Healing after a whiplash injury

Every day, on average, 85 Minnesotans are injured in car accidents. And the most common injury that results from car accidents is whiplash.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from a recent or long-ago whiplash injury, I encourage you to not give up. Healing is possible, through a combination of acupuncture, bodywork, and herbs.

It is important to seek treatment as soon as possible and to be consistent, as the greatest degree of improvement happens in the first six months after injury–not to mention, this is when motor vehicle accident insurance funds are available.

Let’s look at the nature of a whiplash injury, and what I can do to help you heal.

Nature of the injury

During a whiplash injury, also known as an acceleration-deceleration injury, the soft tissues of the neck become inflamed and bruised. There may also be structural damage such as muscle tears, ruptured ligaments, disc herniations, fractures and dislocations.

Symptoms include neck pain and stiffness, pain between the shoulder blades, low back pain, headache, numbness and tingling in the arms and hands, and vertigo. Often the symptoms don’t appear until 48 to 72 hours after the accident. Many people will recover within a few weeks, but others may be left with recurring symptoms.

In Chinese medicine we also recognize the deeper physiological and emotional effects of physical trauma. All trauma causes an emotional shock to the heart, which has an impact on heart function, thereby decreasing circulation. Decreased circulation can have detrimental long-term effects on the body. It is therefore also important to resolve the emotional shock.

An informative Canadian study showed that acupuncture stimulated emotional releases in whiplash patients, which promoted further and more complete recovery.

Treatment through acupuncture, bodywork, herbs

In my experience, each whiplash injury is unique. There are certainly common symptoms, but the treatment approach varies from person to person, depending on specific symptoms and how recent or old the injury is. Recent injuries respond more quickly to treatment, but regardless of when treatment begins, it must be consistent for a period of time. Chronic cases may take more time, but healing is definitely possible.

In all cases, I prefer to use a combination of acupuncture and bodywork to directly address the injured tissues. And, I like to use herbs to calm the spasm and pain and address the circulation, in order to protect the heart function.

Acupuncture manages and remedies pain of all types, releases muscle tension, and balances the nervous system. Bodywork soothes and improves circulation in inflamed tissues and breaks up adhesions in fibrotic tissues. Positional release therapy and trigger point therapy in particular can be useful to release and reset hypertonic muscles. Myofascial release addresses connective tissue restrictions. And craniosacral therapy is useful in all cases, but most specifically in cases of tension and migraine headaches.

These are the treatment modalities that I use to treat whiplash injuries, but I always support an integrative approach, and often refer to other practitioners, including neurologists and orthopedists for diagnostics and imaging, and chiropractors and physical therapists for further treatment and rehab.

For your convenience, Red Clover Clinic accepts personal injury insurance for those who have suffered a motor vehicle accident.

Whiplash Testimonial

Anita’s exceptional grasp of anatomy and muscle movement, combined with years of clinical experience, enabled true healing work to emerge. After my car accident, I was in significant discomfort. Her unique approach of healing, which integrates bodywork, acupuncture and herbs, carried me through the most painful moments of my recovery and eventually guided me to a functional and vibrant place. I am so grateful to have had her as my primary care practitioner throughout this experience. She is the most thorough, well-trained and practical healer I have worked with. – J.C.

An ounce of prevention

It’s that time of year, when everyone is worried about catching a cold or flu, or, as we say in Chinese medicine, being attacked by wind. There are many things you can do to boost your immune system and keep yourself and your family healthy. 

 First and foremost, it is important to eat a clean and healthy diet. Avoid processed foods and simple sugars, including white sugar, high fructose corn syrup and processed grains. Secondly, manage your stress, get moderate exercise, and enough sleep. In addition to these year-round health guidelines, you can turn to a few plant-based medicinals, which are all available at Red Clover Clinic, to give you an extra ounce of prevention.

Elderberries

Throughout history, many cultures have revered the elder plant for its protection from evil spirits. In herbalism we use it to protect from wind evils, i.e. colds and flu. Studies have shown that elder has compounds that are active against flu viruses, not to mention that it prevents the viruses from invading the respiratory tract cells. Furthermore, it gives the immune system a boost. If you have already come down with a viral infection, elder can help you to recover more quickly as well. Elderberries offer a delicious way to keep you healthy…even children love this medicine!

