Thursday, November 19, 2015

Daith piercings for migraines?


Lately there's been a lot of buzz on the internet regarding Daith piercings as a cure for migraines.1 A "Daith" piercing bores a hole through the ear's innermost cartilage fold.2

Why would a piercing in the ear affect migraines? The man who pioneered auricular (ear) acupuncture, Paul Nogier, was a French neurologist. A lot of his patients were coming to him with a scar on their ears in a particular place. When asked they told him they had visited a lay healer who burned that point on their ears to cure them of sciatica. In an "ah ha" moment, he realized the entire body was connected to the ear.

Anyone who's had acupuncture at our clinic knows we use acupuncture points in the ears a lot. I call the ears the "keyboard to the brain". Using them, I can affect hormones, the nervous system, and the way the body processes pain. Ear acupuncture is one way among many that I, as an acupuncturist, have of encouraging your body to use its resources differently.

There are no recognized acupuncture points at the exit and entry points of the Daith piercing. It's actually closest to the "External Genitals" point. (Yes, I know, "eek!") My only theory for why this affects pain in the head is that a piercing here would redirect excess Qi from the top of the head to the root of the pelvis. Contrary to what you might have read on the internet, it's at least 1 cm away from "Point Zero" that regulates homeostasis in the body.

My opinion on the Daith piercing is that it might very well help some people. I'm willing to bet, however, that it doesn't help everyone. It's likely not a permanent solution and comes with some significant risks.

This piercing is very painful and takes between 3-6 months to heal. Extra care must be taken to avoid infection in the cartilage. If nickel allergies or sensitivities are an issue for you, a Daith piercing may cause more problems than it solves. A proper Daith piercing requires knowledge of advanced techniques by the practitioner. I would insist upon implant grade material for any piercing of this type.

A Daith piercing could theoretically stimulate the points so strongly and actively, the nervous system would be re-trained to accept a new pattern. For some people this new pattern might stick and they'll be "cured". For some folks, I suspect as soon as the piercing heals, their migraines will return. I'm sure there are migraine sufferers who have noticed no improvement or just feel it's so uncomfortable it keeps them from focusing on their other pains.

My concern with using piercings for relief is that they probably become "background noise". Just like repeatedly telling my kids to "pick up your socks!", the body eventually tunes this stimulus out. Any point that's overused will lose its effect. I have a piercing at the "eye" point in my ears, but I don't notice that I have any greater visual acuity because of it. An additional concern is that a piercing of this magnitude could well destroy the acupuncture points that we're trying to effect.

When I treat you with acupuncture, I start out with a hypothesis of what's causing your problem. Migraines have a number of different causes from a Chinese Medical perspective. You might have Liver Yang Rising, Yin Deficiency, Qi and Blood Deficiency, Phlegm Turbidity, or Fire rising in the Gallbladder Channel to name a few. I usually select points on the ears and the body to set a new pattern for your body to follow. I use points in the ears to calm down the parts of the brain that process pain. I use body points to set a strategy for reversing the negative pattern.

Sometimes I can't find any reactive points in the ears, so I have to rethink my strategy. For whatever reason, some folks are just not good candidates for ear acupuncture. There's no harm in putting needles there, but we're not going to have a powerful effect. Other patients have fantastic results with ear acupuncture. For these folks, I send them home with retention needles that are very much like a mini-piercing.

So, in short: do your research and try acupuncture first!

1 -Could a daith piercing solve your migraine problem ...
   -Daith Piercing: Migraine Cure?

2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daith_piercing


Left Hand Community Acupuncture is located in the heart of Old Town Lafayette 
at the corner of Simpson St. and Michigan Ave. LHCA offers an affordable sliding 
scale of $25-$55. We do not ask for proof of income. You decide what you feel is 
fair to you and fair to us. We treat patients in a relaxed, group setting that promotes 
an atmosphere of healing. Caroline Adams is a Licensed 
Acupuncturist and nationally board certified. Acupuncture can help with a wide range of health 
issues including pain, stress, insomnia, arthritis, allergies, depression, headaches, 
fatigue, cold and flu, digestive issues, PMS, infertility and many other health concerns.



