The possible symptoms of a common cold include:

• Nasal congestion
• Fever, chills, or both
• Runny nose
• Headache
• Sneezing
• Itchy eyes
• Plugged ears
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Decreased appetite
• Postnasal drip

The traditional medical approach to a cold is to drink plenty of fluids and get lots of rest. Also, the use of over the counter medications can help reduce the symptoms of a cold, but generally do not decrease the duration of the cold.

The Chinese medicine treatment for a cold depends on how the cold presents. Generally, colds are diagnosed as a wind invasion. There are two types of wind invasions:

• Wind-cold invasion
• Wind-heat invasion

These different patterns will show up differently in each patient. The treatment for a cold does not directly attack the virus, but rather opens up the body’s pores and gently lets the virus out, thus relieving your symptoms. Since there are two different patterns of colds (and several sub patterns as well), sometimes traditional methods such as vitamin c, echinacea, and zinc will not work.

There are many acupuncture points on the body that can help treat both types of wind invasions. Additionally, there are many herbal formulas which can gently treat your symptoms and get rid of your cold for good. 

Acupuncture can also be used to help prevent future outbreaks by strengthening your “defensive Qi,” or what some think of as your immune system.

If you or someone you know is suffering from a common cold or would like to prevent future colds, contact Healthy Life Acupuncture Clinic today and begin your path to wellness!

Healthy Life Acupuncture Clinic is located in Centennial, Colorado, and proudly serves Denver, Cherry Hills Village, Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Aurora, Parker, Castle Rock, Lone Tree, the Denver Tech Center, and the Meridian Business Park.

Symptoms may include:

• anger
• gas and bloating
• fatigue
• irritability
• insomnia or sleeplessness
• headaches
• breast tenderness
• abdominal pain
• feelings of anger
• anxiety
• changes in appetite or food cravings
• acne
• constipation or diarrhea

Western medicine states that PMS may be caused by an abnormal response to normal hormone levels, but the exact cause is unknown. It may be related to a number of different factors that can affect the menstrual cycle, such as stress or another medical condition. There is no medical test to confirm PMS, but your doctor may run tests to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms.

Western treatment may consist of:

• adding aerobic exercise into your lifestyle
• dietary changes
• oral contraceptive medications
• medications for pain, diuretics for swelling, anti-anxiety medications for anxiety

In Chinese medicine, a root imbalance between the liver and spleen channels is what may cause PMS symptoms.  Treatment involves balancing the liver and spleen channels to restore proper flow of Qi.  This will help you:

• decrease any pain associated with your cycle
• decrease headaches
• increase your energy
• balance your mood
• sleep soundly at night
• balance your digestion and get rid of any gas, bloating and swelling

There are many different acupuncture points on the body, hands and feet, as well as on the ear, that can help balance the liver and spleen channels. There are also many herbal formulas that you can take in between treatments to help continue to balance your body.

If you or someone you know is experiencing PMS symptoms, contact Healthy Life Acupuncture Clinic today to schedule an appointment and begin your path to wellness!

Healthy Life Acupuncture Clinic is located in Centennial, Colorado, and also serves Aurora, Littleton, Cherry Hills Village, Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch, Parker, Castle Rock, the Denver Tech Center, and the Meridian Business Park. The clinic offers acupuncture, customized herbal therapy, cupping, gua sha, therapeutic massage, and nutritional counseling.

Some of the most common types of cancer include, but are not limited to:

• Colon
• Lung
• Breast
• Prostate
• Skin

There are many different treatment options that a doctor may use to help treat your cancer, including:

• Surgery – if the cancer is isolated to a specific area
• Chemotherapy – the use of medications to treat cancer
• Radiation – the use of high energy waves or particles to destroy the cancer cells
• A combination of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy

Some of the side effects of cancer treatment include, but are not limited to:

• Possible infection after surgery
• Nausea and vomiting
• Digestive problems
• Sexual and fertility issues
• Muscle fatigue
• Dry mouth and thirst
• Hair loss
• Appetite and weight changes
• Kidney and bladder irritation

According to Chinese medicine, cancer treatments generally deplete the body of its Qi and yin. Treatments would be aimed at helping decrease the side effects of your cancer treatment and help rebuild your body after your cancer treatment course has completed. (Please note that it is not recommended to pursue Chinese medicine as a standalone treatment for cancer. You should seek the advice of a medical doctor about how to treat your cancer directly.)

Acupuncture may be able to help with:

• Decreasing nausea and vomiting
• Decreasing dry mouth
• Increasing your energy levels
• Regulating your digestion and bowels
• Helping maintain your appetite
• Decreasing joint and muscle pain
• Working through any emotions, such as anger, depression, or sadness
• Recovering faster after surgery

Acupuncture is generally very safe, even during the course of cancer treatments, and will not reduce the effects of chemotherapy or radiation. It is recommended that you eat healthy during your cancer treatment to help alleviate the side effects of treatment, and Chinese medicine can help you make sure you are eating the right types of foods for your body type and your condition. 

