If you’re living with hip pain, you know how bad it can be. Surgery is expensive as well as risky. So, what should you do to get rid of your hip pain? Have you considered Acupuncture?

First let’s talk about the different types of hip pain, as well as some of their causes.

Hip Pain Caused by Sciatica

You may have people talk about their sciatica acting up. Your sciatic nerve is a large set of nerves that starts in your lower back and your sacrum, where your lower back is fused to your vertebrae. This is between your hip bones and pelvis.

The sciatic nerve can get pinched by the muscles and joints it runs under. A few of the causes of Sciatica are:

• Bulging or Herniated Disc. You have “disc disorder” if your back’s discs are bulging or herniated. Bulging discs are known as contained disc disorders which means their gel-like center is still inside, or contained, by their outer wall. Herniated discs, as opposed to bulging discs, are called non-contained disorders.
• Spinal Stenosis in the Lumbar. Spinal Stenosis is the name for a nerve compression disorder. This usually happens with older adults, but not always. A common cause of spinal stenosis is degenerative arthritis.
• This funny word is a disorder that usually affects your lumbar spine. You get Spondylolisthesis when one of your vertebra slips out of place. This causes the spinal nerve root to compress, and frequently makes sciatic leg and hip pain.
• Sometimes, you get sciatica the old-fashioned way; from an injury. If you’re in a car accident, or you’ve fallen, or even if you’re just playing football, you might compress your nerves and get sciatica.

Hip Pain Caused by Iliotibial Band Syndrome

If you’ve developed Iliotibial Band Syndrome, also known as IT band syndrome, your Iliotibial band becomes inflamed, and rubs the outside of your knee joint. This can give you pain throughout your legs as well as your hips. The more Iliotibial Band Syndrome is ignored, the worse it gets, and the more hip pain you’ll experience. Make sure you’re taking care of it immediately. These are the common causes of Iliotibial Band Syndrome:

• The most common way you’ll get IT band syndrome is overuse. There are usually other things that contribute to your IT band syndrome, however, the main characterization of IT band syndrome is overuse.
• Tight Tissues. If your muscles are tight in your hips, as well as along the side of your leg, this can cause or contribute to IT band syndrome.
• Weak Hip Muscles. According to research from Stanford, weak hip muscles are one of the bigger causes of IT band syndrome. If you have weak muscles in your hip, your running form breaks down. This puts a lot of stress on your knee’s tissues, for this reason, you can get IT band syndrome from weak hip muscles.
• Poor Running form. As mentioned above, if you’re using a poor running form. This could cause your IT band syndrome.

So, What Can an Acupuncturist Do?

Acupuncture works by relaxing tight muscles, improving blood circulation, regulating the nervous system, and releasing neurotransmitters to reduce pain. Acupuncture has been shown to be an effective treatment for sciatica without the side effects of prescription pain medications like NSAIDs and muscle relaxers.

There are many techniques and strategies to manage and fix back pain and hip pain. If you’re suffering, call (310) 652-3200, email, or use our contact form to see how we can help you feel better and pain-free.

Staying sharp with age is high on the list of many. Nobody wants to feel a noticeable mental decline or like they aren’t as smart as they once were. Being proactive about this aspect of health is essential to maintaining a healthy brain. Here are 5 ways to sharpen your mind as you age: 

Sleep

Getting a full night of sleep every night is like taking a sip from the fountain of youth. Sleep is a sure way to improve memory and cognitive function overall. With that being said, make sure to do everything in your power to ensure that you are getting to sleep at a reasonable hour. This may mean putting the phone down an hour before bed and meditating. It is crucial to mental longevity that the sleep schedule is on par with health standards.

Eating the Right Foods 

Usually, we don’t connect the food we eat to how our brain functions, which should change. The food you eat can make you think clearer and maintain better mental function with age. Our brain loves fatty foods like healthy oils, avocados, and coconut milk. Anything rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids is going to be good for your mind with age.

