Author Archives: Tina

What is Micro-Needling?

Micro-Needling is a minimally invasive procedure for your skin. It works on the surface of the skin. It is a cosmetic produce to encourage collagen and elastin. The micro-needles help stimulate your skin’s healing process, it help smooth, firm, and tone skin and improve the appearance of scars, acne, wrinkles. The proteins keep your skin firm and smooth.

Most people get micro-needing on their face, but you can also get it on your legs, back, neck or other areas where you notice damage or aging skin. You will need multiple treatment to achieve your desired results. Four to six treatment are recommended, at 1 time a month for 4-6 months, with a follow up treatments every 2-4 months.

Micro-Needling has cosmetic and medical uses. You might consider Micro-Needling if you’re concerned about:
Enlarged pores, fine lines, wrinkles, loose or crepey (thin and wrinkled) skin, mild scars, especially those from acne or burns, skin discoloration or uneven tone, and stretch marks. The procedure can also help people who have medical condition such as, Alopecia areata (hair loss due to an autoimmune disease.

Please call to make an appointment and for pricing, at Tina Labok Wellness-714-875-5790

Boost Your Immunity With Acupuncture

Acupuncture and Immunity:

Traditional Chinese Medicine has its origin in Chinese Medical Practice that dates back more than 3000 years. TCM’s is widely used as more people realize advantages.

According to TCM, the immune system is affect by the imbalance of Yin and Yang and the blockage of Qi.
Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine have a great success helping to balance and regulate imbalances in the body and stimulate the body’s hormones and neurotransmitters to bring the body back into balance, boosting immunity and promoting good health.

Scientific research shows that regular monthly Acupuncture sessions support and strengthen immunity allowing it to react swiftly to evil Qi invading the body. Regular monthly Acupuncture sessions support and strengthen immunity.

Keep your immunity strong with Acupuncture and herbal medicine. “Listen to your body when it whispers so you don’t have to hear it scream.”

To schedule an appointment: Text or call at 714-875-5790.

Acupuncture can help Menopause

Menopause is a natural, physiological cycle tht occurs in all women. Conventional medicine treatments only address various symptoms and sigins associated with menopause.

Aupuncture and Chinese Medicine treats and understands that symptoms and signs are merely indication of an imblances deep within the body. This ancient healing medicine focuses upon correcting underlying imbalcnces. These imbalances, if left unchecked, will result in a variety of symptoms and signs normally associated with a Western diagnosis of menopuase.

Estrogen is similar to what acupuncturists called JING Qi. Jing Qi is like a gift that is given to all of us at the time of conception. It is the battery that provides us with the basic energy to power all our life functions. When Jing qi is abundant, our ability to adapt to disease, illness and stress is optimal.

As we age, our Jing Qi energy is slowly drained. Declining of Jing Qi is between the ages of 35 to 60. When the Jing Qi declines, the organ system within our body becomes unbalanced. This lead to various symptoms and signs, such as weakness in knees, urinary difficulty, poor memory, backache and fatigue.

Another factor that can contribute to menopause is an imbalance of Yin and Yang energies. Yin is the cooling system of the body. When this cooling system declines, heat symptoms will naturally arise, leading to night sweats, restlessness, hot flashes, mood swings, heart palpitations and insomnia. The decline of yang energy can also imbalance. Yang represents the warming and metabolizing functions of the body. When Yang is unbalanced symptoms may include w3ater retention, cold hands, and feet, weight gain, edema, indigestion, hypertension or raised cholestrol levels.

This is what Acupuncture can do for Menopause:

Treating menopausal symptoms is conducted throught a thorough evaluation and a complete health history. The signs and symptoms and other information that is gathered are pieces of the diagnostic health puzzle. Each patient is unique and a proper treatment plan will be address for each patient.

Acupuncture and herbal medicine. will help menopausual symptoms. Give me a call and let’s get started.

