June 17, 2021

Piriformis Syndrome

The Affliction

Piriformis Syndrome is a condition in which the Piriformis Muscle, located in the buttock region, spasms and causes buttock pain. The Piriformis Muscle can also irritate the nearby Sciatic Nerve causing pain, numbness and tingling along the back of the leg and into the foot (similar to and sometimes confused with Sciatic Pain).

It can be tough to tell the difference between true Sciatica and Piriformis Syndrome, the symptoms tend to mimic each other, there are however a few clues.

Sciatica, you will usually cause pain radiating all the way into your lower leg and foot. Piriformis Syndrome, causes pain to radiate only as far as your knee. Areas of complete numbness along the pathway of the nerve indicate Sciatica. Whereas, Piriformis Syndrome is associated with some very tender trigger points in your buttock. For a definitive diagnosis, your doctor will need to determine if any disk problems contribute to the source of your pain.”

The Cause

Overuse is a common cause of Piriformis Syndrome. It can be a common injury that sidelines even athletes. Prolonged sitting and trauma can aggravate the Piriformis Muscle, causing it to swell or spasm, in turn pinching the sciatic nerve.

I have found that Piriformis Syndrome is frequently caused by cold. It seems to be more prevalent in the winter or after a patient has been outdoors in the cold. I myself suffered from quite the kayaking debacle, sitting in a cold, wet kayak for hours on end. (No pun intended).

Emotionally this affliction is created within our body from feeling and inadequate sense of support or in some cases the fear of moving forward. Depending on which side of the body affected and the pain levels experienced, allows us to determine a more accurate cause. Telling the story of why the pain is there and the trauma or discomfort that we are not willing to listening to.

Treatment

Acupuncture has been proven to decrease pain, reduce swelling and increase blood circulation. Electro-stimulation Acupuncture is highly recommended for both Sciatica and Piriformis Syndrome conditions. In Chinese Medicine, cupping is done in order to move blood from the injured area which when left to stagnate, results in pain. These treatments are very effective methods used to decrease the amount of time it takes for the area to heal and by increasing the release of pain-relieving chemicals in the brain.

The treatment for the emotional healing differs dependant on each client’s symptoms and the root cause, which can be extremely diverse depending on the client’s history. Acupuncture techniques can assist in this process, by relaxing the body for the emotional trauma incurred to arise.

Example of different emotional causes can be:

  • Not accepting yourself
  • Disliking yourself
  • Small outbursts of anger caused by not speaking up for what you want
  • Represents power feeling like others needs are more important than your own

Emotional Reconditing Affirmation:

“I love and accept myself where I am right now. I am a Divine Expression of life. I calm my thoughts, I am serene. I accept myself as beautiful and loved. I use my power wisely. I am strong. I am safe. All is well.”

At Release Wellness we have the expertise to treat these affiliations from both the physical and emotional levels, which contribute to a more substantial depth of healing.

June 16, 2020

How We Can Support You in this Time

Maintaining a strong immune system is important to our overall health

The immune system is our body’s defense against infection and illness, so to stay in good physical and mental condition we must assist it in any way we can. It has been proven to be useful for those trying to either avoid getting sick, or those trying to hasten their recovery.

The causes and effects of a weakened immune system

A compromised or dysfunctional immune system is a major component of most chronic diseases. Poor nutrition, stress and exposure to harmful agents all lead to a declining immune system. Once compromised, a weak immune system results in frequent colds, allergies, and reoccurring infections.

Immunity related disorders include:

  • Common colds
  • Coronavirus
  • Allergies
  • Asthma
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Hepatitis
  • AIDS
  • Autoimmune disease
  • Cancer
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Psoriasis
  • Immune deficiency syndrome

Acupuncture can help regulate immune function and treat the underlying cause of diseases by reducing symptoms, speeding up healing and stabilizing our body’s responses to illness. Acupuncture is believed to enhance resistance to disease and illness by assisting in defense, homeostasis and surveillance functions of the immune system. This is why acupuncture is considered to be true preventative medicine, as the needle points as chosen to strengthen wei qi (bodies immunity) so as to reduce the chance of succumbing to a virus or bacteria. We tend to get sick more easily when our protective surface energy, i.e., wei qi, is compromised such as when we are stressed or tired.

In traditional Eastern medicine, Vitamin C has a place as an element of spleen qi. The connection between the Spleen and the Lung is also highlighted by vitamin C, as Vitamin C’s role in immune function and its role in wound healing both point towards the Lung. Due to its sour nature as an acid, Vitamin C likely helps to gather and contain wei qi.

One of the best ways to boost our immunity is through Vitamin C consumption. Vitamin C is an essential micronutrient for humans, and it contributes to immune defense by supporting various cellular functions. Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, cannot be produced by the body naturally so we need to acquire it from foods and supplements in our diet. This doesn’t normally present as a problem, as Vitamin C is present in most plant foods, as well as in various glands and organs of animals.

Pure Vitamin C has been shown to stimulate the production and function of white blood cells, helps to produce antibodies, acts as a powerful antioxidant and cofactor of various enzymes. As well as this, Vitamin C helps your body to produce collagen which assists in repair, growth and healing. It is also used by our adrenal glands when stress is triggered. Vitamin C is also considered necessary for the synthesis of numerous compounds, such as neurotransmitters, collagen, hormones and steroids. It helps to increase the absorption of iron from the gastrointestinal tract by reducing iron ions, thus helping to prevent anemia.

