How Flat Back Syndrome Benefits from Alternative Medical Care

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At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, the alternative medicine office of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay in Chapel Hill, we emphasize whole-body healing through natural means. When postural problems such as flat back syndrome exist in a person, Dr. Oskardmay uses a combination of therapies to support better posture, resulting in less pain and distortion. Patients benefit from care at our office because treatment is gentle and effective, and patients learn exercises and make small changes that have big impacts on their well-being.

What is Flat Back Syndrome?

A person has flat-back syndrome when their back lacks some of the natural protective curvature in the spine, particularly in the lower lumbar region. Reduced lumbar spine curves can impact a person in many ways. Patients may have trouble standing up straight, they likely have anterior head posture and experience undo fatigue at the end of the day. Flat back syndrome may arise from birth, degenerative disc disease, or trauma. Whatever the cause, persons experiencing flat back syndrome suffer inordinate amounts of stress in their joints in part from the lack of resilience the flat back curve creates.

Dr. Oskardmay examines each patient for postural imbalances. She utilizes massage therapy and chiropractic adjustments to the spine and extremities to restore proper spinal bone alignment and relax tight muscles. This helps patients with flat-back syndrome because, over time, postural distortions such as flat-back syndrome damage spinal vertebral connections and muscle balance. Over time this causes undue pressure on the nerves. Dr. Oskardmay may use Activator adjusting or hands-on manual adjustments to improve spine biomechanics and nerve flow throughout the body.

Using Acupuncture treatment to improve qi flow throughout the body, Dr. Oskardmay helps the spine and connected ligaments heal. Acupuncture is a time-tested therapy that helps reduce stress, and improve restful sleep and digestion, as well.

Additionally, we recognize the crucial role exercise has in the treatment of postural distortions. In flat back syndrome, the pelvis is tipped backward. This may be because of an imbalance in the thigh abdominal and back muscles. Employing stretching and strengthening protocols designed to stretch tight muscles and strengthen weak ones, Dr. Oskardmay supports postural imbalance in key ways.

Each patient is unique and, in our office, we strive to help each person obtain better health using natural means. Persons with flat back syndrome, lordotic posture, sway back posture, and other postural deviations all benefit from natural chiropractic and acupuncture medicine. With additional help using balanced exercises, Dr. Oskardmay can help many people suffering from back pain, fatigue, anterior head carriage, and other conditions associated with postural deviation such as flat back syndrome.

Call today to see how natural healthcare can help you. Serving Chapel Hill, Durham, and surrounding areas since 1995, we participate with most major insurance plans and are accepting new patients. Call us today at (919) 929-1400, email us at schedule@acudocnc.com or visit our website at acudocnc.com to schedule your appointment today.

Faulty Posture as Relates to Back Pain and Tight Muscles

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There are three main postural faults we see in practice. Patients with one of these posture problems will benefit from care emphasizing spinal alignment and proper muscle balance. Please read on if you or a loved one needs help understanding which exercises are most beneficial and which ones to avoid for your presentation. In this blog post, we will discuss the first of these three postural faults, saving the next two for the next post. At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, the chiropractic and acupuncture offices of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay in Chapel Hill, we help patients look and feel better and stand taller with less pain by paying attention to posture, and all that affects it.

Postural Faults

The three postural faults are lordosis posture, flat-back posture, and sway-back posture. The anatomical position of certain joints, which muscles are tight or shortened, and which muscles are lengthened or overstretched varies for each fault. Beneficial treatment depends on proper diagnosis and attention to the spinal alignment of attached muscles and ligaments, as well as the prescribed attuned stretching and strengthening exercises. Dr. Oskardmay strives to provide patients with holistic care, including vertebral adjustment, massage, stretching, and exercise therapy. Patients leave each treatment feeling refreshed and energized with a better understanding of their condition and how to proceed with care and self-care.

