What is Acupressure:



Acupressure was developed in Asia over 5,000 years ago. It uses the fingers to gradually apply pressure to key healing points. Acupressure was developed in Asia over 5,000 years ago. it uses the fingers to gradually apply pressure to key healing points. Acupuncture and acupressure use  the same pressure points and meridians to stimulate the body's natural self-curative abilities. Acupressure releases muscular tension and promotes better circulation. It is effective in pain relief and detoxifying the body. Please join me for the Acupressure Workshop. Click on the above Acupressure Workshop tab for details.

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo biloba (deciduous dioecious) Is one of the oldest living tree species. It is also known as the Maidenhair Tree. This species has no close living relatives and is native to China. Ginkgo biloba is one of the most studied botanicals.

The leaves are fan shaped with fleshy yellow seeds. The leaves are not usually used in their crude sate. They are used as a concentrated extract (GBE) The leaves contain flavonoids and terpenoids which have potent antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are substances that scavenge free radicals. Free radicals occur naturally in the body. They damage compounds in the body that alter cell membranes, DNA and cause cell death. Free radicals are contained in environmental toxins including cigarette smoking and air pollution. Ginkgo contains antioxidants that can neutralize free radicals and reduce and even help prevent some of the damage. It is used for its revitalizing, stimulating and firming qualities. It is used to treat circulatiory disorders and enhance memory.

The History of Acupuncture in the United States - Part 1

The practice of acupuncture was brought to the United States by the Chinese and Japanese in the 1800's. It was not an accepted practice outside of their communities. Acupuncture was considered barbaric and banned in most states.

 Miriam Lee, author of Insights of a Senior Acupuncturist, and founder of the Acupuncture Association of America, was one of the pioneering acupuncturists in the United States and was responsible for the legalization of acupuncture in California.

Dr. Lee was a nurse, midwife and acupuncturist in China during the Second Sino-Japanese War.  She escaped to Singapore in 1949 and lived there for seventeen years, studying emotionally-based illnesses. In 1966 Dr. Lee moved to California. At that time Acupuncture was illegal and Dr. Lee took a job in a factory.
Dr. Lee used acupuncture to treat a friend's bed-ridden son and after several treatments he completely recovered. This was the beginning of her practice in California. Through word of mouth, Dr. Lee was treating as many as 75 to 80 patients a day.

In 1975 Dr. Miriam Lee was arrested for practicing medicine without a license. Her patients rallying in support of her filled the court room. Dr. Lee was permitted to continue to practice acupuncture as an "experimental procedure." One year later acupuncture was signed into California law as a legal medical practice, making Dr. Lee one of California's first licensed acupuncturists.

 In 1977 acupuncture was recognized by the U.S. National Institutes of Health as a mainstream medicine healing option with a statement documenting the procedure's safety and efficacy for treating a variety of health conditions.

The Effects of Acupunture on Stress.

We have accepted stress as a normal part of our lives and spend countless dollars and hours on books, tapes, DVD's and workshop to help us overcome stress. Stress weakens our immune systems making our bodies more susceptible to illnesses and diseases. It is estimated that 80% of all illnesses are brought on by stress. Acupuncture has been shown to induce a relaxation response and strengthens the immune system by reducing the negative effects of stress on our body.

Stress activates our survival system, increases the heart rate and lung function and reduces movement of our large intestine and increases blood pressure. This puts our bodies into a constant state of flight-or-fight. When stress persists over an extended period of time, our sympathetic nervous system remains constantly stimulated and becomes depleted. The constant state of stress produces an unbalanced nervous system which can produce a variety of health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, depression, high cholesterol, irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerated colitis. Our risk of infections, colds and flu increases. Stress increases the production of cortisol which suppresses our immune system. Cortisol acts as an immunosuppressant by reducing the number of white blood cells which produce antibodies and destroy viruses, bacteria and tumor cells.

