What is Gua Sha?
Of the many ancient health practices, one of the most curious is the technique of Gua Sha. Gua Sha is a Chinese phrase that translates “to scrape away fever”. This form of folk medicine is based on the ancient idea that by scraping away the top layers of the skin, disease can then escape the body. The disease appears as sandy objects that are released from the skin. Such ancient techniques are still being used in China, Indonesia, Japan and Vietnam under the name of “Cao Gio”. There are some English terms for this technique, most commonly called “spooning” or “coining”.
Gua Sha used repeated strokes under pressure on the skin that is lubricated. The object used for this process is generally smooth such as spoon or a coin. In some cases animal bones, horns or even jade has been used. Also, smooth metal caps may be used as they are common considering the availability of such caps.
The smooth edge of these objects are placed against the pre-lubricated skin, pressed downwards and moved along the muscle groups. Each stroke is generally a few inches long and in some cultures can follow the meridians of acupuncture. The visible result is blood from the capillaries just under the skin will seep into the top layers of the skin, causing blemishing which can take up to a week to fade away.
This blemishing is not a rash or the bruising of the capillaries since it fades over a short period of time. Depending on the blood stasis of the person undergoing Gua Sha, the color of the blemishing may appear light red to a very dark blue. This coloring will be affected by whatever the patient is suffering from at the time.
The Gua Sha Technique in Vietnam for example uses a number of methods, most commonly the skin on the back is covered in an oil balm and a coin or other smooth object is applied to the skin. There are other methods where a hard boiled egg is used with a coin inserted into the yolk. The egg is then wrapped in cloth and rubbed over the forehead is the person is suffering from fever. Interesting enough, when the coin is removed from the egg after the technique has been completed, the coin will appear black.
Although there is little evidence in Western medical circles that Gua Sha has the effect of “freeing” the disease from the body, it is still practiced widely in many Eastern cultures. Plus, many Vietnamese who live in Western societies still use Gua Sha at home. This has lead to many Vietnamese living in Western societies who use Gua Sha on their children to avoid going to local hospitals and clinics in fear that the temporary markings would be mistaken for child abuse.
Despite the questionable nature of the effects of Gua Sha, it is still widely practiced today and it certainly has the effect of increasing blood flow and helping to relax the patient who may be suffering from some type of minor condition such as fever or illness.
Dr. Alec Khlebopros, is the treatment director of Proactive Chiropractic and Rehab Center offering over 8 years of professional practice and has treated thousands of patients. Dr. Alec is more than capable of servicing those with pain with Gua Sha treatment. He is a well respected Chiropractor in Charlotte NC and is involved in his community. For more information on Gua Sha from this Charlotte chiropractor visit the website.
Goodlife Chiropractic in Redondo Beach is happy to announce its endorsement to a local business in the Southbay.
We have received many compliments regarding their business and we wanted to give them props for their good work.
Please see their link below if you are interested in any of their tutoring services for people and kids of all ages.
Redondo & Manhattan Beach Tutors
Redondo Beach Chiropractor Dr. David E. Carry Explains
Chiropractor in Southbay, Dr. David E. Carry of Goodlife Chiropractic in Redondo Beach.
The Benefits Of Massage
There are several benefits of having regular massage therapy. Here is a list of several benefits ... massage can:
- Decrease low-back pain and improve range of motion.
- Assist with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shorten maternity hospital stays.
- Decreases medication dependence.
- Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body's natural defense system.
- Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.
- Help athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts.
- Improve the condition of the body's largest organ—the skin.
- Increase joint flexibility.
- Lessen depression and anxiety.
- Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.
- Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation.
- Lowered postsurgery adhesions and swelling.
- Decreased spasms and cramping.
- Relax and soften injured, tired, and tired muscles.
- Release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body's natural painkiller.
- Decreases migraine pain.
Decrease in Stress leads to decrease in several DIS-eases
- Decreased anxiety.
