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10/17/2018 by kasiecarlson

Can Acupuncture really help with pain?

Chronic pain is the most common thing that I see in my Acupuncture practice. I get phone messages about it, emails, and direct questions daily about whether or not acupuncture can help with knee pain, back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, ankle pain, and even “all over” pain. The short answer is, yes, of course Acupuncture can relieve your pain, I see its success every day, but there is more to the story if we are talking about long term relief.

My recent success with Acupuncture for my own back pain! 

I’ll tell you a personal story of mine, from last week. Now, know that I have chronic low back pain but I’ve been using natural therapies to treat it for over 20 years, so I’m pretty far along in the process of natural healing, but at first, it took some time. Here’s my latest story, I was treating a patient, leaning over her, as I often do in my practice and I felt an intense pain in my low back, I was honestly afraid that wouldn’t be able to stand back up. I did. I straightened up, kept a straight face and a smile and continued working, finishing out my shift. I was in a lot of pain, I’d say it was an 8 on the 1 -10 pain scale. Now, understand, I’ve broken my tail bone twice and I have some permanent damage to my lumber spine. If I were the average American,  I would have gone to the Western Doctor, or the ER, for the pain, it was “that bad.” At the ER they would do an MRI and tell me that I have some damage to my lumbar spine, duh, I just said that and I already know. They would write me a script for a narcotic and a some muscle relaxers and send me home. I can tell you that if I took those narcotics and muscles relaxers and laid around a few days, my back would be better, maybe a 5 on the pain scale but it would still hurt and it would still hinder my life. Instead of this route, I called an acupuncturist friend of mine ( I can’t stick needles in my back by myself) and I asked him to come to my clinic the following day and treat my back. The following morning, I had trouble getting in and out of the car, the pain was severe. When I got to the clinic, I happily climbed onto the massage table, ready for my treatment. The acupuncturist treated my low back with needles and followed it with cupping. Needless to say, and I kid you not, my pain was GONE after the treatment. I’ve worked everyday since then and I am back to normal. Just a little plug from me, but honestly, I see this EVERY DAY. It really is this good. Head over to my facebook and read some of my reviews!

Understand that not all “pain” is the same

Not all pain is the same. Some people have chronic pain in one area, due to a past trauma or injury, like neck pain that is the result of damage to the cervical spine from a car accident. There could be chronic pain in one spot, like the elbow or the thumb, from repetitive motion, like playing tennis or typing all day, every day. Then, there are people who have widespread pain that has no apparent cause or diagnosis.  There is pain from arthritis and pain from chronic inflammation. Some people experience pain from muscle tension alone, but there is no injury to their joints. Others have the opposite, inflammation in their joints or their tendons, but the muscles are just fine.

One of the things that first attracted me to Chinese Medical theory and acupuncture is that instead of giving everyone the same remedy for “pain,” Chinese Medical theory encourages us to diagnose the pain, find out why it’s there, before you chose the treatment plan. Chinese medical theory offers more than 12 different pathological reasons for pain, and with those different diagnosis come different treatment protocols.

One thing I like to remind new patients of is how long they’ve had the pain they are in. Like me, I’ve had my pain for 12 years but I’ve been using acupuncture for 20, so my body is used to this therapy and responds very quickly to it. If you’ve never had acupuncture before, it may not be as fast for you.  If your pain has been chronic for years, it make take time for you to get relief.

Each type of pain is treated differently in Chinese Medicine, different points, different ways of doing those points, utilization of heat in the therapy, or cupping. Acute pain and new injuries have the best results with acupuncture, chronic pain often takes more than one treatment. Acupuncture is not a one size fits all therapy.

Acupuncture alone isn’t always a miracle

Acupuncture alone is amazing for increasing blood flow to an area that is in pain, for arthritis in one joint, it can work like a miracle. However, if there is structural damage to an area, like the spine, one acupuncture treatment can relieve the pain for a few days, but it cannot change the structure of the bones, therefor, the pain is likely to return. For muscle spasms, acupuncture, followed by cupping, is almost always a sure fix, with long term relief.

