1-on-1

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1-on-1

It’s your birthright to feel good.

Schedule your Consultation today.

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Holistic Support

 

Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Individual. It’s time to get an integrative and holistic approach to efficiently get you to how you want to feel as quickly as possible!

 

In-Person or Virtual Guidance

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Service Descriptions

Here are the descriptions of each of the services I offer.

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Integrative medicine is whole-person medicine, appreciating both the health issues that bring you to see me as well as the healing resources that can be brought to assist you in reaching your wellness goals.  We will spend at least an hour together in your initial consultation, which is usually enough to begin to form an initial treatment plan. If your problem is chronic and complex, we can schedule more time if needed. If you are coming from a distance, and have a complex problem, you may want to schedule extra time for your first appointment.

 

In our consultation, I will want to know the issues that are most important to you. We will review your family history, your diet, medications, and supplements, your health-related habits, your sleep, appetite, digestion, your stress and coping levels and whatever else may be relevant. Next, I will do whatever physical exam may be necessary or helpful.

 

I will review laboratory and imaging exams and reports from specialists you have seen, and we will come up with a plan for improving your health. We will add to that plan as needed as we discover what helps you and what isn’t worth spending time on.

 

Having spent over 17 years in medicine, using eastern approaches and keeping up-to-date with western theories, augmented with nutritional medicine and mind/body medicine, I can usually guide you efficiently through the many choices and options available today.

 

Integrative Medicine is the practice of medicine that reaffirms the importance of the relationship between the practitioner and the patient, focuses on the whole person, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapeutic approaches, healthcare professionals and disciplines to achieve optimal health and healing.

 

We view physical, mental and spiritual aspects of life as closely interconnected and equally important approaches to treatment. In this modality, the art and science of healing addresses care of the whole person: body, mind, and spirit.

 

What to expect

 

Your initial consultation is a full hour. During a typical evaluation, I will take a complete medical and lifestyle history and may perform a physical examination. I am listening for the big picture and am attuned to the tests needed to uncover root causes of illness that may not yet have been uncovered. I work with you to create an individualized program that you can integrate immediately into your life. If you have lab work done elsewhere, please bring copies with you to your appointment. I then take the time to come up with a Report of Findings and my Suggestions for you.

 

Conditions Treated

An integrative medicine consultation can be helpful to anyone seeking an individualized and comprehensive healing plan for treatment of a variety of symptoms and condition. Consultations are conducted by Dr. LeTa, who is a board-certified Oriental Medical doctor, trained in both conventional and complementary medicine. I have extensive expertise in using a wide range of healing plans to treat numerous conditions.

 

Some of these conditions include:

 

Treatment

 

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An ancient modality for the modern individual.

Acupuncture has been used for more than 2,500 years. It decreases inflammation and increases blood flow, which helps alleviate chronic pain of all kinds: headaches, joint pain, muscle pain, and more. Experience relief without the side effects of treatments like surgery and prescription medications.

 

Traditional acupuncture utilizes tiny needles to access distinct points on the body to restore balance, alleviate pain, reduce stress and anxiety, enhance sleep, treat disease, and improve overall well-being. Traditional acupuncture treats the whole person.

 

And sometimes you just need a time out without distractions. Our Zen-inspired atmosphere promotes deep relaxation while enhancing your mood and improving sleep.

 

How Does it Work?

 

Acupuncture stimulates local blood flow, normalizes the nervous system, improves emotional well-being (effects endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine), and lessens pain sensitivity.

 

Tiny needles are inserted carefully into key points on the body to trigger an increase in blood flow to areas where it is blocked or weak. When healthy blood flow is restored, the body’s natural healing abilities are activated, sending the body back into balance.

 

Traditional acupuncture allows us to access full-body health without the removal of any clothing. I will pinpoint and effectively treat your concerns via specific points on your head, face, arms, hands, lower legs and feet all while you relax and take a breather from today’s stressors.

