What is Tui Na Massage?

Tui na (pronounced TWEE-nah) is a type of bodywork that falls under the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) umbrella. TCM includes Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Chinese dietary Therapy, Moxibustion and Tuina.

Literally translated, Tui na means "pinch and pull" which doesn't sound particularly appealing, but it is a simultaneously relaxing and invigorating style of massage. It uses techniques like "rolling," "grasping," "kneading," "shaking" and "pressing" in order to encourage the Qi (pronounced "CHEE") to flow through the meridians, or energy channels. It has been around for thousands of years and follows TCM theory: "when there is pain, there is no free flow; when there is free flow, there is no pain." By encouraging the circulation of Qi and blood, the pain dissipates and the client feels better.

If you are looking for a Swedish style "mush your skin around" type of massage, this is not it. Tui na is, however, a highly therapeutic style of massage that is great for sports or other soft tissue injuries, general muscle tightness and relieving stress that is held in the body, causing symptoms such as headaches, TMJ, back pain, neck pain, etc. It is also helpful for preventing injuries with athletes or exercisers by releasing tight muscles that restrict movement and impair range of motion. By releasing this tension, athletes can perform better in their sport or activity of choice.

Tui na is done fully clothed in loose, comfortable clothing. It is often performed as an adjuctive technique to acupuncture or moxibustion, but also can be a stand-alone treatment. Like acupuncture and other TCM modalities, Tui na focuses on the whole body, in addition to the symptoms, so that the client feels a greater sense of well-being afterwards. The goal is to bring the body back into balance using manual techniques done by the practitioner's fingers, hands or elbows. Tui na is often referred to as "acupressure" where pressure is used instead of needles, but Tui na is not just an alternative or replacement for needles, it is its own form of Chinese medicine. Typical Tui na sessions last about 30 minutes.

Tui na is safe and can be used by people of all ages, from infants to seniors, and some techniques can be taught for use at home as self-care.

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Acupuncture and Working Out: How Acupuncture can Support your Fitness Goals

Fall is the most popular time of year for people to get back into the gym. Kids are back at school, the days are getting shorter and colder and many people are raring to get back into shape. Unfortunately, this is also the most popular time of year for people to hurt themselves by doing too much too fast. Going to the gym 7 days a week after sitting on the beach all summer is a recipe for injury.

Acupuncture is a great complement to your fitness routine by increasing your energy, improving your sleep and helping you recover and heal, both after workouts and after injury.

The first 2 items are very related-- when you don't sleep well, or enough, you won't have enough energy to work out properly. Coffee and other stimulants can work short term, but shouldn't be part of a long term health routine. Coffee and stimulants encourage the body to release adrenaline so that you have "more energy," but long term this strategy actually leaves you more tired and depleted than when you started. One true solution to having more energy is getting more, good quality sleep. For 7 tips for better sleep, click here.

Not only will good sleep give you more energy, but it will also help you recover more quickly after exercise. Sleep is when the body repairs itself, from injury, from illness and even from daily wear and tear. Exercise creates microtears in the muscles. When you are asleep, the body heals the microtears and you become stronger. Prolonged soreness after exercise (more than 2 or so days) is a sign that you either REALLY overdid it and you might be injured, or you are not getting sufficient sleep to heal your body.

When microtears become macrotears, that's when you know you've hurt yourself. Acupuncture, Cupping/Gua Sha and Moxibustion are all ways to encourage the body to heal itself. The healing nutrients in the body are in the blood stream, so by encouraging blood flow to the injured area, the healing process can begin and the pain subsides. There is a saying in Traditional Chinese Medicine: When there is pain, there is no free flow; when there is free flow, there is no pain. Acupuncture encourages the free flow of Qi, blood and fluids so that the body can heal itself. DO NOT ICE! Ice and NSAIDS (non-steriodal anti-inflammatories) actually slow the healing process by slowing blood flow and reducing inflammation. Inflammation is actually okay for an acute injury (chronic inflammation is something else) because it signals the brain that there is an injury that needs tending. Inflammation is similar to a fever in that way. A fever is your body's attempt at killing the virus or bacteria that is making you sick. When you reduce a fever (unless it is over 103.5 degrees F--always reduce high fevers), you are impairing the body's ability to fight off whatever illness is causing the fever. For more on Sports Injuries, click here.

