Do you feel tension in your life?

Is it hard to let go of the everyday stress and strain that comes with simply taking care of the things that you are responsible for day to day?

Do you find that your mind is seemingly always racing and it is hard to slow down?

If you have experienced any of these things, then you may have an extensive amount of anxiety in your life. 

While it is natural to experience some anxiety or tension from time to time, those who have to struggle with this emotion all the time simply want to find relief from that turmoil. One way to do so is via acupuncture treatments, and we want to help you get the information you need about how to book an acupuncture appointment in Jacksonville, Florida. 

Why You Should Seek Acupuncture in Jacksonville for Anxiety Relief

It is easy for some to brush off or try to dismiss the real concerns that come with having excessive anxiety in one's life. Some people think that it is nothing to worry about and that they must simply push through. However, the National Library of Medicine offers this eye-opening insight about the serious impacts of anxiety: 

Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health concerns with a major contribution to the global burden of disease. When not treated, anxiety can be aggravated to more serious and complicated health problems.

When pushed aside or left unaddressed, anxiety can manifest as other health problems within a given patient. When you understand that this is the case, you can start to see more fully why it is important to seek relief from your anxiety. Not only are you trying to make things more comfortable for yourself, but you are trying to address other potential health concerns before they are even able to take root. 

Many people are seeking out natural relief for common ailments like anxiety. They may prefer to avoid medications for one reason or another. Acupuncture is a wonderful option for those looking to avoid pharmaceutical drugs. However, it should also be noted that acupuncture can effectively be combined with therapies such as counseling, psychotherapy and anti-anxiety medication. At Be Well Healing Arts, we are here to support you in whatever is best for you and we will honor your choices and work with you to achieve your goals.


How Acupuncture Can Help with Anxiety Relief

The human body responds to external factors all of the time. In our modern world, it is quite easy for those external factors to have an outsized impact on our mental health. The constant weight of the expectations of our modern life can easily cause waves of tension throughout our bodies. Examples of some of the stressors that might bring about anxiety include: 

• Financial Responsibilities - Taking care of bills, keeping food on the table, and keeping the lights on are all things that most people have to worry about for themselves and their families. Not knowing for sure how you are going to get it done can bring about anxiety. 
• Relationship Strains - The bonds that we have with our loved ones can be strained when we are not communicating with each other well. This can cause strain in those relationships, and strained relationships are a clear-cut way to add tension to your life. 
• Failure to Meet Expectations - The expectations that we set for ourselves as well as those set for us by society are not always easy to meet. When we fall short of those expectations, we can easily start to feel an increased amount of anxiety. 

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These are just a handful of examples of the things that might cause you to feel anxiety. Truthfully, there are more reasons why someone might feel anxiety than can be easily quantified. Fortunately, searching for "acupuncture near me" is a great first step toward finding some relief from that anxiety. 

Acupuncture helps to bring the body back into a relaxed state. This is done by helping to bring the sympathetic system back into balance and not allowing it to be overactive and continue to contribute to your overall state of anxiety. Calming the sympathetic nervous system helps teach the body to self-regulate better, and this might prove useful when working on the ways that you can take at least some of the anxiety out of your life. 

How Does Acupuncture Work Anyway?

Only around 7% of American adults have ever tried acupuncture for themselves. It is hardly any surprise then that there are still plenty of questions about this procedure in the public's mind. The good news is we have the information you are hungry for as it relates to this procedure. 

John Hopkins Medicine explains that the value of acupuncture is in its ability to help stimulate the body's natural ability to heal itself: 

Acupuncture points are believed to stimulate the central nervous system. This releases chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These biochemical changes may stimulate the body's natural healing abilities. They may promote physical and emotional well-being.

It turns out that acupuncture can be an effective treatment when used by itself or even in conjunction with other forms of treatment for anxiety. Stimulating your own body to do some of the heavy lifting of anxiety relief is a great step in the right direction. You are using the resources that you have been born with naturally to find relief from your anxiety, and that is the first step in the right direction.

