Acupuncture

Hormones And Men’s Health

We all know that men and women are biologically different, but perhaps less different than you think. While there is limited evidence for a male monthly cycle, a man’s hormonal balance changes greatly throughout the span of a lifetime. These hormonal changes can affect mental state, mood, muscle mass and sexual function. A couple of key hormones to watch in men are testosterone and cortisol.

Testosterone affects male fertility, libido and aggression. Testosterone also declines as we age. Normally, testosterone production peaks in adolescence and early adulthood. Starting at around age thirty, men’s testosterone diminishes by about one percent a year. Diminished testosterone may contribute to reduced energy, strength, endurance, sex drive, erectile function, enjoyment of life, and performance at work.

Cortisol is the stress hormone. In crisis situations, (when you are about to be eaten by a tiger,) cortisol and adrenaline help us to respond with the fight – flight response. If stress becomes constant, which seems all too common in our modern times, cortisol levels can become chronically elevated. As Cortisol becomes elevated, testosterone drops. And a drop in testosterone can cause other things to drop. According to experts at The Cleveland Clinic, erectile dysfunction affects over 40% of men over the age of 40 and 70% of men over the age of 70%.

Acupuncture can be highly effective in helping to regulate hormonal imbalances and maintain healthy testosterone levels in men. Hormonal reflexes are palpated to reveal which hormonal systems are out of balance. For example, someone who has chronic exhaustion may have an adrenal imbalance. Chronic exhaustion could also be due to a thyroid imbalance.

Through palpation, I can pinpoint where the problem is, and monitor how the patient is responding to treatment. It is particularly important to tease out and treat the underlying issues that are creating the patient’s symptoms. The reproductive system works in concert with the heart – on both physical and emotional levels. When men are plagued by erectile dysfunction, a successful treatment utilizes a holistic approach to address the overall health.

Treatment is focused on the underlying cause or fundamental weakness within your constitution (your unique energetic makeup.) In Five Element Acupuncture, we call this weakness the Causative Factor (the one element which is most out of balance).

Think of each of the Five Elements as a member of a team (wood, fire, earth, metal, water.) If one of the players has a problem, the whole team has a problem. If the team member or element is supported well, she can overcome her problems and become stronger. Everyone on the team benefits from the renewed health of this player. By providing the appropriate support to the weakest element the whole system improves.

So, if you are experiencing hormonal problems, fear not. Acupuncture can help to reduce these imbalances and improve your overall health. As your hormonal balance improves, you can develop more strength, energy, endurance and sex drive.

By David Frome • Acupuncture • • Tags: acupuncture, cortisol, erectile dysfunction, fertility, hormones, libido, male sexual function, stress, testosterone

Acupuncture for Childbirth Preparation

Acupuncture is a powerful tool to help manage many of the problems women face during pregnancy. Exhaustion, depression, digestive issues, constipation, hemorrhoids, headaches, heartburn, insomnia, low back pain, nausea and stress related symptoms are successfully treated within the scope of acupuncture. It can also be helpful as an adjunctive therapy for gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, respiratory infections, UTI’s and more.

Weekly acupuncture during the last four weeks of pregnancy focuses on the preparation of a woman’s body for natural childbirth.

The goals of treatment include:

Helping the cervix to ripen or soften for the passage of the baby.
Positioning of the baby for the best presentation.
Supporting the energy and stamina of the pregnant woman.

Studies have shown that pre-birth acupuncture significantly lowers the incidence of medical interventions including C-sections, epidurals and episiotomies. Women who have pre-birth acupuncture have shorter labors with less discomfort.

Acupressure can be utilized to support a woman during labor. Prior to labor the acupuncturist instructs the woman’s partner or labor coach on how to administer acupressure to specific points that will help to facilitate the childbirth process. For some childbirth pairs, we mark the most important points on the women’s body so they are easily accessed when needed.

For childbirth support during labour, I recommend using two or three points together. I’ll share the name of each point and a little about the spirit of each point. Please note: Some of these points are contraindicated during pregnancy.

Acupressure for Reinforcing Labor

SP6 The United Crossing of Three Yins – This is an earth point. Here, the spleen, kidney and liver channels meet and the nourishing force of Qi joins with vitality and strength (earth, water, wood.) This meeting point joins these great resources.

LI4 Union Valley – This is a metal point. Valleys are lush with resources and this point helps clear the body of what is no longer needed, and does so with great vitality, helping the energy to flow.

Acupressure During Labor

GB21 Well of the Shoulder – Baby Descending Point. Wood. Helps us to shoulder life’s burdens, to stand upright and remain balanced. Fresh water gives us inspiration and reserves to shoulder our responsibilities.

BL32 The Second Sacral Bone Notch – This is a water point – water always reaches its destination, it is both soft and strong. In addition to helping babies find their way into the world, it reduces pain during contraction, facilitates dilation.

Maintaining Stamina During Labor

KD1 Bubbling Spring – Also a water point. Bubbles up from the ground with great vitality. The source of vision which comes from growth. This spring taps into knowledge, tranquility, wisdom, creativity and courage.

