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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.
Healthful Gardening
Gardening should be equal parts happy, health plants and happy, healthy you! The gardening season brings people out of their winter skin and for this we are grateful at Community Chiropractic and Acupuncture. Chiropractic and gardening are symbiotic: we often advise people to get moving for the sake of their health and this is exactly what gardening does. On the other side of the coin, many of the motions involved in gardening can lend strain to the body, especially the spine.
Here are some back-saving tips to help you enjoy gardening season without ending up sore at the end of the day.
- Warm up by stretching: Let us help you develop a 5 minute (or less) routine for the shoulders, back and hips that will keep you limber against the twisting and bending movements that are so frequent. Gardening is already a ritualistic endeavor to many; adding in stretching to the ritual will enrich the experience.
- Take frequent breaks: Kneeling in one patch pf the garden for an extended period of time will allow muscles to tighten and the spine to stiffen. If you can, take a break every now and then to admire your work and hydrate, especially with the warm weather. Mixing up your tasks is a great way to keep on the move.
- Gardening often requires heavy lifting, so be sure to lift properly. It can never be said enough: lift with the legs, not the back.
At our office in Brooklyn, we would like to see everyone enjoy a productive, pain-free gardening season. To this end, we can identify and correct subluxation that may be contributing to pain or stress to one part of the body. If you are already suffering from injury, we can speed the healing process with healing modalities that include acupuncture and hands on treatment of the tissues and ligaments.
Call our office in Park Slope at (718) 398-3100.
Dr. Karen Thomas, D.C.
The Core of the Issue
Many people subscribe to the idea that the core is just an ambiguous muscle in the middle of the body, when in reality it is so much more. The core is a system of muscles that work together to influence almost every move your body makes, excluding those of the limbs. This makes the core important, but it also means that working out the core properly is important to. For people concerned with using their core to improve the condition of their back, we need to look at the core differently than someone who is looking to get “ripped abs.”
The core can be used as a force producer but this is, in all reality, secondary to its nature. Exercises like crunches strengthen the abs and make the stomach powerful at iniating movement. So…try twisting crunches instead! For people who want to use the core to add support to the vertebrae and muscles of the lower back, we want the core to be a prime stabilizer: using exercises such as planks, side planks, bridges and deadlifts strengthens the core holistically creating a powerful, injury resistant center of the body. This helps to bear some of the burden that is placed on the lower back.
The core as a stabilizer is an excellent idea for people looking to rehabilitate injury or prevent one from ever happening again. At Community Chiropractic & Acupuncture, we urge you not to start an indiscriminate plan for “strengthening the core,” without consulting an expert first. While internet blogs and fitness magazines are good (albeit inconsistent) places to get information, our office offers you a personalized evaluation and health plan.
Dr. Karen Thomas, D.C.
Pelvic Tilting and Hip Bridges
A more aerobic lifestyle may be the way to a life free of back pain. Swimming, walking and running are great ways to add movement into your life that stops muscles from atrophying and promotes a stronger set of muscles that will protect the longevity of your spine.
But reducing the amount of time spent in a chair is only the tip of the iceberg. Here are some simple stretches you can do that won’t cost you a thing, but will increase your well-being greatly.
Pelvic tilting: strengthening the transverse abdominus, a key core muscle that will help improve core stability.
- Lay down on your back
- Knees bent, hip-width apart
- Right hand underneath curve in your back
- Press curve of your lower back into the floor (onto your hand)
- Hold 5 seconds then release, repeat 10 times.
Hip bridges: strengthening abdominals and transverse abdominus
- Start in same position: on back, with knees bent at hip-width
- Lift hips until you achieve a straight line between knees and shoulders
- Hold for 5 seconds
- Slowly reverse motion.
- Repeat 5-10 times.
A key way to make your back less vulnerable to injury is to strengthen the core muscles. At your Park Slope Chiropractor, we emphasize core stability to improve spinal longevity. Using simple stretches for short amounts of time every day is a great way to achieve this.
Dr. Karen Thomas, D.C.