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Author: Ericca Burke

Support your mental health with acupuncture and Chinese medicine

mental health

 Background on mental health, acupuncture and Chinese medicine

May is mental health awareness month. The American Hospital Association shares that “May is a time to raise awareness of and reduce the stigma surrounding behavioral health issues, as well as highlighting the ways how mental illness and addiction can affect all of us – patients, providers, families, and our society at large.” One of the many things I love about Chinese medicine is that in Chinese medicine, an emotional or mental event is just as important as a physical one.

 

The organ systems and emotions

There are 12 primary acupuncture channels in the body where “qi” or energy flows through the body. These channels follow a structure much like the cardiovascular or the lymphatic system.  The channels are classified as yin or yang channels depending on the organ they are associated with.  The liver, heart, spleen, lung, liver, and kidney are five of the primary acupuncture channels. They each have a set of energetic properties, including an associated emotion.

 

These are the emotions associated with each of the yin organs:

  • Liver: Anger, also seen as frustration, irritability
  • Heart: Joy
  • Spleen: Worry, also seen as overthinking, ruminating
  • Lung: Grief, also seen as depression
  • Kidney: Fear

 

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatments for mental health

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine focus on identifying where the body’s energy flow needs support. A primary goal is to help restore the optimal flow of energy so the body can heal itself. This includes supporting mental health. When designing a treatment plan, my goal is to help restore the proper balance of energy in your body and address your specific concerns. Every person is unique and receives a treatment customized specifically to their needs.

 

Most often, the treatment includes acupuncture needles. The needles stimulate points in the body where “qi” or energy gathers and help direct and balance energy flow. They are a quick and effective way to balance energy. Additionally, acupuncture needles release endorphins as reported in many research articles, including this one in Neuroscience Letters journal and this one in Science journal.

 

Some treatments include ear seeds. An ear seed is a small sphere. It stimulates an acupuncture point on the surface of the ear. Ear seeds attach to the ear with adhesive tape that looks like a band aid or clear surgical tape. They work by exerting a gentle pressure on the acupuncture point. Patients can wear ear seeds for up to five days. I love to use ear seeds because they are a great way to continue the treatment at home.  You can read more about ear seeds in the All about ear seeds and auriculotherapy blog.

 

Want to talk about how acupuncture and Chinese medicine can support your mental health and well-being? I’d love to hear from you. Reach out and email me through our website or call or text 910-622-4269.

 

About the Author

Ericca Burke is the owner of HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine where she provides acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatments in Wilmington, NC. Click this link to read more about Ericca. 

 

About HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine in Wilmington, NC

HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine is an acupuncture and Chinese medicine practice located in Wilmington, NC just minutes from beautiful Wrightsville Beach. Click this link for contact information and directions. Click this link for a listing and description of services offered.

 

Enhance your vitality this spring

enhance your vitality

Spring is a great time to enhance your vitality

This is the time of year when many people are feeling a little off. They may experience allergy symptoms, headaches, irritability, or even problems with muscles, tendons and ligaments. Women might have menstrual or fertility issues, and people may find it more difficult to make decisions. Are you sighing more than usual? This may be your body’s way of releasing stagnant liver qi. “Qi” is the Chinese word that means life force or energy. Spring is a great time to support your liver and gallbladder and enhance your vitality.

 

In Chinese medicine, the organs are associated with phases or elements. The liver and gallbladder are the organs that belong to the wood element which is dominant in the spring.  Often, symptoms that people experience are right in line with the energetic shift of the changing seasons.

 

Alignment with the seasons and phases

People are often fascinated to hear about how their organs are associated with the different seasons and how this relates to symptoms they experience in their bodies.

 

In Chinese Medicine, there are five phases of transformation: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. While Traditional Chinese Medicine calls these the five elements, Classical Chinese Medicine refers to them as phases because they develop and change into one another. The five phases or elements correspond to the seasons spring, summer, fall, and winter. In Chinese medicine, summer further divides into summer and late summer. Late summer refers to the transformation between the warmer summer weather and cool fall weather. The seasons and phases (or elements) are associated as follows:

 

  • Spring: Wood. This is when nature starts stirring from winter’s dormancy. Trees and plants blossom. New branches grow out of old wood, and new growth begins.

