For our last workshop of the quarter, SIM welcomed back Donnielle James! Donnielle is a licensed acupuncturist based in Santa Monica. She has accumulated over 20 years of experience working in a variety of clinical and fitness settings, and she specializes in women’s health, pain management, and orthopedics.
Acupuncture is one of the eight branches of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The practice of acupuncture involves inserting very thin, sterile needles into the skin at specific points of the body. However, there are alternatives to needles if needed, such as when working with cancer patients, older patients, or patients who are simply afraid of needles. Acupuncture is used to treat a variety of symptoms and conditions, including lower back pain, musculoskeletal pain, depression, insomnia, and digestive issues.
Donnielle explained that there are 365 points along 12 primary meridians in the body. In order to make a diagnosis, an acupuncturist will look at the meridians and how they affect each other. Many meridians run close to major vasculature and neural pathways, and many are named after common organs. For example, the lung, spleen, heart, kidney, and liver are all meridians. Acupuncture points can be located near the chief complaint or away from the area. For example, there is an acupuncture point on the thumb for concerns with the uterus, and there is a point on the pinky that involves fertility.
The type of needle and the number of needles used depends on where it is being inserted. The average acupuncture needle is 1/25 the width of a syringe, but for cosmetic needles in the face, they are even thinner and only half an inch in length. The face is also an area that has many acupuncture points. Larger needles that more closely resemble syringes are for motor points for muscle activation.
Donnielle also explained tongue diagnosis, which is a method of diagnosing conditions based on how the tongue looks. The ideal tongue is reddish-pink in color and has a thin, white film covering it. However, different appearances on different areas of the tongue can reveal issues with organs like the pancreas and lungs. Additionally, your diet can affect your tongue’s appearance. For instance, wine makes the tongue purple, and heat, coffee, turmeric, and ginger make the tongue yellow.
Donnielle ended with showing us some acupressure points on the body. Acupressure is when you put pressure on specific points of the body to relieve muscle tension and improve circulation. One pressure point is on the back of the wrist, called SJ5, which boosts immunity. Another point, Du 20, is located at the crown of the head. This point is good for energy. Donnielle says you can hold the pressure at acupressure points for as little as five minutes.
If you would like to learn more from Donnielle or get in contact with her, you can visit her website at http://www.balancefromwithinwellness.com.
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