Our Services

At Pedre Integrative Health we specialize in a variety of general primary care and preventative services for our patients. This includes the management of the following:

WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE?

Acupuncture is an ancient technique, originating in China over 2,000 years ago, that encourages the body to promote natural healing and to improve functioning and blood flow. This is done by inserting needles and applying heat or electrical stimulation at very precise acupuncture points.

HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK?

The classical Chinese explanation is very poetic, in that it describes channels of energy running in regular patterns through the body and over its surface. These energy channels, called meridians, are like rivers flowing through the body to irrigate and nourish the tissues. An obstruction in the movement of these energy rivers is like a dam that backs up the flow in one part of the body and restricts it in others.

The meridians can be influenced by needling the acupuncture points. It is theorized that the acupuncture needles unblock these “obstructions,” and reestablish the regular flow through the meridians. Acupuncture treatments can therefore help the body’s internal organs or muscular system correct imbalances in their digestion, absorption, blood flow and energy production activities.

The modern scientific explanation is that needling the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system through peripheral afferent fibers (nerve fibers that carry signals to the central nervous system) to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These chemicals will either change the experience of pain, or they will trigger the release of other chemicals (such as endorphins and enkephalins) and hormones which influence the body’s own internal regulating system.

The improved energy and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture stimulates the body’s natural healing abilities, thus promoting both physical and emotional well-being with minimal side-effects.

DOES ACUPUNCTURE REALLY WORK?

Acupuncture is not for everyone. It is not a cure-all for all types of diseases. However, it can help ameliorate a lot of symptoms so that a person can live a more satisfying life. In the past 2,000 years, more people have been treated with acupuncture than with all other health modalities combined. Today, acupuncture is practiced throughout the world. It is now being used more and more in the United States by patients and physicians.

Acupuncture treatments can be given at the same time as other techniques are being used, such as conventional Western medicine, osteopathic or chiropractic adjustments, and homeopathic or naturopathic prescriptions. It is important that your physician-acupuncturist know everything that you are doing, so he or she can help you get the most benefits from all your treatments.

DO I HAVE TO BELIEVE IN ACUPUNCTURE FOR IT TO WORK?

No, absolutely not. In fact, most of my patients start as skeptics, then come to believe after they see that it has worked for them. As a case in point, acupuncture is also used successfully on cats, dogs, horses, and other animals. These animal “patients” do not understand or believe in the process that helps them get better.

Of course, just like in life, a positive attitude towards wellness will reinforce the effects of the treatment(s) received, just as a negative attitude may hinder the effects of acupuncture or any other treatment, for that matter. A neutral attitude (or “blank slate” mind) will not block treatment results, but you should have a willingness to let go of the symptoms that are bothering you. Many people hold on to symptoms as a crutch. Acupuncture is about less mind and more letting go – allowing the treatment to work its effect.

IS MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE DIFFERENT FROM TRADITIONAL CHINESE ACUPUNCTURE?

Acupuncture is a very old medical art, and there are many approaches to learning and practicing it. Medical acupuncture is the term used to describe acupuncture performed by a doctor trained and licensed in Western medicine who has also had thorough training in acupuncture as a specialty practice. Unlike Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbs are not prescribed. The Western-trained acupuncturist has the ability to use a Western medicine or acupuncture or a combination of both as the need arises, to treat an illness. This provides a broad multidisciplinary approach to your healthcare.

WHAT IS THE SCOPE OF MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE?

Medical acupuncture is a system which can influence several areas of your health:

Promote Health
We strive to keep you feeling healthy and well.

Prevent Illness
We counsel you on how often you may require treatments.

        Treat Medical Conditions
               We help you restore your health when an acute medical
                condition has knocked it off balance.

While acupuncture is often associated with pain control, in the hands of a well-trained practitioner it has much broader applications. Acupuncture can be effective as the only treatment used, or as the support or adjunct to other medical treatment modalities in many medical and surgical disorders. The approach at Pedre Integrative Health tends to be multidisciplinary, as most problems are multidimensional and complex.

The World Health Organization recognizes the use of acupuncture in the treatment of a wide range of medical problems, including:

DIGESTIVE DISORDERS: gastritis and hyper-acidity, spastic colon, irritable bowel syndrome.

RESPIRATORY DISORDERS: sinusitis, sore throat, bronchitis, asthma, persistent bronchial cough, recurrent chest infections, and recovery from a respiratory infection.