- Enhanced sleep quality.
- Greater energy.
- Improved concentration.
- Increased circulation.
- Reduced fatigue.
Furthermore, clients often report a sense of perspective and clarity after receiving a massage. The emotional balance bodywork provides can often be just as vital and valuable as the more tangible physical benefits.
In response to massage, specific physiological and chemical changes cascade throughout the body, with profound effects. Research shows that with massage:
- Arthritis sufferers note fewer aches and less stiffness and pain.
- Asthmatic children show better pulmonary function and increased peak air flow.
- Burn injury patients report reduced pain, itching, and anxiety.
- High blood pressure patients demonstrate lower diastolic blood pressure, anxiety, and stress hormones.
- Premenstrual syndrome sufferers have decreased water retention and cramping.
- Preterm infants have improved weight gain.
Massages can be book today at Goodlife Chiropractic in Redondo Beach ,
1300. S. Pacific Coast Hwy Suite 201
Redondo Beach CA 90277
My baby cries all the time. Could it be colic?
Redondo Beach Chiropractor - Dr. David E. Carry Explains how Chiropractors can help with fussy baby syndrome or colic babies.
If you have a baby that is uncontrollably crying and otherwise healthy it may be Colic. If your baby is less than 6 months old and cries for more than a few hours in a row for three or more days a week up to three weeks, chances are he's colicky.
Symptoms of a colicky baby
- Since colicky babies can’t tell you exactly where there pain is, it can be hard for parents to know the exact stress to them, but it is usually from digestive disturbance with intense spasmodic cramping.
- Cries uncontrollably for long periods, despite any efforts of consoling.
- Symptoms are around the same time each day or night.
- Cries usually after meal times and often ending as abruptly as they began.
- Shows signs of gas discomfort and abdominal bloating
- Stomach is hard and distended, with knees pulled to the chest, flailing arms and legs, and an arched back.
Chiropractic care can be very valuable in helping to calm the colic babies.
If you have a colicky baby that has not been responding to other forms of treatment, you may want to take your baby to a chiropractor for a check-up.
As your child is being born, the vertebrae in the neck and back can go out of alignment due to the intense stretching and compressing of their body as it enters into the world. The chances of vertebral misalignment can be greater if your delivery was traumatic, included a prolonged pushing stage, forceps or vacuum extraction, or other form of assisted delivery. If enough pressure is applied to the soft and delicate nervous system of your baby, it can become compromised leading to improper nerve flow and disrupt digestive functions.
The treatment of chiropractic is very safe and gentle pressure is used to areas of the spine. You may even see your baby completely relax right before your very eyes as the misalignments are corrected.
Studies on babies receiving chiropractic care for colic has shown 94 percent of parents saw improvement in their baby's behavior within two weeks of onset of care. More than half of these babies had already been unsuccessfully treated, mainly by pharmacological means (1). Another study found 91 percent of babies experienced a reduction in colicky behavior following as little as two chiropractic adjustments (2).
- 1. Klougart N, Nilsson N, Jacobsen J, Infantile colic treated by chiropractors: a prospective study of 316 cases. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1989; 12(4):281-8 / Medline ID: 89361049
- 2. Nilsson N; Infant Colic And Chiropractic. Eur J Chiropr 1985; 33(4): 264-265 / Mantis ID: 12365
The neck is suseptible to injury
Redondo Beach Chiropractor Dr. David Carry Explains why Neck pain is sooooo common!
Most people do not realize how often they move their neck until pains kick in. The neck is a very susceptible to injury due to the fact it has a huge degree of flexibility and very little amount of muscular stabilization. The human head weighs about the same as an average size bowling ball, 10-12lbs. Can you picture a bowling ball being supported by a thin stick? Well then you can see that it does not take much force to disrupt this delicate balance.
