Do you have

• Pain
• Muscle Pain
• Muscle tension
• Sports injury
• Acupuncture
• Motor point acupuncture
• Sports acupuncture
• Knee pain
• Hip Pain
• Glute amnesia
• Drop foot
• Plantar Fasciitis.
• Tight ITB
• Back pain
• Shoulder pain

Sports acupuncture and muscle groups

If you are alive and over the age of 30 the chances are you already have suffered muscle pain. It could have come from playing sport, working too long in one position, trauma, an accident that you never really healed properly from, surgery, the aging process and  even long term tension.

Your body is made up of over 600 interconnecting muscles and you can’t avoid moving them in your day to day so at some point there is going to be damage.

With all this – muscle pain at some point is unavoidable. But that doesn’t mean you should live with the pain.

Muscles are amazing because they are flexible and can change quite quickly when given the right treatment.  Massage is lovely but rarely can get to the really deep muscles – especially without the client feeling pain and therefore will not address blood flow to the area.

Many people have heard of dry needling. This is used to treat trigger points on the muscle that is holding on to noxious chemicals and can be released with the acupuncture needle but this is just part of the story and won’t help if you have weak or tired muscles that do not fire as they should. Nor will it address long term tightness.

What is the answer?   Sports Acupuncture

In recent years the acupuncture profession in the USA has developed more sophisticated treatments for pain and can do, what used to take weeks of rehabilitation now can be done in one or two treatments .

Our team are trained and experienced in sports acupuncture and can

Our experience takes us across the following areas:

• Upper Trunk pain – neck, shoulder, upper back
• Lower and mid back pain.
• Knee pain
• Hip Pain
• Glute amnesia
• Drop foot
• Plantar Fasciitis.
• Tight ITB

We are able to release muscles that have been tight for years and get firing muscles that have been dormant or weak for too long.  BOOK IN for an initial appointment or call us on 0403273008

Do you have

• Pain
• Muscle Pain
• Muscle tension
• Sports injury
• Weak muscles
• Acupuncture
• Motor point acupuncture
• Sports acupuncture
• Knee pain
• Hip Pain
• Glute amnesia
• Drop foot
• Plantar Fasciitis.
• Tight ITB
• Back pain
• Shoulder pain

Sports Acupuncture – a new frontier in treating pain and injury

The secret is out. Get faster results for injury and pain with sports acupuncture.

Pain, spasm, muscle amnesia, weak muscles

In recent years the acupuncture profession in the USA has quickly built on the foundational knowledge of the muscles, the nervous system and the cardiovascular system resulting in superior treatments for muscle damage and pain. What once took weeks of treatment combining physio, massage and acupuncture can now be done in one or two treatments using these new methods.

At ben and biao our acupuncturists have completed post graduate sports and muscle medicine training with Dr Richard Hazel, Dr Dan Dominguez – the acupuncturist for the NFL and Olympic athletes, Dr Matt Callison and neuropuncturist Dr Corradino.  We understand the underlying muscle chains and patterns, their relationship to your pain, the nerve innovations and the right points to stimulate using specialist electro acupuncture equipment.  We use our superior acupuncture skills in muscle and sports treatments and complement this with massage, cupping and gua sha to provide instant and long term changes to the muscle.

If you are struggling with pain, injury, muscles not firing as they should then call us to book an initial for sports acupuncture or book in here with Zoe, Sally or Lara

Do you have:

• Pain
• Chronic pain
• Stiffness
• Cramps
• Arthritis
• Nerve pain
• Period Pain
• Endometriosis

Best products for pain

What supplements do we use when we have pain

 When our practitioners or our families complain of stiffness, pain or sore muscles after the gym we reach for our tool kits in the BB dispensary.
We don’t buy off the shelf in the supermarket for these because we want high potency, high quality, practitioner only grade products.  Yes, there is a difference.
TGA in Australia is luckily very strict and ‘practitioner’ grade products must be exactly that.

Our general go to for stiffness and cramps is Diasporal magnesium. It’s easy to take and it’s purity and fast acting formula means that the body starts to relax within 5 minutes.

