Happy Winter!

Uugh… Winter! Cold, dreary, desolate & miserable. Can you think of any other negative terms we all seem to use to describe this time of the year? I bet you can. Truthfully, I actually dig this whole winter experiance thing; sure, its cold out there (sometimes spine-snappingly cold), but just think of the positive trade offs that we are getting; we get some of the greatest holidays such as Christmas and New Years Eve and Valentines Day, all of which involve friendly get togethers, great food and lots and lots of snuggling with those you love and admire by an open fire.

While many people see December 21st as the 1st day of winter and cringe just thinking of the long and arduous frozen slog ahead towards spring, what I see is the Winter Solstice signaling the very “bottom” of winter… the day that has the least amount of sunlight and longest night here in the northern hemisphere. From that day forward, we are ever so slowly creeping towards longer days & the warmth of spring. Fore without winter, we cannot have the beauty of spring in just those few short weeks.

So let us embrace winter and all of which she offers; the beautiful snowfall draped picturesque scenes, the sounds of children’s laughter while sledding down Skinner’s hill, the silence of that nighttime walk through the Nature Center, and all of the joyous, magical moments we share with our loved ones indoors. I wish you and your entire family a warm and peaceful winter season to come…

A Holiday Message

Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas!!!

Jason here… full of holiday cheer!  And I’d like to tell you a little about that cheer.  But first… I have a bone to pick…

Personally, I think the holiday season is the best time of the entire year.  I have some pretty vivid memories celebrating the holidays as a child back in Massachusetts.  No matter what was going on… people came together and things just seemed great. Maybe you have memories, too.

But nowadays, things seem different.  Everything is so commercialized.  All big business and “Door Busters”. Yuck. I miss that personal touch and the days when just being together with family and loved ones was good enough.  You didn’t need to sleep in line… overnight… and fight thousands of people for the latest Elmo doll… or… whatever is big this year.

This letter is an attempt to bypass all that bologna! This letter also serves as your invitation to join me in doing something really worthwhile this holiday season. What?

If you know anyone (who hasn’t been in to see us before) suffering from back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, digestive problems, PMS, hot flashes, headaches, insomnia or even just holiday stress, tell him or her you are giving them a holiday gift.  Tell them about this blog post of Friends & Family Holiday Cheer and tell them to call before Christmas and they will get a consultation & treatment absolutely free.

As a gift from you! It’s like handing them $47! As always, we will do our best to make sure whoever you send gets the best possible care.         By reaching out and helping someone else, you will allow us to reach out and help, too.         And that’s what the holiday spirit is really about.

Also, over the next month or so, try to keep your sanity and not get overwhelmed by all the commotion or high expectations placed on us by others. Christmas is NOT about getting everyone the biggest, most expensive gift (or any gift for that matter). It is about spending time with loved ones and serving our fellow man. Christmas is about sharing our innate love which we all have inside of us by sharing our love and support, encouragement to those who need it.

So this year, give the gift of perhaps just a kind word to a stranger or a simple gesture of acknowledgment to someone who looks like they need it. As you go about your day, just remember that a simple smile or a “Hello, friend” may be the greatest gift they receive that day. Don’t be a scrooge… be lavish with those gifts of love and appreciation and acknowledgment of others this Christmas season. Because YOU are the greatest gift you can give someone; even a stranger. Don’t be shy… it’s Christmas! And be sure to also give YOURSELF those same kind thoughts and praises this holiday season.

Now… In keeping with the Wonderfully Gaudy American Christmas Tradition of Unbridled and Uninhibited Consumerism, I present to you our nifty “Acupuncture Gift Catalog”! I would be remiss if not to encourage you to consider spending some money on someone you love… including yourself for the gift of good health. Christmas can be the most stressful time of the years, So why not give YOURSELF a very special gift… a stress busting, pain relieving, full “body & souls” revitalizing session or two or three of acupuncture. In the “catalog”, you’ll see that I also provided an estimated number of sessions with each item. This is because acupuncture is rarely a “one stop miracle cure” and often is best used as a short term course of therapy. Healing takes time, and “nudging” it back into good health with several sessions of acupuncture takes a little bit of time too. As always, acupuncture is still the most affordable and effective form of healthcare in America today! So come in and feel the stress melt away before your eyes as you spend about an hour drifting off in one of Jason’s three comfortable treatment rooms.

