Today on the blog we’re welcoming Kasey Ennis, a dual therapist specializing in Traditional Chinese Medicine and esthetics. As you know, Lauryn is big into facial acupuncture, fascia movement, body work, and a bed of nails to name a few.
As a student of acupuncture, we invited Kasey on the blog to talk about its benefits and share some success story. In this post you’ll also hear about Kasey’s son’s own success story and how she decided to combine her expertise in esthetics with Traditional Chinese Medicine.
With that, let’s welcome Kasey to the blog.
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Hi TSC. I’m Kasey and I have a Masters in Acupuncture, am a NYS licensed dual therapist (massage and esthetics) and I recently earned my Doctorate in Acupuncture.
I have been an esthetician for over 25 years, a LMT for 6 years and an recent graduate of acupuncture about a year and a half. I became an esthetician because I had extremely excessive oily and acne prone skin growing up and facials were the only thing that worked for me. Since I was spending so much money on facials and skincare, I thought I should learn how to do this to save money and make money!
I was an esthetician for about 14yrs before going back to school to become a Massage Therapist. I decided to further my education because many of my clients were matured women who were seasoned in getting facials the European style. It came to a point when I didn’t see them that much because of health reasons. I had become limited in services which I could provide for them. So I would refer them to the acupuncturist who was located in the same office.
I discovered acupuncture because my son was in high school and he was facing challenges from his transition from junior high. His pediatrician / specialist wanted him to take meds but my son refused. Of course, I didn’t want to force him. I thought I would intimidate him or scare him into taking the meds by presenting acupuncture, which is needle manipulation. Well, he wasn’t a bit moved. He welcomed the idea. In fact, he only need a herbal formula script for 10 days and 4 treatments.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a comprehensive system of healing that has been practiced for thousands of years. It encompasses a wide range of practices including acupuncture, herbal medicine, dietary therapy, massage (Tui Na), and exercises such as Tai Chi and Qi Gong. Here are eight benefits of TCM:
Benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Holistic Approach:
TCM takes a holistic approach to health, viewing the body, mind, and spirit as interconnected. It focuses on restoring balance and harmony within the body to promote overall well-being rather than just treating isolated symptoms.
Individualized Treatment:
TCM recognizes that each person is unique, and treatments are tailored to address the specific needs and imbalances of the individual. Practitioners consider not only physical symptoms but also lifestyle, emotional state, and environmental factors in diagnosis and treatment planning.
Natural Healing:
TCM emphasizes natural approaches to healing, including the use of herbal medicine, acupuncture, and dietary therapy. These modalities aim to stimulate the body’s innate healing mechanisms, support self-healing processes, and minimize side effects often associated with pharmaceutical interventions.
Preventive Medicine:
In addition to treating existing health conditions, TCM places a strong emphasis on preventive medicine. By addressing imbalances and strengthening the body’s defenses, TCM helps to prevent illness and promote longevity.
Promotion of Qi Flow:
According to TCM principles, Qi (pronounced “chee”) is the vital energy that flows through the body, nourishing and sustaining all bodily functions. Practices such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, and Qi Gong are aimed at balancing and promoting the smooth flow of Qi throughout the body, thereby enhancing overall health and vitality.
Stress Reduction:
TCM recognizes the impact of emotional and mental well-being on physical health. Techniques such as acupuncture, massage, and meditation are used to reduce stress, promote relaxation, and restore emotional balance, which in turn supports overall health and resilience.
Treatment of Chronic Conditions:
TCM has been shown to be effective in managing a wide range of chronic health conditions such as pain, digestive disorders, respiratory ailments, hormonal imbalances, and autoimmune diseases. Its holistic approach addresses the root causes of these conditions and helps to manage symptoms in a comprehensive manner.
Integration with Western Medicine:
TCM can be integrated effectively with conventional Western medicine to provide complementary care. Many patients find that TCM therapies enhance the effectiveness of Western treatments, reduce side effects, and improve overall outcomes, particularly in cases of chronic or complex health issues.
Overall, TCM offers a wealth of benefits for promoting health, preventing illness, and supporting holistic well-being, making it a valuable complement to modern healthcare practices.
Acupuncture is a rapidly growing field in the US, as the word is out, despite the odd method of inserting the very fine needles into points on the skin, people get great results without taking any drugs or going through procedures or surgery. Acupuncture is one technique used to apply Chinese medicine.
People think of acupuncture as “good” for a list of things, but it should not be looked at that way. Chinese medicine is designed to restore a person to their normal self, and acupuncture is one way to apply Chinese medical techniques to the person. The goal is to take what went into dysfunction in the body or spirit, and restore it to the original state.
