Posts by Karen
Expertise Award!
Chia Chia Chia
What if 2 tablespoons of some magical ingredient per day could fortify your bones, regulate your nervous system, and combat inflammation in joints? I can tell you that this prospect would make a chiropractor and acupuncturist very excited. Fortunately, this is not a mere pipe dream: the ingredient is sold in most health food stores and goes by the name of chia seeds. These little black seeds, derived from the Chia plant are dietary superstars.
1 ounce equates to roughly 2 tablespoons and this is what you will find:
- 4 grams of (clean) protein
- 11 grams of fiber
- 9 grams of (healthy) fats, half of which comes from omega-3s.
- Varying percentages that contribute to your RDA for: manganese, phosphorous, calcium and magnesium, all of which are important for bone density.
The best part is that they are tasty: you can mix them into just about any meal and barely notice a difference in flavor or texture. Mixing them into hot foods helps to break them down from a dry seed to a mushy consistency so you barely notice they are in the food at all. But your body will notice and you will feel an uptick in functions across the board. For people managing conditions relating to chronic inflammation, the regular administration of omega-3s is essential. They are also chalk full of anti-oxidants which help fight the oxidation of other molecules in the body.
Dr. Karen Thomas, D.C., L.Ac.
Bed Rest No Longer
Bed rest was once the prescribed course of treatment for many debilitating injuries involving back pain and stiffness, including: herniated discs, pulled muscles, muscle spasms and spondyloisthesis, among others. However, time has shown that bed rest can actually be counterproductive to health plans that are attempting to heal an injury and return the sufferer to a, “normal level of activity.” With all but the most serious of back injuries, a health plan that includes a good deal of low-impact activity and stretching is now considered the key to a successful recovery.
Bed rest can actually delay recovery because it perpetuates a system whereby muscles atrophy and supportive soft tissues weaken. Consider the example of a herniated disc in the lower back, where pain is severe enough to dissuade the sufferer from attempting any activity. As days pass by spent in the illusory, “comfort,” of the sofa and bed, muscles in the core weaken from lack of use, meaning that they cannot be reliably called upon to share the burden of the upper body’s weight with the intervertebral discs. Furthermore, those same discs are losing water and stiffening which makes them vulnerable to injury.
It seems ridiculous to say, “just get up and get moving,” in this sense. But to give this sufferer the best chance of a successful rehabilitation, we need to help them move somehow depsite the pain. We provide the chiropractic adjustment, acupuncture treatment, spinal decompression, therapetuic massage, and other modalities that will address the injury and reduce pain. From here, we show you how light aerobic activity such as swimming or walking, when combined with proper nutrition and a good dose of stretching, can help you heal quickly and return to a state of normal activity.
Dr. Karen Thomas, D.C., L.Ac.
Protect Your Neck with Acupuncture
How is your neck feeling these days? There is no getting around it; necks are fragile structures and neck pain is a common complaint in our office. Regardless of statistics, there are very few adults who could honestly say they have never felt a twinge of pain in their neck. Much of this pain is a manifestation of muscle strain, ligament injury and nerve compression, all of which respond well to the treatment modalities we offer at Community Chiropractic and Acupuncture in Park Slope. While treatment depends on personal preference, I would like to give you some reasons why acupuncture is a viable and extremely effective method of treatment for neck pain.
Western medicine is successful in many cases relating to neck pain, but there are chronic conditions that continue to elude more widely accepted methods in the US. With acupuncture, we use the insertion of needles to stimulate specific points of the body, creating a therapeutic effect. As a natural pain-killer, it is immensely effective: by stimulating endorphin release, the pain is masked. Furthermore, it inhibits the nervous system from sending pain signals to the brain. We focus on stopping the pain first, so that we can use other modalities, including chiropractic adjustment, to improve range of motion and reduce inflammation.
Chronic neck pain is a blight on anyone’s life. Treating with over-the-counter medication is only scraping the surface. If you are looking to find the cause of your persistent pain and start treating it naturally, give our office in Park Slope a call.
Dr. Karen Thomas, D.C.
