Health Information

Information is presented on various health conditions, treatments and procedures with the goal of empowering patients to take an active role in managing their health with informed decisions about their care. This provides patients with knowledge, skills, and confidence to understand conditions and treatment plans that affect them.

The effort ultimately leads to positive experiences with healthcare providers, to improved health outcomes and a better quality of life.

Acupuncture

Practiced by Chinese healers for more than 5,000 years, acupuncture is a type of holistic medicine designed to facilitate the proper flow of Qi (ch'i), the life-giving energy that travels through the body's pathways (meridians). By helping Qi to move unimpeded through the meridians, acupuncture provides nourishment to all of the body's cells, muscles, organs, glands and tissues. During an acupuncture session, fine needles are inserted into the body at specific points along the meridians to break up blockages and restore a full, healthy flow of Qi. ...

Back Pain

Acupuncture is a treatment option that is commonly used to relieve back pain. Acupuncture can provide pain relief for lower and upper back pain caused by lumber discs, back injuries, joint inflammation, sciatica pain and disc herniation. Many adults suffer significant back pain at some time in their lives due to an injury at work, at home or at play. Back pain and spine problems can be caused by: mechanical difficulties when moving the spine in a specific manner; injuries such as a sprain or fracture; constant, repetitive movement; conditions such as arthritis or scoliosis; and infections or tumors. Traditional treatments for back pain include medication physical therapy and in severe cases, surgery may be necessary. Acupuncture is a safer alternative to medication, or risky surgical procedures, as there are no side effects and no negative interactions with other treatments. ...

Neck Pain

The neck, or cervical section of the spine, is a crucial area of the body since it supports the skull and brain. While mild stiff necks are a common complaint, more serious neck pain, particularly pain that is radicular, or travels down the arm, may be cause for concern. There are two types of neck pain: mechanical, which is caused by injury and subsequent inflammation of the soft tissues of the region, and cervical radiculopathy. While mechanical neck pain is typically the result of a pulled muscle, ligament or facet joint, cervical radiculopathy usually results from degeneration or herniation of a disc that results in a compressed ("pinched") nerve. Radicular pain is often accompanied by numbness, tingling, or muscular weakness along the arm and fingers. ...

Acupuncture Techniques

Acupuncture involves the stimulation of different locations on or in the skin by a variety of techniques. There are a variety of acupuncture treatments that incorporate medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries. The most well-known type of acupuncture stimulation employs penetration of the skin by thin, solid, metallic needles, which are manipulated manually or by electrical stimulation. It is believed that acupuncture points stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue, helping to boost the body's natural ability to prevent pain and increase blood flow. As an important part of traditional Asian medicine, acupuncture is most commonly used to treat chronic pain. ...

Non-Needle Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves the stimulation of anatomical locations on or in the skin by a variety of techniques. There are a variety of approaches to diagnosis and treatment through acupuncture that incorporate medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries. The most well-known type of acupuncture stimulation employs penetration of the skin by thin, solid, metallic needles, which are manipulated manually or by electrical stimulation. However, there are variations of acupuncture that do not rely on the use of needles. ...