What is your body telling you?

While pondering what to write about this month, it occurred to me that it might be interesting to share a couple of recent experiences I’ve had with interpreting messages from my body. We all have aches and pains, some familiar/chronic and some unfamiliar and perplexing. We usually think about these aches and pains as being of musculoskeletal origin. That may be true, but a painful flare up could be due to an inflammatory process from food or a neighboring organ or meridian. I hope that sharing my personal stories will help you to think about possible reasons for your discomfort. When we know the source, we have a better chance of correcting it quickly. 

• I have chronic rib pain on my left side. It seems that at least one of my ribs has a sloppy joint between it and its paired vertebra. This causes many of my ribs to pop and shift, creating discomfort. I manage it with strengthening exercises, chiropractic, massage, and acupuncture. A couple of weeks ago, the ribs were especially irritated and inflamed. When a chiropractic adjustment didn’t give the usual relief, it occurred to me that maybe my spleen was having an issue. The spleen is located directly under the affected ribs. I muscle-tested myself, and found that the spleen was stressed. I didn’t find a specific stressor, but did find a supplement, Spleen PMG from Standard Process, that offered support to the spleen and did the trick. Within a day or two, I was back to my usual level of management. 

• Several months ago, I started having a right hamstring issue. Somewhat suddenly, I wasn’t able to comfortably do a Downward Facing Dog pose while practicing yoga. I’m not sure how I injured it, or if I actually did. I worked on it and tried to help it heal with massage,  acupuncture, and stretching. It was very stubborn! After a couple of months of not much change, I finally decided to try an acupuncture technique of pricking and bleeding an acupuncture point at the end of the bladder meridian to relieve the restriction in the meridian. The bladder meridian runs from the inside of the eye, up over the head, down the back, down the back of the leg (along the hamstring), and ends at the outside edge of the little toe. I did the treatment just before I started a yoga session. When I got into Downward Facing Dog pose, the pain and flexibility was at least 75% improved. From this point of increased flexibility, it was much easier to fully rehab the hamstring. 

• A few months ago, I had a similar situation with sudden mid-lower back tightness and discomfort. After a couple of days with no change, I started testing myself, suspecting a kidney issue. Indeed, it was a kidney issue. Again, I found a supplement, this time Renatrophin PMG from Standard Process. I was back to normal within a couple of days.

• Another story I will share is about my arthritic big toe joints. I’m pretty certain that the arthritis was originally triggered by mercury toxicity after a lot of dental work in my late twenties, which included removing old amalgam fillings. If only I had known that the amalgams and their removal was the cause way back when, I would have been able to do more to support my toes! In the last 10 years, my big toes were what taught me that I was very sensitive to oxalates in my diet. (See the previous issue of the Red Clover Clinic Newsletter for more information on oxalates.) I first realized that if I ate spinach, my toes would flare up. Then cashews. Then beets and chocolate. The list goes on… The degeneration and pain in the joint is pretty severe, but I’m able to manage it with strengthening my feet, wearing proper footwear, and avoiding oxalates in my diet. However, the toes still occasionally flare up. 
  It finally occurred to me that the reason for these flares is that the big toe joint lies at the beginning of the liver meridian. The liver is a major detoxifying organ in the body. When the liver is stressed, the big toe joint area becomes swollen and painful. Often this happens when my body enters a cycle of detoxification. If I find appropriate supplementation to support the liver and kidneys, it quiets the flare up fairly quickly. 

• The final story is about my dry, irritated eyes. I’m sure there are many contributing factors to my eyes being more dry than they used to be, most notably aging. That said, one of the most helpful supplements has been Cytozyme LV from Biotics. In Chinese medicine, the liver meridian opens to the eyes, which means that the liver meridian is intimately connected with the health of the eyes and vision. Muscle testing showed me that my liver was the stressor to my eyes, and that’s how I found the right supplement. 

When working with my clients, I’m always looking for clues like these to get to the bottom of their ailments. When a musculoskeletal complaint stays flared up, I look for underlying reasons such as these. Emotions are another possible trigger, and you can read more about how I deal with emotional blockages in the July/August 2022 issue of the Red Clover Clinic Newsletter. If you need help making sense of what your body is trying to tell you, I would be happy to help!

A discussion on oxalates, inspired by Toxic Superfoods, by Sally Norton

The effects of oxalate overload on the body was the topic of Red Clover Clinic’s July/August 2021 Newsletter. Now comes a new, comprehensive resource, Toxic Superfoods: How Oxalate Overload is Making you Sick – and How to Get Better by Sally Norton, published at the beginning of the year.  I recommend Norton’s book to anyone who wants to learn more about what oxalates are, what effects they have on health, how to address issues associated with oxalate overload, and how to prevent this issue in the first place.

Briefly, oxalates are a crystalline substance found in plants and matabolically produced by our bodies. They can accumulate in our tissues, causing pain and dysfunction. The list of symptoms caused by oxalate overload is long. Besides pain, a partial list includes inflammation, arthritis, insomnia, chronic fatigue, muscle spasms, urogenital pain, brain fog, diarrhea, constipation, reflux, autoimmune disorders, rashes, eczema, bruising from within, headaches, heart arrhythmias, blood pressure irregularity, cold intolerance, depression, anxiety, inflamed gums, eye/eyelid irritation, and tinnitus. 

Not everyone has an issue with oxalate overload, but I do frequently see evidence of oxalate damage in my clients. At the very least, it is important to educate yourself about the harm you could cause to your health if you drink a spinach smoothie every day, or drink almond milk, snack on almonds, and bake with almond flour. 

I highly recommend that you reread the July/August 2021 Newsletter or take the time to read Sally Norton’s well-researched book. I found the following excerpt particularly interesting, explaining why so few people and practitioners know about oxalate overload:

No field of science is charged with (or even interested in) developing a “whole body” theory of what excessive dietary oxalate does to us, so it is especially difficult to recognize dietary oxalate overload as a unified problem with a common cause. The early signs and symptoms of oxalate poisoning are not well known, can be quite common and diverse, can appear gradually and intermittently, and are dissimilar from person to person. Most important, we don’t notice the gradual erosion of tissues and their lost function until metabolic reserves are depleted and the disease process interrupts our lives. (p. 88)

Urine tests of oxalate excretion levels are the only laboratory tests available. Unfortunately, they aren’t particularly accurate, or as Norton puts it,  “Urine testing is akin to taking a still photo of a moving target.” She describes a study that was done by the VP Foundation, in which nearly 4,000 women with vulvar pain were researched. Each woman’s individual urine void for three consecutive days was analyzed for oxalate content. “The study revealed that oxalate handling occurs in cycles, appearing as two or three brief but very steep peaks of elevated excretion occurring at the same time on each day in each subject, but at different times for each subject. For many subjects, their symptoms also occurred in cycles. Interestingly, despite the toxic elevations in urine oxalate, 24-hour urine level totals were normal in all the subjects.” (p. 99)

I also found Norton’s discussion of why oxalate accumulations start to be interesting. Oxalates, in general, tend to accumulate in tissues that are injured, inflamed, stressed, or undernourished. In other words, they settle into the weakest areas, which don’t have the health to repel them. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Motrin, Advil, for example), she says, can distress the gut lining and kidneys, which in turn can lead to oxalate damage and accumulation. 