Finally, good food is important to support your gym efforts. You can't exercise away a bad diet. Food should nourish your body and give you proper fuel to get through your day. Drinking enough water and eating sufficient protein is also important for repairing the body after exercise. "Dieting" is not a good way to lose weight; it typically restricts calories which slows metabolism and is temporary, creating temporary weight loss. Eating a balanced, whole food diet is the best way to feel good and get to a healthy weight for you. "Ripped" and "healthy" are not always the same. Setting goals that bring you toward health is the best way to help you feel better, for the long term, in your body and mind.

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Acupuncture for Veterans: Treating the Internal Wounds of War

Studies say that 1 in 5 soldiers comes back from combat suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. Many times they are not initially aware that there is anything wrong, it is their family members who notice first. Maybe they are depressed or anxious. Maybe they are having nightmares or trouble sleeping. Maybe they are self medicating with alcohol, drugs or even getting frequent speeding tickets. Maybe they are struggling to "fit back in" to their pre-combat lives. PTSD doesn't always show up in overtly recognizable ways, sometimes it is more subtle, something only a husband or wife would notice; their military spouse just seems "off" and "not themselves." Acupuncture is a treatment that helps reset the nervous system, getting you out of "fight or flight" and back to feeling calm and centered again.

At Veterans Acupuncture Care (VAC) Metrowest, we see veterans who have fought in every war or conflict ranging from WWII to the present and have varying degrees of emotional pain and scarring. We also treat family members because PTSD doesn't only affect the person in trauma, but everyone they interact with as well. Stress and anxiety are human emotions and can affect everyone, no matter how strong they are.

The men and women who come to our clinic often enter a bit agitated and chatty, then within minutes all the talk settles down and there is just quiet. Their eyes close, they lean back into the wing chairs and many fall asleep. You can see the release of all of the worries, turmoil and internal unrest as ease takes over their bodies. You can feel the deep relaxation in the room and see the peaceful expressions take over their faces. I am grateful that I possess the ability to give this gift to those who have given so much to our country in the name of freedom.

When we opened in 2008, our idea was to help the soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan get back to their regular lives. The VA hospitals at the time (and now) were inundated with people looking for help but finding they would have to wait weeks, sometimes months, to see a mental health professional. As acupuncturists we had an effective treatment to offer right now. In 2010 we decided to open our doors to First Responders too (Police, Fire, EMT), both active and retired, because they are our local soldiers, fighting daily battles, not knowing what they are walking into each time they get a call.

Auricular Acupuncture is a simple way to treat internal wounds without the client needing to talk about or relive their experience. The acupuncturist places 5 needles in each ear for the purpose of balancing the nervous system and creating a deep sense of well being. All the client needs to do is receive the treatment. Initially the effects are short lived, maybe a few hours up to a few days, but with continued treatment the effects last longer and longer. Many people report an improvement in mood and an increased ability to cope better with daily life. Clients experience improved sleep, less teeth grinding, and much less anxiety through the week.

Our clinic is located at 3 Maple Street in Framingham, MA and is open every Saturday (excluding holidays) from 10am-12pm. All treatments are free, no appointments are necessary, just walk in. For more information about this clinic, go to www.vacmetrowest.com. To find other clinics around the country, go to www.acuwithoutborders.org.

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Natural and Non-Invasive Treatment for Varicose Veins

