Category Archives: Immune Boosters

Flying into Health: Acupuncture for Travelers

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Acupuncture for Travelers

The last year has brought forth much uncertainty, especially when it comes to traveling. You may have found yourself cancelling your vacation or rescheduling family visits due to the pandemic. With many airlines now opening for travel around the country, travelers are finally getting back into their routines, but with a few stipulations in place to keep everyone safe and healthy.

Traveling, with new mask and social distancing rules, may come with elevated anxieties beyond the typical ones experienced such as motion sickness, dehydration, jet lag and bodily aches and pains. Popular natural therapies enable travelers to feel more comfortable, healthier, and overall satisfied with their flight and traveling adventures. Acupuncture, a safe and affordable treatment, can aid frequent or new fliers in maintaining an elevated level of health while enjoying their business or vacation trips close by or around the world.

Fast Relief Acupuncture has compiled a list of the top seven most important things to do when preparing to fly. These tips will make you feel your best and enjoy your trip at the highest level!

  • Eat healthy- Our office promotes healthy eating daily, but it is extremely important to watch what you eat during the days before your trip leading up to boarding the plane. Eating lots of vegetables and taking vitamin C supplements can boost your immune system. Not only is this important for remaining healthy in this current world state, but it also can protect you from daily viruses that contaminate high traffic areas, such as airports and planes.

 

  • Drink lots of water- Just like eating healthy, it is vital to stay hydrated, especially when a long travel day is involved. Drinking lots of water keeps your bodily systems, including your organs and digestive system, working properly. It also enables your muscles to recover quicker from jet lag. 

 

  • Take herbal supplements- There are many immune boosting herbal supplements at your local drug store or acupuncture office. One of the most popular is Elderberry Syrup. Elderberry Syrup contains great immune boosting nutrients that enable you to feel your best and keep from getting sick. Plus, it is all natural!

 

  • Do not drink and fly- We know that you may feel braver with a little alcohol in your system, but we also highly recommend staying away from the taps before and during your flight. Alcohol can make you extremely dehydrated, contributing to jet lag. It is also a major cause of motion sickness. You do not want to start your trip off leaning over the toilet, especially on a plane.

 

  • Make sure to stretch- Stretching before taking off is a fantastic way to loosen your muscles, ligaments and tendons and trigger relaxation. When sitting for extended periods of time, your muscles tighten which cause unwanted aches and pains. Make sure to stretch those legs underneath the seat in front of you and stretch your arms high toward the ceiling often during your flight.

 

  • Bring a neck pillow and lumbar support- There is nothing worse than waking up in your seat, your neck throbbing and stiff because your head fell over in an abnormal position. A neck pillow provides amazing support for when you want to take a quick snooze or while enjoying a free movie!

 

  • Get acupuncture before you fly- Fast Relief Acupuncture highly recommends an acupuncture appointment, or several, before your trip. Not only will our treatments get you in tip-top shape for your business trip or vacation, but it will also provide you relaxation. Our appointments are always anxiety and stress-free and bound to give you exactly what you need before boarding.

Are you planning a trip soon? Do not forget the above tips when preparing for your flight. Most importantly, schedule your acupuncture appointment today to receive the best benefits of health that will travel alongside you to your destination.

Fly with Fast Relief Acupuncture to your superior health destination!

Hi,

My Name is John Kim

I have been a licensed acupuncturist since 2000. When I first started my acupuncture career, my primary goal as a practitioner was to help people anguishing from living with pain everyday of their lives. I have seen on numerous occasions what chronic pain can do to a person physically but also seen how it can debilitate a person’s psyche as well.


Throughout the years, I have studied, developed and incorporated a very unique treatment protocol that has successfully treated and effectively reduced pain levels on chronic pain patients. I have combined traditional methods of acupuncture along with modern, research proven techniques to help reduce chronic pain symptoms in a safe, non- chemically addictive, and effective process.


If you have any of the following:

  • Headache/ Migraine
  • Arthritis/ Stenosis
  • Nerve pain
  • Neck/Back pain
  • Fibromyalgia pain
  • Allergies
  • TMJ
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Scar Tissue
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
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Do not hesitate and contact me!

