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Lisa Gibilie

The searches for immortality and anti-aging have been an integral part of Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. Cosmetic Acupuncture is currently very popular amongst many models and actresses, as well as those who want to avoid surgery and a potentially less natural look.

Acupuncture can increase circulation, enhance skin tone and collagen production.  It can be helpful for women after childbirth, abdominal surgery, during hormonal shifts such as menopause, or for those who have difficulty engaging their abdominal muscles during exercise.

It will NOT give you a six pack, or erase scars and stretch marks. It may tighten (many people actually feel the sensation of a drawing in of the muscles/soft tissue), but cannot eliminate very loose skin.

Abdominal Acupuncture is a good jump start to a weight loss program. On the physical level it can also stimulate digestion, metabolism, and fluid reduction. Having a tight middle boosts confidence.

The inner core is reflected in the outer core, and vice versa. On the emotional level, this is the area where we maintain our boundaries in our interpersonal relationships. With healthy boundaries, we are able to assert ourselves and set appropriate limits in our relationships.  When we can’t feel where we end and another begins, we become emotionally and psychically porous. We take on burdens and feelings that are not ours to own. This physically and emotionally weighs us down, it makes us feel weak and empty in side. We give away our power. Strengthening and supporting this area will simultaneously enhance you on the physical, emotional, and energetic levels.

Lisa Gibilie, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac.

AcuEnergize

Acupuncture in Huntington Beach, CA

(714) 313-5506

We are so often on computers for work and recreation, travel in cars in heavy, stop and go traffic, and are attached to cell phones that it is easy for our necks and upper bodies to become chronically strained. Our bodies remain in forward bent, hunched positions for far too long. This leads to poor circulation and muscle imbalances: overtime muscles become short and tight, or overstretched and weak. We engage in so much of this without thought that we tune out when our bodies register fatigue until it is too late. Fatigue often precedes pain.

As with anything else, the sooner you begin treatment, the faster you will receive relief. As was discussed in the Back pain page, Acupuncture will stimulate natures’ pharmacy within to activate the self healing dynamic. Acupuncture will enhance endorphin and serotonin levels, promote local tissue and deeper microcirculation for tissue healing, relax tight muscles, and stimulate weakened ones.

Many persons with neck pain are often teeth grinders, whether or not they realize it. It is important to determine if this is an issue and then address the underlying reasons for it. I have found there to be a significant correlation between teeth grinding and acid reflux/GERD. The Chinese Stomach Meridian reaches the front muscles in the neck as well as the muscles around the face and jaw. Inflammation in the stomach and digestive area often refers pain along the corresponding meridian pathways.  If this is found to be the case, the root cause of the inflammation will be addressed as part of a comprehensive, individualized treatment approach.

The principle point for the neck is on the Chinese Lung Meridian (Lung 7). That seemingly makes no sense unless you consider that neck and arm pain are not always caused by a bad disc in the neck, but by what is called Neurovascular Compression Syndrome. In this case tight muscles in the neck and chest compress the nerves, causing pain, numbness, and tingling in the neck and arms. This may be due to anatomical reasons such as an elevated rib, or underlying issues such as asthma or a long standing paradoxical breathing pattern (chest vs. belly breathing – especially in women) which contribute to tightness in the front neck muscles, which are also accessory breathing muscles.

Additionally, several years ago I had to have a Cervical (neck) fusion as a consequence of several very traumatic car accidents. In my situation, conservative care was not an option. This helps me be more aware of what and who I can help, as well as when it is appropriate to refer for more invasive procedures.

Neck pain is not all the same, and doesn’t respond to the same cook book treatment and exercise. I have worked in Physical Therapy since 1981, and have a long history of working with pain management.  An evaluation will reveal the best treatment options for you.

Lisa Gibilie, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac.

AcuEnergize

Acupuncture in Huntington Beach, CA 92648

(714) 313-65506

Pelvic pain is very frustrating and, often, poorly understood and managed. Many women suffer in silence, afraid to discuss this with their physicians. When they do, many get inadequate or inappropriate treatment, which can worsen and prolong their condition. Any chronic pain impacts one’s quality of life, relationships, and takes a toll on the psyche.

There can be varying reasons for pelvic pain, but there will typically be underlying hormonal imbalances as an initial cause or as a result of the long term imbalances and resulting stress. Female hormones are not just involved in reproduction and sexuality, they are part of the Neuro-Endocrine system and affect many  systems in the body including:  thyroid function, digestion, cardiovascular and autonomic nervous systems.

