Thanks for Your Votes

Today is the last day to vote for the intuit love a local business $25,000 business grant. Thanks so much for all of your support. Your comments were so awesome, we thought we'd share! 

Neighborhood Acupuncture Place

Crystal Lake, IL

Clnap is absolutely amazing! The staff is kind and caring and the pricing is extremely affordable. The acupuncture has helped me tremendously in my health and healing. 
Kelli (01.24.12) Report Abuse

I love the great customer service, quick and efficient visit and they always take time to listen to you and share ways to improve your health. Great place!!!!
Karla (01.22.12) Report Abuse

Love CLnap! Provides affordable acupuncture for our community, in a peaceful and caring environment.
yoganan (01.21.12) Report Abuse

NAP offers community acupuncture that is accessible for all. It is an amazing space for healing.
tar75 (01.21.12) Report Abuse

NAP is a great asset to the community. The healers are so caring. Please help this business grow.
suesunfl (01.20.12) Report Abuse

Great service with a very kind attitude of trying to heal and heal the pain they have done!!! After one year of doctors, NAP has resolved my pain!!! YEAH!
sandy (01.19.12) Report Abuse

I had my first treatment last week. I was very amazed how well I felt afterwards. I had shoulder surgery and my mobility increased 50%. My stomach gerd also subsided substantially. I can't wait to go back! We are lucky to have NAP in CL!
Beth (01.19.12) Report Abuse

Sarah and the affordable acupuncture has help me thru a recurrence of breast cancer & mastectomy that did not heal properly. My mind & body have reunited and I am feeling so much better. Thank You beyond words. I am so appreciative of your efforts.
feelgoodgirl (01.18.12) Report Abuse

Affordable, great care
davyp (01.18.12) Report Abuse

Sarah and Marguerite are awesome! My sinuses have never felt better! Rave reviews from all who go - best homeopathic around! Even if only needing a little R&R - this the place for you! 
Shawnteg (01.18.12) Report Abuse

best healthcare around - the staff is great and it is such a wonderful concept- affordable healthcare!
shelly (01.18.12) Report Abuse

Sarah and Marguerite are great Acupuncturists. NAP is a real asset to the CL community because they offer affordable healthcare. They deserve to win this business grant.
JLK (01.18.12) Report Abuse

Health and wellness is a huge topic these days. Neighborhood Acupuncture Place is an asset to C. L. and it's surrounding communities by bringing high quality health care to more people by keeping rates affordable during these trying economic times.
Jim Mills (01.18.12) Report Abuse

Sarah has helped me so much. I had accupuncture before but thought I would not be able to afford it again until I found NAP. I send everyone I know that needs help to see her. CL is luckey to have her!
Jeanne (01.17.12) Report Abuse

Community acupuncture has helped me with different health issues and is affordable so I can get treated more often without any side effects. Their aim is to help people without a huge expense.
Joyce H. (01.17.12) Report Abuse

Sarah provides an invaluable service - not only to the community, but to everyone she comes in contact with through N.A.P., her blog, her teaching and her outreach. I can't think of a more deserving business. 
MP (01.17.12) Report Abuse

Folks who really care
Svdbylove (01.17.12) Report Abuse

Awesome business 
Coolsu7 (01.17.12) Report Abuse

Awesome business 
Coolsu7 (01.17.12) Report Abuse

Awesome business 
Coolsu7 (01.17.12) Report Abuse

I have referred many to this group and they have been nothing but wonderful in working with the birth community! I'm glad to have hem in our area.
jbd (01.17.12) Report Abuse

Neighborhood Acupuncture Place is a wonderful addition to the Crystal Lake area. Having the opportunity to have Acupuncture service at an affordable price and in a nearby location is truely wonderful. The Acupuncturists are caring and very helpful. 
king25 (01.17.12) Report Abuse

Amazing place! We need more alternative medical places people can afford! Sarah is smart and helpful. Help her expand!
amy (01.17.12) Report Abuse

Neighborhood Acupuncture Place supports the community by offering affordable acupuncture treatments. Because it is affordable I am able to stay healthy. The acupuncturists are wonderful human beings and really care about the people who come to NAP.
dragonsister (01.17.12) Report Abuse

Very caring environment, with a great healer at the helm. Not very close for me, but well worth the trip.
JoshtheLMT (01.17.12) Report Abuse

NAP offers community acupuncture that is accessible for all. It is an amazing space for healing.
yogagirl75 (01.17.12) Report Abuse

It is an honor to serve the Crystal Lake community by providing affordable acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture has always been a medicine of the people and we want to keep it that way so that as many people as possible can benefit.
clnap (01.17.12) Report Abuse

Thank a Mail Man Week

NAP made a new years resolution to help the community stay healthy. Our commitment continues to be to provide affordable health care. 