I often see patients who are suffering with wide spread pain all over their bodies. They may or may not have been diagnosed with an auto immune disease or fibromyalgia.  Acupuncture is a wonderful therapy for wide spread pain and often patients feel like the pain relief is “miraculous.” However, with these systemic issues, where the pain is wide spread and chronic, there is more to getting relief than just one acupuncture treatment. We often see better results if we pair the acupuncture with some diet changes and supplementation of specific minerals and vitamins.

Should you take turmeric or other random herbs for pain?

One question I often hear regarding chronic pain is “does turmeric work for pain?” If not turmeric, other supplements, I’ve heard everything from cayenne pepper to willow bark to oregano. People buy hundreds of dollars worth of essential oils that are known to relieve pain! Honestly, the desperation and chronic suffering cloud our judgement and we spend unnecessary money any glimmer of hope.  When considering natural remedies, it’s the same philosophy, not all pain is the same. Many of these natural supplements have anti-inflammatory properties. However, if the patient is suffering from chronic inflammation while eating a diet high in inflammatory foods, taking turmeric is a waste of their time and money. If there is structural damage that cannot be changed, turmeric or cayenne pepper are not going to be strong enough to combat that pain. That said, if the problem is chronic inflammation and the patient is eating an anti-inflammatory diet, and is focused on all around good health practices, then any of these natural anti inflammatory supplements could be a great addition to your pain relieving therapies. Here’s my favorite turmeric supplement, be cautious, they are not all equal! They have different sources, different additives, and different dosages. It’s always best to ask a professional, preferably a licensed Acupuncture Physician, Naturopath or Functional Medicine Doc.

I’d love to work with you!

If you’d like more information on utilizing natural supplements for pain, trying acupuncture, or getting some guidance on how to start an anti inflammatory diet plan, please email me! I’d love to work with you and help you get started on a path towards managing your pain naturally!

My email is safetyharboracupunk@gmail.com

 

 

Filed Under: Blog, Uncategorized Tagged With: #arthritis, #fibromyalgia #autoimmune, #inflammation, #turmeric, #weightloss, acupuncture, chronicpain

10/07/2017 by kasiecarlson 2 Comments

I’m so serious when I tell you that our weight loss program WORKS. We’ve just completed another 6 week session and one amazing lady lost 20 lbs! More importantly though, each of the others in the group either changed dramatically, changed perspective, lost weight or, at the least, they’re feeling transformed.

What’s changed for the better!

Now that we’ve had 3 full groups of people, we have learned so much! We’ve tweaked a few things here and there and even come up with a continuation program for anyone who has been a part of the program!

The clinic, Calm Community Acupuncture, has undergone some construction and it is awesome! Our two little treatment rooms are now one big room and we can fit 10-12 people in there at a time. What this does for the weight loss program is that it allows anyone who was a part of it previously, to come in for a group session anytime they need a tune up! It’s awesome and making us so happy. It’s making our previous participants happy too.

We’re becoming an official, ongoing support group and let’s face it, we ALL need a support group!

Holiday Weight Loss Program

We are starting Session 4! We are taking just 6 people and we’re taking you right through the holidays. Hypnosis during the holidays, unlimited acupuncture, during the holidays, once a week group hypno-puncture through November and into December.

By the way, we already have 2 signed up so we are actually only taking 4 more.

This session will be on Monday evenings from November 6th to December 11th. 

Gary Urso, our certified hypnotherapist will install the “virtual” gastric band, while you’re under hypnosis. You’ll have private sessions with Gary, with Kasie, and you’ll have unlimited acupuncture in the community clinic, during the 6 weeks.

Do you want to know more? COME TO AN INTRODUCTION!! The introduction provides you with a presentation about the program, an acupuncture treatment, an experience with hypnosis, AND fun!

