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Mary (not her real name) came to our clinic for treatment for her frozen shoulder. The pain was from the top of her shoulder to her upper arm, and was even more intense when she placed her hand behind her back. (She also felt stiff and sore in her left upper back and up into the back of her left neck.)
Frozen shoulder is the common term for shoulder adhesive capsulitis (SAC), which is also known as scapulohumeral periarthritis. It is due to a chronic inflammation of the shoulder joint causing pain and a restricted range of shoulder movements. The conventional treatments for SAC are cortisone injections, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and physiotherapy. Unfortunately, none of these treatments are proven to be clearly effective for SAC in the long-term, and the majority of them often result in various side-effects.*
As with any musculoskeletal problem, I examined the alignment of Mary’s back and neck. I found that her left shoulder was a little higher than her right, and her left hip was also higher than the right.
In some styles of acupuncture, this pattern is known as a ‘4 Corner’ imbalance. The trunk of the body is roughly the shape of a rectangle, with the shoulders at the top corners and the hips at the bottom corners. If one of the corners of the rectangle is shifted, it will affect the other 3 corners as well. (See image.) Often a chain reaction will occur, where the muscles, tendons and ligaments in the other corners try to compensate for the distortion. This will often cause hip, lower back, shoulder or neck pain or stiffness.
In a 4 Corner imbalance, there will also be tight vertical muscle bands between the shoulder blades and spine. This was certainly the case with Mary, leading to a clear diagnosis of this condition. Acupuncture was used on specific points in each of her corners to loosen the contracted muscles which had created the shift, as well as the muscle tightness that resulted from the shift. This reduced Mary’s shoulder pain, and she was able to freely put her arm behind her back, which she was unable to do before. However she still had some pain in her shoulder, and the pain in her upper arm hadn’t changed.
It is common for pain in the arm to be the result of tightness or pressure in the neck or shoulder, so these areas were re-examined on Mary. According to Gray’s Anatomy, compression of the subclavian or axillary blood vessels or brachial nerve plexus in the neck (by the scalenus or sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles) can cause pain in the arm. This is diagnosed by carefully feeling an area just behind the bottom of the SCM muscle in the neck. If this area is tight or tender, it is likely there is pressure on these nerves and blood vessels, resulting in pain in the arm or shoulder, and restricted range of the shoulder. This is a very common cause of frozen shoulder.
The diagnostic area was found to be quite tight and fairly tender in Mary’s case, so an acupuncture point St38 on the leg was used to relax the scalenus and SCM muscles, and take the pressure off the nerves and blood vessels into her shoulder and arm. After this her arm pain was much less, and the range of her shoulder was much greater.
It is common that there are several factors involved in any musculoskeletal problem. In Mary’s case, the combination of the 4 Corner imbalance and the compression of the nerves and blood vessels in the neck resulted in her frozen shoulder, and by treating both of these we were able to significantly improve her pain and range in a single treatment.
Disclaimer – Please be aware that each person’s body is different, so individual results may vary. If you have an appointment at our clinic, your therapist will conduct a detailed assessment of your condition, and they will be able to advise you on how successful your treatments are likely to be. A result is not promised and/or guaranteed from the act of receiving a treatment.
As with any condition, in order to get results it is crucial to first investigate the cause of the problem. We are currently offering a limited number of free Comprehensive Assessments. (Terms and conditions: the Assessment is a completely free service, with no obligations whatsoever.)
The Assessment helps to identify:
If you would like to book in for an Assessment, please give us a call on 3376 6911, or you can book online using the link at the top of the page.
Be well, and have a great life!
*https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5937513/
(Illustrations from Kiiko Matsumoto’s Clinical Strategies Vol. 1)
We are a Finalist for the 2024 Australian Small Business Champion Awards! These seek to highlight the nation’s most outstanding small businesses, and are regarded as Australia’s pinnacle recognition awards programme. They recognise the values associated with successful businesses.
These awards are judged by a panel of industry experts, based on each business’s responses to a series of comprehensive questions about the business. This year there were more than 5,500 entrants, so we feel very excited to be chosen as a Finalist.
Certain mushrooms are becoming well-known for their effect on improving the immune system, and now there is growing evidence that they may be effective in the prevention and treatment of cancer. An article by the Medical Director of a hospital in the UK has reported a few examples of this research.
