Hello Groupon Community!

Hello and welcome to Dawna Ara Acupuncture. Thank you for purchasing an acupuncture session with me through Groupon.

I have received many emails and phone calls about the deal, services I provide, and scheduling of appointments. I will try to answer all of you personally but please be patient while waiting for a reply as I am just a one lady operation.

I am very excited to work with each of you and promise to give you all my undivided attention once you are in the treatment room. In the meantime I will answer some general questions here. Read more

Got Back Pain?

Then why not try acupuncture? Recent studies have shown that acupuncture can significantly help to decrease back pain and improve mobility in some people.

Not only can acupuncture decrease your back pain but it could also help you to sleep better, be happier, and even give you more energy!

How can acupuncture do all this in just one session? The answer is simple. Chinese Medicine brings the body into balance, or in other words, homeostasis.

Once balanced circulation improves, tension melts away, and your body is able to heal allowing you to enjoy a new sense of well being.

So why not come in and see what all the buzz is about. ACUPUNCTURE WORKS!

Book online to schedule the next available appointment with Dawna Ara, L.Ac.

5 Ways to Manage Neck Pain Naturally

Most if not all of us have experienced neck pain at some point in our lives. For some it is short lived acute pain lasting only a day or two, for others the pain becomes chronic and unbearable lasting months, even years if left untreated.

What is Neck Pain?

Neck pain is defined as pain or discomfort in the region above your shoulders and below your head. It could result from many reasons including physical abnormalities, poor posture, emotional stress, vascular diseases, vertebral compression or subluxations, thyroid disease, esophageal disease, and nerve pain.

Medical doctors will diagnose neck pain by asking the patient questions about the pain and possibly palpating the region.

Pain killers like ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, Tylenol, and vicodin are often prescribed to ease the pain. Although they may provide temporary relief, over the counter pain killers can have serious side effects such as ulcers and stomach bleeding. Stronger prescription painkillers like vicodin can become highly addictive and hard to come off of.

Oriental Medicine & Treatment of Neck Pain

In Oriental or Chinese Medicine no single ailment is treated without simultaneously treating the whole person. In other words, your entire being, lifestyle, diet, spirituality, emotional, and physical health are all taken into consideration.

So if you come into my office with neck pain, I will not only treat the manifestation (neck pain), but I will treat the root which could be causing other aliments as well. Many patients have said that not only did the pain disappear, but they can sleep soundly through the night now too! Oriental Medical doctors do this by utilizing a variety of techniques such as acupuncture, herbs, cupping, gua sha, qi gong, and massage in order to bring the person into balance.

How Acupuncture Works for Neck Pain

Acupuncture is a great way to relive neck pain. Acupuncturist treat neck pain by diagnosing the root cause of the pain and needling acupoints that not only treat neck pain but treat the underlying condition causing the pain.

For instance, many acupoints on the wrist and ankle treat neck pain but if the pain is coming from stress, poor diet, a cold or flu, physical or emotional blockages then those conditions need to be addressed as well in order to truly resolve the issue. By doing so, acupuncturist are able to treat a wide variety of aliments in just a few short treatments.

You Are Your Best Doctor

I teach all my patients about the importance of self care. People who can learn to recognize patterns and symptoms in their body before they manifest into full blown diseases can treat themselves and steer clear of unnecessary hospital visits. Below is a list of 5 things you can do on your own to decrease neck pain:

1. Stretch. This is an easy one. Gently tilt your head over to your right shoulder. Place your right hand over the left side of your head and the left hand on your left shoulder. Now gently pull your head away from your left shoulder. You should feel a nice stretch on your left side. Repeat this exercise on the other side.
2. Manage your stress. Activities like yoga, meditation, and creative expression can help you to manage your stress. Getting adequate sleep and food intake will also help you manage your stress and in turn, manage your pain.
3. Replace your pillow every 6 months. Overtime pillows can flatten and lose shape causing them to stop providing support. Be sure your pillow is suitable for the position you like to sleep in whether you are a back or side sleeper.
4. Keep your neck covered. Wind and cold can cause neck pain. Make sure to always keep your neck covered with a scarf, turtle neck, or collared shirt.
5. Correct your posture. Look at yourself in the mirror. If your head rolls forward and your shoulders droop down then your posture is bad. You can correct this by lifting and rolling your shoulders back and also pushing your neck back. Try to picture a string connected to the top of your head pulling your head, neck, and spine up to the sky.

As always consult your primary care physician before making any major health decisions.

