According to msnbc.com, Americans spent $34 billion yearly on alternative medicine, out of pocket expense, according to the first national estimate reckoning. This means that although there is access to traditional western medicine therapies covered by insurances, people are choosing to spend their own dollars elsewhere. When I went to China a few years ago, in part to attend an international symposium that presented research from around the world on Traditional Chinese Medicine, one doctor from Italy talked about how in that country which has socialized medicine people chose also to spend their own money on alternative therapies. He was very interested that not just rich Italians wanted an option different from what was free and readily available.

This supports the concept of supply and demand. People want options and are willing to pay for them, IF THEY WORK. There are many fads that come and go and the key here is they do go if they do not produce the desired effect. So that must mean that the thousands of years of research, trial and error, and getting it right has been effective to help people get better.

I believe there is a place for both Eastern and Western medicine, but we need to have educated, qualified people doing the therapies; both licensed acupuncturists and medical doctors. Luckily (or is it forsight?) we require rigid standards to be met by practitioners of both disciplines, ensuring that people will get quality care.

It is my goal to provide the safest, most effective and most economical alternative health care to those who come to request my help. Call 331-2931 for a free consult to see how we can help you and to answer any questions you may have.

Smooth wrinkles… look better and feel younger…

We are now offering a new treatment option of cosmetic repair. It is non-surgical, non-drugs, non-painful yet effective, safe and affordable way to improve your looks and feel younger. I utilize the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, but do not use acupuncture needles. So you will feel just as relaxed and comfortable both during and after the sessions.

You will see visible improvements of reduced wrinkles, sags and scars after the first session, and the entire program can be accomplished in just a few weeks.

Call 507-331-2930 for  more information. See why other patients who have done this are so excited and happy!

Hello all, here’s information about an upcoming Saturday seminar being held at the Faribault Area Senior Center.

Relaxation Seminar: Mind – Body – Spirit

The Acupuncture Clinic, Inc.; Health Central

Take a Well-Deserved Mid-Winter Break!

Do you feel constantly bombarded by stimuli and stressors?
Do you think of relaxation as just another time-consuming chore that you don’t have time for?
Then consider this: When jobs, family, relationships, and personal demands require that you always be “on your game”, relaxation is not just a luxury, it is a necessary part of your self-care plan.

Come away for a day of refreshment that includes a positive learning experience, wholesome snacks during the seminar and a healthy lunch break at nearby Bernie’s Restaurant.
If you don’t take care of yourself, who will?

This will be an experiential class.

Course Objectives:

1. State benefits gained from learning relaxation techniques.
2. Verbalize an understanding of QiGong, Healing Touch, and Energy Healing modalities.
3. Demonstrate a basic QiGong exercise, a basic Healing Touch technique, and a concept of Energy Work.

Michelle has worked in a traditional healthcare environment for nearly 20 years; with acupuncture for the past 10 years.  It is her passion to educate and supportothers on their journey of growth and discovery.
If you would like a flyer for this program, please contact Brenda Johnson, Caregiver Support/Senior Center Programming :

Faribault Area Senior Center
19 Division Street West
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 332-7357

Dedicated to the well being of older adults

We are pleased to announce that we are now offering a needle-less approach to pain relief, and other imbalances that cause a decrease in overall health and well-being!

Electro-Acuscope and Electo-Myopulse are old therapies that use micro current of electricity to cause a response in the body.  It is not TENs, but uses electricity like TENs. Instead of interrupting the perception of pain, it actually repairs the cell membrane which then results in healing of tissue.  Also, because the current is below the sensation threshold, it is either not felt, or felt as light “tapping”. It does not feel like burning or tingling like TENs or the electric stimulation at the chiropractor’s office.

There have many studies and research on how this works, and how well. In treating depression,The Electro-Acuscope works on the uptake and dispersement of serotonin and dopamine, which is how antidepressants are supposed to work. Except there are no side effects. What is noticed, in both my patients and test subjects, is a sense of relaxation, well being and improved energy.  Sleep is improved, and in many cases, pain is relieved or eliminated. Neuropathies are resolved much faster and better than with acupuncture; for me to say that says a lot! People are handling normal or increased stressors better.

This is because of the effect on the autonomic nervous system. Think about the “fight or flight” response. When we are busy or stressed, we switch to the sympathetic mode of increased awareness, more energy output, and hopefully increased alertness. The problem comes in when we forget or are unable to switch back to the parasympathetic, or relaxed mode. So we stay on high alert when it is not necessary. After awhile our bodies get fatigued, and start to wear down and out. Over time we see illness and disease; myofacial pain, depression, insomnia, digestive disorders and so on.