I would be happy to discuss the possibility of oxalate issues with you at your next appointment.

Gait Happens: a great resource for foot pain and gait issues

I’ve had arthritic big toes for years. The right one, in particular, has been very painful and I have had to be very careful about what shoes I wear. In the past year or two, the left one has worsened, and the combination was making it very painful to walk with any speed. 

Another negative effect has been compensation. I changed how I walked to stop the pain. This has had a negative effect up the chain to the ankles, knees, and low back. It also caused a weakening of the foot muscles. My already flat feet got weaker. 

I have a couple of theories as to why I developed arthritis, but addressing those theories hasn’t relieved the pain or diminished the gradual worsening of the condition. I have tried orthotics, special shoe designs, acupuncture, massage, chiropractic, diet changes, supplements, and herbs. The combination of these efforts has likely prolonged some functionality and pain relief, but they weren’t enough. I consulted with a podiatrist about 10 years ago and his recommendation was surgery. At the time, that didn’t feel like the right choice as I hadn’t really exhausted all other options. 

I am so grateful that a client shared her experience working with a clinic called Gait Happens. Their brick-and-mortar location is in Lakewood, Colorado; however, their main focus is virtual appointments. They are true experts in lower-body biomechanics. They assess your posture and movement through photographs and videos that are uploaded prior to and during the appointment. You are given a list of exercises to perform daily. The list of exercises are accessible through the TrueCoach App, where you have access to videos on how to properly do the exercises. Proper footwear and specific tools such as Correct Toes are discussed and recommendations are given. 

I had my first appointment in mid-September and second one in early November. I have been diligently doing my exercises and have been thrilled and relieved with how much relief I feel. I still have pain in my big toe joints, but, with the proper footwear, I can walk with minimal to no pain. I am truly amazed how much stronger my feet, calves, hamstrings, glutes and core have become. I started to notice gradual improvement within a few days and it has only gotten better and better with time. 

I know that I can’t make the current level of degeneration in my toes reverse itself, but now I have a way to preserve the function that I do have. Furthermore, the added strength in my body has helped with other musculoskeletal complaints. For anyone with foot issues, such as bunions, plantar fasciitis, heel pain, flat feet, hammertoes, shin splints, knee pain, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, or sesamoiditis, Gait Happens could be a good fit for you. You have to do the work, but take it from me, it is worth it!

Are you suffering from chronic, unexplained pain?

If you are struggling with joint pain, muscle pain, urogenital pain, headaches, burning feet, and/or general, unexplained inflammation, you may be suffering from oxalate toxicity. Oxalates are a crystalline substance found in plants, that can accumulate in our tissues, causing pain and dysfunction. Our bodies also metabolically produce oxalates. If we consume foods that are high in oxalates, and/or we have a compromised digestive system, we may run into problems.

In the latter half of the 19th century, oxalate poisoning was a well known condition, that seemed to worsen during the spring and summer months when high oxalate foods were in abundance. Unfortunately, that knowledge has been forgotten, and the only medical acknowledgement of oxalate issues is in patients with chronic kidney stones. Furthermore, the current health food movement has promoted the use of some extremely high oxalate foods as staples in large quantities, e.g. spinach smoothies and almond flour baked goods.

There are many lists available with information regarding oxalate levels in foods. Unfortunately, there are many discrepancies, which can create confusion. A good place to start is reading through this abbreviated list of exceptionally high and very high oxalate foods, which are mostly agreed upon. 

Exceptionally high oxalate foods: spinach, beet greens, Swiss chard, soy, rhubarb, almonds, plantains, buckwheat, amaranth, sesame seeds, cashews, peanuts, chocolate, and carob. 

Very high oxalate foods: beets, potatoes, sweet potatoes, blackberries, figs, kiwi, adzuki beans, black beans, pinto beans, white beans (cannellini, navy, great northern, etc.), quinoa, teff, most nuts, chia seed, hemp seed, poppy seed, and green and black tea.

Decreasing oxalates in the diet

If you eat foods that are listed above, and you have pain symptoms, you may want to consider decreasing or avoiding consumption of these foods. If you notice a change in your symptoms, then you have your first answer.

It is important to exercise caution when reducing oxalates, however. If reduced too abruptly, after a few days of feeling better, you may start to experience oxalate dumping side effects. These symptoms are very similar to over consumption of high oxalate foods, i.e. pain, inflammation, headache, etc. 

Compromising factors

There are many factors that can set someone up for struggling with oxalates more than others. These include:

• Antibiotic use: antibiotics can kill off the natural gut flora that help to break down oxalates.

• Yeast overgrowth: Yeast produces oxalates and converts collagen (the main structural protein in connective tissue) to oxalates.

• B vitamin deficiency: Certain deficiencies can cause the body to produce more oxalates.

• Magnesium and calcium deficiency: These minerals bind to oxalates and carry them out through the stool.

• Fat malabsorption: If fat isn’t being fully digested, it binds with calcium, leaving the oxalates unbound, and free to be reabsorbed.

• Hyper-permeable gut (Leaky Gut): This allows the oxalates to get into the blood stream, and increase their absorption.

Beyond the diet

A low oxalate diet is the primary and most complicated part of treating oxalate toxicity. That said, it is also important to reduce the body’s production and absorption of oxalates. This is accomplished with strategic use of supplements.

The long haul

There is nothing fast about the oxalate detoxification process. It can take 2-3 years to fully get on top of the condition. It also requires strict diet management.

As with everything, each person is unique. Some may experience extreme symptoms, while others only mild symptoms, and some, none at all. You may be a person who only needs to avoid spinach, almonds, and cashews, while others have to be extremely strict. No matter what, it is helpful to better understand what your body tolerates and what it doesn’t, and adjust your diet the best you can.