Book Your Appointment for Acupuncture Today

As awareness of the health benefits of acupuncture continues to grow, you can expect that many more people will sign up for acupuncture appointments. That's why you need to step up and book your appointment today. 

Even after your first appointment, you may begin to feel the transformative impact of this procedure. The anxiety begins to melt off of you, and you start to experience life in a whole new way. With continued appointments, the relief grows stronger and stronger until you can start to view things in a whole new light.
 
Reach out to book an appointment with Rosemarie Allen or Kendra Lay to experience acupuncture for yourself. These seasoned experts will gladly guide you through the process and what you can expect. They can also answer any questions that you might have about acupuncture itself. 

There are many things that can bring about anxiety in our lives, but we shouldn't let things get out of hand. You can start to take back control when you set up your acupuncture appointments.
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Perimenopause and menopause are natural stages of a woman's life that are associated with a whole host of physical and emotional changes. These changes, which include hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep disturbances, can be frustrating, and they can significantly impact a woman's quality of life.

Fortunately, acupuncture and herbal medicine offer safe and effective alternatives for managing these symptoms. In this blog, we will explore the role of acupuncture and herbal medicine in alleviating perimenopause and menopause symptoms and how they can provide relief to clients in Jacksonville, Florida. We believe that our expertise, individualized treatment approach, and serene environment make our business the ideal choice for your acupuncture needs.

Understanding Perimenopause and Menopause

So, what are perimenopause and menopause, and what symptoms do they cause? Menopause, which typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, signals the end of fertility and is confirmed when a woman has not had a period for 12 consecutive months. Perimenopause refers to the time that a woman’s body makes the natural progression towards menopause. This time can last for several years and is characterized by major hormonal changes that can lead to a range of symptoms. Some common symptoms that women experience during perimenopause include hot flashes, irregular periods, and sleep problems. 

These life stages can often bring about uncomfortable and troublesome symptoms. Hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal dryness, sleep disturbances, and weight gain are common. This can impact a woman's quality of life, causing physical discomfort, emotional distress, and major disruptions to their everyday life.
The Role of Acupuncture in Alleviating Menopausal SymptomsAcupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice. It involves the insertion of fine needles at specific points on the body. The practice is believed to work by balancing the body's energy, known as Qi, and promotes self-healing.

When it comes to perimenopause and menopause relief, acupuncture can help women manage symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep problems. Research has shown that acupuncture reduces the severity and frequency of these symptoms, making it a safe and effective alternative treatment for women who are suffering from unpleasant perimenopause and menopause symptoms and are struggling to find relief.

Herbal Medicine and its Benefits for Menopause

Herbal medicine, another pillar of traditional Chinese medicine, is a practice where natural herbs are used to treat a variety of ailments, including perimenopause and menopause. Specific herbs like black cohosh, evening primrose oil, and ginseng have been found to provide relief for people suffering from menopausal symptoms, regulating hormone levels and relieving anxieties along with physical pains.

These herbs offer a range of benefits to the body. They can help to balance hormones, reduce hot flashes, improve mood, and promote better sleep, to name a few. However, like any medication, patients should always use herbal medicine and acupuncture under the guidance of a trained professional. Potential side effects are possible and can be serious without the right professional overseeing a patient’s treatment.

Why Choose Acupuncture in Jacksonville, Florida

Our acupuncturists in Jacksonville, Florida, are highly trained and experienced in treating a variety of conditions, and we know how to target and alleviate the symptoms that come from perimenopause and menopause. We provide an individualized treatment approach, so each client receives a customized treatment plan that targets their unique and specific needs.

Our serene and stress-free environment provides a welcoming space for patients to receive treatments and begin to heal.

Integrating Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine for Menopause TreatmentAcupuncture and herbal medicine can work together to create even better benefits than if they are used alone. Acupuncture balances energy and promotes general healing, while herbal medicine provides relief from specific symptoms as needed. This integrated approach can give comprehensive relief for perimenopause and menopause symptoms so you can get back to living life to the fullest.

What to Expect from an Acupuncture Session

Before an acupuncture session, a trained professional will ask you to provide your detailed health history. Together, you’ll discuss your symptoms so that a customized treatment plan can be created.