 

The BENEFITS of Acupuncture

 

Traditional acupuncture treats the whole body from head to toe. In addition to its wide-spread use in private clinics, acupuncture is also used in many conventional medical institutions, including hospitals, doctor’s offices, and non-profits around the world. 

 

Acupuncture treats a wide range of medical conditions, including:

Chronic and Acute Pain

Sports Injuries

Insomnia, Sleep & Depression

Digestive Disorders

Stress & Anxiety

Allergies & Respiratory

Migraines & Headaches

Relaxation

 

Personalized Treatments Plans: Treatment as unique as YOU

 

I believe that acupuncture should be a convenient and approachable part of everyday life. There are 28 diseases, symptoms, or condition recognized by the World Health Organization that acupuncture effectively treats and more than 60 additional conditions are currently being studied.

 

Acupuncture Treatment Plan Acupuncture is proven to help those suffering from diabetes, insomnia, chronic pain, PTSD, stress and many other conditions that can negatively affect your ability to live life to its fullest. There have even been examples of acupuncture making cancer treatments more effective. There’s no age limit, no drugs, no expensive testing. This type of care should be available in a much more accessible manner – and now it is.

 

Dr. LeTa will create a treatment plan specifically for you based on your consultation. It is important to follow your treatment plan to achieve the best results. Just like any health and wellness routine – the key is consistency. We think you will enjoy the experience so much it will be easy to keep coming back. And your health will thank you.

 

Are There Any Side Effects?

 

Side effects are minimal but may include fatigue, slight bruising, tenderness at needle site, lightheadedness, temporary worsening of symptoms, and emotional release.

 

Who is a Candidate for Acupuncture?

 

Dr. LeTa is happy to discuss with you prior to your first treatment to ensure you are a suitable candidate for acupuncture, but most men and women looking for a natural approach to healing and overall wellness are candidates for acupuncture. Those who are not eligible for acupuncture include those with hemophilia or contagious skin diseases. We take special precautions when working with those on blood-thinning medication or tend to bruise easily.

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WHAT IS AN HERB?

Medicinally, an herb is any plant part or plant used for its therapeutic value. Yet, many of the world’s herbal traditions also include mineral and animal substances as “herbal medicines”?.

WHAT IS HERBAL MEDICINE?

Herbal medicine is the art and science of using herbs for promoting health and preventing and treating illness. It has persisted as the world’s primary form of medicine since the beginning of time, with a written history more than 5000 years old. While the use of herbs in America has been overshadowed by dependence on modern medications the last 100 years, 75% of the world’s population still rely primarily upon traditional healing practices, most of which is herbal medicine.

 

HOW ARE HERBS DIFFERENT FROM PHARMACEUTICALS?

Most pharmaceutical drugs are single chemical entities that are highly refined and purified and are often synthesized. In 1987 about 85% of modern drugs were originally derived from plants. Currently, only about 15% of drugs are derived from plants. In contrast, herbal medicines are prepared from living or dried plants and contain hundreds to thousands of interrelated compounds. Science is beginning to demonstrate that the safety and effectiveness of herbs is often related to the synergy of its many constituents.

 

HOW IS HERBAL MEDICINE DIFFERENT FROM CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE?

The primary focus of the herbalist is to treat people as individuals irrespective of the disease or condition they have and to stimulate their innate healing power through the use of such interventions as herbs, diet, and lifestyle. The primary focus of conventional physicians is to attack diseases using strong chemicals that are difficult for the body to process, or through the removal of organs. Not only does this ignore the unique makeup of the individual, but many patients under conventional care suffer from side effects that are as bad as the condition being treated. The philosophical difference between herbalists and conventional physicians has profound significance.

 

WHAT IS AN HERBALIST?