If you suspect that you may be struggling with oxalate overload, and want to explore your options further, I would be happy to work with you. I have a special interest in this topic, as it has proven to be the key to the majority of my health complaints. It is an ongoing process, but I am happy to say that I continue to see improvement over time. 

Rediscovering scalp acupuncture

At the end of September, I had the opportunity to travel to Madison, Wisconsin, to attend a scalp acupuncture seminar taught by Suzanne Robidoux. I have occasionally used scalp acupuncture since learning the basics in acupuncture school over 10 years ago, but am now inspired to use it a whole lot more. I was aware of the effectiveness of the method, but needed the more in-depth instruction on how to understand it better and use it to achieve the best results possible. Over the past couple of weeks I have started to employ what I learned, and am pleased with the results so far.

Scalp acupuncture applies the ancient technique of acupuncture to a modern, scientific understanding of how the brain is mapped. The right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, and vice versa. The brain is further divided into different areas, each with specific jobs to control the various functions of the body: movement, feeling sensation, balance, optics, emotions, focus, and the rest.

Scalp acupuncture was developed by Dr. Jiao Shunfa in the early 1970s in China. Dr. Jiao suspected that he could effectively treat hemiplegia (one-sided paralysis) following a stroke by treating the area over the primary motor cortex of the brain on the opposite side of the paralysis. Dr. Jiao knew that the motor cortex controls how movement is initiated in the body. In the photo above, you can see the “Motor Line,” the line that Dr. Jiao first treated to test his theory.

As Dr. Jiao gained experience by treating many patients, he was able to define several areas that brought about particular therapeutic effects when stimulated with acupuncture needles. These areas were consistent with the already-mapped functional areas of the brain. He developed a comprehensive system to treat many neurological disorders, including stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, traumatic brain injury, and neuropathy.

Other doctors have expanded upon Dr. Jiao’s methods to treat even more neurological conditions. One example is Dr. Lin Xue Jian, who developed her method to treat autism, ADD/ADHD, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and learning disabilities.

The beauty of scalp acupuncture is that not only is it extremely effective in treating these serious diseases, but it is also effective in treating many other conditions, including acute and chronic pain of any type, stress, digestive issues, colds, emotional upset, and more.

Scalp acupuncture is typically paired with electrical stimulation of the scalp points, by connecting the needles to a stimulater via electrodes, and a body acupuncture treatment. The needles are retained for 30 minutes. In cases of physical issues such as paralysis, tremors, pain, and numbness, some exercise must also be done with the scalp needles retained for the best effect, before leaving the office.

When our teacher insisted that a post stroke patient who is in a wheelchair should be up and walking within five weeks with two treatments per week, along with some dietary changes and herbal support, she really got my attention. I have already started to use this powerful method more in my practice, and am looking forward to helping more people feel better so they can more fully enjoy their lives.

Are you moving functionally?

In my last article, Getting to the Root of Pain and Illness, I introduced Neurokinetic Therapy (NKT) as an option for treating musculoskeletal pain. I would like to focus a little more attention to this method, so that my clients can develop a deeper understanding of how their bodies work and how we can use NKT to increase function and decrease pain.

Do you have a pain that is always there no matter how much you use a foam roller or seek out other therapies? Do you get temporary relief, but the pain always returns? If you have pain that is a result of damage to your body, NKT may not be able to offer much relief. However, if you have a chronically tight muscle that feels like a toothache, a chronic muscle weakness that prevents you from moving normally, or any annoying aches and pains, NKT may be just the thing for you.

In NKT, we assess movement patterns. We consider where the person has pain, what the tissue feels like, and what muscles may be involved. We do a series of muscle tests to determine which muscles are facilitated (testing strong) and which are inhibited (testing weak). It is important to note that facilitated could mean that the muscle is functioning normally, or that it is too tight and is the prime mover in a compensation pattern. On the flip side, if a muscle tests inhibited, it doesn’t mean that it is inherently weak; it may just be switched off by a facilitated muscle. The layers of compensation can get very complicated, but the magic of NKT is that layer by layer, we can reestablish healthy, functional movement patterns.

The bottom line is that when your body uses dysfunctional movement patterns to move, pain develops. When your body uses functional movement patterns to move, pain goes away.

How do dysfunctional movement patterns develop, and how do we fix them? 

All movement patterns are stored in the brain, specifically in the motor control center that is part of the cerebellum. The motor control center is directed by the cerebrum and the limbic system to create movement patterns. The cerebrum controls all voluntary actions of the body and the limbic system is the emotional center of the brain, which creates an interesting link between strong emotions, stress, shock and trauma, and movement patterns. When you’re under stress, do you hold your breath or clench your jaw? This could be the start of a dysfunctional movement pattern. Due to the plasticity of the brain, dysfunctional movement patterns are as easy to create as functional movement patterns.

When the body is injured or stressed, whether physically or emotionally, healthy movement may become difficult. Without us even noticing, the brain recruits other muscles to do the work of whichever muscle is injured or fatigued. After the compensation pattern is repeated, it becomes ingrained in the motor control center. This is how dysfunctional movement patterns are established.

For example, if you are doing bicep curls, and you decide to use a heavier weight and do more reps than you usually do, your biceps will fatigue and weaken. If you continue to work through the muscle fatigue, your brain will begin to recruit other muscles of the shoulder and forearm to make the movement happen, without much help from the biceps. If you continue to do this, your biceps will become inhibited and won’t fire properly during normal use and you will most likely develop pain somewhere in your body, due to the compensation pattern that was created.

In this example, we can see that the motor control center learns through failure. If the bicep is weakened, the body learns how to recruit other muscles to achieve the desired end result.

In NKT we use this concept to our advantage. We do manual muscle tests that isolate the function of the muscles being tested. If the muscle test is failed, i.e. the muscle is inhibited and doesn’t fire, the motor control center becomes open to learning a new pattern or to reestablishing a functional pattern. This is our window to find the dysfunctional movement pattern, release it, and assign a specific exercise to burn the functional movement pattern into the brain. Often the exercise is just a repeat of the muscle test without the resistance. In the bicep example above, the bicep curl could be repeated without weight or with very light weight, simply to fire the bicep.  

Next time you are in the clinic, ask if NKT may be the best approach to help with your chronic aches and pains.

Getting to the root of pain and illness

Over the past several years, I have studied many different treatment methods. I’ve learned quite a few that are effective at stopping a symptom. I have found, however, that often symptoms return if the root cause wasn’t addressed. The methods that I stick with are those that focus on getting to the cause of pain and illness.

The body speaks!

What makes a treatment method able to get to the root of a problem? It requires a way to talk to the body and allow the practitioner to be led to the root cause so she or he can determine the best treatment method.

