Khloe Kardashian gets Acupuncture!

Electro-Acupuncture is a safe and painless form of Acupuncture in which pairs of Acupuncture needles  are attached to an electro machine that produces a continuous electric pulses between them.  It is mainly used in the treatment of pain relief, frozen shoulder, stroke, facial neuralgia, facial paralysis and bell's palsy.

Electro-Acupuncture is available at Elmes Acupuncture.  For more information on Acupuncture, check out our website here http://www.elmesacupuncture.ie/acu.html

My Clinical Experience at The World Health Organization's International Acupuncture Training Centre, Beijing, China 2010

Quit Smoking with Acupuncture - Special Offer Package

Quitting Smoking - it's one of the most difficult things a person can do! Nicotine activates the areas of the brain that are involoved in producing feelings of pleasure and reward, so it really is so difficult, but not impossible!

Acupuncture will help break the physical addition to nicotine, but the psychological addition is much harder to break. This is because smoking is likely to have become deeply ingrained over many years and has therefore become an integral part of many emotional occasions.  Sad or unhappy, bored or having to concentrate hard, happy and relaxed with friends – cigarettes are likely to have played a part in almost all of these situations, however all is this is covered in the quit smoking sessions, it's not just about the needles its also about support, affirmations and helping with cravings etc

The quit smoking package is one treatment per week for 3 weeks and it costs €130 euro

The first session takes 1 hour and then the follow-ups are 30 mins.

Cosmetic Acupuncture on TV3 Expose

Chinese Cupping Massage

Cupping is a safe and non-invasive treatment used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat muscular pain and internal illness.  Gently heated glass cups are placed on specific acupuncture points on the back to stimulate the flow of blood and energy to the body.  Cupping produces a similar effect to deep tissue massage, relieving muscle tension and softening adhesions.

Chinese Cupping therapy is available at Elmes Acupuncture, see link below for more details
http://www.elmesacupuncture.ie/acu.html

Cosmetic Acupuncture

Cosmetic Acupuncture – Facial Rejuvenation – The Acupuncture Facelift

Cosmetic Acupuncture has become a favorite among celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, Angelina Jolie and Pierce Brosnan.  

Scientific studies show that  Cosmetic Acupuncture improves muscle tone, boosts collagen production, stimulates the circulation of oxygen and blood, and re-balances lymphatic for a dynamic return to youth, vitality and radiance.

 After a detailed consultation, tiny disposable needles are inserted into specially selected acupuncture points on the face, neck, arms and legs.

Cosmetic Acupuncture is the ultimate holistic beauty to reverse and prevent to signs of aging.

Studies show that among 300 cases treated with facial acupuncture, 90 % had marked beneficial results with only one course of treatment (International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture, 1996).

The benefits of Cosmetic Acupuncture include:

• Elimination of fine lines and dramatic reduction of wrinkles
• Facial contouring to reduce or eliminate jowls and double chins.
• Eye contour redefinition to banish puffiness and dark circles, lift eyelids and enhance eyes, for a brighter, younger, refreshed look.
• Reduced dryness and elimination of excess sebum production resulting in visible pore tightening and added skin lustre 
•  Increased skin oxygenation and elimination of toxins for a glowing complexion

Recommended course of 12 treatments once or twice per week

Cosmetic Acupuncture is available at Elmes Acupuncture & Skin Therapy Clinic, for more information, visit our website here; http://www.elmesacupuncture.ie/skin.html

Healthy Food Fusion

Studies are beginning to prove that the interactions of the foods we eat can be much more healthy for us than eating one beneficial food at a time. Here are the most powerful food synergies currently known to science:

1. Tomatoes + Avocados

2. Oatmeal + Orange Juice

3. Broccoli + Tomatoes

4. Blueberries + Grapes

5. Apples + Chocolate

6. Lemon + Kale

7. Soy + Salmon

8. Peanuts + Whole Wheat

9. Red Meat + Rosemary

10. Turmeric + Black Pepper

11. Garlic + Fish

12. Eggs + Cantaloupe

13. Almonds + Yogurt

Epidemiologist David R. Jacobs, PhD, of the University of Minnesota calls it food synergy, and he, along with many other nutritionists, believes it might explain why Italians drizzle cold-pressed olive oil over tomatoes and why the Japanese pair raw fish with soybeans. "The complexity of food combinations is fascinating because it's tested in a way we can't test drugs: by evolution," says Jacobs. And, he adds, "it's tested in the most complex of systems: life."

Migraine? Get to the point!

Naturopath Fiona Jennings looks at how acupuncture can help beat that killer headache

 Excellent article written by my colleague Fiona

Thud! Thud! Thud! A headache! We all know how bad that can feel. But what if it’s so intense you can barely move, maybe it’s one-sided, with nausea, visual disturbances or sensitivity to light or noise? Then chances are it could be a migraine. Migraine is the most common long-term neurological condition, and the most frequent type of headache that sends patients to their doctors.

