Meridians & Marathons Modalities
Because there is no “one size fits all” treatment plan, Dr. Sandy Ziya utilizes a variety of different modalities in different combinations.
Click on the + to learn more about what some of the Meridian & Marathon modalities are about.
What is it?
Acupuncture is the practice of stimulating certain points on the body (known as meridians), most often with a needle penetrating the skin, to alleviate pain or to help treat various health conditions.
The mechanisms of acupuncture that have been identified by a large body of evidence include promoting blood flow, reducing inflammation, stimulating the body’s healing mechanisms through activating the nervous, immune and endocrine system, and releasing the body’s natural pain killers such as endorphins, norepinephrine and enkephalin, 10-200 times more potent than morphine
What does it treat?
Acupuncture can be used to help decrease swelling, spasms and inflammation. Additionally, it can be used to control pain, increase range of motion and help promote healing. Because of its broad range of applications, acupuncture can be used during any of the phases of injury. The focus is not only to treat the injury but also to treat any underlying conditions that may predispose an individual to injuries. This is especially important when treating chronic or recurrent injuries that interfere with life activities or athletic performance.
Acupuncture treats a wide variety of conditions including:
- Infections such as colds and flu, bronchitis, hepatitis
- Muscuskelatal and neurologic issues such as arthritis, neuralgia, sciatica, back pain, bursitis, tendonitis, stiff neck, Bell’s palsy, trigeminal neuralgia, headaches, stroke, cerebal palsy, polio, sprains
- Internal issues such as asthma, high blood pressure, ulcers, colitis, indigestion, hemorrhoids, diarrhea, constipation, diabetes, hypoglycemia
- Mental-emotional issues such as anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia
- Dermatologic issues such as eczema, acne, herpes
- Eyes-ears-nose-throat issues such as deafness, ringing in ears, earaches, poor eyesight, dizziness, sinus infection, sore throat, hayfever
- Genitourinary and reproductive issues such as impotence, infertility, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), vaginitis, irregular menstruation or cramps, morning sickness
What is it?
Photobiomodulation, also known as Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is the application of red and near infra-red light over injuries or lesions to improve wound and soft tissue healing, reduce inflammation and give relief for both acute and chronic pain. Low-power lasers relieve pain or stimulates and enhances cell function.
What does it treat?
It can help regenerate tissue, reduce inflammation, decrease pain, and increase immunity, and research has shown its efficacy in treating many conditions, including:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Temporomandibular joint disorder
- Exercise-induced muscle fatigue and injury prevention
- Skin conditions
- Traumatic brain injury
- Stroke
What is it?
Infrared heat lamp therapy (also known as Far Infrared Radiation) transmits invisible infrared rays (light waves) as deep as 4 cm into your body, all the way to your muscles, nerves, and bones. The infrared wavelength is felt as gentle heat, yet penetrates deep into your tissues to improve blood circulation, hydration and oxygenation in the area. Infrared light is absorbed by the photoreceptors in cells. Once absorbed, the light energy kickstarts a series of metabolic events, triggering several natural processes of the body on a cellular level.
What does it treat?
The increase in the blood flow to the different parts of the body makes it possible for oxygen and nutrients to reach the cells, enabling them to function properly and effectively. Hence, this therapy stimulates the regeneration and repair of injured tissues, reducing pain and inflammation.
Infrared light therapy is applied in the treatment of various health conditions, including back pain, arthritis, bursitis, blunt trauma, muscle strain, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain, diabetic neuropathy, rheumatoid arthritis, temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ), tendonitis, wounds, sciatica, and surgical incisions.
What is it?
Cupping therapy is an ancient treatment in which a practitioner uses special cups as suction devices placed on the skin to disperse and break up stagnation and congestion by drawing congested blood, energy or other humors to the surface.. Cupping is much like the inverse of massage – rather than applying pressure to muscles, it uses gentle pressure to pull them upward. The side effects of cupping are fairly mild. Bruising should be expected, but skin should return to looking normal within 10 days.
What does it treat?
Cupping relieves muscle tension by increasing blood circulation to the area where the cups are placed. This can improve overall blood flow and promote cell repair. It can also help form new connective tissues and create new blood vessels in the tissue.
Athletes claim that cupping helps them perform better by helping them speed up the recovery process, alleviate muscle stiffness and heal from injuries. Treatment can also increase flexibility so athletes can train longer and harder. Other benefits include:
- Removing toxins
- Alleviating inflammation
- Relief from plantar fasciitis
- Myofascial decompression
What is it?
Moxibustion is a form of heat therapy in which dried plant materials (usually Chinese mugwort ) called “moxa” are burned on or very near the surface of the skin. The intention is to warm and invigorate the flow of Qi in the body and dispel certain pathogenic influences. The smoldering moxa stick is held over specific areas, often corresponding to certain acupuncture points. The glowing end of the moxa stick is held about an inch or two above the surface of the skin until the area reddens and becomes suffused with warmth.
Liquid moxibustion, also called “herbal application moxa” and “cold moxa” in Chinese, involves the application of stimulating medicinals to the skin as an alternative to burning moxibustion. This method is typically used with heat such as an infrared head lamp.
What does it treat?
- Pain due to injury or arthritis, especially in “cold” patterns where the pain naturally feels better with the application of heat
- Digestive problems and irregular elimination
- Gynecological and obstetrical conditions, including breech presentation in late term pregnancy
- Protection against cold and flu strains
Often moxibustion is performed in tandem with acupuncture, as there is the belief that the therapies increase each other’s effectiveness when used together.