At Release Health and Wellness Clinic, we are able to provide you with:

  • Acupuncture can regulate immune function and treat the underlying cause of the disease by reducing symptoms, speeding up the healing of infection and normalizing the body’s immune response.
  • We will stimulate specific portions of the autonomic nervous system through selected acupuncture points to help the immune system.
  • Acupuncture can cause a rise in levels of interferon, of the immune system’s messenger hormones.
  • Regular acupuncture therapy can be effective in treating asthma, allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, colds and infections.
August 8, 2019

Acupuncture for Stress

In the western world, we are no strangers to stress.

Unfortunately stress dominates many of us on a daily basis. It seems stress in society is only increasing. So what is stress and how can we manage it?

Stress manifests itself in many forms, including social, psychological, biological and physical. Our focus on the word stress in this article generally involves our coping ability on a daily basis.

When stressed, our coping ability is not equal to the situations or problems we face. What we could normally handle becomes intolerable or unbearable. What does this result in?

  • Headaches
  • Neck, back and general muscle pain
  • Sweating
  • Insomnia
  • Increased temper or frustration
  • Digestive complaints including indigestion, reflux, IBS etc.
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Weight gain/loss
  • Poor eating/drinking habits

Honestly the list goes on. When a client says they are stressed, it’s interesting to see how it manifests for them. At the heart of many acupuncture treatments here in Brisbane, stress is common complaint.

So how do you go about dealing with stress?

  • STOP. Just stop for one moment, take 5, 10 even 30 minutes out of your life on a daily basis and ask yourself what is my intention and what is my outcome? All too often we begin to lose our ability to focus when we are stressed and end up in a frantic rush, or so it seems.
  • You are not your job! Yes I’m quoting fight club. There is more to life than your job. If you disagree then that’s ok – Start to implement regular 5-10min breaks to stop and revive. Look at alternate work if you aren’t happy. Move to a different area. There are many strategies to alleviate stress in your career.
  • Your diet. The majority of people’s food and drink choices turn south when they are stressed. Take away, coffee, alcohol, soft drinks and sugary snacks creep on to the menu. These critters give you a ‘high’ for a short period of time, but ultimately poor eating choices will leave you dehydrated, exhausted and vitamin depleted.
  • Exercise. You must incorporate a routine. I’m not going to quote the plethora of studies out there on the benefits of exercise. Move it or lose it.

So now you have the basics, how can we help? For starters, an Acupuncture treatment is a fantastic way to relax and regather your thoughts. Studies are ongoing to provide an insight into the mechanisms behind Acupuncture and the reduction of symptoms associated with stress. 

We also help you create a strategy for dealing with stress on a daily basis. So often clients feel that they are helpless or ‘stuck’ in certain situations. We help you take your power back to create positive change in your life. This will be geared toward the individual, from simple meditations/affirmations, to shifts in thought patterns/habits.

November 11, 2018

Acupuncture for Back Pain

With roughly 21,000 articles, clinical trials and other western research available, its evident back pain affects a large amount of patients.

In fact so severe in some cases, patients resort to drastic measures to relieve pain, in the form of stimulator implants.

The implants send electrical pulses which interfere with nerve signals, dulling the pain. Spinal fusion surgery is also a common intervention, where vertebrae are fused or linked together.

So medically, what causes back pain? Well, a variety of issues according to western medicine. The most obvious: Excessive load. This has been supported and demonstrated by numerous studies. It’s worth noting that the Chinese already knew this some 2000 years ago. Common sense prevails! But what if you’re mainly the office type who sits ‘upright’ in a chair all day? Well consider this. Lets say for arguments sake the average female and male weigh 70 and 86kg respectively (according to the bureau of statistics) . Take half your body weight, apply the law of gravity whilst sitting awkwardly. Your poor back won’t appreciate hunched shoulders, and a mild slump whilst typing like a nutty professor.

Without getting too scientifically involved (we like simple words!), pain mechanisms generally involve nociceptors, which are nerve cells that send signals to the brain and spinal cord essentially sending ‘pain’ signals. What causes them to send the signals? A variety of stimuli including temperature, pressure, and injury-related chemicals. Essentially these cells are sending electrical signals back to higher brain centers. Whilst drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin seek to inhibit prostaglandins (lipids formed around the site of pain as part of the normal inflammatory response), they do not target the source of the pain, providing relief only. Furthermore, long term use can lead to complications such as gastric ulcers, bleeding and perforation, to name just a few. Unfortunately one of the prostaglandin types it prohibits actually protects the stomach lining from stomach acid. Ultimately gastrointestinal complications like this arise because the stomach/intestines are essentially losing their natural protection layer.

So how can acupuncture assist in relieving pain? Simply put, Acupuncture may act as an analgesic, a natural way of blocking the pain signals to the brain.

Scientific jargon aside, we work holistically too, because we would rather treat the source.  Apart from constitutional, physical and energetic differences we all have, we can also explore emotional connections to back pain. Upper back and shoulder pain could be a phase where it feels like a weight is on your shoulders. Mid back pain may be refer to something or someone squeezing the life out of you. Lower back pain often correlates with finance or support issues.

We’d like to think that surgery would be the last port of call for patients, so we feel that it’s important to look at back pain holistically. If you do experience back pain then contact us to discuss your treatment options or book an appointment.