The neck consists of 7 cervical vertebrae (neck bones) that stack up on each other. The extension of the brain, the spinal cord, runs down through the neck and sends out pairs of nerves between each one of these vertebrae. These nerves run up to the head, down into the arms, and to the upper back. Now, if the neck has a lot of pressure leaning forward, it can stretch the spinal cord anywhere from 5-7mm. Wow! Pressure can also be placed on the pairs of nerves that exit the spine. These are not good things. This is where symptoms start to set in and unfortunately leads to poor health.
7 Problems the neck contributes to:
1. Numbness, tingling, cold, aching, and “pins and needles” in the arms or hands.
3. Muscle spasms in the shoulders and upper back.
4. Ringing in the ears.
5. Otitis media (inflammation in the middle ear, often mistaken for an ear infection in children).
6. Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ).
7. Restricted range of motion and chronic tightness in the neck and upper back.
The Causes of Neck and Upper Back Pain
Most neck and upper back pain can be caused by a many factors, including injuries, bad posture, stress, and in some cases, disc problems.
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries to the neck. Whiplash is caused by a sudden movement of the head, either backward, forward, or sideways, that injures supporting neck muscles, ligaments, which can seriously irritate nerves in the spine. Whiplash should be taken very seriously because the symptoms can take weeks or months to manifest and create bigger problems down the road. Many studies show nearly half of whiplash victims, still suffer with symptoms years after their injuries. So don’t assume that you escaped injury because you don’t have much pain. Get it examined by a good chiropractor.
Forward head posture and poor posture is very common for people who are hunched over their computers, desks, or driving long periods of time. This will create imbalances in the muscles and spine, which can lead to nerve irritation.
When people become stressed their muscles become tight, especially the upper back and neck. This is a survival response designed to guard or protect the body. Stress can be a good thing, but when you are constantly under stress, that’s when it becomes a problem and starts to sneak up to you causing unwanted aches and pains.
Disc Herniations or Bulges
The discs in your neck can weaken and bulge putting pressure on the nerves that are next to them.
Have you been noticing some of the above symptoms?
Then get checked out by a good chiropractor. Contact us today to find out how we can help!
Can Pain Be Your Friend?
Redondo Beach Chiropractor, Dr. David E. Carry discusses pain.
I do not think anyone enjoys pain, but in many occasions it can be a rather useful tool. Pain acts as a warning mechanism that lets us know that we have experienced some kind of injury or potential injury. So don’t ignore it even if it goes away. It could be a sign of bigger problems.
Pain Begins with Nerves
At the end of your peripheral nerves you have nociceptors, which activate whenever you have injury or the potential of injury. The nerves have different fibers so you can detect and respond to different sensations. Some of these sensations are light touch, sharp touch, pressure, temperature, and it also detects inflammation caused by injury, disease or infection.
Now, when these nociceptors get activated they will send a signal to your spinal cord and eventually all the way to your brain. This happens within a blink of the eye. When messages get to your brain you will be able to feel certain types of pain.
Some ways pain is felt or described:
The ways pain is felt or described can help doctor narrow down what structures are being affected and where the pain may be coming from.
Hot or cold
The body can heal itself, but can’t self-correct itself.
Let’s say you were involved in a mild to moderate sports collision; you felt a little banged up and complained of neck & shoulder pain, a headache, maybe some arms pain. In most cases the pain sensations would stop once it has healed. The reason for this is because the nociceptors would not detect any tissue damage or potential injury. This would be considered a new or acute injury, right?
First of all, you have more nociceptors located near fine motor skilled areas, such as your fingers and toes, rather than your back. So it would take a lot more injury or pressure to sense any pain in your back than other areas.
And Secondly, old or original injuries may show every indication of being healed because there is no pain, but this does not mean structures heal in the right place. If you have enough injury to your joints and/or soft tissue, scar tissue will form to attempt to repair the injured site. In most cases scar tissue cannot fully replace the missing tissue due to poor blood supply. Scar tissue is less flexible and can keep joints in incorrect positions; which in time can aggravate old problems due to improper bio-mechanics. Scar tissue can result from injury or without any indication of injury, like repetitive stress; holding your head in improper positions for hours on end.