For arthritis use SPM and Bioflam. SPM stands for specialised pro-resolving mediators and is specialised fatty acids especially distilled at a high concentration to alleviate inflammation. Bioflam is a comprehensive anti-inflammatory formula.

Nerve pain? We add in PEA powder or capsules. PEA has affinity to certain cannabinoid receptors and can quieten some of the pain levels.  This is really useful in chronic pain and immune response pain such as endometriosis.

Period Pain? We use Chinese herbs to moderate the hormones, alleviate the inflammation, and quieten the pain receptors.  Sometimes we add in other supplements as mentioned above or even need to work on the gut to stop the cramps.

If you would like some help picking the right products for your pain. Call us.

We can supply herbs and supplements over a telephone consultation or may recommend an initial consult for more complex cases.

Do you need a massage?

Massages are seen as a luxury, or an indulgence but getting the right massage is no more a luxury than a good night’s sleep! There are so many benefits of a good massage from an experienced practitioner and they are backed by numerous studies. The most obvious is for pain and we do include this in our list of why you should have a massage and not feel guilty!

Lets look at 9 ways that massage can help you !

Pain

Pain is the body’s way of signalling to you that something is wrong. Joint degeneration will cause tightness in adjoining and distal muscle groups. Soft tissue injury or muscle tension can be addressed through remedial and soft tissue massage. Period pain and endometriosis can be addressed through specialist abdominal massage

You don’t have full range of motion.

This may occur from injury, overuse or degeneration of a joint. A good masseuse will pinpoint the bundle of muscle fibres that are restricting the blood flow and focus their work to relax the tightness and improve the range of motion allowing healing to occur.

You are getting headaches.

Headaches may result from tight neck and shoulder muscles. Getting regular massage will release this tension and increase blood flow to the neck and head helping to relieve the pain. A Swedish style, relaxing massage  or Zen Shiatsu massage would help here.

You are feeling stressed.

The demands of modern life leave many of us ‘wired’, stressed, anxious and overwhelmed. Our body turns on hormones that to help us maintain this heightened state and it becomes difficult to ‘let go and turn off’. Again, a swedish style or relaxing Zen Shiatsu massage will help turn off the messages from body and brain and allows the body to return to a more relaxed state and improve mood, wellbeing and even digestion.

You are run down; you keep getting colds – your immune system is suppressed.

Stress and Pain have been shown to be a significant immunosuppressors. Massage is known for promoting increased circulation and lymphatic flow, which helps move healthy nutrients throughout your body and to filter metabolic waste.  Studies show that massage can increase the level of lymphocytes, which are the cells that help the immune system fight off harmful substances in the body.  According to the US National Centre for Biotechnology Information, pain has measurable negative effects on immunity. Massage has an enormous impact on decreasing pain, which will make it easier for your body to fight off an illness.

You are not sleeping.

This sits with the above. When we are busy we can start to lose the circadian rhythm and can experience insomnia, waking up in the middle of the night and then exhaustion during the day. A massage can assist in physically relaxing the body which sends messages to the brain that it’s ok to move out of the ‘busy’ state and allow you to rest more properly and sleep more deeply for longer.

You are sitting down or sedentary for most of the day.

Working at a desk job sets most of us up for a plethora of postural issues because most of us are so absorbed in our work that we forget to move for long periods of time.  Looking at iphones, screens or hunched over a desk leads to tension in muscles and poor posture and can give neck/back/shoulder ache, headaches and migraines. A massage will loosen the muscles that have tightened during the day.  Ask for a remedial massage at a pressure that suits you.

You are over 40

I hate to say it but every reason above is why you need massage as we get pass the 40 mark. Especially if you are training which many of us do in order to stay fit and healthy. The body’s natural aging process means we are more prone to injury, more likely to lose range of motion, more likely to have sleep disruption, more likely to have stress from finances, family and work, more likely to need time out that we can’t seem to justify. Well…all the reasons are right there!

You like the idea of acupuncture but are frightened of needles!

