A Treatment Plan for Chiropractic and Acupuncture Care to Support Treatment Goals

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Chiropractor and Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC

Following the initial examination at Acupractic Natural Healing Center, Dr. Oskardmay usually suggests a series of treatments to support patient improvement. Patients who devote time and energy to following a treatment plan for chiropractic and acupuncture achieve better treatment outcomes than those who are unable to return for care at the suggested frequency.

Like healthcare in other healthcare facilities- medical care, dental care, physical therapy center, Urgent Care, and others, doctors and providers prescribe follow-up care. A medical doctor will prescribe medications that a patient takes every day for a while, and a dentist will prescribe tooth repair procedures that can take days to weeks to years. A physical therapist requires repeated treatments to increase pain-free range of motion over time, weeks, and months. Even an Emergency Room or Urgent Care facility suggests follow-up care for patients after the initial emergency visit.

Healthcare takes time because healing occurs in-between visits. Healing practitioners of all types make changes, and the body and mind of each patient incorporate these changes over time, growing into an improved state of being. Doctors and other healthcare practitioners are patient and strive to understand each person’s unique needs and healing limitations. They schedule follow-up visits to see how the patient accommodates care, adjust treatment regimens, apply new or the same procedures, and prescribe the subsequent follow-up until the doctor and patient are satisfied. Once treatment goals are met, patients enter the maintenance care phase, at which point they return less frequently or even call for a next appointment as needed.

Treatment Plan for Chiropractic and Acupuncture Care to Meet Your Needs

At the Chapel Hill chiropractic and acupuncture offices of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay, we offer patients treatment plans that meet their needs and healing goals. Each patient receives the best care possible, and improvements happen faster when patients follow instructions, including coming in for scheduled visits. Dr. Oskardmay informs each patient approximately how much time to expect before seeing results. Most patients benefit from a treatment plan consisting of several visits a week for two weeks, then lessening frequency for another few weeks until maintenance care begins. Treatment may include chiropractic and acupuncture services or chiropractic or acupuncture at each treatment session. Each treatment lasts between 30 and 45 and provides consultation with the doctor and therapeutic applications, including massage, exercise, and lifestyle coaching. Scheduled periodic examinations add 15″ or so. Our front desk staff generally schedules a few follow-up visits for flexibility and to ensure patients get the care they need. Our automatic system sends out reminders via text or email for each scheduled visit; please refer to cancellation policies to change or cancel scheduled appointments.

Treatment plans allow us to help a patient heal in a timely fashion. Spreading healing visits out too far apart does not allow treatment benefits to building up adequately to achieve treatment goals. Please let us know if a patient is interested in maintenance care instead of health improvement care. We are here for you!

To schedule an appointment, call us at 919-929-1400 or email us at schedule@acudocnc.com 24 hours a day. Provide your name, number, and treatment needs, and someone from our office will respond in a timely fashion. Visit us on the web anytime to learn more: acudocnc.com.

Is Acupuncture Good for Anxiety?

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Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC

Acupuncture treatment is a helpful alternative medicine treatment for anxiety. Based on the ancient practices of Chinese Medicine, acupuncture involves the insertion of tiny sterile needles at specific acupuncture points to stimulate qi or energy flow. Licensed Acupuncturists like Dr. Lisa Oskardmay use acupuncture and other therapies like massage to support total body healing and relaxation. Dr. Lisa Oskardmay does not prescribe medicine because that is not in her scope of practice as an alternative medicine physician; instead, she recommends specific nutrition protocols and exercises to improve overall body and mind health. This relieves anxiety.

Where Does an Acupuncturist Put the Acupuncture Needles for Anxiety?

Many ask, ‘where does an acupuncturist put the acupuncture needles for anxiety?’ An excellent question, and the answer depends on the unique patient’s presentation. Before beginning any treatment, Dr. Oskardmay examines the patient to determine the state of qi. The examination involves listening to the voice, looking at the appearance, and understanding each person’s concerns. She performs pulse assessment and back and other body area palpation to learn where qi is stuck or stagnant. Stagnant qi flow may present as disrupted pulse blood flow, pain in a body area, or imbalance. Dr. Oskardmay identifies blocked channels or meridians of qi flow using these techniques and decades of experience to choose treatment points and strategies that work for each person.