Acupuncture for the Relief of Arthritis Symptoms
Essentially a family of conditions involving chronic inflammation and stiffness in the joints, arthritis prevalence is on the rise in the United States. According to the CDC, by the year 2040, some 78 million adults 18 years and older will be affected by some form of doctor-diagnosed arthritis. As there is no clear cure, there are naturally myriad remedies on offer, ranging from medication to lifestyle adjustment to specific dieting and exercise. At Community Chiropractic & Acupuncture, we offer another dimension to the arsenal against arthritis: acupuncture.
Acupuncture is a particularly potent natural pain-killer. By stimulating the body’s release of endorphins, our brain’s natural pain threshold is heightened. This pain-masking effect is further enhanced because it inhibits the body’s ability to send pain signals to the brain through the nervous system. The fundamental benefit of acupuncture is that it provides these bonuses with minimal feasible downside, as compared with pharmaceutical and over-the-counter medication. Furthermore, we can combine acupuncture with chiropractic adjustment to effect great improvements in joint mobility.
While there is no distinct cure for arthritis, the addition of acupuncture can be used to great effect within the framework of your already-established pain management plan. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you to create a plan for living beyond your arthritis pain.
Dr. Karen Thomas, D.C.
Acupuncture for Anxiety
Acupuncture is a natural remedy for anxiety. Typical treatments for anxiety include interfacing with a therapist and anxiety medication which comes with unascertainable side effects to the individual. Each of these is effective in their own right, but a natural alternative to consider is acupuncture. While it may not be for everyone, we have found great success in easing the severity of anxiety symptoms with acupuncture.
Acupuncture works by dealing with the roots of anxiety. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, anxiety would arise as the body’s response to an interference in the flow of energy, or Qi. It also makes sense from a traditional perspective: factors, both within our control and without, can affect our emotional health: injury and stress, poor dieting, and environmental changes are the most common. Chronically high stress levels often lead to serious health issues, especially down the road. At Community Chiropractic & Acupuncture, we want to help you in the fight against stress, to help you preserve a more quality lifestyle.
An acupuncture treatment for anxiety involves the insertion of thin needles with the desired end result to stimulate the body’s production of painkilling chemicals and to stimulate the region of the brain that controls emotion. With the needles, we attempt to restore balance of Qi in the body, freeing you of pain and allowing you to feel less stress. It is not as far-fetched as it sounds: many people are finding great relief with acupuncture for anxiety. Give our office in Park Slope a call at (7180 398-3100.
Dr. Karen Thomas, D.C.
Acupuncture to Reduce Inflammation
Inflammation is problematic: while it is a crucial element of the body’s healing response, it can evolve to a point whereby it serves no purpose other than to create illness and irritation. At Community Chiropractic & Acupuncture, we are familiar with the kind of stress that is added to life when chronic inflammation is present. It can leave us stiff and sore, and is linked to diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. It is important to get a proper diagnosis which differentiates the back pain between inflammatory and mechanical. From here, we have a number of modalities which can reduce pain and improve the suffering from chronic inflammation.
Acupuncture is one of them: in Traditional Chinese Medicine, there are points that correspond to the elements: water, fire, earth, metal and wood. When a patient comes in with inflammation, we select water points along meridians that correspond to the location of pain. These have been shown to be especially effective in fighting back against inflammation. Furthermore, acupuncture stimulates the body’s production of cortisol, a hormone that is known to reduce inflammation.
Don’t let chronic inflammation define your daily existence! Begin fighting back today by calling our office in Park Slope at (718) 398-3100 and scheduling an appointment. We offer you acupuncture and chiropractic treatment modalities that can truly reduce your pain and help you live a life of less pain.
Dr. Karen Thomas, D.C.
Acupuncture for Weight Loss
Are you struggling to lose excess weight and feel your best? If so, acupuncture could be the game changer. Traditional Chinese Medicine states that weight gain is caused by an imbalance in the body which can be sourced to the liver and spleen systems. Studies show that acupuncture, when combined with more traditional methods of weight loss, can actually help people shed pounds faster. What’s more, it is a safe and natural alternative to many weight-loss supplements and questionable diets.