Pick up a Hobby that is Right-Brained and Stay Active 

Artistic activity helps mental concentration, so take a painting class or join a book club. Activities where you use your brain keep you sharp and thinking on your feet. This also improves mood and can make the transition into older ages easier. For even more of a mental boost, do these activities with others. Being social keeps you healthy and improves multi-tasking skills.

Exercise is also a fantastic hobby to stay awake and mentally aware. Exercise also reduces endorphins, which helps with mood and mental clarity. Getting in a steady exercise routine is recommended throughout life and especially as you get older.

Age doesn’t have to be scary, take these tips, and maintain the best cognitive level that you can for the rest of your life.

As you age, skin care becomes a necessity to keep your body’s overall health at an optimal level. We’ve compiled a list of holistic treatments that can improve your skin and help you live a healthier lifestyle. You can also receive all of these treatments from Relax Holistic’s skin care expert, Verneta Gilbertson, in Culver City.

1. Waxing

Even though body waxing temporarily removes your hair, it still has a long lasting impact on your skin’s health. Through waxing, you are able to remove dead skin cells that coalesce around hair. Removing your body’s dead skin cells will rejuvenate your skin and help with anti-aging.

2. Facial Masks

Humans have thousands of facial pores that have the ability to increase your risks of illness if not cleaned. You can clean your pores in a variety of manners, however, facial masks are the most effective method. A facial mask’s combination of natural ingredients like cocoa butter and aloe vera seeps into your pores and then creates a hardened shell. Once you remove the mask, your pores are cleansed and your skin becomes more refined. Some facial masks also contain certain vitamins that can boost multiple layers of your health.

3. Microdermabrasion

For those unaware, microdermabrasion treatment is a cosmetic procedure that removes the top layer of your dead skin cells. The skin cells are typically removed by a wand gently spraying fine crystals. Microdermabrasion treatments can prevent skin aging, dull complexion, and scars.

However, microdermabrasion treatments don’t fix skin complexion problems immediately. According to Medical News Today, microdermabrasion treatments, “a person may require between 5 and 16 treatments from a skin care specialist.”

Even though sleep deprivation is viewed as a benign problem in America, it can lead to a severe decline in your mental and physical state as you age. According to a study by Neuroscientist Adrian Owen, people who sleep less than four hours perform duties as if they were almost nine years older. Increasing your sleeping hours can reduce that consequence; however, that extra shut-eye time often doesn’t come easy for some people. Instead of forcing your eyes to close or taking vasts amount of sleeping medication, we wanted to provide some alternative holistic treatments that can maximize your sleep and overall health.

• Massage Therapy

The soothing muscle contractions and neurotransmitter stimulation during massages increase muscle relaxation and your brain’s ability to sleep quicker. The type of massage treatments that are the most effective is Deep tissue, Swedish, and Myofascial release.

• Acupuncture

Sterile needles precisely placed by a qualified acupuncturist improve circulation and reduce pain and stress. Many studies have shown that properly executed acupuncture treatments can actually help those who suffer from sleep apnea.

You can receive all of these treatments and more at Relax Holistic.  We are conveniently located in West Hollywood,

It’s National Chiropractic Health Month, and chiropractors across the nation are stressing the importance of exercising. This month’s “Move 4 Life” theme attempts to bring awareness to chronic pains. Chronic pains are caused by lack of movement, getting people to start exercising, and spreading knowledge about chiropractic services.

According to a recent research study, half of all adults don’t get the recommended amount of daily physical activity. And back pain is now the single leading cause of disability worldwide. Many health officials are concerned that the increase of inactivity and physical pain will lead to a constant reliance on opioid usage.

Chiropractors have argued that the growing chronic pain and opioid pandemics can be fixed by receiving pinpoint chiropractic services and exercising tips. The president of the ACA, Ray Tuck Jr. DC, even stated that “chiropractors help people move better by relieving back and joint pain and improving joint function.”