During treatment, fine needles will be inserted at specific points on your body. There will be mild discomfort, but pain is never a part of the process. Once treatment is complete, clients often express feelings of relaxation and relief. The duration and frequency of sessions will vary depending on your individual needs and the plan you create with your trained professional.

Find Relief From Symptoms of Perimenopause and MenopauseAcupuncture and herbal medicine offer an effective, natural solution for managing perimenopause and menopause symptoms.

Choosing acupuncture in Jacksonville, Florida, means choosing expertise, individualized treatment, and a serene, stress-free environment where you can heal and find relief. You don’t have to suffer through this stage of life. Reach out today to schedule a consultation and start your journey toward relief.



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When I first started practicing functional medicine and clinical nutrition in Jacksonville, Florida ten years ago in 2013, I used quite a few different tests than I use now. The number of innovative and groundbreaking functional medicine tests that have come out since then is amazing.

One of my absolute favorite tests these days is the GI Map test by Diagnostic Solutions. I've been using this in my practice since 2020, starting with running one on myself! Since then, I've run this test on numerous patients and it always uncovers such useful information. This has been a big game changer in my functional medicine clinical practice here in Jacksonville, Florida, allowing me to get to the root cause of many digestive complaints from my patients such as:

• IBS
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Painful Bloating
• Heartburn 
• and even complaints such as fatigue, autoimmune symptoms, body pain and hormonal imbalances!

In my experience, this test is so sensitive it can pick up on a lot of subtle pathogens or imbalances in the gut that other GI tests miss. The difference is the qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) technology, which is a special way of identifying DNA "evidence" in a sample. The test gives you a very comprehensive and accurate picture of your microbiome. It measures levels of both good and bad bacteria, fungi such as candida, parasites and viruses. It also tracks and reports other measures of intestinal health that can have an impact on your full-body health such as malabsorption markers and inflammation. 

There are many ways to address gut health. There are so many different dietary approaches aimed at healing the gut, there are thousands of supplements for gut health (some helpful and others not so much) and plenty of different tests. My experience is that testing with the GI Map test provides a really clear picture of what is going on so that we can design a customized plan for your own gut health. This results in better compliance with dietary changes and supplements, a better understanding of the issue at hand and better results in the end.

As many of us know, imbalances in the gut (also called dysbiosis) have impacts on the whole body. Some of the most common areas where we see gut health reflected are in skin health, mental health and immune health. So by improving our gut health, we can improve things like depression and anxiety, autoimmune disorders and troublesome skin conditions.

Visit our page on functional medicine to learn more about the GI Map test in Jacksonville, Florida.

Acupuncture for Cancer Patients 

Healthcare sectors around the world are increasingly making use of a combination of Western medical practices, modern medications, and ancient healing techniques originating from traditional Chinese medicine.
 
It is a new therapeutic trend known as complementary medicine or integrative medicine.
 
Conventional cancer treatment, which includes surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, is combined with complementary therapies to treat the side effects caused by these treatments and help improve the overall well-being of the patient.
 
Integrative oncology combines the best of conventional care and complementary therapies to control physical and emotional symptoms, improve the quality of life, and speed recovery for the cancer patient.
 
Acupuncture is one of these complementary medicine options that is often used in combination with conventional Western medicine to treat the cancer patient. Its role in the treatment of cancer includes:
 
●      Supportive Treatment
●      Symptom Management
●      Preventive Care
 
Acupuncture can be used in all phases of cancer treatment.
 
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health considers complementary medicine as a diverse set of medical and healthcare systems, practices that are not currently part of conventional Western medicine but can be used together to complement each other, with high-quality scientific data on their safety and efficacy.
 
For the patient prior to surgery, acupuncture promotes relaxation, avoids side effects, and relieves symptoms. The optimal time for treatment is two days before surgery.
 
After surgery, acupuncture helps control pain, decreases inflammation, helps prevent scar tissue contraction, and shortens recovery time.
 