The low back appears angular from the side view in the lordotic posture. The lumbar spine is hyperextended (the Tailbone is more pronounced), the pelvis has an anterior tilt (meaning the ASIS is anterior to the pubic bone), and the hip joints are in flexion. Tight low back muscles (erector spinae) and tight hip flexors muscles (psoas and rectus femoris/quadriceps on the front of the thigh) contribute to the accentuated lumbar curve as they pull on the top front of the hip bone (ASIS), pulling it down and front. Lengthened, weak muscles include the abdominal muscles (especially the external oblique) and the hip extensors (gluteals and hamstrings on the back of the thighs). Treatment includes spinal mobilization of involved segments throughout the spine (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar) to resolve nerve disruption to crucial muscles.

Additionally, Dr. Oskardmay provides needed stretching of the lower back muscles and hip flexors using hands-on procedures, massage, acupuncture, and electrostimulation. She also teaches patients how to do strengthening exercises for weak abdominal muscles and hip extensors. Periodic re-evaluation and check-in help to ensure that treatment is working.

At Acupracitic NHC, natural healing for the Triangle since 1995, we want patients to understand how to get and stay well using the most natural means possible. Each person has it within him or herself to be well. Accepting new patients, we look forward to your call at 919-929-1400 or email schedule@acudocnc.com, or visit us on the web at acudocnc.com anytime to schedule and learn more about how natural care can help you.

 

Ear Acupuncture: What is it and How Can it Help?

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Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC

Ear Acupuncture, also known as auriculotherapy, is a type of acupuncture therapy wherein Licensed acupuncturist Dr. Lisa Oskardmay places tiny sterile acupuncture needles in specific areas of the outer ear or auricle to stimulate a healing response in the body and mind. Acupuncture is based on the theory that health depends on a balanced flow of qi or energy in the body. Like the blood flow or nerve impulses, qi flow travels along meridians or channels throughout the body, delivering healing energy. The ears are critical to acupuncture treatment because all body areas have points on the auricles, and qi flowing from these points balances qi elsewhere. Auriculotherapy has many beneficial applications, and patients at our acupuncture clinic in Chapel Hill appreciate how treatment helps them.

How Ear Acupuncture Can Help

Ear acupuncture works on the premise that ear points relate to various areas of the body; stimulation of these areas sends messages to the brain to deliver healing energy or qi to the body area. For instance, a point called Ear Shen men corresponds with the hip and pelvic region, whereas other points nearby relate to other body areas. Dr. Oskardmay uses auriculotherapy with other therapies to support health and relieve body pain and other conditions. Headaches and migraines, fibromyalgia, stress, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), neck, shoulder, hip, and back aches benefit from care, as do other conditions. One added benefit of ear acupuncture is that it is very relaxing, and treatment need not be performed at a painful site but rather on the ear, distal to the site of pain.

Traditional Chinese medicine ear acupuncture has other potential benefits. People use auriculotherapy to help resolve a wide range of health concerns, including insomnia, depression, allergies, and anxiety, and to resolve the effects of chemotherapy and cancer pain. Additionally, treatments exist to help people quit smoking and other addictive behaviors, lose weight, and resolve digestive disorders. Many people report improved quality of life, less pain and better energy after auriculotherapy treatment.

After an initial exam at our clinic, Dr. Oskardmay inserts the needles and patients rest comfortably for 15-20″ before she removes the needles. Treatment is not painful, although some people feel a small sting at some points. Sometimes, Dr. Oskardmay places an ear magnet in the ear for patients to press between visits to stimulate certain points. Most patients return for follow-up care, and some come in for a series of treatments.

If you are looking for ear acupuncture near you to help with pain, stress, or emotional distress, call us at 919-929-1400 or visit us online at acudocnc.com today to schedule an appointment. Serving the Chapel Hill community since 1995, the acupuncture and chiropractic offices of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay is here to help you feel better.

Upper Cross Syndrome, Neck and Shoulder Arm Pain

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Chiropractor and Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC

Many people experience pain in their neck, shoulders, and upper back. The cause of this pain may be a syndrome known as Upper Cross Syndrome. In Upper Cross Syndrome, weak muscles of the mid and upper back cause tightness in the pectoral and neck muscles. Pain and tightness across the upper body, neck, and shoulder regions result in reduced range of motion, stiffness, and neck achiness. At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, the chiropractic and acupuncture offices of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay, we help patients experiencing Upper Cross syndrome and other conditions using various natural healing methods, including chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture, massage, and other physical modalities.