A study was conducted on 30 patients who were diagnosed with chronic fatigue. They were all found to have high antibody levels for Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and/or human herpes virus 6 (HHV6) or Cytomegalovirus (CMV), so were or had been infected by these viruses. The level of natural killer (NK) cells was low in these patients, and NK calls represent the first line of defence against cancer cells and viral infections. However, after taking a Coriolus versicolor mushroom product for 60 days, their NK levels increased by a massive 35% So this species of mushroom could potentially be an effective treatment for both chronic fatigue and cancer.
Another study found the edible mushroom Flammulina velutipes to have cancer-prevention effects. A 15 year epidemiological study of 174,505 individuals was conducted in the Nagano area of Japan, where the mushroom is grown. The study compared the cancer death rates of farmers who grew the mushroom with those of a control group, the assumption being that the farmers would eat some of the mushroom they grew. Results showed a cancer death rate in the control group of 160 per 100,000, compared with 97 per 100,000 among the mushroom farmers. (So the control group were 65% more likely to die of cancer than the farmers.)
In addition, the National Cancer Center Research Institute of Japan has established that the basidiomycetes group of edible mushrooms can have anti-cancer activity.
Whilst none of these or the many other studies are able to prove conclusively that cancer can be successfully treated with mushrooms, the right type of mushrooms can certainly improve the immune system, which in turn may help reduce the risk of cancer developing, or possibly act as a treatment. The varieties of mushrooms that have been shown to have this effect may one day become a significant weapon against this disease.
*Please note: Taking any supplement, herb or food should never be a reason not to have regular medical treatment for a serious condition, including cancer.
Always consult with a highly trained and experienced health professional before undertaking a course of supplementation that could make a significant difference to your health.
We are currently offering a limited number of free Comprehensive Assessments. (Terms and conditions: the Assessment is a completely free service, with no obligations whatsoever.)
The Assessment helps to identify:
If you would like to book in for an Assessment, please give us a call on 3376 6911, or you can book online using the link at the top of the page.
Be well, and have a great life!
Our staff were asked to say why they do the work they do, and this is what they said.
“My passion is to help others so that they can have happy and fulfilling lives. I love using natural therapies to help people’s bodies heal.”
“I want to be part of a team whose purpose is to work towards improving people’s health and quality of life, and to bring my skills to play a positive role in this team.”
“My purpose is to help people to be in their best health so that they have motivation and passion to achieve their goals and dreams.”
“I want to work at C.N.T. as it brings me a sense of purpose and fulfillment to be able to assist clients on their journey to heal.”
“I help people to move away from pain and self-harm. My purpose is to be salt; salt gives life flavour and aids in healing.”
“To assist with pain management and the body’s ability to move more beneficially to afford them the ability to live a more active, pain free, happy and healthy life.”
“To help people achieve harmony within their own bodies as well as with their surrounding environment. This leads to greater balance, improved health and encourages preventative medicine.”
“I really enjoy working with people, welcoming them to the clinic and making them feel at ease, helping them navigate Natural Therapies and all the benefits they provide, improving their well-being and knowledge, along with my own.”
“I do what I do to assist my patients to live happier and healthier lives and achieve their health goals. Being a health practitioner also helps me live a happier and healthier life and practice Dharma (the practice of paying attention to other people’s needs and caring for others).)”
“I love sharing my passion for Traditional Chinese Medicine and helping my clients reach their health and wellbeing goals.)”
“I believe the purpose of a healthy life is to experience, explore, grow and most importantly enjoy our time here. My aim as an Osteopath is to help remove any impediments to this, to help facilitate the experience of the best health to enjoy this life. Often Neuro Musculo Skeletal in nature, physical problems inevitably degrade the quality of life and impact the emotional and mental aspects – and vice versa. I enjoy working to help people be better physically to improve the quality of experience and potential available to them.”
(Thanks to all the Team for sharing.)
Fibromyalgia is painful, often debilitating condition involving constant muscle pain over most of the body, strong fatigue, sleep problems, and often emotional and mental distress.
From a medical perspective, the cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, and very little can be done to relieve the symptoms.
A study by the world-renowned Mayo Clinic was conducted on 50 fibromyalgia patients to determine if acupuncture could be used as a treatment for their condition.