Herbalists are people who dedicate their lives to working with medicinal plants. They include native healers, scientists, naturopaths, holistic medical doctors, researchers, writers, herbal pharmacists, medicine makers, wildcrafters, harvesters and herbal farmers to name a few. While herbalists are quite varied, the common love and respect for life, especially the relationship between plants and humans, unites them. Persons specializing in the therapeutic use of plants may be medical herbalists, traditional herbalists, acupuncturists, midwives, naturopathic physicians, or even one’s own grandmother.

 

WHAT IS AN HERBAL CONSULTATION?

A full herbal consultation with me is for people seeking to do deeper work on their health and truly work to achieve long-last changes in their life. You should be interested in making changes to your diet and lifestyle, and not just be looking for herbs to be a ‘fix’ to your problems, but to act as allies in the bigger picture.

 

This is usually an on-going relationship between us, where I will act as your guide as you navigate your own health journey; helping you to find the herbs and other healing modalities that best fit you and your health picture.

 

The initial consultation will be about an hour, during which time we will go in-depth into your health history so that we can gain a clear picture of where you are in your health journey. We will discuss the goals you wish to achieve in terms of your health, and develop a plan on how to reach them.

 

You will always leave the consult with some kind of recommendation, whether it is lifestyle, herbal, nutritional, or a combination of the three. Many times you will leave with a customized herbal formula and/or nutritional supplements that are right for your situation. If desired, you may also leave with a flower essence formula and/or essential oils designed for your emotional support.

 

The follow-up consultations are usually shorter, but this depends on the severity of your issues and your own personal needs.

 

True health is not a one-time fix.  It is something that must be worked on, especially when you are trying to change life-long habits. Because of this, I like to see my patients several times so that we can make sure you are staying on the path you chart for yourself.

 

There is no exact science to this method of healing, it all depends on you and how much you are willing to work on your own healing.  Herbal remedies are extremely effective and naturally ease your body into a state of total holistic health and wellness, but they are not stand-alone fixes for chronic health issues.

 

HOW CAN HERBS AND HERBAL MEDICINE HELP ME?

Herbs can offer you a wide range of safe and effective therapeutic agents that you can use as an integral part of your own health care program. They can be used in three essential ways:

 

HERBAL CONSULTATIONS CAN COVER:

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Cannabis Recommendations through Genetic Testing

 

Cannabis is in your DNA

Our genetic analysis matches you with the right products, strains (chemovars or chemotypes), terpenes, cannabinoids, Oils, edibles and Flower.

 

What can your DNA tell you about cannabis?

Cannabis contains 100s of different cannabinoids (e.g THC and CBD) and terpenes (e.g pinene and limonene). Different strains (chemovars or chemotypes) of cannabis contain different concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes. When smoked, eaten, used as a topical or taken as a tincture internally, these chemicals enter your body where they interact with your endocannabinoid system, much like keys fitting into locks.

 

DNA is the code used to create long chains of molecules (amino acids) that then go on to combine into proteins. The specific code in your DNA impacts the quality abundance, and even potential absence of certain proteins in your brain and body. Proteins are used to create your endocannabinoid system, creating a lock that can only be activated by canninoids.

The lab I use uses a proprietary algorithm looks at over 150 DNA biomarkers in your DNA that affect your cannabis use and health. You can get personalized insights and important warnings about how your body may or may not respond to specific products. And know which dosages of cannabinoids and terpenes you should prioritize on your informed cannabis journey.

 

Product and strain recommendations for every part of your life

 

  1. Boost energy levels to help with wakefulness, alertness, and exercise
  2. Find your creative spark to invent, innovate, and stay on task
  3. Ward off depression and trauma by elevating your mood and mindset
  4. Utilize the power of CBD to help your body heal and achieve homeostasis
  5. Find your zen, combat anxiety, and find the relief and relaxation you deserve
  6. Drift off and allow sleep to revitalize your body and mind

 

TWO Options:

 

  1. If you’ve never had your DNA tested, you can order your cannabis DNA test online and we can drop ship it to you or you can come into the clinic and we can take a cheek swab.