720-248-8626

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Insomnia tips

1. Wear your socks! According to Chinese medicine, any types of insomnia are the result of heat in the Heart. Allopathic medicine has determined that wearing warm socks to bed can help some people sleep better. Why? Because the body is able to reach a sleep state faster when the body’s core is cooled off. Dilating the blood vessels in the feet helps it do this. I was interested to hear that Western science is backing up my medical tradition! When the Heart is hot, it’s hard for the Shen or “spirit” to rest easy. According to Chinese medical theory, the Heart, not the brain, processes all the thoughts. If you’re particularly worried about something, by running thoughts over and over in your brain you are heating up the heart, making it impossible to sleep.

2. Stressful lives: most of us have. When you are in fight or flight mode so much during your day, it’s hard to switch from fight or flight (the domain of the parasympathetic nervous system) to rest and digest (the sympathetic nervous system). Regular meditation practice and acupuncture have both proven extremely effective at calming the parasympathetic nervous system.   

3. Comfort is important. If your mattress is dipping in the middle or too hard, you won’t be able to sleep comfortably. In addition, if you have allergies to dust and pet dander your mattress can become a storage depot for these allergens. Consider replacing your mattress if either of these conditions apply to you.  

4. Limit electronics in the bedroom. There are two basic types of Qi in the body one is Yang, everything that is warm, active, growing and consuming. The other is Yin, everything that is restful, nourishing, cooling and still. Televisions, computers, smart phones, anything with an LED light or anything that makes a buzzing or humming sound is a Yang device and consumes the Yin around it. Studies have shown the more time you spend in front of a backlit screen, the harder it is for your body to reach deep sleep. Your bedroom is your sanctuary for rest and relaxation. Do not use electronic devices within an hour of bedtime, they will only amp you up and make it harder to sleep. End the smart phone addiction: leave it in another part of the house. You do not need to be on Twitter and Facebook at 11 pm!  

5. Clutter: While you’re cleaning out your bedroom and creating your Zen space, find another place to keep all that clutter. You know what I’m talking about: laundry baskets, piles of paperwork, kids toys, etc.. If you can’t find another place to put it, at least hide it in some attractive containers or a nice armoire. Nothing makes me feel less calm than a bunch of clutter greeting me at the end of a long day. 

6. What is it with 2-3 AM? Are you the person who wakes up at 2-3 AM without fail? The cause may be that your blood sugar drops at this time. When your blood sugar drops the liver is engaged to break up glycogen and make glucose for the body’s use. The Liver in Chinese medicine is responsible for coursing the Qi freely throughout the body. Having this organ activated in the middle of the night goes counter to healthy sleep. Try eating a small high protien, low sugar snack like almonds or sunflower seeds at 9:00 pm or so. If blood sugar is your issue, this should give your body the fuel it needs to rest easy all night long. 

7. Regular acupuncture. Acupuncture not only reduces stress and promotes proper hormone balance, it also adjusts the Ying and the Wei Qi. What are Ying and Wei? King is the nutritive Qi that circulates in the body during the night, nourishing all the organs and tissues. It is a Yin substance. Wei is the defensive Qi that circulates on the surface of the body during the day to fight against pathogens (colds and flus). Wei is a Yang substance. Many individuals end up with an imbalance of Ying and Wei in which the Wei circulates all the time, preventing deep and restful sleep. 

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Left Hand Community Acupuncture is located in the heart of Old Town Lafayette 
at the corner of Simpson St. and Michigan Ave. LHCA offers an affordable sliding 
scale of $25-$55. We do not ask for proof of income. You decide what you feel is 
fair to you and fair to us. We treat patients in a relaxed, group setting that promotes 
an atmosphere of healing. Caroline Adams is a Licensed 
Acupuncturist and nationally board certified. Acupuncture can help with a wide range of health 
issues including pain, stress, insomnia, arthritis, allergies, depression, headaches, 
fatigue, cold and flu, digestive issues, PMS, infertility and many other health concerns.



