One morning towards the end of the school year my daughter called to me from her bed when she woke up.  She said “Daddy, my legs hurt so much, I can’t even stand.”   My heart broke seeing my daughter in so much pain.  Watching her trying to walk was even more painful for me.
When she could walk, she could only walk on tippy toes, because she could not put her feet flat on the floor.  She would limp around the house. Her only comfortable positions were sitting or laying down.
When I tried to see what was wrong, by feeling her calf and leg muscles, I was shocked.  Her calf muscles felt like rock and when I would feel them, my daughter would scream in pain.
At first I had her take hot baths and soak her legs.  I hoped that would help her at least be able to stand more comfortably.  This was of some help, but not much.  Then I asked her to start stretching the muscles after the bath, and this too helped some.
I knew it was time to really take a more hands on approach to her problem.  After explaining to her that it would hurt some, we needed to get those muscles to relax or she would be in for some rough times ahead.
My daughter’s pain was not as new to me, as it was to her.  When I was her age or slightly older, I had growing pains as well, although in a slightly different place.  It was so severe I needed crutches for 6 months.   I was diagnosed with Osgood Schlatter’s Disease.  This hard to pronounce “disease” is what happens when the upper leg bone (the femur) grows too fast for the muscles to keep pace.  The tendon starts to tear off the tibia where it attaches after passing over the knee.
For my daughter, I did not want her to have so much pain and discomfort for so long.  So after trying the baths, the stretching and not getting the results I had hoped for, I tried massage.  I would have her soak in the tub to warm and soften the muscles and then I would massage her calves.  The massage was uncomfortable for her and even painful because the muscle was so tight.  Still it provided some temporary relief.  She however, still could not walk well.
I moved on to the next tool in my toolbox – electro-stimulation acupuncture.  This must sound scary, even Frankenstein like, doesn’t it?  Well, this is just a fancy way to say, that I put needles into the tight muscles and then send a small electric current to the muscle.  This causes the muscle to contract and relax many times.  This tires the muscle and a tired muscle does not want to be in spasm.
I tell my patients that it is similar to opening and closing your fist many times.  Eventually, your fist will tire and you won’t want to open and close it any more.
This treatment along with massage did the trick.  We did it 3 or 4 times over the course of a week.  My daughter was thrilled to be able to walk normally again as she wanted to be able to go on her end of the year school trips.
Today she went to the doctor for her annual check-up and it turns out that she grew 3 inches since last year.  She is now 5’ 7” tall and 12 years old.  She likes her height, but she hopes she stops growing soon or at least slows down.  Us too, we can’t keep her in shoes.

Ivie of Capitol Heights talks about how Simeon Pollock/ Wholistic Family Healthcare helped her get rid of her low back pain and her sinus pain and pressure.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Have you ever been in so much pain and you could not move properly and could not figure out why?

Recently, I have been working with a young man who has had so much back pain he had to leave work and go on disability.  Shocking as it was he could hardly even walk let alone get in and out of chairs.  Every way he moved he had pain.

His daily activity was sitting in a recliner!

When I questioned him as what may have caused his being this way, perhaps an accident or a fall.  He replied that he had he had done nothing of the sort.  He could not understand why he was like this.  He explained he was too young for this sort of thing.

Sadly, I see a lot of these types of people and usually after they have been to see a doctor, have been to the hospital, sometimes have had physical therapy and all to no avail.  Their pain is still persistent and they are usually frustrated.  Who could blame them?

With the young man I was writing about above he is now walking, doing household chores and getting back into his life.  We have been working together for about three months now and the changes are extraordinary!

Here is what happened to him and why he was in so much pain.

Most injuries occur with a sudden onset and usually one can pin point the cause.  As with this young man the onset was insidious.  Meaning it happened gradually and over time.  We call these injuries micro-injuries or low intensity injuries.

Micro injuries can happen over years with no obvious signs or symptoms until the proverbial straw breaks the proverbial camel’s back.  Then it is your back or your knee or your hip that is in pain and you lose range of motion or if really bad, are out on disability.

This young man through what he did for work continuously injured his back muscles until he was in so much pain he could not move.  His muscles were so tight when he came to see me; it was like working on rock.

Believe it or not what also factored into causing his injury was work place stress – yes stress.  How would that cause a back injury you are asking yourself?  Well in Chinese medicine the back is ruled or governed by energy that is affected by stress.  The constant stress combined with the postures he was standing in combined to disastrous results.

His treatment not only includes working on his muscles to make them more supple and pliable, but also to address his stress.  It is a multi pronged approach that is typical of Chinese medicine and typical of the work done in my office where I combine acupuncture techniques with massage therapy techniques into one very powerful treatment.

Don’t continue to suffer, call my office today to schedule your appointment at (301) 495-0303.

I now accept assignment for Blue Cross and Johns Hopkins EHP for acupuncture.  I can also bill any insurance that has acupuncture coverage.

My office is conveniently located in downtown Silver Spring, MD minutes away from Washington, DC and close to the Silver Spring Metro stop.

