You're Invited to Charm City Integrative Health's Second Annual OPEN HOUSE

July marked Charm City Integrative Health's second year in Canton and we have SO much to celebrate! We have added new staff and several amazing new services. We would love to introduce them to you.

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Please stop by on Sunday, September 9th from 1 pm to 5 pm, enjoy some light refreshments, meet our staff, learn about our services and score some great deals on cryotherapy.

During this special event, take advantage of:
• $20 Cryotherapy Sessions
• 10 packs of Cryotherapy for $299 (SAVE $100. Must be purchased on 9/9.)
• Get your insurance verified for acupuncture benefits.
• Enter Raffles for free services from us as well as our partners in health and fitness.
• Pick up a grab bag with coupons from us and our partners.
• Learn about Medical Cannabis Certification.
• Book a FREE consultation with our founder, Tom Ingegno, DACM, to talk about how we can help you reach your health goals. 

Mark your calendars! Bring friends! We can't wait to see you all there!

7 Healthy Tips For Coping with Financial Stress

Charm City Integrative Health - Stress and Money

If you feel stressed you're just living your life, you’re not alone

Americans lead stressful lives.  Jobs, relationships, health, family obligations, community responsibilities—they all take their toll.

In “Stress in America”, an annual survey by the American Psychology Association, 1 in 5 respondents reported an extreme stress level of 8, 9 or 10 on a 10-point scale.  In that same group, 69% of respondents reported physical or non-physical symptoms of stress, including irritability or anger, fatigue, feeling overwhelmed or changes in their sleep.

The top source of stress according to 69% of the respondents is money.

Coping with money worries is difficult for many people.  You may feel lost or out of control.  You may argue with your spouse.  And ironically, you may go on a shopping spree to try to relieve your stress.

7 Healthy Tips for Coping with Financial Stress

1) Take breaks from the computer.  Computer work is hard on your neck and shoulders and for many people, financial work is the most stressful computer work of all.  All this stress can lead to a sore neck, shoulders, and back. Get up every 45 minutes to walk around and stretch.  Take deep breaths.  Keep your body relaxed so your emotions stay level.

2) Take charge of your finances.  Track your earnings and spending every day for a month.  Be ruthless and write down every penny. When you have a clear picture of your income and expenses make a reasonable spending plan which keeps them balanced.  Don’t budget for what you hope you’ll make or wish you’ll spend.  Be realistic.  Having a budget will give you control and reduce your financial stress.

 3) Plan your splurges.  It’s difficult to stick with a financial plan if you feel like it is overly restrictive and deprives you of what you love.  Create a  budget for reasonable treats.  Plan to spend money on the things that give you the most pleasure.

 4) Balance making more with spending less.  Sometimes taking extra shifts at work is smart and sometimes spending less is the best plan.  Make conscious choices about which strategy gives you the most pleasure and the least financial stress.

 5) Plan your shopping trips to avoid impulse buys.  Shopping can be stressful when you’re worried about money.  Shop when you are fed, hydrated and relaxed. Shopping sales seem like a smart idea but if you buy because you’re afraid you will never see such great prices again, they cost you money.  When you shop sales buy only what you planned.  Don’t fall prey to “Sale Fever.”

 6) Find support.  Sharing your financial triumphs and frustrations with a friend can be a big help in dealing with your financial stress.  A friendly ear gives you feedback when you’re tempted to blow your budget and accountability when you get lax.

 7) Stay Calm.  If you feel panic because you can’t pay your bills, remember to breathe.  Think about what your next step should be, resist negative thoughts or making your circumstances huge.  Remember similar times when you managed your problems successfully.

When you worry about money it is especially important to take care of your health.  Remember to do your healthy routines.  Exercise, eat well and get enough sleep.

Take steps to manage your financial stress.  Call me if you need help relieving your stress symptoms. 443-869-6584

Don’t forget to get some acupuncture!
 