Patients often perceive anxiety at stressful times. Graduation, leaving home, taking a test, getting sick or into an accident, starting or ending a relationship, or even starting or finishing a season are stressful events for some people that can result in anxiety. Anxiety can cause a person to shut down or engage in unhealthy activities- drug abuse, not getting enough sleep, over or under-eating, or eating a poor diet are common problems for the person suffering from anxiety. While each of us may engage in these behaviors temporarily, when they get out of control and stress is in control, that is a problem. Treatment at our office can help.

How Long Does It Take for Acupuncture to Work for Anxiety?

Another question patients have is `How long does it take for acupuncture to work for anxiety?’ The answer depends on the individual patient, the depth of the issue, and any complicating factors. Acupuncture is unlike drug therapy in that chemical changes in each person’s body-mind occur more gently over time. Many patients like acupuncture therapy because there are no adverse side effects from treatment; many patients start feeling better and more hopeful, if not 100% better, after the first visit.

Acupuncture and other alternative medicine therapies help patients access their innate healing energies. Call us today at (919) 929-1400 or schedule online at acudocnc.com. In business since 1995, Dr. Oskardmay has helped thousands of patients feel better. She is confident she can help you, too. Located in Chapel Hill, just off I-40, our office is handicapped-accessible, and we have two comfortable treatment rooms for patients to experience unhurried acupuncture care for anxiety and other conditions. We participate with most major insurance plans covering acupuncture and chiropractic services.

Alternative Supportive Therapies During Treatment for Mesothelioma

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Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC

Malignant mesothelioma (me-zoe-thee-lee-O-muh) is a relatively rare type of cancer in the thin layer of tissue that covers most of the afflicted patient’s internal organs (mesothelium). Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly form of cancer. Nonetheless, treatment during the initial two stages of disease in which the cancer is localized can be effective. Early detection is key to starting therapy in the beginning stages. Complementary treatments including acupuncture, massage, yoga, meditation, and some herbal preparations can help to make treatment more tolerable. Visit asbestos.com/treatment/alternative/ to learn more about mesothelioma and other alternative treatments patients may use in conjunction with conventional medical care.

Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma

Common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma, which forms on the soft tissue lining the lungs, include:

  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dry cough
  • Fatigue
  • Hoarseness
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Reduced chest expansion (difficulty breathing)
  • Unexplained weight loss

Over time, if cancer spreads, these symptoms exacerbate. In addition to standard medical care to treat cancer and reduce pain, many patients find that acupuncture, massage, and other supportive therapies can help to reduce some of the adverse side effects of treatment. Sticking with a treatment plan with the help of a licensed acupuncturist such as Dr.Lisa Oskardmay or other providers can help to improve the outcome.

Asbestos exposure is the leading cause of pleural mesothelioma. About 8 out of 10 people with mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral. There are six types composed of long and thin fibrous crystals. Each fiber comprises many microscopic “fibrils” that can be released into the atmosphere by abrasion and other processes. Because of its fiber strength and heat resistance, asbestos has been used in various building construction materials for insulation and as a fire retardant. Asbestos has also been used in a wide range of manufactured goods, mostly in building materials (roofing shingles, ceiling, and floor tiles, paper products, and asbestos cement products), friction products (automobile clutch, brake, and transmission parts), heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets, and coatings.

When asbestos fibers are breathed in, they travel to the ends of small air passages and reach the pleura, where they can cause inflammation and scarring. Over time, this can turn into mesothelioma.

Treatment for Mesothelioma

The most common treatment for mesothelioma involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Supportive therapies can help relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life for many mesothelioma patients. While complementary therapies can help mitigate treatment symptoms, patients are advised against depending solely on nonmedical treatments—also, the earlier the diagnosis, the better the potential outcome.

Contact the offices of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay to learn more about how acupuncture in Chapel Hill can help you. Call (919) 929-1400 or visit us 24 hours a day at acudocnc.com to learn more and schedule an appointment.