The National Chiropractic Health Month initiative, started by the Indiana State Chiropractic Association (ISCA), and you can find more information at www.indianastatechiros.org.

You can also receive chiropractic treatments at Relax Holistic, which is in Marina del Rey, West Hollywood, and Culver City.

Meditation is great for all ages but becomes increasingly helpful during stressful times and with age. Meditation benefits spiritual, physical, and mental sectors of life. Making a goal to meditate more has the potential to add a multitude of benefits to the value of your lifestyle. Here are four specific benefits that meditation could bring to your life:

Good for the Heart 

Meditation has been shown to improve hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and high cortisol. With that being said, it could positively impact your heart health. It could provide a natural cure for conditions that harm heart health.

Regulates Sleep Schedule 

Mind tired and body wired? Meditation can help the mind and body get on the same track. This could mean an easier time going to sleep and relaxing the mind and body when the time comes. Meditation can potentially cure insomnia with practice and in combination with other holistic health practices.

Increases Strength of Mental Health 

Meditation is a way to take a step back and look at the here and now. Learning to be still and clear the mind is a skill that will be applicable in nearly any stressful situation. Practicing meditation will allow your mind to handle stress and anxiety in a multitude of situations better. Meditation has been proven to give the mind more control over sleep, which has helped some insomniacs with their struggles getting to sleep.

Meditation also helps those with depression. Studies have shown that groups who have practiced meditation have shown fewer cases of depression and anxiety. Meditation decreases ruminative thinking and negative thoughts. It also has been found to help those struggling with an addiction to alcohol or other substances.

Weight Loss 

Meditation allows the mind and body to connect and listen to each other. This might help you realize that your body wants more natural foods and physical exercise. The mind has the potential to become increasingly aware of what the body needs to live fully. Meditation allows those struggling with their weight to look within and see what is best for their body and lifestyle. It allows you to think clearly while not being self-critical. 

Meditation increases the mind-body connection that leads to a happy spiritual, mental, and physical balance. A life full of mindfulness and meditation is life on a path towards balance and fulfillment.

These Instagram famous detox teas have gotten some attention from celebrities, followers, and doctors because of their claimed effectiveness. Cardi B and Kylie Jenner are two of the celebrities who have claimed that Teami Blends tea is what keeps them from getting bloated.

Fit Tea, Flat Tummy Tea, and MateFit are some other brands that celebrities such as Hilary Duff and Kim Kardashian gush about. Can we attribute the health of these celebs to these detox teas?

There is More to Health than Drinking a Magic Tea

Tea alone won’t make you miraculously look slim and glowing. There is more to health than that. This is the main message that health experts want people to know when trying to live a healthy lifestyle. If you eat unhealthily but drink your Flat Tummy Tea before bed, you aren’t necessarily going to feel and look 100%. This always seemed common sense, but some health professionals are saying that all this tea is… is tea. There might actually be nothing significant about these detox teas.

It May Reduce Water Weight, but So Will Any Laxative 

Nutritionists say that some of these teas contain laxatives. Laxatives may help you lose water weight, but the water weight will be gained right back next time you drink water. This might give users the effect of reduced bloating, but this is in now way detoxing your body from anything but water. 

Lack of Regulation is a Concern 

Health professionals are concerned because the FDA does not regulate these teas. These teas haven’t proven any substantial results, and manufacturers can add anything they want in these teas. Team has stated that their ingredients are 100% all-natural. CNN contacted the other tea brands, and they refused to comment.

What are the Risks? 

These teas can be pricey, so investing in a tea that isn’t going to reap any results should be enough to think twice. Some of the teas contain Vitamin K, which in excess can result to blood clotting. Valerian root is another potential ingredient that can react with anti-anxiety medicines or anti-depressants.