We are offering two introduction classes, 6 people in each. We charge $75 for the introduction. These presentations are Monday, October 16th, and Monday October 23rd, both at 6PM, at Calm Community Acupuncture, in Safety Harbor. Contact us if you want to attend one, email safetyharboracupunk@gmail.com or call 727-744-4245 and leave a message, to reserve your spot.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: #acupuncture #safetyharbor #virtualgastricband, #hypnopuncture, #virtualgastricband, #weightloss, #weightloss #hypnopuncture, acupuncture, communityacupuncture

05/11/2017 by kasiecarlson 2 Comments

We have just completed our very first Virtual Gastric Band program, utilizing hypno-puncture for weight loss! This program exceeded our expectations and we couldn’t be happier with the outcome! Naturally, we’re ready to start another program and we’re looking for 6 people who want to be a part of something revolutionary in the weight loss field.

We are offering a 6 week intensive program that incorporates acupuncture and hypnosis for weight loss. Gary Urso is our clinical hypnotist, he works with each participant privately, and within the group, and helps them to explore their relationship with food. Gary also uses clinical hypnosis to provide the “virtual gastric band,” which has been proven to help patients eat less and feel satisfied. My role in the program is to work with each participant privately on their specific health goals. I recommend supplements, and do some food coaching, that can lead to greater success in the program. I also provide acupuncture during the group hypnosis AND unlimited treatments in the community clinic, during the duration of the program.

During the past 6 weeks, we’ve had 6 remarkable people participating in this process. One patient already has an actual gastric band, and it was not successful in her attempt to lose weight, long term. These 6 people have tried EVERYTHING to lose weight and the stories are just heart breaking, we’ve listened to their life struggles, and how food and being over weight has plagued them. I think we’re onto something with this program!

As I said before, the success of the program exceeded our expectations, we have one person who lost 35 lbs, however, it’s a man, and well, you know men can just think about losing weight and it happens! For the women in the group, all of them over 40, one lost 15 lbs and another lost 11, on her way to 15, in just 6 weeks! The other 3 also reached their personal goals and lost weight.

Here’s the thing, for weight loss to be sustainable, for it to last, and for the person to continue on their healthy path, the weight loss program that you choose, has to help you change your attitude and your thoughts about food. It has to change your relationship with food, for good. We know that restrictive diets don’t work long term, they work momentarily,while you’re depriving yourself. Then, you start eating “real food” again, and the weight comes back on, and usually double what you lost.

If you are suffering from food addiction, this group setting is ideal. For success in coping with any addiction, people require support and maintenance, this program provides that. This is an intimate group of just 6 people, for 6 weeks, focused on changing your views and habits around food, all while  feeling supported and surrounded by people who are right there with you.

This program is not a diet, it’s not restrictive, it’s a program that uses hypnosis to open your subconscious mind and change your views. It uses acupuncture to increase metabolism, balance hormones, and decrease cravings. It gets to the bottom of why you are coping with food, and gives you tools to help you change bad habits and start new, healthier thought patterns, around food.
The best part of this program, which was unexpected, was the camaraderie within the group. We had people crying when it ended! We even had one person ask if she could do the program again. It was a wonderful, soul filling, life changing, experience for many of us.

A Testimonial 

“I cannot thank Kasie and Gary enough for such a great experience with hypno puncture/virtual gastric band program! First, I met amazingly kind and non-judgement people, who I now call my friends, in this group . I will forever stay in touch with each of them because this was MORE than a weight loss program; it was a transformation. I learned a lot about my relationship with food, and more importantly, I learned how to have a better relationship with food. Kasie gave us great information and so many incredible resources for us to use (if we wanted) to help us along with our food journey. Gary gave us deep connection to our sub conscience to explore and retrain our thinking as it relates to food. Both of them gave their hearts to us….and in return, we all felt very safe sharing our stories, our challenges and our victories. It was truly a gift that I gave to myself. AND, I lost 11 pounds and on my way to lose the last 15 pounds before summer!!! Thank you Kasie and Gary! xo”

The Summer Program!

