges of pressure from medium to deep onto the body. This modality releases deeply held tension, improves posture and circulation, and decreases pain.

Thai Massage:
Thai massage, unlike typical Western-type massages, doesn’t involve lying on a massage bed. Instead, you lie fully clothed on a mat on the ground while the massage therapist uses stretching, pulling, and rocking techniques to relieve tension, promote relaxation, and improve flexibility and circulation.

Benefits of massage
Massage is generally considered part of complementary and alternative medicine. It’s increasingly being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions and situations. Some notable benefits of massage are:

Anxiety
Digestive disorders
Fibromyalgia
Headaches
Insomnia related to stress
Myofascial pain syndrome
Soft tissue strains or injuries
Sports injuries
Temporomandibular joint pain

What you can expect during a massage:
You don’t need any special preparation for massage. Before a massage therapy session starts, your massage therapist will ask you about any symptoms, your medical history and what you’re hoping to get out of massage. Your massage therapist will explain the kind of massage and techniques he or she will use.

In a typical massage therapy session, you undress to your comfort level or wear loose-fitting clothing. Your therapist will have you lie on the massage table and your body will be covered by a sheet. At Balanced You Clinic, our massage tables are outfitted with table warmers as well, so if you need to be warmer, please let us know so we can adjust the heat settings. If you are too hot, we can make adjustments to cool your body down as well! After reviewing your massage intake form, your massage therapist will perform a consultation before your session begins to determine areas of discomfort or what you are seeking from your massage.

Depending on preference, your massage therapist may use oil or lotion to reduce friction on your skin. Tell your massage therapist if you might be allergic to any ingredients. If a massage therapist is pushing too hard, ask for lighter pressure. Occasionally you may have a sensitive spot in a muscle that feels like a knot. It’s likely to be uncomfortable while your massage therapist works it out. But if it becomes painful, please let your therapist know.

Shannon Menestrina L. Ac., DACM, RYT, is a nationally board certified acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist. She completed a dual Master’s and Doctorate program from Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts in Asheville, NC. She obtained a Masters of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAOM) and a Clinical Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM).

Chinese Medicine is a medical art and science that treats the whole individual and encourages living in harmony with the seasons. It may include dietary, lifestyle, and exercise guidance as well as various treatments including Tuina (massage), Cupping, Moxa, Gua Sha, and acupuncture.

The Daoist Traditions MAOM includes acupuncture and Chinese herbalism and integrates the teachings of both Classical Chinese Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine as well as pertinent biomedicine while the DACM program includes advanced competencies in collaborative care, systems-based medicine, and evidence-informed practice, with advanced study of Orthopedics, Neurology, Endocrinology, Obstetrics and Cardiology, learning how to interpret lab work and pharmacology through a Chinese Medicine lens, as well as study with Jeffrey Yuen, 88th Generation Daoist Priest.