Acupuncture has been shown to regulate the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal  (HPA) and Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Gonadal  (HPG) axes.[i] This will affect hormonal balance in the whole body. This has been used to validate the rationale for Acupuncture in the treatment of many Women’s Health conditions such as fertility, polycystic ovary disease (PCOS), menopause, depression, and pre-menstrual syndrome.

Acupuncture is a non-invasive treatment, in addition to regulating the hormonal axes, encouraging endorphin, serotonin production, etc., it can relax the external soft tissue trigger points, relieve stress and pain, and improve mood and energy. It is a good adjunct to therapies that work on the internal trigger points, which many people find difficult to tolerate, and which are often begun before they have adequate pain management.

Treatment is individualized and holistic. It is important to look at causes of systemic inflammation, recommendations in diet and nutritional supplementation are very important to promote longer lasting relief.  Mental and emotional issues are addressed and supported at your discretion as well as physical imbalances.

As a long time Acupuncturist in Huntington Beach I receive many referrals from local medical practitioners.

Back pain is a leading reason for time off from work, and at some point in time most of us will experience at least one occurrence. Fortunately it is often self limiting with rest and time.

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine are very effective in treating back pain as an early intervention, as well as in cases where other treatments have had limited results or have failed. As a holistic practitioner, I will address the root cause(s), as well as any other issues: such as systemic inflammation, and metabolic disorders will be addressed with the goal of resolution, not just temporary relief.

Acupuncture works on several levels. Scientifically, it has been proven to stimulate the body to produce its own morphine, called endorphins, as well as serotonin, substance P, etc. Therefore most people will benefit, and get, at a minimum short term pain relief. It will also enhance local tissue and microcirculation, which helps to reduce inflammation and promote actual tissue healing. Stimulation of a needle into a tight muscle will help it to relax and release. In chronic cases, it can also promote increased tone in the muscle, in order to restore normal functioning. Most people report significant improvement in sleep and energy as a result of treatment as well.

In events of significant trauma, such as motor vehicle accidents, many people remain in “Fight or Flight,” their muscles and nervous system may retain muscle spasm and soft tissue tightness despite the fact that there may not be any nerve, joint, or actual structural damage. Acupuncture works on the nervous system to balance and calm this.  More people should consider this a first choice for pain relief, and begin exercise only after the acute pain of the trauma is adequately managed.

Most often, back pain is caused by myofascial pain –  muscle and soft tissue injury. There is a 70-80% correlation between acupuncture, motor, and myofascial trigger points.  As I tell my patients, Acupuncture can reach where fingers can’t. Acupuncture is also a much more comfortable treatment than acupressure, as well as more systemic because of its effect on the nervous system.  Having worked in Physical Therapy for many years, I find the combination of Acupuncture and Myofascial/Soft tissue massage works faster, especially in more chronic conditions.  Patient education in pain management, nutrition/supplements, and behavior modification is included to promote quicker and longer lasting relief.

I have treated back pain in the Huntington Beach area for over 17 years in both Physical Therapy and later as an Acupuncturist. I receive many referrals from local physicians: orthopedic spine specialists and pain management.

Lisa Gibilie, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac.

AcuEnergize

Huntington Beach, CA. 92648

(714) 313-5506

One of the prevailing myths about acupuncture, that gets repeated over and over especially in the media, is that “no one knows how acupuncture works.”  According to findings made by the National Institutes of Health (NIH consensus statement) acupuncture is, in fact,  one of the most researched practices, and there is more data to support acupuncture than many other commonly accepted medical procedures.

The findings in a recent study of Canadian postal workers with shoulder tendinitis (i) confirmed what I find to be true in my own practice:  Acupuncture does work better and faster for the pain relief and loss of motion associated with shoulder pain.  New, and substantive, research validates the fact that the use of acupuncture for the treatment of shoulder pain and disability should be initiated sooner, rather than later.

The Canadian postal workers were divided into two groups, one receiving physical exercise, a widely accepted treatment, and the second group receiving acupuncture and proteolytic enzymes. The acupuncture group made the greatest gains in pain reduction and disability scores.

