Comparison of Chiropractic and Acupuncture

Chiropractor and Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC

Chiropractic and acupuncture are both holistic healthcare practices that aim to help people without emphasis on medications or surgery. These two natural healthcare methods have different origins and techniques, but they work well together to help the body heal itself. At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, the chiropractic and acupuncture offices of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay in Chapel Hill, NC, patients can receive the benefits of each treatment in one location. Read more about the comparison of chiropractic and acupuncture. 

Origins of Acupuncture

Acupuncture arose in Asia some three thousand years ago. The first documentation of acupuncture in The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine described it as an organized system of diagnosis and treatment. Acupuncturists use tiny filiform needles to stimulate qi or energy flow in body channels to improve healing response. Acupuncture treats various conditions, including pain, anxiety, digestion, etc.

Origins of Chiropractic

On the other hand, chiropractic was developed in the United States to cure disease and illness without drugs. Its founder, DD Palmer, in the late 1800s, studied the spinal structure and the ancient art of moving the body with the hands (adjustment). Today’s chiropractic strives to support spinal alignment and joint motion of the spine and extremities to improve nerve flow and overall body balance and function. While many people think chiropractic only works on back pain, studies show it benefits many other areas. Chiropractic patients worldwide report improvements in headaches, stress relief, hip and shoulder pain, and hormonal problems with chiropractic care.

Both acupuncture and chiropractic emphasize full-body integration rather than just symptoms. Both healing methods benefit musculoskeletal pain, such as neck and back problems, sciatica, and headaches. They are also helpful in addressing nervous system problems such as sciatica and carpel tunnel syndrome or plantar fasciitis.

Some acupuncturists use massage and other manual therapy techniques, and some chiropractors use acupuncture in their offices. Combining natural healing methods benefits patients who receive a more comprehensive and practical approach to their healthcare. Nonetheless, patients must find a qualified and experienced practitioner in each field, as all chiropractors or acupuncturists regularly practice both. Practice, education and experience in chiropractic and acupuncture benefit our patients daily.

As a licensed acupuncturist and Doctor of Chiropractic, serving the Triangle Community since 1995, Dr. Lisa Oskardmay enjoys helping people get well using a combination of chiropractic and acupuncture. Contact our office today to learn more about the comparison of chiropractic and acupuncture and to see how alternative and complementary medicine, chiropractic, and acupuncture can benefit you. Call 919-929-1400 or visit us online at acudocnc.com.

Stomach Pain: Symptoms and Care Options Using Acupuncture and Chiropractic

Chiropractor and Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC

If you experience abdominal pain that keeps you from doing the things you love or need to do, help is available. You do not need to suffer from abdominal discomfort, and at Acupractic Natural Healing Center, our goal is to help you get the care you need. Read more about acupuncture and chiropractic for stomach pain.

There are several causes of gastrointestinal discomfort, some more serious than others. Some common causes of stomachache include:

Gas, indigestion, food poisoning, food allergies, ulcers, appendicitis, constipation, medication reaction, dehydration, over-exercising

If you experience any of the following symptoms and abdominal pain, this might be a good reason to seek medical care. Your medical doctor may need to perform specific lab tests or other testing procedures such as X-rays, ultrasounds, or CT scans.

Tender abdomen, fever, pain lasting more than 48 hours, pain with urination, vomiting or blood in vomit, lack of bowel movements for several days, blood in stool, stomach pain during pregnancy

Acupuncture and Chiropractic for Stomach Pain

Dr. Oskardmay will ask you about your symptoms of stomach aches before treatment because getting proper care is the most important thing. Many people with stomachaches benefit from alternative medical care at our natural healthcare clinic. Chiropractic and acupuncture care options provide meaningful relief for many types of non-medical stomach pain, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), or abdominal pain sufferers who haven’t responded to medications or other medical procedures.

Using chiropractic adjustments with massage to restore balanced nerve flow to the stomach and surrounding areas, Dr. Oskardmay can help alleviate GI distress for many people. The brain and spinal cord carry nerve signals to the digestive system; disruption of nerve flow can occur from spinal misalignment and muscle imbalance in the neck, mid and lower back, which stresses the system. Using expert palpation with gentle spinal mobilization, Dr. Oskardmay will determine and correct areas of segmental disturbance to help you get back to feeling good.