In spite of the fact that we all have arms, legs, livers, and brains, each body requires different strategies to heal. The trick is trying to find out exactly what YOUR body needs to heal its back pain, digestive troubles, headaches. When the body gets exactly what it needs, it is able to heal itself.

The two methods that I have incorporated into my practice to ask the body what it needs to heal are the pulse testing method called the VAS (vascular autonomic signal) and muscle testing. Both methods allow the practitioner to gather information about the body and figure out exactly how to treat it. 

Vascular autonomic signal

VAS is the voice of the body I listen to primarily when practicing auricular medicine. I have different protocols on how to scan the ear to search out specific kinds of information, indicating things like pain, dental issues, emotional blockages, and other conditions. What I’m looking for are changes in the pulse. When the pulse gets noticeably sharper, it indicates a relationship with what I’m searching for. When treating with a needle or laser, I can be very precise with the location of the treatment. This kind of precision is very important, as even a tenth of a millimeter makes a difference.

Muscle testing

Muscle testing is another great method to converse with the body. I have been using it to evaluate the body nutritionally by doing Nutrition Response Testing and Morphogenic Field Technique for the past three years.

Muscle testing works because our body is made up of energy. Our nervous system is our electrical system, which pushes energy through our muscles. If you are exposed to something that impacts your nervous system negatively, your muscles will short circuit and go weak temporarily. This is how we can test foods, which have their own energy fields, and other substances that can act as poisons to the body. We can put light pressure over an organ or other area of the body that may have impaired function, which also causes weakness in the muscle test.

Once we have determined what the problems are, we can do muscle testing to find the solutions. For example, if the body is stressed from a chemical exposure, we can find a supplement that will help the body detoxify it. If a food sensitivity shows up, we can recommend avoidance of that food as well as a digestive enzyme to help clean up the debris left behind by the immune reaction to the food.

Something new-Neurokinetic Therapy

I recently attended a training session for a method called Neurokinetic Therapy (NKT). NKT uses muscle testing to assess dysfunctional movement patterns and pinpoint the root cause of these patterns in the brain’s motor control center. This therapy is very useful to identify which movement pattern is causing pain, weakness, and postural distortion, and determine how to release it and reprogram the motor control center to restore normal function. The reprogramming happens through a few minutes of simple exercises daily.

I’m excited to be adding a therapy that helps me precisely assess the musculoskeletal system in order to determine the most effective treatment and rehabilitative exercises to resolve a problem. This method pairs well with both bodywork and acupuncture, and I am confident that it will incorporate seamlessly into my practice.

As I’ve studied each of these methods, I’ve been tickled by how much overlap there is among them. They’re all tuned to factors that disrupt the body’s normal energy patterns, be they repetitive stress, sugar or other toxins, or scars. And they’re all able to listen to the body and figure out what it needs to heal, be it nutrition, herbal therapy, homeopathy, acupuncture, and/or rehabilitative exercises. It’s like learning different dialects of the same language-the body’s language.

Poor posture = loss of function = pain

Do you have nagging pain in your low back? Do you carry chronic tension in your shoulders? If you have chronic discomfort in an area with no known injury, you may wonder why that is. The best answer is postural stress. Can you relate to the photo at left?

There are several very common postural stress patterns that I see in my clinic: posterior neck pain and stiffness, shoulder pain with restricted range of motion, a painful knot near the shoulder blade, low back ache, and hip tightness. People typically describe these areas as tight and restricted, with nagging pain. These patterns are quite frustrating, because they are stubborn and resistant to treatment.

How to think about postural stress—the back has a front

When we have pain in our shoulders, we typically massage our shoulders. When we have pain in our backs, we massage, twist and stretch out our backs.  Though this offers relief as we're doing it, it often doesn't fix the problem. 

We would do better to remember that our back has a front. How we hold our body has a big impact on how we feel.

The common pain patterns that I see are a result of tight flexor muscles (generally, those on the front of the body) and/or stretched, weak extensor muscles (those on the back of the body). 

Looking at the figure above, we can see that the front of the body is collapsed and contracted, while the back is arched and stretched, like a hinge closing on itself. We need to figure out how to pry open the hinge, stack the body the way it was meant to be, and focus on healthy, functional movement.

Shoulder or scapular pain

If someone has shoulder or scapular pain, I not only work on the area where it hurts with acupuncture and massage, I also work to loosen and stretch the front of the upper body, specifically the pectoralis muscles (pectoralis major illustration) on the chest and the subscapularis (subscapularis illustration) in the armpit. If you don't loosen these muscles, the pain in the shoulder and around the scapula will come right back. 

With this pain pattern, it is common to see rounded shoulders and shoulder blades that seem to be sliding down the back. In this case, relaxing the chest isn't enough; the back muscles must be strengthened as well.

The door stretch shown above is a helpful exercise you can do yourself. Hold each stretch until you feel the muscle fibers releasing. It is also important to do the stretch with your hand positioned at different heights to open the chest more completely.  

Neck pain

Once the upper torso is loosened and more functional, the neck will typically feel and move better.  If there is still residual pain, then the muscles of the neck need to be addressed. 

The best place to start is by massaging and pinching tender points along the scalene (scalene illustration) and sternocleidomastoid (SCM)(SCM Illustration) muscles on the sides and front of the neck, as seen in the first illustration. These muscles should also be stretched, as seen in the second illustration. 

It is also important to stretch and loosen your sub-occipital muscles (at the base of your skull) by tucking your chin and gently pressing it posteriorly, and massaging them with your thumb or pressing them into a tennis ball.

Low back pain

If someone has low back pain, it is very important to be sure the iliopsoas muscle (iliopsoas illustration) isn't contracted. It often becomes shortened with extended sitting. If it is contracted, all the back stretches in the world aren't going to solve the problem. I recommend lunges with an arched back (below, left) to stretch the iliopsoas, before stretching the back itself.   

Prying open the hinge of the hip

For hip pain and tightness, I always recommend using a tennis ball to roll out the hip flexors, with a focus on the tensor fasciae latae (TFL) muscle (TFL illustration). Look for the most tender spot that may refer pain down the leg or into the buttocks, then allow yourself to sink onto the tennis ball. A foam roller can also be used to roll out the tight areas on the hips and legs. Don't forget to also roll out the gluteus muscles to improve hip function. 

Once the muscles have been softened, you can stretch out your low back with a forward bend (above, right). This has the added benefit of stretching out your hamstrings, in case they are tight and pulling down on your pelvis. The pelvis forms the foundation for your structure, and when it is functioning properly, your whole body will stack and move as it is meant to move.

