Acupuncture clinic in San Francisco, 'Holistic Back Relief Acupuncture & Wellness Center specializes in the treatment of Adrenal Burnout, back pain, nervous sytem disorders, hormonal imbalances, and chronic pain management. Other health conditions that Acupuncture and herbal medicine can help include chronic fatigue, insomnia, depression, digestive complaints, headaches and acute infections such as sinusitis and bronchitis.
Acupuncture is an ancient medical treatment method which is very effective at regulating our nervous system, helping us to relax out of a "fight or flight" stress reaction and help unlock our full energetic potential. By nourishing points that show weakness and relaxing points that are too tense, we can balance our entire energetic biofield which connects together our internal organs, senses, muscles, and emotions. If one of these elements of our being are out of balance, disease will result in other parts of our body that connect with that specific element.
If we experience too much anger, this may result in a blockage in our Liver. Vice versa, a liver disease can cause us too experience more anger. This can lead to visual disturbances and a tightening of our ligaments, causing muscle tension. All of these seemingly different parts of our being are really connected and are all associated with the "Wood" element.
As a San Francisco acupuncturist, I treat a lot of chronic pain conditions by using a combination of acupuncture,
subtle energy deep tissue massage
cupping,
Medical Qigong,
Hara abdominal massage,
and
Chinese herbal medicine
, in order to address different levels of your being which may all be involved in producing symptoms of illness. Both Mind and and Body must be treated in order for true healing to take place. Just by treating the body and apparent illness, many other aspects of our being will naturally be restored to balance automatically.
'Holistic Back Relief' Acupuncture San Francisco clinic provides an in depth initial intake and differential diagnosis before implementing a comprehensive treatment plan that includes Diet, Exercises, meditation, Holistic Nutritional supplements and Acupuncture and Asian Bodywork massage treatments.
'Qi' or chee
is the energy which flows in the various acupuncture meridians connecting the points with internal organs and different parts of the body together. When this energy or Qi becomes blocked or congested due to injury or weakness, this blocks the flow of blood and lymph to those corresponding parts of the body. This blockage can cause pressure to build up which can press on surrounding nerves and tissues, producing pain sensations.
Just as stretching, yoga and Physical Therapy can help relax tense muscles, Acupuncture is able to relax whole acupuncture meridians in order to effect change in a different part of the body and provide pain relief or increased energy. Acupuncture combined with
stretching exercises
can multiply the healing effects of each other.
How does Acupuncture work ?
Acupuncture provides quick relief from many different conditions due its ability to relax the nervous system into the parasympathetic nervous system, promote blood, lymph and nerve circulation, as well as by stimulating special nerve groups that connect with the internal organs, sensory organs, and the brain. The effects of Acupuncture as a viable alternative medicine are well documented in clinical trials and other research.
Acupuncture's effectiveness as an alternative pain relief therapy is due to several different reasons:
When an acupuncture needle is inserted in the correct acupuncture point on the body, a compound discovered by Western scientists called 'Substance P' is released around the area where the needle is inserted. This 'Substance P' has shown to be a very effective pain relieving substance. This is the explanation given by Western scientists, which has allowed acupuncture to become recognized as an effective alternative pain relief therapy.
When the needle is inserted, a special sensation is elicited called 'de qi'. When this sensation occurs, the nerves of the muscles relay information to the brain signaling a need to relax or tone that point or acupuncture meridian. This process also releases Serotonin, Endorphins and other opiate-like chemicals from the hypothalamus to calm the nervous system and reduce our experience of pain.
The Acupuncture needle forces the nerves and the muscles to relax. If muscles are in spasm, it will impinge and pinch the nerves that run through it, causing pain, numbness, tingling or weakness. By relaxing the muscles, these nerves are no longer being injured, which will naturally reduce the pain signals that are being elicited by the spasming muscle.
The Acupuncture needle causes the mind to focus on the point where the needle is placed. It is like a forced meditation. As your mind is called by your body to focus on these specific points in the body, anti-inflammatory agents such as cortisol and histamine are directed into the tissues by your mind's power of focus. By concentrating the mind on several points around the body, a type of Synergetic Energy transformation takes place, where the Body and Mind are forced into a deep state of relaxation as your energy is sent to the places in your body that need healing. This can cause a deep sense of peace and relaxation as energy is able to flow freely through your Acupuncture meridians instead of being stuck by blockages.