NEUROLOGICAL & MUSCULAR DISORDERS: Headaches, Migraines, acute/chronic neck pain and tension, rib pain, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, various forms of tendonitis, low back pain, muscle spasm, trigger points, sciatica, and osteo-arthritis of the knees. For acute muscular disorders and pain, the sooner it is treated with acupuncture, the faster the recovery.

URINARY, MENSTRUAL, and REPRODUCTIVE DISORDERS: This includes a treatment protocol we use for Infertility.

HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL I NEED?

The number of treatments needed differs from person to person and by problem. For complex or long-standing conditions, one or two treatments per week for several months may be recommended. For acute conditions,

usually fewer visits are required, and for health maintenance, four sessions a year may be all that is necessary.

ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS TO ACUPUNCTURE?

Usually not. As energy (i.e. circulation and nerve signals) is redirected in the body, internal chemicals and hormones are stimulated and healing begins to take place. Often, one has an endorphin release during the session that feels like “runner’s high.” You may get sleepy and dose off for a while during the treatment. For most New Yorkers, this is one of the big pluses of coming in for regular sessions, as most never have time to just sit and relax.

After the acupuncture, the original symptoms occasionally may worsen for a few days, or you may experience other general changes in appetite, sleep, bowel or urinary patterns or emotional state. These should not cause concern or alarm, as they are simply indications that the acupuncture is doing its job, and usually pass within a day or two.

It is quite common with the first one or two sessions to have a sensation of deep relaxation or even mild disorientation immediately following the treatment. These pass within a short time period, and never require anything more than a bit of rest. It is always best to have a non-hectic day after your acupuncture sessions so that the treatment may “sink in.”

ARE THERE ANY DO’S OR DON’TS FOR ME
ON THE DAY OF TREATMENT?

Yes. To enhance the value of each treatment, the following guidelines are important:

§ Do not eat an unusually large meal immediately before or after your
treatment.

§      Do not over-exercise, engage in sexual activity, or consume
        alcoholic beverages for at least 6 hours after your treatment. This
        is especially important for the first few visits.

§ Continue to take any prescription medicines as directed by your
regular doctor.

§      For best results, do not engage in excessive alcohol consumption
        or substance use the day prior to treatment. This may seriously
        interfere with the effectiveness of the acupuncture treatments.

Remember to keep good mental or written notes of what your response is to the treatment. This is important for your doctor to know so that the follow-up treatments can be designed to best help you and your problem.

WHAT ARE THE NEEDLES LIKE?

People experience acupuncture needling differently. Most patients feel only minimal pain as the needles are inserted; some feel no pain at all. Once the needles are in place, there should be no pain; although an aching sensation, known as “De Qi” (pronounced “deh chee”), may persist.

Acupuncture needles are very thin, solid and made of stainless steel. The point is smooth (not hollow with cutting edges like a hypodermic needle) so that needle insertion through skin is not as painful as injections or blood draws.

Because sterile, single-use, disposable needles are used there is almost no risk of infection from the treatments.

IS ACUPUNCTURE COVERED BY HEALTH INSURANCE?

Some insurance companies currently cover acupuncture costs; other companies do not yet recognize the value of acupuncture. Each health policy must be reviewed to determine acupuncture benefits. If your policy does not cover acupuncture treatments, you will be responsible for the additional charge for these services.

Scars are caused by a multitude of factors. Some may be due to an accident, such as a scrape or a cut; others are due to the body’s own natural compensating mechanism when attempting to heal a surgical wound, such as a C-section scar. Not all surgical wounds heal beautifully, and unfortunately, not all scars disappear to the point of being undetectable. In addition, a lot of these scars cause unwanted symptoms, such as itching, burning and general discomfort. There are two main types of prominently seen scars that may form on the skin:

Types of Scars

1) Hypertrophic scar
2) Keloid scar

A Hypertrophic scar is simply a normal scar that has formed with more visible, thicker scar tissue. This is due to the body trying to compensate for the loss of skin strength by moving more fibroblasts (cells that help give skin its structure by producing collagen) into the scar. Usually these types of scars form over areas of the body that suffer shear forces from movement, such as the upper body. The scar may itch or bother you, have a darker or pinkish tone and often has a rough, protruding surface that is easily felt by running your finger over it. This type of scar is due to a chronic inflammatory process. It may resolve slowly over time as its appearance softens.