720-248-8626

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Commit to Quit: 14 Tips to Stop Smoking

Quitting cigarettes is hard. We've all heard that it's harder to quit cigarettes than heroine. Don't let that discourage you. Plenty of Left Hand patients have quit the habit. Here's my best advice:

1. Choose the right time. Trying to quit before your daughter's wedding or before the big report at work is due is almost certainly doomed to failure. Of course, we never know when life will throw us a curve ball, but try to pick a low stress time.

2. Have a plan. When you get a craving, what are you going to do? Munch a celery stick and go for a walk? Call a friend and chew some gum?

3. Call your acupuncturist and schedule yourself for daily treatments for two weeks. You'll need at least five treatments each week. Sounds like a lot, doesn't it? This gives us the best chance to ensure your success. Left Hand Community Acupuncture offers a smoking cessation program $150 for ten treatments. You can add on as many treatments as you need so long as they're on consecutive weeks.

Why Acupuncture works

  • Acupuncture works by soothing the sympathetic nervous system and promoting relaxation.
  • The acupuncture points in the ears are helpful in suppressing addiction. The 
  • Acupuncture boosts endorphins which will help you with withdrawal symptoms, like irritability and mild depression. 
  • Treatments can also help with the side effects of quitting smoking like insomnia, constipation, sore throat, coughing, increased mucus, intestinal cramping, increased sweating. Remember that not everyone experiences all these symptoms and some folks experience none at all. 

4. Throw them out! It's my experience that the folks who throw them out seem to do better than the folks who try to taper down their usage. Personally, I'm a cookie addict. If they're in the house, I'm eating them and I'm not just talking about one or two! I've had to break my addiction to several brands and keeping them out of the house is the only way I can do it.

5. Figure out your triggers: do you smoke when you get anxious? Do you smoke after meals? Identifying why you reach for nicotine will help you navigate the process.

6. Change your habits. If you keep your cigarettes on your bedside table and reach for one every morning upon waking, move the table. If you tend to light up with your morning coffee, switch to tea for a while. If you hang around the smoker's station on your break at work, go for a walk instead.

7. Wait it out. Remember that cravings typically only last 5-10 minutes. Find something else to take your mind off the craving until it passes.


8. Find an oral substitute.  To break the oral fixation, try a substitute such as one of the following:
  • sunflower seeds in the shell
  • brushing your teeth
  • chewing sugar free gum. The mintier the better.  (this is one of the only times I'll endorse artificial sweeteners by the way!)
  • crunch on carrot sticks or celery sticks
  • chew on mint or cinnamon toothpicks
  • Don't substitute calorie-laden food for cigarettes, it's way to easy to quit smoking and end up 20 lb overweight!

9. Change your hangouts, at least temporarily. Being around people who smoke is hard when you're trying to quit. Many of our patients have had success by avoiding concerts, parties and the smokers lounge for a month or so until their cravings have passed.


10. Phone a friend. If you can find a buddy who has committed to quitting at the same time, that's even better. 

11. Exercise helps. Nicotine makes the Qi flow more easily in your body, that's part of what makes smoking so pleasurable. Guess what? Exercise does, too!

12. Remind yourself of the upside. The benefits of quitting smoking are nearly immediate. The average cost of a pack of cigarettes is $5.65 in Colorado. If you're a pack-a-day smoker, you'll have an extra $2062.25 in your pocket at the end of the year. That's a down payment on pretty sweet vacation or a car!

13. Set rewards. Seven days smoke free? Go to a nice restaurant. Fourteen days? Splurge at the bookstore. Twenty one days? Treat yourself to a spa day!

14. Go easy on yourself! Statistics are that it usually takes folks about four attempts before they can quit for good. If this wasn't a successful attempt, no need to be ashamed, just try, try again.
______________________________________________________________

Looking to quit smoking? We can help!
Ask us about our smoking cessation program $150 for ten treatments to be used in a 2-3 week period. 



720-248-8626

Some other great resources:

Smokefree.gov gives a lot of great advice about how to quit, they also have a text messaging service that encourages you to stay the course. You can call 1-877-44U-QUIT for free to talk to an expert.