RADIATION AND CHEMOTHERAPY
 
These two treatments are the standard in cancer therapy, as they are very effective in destroying cancer cells. Unfortunately, these treatments also destroy healthy cells in the skin, bone marrow, intestines, hair follicles, and reproductive system.
 
Acupuncture given the day before chemotherapy or radiation treatment can improve immune function and increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy. The following side effects of radiation and chemotherapy can be alleviated with acupuncture:
 
- Fatigue
- Anemia
- Low white blood cell count
- Nausea/vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Loss of appetite
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Toxicity
- Liver dysfunction
- Neuropathy
 
HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK?
 
Disposable stainless steel needles slightly thicker than a human hair are inserted in specific spots of the human body. The professional acupuncturist chooses the correct acupuncture points for the problem to be treated.
 
Once in place, needles are sometimes rotated, moved up and down at different speeds and depths, heated, or charged with a weak electrical current. All of these variations have an individualized effect based on the exact needs prescribed by the previous diagnosis.
 
Acupuncture works through combinations of points that have been shown to: increase antibodies, T-cell count, hemoglobin and red blood cells, white blood cell count (especially neutrophils), normalize irregular heart rhythm, regulate blood pressure, improve peristalsis of the esophagus and intestine, regulate stomach acid secretion and help stabilize peripheral nerve damage.
 
The effects of acupuncture are the same as those of strong painkillers since it modulates the sensory pain center in the brain. Added bonus, it favors neurotransmitters release such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.
 
ACUPUNCTURE FOR CANCER RELIEF AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT
 
Researchers are uncertain about the exact mechanism behind it, but they believe it may increase the effectiveness of the body's native pain-relieving chemicals.
 
Acupuncture point stimulation manages to release endorphins, enkephalins, and dynorphins and trigger chemical reactions that neutralize pain and promote well-being.
 
It can also increase cellular activity and modify the distribution of substances that regulate blood pressure and the stream.  As a result, Traditional Chinese Medicine can help patients overcome fatigue and pain from treatment.
 
FIVE MOST COMPELLING USES OF ACUPUNCTURE IN CANCER PATIENTS, RESEARCH BACKED.
 
1. Relieves cancer pain
In a 2003 study by the National Cancer Institute in the United States, researchers found that acupuncture helped reduce the intensity of cancer pain among patients who underwent auricular acupuncture treatment. [1]
 
2. Eases post-chemotherapy fatigue
Acupuncture has great potential in the management of fatigue and lack of energy following chemotherapy, as it provides significant improvement in general exhaustion, activity, and motivation.[2]
 
3. Helps counteract the symptoms of nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy.
Many of the drugs included in chemotherapy cause stomach discomfort, nausea, and vomiting in the patient. However, acupuncture touches many points of the body helping not only to reduce them but to eliminate them.[3] [4]

4. Depression and anxiety
A recently published RCT reports that massage combined with acupuncture in postoperative cancer patients can improve the depressive mood of these patients when used in conjunction with usual care A short-lived improvement in tension and anxiety also was found in this study [5]
 
5. Acupuncture enhances the immune response

In the course of the oncologic disease, patients are in a state of immunosuppression that determines the course of the disease and the response to treatment.
 
Acupuncture enhances the immune response, especially the first line of defense mediated by natural killer cells. Experimental studies demonstrate an increase in both the number and activity of natural killer cells, significantly enhancing the cytotoxic response, which is clinically reflected in decreased tumor size and progression, and increased survival.
 
HOW LONG DOES A TREATMENT LAST AND HOW MANY TIMES SHOULD I GO TO THE ACUPUNCTURIST?
 
An acupuncture session has a duration of about half an hour that can be extended to a little more than an hour when the process of anamnesis or questioning the patient is performed.
 
The frequency is usually weekly and can be extended from 4 to 10 sessions, depending on the treatment to be performed. As it acts at a sum level of effects, a minimum of four sessions is recommended.
 