Hi Just a quick note to let people know I am now on Facebook and would love to have you join me as a friend.

Also I have begun to tweet on Twitter.

I am listed as Simeon Pollock on both.  This is all very new to me so any helpful suggestions would be great!

No doubt you have noticed we are still in the middle of winter.  However I also hope you have noticed the lengthening days – it is still light outside at 5:30pm!!!!

For me this is a harbinger of spring.  It is time to start thinking about all those things we like to do when spring comes – baseball, bicycling, long walks, feeling the warmth of the sun.

For some it is an all together different experience.  For some it is a time of misery, when seasonal allergies rear their ugly heads.  The time of year to start getting allergy shots, going back on medications that make you drowsy and slow is now upon us. Ugh!!!!!

I always think of my cousin who I would watch suffer from this most of the year.  I have to admit it was painful to watch.

Well, this time of year starts me thinking of what one needs to do to prepare for spring’s arrival.  Within Chinese medicine we concentrate on prevention and NOW is the time to start working on preventing the reaction to spring time allergies.  Now is the time to start thinking about cleaning out your body and getting your energy back up and into gear.  Now is the time to start thinking about the menu that will change once the warmer weather arrives.

I would love to have a conversation with you about all these matters.  We could discuss ways in which Chinese medicine and acupuncture can help you lessen the severity of allergic reactions to spring time allergens.  We could discuss food ideas and recipes.  We could discuss ways to strengthen your defenses and energies.
Our new President is preaching about change.  I think we should heed his call and make up our minds to change the way we live.  Let’s get healthy and energetic, let’s start that spring cleaning a little early and get moving.  Let’s change for the better.

Call me now to make an appointment at 301-495-0303.  My office is located near the Silver Spring Metro station and is convenient to Washington DC.

Hi All:

I am now a preferred provider with both CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield and Johns Hopkins EHP for ACUPUNCTURE.
I participate in all Blue Cross programs including Federal.

If you have been holding back from scheduling an appointment due to cost I hope this will make it easier for you.  So now there is no excuse not to use acupuncture to stay well.

Call right now for your appointment 301-495-0303

Don’t you just hate it when things don’t go the way you planned?  I know I do, however I also know that that the best laid plans…
A while back I had a patient who came to me for help in resolving a rash that seemed to get worse with each passing day.  This is a rash that she had had before and was thought to have been a reaction to taking antibiotics.  She was given acupuncture and herbs as well as a strict diet, from which she did not veer.  With some time and patience she got better and the rash completely cleared up.
Recently she is back with the same rash.  She had not been on any antibiotics and was puzzled as to why this rash was reappearing.  We went over her diet and lifestyle and I made recommendations as to what she should and could be eating and what she should not.  Well when she ate the new foods she had more outbreaks and became very upset.  She thought that the foods she was eating that were new to her were making matters worse and how could that be.  Hadn’t I told her that they were OK?
Allow to digress here for a minute or so.  In addition to speaking with her about her diet, I spoke with her about her lifestyle and pointed out to her that she has a lot of stress and no outlet.  She is also very busy, what with her family and running her household, helping with homework and you can imagine the rest.  She ignored this and tried to look past it, blaming everything on her diet.  It took a few tries but I finally made some headway and she began to understand (not totally though) that her main issue was stress and not her diet (although that needed help as well).
I patiently explained that her rash was due to the built up stress creating heat inside and looking for a way out.  The fact that it was getting worse before getting better was the acupuncture and herbs pushing out all the heat that she has inside.  She is still in denial that stress and pent up emotions could be causing all this and until the heat is fully vented and she stops making more she would continue having the rash.
I recommended that she dedicate time for herself everyday where she could relax and unwind. I told her “make it apart of her day just like sleeping, eating and breathing.”  This is something she must do.  Her initial reaction was to laugh.  “How could I do that?” she asked me.  I told her she had to find a way.
Time alone will tell what she will do and how she will incorporate this new diet and behavior into her life.  But to prevent future outbreaks and to regain balance in her life it is something she must do.
Simeon Pollock, Licensed Acupuncturist has his office in downtown Silver Spring, MD, nearby to Washington, DC.  The office is conveniently located a few blocks from the Metro’s Red Line Silver Spring Station and has ample parking in lots nearby.  Call 301-495-0303 for an appointment today.

I recently put out an E-Book together with another acupuncturist named Kevin Doherty.  We wrote this book to explain acupuncture and Chinese medicine in terms everyone can understand.

Acupuncture can seem so foreign and strange, so mysterious.  Well in our E-Book “How To Thrive in The Modern World: A Layman’s Guide to Chinese Medicine” we break down all those barriers.

I invite you to visit my website www.wholisticfamily.com and download your FREE copy TODAY!

Enjoy!