The Electro-Myopulse uses  micro current to heal damaged tissue at the cell level. When there has been trauma, and residual pain, it is because of scar tissue in the muscle, fascia and under the skin. The current adjusts to the amount of impedance or resistance, and ultimately results in tissue repair. There is no pain with this. Again, there is published research on people, tissues and cells on how this works.

One of the biggest questions with this therapy is, “If this is so good,(or BECAUSE this worked so well), why doesn’t mainstream Western medicine use it?” I’m not sure, but my guess is the answer is related to money and influence. If people got better with this, they would not need as much if any drugs. How then would the Pharmaceutical companies succeed?

There would not be the need for surgery, or at least not as many. Did you know that the U.S. has the highest rate of back surgeries in the world, but the outcome is no better than our counterparts in other countries? That means that instead of having proportionately higher improved outcomes, the amount of people that are helped is no better than those in other technologically advanced countries. So why is this happening?

It is our commitment here at the Acupuncture Clinic to provide a safe, effective and affordable health care option. You should not “have to learn to live with” your pain or distress. There is nothing written anywhere that we are supposed to accept pain and emotional suffering because the modern medical community does not know how to fix it. So, if you have problems that do not respond well with other therapies, or you are reluctant to try drugs or surgery, call for a free consultation. The bottom line is, it can’t hurt, and it just might help!

Call us at our Acupuncture Clinic (507) 331-2930 for more information.

There are over 40 conditions that the World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledges that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)/ Acupuncture successfully treats. You may see a more complete list in the Acupuncture FAQs list on my website. Headaches of various types respond well, as well as back pain, emotional disorders and women’s gynecological/menopausal concerns. These are among the more common problems that I see in my practice. I also see joint pain from injury and overuse as well as digestive disorders.

The common theme from the TCM perspective is blockage of Qi. Blockage from trauma, overuse, poor diet, over work, addictions or addictive behavior leads ultimately to pain. Imagine a dammed up river. The water fills up to the banks before finally spilling over.

When the Qi is blocked, it causes congestion or stagnation which in turns causes pain. When the body is depleted due to poor lifestyle, the Qi weakens and cannot move freely resulting in blockage, or again stagnation.

With acupuncture, I access the Qi, remove the blockage, and create a smooth course that results in diminished or no pain. What seems miraculous is simply removing an obstacle. That is the beauty and elegance of TCM. Simple yet effective. After the blockage is removed, the patient has the duty to support and heal by improving improper lifestyle choices.

This is why TCM is all about partnerships; by working together we help attain and maintain balance. After all, that is what healthy living is about… Balance.

What are mind, body, and spirit and why is this so important?

In the many years that I have been in health care, I have seen a consistent pattern, no matter what area it is, whether in hospital wards or in my acupuncture clinic: fear-based medicine. People seek help because of a problem, and focus on how they arrived there. Most of the times we are able to redirect to find a solution, but sometimes folks do not want to learn that. There is an attachment to the original injury or emotion. When we hang on to that issue, our brain (which did not get the message that the event is long gone), responds to the intense emotion as if the event is just now occurring. The sympathetic nervous system is triggered into the fight or flight mode and we start to feel anxious, maybe sweaty and shaky, and our stomachs knot up. Our heart beat speeds up and we feel bad.

It is an accepted concept that it is impossible to feel pain and pleasure in the same intensity at the same time. That is the basis behind modern hospitals that incorporate distraction tools like massage, imagery, music and other relaxation techniques to assist in the healing of patients. By taking the focus off the offensive situation, the parasympathetic system takes over and helps lower heart rate, calm the mind, and support healing.

Mind:

The mind is just as important in wellness as the body. We can talk ourselves healthy or sick, happy or sad. Can you think of someone who insists that the world is against them? It seems that there is usually someone who is “out to get them”. That old dark cloud seems to hover persistently over them and theirs. Then there are the people who for some reason land on their feet after a crisis. The end of the story is positive, and they always seem to have enough at the end of the day. This is not a coincidence in either case; both groups have brought on what they received.

Now we don’t like to think we invited misfortune, but when we focus on it, fear it, and spend time and energy discussing it, we actually can manifest it into being. The good news is that we can make our lives richer and happier by focus, intent and expectation of goodness. Think about this. If we tell ourselves we expect positive, and anticipate it with a calm acceptance we can then indeed become positive in health, happiness and prosperity. Instead of thinking of lack of whatever, create the belief of positive and thus we can live better and happier. Fill the holes with goodness.

Body:

There is no magic bullet, vaccination or pill for health. There is simply good living. Eating healthy foods on a regular basis, getting enough (unmedicated) sleep, and getting adequate exercise and fresh air are the best ways to boost the immune system, and thus continue good health. (Did you note that I am avoiding saying to avoid disease??)