 

  • Summer: Fire. This is the time of warmth and activity. Nature is moving actively, and as a result is growing and flourishing.

 

  • Late summer: Earth. This is the time of harvest. It is also is the pause between the rising of the warming and active phases of wood and fire and the declining and cooler phases of fall and winter.

 

  • Fall: Metal. This is when nature lets go of what is not needed, as seen in the falling leaves from the trees. Compost from the dead leaves enriches the soil so it can prepare for the next cycle of growth in the spring.

 

  • Winter: Water. This is a time of rest. Animals hibernate, the days are shorter, and nature gets still and goes within to build up reserves.

 

How spring affects the liver and gallbladder

As I shared earlier, the liver is the organ that is associated with the wood element and spring. In Chinese medicine, the gallbladder is paired with the liver, and it is also part of the wood phase or element. Like the new shoots of growth in plants, similarly, our energy rises up in the spring. When too much energy rises up too quickly, we can get headaches and feel irritable.

 

When this uprising energy gets stuck or is not balanced, we can experience issues with our muscles, tendons and ligaments. For example, this is often a time of year when people experience knee problems. When the liver energy is not flowing smoothly, it can also result in PMS symptoms or fertility issues.

 

The eyes are the sensory organ associated with the liver. This is a time of year where people frequently experience itchy, red, painful eyes or blurred vision.

 

Sometimes the energy of these organs can be deficient, and people may experience twitching in their muscles, or find that they have trouble making decisions or gathering the energy to move forward in life.

 

 

Support your liver and enhance your vitality this spring

Every individual is unique, and no two people will experience the same symptoms for exactly the same reason. When I see a new patient, I make the time to ask a lot of questions and review their health history. This allows me to determine what is going on with their energy. For example, it is important to determine whether their energy is rising up too quickly, getting stuck, or is deficient. I develop a customized treatment to address their specific needs and restore the balance of energy. This might involve acupuncture needles, ear seeds, qigong exercises, and diet and lifestyle advice.

 

Want to talk about how acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help you enhance your vitality this spring? If so, I’d love to hear from you. Reach out and email me through our website or call or text 910-622-4269.

 

About the Author

Ericca Burke is the owner of HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine where she provides acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatments in Wilmington, NC. Click this link to read more about Ericca. 

 

About HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine in Wilmington, NC

HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine is an acupuncture and Chinese medicine practice located in Wilmington, NC just minutes from beautiful Wrightsville Beach. Click this link for contact information and directions. Click this link for a listing and description of services offered.

The Chinese organ body clock

Chinese organ body clock

Background on the Chinese organ body clock

Often when I start working with with a new patient, I’ll ask them if they’ve ever heard of the Chinese organ body clock. Typically, the response is an interested, “No, what’s that”? What I’m referring to is an important part of Chinese medicine that is firmly rooted in nature. The Chinese organ body clock refers to the projection of organ system function to our 24-hour clock. Every two hours a different organ system is either at its peak function of activity or its lowest activity or time of rest, just like the tides in the ocean. Aligning our activity to the organ clock can help maximize our health and wellbeing. It can give us clues into the root of illness or dis-ease. At times, it can also provide a simple explanation and solution to health issues.

 

How the Chinese organ body clock works

In Chinese medicine, the organ cycle starts with the Lungs from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. and cycles through a different organ system every two hours. It ends with the Liver from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. After that, the cycle starts all over again. Follow this link for a visual of an organ clock created by Health CMI. Here is a listing of the times for each organ system:

 

3 a.m. – 5 a.m. : Lung

This is the time when the lung organ system is at its peak. The lungs are associated with the emotion of grief. Often, people who are grieving will find themselves waking up at this time as the lungs process grief. This is a good time to stay in bed and rest to nourish the lung organ system.

 

5 a.m. – 7 a.m. : Large Intestine

This is the time when the large intestine organ system is at its peak. The large intestine is associated with letting go.  We literally let go of what the body does not need when we have a bowel movement. This peak time for the large intestine is when it is easiest to have a bowel movement, and why people who’s bodies are in tune with nature have a bowel movement during this time after they wake up.

