Spring is here!
“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.” — Rainer Maria Rilke
Spring is a time of year when most of us want to get more active and spend time outdoors tending a garden, going for walks, (re)starting up an exercise program… what ever you are feeling inspired to do, ensure that you are taking care of your body to avoid injuries!
See the health tips below for some things you can proactively do on your own to minimize chances of getting injuries or having pain flare ups.
Acupuncture For Pain Management
Whatever the cause, if you are experiencing physical pain due to overuse, injury, strain, sprain, arthritis, remember that acupuncture is an excellent way to relieve pain and speed healing of injuries. Less commonly known, acupuncture can also help improve athletic performance and prevent injury by assisting in keeping your body and immune system in balance.
Acupuncture for Pain Management: What You Need to Know
When it comes to pain, depending on the source, acupuncture will often facilitate and speed permanent healing and relief. It is not like taking an aspirin. The goal of acupuncture is to treat the source of the pain and allow the body to heal.
Occasionally, pain is from damage that is not reversible. Extensive arthritis, for example, is generally not going to reverse itself. However, regular acupuncture treatments can significantly reduce the pain and discomfort associated with arthritis and can prevent further development of arthritis in the joints.
Acupuncture can reduce or eliminate many kinds of physical pain, not just musculoskeletal pain. Pain from headaches, migraines, fibromyalgia, surgery, and menstrual pain are all commonly treated with acupuncture.
Acupuncture will often reduce pain in a single visit. However, in many cases, the pain level may gradually begin to creep back up within 1-4 days. With each successive treatment, the pain level should be reduced further and should creep back more slowly. The number of treatments required varies based on the individual’s overall state of health as well as the degree and duration of the symptom. For best and quickest results, regular treatments are encouraged.
Herbs
There are many herbal formulas that can help reduce and eliminate pain. In TCM the herbs prescribed should match the person’s constitution and pain presentation as, unlike in Western Medicine, we want to ensure we work at optimizing balance and repair, not just symptom elimination.
Traditional Chinese Medicine is effective regardless of how long you have suffered. The practitioner reviews your symptoms and medical history to understand your condition. After proper assessment, you are given Chinese herbs that help regulate the imbalance in the body and restore health. The herbs vary from patient to patient because each person is different and symptoms vary.
I am here for you if you want support in reaching your health and wellness goals. Reach out with questions or to book an appointment.
My intention for my sessions with you is to explore your health needs and goals in a way that brings you to a state of ease and balance.
Sessions with me are comprehensive and empowering; they are relaxing and balancing and I stress the importance of your care as an individual.
In clinic I work with acupuncture, acupressure, cupping, craniosacral therapy, breathwork often blending modalities to maximize the benefits.
As needed, I prescribe herbal medicine and offer nutritional advice and home self care ideas.
A session with me may include:
– acupuncture, acupressure, cupping, craniosacral therapy.
– breathwork.
– herbs and supplements tailored your personal health situation.
– going over self care such as acupressure points, stretching, diet, recommendations
– discussing lifestyle habits that will make you feel better in your body and your home.
– spending some time together as I guide you in gentle meditations and breathwork to help you reset, recharge and calm anxiety and worry.
I take appointments by email or phone.
I share my time between my clinical practice on Saltspring Island and Vancouver, so please contact me for next available appointment times!
604.836.5771
bewellgabrielle@gmail.com
For deep tissue massage, my rates are $125/ hour.
I look forward to continuing to work with you and offer you optimal care!
Here are some other strategies for managing pain:
1. Prevent injuries by using common sense! If you haven’t exercised since we last saw sunshine, don’t just start in with a full work out or a 10-mile run. Start slowly and build up gradually. If you have pre-exisiting injuries or health conditions, always consult your physician or qualified health care provider before starting something new. Be certain that you are trained in proper stretching techniques appropriate for the activity you engage in.
2. Stay well hydrated. This is important for many different types of pain.
3. Heat or ice? You will get a variety of answers to this question, and it is generally best to get professional advice based on your particular pain. As a general rule, Chinese medicine favours heat. Heat opens up the channels and blood vessels and promotes movement of qi and blood, which is almost always the primary treatment principle in relieving pain. If there is redness, swelling and heat coming from the area of pain, this would be a case where ice is more appropriate at first to reduce inflammation (and also probably a sign to get checked out by a doctor). If your pain is worse in cold weather, heat is usually most appropriate.
4. Consider using other complementary techniques. For chronic pain conditions, seek out meditation, self-hypnosis, and related pain management techniques.
5. Watch what you eat. For arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other types of chronic pain conditions, diet can play an important role. Seek the advice of an acupuncturist or holistic nutritionist for advice that is appropriate for your particular condition and body type.
Coming in for regular treatments as needed, or seasonal acupuncture treatments just four times a year can serve to strengthen and balance your whole body and can correct minor annoyances before they become serious problems. Get in touch with me to see how acupuncture, cupping, craniosacral therapy and herbal medicine can help you to stay healthy!
HEALTH TIPS