I am here to help you to feel your very best!

Request an Appointment

 

Don’t Get Sick…Fix It With Your Gut!

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'You are what you eat' is an old adage that we all have heard many times. But if you take a moment to analyze that statement, there is much truth in it. In reality, the digestive system is an integral part of a person’s overall health. This vital system protects the body from harmful invaders and is where approximately 70% of a person’s immune system comes from. It is responsible to help prevent you from getting sick from bacterial or viral infections, easily developing seasonal and/or environmental allergies, auto- immune disorders, cancers and other diseases.  The full functionality of the immune system depends on the overall healthiness of the digestive tract.

Good & Bad Bacteria

The ‘good’ bacteria in your gut (stomach and intestines) breaks down the consumed food into vital nutrients that can help repair the body’s cells, stimulate growth, and give proper energy to the body. Conversely, there are also bad bacteria, commonly found in processed foods and sugars, that the digestive system constantly fights. While bad bacteria exist in your gut, it is important to note that the good bacteria consistently balance your gut to maintain your digestive system functioning normally.

Leaky Gut Syndrome

When there is an imbalance in your stomach, inflammations open small holes along the walls of the small intestine and leak undigested particles of food and toxins into your blood stream. This is commonly called ‘leaky gut syndrome’. This reaction disrupts the normal food process in the body. The immune system immediately soon recognizes these food particles as invading antigens and increases their response to attack them, releasing histamines, which are anti- inflammatory agents commonly found in allergies or in allergic reactions. Common symptoms of this reaction include bloating, cramps, stomachache, indigestion, irritable bowels, and food sensitivities.

Aside from bloating and cramps, you might also experience mood changes, fatigue, eczema (a chronic skin condition), and joint discomfort. This is because dysfunction in the gut can affect all areas of the body. The gastrointestinal system contains one of the most abundant amounts of regulatory neurotransmitters within the human body. Serotonin, a chemical and a neurotransmitter that influences mood, is highly concentrated in the gut and can alter your mood depending on how well your digestion is.

What Causes Imbalances In Your Gut Bacteria?

There are foods and habits that can cause imbalances in your gut bacteria.  Processed foods with preservatives and sugar, alcohol, drugs, and even stress can damage the good bacteria in your stomach.  Regular usage of antibiotics can decrease the level of good bacteria, or probiotics, in your gut since the medicine is used to eliminate bacteria within the body.

Preventative Measures

To maintain a good balance and to keep the immune and the digestive system at an optimal level, the good bacteria in the gut along with specialized immune cells and hormones work together. Good sources containing probiotics to help increase the healthy bacteria in your gut include yogurt, kefir (a mix between yogurt and milk), kimchi, blue algae, soymilk, brined olives, and pickles. Another option is to take probiotic supplements.

There are foods that may be too difficult for the body to digest, however, the body has digestive enzymes which are utilized to break down foods for our bodies to absorb nutrients properly. Certain enzyme supplements like protease can break down protein and carbohydrates, amylase breaks down starch, and lactase assists in the digestion of milk and dairy food. Other enzymes such as glucoamylase and malt diastase can also help with overall digestion of your food.

Omega-3, found abundantly in fish oils and planted based foods such as nuts and olives, is also a good nutrient for reducing irritation to the gut. Glutamine can help heal the damaged lining of the intestines due to inflammation and enlarged pores.
The simple, basic rule and the crux of good digestion is purely to eat a healthy, balanced diet. Eliminate processed sugar and foods along with decreasing any alcohol consumption and replace fast-foods with fresh fruits and vegetables such as salads, meat without injected antibiotics, and whole grains. 

Hi,

My Name is John Kim

I have been a licensed acupuncturist since 2000. When I first started my acupuncture career, my primary goal as a practitioner was to help people anguishing from living with pain everyday of their lives. I have seen on numerous occasions what chronic pain can do to a person physically but also seen how it can debilitate a person’s psyche as well.


Fast Relief Acupuncture is dedicated to guiding you through these challenging times. We pride ourselves in introducing, educating, and offering a safe and natural way to help improve your body’s overall function. We look forward to getting you on the road to complete recovery!



