Acupuncture/Cupping

Last time I had acupuncture it was before Fiona was born. I as needled for  peace, relaxation, well-being, and a smooth labor. (LOL... smooth labor WHAT IS THAT?) Just kidding but labor is called labor for a reason. Okay back to the topic at hand. My recent appointment in healing and being balanced and learning and growing.... expansion.

A patient discussed her acupuncturist and how he discussed working with other practitioners and has almost achieved his doctorate status. She mentioned a few key words that peaked my interest. 1. That he used pulse and tongue diagnosis. This is an aspect of acupuncture that I didn't learn in my 100 hour barely brush the surface clinical elective in chiropractic school. This means this guy is the real deal.. or studying to be so I decided...Let's find out.

So I got his info from her texted him saying.. Hello this is Dr. Kline I'm ____ 's chiropractor. I'd like to find out more of how you practice. Lets do a trade?"

I'm pretty straight forward. No need to beat around. The only way to know a person in the field is to experience their craft. Understand their finesse and experience their bedside manner and knowledge.

Anyway...
Here is a shot of the accupuncture. This was my second visit. The first visit I was face up and had more needles in my arms and lower legs and feet. This was to focus more on the upper back/shoulder dysfunction that has been a companion of mine for the last... year.

 Yes I have a tattoo on my back. Yes it hurt. Not sure if its done. Probably not as I have not stopped living and I will probably have stories to document and maybe it is done. Not sure. ?

Back to the acupuncture. I did 30 min of rest while these little magic needles did their work.

Then... the cupping.

He used calendula oil to create a barrier with the skin and then applied several cups. They are glass and he uses a little plunger to pull air out and it pulls the skin up into the cup. This allows the adhesions in the fascia to break down so the muscles can move smoothly underneath. It also pulls out toxins. It felt like a very deep therapeutic massage. There were only some moments when the pressure in the pull was too much. Similar to having to tell the massage therapist to lighten the pressure.
The process was complete when I had these awesome circular cup marks to show for it... AND my shoulder/upper back has sooo much more mobility than it did. Usually the beginning of the day all was well rage of motion was good as the day went on muscles tightened (Dave enter M.A.T. diagnosis here LOL)
Dr. J says my adjustment is holding much better.

Going forward I have 3 or 4 more weeks of acupuncture/cupping as well as M.A.T., chiropractic, yoga, lymphatic breathing and specific nutrients we have called SHLDR.. (shoulder :-)) formula nourishing the organs and tissue in the area of the shoulder/ribs/thoracic outlet and making sure nutritional deficiency is not the to get this dysfunction finally out of my muscle memory. Perhaps its time to break through that plateau I keep hitting. As of right now I have more range of motion in bringing my shoulder to my left ear than I have in consecutive nights than I have in over a year. Previous to this it would improve for a couple days and then I'd sleep on it or do something and it would tighten back up. Yoga would loosen it during the practice but as the tissue cooled it would tighten. Probably the adhesions or scar tissue or some sort of motor dysfunction causing tightness. It hasn't been from lack of trying and I have made slow progress  .? Anyway I'm presently optimistic that this tightness is on its way out and full ROM is going to be the norm again.

Many cultures use cupping for therapeutic benefits. I had a patient today from The Ukraine and she said they do it at home by using small cups and using a match to create the negative air pull for colds and healing. Don't think I'll be using that on Fiona or Jesse anytime soon but.. for me I'll going to see this through with Mr. (almost Dr.) Greg Golden and hopefully in the few short weeks we can forego the cups and stick to (tehe) the needles. Except for the one in my left ankle that one I didn't like... it was.. angry (which means I probably need it again.)

The question is... in the long run... or the short I don't care does this benefit my being the answer is yes. I do over all feel better. I feel more peaceful, I feel more rooted, I feel more open... balanced. and my chiropractor says she sees a positive benefit in my body holding its structural alignment. IS acupuncture something I would suggest for everyone??? Hmmm. no. but I am new to it. I would suggest chiropractic, nutrition modified for you, massage therapy,  and yoga for everyone! but... acupuncture. Some are afraid of needles. Personally I am more afraid of what dysfunction does to the structure and function of the body. Sometimes that dysfunction has a structural root, a nutritional root, or an emotional root. Body work addresses all three of these components and its an ongoing study as we are always putting (hopefully) our best foot forward.

Stay warm out there-
Dr. Heidi