 

7 a.m. – 9 a.m. : Stomach

This is the time when the stomach organ system is at its peak. This is the ideal time to eat a big meal, as the stomach is best able to digest food at this time. Interestingly, the worst time for the stomach to have a big meal is 7 p.pm or later in the evening when the stomach is at its energetic low point. This is why it is recommended to have dinner by 6 p. m. and stop eating for the night by 7 p.m.

 

9 a.m. – 11 a.m. : Spleen

This is the time when the spleen organ system is at its peak. The spleen helps with the assimilation of nutrients from food to build energy in the body. This is an ideal time to work and tackle your most difficult tasks. Conversely, during 9 p. m. and 11 p. m. the body should be winding down for the night and going to bed.

 

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. : Heart

This is the time when the heart organ system is at its peak. The heart pumps blood and nutrients throughout the body. This is a good time to eat lunch, and ideally, a lighter meal than eaten at breakfast. When the heart is performing optimally, the shen or spirit is bright, and thinking and speech are clear and effective.

 

1 p.m. – 3 p.m. : Small Intestine

This is the time when the small intestine organ system is at its peak. The small intestine separates the pure from the impure. In other words, it separates what serves us that we want to hold on to from what does not serve us that we should let go of. This is both physical and mental / emotional. We hold on to nutrition from food, and pass waste material to the large intestine. The small intestine also governs our discernment with thoughts and emotions and helps us sift through what serves us and what does not.

 

3 p.m. – 5 p.m. : Bladder

This is the time when the bladder organ system is at its peak. The bladder excretes liquid waste from the body. It is important to drink water throughout the day to help the bladder function optimally. Conversely, the weakest time of the the bladder organ system is 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. If the bladder organ system is weak, you may find yourself waking up during this time to urinate.

 

5 p.m. – 7 p.m. : Kidney

This is the time when the kidney organ system is at its peak. The kidneys filter fluids and maintain a healthy chemical balance in the blood. This a great time to have a walk after eating dinner to help with circulation and digestion. Gentle stretching is also helpful during this time. The weakest time of the kidney organ system is from 5 a.m. through 7 a.m. If you find yourself having trouble getting out of bed during this time, it may indicate that your kidney organ system is deficient from an energetic perspective.

 

7 p.m. – 9 p.m. : Xin Bao / Pericardium

This is the time when the xin bao or pericardium organ system is at its peak. In Chinese, xin bao translates to “heart envelope”, and it refers to the pericardium that wraps around the heart. The pericardium protects the heart, and in Chinese medicine it also relates to circulation. This is an optimal time of day for conception. The weakest time of this organ system is between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m, and it has been shown that heart attacks are more likely to occur during this time. It is believed in Chinese medicine that this is because the pericardium, or heart protector, is at its weakest during this time.

 

9 p.m. – 11 p.m. : San Jiao / Triple Burner

This is the time when the san jiao or triple burner organ system is at its peak. In Chinese, san jiao translates to “three burners”, and it refers to the three places in the body where energy is transformed. San jiao is related to metabolism as well as circulation. In Chinese medicine, it is recommended to go to sleep by 10 p.m. This allows the san jiao to work on metabolizing everything that was taken in during the day and perform repair and regeneration functions.

 

11 p.m. – 1 a.m. : Gall Bladder

This is the time when the gall bladder organ system is at its peak. The gall bladder is responsible for storing and excreting bile which is used to break down fat. This is a very important time to be asleep so that the gall bladder organ system can focus on working with bile. If your gall bladder is having trouble dealing with a fatty meal, you might find yourself waking up and feeling restless or uncomfortable during this time. In Chinese medicine, it is said that the gall bladder pulls blood from the sinews and sends the blood to the liver to be detoxified. Aches and pains may be felt in the morning if the gall bladder is not able to complete this activity overnight.

