The Rise in East Asian Medicine in Healthcare
It’s the 21st century and more people are turning towards medicine that is over 5,000 years old in the form of East Asian medicine also known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This form of medicine encompasses therapies such as acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, and herbal medicine.
So why is TCM gaining increasing popularity in recent years? Is it because Western medicine has failed us? There’s a greater need and desire to utilize a more natural approach, that doesn’t involve numerous negative side effects. While East Asian medicine has spent thousands of years developing and refining its approach to treating people, the more recent advancements of biomedicine are relatively young and still under development.
In Western medicine, the approach involves understanding the specific biological responses of how the body functions and responds to various forms of treatment. In the development of biomedicine, various drugs and treatments have been discovered to have certain effects on the body without explanation. As a result, you have medications that are prescribed for off-label use, such as antidepressant medications like amitriptyline and trazodone, that are used to help people sleep. The medication known as Chantix is used to help stop smoking without knowing how the biological mechanisms work. Western medicine can’t fully explain all the biological effects of TCM, which has resulted in some skepticism while promoting research.
As TCM has proven to be effective in helping treat people, Western medicine has adopted the various TCM therapies, often with different names. Western medicine implements dry needling, myofascial release, Graston technique, myofascial decompression, and nutritional supplements. Dry needling uses the same type of needles, points, and some of the principles of acupuncture without all the theories developed over the centuries as acupuncture. The down side to dry needling is that it’s often a course requiring about a hundred hours of training versus over the three thousand hours that licensed acupuncturists receive over the course of about 4 years along with the completion of in-depth board exams. Myofascial release done with specialized tools and the Graston technique utilize the same techniques as gua sha, just using different style tools and without the same theories and extensive training that acupuncturists receive. Supplements or nutritional therapies make use of individual herbs and vitamins that have specific effects on parts of a person’s physiology, used in a similar manner as medications. Chinese herbal medicine utilizes herbal formulas that have been developed over centuries where all the herbs work synergistically to have an effect to treat the whole person, while addressing the underlying condition without a multitude of adverse effects of the body.
There is a considerable difference of how Western medicine and East Asian medicine view and treat people. When it comes to treating people, Western medicine looks at a fraction of the puzzle. This is seen in drugs that affect specific receptors and not addressing the other problems that are connected and even cause adverse side effects requiring additional medications. When even adopting TCM, biomedicine doesn’t fully understand it and uses pieces that they feel that they can explain and deem beneficial. East Asian medicine looks at the entire person. The explanations in TCM are philosophical in nature but provide explanations to certain connections and responses in the human body that biomedicine doesn’t understand. The principles and concepts of East Asian medicine can be addressed with a scientific mindset that accepts the information in terms of a scientific theory. While TCM can’t be fully explained by science, it’s a medicine that has withstood the test of time over thousands of years. There are explanations in TCM that connect various symptoms and processes that is not fully understood by science. Some herbs are used in the development of medications, biomedicine doesn’t connect the side effects of the medications where it makes sense according to TCM.
If TCM is so great, then why did biomedicine develop? There is a place for both medicines. It’s a matter of knowing when and how to use each properly. If there is an infection, it’s important to utilize proper antibiotics instead of allowing the infection to spread and cause more harm. Pain doesn’t always have to be managed with addictive medications. Acupuncture is well known and accepted in the Western medical community to help alleviate pain. The additional benefit of East Asian medicine is that it gets to the root of the problem instead of masking the symptoms. Acupuncture and Herbal medicine can readily strengthen the immune system. It is effective in preventing the onset and decreasing the duration and severity of a cold. The benefit of the rising use of East Asian medicine is that people can integrate the different medicines as needed with the goal of achieving optimal health and wellbeing. TCM can be used to treat a multitude of conditions, while also being used as a natural form of preventative medicine.
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Good Health Is Priceless
Good health is our greatest asset. When we are healthy, we have more energy, can accomplish more tasks, & feel less stressed. Being healthy makes our lives easier. While it may not be easy to maintains one’s health, it’s a lot harder being unhealthy.
When we ignore our health, eventually we are forced to care of it. Caring for our wellness is a lot easier. It is a lot easier when we take healthy actions & make healthy decisions part of our daily habits. Each day we should do things such as drink plenty of water, eat healthy foods, get some exercise, practice deep breathing, & maintain a routine sleep schedule for optimal sleep.
