Breathe Freely: Natural Allergy Solutions
Are red, watery eyes and a swollen nose your trademark spring look? Many allergy sufferers dread the coming spring. Life becomes round after round of antihistamines and nasal sprays. Shanghai’s damp, dusty (and polluted) environment is a nightmare for many allergy and asthma sufferers. Ancient Chinese Wisdom: The Root Causes of Allergies TCM interprets allergies as a disharmony in the body. It is often diagnosed as a “wind” influence accompanied by another...
Breaking the Cycle of Anxiety
Anxiety is the most common mental health issue worldwide, affecting some 40 million adults in the U.S. alone. Many expats in Shanghai struggle with anxiety. It is perhaps unsurprising given the fast-paced lifestyle, high pressure jobs and other stressors many of us face. However, anxiety is just a symptom. It is the tip of the iceberg, the manifestation of what is going on inside of us. It may show an emotional...
The Science Behind Emotions and Pain
Patients frequently wonder: “Why do I have this pain?” or “Why can’t I heal?” Often, this has to do with the complex interplay of emotions and stress in the body. The Physiological Response to Trauma The body can deal with physical trauma better than non-physical trauma. As a species, our bodies are highly evolved to handle illness and injury. However, when we suppress or deny emotional pain, stress, and other non-physiological trauma...
HPV: Awareness, Prevention and Treatment
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. The American Social Health Association estimates that about 75–80% of sexually active Americans will be infected with HPV at some point in their lifetime. Over 170 types of HPV have been identified and many people have subclinical varieties (never show symptoms). Unfortunately, certain types of HPV are potentially cancer causing. Because this virus is so common and often asymptomatic, HPV has lead to...
Nutritional Science News: “Mediterranean Diet Strongly Tied to Reduced Alzheimer’s Pathology”
A November 20, 2018 article on Medscape.com from Deborah Brauser discusses strong evidence from a recent study in Australia linking the Mediterranean diet to reduced signs of Alzheimer’s disease development. The new research suggests that “adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MeDi) is linked to a reduction over time in Aβ-amyloid (Aβ) accumulation, a biomarker of cerebral Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology”. The lead author of the study, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, PhD, shared...
Addressing Back Pain
The majority of people getting physiotherapy treatments suffer from low back and cervical spine pain (and related conditions like sciatica, tinnitus, headaches), mostly due to a sedentary lifestyle. Sitting too long at the office and commuting, with little movement and exercise, causes many of them to have muscle imbalances. Almost everyone experiencing this type of pain has weak core muscles. Some things you can do every day to keep muscles balanced...
FAQs about Lymphatic Drainage
Physiotherapists at Body & Soul – Medical Clinics assist Shanghai residents with health, rehabilitation and pain management. One specialty of physiotherapy is manual lymphatic drainage, highly effective for those who suffer from lymphedema. Here are a few common questions to explain more about lymphatic drainage treatment and when it might be needed by patients living in Shanghai. What is lymphatic drainage? Manual lymphatic drainage is a type of gentle, targeted massage used...
What’s Causing Your Pain?
In Shanghai, many of us live a high stress lifestyle. Expats tend to work hard and play hard. Many people deal with the stress by either engaging in a high level of sport/exercise or indulging in food and drink. There’s not always a great deal of balance.
Meet the Osteopath: Alessandro Ciullo
Alessandro has extensive experience working as a physiotherapist and osteopath in a wide range of settings. He’s worked with patients of all ages, from famous athletes and performers to people suffering from chronic pain and young people with scoliosis. What brought you to Shanghai? I’m from northern Italy, specifically Como. My best friend since the age of six has been living in Shanghai for over 12 years. In 2015, I came to...
Planning and Manifesting Your Best 2019
There are two important factors in accomplishing goals and having the kind of life we want. The first is intention, i.e. a plan/wish of what it is we want to do. The second is attention: where we put our focus. Both need to work together for us to move in the direction we want. Many times “new year’s resolutions” fail because we state an intention but then we don’t focus on...