The benefit of acupuncture is 100%, because when performed by a medical specialist it has no significant side effects. The risk involved is minimal, zero, and the benefit is maximum


Acupuncture for Cancer Treatment Side Effects in Jacksonville, Florida

At our acupuncture clinic in Jacksonville, Florida we are near several major regional cancer centers including The Mayo Clinic, Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, Ackerman Cancer Center and the UF Proton Therapy Institute. We are pleased to offer support for patients undergoing cancer treatment at these and other facilities in our city. If you're looking for support with nausea, peripheral neuropathy, anxiety, insomnia, brain fog, stress reduction, fatigue and more, we are happy to assist you on your journey back to health.


References:

[1] Alimi D, Rubino C, Pichard-Léandri E, Fermand-Brulé S, Dubreuil-Lemaire ML, Hill C. Analgesic effect of auricular acupuncture for cancer pain: a randomized, blinded, controlled trial. J Clin Oncol. 2003 Nov 15;21(22):4120-6. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2003.09.011. PMID: 14615440.

[2] Vickers AJ, Straus DJ, Fearon B, Cassileth BR. Acupuncture for postchemotherapy fatigue: a phase II study. J Clin Oncol. 2004 May 1;22(9):1731-5. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2004.04.102. PMID: 15117996.

[3] Roscoe JA, Morrow GR, Hickok JT, Bushunow P, Pierce HI, Flynn PJ, Kirshner JJ, Moore DF, Atkins JN. The efficacy of acupressure and acustimulation wrist bands for the relief of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. A University of Rochester Cancer Center Community Clinical Oncology Program multicenter study. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2003 Aug;26(2):731-42. doi: 10.1016/s0885-3924(03)00254-9. PMID: 12906958.

[4] Gan TJ, Jiao KR, Zenn M, Georgiade G. A randomized controlled comparison of electro-acupoint stimulation or ondansetron versus placebo for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Anesth Analg. 2004 Oct;99(4):1070-1075. doi: 10.1213/01.ANE.0000130355.91214.9E. PMID: 15385352.

[5] Mehling WE, Jacobs B, Acree M, Wilson L, Bostrom A, West J, Acquah J, Burns B, Chapman J, Hecht FM. Symptom management with massage and acupuncture in postoperative cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2007 Mar;33(3):258-66. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2006.09.016. PMID: 17349495.

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We are pleased to serve the following communities in Florida with skilled and compassionate acupuncture care: Jacksonville, Orange Park, Fleming Island, Ponta Vedra, Nocatee, St. Johns, Jacksonville Beach and more.

Most people know that sleep is incredibly important for overall health and wellness. It is a fundamental biological process that allows the body to rest and repair, and is essential for optimal physical, mental, and emotional functioning. However, sometimes we really don't prioritize our own sleep - often staying up late or not creating the ideal conditions for a good night's rest.

Here are a few of the key reasons why sleep is so essential (in case you aren't convinced!):

1. Rest and restoration: During sleep, the body works to repair and restore cells and tissues, boost the immune system, and conserve energy.
2. Brain function: Sleep is critical for cognitive processes such as memory consolidation, learning, attention, and decision-making.
3. Emotional regulation: Getting adequate sleep can help regulate mood, reduce stress, and improve emotional well-being.
4. Physical health: Sleep has been linked to a lower risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer.
5. Performance: Sleep is essential for optimal performance in physical and mental activities such as exercise, work, and academics.

So as you can see, sleep is something that needs to be prioritized! If you are not sleeping well, you are not laying one of the very important foundations for health. At our acupuncture and wellness clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, we help people every day with getting better rest at night!


Here are a few nutrition, lifestyle and functional medicine tips that can enhance your sleep... Start improving your health today by getting better sleep!

• I know everyone has heard the advice to shut down electronic devices at least an hour before bedtime. If you're having trouble with sleeping, you should really follow this one. Some people can benefit from even two or three hours before bedtime. Or at the very least wear blue light blocking glasses at night and definitely set your devices to limit blue light a certain number of hours before bed (flux is a good one to use on your laptop, and many phones and tablets have this feature built-in, you just have to activate it). You can use this time before bed for reading (not anything stressful!), meditating, praying, journaling, doing gentle yoga, etc. Make a commitment to having the last hour before bedtime being peaceful and you'll see changes in your sleep.