Information about the health benefits of quitting, tips for you, your family and friends to help support you, and information to help you avoid weight gain.

A free program that sets you up with a personalized plan, resources and community support. Requires registration. 

______________________________________________________________
Left Hand Community Acupuncture is located in the heart of Old Town Lafayette 
at the corner of Simpson St. and Michigan Ave. LHCA offers an affordable sliding 
scale of $25-$55. We do not ask for proof of income. You decide what you feel is 
fair to you and fair to us. We treat patients in a relaxed, group setting that promotes 
an atmosphere of healing. Caroline Adams is a Licensed 
Acupuncturist and nationally board certified. Acupuncture can help with a wide range of health 
issues including pain, stress, insomnia, arthritis, allergies, depression, headaches, 

fatigue, cold and flu, digestive issues, PMS, infertility and many other health concerns.


720-248-8626


Monday, June 22, 2015

Making a Promotional Video: 10 Helpful Tips

Image
About a month ago Rebecca Abraxas of Video Juice Media approached me about producing a video for Left Hand Community Acupuncture. I was excited because I've always wanted a promotional video for my business! Experts say that more video is streamed over the internet than any other kind of data. It makes sense that people would rather spend a minute or two watching a video than reading actual text. After all, seeing is believing! Human brains are wired to engage for faces, movement and sound, this makes video a winning combination.

However, I was petrified when I realized I would have to appear on camera. Again. Let me explain. When I first started my business in 2010, I emailed Suzanne McCaroll at CBS Denver for her weekly Money Saver spot. I told her I thought that community acupuncture clinics were a great way for folks in the metro area to save money. I never expected to hear from her at all, let alone to get a call from her within five minutes! She was excited to get an interview with me and film in our clinic the very next day. The only problem was, at that time we weren't open on Wednesdays. It also became apparent that it would be difficult time-wise for her crew to get up to Lafayette and back.

We ended up shooting at Denver Community Acupuncture, the clinic of my friends Jessica and Nicole. The cameraman shot footage of treatments in the community room, and interviewed patients. When it came my turn, the cameraman put a giant camera and mike in my face. I completely forgot what I wanted to say. Ms. McCaroll asked me what I enjoyed about community acupuncture. I wasn't sure if I should be looking at her or staring into the camera, so my eyes darted back and forth between the two of them. I blurted out the first thing I could think of, which was that I enjoyed feeling of communal Qi that happens when you get several people in the room together. She shot me a frustrated look and started peppering me with more questions. She had to drag it out of me that getting treated together at a low price benefited everyone. (Duh!) My shirt became soaked with sweat. It seemed like I was in front of the camera for a long time.



Despite my nerves, I was ecstatic that we had gotten mainstream media attention for Left Hand Community Acupuncture and Denver Community Acupuncture. We emailed everyone we could think of to alert them that we were going to be on the news that night. When the segment aired, I was so disappointed! I think I was on camera for all of three seconds. My teeth looked so crooked and my eyes darted like a criminal's. In the interests of creating a short, filler piece, Suzanne's team edited out a lot of what we wanted to convey. Jessica was disappointed that she was only featured putting in one needle. My kids turned to me and asked "Was that it?!" Looking back on it all, I felt embarrassed.

Fast forward to the present day. Rebecca asked me to come up with a one minute script for my video. She also asked me to think of who my target audience was and to have a call to action. No problem, I thought. I recycled "the blurb" I've been using in print for years. I decided my target audience was folks who were ready to make a change for the better. My call to action was "Life is too short not to be living it fully. So make a commitment to your health and call us today." That's about the only thing we kept!

Tip #1 Choose a Strong Call to Action. Getting a professional video made doesn't have as much impact if you don't tell the viewer what to do next. Adding a sense of urgency helps, too. "Buy one today!" "Click on our website now!" "Don't wait! Call to find out how we can help!"

Rebecca sent some edits back to me, which made me realize that what is well-suited to print advertising is not necessarily what you want to use for a video. Reciting all the reasons a person might want visit your business ends up sounding like a grocery list of random facts when read aloud. Sure you're convenient and affordable and cozy and professional and helpful.... but for your video, you need to pick one.