A Keloid scar is a thick, protruding scar with a variably contoured surface. These are usually a reddish color or darker than the surrounding skin, more so than hypertrophic scars. They also tend to be thicker, tougher, and will not resolve over time. They are due to the body producing too much tough, fibrous protein known as collagen when healing a wound. Keloids may result from something as simple as an ear-piercing, but they may also result from any cut to the skin. Certain people will tend to form keloids more easily than others, thus surgical treatment (i.e. removal) of this scar runs the risk that as the surgical wound heals, the keloid will “grow” back.

Treatment
Keloids and hypertrophic scars are often treated by injecting a steroid medication directly into the scar tissue to reduce redness, itching, and burning. In some cases, this will also shrink the scar and soften its appearance.

At Pedre Integrative Health, we believe that although steroids may work well on some of these scars, the potential side effects of steroids, including weakening of the skin and surrounding tissues, does not justify its use, unless other more holistic modalities fail. We use a combination of an injectable non-steroidal Western medicine with a homeopathic remedy to help shrink these scars over the course of 2-6 treatments. The course, frequency, and duration of treatments vary according to individual circumstances, and individual results may vary.

Isn’t it time you pick up that Bikini again? Don’t let an unsightly scar limit your life. A natural treatment is available now. To see if you are a candidate for this therapy, follow the link below:

Schedule an Appointment Now

What causes warts?

Warts are a type of skin infection caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Warts may be visible, usually as an outgrowth from the surrounding skin or mucous membrane. Warts can be found on all areas of your skin, inside your mouth, on your genitals and on your rectal area. There are 100’s of types of HPV viruses; some will tend to cause warts on the skin, whereas others will tend to cause warts on the genitals or rectal areas.

How are warts transmitted?

Warts may be passed on from person to person through skin contact. However, it is also possible to get warts from using towels or other objects that were used by a person who has warts.

How do warts go away?

Some warts may disappear on their own, and others will not. If they go away, warts may take months or years to disappear. During this time, they may be transmitted to others.

Should you treat a wart?

Generally, yes. Warts are often bothersome, either due to pain, bleeding or alteration of the appearance of the surrounding skin. They may be embarrassing, depending on where they grow. Treatment will decrease the chance that warts will spread to other areas of your body or to other people.

How can warts be removed from the skin?

There are a number of over-the-counter and home remedies (such as salicylic acid and duct tape) that may be used to remove warts on the skin; however, these should not be used to remove warts on the genitals or the face. Even warts on parts of the skin, other than the genitals and face, may not respond to over-the-counter remedies. You shouldn’t treat warts in the genitals or face or continue to treat ones that don’t go away on other parts of your body without consulting with your doctor. Your doctor may use cryotherapy (a super-cooled fluid is applied to the wart to trigger an inflammatory response), or the wart may be cauterized (burned off), cut out or removed with a laser. The efficacy of these treatments may vary depending on the size, depth and location of the wart. And more than one treatment may be required to successfully remove the wart. If you would like to request an appointment to remove a wart or simply schedule a consultation before planning any treatment click here.

Do warts ever come back?

Most of the time, warts can be successfully treated and once removed they will not come back. Your body’s immune system usually rids itself of any remaining tiny bits of wart that may be left after the wart is treated. If warts do come back, see your doctor to talk about other treatment options.

What is a trigger point?

Have you ever had a painful muscle or part of your body that just keeps aching day after day? A trigger point is a palpable nodule in tight bands of muscle fibers that when pressed may cause local tenderness or referred pain. Trigger points can be the source of significant pain that can last from days to weeks to months. These hyperirritable spots are thought to be contractures within the skeletal muscle fibers.

The concept of a trigger point remains unknown to most doctors, and unfortunately is not typically taught in medical school curricula. Physiotherapists, osteopaths, naturopaths, chiropractors, physiatrists, massage therapists and medical acupuncturists are generally more aware of trigger points and can provide viable treatment options.

Why are trigger points so important?

Trigger points can be the source of significant pain which lowers the quality of one’s life by limiting physical activity and causing persistent discomfort. The most detailed and important work done on trigger points was by an American physician, Janet G. Travell M.D., that was so successful in treating John F. Kennedy’s back pain that she became the first female Personal Physician to the President. She published The Trigger Point Manual in 1983, and a second volume in 1992 in collaboration with David Simons M.D. Her work has become the “bible” of trigger point therapy. She believed that trigger points were often missed as the source of many myofascial pain syndromes.

From her work, we have learned the following:

· Trigger points may be the sole source of pain in up to 75% of pain clinic patients.

· Common conditions may be diagnosed (incorrectly), such as carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, and tendonitis, when in fact trigger points are the cause of the pain.