The things that we do & money that we spend contribute to our health are investments in one of our most valuable assets. Regular acupuncture treatments are an investment in one’s health. Acupuncture addresses health problems & can help maintain one’s health by treating the entire body. It’s an opportunity to relax while nourishing the body as well as the mind.
Make the investment in your health & enjoy your life.
Care for Yourself to Better Care for the Ones You Love
On International Women’s Day, it’s a good time to reflect on our strength as women & work on caring for ourselves. As women, we are capable of so much & even more. A woman’s body is capable of developing & growing new human life, something which males can’t do. Often women are the primary caregivers of the family, helping take care of everyone else’s needs first. Unfortunately, this can have negative consequences on women’s health.
For a woman to care for her loved ones, she needs to care for herself first. That goes for everyone. It doesn’t mean being selfish. When we live for our loved ones & care for our health, we can better care for those loved ones.
It’s important to eat healthy, engage in physical activity, care for our emotional well-being, drink plenty of water, & get restful night’s sleep. We need to nurture our body, mind, & soul. This helps us to be at our optimal health, so we cannot just care for those we love but enjoy time with them.
I’ve heard patients tell me that they get so busy caring for their families that they put themselves last & end up negatively affecting their health. Coming for regular acupuncture treatments has such a positive impact on their health, that they feel a difference when they don’t come in for treatments for a while. Acupuncture treats health problems, addresses a person’s constitution, & relaxes the mind. It’s a great way to help treat health problems & maintain one’s health. Value your health & show it some love with regular acupuncture treatments. As women, we are amazing & capable of even more when we’re healthy.
Be Honest to Yourself about Your Health
Stop believing the lies you tell yourself.
Too often we lie to ourselves without even realizing it. We convince ourselves that we are unable to live without pain, not able relax, incapable of getting a good night’s sleep, not capable of exercising, unable to eat health, etc.
These lies are an excuse to not improve our health, that leave us feeling stuck with accepting our health problems instead of doing something about it. Rather than lying to ourselves & believing we can’t do anything to improve our health, we should do something about it.
It’s often the simplest things that we can do that can positively affect our health. To improve one’s health, a person should drink more water, eat less processed food, consume more vegetables along with lean proteins, go to bed at a regular time then wake at a regular time, engage in mindful activities such as meditation, practice deep breathing daily, & move to get some exercise even if it’s just a short walk each day.
Regular acupuncture treatments are a great way to improve one’s health. Acupuncture treats a wide array of health problems while treating the entire person. Treatments are extremely relaxing. Acupuncture is a great investment in one’s health. As a medical procedure that has lasted over 2,000 years, acupuncture has shown to be effective in improving people’s health.
There are ways that we can improve our health. It is a matter of stopping lying to ourselves & taking action in order to live a healthier lifestyle.
Stop Procrastinating on Your Health
Too often we allow excuses to be the reason we neglect our health. Waiting for a specific date to start, life to be less stressful, when there’s more time, etc. Procrastinating on your health can make matters worse. Saying that you want to do something for your health does nothing without action.
Instead of excuses decide to do something about your health & set a plan in motion. Keep it simple & start small. Short walks each day are better than sitting on the couch. Replace one unhealthy food with something healthy.
We can start from caring for ourselves with exercise, healthy diet, sleep, & hydration. Nourish your body then you’ll be glad that you did. Instead of wanting to sleep all the time you can have more energy. Instead of being stressed you can feel more relaxed.
Another way to care for your health is with acupuncture treatments, which treat the entire body. Acupuncture is a relaxing way to address your health, nourishing the mind, body, & soul.
Instead of just thinking about acupuncture, give it a try to help improve your health, so you can enjoy life feeling healthier & happier.
Helping Take Care of Oneself to Better Help Others
Since it’s Christmas Eve, today is Pinelope’s last day in Texas this year. Pinelope experienced another amazing healing acupuncture session this morning & is now celebrating the start of the Christmas break for Dr. Katrina at Karma Zen Acupuncture. Pinelope is enjoying the lights & decorations in the clinic one last time before she leaves.
This holiday season, Pinelope enjoyed all her acupuncture treatments from Dr. Katrina & feels so much healthier. She learned the importance of things that she can do for her health such as exercise, mindfulness, & getting enough sleep. She learned how different things such as Christmas lights, holiday decorating, focusing on the positive, gratitude, & celebrating milestones are good for one’s health. Pinelope can’t wait to get back to the North Pole to tell everyone she knows about the benefits of acupuncture & looks forward to returning next year. She is going to have Santa come see Dr. Katrina in the new year because his back can get sore from delivering all those presents.
