I’ve spent the year researching and writing about many different health and fitness options available in Dublin, and thought I’d wrap up the year with a few alternative choices for health care and pain management, which are becoming more and more popular. I kept an open mind and learned about a few of the unconventional options available in Dublin.
The Winchester Institute
www.thewinchesterinstitute.com
I have always been wary about chiropractic care, mostly because it seemed scary and I didn’t understand how it could help my chronic back pain. I met with Dr. Dana Winchester, owner of the Winchester Institute of Chiropractic Health and Wellness, and she explained in detail that our nerves lead to every cell, organ and tissue in the body. If there is nerve interference, our body does not function as it should. “Regular chiropractic adjustments relieve compression on nerves and allow the nerves to flow freely, thus allowing your body to function at optimal performance,” Winchester says.
Unlike medications that focus on symptoms, chiropractic care attempts to address the root of the problem and has been found to boost the body’s immune response, lower blood pressure and aid in relieving pain from headaches to herniated discs to plantar fasciitis. The Winchester Institute combines chiropractic care with manual therapy, such as deep tissue massage and trigger point therapy, rehabilitative exercises, stretching, nutritional counseling, electrical muscle stimulation, and supplements. “Our goal is to provide our patients with up-to-date information on improving their overall health and wellness,” Winchester says.
I found no need to be scared, as my adjustment did not hurt and provided some relief from my pain. I also learned how to correct my posture when writing and driving, switched my pillow for one with more support, benefited from deep tissue massage and added some pharmaceutical – grade supplements to my daily routine.
Ascential Acupuncturist
My curiosity about alternative health treatments led me to acupuncture, the practice of inserting small needles into the skin at specific points on the body. The needles touch deep nerve centers that connect to the brain, sending a message that it needs help. The body then reacts to a “trauma” that didn’t really happen and aids in healing. While the science of acupuncture is difficult to prove, a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine of nearly 18,000 people found it is an effective treatment for chronic pain.
I met with Veronica Watson Ramirez, a licensed acupuncturist, in her Dublin office. She firmly believes that the body can heal itself, but sometimes we need to help it along. “My mother is an herbalist, so I grew up with natural healing methods and I’ve never had more than a mild cold,” says Ramirez, who still consults with her mother about herbal recommendations for her patients.
Ramirez has helped clients suffering from ailments from kidney stones and migraine headaches to strokes and infertility.
“Once the patient is pregnant, I see her for the first trimester to keep her healthy and help prevent miscarriage,” Ramirez says. “The best reward of all is receiving that baby picture nine months later.”
I explained my back issues to Ramirez, and we discussed a treatment plan. I had to roll up my sleeves and pant legs, take off my shoes and socks, and lie down. Ramirez then inserted several small needles, about half the thickness of a needle in the doctor’s office, into my scalp, hands, wrists, legs, ankles and feet. It did not hurt, and I was able to just relax for the required 30 minutes, which is the amount of time it takes the energy to move through your body in a full chi cycle, Ramirez says. She recommends three treatments within 10 days to get major issues under control and re-evaluate from there.
Hyperbaric Therapy of Dublin
The theory of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is to enhance the body’s
natural-healing process with a pressurized, full body chamber of 100 percent oxygen. Normally, oxygen is transported through the body via red blood cells. Proponents of HBOT say that the treatment allows oxygen to be dissolved into all body fluids and carried to areas where circulation is diminished or blocked. The increased oxygen is also said to help white blood cells destroy bacteria, reduce swelling and remove toxins.
The first Hyperbaric Oxygen Center in central Ohio opened in August on Avery-Muirfield Drive. I met with owner Chris Dodson and was surprised when I saw the chamber. It resembles a mini submarine with a clear acrylic tube and a gurney that slides in and out. Dodson controls the amount of pressurized oxygen put into the unit and the time, and never leaves the room while the patient is being treated. The person inside can watch Netflix, read a book or talk to Dodson when he picks up the receiver.
While I was at Hyperbaric Therapy of Dublin, Toni Burkholder and her son, Mark, were inside the chamber together watching Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Mark suffered a traumatic brain injury in August 2010, and the Burkholders have tried many alternative treatments to help heal his brain and curb his behavioral issues. Although HBOT is not approved by the FDA for brain injuries, Toni says she has seen a huge improvement in Mark. “He is initiating and contributing to conversations more readily, and his short-term memory has improved,” Toni says. “He’s more like the old Mark.”
