Skip to content

Acupuncture

Five Reasons to Get Acupuncture for Allergies

Allergies, seasonal or otherwise, are one of the biggest health issues people deal with in the United States. And the numbers are rising every year. Part of this is because our agricultural practices have changed drastically in the past 40 years and our bodies are not accustomed to dealing with genetically modified foods or the excessive amounts of pesticides now being put in and on our food. We are also being over-medicated with antibiotics used in livestock we eat and that we are prescribed by our own doctors. This has created superbugs like MRSA that no longer responding to antibiotics. Our immune systems just can’t keep up. So every year, the number of people experiencing allergies is increasing. continue reading »

Springtime, The Wood Element & You

By Kelly Ferguson, M.Ac., L.Ac.

 

Often clients will hear their acupuncturists speaking about the five elements and their characteristics. The five elements are within us all, but we usually identify with one or two more strongly than the other elements. One of these elements is the Wood element. It is connected to the spring time which we are finally starting to see after this long and cold winter.  

The Wood element is identified by its color, sound, odor and emotion which are green, shout, rancid and anger. What does that mean? Well, these are the things your acupuncturist is going to start looking for to see if you identify as a wood element:

We’ll look for things like, does the color green pop up around the client’s corner of the eye?

Does their voice hold a level of command and confidence to it when they speak?

Do they smell rancid like a freshly cut tree or mowed grass? Is there a level of authority, determination, focus or drive within them?

These are some of the questions I ask myself as a practitioner when I am in the room with clients. So, what do you think? Are you a Wood element?

How Can Cupping Help Me?

by Kelly Ferguson, L.Ac.

Cupping is one of the many tools an acupuncturist has in their arsenal. It has been used for thousands of years and by many different cultures. 

How Cupping Works

An acupuncturist or trained professional will take a glass cup and momentarily place a flame within it,  removing the air and creating a vacuum or suction when applied to the skin. The cups will remain on the skin for 5-10 minutes and will either remain in place or be moved around by the practitioner. 

Cupping helps to resolve blood stasis, remove lymph or fluids in the tissue, and relieves muscle tension in the body.  Cupping essentially increases the circulation of blood and lymph in the body. Did you know you have more lymph fluid in your body than blood?  Lymphatic fluid helps remove toxins and muscular waste from your body and is excreted through your sweat, urine and bowel movements. 

When you receive cupping, the lymphatic system is removing the toxins and muscular waste, while fresh oxygenated blood rushes in to the area of cupping to help heal muscle tissue much faster (especially in the case of muscle injuries).

Further, cupping is often used for Allergies, High Blood Pressure, Respiratory Conditions such as a cold or bronchitis, and Musculoskeletal conditions like back, shoulder or neck pain/tension.  Last year when Michael Phelps had cupping marks at the Olympics, we received many questions about cupping.

 

Hopefully this article helps answer some of your questions and perhaps help you form more questions. Please contact us with your new questions and curiosity about cupping if you or your family member is ready to try this awesome modality. 

Five Acupuncture Points for Spring

Spring is the season of growth, regeneration, increased activity and new beginnings. During the season of spring, people experience many changes. Allergies, high blood pressure, headaches, sinus pain and congestion, anger, irritation and tendon problems are just some of the issues common to the spring months. Many of these problems can be attributed to increased wind in the environment. And while there is nothing that can be done about external wind, internal wind can be addressed and diminished using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and the many modalities it incorporates. continue reading »

Prevent Springtime Allergies with Acupuncture Today

By Kelly Ferguson

Are you an allergy sufferer? Do you dread the fall or spring due to your seasonal allergies? If you are, you are not alone. Researchers estimate that nearly 50 million people in the Unites States have allergies making allergies the 6th leading cause of chronic illness.

An ‘allergy’ is hypersensitivity in your immune system to foreign substances. These foreign substances are known as ‘allergens’ and are recognized by your body and create a response in your immune system. Common allergens are animal dander, pollen, dust, nuts and mold. However, there are many different allergens and if you are not sure what you are allergic to it can be helpful to speak with an allergist who can test which allergens your body is having a reaction to.

In Chinese medicine there are four meridians we use to reduce/stop your allergy symptoms. These meridians are Spleen, Stomach, Lung and Large Intestine. The gut plays a large part in your immune system. Your gut or gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the main route for external stimuli entering into your body every day. It is important that we work on keeping your GI tract healthy so that it can better handle the external stimuli.

There are various points that can be used to help with allergies, and these points will be chosen based on the individual, their symptoms, pulses and their tongue. A couple common ones are Large Intestine 4 which helps the body to clear toxins and reduce inflammation, and Lung 9 which helps support the Lung meridian and build qi.

Along with using acupuncture to help stop your allergy symptoms, your acupuncturist will also talk to you about your diet and daily lifestyle. For most these are simple changes. An example of this could be: over eating sweets. Sweets are actually very damaging to your Spleen and Stomach meridians which can make your allergies worse. Likewise, getting a shower at the end of the day to remove any allergens that might be attached to your skin, hair or clothing after being outside during the day. Some other tips are getting a new pillow every few months, buying a pillow cover that protects against allergens, and changing your filters in your car and HVAC.

As we near closer to spring time it is important to consider adding in or making some changes in our day-to-day life so that we can help prevent allergies. Be sure to schedule your acupuncture appointment this spring to help with the upcoming allergy season or any other spring symptoms you may be experiencing.

(864) 908-9032 Directions Contact/Schedule