It’s been another great year treating a lot of amazing people. Dr. Katrina has enjoyed seeing people heal as their health improves through their acupuncture treatments. It’s time for her to take a break for the holidays as she cares for herself so she can further care for her patients in the new year. She looks forward to the new year & being able to help more patients.
To take care of others in our life, we must first take care of ourselves. Taking care of our health helps us with caring for family, enjoying time with friends, taking care of our households, & being productive at work. It’s important to take a break for one’s health. One great way is through acupuncture treatments.
Sleep Beneficial to Good Health
Today Pinelope is enjoying a nap by the Christmas tree. She has been very busy this Christmas season & is now allowing herself some time to rest. All the acupuncture treatments from Dr. Katrina at Karma Zen Acupuncture helped Pinelope get through this busy time of year. She’s hasn’t felt this good since she was a much younger elf.
Pinelope is sleeping so much better thanks to the acupuncture treatments she’s received. Sleeping is essential to good health. When one sleeps, it’s the time for the body to heal. Sleep boosts the immune system, improves memory, strengthens the heart, prevents weight gain, enhances mood, & increases productivity.
This holiday season start healthy sleeping habits if you don’t have them already. Go to bed around the same time each night & not too late. Create a peaceful sleeping environment free from electronics. Enjoy this time to have fun but also rest. In the new year, schedule some acupuncture treatments to help improve your health & well-being.
Nostalgia of Holiday Good for Health
The arctic blast dropping temperatures in Texas is making Pinelope nostalgic for the cold weather at her home in the North Pole. Though, it’s not nearly as cold as her home. She got some sweaters for Dewey & Callie to keep them warm. Pinelope found a snowflake projector tree topper for the Christmas tree. She’s watching the snowflakes projected on the ceiling pretending it’s real snow.
The holiday season can be very nostalgic for people. It’s good to focus on all the merry memories of Christmas’ past, good time with loved ones, fun trips, & pleasant surprises.
Nostalgia is beneficial to one’s health. It decreases anxiety, reduces depression, improves memory, & promotes physical well-being. Also, nostalgia contributes to youthfulness & helps cope during tough times.
Enjoy the good memories. Focus on the good things that have happened. Acupuncture helps people with their health. A gentle acupuncture treatment is a great way to relax while treating health problems & calm the mind.
Happiness for Holiday Health
Pinelope is spending time with her Penguin friend in the Karma Zen Acupuncture clinic. She’s even letting her penguin friend try on her hat. Dr. Katrina’s clinic, home, & Santa hat are decorated with penguins. They make her happy, which has a positive impact on her health.
Happiness positively affects a person’s health. It strengthens the immune system, lowers blood pressure, & reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Being happy improves sleep & combats stress. In addition, happy people have fewer aches & pain.
Our mood is affected by our environment. Surrounding ourselves with positive people, expressing gratitude regularly, & finding joy in things along with activities one enjoys, all help us to be happy. It’s important to focus on the positive. Acupuncture is a mindful medicine that addresses a person’s health & can bring joy to a person’s life.
Enjoy the holiday season. Look for the good. Let yourself be happy, since it’s good for your health. Enjoy an acupuncture treatment as it has a positive effect on the body, mind, & soul.
Gratitude Beneficial for Health
As Christmas is quickly approaching, Pinelope’s time in Texas is about to come to an end. She’s had a great time at Karma Zen Acupuncture & being welcomed into Dr. Katrina’s home. Pinelope is very grateful for all the acupuncture treatments, cupping, red light therapy, microneedling, & nanoneedling. To express her gratitude, she got some presents to thank Dr. Katrina. With the cold weather coming, she figured Dr. Katrina would appreciate a sweatshirt & sweater to keep her warm.
There are positive physical & mental health benefits from expressing gratitude. According to studies expressing gratitude enhances the immune system, improves sleep, & decreases pain. The body produces oxytocin when one is thankful, helping to improve a person’s mood. It helps to decrease anxiety & reduce depression.
There are multiple ways to express gratitude. Gratitude is extended to other through words, actions, cards, & presents. Having a gratitude journal listing 3 to 5 things one is thankful for is a great way to express gratitude. This helps appreciate what one has, others’ kind gestures, & positive experiences. There is so much to be thankful for that can be overlooked without taking the time to appreciate it.