With this being said, drinking tea is great. Stick to green tea or matcha to get some safe and natural health benefits. Weight loss is best reached by pursuing a holistic health routine. Exercise and a natural diet will give sustainable results that will leave you feeling better than detox tea ever will.

Diet, exercise, mental health care and small lifestyle changes  can make a huge difference in the way the brain works. Feeding our minds the right nutrients is crucial to staying alert and focused. These five tips can make or break daily productivity, increase cognitive function and decrease the chances of Alzheimer’s.

1.Eating Certain Foods

There is no single food that can promise strong cognitive function forever, but there are foods that have been proven to increase brain power. A diet high in leafy vegetables such as: broccoli, spinach and kale may help slow cognitive decline.

Naturally fatty foods also feed the brain. Some of these foods are: coconut milk, nuts, avocados and fish. Foods high in fat can decrease chances of Alzheimer’s disease.

2. Exercise 

Regular exercise changes the brain to improve cognitive function, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Exercise reduces anxiety, helps sleep patterns and increases quality of life. Exercise is great for the brain because it often clears the mind and allows relaxation. This might seem like it would exhaust the brain, but it actually increases focus. Exercise helps the mind fall asleep better at night also.

3. Getting the Right Amount of Sleep

Exercise helps the mind and body wind down and get to sleep, which is another essential lifestyle pattern that is best for brain activity. Nobody works well or can focus with lack of sleep. It may be fine for one night, but the body and brain take far too long to recover from poor sleeping habits. This confuses the mind and decreases focus. It is important to have a steady sleep schedule so the brain can take a break at night and feel recharged for the next day.

4. Avoiding These Foods

Stay away from bread and sweets, no matter how tempting. Eating healthy foods instead of reaching for a muffin at lunch can save the mind from crashing mid-afternoon. The sleepiness that happens after lunch is from eating the wrong foods that aren’t doing the mind any favors. It may be hard to stay away from unhealthy carbs and refined sugars, but the energy levels will be rewarding and make this lifestyle change worth it.

5. Meditation 

A Forbes article discusses that meditation can preserve the aging brain. Meditation also eases anxiety and depression, which can lead to a healthier life and increased focus. One study found that just 2 weeks of meditation increased the focus and memory for students taking the GRE. In a previous Relax Holistic blog post, we discuss how to begin a meditation regimen today.

Being conscious of how lifestyle choices affect cognitive function will bring the body one step closer to a healthier, happier life. These 5 tips are doable for most lifestyles and worth trying for the noticeable increase in brain function that will follow.

Sooner or later, everyone faces the question, “Should I start eating healthier? If so, what foods will truly make me healthy?” We’ve put together a list of some of the most nutrient packed overlooked foods that can make you healthy and improve your overall well-being.

1. Cauliflower

They might not be appealing, however, Cauliflower is one of the most surprisingly healthy foods you can eat. If you implement cauliflower into your diet, you can gain nutrients like potassium and vitamins C, K, and B6. You can easily add it to any dish and they are a lot more delicious than you would imagine.

2. Grapefruits

A commonly overlooked food, Grapefruits, can provide a bounty of health benefits you would not expect. Grapefruits work as an excellent source to curb any large food cravings due to its high composition of water. Grapefruits also have minerals and vitamins that can flush toxins out and help you have cleaner skin.

3. Avocados

Avocados are loaded with a large amount of vitamins that aren’t typically found in one single food. A single 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving can provide you with vitamin K, folate, vitamin C, Potassium, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, and vitamin E. Avocados are also a good source to lower blood sugar levels as well as reduce physical ailments. Who knew that one small fruit could pack such a punch?

4. Brown Rice

Love rice, but want kick it out of your diet? Then move onto the healthier alternative, brown rice. Brown rice provides high levels of manganese, is a good source for fiber, and is less sugary than normal white rice. However, you must make sure that you wash brown rice before you cook it in order to get rid of any toxins.