We love acupuncture. It works on so many levels and can’t be beaten for deep muscle tension and injuries but quite a few are a little nervous of needles! You can work your way into this via massage. At our clinic we can offer traditional Chinese massage which works on the same areas as the needles. We also offer massage with a needles for trigger points. We also offer Chinese style massage and cupping that can beautifully relieve tension.

We offer ‘energetic style massage’ with Zen shiatsu. This style can clear energy flow disruptions and bring balance to the body. These treatments can help you recover from pain and trauma, manage chronic issues, build resistance to illness and stress, bask in your pregnancy or simply feel more at ease and energised in your body, mind and spirit.

We have given you plenty of reasons why you need a massage. It’s not a luxury but a necessity.

Evidence for massage

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Noninvasive Treatments for Low Back Pain. AHRQ Publication No. 16-EHC004-EF. February 2016.
• Bennett C, Underdown A, Barlow J. Massage for promoting mental and physical health in typically developing infants under the age of six months. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2013;(4):CD005038. Accessed at https://www.cochranelibrary.com on January 21, 2017.
• Boyd C, Crawford C, Paat CF, et al. The impact of message therapy on function in pain populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials: Part II, cancer pain populations. Pain Med. 2016;17(8):1553-1568.
• Chaibi A, Tuchin PJ, Russell MB. Manual therapies for migraine: a systematic review. J Headache Pain. 2011;12(2):127-133.
• Deng GE, Rausch SM, Jones LW, et al. Complementary therapies and integrative medicine in lung cancer: Diagnosis and management of lung cancer, 3rd ed: American College of Chest Physicians evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. Chest. 2013;143(5 Suppl):e420S-e436S.
• Furlan AD, Giraldo M, Baskwill A, et al. Massage for low-back pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015;(9):CD001929. Accessed at www.cochranelibrary.com on January 26, 2017.
• Greenlee H, Balneaves LG, Carlson LE, et al. Clinical practice guidelines on the use of integrative therapies as supportive care in patients treated for breast cancer. Journal of the National Cancer Institute Monographs. 2014;2014(50):346-358.
• Happe S, Peikert A, Siegert R, et al. The efficacy of lymphatic drainage and traditional massage in the prophylaxis of migraine: a randomized, controlled parallel group study. Neurological Science
• Reference: A Preliminary Study of the Effects of a Single Session of Swedish Massage on Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal and Immune Function in Normal Individuals

WHOLE BODY COLLAGEN

• A good whole body collagen will have at least 10g of protein per serve. ALL women over 50 should be aiming to increase their protein as we lose amino acids more easily once oestrogen has dropped as in the menopause.
• Amino acids are the molecules that make muscle, cartilage, bone and collagen in the skin. One of the reasons women start to lose the fullness in their face as they age is due to the bone density in the cheek bones starts to decline.  Therefore, your collagen supplement should be able to target all of these areas.

We sell Designs for Health Whole Body Collagen which has 3 types of collagen peptides:

• Verisol. Stimulates skin metabolism. Amazing with the cosmetic acupuncture!!
• Fortigel : Regeneration of joint cartilage
• Fortibone: Promotes bone health, increases bone density and reduces degradation of bone.

The DFH collagen is tasteless and heat stable. You can add it to your yogurt, or even your bolognaise.  Ask us if you’d like to buy.

OMEGA 3S:

Effectively 5g of Omega 3s per day.

Why the need for Omega 3?

Well it has several benefits:

• It will moisturise the skin from the inside.
• It curbs inflammation. Both in the skin (acne/rosacea) and also in the gut. The gut is important as we detoxify through the gut and if you have impaired gut health it will help mend the gut.
• It reduces the effects of sun damage which leads to faster aging.
• Omega 3s support the action of collagen
• Omega 3s promote skin cell turnover thereby removing old skin cells with new cells.

When buying omega 3 (fish oils) spend wisely. Buying bulk and/or cheap is likely to mean that the fish oil is of low quality, rancid and even contaminated. It is actually worse for you than if you hadn’t taken any at all because it will lead to further inflammation.

Make sure when you buy it’s Australia made (minimal travel) and from quality fish stocks.

Our preferred brands are DFH/metagenics/Bioceuticals.