Naturopath Fiona Jennings

No-one knows the exact cause and there are no tests. Diagnosis is made by history and the pattern of symptoms over time. Most researchers think migraine is due to abnormal changes in levels of substances naturally produced in the brain which cause blood vessels in the brain to swell and press on nearby nerves, causing pain. There may also be a genetic element involved – it does seem to run in families.

 So if you are a sufferer – and there about eight million people in the UK and half a million in Ireland who are, with three out of four being women – what can you do about it?

 We do know that people with migraines often react to a variety of factors and events, or triggers. Annoyingly, these triggers can vary from person to person and don’t always lead to migraine every time. A combination of triggers—not a single thing or event—is more likely to set off an attack, and a person’s response can vary from migraine to migraine. Keeping a migraine diary may help to identify your own triggers.

 The usual treatment is an impressive range of over the counter (OTC) or specific migraine drugs – with an even more impressive array of side effects.

 If you want to take a different approach to treat your symptoms, then consider this: many clinical studies support acupuncture to be effective for migraines, but without the side effects of drugs.

 Acupuncture came from China and the first textbook describing the use of acupuncture is thought to date back to about 200BC.

 Acupuncture aims to re-establish the correct flow of Qi (the life force) in the meridians which run throughout the body and so bring it back to the proper balance. Your practitioner will assess which of a large number of patterns of imbalance you have by detailed questioning and examination of your pulse and tongue.

 Needles will be inserted at specific points to influence your particular patterns, so each patient with migraine might receive a different number and distribution of needles. Intriguingly, while some of these may be where you might expect them – ie the head – in Traditional Chinese Medicine further away points can have the strongest impact. So, for example, commonly used points in many patterns of migraine would be a point called Tai Yang on the temples, but also Liver 3 (Taichong) which is on the foot, between the first and second toes and LI4 (Hegu) on the hand between the thumb and index finger (not to be used in pregnancy).

If you are being treated by a naturopath, you may also be advised to try herbs or supplements which have been shown to be effective for migraines. These include Butterbur (Petasites hybridus), Riboflavin, Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), Feverfew, and Magnesium.

• Fiona Jennings is a Naturopath & Acupuncturist with a practice in Belfast.

Elmes Acupuncture is now on Foursquare

Elmes Acupuncture is now on Foursquare, Check-in on every visit and receive special offers and discounts!

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Top 10 Acupuncture Sites

http://www.yinyanghouse.com/

http://acupuncture.com/

http://acmac.net/forum/

http://www.acupuncturetoday.com

http://bluepoppy.com

http://www.thefertilesoul.com/

http://www.jcm.co.uk/

http://www.acupuncture.org.uk/

http://www.tcm-kongress.de

http://acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz/

Insomnia - Tips to help you get a good night sleep

Dietary - Cut out fried, fatty foods and limit caffeine, alcohol, fizzy drinks etc.  Maybe a chamomile or yogi bedtime tea 45 minutes before bed so as to allow time to go to the loo well before bedtime.  Eating a little protein like milk and wholegrain cereal will sit well in the digestive system and may induce a better quality sleep.  Include cherries in the diet as it boosts melatonin and so induces better quality sleep.

About an hour before bedtime, prepare for the next day - have clothes, bag, wallet, phone etc. all laid out and ready for the next day.  Leave a pen and paper beside the bed to write down things to do or forgotten for the next day. 

Electrical curfew - Ideally the best way to go is not to have T.V.'s , computers and other electrical devices in the bedroom as they emit electromagnetic waves which is bad for us and cause us stress.  Use electrical black tape to cover all standby lights and l.e.d. lights.  Set your alarm clock for the morning and turn it around/away to face the wall so you won't be watching the clock.  If you are having trouble sleeping, it will make it worse.  All the above disturb your sleep and cause stress. 

Check room temperature - Outside the covers and under the covers too.  Use socks if feet are cold.  A hot bath two hours before bedtime is helpful, the internal body core temperature begins to drop and allows for a better nights sleep.( Steeping the feet in hot water draws energy down from the head).  Have ear plugs, eye masks etc on the locker for bed time, use if there is noise, animals, traffic etc or if the room has too much light coming in, avoid frustration which will keep you from falling off. Some people like soothing music like ocean sounds some don't. 

Position - If you lie on your side it puts uneven pressure on your right side resulting in problems with hips and knee, better to use a pillow between the knees.  If you lie on the stomach, leads to problems with the lower back as the head goes up and puts strain below i.e. pain, best position is on the back as weight is more evenly distributed .  In pregnancy, left side is best. Use pillows for support.

My Acupuncture Clinic

Dairy-Free Alternatives for Calcium

Many people worry that when they go dairy-free they will run the risk of decreasing their calcium levels and have to rely on taking supplements to get necessary minerals.  However, taking supplements are not the only solution, below is a list of foods with plenty of calcium and easy foods to include in any diet.

• Almonds
• Black Strap Molasses
• Broccoli
• Enriched rice milk, soy milk
• Figs
• Leafy green Vegetables
• Salmon with bones
• Sesame Seeds
• Soybeans
• Tofu
• Mozzarella, sheep and goats cheese