Alternative Medicine Treatment for Wrist Pain

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Chiropractor and Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC

alternative medicine treatment wrist painWrist pain plagues many individuals and is a source of tremendous disability. At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, the chiropractic and acupuncture offices of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay in Chapel Hill, we strive to reduce wrist pain naturally by getting to the source of the problem. In business since 1995, we have helped thousands of people with wrist pain get back to their daily activities of work and leisure without drugs or surgery. Read more about alternative medicine treatment for wrist pain.

Nerves from the lower cervical spine innervate the wrist, hand, forearm, elbow, arm, and shoulder. Paying attention to these delicate areas, Dr. Oskardmay determines if lack of total neural input is the cause of wrist pain. Following diagnostic testing, including history, posture evaluation, orthopedic evaluation, and motion palpation of the spinous region, she may apply chiropractic adjustments to subluxated vertebrae.

How Alternative Medicine Treatment Can Help Wrist Pain

A licensed chiropractic physician. Dr. Oskardmay skillfully uses hands-on or Activator adjustments to mobilize fixated spine vertebrae. A subluxation exists when two or more spine segments do not move properly due to muscle or ligamentous tightness; over time, this lack of movement may result in spinal degeneration and even fusion, contributing to a lack of overall flexibility and nerve transmission.

Additionally, testing may show that the cause of pain stems from other regions such as arm shoulder tension or even upper back muscle tightness. She applies massage and physical therapy modalities, including electrostimulation, ultrasound, hot and cold, and even dry needling technique if needed to reduce muscle tightness in problematic areas to improve pain-free range of motion in structures related to the wrist where required.

Acupuncture treatment to the wrist at our office helps improve qi flow along impacted meridians. The metal channel, comprised of the lung and large intestine lines, relates to the radial or thumb side of the wrist and hand, whereas the fire channels relate to the middle finger and ulnar or pinky side of the wrist and hand. Pain in these areas and other factors suggest that treatment-oriented along these channels will help. Dr. Oskardmay evaluates each patient individually to determine the correct course of treatment; she may use acupuncture to further the healing process if warranted.

Additionally, Dr. Oskardmay prescribes specific exercises to each person to aid in their overall healing and to reduce further injury. Be sure to tell her about your daily activities and even sleep position and other habits so that she can provide the best therapy.

Wrist pain need not linger and incapacitate. Call (919) 929-1400, email us at schedule@acudocnc.com or visit our website at acudocnc.com today to get more information and schedule an appointment. Located just off I-40 in Chapel Hill, Dr. Oskardmay provides healing chiropractic and acupuncture treatment for wrist pain and other health concerns. We look forward to helping you.

 

Dehydration and Health

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dehydration and healthDehydration occurs when a person doesn’t drink enough water to restore fluid loss throughout the day and night. Inadequate water intake creates serious health problems; dehydration will impact physical and mental well-being over time. Many people are unaware of how much water they need to drink every day to keep their organs healthy. At Acupractic, Dr. Lisa Oskardmay reminds people to drink enough water every day and find new ways to achieve this critical health goal.

Low water volume impedes healing and exacerbates muscle and joint pain. Delirium and other metal disequilibrium increase the rate of injury. Back pain, neck tightness, headaches, shoulder tendonitis, hip dysplasia, carpal tunnel syndrome, and plantar fasciitis are painful conditions that heal more slowly with depleted body water. Other severe health conditions associated with dehydration include heat injury, urinary and kidney problems, seizures, and hypovolemic (low blood volume) shock. Other issues include constipation, lack of sweating, dry, shriveled skin, fever, confusion, sunken eyes, tachycardia, and unconsciousness.

What Causes Dehydration?

The loss of 10-15% of body water causes severe dehydration. Common causes of excess water loss include diarrhea, vomiting, excessive sweating, fever, and polyurea. Excessive coffee, alcohol, or other diuretic beverages can promote water loss through increased urination. Hopefully, following episodes of excess water loss, people recognize that it is essential to drink more water to restore lost fluids. Nonetheless, many people walk around every day suffering from inadequate water intake even without these high loss scenarios because they do not make water drinking a regular habit throughout the day.