Alternately, or in addition to spinal adjusting, you and Dr. Oskardmay could use acupuncture with massage to help alleviate stomach pain naturally. Good, pain-free digestion occurs without stomach pain when unimpeded qi (pronounced chee) flow happens. Several essential factors influence qi flow- posture, stress, nutrition, and environment; acupuncture treatment at our office can help restore balance to the system to get you back on track.

Call today at (919) 929-1400, email us at schedule@acudocnc.com or visit our website at acudocnc.com to see if chiropractic and acupuncture could help you feel better. Helping the Triangle since 1995 with gentle, effective alternative medicine, Dr. Lisa Oskardmay is here for you.

The Role of Alternative Medicine in Reducing the Scourge of Addiction and Abuse in the US

The number one reason why people younger than 50 die in the US is opiate overdose. Number two is suicide; Number three is medical errors. Opiate drug abuse ravages the United States for many reasons, ranging from easy access to opiate medications and drugs compounded by depression, poor general health, hard physical work, and lack of social support networks. Chiropractors, acupuncturists, and other alternative medicine health practitioners need to work with the medical community to help reduce the use and misuse of opiates in our country to alleviate the suffering caused. Television shows like ‘The Pain’ strive to portray the problem that so many US citizens already recognize. Natural healing practitioners like Dr. Lisa Oskardmay hope to help as they reduce pain naturally. . Learn more about the role of alternative medicine in reducing the scourge of addiction and abuse in the US.

The Poppy Plant is the source of morphine, a substance that fits into the same receptor in our body as endorphins, the body’s natural opiate. Natural opiates, or endorphins, are created, as their name suggests, naturally in the human body in response to invigorating exercise, sexual release, laughter, or feeling happy. We naturally strive to feel good and engage in behaviors that result in the release of endorphins. ‘Runners high’, ‘orgasm’, Nonetheless, sometimes we obtain drugs or medications that simulate this ‘high’ good feeling to overcome pain; overuse of opiates can have devastating results.

People worldwide have used opiate drugs in some form or another for 60,000 years. They report that the pill makes them feel physically good, reduces anxiety, and helps them not to care about everyday problems. Nonetheless, the happiness and pain relief offered by opiates quickly turns into unhappiness and increased sensitivity to pain as the drug soon changes the opiate receptors and serotonin relaxation response. Bliss turns to hell.

The US is a leader in opiate use and abuse. The problem has worsened since the Covid pandemic for many reasons, but the causes are multifactorial. One speaker at a recent seminar on opiate abuse told how, at 15, he broke his arm and took opiates for pain. At first, the drug felt so good, but he quickly went from oxycontin to other pharmaceuticals on the streets. He stopped after eight years but shared a list of 13 names of friends and family who have died of an overdose. A female EMS provider discussed the mental health of first responders like herself who must see the effects of opiate addiction. She related that her 26-year-old sister, school teacher, and mother of 2 died of fentanyl use. A police officer discussed Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) programs the State of Florida uses to help reduce the overuse of opiates. Still, he feels his work is just a drop in the bucket in a growing problem.

On an average day in the US, 500,000 prescriptions are written for opiate drugs. An additional 4,000 people start opiates for non-medical use, and 600 start heroin, frequently because they are addicted to opiates but cannot obtain or afford the drugs anymore. There are more than 3,300 ER visits every day in our country due to reactions to opiates. Two thousand overdoses are reported, and two hundred people die of opiate overdose every day in the United States. One hundred deaths daily are related to Fentanyl. Ninety babies are born addicted every day in our country.

The CDC, FDA, and the alternative medicine community hope to help reduce the number of prescriptions written for opiates for back pain and other neuromuscular disorders. The number one reason for people to go to the hospital is their birth; then the second one is back pain. The number one reason medical doctors prescribe opiates is back pain.

Studies show that people with back pain who go to a chiropractor, acupuncturist, or physical therapist are much less likely to take opiates. One study showed that 1% of workers’ compensation claimants who utilized chiropractic care ended up with opiate prescriptions versus 10.3% of claimants who received medical care. At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, the chiropractic and acupuncture offices of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay, we hope to help people get well without addictive pain medication use.

