LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE THERAPY

The lymphatic system is a system of vessels alongside the venous pathways in the body and is present everywhere, except where there is no blood vascularization. The lymphatic system acts as an active purification center and is responsible for eliminating toxins and bacteria from the body; continually flushed out by feeding back into the circulatory system and being processed through the kidney and liver.

Lymphatic Drainage Therapy (LDT) is a light touch, rhythmical modality that manually produces a pumping action to improve and speed up the activity throughout the system. Mild mechanical stretching of the skin helps to aid the pumping action of the lymphangions (heart beat of the system) to hasten the amount of toxins that are filtered. LDT re-routes the lymph flow around blocked areas into more centrally located lymph vessels or gently clears the congestion of the lymph vessels and nodes that eventually drain into the venous system.

Through LDT the lymph system is stimulated, enhancing the duration of flow removing waist and stagnant build up in tissue, viscera and surrounding systems. If the lymph system is sluggish, toxins hang around in the body creating more potential for inflammation (swelling) and dysfunction,  therefore increasing the potential for invading virus’ and bacteria to form illness.

LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE HAS A POSITIVE EFFECT ON THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:

• Chronic pain
• Sleeping Disorders
• Decrease Stress by promoting a parasymphathetic response within the body.
• Chronic Fatigue and lack of energy.
• Sports Injuries: sprains, dislocations, muscle cramps or pain, scars, fractures, concussions, etc.
• Surgery: When performing LDT Pre and post surgery it helps speed recovery time.
• Neurology: headaches, migraines, vertigo, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), muscular distrophies or atrophies, etc.
• Detoxification: fasting, dieting, tobacco withdrawal, withdrawal from other substance dependency.
• Dermatology: acne vulgaris, Rosacea, Chronic and allergic eczema, Perioral Dermatitis, seborrhea.
• Gastroenterology: Chronic constipation, IBS, chronic colitis, Crohn’s disease, chronic appendicitis…
• Geynecology: PMS, breast pain or swollen breasts, painful menstrues, swollen ankles and legs.
• Rheumatology: arthrosis, osteoporosis, gout, myositis, bursitis, tendinitis, tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, golfers elbow.

CONTRAINDICATIONS INCLUDE:

• Acute infectious/inflammatory illness (fever)
• Serious circulatory problems (thrombosis, phlebitis, venous obstruction)
• Major Cardiac problems (heart attack, coronary thrombosis)
• Internal Bleeding
• Acute Anuresis (absence of urination)
• Active Cancer

and there’s always a bit more on the discussion on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigger_point_therapy

With the addition of Lady Kristen Lloyd to our staff, Gina constantly studying and taking classes (it really never stops) and Christopher finally succumbing to his clients demands, we’ve got some new services for y’all!

New Massage Modalities

Kristen, massage therapist extraordinaire, has many arrows in her quiver, but there are two that of particular interest: Lymphatic Drainage and Trigger Point Therapy. Lymphatic Drainage is a gentle technique that works through the body’s interstitial and lymphatic system to activate the  circulation and stimulate the functioning of the immune and parasympathetic nervous systems. More on that here. Trigger Point Therapy is a massage style that releases those stubborn, irritable spots in the muscle. Highly focused work that really works . .  more on that here.

New Blood Labs

Ever wonder if the reason your pain won’t go away is because of something you are eating? Yeah, no one wonders that. Rather unfortunate too. We have seen MANY folks spend years and thousands of dollars trying to sort out their pain issues . . . only to find out they have a raging dairy allergy causing all that inflammation. So Gina has had her nose in functional medical books for over a year now and is now integrating blood analysis labs into her practice. Simple finger pricks to get a few droplets of blood and you can have a look at exactly what foods you are and are not allergic too. It will blow your mind.

New Exercise/Stretch Programming

Christopher has been prescribing stretches and exercises here and there for Gina and his client’s for years. It is amazing how a few targeted stretches and movements can alleviate pervasive pain and aches. After many clients asking for an hour of Xtopher’s time to put together a proper program, he has finally decided to put these programs together for clients formally. NOTE: this is not personal training. It is merely a few poignant exercises and stretches laid out to re-program and rehabilitate movement patterns and weaknesses in the body. Super useful and meant to be done without much in the way of tools and weights and such. More on Exercise/ Stretch Programming Here.

We finally updated our web presence and, well, we are pretty proud about it.

The site, of course has areas that discuss who we are and what we do (acupuncture/herbs, massage therapy, exercise physiology) but it also has a nice little area called Resources that we think you will find most useful – it breaks down into four sections: Practitioners Worth Using, Websites Worth Knowing, Books Worth Reading and Recipes Worth Making. Soon we will add a section on Living With Allergies (section on gluten, dairy, nut, soy, corn, etc free living)

Also, the site has some useful search functions. In the upper-righthand corner of every page (its ok, go ahead and look) there is a search box. Type some key words in there and you will find what you are after (provided what you are after is on our site!). But if you need paperwork or directions or that ridiculously awesome roasted nut recipe just type it into the search box and all will be well.