It only takes one swab of the cheek for you to unlock the most comprehensive DNA test in the cannabis industry. You’ll receive a test kit with instructions and a pre-paid mailer to return to our CLIA certified lab or I can send it in. Most patients receive their results within 2 weeks of placing an order.

 

  1. If you’ve had your DNA genotyped by another company, you can send me your raw data and receive your personalized cannabis report within 48 hours so we can go over your results.

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Supplement Review: What is necessary and what is not

 

Are You Wasting Money on Ineffective Supplements?

Choosing supplements can be tricky and you can end up loosing a lot of money. Get a case review and a personalized supplement recommendation from Dr. LeTa.

 

Dr. LeTa will review your symptoms and health goals, review your current supplements, and make targeted recommendations based on your case and her 17+ years in practice.

 

Who Is This For?

If you’re wondering how to only take supplements that actually help you, this consultation is for you!

 

What Does the Supplement Consult Include?

A 1-hour session with Dr. LeTa to review your current supplements and supplement recommendations based on your current needs

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Food as Medicine: what to eat for your condition

 

Good nutrition and what you put into your body is the foundation for good health. “Food is Medicine” is a term which was originally coined by Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine; it was his belief that eating wholesome food is the basis for good health.  Hippocrates said almost 2500 years ago “Leave your drugs in the chemist’s pot if you can heal the patient with food.”

 

Centuries ago the earliest known doctors and health practitioners across the world imparted the benefits of using food as medicine to heal the body and now based on research it is clearly evident that food plays a major role in health and how you feel on a day to day basis.

 

Hippocrates believed that illness stemmed from inadequate nutrition and bad eating habits and that if people were to learn good eating habits then optimum health would be restored.  Long before doctors and medicine was commonly used, wise tribal elders would seek out healing herbs and plants for their community and food would be applied prescriptively to bring about healing.  Slowly through the years man has moved away from the healing power of nature and towards prescribing packaged synthetic drugs and artificial remedies to deal with illness.

 

The reality is that because we have shifted away from natural remedies and many of us rely on a diet of processed, fatty and sugar-laden food the consequences are that rates of obesity and disease have increased significantly.

 

If food has the power to prevent much of the chronic illness we experience today then it makes sense to alter our diets to use it to our own advantage to not only heal and restore the body but also to prevent illness.  Although taking pharmaceutical drugs for ailments may be useful, they often come with short and long term side effects and contribute to the toxic build up in our bodies. While drugs are important in life threatening situations, if long term conditions can be managed with diet and lifestyle changes then using food as medicine must be considered as a initial way of tackling the issue and preventing future health problems.

 

Health practitioners and scientists are now uncovering the benefits of Nutrigenomics and the whole notion that food is information that speaks to our genes and triggers messages that create health or disease. There are many factors that culminate to bring about disease such as stress, nutrition, hormone balance, the health of our gut, and the importance of detoxification and food.

 

Thinking about what is at the end of your fork can help you to avoid specific illnesses that arise due to years of unhealthy eating. The good news is that these can be reversed with the help of a good diet. Even if you live on takeaway you can make healthier choices.  More and more food services, restaurants, and other institutions are recognizing the healing power of food and are including healing foods as part of their menus so nutritious food is not as hard to find as it once was.

 

Being healthy means putting the right fuel into your body and having your internal engine run smoothly. Every meal that you consume influences the way that you feel one way or another so the more nutritious foods you choose, the healthier you will be. Whole foods act as medicine to heal and protect your body and give the immune system a break from dealing with toxins, preservatives, additives and chemicals that are included in so many of today’s processed foods.

 

If you are eating junk food everyday with little or no nutrition, your body will not be receiving all of the nutrients it needs to function properly and health issues can arise. All that your body can operate on are the foods that you choose to put into it. Healthy nutrient-rich and alive foods help to heal the body at cellular level and build strong defenses enabling you to combat illness and environmental toxins.

