Travis - Balance Point Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine

29Nov 2024 by Travis No Comments

Is Massage Therapy Good for Anxiety and Depression?

Anxiety and depression affect millions worldwide, leading to mental and physical health challenges. Among various treatment options, massage therapy has emerged as a complementary approach with growing popularity. But how effective is it? Is massage therapy genuinely beneficial for anxiety and depression, or is it just a short-term fix? Let's explore how massage therapy can impact mental health, the science behind it, and whether it should be part of a holistic treatment plan. How Massage Therapy Impacts Mental Health Massage therapy is more than just a way to relax. It engages the body's natural systems to help reduce stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. The therapy targets both the physical tension and the emotional stress that often accompany anxiety and depression. During a massage, certain hormones and neurotransmitters—such as endorphins, dopamine,…

29Nov 2024 by Travis No Comments

What to Expect During Your First Acupuncture Session

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a time-honored healing practice that’s been around for thousands of years. In recent times, it’s gained popularity in the Western world, thanks to its holistic approach to treating a wide range of conditions. If you’ve booked your first acupuncture session, you might feel a mix of excitement and curiosity about what lies ahead. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process and give you an idea of what to expect from your first experience. Understanding Acupuncture: The Basics Acupuncture involves the insertion of ultra-thin needles into specific points on the body to restore the flow of energy, known as “Qi” (pronounced "chee"). According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), imbalances or blockages in this energy flow can lead to illness or discomfort. By stimulating specific acupuncture points, the…

20Nov 2024 by Travis No Comments

How Osteopathy Can Help Relieve Back Pain Naturally

Osteopathy

Back pain is one of the most common health issues worldwide, affecting millions of people each year. Whether caused by poor posture, injury, or chronic conditions, ongoing back pain can significantly diminish your quality of life. While conventional treatments such as medications and surgeries are available, many individuals seek natural alternatives that address the root cause of their discomfort. One such alternative is Osteopathic Manual Therapy (OMT) - a holistic treatment that focuses on the body’s musculoskeletal system to alleviate pain and restore balance.In this blog, we'll explore how osteopathy can help relieve back pain naturally and why it's a safe and effective option for long-term health and well-being.What is Osteopathy?Osteopathy is a form of manual therapy that emphasizes the relationship between the structure of the body and its function.…

18Nov 2024 by Travis No Comments

Anti-Aging Treatments with Facial Acupuncture

Acupuncture

Mаnу реорlе are fаmіlіаr wіth the іdеа that асuрunсturе and Chinese medicine trеаtѕ раіn аnd illness. Few реорlе аrе aware that асuрunсturе саn be uѕеd аѕ аn anti-aging tооl. But уеѕ, it іѕ true. Acupuncture саn hеlр a реrѕоn lооk аnd fееl younger. How is that роѕѕіblе, уоu аѕk? Anti-aging acupuncture, also known as cosmetic acupuncture in certain circles, works on both the "root" and the "branch" levels, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. This old adage means that the body is treated from both the inside and outside.Treating the outside involves specific acupuncture techniques that promote collagen production and local circulation, resulting in reduced fine lines and wrinkles, and increased tone in facial muscles. It lifts, tightens, and enlivens the tissue, effectively turning back the clock without the need for surgery.Treating the body…

17Nov 2024 by Travis 1 Comment

Acupuncture for Pain Relief: How It Works and What Science Says

Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been a cornerstone of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for thousands of years, gaining popularity worldwide as a powerful, natural approach to managing pain. Today, many people turn to acupuncture as an alternative or complementary treatment for various types of pain, from chronic back aches to migraines. But how does it actually work? And what does modern science say about its effectiveness? How Acupuncture Works At its core, acupuncture is based on the concept of balancing the body's energy, or "Qi" (pronounced "chee"). According to TCM, Qi flows through pathways in the body called meridians. When Qi is blocked or unbalanced, pain and illness can occur. By inserting fine needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncturists aim to restore balance, allowing the body to heal itself. From a…

23Oct 2024 by Travis

Detox: Top Five Foods

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Best Foods for DetoxificationApples Apples - Apples increase bile production which stimulates the liver to cleanse itself. A clean liver is thought to be like a "toxin magnet" drawing poisons out of the rest of the system. Apples also contain lots of soluble fibre, specifically pectin, which absorbs poisons and removes them from the body through the colon. Soluble fibre such as pectin also acts like a vacuum drawing toxins, old fecal matter, and pockets of infection off the intestinal walls for removal through the bowels.Seaweed Seaweed - Studies at McGill University in Montreal have shown that seaweeds bind to radioactive wastes in the body so they can be removed. Seaweeds also bind to heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and cadmium "chelating" them to help eliminate them from the body.…

23Oct 2024 by Travis

Carpal Tunnel

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Acupuncture for Carpal TunnelIf you experience pain and numbness and tingling in your hands, especially at night, you may have what is called Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). Carpal tunnel is one of the most common hand conditions.What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?The carpal tunnel is a structure in the wrist where different tendons and the median nerve pass through. Compression of the median nerve causes the numbness and tingling in the thumb, middle and index fingers, and half of the ring finger.Carpal tunnel syndrome is due to:Pressure placed on the median nerve inside the carpal tunnel due to the contents (tendons, nerves) inside the tunnel getting bigger or from swelling.Carpal tunnel itself getting smaller due to tight muscles of the forearms and hands. What causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?Repetitive movements such as:Typing at a…

23Oct 2024 by Travis

Psoas, Hips, and Low Back

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Massage Helps Psoas and Hip Pain The psoas (so-as) muscle is a large muscle that attaches on the anterior portion of your entire lumbar spine, as well as the bottom thoracic vertebrae. It travels down your spine and hip, to the inside of your femur bone. It is part of a group of muscles, commonly known as your hip flexors. Although this muscle’s primary action is to flex the hip, it commonly causes pain in the low back.The psoas crosses many joints including the joints in your spine, SI joints, and your hip socket. When it gets tight, it can cause your pelvis to rotate forward, which increases the natural curve in your low back, compressing the joints in your lumbar spine, causing pain in your low back. Down the road,…

23Oct 2024 by Travis

Kidney Health

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TCM and Acupuncture Help Kidney FunctionMany people are surprised to know how an acupuncturist can help with joint health and alignment. Indeed, acupuncture can help straighten abnormal spinal curvature, realign hips, shoulders, and knees, treat out of place ribs, relax jaws that are too far forward, and treat many other problems related to improper positioning of a joint. At first it may seem confusing as to how a tiny acupuncture needle, so thin it requires eye strain to see, could move a spinal misalignment or malpositioned joint. But it is possible as I will explain using a little bit of modern physiology and mixed with a some Chinese medicine “Five Element Theory” theory.Let’s get a little technical for just a moment…. A subluxation is medically defined as “a partial abnormal separation of…

23Oct 2024 by Travis

Covid and Chinese Medicine

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CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC VS CHINESE MEDICINEAcupuncture forEveryone is aware of the coronavirus named COVID-19 sweeping through countries in Asia and now across the world. Indeed the first case in interior BC was reported last week after a woman flew to Vancouver from Shanghai and then proceeded to drive to her home in Interior BC, the exact locale undisclosed. The news and internet are full of images of the difficulties the people of China are having with this virus. Not in recorded history have we seen such large populations even whole cruise ships quarantined. Many Kelowna residents are worried that it is only a matter of time before COVID-19 finds its way into the Okanagan. A great website to monitor the the global cases is worldometer.com. This site gives up to date statistics on reported COVID-19 cases.With the…

Author: Travis