Another study, which included a large group of 425 patients, compared patients receiving exercise and sham TENS (transcutaneous nerve stimulation) with a group receiving exercise and acupuncture consisting of a single point. (ii)  The single point acupuncture group reduced the need for analgesics by 53% the exercise group reduced the need by 30%. This represents an almost 50% better result with the acupuncture group. Imagine what the results would be if they received a more comprehensive and typical acupuncture treatment..

Frozen shoulder is very painful and debilitating.   Traditional Chinese Medicine calls it 50 year old shoulder.  Acupuncture, herbal/nutritional support, cupping can reduce pain and help restore motion.. Research comparing physical therapy/exercise with acupuncture in the treatment of frozen  shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) determined that acupuncture improved the patients’ shoulder disability scores most. The findings in the frozen shoulder group indicated that acupuncture was especially beneficial for pain management, and physical therapy best for increasing range of motion. Their conclusion was that the combination of acupuncture along with physical therapy would likely be the most effective treatment strategy. (iii)

Current allopathic (Western medicine) standards of care for shoulder pain consist of NSAID’s, physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, and possible surgery. One study acknowledged there was not enough clinically based evidence to support the use of physical therapy and other rehabilitation interventions, despite the fact that they are commonly accepted to be proven, are typically the first line of therapy, and are covered/reimbursed by insurance. (iv)

Rotator cuff tendinitis is a very common cause of shoulder pain, especially in people over the age of 40. It is also known as swimmer’s shoulder, pitcher’s shoulder, shoulder impingement, or tennis shoulder. It is often the result of repetitive activities or degenerative changes, but may be the result of an acute injury, especially in sports, or due to a fall. Signs and symptoms include:

•   night pain, especially lying on the affected side
•   pain with movement, especially reaching overhead
•   localized shoulder pain, which may radiate up the neck or down the arm
•   weakness with movement or lifting

Simple everyday activities that we take for granted, such as combing your hair, tucking your pants into your shirt, hooking a bra strap become painful and impossible to perform. Unmanaged pain can lead to muscle weakness or protective guarding (myofascial pain,frozen shoulder), and can complicate and inhibit full recovery.

As I tell my patients, the acupuncture needles can reach where fingers can’t. Pain from myofascial trigger points can mimic shoulder joint pathology. Myofascial trigger points have a 70+% correlation to acupuncture points (v), and are addressed as well in a typical treatment.

A Chinese Medical practitioner/Acupuncturist is a holistic practitioner. Lifestyle, diet, drug intake, and underlying metabolic factors that contribute to, or perpetuate, a patient’s symptoms will be evaluated and addressed. Diabetes and hyperthyroidism have demonstrated a correlation  with the incidence of frozen shoulder. (vi)  Drs. Travell and Simons, pioneers and recognized experts in the field of myofascial pain, have documented how nutritional imbalances are associated with persistent soft tissue pain and inflammation, which underlies the need for a more comprehensive approach to treatment. (vii)

I commonly recommend Omega-3 fatty acids and proteolytic (protein digesting) enzymes to help with inflammation and reduce the need for NSAID’s. Unlike drugs, which may only mask the symptoms and may lead to tissue breakdown, these are well tolerated for long term use and likely promote tissue healing. Herbal patches and poultices are great to relieve localized pain and not harm the digestive system. Herbs like tumeric, ginger, frankincense, and myrrh promote circulation and soft tissue healing.

Study after study demonstrates that the conventional wisdom in treating shoulder pain needs to be revised. All of the patients in acupuncture groups reported pain relief and made significant changes in their disability ratings. Multidisciplinary approaches achieved even better results.

The time is long overdue that acupuncture is incorporated into the mainstream as a first-line therapy in the management of shoulder pain. Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture promote full healing and not merely symptom reduction. Earlier intervention will save time, cost, and suffering.