 

1 a.m. – 3 a.m. : Liver

This is the time when the liver organ system is at its peak. A primary function of the liver is to store, cleanse, and detoxify the blood. In Chinese medicine, it also regulates the healthy flow of energy through the body. It is extremely important to be asleep during this time so the liver can focus on these important functions. If you wake up during this time, it could be because of something energetically effecting your liver organ system. The emotion associated with the liver organ system is anger, which is also frustration and rage. Often these emotions are held in rather than expressed and can affect the liver and sleep.

 

Influence on health and well-being

People are often really interested to learn about the Chinese organ body clock and how it can correlate to health and well-being. Understanding the details of what our bodies are focused on during different intervals of the day help us understand a lot of common advice, like why is so important to try to be in bed and go to sleep by 10 p.m.

 

An interesting case of night sweats

I saw a new patient recently who was having a lot of hot flashes and sweating at night that were preventing her from sleeping. An obvious conclusion might be that this was a symptom of menopause, but this was not the case. It turns out that she was eating dinner around 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., and she was eating spicy food during this time.  Just when her body wanted to wind down and rest, it was given a big task of digesting a spicy meal. This disturbed her sleep and made it difficult for her to rest. She altered her diet to have an earlier dinner without spicy food and found that her hot flashes abated and her sleep improved.

 

Alcohol and sleep quality

Many people believe that consuming alcohol in the evening helps them wind down and is beneficial to their sleep. They tell me they don’t understand why they wake up in the middle of the night. They can fall asleep easily but they have trouble staying asleep. I  ask them if they notice what time they are waking up. Their response is usually sometime between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. As you read earlier, this is “liver time”.  In many cases, while the alcohol might help them slow down and relax which may help them fall asleep, the liver then gets agitated with processing the alcohol and causes them to wake up.  Abstaining from alcohol for a few nights will usually show if this is what’s going on.

 

These are just a few examples of how fascinating the Chinese organ body clock is.

 

Want to talk about how acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help you? I’d love to hear from you. Reach out and email me through our website or call or text 910-622-4269.

 

About the Author

Ericca Burke is the owner of HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine where she provides acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatments in Wilmington, NC. Click this link to read more about Ericca. 

 

About HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine in Wilmington, NC

HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine is an acupuncture and Chinese medicine practice located in Wilmington, NC just minutes from beautiful Wrightsville Beach. Click this link for contact information and directions. Click this link for a listing and description of services offered.

Acupuncture for Menopause

acupuncture for menopause

Background on acupuncture for menopause

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can be a great support for menopause. The National Institute on Aging defines menopause as a point in time 12 months after a woman’s last period.  The time leading up to and after that event is called perimenopause. It typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. During this time, women can experience a variety of symptoms including hot flashes, palpitations, digestive issues, insomnia, and mood changes.  Women have many options to get support during this important life change. One of those options is acupuncture and Chinese medicine.

 

Why acupuncture and Chinese medicine are a great option for supporting menopause

Here are some of the many reasons why acupuncture and Chinese medicine are a great option for supporting menopause:

  • It is oldest recorded medicine and is thousands of years old
  • It focuses on whole body wellness rather than the treatment of or fighting a disease or painful condition
  • It takes a holistic approach – body, mind, and spirit
  • An emotional or mental event is just as important as a physical one
  • It focuses on the individual
  • It is complementary to other healing modalities, including western medicine, massage, chiropractic, therapy, and others

 

A holistic and individualized perspective

An important facet of Chinese medicine is that all signs and symptoms are understood in relationship to the others. In western medicine, you’re likely to get prescribed different medications for each of your symptoms, and perhaps referrals to various specialists. In Chinese medicine, the symptoms often relate to underlying patterns of disharmony that can be addressed as a whole.

 

Additionally, Chinese medicine is individualized. There is no one size fits all treatment strategy For example, we might have five women experiencing hot flashes. But each one may be experiencing hot flashes for very different reasons, and it’s important to understand why and what’s going on with each woman at a foundational level so we can understand the root cause and give her the specific support she needs.

 

Yin and yang in relation to menopause

One of the most fundamental concepts in Chinese medicine is yin and yang. Yin is nurturing, cooling energy. Yang is warming, quick energy. They complement each other and are defined in comparison to one another.