Its Thank a Mail Man Week at Neighborhood Acupuncture Place Jan 30th-Feb 4th. We know how hard mail carriers work and acupuncture is great for all kinds of pain and soreness. Neighborhood Acupuncture Place is offering unlimited $10 acupuncture treatments to all mail carriers and postal service employees Jan 30th-Feb 4th as our way of saying thanks.

Help us spread the word! And remember all acupuncture treatments are always $15-40 everyday. Schedule online or call 815.893.9825

Sarah Canga-Arguelles

Neighborhood Acupuncture Place
230 Florence St
Crystal Lake IL 60014
815.893.9825
www.clnap.com 

Foods that Fight Pain

In Chinese Medicine food is our first medicine. Here is a great article on foods that help with pain by Dr Akilah El and the Celestial Healing Wellness Center. 

The Natural Health and Holistic World According to Dr Akilah El

13 Foods that Fight Pain

77 CommentsPosted by docakilah on December 8, 2011

While many foods taste great, they are also powerful healers in a vibrant multicolor disguise. The best healing remedies also taste fabulous (I can’t say that about any prescription medications). Plus, foods won’t cause the nasty common side effects that most drugs cause.

1. Cherries
Muraleedharan Nair, PhD, professor of natural products and chemistry at Michigan State University, found that tart cherry extract is ten times more effective than aspirin at relieving inflammation. Only two tablespoons of the concentrated juice need to be taken daily for effective results. Sweet cherries have also been found to be effective.

2. Blackberries 3. Raspberries 4. Blueberries and 5. Strawberries
Dr. Nair later found the same anti-pain compound in berries like blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries

6. Celery and Celery Seeds
James Duke, Ph.D., author of The Green Pharmacy, found more than 20 anti-inflammatory compounds in celery and celery seeds, including a substance called apigenin, which is powerful in its anti-inflammatory action. Add celery seeds to soups, stews or as a salt substitute in many recipes.

7. Ginger
Ginger reduces pain-causing prostaglandin levels in the body and has been widely used in India to treat pain and inflammation. A study by Indian researchers found that when people who were suffering from muscular pain were given ginger, they all experienced improvement. The recommended dosage of ginger is between 500 and 1,000 milligrams per day. If you’re taking medications, check with your health practitioner for possible herb-drug interactions.

8. Turmeric
Turmeric (curcuma longa) is the yellow spice commonly used in Indian curries. In research it has been shown to be a more effective anti-inflammatory than steroid medications when dealing with acute inflammation. Its main therapeutic ingredient is curcumin. Research shows that curcumin suppresses pain through a similar mechanism as drugs like COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors (without the harmful side effects). Choose a standardized extract with 1500 mg of curcumin content per day.

9. Salmon 10. Mackerel and 11. Herring
Many fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and herring also contain these valuable oils. Omega-3s convert in the body into hormone-like substances that decrease inflammation and pain. According to Dr. Alfred D. Steinberg, an arthritis expert at the National Institute of Health, fish oil is an anti-inflammatory agent. Fish oil acts directly on the immune system by suppressing 40 to 55 percent of the release of cytokines, compounds known to destroy joints. Many other studies also demonstrate that eating moderate amounts of fish or taking fish oil reduces pain and inflammation, particularly for arthritis sufferers.

12. Flax Seeds and Flax Oil
Freshly-ground flax seeds and cold-pressed flax oil, contain plentiful amounts of fatty acids known as Omega-3s. Do not cook with flax oil otherwise it will have the opposite effect-irritating the body’s tissues and causing pain.

13. Raw Walnuts and Walnut Oil
Raw walnuts and walnut oil also contain the same powerful Omega-3 fatty acids that fight pain and inflammation in the body.

When it comes to pain, food really is the best medicine.

www.healingpowerhour.com

Plenty of Reasons to go Bananas for, Bananas

Special thanks to my mom for sending me this via email. I thought I'd share for this weeks 

blog. 

Pass the Banana  

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the   expression 'going bananas' is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:
 

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A   banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. 

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. 

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or         prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering    from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas            contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make   you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier. 

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose           levels, which can affect your mood. 

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and   so helps in cases of anemia. 

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt,    making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration   has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce therisk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped     through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to      boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist           learning by making pupils more alert. 

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel      action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives. 

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake,   sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system. 

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from               heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
 
Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness. 

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area      with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation. 