The US National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an average adequate daily fluid intake for men is 15.5 cups (124 oz=3.7 liters), and for women is 11.5 cups (92 oz=2.7 liters). Another way to think about this is to strive daily to drink about ¾ of an ounce of water for each pound of body weight; a 150 lb person should drink 112.5 oz of water a day. Spread over a day; that is about one glass of water an hour.

It is vital to drink water-filled beverages rather than sodas, coffees, or other drinks that contain elements the body needs to remove or substances that increase diureses like caffeine and alcohol. Many drinks have artificial sweeteners, coloring molecules, flavoring agents, and other factors that impact their purity and impede the kidney’s natural elimination function that pure water enhances.

Many people do not drink enough water because they drink bottled water which is expensive and wasteful. In contrast, it may seem prudent to buy bottled water if you mistrust tap water; strongly re-consider the actual cost of this decision. Most tap water is at least as safe as bottled water which sits around in plastic bottles all day. If you still need to drink bottled water, consider using a home filter like Brita or getting a refillable water bottle with a built-in filter. Additionally, water bottling companies spend a lot of money marketing their products. It is unnecessary to spend money on water when it is free, safe, and available in sinks and water fountains everywhere.

Some people do not like the taste of water. It is ok to add natural flavors to the water to enhance its taste. Lemon, lime, essential oils, and non-caffeinated teas may help.

Some people work in professions where it is challenging to take bathroom breaks, so they avoid drinking water to keep from needing to use the restroom. Nurses, teachers, doctors, pilots, and anyone who has trouble taking breaks may find themselves in this situation. Try to drink more water at the start of each day and increase awareness to stay hydrated.

At Acupractic Natural Center, our goal is to help each person achieve better health. Naturally, We are about 60% water- the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, the lungs are about 83% water, the skin contains 64% water, the muscles and kidneys are 79% water, and the bones are 31% water. Even mild dehydration over time will significantly impact each organ and tissue’s ability to function, heal, and perform. Call (919) 929-1400, email schedule@acudocnc.com or visit our website acudocnc.com to schedule your appointment today.

Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics Usage Linked to Cartilage Weakness

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Chiropractor and Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC

At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, the chiropractic and acupuncture healthcare clinics of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay in Chapel Hill, we do a complete exam before treatment. Part of the exam is getting a list of current medications. Dr. Oskardmay needs to know which drugs a person takes because sometimes medications have side effects that can affect one’s health and even impact the treatment plan at our office. Fluoroquinolone antibiotics are popular medications with crucial health implications we discuss here. Germs and viruses abound in everyone’s world, and each of us needs to use caution in our choice of healing method to deal with them because sometimes the cure is worse than the illness. Read more to learn about fluoroquinolone antibiotics and cartilage weakness.

What are Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics?

Fluoroquinolones are antibiotics with broad-spectrum applicability; MDs prescribe these drugs for various health problems: cold, flu, sinusitis, other infections. The drugs are effective, hence their popularity. Nonetheless, fluoroquinolones also have problematic side effects, one of which is newly appreciated in the literature and relates to the destruction of cartilage in various body areas. Most people – patients and providers alike, are unaware of this side effect, despite FDA concerns and ‘black box’ designations warning providers to limit the usage of F antibiotics.

Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics and Cartilage Weakness

Some areas where we see cartilage weakness affect health include abdominal aorta resulting in the aneurysm, Achilles tendon resulting in Achilles tendonitis, and possibly even cervical ligament resulting in neck pain and other conditions. This latter concerning fact can relate to the prevalence of neck pain and instability, shoulder aches, cervical disc degeneration, cervical nerve root compression, resulting neuropathy, elbow tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other conditions related to neck cartilage. The harmful effect of fluoroquinolones antibiotics on cartilage impacts the body in many different ways.

The way fluoroquinolone antibiotics destroy cartilage appears to be related to the nutrition of this vital structure. Immediately following the use of this drug, cartilage weakness may begin. After one stops use of the antibiotic, healing begins. The body is a fantastic thing, and each of us can heal from injury and disease. Dr. Oskardmay provides chiropractic adjustment, massage, acupuncture, and other techniques to restore movement and nutrition to injured cartilage, which helps to facilitate healing on many levels.

