Needles do not have to be used in acupuncture! Some other forms of acupuncture stimulation include laser light, electrical impulses, firm rubbing or pressure, tapping the point, or taping an object to the point such as a small metal ball.

The needles used in acupuncture are very small compared to needles used for getting shots or drawing blood.  6-10 acupuncture needles will fit inside a standard hypodermic needle used for drawing blood.  They are very thin and, depending on the style of acupuncture used, can be inserted a couple of millimeters or a full inch into the acupoint.  Many people do not feel the needles when they are inserted. Those that do feel any discomfort equate it with that of a small pinch.

To learn more about acupuncture, including WHAT CONDITIONS ACUPUNCTURE CAN HELP click here.

If you are suffering needlessly from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia and your conditions have not responded to well to medical care, there may still be help for you! You should know that millions of people regularly experience the natural, drug-free approach to optimum health and wellness through chiropractic, acupuncture treatments, and other wellness modalities, including relief from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia (FM) are ill defined groups of symptoms that have become a catch-all diagnosis by many health care practitioners when nothing else can be found to explain the symptoms. In the case of fibromyalgia, pain is included in the symptoms. The following is a list of symptoms that have been associated with these diagnoses:

mild fever         joint pain         lymphadenopathy

sore throat        irritability        unexplained muscle weakness

muscle pain      depression       inability to concentrate

headache          confusion        recurrent tonsillitis

forgetfulness     sleep disturbance

The difficulty in treating this disease for many health care practitioners is due largely to the number of systems and organs that can be involved in its cause. The following conditions are some of the more common physiological imbalances that can lead to CFS and FM:

hypothyroidism         anemia                   chemical toxicities

hypoglycemia           dietary factors         digestive disturbances

chronic infections      allergies                  structural imbalances

Patients diagnosed with these syndromes consistently suffer from structural, chemical, and emotional imbalances within their bodies. Some of these include: Misaligned vertebrae and other joints, chronic viral or bacterial infections, chronic parasites and fungal infections, chemical and heavy metal toxicities, and the emotional effects of chronic stress on the body and mind.  The task for the doctor treating these patients is to find the imbalances that are present and know how to correct them.

At The Institute of Chiropractic & Acupuncture Therapy Dr. Burrup uses the latest technology through Computerized Health Analysis as well as other wellness therapies in locating these imbalances and returning the patient to a state of balance and good health.

For more information please visit our website at SuperDocDC.com.

The answer is: YES!

“Natural” or “alternative” methods like acupuncture, cranio-sacral therapy, chiropractic, Bach flower remedies, specific homeopathic remedies, and specific nutritional supplementation have proven helpful in many cases of depression and anxiety. The Neuro-Emotional-Technique (N.E.T.) and other neuro-repatterning techniques can also have a great impact on healing from depression and anxiety.

There are a few organs that are commonly involved with depression and anxiety including the pituitary gland, pineal gland, thyroid gland, adrenal gland, and gonads (ovaries, uterus, testicles). There are other organs that may also have an impact like the liver, gall bladder, pancreas, and central nervous system. Emotional stressors also have a very real impact on the body’s organs and systems.

It is critical when working to recover from anxiety and depression that the complete and total health of a person is taken into account. This includes dietary intake of nutrients as well as proper functioning of the digestive system (where absorption of these nutrients occurs). Hormones are a very real and critical factor as well.  Balancing hormones can have a great effect in healing depression and anxiety.

There are many impacts on the body due to structural misalignments that can interfere with the body’s ability to heal and be healthy. These misalignments can involve the internal organs, the spine, and the cranium, which in turn can affect the neurological function of any part of the body leading to dysfunction and disease.

The emotional impact and components of all the factors mentioned above are very in depth and extensive. There are many methods of dealing with these issues within the natural health care model, including those listed above. I do not propose that there is a “best” method for everybody to heal and deal with depression or anxiety.  No one method works for everyone.  There should be a customized approach for each individual person.

In addition, a wonderful book I recommend is “Feelings Buried Alive Never Die” by Karol Truman. There are also many other great books that can help. Becoming informed and educated is a critical step in healing.

A few of the physical techniques that allow us here at the Institute to assist patients in emotional healing include cranio-sacral therapy, ocular lock, ocular release technique, Neuro-Emotional Technique (N.E.T.), and neuro-repatterning. As the names of these techniques indicate, they all work with the body’s nervous system to release the body’s memory of emotionally traumatic events. One exercise that has been helpful universally is the repetition of positive affirmation statements. However, each person’s affirmation should to be specific to his or her needs.

It is our endeavor at the Institute to encourage individuals not to just deal with the symptoms of life’s events but to truly heal and overcome the negative effects of their health. Our goal is to treat the cause and not just chase the symptoms, supporting the person throughout the healing process.

Eighty percent of people suffer from back pain at some point in their lives.  Back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections.  While sports injuries or accidents can cause back pain, sometimes the simplest of movements such as picking up a pencil from the floor can have painful results.  In addition, arthritis, poor posture, obesity, and psychological stress can cause or complicate back pain.

Until recently, researchers believed that back pain will “heal” on its own.  We have learned however, that this is not true.  A recent study showed that when back pain is not treated, it may go away temporarily, but will most likely return.  Only 9% of the people who had low back pain for more than 30 days were pain free 5 years later.

If your back pain is not resolving quickly, visit your chiropractor.  Your pain will often result from mechanical problems that your chiropractor can address.  Chiropractic is a safe and effective spine pain treatment.  It reduces pain, decreases medication, rapidly advances physical therapy, and requires very few passive forms of treatment, such as bed rest.

Many people hit the gym or pound the pavement to improve cardiovascular health, build muscle, and of course, feel great about how they look, but working out has mental benefits, too. For the past 10 years or so, scientists have studied how exercising can boost mental function. Regardless of age or fitness level (this includes everyone from mall-walkers to marathoners) studies show that making time for exercise provides some serious mental benefits such as:

1. Reducing stress.
2. Boosting happy chemicals (exercise releases endorphins!)
3. Improving self-confidence.
4. Enjoying the great outdoors.
5. Preventing cognitive decline as we age.
6. Alleviating anxiety.
7. Boosting brainpower (various studies have shown that cardiovascular exercise can create new brain cells!)
8. Sharpening memory.
9. Increasing relaxation.
10. Getting more done (research shows that workers who take time for exercise on a regular basis are more productive and have more energy than their more sedentary peers).

Exercise can have many positive effects far beyond just the physical. Gaining self-confidence, getting out of a funk, and even thinking smarter are some of the motivations to take time for exercise on a regular basis.  So get going in 2015 and build a better you!

Set a goal to BE YOUR BEST in 2015!  At The Institute of Chiropractic & Acupuncture Therapy part of our mission is to help others become empowered with their health through education and lifestyle changes.  In order to make correct health choices, we have to know what choices to make. Because of this EDUCATION is a critical part of your overall health!  We offer FREE health classes to everyone, patient or non-patient.  Classes are held once or twice a month on Tuesday/Thursday evenings.

Some of what you will learn at our health classes:

• How to become empowered with your health
• If you do what others do, you’ll get what others get
• Set a higher standard for your health
• The cause of all disease
• How to reach your maximum potential for health
• The difference between Normal and Common

Our classes will be starting up again this month…please visit our HEALTH CLASS PAGE to find out more on what classes will be offered and when.