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I understand you may be afraid of detoxing and cleansing. However, we assure you the detox process can be managed safely and with few withdrawal symptoms. It’s important to understand that a good detox protocol helps you taper off safely and gradually from things that don’t serve you. My goal is to help you fully regain your health without having any side effects or long-term dependencies. I help you regain your vitality through an integrative approach customized for you and your special situation. Through my holistic detox approach, I work with the body using supplements, emotional release work, bodywork, acupuncture, whole foods diet, exercise and more.

 

When it comes to detoxing, your safety is my top priority. One of the first things you’ll do in my program is I will assess your physical condition and toxicity levels. Appropriate supplements and herbs are then prescribed, and I will be checking in on you regularly to provide any assistance you need. Together, you will return to optimal physical well-being.

 

MEDICALLY-SUPERVISED DETOX

 

 

SUPPORTING YOU PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, & EMOTIONALLY THROUGHOUT YOUR DETOX

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Qi Gong can be called medical because the practice of it directly benefits health and body function. It belongs to a new category of exercise called “moving meditation” (or what Harvard Medical School calls “moving medication”) which combines movement, breathing, and awareness. Qi Gong’s diaphragmatic breathing and mental focus encourage health, growth, restoration, digestion, and vitality mainly through modulation of the autonomic nervous system. Qi Gong helps with a variety of health issues, including quality of life, inflammation and immune function, psychological symptoms, and cardiovascular disorders, to name a few.

 

Although ancient in origin, Qi Gong is a new category of exercise called Meditative Movement. From a physiological standpoint, Qigong practice puts the body into a state of relaxation and regeneration. This state is achieved by eliciting the Relaxation Response, coined by Dr. Herbert Benson, Associate Professor of Medicine at The Harvard Medical School to describe the healing and stress reducing effects of a mind-body practice.

 

Although not proven conclusively from a Western Medical stand point, Qi Gong is an accepted treatment option in the fields of complementary and alternative medicine. Qi Gong treatment is also used extensively in China as part of Traditional Chinese Medicine and has been included in the curriculum of Chinese universities. Qi Gong practice serves both a preventive and curative function. It is considered to be effective in improving the effects of many chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, allergy, asthma, arthritis, degenerative disk disease, cancer, depression, anxiety and addiction. Qi Gong works by improving the practitioners’ immunity response, increasing a person’s self-healing and self-recovery capabilities and enhancing one’s self-regeneration potential.

 

What is Qigong?

 

Qi Gong is an integration of physical postures, breathing techniques, and focused intentions. Qi Gong practices can be classified as martial, medical, or spiritual. All styles have three things in common: they all involve a posture, (whether moving or stationary), breathing techniques, and mental focus. Some practices increase the Qi; others circulate it, use it to cleanse and heal the body, store it, or emit Qi to help heal others. Practices vary from the soft internal styles such as Tai Chi; to the external, vigorous styles such as Kung Fu.

 

When you decide to come into see me for a Qi Gong Prescription and Fitness Plan, we will discuss your health and fitness goals and then I will give you a routine. We can record it so you can watch it and follow along.

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Often we need a mindset shift. Because we know our subconscious is our underlying operating system if we don’t “upgrade” this software then we are living in the past. 

I love coaching individuals who are ready for change, who are sick and tired of not living the life of their dreams.

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Cupping is a lesser-known treatment that is also part of Oriental medicine, one that can provide an especially pleasant experience! One of the earliest documentations of cupping can be found in the work titled ‘A Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies’, which was written by a Taoist herbalist by the name of Ge Hong and which dates all the way back to 300 AD. An even earlier Chinese documentation, three thousand years old, recommended cupping for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. In both Eastern and Western cultures, cupping evolved from shamanistic practices that held the belief that illnesses and infirmities can be sucked out of the body.

 

Cupping was established as an official therapeutic practice in the 1950s across hospitals in China after research conducted by Chinese and former Soviet Union acupuncturists confirmed cupping’s effectiveness. Prior to the 1950s, cupping had also been practiced as an auxiliary method in traditional Chinese surgery. In recent years cupping has been growing in popularity, with celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, David Arquette, and athlete Michael Phelps drawing public attention to the traditional Chinese therapy technique.