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Is it a Cold? Is it Seasonal Allergies? Is it COVID 19? How to Tell The Difference!

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It’s Spring time 2020 and typically most people during this time of the year worry about having seasonal allergy or cold symptoms. However with the current COVID 19 pandemic going around the world, many people are worried about catching the viral infection. This life threatening virus has similar symptoms as the flu, cold, or allergy such as nose drips, coughs, sneezing, throat tickle, etc.. but how can you tell if you have a cold, seasonal allergies, the flu, or COVID 19? Listed below are some of the symptoms and the key differences and what you should do if you have these symptoms (note: These suggestions and descriptions are from Harvard Medical School, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, and American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology).

COVID 19 Symptoms (Symptoms can appear within 5 days after exposure but can take up to 14 days):

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of Breath
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of Appetite
  • Lack of taste or smell
  • Less common: diarrhea, vomiting, or nausea

What should I do if I have it? Please contact your doctor or your local board of health to seek further testing and treatment. Make sure there is testing available at your medical facility.

Seasonal Allergy Symptoms (It’s spring time with flowers and trees blooming which means that pollen count will be high):

  • Two indicators that you have seasonal allergies are if you have a history of having springtime allergies and if ‘itching’ is prominent of your symptoms
  • Itchy eyes
  • Itchy nose
  • Sneezing
  • Runny and/ or congested nose
  • Sore throat
  • Coughing (mostly due to post nasal drip)

What should I do if I have it? You can consult with your doctor but for the most part over the counter medication antihistamines usually help. Prescription medications from medical doctors for allergy can help. Also, Fast Relief Acupuncture offers a very safe, natural, and effective method of relieving allergy symptoms. Click here for more information on how acupuncture can help.

Common Cold Symptoms:

  • Runny nose
  • Congested nose
  • Sore throat
  • Headache
  • Feeling ‘unwell’
  • Coughing
  • Comes on gradually

What should I do if I have it?: Usually taking over the counter medications can help control and relieve symptoms. These symptoms would resolve within 1 to 2 weeks of the onset of the symptoms.

Flu Symptoms:

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Muscle aches
  • Exhaustion
  • Comes on sudden
  • Runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Headache

What should I do if I have it? Flu is usually diagnosed on a swab test by a healthcare provider. Flu vaccine is also part of the prevention of getting the flu. Prescribed medications can help limit the symptoms of flu. Flu symptoms usually last for 1 week.

For more information:

**Click here for a chart of the differences of the different symptoms of COVID 19, cold, flu and seasonal allergies.**

**Click here for the article from Harvard Medical School. **

Fast Relief Acupuncture is dedicated to guiding you through these challenging times. We pride ourselves in introducing, educating, and offering a safe and natural way to help improve your body’s overall function. We look forward to getting you on the road to complete recovery!

Hi,

My Name is John Kim

I have been a licensed acupuncturist since 2000. When I first started my acupuncture career, my primary goal as a practitioner was to help people anguishing from living with pain everyday of their lives. I have seen on numerous occasions what chronic pain can do to a person physically but also seen how it can debilitate a person’s psyche as well.


Throughout the years, I have studied, developed and incorporated a very unique treatment protocol that has successfully treated and effectively reduced pain levels on chronic pain patients. I have combined traditional methods of acupuncture along with modern, research proven techniques to help reduce chronic pain symptoms in a safe, non- chemically addictive, and effective process.


If you have any of the following:

  • Headache/ Migraine
  • Arthritis/ Stenosis
  • Nerve pain
  • Neck/Back pain
  • Fibromyalgia pain
  • Allergies
  • TMJ
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Scar Tissue
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Share0
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Pin0

Do not hesitate and contact me!

I am here to help you to feel your very best!

Request an Appointment

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Submit your e-mail address for future specials, offers, and news for my loyal patient base and to share with your friends!

