If you’ve been following us on social media, our providers have been sharing what they’re grateful for all month long in the hopes of inspiring others to start their own gratitude practice. What is gratitude, really? And what effect, if any, does it have on us?
Read moreCombating Seasonal Affective Disorder
With the recent time change, it’s getting darker earlier daylight hours are shrinking, and it’s starting to really feel like the long winter is here. Like many, you may be looking for functional, natural ways to maintain a healthy mood during the winter months. You may be tempted to brush off feelings of melancholy and lethargy as “just the winter blues” but you should take signs and symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder seriously.
Read moreMigraine
Headaches and migraines are common reasons patients seek integrative care. The exact root cause or mechanism of migraines has long eluded scientists and doctors, as no explanation seems to fully explain the wide variety of symptoms migraine-sufferers experience. One theory is that migraines may be neurological in origin, which may be why chiropractic care can reduce migraine frequency and intensity. Migraines caused by tension and stress can significantly benefit from acupuncture and/or physical therapy treatment.
Read moreWhat's Up With Ear Seeds?
Ear seeds, also known as auriculotherapy, is a companion therapy to acupuncture based in the stimulation of the auricle, or external ear, using pressure in the form of tiny “seeds” to treat symptoms and conditions located throughout the whole body. Based on the principles of acupuncture, auriculotherapy uses the ear as a tiny map for the whole body, with tons of acupuncture points in the ear corresponding to just about every organ, hormone, and system.
Read moreInstrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
In ancient Greece and Rome, a small metallic instrument known as a “strigil” was used in bathhouses for therapeutic purposes. In Traditional Chinese Medicine a similar technique is used, “gua sha”, which increases the blood flow to facilitate the supply of blood and oxygen to the soft tissues. Today many variations of this technique exist. What is instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization and what are the benefits?
Read moreThe Importance of Play
Play is essential to human development, contributing to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth. Unfortunately, time for play is shrinking. Increased demand for high test scores, combined with a decrease in public education funds has led to fewer programs like PE, band, art, dance, as well as shorter recess times. At the same time, parents report an increased perception of danger, leading to children being highly supervised even while playing or engaging in extracurricular activities. Between school, studying, and structured activities, kids have less and less time to simply play. How might this affect them as they grow into adults?
Read moreNew Organ Proposed by Researchers
Up until now, researchers thought the area between organs and tissues in our body was largely solid, comprised of structural supportive proteins known as collagen, as well as stretchier elastin connective proteins. In a recently published 2018 study, scientists observed a network of fluid-filled spaces surrounded by connective tissue that fills the spaces between our organs, surrounding and potentially protecting our insides throughout the body. They define this network as a new organ, the interstitium, which they say could be the largest organ in the human body. Understanding this network as an organ could help us understand how diseases like cancer spread and it help explain what healing techniques like acupuncture are tapping into.
Read moreChiropractic for Motor Vehicle Accidents
One of the most common times people seek chiropractic treatment is after an auto accident. As a result of an auto accident the musculoskeletal system can become misaligned due to the force of the impact. This can then cause spinal pain and other ailments including whiplash injury: when the neck is jolted rapidly backward and forward causing strain and microscopic tearing of the soft tissue. Even if you don’t think you have been injured after a car accident, you may start to experience discomfort or headaches several months after the fact. We highly recommend seeing a chiropractor as soon as possible after a motor vehicle accident. Therapeutic assessment and treatment are most effective if started immediately after the accident.
Read moreManaging Pain Post-Surgery
Surgery has become an unintentional gateway to persistent opioid use, meaning many patients are still taking these medications three to six months after their surgical procedure. At any age, it’s important to know steps you can take to manage your pain effectively and responsibly.
Read moreHow Fashion Choices Affect Your Body
The things we choose to wear can have a big impact on how we move through the world, actually changing our movement and our bodies. If you experience pain or discomfort and you’ve already tried adjusting your daily activities and posture, take a look at your closet. There might be culprits you hadn’t thought of before.
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