The serratus and trapezius muscles cover much of the upper back. The serratus anterior muscle (so-called for its serrated knife appearance) originates at the upper nine ribs and attaches to the medial edge of the underside of the scapula. This muscle stabilizes the scapula, allowing boxers to punch and yoga practitioners to do plank exercises and other movements. Innervation for this vital muscle comes from the long thoracic nerve (C5-7), a branch of the brachial plexus. When a person experiences subluxation inflammation in the lower part of the neck where these nerves arise, it may affect the brachial plexus and these muscles.

The trapezius muscle is a back muscle that originates in the head and neck and covers the shoulders and part of the back. This large muscle stabilizes posture and moves and lifts the shoulders. Motor innervation to this vital muscle of postural stabilization and shoulder and neck movement comes from a cranial nerve called the spinal accessory nerve.

Weakness in the trapezius and serratus muscles happens from disuse or misuse of the muscles. Misuse of the muscles can occur when a person doesn’t stretch before exercise or uses the muscle beyond its capacity or for too long. Causes of weakness include inadequate muscle exercise, muscle trigger points, general body tightness, and improper nerve flow to the muscles. Improper nerve flow can result from poor spinal alignment, subluxation, and other factors. These can result in upper cross syndrome and tight neck and pectoral muscles.

As a licensed chiropractor, Dr. Oskardmay can help patients understand and heal the cause of their neck, upper back, and shoulder pain and tightness. She can mobilize specific vertebral segments associated with nerve and muscle flow to the involved head, neck, and shoulder areas using chiropractic adjustments. Additionally, massage, acupuncture, and other physical modalities and treatments help improve neck, back, and shoulder pain caused by upper cross syndrome. Call today at (919) 929-1400, email us at schedule@acudocnc.com or visit our website at acudocnc.com to schedule your appointment any time and learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Chiropractic and Acupuncture Care

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Acupractic Natural Healing Center in Chapel Hill

1. Can a person get chiropractic and acupuncture treatments on the same day?

Many patients receive chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture treatment during the same visit. Dr. Oskardmay provides chiropractic spinal mobilization to restore spine alignment pain-free movement, and improve nerve flow; acupuncture treatment supports good qi flow throughout the body.

2. Does insurance cover Chiropractic and acupuncture care at your office?

Our office participates with many insurance plans, including BCBS, Cigna, Aetna, Medicare, United Healthcare, and others covering Chiropractic and acupuncture care. Be sure to check your schedule, and feel free to contact us if you have questions. As always, we help you understand your insurance benefits and do the billing for you for covered services. You can use your FSA and HSA accounts at ANHC, as well as all other regularly accepted forms of payment. Please let us know if you are in hardship and require a payment plan to pay for needed care over time.

3. How long does a treatment take?

Dr. Oskardmay provides a comprehensive examination for the initial visit, which can take 45”. Please allow approximately 20″ for follow-up chiropractic adjustments and 45″ for follow-up acupuncture care; combined follow-up visits last up to 60″.

4. Does the treatment hurt?

For most patients, treatment does not hurt. Dr. Oskardmay utilizes the most gentle treatment methodologies available. Trained in Activator Technique and diversified Hands-On mobilization methods, the doctor emphasizes gentle, effective care. Also, Acupuncture does not typically hurt, and most patients appreciate the comforting experience. Always discuss your wants and needs with the doctor, and she will tailor treatment to your needs.

5. Are x-rays required to get a chiropractic adjustment?

We do not require nor take in-office X-rays at Acupractic Natural Healing Center. If you and your doctor decide X-rays are needed, we can refer you to several quality x-ray facilities nearby.

6. Do you have handicapped accessibility?

Our office is handicapped accessible with external accessible parking and other attributes. Our treatment tables elevate and rise to accommodate those who cannot walk or get off regular tables.