Resistance–Yu Ping Feng San, modified

Resistance, a Blue Dragon formula, is an enhanced version of the traditional Chinese formula Yu Ping Feng San, also known as Jade Screen. This formula is used to build up the body’s resistance to viral and bacterial infections, i.e. colds and flu. In fact, Yu Ping Feng San was the basic formula recommended by Chinese health authorities for the prevention of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), several years ago. This formula has been shown in many clinical trials to significantly reduce the frequency of the common cold and bacterial infections in the respiratory tract in people who suffer from chronic bronchitis and in children who are susceptible to colds and flu.

Naiouli Melablend

This blended essential oil is designed to support the health of the respiratory tract. When inhaled, it has an anti-microbial and anti-fungal effect, cleansing the tissues as it makes its way through the sinuses and into the lungs. Either diffusing the oil into the air or inhaling it from a tiny inhaler, offers protection from colds and flu, especially when someone in your home or your work environment is sick.

Tools for combatting headaches

Headaches come in many forms, all of them distressing. I commonly see people in the clinic who suffer from tension headaches, sinus headaches, cervicogenic (stemming from the neck) headaches, migraines, or various combinations of these. 

Fortunately, there are a number of methods to combat headaches. Acupuncture, herbal therapy, and bodywork (particularly trigger point therapy and positional release therapy) can reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches and, in some cases, get rid of them entirely. 

Each personʼs headache is unique and thus requires a unique combination of treatment methods. 

To create an appropriate treatment plan, we must first determine the cause of the headaches, whether muscle tension in the neck and upper back, hormonal fluctuation, emotional stress, or hypersensitivity to various triggers, such as light, strong smells, chemicals, or certain foods. Second, we need to determine the Chinese medicine pattern, based on pulse and tongue diagnosis. Pattern differentiation is particularly important in order to create an appropriate herbal formula, as well as for the proper selection of acupuncture points.

Acupuncture treatment can be used to prevent headaches long-term as well as treat an acute headache. Chronic and severe headaches may require a period of regular treatments in order to regulate the system, release patterns of tension, and manage stress. 

To alleviate discomfort of an acute headache, treatment first involves a general treatment to reduce the intensity of the headache, followed by chasing the pain, one needle or trigger point at a time, until it is gone. 

What about medication and headaches? Can acupuncture provide an alternative? Most headache sufferers are accustomed to taking medications, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, antihistamines, corticosteroids, opioids, and triptans. We are certainly lucky to have these options, but continued and frequent use can lead to rebound headaches, which often occur daily. 

Acupuncture, bodywork, and herbal treatments are great tools to manage headaches while patients decrease their medication and are going through withdrawal. Magnesium is another tool that can be helpful to lessen muscle tension and reduce migraine headaches; my preference is magnesium glycinate. 

And we have one more tool–most of my headache clients are big fans of auricular semi-permanent (ASP) ear needles. These are semipermanent needles that are shaped like tiny darts. Once inserted in particular points in the ear, they are covered with a tiny piece of tape to keep them secured in place, and can be retained for several days. These little darts offer great relief between acupuncture treatments. To see a photo of ASP ear needles in action, click here.

For further reading: A systematic review of scientific studies concluded that acupuncture provides greater relief for headaches than either medication or a placebo. 

Wildcrafter’s corner: learn about our herbs

Burdock

Seen as a weed by most farmers, the burdock root, also known as gobo, is a treasured, healthy food in Japan. It is also one of the most-used herbs in my pharmacy to treat many conditions, including asthma, allergies, acne, eczema, and headaches.

Yellow Dock

This plant produces a beautiful, juicy, yellow root that is high in iron and, interestingly, treats both diarrhea and constipation.

Mullein

Every part of this plant–roots, leaves and flowers–is used in herbalism. I love to use the root, in particular, to treat various spinal issues.

Summertime, and the living is…sneezy

Along with sun, warmth, and relaxation, summer for many means hay fever. Not only does hay fever have annoying symptoms–sinus congestion and pain, sneezing, itching eyes and nose, runny eyes and nose–but it can also turn into a sinus infection and cause headaches.

Allergic reactions are caused by the immune system responding inappropriately. Over-the-counter allergy medications can have unwanted side effects, most notably drowsiness. Herbal remedies and acupuncture can help, without the side effects.

There are many herbal and dietary approaches to treating and preventing hay fever symptoms. A few examples: 

• A cup of peppermint tea can help to calm sneezing and itching.