Her questions made me realize 'why you should choose a licensed acupuncturist' is its own topic. 'How acupuncture works' is its own topic. These could be great topics for a "vlog" someday, but didn't belong in my video. Finally we whittled it down to 1) Left Hand Community Acupuncture is affordable 2) Acupuncture can help with the problems we all face everyday 3) Make an appointment today!

Tip #2 Cut it down. Unless you're going to teach people how to fold origami, cut it down. Making a promotional video is like backpacking: pack everything you think you can't live without, cut that in half and then cut that in half again. You have one main message, and a couple of supporting messages. That's it.

Rebecca and I met for a coaching session and we went over the script. She noticed that I got a lot more animated by telling the story of me never having enough money for acupuncture than what I had written down. The right story is a lot more compelling than a bunch of facts.

Tip #3 Find your flavor. Why you? Why your business? What makes you special? Do you have a story to hook people in? This is your time to shine!


Finally it was time to read through it as though we were shooting a video. Rebecca got out her phone. All my insecurities came roaring back. I froze again. We talked about my inability to stare into the camera, the darting eyes, my fear that I would forget the important things I wanted to say. We practiced Rebecca filming me with her phone and used a light fixture with a lot of can lights to mimic how bright it would be on "the set".  We used a big round piece of paper on the wall to act as the camera.

Tip #4 Be playful. Rebecca encouraged me to be playful with the camera. How would you talk to the camera if it were your friend? Pretend inside the camera lens there were the faces of all the customers who really value you. They're all nodding and smiling at you. Try saying your piece goofy for one practice round, then give it your best shot in the next. "What would you do if you weren't afraid to fail?"

Now came the time to do my homework. I needed to memorize my one-minute monologue and have it come out just the way I wanted it to sound.

Tip #5 Memorize your script. Tell it to your family, tell it to your friends, tell it to your bathroom mirror and the gearshift in your car. Use a funny accent, say it slowly, then say it fast. If something feels awkward either practice it slow until it flows off your tongue easily or reword it. I went over and over the parts of the script that flowed well, then I linked it to the bits of the script that seemed difficult.

So the big day had arrived. If you know me at all, you know that I NEVER wear make up unless it's Halloween. With the help of a couple 14 year old Youtubers, I managed to learn how to pick the correct color of foundation for my skin and how to apply it without making myself look like a zombie. Big win there.

Tip #6 Wear Makeup, even if you're a dude. All those super bright lights will wash you out if you don't. Get help from your videographer or a friend if you need it.

Matt put me right at ease with his friendly demeanor and easy manner. We started off with shots of the community room, patients, me talking to patients, and inserting needles.

Tip #7 Make sure you're on the same page When choosing a video production company, make sure the two of you have the same vision for your spot.  Matt, Rebecca and I talked about the things I absolutely wanted to include and also what I did not want to convey. I wanted to make sure we got footage of patients relaxing together. I did not want Chinese music twanging in the background. Don't assume that your videographer will know what you want.

Director Clapperboard TV Movie Film Cut/Action Clapper Board Slate Prop 25x30cmFinally came the hard part: me speaking to the camera. Matt set up his tripod and big banks of lights. There was a "X" for me to be on my mark and get this: a clapper board! I tried to remember everything I had been working on for the past few weeks. It was kinda fun actually. These are my final few tips.

Tip #8 BREATHE It's not a race. Take your time between sentences. Breathing keeps you calm and makes your delivery clearer.

Tip #9 Keep rolling. I'm a sucker for all the "extras" that they include at the end of movies, so I'm accustomed to seeing actors flub a line, but repeat it as if nothing had happened or to go "blah-blah-blah" and shake their arms and head and start over. You know what? It's ok for you to do that, too! It's the key to getting over the brain freeze. The fewer times you have to do a total stop and restart, the easier it will be for your videographers.

Tip #10 You don't have to be perfect. Your video is going to have lots of footage of you doing what you do, your products, your space. If you rub your nose, or forget to look at the camera for a moment, it can be edited out. If Robert De Niro gets additional takes to get it right, so do you.