Acupuncture can be used to treat anything that can go wrong in the body and spirit. It is always up to the patient and their circumstances to heal their self. The needle insertions at chosen points facilitates the body to do the necessary work of restoration. “Restore to normal” is more correct than saying “bring into balance,” but they are similar wording.
Acupuncture is really only useful to those people who are willing to heal themselves. If you don’t want to get better, then acupuncture won’t work for you. Babies and children have so much vitality in their bodies, traditionally, they don’t get pierced with needles. We use rubbing tools on their skin. Otherwise, anyone from their early teen years onwards is eligible for acupuncture treatment.
The needles are not painful to have in the body. At times an insertion is uncomfortable or weird, but the acupuncturist adjusts the needle to a comfort level.
Again, I would not use the word “benefits,” I would use the word “successes” or “actions.”
Success Stories with the Use of Acupuncture
I asked one of my professors to provide some clinical successes that I could share with you in this post.
1. Painful, debilitating menses with associated facial acne. 31 yr old female. With 5-6 acupuncture treatments, the pattern of her menses completely changed, and she was without debilitating pain. In the span of 3 months of treatment, her facial and chin acne stopped coming and going with her cycle, and disappeared.
2. Limping and favoring the left leg and knee. 80 yr old, vital male, still working. Walking was inhibited by knee. Two treatments released the tight musculature in the hips that was causing the imbalance. Patient can now walk several blocks again without any pain or inhibition.
3. Lupus and Scleroderma. Female patient started acupuncture at age 45, now 50, taking multiple medications, all trying to control symptoms. By regular visits every 2 or 3 weeks, patients skin conditions have almost entirely receded, though minor recurrences do happen. She has reduced the number of medications as well. Patient now has the motivation to work out in the gym; has lost weight, improved her quality of life.
4. Shingles. Female, age 74 had herpes zoster outbreak on chest and back. She is a bit frail, and was in debilitating pain, could barely walk from bedroom to bathroom for a week. Did not want to take drugs offered by her PCP, nor take herbal medicine offered by acupuncturist. Through weekly acupuncture with the addition of essential oil therapy on her skin, the shingles receded to a state of toleration in 3–4 sessions. Further treatment to relieve all symptoms, primarily itching, took another 2 months of weekly acupuncture.
5. Neck and shoulder pain and tightness; loss of ROM. Acupuncturist reports treating hundreds and hundreds of neck and shoulder pains successfully with needles, cupping and oil massage.
6. Reaction to Predinsone therapy. Male, early 50’s was at a conference in Utah. Presented to ER with severe abdominal pain on left side of belly. Took predinsone to alleviate pain, but this began an insidious reaction to the predinsone. After 3–4 treatments with acupuncture, symptoms improved about 90%.
7. Migraines. Female age 29; long history of migraines and PCOS. Was always in a state of headaches turning into migraines, 3 times per week or more. Four treatments with acupuncture and essential oil addition, migraines stopped. Horrific, painful menses from PCOS receded 80%. Migraines did not return when patient came back 2 years later for other work.
8. Teeth grinding at night. Female, age 31. Very positive, confident person, yet at night, partner was kept up by her grinding teeth while sleeping. Patient unaware of this, as she slept deeply. Determination that her spirits were disturbed, and with just 2 acupuncture sessions, grinding stopped. Turns out her mother was a demanding “helicopter” parent.
9. My own experience with cancer. Three acupuncture treatments. Herbal meds for 6months (-/+), symptoms elevated. Was experiencing loss or hearing, vision loss, and extreme fatigue.
Another clinical case I witnessed as an intern: Female, 78 yo with high blood pressure. In three months of acupuncture, one treatment per week, she was totally off of the HBP meds. Blood pressure became regulated and stable.
There are SO many uses, options, treatment plans, and opportunities. Endless…..
If you’re in the New York area, my private suite is located at 127 East 59th Street (across from Bloomindgales) NYC. I’m available for body treatments, lymphatic drainage therapy, post operative treatments, scar and wound healing. And soon I’ll be available for acupuncture too.
The body tells a story and where there is injury or stagnation, we can do various treatments to help. A treatment we do is called ‘surrounding the dragon.’ This can be done with acupuncture, gua sha, facial massage, cold plasma facials, intraceutical or oxygen facials. We also offer a body treatment called Cavitation which works by permanently destroying fat cells through liquefaction and ultrasound waves. The treatment can help you lose inches with visible results after one session.
Please reach out if you’re interested. I have many tools in my toolbox and can perform catered treatments specifically for you.
Thank you for reading!
Kasey.
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If you’re in the New York area and interested in Kasey’s services, be sure to reach out to her.
x, The Skinny Confidential team
+ Everything you need to know about cupping.
++ Why Lauryn loves facial acupuncture.
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