Acupuncture Blog

It is a known fact that as we age, our bodies begin to breakdown from all the years of sports, raising children, and creating careers. That wear and tear becomes most evident when we begin to feel pain or discomfort in our joints and bones. This is oftentimes referred to as arthritis: the breakdown of muscle/bone tissue and loss of joint capsule fluid that allows for smooth movement between the articulating surfaces.

Pain medications, physical therapy, and joint replacement surgeries are three of the most common treatments we know are used for the management of arthritis but what about the traditional therapies we have always been curious about but were afraid to ask and try?

Therapeutic Massage therapy is a great way to start relieving the surrounding muscle tissue discomfort. The massage therapist should be state licensed and able to individualize the pressure to your tolerance level during soft, superficial Swedish style massage or deep tissue work.

Acupuncture has started to really come unto its own via Western medical research proving that “after 8 weeks of treatment, pain and joint function were improved more with acupuncture than with minimal acupuncture or no acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.” (Acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomised trial; Witt C, et al, Lancet. 2005 Jul 12;366(9480):136-43.) Acupuncture is excellent at affecting any and all joint pain and has been a successful form of international medicine for more than 2000 years.

Herbal Medicine, taken orally or applied topically, can also be incredibly helpful in decreasing inflammation. Herbal medicine can be accomplished within the Western herbal, naturopathic, or Traditional Chinese medicine styles. This is only a safe option when the prescription has been prepared and monitored by a licensed or extensively trained herbalist, and in conjunction with your primary physician. There are so many more treatment options for the management of arthritis pain before the need for surgery becomes inevitable!

All of the practitioners at the Marlborough Wellness Center want to thank each and every one of our clients for their patronage during these tough economic times, as well as reward those who value wellness and preventative health therapies! Starting October 1^st, and running through the month of October, we will be placing each client’s name into a free raffle for a fabulous gift basket that will include a $50 VISA gift card! If you choose to participate, your name will be entered into the raffle each time you come and receive a service from one of the Center’s practitioners. On October 31^st, we will draw a name out of the “lucky fish” bowl and contact you directly to notify you that you have won! There are no limits and no hidden costs! This is just an honest thank you to you from us!

Joyce Clancy, LMT, formerly of Bella Sante in Wellesley, specializes in Swedish relaxation, Deep Tissue, and Hot Stone massage.

Joyce thoughtfully treats you as a whole being rather than a set of isolated symptoms.  She always treats her clients with intention and listens to the specific needs of each individual for an effective and satisfying treatment. In a world where there are so many overstressed lives, Joyce’s healing touch gives the body the relief and rejuvenation it needs to feel and live better.

Joyce is offering $10.00 off first visits for new clients. So don’t delay taking care of yourself or giving a gift certificate for a loved one for the holidays! Call the Center at 508-460-3399 to make an appointment!

This series was established for educational purposes only so that the community can learn about different complimentary medicines and treatments, and make educated decisions about their health treatment options. There are a few details that remain the same for every presentation event:

1. The events are always the second Tuesday of every month from 7:00-8:30pm, unless otherwise specified;

2.  The events are always FREE to attend;

3.  The events will always have FREE food;

4. The events will always be held at “60Nobscot” woodworking studio and showroom, located at 60 Nobscot Road in Sudbury, unless otherwise specified.

5. Always RSVP to the presenter(s) directly;

6. Any other information you may need can be found on our website, www.MarlboroughWellnessCenter.com! 

Here are the upcoming scheduled events so mark your calendars now:

November 11^th: Life Support for Parents/Caregivers of People with Mental Illness presented by Debra B. Taylor

November 13^th: Introduction to Feng Shui presented by Christine Conway. This event will be co-sponsored with, and located at, the Northborough Chiropractic Center.

December 2^nd: Holiday Wellness and Gift Bazaar, more details to be mailed to you!

January 13^th, 2009: Topic on Nutritional Eating, presentor TBE

February 10^th: Introduction to Naturopathic Medicine presented by Dr. Erin Morrissey

And much more in the new year…!

