I was recently asked, “How exactly do you think acupuncture works?”
Here's what I said, “I try to engage three or more well-known effects of acupuncture. Put needles in tight muscle, the muscle will relax. And it is less likely to get tight or spasm again. Acupuncture needles have an anti-inflammatory effect. There is a zone around each needle in which inflammation is reduced. This is great for injuries like sprains. Lastly, acupuncture changes nervous system's transmission and interpretation of pain signals. It blocks the urgent pain and keeps it from going up your spine.” Schedule a consult today. When I started my practice in 1999, few people had tried acupuncture. Many had heard of it, but perhaps thought of it as something for only eccentric weirdos. These days the scientific evidence behind acupuncture has grown and general acceptance of the practice has followed. The National Institute of Health, the World Health Organization, even the Department of Defense now back the practice and recommend it for everything from pain management to mental health issues.
In those 15 years, many practitioners have opened up shop in Fort Collins. I have been pleased to see the use of acupuncture grow. I continue to be honored to be chosen by my patients as one of their healthcare providers. Thank you for supporting my business and for allowing me to offer this talent to my community. Yours in good health, Scott Blunk, L.Ac. Fort Collins Acupuncture 45 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches. A migraine is defined by The Mayo Clinic as a headache that causes intense throbbing or a pulsing sensation in one area of the head. They are commonly accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Because they can last for many hours (or even days!) they are debilitating, excruciating, and severely limiting. At Fort Collins Acupuncture, pain is the #1 thing I treat. And right at the top of that category? Migraines. At our practice patients have an impressive 80% success rate healing from migraines using our unique combination of acupuncture with Chinese herbs and massage. Those 80% experience a 75% reduction in frequency of headaches. It’s the equivalent of going from one headache per week to one per month. Many patients report even better results than that. Thinking about acupuncture for your migraines? Schedule a treatment today. As the holiday months approach, let me first say, Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy the time with your family. If you plan to travel by plane or spend any time with sticky children under age 8, stop by my office and stock up on herbs first. Because, you know, kids are like petri dishes that love you.
We've got anti-viral formulas for colds, flus, digestive disturbances and ear infections. These formulas are safe and regularly tested for presence of heavy metals. Adult formulas come in pill form. Children's formulas are liquid drops. I trust these herbs enough to use them on my own kids. Get them. They work. See more about herbs at Fort Collins Acupuncture here. Within the field of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), you will find a great deal of discussion about qi (say chee). According to TCM, qi is the energy force that flows through all living creatures. Treating qi blockages often requires needling sites that are far away from a patient's direct pain. For me, that approach is too esoteric and not as effective for patients. I found the “treat the ankle for a headache” approach less effective than going directly to the head for headaches.
As I developed my business (Fort Collins Acupuncture), I realized that a functional medicine approach got much better results. Place a needle directly in an over-tight muscle and it will relax and be less likely to spasm. The needles have an anti-inflammatory effect; that's what makes acupuncture so good for chronic inflammation like arthritis. Third, acupuncture changes the nervous system's transmission and interpretation of pain. They actually block pain from traveling through your nervous system. This is what makes me so good at treating sports injury, chronic back pain and neck pain, migraines, and conditions related to stroke rehabilitation. Eighty percent of my patients find some immediate relief. Many go on to be completely free of pain. Try it for yourself. Schedule an appointment today. Every year there is a learning curve as the autumn wanes and we remember what it's like to drive on slick roads, maneuver in the darkened mornings, and shovel snow.
Spine-Health.com has a tutorial for snow shoveling. (I know, who needs instructions for shoveling?! Apparently, quite a few of us. It's a common injury source among my patients.) The high points are summarized here:
An NCCAOM-certified and licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, I founded Fort Collins Acupuncture in November 1999. I am passionate about acupuncture and herbal care, and enjoy using my skills and training to help patients find relief from many different health concerns.
As one of the most respected practitioners in Northern Colorado, I bring a comforting and confident demeanor to the care of each individual that has been noted by his patients through the years. That's me, Scott Blunk, L.Ac. - the best former-cattleman, over-six-foot acupuncturist in Fort Collins. Especially for back related pain, I'm the guy you want to see. Need acupuncture for a spinal issue? I've got your back. Schedule your appointment today. I am introverted, deeply intellectual, cautious, observant, and thoughtful. I tend to feel my way through situations and intuit what people are truly saying and what they need from me. These attributes serve me well in my chosen field of healthcare. As an acupuncturist and healthcare provider, I enjoy the challenge of quirky, unpredictable ailments. I won't rest when there's a persistent issue plaguing one of my patients. All these things together add up to a dynamic combination that will get results for you. At Fort Collins Acupuncture, 80 percent of my patients get the relief they came for.
I am an acupuncturist who can see you and hear you... and help you. Find more about me and my practice, Fort Collins Acupuncture, can be found here. Summer is coming to an end. School is back in session for many of our kids. This time of year often prompts higher stress levels. There is so much to do and less and less daylight in which to achieve it.
If the load is starting to cause health problems for you: back pain, migraines, digestion problems or anxiety issues, consider spending some time on my table. The sympathetic nervous system takes the brunt of the load when your circuits are all maxed out. It is the system responsible for your fight or flight responses; it also regulates your heartbeat and blood pressure. Sometimes, it needs a little help regulating. Use of acupuncture actually slows your heart rate. It also lowers your blood pressure. It helps your parasympathetic nervous system kick in and neutralize the stress that's eating you. Acupuncture treatments can absolutely be used as a part of a stress management plan to help with anxiety, insomnia, and feelings of being overtaxed. If this sounds like it might help, please schedule a consultation. I would love to see you. www.FortCollinsAcupuncture.com It's a fair question. When your loved on is already fragile, it is important to ask if further treatment is going to be worth the effort of getting to and getting through the appointment.
Several studies (like this one and this one) have shown that acupuncture is not only safe for people with neurological deficiencies, but highly beneficial. This page refers to yet more medical studies from China that show post-stroke patients who receive acupuncture get well faster, perform better in self-care, require less nursing and rehabilitation therapy, and use fewer healthcare dollars. In other words, it's worth the effort to get to yet another appointment. Once in the office, patients and their caregivers talk through their situation with me. We discuss symptoms, treatments, medical history, and any specific concerns you might have. Then the patient gets to lie down on a treatment table with a cozy blanket. Insertion of acupuncture needles isn't painful. For stroke patients, they are usually placed in the scalp. Many patients don't notice them going in at all. Once the needles are placed, I ensure the patient's comfort, dim the lights, and leave them to rest quietly for between 20-40 minutes. From the patient perspective, acupuncture isn't strenuous. It shouldn't be scary. And it really can help. Contact me today for more information. |
Scott Blunk, LAc.
An NCCAOM-certified and licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, Scott is passionate about acupuncture and herbal care. Categories
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