Key West Wellness Center

Tag: stress

  • How Acupuncture Can Relieve Stress

    relieve stress so you don't end up like this frustrated businesswoman

    Dr. Ashley Hoyt vs. Stress

    How does acupuncture help relieve stress?

    Firstly, we use AcuGraph to help us map the client’s physiology and energy pathways. AcuGraph is a sophisticated tool used by acupuncturists to define a person’s acupuncture points. Points are found on paths in the body called “meridians” which are named after organs of the body. Organs have behaviors connected to specific symptoms. They achieve balance when an acupuncturist stimulates a person’s acupuncture points. Then they can start working for you instead of against you.

     

    Which emotions indicate stress?

    Next, we ask clients about how they’re feeling and how they’ve been expressing themselves. Emotions are some of the first indicators of an imbalance in the body. We use emotions to help pinpoint causes of stress by relating them to observable activity in the body. Emotions that indicate stress include:

    • increased anger
    • anxiety
    • sadness
    • depression
    • aggression
    • isolation

    Each of these emotions connects to a particular meridian. A qualified acupuncturist can diagnose the imbalance by getting to the root of an emotional issue.

    Oftentimes stress indicates an imbalance in what is known as the Earth Element. For example, Stomach and the Spleen influence stress levels in individuals. A practitioner can initiate treatment by tracking the patient’s meridians and tracking down the appropriate source point.

     

    Help cancel out stress with Vitamin B Complex

    Finally, acupuncture significantly reduces the negative effects of stress on your body. Vitamin supplements multiply the benefit of the treatment when applied at acupuncture points. B Complex plays a part in producing serotonin and other neurotransmitters that help relieve stress. Our bodies already produce these helpful chemicals, but a shot of B Complex can give you a much needed boost.

    If stress is affecting you, or you just have questions about acupuncture, book an appointment with Dr. Ashley Hoyt today.

  • Back Pain

    back_pain_clinic

    Back pain is caused by a host of issues from environmental to occupational and even emotional. While many people try to remedy this persistent issue with pharmaceuticals or traditional medicine, such treatments may only mediate back pain until a more radical approach is recommended, like surgery.

    Needless to say, this is not an ideal outcome. Otherwise-healthy people shouldn’t have to go under the knife to find relief. People with other health issues should be exposed to that kind of treatment even less.

    What causes back pain? Most commonly, a few basic issues:

    • Strain
    • Obesity
    • Stress

    When muscles are strained it can create a cascade effect. One muscle or a small group of them can become strained, leading to another muscle group having to take over. Sometimes back pain can be caused by other muscles being too strong, like lower back pain from tight hamstrings. Obesity is also a major contributor to stress on back muscles. After a sustained period this can cause additional stress due to bad posture, overuse, or other trauma. Compounded by the emotional pressure of dealing with the pain day to day, back pain can seem overwhelming. As a psychological factor, this becomes a vicious cycle.

    One remedy for back pain can be therapeutic massage. I’ve seen clients with pain all over their back and shoulders. After just one session concentrating on helping the muscles release tension they can begin to feel themselves getting back to normal. It’s not just about strain, but about energy. By getting energy flowing in the right direction we can stimulate healing in specific areas of the body. In this way, instead of using a drug to mask the pain, an individual is actually healing and getting back to normal movement.

    If obesity is an issue, regulating diet with new alternatives and being sure to supplement the diet with the right nutrients will help decrease stress on the back and increase blood flow. Blood flow is so important because we’re talking about the unrestricted movement of energy throughout the body.

    Finally, it’s important to take into account our emotional state when we’re experiencing back pain. The mind can refer just as much pain as a part of the body, if not more. Restoring elemental balance within the body can be a crucial piece of the puzzle when returning to a healthy state of mind. A personalized treatment program that includes herbal remedies, or injections of essential amino acids and other nutrients, can lend a boost that will help the mind’s built-in coping mechanisms get back on track. If it’s simply a matter of stress, acupuncture can do wonders, releasing pent up energy that is blocked by negative influences, almost like a wake up call for frayed nerves. This works similarly to massage, but even more precise.

    If you’re experiencing problems with back pain, call me at the Clinic of Alternative Medicine in Key West at 305-296-5358, or use the Contact form below. We’ll schedule a time that works for you to share your concerns and get you on track to not just relief, but life.

    Dr. Ashley Hoyt, A.P.

  • Relieving Stress

    relieving stress

    Relieving stress is one of the most common issues we deal with on a daily basis. Maybe it’s the stress of a given moment or something lurking in the background of our thoughts, but it’s there and it needs to be dealt with.

    There are a number of natural remedies for relieving stress that are widely accepted in the clinical community and beyond.

    Exercise
    Exercise has long been considered a positive outlet for relieving stress, generating endorphins and expending pent up energies. If it’s outdoor exercise then there’s the added benefit of Vitamin D from the Sun, an essential component of a healthy immune system and mediating depression. Controlled breathing exercises help bring the body back to a steady state, and if the air you’re breathing is scented with natural aroma lavender, then so much the better.

    Diet
    Diet is an important part of maintaining the critical balance of chemicals, attitudes and energies in your body. A balanced diet is always a good place to start relieving stress. For moments when stress becomes overwhelming, healing elixirs like chamomile and green tea can be soothing.

    Mindfulness
    Mindfulness is the principle behind practices like meditation and prayer, but it’s not a religious act. Being quiet and focusing inward for a time can do wonders for the mind. Taking time to reflect on our attitudes and refocus our energies makes us feel more in control, limiting stress to a manageable level. We cease to feel inflicted on and instead become a source of positive energy.

    For our clients at the Clinic of Alternative Medicine in Key West, we provide the next level of accessible and effective therapies for stress and stress-related issues.

    Vitamin B Complex Injections
    This vitamin is critical part of maintaining healthy blood flow and preventing heart disease. A Vitamin B Complex injection can give your system a boost when other methods fail. We also carry a full line of herbal medicinal supplements that can be included as part of a daily diet to relieve stress.

    Massage
    We offer massage as a popular remedy and for good reason. Stress can easily be brought on by the conditions of our modern lifestyle. Long periods spent in a seated position can put serious stress on lower back muscles, while long periods spent standing can refer pain all the way from the ankles to the neck. Or maybe you’re storing up stress in areas like the neck and shoulders. A skilled massage therapist can pinpoint problem areas and help relieve tense muscles.

    Acupuncture
    Acupuncture has remained a consistent treatment for stress over millennia. Accessing specifics points in the body’s energy pathways and restoring the flow to areas shut off by stress can make a person feel like new. As the tension ebbs away, relief enters in, creating a sense of calm and wellness that was literally physically closed off due to stress.

    If you’re experiencing stress-related issues, call me at the Clinic of Alternative Medicine in Key West at 305-296-5358 or book an appointment below. I’ll be happy to help.

    Best wishes for great health,

    Dr. Ashley Hoyt, A.P.

    Fill out my online form.