The pursuit of more refined personal health and quality of life requires that we shift our paradigm to a proactive partnership with the natural course of our lives. We must understand our own tendencies and the tendencies of the natural cycles of which we are often aware of but all too often ignore. By changing the way we enter into our day and our journey for better quality of life the process becomes more personalized and far more realistic. When entering into a personal commitment towards greater quality of life if we keep in mind the thoughts below it is likely that we find that they help contribute to the effectiveness of our efforts.

Be positive – In this modern world we are far too often told or too often decide for ourselves that life is a downhill experience. The truth is no one has a corner on the market for predicting your reality. Enter into your day as if the whole world is available as a resource to create the experience of peace and prosperity you desire. The benefit of pursuing quality of life is that there is always something we can do to make our day a little better and in many cases we can continue to refine that experience for as long we would wish.

Be realistic – As human’s we have a great talent to visualize the “ideal” reality in our minds. Too often, however, our vision is slightly skewed from the natural reality. It is certainly appropriate to have a vision of what we wish to accomplish but we must also be flexible in how that reality ultimately manifests in our daily lives. We must acknowledge that the governing force within our lives comes from nature and it is our responsibility to harness that force in the pursuit of greater balance. So when we decide improved quality of life is something that is important to us we need to be realistic about our expectations

Be responsible – Engage in the process. A good support system for health and quality of life will work with us to empower ourselves to make decisions and take actions that pay off. However, no matter how talented our support staff may be they cannot do it for us.

Be observant – Truly knowing what one wishes to accomplish requires observation. We need to know where we are now and where we would wish to be for any program to be successful. Improving our ability to be observant is a skill that will pay off manyfold and throughout most any area of our lives.

Be patient – When working to refine our daily living we need to keep in mind that it is daily living not a procedure it is a process. We have trillions of cells in our body so we should not assume that one workout, one meal or one treatment will solve our challenges. It takes time for our body to read the signals that we want it to change and then to have our cells turn over. The rule of thumb is that any commitment we make to change our bodies is 90 days and then to add one year on the end of that date to where our body will adjust to the “new you”. So if we lose a pound of fat it will take at least one year from the last day of burning up that pound for the body to adjust. Be patient!

Be disciplined – We need to set ourselves up for success. We need to be disciplined in our efforts to not only show up to our visits with our practitioners but to create an environment at home and work where we can succeed. Being disciplined in the beginning leads to practical lifestyle integration within a reasonably short period of time where the investment compounds thus providing substantially more effective and more permanent results.

Be persistent - Each day, every day is a new day, a new opportunity but also a new commitment we must make. What we accomplished yesterday was great because it got us to today but what we wish to experience tomorrow must come from how we live our life today. As Einstein said "Nothing happens until something moves" meaning that the actions we take lead us to results that we experience. A peaceful and productive life is an action not a destination. If we want peace, we must be peaceful. If we want productivity, we must be productive.

Be present – Enjoy the day. Live each day as if it was our only measure of our life because that is exactly what it is. Our lives are the aggregating experience of the each moment stored in the memory held in our bodies. The only opportunity we have to shift this experience in a direction we prefer is to focus on how we are living in this very moment. When we choose to embrace our true nature and to share that experience with those around us the only result can peace and prosperity.

Medical acupuncture is acupuncture that has been adapted from traditional sources for use within conventional health practices. Traditional acupuncture practice originates within many of the whole system traditions in Asia such as Chinese medicine and even some evidence suggests historic European sources. Today acupuncture is practiced in both traditional, integrative and CAM related forms in almost every major health care system in the world.

Medical acupuncture is the classification of the acupuncture for use within the conventional medical construct. The foundation of medical acupuncture is the therapeutic insertion of solid needles in various combinations and patterns. The patterns can be based on traditional principles, modern anatomical concepts or both.

While Everspring Health is a full supporter of any therapy that is applied appropriately for the benefit of the individual and the individual's quality of life. It is equally important to note potential challenges of medical acupuncture so that the client can understand how to use this resource most effectively. Medical acupuncture can be used by licensed practitioners (MD, DO, DC) with as little as 100 hours of training, which can make it difficult to qualify the practitioner's full scope of training with this therapy. Compare this training to a fully licensed and nationally board certified acupuncturist where the practitioner has approximately 1000 hours just on acupuncture, plus clinic application experience.