We are starting a new 6 week program. This time, the group will meet on Tuesday evenings at 7PM, from June 13th to July 18th. Don’t panic if you need to miss one week, even two, we can work it out. We will again take 6 participants. We are offering 2 introduction sessions to give you a taste of what the program involves. The introductions will be offered on Tuesday, May 23rd and another on Tuesday, May 30th, both of these intro classes are at 7PM.  The introduction classes are $75, they last about an hour and half and you’ll get an over view of program, meet Gary and myself, learn more about what we’re doing, even get an acupuncture treatment and a taste of hypnosis.

The introduction classes are filling up quickly, we will take 6 people in each one, and then we will choose 6 people to join our 6 week program. If you are interested in attending one of the introduction sessions on May 23rd or May 30, let us know by sending an email to safetyharboracupunk@gmail.com OR call the clinic at 727-744-4245.

We are looking forward to another successful program!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: #foodaddiction, #hypnopuncture, #virtualgastricband, #weightloss, acupuncture

01/21/2017 by kasiecarlson Leave a Comment

When I started Calm Community Acupuncture, over 5 years ago, the very first thing that I found difficult to treat was weight loss. People come in to get acupuncture for knee pain, back pain, diabetic neuropathy, sleep apnea, all disorders that could improve, if the patient could only lose weight. One acupuncture treatment helps to curb cravings for sweets, helps promote relaxation and even boosts metabolism, but if the patient can’t control the diet, the weight loss isn’t sustainable.
I’ve tried working with patients on their diets, getting them off of sugar or dairy or gluten, in order to stop the cycle of addiction to food. It works for a time, but then the holidays hit or there’s a birthday party, and again, the diet is not sustainable.
Did you have a New Years Resolution for 2017 to lose weight? How’s it going? For many, it’s not going well, they are back to the same issues they struggled with in 2016 and are now, on the search, once again for answers.
I’ve been searching for years to find a way to help my over weight patients with their weight loss.
Then, recently, I was introduced to the idea of hypnosis, paired with acupuncture, creating a “virtual” gastric band. The idea was developed and researched in the UK and the success stories are remarkable. Utilizing the benefits of acupuncture, while also using clinical hypnosis, to empower each person to make the necessary changes in their own lives, is proving to be the answer for so many struggling with the inability to lose weight.
There is no surgery involved in this. We use the techniques of acupuncture to get you into a relaxed state, activating the necessary points, while the hypnotist retrains your brain to be satisfied with smaller amounts of food. The clinical hypnotherapy convinces the brain that the stomach is full after a certain amount of food.
After seeing the success of this program, I’ve decided to offer a 7 week series of Hypnopuncture for Virtual Gastric Band, at Calm Community Acupuncture, in Safety Harbor, this Spring, 2017. You can expect to lose 20 to 30 pounds during the 7 week program and it just keeps going from there!
I’ve hired a hypnotist, who has used the program for his own weight loss journey and we are offering the program together.
We are only taking 10 participants for this first series. In order to sign up for the 7 week series, you must first attend an informative seminar to ensure that this is the program for you.
We are offering these informative seminars on Saturday February 11th and another on March 4th. These seminars are from 2PM -3:30PM and they include information about the program, a question and answer time, and a short hypnopuncture treatment. Each seminar is limited to 10 people and is $75 per person.
If , after attending one of the introductory seminars, you want to be part of the 7 week series, we will get you signed up to be one of the first 10 people, to be a part of this program, in the Tampa Bay Area.
If you are interested in attending on of the informative seminars on February 11th or March 4th, please call Calm Community Acupuncture at 727-744-4245 or email Kasie at safetyharboracupunk@gmail.com and we will get you on the list.
This could be the end of yo yo dieting, the end of your weight loss struggles ,and the beginning of a new you!!

Filed Under: Blog, Community Acupuncture Tagged With: #hypnopuncture, #loseweight, #newyearsresolution, #virtualgastricband, #weightloss, acupuncture

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