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How Clumped Blood Cells Can Harm You

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It’s inevitable that everyone on this planet has gotten sick at least once in their lifetime. Once someone gets sick, the foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses, or chemical substances tries to take over the body. They attach to red blood cells which carries important substance called oxygen that gives and sustains life to all living organisms. If oxygen is deprived, parts of the human body begins to deteriorate and becomes weakened beginning at the lungs (since oxygen gases are exchanged within the lungs primarily) then eventually spreading throughout the whole body.

The human body’s reaction when a foreign invader such as a bacterium or a virus enters the body is that it sends antibodies to combat them. Antibodies are the immune systems soldiers that attach and attack antigens (i.e. viruses, bacteria, chemical substances, etc..) and tries to eliminate them out from the body. This reaction occurs in the blood stream where the antibodies flow freely.

With the red blood cells carrying the antibodies to fight antigens, these blood cells tend to aggregate with each other and begin to ‘clump’. If there is an over- abundance of ‘clumping’ of t red blood cells, it can affect the body negatively. While it is more common to see this on someone who is sick, it can also occur on healthy individuals with underlying disorders such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, etc…

A simple comparison of how ‘clumping’ of the blood cells affects the body is to visualize a typical traffic jam on a highway. When there are many vehicles traveling on one road, not only does it slow down the rate and speed of travel, but it also takes longer for many to arrive to their intended destination. If this applies to the human body, it can cause many dire health problems.

Some of these examples include:

  • Limits oxygen and other helpful nutrients to travel throughout the body efficiently via the blood stream
  • Increases the risk of several cardiac diseases because oxygen travel is limited
  • Immune system cells such as leukocytes are limited in being dispersed throughout the body
  • Increases bacterial, viral, and fungal growth allowing these pathogens to replicate
  • Decreases the absorption of certain medications and supplements

Is there a way to ‘de- clump’ these blood cells? The answer to this question is YES! Fast Relief Acupuncture offers a unique, minimally invasive, and effective treatments that can help reduce the ‘clumping’ of the blood cells. This innovative treatment (each treatment for 30 minutes) can help:

  • Can increase electron zeta potential of the red blood cells to repel off each other and not clump
  • Allows immune cells to travel freely to the vascular system
  • Decreases bacterial, viral, and fungal growth and prevent them from duplicating within the blood streams
  • Can increase and improve the absorption with certain drugs and supplements
  • Can help assist eliminate pathogens (foreign invaders of the body) out of the blood leading the immune system to be less overwhelmed

Fast Relief Acupuncture is dedicated to providing specialized and ground-breaking treatment to help keep you healthy during these uncertain times. We pride ourselves in introducing a safe, cost-effective, and natural way to not only provide relief, but to heal your ailments. We look forward to getting you on the road to complete recovery!

Hi,

My Name is John Kim

I have been a licensed acupuncturist since 2000. When I first started my acupuncture career, my primary goal as a practitioner was to help people anguishing from living with pain everyday of their lives. I have seen on numerous occasions what chronic pain can do to a person physically but also seen how it can debilitate a person’s psyche as well.


Throughout the years, I have studied, developed and incorporated a very unique treatment protocol that has successfully treated and effectively reduced pain levels on chronic pain patients. I have combined traditional methods of acupuncture along with modern, research proven techniques to help reduce chronic pain symptoms in a safe, non- chemically addictive, and effective process.


If you have any of the following:

  • Headache/ Migraine
  • Arthritis/ Stenosis
  • Nerve pain
  • Neck/Back pain
  • Fibromyalgia pain
  • Allergies
  • TMJ
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Scar Tissue
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Share0
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Share0
Pin0

Do not hesitate and contact me!

I am here to help you to feel your very best!

Request an Appointment

Subscribe

Submit your e-mail address for future specials, offers, and news for my loyal patient base and to share with your friends!

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Natural Ways to Boost Your Immune System

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So, what can you do to protect yourself against the new coronavirus and other germs? Here are some natural, healthy tips that can help you boost your immune system!

Practice good hygiene. Nothing beats or kills most bacteria and viruses with simple 20 seconds of washing your hands with soap. Being and keeping a clean appearance can help prevent the spread of diseases, especially when skin contact is very common. The CDC has published additional guidelines on how to prevent exposure to and spread of the new coronavirus which you can click here.