Take a look at the final product. It turned out finer than I could have imagined!



_____________________________________________________________________

Learn more about Video Juice Media, Matt and Rebecca Abraxas here:
videojuicemedia.com/

Video Juice Media blends Video Production and Marketing Savvy
with Creativity and Skill. We create video content that entertains
and shares your story.

(844) 584-2348



Find more tips about how to make your video a success at:
https://www.youtube.com/user/VideoJuiceMedia

______________________________________________________________


Left Hand Community Acupuncture is located in the heart of Old Town Lafayette 
at the corner of Simpson St. and Michigan Ave. LHCA offers an affordable sliding 
scale of $25-$55. We do not ask for proof of income. You decide what you feel is 
fair to you and fair to us. We treat patients in a relaxed, group setting that promotes 
an atmosphere of healing. Caroline Adams is a Licensed 
Acupuncturist and nationally board certified. Acupuncture can help with a wide range of health 
issues including pain, stress, insomnia, arthritis, allergies, depression, headaches, 

fatigue, cold and flu, digestive issues, PMS, infertility and many other health concerns.
720-248-8626


~=[,,_,,]:3  <----- A Nyan Cat for my daughter


Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Caroline’s top 10 Reasons Why Acupuncture is not Voodo



  1. Acupuncture is recognized by the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization as an effective treatment for over 40 different conditions.1
  2. Dating back 2000 years, it's one of the oldest codified forms of medicine in existence. 
  3. Although there are many different types of acupuncture and every acupuncturist uses a slightly different style, each patient is treated according to a treatment principle.
  4. Acupuncturists are licensed by the state of Colorado. Licensed acupuncturists in the state of Colorado have completed over 1800 hours of training. They are also nationally board certified by the National Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
  5. As of 2009, the U.S. Military has adopted acupuncture to provide soldiers relief from pain due to battlefield injuries.2
  6. Longmont United and Good Samaritan Medical Center in Lafayette are among the local area hospitals that encourage their patients to take advantage of acupuncture through their integrative healthcare programs. 
  7. According to a 1998 survey of the literature published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, Western medical doctors are most likely to refer patients for acupuncture (43%) than for chiropractic (40%) or massage (21%)
  8. The NIH states that "One of the advantages of acupuncture is that the incidence of adverse effects is substantially lower than that of many drugs or other accepted medical procedures used for the same.” 3
  9. 99.8% of acupuncture is performed with no significant adverse events.4
  10. The Clinical Journal of Pain notes that acupuncture “accelerates the normal physiological processes of recovery in soft tissues...rapidly heals trauma, thereby reducing pain.” 5

2 http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/05/05/acupuncture-helping-reduce-use-of-pain-killers-in-army.html

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Left Hand Community Acupuncture is located in the heart of Old Town Lafayette 
at the corner of Simpson St. and Michigan Ave. LHCA offers an affordable sliding 
scale of $25-$55. We do not ask for proof of income. You decide what you feel is 
fair to you and fair to us. We treat patients in a relaxed, group setting that promotes 
an atmosphere of healing. Caroline Adams is a Licensed 
Acupuncturist and nationally board certified. Acupuncture can help with a wide range of health 
issues including pain, stress, insomnia, arthritis, allergies, depression, headaches, 
fatigue, cold and flu, digestive issues, PMS, infertility and many other health concerns.

720-248-8626

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Pain is Like a Puppy

I'm sure a lot of you have heard me repeat the phrase "Pain is like a puppy". What do I mean by that? Pain is like a puppy that's gotten into a bad habit, say jumping up on the couch. You correct a bad behavior by holding it by the scruff and saying "down!". Using acupuncture,  we correct your body's bad habits by introducing a new pattern that we want to establish.

So, then what? Probably, the very first thing the puppy's going to do is try to jump back up on the couch! Obviously, we need to give the same message over and over for our message to be accepted.