From a CDC Study on Dependency, many do not realize how short it takes to become addicted to opioids. After one day of use, there is a 6% risk of using it one year later; 2.9% are still using it three years later. After 12 days of use, 24% were still using it a year later; after 21 days of use, that number jumps to 35%, and after 30 days of use, 43% were still using it a year later. The risk of opiate abuse rises with each day of prescription opiate drug use. The author of this post was prescribed a 30-day supply of opiates for an uncomplicated tooth extraction recently; getting rid of the unused pills was a problem in itself. One cannot just throw new drugs in the trash or flush them. Thieves break in to steal from the medicine cabinet, and easy access to opiates in a household is never a good thing.

Research ‘National Take Back Day’ to find out when you can get rid of household medications and opiates in your house. Better yet, promote natural drug-free healing methods first to reduce the need to use opiates and risk the addiction problem. Ignore or turn off pain medication advertisements when you see them- the US and Iceland are the only countries in the world that allow this type of drug advertising.

There are several reasons why the US has the highest rate of drug abuse globally. If we work together we can help to reduce the scourge of opiate addiction that hurts us all.

Call us today at (919) 929-1400, email us at schedule@acudocnc.com or visit our website at acudocnc.com to learn more about alternative medicine or schedule an appointment today.

How Dampness in the Body Affects Health and What to Do About It

Chinese medicine strives to balance all elements in the body to instill healing. Dampness is an element that refers to water retention. When the body holds on to too much water, this dampness is a source of illness. Patients with damp constitutions frequently feel tired and bloated and are at risk of developing other health problems. At the acupuncture office of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay, she may ask about issues related to water retention dampness to get to the root cause of the problem. Read more to learn about how dampness in the body affects health.

Dampness is the underlying cause of many painful conditions, including achy joints and limb pain, low energy, depression, skin problems, foggy-headedness, headaches, and even digestive problems. Over time, dampness contributes to issues such as high cholesterol and cancer. Dampness affects the flow of qi in every body channel, which is why it has far-reaching effects over time. Dr. Oskardmay reviews each person’s health history to understand how dampness and other factors affect you.

Both external as well as internal factors cause the problem of too much body water retention. Living in a damp climate, such as in certain parts of the US, or spending a lot of time in a wet area, such as a basement, will contribute to the problem. Swimming or otherwise getting wet and staying that way for too long contributes to dampness. While it may seem daunting to change where one lives or works, there are ways to make significant alterations to where one spends time to influence the effect of dampness.

People who do not exercise or move often suffer more from water retention. Their joints ache, and the lack of energy makes it difficult to move enough. Begin with awareness and the goal of more movement and go from there. While it may seem desirable to make changes rapidly, she generally finds that people who strive to take on too much too quickly burn out, suffer injury, and then have to start over. Dr. Oskardmay will make helpful suggestions to each person to enhance functional movement safely.

Additionally, she will review food and beverage intake over time to determine how nutrition influences body dampness. Drinking cold, iced beverages and eating greasy, heavy foods worsen dampness. Alternately, some foods she will discuss, such as certain teas, vegetables, proteins, and grains, help resolve too much water. Once a person knows what causes the problem, it is far easier to handle.

Additionally, Dr. Oskardmay employs acupuncture techniques to stimulate qi flow in the channels. Dampness particularly impedes energy flow of the central earth channels- spleen and stomach; Dr. Oskardmay assesses qi flow with pulse assessment and body palpation before rendering care that improves qi movement throughout the body.

Also, as part of any treatment, Dr. Oskardmay provides massage, which improves blood circulation, reduces swelling, and promotes detoxification. Sometimes she does cupping or gua sha scraping massage to offer additional benefits and balance yin and yang differently.

At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, Dr. Oskardmay aims to help each person achieve their best self by knowing the factors that affect them and using acupuncture and other natural healing methods. Call today at (919) 929-1400 to schedule an appointment or visit us online at acudocnc.com 24 hours a day to learn more about how dampness in the body affects health and make an appointment. Serving the Triangle since 1995 with quality acupuncture and chiropractic natural healing, Dr. Lisa Oskardmay is here for you.