Helpful homework

These are a few simple exercises you can do to support your body and correct postural negligence in between acupuncture and bodywork treatments. Over time, your body will become more functional and your pain and discomfort will decrease. 

For the best, most  efficient results to reestablish proper posture and function, I refer my clients to Michelle Mariska for Healing Motion Therapy, based on the Egoscue Method. This method has helped me and many of my clients tremendously. Read the following article to learn more about this powerful method.

Healing Motion Therapy

by Michelle Mariska

Healing Motion Therapy (HMT) takes your whole body alignment into consideration when treating your symptoms. The therapy’s basic principle is that everything in the body is connected. The body needs to be evaluated and treated as a whole, rather than just focusing treatment on areas of the body that are experiencing pain.

During an initial appointment, I will obtain an understanding of the pain you are experiencing and evaluate your body’s posture and alignment to understand the source of the pain. I then walk you through an evaluation, including use of photos that are helpful in understanding postural and alignment issues.

Based on my analysis, I’ll next guide you through a short series of exercises, designed specifically for you. The exercises are simple, gentle, and easy to replicate. Clients are expected to complete the exercises at home, then come back for another session in two to three weeks.

Most clients see and feel positive results at the first session. Typically, four to eight sessions are necessary for clients to maximize the postural changes. At each subsequent visit, your static posture and gait are re-evaluated and a new set of exercises is provided.

I often see overused and tight muscles in the mid-back from too much sitting. We sit at work, we sit in the car, and then we sit at home. For example, a client comes in with knee pain. Upon evaluation, I explain that tightness and decreased motion in their mid-back contributes to a lack of motion in their pelvis. The pelvis has muscles connected to the knee, and is thus causing the knee pain. The client is often amazed how their knee pain is relieved after doing the individually designed exercises that are focused on their upper body, not on the area that is painful.

HMT differs from physical therapy because it treats the cause, not the symptom. The therapy also works great as an adjunct to other modalities, including acupuncture and massage. HMT enables another practitioner to reach a new level of healing, since we are releasing the superficial layer of muscle compensation.

Symptoms treated-muscle and nerve pain of the back, knee, hip, shoulder, ankle, foot, neck, elbow and hand. If it’s connected to your body, I’d like to think I can help you.

Michelle Mariska has a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology. She has over 17 years experience helping clients relieve their symptoms and live a pain-free life. HMT is based on the teachings of Pete Egoscue and The Egoscue Method in San Diego, CA, where Michelle worked for four years.

Healing Motion Therapy is located at 2718 E 50th St, Minneapolis, MN 55417

(612) 799-6946 or michelle@healingmotiontherapy.com

German auricular acupuncture: a case study and patient report

I continue to be impressed with the results of German auricular acupuncture on clients of Red Clover Clinic. I’d like to share a case study and first-person patient account of this powerful treatment.

If you recall, the last issue of Red Clover Clinic Newsletter described the concept of focus points in German auricular acupuncture. A quick review: our ears have points that harbor a body/brain memory of a particular stress or trauma we have experienced. ” Focus” activity can be a chronic burden on the system, preventing it from returning to its previous level of homeostasis. Treating focus points can help to clear the stressful body memory and potentially heal chronic afflictions that don’t seem to respond to other treatments. A few needles can clear past trauma and promote healing, as you shall see.

A case study

A 55-year-old woman who had been coming to me for acupuncture and bodywork was interested in experiencing a German auricular acupuncture session. She had a history of several injuries and two surgeries: an appendectomy and bunion surgery. Her main complaints were pain and tightness around her tailbone (pain level of 4 on a scale of 10) and tightness along her lower thoracic spine on the right side (pain level 2 on a scale of 10). These were chronic conditions for which she had undergone years of physical training and various treatments to correct. 

The injury that stood out as the most significant was a horseback riding injury at age 17. The saddle slid off the horse’s back, and she was dragged by her left leg.  She blacked out and remembers waking up with pain in her left hip and the right side of her back.

First, I did a preliminary scan of the ear, using a 3-Volt Hammer (a device with two points with opposite polarity), to determine which points on the ear needed to be tested for activity. The testing itself is done with a piece of equipment called the Pointoselct Digital DT. This tool measures the electrical conductance of each point. The lower the conductance, the more active the point. The most active points are the points selected for treatment. Five points were selected and needled–one that corresponds to the tailbone on both sides, a point that correlated with the thoracic region, and two functional points that help mediate pain.

While resting with the needles, the client had the sensation of having the wind knocked out of her two separate times. She had to concentrate on breathing through the episodes. After getting up off the table, she felt that her whole tailbone region had released. She felt no pain, and noticed that her leg stayed properly aligned when she walked. 

Twenty-four hours following the treatment, the client reported that her right lower back had loosened up a lot, which made any discomfort in her thoracic region and upper back almost disappear. She also mentioned that she had a slight fever the night of the treatment and into the next morning.

I find this case to be interesting, because not only was there a clear improvement in the symptoms, there was also a body experience that was relived and then released. This experience sped up the client’s progress in her physical training. She continues to get occasional auricular treatments when something feels stuck.

A patient report

“I have been a patient of Anita’s for a few years, to get rid of a chronic cough and deal with some premenopausal symptoms. Herbs, both western and Chinese, as well as regular acupuncture, were used with good effect over that period of time.

“As menopause approached and hot flashes increased, Anita mentioned that German auricular acupuncture was particularly effective for hormonal conditions. I was game to try, even though the needles used are slightly larger than for Chinese acupuncture and thus can be momentarily more uncomfortable.

“I always experience a feeling of relaxation during an acupuncture treatment, but the sensation was much more pronounced during my first German auricular session. I became aware of how much nervous tension I carry in my body. The calm, level feeling continued for a full day. I was hoping it would go on forever! Though it did not, alas, the overall effect of multiple treatments over time is noticeable.

“And what about the hot flashes? After two treatments, spaced a week apart, they virtually disappeared for a month. I thought that was that, but they did return, though fewer and less intense. A treatment every month or so has kept them under control.”

Herbal teas for cold and flu season

It’s that time of year, cold and flu season. If you are unlucky enough to succumb, the best antidote for a miserable cold with body aches, chills, and fever is to sweat. Drinking a warm herbal tea with diaphoretic (sweat promoting) properties and wrapping up in heavy blankets will help you to sweat out the illness and recover more quickly. Here are two tasty and effective options.