Take a moment to express gratitude for the things you’re grateful for in your life. In addition, do something good for your health such as an acupuncture treatment. Thank your body by taking good care of it.
Making Changes to Improve Your Health
In preparation for Christmas, Pinelope decided to bake some cookies for Santa. She decided to make her famous gluten free cookies with caramel M&M’s. They’re some of Santa’s favorite. Pinelope uses almond flour & coconut flour in her cookies. She also gathered some sweet treats to leave out on Christmas Eve.
Sometimes to be healthy, people need to give up what is making them sick. For many people that can be gluten. With all the various products available & easy to follow recipes, you can still enjoy many of your favorite foods without gluten.
Gluten free diets can alleviate joint pain, maintain a healthy weight, improve bone health, & eliminate bloating. It can help to clear brain fog & increase energy. Often it can help to cut processed foods from one’s diet.
If you have any of those symptoms, it may be worth trying to eliminate gluten from your diet. Maybe it’s something else adversely affecting your health. Is it worth getting in the way of your health?
Sometimes you need to add things to your life to improve your health. It could be physical exercise, stretching, meditating, or mental exercise such as crossword puzzles. Acupuncture treatments are great to incorporate into one’s weekly routine to improve one’s overall health. It’s great for treating a variety of health problems & maintaining one’s health.
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Read more about: Our Philosophy | Our History | Our Awesome Staff | Testimonials and Success Stories
* Individual results vary. No guarantee of specific results is warranted or implied and your results will depend on many factors (full disclaimer).
Your initial consultation is free. Talk with our Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medcine and learn more.
Or, just call 512-766-3049 and we'll be happy to answer your questions.
Read more about: Our Philosophy | Our History | Our Awesome Staff | Testimonials and Success Stories
* Individual results vary. No guarantee of specific results is warranted or implied and your results will depend on many factors (full disclaimer).
How can we help YOU today?
Chronic Pain
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Joint Pain
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Hormone Imbalances
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Digestive Disorders
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Back Pain
Resolve your pain and improve your mobility naturally.
Sciatica
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Anxiety & Depression
Don't allow your emotional pain hold you back any longer.
Migraine Headaches
Reduce the severity & frequency of migraines naturally.
Carpal Tunnel
Be able to use your wrists without constant pain.
Frozen Shoulder
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Tennis Elbow/
Golfer's Elbow
Lose the pain while regaining your swing with natural treatments.
Knee Pain
Improve your mobility while alleviating your pain.
Shingles Nerve Pain
Don't continue to suffer in constant pain and sensitivity due to shingles.
Plantar Fasciitis
Be able to stand up without the fear of shooting pain in your foot.
Lupus
The pain of lupus doesn't have to keep you from enjoying the activities that you love.
Gout
Don't be stuck living with the pain and swelling due to gout.
Arthritis
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Bursitis
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Fibromyalgia
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Tendinitis
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Hip Pain
Achieve all natural relief from hip pain.
IT Band Syndrome
Be more active without IT band pain stopping you.
Pinched Nerve
Don't allow the pain of nerve impingement keep you from enjoying the activities that you love.
Cervical Radiculopathy
Take control of the pain, numbeness, & tingling caused by cervical radiculopathy.
Neuropathy
Enjoy your day without burning pain, numbness, and tingling.
Lymphedema
Regain mobility and and don't get weighed down by fluid retention.
Bell's Palsy
Find your smile again.
Stroke Recovery
Regain your life back from the effects of your stroke.
Muscle Spasms
Be able to go about your day withou the pain of muscle spasms getting in your way.
TMJ
Alleviate the pain and discomfort of your TMJ disorder naturally.
Neck Pain
Don't allow neck pain to prevent you from enjoying the things that you love.
Urinary Incontinence
Regain control your bladder, so you can take back your life.
PCOS
Don't let the problems of PCOS impact your life.
Perimenopausal Symptoms
Prevent hot flashes and night sweats from keeping you up at night.
Endometriosis
Don't allow the pain of endometriosis keep you from time with your family and friends.
PMS
Your pain, mood swings, and fatigue can be controlled naturally each month.
Addison's Disease
Don't let the constant fatigue, nausea, & dizziness of Addison's disease prevent you from enjoying your life.