 

Chiropractic’s Effect on Emotional Health

Chiropractor Chapel Hill, NC

Chiropractic is a form of alternative medicine that focuses on diagnosing and treating neuromuscular disorders, with an emphasis on the spinal column. It is based on the belief that the body can heal itself and that the nervous system plays a crucial role in this process. Chiropractors use various techniques, including manual adjustments, to manipulate the spine and other joints to improve the function of the nervous system and promote healing. At the chiropractic and acupuncture clinics of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay in Chapel Hill, NC, we hear from many patients that alternative medicine care helps to improve their mental well-being. Read more to learn about chiropractic’s effect on emotional health.

How Chiropractic Has a Positive Effect on Emotional Health

One area where chiropractic is particularly effective is in treating emotional health. Studies have shown that individuals who receive chiropractic care report improvements in their emotional well-being, including reduced anxiety, depression, and stress. This is likely due to the positive effects that chiropractic care has on the nervous system, which plays a crucial role in regulating mood and emotional responses. Many patients feel happier and more energetic after a chiropractic adjustment.

One of the main ways that chiropractic care can improve emotional health is by reducing stress on the nervous system. This is a natural effect of natural care at our office, not involving drugs or surgery. The spinal column is home to the spinal cord, the main pathway for communication between the brain and the rest of the body. When the spine is misaligned, it can pressure the spinal cord, causing stress on the nervous system. This can lead to various emotional symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and irritability. Chiropractic adjustments can help to realign the spine, reducing pressure on the spinal cord and decreasing stress on the nervous system.

Another way that chiropractic care can improve emotional health is by promoting the release of endorphins. Endorphins are chemicals produced by the body to relieve pain and promote happiness and well-being. Chiropractic adjustments can stimulate the release of endorphins, leading to an overall improvement in mood and emotional well-being. Dr. Oskardmay uses chiropractic adjustments to the spine, massage, and other modalities, including acupuncture, if warranted.

In addition, chiropractic care can also improve emotional health by improving sleep. The nervous system plays a crucial role in regulating sleep, and when it is under stress, it can lead to insomnia or other sleep disorders. Chiropractic adjustments can help reduce stress on the nervous system, promoting better sleep and overall emotional health. Good sleep is crucial to well-being.

Overall, chiropractic care is an effective treatment for improving emotional health. It can help reduce stress on the nervous system, promote the release of endorphins, and improve sleep, all of which can improve mood and emotional well-being. While it is not a replacement for traditional therapy or psychiatric care, it can be valuable to an overall treatment plan for vibrant health.

In conclusion, chiropractic is an effective way to help improve emotional health. It can help reduce stress on the nervous system, promote the release of endorphins, and improve sleep, all of which can improve mood and emotional well-being. While more research is needed to understand chiropractic care’s effects on emotional health, it is valuable to an overall treatment plan. Call (919) 929-1400, email schedule@acudocnc.com or visit our website acudocnc.com today to schedule an appointment or to learn more about chiropractic’s effect on emotional health. Located in Chapel Hill across from Wegmans in Eastowne Hills, our office is convenient and accessible. Serving the Triangle since 1995, Dr. Oskardmay looks forward to helping you with your healthcare needs.

Why Do We Need Sunshine Every Day?

sunshineThe title of this blog may sound silly- Why do we need sunshine every day? Our natural health medical practice emphasizes the benefits of natural healing and getting adequate sun exposure regularly is part of that. But why?

The World Health Organization reports that a very high percentage of the world’s disease burden is caused by deficient levels of UVR (the ultraviolet portion of sunlight). The WHO postulates that most musculoskeletal disorders and probably many autoimmune diseases and cancers are also due to inadequate sunlight. (Environ Health Perspect. 2008 May; 116(5):A197), whereas too much sunlight is responsible for a tiny percentage of deaths worldwide.

Sunlight activates Vitamin D production in our bodies. This crucial nutrient (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3) regulates over a thousand genes in our bodies, including calcium metabolism, immune system, and neuromuscular system functioning. Additionally, the light rays coming from the sun stimulate the release of a hormone called serotonin in the brain, which boosts mood, helps us focus better, and feel calmer. When we don’t get enough sunlight, our bodies and minds suffer.