We supply practitioner grade fish oils

VITAMIN C

2-4g a day.

Vitamin C is required by the body when utilising collagen as it promotes the production of cells called fibroblasts. Fibroblasts are found in the skin and produce the connective tissue that keep our skin and joints supple. All collagen should be taken with vitamin C in order to obtain the best benefit.

Vitamin C is also the precursor of many other anti-oxidents in the body and therefore is an important adjunct for healthy aging generally.

We supply practitioner grade vitamin C powder that can be mixed into your smoothie and combined with your collagen.

If you would like to buy any of these practitioner grade supplements from us please let us know on 0403273008 or speak to your practitioner in clinic.

 These products go great with our cosmetic acupuncture and anti aging treatments  which target the face and tighten, smooth and plump the skin giving it a more youthful appearance.

The combination of products and the treatments is a great way to naturally improve ones skin!

If you would like to know more please contact the clinic or BOOK NOW

In Australia more than 450,000 people are living with vision impairment or blindness (1) . About 1 in 7 Australians over the age of 50 have some evidence of macular degeneration (2) and, if you have diabetes there is a risk of diabetic retinopathy which increases the longer you have the disease. Of the 1.2 million Australians that have diagnosed (known) diabetes there is an estimated 500,000 with undiagnosed diabetes. Of these, over 300,000 (between 25-35%) have some degree of diabetic retinopathy and about 65,000 have progressed to sight-threatening eye disease. (3)

All these numbers are projected to increase. It is likely that you or someone you know will be affected by a degenerative eye disease. Research conducted in China and Denmark has shown that acupuncture may be a viable treatment that provides relief from these conditions.

About Vision Acupuncture Treatments.

Heidi Dunn from ben&biao has completed additional and specialist training in vision acupuncture and integrative vision.

Postgraduate studies include:

• Dr Rosenfarb’s Acuvision’s Ophthalmic Acupuncture protocols. (4)
• Dr Marc Grossman’s integrative approach to vision care (5)
• Incorporating Acunova protocols for vision (6)

For the thousands of patients with eye diseases who have received this form of acupuncture and integrative care treatment, many, depending on the type of eye disease, respond to treatment.

What is involved?

Our 10 day intensive program incorporates

• Acupuncture
• Herbal Supplementation
• Transformational meditation
• Qi Gong
• Eye exercises

Acupuncture

Acupuncture for vision is an intensive treatment and you will come in initially for a consultation to determine if the vision protocol treatment is right for you. During consultation, the details of the procedure will be explained.

The evidence for acupuncture

An increase in the blood flow to the eyes, decrease in oxidative stress plus neurological stimulation when the appropriate acupuncture points are used. Please contact us for details of studies where acupuncture has been successfully used if needed.

Internal supplementation

Most eye conditions have oxidative stress and cellular degeneration. As part of the health picture, patients may improve vision parameters with supplementation of certain vitamins and / or Chinese medicinal herbal formulas. The formulae used are individualised but are based on treatment protocols that have been used successfully used.

Lifestyle advice

Diet, sleep and exercise play an important role in minimising vision degeneration and these are discussed and advice given based on current evidence, during the consultations.

​Testing

Prior to commencement of treatment, we suggest you visit your eye doctor just for a baseline evaluation. Testing should be repeated a week after the course of treatments has completed. Our patients also find eyesight continues to improve for several weeks after the treatment and then stabilise.

Want to know more ? See some of our case studies

If you would like to know more book an initial consultation with Heidi Dunn click here 

Acupuncture for vision research

1. https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/eye-health
2. https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/content/what-is-macular-degeneration
3. https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/content/diabetic-retinopathy-about
4. Dr Andy Rosenfarb (USA), internationally recognised author, researcher and authority on Chinese Medical Ophthalmology and Integrative Vision Care. He has completed several studies on retinosa pigmentosa, macular degeneration
5. Dr Grossman (USA) is an authority on natural eye care and Chinese medical Opthalmology. He is co-founder of ‘NaturalEyeCare.com which was set up in 1999, He is an international lecturer, Author of multiple books including the recent ‘Natural Eye care, your guide to Healthy eyes and healing’ published in 2019.
6. Acunova is a style of acupuncture used by J Boel and widely used in Denmark for the treatment of vision disorders see boel-akupunktur.com/en/eye-diseases/ for more details.