To schedule an appointment Call 310.363.0039 or email dawnaara@gmail.com.

Mmm Mmm Smoothies

One of my husband’s all time favorite treat is a creamy strawberry smoothie. I enjoy making him this treat because 1. it puts a huge smile on his face and 2. I know he is eating something natural and healthy without added sugar or chemicals.

The best part about smoothie making is that they are superduper easy to make. Throw your favorite fruit in a blender with some milk and ice and VOILÀ!!! Out pours the smoothie of your wildest dreams!

Fruits that make good smoothies include bananas, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, mango, peaches, avocado, coconut, blackberries, and raspberries.

Using real fruit keeps the sugar levels low but don’t be fooled, sugar in it’s natural form is still sugar! The advantage of using real fruit is that it also has other natural elements like fiber, water, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Fiber will slow down sugar absorption. If you are a diabetic adding protein powder or fats like almond butter, avocado, or coconut oil will also slow down the rate sugar gets released into your bloodstream. You can bump up your smoothie power by adding a protein powder like Spiru-Tein, green powders like Vitamineral Green or Spirulina, or a handful of spinach or kale.

Here are a few of my personal favorite recipes. Feel free to alter the recipes according to your tastebuds.

Kai’s Favorite Strawberry Smoothie

• 2 cups frozen strawberries
• 2 cups milk of your choice
• 1 scoop vanilla Spiru-tein protein powder

blend on high for 30 seconds – 1 minute
makes 2 servings

Strawnana Berry Smoothie

• 1 frozen banana
• 2 cup frozen strawberries
• 1/4 cup frozen blueberries
• 2 cups of liquid of your choice (apple juice, milk, or water)
• optional – 1 scoop protein powder and/or 1 scoop green powder

blend on high for 30 seconds – 1 minute
makes 2 servings

Hawaiian Dream Smoothie

• 1 cup frozen mango
• 1 cup frozen pineapple
• 1 frozen banana
• 2 cups coconut milk

blend on high for 30 seconds – 1 minute
makes 2 servings

Green Machine Smoothie

• 2 frozen bananas
• 1 cup ice
• 1 handful spinach
• 1 kale leaf
• 1 bunch of mint
• 1 tbsp green tea powder
• 1 scoop of protein powder
• 2 cups of apple juice, orange juice, or milk

blend on high for 30 seconds – 1 minute
Makes 2 servings

Monkey Gone Bananas!

• 2 frozen bananas
• 1 cup ice
• 1 scoop cocoa powder or nibs
• 2 tbsp peanut butter
• 2 cups coconut milk

blend on high for 30 seconds – 1 minute
makes 2 servings

Yey Asparagus!

This week lets celebrate asparagus because it’s such an awesome veggie. You are probably wondering why asparagus so amazing. Well, besides the fact that it comes in 2 colors (white and green), asparagus is packed with lots of healthy nutrients.

Depending on how advanced your cooking skills are, asparagus can turn out tasting like stale cardboard, or become a satisfyingly delicious meal fit for a king.

Asparagus is a rockstar of a veggie and I am going to show you how to make yours become a true legend with my personal favorite recipe for creamy asparagus soup.

Creamy Asparagus Soup

• 1 bunch asparagus
• 1 onion
• 1 carrot
• 1 bulb of garlic
• 2 stalks celery
• 1 potato
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 1/2 cups of broth or milk of your choice
• celtic sea salt
• white pepper
• thyme

Wash and rough chop veggies into one inch or so pieces. Stir fry onions in butter until they become translucent. Add garlic, carrot, celery, potato, and asparagus and cook until soft. You may need to add a little water to the pan to keep the veggies from becoming dry. Once soft let the veggies cool down a bit and then add them to your blender. As you are blending the veggies slowly add the broth or milk, celtic sea salt, white pepper, and thyme to taste. Once creamy pour soup into pot and reheat.

Grilled Asparagus Spears

• 2 Bunches of asparagus
• olive oil
• celtic sea salt
• fresh ground pepper

Trim and cut off hard ends of stalks. Turn grill up to medium high. Lightly brush spears with olive oil, salt, and pepper and place them on the grill. Keep turning over spears until they become slightly soft and blackened. The key is you want them grilled on the outside but crisp on the inside so don’t grill them for too long. If you are feeling extra sassy drizzle some balsamic vinegar on them as soon as you take them off the grill. YUM!

For more delicious asparagus recipes, check out asparagusrecipes.net.

What is your favorite veggie recipe? Post a comment to let me know.