7. Can I exercise after chiropractic care? After acupuncture care?

While it is generally safe to exercise following treatment, Dr. Oskardmay advises patients to wait an hour or two before engaging in intense activities.

8. How many treatments will I need before I feel better?

Each patient is different, and Dr. Oskardmay provides care according to each patient’s needs. We cannot guarantee a time frame for individual patient response and improvement. Many patients, however, start to feel better from day one and progress to getting better as time passes. An initial course of care may take two to six weeks, depending on individual needs and actions.

9. What conditions does Chiropractic treat? What diseases does Acupuncture treat?

Chiropractic adjustments help to improve posture and the functioning of the nervous system throughout the body. Many people get chiropractic adjustive therapy for neck and back pain, shoulder and arm discomfort, hip and leg concerns, and general spinal checkups. Not dissimilarly, patients request acupuncture services to alleviate headaches, neck and wrist pain, back and foot aches, infertility, and stress issues. We use Acupuncture to help people stop smoking and lose weight. Additionally, Dr. Oskardmay enjoys assisting people to look and feel better with Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture, a 45″ procedure using tiny facial needles, facial massage, and aromatherapy.

10. Do you do massage at AHNC?

As part of a standard treatment plan, Dr. Oskardmay uses thumper massage to relax the body and muscles. Trained in Asian medicine techniques, she can also do cupping massages and gua sha when requested and where indicated. Massage is not a stand-alone treatment at our office.

11. How do I make an appointment?

Call us at 919 929-1400 during regular business hours to schedule an appointment, or go online to our website, acudocnc.com, anytime to schedule 24 hours a day. Our normal business hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 8:30 to 5:30, with lunch breaks, Wednesday from 12:30 to 5:30, and Friday from 8:30 to 12:30.

12. Is Dr. Lisa Oskardmay licensed in Chiropractic and Acupuncture?

Dr. Oskardmay attended the National College of Chiropractic and is a licensed doctor of Chiropractic. She attended Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine and is a licensed acupuncturist.

13. Can you adjust or do Acupuncture for pregnant women?

Many pregnant women appreciate the benefits of Chiropractic and acupuncture care at our office. We have unique tables to adjust pregnant people safely, and when doing Acupuncture, Dr. Oskardmay utilizes safe protocol to apply this beneficial treatment.

14. Are you accepting new patients?
We welcome new patients at ANHC and strive to get you in as soon as possible.

What is Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture and How Can It Benefit You?

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Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC

People recognize the strength of acupuncture treatment to reduce body pain, headaches, insomnia and stress, nausea, and even enhance fertility. But many people need to be aware that this aspect of Chinese medicine can also improve facial appearance, lessen wrinkles, and lift sagging skin. Also known as cosmetic acupuncture or acupuncture facelift, Facial rejuvenation acupuncture is a safer alternative to surgery or Botox that improves overall skin health while addressing the signs of aging. Users say it helps the skin look younger, healthier, and naturally smother without toxic injections or costly surgical procedures. As a licensed acupuncturist trained in Facial Rejuvenation acupuncture, Dr. Lisa Oskardmay in Chapel Hill enjoys helping clients naturally regain a more youthful appearance.

Acupuncture is a popular, safe body and mind treatment used worldwide. Dr. Lisa Oskardmay follows strict guidelines to maintain her client’s safety. Before starting facial acupuncture sessions, the client and doctor review past medical history via a health history intake form and physical review. Dr. Oskardmay performs a pulse assessment and examines the skin and other areas to determine overall body health and areas of qi stagnation. She believes fully in the ability of acupuncture and other natural treatments to improve overall body health, a requisite to looking and feeling better.

Facial Rejuvenation Treatment

Each facial rejuvenation treatment begins with massage and aromatherapy. Using tiny, thin acupuncture needles, she insets into specific regions and points; Dr. Oskardmay helps to stimulate qi flow in the face and surrounding areas. Following gentle point stimulation, clients rest comfortably on the treatment table with calming spa music, warm ambiance, soothing scents, and breathing instructions designed to awaken the body’s inner healer.