Medications have the potential to change the body in good ways and unintended negative ways. Americans utilize medications more than any other industrialized country in the world. Patients can visit the website drugs.com to review the side effects of F antibiotics and other drugs. Dr. Oskardmay uses natural healing methods to help patients reduce their need for and use of medications. The average patient over the age of 65 is on five or more drugs, suffering from a condition known as ‘polypharmacy’. The harmful effect of Fluoroquinolones antibiotics on cartilage is just one negative side effect of medications. Call (919) 929-1400, email schedule@acudocnc.com, or visit our website at acudocnc.com to see how natural healing methods can help you. Located just 1 mile off 1-40 in Chapel Hill, we look forward to assisting you.

What Causes Right-Sided Body Pain and How to Treat It?

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Chiropractor and Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC

Many patients experience one-sided stomach aches and pain, and other symptoms. When symptoms predominantly afflict the right side of one’s body, this can suggest that we regard certain internal conditions that relate to the right laterality. This is partly due to the location of specific organs and connected referral patterns. At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, the chiropractic and acupuncture offices of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay, Dr. Oskardmay utilizes palpation and other diagnostic techniques to determine the cause of pain and then treats appropriately.

Right-sided upper abdominal pain can indicate an ulcer, especially if dull burning pain is bloating, burping, poor appetite, and weight loss. Dr. Oskardmay will ask about bacterial infections and NSAID usage, which can cause peptic ulcers. She may suggest alternative treatments, including specific dietary changes to alleviate stomach pain. Additionally, she will adjust spinal segments related to the stomach to improve nerve input and nutrition to vital areas and suggest exercises to improve digestion. Acupuncture treatment restores qi flow to stagnant meridians and organs to support overall body wellness and reduce the need for NSAIDs.

Lower abdominal pain on the right side can indicate appendicitis, a medical condition that frequently requires emergency surgery to remove the inflamed appendix before it ruptures. A hallmark of appendicitis is fever; we recommend that patients with lower right-sided abdominal pain and a fever check with their medical doctors as soon as possible.

One other common cause of lower right-sided abdominal pain is IBS or irritable bowel syndrome, especially if GI symptoms such as bloating, gassiness, and a change in bowel habits accompany the pain. Dr. Oskardmay will palpate the abdominal area and inquire regarding digestion symptoms to reach a diagnosis. While it may take a further medical examination to differentiate between IBS and Crohns, Ulcerative Colitis, and other conditions, right-sided lower abdominal pain frequently indicates IBS. Dr. Oskardmay can help patients improve IBS symptoms using nutrition and exercise prescriptions and chiropractic adjustment to the back to reduce muscle tightness and improve nerve flow to the small and large intestines. She also provides acupuncture treatment to balance yin and yang qi flow along the involved channels to relax the body and mind to improve overall health.

The right side of the body also connects with the liver and gall bladder meridians, or wood channel in Chinese medicine. Pain in the right side of the twelfth rib area, near the physical liver and gallbladder nestled in its lobes, suggests wood channel imbalance. Specific areas on the foot along the wood yin channel also indicate an imbalance in this crucial pathway. Dr. Oskardmay will assess particular areas to help you understand the underlying cause of pain and make treatment suggestions to help you achieve better health. Using chiropractic and acupuncture to improve nerve and qi flow, she can help reduce pain and prevent worsening symptoms. When needed, she will refer patients to other providers.

At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, Dr. Oskardmay strives to understand the cause of one-sided body aches and pains to provide the best care. Call 919-929-1400, visit our website at acudocnc.com, or email schedule@acudocnc.com today to schedule an appointment or learn more.

 

Acupuncture Treatment of Hand Pain

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Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC

acupuncture treatment of hand painAt Acupractic Natural Healing Center, the chiropractic and acupuncture offices of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay in Chapel Hill, she uses a variety of treatments to help patients suffering from hand pain. A licensed acupuncturist working in the Triangle area since 1995, Dr. Oskardmay recognizes the importance of healing on many levels to achieve lasting results. Chinese medicine recognizes that energy channels course the body; unblocking energy flow in these channels or meridians is the key to resolving hand pain and other ailments. Acupuncture treatment of hand pain starts with a careful diagnosis. Dr. Oskardmay utilizes acupuncture, massage, and adjustment procedures as needed to fix channel flow stagnation that affects the hands and other areas.