Tina Labok Wellness-714875-5790

R.I.C.E Is Not The Best For Injuries

It’s the most famous acronym in sports medicine, a household term as familiar to athletes as the physicians who treat them: R.I.C.E., for rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

Legendary sports doc, Gabe Mirkin, M.D., coined R.I.C.E. in his 1978 bestseller, The Sportsmedicine Book. In the four decades since, his memorable protocol—especially the ice and rest components—have become an article of faith among wounded warriors everywhere

Tweak your ankle, throw out your back, strain your rotator cuff, or upset any other soft tissue during exercise? R.I.C.E. it right away! If no ice bag is available, slap a bag of frozen vegetables onto your aggrieved part. By icing an injury within the first golden hour of sustaining it, you’re virtually guaranteed of not only reducing pain but speeding recovery. Ditto for rest—taking time off to let things settle down will prevent further damage and also expedite healing. Everybody knows this, right?

But what if R.I.C.E. is wrong?

“Nearly everyone who ices today,” says veteran athletic trainer Gary Reinl, “believes they’re doing it to prevent inflammation, reduce swelling, and control pain. But here’s the problem: Icing doesn’t prevent inflammation or swelling; it only delays it. Once tissues rewarm, the inflammatory process resumes and your body’s innate intelligence sends the correct amount of fluid to the damage site. Although icing can provide temporary pain relief, numbing just shuts off protective signals that alert you to harmful movement. And the Journal of Athletic Medicine Research recently showed that icing actually kills muscle cells.”

The latter study is hardly the only one to raise questions about icing. Reinl, for his part, says he used to be a true believer in the healing properties of the big chill, but he became skeptical after searching the medical literature for the best ways to ice different injuries.

What he discovered shocked him. A meta-analysis in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, for example, investigated 22 separate studies and concluded that “ice is commonly used after acute muscle strains, but there are no clinical studies of its effectiveness.” A report in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research was even more alarming. Not only does icing fail to help injuries heal, the authors found, it may well delay recovery from injury.

And subsequent research at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center found evidence that icing sore muscles may be detrimental to recovery. Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic have even identified a likely reason: Icing an injury delays the release of IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1), a key hormone unleashed by immune cells to repair damaged tissues.

“Icing just doesn’t work—it actually screws things up,” says Reinl, whose new book, Iced! The Illusionary Treatment Option, is dedicated to encouraging doctors and athletes to move out of the ice age.

You might think that Dr. Mirkin would bristle at this blow to his erstwhile recommendations. Not so—he now openly rejects at least half of the R.I.C.E. advice that helped make him famous. “I do not believe in cooling anymore,” he explained via email. Nor does he believe in the “R” component of his famous prescription either.

In a foreword to the second edition of Iced!, Dr. Mirkin says most athletes are far more concerned with long-term healing than transient pain relief. “And research,” he writes, “now shows that both ice and prolonged rest actually delay recovery.”

As for why keeping injured tissues moving works better than immobilizing them, the exact mechanisms await further research. “We don’t understand everything about this yet,” Reinl concedes, “but we do know that stillness is the enemy. If you remain still, everything shrinks and atrophies—your muscles, bones, ligaments, everything.”

Careful muscle activation, by contrast, has the opposite effect. Contractions around lymphatic vessels clear waste and increase blood circulation to damaged tissues. This, in turn, increases deposition of replacement collagen and boosts the “remodeling” process that pulls apart scar tissue and makes it functional.

A growing cadre of sports medicine specialists now agrees: Trying to interrupt the body’s innate healing mechanisms can backfire. Humans have been evolving for hundreds of thousands of years, and neither cryotherapy nor prolonged bedrest were viable options for our ancestors. They depended instead on natural healing.

“The human body is absolutely remarkable,” acknowledges Nick DiNubile, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon and former team physician for the Philadelphia 76ers. “Most of the time it knows what it’s doing. I still believe there’s an occasional place in the medical bag for ice—for acute pain, for instance, it’s certainly preferable to Percocet or Vicodin. But you really have to be mindful of what you’re trying to accomplish before you throw in the ice pack.”