Yarrow, elderflower, and peppermint tea

• 1/2 tsp. dried yarrow flowers

• 1/2 tsp. dried elderflowers

• 1/2 tsp. dried peppermint leaves

• 12 oz. boiling water

A small teapot is convenient, because it has two necessary items: a lid and an infuser. A large mug can be used as well, but you will need either a disposable tea bag or a tea ball, as well as a small plate to use as a lid. The lid is important, because it traps all the volatile oils and prevents them from evaporating into the air. These oils are the active ingredients that promote sweat and circulation, so don’t lose them! 

Place the dried herbs into the infuser, pour the boiling water into the pot, and cover. Steep for 20 minutes. Pour the tea into a mug and enjoy. Then wrap yourself up in bed and sweat out your cold. This can be repeated 2-3 times per day until you feel better.

Ginger and honey tea

• 4 quarter-size slices of fresh ginger

• honey, to taste

Follow the directions for the previous tea, placing the fresh ginger in the infuser. Stir in the honey after removing the infuser. The addition of honey to this tea is particularly soothing to a sore throat. 

If you’re in need of a good source of high-quality, organic, dried herbs, I suggest Mountain Rose Herbs.

Interrupting the pain cycle

When it comes to pain, it’s all in our heads. 

 Actually, pain is experienced by way of our brains, via a cycle described in detail below. Pain can be acute, resolved quickly, or chronic, variously defined as lasting longer than 3 to 6 months. Acupuncture is particularly helpful in interrupting the pain cycle, especially for chronic pain. Herbs and bodywork are useful as well, depending on the condition.

 The pain cycle

Pain receptors, called nociceptors, are found in any area of the body that can feel pain. These sensory receptors respond to any dangerous stimulus, to warn us of potential injury or illness. A perfect example is if you stick your finger into a flame. The nociceptors in the skin of your finger are activated when the stimulus reaches a certain threshold and transmit a warning signal to the brain. The brain then sends a pain signal, causing you to pull your finger back out of the flame. 

 Communication between your finger and your brain is complicated by chemical mediators, which increase the sensitivity of the nociceptors, and hormones, which increase the sensation of pain and cause inflammation. To use the finger/flame example, the more inflammation there is in the body, the more painful that flame will feel. In other words, your state of health, including your stress levels, may contribute to prolonged or exaggerated pain.

 In cases of chronic pain, nociceptors become sensitized and overreact to a normal stimulus. This is the case when the original source of the pain is completely healed, but the person still experiences great pain or when the experience of pain exceeds the extent of the injury. In essence, the brain gets stuck in a rut and continues to send pain signals unnecessarily.

 In Chinese medicine, it is believed that pain is caused by the stagnation of Qi and blood. To treat the pain, we must move Qi and blood and break up stagnation. If the condition is particularly chronic, it is likely complicated by inherent deficiency in the body. Manual therapies like acupuncture and bodywork physically break up stagnation in the body, and allow it to heal. Herbs that move Qi and blood help to support this healing process. In the cases complicated by deficiency, herbs are particularly useful, to tonify and nourish the system and speed up the healing.

Treatment

Treating chronic pain can be challenging. I like to use a combination of treatments, depending on the situation. First, I would encourage you to clean up your diet, avoiding inflammatory foods (sugar, fast and processed foods, vegetable oils, refined grains, additives, excess dairy, commercially produced meats, and alcohol) and increase consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, olive oil, nuts, seeds, and wild-caught fish.

Acupuncture is particularly effective in treating chronic pain. One of its mechanisms is to interrupt the habituated pain signal to and from the brain. By distracting the brain with the insertion of an acupuncture needle or two, the brain can reset itself, allowing the body to return to a state of homeostasis. This treatment may need to be repeated several times, to retrain the brain permanently.

In cases of chronic degenerative conditions, such as osteoarthritis in joints, acupuncture is useful to manage the pain and slow down the degenerative process. It decreases sensitivity, moderates inflammation, and calms the nervous system. Treatment intervals vary greatly in these cases, depending on the person and the severity of their condition.

Bodywork is particularly useful for chronic pain conditions involving tight muscles and fascia. Bodywork helps to increase circulation and flush out contracted tissues. If pain is caused by active trigger points, bodywork is very effective. The March/April 2012 Red Clover Clinic newsletter discussed treating myofascial pain (pain in the muscles and connective tissues). 

Finally, herbal medicines help heal pain in particular structures in the body, such as the joints, the spine, the nerves, and spastic muscles. Other herbs work to increase circulation and decrease inflammation. 

If you have concerns with chronic pain, contact me at Red Clover Clinic.

Spring allergies: a personal case history

I thought you might enjoy a spring allergy story–mine. Herbs came to the rescue, though I had to try a few to get full relief. These may or may not work for you; everyone’s case is different and ought to be assessed.

A few weeks ago, my throat started to feel sore, and I felt congested. It didn’t really feel like a cold, and I’m not accustomed to allergy symptoms. The symptoms just hung around for a few days and I was getting more and more irritated by them. Then, they got worse. 

I woke up one morning and my throat was sore and itchy, I had post-nasal drip, and I sounded very congested. When I got to work, the first herb I though of was burdock, my favorite herb to treat allergies. I took 6 drops of tincture under my tongue and waited a few minutes. It felt like my symptoms were calming down a bit. So, I took another 6 drops. My sinuses cleared out a lot, but I still sounded congested. I decided I was on the right track, and continued taking the burdock tincture throughout the day, every hour or so. 

By the next morning I felt a lot better. While driving to work, however, my eyes started running like a faucet. My nose joined in. I knew I better act fast. I went back to my herb kit and tried a couple of different things… nothing worked. Then I thought of nettles, which is very astringent/drying and commonly used to treat allergy symptoms. I took 6 drops and felt an improvement within a couple of minutes. I took another dose, and my eyes cleared completely. Throughout the day I continued to take both burdock and nettles, whenever I started to feel symptoms. During the 3 following days, I took approximately 3 doses per day. And now I’m down to 1 to 2 doses per day. 

Whatever the allergen was, it is either barely affecting me, or it got washed away in the rain. Either way, I’m thankful for my green friends. Today, on my walk, I took photos of these powerful plants to share with you.

Burdock

Nettles

Pain in the muscles and connective tissues

At some point we have all experienced pain in the muscles and their surrounding connective tissues, known as myofascial pain. Some people experience this kind of pain, whether widespread or localized, at all times.

Regardless of level of severity, it is important to address myofasical pain and whatever is causing it, whether to prevent the pain from becoming more chronic or to prevent structural changes that may occur due to chronically tightened and shortened muscles. In most cases, these conditions respond well to a combination of acupuncture and bodywork. Let’s look at the various conditions and how Red Clover Clinic addresses them.

