Cupping and acupuncture are the winning combination for dealing with chronic pain and muscle strains. Its popularity has grown in recent years, and you’ve probably seen professional athletes and celebrities with the telltale giant red welts all over their bodies. Here’s what you need to know if you are thinking about adding cupping to your acupuncture treatment. continue reading
If acupuncture is new to you, you might not know that there are different forms of acupuncture. While Chinese acupuncture is a bit more mainstream here in the West, Japanese acupuncture is becoming renowned for its effectiveness. Traditional Japanese acupuncture (which includes Meridian Therapy) is defined as “an imbalance in qi and blood flowing in the meridians which is considered to be the cause of disease.” The aim is to regulate the flow of both qi and blood.
Its roots are in Chinese acupuncture but there are some differences. Read on to learn what those are so you can see if Japanese acupuncture is right for you. continue reading
Written by: Dr. Katrina “Kitt” A. Chojnicki-Hill, Acupuncture Physician
Glutathione injections are a powerful tool for physicians to use to support a patient’s wellness goals. It is a tripeptide and a potent antioxidant that has many health benefits, including anti-aging, weight management, lowering lipids, immune system booster, athletic stamina enhancer, and it detoxifies the liver. It also beautifies the skin, improves sleep quality, reduces inflammation, and supports emotional wellness.
It is important to note that depleted glutathione levels have been found in patients with neurodegeneration, cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and bipolar disorder. One of the effects of the aging process is lowered levels of glutathione.
Glutathione is present throughout the cells in the body where it protects against oxidative stress. It also plays an important part in many of the physiological processes in the body. It regulates the immune system response and communication when fighting disease. It is part of a robust immune system. Meaning it helps to prevent you from getting sick!
It is possible to eat food to bolster glutathione levels with avocado, asparagus, and turmeric. Or eat foods rich in the precursors that the body uses to make glutathione such as lean meats, poultry, nuts, and seeds. Regular exercise can help stimulate the body to synthesize glutathione.
Be careful with the following glutathione killers: Lack of sleep and high-stress levels deplete the body of this antioxidant. There are also environmental toxins, alcohol use, smoking, and processed foods that will diminish the body’s ability to maintain healthy levels.
Glutathione supplementation is not for everyone. It is important to speak with a licensed and board-certified physician to see if glutathione should be added to your supplements.
Dr. Kitt is accepting new patients in the Sarasota area, including Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Lido Key, Downtown, Lakewood Ranch, St. Armands Key, and Myakka.
Glutathione, www.Drugs.com
Kennedy, L.; Sandhu, JK.; Harper, ME.; and Cuperlovic-Culf, M; Role of Glutathione in Cancer: From Mechanisms to Therapies. Biomolecules, 2020 Oct. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
Dr. B. Subhadra, 15 Foods with the Highest Glutathione Levels for Health and Detoxification, https://biomprobiotics.com/
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. And ethnicity doesn’t matter, as people of all racial and ethnic groups are impacted. With such serious statistics, many might wonder what treatment options are available. Did you know that acupuncture can help with treating heart disease, as well as many of its contributing factors? Read on to learn how. continue reading
Written By: Dr. Katrina “Kitt” A. Chojnicki-Hill, Acupuncture Physician
Winter is a specifically challenging time of year for people who suffer from peripheral neuropathy. Walking on cold tile floors can make it nearly impossible to get the feet warm, resulting in horrendous agony from the feet. While peripheral neuropathy is a year-round problem, the cold of winter turns up the level of pain dial. If you suffer from peripheral neuropathy, you know the resulting pain and numbness can be almost unbearable. Are you ready to take charge of your pain, lower the tingling, burning, buzzing, and even walking on glass feelings? Acupuncture can help!
Traditional Chinese Medicine, TCM, has a different approach to wellness from the Western paradigm. Peripheral neuropathy is damaged nerves in the hands and or feet, or the peripheral nervous system. In TCM, the symptoms related to peripheral neuropathy can be associated with several diagnoses: Qi Stagnation, Blood Deficiency, Blood Stasis, and several Kidney Deficiency syndromes. The goal of an Acupuncture Physician is to restore the body to a harmonious state.
An example is a patient with neuropathy who is diagnosed with Qi Stagnation with Blood stasis in the lower legs with underlying blood deficiency; the treatment principle would be to Break Blood Stasis, Move Qi, Invigorate Blood, and Supplement Blood to relieve pain. The treatment could include Acupuncture, Injection therapy, BEMER therapy, Infrared light therapy, Fire Cupping, Massage, Auricular Therapy, Supplements, Nutrition therapy, and Herbal therapy. The Physician will discuss the various modalities with the patient and establish a treatment protocol.
Looking at the TCM treatment and translating it to Western “speak,” the treatment protocol restores circulation to nourish the various tissues to relieve pain. In particular to stimulate and restore the nerve endings.
Make an appointment with Dr. Kitt today to discuss your neuropathy challenges. She is located inside White Sand Therapeutic Massage & Facials and is conveniently located in Sarasota. She serves the Siesta Key, St Armands, Lido Key, and Longboat Key areas.