While most treatment points are in the face, Dr. Oskardmay also chooses several body points along specific meridians or channels to support qi flow in particular areas. All elements- wood, fire, earth, metal, and water- exist in the face as much as they live in the limbs and other body areas; imbalance in any of these areas is portrayed in the face, and acupuncture generally helps to resolve the imbalance.

For instance, the eyes are the opening of the wood channel. Stagnation of wood qi may impede qi flow to the organs of vision and reflect in areas surrounding the eyes. The tongue and blood reflect fire qi, and too much or too little fire element may show in the face as pale and sallowness. Earth qi manifests in the muscles and the mouth area. Wrinkles around the mouth and worry lines suggest earth element imbalance. The nose region reflects the metal element. Pore size, the sense of smell, and other aspects show balance in the metal element. Lastly, one sees the water element in the eyes, surrounding creases, and musculature.

Facial rejuvenation acupuncture is a safe, helpful method to improve overall facial and body appearance. Dr. Oskardmay loves helping patients look and feel better naturally using this acupuncture subspeciality. Call today at 919-929-1400 to learn more about how acupuncture can help you. Serving the Durham, Chapel Hill, and wider Triangle region, Acupractic Natural Healing Center in Chapel Hill is here for you. Or visit us online at acudocnc.com anytime to learn more and to schedule an appointment. Open Monday through Friday, we hope to see you soon!

 

Does Insurance Cover Acupuncture?

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Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC

As the popularity of acupuncture treatment for many conditions grows, more insurance plans offer acupuncture benefits. This is terrific news for patients who need care for conditions such as headaches, back and neck pain, shoulder aches, carpel tunnel, infertility, insomnia, and many other disorders acupuncture helps. Nonetheless, insurance coverage for acupuncture must be more consistent between plans, and coverage guidelines may be hard to understand. At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, we know this and strive to help each patient with insurance questions related to our acupuncture and chiropractic.

Patients may need to go into their insurance plan’s online search database to determine if acupuncture is a covered benefit. Four principal codes are available for acupuncture benefits, as indicated by the following ICD (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) codes. 97810 means the first 15″ of acupuncture treatment, 97811 is the second 15″, 97813 indicates the first 15″ of electro-acupuncture treatment, and 97814 is the dual 15″. One can use these codes to determine if one’s plan covers acupuncture services.

An insurance carrier may list acupuncture treatment as a covered service under a particular plan. However, when one searches for an acupuncture provider, they often do not find any listed providers. An insurance plan may cover acupuncture treatment provided by licensed acupuncturists, but they do not contract with any licensed acupuncturists. Instead, they cover acupuncture services when provided by certain providers- Participating medical doctors or doctors of chiropractic, for example, certified to practice acupuncture and participating with that particular insurance plan.

Alternatively, some insurance plans cover acupuncture services for licensed acupuncturists (LAc.). In this scenario, one should be able to find a list of LAc. Participating providers when searching for their plan for LAc. Or acupuncturists.

Acupuncture is a recognized therapy for a wide variety of health conditions, ranging from pain to infertility, insomnia to stress. However, few insurance plans pay for all treatments for all diseases. Be sure to ask about this and any other coverage limitations.

Call our office today at (919) 929-1400 to learn more about how acupuncture can help you and about insurance coverage. At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, an acupuncture and chiropractic healing center for the Triangle since 1995, we love to help people get well and stay well naturally. Our helpful front desk staff will assist you and verify your insurance benefits before care so that you know what to expect. Visit us online anytime to learn more about how natural medical care improves health and well-being, reduces aches and pain, and schedule an appointment.

The Lung and its Role in Health

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The ribcage protects the two lungs in our chest. The lungs are responsible for three main things: they deliver oxygen to the body’s cells, remove waste gases, including carbon dioxide, from the body upon exhalation, and protect the airways from irritants and harmful substances. Known as ‘the delicate organ’ in Chinese medicine, the lungs can regenerate lost or damaged cells and can do so relatively quickly after injury and some lung diseases. Our lungs are vital organs. We breathe in and out about 22,000 times daily, and many factors affect their function. Read more about the lung and its role in health.