Fibromyalgia

Chronic, widespread myofascial pain is often diagnosed as fibromyalgia, a term that has gradually seeped into everyday usage over the past 20 years and become a well-recognized condition. It is estimated that 2 to 4 percent of the population suffers from fibromyalgia. In addition to chronic myofascial pain, symptoms include sleep disturbances, mood disorders, and fatigue. The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but it is definitely triggered and exacerbated by emotional and physical stress.

With fibromyalgia, the body has become hypersensitive to stimulus, which is registered by the brain as pain. Acupuncture can often interrupt this pain circuit, thereby reducing the client’s level of pain. Acupuncture is also a great way to reduce overall stress, by switching the nervous system from “fight-or-flight” (sympathetic) status to one of rest, relaxation, and digestion (parasympathetic) mode.

Bodywork is also useful in treating fibromyalgia, but it is crucially important to work within the limits of the client’s pain tolerance. Interestingly, pain tolerance increases when the body is in a parasympathetic state. Deep tissue work is therefore typically not recommended; gentle myofascial release is preferred.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome and localized pain

With myofascial pain syndrome the pain is less widespread than it typically is in fibromyalgia. It is typical for a person with this condition to feel some level of localized pain at all times, as well as decreased range of motion and sleep and mood disturbances.

Myofascial pain syndrome pain tends to be referred pain caused by trigger points. As we learned in the January/February 2012 Newsletter a trigger point is a specific, tender point in the myofascial tissue that, when stimulated, elicits referred pain, that is, pain that occurs at a distance from the specific tender point.

We know that trigger point locations and pain patterns are consistent from person to person and that they become activated by lack of blood flow in the local area. This lack of blood flow could be caused by either metabolic reasons (nutrient deficiencies, for example) or physical stress (posture issues, repetitive use injuries).

For myofascial pain syndrome and localized myofascial pain, the primary focus is to treat active trigger points, and release the fascia where it is restricting proper function and causing pain. Acupuncture can be used as described above, with the addition of needling the active trigger points directly. This will often help to restore circulation in the local area and reset the muscle.

Bodywork is a very important part of treating this kind of pain. A combination of neuromuscular therapy, myofascial release, and positional release therapy work wonders to release the chronically tightened tissue, reduce pain, and restore proper function to the muscles. See the previous issue for definitions of these techniques.

Red Clover Clinic offers “Mix and Match” sessions which allow enough time to treat chronic pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia and myofacial pain syndrome, that require a combination of acupuncture and bodywork.

A testimonial

Anita provides a unique combination of therapeutic techniques that have been instrumental in decreasing both my direct as well as related symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome. Through careful interviewing at the start of each session, she is able to determine where the needs of the day reside within the whole treatment plan, which she has carefully developed over several weeks, beginning with an in-depth 90 minute intake interview/consultation.

Given the fact that myofascial pain is often exacerbated by stress and can be accompanied by migraines and sleep difficulties, Anita frequently varies treatments to address these concerns. Various modalities that have been very beneficial for me have been primarily a combination of acupuncture and massage, but also some cupping, electrical stimulation, and oriental medicine (herbs).

My greatest reasons for trust in Anita as a healer comes not only from her extensive and solid experience and competence, but from her warm and caring demeanor that leads the patient to feel that they are always welcome and never a burden. This is truly the measure of a great practitioner. –A.S.

Herbs influence our emotions

When analyzing pharmaceutical medications, we generally discuss their therapeutic actions, chemical properties, and possible side effects. Many people approach medicinal herbs in the same manner. I think this is shortsighted, however, because plants interact with and nourish us on many levels–nutritional, medicinal, cultural, emotional, and psycho-spiritual.

I recently discovered a charming 20-year-old book called Herbal Therapy for Women, by Elisabeth Brooke (Thorsons, 1992). Brooke discusses the emotional as well as the physical uses of each plant. Some of her ideas were very familiar to me and some were new. 

Here are a few highlights of Brooke’s emotional uses of a three local plants, accompanied by photos that I took last summer.  

Linden Blossom

“A remedy for those who need more love in their lives, who find it hard to receive love, to express love. Such people may have been damaged as children, suffered cruelty at the hands of others; perhaps they have had traumatic experiences in relationships or been abused. They hid their vulnerability behind a mask of coldness and indifference, but they are highly sensitive. [Linden blossom] is for those who are givers, but find it hard to receive; for those who seem cut off from warmth, who are distant, who are difficult to reach. It softens, warms and helps build trust and a willingness to open up to others.”

St. John’s Wort

“St. John’s Wort is used for [those] who have lost their direction in life, who need to contact their inner selves, who want to reorientate. It is especially useful for strong, capable people, who for various reasons have lost sight of themselves and need help to find their road again.” 

Yarrow

“Yarrow is [a] warrior herb. For the fighters, who are defenders of the weak, the needy, the helpless, who want to fight institutions, patriarchal structures, injustice wherever it occurs. It is also for those fighting internal battles against addictions, mental illness, depression and fear. Yarrow strengthens and solidifies, and gives courage and energy to continue struggling.”

Healing after a whiplash injury

Every day, on average, 85 Minnesotans are injured in car accidents. And the most common injury that results from car accidents is whiplash.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from a recent or long-ago whiplash injury, I encourage you to not give up. Healing is possible, through a combination of acupuncture, bodywork, and herbs.

It is important to seek treatment as soon as possible and to be consistent, as the greatest degree of improvement happens in the first six months after injury–not to mention, this is when motor vehicle accident insurance funds are available.

Let’s look at the nature of a whiplash injury, and what I can do to help you heal.

Nature of the injury

During a whiplash injury, also known as an acceleration-deceleration injury, the soft tissues of the neck become inflamed and bruised. There may also be structural damage such as muscle tears, ruptured ligaments, disc herniations, fractures and dislocations.

Symptoms include neck pain and stiffness, pain between the shoulder blades, low back pain, headache, numbness and tingling in the arms and hands, and vertigo. Often the symptoms don’t appear until 48 to 72 hours after the accident. Many people will recover within a few weeks, but others may be left with recurring symptoms.

In Chinese medicine we also recognize the deeper physiological and emotional effects of physical trauma. All trauma causes an emotional shock to the heart, which has an impact on heart function, thereby decreasing circulation. Decreased circulation can have detrimental long-term effects on the body. It is therefore also important to resolve the emotional shock.

An informative Canadian study showed that acupuncture stimulated emotional releases in whiplash patients, which promoted further and more complete recovery.