Again this does not discount the opportunity for benefit via medical acupuncture but one must note that if one is not getting results from medical acupuncture or any source of acupuncture no matter the training one should not discount acupuncture therapy as a whole. Like any therapy, any service for that matter, experience does matter and we should seek the appropriate support for our specific needs.

CAM is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine, and alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. Integrative medicine combines conventional and CAM treatments for which there is evidence of safety and effectiveness.

Barnes PM, Bloom B, Nahin R. CDC National Health Statistics Report #12 - NCCAM/NIH

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Functional medicine focuses on prevention and understanding a person's core clinical imbalances that underlie various disease conditions. Functional medicine seeks prevention as the key component for the cultivation of health especially with regards to chronic disease. By targeting the underlying cause of disease versus focusing on just accommodating symptoms functional medicine seeks to improve outcomes by targeting one objective, the disease, to accomplish multiple benefits, reducing the symptoms. In the cases of chronic disease with the goal of understanding each individual's physiological, environmental, and psychosocial contexts becomes a necessary part of the diagnostic process.

While functional medicine is perspective of more recent terminology the historical systems of healing (e.g. Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, Tibetan medicine, etc.) have utilized the holistic view as a means of approaching disease. All of the healing systems mentioned above seek to target the disease to reduce symptoms in concert with constitutional/personal diagnosis all of which Everspring Health embraces and offers as a part of our service offerings.

Integrative medicine is a healthcare resource that combines conventional, complementary and alternative (CAM) treatments for which there is evidence of safety and effectiveness.

In the clinic setting integrated medicine means that all effective medical resources are considered to address the chief complaint, identify the most accessible options to obtain the chief objective and to consider options for preventing concerns that may be predicted to arise in the future. The benefit of integrative medicine where the whole picture is considered we observe and note a more complete picture of one's life thus taking a diagnosis further and extending a healing program as far as possible towards the cultivation of quality of life.

Andrew Weil, M.D. - What is Integrative Medicine? from Andrew Weil, M.D. on Vimeo.

Integrative health is a somewhat evolving terminology with a definition that is equally still evolving. However, Everspring Health suggests that integrative health is a metric that we can use to gain perspective of our health as a whole and in turn use that information for our benefit. The perspective of integrative health requires us to consider all intersecting aspects of an individual's life and lifestyle before a final diagnosis is made and subsequent plan is implemented.

Through the use of integrated protocols (see Integrative Medicine) we make note of a web of symptoms or experiences where the final diagnosis is based on the value of the intersecting points and the relation of all possible factors within one's experience. We finalize this process by asking how do these experiences relate to one's overall quality of life. The diagnosis in relation to one's quality of life becomes our chief objective for developing a plan for integrative health, namely quality of life.

To benefit from this perspective the client needs to find a practitioner who is well trained to determine which intersecting points are valid to the diagnosis and most importantly which are valid to the client's quality of life. Quality of life is our mission and integrative health is the service we strive to provide at Everspring Health.

Dietary therapy can range from strict dietary protocols used in hospitals to everyday programs that can enhance an individual's quality of life. In general, for diet to be used as a therapy it does need to involve a targeted result which may range from disease abatement to the reduction of daily aggravations to weight loss/management to helping control biometrics like cholesterol or blood pressure or post operative recovery among many others.

While all of the above are a part of Everspring Health's dietary therapy service we do so with a focus on quality of life - meaning we develop a program to help make your day better. So while impeding conditions are an obvious opportunity to use diet as a therapy by pursuing quality of life we have so many more opportunities to effectively use this resource.

Anyone who has ever had an acute or chronic skin breakout, digestive malady, headache or other seemingly annoying issue that shouldn't be normal but isn't so severe for a medical procedure may distinctly benefit from dietary therapy. At the same time individuals who might be looking to refine their daily experience by possibly reducing fatigue, improving alertness, improving on a training regimen would likely see benefit from a personalized dietary plan.