This process induces the central nervous system to revert back into the parasympathetic nervous system which is the more restful, relaxed and healing state, as opposed to the sympathetic nervous system which is commonly called the
'fight or flight'
response.
When we are stuck in 'fight or flight' mode, our muscles get tense, we become hyper-reactionary to our environment, our pain sensations are heightened and we have a harder time resting and relaxing, which can lead to
insomnia,
adrenal fatigue,
digestive disorders, Liver, Kidney and Heart pathologies and even depression.
Here at 'Holistic Back Relief Acupuncture & Wellness Center' in San Francisco California, acupuncture is usually administered in combination with
massage,
cupping,
and
medical qigong
to treat the many different levels of disharmony, unlocking your mind-body self healing potential.
Is all Acupuncture the same?
There are many different styles of Acupuncture, each with their own unique system of logic used to select the specific Acupuncture points.
Certain styles of Acupuncture are designed to harmonize and balance the '5 elements'. Other styles are focused completely on relaxing 'Trigger points'. Other styles, like TCM Acupuncture are based around your specific symptoms and your overall "Pattern". Certain points are then chosen for their effectiveness in treating those specific symptoms and the underlying "Pattern".
Certain styles of Acupuncture only put the needles in the hands or feet. Another style only puts the needles in the scalp. There are variations in the placement of points and meridians for various schools of thought.
As with massage, some styles are better for treating certain conditions than others. Some people like good, hard, deep-tissue massage where other people prefer relaxing and soothing Swedish style massage. Each style of Acupuncture is beneficial for treating different conditions and different people. It is therefore beneficial to have a good understanding of various styles and forms of Acupuncture, in order to provide the very best treatment for your patient's needs.
At my San Francisco acupuncture clinic Holistic Back Relief Acupuncture & Wellness Centerwhich also provides acupuncture Berkeley, I specialize in Chronic pain and Adrenal fatigue. Therefore, I tend to use certain styles which deal specifically with eliminating the pain, such as the Balance method, trigger point acupuncture and meridian therapy along with Master Tung style acupuncture. However, for treating fatigue or insomnia and stress, I will tend to use special points which tonify the adrenals and thyroid, improving the metabolism by using Moxibustion, infra red heat lamp therapy and specific acupuncture points aimed at treating your root diagnosis based on your health history, tongue and pulse diagnosis.
When treating your
Myofascial holding pattern
I incorporate, stretching, Shiatsu massage, and Medical Qigong massage techniques along with trigger point acupuncture and Meridian therapy Acupuncture to help release a larger number of blockages which are contributing to a chronic stress pattern or "Fight or Flight" reaction in the muscles, ligaments, mind and adrenal glands. Dietary factors are also attributed as a causative factor for many types of musculoskeletal dysfunction and dietary guidelines and holistic dietary supplements often produce dramatic results in improving chronic muscle tension and pain.
However, if I am treating someone who has a Cold, I find that the traditional TCM point selection system to be very beneficial. Each Acupuncturist finds through their own personal experience, which points or systems of logic they believe in, or that seem to work for various types of conditions.
I tend to use Acupuncture in order to treat the underlying imbalances that are giving rise to a patient's symptoms by treating Acupuncture body points and meridians that treat your specific diagnostic 'Pattern' which is identified through a thorough medical assessment, which includes questioning, palpating, looking at the tongue, and the practice of Chinese Pulse Diagnosis.
Depending on your specific case, you may need only one treatment to clear up the pain in your lower back. It may also take up to twelve treatments or more, depending on the length of time that you have had your condition.
Other lifestyle factors such as improper posture, unhealthy eating, sleeping, or exercise habits may also be contributing to your chronic pain or other medical condition. These must be addressed and changed accordingly for there to be any kind of real or complete recovery in your healing process.
I do a thorough health history intake and Orthopedic physical exam here at 'Holistic Back Relief Acupuncture Clinic' in San Francisco and Berkeley California, to help me assess your specific energetic and nutritional imbalances so that I can provide Dietary recommendations,
Qigong and Stretching exercises,
Chinese herbs,
along with the Acupuncture treatments, to provide a complete and holistic healing approach to your particular ailment.
330 Townsend St. suite #232, San Francisco, CA 94107 ph. (510) 926-1902 alextuggle@holistic-back-relief.com