Acupuncture works to reverse the effects of stress by suppressing the sympathetic nervous system and activating the parasympathetic nervous system.  The sympathetic nervous system controls our body when we are stressed and the parasympathetic nervous system controls our body when we are relaxed and calm. Acupuncture changes the messages being sent from our nervous system to our endocrine system and immune system.

Simply put: the metal acupuncture needle is a conductor of energy. Acupuncture points are surrounded by a greater concentration of nerve endings than in other areas of the body. The nervous system uses energy to send messages. Acupuncture conducts and adjusts the flow of energy.

What is Acupuncture.

The intent of acupuncture therapy is to promote health and alleviate pain and suffering. An acupuncturist views health and sickness as concepts of "vital energy," "energetic balance" and "energetic imbalance." The acupuncturist assesses the flow and distribution of this "vital energy" within its pathways, known as "meridians and channels".  The acupuncturist is able to influence health by stimulating key areas along these "meridians" called "acupoints", with fine, slender needles.  The procedure adjusts the "vital energy" so the proper amount of energy reaches the proper place at the proper time. This helps your body heal itself.

Acupuncture is just one form of therapy used within a coherent system of healing known as Oriental Medicine which includes herbology, physical therapy, dietetics and special exercises (such as Tai Chi and Qi Gong).   This is a complete medical system unto itself.  Acupuncture evolved from principles and philosophies unique to Oriental thinking and Oriental Medicine over thousands of years.

The 7 Mountains Story

I am often asked how I came to call my acupuncture practice 7 Mountains. Of course there is a story in the answer.

When I was in acupuncture school I was also a father of three young girls, a husband, and a respiratory therapist. Often the best time for uninterrupted study was about 4:00 am to 6:00 am. Over time I noticed that as the sun came up it would illuminate, one by one, seven large mountain tops around our home in the Colorado foothills.

Fast forward to 2004 and Beijing China where I was studying herbal medicine. One day one of my herbal teachers asked me about Colorado and my home town.  I showed him a picture of our house with ice-icicles hanging off the roof. Then I shared the story of the seven mountains being illuminated by the sun.  At my Chinese herbal graduation I was presented with my diploma. It actually had two names hand printed on it - my English name, Bruce Ayers, and in Chinese characters was written "The Man From 7 Mountains."

When I returned home to Colorado and started my acupuncture and herbal practice, 7 Mountains seemed like the perfect name.

The Origins of Acupunture.

The oldest known book on Chinese medicine is the "Neiching", also known as "The Yellow Emperor's classic of internal medicine". It is written in the form of a dialogue between the Yellow Emperor "Huang Ti" and "Chi Po" a Taoist teacher and physician. It is believed that the Yellow Emperor lived around 2700 B.C. The book indicates that acupuncture was widely practiced in China much before the time it was written.

During archaeological excavations in China, various types of gold and silver acupuncture needles were found in the tomb of Prince Liu Sheng who died around 200 B.C. This confirms that these different types of needles were in use over two thousand years ago.

Acupuncture originated in the cold north-west parts of China where herbs and other medical remedies were scarce. Acupuncture spread from there to other parts of the world through travelling physicians, scholars and pilgrims.

One of these was a famous Chinese physician called Pien Chueh who lived around 400 B.C. While visiting the province of Quo with some of his students, he arrived at a town there the people seemed very sad since their beloved prince had suddenly become unconscious. His doctors had been unable to revive him and it seemed that he was going to die.

Hearing that Pien Chueh was a great physician, the people asked him if there was anything he could do to help their prince. Pien Chueh agreed to examine the prince. Arrangements were made and he was received by the king, who willingly allowed him to examine the unconscious prince.

Pein Chueh made a thorough examination of the prince and arrived at a diagnosis. He treated the prince with acupuncture who soon regained consciousness. Pein Chueh continued to treat the prince with acupuncture, heat treatment (moxibuxtion) and various herbs till the prince recovered completely. It is said that the king rewarded him richly and directed the physicians in his Court to learn acupuncture and thus the practice of acupuncture spread.