Acupuncture

Now accepting NO FAULT and WORKERS COMPENSATION for acupuncture patients! Contact Laura Jean to find out what information you will need to bring in.

Acupuncture encourages wellness in the body, promotes the natural healing process, and improves all body functions. Acupuncture is a modality of Traditional Chinese medicine that includes the procedure of inserting and manipulating very thin, flexible, sterile, single use needles. The starting point of acupuncture is unclear, with conflicting narratives stating that the practice of acupuncture is between 2000 to 5000 years old. The needles are inserted at acupuncture points along energy channels within the body or at points of pain, known as ashi points.

These channels, otherwise known as meridians, are like rivers flowing through the body to nourish the tissues. When the channels become obstructed, like a dam in the river, pain generally arises, as well as other potential issues such as nausea or constipation. There are twelve main meridians named after the major organs of the body: lung, large intestine, stomach, spleen, heart, small intestine, urinary bladder, kidney, pericardium, san jiao (aka triple heater), gall bladder and liver. (San Jiao is not a physical organ in the body but rather represents a regulation system for movement, transformation and temperature in the body.) These channels run either from the chest to the hands, hands to the head, head to the feet, or feet to the chest. They also connect with each other through various internal channels.

Within acupuncture, additional forms of stimulation are incorporated including heat, herbs, electricity and magnets. Magnets are generally used for people who are very sensitive to the needles. Acupuncture can treat a wide variety of disorders, diseases, and symptoms, as well as simply promote and maintain well being. Here is a list of a few general things that acupuncture can treat: chronic or acute pain, neurological disorders, upper respiratory disorders, urinary or reproductive disorders, digestive disorders, immune function disorders, addiction, depression, anxiety, eye, ear, nose and throat disorders. There are many studies that suggest that acupuncture has been proven to be effective for the treatment of several conditions especially pain. Acupuncture creates balance in the body by freeing up areas of congestion and bringing nourishment to areas that are deplete.

What can acupuncture treat?

The most common ailments presented to an acupuncturist tend to be pain related conditions. For example; arthritis, back, neck, knee and shoulder pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and sciatica. Traditional Chinese Medicine is a complete medical system that is capable of diagnosing and successfully treating a wide range of conditions including:

(This is by no means a complete list of what Acupuncture and TCM can treat.)

Gua sha:

Gua sha is a TCM healing modality, similar in effect and practice to Graston technique. Gua sha is sometimes called 'coining, spooning or scraping', Gua sha is defined as instrument-assisted unidirectional press-stroking of a lubricated area of the body surface to intentionally create tiny purple or red dots called 'sha', which is the release of old static blood in the subcutaneous.

Modern research shows Gua sha produces an anti-inflammatory and immune protective effect that persists for days following a single Gua sha treatment. This accounts for its effect on pain, stiffness, fever, chill, cough, wheeze, nausea and vomiting etc., and why Gua sha is effective in acute and chronic internal organ disorders including liver inflammation in hepatitis.

Cupping

Cupping is a TCM healing modality which used cups, typically glass, to create a suction on the body. Benefits of cupping include relaxation, increased circulation and pain relief, to name a few. During cupping, Laura Jean would light a cotton ball containing alcohol on fire, place it carefully under the cup and then quickly and carefully place the cup on the skin in order to not loose the heat so that the suction is created by a vacuum. This causes your skin to rise and redden, potentially to a purple tone, leaving a mark for up to 10 days.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is used for the treatment of stress, pain and more in order to enhances a person's health and well being. Massage therapy is a healing modality in which the soft tissue (skin, muscles and connective tissues) is manipulated by fingers, hands, forearms, elbows or the use of a massage tool. Within a massage therapy session, stretching may also be included which helps to relax muscle and also increase range of motion of the joints.

*Please let Laura Jean know if you have any significant range of motion limitations.

There are many different types of massage, and Laura Jean is able to do all of them, however her specialties include deep tissue, sports massage, relaxation massage, shiatsu (Japanese massage), medical massage, tuina (Chinese massage), and pregnancy massage.

Benefits of Massage for adults and children:

relieving	muscle spasms
reducing	muscle tension and stiffness
increasing	joint and limb flexibility and range of motion
increasing	ease and efficiency of movement
relieving	points of tension and overall stress; increasing relaxation
promoting	deeper and easier breathing
improving	blood circulation and movement of lymph
relieving	tension-related headaches and eyestrain
promoting	faster healing of soft tissue injuries, such as pulled muscles and sprained ligaments
reducing	pain and swelling related to injuries
reducing	the formation of scar tissue following soft tissue injuries
enhancing	health and nourishment of skin
improving	posture by changing tension patterns that affect posture
reducing	emotional or physical stress and reducing anxiety
promoting	feelings of well-being ** decreasing depression
increasing	awareness of the mind-body connection and improving mental awareness and alertness ** preventing injury by increasing mindfulness and body awareness

Life Coaching

Life coaching is a process of self empowerment which leads to a person creating the life that they really want. It involves discussing the current conditions of a person's life as well as what he or she wants to create in their life and being guided toward manifesting these wants. Laura Jean is able to help the client to see his or her life from a different perspective, one that includes taking responsibility for his or her actions, words, thoughts and thereby owning his or her personal life circumstances.

This path to responsibility is one of empowerment in which space is opened up to allow for growth and change. Emotional healing is generally part of the path to making big life changes depending on how much healing one has already done on past issues and or if one is at peace with one's past or not. In certain cases, a psychotherapist may be recommended, however, Laura Jean believes that in most cases, with a little guidance and wisdom, we each have the power to create peace and happiness in our lives.

Benefits to life coaching include:

• Feeling good about yourself and the life you are living.
• Waking up in the morning excited about a new day.
• Empowering yourself by taking responsibility for your life.
• Creating what you want in your life through conscious thought and deliberate intention.
• The many gifts of coming into the present moment including a sense of GRATITUDE.
• The power of forgiveness and becoming at peace with what Is.
• Feeding your spirit a good and balanced diet.
• Choosing your life and everything in it instead of letting it choose you.
• Self awareness of rhythms and patterns.
• The power of silence, meditation and a focused mind.