Help with Morning Sickness from the team at ben&biao.

50 -90% of women suffer from nausea during their pregnancy, with the nausea and vomiting usually starting within the 6-7th week, and generally subsiding by week 12-14.

Can beans help with morning sickness?

Apparently so!

A study by Taylor et al  has shown that molybdenum appears to help with morning sickness. It helps for the absorption of all the extra hormones within the GI Tract that are making you feel a little green.

This essential trace element activates enzymes that help break down harmful sulfites and prevent toxins from building up in the body.

Preparing and Cooking Beans

For more information or bookings click here

I know what you’re thinking – ‘’we’re in a pandemic, give me a break! Eating healthy is too hard to think about at the moment! I need to treat myself!’’ However, I’m here to tell you that it’s exactly a pandemic which should make you want to focus on your nutrition. Hear me out…

What you consume is the steppingstone between you and your ability to cope with stress, anxiety and overwhelm. When you’re nutritionally depleted, your body’s stress response mechanism cannot adapt to stressful triggers as efficiently (1), your brain cannot operate optimally (2) and your hormones and neurotransmitters cannot be synthesised let alone function. Without adequate nutrition your gut bacteria cannot thrive and send their signals along what we call the ‘gut-brain-axis’ causing a breakdown of healthy mental wellbeing (3).

The body’s stress response mechanism called the HPA axis needs optimal nutrition status (in particular the B vitamins) to be able to adapt to stressful triggers that are a part of life (2). However, in westernised cultures we are overfed and undernourished, calorie counting, but failing to obtain crucial nutrient status (4). As a result of poor nutrient intake, brain function is impaired, mental health declines and we see more and more episodes of anxiety and depression (1).

Without adequate and balanced nutrition, pathways break down resulting in mood changes. Did you know that omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish or algae are a key micronutrient needed for brain structure and function? They also help in decreasing neuro-inflammation which reduces occurrence and severity of depression. How do they do this? Well, omega-3 fatty acids can travel through the blood brain barrier and once into the brain interact with neurotransmitters, whilst suppressing inflammation (8).

As well as nutrients in food being the fuel in particular metabolic pathways, some nutrients are needed to actually synthesise vital cellular chemicals we need in everyday life. An example of this is the neurotransmitter serotonin (our happy hormone) which is one of our brains chemical messengers. In order to actually make serotonin we need to feed our body the precursor L-Tryptophan to form it (5). L-Tryptophan is an amino acid found in pumpkin seeds, fish, and eggs. Studies show those with an insufficient intake have a decline of cognition, behaviour and mood (6).

Food also regulates your mood through playing a transportation role. Let’s take carbohydrates and feelings of happiness as an example. There are many transport pathways in the body for different nutrients. Some nutrients use the same pathway therefore have to compete to use it, with the loser nutrient not being absorbed by the body. Tryptophan (the precursor to serotonin) often loses out to other amino acids. So where do carbohydrates come in? When you eat carbohydrates, you produce insulin. Insulin transports glucose from the carbohydrate to the cells for fuel. Insulin also transports amino acids along with the glucose – all amino acids apart from tryptophan. This means that tryptophan can travel through the bloodstream to the brain without any competition where serotonin can be produced (7)…enter feelings of happiness!

These are just a few very brief examples of how food and dietary choices can affect how you feel and function. There are many other mechanisms which come into play such as inflammation, inadequate levels of nutrients involved in a variety of cellular pathways, gut integrity and its microbiome. Each individual presents uniquely, and no treatment is the same – so it’s best to book in to see me to better assess your circumstances. You have the power to promote good mental health through what you consume!

If you would like to know more about taking care of your health through nutrition please book in with clinical nutritionist Rachel Cunard at ben&biao .