Trigger point therapy could be the one easy step towards minimizing a chronic, ongoing pain syndrome that may have been misdiagnosed.

How are trigger points treated?

A variety of techniques are available to treat trigger points and put an end to the pain syndrome. Trigger point therapy can involve massage, mechanical vibration, directed ultrasound, electrostimulation, ischemic compression, manual trigger point release technique, injection of saline, CO₂ or local anesthetic such as lidocaine, dry-needling without anesthetic or saline, and stretching techniques. In medical acupuncture, trigger points are identified and may form the basis of treatment for different myofascial pain syndromes (including tendonitis). Interestingly, studies have shown a considerable correlation between the locations of trigger points and classic acupuncture points.

At Pedre Integrative Health, Dr. Pedre uses one of the following techniques: 1) trigger point injection technique with saline, 2) trigger point injection technique with a mixture of a local anesthetic with a combination of injectable homeopathic anti-inflammatories (medicines to resolve related inflammation in the muscle and promote circulation of blood into the oxygen-starved trigger point), 3) electrostimulation, or 4) medical acupuncture. A combination of these techniques may also be used to achieve the best results in the shortest time possible.

If you would like to request an appointment to see if trigger points may be the cause of your pain syndrome or simply schedule a consultation before planning any treatment click here.

Why quit?

Smoking is the single most preventable cause of death in the United States. Almost one-third of all cancer deaths each year in this country are due to cigarette smoking. Its effect on the health span (span of time spent with good health, as opposed to life span – time a person lives) of the individual is even more enormous. In addition to contributing to cancer causality, smoking may result in repetitive respiratory infections, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, high blood pressure and atherosclerotic heart disease, one of the leading causes of death outside of cancer. Need I say more?

Are there any immediate benefits of quitting?

If you quit smoking today, the benefits are immediate and substantial. Within hours of your last cigarette, the circulation and blood pressure begin to improve and the level of carbon monoxide (a poisonous gas from tobacco smoke that reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, the essential energy source for metabolism) in the blood begins to decline. Within the next few days to weeks, your pulse rate and blood pressure begin to return closer to normal. Within a few days, smell and taste sensation return. Breathing will be easier, and heaviness in the chest will start to lift.

How about long-term benefits of stopping smoking?

10-15 years after you quit smoking, your risk of premature death from previous tobacco use approaches that of a non-smoker. About 10 years after quitting, the risk of dying from lung cancer is 30-50% less. Quitting reduces the risk of developing other smoking-related diseases, such as heart disease and chronic lung disease.

What are the obstacles to quitting smoking?

Smoking is one of the hardest habits to break. The biggest obstacle to quitting is you — your will-power. No matter how many aids (i.e. Nicotine gum, the patch, or medication) are used in assisting you to quit, if your will is not truly committed to the process, quitting will likely not be successful. You need to have a vested interest in succeeding, and make a daily affirmation about this to yourself.

The next biggest obstacle is the physical addiction to nicotine. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance, and withdrawal from it may result in anxiety, increased irritability, hunger, cold sweats and insomnia. Nicotine is the main ingredient in over-the-counter quitting aids, such as nicotine gum and the nicotine patch. These vehicles give the body back some of the nicotine that it is craving when a person quits, so that one does not experience the withdrawal symptoms that trigger the return to smoking. These aids have a variable success rate in helping people quit.

The final biggest obstacle is the psychological/oral addiction. This is the need to have something in the hand and in the mouth that is created by the repetitive behavior of smoking. This part may be one of the hardest to let go of and is the reason many people gain weight after they quit, as they substitute the act of eating for the previous act of smoking to satisfy the oral addiction. Again, pure will and discipline play a very important role in helping persons overcome this part of the addiction.

Just remember that kicking the habit today offers the opportunity for a healthier future.

For more advice on overcoming these obstacles, visit www.nysmokefree.com or call the Smoker’s Quitline at:
1-866-NY-QUITS

How can a doctor help?

Most of the time people come to me after their previous efforts to quit smoking have failed. With new medications on the market that can effectively reduce the cravings and feelings of withdrawal during the critical few weeks after quitting, the obstacles to smoking cessation have been reduced and chances of success markedly increased. You may have heard of such medications as Zyban, Wellbutrin XL, and recently FDA-approved Chantix. One of these may be right for you, but you must consult with a doctor to find out. Success is not a guarantee, and results may vary from person to person. If you would like medical assistance in smoking cessation click here to request an appointment.

Nutrition