Acupuncture and Healing

According to research by the American Stroke Association, a person under 50 increases the chance of suffering a stroke by three times after an injury to the head or neck. These findings are extremely important in modern medicine. However, research is also showing that acupuncture is a great treatment option for those who have suffered damage due to a stroke.

In fact, acupuncture is already the most popular treatment modality for stroke patients in China. Chinese practitioners have effectively used holistic health treatments like acupuncture on patients for centuries. Patients who receive acupuncture treatments twice a week for ten weeks report significant improvements in their balance, walking, and mobility. It also promotes a good overall mood and positive emotions. With more ease in their daily activities, patients see an improvement in their quality of life.

Causes of Stroke after Injury

Scientists have found that a major cause of stroke after a serious head or neck trauma is due to tears in the blood vessels of the head or neck from the injury. If these artery damages can be assessed at the time of the injury, an acupuncturist can treat a patient to help heal the injuries quickly and efficiently. With treatment, patients can help to prevent a stroke in the future. Because of this, it now appears that acupuncture can actually help reduce the risk of a future stroke in people who have suffered prior head or neck injuries. So how does this ancient holistic medicine practice help? Here are a few ways that acupuncture helps to prevent strokes after a head or neck injury:

Acupuncture Can Facilitate Nerve Regeneration

Research has proven that acupuncture helps to repair damaged nerves. Tests from researchers demonstrate that patients who received treatments show increased nerve regeneration. There have even been some interesting case histories involving re-wiring taking place in the brain following damage to the spinal cord. However, this has not been fully tested yet. Of course, every case is unique. The best advice is to visit a licensed acupuncturist. They can give a face to face assessment of what treatments might be possible given a patient’s own unique and specific circumstances

Prevents the Aggregation of Blood Cells

When blood cells aggregate, they tend to stick together. This process occurs more often around tears in blood vessels or skin, such as after an injury. This is similar to how your blood coagulates on your skin after you receive a cut that breaks the skin. However, when blood cells coagulate around blood vessels in the head or neck, a stroke can occur. Regular acupuncture treatments keep the flow of blood regular and help prevent this aggregation of blood cells.

Dilates Blood Vessels by Triggering the Release of Hormones

In addition, acupuncture helps to stimulate the local sensory nerve endings in the skin and muscles in a patient’s head and neck. Nerve endings there send impulses into the spinal cord and brain. However, these nerve endings also release various chemical substances into local tissues that are near the treatment of acupuncture. These chemicals help local blood vessels to dilate, which causes blood flow to increase. Both of these help to promote local tissue healing.

Helps Surviving Nerve Cells Find New Pathways

Nerve endings create impulses that travel into the spinal cord. Research has recently shown that acupuncture has a stimulating effect on brain cells. This stimulation causes a proliferation of new cells in the brain. These biochemical responses also stimulate nerve endings, causing them to induce regeneration if possible. In fact, according to scientific researchers, acupuncture has been shown to “increase the release of nerve growth factors (NGFs) to make nerve cells survive and axons grow, synthesize neurotransmitters, (and) metabolize toxic substances”.

Helps Your Brain Bypass Damaged Areas

As shown above, acupuncture helps a patient’s brain create new nerve endings, pathways, and even brain cells. It also aids neural pathways in creating better connections with the right and left brain. The body will naturally use these connections to bypass damaged areas of the brain and nervous system. In fact, researchers have taken this concept to new levels, using specialized techniques based on acupuncture to regenerate neurons in the brains of rats. Although medical advances like these are in our future, techniques like acupuncture help pave the way for research such as this.

Relax Holistic is the the Premier  ‘go to’ clinic for  Acupuncture healing.

At Relax Holistic, our stroke patients have shown major improvements after having acupuncture treatments. Our staff  have personally witnessed how it works so well for patients. They report reduced swelling, improved circulation and overall range of motion. We have even seen it instantly restore a patient’s speech after a major stroke. Call us to learn and experience how acupuncture works.