An acupuncture treatment generally involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points of the body that correspond to a particular condition. The insertion of needles stimulates an endorphin release in the body that reduces stress, which can also be helpful for those serious about losing weight.
Acupuncture treatment has been shown to impact hormones that relate to weight including ghrelin and leptim. Furthermore, it can be used to influence metabolism, water retention, fat regulation and the digestive system. At Community Chiropractic & Acupunture, we want to show you how maintaining a healthy weight can contribute to your well-being. We offer you chiropractic care and acupuncture, as well as nutritional advice on losing ponds and keeping them off.
The summer is a time of increased energy, mental clarity and emotional well-being. There is no better time than now to make the changes that will lead to a smaller wasteline and a happier life!
Dr. Karen Thomas, D.C.
Acupuncture: the Natural Sleep Aid
Sleep can be our best friend or worst enemy. Along with diet and exercise, sleep is one of the leading ways we can impact our quality of life. While poor sleep quality is linked with depression, obseity, diabetes and cancer, a good quality of sleep is linked to emotional well-being, healthy brain functioning and physiological health. It can be said that a high quality of sleep equals a high quality of life.
Despite the importance of sleep, it is a rather unpredictable activity: some people are great sleepers, others are not. Many adults in America suffer from insomnia, sleep apnea and other conditions. Conventional medicines that treat sleep disorders are often linked to addiction and side-effects and very rarely offer a good long-term solution. Acupuncture is a traditional form of medicine that stimulates specific points in the body to promote natural healing, circulation and regulation of the various physiological systems. As it pertains to sleep, traditional chinese medicine focuses on two areas: mental quietude and physical rest. An imbalance in the body can upset either or both of these fragile harmonies.
There are certain acupuncture meridians which pertain to sleep: one which regulates circadian rhythms and one which supports the restfulness of sleep (depth and quality). Furthermore, Traditional Chinese Medicine focuses on balancing the yin and yang: Yin represents the night time, including sleep and restfulness while yang corresponds to the day time: energy and activity.
Using the power of acupuncture, we encourage restful, productive sleep. Sleep is a time of restoration and repair: if you feel that you are missing out on the benefits of a restful night’s sleep, give our office in Park Slope a call. We provide chiropractic care and acupuncture treatment, combined with counseling on lifestyle adjustments that will help you get a better night’s sleep.
Dr. Karen Thomas, D.C., L.Ac.
behavioral and lifestyle changes can help
Summer Time Nutrition
Summer is the season of freshness, positivity and reinvigoration. With bright summer days offering an abundance of (free) Vitamin D, you already have a head start on your winter body of health just by being outside. Vitamin D is essential for bone density and immune system functioning, two areas of health that we are primarily concerned with at your Park Slope chiropractor and acupuncturist. There are so many little things you can do to your diet during the summer that are not available at other times of the year. Start at the farmer’s market, of which there are many in our area, and follow some simple guidelines to make this your healthiest summer yet.
Less juice, more wholesome fruit: juice usually contains trace amounts of the vitamins found in raw fruit while containing much more sugar. Find the most vividly colorful fruit you can and sink your teeth into it: let the health flow.
Focus on fresh: local produce is a multi-win situation. Rather than being shipped across the country, you are ingesting vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants fiber and healthy sugars which have been plucked within a reasonable radius from you. The kinds of produce that are in season during the summer (think tomatoes, corn, berries, avocado) are chalk full of nutrients. We can help you determine which nutrients you need more of and help you select them for maximum taste as well as health.
Portion control: Humans will eat, on average, 92% of what is on the plate they are served. For those trying to watch their weight, this makes portion control a priority. Simply cooking smaller amounts, or serving a smaller amount will make you consume fewer calories and help you lose weight. This is a boon for back health, particularly in the lower back.
Summer is also a time of elevated activity: ensure your body is aligned, muscles are relaxed and your nervous system is working optimally by calling our office in Brooklyn today.
Dr. Karen Thomas, D.C.