Adrenal Fatigue
Prevent the fatigue, pain, and aches of adrenal fatigue from controlling your life.
Cushing's Syndrome
Don't allow the fatigue, hunger, & excess sweating of Cuching's syndrome control your life.
Fibroids
The pain and heavy menstruation due to your uterine fibroids don't have to interfere with enjoying time with family and friends.
Fertility
Get the family you always dreamed about having one day.
Thyroid Disorders
Balance your hormones with natural medicine.
Insomnia
Be able to fall asleep and stay asleep with all natural remedies.
Restless Leg Syndrome
Don't let restless legs prevent you from being able to sleep.
Ulcerative Colitis
Take control over your ulcerative colitis symptoms.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Alleviate your digestive problems naturally.
Gallbladder Symptoms
Don't allow gallbladder symptoms to impact your daily life.
Crohn's Disease
Take control of the pain and digestive upset of crohn's disease.
Vertigo
Don't let the world continue to feel like it's spinning around you.
Salivary Stones
Don't let the pain and discomfor of salivary stones disrupt your day.
Weight Loss
Increase your energy and boost your metabolism.
Smoking Addiction
Take charge of your life and don't allow withdrawal symptoms to control you.
Cedar Fever
Don't let your allergies prevent you from enjoying the great outdoors.
Immune Support
Boost your immune system naturally and effectively, so you don't get sick or recover quicker if you already are sick.
Rosacae
Allow your true complexion to shine through.
Facial Rejuvination
Allow your inner beauty to shine outward even more.
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Read more about: Our Philosophy | Our History | Our Awesome Staff | Testimonials and Success Stories
* Individual results vary. No guarantee of specific results is warranted or implied and your results will depend on many factors (full disclaimer).
THIS STUFF WORKS.
Our unique blend of holistic medical therapies gets ALL your body's healing resources going in the same direction...
Acupuncture
Calms stress, clears neuroendocrine pathways, affects neurotransmitters, and promotes circulation.
Cupping
Promotes microcirculation, relieves tension, and helps release toxins.
Herbal Therapy
Transmits nature’s intelligence to heal damaged cells and tissues.
Gua Sha
Breaks up scar tissue and connective tissue, reduces inflammation, and improves circulation.
Moxibustion
Promotes circulation, alleviates tension, and helps reduce inflammation and swelling.
Relaxation & Stress Reduction 
Focus on calming the mind and emotions to maximize your body’s healing resources.
Your initial consultation is free. Come meet us in person and learn more.
Or, just call 512-766-3049 and we'll be happy to answer your questions.
Read more about: Our Philosophy | Our History | Our Awesome Staff | Testimonials and Success Stories
* Individual results vary. No guarantee of specific results is warranted or implied and your results will depend on many factors (full disclaimer).
OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF IS PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT WE DO
You'll always feel welcome and cared for here.
Dr. Katrina Giangarra, DACM, L.Ac., Dipl. O.M.
Licensed Acupuncturist, Founder, & Clinic Director
Isabella (aka Izzy, aka Fluff Nugget) Giangarra
3rd Unofficial Mascot
Calliope (aka Callie) Giangarra
Unofficial Mascot
Esme (aka Ezzy or Ezzers) Giangarra
2nd Unofficial Mascot
Your initial consultation is free. Come meet us in person and learn more.
Or, just call 512-766-3049 and we'll be happy to answer your questions.
Read more about: Our Philosophy | Our History | Our Awesome Staff | Testimonials and Success Stories
* Individual results vary. No guarantee of specific results is warranted or implied and your results will depend on many factors (full disclaimer).
Located in Spicewood
Karma Zen Acupuncture is located in a serene spot off of Highway-71 in the Bee Creek Business Park as part of the Bee Creek Clinic. Whether you live locally in Spicewood or in the surrounding areas of Briarcliff, Marble Falls, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Austin, or Dripping Springs, we are happy to provide a peaceful and relaxing environment as we help you on your path to better health. The location is a hidden gem as it’s great for those locally, not wanting to travel far, and for those wanting to escape from the more chaotic and busier areas.
Your initial consultation is free. Come meet us in person and learn more.
Or, just call 512-766-3049 and we'll be happy to answer your questions.
Read more about: Our Philosophy | Our History | Our Awesome Staff | Testimonials and Success Stories
* Individual results vary. No guarantee of specific results is warranted or implied and your results will depend on many factors (full disclaimer).