• Probiotics are helpful if taken for a couple of months before and during hay fever season. Probiotics can take the form of supplements, yogurt (make sure it contains active cultures), and pickled vegetables.

• Avoid inflammatory foods, such as sugar and dairy. Some people find it helpful to avoid gluten as well.

• Use a neti pot to rinse the sinuses with a saline solution. This can help to relieve congestion and pressure.

Acupuncture is an effective way to deal with hay fever, because it modulates the immune system. Acupuncture has an accumulative effect. It can break up sinus congestion and soothe an itchy, drippy nose and itchy eyes. With multiple treatments, allergy symptoms can be greatly diminished or avoided completely. To ensure a good result, plan on approximately 6 weeks of treatment (typically once per week), and begin treatment 3 to 4 weeks before the allergy season begins.

Wildcrafter’s corner: midsummer herbs

Yarrow

Yarrow is one of my favorite plants, because of its strong herbaceous smell. I also find it to be miraculous in that it stops bleeding caused by wayward kitchen knives.

St. Johnʼs Wort

St. Johnʼs Wort is a powerful soother of sharp, shooting nerve pain and pain associated with sores, boils and burns. The oil or ointment is very handy to have around! 

Elderflower

Elderflower tea makes a tasty treatment for aches and fevers due to colds and flus. It is also useful for opening up the chest, when breathing is restricted.

Managing stress with acupuncture

You know what it feels like to be stressed out. Your nerves get jangled, and you can’t relax. You may experience muscle tightness and pain. You may develop a headache. Your heart may even feel like it is going to jump right out of your body.  The scary thing is that when you feel like this on a regular basis, it not only feels uncomfortable, but it also slowly erodes your health. 

Chronic stress causes a continuous stream of cortisol, a stress hormone produced in the adrenal glands, to be released into your bloodstream. Excess cortisol can interfere with mood-enhancing brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine, leading to depression and anxiety. It can also breakdown healthy tissues, including skin, bone and connective tissues. Excess cortisol suppresses the immune system, affects memory, raises blood pressure, and causes blood sugar imbalances. Furthermore, stressed out adrenal glands can’t attend to their other important hormone-regulating duties, thereby diminishing thyroid function and shutting down the reproductive system. Generally speaking, as you become more and more stressed, and your adrenal glands become exhausted, the following symptoms begin to appear: insomnia, fatigue, weight gain, depression, fuzzy thinking, etc.

So, what do you do to halt this cascade of events? You could choose to exercise, or maybe meditate.  And, deep breathing usually helps. But, if you feel like you just can’t break the cycle on your own, you should give acupuncture a try. 

If you think that being poked with a needle sounds like it would cause more stress, think again. Acupuncture needles are quite fine and usually don’t cause much more than the sensation of a mosquito bite. They do cause the body to release endorphins and other mood enhancing substances, such as those mentioned above. They do induce a deep parasympathetic relaxation. And, they do alter brain wave activity, signifying a deeply restorative, meditative state.  

At the time of the treatment, acupuncture almost instantly induces a relaxation response, reminding the body what it feels like to be relaxed. Many people feel the calming effects for several days. By getting regular acupuncture treatments, you build resilience to stress, and are better equipped to manage whatever life presents to you. 

In search of health

As this year comes to a close, I am filled with excitement and gratitude as I think of all the wonderful people who have walked through the doors at Red Clover Clinic. I have witnessed some profound shifts towards health during the past year…pain has decreased, anxiety has become manageable, depression has lifted, digestion has improved, and other complaints have faded away. The shift that has impressed me the most, and seems to be a common thread in all of my clients, is a new respect and understanding of how to nurture one’s body and one’s health.

In a world where searching for the cure seems to be the focus, holistic medicine teaches us that health is rarely about simply curing a particular ailment, but more about learning how to work with our bodies within the context of our lives and the world in which we live.  How do we nourish ourselves? How do we manage our stress? How do we use our bodies correctly to avoid pain? How do we best support our immune system? Certainly, there are treatments to take away pain and to help us recover from disease, however, if we haven’t learned how to respect and nurture our health through the recovery process, we will only stumble into sickness and discomfort again, and again.

Nurturing health and wellness is a life-long pursuit and learning process, and it requires patience, persistence and awareness. It requires us to make healthy choices, and to find help and support when we need it. I am grateful to all of you who have allowed me to be a part of your journey to discovering and maintaining your health. Thank you.