Varicose Veins can present in different ways for different reasons. According to the Mayo Clinic, varicose veins can be caused by age, where the veins lose elasticity and enlarge, or by pregnancy, where your overall blood volume increases, but not the flow of blood from your legs to your pelvis. Other factors include obesity, sex (females are more prone), family history, and standing for long periods of time. Unfortunately, most standard Western treatments involve some sort of surgery or "stripping the veins." Luckily there are other, less invasive options available from Eastern Medicine.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Varicose Veins (which differ from Spider Veins) are due to an insufficiency of Spleen Qi, or Spleen energy, in the body. Each of our internal organs has particular jobs in our body; TCM theory sees the Spleen as much more important than it is typically considered in Western Medicine. With TCM, one of the Spleen's jobs is to hold things in their place. When the Spleen is too weak, you often see "Sinking Qi" symptoms, like organ prolapse, urinary or fecal incontinence/stress incontinence, a sinking sensation of the uterus, flooding uterine bleeding (usually during menstruation) and varicose veins. With all of these symptoms, the Spleen is too weak to hold things where they belong and they fall. With varicose veins, the Spleen is unable to hold the Blood in its vessels and they sag and expand. When there is also pain or dark blood associated with varicosities there is additional Stagnation, where the Qi and/or Blood isn't moving the way that it should. Here the Stagnation is also due to the insufficiency of Qi, where it doesn't have the "oomph" to keep flowing properly and it gets sluggish and stuck. 

This condition can be treated quite effectively with Acupuncture and Moxibustion.  The acupuncture, and sometimes Chinese herbal medicine, focuses on:

• Building and supplementing the Spleen Qi so that it can hold the blood in the veins
• Raising the Yang so that whatever has fallen (in this case the veins) can be lifted back up
• Moving the Qi and Blood to relieve the pain often associated with varicose veins.

Moxibustion is a warming treatment (see link above) that helps move the Qi and Blood and helps reduce the swelling and discomfort associated with varicosities. It is safe and non-invasive. Many times varicosities shrink, lighten and become less painful after a moxa treatment. While the varicose veins won't disappear after just one treatment, each treatment builds upon the one before, so over time you will see continuous shrinkage and lightening of the veins until they are no longer problematic. Because everyone is different, there is no way to predict how many treatments are needed; the more chronic the condition, the longer it takes to treat. For a relatively recent occurrance, it may take 4-6 treatments, for varicosities that have been around for years, it may take 3-4 months or more.

In the end, in addition to feeling less pain, you should have better energy and feel better in your daily life.

Sources:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/varicose-veins/symptoms-causes/dxc-20178128

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Natural Remedies to Ease a Sore Throat

Illnesses are rampant this time of year with colds, flu and flu-like viruses everywhere. The Corona virus is on everyone's mind as well, and like will all illnesses, prevention is key. Sleep, handwashing, supplementing with Vitamin D3, C and probiotics can be a bit help with supporting your immune system. Elderberry Extract Syrup has shown to be very effective to battle Flu and Flu-like viruses, as well as my favorite remedy, Oscillococcinum. This is a homeopathic remedy that should be taken at the very first signs of illness and, in my experience, can get you back to feeling healthy within a day or two.

Some of these nasty bugs can cause sore throats. Sore throats abound this time of year. Some are severe and require antibiotics, like with Strep (you don't want to mess around with Strep). Most sore throats, however, are relatively benign and are really just a symptom that you are fighting some sort of bug.

When Chinese medicine was developed thousands of years ago, the concept of pathogens like viruses, bacteria and fungi had yet to be discovered; doctors noticed how different illnesses caused different symptoms and would diagnose and treat patients according to how their symtpoms presented.  They would treat the body, rather than the illness.

Chinese doctors identified the different pathogens as invasions of the elements: Wind, Heat, Cold, Damp and Dry, and would treat each patient according to these "External Pathogenic Factors." Our immune system is referred to as Wei Qi, which is a superficial layer of Qi that acts like a force field around us, protecting us from pathogenic invasions. When we get sick, our Wei Qi rises to the surface and battles the invading pathogen(s), seen as various symtpoms (headaches, runny nose, cough, sneeze, fever, chills, etc.) A sore throat is caused usually by an invasion of Wind and/or Heat, although Cold and Dry are also possible; dry, scratchy throats are often due to Wind and red, painful sore throats are due to Heat. You can also have sore throats that are due to physical irritation, like with a cough caused by post-nasal drip, but you would still categorize it according to its quality, scratchy or raw. This type of sore throat would have a Damp (Phlegm) element to it, and you would see other accompanying symptoms, but the sore throat itself would be categorized according to Wind or Heat.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine treat all sorts of illnesses, including sinusitis, rhinitis, sinus infections, coughs, post-nasal drip, bronchitis and others, and sore throat is definitely on that list as well. Acupuncture treats the body, so whether you are fighting a virus or bacterial infection, it doesn't matter, what matters is how the symptoms present. By boosting the immune system and helping the body fight off Heat, Wind, Damp, Cold and/or Dry, the body is able to recover more quickly from the illness and you feel better sooner.