VIDEO: 3 Tips for Finding a GREAT Licensed Acupuncturist

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It can be tough to find the right option in alternative medicine these days. With so many choices, the search can seem difficult but it's easy if you know the right questions to ask.

Today's local holistic expert is here to give you some great tips to help you find the right professional who will quickly treat your issues. 

~  ~   ~

I'm often asked, "Tom, how do I find the right acupuncturist?" The problem is that finding the right choice in acupuncture can feel overwhelming. Acupuncture can often seem foreign and present concepts that we in the West haven't been exposed to before, but the good news is if you have some basic questions at your disposal - making the right choice can be much easier.

If you've heard good things about acupuncture and think it might be a treatment that would fit you, where do you start? Finding someone who is nearby with hours and availability that works for your schedule can be a challenge. I'd like to give you a few tips to help you find a great licensed acupuncturist. 

Tip #1
Do they have a great reputation? 

Social media has made it easy to find out all about your practitioner. Look them up online. Do they have a good amount of positive reviews? You want to make sure that others have had a good experience. It will give you some good information in order to make your decision

Tip #2
Do they offer free consultations? 

Consultations are a great way to meet the acupuncturist, see their location and make sure they are the right fit to help you get the results you're looking for. This is a great opportunity for you to ask the acupuncturist questions about your health issues as well as questions about their experience and training

Tip #3
Do they offer other therapies in their office? 

Acupuncture is amazing, but there are many other techniques that the acupuncturist may be able to provide you to help you get better faster. Not only can a good acupuncturist provide techniques like cupping, Gua Sha, Cupping, dietary advice and herbal medicine, but they may be able to offer modern therapies and supplements as well.

Our expertise is in recovery and peak performance and we focus on helping potential patients reach their health goals with custom treatment plans that can include acupuncture, whole body cryotherapy, massage and more. For a free consultation, they can schedule on our website here or they can call us at 443-869-6584. We're happy to help. We want patients to reach their optimal health levels

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Wow. That's pretty incredible, isn't it? Now you have some great tips to find just the right professional that will help you along. Are you ready to learn more? You can reach today's expert by calling the number on your screen. See you next time

Interview with Tom Ingegno, L.Ac., owner of Charm City Integrative Health

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I had a chance to sit down with Tom Ingengo, L.Ac., owner of Charm City Integrative Health, to discuss with him why he decided to open his wellness practice.

Q: When you think about your "perfect" patient, who is it that you are really trying to reach?

A:  All of our services are aimed at treating the whole person and resetting the system.  While this is beneficial to everyone, we really hit it out of the park with two groups of people in particular. 

The first group is athletes - everyone from professionals to weekend warriors.  Knocking down inflammation can not only make them train harder but also recover much faster.  Physically active people notice pretty quickly that we are helping to shave time off their pace, increase muscle strength, and decrease recovery time.

The next group of people we can really help is those with chronic illness and injury.  Everything from old injuries to autoimmune issues, to chronic infections, cause inflammatory responses in the body.  Getting more oxygen to tissue, moving blood and lymph more efficiently and relieving pain helps the body normalize function and can make a huge difference in peoples lives. 

Q: Specifically what information do you want to share with them?

A: Healthcare must be an ongoing multifaceted approach that is put together from various sources.  No magic pill exists and there is no one right way to heal for everyone.  We suggest using our therapies as part of an overall care plan which can increase and decrease as you need it.  This coupled with a good clean diet and moderate exercise can really pay off in dividends as we age.  We have a solid team of healthcare professionals that are focused not only on your illnesses, but your wellness-care can help you go far.

VIDEO: 3 Simple Tips to Help You Be More Limber and Move with Less Pain!

It can be tough to find the right option in alternative medicine these days. With so many choices, the search can seem difficult but it's easy if you know the right questions to ask.

Today's local holistic expert is here to give you some great tips to help you find the right professional who will quickly treat your issues.