Many people are aware of the need to avoid sun over-exposure to avoid melanoma (skin cancer), but under exposure increases the risk of dying from Hodgkin‘s lymphoma, cancers of the breast, ovaries, colon, pancreas, prostate, and others. Paradoxically, getting enough sunlight also reduces melanoma risk. Additionally, there is a connection between getting adequate sunlight and reducing the risk of developing Multiple Sclerosis and even Type 1 Diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and hypertension.

At the chiropractic and acupuncture offices of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay, we want patients to experience the healthy benefits of natural sunlight safely and effectively. Dr. Oskardmay advises patients to check with their dermatologist if they have any concerns about skin cancer or another sun-related disorder and to be aware of the need for daily sunlight.

The recommended amounts of natural sunlight start at 15” per day, which might seem easy to get, except when it is cloudy outside or when a person doesn’t go out when the sun is shining or wear so much protective clothing or sunscreen that they aren’t getting adequate sun exposure. Some people think they depend on nutritional supplements such as Vitamin D to compensate, but lack of Vitamin D may be just one part of the issue.

Our natural medicine healthcare clinic supports healthy sun exposure to improve many aspects of life. Call today at 919-929-1400 to see how natural healthcare can benefit you. Serving the Triangle since 1995, licensed acupuncturist and chiropractor Dr. Lisa Oskardmay is here for you. Call 919-929-1400, email schedule@acudocnc.com, or go online to schedule 24 hours a day: acudocnc.com. Located just off Eastowne Rd in Chapel Hill, we look forward to serving your healthcare needs.

 

How to Make an Initial Appointment for Chiropractic or Acupuncture at Our Office

Chiropractor and Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC

At Acupractic Natural Healing Center in Chapel Hill, we pride ourselves on helping patients quickly get the carechiropractic or acupuncture appointment they need. Whether your health concerns need chiropractic care or acupuncture services, we are here to help. Healing starts when patients decide to get care and contact us. We strive to answer patient questions and make the initial appointment easily and quickly so that patients suffering from back pain, neck pain, headache, insomnia, and other conditions can find care. Read more to learn about how to make a chiropractic or acupuncture appointment at Acupractic Natural Healing Center.

Many people find us as a referral from another healthcare provider; a medical doctor or other professional recommends us, and we see patients that way. Alternatively, patients find us through their insurance plan’s list of participating providers or via a web search online for an alternative and complementary medicine services or other items. Regardless of how a person contacts us initially, the essential factor is to make that first call or email us.

Chiropractic or Acupuncture Appointment Office Hours

Our office hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 8:30-5:30, Wednesday 12:30—5:30, and Friday 8:30-12:30. If we don’t answer, leave a message- someone will return your call quickly. The ‘Schedule Now’ link on our website is another excellent option. If you need to leave a message or send us an email, you can be confident that we will do our best to safeguard your privacy both online and in-office. Leave your name and number and a brief description of your health needs. Whether you have shoulder pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, hip pain, or plantar fasciitis, we understand that you need care quickly to feel better and get back to the things you enjoy.

Once you make an appointment, our front desk staff will gather information to make the patient portal online, verify insurance coverage, and start the intake process. We generally send clinic invitations to the patient portal within three days of the initial appointment. Information we need includes name, telephone number, date of birth, and insurance numbers, if applicable.

Patient portal intake forms include medical questions about your health and well-being, health history, and medication usage. Please include any surgeries you’ve had, such as for herniated disc or shoulder impingement, and any medications or herbal supplements for conditions such as arthritis of the hands and neck, trouble sleeping, or other state.

Our front desk will verify insurance benefits and use best practices to determine coverage before care for any services covered. We participate in many insurance plans, including BCBS, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, and medicare. Many plans fully cover chiropractic care and, increasingly, acupuncture services at our offices. Since Dr. Lisa Oskardmay is licensed in both chiropractic as well as acupuncture in the state of North Carolina, we are happy to be able to offer these services to our patients under many insurance plans.