 

• If you have trouble sleeping, definitely watch the amount and timing of your caffeine consumption. Aim for just one cup of coffee in the morning, and definitely don't have any in the afternoon. Caffeine has a relatively long half-life, meaning it takes quite a while to get out of your body. Instead of an afternoon cup, try taking a 15-minute power nap or a 15-minute power walk to revive yourself. I often recommend my patients who have insomnia or anxiety issues to get off caffeine and coffee completely and most will see a dramatic improvement in their sleep.

 

• Take a bath or hot shower before bedtime. The body cooling down can trigger the production of melatonin, the hormone that makes us sleep. When we heat our body in a shower and then our body cools off, this triggers that production. Bonus if you use calming essential oils in your bath such as lavender, vetiver, sandalwood, rose, etc.

 

• Balance your blood sugar. Blood sugar dips in the middle of the night can cause our body to go into fight or flight mode, which wakes us up. Make sure you're eating whole foods throughout the day and limiting sugar and processed foods. Eat regularly to avoid dips in blood sugar. Most people do well to not eat a few hours before bed, but for some people with a heightened stress response or adrenal issues, they might need a snack before bed to get through the night. Keeping balanced portions of carbohydrates, protein and some healthy fat at all meals, but especially dinner is important for sleep.

 

• Keeping your room dark, cool and quiet really does work. Get really strong blackout curtains or blinds to make your room pitch black. Cover up lights that may be coming from alarm clocks and definitely keep your phone in another room. Turn the thermostat down to stay comfortably cool (some sleep experts say as low as 68 degrees, that's personally too chilly for me, but I like it around 71...I think this is a personal choice and takes experimentation to figure out what temperature works for you). Use earplugs if you need to, to keep things nice and quiet. Darkness and cool temperatures are two things that really help to increase melatonin production.

 

• Keeping a regular daily schedule (getting up and going to sleep at roughly the same time) is important for maintaining your sleep-wake cycle. Try to get some sun in the early parts of the day, which will help to raise cortisol in the time of day it should be raised (morning). This will help you feel more energetic in the morning. Then in the afternoon and evening, we want to start having warmer and dimmer lighting to reduce cortisol and prepare for melatonin to raise at night. It's important to make yourself go to bed at a reasonable hour (I recommend at least before 11 pm) to keep yourself on a good schedule. I know it's not fun to make yourself go to bed, but just put yourself in the role of the parent and tell yourself you need to do it in order to keep the vibrant health that you want!

 

• ​Some nutrients and herbs that can help with calming are calcium, magnesium, l-theanine, ashwagandha, chamomile, lemon balm and GABA. I generally only recommend supplemental melatonin for short periods of time if you're jet-lagged (very useful for re-setting circadian rhythms) or if you're under extreme stress. It's better, in my humble opinion, to provide the right environment and circumstances for your body to make melatonin on its own. The reason for this is that if your body is able to make melatonin on its own, that means your body is much more happy and more balanced, rather than having to rely on an outside source of the melatonin hormone.

 

• A functional medicine test that can be helpful for sleep is a 4-point cortisol test, also called an Adrenal Stress Profile or an Adrenal Stress Index. The adrenal glands are part of your endocrine (hormonal) system. They sit on top of your kidneys and they produce all of your stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline and norepinephrine. This test can look at the output of cortisol 4 times throughout the day to make sure that it is not too high or too low. Optimal cortisol function is very important for stress, mood, energy, and proper sleep. Imbalances, whether too high or too low, can cause you to feel poorly. The tricky thing is that sometimes high and low cortisol can mimic each other, so that's why it's really helpful to get tested. Treatments for high and low cortisol are different, so having a baseline from the test is a wonderful place to start before starting to throw random supplements at the problem! We offer this test from ZRT Labs, a leader in functional medicine testing, at our clinic for $170.

I hope that this information proves helpful and sweet dreams to you this evening! If you live in the Jacksonville, Florida area we'd be happy to help you get better sleep through acupuncture treatments, nutrition and functional medicine.