I hope you have a great holiday season this year. If there is anything I can ever do for you, please don’t hesitate to give me a call.

 

Best Wishes,   Jason

P.S. If you are “stuck” for gift ideas and still looking for a last minute Christmas Gift for a loved one; acupuncture makes a great present. We have Gift Certificates for single or multiple visits.

P.S.S And don’t forget our discounts if you pay for several sessions in advanced; 3 sessions for $127 (save $14), or 6 sessions for $242 (saves $40) or 12 sessions for $464 (saves you a whopping $100!!!).

 

Walk your way to a slimmer body

The evidence has been laid out, case is closed, the jury has returned. After years of disbelief that this is even possible, it seems that the absolute best exercise to loose weight is a leisurely half hour walk every day. Up until recently, the conventional wisdom was that you had to burn off tons of calories by sweating away in the gym for hours a day. Not so. Apparently, working out hardcore is actually counterproductive to weight loss in most cases. What happens is that the intense exercise triggers the body to produce the hormone “ghelin”which increases the appetite and causes you to eat more than you otherwise would have, if you didn’t exercise or exercised moderately as in… a daily half hour walk.

A daily half hour walk (6 days a week) is the magic bullet for the vast majority of us looking to loose 20, 30 or even more pounds. The only improvement they could find was the recommendations of carrying a pair of 2 lbs. weights as you walk. How much simpler can it get?

Be Maternal

Baby, look at you glow.  If making a bundle of joy has been a predicament, acupuncture has been shown to be very successful at aiding fertility… AS successful as the much more expensive IVF. All with none of the side effects of shots and hormones and medical procedures. Three (menstrual) cycles (12 sessions) is often all that is needed to solve this pesky problem and get you quickly to the wonders of poopy diapers and late night feedings. Enjoy.

Check out more here. https://austinacupuncture-mn.com/fertility/

Free Veterans Day Acupuncture

Happy Veterans Day!

This Saturday marks the 98th year our country has taken the occasion to thank and remember the brave men and women who have fought and died to serve our country.

To honor those men and women whom have served our great country, Austin Acupuncture Clinic is extending a personal invitation to all veterans in the area to receive a free treatment of acupuncture at our office. 

Since Veterans Day falls on a weekend this year, we are allowing veterans to come in all week (instead of everyone crammed in on a single day). Space is limited, so please call for a scheduled time.

Offer of this free acupuncture visit ends Monday the 13th, so call soon to reserve your spot. This offer is open for new and current patients too.

If you have any questions about this offer or about what acupuncture can do for you, please feel free to call us today at (507) 434-8700

 

Be Peaceful & Relaxed…

Stressed out and feeling kind of edgy? Join the club. Ours is a fast-paced, demanding world. The good news is acupuncture delivers composure in no time- if only you’ll take a moment to sit and enjoy some time with Jason. The mood-mellowing begins instantly with the calming aromas of lavender and citrus gently waft up as you enter our office. Ahhhh. With each visit, a blissful blend of your brains neurotransmitters laced with nerve-soothing endorphins, along with stress reducing dopamine that helps you chill out, unwind & relax. Simply come and breathe. Deep.

Cosmetic Acupuncture

“Glowing, Radiant, Younger Looking Skin.”

What Is Cosmetic Acupuncture?

Cosmetic acupuncture, also known as facial acupuncture, is an ancient beauty secret and is used by both men and women as a non-toxic way to minimize fine lines and wrinkles from the face. It reduces the signs of aging by renewing the glow of the skin and providing a youthful look to the face. Cosmetic acupuncture needles create stimulation to areas of facial tissue by increasing the circulation of blood flow to the wrinkles and thus producing more collagen production, resulting in less wrinkle formation.

Cosmetic acupuncture is an ancient healing art that has been practiced in China for emperors and empresses as a beauty ritual for at least 5,000 thousand years. The treatment involves inserting tiny, hair-like needles into the face and others into the body in order to increase the blood circulation and collagen production within the skin. This allows the skin to be nourished, oxygenated and moisturized from the inside out. Additionally, the increased production of collagen tightens the skin. Hence, the treatment improves the complexion and elasticity of the skin.