The Marlborough Wellness Center is located at 331 Boston Post Road East, Ste. 7, and provides a place for medical wellness and education.  We believe that there are two worlds: one with experts who fix people, and the other world of wellness that educates and empowers them to fix themselves. It is here where you will find professional practitioners who can meet all your health and medical needs. Jodi Eldridge, Jennifer Smith, and Joyce Clancy, our licensed massage therapists, are going strong! Julie Dalbec, a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, continues to focus her practice in the areas of Japanese style, non-insertive pediatric acupuncture techniques and women’s health issues. Diana Fernandes, MAOM, Lic.Ac., also a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, has written the focus article on seasonal allergies for us! During the month of October, we want to appreciate your dedication to wellness this Fall! More details can be found on the Fall Appreciation raffle inside the newsletter! Our monthly community education series titled “Alternatively Speaking” continues to delight the masses with free food and free education on the topics of traditional medicines/treatments for the common health conditions. Please see the schedule noted below for topics and take a moment to look into the Center! We offer a variety of treatments that can be found on our new and improved website and active blog at www.MarlboroughWellnessCenter.com! 

So when one of my clients mentioned to me that Martha Stewart had received acupuncture on her show and it was a positive exhibition, I like to forward them on to my readers! Oprah also received acupuncture on her show but couldn’t handle more than 2-3 needles without getting squirmish! I guess her ear piercing experience traumatized her to needles! Check out the address listed below and believe what you may…

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/acupuncture-treatment

ok, so although I am not a licensed dietician or Naturopathic doctor, I am a conscientious practitioner and parent who wants only the best food to be ingested by clients and family. I read this article and was very happy I had invested some money and time into my local organic CSA (community supported agriculture) farm! Check it out and believe what you may…

In the beginning of October, I was the instructor of the Introduction to Acupuncture, Acupressure and Chinese Medicine class which them morphed into the “Acupuncture Hands-On Experience” class a week later! The students who attended were amazing and quite interested in learning as much as they could! So, keep your eyes open for the Spring catalog in your mailbox for more opportunities to learn about these fascinating topics! You aren’t going to want to miss them!

WOW! I was scheduled to be on the Hank Stolz show on WCRN 830 today at 2:50pm! Not knowing what to expect, I called early, waited on the line, and suddenly, Hank was talking to me! VERY COOL! To start, Hank was very professional and asked very complimentary questions about acupuncture and how I got into it. He even asked about the concept of “preventative” medicine and how our culture is accepting it slowly. We talked about the painless needles, the sterile needles, and when to contact an acupuncturist! Needless to say, the Hank Stolz Experience was exactly that…a fabulous experience on the radio! Thank you Hank and thank you WCRN!

Treating/preventing sunburns, bug bites and rashes naturally
For those of us who are concerned about the ingredients of kids’ sunscreens and bug repellants, you are not alone and you are in luck!
Sunscreen: We already know we want PABA-free to decrease chance of skin rashes, and at least 15 SPF broad-spectrum sunscreens to cut out the UV-A and UV-B dangerous sunrays. But did you know that you want “chemical-free” suncreens that include zinc-oxide and titanium dioxide as their main ingredients? Zinc Oxide and titanium dioxide stay on top of the skin and don’t wash off easily in water/with sweat. Sunscreens with these ingredients start working immediately after application, blocking the sun’s rays. Chemical-based sunscreens often take up to 30 minutes after application to soak into the skin before they start to work (www.BabyCenter.com)
Bug Repellants: Beware of DEET products. DEET is a dangerous chemical that is responsible for many unhealthy side effects. Have no fear…there are natural alternatives to DEET, made primarily from plant essential oils, which can protect you in less threatening circumstances. Look for products containing any of the following: lavender, eucalyptus citriodera, litsea cubeba, geranium,
rosemary, peppermint, cedar, and/or tea tree oil. For more information on properties of essential oils, go to www.crescentmooncreations.biz and click on “Learn About-Plant Oils” button.
If your child gets a bug bite, cold compresses can help relieve the itching and cut down on the swelling. A dab of Baking-soda toothpaste also has a cooling effect (Parenting, June 2008)
Rashes and Sunburns: ice packs, cold compresses, and an aluminum acetate solution (Burow’s solution) can soothe the itchy red rash of poison ivy/oak or sumac. (Parenting, June 2008)
For sunburns, a couple tried-and-true natural solutions for you to try:
1. Apply undiluted apple cider vinegar to sunburn by cottonball.
2. Apply mayonnaise as a skin cream to sunburn.
3. Apply peanut oil to sunburned area(s).
4. Apply thin slices of cold cucumbers, apples, or potato directly to the skin.
5 Apply cold, plain yogurt then rinse with cool water.