If you’re like me you are enjoying the beginnings of fall.  What with a nip in the air and the leaves just starting to blush, it is just glorious outside.  Go ahead and open your windows and let the sun shine in, let the clear air clear out your house.  I am sure you can sense the change in the energy.  For one I can’t look at the left over peaches and nectarines any more.  Bring on those beautiful plums (so many colors) and crisp apples and pears – YUM!
It is time to relish autumn and its bounty from pumpkins to mums to the color of the changing leaves.  Can’t you just see the fireplace ablaze warming your home while the winds blow?
However some of us also see fall allergies and the oncoming cold and flu season and wonder what type of year it will be for that.  Well I would like to invite to finally Do Something About It!  But what can I do you ask?
Well there are preventative actions we can take as well as reactive actions.  For those of you suffering from Autumn allergies there are treatments that are very effective in either eliminating the effects all together or in lessening the effects.  All of this is done without making you sleepy (well maybe just a little, the acupuncture treatments have been known to relax a person and many people have taken naps while the needles were in).  Treatments can also be designed to help prevent colds and flus while strengthening your defenses.
Don’t you want to take out some time for yourself during the week, isn’t life hectic and stressful?  This just lowers you immune system and makes you more susceptible to getting sick.  It is said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing again and again but expecting different results.  Come on, try something different and help yourself feel better.  It all starts with a simple phone call to make your appointment – (301) 495-0303.

Wholistic Family Healthcare is located in Downtown Silver Spring MD, near to Washington DC, and only blocks from the Metro’s Red Line Silver Spring Station.

This past week the Office of the Surgeon General of the United States issued a press release as a call to action regarding Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). I would like to spread the word about this via this medium. Deep Vein Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot, usually in the deep and large veins of the legs. If this clot becomes dislodged and moves it can become a pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs) or it can get stuck in any of the other major organs of the body. It can be fatal.
First some facts: DVT kills more people in the United States than AIDS and breast cancer combined. According to the Surgeon General, “Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism affect an estimated 350,000 to 600,000 Americans each year and incidence is expected to increase as the U.S. population ages. Together, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are estimated to contribute to at least 100,000 deaths each year.”
While DVT can occur without any symptoms there are definitive signs and symptoms and certain populations of people with higher risk. Know what the symptoms are and whether you are in a higher risk category.
According to the Mayo Clinic symptoms include (not an exhaustive list and check with your doctor):
Swelling in the affected leg(s), usually it occurs in one leg, but can occur in both; this can include swelling in your ankles and feet.
Pain in your legs; this can include pain in your ankles and feet. This pain often starts in your calf and can feel like cramping or a “charley horse.”
Redness and warmth over the affected area.
Pain or swelling in your arms or neck. This can occur if a blood clot forms in your arms or neck.
Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism warning signs
Sometimes the first sign of deep vein thrombosis can be the chest pain associated with a pulmonary embolism. If this is the case, seek medical help immediately. The warning signs and symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include:
Chest pain or discomfort. This pain or discomfort usually gets worse when you take a deep breath or when you cough.
Unexplained sudden onset of shortness of breath. This is the most common symptom.
Feeling lightheaded or dizzy, or fainting.
Coughing up blood.
A sense of anxiety or nervousness.
Now of course these symptoms look like a lot of things but better safe than sorry.
Listed on ehealthMD deep vein thrombosis is the result of three principal factors:
1. Reduced or stagnant blood flow in deep veins (venous stasis).
2. Injury to the blood vessel wall.
3. An increase in the activity of those substances in the blood that are part of the normal clotting mechanism, a condition called hypercoagulability (which means a more active clotting state).
A number of factors can bring about these conditions, thus increasing the possibility of developing DVT. These include:
•    Immobilization, such as lying in bed following surgery
•    Having undergone a surgical procedure
•    Having been subjected to major trauma
•    Increasing age
•    Malignancy (cancerous tumor)
•    Heart failure
•    A previous bout with deep vein thrombosis
•    Pregnancy
•    The use of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy
Need To Know:
Surgical procedures that are most often associated with deep vein thrombosis are:
•    Major pelvic or abdominal surgery, especially for malignancy (cancer)
•    Orthopedic operations involving the hip and knee
•    Neurosurgical procedures
The following factors also put people at greater risk of developing a blood clot:
•    Prolonged immobilization (such as on a long car or airplane trip) – sitting for long periods (4 hours or more) reduces circulation in legs by 50 percent.
•    Diabetes (a disorder in which the body can not make use of sugars and starches in a normal way), which damages blood vessels.
•    Obesity – weight puts pressure on veins, causing them to weaken.
•    Childbirth – physical strain of childbirth puts pressure on deep veins, causing them to weaken.
•    Tobacco smoking – damages blood vessels and doubles the risk of thrombosis.
People over the age of 50 are at a higher risk, but DVT can affect anyone at any age.   And according to the Surgeon General “African-Americans and Whites are more likely than other ethnic groups to develop a DVT or a pulmonary embolism. African-Americans are estimated to be at 30 percent greater risk compared to Whites.”
DVT and pulmonary embolism can be prevented and treated.  If you have any concerns after reading this please talk to your doctor.
At my clinic located in downtown Silver Spring,  MD I offer acupuncture, massage therapy and many other holistic health modalities.  We are near Washington, DC, a few blocks from the Red Line Silver Spring station.