Hey everyone, this is your health bestie Barbara.

In the last episode, we discussed medical benefits that may be included in your health insurance

plan.

These benefits may range from physician services, hospitalizations for medical or surgical

care, and patient-former pseudocalls, emergency services, lab and diagnostic tests such as

x-rays and MRIs. There may also be additional benefits available such as critical illness,

accident protection, income protection, vision and dental services and telehealth care,

just to name a few. In this episode, we will continue this discussion on medical benefits included

in your health insurance plan. The title of this episode is "How to Reduce Pain and Headaches

without traditional medicine.

We will discuss acupuncture and chiropractic care.

Did you know that they may be covered in your health insurance?

Review your plan benefits today and start using these services to get a different perspective on your health.

Awesome!

This show is presented by Health Solutions today, where we offer health insurance for solo-preneurs and small business owners.

navigating the world of health insurance can be overwhelming.

Schedule an appointment today to discuss your health insurance needs.

Excellent.

To help you determine which healing method may be better suited for you,

I will discuss both acupuncture and chiropractic care today.

They are popular, holistic, and integrative approaches to health,

but they differ in their techniques and benefits.

Whether you're seeking pain relief, stress management, or overall wellness,

understanding the differences between acupuncture and chiropractic care

can help you make an informed decision for your health journey.

These health modalities may change your life for the better.

Okay, great.

While we're talking about this, if you have any questions about health insurance or need help

to enroll, schedule a discovery call. Using the description below, I have a link listed

that you can select and you'll be able to speak with one of our health insurance experts,

who will be happy to safely guide you through the complicated world of health insurance.

You can find us on X, the Everything app, formerly known as Twitter at solo_health

and also on YouTube at Health Solutions today. Perfect. Have you ever considered acupuncture or

chiropractic care for your health issues? When we think of our health, we naturally associate care

with medical doctors and nurses. Most of us grew up with this type of care.

Chiropractic care and acupuncture often overlooked as a source of health treatment. After this

episode, you may reconsider your viewpoint and perhaps you may decide that one or both

of these types of treatment could be worth a try for you.

Let's start with chiropractic treatment and benefits.

The mission of the American Chiropractic Association is to inspire and empower members to elevate

the health and wellness of their communities.

A website, handsdownbetter.org, that's handsdownbetter.org, will help you locate a chiropractic doctor

near you.

The website states that chiropractic care is a non-drug approach to pain management.

Currently, there is a national effort to reduce prescription opiate overuse and abuse, which

has reached an epidemic level.

People take these medications to reduce pain unknowingly and unwittingly.

Once they start taking them, sometimes they find that they are unable to stop.

Pro-Practic treatment can help with posture, back pain, headaches, and more.

In this way, we may be able to reduce our reliance on such pain medications.

At the end of this episode, I will share some tips from the American Chiropractic Association

to get you started in improving your posture, addressing back pain, and headaches.

So stay tuned.

Here is the position in which we hold our bodies while standing, sitting, or even lying

down.

Healthy posture is the correct alignment of our body parts, supported by the right amount

of muscle tension against gravity.

Our everyday movements and activities can affect this alignment and put stress on joints

and muscles, sometimes resulting in pain and potentially permanent damage, if left unchecked

over time.

proper ergonomic and movement strategies can help prevent these problems.

Back pain is a fact of life for many of us.

Research shows that up to 80% of the population will experience back pain at some point during

their lives.

It is one of the most common reasons for visits to the doctor's office and it is the

single leading cause of disability.

If you have a headache, you're not alone.

Nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches.

Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull, and throbbing, and some cause debilitating

pain and nausea.

Research shows that spinal manipulation, one of the primary chiropractic treatments, may

be an effective treatment option for tension headaches and headaches that originate in the

neck.

Wonderful.

Now let's explore acupuncture.

And acupuncturist is also a doctor.

They go through at least three or four years of masters

and in some cases doctoral training

in order to receive their license.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, acupuncture

is a traditional Chinese method used

to relieve some health conditions such as pain.

Tiny needles are inserted into meridian points

throughout the body to help rebalance the body's energy

which is referred to as Chi.

This procedure prompts the body to self-heal

and release natural chemicals to fight illness and symptoms.

Deborah Bleeker, acupuncturist and author

of Acupuncture Point's Handbook states that,

each acupuncture point has many functions.

Each point regulates the body

and helps to restore it to its normal function.

There are well over 400 acupuncture points on the body.

What should you look for in an acupuncturist?

You will want to work with a licensed acupuncturist.

This means they graduated from an acupuncturist school

that includes a graduate level program

and they would have a degree in Oriental Medicine.

Oriental Medicine can include Chinese, herbal medicine,

acupuncture, gui sha, cupping, moxibustian, and tuina.

China, which is a form of Chinese therapeutic massage.

Chinese medicine has existed for more than 2000 years and has been used as the primary

form of medicine in China for thousands of years.

Briefly, let's discuss Chinese medicine philosophy.

You may find it interesting.

Emotions medicine can treat both pain and emotions.

In Chinese medicine, physical imbalances can lead to emotional imbalances.

There is no separation of the mind and body according to Chinese theory.

The mind affects the body and vice versa.

Emotional health is rooted in physical health.

Stress in Chinese medicine correlates to specific organic imbalances.

For example, stress in Chinese medicine is related to the liver.

Anxiety is related to the heart.

Acupuncture in Chinese medicine with over 2,000 years of study is very in-depth.

Hopefully these highlights will help you understand how it may benefit you.

According to Oriental Medicine, the body knows how to heal itself.

It just needs a stimulus to encourage it to heal.

Sweet.

If you are enjoying this episode, you can find us on any podcast app.

Episodes are released every week.