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital       patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The 
report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood        sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady. 

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in               over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the 
lining of the stomach. 

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
 
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they containthe natural mood Enhancer tryptophan. 

Smoking & Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body          recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal. 

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to     the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack. 

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as  part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%! 

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in  place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has  four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the     vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe it's time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!' 


 
 
 
 

12 Reasons to Get Acupuncture in 2012

If you aren't big on new years resolutions this blog might be for you. Thanks AcuTake for writing this week's blog.

12 Reasons to Get Acupuncture in 2012

There has never been a better time to get acupuncture. The reasons are infinite (in our humble, unbiased opinion), but here are 12 of the most compelling motivations for making acupuncture a priority this year.

1. It’s not about “stuff.” The driving idea behind acupuncture is that we’re already in possession of everything we need to be well. The holidays, while meaningful, are often a time of excess—too many presents, too much food and alcohol. The new year is an ideal time to embrace what we have rather than what we want. Acupuncture teaches us to do this.

2. Gratitude becomes evident. In teaching us to behold rather than crave, acupuncture inspires gratitude. Our healthcare system, so heavily reliant on externally manufactured diagnostic tools and therapies, sends a message that we are not enough. Acupuncture reminds us of how much potential we inherently possess.

3. There’s no technology required. We live in an over-digitized world—and it’s not just about the iPads, Pods and Phones under our Christmas trees. Mainstream medicine is obsessed with technology, too. MRIs, CT scans, and lab tests are ordered before laying a hand on the patient; antibiotics and antidepressants are recommended as easily as cough drops. This emphasis on quick fixes prevents people from distinguishing how they actually feel from what a machine tells them they feel. The simplicity of acupuncture helps us remain present in the process of achieving health.

4. Patience is a virtue. Not only does the low-tech nature of acupuncture keep us connected to how we feel, but it also makes us more patient. Technology has birthed and bred an “I want it now” society. With some exceptions, acupuncture does not work overnight, especially for chronic conditions. It is an ongoing process that requires an investment of time and a willingness to let go of the assumption that medicine must provide instant gratification.

5. Context matters. Occupy Wall Street taught us the dangers of looking at things in isolation. Whether a protester’s personal beef was with fuel, foreclosures or food, the fundamental issue raised by the movement is a failure to think holistically. Acupuncture looks at how root imbalances affect the whole system, a much needed perspective in these imbalanced financial times.

6. One size does not fit all. Part of seeing things contextually is understanding that every person and situation is different. Unlike biomedicine, which links textbook symptoms to pre-defined treatment strategies, acupuncture works with each person’s unique constitution and circumstances to arrive at his or her own definition of health. Acupuncture assists people in discovering what health means to them.

7. It’ll open your mind. Acupuncture requires us to think about health in entirely new ways. Despite noble efforts by many to find one, there is no biomedical equivalent for qi. Acupuncture turns mainstream medical tenets on their head. It reminds us that there are multiple ways of seeing the world, an especially useful viewpoint as we enter an election year.

8. It’s a solid investment in the future. Speaking of elections, something we’re sure to hear a lot about this year is healthcare costs. Not only is acupuncture an effective way to trim current spending on prescriptions and medical testing, but as preventive medicine it decreases long-term spending on the chronic conditions that become more prevalent and expensive as we age. Widespread adoption of acupuncture would drastically reduce overall healthcare costs.

9. Affordable options are increasing. Last year, the People’s Organization of Community Acupuncture, or POCA, was born. This is a multi-stakeholder cooperative that welcomes anyone with an interest in affordable acupuncture, including patients, acupuncturists, local businesses, etc. This means more money and manpower behind the community movement, which potentiates more affordable acupuncture clinics in neighborhoods near you.

10. Change is good. They say the only constant is change. This adage gets proven again and again, day after day, everywhere from publicized international conflicts to private battles with illness. From an acupuncture perspective, change is the primary ingredient for becoming a healthier person. While conventional medicine requires us to think in absolutes, acupuncture considers even the most subtle changes to be significant.

11. Aren’t you curious? Surveys conducted last year revealed that more hospitals than ever are offering acupuncture. The media couldn’t get enough of the military’s use of it. Critics’ rants became increasingly inaccurate and desperate. Something so worthy of attention must be pretty powerful.

12. The road less traveled is the one worth taking. It’s not always easy to embrace acupuncture. Most doctors, as well as some family, friends and colleagues, regard mainstream medicine as the only acceptable form of healthcare. The constant barrage of pharmaceutical advertising is hard to ignore. It takes courage to go against the grain. Acupuncture, although becoming more popular, is still not the norm. It requires a conscious commitment to understanding ourselves in a way that the majority shuns. This is the harder path toward health but ultimately the most rewarding.

