chiropractic

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.

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.

Chiropractor and Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC

At Acupractic Natural Healing Center in Chapel Hill, we pride ourselves on helping patients quickly get the care 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!

Chiropractor and Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC

The thumb is a necessary human appendage we use for many activities. From opening doors to driving, writing, typing, and cooking, we use our shortest, widest digit daily. Injuring the thumb affects our ability to communicate, travel, work, and play. Treatment of thumb pain, therefore, is crucial. At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, we take thumb pain seriously and bring the most effective alternative medicine methods to each patient to heal thumb pain naturally, quickly, and effectively.

Diagnosing Thumb Pain

Nerves from the spine sending messages to the thumb arise from the sixth cervical level, the lower part of the neck. Dr. Oskardmay palpates the cervical spine to determine if potential irritation at this level influences thump pain. Spine irritation arising from vertebral subluxation and inflammation, tight neck and shoulder muscles, herniated discs, or other factors will pressure the nerves and affect pain and strength in the thumb and surrounding tissues. Dr. Oskardmay uses chiropractic adjustment to correct the vertebral imbalance. By applying specific movements to spinal segments using either an activator device or a hands-on maneuver, she works to improve nerve transmission to the thumb. Treatment of the spine sets the stage for further healing.

Additionally, she performs other orthopedic tests to isolate additional potential causes of thumb pain. Conditions such as thoracic outlet syndrome, carpel tunnel syndrome, brachial neuritis, tennis elbow, and others influence thumb pain. The pain may not start in the thumb, but it feels like it sometimes does. Proper treatment has to start with an appropriate diagnosis, and determining the cause of the problem helps her fix it. When shoulder, arm, elbow, or wrist issues cause thumb malfunction, she can address those issues using various treatment methods, including ice, heat, massage, electrical stimulation, gua sha and cupping massage, and acupuncture.

Sometimes overuse and injury are the cause of thumb pain. Dr. Oskardmay reviews patient history combined with examination to assess the likelihood of thumb injury stemming from these causes or a combination of the above.

In addition, she inquires and examines for acupuncture meridian channel imbalance which affects healing on many levels. For patients interested in acupuncture, she can utilize this ancient healing art to bring relief to the thumb and other joint pain. Acupuncture diagnosis considers several aspects one doesn’t usually consider when viewing health through the western lens. Dr. Oskardmay may inquire regarding sleep and eating habits, mood and seasonal stress level, types of allergies you experience, and many other things, in addition to a physical exam to identify where imbalance exists before she begins an acupuncture treatment. Many people enjoy the combined benefit of chiropractic and acupuncture, but let her know your preferences.

Thumb pain can stem from a variety of causes. Make sure your care provider understands the source before treating the symptom. Call our office today at (919) 929-1400, email us at schedule@acudocnc.com, or visit our website at acudocnc.com to get the care you need. In practice since 1995, providing trusted alternative medicine, Dr. Lisa Oskardmay is licensed in both acupuncture and chiropractic to give you the best support.

Chiropractor and Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC

Whether you come to Acupractic Natural Healing Center in Chapel Hill for back pain, neck discomfort, headache, stress relief, or other symptoms, it is our goal that you experience some relief following your initial visit. Dr. Lisa Oskardmay uses alternative medicine treatments such as chiropractic and acupuncture to help your body heal itself from the first visit onward. While treatment results may not be dramatic, most people start feeling better after their initial experience at our office.

During the first encounter, Dr. Oskardmay palpates the back, neck, and other areas and performs other hands-on diagnostic procedures that give her and the patient insight into the cause of discomfort and pain. Rarely do some people feel a bit sore after the hands-on exam and initial treatment, and this discomfort is short-lived, and people come to understand the connection between pain and its source in new ways. This experience is healing for many, and most patients relate improved sleep even after their experience with alternative medicine at Acupractic Natural Healing Center.

Dr. Oskardmay generally provides patients with self-care exercises, nutrition advice, and other take-home activities from the first visit. Patients who keep track of and strive to follow the suggestions find results more quickly. She provides tailored treatments and home self-care suggestions for each person because each person is unique and has obstacles to healing. Sometimes she advises patients to stretch a certain way or to avoid specific movements or other activities to support recovery. She may recommend patients include or even eliminate certain foods or even vitamins to enhance better digestion, sleep, and overall well-being. If you experience worsening symptoms, discomfort, or just have questions about anything, let us know before your next visit, if possible. Call at (919) 929-1400 or email us your questions or concerns anytime at schedule@acudocnc.com.

A licensed chiropractic physician and acupuncturist serving the Triangle community since 1995, Dr. Oskardmay enjoys helping people start feeling better from day 1. She believes that listening to each person’s health journey and the story is the first step on that voyage. From the start, she strives to understand what each person needs to feel better and help provide that healing environment. 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.

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.

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.

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.