Key West Wellness Center

Category: Holistic Approaches to Health

  • Targeted Acupuncture Points To Help Treat & Reduce Inflammation

    Targeted Acupuncture Points To Help Treat & Reduce Inflammation

    Your body can help heal itself with acupuncture!


    Acupuncture works by stimulating various nerve points on the human body and this helps mitigate pain and energy flow.

    When it comes to inflammation, cortisol is a known culprit as it increases inflammation in the body. Cortisol causes pain, and one way of reducing inflammation in your body is by reducing the pain-causing cortisol, as it coaxes the body’s pituitary gland to release cortisol.


    Even with treatment it is important for the patient to create and lead a lifestyle revolving around their Wellness. Diet, inactivity, obesity, lack of sleep and stress can cause a great impact on our health. Several factors can cause inflammation in our bodies to rise; sleep patterns, smoking, high blood pressure, air pollutants, poor diet or consuming foods which we may be sensitive to, infrequent hydration, high stress home or work environments and exposure to toxic chemicals or high temperatures.


    Some of the important acupuncture points for inflammation are as listed below:


    Large Intestine LI4, On the back side of the hand located between the thumb and the first finger. This point helps treat inflammatory conditions and fevers.

    Lung LU7, On the wrist on the inside of the arm. This acupuncture point treats pain and inflammation in the upper body. It includes pain in the head, neck stiffness, cough, sore throat, facial paralysis, and also several wrist conditions.

    Gallbladder GB20, On the base of the skull where the neck joins the back. It treats disorders such as neck pain, headache, and fever. In addition, it also helps lower blood pressure.

    Liver LV3, At the top of your foot, located between the first and second toes. It helps reduce pain in the chest, provides relief from headaches, and also reduces high blood pressure.

    Urinary Bladder BL40, Behind the knee. It helps treat hip impairment, back pain, leg pain, muscular atrophy, nausea, abdominal pain, and many other ailments.

    Kidney KI3, In the inner ankle. It treats chronic back pain.
    Additional anti-inflammatory benefits provided through acupuncture are listed below.

    For new patients seeking to understand. You may contact our office to schedule an appointment. The first session may last a bit longer as the acupuncturist gets to know the patient. A treatment plan is then formulated to address specific issues. The follow-up treatment includes reassessing the patient’s current condition and whether it requires specific changes.

    How Often Should I Be Treated With Acupuncture?:
    Each individual takes their own unique time to respond to the acupuncture treatment protocol, so ideally the frequency of your visits depend on the recommendations made by your Certified Acupuncturists based on your chief complaints.

    “Take Control of Your Wellness” by giving us a call, we can help you begin your Acupuncture Therapy routine and to help answer any of your questions.


    Dr. Ashley Hoyt, AP.
    Key West Wellness Center 3420 Duck Ave. Key West, FL 305.296.5358


    “Acupuncture can help with a wide range of inflammatory conditions including acute inflammation from sports injuries, to autoimmune disorders, and chronic inflammatory conditions.”

    Some examples include:
    Rheumatoid arthritis
    See: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5925010/
    Fibromyalgia
    See: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6365227/
    Crohn’s disease/ulcerative colitis
    See: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30535303
    Acid reflux/GERD
    See: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20697939
    Asthma/allergies
    See: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25590322
    Thyroid disorders (Hashimoto’s/Graves)
    See: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30341025

    inflammation pain in hand arthritis symptoms person holding their hand in pain
  • Prevent Summer Heat Exhaustion

    Prevent Summer Heat Exhaustion

    Summer heat can be physically and mentally exhausting

    Risks for overall health and skin issues increase with the rise of temperatures. 

    Experts report an increase in skin irritations, rashes, dehydration, increased inflammation and some patients having fever and generalized pain.

    You can work to prevent the effects of Summer heat! With taking steps towards creating new healthy habits and with routine Acupuncture care. 

    As we all know, what we put in and onto our body directly impacts our well being. 

    Tips to reinforce self care, reduce risks of summer exhaustion and reduce inflammation are pretty simple if you learn to follow them. 