Channels traveling through each person’s hand include metal on the thumb side, special fire along the middle, and fire along the pinky side. Metal relates to the organs lung and large intestine, special fire relates to the pericardium and triple burner, and fire refers to the heart and small intestine. This imbalance of qi flow or energy stagnation in specific channels presents unique treatment opportunities. Dr. Oskardmay can use points along with the metal, special fire, fire, and related tracks on the body to help relieve hand pain.

Dr. Oskardmay uses palpation and other diagnostic techniques to determine if specific metal channel points closer to the elbow and along the forearm and hand relate to thumb side pain. Following hands-on evaluation and massage of channel points, she may insert tiny acupuncture needles in these points to unblock qi flow to help the body heal itself. Additionally, she may use other related meridian points to free qi flow along these related energy pathways. Treatment may include points along the earth channel that courses the front of the body to create needed change in the related metal channel. Alternately, she may use points along the back paraspinal region to affect the thumb in certain situations.

Similarly, energy blockage in the middle of the hand relates to special fire meridians pericardium and triple burner. Use of these and possibly points along the related wood channels that exist on the side and front side of the body are often needed to effect change in the middle part of the hand. Alternately, Dr. Oskardmay may use acupuncture to stimulate fire channel heart and small intestine points of the pinky side of the hand to elicit change in that region of the hand. Related meridians are the bladder and kidney of the water channel.

Acupuncture treatment of hand pain involves the placement of tiny needles into specific points related to energy stagnation areas. Points may be nearby the area of pain or distal, depending on the associated meridian. Dr. Oskardmay uses acupuncture to help people feel better naturally by determining the cause of qi flow blockage and unlocking qi flow naturally using acupuncture, massage, and hands-on mobilization techniques. Serving the Triangle since 1995, Dr. Oskardmay looks forward to helping you. Call today at (919) 929-1400 or schedule online at acudocnc.com anytime to see how acupuncture and other natural methods can help.

 

Weight Loss Using an Online App – My Experience

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Chiropractor and Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC

At Acupractic Natural Healing Center chiropractic and acupuncture health clinic in Chapel Hill, we strive to help people learn ways to be healthier. Virtual and online programs offer a new and exciting means to obtain information and motivation and occasionally foster a healing community. I recently signed up for a new online program called Noom for weight loss and better eating habits. This blog post aims to describe my experience and offer an additional healthy eating tool others may also find helpful.

Healthful eating is one of the best ways to ward off weight gain, inflammation, and certain illnesses. Our society provides a vast array of eating choices, and sometimes it isn’t straightforward to choose healthy foods. Additionally, each person is different regarding their access to specific foods, exercise regimen, metabolism, genetics, and sleep. Having a readily available app on the cell phone or other device to keep track of these variables seems helpful. Additionally, the new app promises to provide online coaching to support health goals. Sounds good.

My experience with the app started with inputting personal data- height, weight, gender, date of birth, etc. Next, the system inquired about my weight loss goals and reasons for losing weight. Periodic ‘messages’ appeared to remind me to read particular articles related to my goals. The articles and messages appear to be autogenerated, but someone did rapidly respond to my one question about how to log walking/step taken each day. It turns out the app connects automatically to FitBit, which I wear on my wrist to get a proper step sound each day.

Helpful lessons from app psychiatrists guided me along the journey as I progressed each day. Topics such as motivation plan creation, breathwork, learning to love the scale, and identifying low-calorie foods support knowledge and understanding. Each day I dedicated 5-10″ listening to or reading articles provided. I found the information well presented and intriguing.

