There is a very old saying in acupuncture, "Where there is pain, there is no free flow. Where there is free flow, there is no pain." This refers to the energy in our body which allows us to sense our own imbalances through pain and discomfort. We know when something just doesn't "feel quite right." It is this sensing self, this intuitive self knowledge that has been associated with the movements and awareness of Qi in our bodies for centuries of Chinese thought and medical practice. Ancient Chinese doctors observed how our bodies send us messages, both consciously and unconsciously as markers of how our internal systems are functioning. We may start to massage a shoulder to make the blood move, drink ginger tea if we sense a belly ache, etc. etc. Often in our busy world and we ignore the subtle signs our bodies are relaying until it can no longer be ignored and we experience real pain or become more susceptible to injury and illness. This is usually the moment when we recognize that we have in fact been going at it a little too hard and have not balanced our work with our rest, or our joy with our discipline.

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One of the first things I learned in Acupuncture school was that the major cause of dis-ease is our emotions. When our emotions go unbalanced and unchecked they can create changes in the flow of energy in our body. If we have anger and frustration with no outlet we can increase our blood pressure and give ourselves headaches. If we are grieving and we don't give ourselves the time to release we can get sick more easily, develop skin rashes, and create digestive disturbances. In order to heal we must first understand that the emotions are a force in our bodies and they can either serve toward our health or to our detriment. Acupuncture and QiGong serve to either move that which is stagnant or slow and balance that which has become chaotic.

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In my work as a practitioner of both of these arts, I have found that often times we focus more on the symptoms of the imbalance rather than the cause of the imbalance. We try to heal from the outside in rather than the inside out. Acupuncture and QiGong are wonderful healing modalities that can serve to help us heal and amend our emotional processes in order to promote a healthier and happier you. When we are in pain, or when we cannot quite seem to get our bodies or our mind in order to be our best self this only serves to increase our frustration, our stress, our anxiety, and thereby disrupt our energetic flow. When we've suffered an injury, whether it was from an external source, an internal, or genetic source this imbalance can typically derail our ability to think and feel positive about our health, ourselves, and our world. Acupuncture and Medical QiGong can free the flow of Qi, reset our sympathetic nervous response back to a parasympathetic nervous response to more easily facilitate healing and balance. 

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How does Acupuncture and Medical QiGong reset the nervous system? I'm glad you asked! By inserting needles or emitting qi, we are able to soothe the body's response to stress in both its internal and external environments. Once the body is back in rest and digest mode it is more receptive to all treatments and medications that the patient may require to manage their dis-ease. There are several points that align with what modern medicine has finally identified as key receptors of the nervous system. Neuro-Acupuncture is a modern style of acupuncture that utilizes what we know of neuro-anatomy to enhance and facilitate greater healing in diseases that involve the Central Nervous System. Less needles are used and more stimulation is given to each needle. The results have been amazing. 

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I believe in practicing responsible medicine. I love what I do and I love assisting people in their healing process. I have been and continue to be very proud of the results of treatments. I am also consciously aware that healing is a team effort and the patient must assume responsibility in their healing process. If you are interested in the deep healing that Acupuncture and Medical QiGong can provide, I invite you to schedule an appointment. I look forward to working with you.

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Blessings,

Dr. Dawn Arredondo, DTCM, L.Ac.