Nerve innervation to the lungs comes from both branches of the autonomic system- sympathetic and parasympathetic, and from the phrenic nerve, a bilateral mixed nerve carrying both motor and sensory fibers. Sympathetic nerve supply from the interior to T2 to T6 segments increases breathing rate, whereas parasympathetic fibers traveling with the vagus nerve (cranial nerve 10) slow breath rate. The phrenic nerve arises in the cervical spine. It descends the thorax to innervate the diaphragm, a dome-shaped muscular partition between the thorax and abdomen that contracts to increase thorax volume to inflate the lungs; the diaphragm relaxes upon exhalation.

Other factors influencing our breath include shoulder, back, and neck motion. Whereas a pinched nerve will not directly affect the lungs, the movement of the lungs and chest cavity as one inhales and exhales can increase nerve compression and pain. Body posture influences the ribcage’s ability to expand on inhalation and the movement of the diaphragm and even the collarbone to bring air into the lungs.

At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, the acupuncture and chiropractic offices of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay in Chapel Hill, she understands the crucial role the lungs play in overall health. She recognizes the importance of various body parts that influence lung function. Through careful history, examination of the spine and extremities, review of posture, and palpation of connected areas, Dr. Oskardmay strives to help patients whose breath and breathing patterns affect their lives. Using gentle mobilization procedures to affected areas of the spine and extremities, she helps restore alignment and pain-free movement.

In Chinese medicine, the fall season relates to the lungs as the metal yin organ. The metal yin organ corresponds with letting go of unneeded things, detoxification, and the natural decline of the autumn season as we prepare for winter. For some, this decline and letting go brings grief, and for others, clarity.

Breathing intentionally and slowly is a way to release troublesome thoughts. The next time you experience stress, take a moment to inhale and appreciate how your lungs help you.

Call us at (919) 929-1400, email or visit our website today to learn more about the lung and its role in health, to schedule an appointment, and to learn more about how natural healing can help to improve your health and well-being. Trusted by the Triangle since 1995, the acupuncture and chiropractic offices of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay in Chapel Hill are here for you.

Questions People Ask About Acupuncture

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Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC

Acupuncture is a popular complementary and alternative medical treatment in this country and worldwide. Nonetheless, many people have questions regarding this type of healthcare. Frequent questions include: Is Acupuncture real? Is it safe? Is Acupuncture covered by Medicare or other forms of insurance? Is it effective? Is it a scam or pseudoscience? Is acupuncture treatment safe during pregnancy? Is it good for low back pain? Do acupuncturists treat sports injuries? Does Acupuncture help fertility? What are the benefits of acupuncture treatment? Is there an acupuncturist near me that takes insurance? Read more about questions people ask about acupuncture.

In this blog post, I will tackle the first question- Is Acupuncture real? For answers to other questions people ask about acupuncture, visit our webpage: Acudocnc.com, or call the office of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay LAc, DC, at (919) 929-1400, or come in for a consultation. Located in Chapel Hill in Eastowne Hills and serving the Triangle region since 1995 with quality acupuncture and chiropractic, we look forward to helping you.

Is Acupuncture Real?

Acupuncture is real. According to a branch of the NIH called the National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health, for more than 2,500 years, acupuncture practitioners have used fine needles to treat many health conditions. Initially a branch of Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture has gained worldwide support since 1970; Acupuncture is used in 80% of the world’s countries. Acupuncturists may manipulate acupuncture needles manually or with a small electric current (electroacupuncture).

Imaging studies on the brains of humans and animals show that Acupuncture may affect nervous system function. Other studies show Acupuncture’s effects on connective tissue such as ligaments, tendons, and muscles. At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, Dr. Lisa Oskardmay uses Acupuncture as part of a holistic treatment regimen to effect needed changes in the body and mind.