So if R.I.C.E. is no longer the answer, what’s a better strategy for expediting your return to the field of play? Reinl, for his part, believes the answer lies in a new acronym: A.R.I.T.A.—active recovery is the answer.

There are exceptions, of course—you may have no choice but to immobilize a limb, say, with a compound fracture. But for most garden-variety sports injuries, Reinl suggests resisting the urge to ice away your pain and plop down on the couch for days. Instead, let your pain level be your guide and keep on moving as much or as little as your mending body allows.

By Spartan.com

Headaches and Acupuncture

Over 50 million people experience some form of a severe headache at some point in our lives. Whether you experience minor head pain or severe migraines, headaches can take valuable time out of your day and your life, and leave you searching  for relief.

There are 3 catagories of headaches, tension headaches are the most frequent, migranes that effect less people, although the symptoms are more servere, and  cervicogenic headache that are musculoskeletal. They may be caused by pain in neck and/or spine.

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a safe and effective approach to relieving headache pain, without causing harmful side effects, and will address the root of the problem. Western medicine is fine for short term and can help you get our of pain fast. But, it can cause unwanted side effects, some side effects can lead to “rebound” headache.  Western mediciation does not address the root of the problem that is causing the headaches.

There are many factors on Chinese Medicine that may play a key role in the root causes of a headache. The factors included body constitution, emotional health, excessive work, exercise activities, improper diet, and physical tramua. Diagnoses can also be specific symptoms, times occurence, location of the headache on the head, type of pain, and triggers that may cause a headache.

Acupuncture takes a safe, effective whole body approach to health. Treatment will restore the balance and flow of Qi, (energy), based on your unique symptoms. It is important to remember that acupuncture is not a “Quick Fix”. Changes may occur quickly or over a longer peroiod of time, depending upon your overall constitution and health.

Narurally, acupuncture treatments and herbal medicine is extremely effective in reducing the frequency and severity of many types of painful conditions, including headaches. By being constistent with treatments and adopting some simple lifestyle changes, you can be on your way to a happier, pain-free life.

If you are suffering from headaches, migranes pain..give me a call

Acupuncture Colds and Flu

Every year, more than 100,000 people are hospitalized due to complication from the flu virus. Colds are much less severe than the flu, although like the flu, viruses and germs cause illness. Flu symptoms are worse then cold symptoms, either way, you feel lousy.

Acupuncture can provide you with relief. Clinical studies have suggested that acupuncture as a preventative approach to colds and flu bu reducing the incidence of upper respiratory tract infection and is able to shorten the length of the illness.

Your body has levels of Qi, the first level of Qi is Wei Qi. Wei Qi is similar to the Western concept of the immune system, its your amour in a sense.  Wei Qi functions as barrier that protects and defends the body against foreign substances, that can cause illness. When your Wei Qi is strong, you remain healthy. When it is not strong you immune system is compromised and you become vulnerable to germs, called, ‘Evil Qi’. The result is illness.

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine support, strengthen the system of the body that are involved in the production of Wei Qi, and can help rebalance and support the immune system and stimulate Wei Qi energy. Balancing and building Wei Qi, your body will become in balance and thus facilitating the smooth free flow of Qi throughout the body, building and strengtheing a strong immune system. When this occurs your body is strong, your Wei Qi is strong. You will feel better faster.

Acupuncture is preventative and can shorten the onset of a cold and flu. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are drug free, safe natural and effective ways to support the body’s self-regulating, self-balancing and healing systems. If you should become ill, acupuncture can help you get back on your feet.

Build and strengthen your immune system with Acupuncture and Chinese medicine, Give me a call, 714-875-5790

 

The Beach Babe Bicycling Classic 2016

Hi, stop by and say, Hi to me at the 2016 Beach Babe Bicycling Classic on Aug 17th. Located at 200 Aquairum Way, Long Beach.  I will be at the finish line to meet you, chat with you about Acupuncture and/or personal training. Also a raffle gift basket will raffle off at the end of the day.  Look for Tina Labok Wellness tent.