 

When yin and yang are out of balance, disorder and discomfort can arise. I see this often in patients going through menopause. Typically, they have an excess of yang energy and a deficiency of yin energy. The yin energy is needed to hold down the yang energy. When there is not enough yin, it does not adequately hold down the yang, and hot quick energy flows upward in the body. In other words, a hot flash.

 

Why does this happen, you might ask? Well, it can be quite simple. Women today have a lot of responsibilities. We do it all. We take care of everyone and everything. We’re also rewarded by how productive we can be, how many accomplishments we can have, how many plates we can juggle.  That is all yang energy. Most of us are not balancing this with yin activities, like resting, meditating, quiet stretching. Too much yang, and not enough yin.

 

Qi and menopause

Another important concept in Chinese medicine is qi. Qi refers to energy, or life force. Qi is running through our body, and in particular, in what are called channels or meridians. We have channels of energy that flow through our bodies just like we have arteries and veins. One thing that’s key for optimal health and wellbeing is the free and smooth flow of qi. When our qi stagnates, dis-ease can result. An injury can cause stagnation of qi, for example, a broken bone, a cut, or stitches.

 

An interesting emotional situation that can cause qi to stagnate is when we feel mentally stuck. Have you even been in a situation where you feel like you have no ability to change it, and no outlet for your frustration? That kind of stuck mental feeling is a reflection of qi stagnation.  How about feeling like you have no down time, are you always behind, running late, don’t have enough time to do all that you need or want to do? That’s also what qi stagnation feels like.

 

One of the things I like most about Chinese medicine is that if focuses on optimizing the flow of energy so that they body can heal itself. The body has innate wisdom and knows what it needs to be healthy. When our energy is not balanced, disharmony, illness, and pain can result. Chinese medicine helps restore the smooth flow so the body can focus on healing itself.

 

Aging beautifully

As we age, what we look like changes. It can be unsettling.  It can even be scary. As we enter this phase of life, some of us may question our worth, our value, or our purpose. Our intrinsic beauty and wisdom that is emerging may not be obvious to us.

 

How we look, and more importantly, how we feel about how we look, can have a big impact on how we feel about ourselves. It’s ok, and normal, to want to be the best version of ourselves and to want to enhance and maximize our beauty.  That can be an important part of self-care. Some of us might consider face lifts, botox, injectables, and things of that nature. Others may want to do those things but are concerned about the invasiveness and possible side effects of those procedures.

 

Light therapy is a wonderful non-invasive way to enhance your natural beauty. Light therapy is the use of specific wavelengths of light to produce therapeutic benefits. The light we have at HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese medicine has red, blue and yellow lights which provide a number of benefits, that include things like stimulating collagen production that helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles, healing acne and skin conditions like eczema and rosacea. It does not have any UV rays and in fact helps heal sun damage. It can also stimulate hair growth. You can read more about light therapy in my blog The benefits of light therapy.

 

Relaxation is key

Another thing to consider is relaxation. Chinese face readers say that when we get to be in our middle ages, our faces reflect what we think and feel. Relaxation is a key to good health, beauty, and menopause. Relaxation is the ultimate way to nurture and increase your yin energy to balance that busy yang energy. Consistency is important. Ideally, something you do every day for yourself, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Want to know more and get some ideas? Read my blog on Healing yourself with the relaxation response.

 

Ear seeds for menopause

Ear seeds can also be very helpful for menopause. An ear seed is a small sphere placed on an acupuncture point on the surface of the ear. Adhesive tape holds the ear seed in place. It works by exerting a gentle pressure on the acupuncture point. A patient can wear ear seeds for up to five days. They are a great way to continue treatment at home. Ear seed kits are also available for people who are afraid of needles. You can learn more about ear seeds in my blog All about ear seeds and auriculotherapy.

 

Want to talk about how acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help you with menopause? If so, I’d love to hear from you. Reach out and email me through our website or call or text 910-622-4269.

 

About the Author

Ericca Burke is the owner of HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine where she provides acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatments in Wilmington, NC. Click this link to read more about Ericca. 

