"What is Stress?" By Ellika Shilling, L.Ac.

Most of us experience stress daily, with symptoms ranging from sweaty palms or irritability to infertility or dangerously high blood pressure. Whether it is a telephone call, a public speaking assignment, or being injured in an automobile accident, the event initiates your body’s stress response and your body reacts accordingly. The strength of the response depends on your constitution or simply on your mood at that moment. A stress response can be caused by almost any disturbance: heat or cold, environmental poisons, toxins given off by bacteria during an infection, heavy bleeding, or a strong emotional reaction.

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"Find relief from low back pain with acupuncture" By Ellika Shilling, L.Ac.

Back pain is one of the most common conditions plaguing people in Western societies, affecting more than 31 million people in the United States.  Conventional therapies include bed rest; stretching and physical exercise; muscle relaxing modalities such as hot packs, ultrasound and infrared; and anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain relieving) medications or surgery. Unfortunately, these therapies are frequently ineffective. Furthermore, long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs can lead to gastritis and ulcers, and excessive use of some analgesics can damage the liver.

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"Pre menstrual syndrome (PMS) and menstrual cramps in Chinese medicine" By Ellika Shilling, L.Ac.

Do you experience cramping pain, breast tenderness, emotional outbursts or bloating around the time of your period?  Many of us do, and some can say "all of the above".  But you do not have to suffer, because acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help.  Instead of using pain medication and feel as the world is against you for up to a week every month, you can begin to notice results after as short time as a couple of months.  And this is true healing of your imbalances, not just applying a temporary band aid.  Acupuncture treatments weekly and Chinese herbal medicine works really well for PMS.  It is important to be consistent because the effect of the treatments is cumulative and the results may reveal themselves after two or three menstrual cycles.

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