It found that the acupuncture treatments significantly improved their symptoms compared with the control group.
Please click here to read more about the research.
Disclaimer – Please be aware that each person’s body is different, so individual results may vary. If you have an appointment at our clinic, your therapist will conduct a detailed assessment of your condition, and they will be able to advise you on how successful your treatments are likely to be. A result is not promised and/or guaranteed from the act of receiving a treatment.
As with any condition, in order to get results it is crucial to first investigate the cause of the problem. We are currently offering a limited number of free Comprehensive Assessments. (Terms and conditions: the Assessment is a completely free service, with no obligations whatsoever.)
The Assessment helps to identify:
If you would like to book in for an Assessment, please give us a call on 3376 6911, or you can book online using the link at the top of the page.
Be well, and have a great life!
Certain probiotics could help women lose weight and keep it off, according to a recent study published in the British Journal of Nutrition.
Various studies have previously shown that that the intestinal flora of obese individuals differs from those of thin people. This may be because a diet high in fat and low in fiber promotes certain bacteria at the expense of others.
A Professor Tremblay and his team performed a study to determine if taking probiotics could help reset the balance of the intestinal microbiome in favor of bacteria that promote a healthy weight.
125 overweight men and women completed a 12-week weight-loss diet, followed by a 12-week period aimed at maintaining their body weight.
Throughout the entire study, half the participants swallowed 2 pills daily containing probiotics from the Lactobacillus rhamnosus family, while the other half received a placebo.
After the 12-week diet period, researchers observed an average weight loss of 4.4 kg in women in the probiotic group and 2.6 kg in the placebo group.
However, no differences in weight loss were observed among males in the two groups.
“We don’t know why the probiotics didn’t have any effect on men. It may be a question of dosage, or the study period may have been too short,” says Professor Tremblay, who is also the Canada Research Chair in Environment and Energy Balance.
After the 12-week maintenance period, the weight of the women in the placebo group had remained stable but the probiotic group had continued to lose weight, for a total of 5.2 kg per person.
In short, women consuming probiotics lost twice as much weight over the 24-week period of the study.
Researchers also noted a drop in the appetite-regulating hormone leptin in this group, as well as a lower overall concentration of the intestinal bacteria related to obesity.
According to Angelo Tremblay, probiotics may act by altering the permeability of the intestinal wall. By keeping certain pro-inflammatory molecules from entering the bloodstream, they might help prevent the chain reaction that leads to glucose intolerance, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.
Please note- every person’s body is different, so there is no single approach that works well for everyone. Weight loss is complex issue, and it is likely that there will be a number of imbalances in each person’s body that will be factors behind them putting on weight.
As with any condition, in order to get results it is crucial to first investigate the cause of the problem. We are currently offering a limited number of free Comprehensive Assessments. (Terms and conditions: the Assessment is a completely free service, with no obligations whatsoever.)
The Assessment helps to identify:
If you would like to book in for an Assessment, please give us a call on 3376 6911, or you can book online using the link at the top of the page.
Be well, and have a great life!
An international collaboration, led by the University of Melbourne and Deakin University, has stated that evidence is rapidly growing that there is a strong connection between diet quality and mental health.
In an article published in The Lancet Psychiatry, leading academics stated that psychiatry should now recognise and embrace diet and nutrition as key factors in mental health.
Lead author, Dr Jerome Sarris from the University of Melbourne and a member of the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research (ISNPR), said psychiatry is at a critical stage, as the existing treatments have only resulted in modest benefits.
“While the determinants of mental health are complex, the emerging and compelling evidence for nutrition as a key factor in the high prevalence and incidence of mental disorders suggests that nutrition is as important to psychiatry as it is to cardiology, endocrinology and gastroenterology,” Dr Sarris said.
“In the last few years, significant links have been established between nutritional quality and mental health. Scientifically rigorous studies have made important contributions to our understanding of the role of nutrition in mental health.”
The review showed that nutrient-based prescriptions have the ability to assist in the management of mental disorders. Studies show that many different nutrients have a clear link to brain health, including omega-3s, B vitamins (particularly folate and B12), choline, iron, zinc, magnesium, S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe), vitamin D, and amino acids.
“While we advocate for these to be consumed in the diet where possible, additional select prescription of these as nutraceuticals (nutrient supplements) may also be justified,” Dr Sarris said.