Lastly, there is a section called Over Tea . . . This is, essentially, our blog area. We will upload articles and interesting things all the time. Every once in a while we’ll slap it all together in a newsletter and fire it out. Should you want to receive our delightful musings in your inbox, click here to sign up for the newsletter. Overall, our posts are short, sweet and to the point! There will always be a link at the bottom for the whole article or further blitherings if you wear fancy glasses and like that kind of stuff (like us!).

Ok, do enjoy the site and if you have content you would like to see, questions you would like answered or anything else (within reason, of course) hit us up through the contact section and we will do our best to accomodate!

Thanks and welcome to the new-ish site (we actually launched it a few months ago)!!!

(sigh . . . sorry about that)

But yes! We are finally putting together a quasi-monthly newsletter for all our beautiful peeps, patients and patrons! We say “quasi” since we will only fire these things out when we have fabulously interesting things to say . . . might be 3 weeks . . . might be 6, who knows these things?

Anyway, we do wholly promise not to clog your inbox with lame newsletters that are thinly veiled attempts to market to you. These newsletters are built to give you interesting, useful info so you can be the Super Smarty-Pants at the water cooler (and maybe get you to happily live to 1000 with Gina, Xto4 and Lady Kristen too!).

If you want to opt out of the newsletter, please do it. We will not be offended or give you sour looks when you come in. Truly, we want these newsletters to brighten your day a bit and make you better equipped to deal with the Big Bad World out there. No, I didn’t say Big Pharma . . . but it is implied.

Oh! And the newsletters will be short and sweet. In the email you receive from us, there will be a quick list of topics covered where you can click on if you are interested and you will go to a more detailed page on out site. After the quick list o’ topics there will be the same list below with a few sentences on each topic so you can better decide whether or not you want to click and read more. Super fast, super easy. Why aren’t all newsletters like this? (you watch, they all will be soon! And you can say you know the inventor! But then I nabbed the layout idea from someone else so you will actually be lying. Sorry about that)

The newsletters will be lovely, you’ll see . . .

We profoundly pleased and proud (say that 3 times fast) to welcome Kristen Lloyd into our Creative Integrations Family!

Kristen wears two hats at CI: Massage Therapist and Front Desk Support. If you are coming into see Gina you will likely see her winning smile at the front desk but nearly ever other hour of the week she will be available for massage appointments.

Kristen completed a 1000 hour massage program (that’s 2 years of work, people) and has been working on tough cases at a chiropractor’s office nearby. Kristen put in her time and gained the experience she needed to take her show on the road. Happily, that road led right to Creative Integrations! She is starting her own business and is operating under our banner but truly runs her own business. You can ring her mobile number (760.937.1102) to book appointments or simply email kristen@creativeintegrations.net. Or, if you are super lazy, you can use the Contact Us section of this site (slacker).

Kristen has recently completed an intensive on Lymphatic Drainage with the Chikly Institute – if you don’t know much about Lymphatic Drainage, click here. Oh, and what the CENSORED is Trigger Point therapy? Click here.

Wanna see Kristen’s bio page? Click here . . .

Back pain effects everyone, whether directly or indirectly. It is the product of our Sitting Culture. We sit at work, when we travel around, when we “relax” at home. Some of us sit more than we move in a day . . . and, get this: our bodies aren’t designed for prolonged sitting. The pelvis is not made to bear all that pressure and weight alone.

In an international study, it was found that the people with the healthiest backs in the world were Laotian rice farmers (whoda thought?) These farmers spent all day bending down, bending over and never did they sit. Time to eat? These farmer’s simply stood or squatted. They don’t own chairs . . . and they have the lowest incidence of back pain and back injury.

So, you can terrace the backyard and spend the remainder of your days tending your rice fields . . . and squatting during all meals . . . or, you can get a bit proactive and offset the Ways of the Sitting Culture.

Since throwing out all our chairs and standing during rush hour traffic just isn’t a possibility, the answer to keeping back pain at bay is to be found in some simple exercises and stretches. No need to go crazy and spend hours and hours on this, just 10-15 minutes a day will make massive improvements. Who knows, you may increase your exercises/stretches because you love them so much . . . it has been know to happen.