Many studies show that ‘real’ acupuncture treatment is more effective than no treatment and more effective than ‘sham’ or fake medicine. Many patients with back and neck pain, knee pain from osteoarthritis, or post-operative pain know that Acupuncture helps them. Additionally, Acupuncture can help reduce joint pain from cancer therapy, such as breast cancer aromatase inhibitor treatment. Analysis of data from more than 6,000 participants who had painful conditions such as back pain, headaches, or osteoarthritis show that the benefits of acupuncture treatment continued for more than a year or more after treatment. Other research described by the NCCIH shows the use of Acupuncture for non-pain conditions such as allergies, stress incontinence, nausea and vomiting from cancer treatment, and asthma.

At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, our patients enjoy the full benefit of Acupuncture, spinal and joint mobilization chiropractic, and soft tissue massage. Acupuncture provides natural relief for many people worldwide, and in our office, we are proud to offer treatments that help people get well naturally. Open Monday to Friday, we accept new patients and look forward to helping you get the answers and healthcare you need. Call us today at (919) 929-1400, email us at schedule@acudocnc.com or schedule online at acudocnc.com.

 

Questions People Frequently Ask About Chiropractic

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Chiropractor Chapel Hill, NC

People have many important questions related to chiropractic care. Some of those questions about chiropractic include: why do medical doctors disagree with chiropractors? Is there such a thing as going to the chiropractor too much? How healthy is chiropractic? Is chiropractic spiritual? Are chiropractors doctors?

Why do medical doctors disagree with chiropractors?

I will tackle the first question about chiropractic in this blog; stay tuned for upcoming blog posts for answers to some of the other questions. Why do medical doctors disagree with chiropractors? The question assumes that medical doctors DO disagree with chiropractors, an assumption that is not necessarily accurate these days. A primary adage of all healing practitioners- medical and alternative, is DO NO HARM. Most medical doctors recognize that chiropractors have an incredible safety record. Compared to the medical profession, chiropractic services are incredibly safe and have superior clinical effectiveness for many conditions. It is not uncommon for medical doctors to refer to chiropractors and other alternative healing practitioners for conditions such as back pain, headaches, stress-related symptoms, neck pain, and others when they recognize that what they have to offer- medications and surgery, aren’t helping and can have problematic side-effects.

Nonetheless, some medical doctors disagree with chiropractors because medical doctors do not know what chiropractors do nor understand the science behind chiropractic care. Chiropractors emphasize hands-on palpation and a holistic understanding of patients’ problems. While chiropractors use medical imaging – x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, for example, and can order lab tests and interpret them, chiropractors depend on hands-on diagnostic methods, patient inspection, and patient input to get to the root of the problem. Patients like this healthcare method, but medical doctors are less familiar, so they sometimes express suspicions regarding it.

Regarding the science behind chiropractic care, ample evidence shows the connection between various muscles, bones, and internal organs with the spine and nervous system. Most everyone understands the concept of a ‘pinched nerve’ as it relates to pain. Medical doctors use different methods- drugs to fight pain and relax muscles, for instance, when a patient presents with back or neck pain, headaches, shoulder aches, or wrist pain. But when the problem is a pinched nerve stemming from spinal misalignment, which is common, the chiropractic adjustment works better and faster with fewer adverse side effects.

It is fair to say that medical doctors disagree with chiropractors who say they can cure every disease using spinal adjustment techniques. Just like every ache and pain will not resolve using pain medications or surgery, other conditions- heart blockages or flu, for instance, are better managed with drugs and surgery. Patients can choose care providers to help them get and feel better. Nowadays, insurance companies cover medical and alternative medical procedures and treatments for many conditions. Patients do better when their providers are willing to help them find the best care.

There is a place for both medical care and chiropractic alternative medical care. Both medical physicians and doctors of chiropractic want patients to get well quickly and stay well safely. At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, the chiropractic and acupuncture offices of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay, we invite our medical colleagues to learn more about alternative and complementary healthcare, and we appreciate referrals. Call today at 919-929-1400, visit us online at acudocnc.com anytime, or email schedule@acudocnc.com to schedule an appointment.

Serving the communities of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham, Hillsborough, and the rest of the NC Triangle

205 Providence Rd. Chapel Hill NC 27514 | Phone: (919) 929-1400

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