2621 Raymond Drive, St Charles, MO, USA
Holistic Treatments & Services
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Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine
Overview:
A form of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is the process of inserting thin needles into specific points throughout the body’s energy channels called meridians. An acupuncture session with us might be just what you need if you suffer from pain caused due to migraines, lower back pain, have problems with your digestion, or have not been feeling yourself lately. Here’s what you should know about acupuncture for functional medicine.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that involves the insertion of thin needles into the skin at specific points to stimulate the movement of energy through a network of energy channels known as meridians. These meridians exist throughout the body, and a blockage in any one of them can lead to the onset of illness and disease that can affect not just the body, but your mind and spirit as well.
What Are the Benefits of Acupuncture?
According to modern research, acupuncture has proven to be effective at stimulating the body’s various systems, including its cardiovascular, digestive, and immune systems. Regular acupuncture sessions can reduce chronic pain, improve digestion, and promote a sense of overall well-being.
Acupuncture can be used to treat a variety of ailments, including:
- Headaches and chronic migraines
- Lower back pain
- Osteoarthritis and knee pain
- Depression and anxiety
- Digestive issues
- Menstrual cramps
- Nausea and vomiting in patients with cancer
What to Expect During an Acupuncture Session
If you’ve never been to an acupuncture session before, it’s only natural that you might wonder what to expect during your first appointment. An acupuncturist will begin by asking you a series of questions regarding your overall health status and if you have any areas of pain that need to be worked on. They may also do a quick physical examination that includes checking your pulse rate, as well as the color and coating of your tongue.
This assessment will be the basis on which your acupuncturist carries out a treatment plan. The acupuncture session will then begin by lying down on a treatment table, either face up or down. Thin needles are then inserted into various acupressure points to stimulate the flow of energy and can be in place for up to 30 minutes. Most patients report feeling no to very little discomfort—and only do so if they move around during treatment. If necessary, heat therapy, massage, topical herbal medicines, and cupping may also be recommended as accompanying procedures.
Functional Medicine
As a systems-based approach, functional medicine focuses on treating the underlying symptoms of disease. It focuses on the patient as a whole and takes into consideration the role that genetics, lifestyle, and the environment all have on an individual. Here’s what you need to know about functional medicine and its benefits for mind-body wellness.
What is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine practices use a systems biology approach to identify the underlying causes of a disease. By focusing on treating the patient as a whole, functional medicine is a highly personalized form of therapy that balances the body by kickstarting its innate healing mechanisms.
Practitioners of functional medicine look to a patient’s complete medical history to identify the root causes of a disease. They place focus on enhancing a patient’s physiological, cognitive, and emotional well-being and provide solutions that help tackle the underlying causes of illness instead of just identifying and treating the disease itself.
What Are the Different Types of Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is highly individualized, and treatment differs from one patient to the next. Lifestyle choices, nutrition, and the environment can all play a role in the formation of disease in a patient, which is why functional medicine takes these into consideration when formulating a plan of treatment. It is particularly useful in treating patients with autoimmune and cardiovascular disease, as well as depression, chronic pain, IBS, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
There are many different types of functional medicine treatments. Some common ones are:
- Ayurveda
- Homeopathy
- Naturopathy
- Traditional Chinese medicine
- Acupuncture
- Tai Chi
- Herbal medicine
- Aromatherapy
- Meditation
- Hypnosis
What Are the Benefits of Functional Medicine?
There are multiple benefits to opting for functional medicine therapies to address the onset of disease and illness. As a form of personalized medicine, functional medicine treatments are also non-invasive and drug-free. Some types of functional medicine like traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture have been used by practitioners for centuries to diagnose and restore balance to a patient’s body, mind, and spirit.
What to Expect During a Functional Medicine Appointment
If you’ve never been to a functional medicine appointment, you might be wondering what to expect. A trained provider will begin with an extensive medical history to determine the root cause of your current symptoms of the disease.
Your provider will ask in-depth questions about your lifestyle, your family history, mental well-being, and environmental factors. This session may be up to three to four hours in length and can also include a physical examination, as well as lab and imaging tests. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your provider may also recommend different types of functional medicine such as acupuncture, massage therapy, and tai chi—these treatments are all personalized to the patient in question.