Integrative Health Blog

Nicholas Buscemi MSOM, LAc

Classical Chinese Medicine takes into account the whole system of the body.

 It looks at the body like a tree and instead of treating a branch of the tree (a symptom) Classical Chinese Medicine goes to the cause- to treat the root of the problem. 

NIHA's Acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine practitioner explains:

 

Classical Chinese Medicine uses subtle manipulation of acupuncture points through acupuncture or accupressure where there is blockage of chi, or energy. Chinese medicine can move the blockage so energy may flow more freely.

There are many reasons that energy may be blocked:

• environmental factors
• trauma
• infection
• recalcitrant or chronic disease

All may be helped with acupuncture, dietary modifications.

by Lisa Wilson CHC

Krista Merwede LMT

Patterns in the musculature of the body are defined by the movements that we do every day.  If we are spending 40 hours a weeks at a desk it is understandable that not just that the body will be affected, but that it will develop specific lines of tension.  The most common places for the desk worker to experience pain are in the back of the neck and around the shoulder blades.  Many patients come into the treatment room greatly concerned that there is something wrong with them because of the intensity of the symptoms.  This article will draw your attention to why the pain develops in these places and techniques that can be adapted to support the body's healthy structure. 

Wrist braces, physical therapy, rest, ergonomic work stations. 

You may have tried them all with little to no success for relief from carpal tunnel syndrome. The reason why it is not working is because most people, and even health practitioners, don’t understand where carpal tunnel comes from.  All people know is that their wrist hurts or their hands are going numb and they want it fixed because it greatly affects their lives.

Why is it called Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

I’m going to let you in on a secret.  In a majority of cases It comes  from your shoulders and neck! 

Anita's Healthy Tips

If you live in the Washington metro area then you are all too familiar with the recent heat explosion we have had, no to mention the power outages due to last week’s storm. We were without power for 5 days at my house and so naturally we lost all the contents of our refrigerator and freezer.

Fermented Foods Are an Old Tradition

It got me to thinking that prior to the advent of refrigeration people routinely preserved their fruits and vegetables not just so that they could eat them out of season, but because they understood that fermented foods also made them healthy. Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations knew this, Europeans understand it and Asian cultures continue to ferment foods. Here in the U.S., sauerkraut is probably the most popular fermented food but most commercial preparations have been pasteurized and therefore all the beneficial bacteria have been killed off! Some have said that the relishes we use, like pickle and cucumber relish were probably originally fermented. This lost art is surely making a come back with many articles and books written on the subject like the most recent Real Food Fermentation by Alex Lewin.