 

About HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine in Wilmington, NC

HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine is an acupuncture and Chinese medicine practice located in Wilmington, NC just minutes from beautiful Wrightsville Beach. Click this link for contact information and directions. Click this link for a listing and description of services offered.

The benefits of light therapy

light therapy

Background on light therapy

Light therapy is the use of specific wavelengths of light to produce therapeutic benefits. It is also referred to as phototherapy, photobiomodulation (PBM), low-level laser light therapy (LLLT), and low power laser therapy (LPLT). Red light therapy (RLT), where devices use the red light wavelength, has gained a lot of attention lately as a treatment for fine lines and wrinkles. Light therapy dates back to the early 1900s as a treatment for skin tuberculosis. NASA used red light therapy to help plants grow in space stations, and then to help astronauts who might become ill or injured on long space flights.

 

Applying light at specific wavelengths to human cells allows the cells to absorb the light energy and stimulates cell function and performance. It stimulates circulation and delivers oxygen and nutrients to the tissues, facilitating repair and increasing health and vitality.

 

Light therapy is used as a facial rejuvenation tool to treat acne, kill bacteria, heal wounds and scars, treat pigmentation, redness, and sun damage, stimulate circulation, promote fibroblast formation and collagen production, and improve the tone and texture of the skin as well as fine lines and wrinkles. It has also been shown to stimulate hair growth.

 

A Chinese medicine perspective

Light influences our “qi”, or energy. Light is believed to move the qi and directly enters the acupuncture channels. Concentrated light in the form of lasers has been used for decades to stimulate acupuncture points as an alternative to needles. Light therapy has a similar effect to that of acupuncture needles by bringing blood and qi to the area being treated. Additionally, research studies like the study Clinical effectiveness of laser acupuncture: a systematic review have shown the effectiveness of light therapy in the treatment of a variety of conditions.

 

Light for facial rejuvenation

The kind of light used for facial rejuvenation is produced through light emitting diodes, also known as LED, bulbs. This kind of light does not produce any ultraviolet (UV) rays. There is no risk of UV damage to skin tissue. In fact, light therapy can help heal damage caused by UV rays.

Read more about how LED therapy has been shown to increase protection against UV rays in the research article LED photoprevention: reduced MED response following multiple LED exposures.

 

Additionally, LED lights are non-ablative, which means they do not cause any injury to the skin surface. They are also non-thermal which means that they do not produce heat. Light therapy is safe and non-invasive, with no harmful or long-term side effects. It can be used on all skin types. There is no recovery time.

 

How light therapy works

The light device emits photons, which are tiny particles of light. The photons penetrate deeply into the skin’s epidermal, dermal, and subcutaneous layers. The energy is absorbed into the mitochondria of the cells at these layers, and the photons are transformed into adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP fuels the metabolic events of the cells, and in particular, the energy that cells use for growth and repair.

 

An important part of this process involves fibroblast production. Fibroblasts are a type of cell that make connective tissue. They secrete collagen and elastin proteins that build skin and give skin its structure and elasticity. Additionally, light therapy increases blood circulation to the tissues and reduces inflammation.

 

Benefits

  • Stimulates collagen production
  • Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
  • Improves facial tone and texture
  • Repairs sun damage
  • Can help heal eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea
  • Improves the appearance of scars and varicose veins
  • Accelerates the healing of cold sores
  • Kills the bacteria that causes acne
  • Helps heal wounds
  • Reduces inflammation
  • Helps stimulate hair growth

 

About the AcuLight – our preferred light therapy device

We use the AcuLight light therapy device at HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine. The AcuLight is a professional grade device from AcuMicro. AcuMicro developed the light with input from a Licensed Acupuncturist. It has 1,226 LED bulbs with red, blue, and yellow light. There are many light therapy devices available for home use. It is important to note that home devices are less powerful than devices used by trained professionals.