It is important to note that what is good for us does not always mean that our food cannot taste good. In fact, while some habits may need to be dissolved, most experience a better quality of life not just because of what they are feeling but also because they are enjoying their food. Mealtime shifts from something we have to do to a time where we can enjoy what we are doing as well as who we are with.

Yes, acupuncture is a great resource for a pregnant woman or a woman who is thinking of becoming pregnant to consider. Acupuncture can be effectively used when planning pregnancy, for women who are currently pregnant, for those preparing for birth and finally for those ladies who have entered the postpartum phase of their pregnancy.

There is growing research that suggests that acupuncture leading up to and during implantation phase helps improve implantation chances. This is especially true for IVF and the current recommendation is to receive acupuncture within 24 hours before egg transfer and within hours post egg transfer to improve odds as best as possible. Odds continue to improve when acupuncture is a regular part of any program leading up to IVF and the transfer itself.

While acupuncture is more readily known as being a part of programs addressing issues of infertility it is important for a woman to know that acupuncture is a very low to no risk, high reward resource that supports a woman’s overall quality of life, including during pregnancy. Acupuncture can be helpful for many of the discomforts a woman may experience throughout the course of pregnancy including pain, swelling, constipation among other issues that do not need to be a normal or acceptable part of a woman’s pregnancy. Everspring Health offers acupuncture as a part of a holistic program that is customized to the needs of the client.

Everspring Health reintroduces the cooperative health model because we fully believe that it is the ideal business model for the new era of healthcare. In the most general sense the cooperative business model is designed to accomplish two objectives; engage individuals and maximize resources. This more than anything is the key to refining the healthcare business model for the benefit of the individual.

Through research and planning Everspring Health intends take the cooperative model further to maximize every advantage of the cooperative intent and resources. For healthcare to truly evolve health must become a personal pursuit partnered with and facilitated by practitioners. The health resources now available make the application of resources the key factor to significantly changing outcomes. For application to be ideal clients and practitioners must be able to work together for the benefit of the client. Cooperative health, however it is implemented, will be the foundation on which the new era of healthcare is established. Everspring Health intends to stay ahead of that curve.

First Session

Your first acupuncture visit will involve an in-depth assessment of your condition and usually includes a same day initial treatment. The intake and treatment usually take an hour or so but we ask that you show up about 20 min early to your first visit to help us complete the paperwork. Typically follow-up acupuncture treatments require approximately 30-50 minutes.

During the assessment, you may be asked about things that you might not think are connected to your chief complaint, such as your emotions, sleeping patterns, and eating habits. Our focus is on holistic health and healing not just one isolated symptom. As the signs and symptoms being experienced become better understood they reveal patterns of disharmony. These patterns are crucial to long-term personalized results and for the development of an effective treatment protocol. Although the acupuncture treatment will focus on your chief complaint, your life as a whole must be considered in order to develop the most appropriate course of a treatment program which include diet and exercise among other lifestyle practices. Our focus on a holistic approach includes an appreciation of common universal patterns or symptoms, but each individual will express these patterns of disharmony in a way that is unique to their constitution.

Acupuncture Treatment

Acupuncture treatment will vary depending on the individual or the condition and may include a combination of acupuncture, herbal therapy, tuina massage and/or cupping. Acupuncture needles are typically retained for about 15-30 minutes. Our goal is to offer a healthy and comfortable treatment environment which may include soothing music or aromatherapy to help you relax during this time. Some people may find themselves falling asleep during their acupuncture treatment.

What to expect after your acupuncture treatment

After your acupuncture treatment is complete some find their relief to be immediate, for others it may be delayed for a few hours or even become noticeable after a few days. Relief may last for a few hours on the first visit and then last longer with each successive treatment, or relief may last from the first treatment until your next visit. Individual responses to acupuncture varies. One should keep in mind that for any therapy we must work with the body's natural cycles and the body tends to show substantial physiological changes after about 90 days. As mentioned results often occur much sooner but when considering long-term planning we should look beyond instant success so that we begin creating a lifestyle that is more peaceful and productive.