 

Though news outlets were quick to criticize celebrities chasing the newest medical therapies and techniques, recent studies have shown cupping’s effectiveness in reducing pain intensity and providing positive short-term benefits.

 

What Is Chinese Cupping?

 

Cupping is the term applied to a technique that uses small glass cups or bamboo jars as suction devices that are placed on the ski to disperse and break up stagnation and congestion by drawing congested blood, energy or other humors to the surface. In dry cupping, I will simply place the suction cups on the skin. In wet cupping, I will make a small incision on the skin and then apply the suction cup to draw out small amounts of blood.

 

There are several ways that I can create the suction in the cups. One method involves swabbing rubbing alcohol onto the bottom of the cup, then lighting it and putting the cup immediately against the skin. Suction can also be created by placing an inverted cup over a small flame, or by using an alcohol-soaked cotton pad over an insulating material (like leather) to protect the skin, then lighting the pad and placing an empty cup over the flame to extinguish it. Flames are never used near the skin and are not lit throughout the process of cupping, but rather are a means to create the heat that causes the suction within the small cups.

 

Once the suction has occurred, the cups can be gently moved across the skin (often referred to as “gliding cupping). Medical massage oils are sometimes applied to improve movement of the glass cups along the skin. The suction in the cups causes the skin and superficial muscle layer to be lightly drawn into the cup. Cupping is much like the inverse of massage – rather than applying pressure to muscles, it uses gentle pressure to pull them upward. For most patients, this is a particularly relaxing and relieving sensation. Once suctioned, the cups are generally left in place for about ten minutes while you relax. This is similar to the practice of TuiNa, a traditional Chinese medicine massage technique that targets acupuncture points as well as painful body parts, and is well known to provide relief through pressure.

 

The side effects of cupping are fairly mild. Bruising should be expected, but skin should return to looking normal within 10 days. Other potential side effects include mild discomfort, skin infection, or burns. However, a trained health professional, like myself, will apply an antibiotic ointment and bandage to prevent an infection.

 

The Philosophy Behind Pain and Cupping

 

“Where there’s stagnation, there will be pain. Remove the stagnation, and you remove the pain.”

 

The old Chinese medical maxim holds that pain results from the congestion, stagnation, and blockage of Qi, or vital energy, vital fluids, lymph, phlegm, and blood. If pain is the essence of disease, then suffering is a result of obstructed or irregular flow in the body. Chinese cupping is therefore a method of breaking up the blockage to restore the body’s natural flow of energy.

 

Cupping Combined With Acupuncture

 

Generally, cupping is combined with acupuncture in one treatment, but it can also be used alone. The suction and negative pressure provided by cupping can loosen muscles, encourage blood flow, and sedate the nervous system (which makes it an excellent treatment for high blood pressure). Cupping is used to relieve back and neck pains, stiff muscles, anxiety, fatigue, migraines, rheumatism, and even cellulite. For weight loss and cellulite treatments, oil is first applied to the skin, and then the cups are moved up and down the surrounding area.

 

Like acupuncture, cupping follows the lines of the meridians. There are five meridian lines on the back, and these are where the cups are usually placed. Using these points, cupping can help to align and relax qi, as well as target more specific maladies. By targeting the meridian channels, cupping strives to ‘open’ these channels – the paths through which life energy flows freely throughout the body, through all tissues and organs, thus providing a smoother and more free-flowing qi (life force). Cupping is one of the best deep-tissue therapies available. It is thought to affect tissues up to four inches deep from the external skin. Toxins can be released, blockages can be cleared, and veins and arteries can be refreshed within these four inches of affected materials. Even hands, wrists, legs, and ankles can be ‘cupped,’ thus applying the healing to specific organs that correlate with these points.