During each treatment, medical acupuncture is used, meaning that body needles are placed to work on stress levels, pain, insomnia or anything else that is currently bothering the patient.  This helps immensely in the outcome of radiant skin as the body is all connected.

Cosmetic acupuncture is currently all the rage among Hollywood’s elite, and its popularity is understandable.  It promises a more youthful appearance with no downtime, no anesthesia, no harmful chemicals or toxins injected and no going under the knife.

 

 What Results Are Seen With Cosmetic Acupuncture?

Cosmetic acupuncture treatments help the youth stay looking youthful and those with wrinkles to look many years younger. It minimizes fine lines and softens the deeper lines making them less noticeable. The treatment can also minimize dark circles and puffiness under the eyes, and aids in the tightening of the jowls, that tend to sag as we age. Most importantly, acupuncture provides overall rejuvenation, allowing the whole body to feel less stressed and more energized.

Wrinkles that are minimized include:

  • Marionette Lines…….the lines framing the mouth.
  • Glabellar Lines………the vertical wrinkles between the eyebrows (the frown lines aka, “the 11’s″).
  • Crow’s Feet………….the wrinkles at the corner of the eyes.
  • Smile lines……………the deep folds between the nose and the mouth (the laugh lines or “nasolabial” folds)
  • Forehead Lines……….the horizontal wrinkles across the forehead
  • Vertical lip lines………the small wrinkles around the mouth
  • Chin lines
  • Neck lines
  • Eyelid Lines
  • Under eye lines

To be more specific, other than the various areas of the face that have wrinkles, this treatment has many other beneficial results for rejuvenating the skin including:

  • Renewing facial glow
  • Oxygenating the skin
  • Regulating acne prone skin
  • Balancing oily/dry skin
  • Firming facial skin
  • Diminishing skin discoloration
  • Brightening dark circles under eyes
  • Tightening pores
  • Brightening sallow complexion
  • Tightening sagging eyelids
  • Temporarily plumping lips

 

Who Benefits From Cosmetic Acupuncture?

Three groupings of women and men between the ages of 20 to 70 benefit from these treatments:

I. Women and men in their 20’s and 30’s who are looking to prevent the early onset of wrinkles.
II. Women and men in their 40’s and 50’s who are looking to minimize the appearance of fine to medium lines and maintain a youthful glow to the skin.
III. Women and men in their 60’s and 70’s who are looking for an overall facial rejuvenation effect that will soften the appearance of deep wrinkles, minimize the dull complexion and bring back the glow that has been lost over the years.

All three groups will gain a dewy and fresh appearance, delay the aging process and look and feel younger.

 

Does It Hurt?

No, it is nothing that you would expect.  The most popular question asked of this treatment is the assumption of discomfort because “needles” are used.   But there is no need to worry since these needles are not anything like the ones you are used to seeing at the doctor’s office. They are so tiny and thin that it’s hard to even refer to them as “needles”.  They are about the width of a thread and feel like a hair or a thin bristle on a brush. Due to their size, they are barely felt by the patient. In fact, 41 acupuncture “needles” can easily fit into the tip of one single needle used by a doctor. Of course, the skill of the acupuncturist is important. Jason Richard has refined his gentle technique by spending many years of training in the field.

 

Are There Any Side Effects?

No, there are no side effects.  This is so because cosmetic acupuncture is natural and uses no fillers or harsh chemicals. Actually, the patient is left feeling relaxed, fresh and wonderful with a strengthened immune system.  There is no downtime, no puffiness, no swelling, no drugs, no allergic skin reactions and no injections. In fact, directly after the treatment, the patient can do just about anything and there are no marks or redness upon leaving the office.  Other treatments used to reduce wrinkles, such as fillers, surgery, chemical peels and laser treatments usually always do have many side effects.  It is suggested to do your research when thinking about various skin treatments.  Our skin is extremely thin and delicate and we should be as gentle as possible with any treatment as well as products used on the skin.  You could end up causing faster aging by not doing your research and finding out what is in the best interest of your delicate skin.  As we get older, our skin begins to thin and side effects from harsh chemical fillers and lasers damage the skin much more quickly.