Acupuncture Side Effects

Side effects to acupuncture are rare, but may include the following: feeling lightheaded, dizziness, sleepiness, euphoria, nausea, slight bruising around insertion point, residual muscle aches. Most side effects should only last a short time and should be reported to your practitioner at your next visit. Being comfortable and relaxing during treatment will help reduce potential side effects. Staying hydrated after your treatment will help to minimize these side effects, as will resting after your treatment. Any side effects should be reported at your next visit so we can further reduce the opportunity for them to occur.

Flare-Ups

On rare occasions, one’s original symptoms may briefly get worse, or “flare-up,” after a treatment. A flare-up typically occurs later on the day of your treatment and should only last for a few hours. After a flare-up, your symptoms should begin to improve. In the long run, acupuncture does not make symptoms worse and again any therapy requires the investment of time.

In some conditions, the body must fully expel a pathogen in order for healing to occur. For example, if you have a cold or flu, acupuncture will not get rid of the condition, but it can often reduce symptoms while accelerating the cold/flu cycle so your body recovers faster. If you are fatigued and beginning to get a cold or the flu, acupuncture can often help your body fight it off.

In cases of chronic pain, the origi nal pain may improve and then unmask less obvious pain in the surrounding areas or sometime opposite sides/areas of the body which have been compensating for the current condition.

Course of Acupuncture Treatments

As part of your program, you will receive a customized treatment plan detailing an appropriate course of treatment for your specific condition. In general, acute conditions of recent onset may only require two or three treatments. Chronic conditions usually require more treatments to achieve sustained results. A course of treatment may also involve a more sustaining long term course, depending on your personal goals.

The ideal approach to illness is to begin treatment as soon as possible. The sooner you seek help, the easier it is to treat. For longstanding illnesses, weekly ac upuncture treatments may be required for several months in order to have a substantial curative effect.

Once we initiate a healing process it is important for us to follow through on treatments. The more consistent we are, the better the likelihood of results. Again as any therapy the effects of acupuncture tend to be cumulative. After we begin feeling better, additional treatments may be recommended beyond the absence of symptoms. Once the symptoms have been addressed our focus is on a reinforcing the constitution which is the body's "normal" healthy state. Our goal should be to further strengthen your body to prevent recurrence of the illness.

Our bodies can vulnerable following recovery from illness because it has expended much of its energy and internal resources in order to get rid of the previous illness. It is therefore important to have acupuncture treatment to help prevent repeated or new illnesses. In general, when an illness recurs it is often more difficult to treat so we should not sit and wait to see how thing progress before seeking support. Remember our goal is to help make Everspring Health an vested resource for us to pursue the goals we have set for a better life.

One of the most under-appreciated benefits of any therapy, including acupuncture, is the ability to improve life beyond just getting rid of disease. We can brush our teeth to help fight cavities but we can also brush our teeth to help develop a nice healthy smile we love to share with those around us. The same is true for the resources Everspring Health provides. Acupuncture can help get rid of conditions but it can also help us prevent them from coming back or even more so help us perform above and beyond our expectations.

Preparing for your Session

The following suggestions are provided to help you have a safe and relaxing experience with acupuncture. Please read this section carefully. If you have any questions, feel free to email us prior to your first visit.

• Please bring a list of current medications you are taking, including any prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, herbal supplements, and vitamins.
• Please bring any lab or medical reports relevant to your condition.
• Eat a light meal a few hours prior to your visit. Acupuncture is not performed on individuals who are fasting. Being over-hungry increases the risk of nausea or dizziness. At the same time, please do not overeat or eat any foods that cause your stomach to be upset (for example, rich, greasy, fried, or extremely spicy foods).
• Avoid alcohol on the day of your treatment. Acupuncture is not performed on intoxicated individuals due to the increased risk of shock. It is also not advisable to become intoxicated shortly after treatment.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Acupuncture points are located all over the body. Many of the acupuncture points that are commonly used are located between the wrists and elbows and the ankles and knees. You will be more comfortable if your clothing can be easily rolled up to your elbows and knees.