The key to acupuncture and dog training is to be consistent. You wouldn't correct the puppy once and then despair that it's still jumping on the couch, would you? If you really want to change a habit, you might have to correct the behavior five or ten or twenty times. A lot depends on the character of the puppy and how long the pattern has existed.

Folks drive me crazy when they say: "I tried acupuncture for my back pain, but it didn't work."
I ask: "How many times did you go?"
They reply: "Twice."
I ask: "How long have you had it?"
They say: "Seven years."
To me that's the same as taking one dose of an antibiotic and then throwing the rest out because you still have your earache half an hour later!

Each puppy is different. I have friends with two puppies a Golden Retriever, Daisy, and a Springer Spaniel, Lindy. Daisy is incorrigible; she continues to jump up on the couch all day long. Yet Lindy is so eager to please, that she learned to stay off the couch right away. Some of your symptoms may be more like Daisy than Lindy. Similarly, some symptoms can vanish after just one treatment, others take a few treatments to start dissolving. So keep at it and good luck with your "puppies".

---
Left Hand Community Acupuncture is located in the heart of Old Town Lafayette 
at the corner of Simpson St. and Michigan Ave. LHCA offers an affordable sliding 
scale of $25-$55. We do not ask for proof of income. You decide what you feel is 
fair to you and fair to us. We treat patients in a relaxed, group setting that promotes 
an atmosphere of healing. Caroline Adams is a Licensed 
Acupuncturist and nationally board certified. Acupuncture can help with a wide range of health 
issues including pain, stress, insomnia, arthritis, allergies, depression, headaches, 
fatigue, cold and flu, digestive issues, PMS, infertility and many other health concerns.

720-248-8626

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Sinus Infections & What You Can Do About Them

I've only had two of these in my life, but they were very memorable occasions. Who can forget a feeling like being stabbed in the eye socket with an ice pick? The Chinese Medical diagnosis for this condition is "Phlegm Damp Heat Brewing and Binding in the Orifices". Sounds delightful... NOT!  Sinus infections can linger for weeks making us feel vaguely run down and yucky, or they can fester and create intense pain and discomfort. Either way they need attention. Why? First, it's an infection and second, the sinuses are right next to your brain. We don't want it moving from one to the other.

Western Medicine always treats sinus infections with antibiotics regardless of whether or not they are bacterial or viral. The drawback to this approach are many.  Quite a few people experience loose stools and poor digestion for weeks after antibiotics due to the disruption of their gut flora. In addition, the overuse of antibiotics has been creating new and more virulent strains of bacteria. Finally, if the infection is viral, antibiotics only serve to disrupt your system.

What are the symptoms of a sinus infection?
  1. Thick yellow or green nasal discharge that smells foul
  2. No nasal discharge, but a sense of congestion 
  3. Post-nasal drip
  4. Pain or pressure behind the eyes, in the forehead, or beneath the cheek bones. Sometimes they will manifest as what feels like tooth pain.
  5. Sharp, episodic pain especially with position or pressure changes (like bending over or changing altitude)
  6. Slight dizziness or vertigo when changing position
  7. A cold that won't go away
  8. Lingering fatigue after a cold
  9. Bad breath
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs
  1. Acupuncture See your acupuncturist for treatments. I know a lot of you aren't a fan of the "kitty whisker" needles I put in your cheeks, but trust me, these babies are magical! Many times they cause instant opening of the nasal passages. We will use other points on your body to stimulate the immune system, drain phlegm, and boost energy.
  2. Chinese Herbs See your Chinese herbalist for remedies: I (Caroline) have a new favorite way to treat sinus infections. I'm excited because it's a blend of two ready made tablets that I carry in the office, so they are convenient and easy for you to use. Bi Yan Pian addresses the sinus congestion, the "Phlegm Dampness" mentioned above. Pu Ju Xiao Du Yin clears away the "Heat Toxins".  It's an herbal formula known for it's antibiotic and antiviral properties. Together, they combine to make a one/two punch that usually has patients feeling better right away. These aren't appropriate for folks taking certain medications or those with weak digestive systems. Please check with your practitioner first. 
Neti pot

