January 13, 2018

Acupuncture for Neck Pain

The Australian government estimates that approximately 10-15% of the population experiences acute neck pain at any given time.

This amounts to millions of Australians experiencing neck pain on a daily basis. This substantial figure is without taking chronic conditions into consideration.

One of the common neck related injuries we see in our Toowoomba Acupuncture clinic is wry neck. For the majority of cases there is an element of physical injury that has occurred, or putting unnecessary stress or movement on the joints or muscles in the neck area. Generally the neck pain is sudden and is thought to be caused by one or more of the following:

  • Trauma due to physical activity
  • Sleeping in an unusual position
  • Exposure to cold breezes
  • Local infections

When diagnosing from a Chinese Medicine perspective we will also take into consideration clients’ lifestyles, work regimes etc. We often find a direct correlation between stress and neck/shoulder pain. A substantial contributor in the western world and something that many of us can relate to is prolonged computer use.

Whilst Chinese Medicine diagnosis and treatment varies from client to client we expect our Toowoomba clients to begin feeling relief within 3-4 treatments.

What we do for you:

  • Assist in reducing neck pain
  • Provide experienced advice on the correct stretches to encourage gentle movement and enhance recovery
  • Advocate the daily use of heat packs
  • Use trigger point massage around specific points around the neck
  • Gentle acupuncture to assist in neck pain relief and encourage the body to relax

As always, when seeking a suitable therapist please ensure they are appropriately licensed to perform Acupuncture. Without suitable training the neck/shoulder area in particular may be susceptible to injuries.

January 5, 2018

Why Avoiding Problems Harms Your Health

I think a lot of us can identify with avoiding things in life that we know need to be dealt with. Avoiding Problems Harms Your Health.

harming-healthI don’t mean waiting on something that isn’t urgent or prioritizing tasks based on your circumstances.  I mean being aware that there is a problems in your life that requires your attention and refusing to do anything about it.  It may be putting off taking your car to the mechanic when it makes that funny noise, or rescheduling a dentist appointment several times until the twinge in your tooth becomes more than you can bear.  It’s normal to be afraid to address anxiety-provoking situations, but experience teaches us procrastinating only makes things worse.  The same rule applies to how we cope with our emotional issues.

Most of us know when something is haunting us.  Maybe we can’t forget an incident from our past or perhaps we are in the middle of a tough situation right now.  But whether or not we are willing to take action is a whole other story.  Avoiding pain is a common, but ineffective coping mechanism, and it looks different for different people.  Some people live in denial and are masters at self-deception.  They blame anything except themselves or wear “rose coloured glasses” no matter how bad things are.  Many use alcohol, drugs, food, or sex to drown the pain.  Other souls put on a brave face and convince themselves that they are just fine. These are often the types who focus on helping other people so they don’t have to work on themselves.  Some stay busy constantly and work long hours to take their minds off of their unhappiness.  Intellectuals like to depend on cold theory and logic to analyse their problems away.  The common denominator in all of these cases is that it doesn’t work.  These people are never at peace for long.  Sooner or later, those issues you refused to examine will rear their ugly head in the form of illness.

Traditional Chinese Medicine teaches that healthy emotions are a vital part to overall wellness.  Feelings are a natural part of life and it is best to let them come and let them go as life unfolds.  Acknowledging emotions as they occur and letting them pass just as quickly means we aren’t holding onto anything and therefore can’t be bogged down by “emotional baggage”.  When we handle ourselves in this way, unpleasant feelings cannot hurt or scar us.  But if we continue to avoid traumas and push down the feelings that accompany the memory, this harms our health significantly.  It can manifest as emotional or physical symptoms and often appears as bodily pain.