Treatment through acupuncture, bodywork, herbs

In my experience, each whiplash injury is unique. There are certainly common symptoms, but the treatment approach varies from person to person, depending on specific symptoms and how recent or old the injury is. Recent injuries respond more quickly to treatment, but regardless of when treatment begins, it must be consistent for a period of time. Chronic cases may take more time, but healing is definitely possible.

In all cases, I prefer to use a combination of acupuncture and bodywork to directly address the injured tissues. And, I like to use herbs to calm the spasm and pain and address the circulation, in order to protect the heart function.

Acupuncture manages and remedies pain of all types, releases muscle tension, and balances the nervous system. Bodywork soothes and improves circulation in inflamed tissues and breaks up adhesions in fibrotic tissues. Positional release therapy and trigger point therapy in particular can be useful to release and reset hypertonic muscles. Myofascial release addresses connective tissue restrictions. And craniosacral therapy is useful in all cases, but most specifically in cases of tension and migraine headaches.

These are the treatment modalities that I use to treat whiplash injuries, but I always support an integrative approach, and often refer to other practitioners, including neurologists and orthopedists for diagnostics and imaging, and chiropractors and physical therapists for further treatment and rehab.

For your convenience, Red Clover Clinic accepts personal injury insurance for those who have suffered a motor vehicle accident.

Whiplash Testimonial

Anita’s exceptional grasp of anatomy and muscle movement, combined with years of clinical experience, enabled true healing work to emerge. After my car accident, I was in significant discomfort. Her unique approach of healing, which integrates bodywork, acupuncture and herbs, carried me through the most painful moments of my recovery and eventually guided me to a functional and vibrant place. I am so grateful to have had her as my primary care practitioner throughout this experience. She is the most thorough, well-trained and practical healer I have worked with. – J.C.

An ounce of prevention

It’s that time of year, when everyone is worried about catching a cold or flu, or, as we say in Chinese medicine, being attacked by wind. There are many things you can do to boost your immune system and keep yourself and your family healthy. 

 First and foremost, it is important to eat a clean and healthy diet. Avoid processed foods and simple sugars, including white sugar, high fructose corn syrup and processed grains. Secondly, manage your stress, get moderate exercise, and enough sleep. In addition to these year-round health guidelines, you can turn to a few plant-based medicinals, which are all available at Red Clover Clinic, to give you an extra ounce of prevention.

Elderberries

Throughout history, many cultures have revered the elder plant for its protection from evil spirits. In herbalism we use it to protect from wind evils, i.e. colds and flu. Studies have shown that elder has compounds that are active against flu viruses, not to mention that it prevents the viruses from invading the respiratory tract cells. Furthermore, it gives the immune system a boost. If you have already come down with a viral infection, elder can help you to recover more quickly as well. Elderberries offer a delicious way to keep you healthy…even children love this medicine!

Resistance–Yu Ping Feng San, modified

Resistance, a Blue Dragon formula, is an enhanced version of the traditional Chinese formula Yu Ping Feng San, also known as Jade Screen. This formula is used to build up the body’s resistance to viral and bacterial infections, i.e. colds and flu. In fact, Yu Ping Feng San was the basic formula recommended by Chinese health authorities for the prevention of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), several years ago. This formula has been shown in many clinical trials to significantly reduce the frequency of the common cold and bacterial infections in the respiratory tract in people who suffer from chronic bronchitis and in children who are susceptible to colds and flu.

Naiouli Melablend

This blended essential oil is designed to support the health of the respiratory tract. When inhaled, it has an anti-microbial and anti-fungal effect, cleansing the tissues as it makes its way through the sinuses and into the lungs. Either diffusing the oil into the air or inhaling it from a tiny inhaler, offers protection from colds and flu, especially when someone in your home or your work environment is sick.

Tools for combatting headaches

Headaches come in many forms, all of them distressing. I commonly see people in the clinic who suffer from tension headaches, sinus headaches, cervicogenic (stemming from the neck) headaches, migraines, or various combinations of these. 

Fortunately, there are a number of methods to combat headaches. Acupuncture, herbal therapy, and bodywork (particularly trigger point therapy and positional release therapy) can reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches and, in some cases, get rid of them entirely. 

Each personʼs headache is unique and thus requires a unique combination of treatment methods. 

To create an appropriate treatment plan, we must first determine the cause of the headaches, whether muscle tension in the neck and upper back, hormonal fluctuation, emotional stress, or hypersensitivity to various triggers, such as light, strong smells, chemicals, or certain foods. Second, we need to determine the Chinese medicine pattern, based on pulse and tongue diagnosis. Pattern differentiation is particularly important in order to create an appropriate herbal formula, as well as for the proper selection of acupuncture points.

Acupuncture treatment can be used to prevent headaches long-term as well as treat an acute headache. Chronic and severe headaches may require a period of regular treatments in order to regulate the system, release patterns of tension, and manage stress. 

To alleviate discomfort of an acute headache, treatment first involves a general treatment to reduce the intensity of the headache, followed by chasing the pain, one needle or trigger point at a time, until it is gone. 

What about medication and headaches? Can acupuncture provide an alternative? Most headache sufferers are accustomed to taking medications, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, antihistamines, corticosteroids, opioids, and triptans. We are certainly lucky to have these options, but continued and frequent use can lead to rebound headaches, which often occur daily. 

Acupuncture, bodywork, and herbal treatments are great tools to manage headaches while patients decrease their medication and are going through withdrawal. Magnesium is another tool that can be helpful to lessen muscle tension and reduce migraine headaches; my preference is magnesium glycinate. 

And we have one more tool–most of my headache clients are big fans of auricular semi-permanent (ASP) ear needles. These are semipermanent needles that are shaped like tiny darts. Once inserted in particular points in the ear, they are covered with a tiny piece of tape to keep them secured in place, and can be retained for several days. These little darts offer great relief between acupuncture treatments. To see a photo of ASP ear needles in action, click here.

For further reading: A systematic review of scientific studies concluded that acupuncture provides greater relief for headaches than either medication or a placebo. 

Wildcrafter’s corner: learn about our herbs

Burdock

Seen as a weed by most farmers, the burdock root, also known as gobo, is a treasured, healthy food in Japan. It is also one of the most-used herbs in my pharmacy to treat many conditions, including asthma, allergies, acne, eczema, and headaches.

Yellow Dock

This plant produces a beautiful, juicy, yellow root that is high in iron and, interestingly, treats both diarrhea and constipation.

Mullein

Every part of this plant–roots, leaves and flowers–is used in herbalism. I love to use the root, in particular, to treat various spinal issues.