Nasal aspirator
Self Care
  1. Absolutely NO sugar, wheat or dairy! If you know me at all, you know that I'm usually rather gentle with my diet advice, but this is an exception. Eating these substances just perpetuates your problem and makes it harder for your body to clear the infection. 
  2. Irrigate your sinuses Use a neti pot or nasal aspirator to irrigate your sinuses.
    1. Sterilize your neti pot or nasal aspirator with boiling water, set aside. Neti pots can be sterilized in the dishwasher.
    2. Boil 1 cup of water, allow it to cool. (Very important)
    3. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt
    4. Turn your head sideways over a sink, hold the lower nostril closed with your finger. 
    5. Use the your neti pot/aspirator to slowly dribble the saline solution into your nose. Do not force the saline up your nose or pour it too quickly: this will hurt.
    6. Roll your head slowly backwards and "swish" the saline around.
    7. Allow the saline to run out the nostril you previously held closed.
    8. Repeat on the other side.
    9. *Gently* blow your nose to remove nasal discharge
    10. Tips: 
      1. Always use fresh saline and a clean pot/aspirator  
      2. if you experience greater pressure or pain, stop 
      3. if nothing comes out of your nose after doing this for a couple of days, stop. 
  3. Get plenty of rest. You may not feel very sick. Pushing yourself will only make the duration of the illness longer.
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Left Hand Community Acupuncture is located in the heart of Old Town Lafayette 
at the corner of Simpson St. and Michigan Ave. LHCA offers an affordable sliding 
scale of $25-$55. We do not ask for proof of income. You decide what you feel is 
fair to you and fair to us. We treat patients in a relaxed, group setting that promotes 
an atmosphere of healing. Caroline Adams is a Licensed 
Acupuncturist and nationally board certified. Acupuncture can help with a wide range of health 
issues including pain, stress, insomnia, arthritis, allergies, depression, headaches, 
fatigue, cold and flu, digestive issues, PMS, infertility and many other health concerns.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Why are you putting that needle there?

A very good question! The short answer for me boils down to a few main factors: what systems need help, what systems need to calm down, where are the blockages in the body and does the brain need some attention? 

The needles on the insides of the arms and legs tend to be associated with the organ systems that need some encouragement to do their jobs better (Liver, Kidneys, Spleen, Heart, Pericardium and Lungs). The needles on the outside of the arms and legs tend to be associated with the organ systems that hold stagnation and heat (Gallbladder, Urinary Bladder, Stomach, Large Intestine, Small Intestine, and San Jiao). These guys need to “snap out of it!” and relax. 

A lot of the pain theory of acupuncture is based on using microsystems. This is the idea that every part of the body mirrors and affects another part of the body. For instance, I can use points on your elbows (a hinge joint) to affect pain in your knee (another hinge joint). I can use points near the back of your skull to affect the pain in your heel. Sometimes we just put a needle in where it hurts, too! Sometimes, it's a combination of both. 

Finally, I assess for every patient if their brain needs attention. For us, fine tuning the nervous system is done predominantly by using points on the head and in the ear. A French neurologist, Dr. Paul Nogier, pioneered the work of mapping the correspondences of the brain to the ear. Studies have shown that measurements of microsweating in the ear correlate to increased activity in certain parts of the brain as measured on a functional MRI. We use needles in the ear to promote relaxation, encourage better sleep, and to decrease feelings of depression or anger. We can also use the ear to increase concentration and improve memory. Finally it can also be used to calm pain in the body. 
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Left Hand Community Acupuncture is located in the heart of Old Town Lafayette 
at the corner of Simpson St. and Michigan Ave. LHCA offers an affordable sliding 
scale of $25-$55. We do not ask for proof of income. You decide what you feel is 
fair to you and fair to us. We treat patients in a relaxed, group setting that promotes 
an atmosphere of healing. Caroline Adams is a Licensed 
Acupuncturist and nationally board certified. Acupuncture can help with a wide range of health 
issues including pain, stress, insomnia, arthritis, allergies, depression, headaches, 
fatigue, cold and flu, digestive issues, PMS, infertility and many other health concerns.

720-248-8626