While weight loss is a fundamental goal of app participants, the psychiatrists point out that weight may fluctuate from day to day, so daily weighing in is, in their eyes, key to success. They point out that a person should weigh themself in the mornings before eating to keep fluctuations to a minimum. Other measurable attributes scalable on this app include blood pressure, blood sugar, amount and type of exercise, and water consumed. One can request reminder notifications to input each of these pieces of data each day. I chose to keep track of water, exercise, and food. Inputting other data just felt unnecessary and invasive.

When it came to logging food for each meal and snacks and beverages, the app provides space to ask for the type of food and serving size. The app lists a huge variety of ready-made foods and packaged entrees, making it easy to keep track of foods if you eat that kind of meal, highlighting calories, fat, protein, carbohydrate, and fiber content of each meal and snack. There is means to homemade input meals, as well, and to save items for future reference. I could see exactly how many calories I consumed and whether or not I had gone over or under my caloric burn that day. Incidentally, caloric burn is determined by a baseline calorie burn plus any other burn from exercise and walking.

I found the app helpful and enlightening in many ways, and a motivated individual will find many opportunities to learn more about themselves through this app and others like it. I liked the ease of data entry, except for the home-cooked meals aspect and the motivational conversations related to weight loss, sleep, exercise, and other elements. For the right person, this and other apps can provide a means to increase the personal awareness needed to navigate nutrition in our country.

Call 919- 929-1400 at the chiropractic and acupuncture offices of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay to discuss weight loss and healthy eating goals. Accepting new patients, we look forward to helping you learn more about how alternative medicine can help you. Schedule online 24 hours a day.

 

Health Saving Accounts (HSA) Cover Chiropractic and Acupuncture

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Chiropractor and Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC

According to IRS Publication 502 (Publication 502 (2021) ‘Medical and Dental Expenses |Internal Revenue Service’ (irs.gov), both chiropractic and acupuncture are included for Health Savings Accounts (HSA) reimbursements. Accordingly, people can use their HSAs to pay for chiropractic or acupuncture services, a welcome benefit, and a tax break for the millions of Americans seeking additional ways to pay for needed care.

At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, we strive to help each patient understand how to use their insurance and health savings account benefits to make the most of their available resources. Knowledge and understanding reduce stress and improve overall patient satisfaction. Patients can use their HSA accounts to pay for copays, deductibles, or uncovered services if they like. Their HSA account is just like a credit card with a specific balance available for many people. Combining the tax-advantaged savings power of an HSA with a standard insurance account helps many people use chiropractic and acupuncture, and many other medically necessary treatments.

Options for Using Your HSA to Cover Chiropractic and Acupuncture Services

One can use HSA accounts to pay for services covered by insurance and chiropractic and acupuncture services not covered by their insurance at our office. We participate with many popular insurance plans, including United Health Care, UMR, Cigna, BlueCross BlueShield, Federal BCBS, Aetna, Humana, Medcost, Medicare, and others. Because Dr. Oskardmay is a licensed chiropractic physician, most plans cover chiropractic services and, increasingly, cover acupuncture at our office since Dr. Oskardmay is also a licensed acupuncturist. Choosing to use your HSA account to pay for the portion of care not covered by insurance is a smart move because it magnifies your benefits. Additionally, we do the billing for you and only collect our ‘Participating Provider’ agreed upon amounts from your HSA plus any noncovered fees disclosed to you in advance.

Dr. Lisa Oskardmay offers chiropractic and acupuncture to help Triangle patients with back pain, neck pain, headaches, stress, shoulder discomfort, knee trouble, plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and many other conditions. Alternative medicine works because treatment helps the body heal itself naturally, whether used in conjunction with other medical therapies or not. Dr. Oskardmay also provides massage and health counseling at every visit- HSA included services. Additional services we provide as part of a treatment plan may consist of: cupping massage, auriculotherapy, exercise prescription, nutrition and weight control counseling, and physical therapy adjunctive therapies.

Call today at (919) 929-1400 or email us at schedule@acudocnc.com to learn more about how complementary and alternative medical healthcare can help you achieve your healthcare goals and see how you can use your insurance and HSA benefits to pay for needed care. Check out our patient reviews to see what other Durham, Chapel Hill, and surrounding community residents have to say about Acupractic Natural Healing Center, serving the Triangle since 1995.