 

Other Benefits Of Chinese Cupping

 

This treatment is also valuable for the lungs, and can clear congestion from a common cold or help to control a person’s asthma. In fact, respiratory conditions are one of the most common maladies that cupping is used to relieve.

 

Cupping’s detoxifying effect on skin and circulatory system is also significant, with a visible improvement in skin color after three to five treatments. Cupping removes toxins and improves blood flow through the veins and arteries. Especially useful for athletes is cupping’s potential to relieve muscle spasms.

 

Cupping also affects the digestive system. A few benefits include an improved metabolism, relief from constipation, a healthy appetite, and stronger digestion.

 

A 2015 report published in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine noted cupping as an effective alternative method of treating acne, pain, facial paralysis, cervical spondylosis, and herpes zoster.

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Gua Sha is often called coining, spooning or scraping and is defined as instrument-assisted unidirectional press stroking of a lubricated area of the body surface that intentionally creates ‘transitory therapeutic petechiae’ representing extravasation of blood in the subcutis, in lay terms, means breaking up stagnant blood and having it be shown at the surface (on your skin).

Gua sha has been used for centuries in Asia, in Asian immigrant communities and by acupuncturists and practitioners of traditional East Asian medicine worldwide. It is valuable in the treatment of pain and for functional problems with impaired movement, the prevention and treatment of acute infectious illness, upper respiratory and digestive problems, and many acute or chronic disorders. Research has demonstrated Gua sha radically increases surface microperfusion that stimulates immune and anti-inflammatory responses that persist for days after treatment.

Historically, gua sha has been indicated for any problem that has a feature of surface or internal blood stasis and/or pain. The articles and studies from the Chinese language database cover an array of conditions responsive to gua sha including headache, migraine, neck, shoulder, back, and knee pain, as well as acute diseases such as fever, flu, earaches, asthma and bronchitis in children and adults. Gua sha is also effective in chronic disease including hepatitis.

And now there is evidence in Western peer reviewed journals. There are case reports in of gua sha for migraine, post herpetic neuralgia, and breast distension/mastitis as well as randomized controlled trials reporting gua sha has benefits in treating neck pain, neck and back pain and breast distension/mastitis.

Manual therapies like gua sha may be useful for many conditions, but may become essential clinical options particularly for what are called ‘gaps in care’, i.e. when patients cannot or prefer not to take medicines for a problem, or when those medicines fail or are not available. It is well known that chronic hepatitis is a difficult condition because of the inflammatory breakdown of the liver over time that can cause illness and even premature death. Medications for the treatment of hepatitis are limited in scope and carry uncomfortable or intolerable side effects.

In the last decade, research has begun to clarify how gua sha works. Gua sha’s therapeutic petechiae represents blood cells that have extravasated in the capillary bed, and measure as a significant increase in surface microperfusion. As this blood is reabsorbed, the breakdown of hemoglobin upregulates HO-1, CO, biliverdin and bilirubin, which are anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective. Studies show the anti-inflammatory effect of gua sha has a therapeutic impact in inflammatory conditions, such as active chronic hepatitis, where liver inflammation indicates organ breakdown that over time can lead to premature death. The physiology of HO-1 may also explain gua sha’s anti-inflammatory effect in other responsive clinical conditions, such as fever, cough, asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, mastitis, gastritis, musculoskeletal and other painful conditions presenting as neck pain, back pain, migraine, postherpetic neuralgia, and others.

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Tui Na, or tuina, is a therapeutic form of massage and has been used in China for more than 5,000 years. Defined as “the ancient healing art of fingers and strength,” tui na (pronounced “twee nah”) has been gaining international attention for its safe and effective treatment for a wide variety of conditions. Tui na massage therapy is used for giving special treatments to people of all ages, from infancy to old age.