Read More

Treatment Options For Allergies and Asthma

Do you suffer from allergies or asthma? It’s a little-known fact that these two conditions are directly linked to each other. Asthma, which affects roughly one in 12 people according to the CDC, is characterized by spasms of the small airways and inflammation. Furthermore, about 90% of children under the age of 16 with asthma have allergies, while 70% of people between the ages of 16 and 30 have allergies, and 50% of adults over the age of 40 have allergies.

Unfortunately, most people who suffer from allergies and asthma simply mask their symptoms with drugs rather than seeking a treatment for the root cause. Both of these conditions involve an overreaction by the body’s immune system to what it believes is a foreign invader. When you are exposed to an allergen (e.g. ragweed, pet dander, etc.), your immune system produces and abundance of inflammatory hormones, which subsequently cause the symptoms of allergies and asthma to manifest.

There are several alternative treatment options available for allergies and asthma, however, one of which is making dietary and lifestyle changes. We live in an age in which far too many people choose to pick up convenient fast food as opposed to preparing and cooking fresh meals. There’s nothing wrong with an occasional fast food burger, but basing the bulk of your diet around processed foods such as this will take a toll on your body. The lack of nutrients and increased intake of preservatives can disturb the immune system, causing greater sensitivity to allergens. A better choice is to consume a diet rich in lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains.

Of course, herbal medicine is a time-tested alternative treatment for allergies and asthma. Some of the most popular herbs used to treat these conditions include stinging nettle, Ginkgo biloba, green tea, and reishi, all of which contain heavy concentrations of antioxidants. These antioxidants are believed to fight harmful chemicals in the body known as free radicals, which if left unchecked, may irritate existing conditions like allergies and asthma.

Acupuncture is also known to improve the symptoms for allergy and asthma sufferers. This Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) involves stimulating the body’s life force (Qi) by placing small, thin needles directly under the skin. When a person’s Qi grows stagnant or experiences other problems, he or she is more susceptible to disease and illness. Therefore, correcting this problem through acupuncture will naturally deter allergies, asthma and other common problems.

Give me a call today to learn how you can get back on track to better health. 

Relieve Your Arthritis with Acupuncture

Arthritis is a painful and oftentimes debilitating condition that’s characterized by inflammation within one or more joints. According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 2 people will develop osteoarthritis of the knee by the age of 85. It’s important to note, however, that there are several different types of arthritis, with osteoarthritis being just one. Other common types include rheumatoid arthritis, gout, septic arthritis, Still’s disease, and ankylosing spondylitis.

While most people living with moderate-to-severe arthritis resort to prescription medication to mask their symptoms, a safer and more effective form of treatment may come in the form of a 2,000-plus-year-old Chinese practice called acupuncture. Numerous studies have found acupuncture to offer relief of many different types of arthritis. And best of all, it doesn’t come with the adverse side effects associated with arthritis medication.

Acupuncture and Arthritis: How It Works

Acupuncture is based on the belief that our bodies have an essential life/energy force (referred to as Qi). This force flows through the body, traveling along 20 channels (referred to as meridians). Normally, Qi flows unrestricted, keeping the individual healthy while warding off disease and illness. However, there are times when the Qi will become stagnant, blocked or dislodged from its normal position, leaving the individual susceptible to illness.

By placing thin needles directly under the skin, a licensed acupuncturists can stimulate the flow of Qi, correcting blockages and other abnormalities. Furthermore, acupuncture aids in regulating the nervous system, which in turn produces the natural pain-relieving chemicals called endorphins.

Studies Reaffirm Acupuncture For Arthritis

A group of German researchers conducted a study on 304,674 patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee. Researchers split the patients into two groups, one of which received traditional routine care, while the other received 15 sessions of acupuncture. Researchers concluded that patients who had received acupuncture experienced better knee function, less pain, and an overall better quality of life than their counterparts.

Another study – this one originating out of China – found that both acupuncture and electroacupuncture were effective at reduce pain, inflammation and tenderness in parts of the body by arthritis. Granted, this was a small study with just 36 patients, but it’s just one more study attesting to the healing power of acupuncture.

Give me a call today to learn how you can get back on track to better health!