    Time your meals to enjoy small amounts of food more frequently throughout the day, rather than a large meal at one or two sitting. 

    Add in raw foods into your diet. Daily is Best! But at least a few times a week can make a difference to ward off inflammation. 

    Cook lightly. Use of healthy fats while cooking, baked or use of an air fryer, avoid oil pan fried foods or deep fried foods if possible.

    Eat foods that are cooling and have high water content like melons, cucumbers, oranges, grapes, strawberries and blueberries. This will add hydration to your overheated body and fresh fruit can provide antioxidants to prevent and combat inflammation.

    Drink plenty of water. Some may prefer to add in some electrolyte replacement powders to help replenish what they may lose during their workouts or what they sweat out from just running errands and performing chores in the Summer sun.

    Wear lighter clothing to keep body temperature regulated.

    Wear Sunscreen. Apply as recommended, depending on your time outdoors.

    Avoid heavy carbohydrate and fatty foods, they can add more heat to the body and cause sluggishness, mental fog and increased inflammation.

    It is recommended to limit your caffeine, sugar and alcohol intake as each of these can dehydrate you.

    Getting fresh air, staying active and staying social is extremely important for your mind and body. However, enjoy the outdoors carefully, keeping in mind temperatures throughout the day and of any heat index warnings that may be issued in your area, look at the weather reports for morning and early evening temps to gauge when it will be a good time to go for a walk, work in your garden. Peak hours in the sun can place you at risk for heat exhaustion. If you cannot avoid the sun during peak hours be sure to cover up, take breaks often, drink water often, find shade as much as possible. Most importantly, listen to your body! 

    For more information on how Acupuncture works to protect your body against Summer heat visit our recent blog.

    Learn How Five Acupuncture Points Can Help You Stay Cool For The Summer.

    Five Acupuncture Points Can Help You Stay Cool For The Summer

    “Take Control of Your Wellness” by giving us a call, we can help you begin your Acupuncture Therapy routine.

    Dr. Ashley Hoyt, AP. 

    Key West Wellness Center 3420 Duck Ave. Key West, FL 305.296.5358

    man looking up to sun in heat of summer outside white shirt blue sky
  • The Chakra System & YOU

    The Chakra System & YOU

    The chakra system is an invaluable tool for aligning your energy understanding them is the key to enhancing how you feel as you move through your day.

    The word “chakra” comes from Sanskrit, and means “disk” or “wheel.” Chakras are energy centers in the body that correlate to certain psycho-emotional functions. They each correspond to certain nerve bundles and major organs in the body.

    From root to the crown – there are seven points scattered across our body that are a major highway for energy to flow. These seven spaces are called chakras and through these, we receive and send out all kinds of emotional, spiritual, and physical energy. The aim is to have all the seven chakra points open and unblocked so we can stand in balance, be open to opportunity, and make sure we are thriving and living a life of our highest potential.

    Our office now offers “Quick Chakra Balancing with Essential Oils”

    “Get through your day better and quickly balance your chakras to clean your mind, get focused and increase vitality. Become peaceful and balanced to improve your overall health. Do more with less effort for more effectivity.” says Dr. Ashley Hoyt, A.P. of Key West Wellness Center.

    What to expect during your “Quick Chakra Balancing with Essential Oils” 15 mins/$50

    Dr. Ashley Hoyt, A.P. will converse with you of any pain or stressors you may have. Dr. Hoyt will use a pendulum crystal along your spine to check each of your chakras. She will then begin to use medicinal essential oils along the spine to bring the central nervous system into balance as the way to correct all of your chakras. At the end of the treatment she will check to make sure all of your chakras are open. This will revitalize your energy, find your balance and help you through your day to day world.

    Contact us to learn more and to make an appointment for one of our services. 305-296-5358

    Our office also offers other services which are highly beneficial in helping to “Take Control of Your Wellness”

    Dr. Ashley Hoyt, AP. Key West Wellness Center 3420 Duck Ave. Key West, FL