What I am trying to tell you is facing your fears sets you free.  If you have a current concern in your life that needs your attention, do something about it now! Call us on 0406 688 832 or visit our website at releasewellness.com.au and lets start your road to recovery.  The longer you let it sit, the harder it is to solve.  If you are carrying around old wounds, it is time to mend them.  I was watching a movie recently where a woman, who had struggled with demons for years, went back to her childhood home filled with unhappy memories.  It was abandoned, a museum to her pain.  She stared at it in silence then suddenly started hurling rocks at it.  She finally collapsed on the ground, crying.  Now we all know the house wasn’t the problem.  It was what it represented.  And we also know what happened in that house isn’t happening to her now.  But she chose to relive her pain because she never coped with it. When we try to escape our problems, we are giving that house power that it has no right to hold over us.  The house is just a house, and the memory cannot hurt us unless we allow it.  Most of us have a symbolic house in our mind that intimidates us with its pain.  It is your job to tear it down.

 

 

 

October 3, 2017

How To Be Comfortable In Your Own Skin

Most of us are not truly happy with who we are.

Maybe we are overly critical, or bury our problems under alcohol or food.

Some of us have such poor self-esteem that we let others tread on us.  Maybe we cover up insecurities with arrogance or lash out to alleviate our own pain.  These are very different behaviours and can range from major to minor, but the root of the problem is always an internal state of discontent.   So many of us are at odds with ourselves and just don’t feel comfortable in our own skin.  Simply, we are experiencing a lack of harmony.

Chinese philosophy embraces both mankind and the cosmos as fundamentally perfect and whole underneath all of the confusion and details.

An even deeper explanation would say that the universe is not separate from us, rather it is something that lies within.  When attuned to this wisdom, we experience a state of wellbeing.  It is at these times of equilibrium that we feel at ease with ourselves and life in general.  It is easy to accept ourselves and live life on life’s terms.  Balance can be achieved no matter the circumstances.  It is relative, meaning that it looks different for different people depending on their situation.  For one person it is being in peak physical condition, having a great job, and being wealthy.  A person with a terminal illness could find a state of harmony by accepting the disease, managing the symptoms, and appreciating positive support from loved ones.  Ultimate harmony is an enlightened state beyond all fear and doubts.  Few are ready to tackle such a momentous task, but no worries.  We can always do the best we can with what we have and find peace at this stage of the journey.  Another idea crucial to the Chinese way of thinking is the interconnectedness of all things.  Nothing operates in isolation; what affects one affects all, so being in harmony with yourself means being in harmony with the whole and vice versa.  There is an emphasis on being aligned with nature for good physical, emotional, and spiritual health.  The third major principle is the idea of yang and yin.  Yang and yin are elements whose interaction forms the basic building blocks of all things in existence.   Nothing is completely yang or yin, and one cannot exist without the other.  Instead the pair of opposites fluctuates in reaction to the other, like a see-saw.  Yang is hot, light, and active, and yin is cold, dark, and passive.  A balance of the two is necessary for a harmonious existence.

stone-balance

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) applies the ideas from broader Chinese spirituality to individual functioning.

TCM sees the body as equipped with innate healing powers so the goal of TCM is to realign the system to a state of equilibrium.  When this happens, the mind/body/spirit becomes aware of its wholeness and heals itself.  Any mental agitation will automatically be treated by adjusting the physical system.  Health is harmony.  The human body is seen as a microcosm of the universe, complete with the same elements, natural cycles, rhythms, and processes you find in nature, and TCM seeks to regulate these while simultaneously aligning the patient with their environment and encouraging lifestyle habits that will maintain balance.  Not feeling comfortable with yourself can manifest in many ways.  Poor boundaries can make you feel confined and frustrated, and correcting weak liver energy may free you from this burden.  Maybe your shen (a person’s spiritual aspect) is disturbed and needs to be calmed to feel better about who you are.  Blockages in the heart causing low self-esteem may need to be removed.  No matter the cause, a variety of TCM treatments can help guide you back to balance. Click here to make an appointment.

Much of this work can be done mentally and it is best to be proactive.  Take a moment and think about life.  Imagine a brilliant light burning within all creatures.  Think of the universe as a vast, elaborate web in which we are all connected.  Look at the fluctuations of yin and yang.  How intricate and beautiful!

Now look at your own life.