ST36 To Walk in the Great Strength of Stillness – Earth point. Storehouse for putting things into action and moving with extra strength when things are difficult.

Pregnancy and childbirth are a treasured and sacred journey. Both acupuncture and acupressure are wonderful tools that can provide support for the transition.

By David Frome • Acupuncture • • Tags: acupressure, acupuncture, childbirth, childbirth preparation, labor, natural childbirth, pregnancy

Cultivating Success With Holistic Therapy

Choosing the right practitioner makes all the difference.

Choose a practitioner with whom you are comfortable to talk with so that you can be partners in your healing process. A great practitioner has diagnostic abilities, vision, intention and technique. All practitioners are not identical, nor are their treatment styles, diagnostic abilities, personalities, training, history and strengths/weaknesses. Practices that have a factory or gym like atmosphere often give care that is diluted. Choose a therapy practice that offers privacy so that you can freely acknowledge your progress and discuss your concerns. Your therapist is ideally focused upon you throughout your treatment. It can be profoundly helpful to have someone who listens and strategizes with you.

Gaining Perspective: Bumps in the road are normal and to be expected.

It is common for people to begin therapy with high hopes and after a few sessions become disillusioned because their chronic issues have not disappeared. Chronic pain, albeit emotional or physical, can wear away at our perspective and judgement. It is easy to lose ourselves in confusion. A seasoned therapist who has seen thousands of patients can help to ground, encourage establishing realistic goals and help you to explore your options.

Some therapies enhance each other

For example acupuncture and Rolfing. Acupuncture can open up the energetic system by removing blockages which can sometimes be the underlying issue with structural and neurologic problems. A structural acupuncture approach can make the soft tissue manipulation of Rolfing more fluid and accessible. It is best to talk to your practitioners and ask for their advice. It is their business to be able to advise you what the best treatment strategy is.

Pursuing holistic therapies involves the cultivation of a practice.

When you commit to a therapy you are investing in a process that works best when you actively participate. Rather than opting for medication or surgery you are devoting time and resources to explore a noninvasive alternative option. Holistic therapies at their best yield self discovery and growth. Whatever type of therapy you choose has the potential to be transformational. You might get much more than you bargained for.

An underlying belief that supports holistic therapies is that our bodies and minds can be influenced psychologically, physically and energetically through noninvasive healing experiences. By choosing psychotherapy, body work, movement or an energetically based therapy you are investing in your own innate ability to recover and heal.

By David Frome • Acupuncture •

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Treating Depression Through Acupuncture

Prior to the COVID-19, an estimated 17.3 million adults in the USA have had at least one major depressive episode. Since the onset of the pandemic, this mental health challenge has tripled, according to an article published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA). Depression has become one of the most common illnesses in our culture. When feelings of hopelessness, despair and disconnection set in it can be difficult to function.

In the west, traditional approaches to mental health problems include psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. While these approaches can be very helpful, they often miss the relationship between our physical body, mental function and emotional health.

Five Element Acupuncture is a powerful tool that can help you to manage and overcome depression. In our intake, we are interested in your past, what it was like for you growing up, how your life has progressed and how you are doing now. We explore the important junctions in your life and your hopes and dreams for the future. Concurrently, we evaluate how your physical body is functioning and learn about your overall constitution.

By David Frome • Acupuncture • • Tags: acupuncture, Aggressive Energy, Anxiety, Covid-19, depression, energetic blocks, Entry – Exit Imbalance, five element acupuncture, Husband – Wife Imbalance, mental health, Possession

Anxiety & Acupuncture

Before to the COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety disorders affected over 40 million adults in the USA. (National Institute of Mental Health) Today, the stresses we face are extraordinary. We have feelings of fear, concerns about our personal safety and uncertainty regarding our future. The number of people who are struggling with anxiety since the pandemic began has skyrocketed.

Stress that accompanies a crisis can be overwhelming and exhausting. When a person is faced with chronic challenges, the experience of overload can lead to physical and psychological depletion. Mental health issues often follow.

It is not uncommon for people who suffer from an anxiety disorder to also have depression. Traditional treatment options include psychotherapy and medication. Acupuncture is one of the approaches that is being included by mainstream medical offices. Acupuncture is gaining recognition as a noninvasive and potent way to treat not only physical but mental illnesses as well.

A growing body of research supports the effectiveness of acupuncture in managing anxiety problems. Five Element Acupuncture works to restore the health of the physical body and also the mind and spirit. The initial session takes an in depth look at your history, your experiences growing up, your relationships, hopes, dreams and challenges. Anxiety is a symptom that comes into play within the context of a person’s life. Emotional challenges and trauma can become deeply rooted in the physical body.

By David Frome • Acupuncture • • Tags: 12 Chinese pulses, acupuncture, Aggressive Energy, Anxiety, anxiety disorder, Covid-19, energetic blocks, five element acupuncture, Gate of Hope, Great Esteem, Husband – Wife Imbalance, Possession, shamanistic, Spirit Storehouse, Utmost Source.