Get enough sleep. Prolonged lack of healthy sleep (less than 7 hours) can be stressful to the body, increasing in the production of the stress hormone called cortisol. With long term, amplified levels of cortisol, the human body’s immune system becomes compromised. Recent research supports that healthy amounts of sleep (7 to 9 hours) activate important functions of the immune response, occuring during different stages of sleep and being regulated by the circadian systems.

Manage your stress. Physical and mental stress can suppress the immune system. Similar to how lack of sleep can affect a person’s immune system due to the excessive release of cortisol in the body, stress can also have the same negative effect. To better manage your stress levels, there are several options such as being physically active, starting and enjoying a new hobby, meditation and breathing properly (please click here to learn more about diaphragm breathing), getting acupuncture treatment, etc…Remember, a Happier You is a Healthier You! (Click here on how acupuncture can help reduce your stress)

Eat plenty healthy foods such as fresh produce, proteins, probiotics, omega oils. These important nutrients commonly found in our foods are essential to boosting the immune system.  According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the better you feed your body with the nutrients, the better it functions and can avoid chronic and acute diseases. Conversely, eating foods high in sugar and fats (yes even alcohol), can be detrimental to your immune system. A simple way to look at this is that most of the immune system cells are developed within the abdomen or the ‘gut’. A ‘healthy gut’ equates to a healthy body, where elimination of harmful foreign elements is very much needed.

Stay physically active. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it is any physical activity that ‘gets your heart rate up to 50 to 60 percent higher than its rate when you are at rest.’ Some of these activities include:

Walking two miles in 30 minutes.

Biking five miles in 30 minutes.

Swimming laps for 20 minutes.

Running one and a half miles in 15 minutes.

Doing water aerobics for 30 minutes.

Playing volleyball for 45 minutes.

Playing pick-up basketball for 20 minutes.

Jumping rope for 15 minutes.

Walking stairs for 15 minutes.

Washing your car for 45 minutes to an hour.

Gardening for 30 to 45 minutes.

Raking leaves for 30 minutes.

Dancing for 30 minutes.

Keep in mind these activities should be done at the person’s own pace. In a study published in April 2018’s Aging Cell, there is evidence that older adults who exercise regularly can keep their immune systems functioning similar to people who are decades younger. One thing to keep in mind is that high intensity or extreme exercising can be detrimental to the immune system because it can be too stressful for the body.

Get some Sun. With spring and summer soon approaching, the warmer weather brings out more sunshine! Sunlight stimulates the body to produces vitamin D which helps boost your immune system. According to 2010 study in kids showed that 1200 IU a day of supplemental vitamin D reduced the risk of influenza A. It also showed that a low vitamin D levels correlate with a greater risk of respiratory infection.

Fast Relief Acupuncture is dedicated to guiding you through these challenging times. We pride ourselves in introducing, educating, and offering a safe and natural way to help improve your body’s overall function. We look forward to getting you on the road to complete recovery!

Hi,

My Name is John Kim

I have been a licensed acupuncturist since 2000. When I first started my acupuncture career, my primary goal as a practitioner was to help people anguishing from living with pain everyday of their lives. I have seen on numerous occasions what chronic pain can do to a person physically but also seen how it can debilitate a person’s psyche as well.


Throughout the years, I have studied, developed and incorporated a very unique treatment protocol that has successfully treated and effectively reduced pain levels on chronic pain patients. I have combined traditional methods of acupuncture along with modern, research proven techniques to help reduce chronic pain symptoms in a safe, non- chemically addictive, and effective process.


If you have any of the following:

  • Headache/ Migraine
  • Arthritis/ Stenosis
  • Nerve pain
  • Neck/Back pain
  • Fibromyalgia pain
  • Allergies
  • TMJ
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Scar Tissue
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Share0
Tweet0
Share0
Pin0

Do not hesitate and contact me!

I am here to help you to feel your very best!

Request an Appointment

Subscribe

Submit your e-mail address for future specials, offers, and news for my loyal patient base and to share with your friends!

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