Happy New Year from AcuTake.

12 Reasons to Get Acupuncture in 2012

If you aren't big on new years resolutions this blog might be for you. Thanks AcuTake for writing this week's blog.

12 Reasons to Get Acupuncture in 2012

There has never been a better time to get acupuncture. The reasons are infinite (in our humble, unbiased opinion), but here are 12 of the most compelling motivations for making acupuncture a priority this year.

1. It’s not about “stuff.” The driving idea behind acupuncture is that we’re already in possession of everything we need to be well. The holidays, while meaningful, are often a time of excess—too many presents, too much food and alcohol. The new year is an ideal time to embrace what we have rather than what we want. Acupuncture teaches us to do this.

2. Gratitude becomes evident. In teaching us to behold rather than crave, acupuncture inspires gratitude. Our healthcare system, so heavily reliant on externally manufactured diagnostic tools and therapies, sends a message that we are not enough. Acupuncture reminds us of how much potential we inherently possess.

3. There’s no technology required. We live in an over-digitized world—and it’s not just about the iPads, Pods and Phones under our Christmas trees. Mainstream medicine is obsessed with technology, too. MRIs, CT scans, and lab tests are ordered before laying a hand on the patient; antibiotics and antidepressants are recommended as easily as cough drops. This emphasis on quick fixes prevents people from distinguishing how they actually feel from what a machine tells them they feel. The simplicity of acupuncture helps us remain present in the process of achieving health.

4. Patience is a virtue. Not only does the low-tech nature of acupuncture keep us connected to how we feel, but it also makes us more patient. Technology has birthed and bred an “I want it now” society. With some exceptions, acupuncture does not work overnight, especially for chronic conditions. It is an ongoing process that requires an investment of time and a willingness to let go of the assumption that medicine must provide instant gratification.

5. Context matters. Occupy Wall Street taught us the dangers of looking at things in isolation. Whether a protester’s personal beef was with fuel, foreclosures or food, the fundamental issue raised by the movement is a failure to think holistically. Acupuncture looks at how root imbalances affect the whole system, a much needed perspective in these imbalanced financial times.

6. One size does not fit all. Part of seeing things contextually is understanding that every person and situation is different. Unlike biomedicine, which links textbook symptoms to pre-defined treatment strategies, acupuncture works with each person’s unique constitution and circumstances to arrive at his or her own definition of health. Acupuncture assists people in discovering what health means to them.

7. It’ll open your mind. Acupuncture requires us to think about health in entirely new ways. Despite noble efforts by many to find one, there is no biomedical equivalent for qi. Acupuncture turns mainstream medical tenets on their head. It reminds us that there are multiple ways of seeing the world, an especially useful viewpoint as we enter an election year.

8. It’s a solid investment in the future. Speaking of elections, something we’re sure to hear a lot about this year is healthcare costs. Not only is acupuncture an effective way to trim current spending on prescriptions and medical testing, but as preventive medicine it decreases long-term spending on the chronic conditions that become more prevalent and expensive as we age. Widespread adoption of acupuncture would drastically reduce overall healthcare costs.

9. Affordable options are increasing. Last year, the People’s Organization of Community Acupuncture, or POCA, was born. This is a multi-stakeholder cooperative that welcomes anyone with an interest in affordable acupuncture, including patients, acupuncturists, local businesses, etc. This means more money and manpower behind the community movement, which potentiates more affordable acupuncture clinics in neighborhoods near you.

10. Change is good. They say the only constant is change. This adage gets proven again and again, day after day, everywhere from publicized international conflicts to private battles with illness. From an acupuncture perspective, change is the primary ingredient for becoming a healthier person. While conventional medicine requires us to think in absolutes, acupuncture considers even the most subtle changes to be significant.

11. Aren’t you curious? Surveys conducted last year revealed that more hospitals than ever are offering acupuncture. The media couldn’t get enough of the military’s use of it. Critics’ rants became increasingly inaccurate and desperate. Something so worthy of attention must be pretty powerful.

12. The road less traveled is the one worth taking. It’s not always easy to embrace acupuncture. Most doctors, as well as some family, friends and colleagues, regard mainstream medicine as the only acceptable form of healthcare. The constant barrage of pharmaceutical advertising is hard to ignore. It takes courage to go against the grain. Acupuncture, although becoming more popular, is still not the norm. It requires a conscious commitment to understanding ourselves in a way that the majority shuns. This is the harder path toward health but ultimately the most rewarding.

Happy New Year from AcuTake.