  • Do you think of yourself as something whole?
  • Something precious?
  • Is this a concept you can even imagine?

If you are struggling, practice, self-acceptance, and self-appreciation.  There is no reason to reject something so glorious.  We cannot divorce ourselves from our surroundings.

Start examining the relationships in your life.

  • Are they positive and nourishing or negative and draining?
  • What is your relationship to your family, friends, community, occupation, and finances?
  • Are you aware of the rhythms of nature?
  • Do you know how to live harmoniously with them?
  • Are you aware of your own body’s patterns and rhythms?
  • Do you have sound lifestyle habits that support health?

Finding stability with the yin and yang of life can be so delicate.

  • Do you balance work and rest, seriousness and play, the inner and the outer?
  • Are you living an authentic life?
  • Are you making choices that feel good in your soul?

This can seem pretty complicated and overwhelming

The simplest way to feel comfortable in your own skin is to love.  Harmony is love, loving yourself, loving others, loving everything.  The world opens up in delightful and unexpected ways when we love because it immediately moves us towards a state of harmony.  It’s also good to be patient with yourself and remember Rome wasn’t built in a day.  It’s a process.  There is an important Chinese concept called “wu-wei”.  It translates as “not doing”, but means “not forcing”.  It says that things open up by themselves, according to their nature, and describes a state of being where our actions align effortlessly with the natural order of things.  It is the pinnacle of “going with the flow”.  We feel both relaxed and focused, and are able to easily respond to the ever changing climate of life.  Let yourself blossom.  It will happen if you allow it to be so.

March 14, 2017

Acupuncture for Depression

Acupuncture for Depression

Acupuncture for Depression

Depression. It’s the silent killer that millions of Australians battle on a regular basis. By killer I mean that yes it is often linked to suicide, but it can also be incredibly debilitating. It’s not just physical disease that can cause pain and anguish! It’s something only sufferers would fully understand. But living and/or coping with someone with depression can be equally challenging. It’s a significant public health issue with no easy solution. But we do think our lifestyle in this day and age is a HUGE contributor.

So, lets get down to the facts and see if we can shed some light on the issue:

Classified as a mental disorder, depression is incredibly common in western societies. Depression signs and symptoms according to the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-5) is:

    • Depressed mood

    • Loss of interest or pleasure

    • Significant change in appetite and weight

    • Insomnia or hypersomnia

    • Psychomotor agitation or retardation

    • Fatigue or loss of energy

    • Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt

    • Impaired thinking or concentration; indecisiveness

  • Suicidal thoughts/thoughts of death

So here is the recipe for major depression. Take the first two symptoms listed then mix with any three of the other symptoms minimum. If you suffer these symptoms for just TWO weeks then you can be diagnosed with MAJOR depression.

For minor depression, it’s the first two symptoms with an additional 2-4 symptoms listed. And let me tell you, I’d be surprised if all of us haven’t had a ‘bad’ day more often than not that includes these symptoms.

In Australia, A staggering 5.1 million prescriptions for antidepressants were written in 1990, increasing to 8.2 million by 1998. Prescriptions have since doubled in the last decade! Despite the evidence-based effectiveness of antidepressants, anxiolytics, and psychotherapy, relapse rates for both anxiety and depression are close to 50%. What troubles us more than the amount of antidepressants prescribed, is the alarming increase in occurrences of depression. Ultimately we think that translates to people leading to unhappy, unfulfilled lives. A more integrative and holistic approach to treating depression needs to be taken in society.

What we find in reality is once clients start to process and deal with past issues/trauma in their life, they start to feel a sense of empowerment and begin their path to finding some life direction and purpose. Research has also linked insomnia as a significant precursor to depression. Getting a good nights sleep we believe is paramount to reducing the severity of symptoms.

Acupuncture can help with classic symptoms such as increase or loss of appetite, fatigue, concentration, stress and insomnia. Working on alleviating these symptoms allows clients to cope on a day to day basis.

Holistically that makes sense to us. If you have decided to take the next step and take control of your life contact us to discuss your treatment options or book online if you wish to make an appointment.