When you can't get in for an acupuncture treatment, doing acupressure on LU 10 can be a temporary help for sore throat. LU 10 is located on the hand, between the heel of the hand and the lowest thumb joint. along the inner edge the bone connecting the two joints (see the dot in the photo). Massaging this point (which might be sore if you really need it) releases heat from the throat and can help ease the pain, making you feel more comfortable. It can also be helpful with a scratchy throat, but is most effective against the heat of a sore throat.

My favorite home remedy for sore throat, or even hoarseness/loss of voice, is Hot water, juice of a 1/4 of a Lemon and a teaspoon to tablespoon of Raw Honey. You can drink this beverage all day long and it helps soothe the throat. The lemon has Vitamin C which can help you combat illness and is sour so can bring moisture into the throat. In addition to soothing a sore throat, honey can also ease a cough. While I usually encourage coughing, since it is your body attempting to get rid of phlegm and illness, at night when you are trying to sleep, coughing can interfere; when it comes to healing, sleep takes priority. A Tbsp of raw honey before bed can help calm your cough, soothe your throat and help you sleep better.

Sleep is essential for preventing or fighting any type of illness, major or minor. Sleep is when your body heals itself and repairs any damage. If you chronically have trouble sleeping, click here for some tips on how to get better sleep.

Proper hydration is also important for healing, especially if there is a fever and sweating. Dehydration is a common cause of sore throat, and sometimes just drinking enough water can be the solution.

If your sore throat persists more than 3 or 4 days, see your doctor to check for Strep; as I said, you don't want to mess with Strep.

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To learn more about who I am and what I do, go to www.integrativetherapeutics.com.

Acupuncture for Migraine Relief and Prevention

Migraines can be debilitating. Excrutiating pain, visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting, light and sound sensitivity are only some of the symptoms that can be associated with migraines. There are many pharmaceutical options, but unfortunately they often have side effects, including headaches, and can be toxic to the liver long term.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are two effective ways to manage migraine pain when it comes on, as well as prevent the occurance in the first place. According to Chinese medical theory, "when there is pain, there is no free flow; when there is free flow, there is no pain." Acupuncture  encourages the Qi, or energy, to flow properly through the body, so that the symptoms go away. The reason acupuncture can be so effective, is because there is no "one size fits all" approach to migraine management; each person is treated according to their specific constellation of symptoms. Just like each person's experience of a migraine can be different (although there are often many common factors), each person's treatment will be tailored to them. This is the reason that certain medications work for some people and not others, and that people experience different side effects from the different medications.

There can be many different causes of migraines, such as hormonal fluxuations, dietary intolerances, muscular imbalances, barometric pressure changes or sinus problems. Knowing what causes your migraines can helpful, especially in terms of prevention, but not necessary to receive relief from acupuncture. If you know the cause then it can help build a picture of what is happening in your overall health that could be contributing to the migraines, but even without, the treatment is based on your symptoms, both related to your migraines as well as other aspects of your health. Balancing certain internal sensitivities can help your body cope better with the "insult" that is causing your migraines. For example, with sensitivity to barometric pressure changes, there is often an internal Dampness (with possible symptoms such as  heavy fatigue, sinus issues, loose bowel movments, achy joints) along with stagnation (stagnation = pain, discomfort, tightness both physical and/or emotional) that leaves the sufferer susceptible. With hormonal fluxuations, the patient usually has migraines before their menstrual cycle, during peri-menopause or even after menopause; by balancing the hormones, the migraines lessen in severity and frequency and eventually go away.

The biggest benefit of using acupuncture to treat migraines is that it works with your body to correct the imbalance that is causing the migraines in the first place. Once the imbalance is corrected, the body operates as it should and there are no migraines.

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To contact Janine directly, email jagoglia@integrativetherapeutics.com.