Healing begins at the start of care. Make that first contact with our office by phone at (919) 929-1400, email us at schedule@acudocnc.com or visit our website at acudocnc.com to schedule your appointment today. We look forward to helping you soon!

 

How to Relax Tight Muscles

At Acupractic Natural Healing, the chiropractic and acupuncture offices of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay in Chapel Hill,how to relax tight muscles we strive to educate each patient about their body. Knowing how a treatment works help people get and feel better faster and improves the odds a person will do the necessary things at home to assist the process. Read more to learn how to relax tight muscles.

For example, take muscle tightness. Excessive muscle contraction is muscle fiber shortening at the wrong place and time we perceive as tightness, crampiness, and eventually pain. Muscles contract like a rachet shortens- actin and myosin filaments glide across one another like the teeth of the rachet, held in place with calcium cross-bridges. The compressed muscle fiber holds attached bones and ligaments in place to do work. Following contraction, muscles are supposed to relax and release tension as the actin and myosin filaments return to their precontracted state. Relaxation occurs when the nervous system sends signals to relax- both from the mind and the spinal cord in response to messages from opposing muscles. Magnesium stops calcium from holding the bound filaments, and the contraction stops.

The system generally works well. However, trouble ensues when muscles are tight for long periods, such as when they hold our bent heads up as we type. Also, muscle imbalance occurs when the body doesn’t have enough magnesium to relax the calcium cross-bridges. Also, the system’s trouble occurs when the mind doesn’t cooperate and allows the muscles to relax. When muscles don’t relax as needed, knots in the belly of the muscle crop up. Felt as hard nodules or spot tightness, areas of unrelenting muscle tightness hinder the muscle-ligament-bone system, resulting in weakness and pain. If left untreated, tight muscles, weakened ligaments, and altered bone movement can wreak havoc on the body and mind.

At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, Dr. Lisa Oskardmay helps patients identify which muscles need help. Going back to the source, she provides chiropractic adjustments to spinal segments supplying nerve input to injured areas. Additionally, using massage, gua sha, acupuncture including dry needle technique if needed, electrostimulation, and other therapies, Dr. Oskardmay helps resolve muscle tightness, cramping, and knots. She explains to patients ways they can support their musculoskeletal systems using nutrition and specific exercise and stretching programs. Many achieve relief from neck and back pain, headaches, and shoulder and hip pain following a treatment regimen at our office. They then come in for maintenance care to keep their spines, muscles, and ligaments in shape.

Call today to see how chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, and natural healthcare can help you feel better as we enter the new year. Accepting new patients, Acupracitc Natural Healing Center is one of Chapel Hill’s most established alternative medicine clinics serving the Triangle Since 1995. Contact us today to see how chiropractic and acupuncture can help you naturally live without pain. Call us at 919-929-1400 or visit us online at acudocnc.com to learn more and schedule online 24 hours a day.

The Metal Channel in Acupuncture

Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC

Helen Keller wrote, ‘We bereaved are not alone. We belong to the largest company in the world- those who have known suffering.’ In Chinese Medicine, the fall season relates to grief because autumn corresponds to the metal element, the time of grieving and decline, of letting go and preparing for the next season of winter and its death, followed by its eventual spring and renewal. Each season relates to an element: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, Dr. Oskardmay helps people feel better with an understanding of their connection to the natural world around and within them using Chinese Medicine acupuncture. Read more about the metal channel in acupuncture.

What is the Metal Channel in Acupuncture?

The metal element relates to declining. We see it as the leaves fall in autumn, the days get shorter and cooler, and we may sleep more and feel sad. The metal element relates to the organs of elimination- the lung and large intestine. Our lungs release carbon dioxide to take in fresh oxygen. Our guts release digested food we don’t absorb and make way for fresh nutrients. When the metal channel energy isn’t moving well, patients experience symptoms such as bloating, stress from toxicity, poor sleep, asthma or other breathing problems, dryness, and signs along the metal channel such as shoulder and wrist aches, pain between the shoulder blades, or headaches.

Discernment- knowing what is valuable and what is not, is another virtue of metal yin, the lungs. This helps us hold onto things we genuinely need and let go of things we need to release. We do this every day physically and mentally, and while we may grieve the letting go of some things, it is crucial to our well-being to do this. Chinese Medicine acupuncture helps patients by supporting the flow of chi along all the channels in the body so that the essential metal channel flows freely.