 

I use my fingers, hands, elbows, knees or feet to apply pressure to a specific body location. This complementary and alternative Chinese medicine modality makes use of rhythmic compression techniques along different energy channels of the body to establish harmonious flow of qi throughout the body and bringing it back to balance. By applying pressure to meridians, acupoints, and groups of muscles and nerves, tui na removes blockages and works deeply with the positive energy of the body.

 

Technique

 

Tuina makes use of various hand techniques in combination with acupuncture and other manipulation techniques. To enhance the healing process, I may recommend the use of Chinese herbs. Many of the techniques used in this massage resemble that of a western massage like gliding, kneading, rubbing, vibration, tapping, friction, pulling, rolling, pressing and shaking. In tuina massage, the muscles and tendons are massaged with the help of hands, and an acupressure technique is applied to directly affect the flow of qi at different acupressure points of the body, thus facilitating the healing process. It removes the blockages and keeps the energy moving through the meridians as well as the muscles.

 

Benefits of Tui Na

 

A typical session of tui na massage may vary from thirty minutes to an hour. The session timings may vary depending on your needs and conditions. Patients remain clothed, wearing loose clothing. tuina methods can include soft tissue massage, manipulation, acupressure in conjunction with herbal compresses, ointments, liniments, and heat. The best part of the therapy is that it relaxes as well as energizes you. The main benefit of tuina massage is that it focuses on the specific problem, whether it is an acute or a chronic pain associated with the joints, muscles or a skeletal system. This technique is very beneficial in reducing the pain of neck, shoulders, hips, back, arms, highs, legs and ankle disorders. It is a very effective therapy for arthritis, pain, sciatica and muscle spasms. Other benefits of this massage therapy include alleviation of the stress related disorders like insomnia, constipation, headaches and other disorders related to digestive, respiratory and reproductive systems.

 

The greatest advantage of tuina is that it focuses on maintaining overall balance with both physical and mental health. Any one who wants to avoid the side effects of drugs or a chemical based treatment can adopt this effective massage technique to alleviate their pain. Tuina massage therapy is now becoming a more common therapy method due to its focus on specific problems rather than providing a general treatment.

 

Comparing TuiNa Massage to Other Styles of Massage

 

Similar to tuina, Thai massage helps to relieve blockages, remove deficiencies, and correct imbalances in the flow of energy. Unlike most massages, a unique characteristic of the Thai massage is the fact that it is performed on the floor with the client fully clothed. The therapist uses their hands, knees, legs and feet to move the client into various yoga-like stretches.

 

Swedish massage is known for its ability to relax the entire body. In addition, Swedish massage helps to increase oxygen levels in the blood, decrease muscle toxins, and improve overall circulation and flexibility. Unlike tui na, Swedish massage uses long gliding strokes to rub the muscles in the direction of blood returning to the heart. A study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine measured the blood samples of 53 healthy adults who received a Swedish massage and found a significant decrease in the hormone arginine-vasopressin— a hormone that regulates water retention and blood pressure.

 

As more and more studies are conducted measuring the benefits of massage, health practitioners will increasingly look to tuina massage therapy as an effective alternative treatment.

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DNA holds the blueprint to how your body responds to the world around it.

Because you’re unique, the traditional “one-size-fits-all” approach simply doesn’t work. Together, we’ll uncover your personal path to a healthier lifestyle.

 

A genetic test is the first step to learning about you

Knowledge is power and nothing knows you better than your DNA. We create easy-to-read reports so you can quickly find your path to a healthier life.

 

Change the way you look at nutrition and fitness.

I also run these Genetic Profiles as well:

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Longevity programs help extend your life and maximize wellness through the decades by helping you make beneficial lifestyle adjustments. Enjoy a health experience built on scientific expertise and research, where proven practices lead to measurable results.

These are completely individualize and comprehensive. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with Dr. LeTa to discuss your health goals so she can devise a customized plan for you to approve.

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Have Questions?

Feel free to text your question to Dr. LeTa at 831-222-0189.

This is not a medical consult, just a clarifying question before scheduling your appointment with her.

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Schedule Here:

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