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can be a great complement to your cancer treatment. Sometimes, if the side effects from your treatment are severe enough, a doctor will prescribe other medications to offset them. Unfortunately, those medications may have side effects of their own. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine rarely have any side effects and will also help you reduce the amount of medications you need to take.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer and would like help reducing the side effects and increasing recovery time, contact Healthy Life Acupuncture Clinic today and begin your path to wellness!

Healthy Life Acupuncture Clinic is located in Centennial, Colorado, and offers acupuncture, customized herbal therapy, cupping, gua sha, nutritional counseling, and therapeutic massage. The clinic proudly serves Denver, Greenwood Village, Cherry Hills Village, Littleton, Parker, Aurora, Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock, the Denver Tech Center, and the Meridian Business Park.

Gout is a result of having high levels of uric acid in the blood. When uric acid levels are too high, the acid forms crystals in the synovial fluid of a joint. The exact cause of uric acid build up is still unknown. It is more common in males, postmenopausal women, and those that consume alcohol. Gout may also be due to another medical condition, such as diabetes, or may be a side effect of medication.

The symptoms of gout include:

• Pain begins at night
• Often occurs after excessive alcohol or fatty food intake
• Redness and warmth around the affected area
• Throbbing, crushing, or excruciating pain
• Sensitive to touch
• Tophi, or lumps under the skin, may develop in those with prolonged gout

The Western medical treatment of gout includes:

• Medications – corticosteroids, medications to decrease uric acid, and pain medications
• Dietary changes – avoiding fatty foods, fried foods, and alcohol

Doctors may use x-rays, synovial fluid test, and urine analysis to check for the presence of uric acid crystals in order to diagnose gout.

The Chinese medicine diagnose of gout is classified as an “impediment condition.” This may be diagnosed as:

• Damp-Heat
• Qi and Blood Stagnation
• Dampness
• Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency

Any of these patterns, or combination of these patterns, can cause gout. All of them can be treated with acupuncture points on the body, hands, feet, and ear, whether you are having an acute attack or not. It is recommended to treat gout even during periods of remission to help prevent future attacks. Generally, acupuncture will not affect any medications that your doctor has prescribed. There are also many herbal formulas that can help decrease the pain as well as treat the root cause of your gout. Lastly, nutritional recommendations can be made to help you heal more effectively as well as avoid future attacks.

If you or someone you know is suffering from gout, contact Healthy Life Acupuncture Clinic today to begin your path to wellness!

Healthy Life Acupuncture Clinic is located in Centennial, Colorado, and proudly serves Denver, the Denver Tech Center, Aurora, Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Greenwood Village, Cherry Hills Village, Lone Tree, Parker, and Castle Rock.

The two types of hypertension are:

1)       Essential hypertension – occurs without a known cause

2)       Secondary hypertension – due to diet or a specific lifestyle habit, or as a side effect of medication,

Blood pressure can be affected by many different factors, including:

• Diet
• Hormone levels
• Condition of your kidneys
• Condition of your arteries
• Other medical conditions such as diabetes
• Family history

Hypertension can be a dangerous condition because there may not be any symptoms, and is commonly referred to as the “silent killer.” It is also considered a risk factor for stroke, heart attack, kidney damage, and blindness. Only when hypertension is severe will there be any symptoms, such as nose bleeds, headaches, vision changes, chest pain, and fatigue.

The conventional treatment for hypertension includes:

• Exercise
• Quitting smoking
• Dietary changes
• Various medications

According to Chinese medicine, there are a few different patterns of disharmony that can cause hypertension:

1)       Liver Yang Rising

2)       Phlegm-Fire

3)       Yin Vacuity

4)       Blood Stasis

Any of the above patterns, or combination of these patterns, can lead to hypertension. There are many acupuncture points on the body, ear, and head that can help lower blood pressure. Patients may experience a decrease in blood pressure within as little as twenty minutes after beginning  treatment. It is also very common for patients to be taking a Western medication while pursuing acupuncture treatments. Generally, it is very safe to do acupuncture while taking a medication, just make sure to let your practitioner know the medications and dosages you are taking.

There are many herbal formulas that can help lower blood pressure as well. Additionally, there are many foods which can naturally help lower your blood pressure if included in your diet which can also help treat your diagnosed pattern of disharmony according to Chinese medicine.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with hypertension, contact Healthy Life Acupuncture Clinic today to begin your path to wellness!

Healthy Life Acupuncture Clinic is located in Centennial, Colorado, near the Denver Tech Center and proudly serves Denver, Littleton, Cherry Hills Village, Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch, Aurora, Greenwood Village, Parker, Castle Rock, and the Meridian Business Park. Services include acupuncture, customized herbal therapy, therapeutic massage, cupping, nutritional counseling,  and gua sha.