Exercises to Stretch the Back & the Legs:

These back exercises should be performed in a pain free manner. If pain is experienced, it is best to discontinue the exercises and consider being evaluated by a licensed physical therapist that specializes in treatment of the spine. If one already has low back pain or other health condition, it is advisable to first be evaluated by a physician and, as appropriate, receive guidance on how to do the following exercises by a spine specialist. Legalese out of the way . . . start with The Piriformis Stretch:

Piriformis Muscle Stretching Exercise

The piriformis muscle runs from the back of the femur (thigh bone) to the sacrum (base of the spine). Tightness in this muscle has been linked to sacroiliac joint dysfunction and even sciatica-type pain along the sciatic nerve. To stretch the piriformis, lie on your back and cross the involved leg over the other. With both knees bent, place both hands together under the knee of the other leg (the lower leg), and gently pull the bottom leg toward your chest and hold both thighs closely until a stretch is felt in the buttock area. Breath into the tight area . . . there should be no pain.

• Hold 30 seconds
• Repeat
• 1-2 times per day

Strengthening Exercises for Low Back Pain Relief

The next few exercises are examples of some basic stabilization exercises that aid in low back pain relief. Having strong midline support is critical to decreasing the stresses placed upon the lumbar spine (lower back) and pelvis. It should be noted, however, that often muscles that appear to be weak may actually be inhibited by an antagonist muscle (muscle on the opposite side of the joint) or by faulty lumbar facet joint mechanics.

Generally, an inhibited muscle will not respond to resistance training. Therefore, if low back pain or hip pain is being experienced, it is important to first see a spine therapist in order to screen for muscle inhibition. Attempting to strengthen an inhibited muscle may cause a substitution pattern that only reinforces a painful movement pattern. In general, it is advisable to see a spine specialist who specializes in back pain prior to beginning any exercise program.

In addition, unlike stretching exercises, it is important to take a few days off per week from strengthening exercises to allow the body to rest and build strong muscles. A licensed physical therapist can help design a strengthening exercise program to fit an individual’s specific needs and help with pain relief. In general, a spinal stabilization exercise program usually includes strengthening the abdominal muscles in the front and the gluteal muscles in the back.

Click the link below to download the New Patient Paperwork for Acupuncture:

Acupuncture New Patient Forms

You download the paperwork by mousing over the bottom right-hand corner to reveal the navigation button bar. To print straight away, click the printer icon. To simply download the pdf, click the hard disc icon:

Fill out and either scan/email the paperwork to frontdesk@creativeintegrations.net or fax to 949.757.0097

PLEASE remember to bring the original documents with you to your first appointment! Failure to bring the documents with wet signatures will mean you will have to fill out all over again (it’s a legal/insurance thing).

If you cannot fill out the paperwork and send in to us, simply bring it with you. If you cannot fill out the paperwork, please let us know and plan on arriving 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time to fill everything out. Thanks!

I know, cheesy name . . .

but it is actually perfectly descriptive! These blog’esque entries are borne from the conversations Gina and I have in the morning as we get our day started. Yes, over tea.

So welcome to the caffeinated musings of a couple of health practitioners who have the time (aka no kids) to wonder . . . and research . . . and share . . .

You know how sliced turkey at Albertson’s/Subway/Enter Lame Food Place Here is crazy expensive, super salty and loaded with nitrates? (you do know this, right?) Well, it is soooo easy to simply buy a whole turkey breast from TJ’s and follow the recipes. YOu will not dry it out and you can make way more sliced turkey for your lunches for way less cash. Checkity:

The recipe is meant to be done with a gravy type sauce, which we’ve been told is great.  Gravy = fat so only make that step if you already hit the gym before work (wink). The basic recipe is as follows:

Place turkey breast skin side down on a roasting pan with the rack.  Cook for about an hour at 275*.  Flip over turkey and cook for one more hour.  Internal temp of breast should be 160* – so measure it.  If it is at desired temp, let sit for 15 minutes.  Really juicy and tender.  Also, there is usually turkey juice on the bottom of roasting pan – pour over turkey.  Even tender and moist as left-overs.  (See the “crisping” instructions at the bottom of the more extensive recipe below. . .)

Here is the more extensive recipe:

Slow Roasting Turkey…in pieces!

PREHEAT OVEN TO 275
Chop: 3 onions/3 stalks celery/2 carrots
Place in bottom of roasting pan
Cover with rack
Pour in 1C chicken broth
Place parts on rack…Turkey breast skin side down on rack over veggies and broth
Brush w/ melted butter S+P
COOK at 275 for 1 HOUR
Flip Breast over – parts too
COOK at 275 I MORE HOUR
Check Temp : Breast should be 160 and Parts 175
Take out, let rest

GRAVY:
STRAIN veggies out of drippings/press veggies to get all flavor.
Need 3 Cups…add broth if needed to make 3 cups

MELT 3Tbls of Butter till foaming subsides
ADD 3 Tbls flour. WISK to combine cook 5-8 min to broun.
Wisk in broth gradually
ADD 2-3 Bay leaves and COOK 15 Min to brown and cook flavors

HEAT oven to 500
Return turkey parts to oven to crisp and re-heat 15 min.
TRANSFER to tray let REST AGAIN 20 Min before slicing.

Buy parts or cut one up!