 

The AcuLight uses three types of light:

  • Blue light (Wavelength 423 nm): Produces singlet oxygen in the skin that destroys the P.acnes bacteria, improves acne, cleans skin, heals wounds

 

  • Yellow light (Wavelength 583nm): Promotes circulation, benefits uneven pigmentation, rosacea, skin redness, sun damage, bruising, spider veins

 

  • Red light (Wavelength 680 nm): Regenerates skin, stimulates circulation, assists wound healing, promotes fibroblast production of collagen and elastin, improves fine lines and wrinkles, eases pain, enhances energy

 

What to expect during a light therapy treatment

A light therapy treatment is relaxing. You’ll rest comfortably on a massage table for about 20 minutes while you listen to soft music. We provide protective eyewear and will position the light at a comfortable distance about eight inches above your face. There is no downtime, so after the treatment you’ll be free to go about your day and resume your normal activities.

 

Recommended treatment frequency 

The benefits from light therapy are cumulative. Light therapy is most effective when done on a regular basis, and it takes consistency and time to notice results. We recommend a series of 12 sessions for facial rejuvenation. We suggest scheduling sessions either 3 times per week for 4 weeks, or 2 times per week for 6 weeks.

 

While results will likely be visible even months after the treatment series is complete, maintenance is recommended to continue to support your skin’s vitality. You might think of regular light therapy treatments like you would regular exercise workouts.  When starting an exercise program, results are often seen after several weeks of consistent exercise, and continued exercise is important to maintain those results. While light therapy is safe to use as frequently as every day, it can be tailored to your needs. Even weekly maintenance treatments can be beneficial.

 

Before and after photos

Here are before and after photos from our practice. These photos were taken before light therapy treatment started and again after 12 treatments.

 

Contraindications and considerations 

Light therapy is a safe and effective treatment option. Side effects from light therapy are rare, like temporary redness of the skin on the face. Here are contraindications and things to consider when deciding if light therapy is right for you:

  • Do not use on people under the age of 12.
  • Do not use over a known cancer or tumor, any active skin cancer, or where cancer has metastasized.
  • Need to wait at least one week after using steroids or cortisol.
  • Do not use if you have a photosensitizing medical condition, like lupus.
  • Do not use while using photosensitive medications, including tetracycline, doxycycline, hydrochlorothiazide, or naproxen. Check with your doctor if you are on any medications or have any conditions that prohibit the use of light therapy.
  • Do not use while using photosensitive herbs, supplements, or topicals like citrus oil.
  • Do not use if you have seizures or epilepsy.
  • Do not use if you have a migraine.
  • Not for use with pregnant women or near the breasts of nursing women.
  • Do not use if you have an eye disorder that would prevent you from wearing the protective goggles.
  • Skin should be clean and dry before treatment.

 

A note on retinoids, retinols, and retinoic acid 

Retinoids refer to the class of topical skincare that contains vitamin A derivatives. Retinol is a natural form of vitamin A. Retinol requires enzymes within the skin to convert retinol to retinoic acid, which is the active component in prescription products like Tretinoin or Retin-A. Thus, the body’s conversion of retinol to retinoic acid can be a slow process.

 

Since retinols do not contain retinoic acid, over the counter products containing retinol are safe to use with light therapy. While there is no consensus on whether retinoids need to be discontinued before treatment, the most conservative approach is to discontinue prescription products containing retinoic acid 5 days before using light therapy treatment. The rationale is that retinoic acid makes the skin more sensitive to light and may cause redness.

 

Research articles

Light therapy is a proven therapy that has been studied over the past several decades in thousands of clinical trials. Below is a sampling of some of the many research studies available.

Overall

Cosmetic

Wound healing

Hair growth

 

When to seek medical attention 

Please seek medical attention if you have particularly severe acne, hair loss, skin disease, or a wound that recurs or won’t heal. Also, please be sure to read through the list of contraindicated conditions listed above. Talk to your doctor to see if light therapy is right for you.

 

Want to talk about how light therapy can help you? If so, I’d love to hear from you. Reach out and email me through our website or call or text 910-622-4269.

 

About the Author

Ericca Burke is the owner of HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine where she provides acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatments in Wilmington, NC. Click this link to read more about Ericca. 

 

About HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine in Wilmington, NC

HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine is an acupuncture and Chinese medicine practice located in Wilmington, NC just minutes from beautiful Wrightsville Beach. Click this link for contact information and directions. Click this link for a listing and description of services offered.