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If the headache advertisements are to
be believed, Americans must be suffering from severe Tylenol
deficiencies, anti-acid deficiencies, and sleeping pill
deficiencies. Actually, if you have any of these symptoms, they
are indicative of some kind of internal problem. An old auto or
sports injury can create frequent headache pain, back aches, or
even hand numbness. A long-term or even inherited internal
deficiency or weakness can cause sensitivity to various foods and
environmental factors. Over the counter medications can help mask
the pain, but the underlying cause could go undiagnosed due to a
lack of understanding, and if left untreated, will worsen with
time.
For some, a structural weakness,
caused by an old injury, can be the cause of a chronic pain
condition. Even twenty years later, an old sports injury or
"fender-bender" can be the root cause of chronic pain. This is due
to the insidious effects of hidden scar tissue that can form on
nerves and soft tissue at the site of an injury.
When the body is injured, the soft
tissue involved is traumatized. This trauma can vary in severity
from a minor sprain or strain to a major tear. When there has been
a trauma, the residual scar tissue can cause adhesions in the
tissue. This can impede your range of movement, causing stiffness
and pain. Common treatment for this type of problem can be oral
pain medications, muscle relaxers, or injected pain medications.
There can be adverse side effects to these, and they may only give
short-term relief. The best way to treat the problem is to
determine the original cause, then first use treatments that have
little or no potential side effects.
Oriental Medicine uses various
techniques including acupuncture and tui-na (a special Oriental
massage technique) to break up the scar tissue and rehabilitate
the whole body. The real uniqueness of this approach is the
combination of the various modalities. First, acupuncture is used
to reduce inflammation, increase blood circulation, relax the
muscles, and relieve pain by activating the body's natural
painkiller, endorphins. Now you are ready for tui-na. Since the
muscles are relaxed, the deep, focused tui-na work is able to get
to those spots deep inside. The result is a break-up of tension,
muscle knots and old scar tissue. As the body's structure
stabilizes, stiffness is relieved, nerve inflammation is reduced,
and the pain is treated at the root cause. In addition, deep
stretching like yoga can be used to maintain good flexibility and
prevent further problems. If you'd like to find out more, free
classes are offered throughout the community. Please call for
details.
Dr. Riggin is a national board
certified, licensed Acupuncture Physician (FL), Doctor of
Acupuncture (RI) & clinic director of Healing Touch Oriental
Medicine in Clearwater, FL. She is a public speaker, a published
author, and was appointed by two Governors to Florida's State
Board of Acupuncture. She also served as President of FSOMA. Watch
Dr. Riggin's Award Winning TV show "Health Options" Saturdays at
9PM on cable ch # 21 or 96. You may contact her at (727) 669-6000
or http://DrMary.Riggin.net
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