People who experience skin irritations, nasal congestion, bowel problems, and heightened sensitivity, especially during the autumn but anytime, exhibit symptoms of metal imbalance. Often patients also have trouble sleeping during the early morning hours; lack of vital sleep worsens symptoms. Grief is the emotion associated with the metal element. When a person has a problem with the feeling of grief that disrupts their life- either excessive grieving or the inability to experience grief, this frequently points to an imbalance in the metal channel. Any imbalance makes them more prone to other imbalances in areas the metal channel controls.

At Acupupractic Natural Healing Center, the chiropractic and acupuncture offices of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay since 1995, we recognize that healthcare is more than just getting a person out of pain. Healthcare concerns reflect people’s need to feel healthy, empowered, and aware of how they can be their best. At our natural medicine offices in Chapel Hill, Dr. Oskardmay works to help people understand the cause of their symptoms so that they can work together to improve their well-being. Call us today at (919) 929-1400, email us at schedule@acudocnc.com or schedule online at acudocnc.com to see how alternative medicine, chiropractic, and acupuncture can help you. Open Monday to Friday, we accept new patients and bill your insurance for covered acupuncture and chiropractic services.

Natural Care for Scoliosis

About 7 million Americans have scoliosis, a condition of unknown origin in which the spine is rotated or twisted sideways. While most people who have this incurable condition lead everyday lives, scoliosis can progress to the point where, in some, daily activities, exercise, and even breathing can be more difficult if spinal rotation advances to the end of lung compression. No one knows what causes this relatively common condition, although there may be a hereditary component. Physical and neurological exams, X-rays, and MRIs help identify these contributing factors. Spinal pain, back pain, and neck pain are relatively common in persons with the extra curvature seen in scoliosis, and alternative medicine can provide some relief. However, no treatment has been shown to prevent, cure, or fix scoliosis completely. Read more to learn about natural care for scoliosis.

With scoliosis, adding an extra curve to the ordinarily straight (from the front or back) spine adds degrees of rotation and spinal friction between vertebral joints. Depending on the degree of added curvature and other factors, fluid movement may suffer as inflammation builds up between spinal segments. Trigger points in attached muscles can occur, and connected ligaments and tendons suffer, often resulting in backache and weakness if the condition is left untreated. Spinal erosion and bone spurs that can arise will cause pain and reduced range of motion over time.

In young children whose curvature progresses rapidly and threatens internal organs, the medical profession often applies braces or rods to halt the progression until the child reaches full height. Otherwise, very few medical treatments are available, and many people receive little guidance related to their scoliosis diagnosis. Patients beyond adolescence often wonder if scoliosis is the cause of their back pain, headaches, and other body symptoms. Still, regular X-ray evaluation is ill-advised for most people, and many do not understand the condition’s progression over time.

At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, Dr. Oskardmay helps patients with scoliosis with a combination of natural therapies designed to identify and balance affected segments to reduce some of the stress imposed by scoliosis.

At our office, Dr. Oskardmay uses physical exams and spinal palpation to detect early spinal inflammation to direct balanced treatment. She evaluates posture and muscle strength, dermatomal balance, and other aspects of nerve integrity along the spinal cord to detect areas of inflammation and irritation. She applies chiropractic spinal mobilization, massage, and acupuncture to soothe pain and restore kinetic integrity where possible. While treatment will not remove the extra spinal curvature, it does help to mitigate side effects.

If you or your loved one has questions about natural chiropractic and acupuncture care for scoliosis, please get in touch with our office today. Call us today at (919) 929-1400, email us at schedule@acudocnc.com or visit our website at acudocnc.com. Serving the Triangle since 1995 with effective holistic healthcare, the chiropractic and acupuncture offices of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay are here for you in Chapel Hill, just off i-40 and across from Wegmans in Eastowne Professional Offices. We participate with BCBS, United Healthcare, Medicare, Aetna, Cigna, and Federal BCBS and submit claims on your behalf. We provide ample free handicapped accessible parking in front of our building. At Acupractic, we take the stress out of getting the care you need.

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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