Have a healthy, happy day!

Tina

Weight Loss and Acupuncture

Many people struggle with losing weight. In fact, more than 35% of all U.S. adults meet the criteria for being obese. Americans spend billions of dollars annually on weight loss quick fix products. There is NO quick fix to losing weight.

Many Americans are turning to surgery as weight loss option. This can be a drastic measure and can cause unwanted side effects, excess weight is not just a cosmetic issue. There are risk factors to being over weight, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. The good news is that maintaining a healthy weight can reduce your risk  of these issues and its never too late to get started.

People seeking to address their weight concerns are turning to acupuncture as a natural and effective way to losing their unwanted pounds. Acupuncture is a holistic, whole body approach to being and staying healthy. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture work to restore the balance and flow of the body’s Qi, or vital energy.

Acupuncture works to control weight on many levels.

  1. Releases Endorphins- with diet changes, many people experience cravings, which can lead to binge eating. Cravings in the body are often due to a lack of endorphins. Acupuncture can help to balance out the cravings by helping the body to release endorphins.
  2. Reduces stress- An increase in the cortisol can alter the metabolism. Through the release of endorphins, cortisol can be neutralized.
  3. Acupuncture supports the body to generate an efficient digestive process and get your QI flowing to increase metabolism.

As an acupuncturist, I will take into consideration other factors that may have led to weight gain, including you lifestyle, and emotional and mental well-being. Your treatments will focus on correcting any underlying imbalances in your body, and also help to support you in reaching you weight loss goals.

Give me a call at 714-875-5790.

Acupuncture and IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a complex disorder. The intestines lose their ability to efficiently move contents. The main symptoms of IBS are and/or constipation. Some other symptoms can be fatigue, bloating, abdominal pain, headaches, depression and anxiety. These symptoms may be triggered by stress, diet, emotional factors, hormone levels and medications.

The Spleen

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are safe way to address IBS. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can create a clear picture of the root imbalances that lead to IBS symptoms. In Chinese medicine  there can be an imbalance with the Spleen. The spleen  is in charge of digestion and assimilation of foods and liquids. One of the main functions of the spleen is to aid in the production of Spleen Qi, Spleen Qi is the energy that provides power and nourishment for the entire body.

The Liver

The Liver is associated with emotional health. Stress and anger directly influence the function of your Liver. Alcohol, drugs and medication, or a poor diet can further compromise the liver’s function. When the Liver energy is overflowing, the livers energy attacks the spleen. If your spleen is already weakened, it can be easily overcome. The result can be stress-induced IBS. When the liver is compromised, symptoms can be bloating, gas, headaches, and dull pain.

The Kidney

The kidney yang is energy that provides warmth for your body. The energy warms the spleen to help in digestion and breakdown food. If the Kidney energies are compromised, symptoms can be early morning diarrhea and bladder incontinence, weak knees, cold limbs and a sore back.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help with the symptoms and put your body back in to balance. Also you may need adjunct therapies such as herbs, dietary changes, and exercise in order to maximize healing.

If you’re suffering from IBS, give me  a call and let’s get you well. #714-875-5790

Healing Your Mind, Body and Spirit with Acupuncture

Patients ask often how long-how many treatments will it take until they feel better. People are used to quick results with acupuncture. Acupuncture treatments may take a couple of treatments or a month or more until significant and lasting relief is achieved. People say,” If I take a painkiller I’ll feel better faster, although there’s not real healing, only masking the real problem and your right back where you started…in pain or still sick.

Acupuncture and other natural approaches, such as your diet, exercise and herbal medicine actually change the body functions. It helps the body learn to heal faster. The process of healing, and enhancing the way your body functions, is fundamentally different than suppressing symptoms. Its natural to want quick results.

Many people give up on acupuncture after four or five treatments. True healing and repair takes time, and for some patients it takes longer than it does for others. Be patient with yourself. The body has remarkable ability to repair. Just give it time. Most patients feel better and are glad they didn’t give up.
Start now and give me a call to make an appointment to feeling well.