 

Why Choose Cosmetic Acupuncture Over Other Treatments?

Long-term radiant health of your body is the most important reason to go with cosmetic acupuncture.  With Botox, some of the risks may include allergic reactions, possibly paralysis of surrounding nerves, which impair natural facial expressions.  With fillers, patients commonly experience puffiness, swelling, bruising and extended bed rest and downtime.  The same commonly holds true with chemical peels and laser treatments.  With cosmetic surgery, many risks are involved such as anesthesia complications, a long recovery with days to weeks of discomfort, nerve damage to the face, allergic reactions to the drugs and scarring just to name a few.  Cost is a large factor to consider.  Botox and fillers are usually in the ballpark of $1,000’s over a few years and the same with expensive peels and lasers because they have to be done on a continual basis to keep up the results.  Facial surgical procedures can cost $30,000 or more after all is said and done.  The key point to remember is that cosmetic acupuncture is not a “band-aid” approach to your skin; It is the opposite in that the body is rejuvenating from the inside out.  With fillers and the like, a patient must go in every 6 weeks up to 8 months to keep up the results.  With cosmetic acupuncture your results will last for longer periods, since the collagen built has been produced by your body.  With Cosmetic acupuncture your health is never at risk and the cost is minimal in the long run since you will not have to keep repeating treatments years on end. Lastly, you will never have to worry about the long-term adverse side effects that are not known yet from injecting your face with harsh chemical fillers and toxins.

 

How Many Treatments Do I Need?

A general course of 10 treatments is done for best effect. Usually after a few treatments a patient notices some changes. Around the 7th or 8th treatment, the collagen starts to kick in and wrinkles start diminishing. After this, a maintenance of one treatment a month is done depending on the age of the patient.

 

Can You Explain Why Acupuncture Is Done On Other Parts Of The Body Too?

To explain acupuncture in a nutshell; it looks at every part of your body as a whole.  So when your face is getting acupuncture, your body needs to as well, to enhance the results.  By placing needles into other body points such as your ankles or forearms, that will balance your hormones, stress, digestion, sleep and immune system, your skin will start to glow.  That means that treating the face is part of it and treating the rest of the body completes it.  When your entire body is in balance, so is your skin.  This idea differs when you go to most doctor’s visits in that one part of your body is being treated only and is looked at as separate to everything that is going awry inside of you.

 

Will It Affect My Current Botox Treatments?

Many patients choose to use cosmetic acupuncture to take care of those pesky fine to medium wrinkles and may possibly choose to go the route of Botox or other fillers to take care of those stubborn deep wrinkles. In fact, the cosmetic

acupuncture treatments will help to prolong the life of the Botox.  So this means that a patient will be able to make fewer trips to the doctor a year. The patient will be saving time, money and fewer possible side effects.
Cosmetic Acupuncture Can:

  • Help minimize or eliminate fine lines.
  • Help reduce a double chin.
  • Tightens the pores giving smooth skin.
  • Moisturizes the skin from inside, and gives rosy cheeks to people with dull, tired looking skin.
  • Help reduce frown lines.
  • Help lift sagging skin, puffy or droopy eyelids.
  • Increase collagen production.
  • Brighten the eyes.
  • Improve muscle tone and dermal contraction.
  • Improve hormonal balance to keep acne under control.
  • Even facial color and tone.
  • Increase blood, energy and lymph circulation.
  • Leave you feeling refreshed, relaxed and rejuvenated.

 

I welcome you to contact us if you have any questions or would like to make an appointment.

We look forward to serving you.

 (507) 434-8700

Be Immune

Ah-choo! Let’s face it – we live in a world of germs. But instead of letting them get you down, why not get defensive? Build immunity with a healthy diet and exercise, work on banishing stress, and you’ll have a fighting chance. Acupuncture aids your system by strengthening your entire system. I recommend 10 sessions over 4-5 weeks for the absolute best results. But if only a single session is in the budget, this too can provide significant improvements for your immune system. See you soon.