Only 10% of your nerves sense pain
Nerves control every system, organ, & cell in the body. 90% of the nervous system is made up of the autonomic nervous system and the motor system. This means that only 10% of the nerves regulate our senses, the pains we feel. This is very, very, important! How many of you would agree that you base your health on how you feel or if you have pain you think you have a problem? I know that I would not base my health off of just 10%. Taking care of things before they become problems is a much better option!
This means nerves could actually be interfered with for days, months, or even years before you actually start feeling any symptoms. Just think about when a person has a heart attack. They did not feel their arteries blocking and are usually not aware of any problem until it’s too late.
Misaligned spinal bones can cause pain!
Spinal joints are designed to protect the spinal cord and nerves, but if misaligned, they can irritate or compress the nervous system. The nerves supply every part of the body and if disturbed can lead to symptoms. Symptoms are the only way to let your body know that something is wrong.
Chiropractors correct the cause to allow the body to heal correctly
Chiropractors don’t treat the symptoms; they remove the interference of the nervous system and let the body heal itself. When you get a cut or broken bone, who heals it? Your body does.
Chiropractic research show families who are under chiropractic care get sick less often, have less pain, miss less work, and have a better quality of life.
Looking for the greatest doctor in the world? Well you don’t have to go very far to find the answer, because that doctor is your body’s own nervous system.
Redondo Beach Chiropractor, Dr. David E. Carry explains the human body.
The human body knows exactly what to do, and when to by sending messages through your own nervous system. This is called Innate Intelligence. The brain is the living life force of your body and it communicates with the rest of the body by sending signals back and forth through the spinal cord and nerves that exit between the spinal bones of your body. Now if the any of the spinal bones misalign they can break the communication with the rest of the body resulting in pains, sickness and disease.
The bad part about this is there may not be any warning signs like pain to let us know what’s happening in the body until it starts getting too late. Most people do not maintain their health or wait until pains get worse before they get them check out. This is where people go into the doctor’s office and find out that they have high blood pressure or high cholesterol because there were no symptoms to let them know there was a problem. And when we do have pains most of us mask those warning signs with an aspirin or some type of pain killers.
The human body is truly amazing!
Think about when you eat a sandwich and how you don’t have to tell your body to digest it. Or if you get a cut, you don’t have to tell the body to heal it. It sends whatever medicine your body needs at the exact right moment in the exact correct dosage. To me the most fascinating thing that the body can do is create life. Think about two microscopic cells coming together and forming a brain, a heart, some lungs, and after nine months, a little person is formed. Soon enough this little person will be crawling, walking, and eventually talking to you.
Since your own nervous system already knows what to do and when to do it. I think taking care of problems before they begin is a much better option than waiting until you are in a crisis care situation! Be proactive with your health because if you take care of the body it will take care of you.
Doctors of Chiropractic are the best and only trained professionals to identify and treat misaligned spinal subluxations.
visit our Goodlife Chiropractic, Redondo Beach CA
Redondo Beach Chiropractor, Dr. David E. Carry is happy to announce that he and his crew from Goodlife Chiropractic will be providing Spinal Screenings and Wellness Education as well as massage Therapy for the Future Brides at the Brideworld Expo at the Crown Plaza in Redondo Beach CA.
Brides, their wedding parties and proud moms will come to our booth with questions regarding Neck pain, Headaches, Weight Loss, Low back pain, Carpal Tunnel and Sciatica.
What I wish everyone knew is that Chiropractic has also shown favorable results in patients with digestive complaints, Allergies, Sinus and Ear problems.
It is my job as a Doctor to keep our community informed on the conservative options that we offer for relief of these symptoms.
please visit our website
www.davethechiropractor.com for more information.
or call us now to book your appointment.
Our New Patient Internet Speacial is only $25.