References

1. O’Neil A, Quirk SE, Housden S, Brennan SL, Williams LJ, Pasco JA, Berk M, Jacka FN: Relationship between diet and mental health in children and adolescents: a systematic review. Am J Publ Health 2014; 104:e31–e42.
2. Brown BI (2018) Stress, HPA Axis Dysfunction and Personalized Nutrition. J Orthomol Med. 33(1)
3. Mörkl, S., Wagner-Skacel, J., Lahousen, T., Lackner, S., Holasek, S., & Bengesser, S. et al. (2018). The Role of Nutrition and the Gut-Brain Axis in Psychiatry: A Review of the Literature. Neuropsychobiology, 79(1), 80-88. doi: 10.1159/000492834
4. Rust P, Hasenegger V, König J: Österreichischer Ernährungsbericht 2017. Wien, Universität Wien und Bundesministerium für Gesundheit und Frauen, 2017.
5. Lehnert, H., & Wurtma, R. (1993). Amino Acid Control of Neurotransmitter Synthesis and Release: Physiological and Clinical Implications. Psychotherapy And Psychosomatics, 60(1), 18-32. doi: 10.1159/000288676
6. Höglund, E., Øverli, Ø., & Winberg, S. (2019). Tryptophan Metabolic Pathways and Brain Serotonergic Activity: A Comparative Review. Frontiers In Endocrinology, 10. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00158
7. Spring, B. (1984). Recent Research on the Behavioral Effects of Tryptophan and Carbohydrate. Nutrition And Health, 3(1-2), 55-67. doi: 10.1177/026010608400300204
8. Lim, S., Kim, E., Kim, A., Lee, H., Choi, H., & Yang, S. (2016). Nutritional Factors Affecting Mental Health. Clinical Nutrition Research, 5(3), 143. doi: 10.7762/cnr.2016.5.3.143

Don’t you love it when something you’ve been doing for years becomes the ‘in thing’?!

Cupping, the action of using specialist cups to suction on the skin, has been around for a very long time. Initially used on the body to clear aches and pains, over the last decade it’s become quite the trend to use cupping methods on the face.

So why would you do this and what is the benefit? Well the action of suction is sooooo…. good for circulation and muscle elasticity! When there is improved circulation there is improved hydration and improved nutrition and for the skin on your face this all means healthier and younger looking skin.

When done correctly it’s great for double chins, sagging jowls and drooping eyelids. It helps with acne scarring and reduces wrinkles.

This sounds great…but before you rush out to amazon please let us share with you what many clinical hours have taught us!

1. The type of cups you use are VERY important. The face has delicate fine skin and it is important that suction is not to strong otherwise bruising and worse – sagging can occur.  The cups need a wide base to gentle glide over your skin, not feel like you are tugging on a distracted dog.
2. Knowing muscle structure and the motion to use is also important. I’d love to say that doing it at home on your own will yield the same results as seeing a specialist -but that’s really not true.  When you use your own arm to do the cupping you are automatically changing the location of the muscles on the face. As most faces are not symmetrical it’s impossible to get it totally right.  In truth it’s best done laying down, with someone working over you correctly contouring the right muscles that can be treated with the cups rather than standing in front of the mirror and approaching it like it’s a multi-lane highway where you just zoom over the skin and hope you’ve captured the main muscles!
3. Using the right oils and serums are important too. The cupping action bringing blood to the skin (that lovely flushed look) means that the blood will take away with it whatever you put on the skin. Many oils are not really suitable for facial skin and if you have acne, many oils are pro-inflammatory and worse a rancid oil will leave your skin worse off than you started.
4. If I haven’t convinced you already, I hope you realise I’m really tempting you to go with a trained and knowledgeable facial cupping practitioner.  There are few nicer feelings than having one’s face professionally cupped. Because of the sensation over specific muscle groups many people actually fall asleep while it’s being done.   If it’s combined with facial acupuncture – ahh – well it’s even better. But that’s another blog.

In the meantime, step away from the amazon check out and instead have a look at booking with one of the team at ben&biao.  Only those with specialist training will be able to do this, We combine cupping with facial acupuncture in our anti -aging and cosmetic treatments.

See our Cosmetic Acupuncture page for more information.

For details or book a cosmetic facial treatment click here