Share your thoughts about health insurance with us and what you thought about this episode

on X, formerly known as Twitter @Solo_Health.

And please leave us a review.

That way others will be sure to find us as well and benefit from this very useful information.

Now let's dive in to our wellness section.

Could you benefit from chiropractic care,

from headaches and back pain,

to improving athletic performance,

to lifestyle and nutritional advice,

to just getting back to your favorite daily activities.

The right chiropractor is a great partner for you

in health and wellness.

Tips for headaches, what can you do?

The American Chiropractic Association

offers the following suggestions to prevent headaches.

If you spend a large amount of time in one fixed position,

such as in front of a computer, on a sewing machine,

typing or reading, take a break and stretch

every 30 minutes to an hour.

The stretches should take your head and neck

through a comfortable range of motion.

You can also roll your shoulders and stretch your arms

to reduce tension from your neck.

Take your head and pull it gently from one side,

going towards your left shoulder,

gently roll your head forward,

and then over to your right shoulder.

And this movement can be repeated several times

to help break up that tension.

Shake those hands, elbows, shoulders,

roll those shoulders, move them back and forth.

Get that blood flowing through your head.

Now, if you are prone to dull, throbbing headaches, you may want to avoid heavy exercise.

Try to engage in such activities as walking and low-impact aerobics.

Avoid teeth clenching.

The upper teeth should never touch the lower.

Except when swallowing.

When the teeth are clenched, this can result in stress at the temporal mandibular joints,

also known as TMJ for short, the two joints that connect your jaw to your skull, leading

to TMJ irritation in a form of tension headaches.

It may also help to drink at least eight, eight ounce glasses of water a day to help avoid

dehydration, which can also lead to headaches.

Now let's briefly discuss some tips for a posture.

Can we improve for a posture?

Awareness of a posture along with an understanding of healthy movement strategies will help you

consciously correct yourself.

Your chiropractic doctor can further assist you by recommending exercises to strengthen

your core and postural muscles.

He or she can also assist you with choosing better postures during your work or recreational

activities and reducing your risk of injury.

You are some ergonomic considerations.

How we hold and move our bodies every day, even while doing something as simple as sitting

at our desk or standing in place, can have an impact on our posture.

Below are some general ergonomic tips to help reduce the chance of pain and injuries.

While sitting at a desk, keep your feet on the floor or on a footrest if they don't

reach the floor.

cross your legs, your ankles should be directly in front of your knees. Keep a small gap between

the back of your knees and the front of your seat. Your knees should be at or below the

level of your hips. Adjust the back rest of your chair to support your low and mid-back

or use or back support. Relax your shoulders and keep your forearms parallel to the ground.

Avoid sitting in the same position for long periods of time. Take breaks and move your

body. When standing, bear your weight primarily on the balls of your feet. That's the forward

part of your feet, the widest portion. Keep your knees slightly bent, keep your feet

about shoulder width apart. Let your arms hang naturally down the sides of the body. Stand

straight and tall with your shoulders pulled down and back. Tuck your stomach in. Keep your

Your head level, your earlobes should be in alignment with your shoulders.

Do not push your head forward, backward, or to the side, unless you're doing some form

of exercise.

Shift your weight from your toes to your heels or one foot to the other if you must stand

for a long time.

Think of an ostrich.

and our stretch will stand on one leg,

and then switch legs periodically.

When lying down in bed,

find the mattress that is right for you.

While a firm mattress is generally recommended,

some people find that softer mattresses

help reduce their back pain.

Your individual comfort should guide your choice.

Choose the right pillow too.

Special pillows are available to help

with posture problems resulting from poor sleeping positions.

Avoid sleeping on your stomach, sleep on your side or back,

which is often helpful for back pain.

If you sleep on your side, place a pillow between your legs.

And if you sleep on your back,

keep a pillow under your knees.

Great.

Now let's discuss back pain and some tips to prevent it.

There are several simple strategies

that can help to prevent the onset of back pain.

Maintain a healthy diet and weight

under the supervision of your chiropractor

or other health professional.

Avoid prolonged inactivity or bed rest.

Warm up or stretch before exercising

or physical activity such as gardening.

Maintain proper posture.

Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes.

Sleep on a mattress of medium firmness

to minimize any curvature in your spine.

When lifting an object, lift with your knees, keep the object close to your body and do not

twist.

Quit smoking if that's something that you do.

Smoking may impair blood flow, resulting in oxygen and nutrient deprivation to spinal

tissues.

Work with your chiropractor and other health professionals in this goal.

and to also achieve overall wellness and health.

Chiropractic care and acupuncture

can both address issues related to pain, headaches,

and well-being.

The choice between acupuncture and chiropractic care

ultimately depends on your individual needs and preferences

and perhaps you may not need to choose.

Perhaps you can benefit from both.

Both methods have their own strengths

and can be effective in addressing various health issues.

Remember, what works best for one person may not necessarily work best for another.

When looking for a professional, make sure they have a license to practice, meet with

them and discuss your needs.

I would love to hear about your experiences with acupuncture, or chiropractic care, in

the comments section, and follow the show for more health-related content.

In this episode, we discussed ways to reduce pain and headaches without the use of medicine.

This can be achieved through daily lifestyle changes such as the way we sit at our desk,

stand and sleep.

We also discussed chiropractic doctors and acupuncture as a way to receive professional

treatment to reduce pain and headaches.

In the next episode, we will discuss doctor, office visits, prescription drugs and diagnostic

lab tests.

This is Barbara.

I'm yours in health.

Let me help you navigate the amazing world of health insurance.

I thank you very much for the opportunity to work with you and to provide the best health

insurance podcasts in the world.

Remember, every day can be a healthy day.

[Music]