In recent years, the development of society and economic progress have changed the way people live and work. Poor postures and life habits have left consequences such as a larger number of people with occupational muscle pain and postural diseases of the spine, even in young people.
 
Bioenergetic therapists such as acupuncture and structural therapies such as massage/bodywork are modalities currently used by professionals to address these health problems, which are sometimes resistant to conventional treatments.
 
Within this classification, acupuncture occupies an important place, with excellent results when used correctly, becoming a safe and economical method in chronic conditions.
 
There are thousands of studies on acupuncture and you can read here about evidence-based acupuncture. Even though much of acupuncture's credibility comes from its centuries-old practice, it's nice to have validation based on current scientific studies.

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What is acupuncture?
 
Acupuncture represents the most well-known and widespread area of traditional Chinese medicine in the West. It is a technique in which very thin needles are inserted into the body at specific anatomical points called acupoints.
This technique contemplates several modalities of stimulation of the inserted needles, which can be:

• Manual acupuncture, the needles are manipulated manually.
• Electroacupuncture, the needles are connected to a device that provides a low to moderate electrical discharge.
• Heat acupuncture or moxibustion involves wrapping needles in a medicinal plant, that is lit and warms the stem of the needle, introducing heat into the body; it is completely safe and poses no danger of burning.
• Laser acupuncture, acupuncture points are stimulated with a laser pulse.

 
All of the above have the same goal: to realign the body's vital energy, or Qi (in Chinese), to encourage self-healing and restore the natural biological balance.
 
Combine to enhance the effect.
One of the great advantages of bioenergetic therapies is that they can be combined to enhance their healing effect. In combined treatment, the same problem is worked on from different perspectives and the treatment can be tailored in a more personalized way to obtain the maximum benefit.
 
Massage Therapy
With more than two thousand years old, medicinal massage is the basis of almost all bioenergetic therapies and one of the therapies that have been most perfected and adapted to the demands of the modern world.
 
It has no contraindications and is recommended for people of all ages. Especially beneficial for the elderly and children, it provides physical, mental, and emotional balance.
 
During a session, the therapist uses hands and fingers to apply pressure, friction, vibration, kneading or traction with different intensities. It is performed with the patient sitting or lying on a comfortable surface
 
Manipulative techniques and passive joint movements are used to improve movement range and delay joint degeneration, to realign the body and correct posture.
 
How are they combined?
The use of acupuncture theory to promote the healing response in combination with massage therapy does not necessarily imply the use of needles and massage at the same time.
 
The necessary stimuli on the acupoints can be applied with hands and fingers as well as pressure along the acupuncture channels. This type of stimulation through massage is called acupressure, being one of the ways to integrate both techniques with greater efficiency.
 
Daily sessions can also be carried out, alternating acupuncture treatments on one day and massages on the other, this intercalated treatment is another option to obtain the maximum benefit of both therapies in an integrated program.
 
Needling acupuncture points during a massage considerably modifies its benefits. So it becomes an effective formula to obtain greater results in less time.
 
A therapy plan like this that includes acupuncture and medicinal massages is highly recommended in cases of:

• Pain in muscles, bones and tendons
• Sports injuries
• Arthritis and osteoarthritis
• Muscle spasms
• Neck, back, shoulder, hip, leg, knee and ankle pain.
• Stress, anxiety, insomnia.
• Headaches, migraines

 
It can also help with respiratory, digestive, and reproductive system issues, or even menstrual and infertility issues.
 
It is common practice in alternative therapy clinics throughout Asia to combine acupuncture and massage to treat joints, muscles, and chronic pain. Because both therapies have such a close theoretical correlation, together they are extremely powerful in healing the patient naturally and quickly.

In Jacksonville, Florida we offer practitioners of both massage therapy and acupuncture to offer you the best of both worlds for your health and wellness! You can book an appointment now to get started on your journey to optimal health.

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We are pleased to serve the following communities in Florida with skilled and compassionate acupuncture care: Jacksonville, Orange Park, Fleming Island, Ponta Vedra, Nocatee, St. Johns, Jacksonville Beach and more.