Resources:

(i) Szczurko, O et al., Naturopathic treatment of rotator cuff tendinitis among Canadian postal workers: a randomized controlled trial. Arthritis Rheum, 2009 Aug 15: 61(8):1037-45

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19644905

(ii) Vas, J, et al., Single-point acupuncture and physiotherapy for the treatment of painful shoulder: a multicenter randomized controlled trial, Rheumatology 2008, Jun:47(6)887-93

(iii) Ma, T, et al., A study on the clinical effects of physical therapy and acupuncture to treat spontaneous frozen shoulder, American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 2006:34(5):759-75

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/170080543

(iv) http://ptjournal.apta.org/content/81/10/1719.full

(v) Melzak, R, et al., Trigger points and acupuncture points for pain: correlations and implications, Pain, 1977 Feb 3(1) 3-23

(vi) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001490/

(vii) Simons MD, David, Myofascial Pain Syndrome due to Trigger Points, International Rehab Medicine Association Monograph, Series No.1, 1987, Nov:33-36

As an Acupuncturist, who receives referrals from Western Medical practitioners, I am often the practitioner of last resort. Typically these patients, who have “failed” other therapies, are truly motivated to get well and have received very competent care, yet their symptoms are not resolved. This becomes very frustrating to the patients and practitioners alike.

I have found that when there is delayed healing, there is usually a history of a severe trauma, and more frequently a history of multiple traumas. People with multiple traumas, people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) do not respond to care the way non-traumatized people do. Unfortunately, not addressing the trauma as a distinct diagnosis, causes patients to get each symptom treated by different specialists and managed by a laundry list of drugs or supplements–and they still don’t feel well, maybe worse.

In “The Body Keeps Score,” Dr. Bessel van der Kolk explains how trauma resets the brain and neuro-endocrine system (hormones and neurotransmitters) so that virtually any and all parts of a person’s being (physically and emotionally) can be impacted. We embody our wounds. Traumas can and do accumulate. Over time they may overwhelm the restitutive capacities of a person’s nervous system and psyche. The onset of symptoms may be immediate or emerge months, even years later. Beyond the physical symptoms, unmanaged PTSD can lead to problems with substance abuse, depression, low self esteem and relationship problems.

Chinese Medicine considers trauma a Heart Shock, a disharmony of the Heart and Kidneys, a separation of Yin and Yang (loss of homeostasis), and Soul Loss (dissociative disorders). Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture has a paradigm to organize, treat, and make sense of these seemingly complex, disparate symptoms.

A pilot study through the NIH (National Institutes of Health) showed that Acupuncture alone had treatment effects similar to cognitive-behavioral therapy (current treatment of choice) and that both groups maintained benefits at 3 months post-treatment (“Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases,” June, 2007). Combined treatments may even work better.

I feel that Americans are in a collective state of post-traumatic stress, most recently caused by the economic meltdown, 9/11, multiple wars, and harsh storms. The media induces flashbacks via repetitive images, and we have very real threats to our safety, our health, and our economic security.

We have a tremendous capacity to self-heal. Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can start the process in remarkable ways.

Learn why this powerful treatment
can ELIMINATE your NECK pain…

YOUR NECK IS SUPPOSED TO BE PAIN FREE….

Feeling good is your body’s “NORMAL” state of being!

Learn WHY this treatment may help YOU too.

Acupuncture and Neck Pain

Acupuncture is a method used in Oriental Medicine for restoring balance within the body. When there is imbalance, there can be pain. lethargy, anxiety, decreased function and mobility, and organ dysfunction.

Neck pain and stiffness in the neck can often be caused by an imbalance in your body. The acupuncturist will examine you and assess whether your PAIN is do to an imbalance or an other problem.

If you pain is from an imbalance then the acupuncturist will determine which type of acupuncture is needed to help you.

Acupuncture can activate Nature’s Pharmacy
that’s “within” your body!

Your body has NATURES Pharmacy within it and Acupuncture can jump-start your bodies ability to make your own Anti-inflammatories, Analgesics, and Mood Elevators. NO NEED FOR DRUGS!

Acupuncture treatments

Once diagnosed a typical treatment lasts 20-40 minutes and continues to work for several days following the treatment. Length of treatment is determined by the condition being treated, the strength of the patient and rate of blocking removal.

Patients are often surprised at how peaceful and relaxing acupuncture is.

In Western terms, acupuncture works by releasing endorphins, a natural morphine-like substance in our brains. In Oriental Medicine, acupuncture works by removing blockages (pain) and restoring vital flow and function.

Call Acupuncturist Lisa Gibilie TODAY
for a FREE PHONE Consultation.

Lisa Gibilie, L.Ac, Licensed Acupuncturist, has been in private practice since 1999 in Huntington Beach, California. Her specialty is relieving pain by understanding the body, mind, and spirit connection as it relates to health, well-being and balance. This is achieved by using ACUPUNCTURE, intuitive energy work and the principles of Oriental Medicine.