Associate Professor Felice Jacka, a Principal Research Fellow from Deakin University and president of the ISNPR noted that many studies have shown associations between healthy dietary patterns and a reduced level of depression and suicide.
“Maternal and early-life nutrition is also emerging as a factor in mental health outcomes in children, while severe deficiencies in some essential nutrients during critical developmental periods have long been implicated in the development of both depressive and psychotic disorders,” she said.
A systematic review published in late 2014 has also confirmed a relationship between ‘unhealthy’ dietary patterns and poorer mental health in children and adolescents.
Naturopaths have long been aware of the importance of diet and nutrition to treat and prevent a broad range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, high stress, sleep problems, brain fog, cognitive decline, etc. A top naturopath will be aware of all of the latest research, and will be highly skilled in the treatment of these and other mental and emotional disturbances with diet and nutrients. Rather than just advise a collection of recommended nutrients, they will individually assess each person and tailor a particular prescription just for them.
For more information on the article, visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150129104217.htm .
If you are having any mental or emotional difficulties, we offer a free Comprehensive Assessment, to help identify
(Terms and conditions: the Assessment is a completely free service, with no obligations whatsoever.)
If you would like to book in for an Assessment, please give us a call on 3376 6911, or you can book online using the link at the top of the page.
Be well, and have a great life!
A study published in the ‘Brain Research’ journal investigated whether acupuncture treatments on the body produced any changes in brain function. They found that when a patient receives acupuncture treatment, it deactivates areas within the brain that are associated with the processing of pain.
Acupuncture is now recommended by the U.S. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) as a treatment option for National Health Service patients with lower back pain. NICE guidelines now state that GPs should ‘consider offering a course of acupuncture comprising a maximum of 10 sessions over a period of up to 12 weeks’ for patients with this common condition.
Current clinical trials at the University of York are investigating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of acupuncture for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and for depression. Recent studies in the US have also shown that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for migraines and osteoarthritis of the knee.
Please click here to read more about the research.
A German study on the effectiveness of osteopathy for lower back pain found that 2-3 osteopathic treatments significantly improved pain levels.
The randomized controlled trial involved 60 participants who suffered between 4 weeks and 6 months with lower back pain. They were split into 2 groups, one who only received physiotherapy and one who received the osteopathy treatments as well as physiotherapy. The first group reported a 30% improvement in their pain, whereas the group receiving osteopathy treatments had a 66% improvement. (Statistically, this meant a 2.5 times improvement for the osteopathy group compared to the physiotherapy only group.)
(It is worth noting that the participants received 6 physiotherapy treatments, compared to only 2 or 3 osteopathy treatments. It would be reasonable to assume that, had the participants received 6 osteopathy treatments instead, the improvement would have been even greater.)
Please click here to read more about the research.
Disclaimer – Please be aware that each person’s body is different, so individual results may vary. If you have an osteopathy appointment at our clinic, your therapist will conduct a detailed assessment of your condition, and they will be able to advise you on how successful your treatments are likely to be. A result is not promised and/or guaranteed from the act of receiving a treatment.
If you have any questions regarding the treatment of lower back pain, please give us a call. Be well, and have a great life!
An extensive study by the University of Helsinki has found that one in four people in Europe use natural therapies (or ‘complementary and alternative medicine’) for their health issues.
Approximately 40,000 people from over 20 countries participated in the study, and the most popular treatments were massage (12%), homeopathy (6%), osteopathy (5%), and herbal remedies (5%).
The study found that women and those with higher education used natural therapies the most. Germany had the highest proportion of users, with almost 40% saying they used natural therapies.
With any health issue, in order to get results it is crucial to first investigate the cause of the problem. We are currently offering a limited number of free Comprehensive Assessments. (Terms and conditions: the Assessment is a completely free service, with no obligations whatsoever.)
The Assessment helps to identify:
If you would like to book in for an Assessment, please give us a call on 3376 6911, or you can book online using the link at the top of the page.
Be well, and have a great life!
Valued at $120, your Assessment will help to uncover:
All this will be fully explained to you, and you can ask as many questions as you like. That way we can be sure to give you all of the right information, understanding and advice you need. Terms and conditions: This is a free, no obligation offer.