Spirit:

One of the reasons that I incorporate this discussion of mind, body and spirit is that overwhelmingly I have noticed a significant number of people who are without a spiritual base. Either they lost faith after a large event, or they became disillusioned in the religion. There are many ill folks who have no or little faith system, but few healthy ones who do not believe. Why is that?
We all know there is a difference in “religion” and “spiritual”; think about your belief. The bottom line is that there is comfort, fulfillment, and peace in having some sort of healthy faith. That in turn supports health and wellbeing. If you do not feel comforted in your faith system, look at it. Is it tolerant, loving and forgiving? Would you embrace it like a favorite sweater, or wear it like a mantle of shame or duty? If you feel good after worship, and renewed, then obviously you must be on to a good thing!

Health and Wellness:

So, as we can see, health and wellness are more than just absence of disease. It is a way of living. By taking a few steps in a different direction, we can have what we want… health AND happiness. What a goal!

Focus on Recovery of health and wellness:

Think of what you want–good health, wellness, happiness, prosperity. Think of how you feel with having these things. Think of living every day like this. Doesn’t this feel nice? By focusing on the positive aspect, and not the lack of, we can all have a better quality of life. When you get distracted and feeling poorly, come back to center and remember how good you feel when you are happy. Let the parasympathetic system take over and help you balance. You can regain the wellness you once had.

Enjoy!

Some tips from Michelle LaCroix, Faribault Acupuncurist and Registered Nurse

WASH, CONTAIN, HEAL!

I get asked a lot, both as a nurse and an acupuncturist, about what to do for the ‘flu. My first response has been and remains this: WASH Hands ALWAYS! The virus is spread by contact to the mouth and nose. So if someone sneezes or coughs then touches something, all you have to do is touch that, then eat or touch your nose or mouth. Also, if you are around that sneeze or cough, you can just breathe it in. That is why covering your own coughs and sneezes is important.

The second recommendation isolation. If you do not need to go to a crowded situation during this time, don’t. Taking your baby to WalMart is not a good idea right now. With the pharmacies in many areas that have shopping options, sick people mingle with healthy folks. The best thing the big stores did was to use sanitizing wipes for the cart handles, but that does not stop the spray from a sneeze. If you could see just how far and wide a sneeze goes, you would be shocked. I’ve seen spray 3 feet out and 2 feet wide from a sneeze in a sun ray.

Another thought for isolation is do not go visit if you are not feeling well. Many times in the hospital sick people come to visit healthy moms and babies. That is very irresponsible and selfish. Also, no one that is caring wants to cause someone else to get sick. If you have symptoms that include fever, sneezing, coughing or just not feeling well, stay home and care for yourself.

The last recommendation, keep yourself healthy. Eat healthy balanced foods. Soda pop is not, sorry to say, a real food. It is meant as a treat, not a staple. It contributes greatly to supporting an acid environment in your body that in turns supports bacteria, yeast and viruses. Excess sugar is also an acidic agent. Vegetables in general are alkaline in nature which supports heath, and also help by supplying vitamins and minerals. Artificial vitamins are convenient, but it is the natural stuff in the vegetables that make their vitamins absorb better and faster. Meat is a necessary source of protein, which in turn helps to make and support your cells and tissues. Fish oil is very good to help your immune system also.

I generally recommend a whole foods diet. If you can recognize the source of the food, eat it.   Chicken Nuggets, for example, is what I call Mystery Meat. I really cannot tell what the meat is, let alone what the source is for the coating. It is very heavily processed so that the nutrients are most likely long gone. Yuk!

I am also asked about vaccinations for the ‘flu. In November a new vaccine for H1N1 should be available. The Official Public Health Stance is to be vaccinated. I, however, choose to not do so. As a hospital nurse and an Acupuncturist, I am exposed a lot to many germs. The practice of hand washing and personal protection is something I believe strongly. Also the above recommendations. I am not convinced about the safety of the vaccinations, in light of the controversies that abound. My thought is that there needs to be more serious, non-biased research and investigations. The deaths reported, to my understanding, involve people who have already had serious underlying health problems. So, should those folks have the shot?  In my opinion, that is between the patient and their doctor. I encourage people to get educated, not from “scare literature” offered by both sides of the controversy, but from logical, medical and scientific sources.

As far as treatments, generally Tylenol and Motrin help with the symptoms. Do be careful with cold medicines that contain Acetametaphine, which is Tylenol. Taking  remedies as well as Tylenol is harmful to liver and kidneys. If you  would  prefer to use alternative remedies, consult a competent homeopathist or acupuncturist. Practitioners that are licensed are safer than your friend of a friend who had good luck with some mail order remedy.

When in doubt, call your doctor or practitioner. There is never such a thing as a dumb question. Please be prepared to wear a mask if you go to the doctor, as that is to protect other patients there.

Stay healthy during this cold and ‘flu season, and if you do get sick, remember: WASH, CONTAIN, HEAL!