Karen Reynolds Acupuncture

Homemade Remedies to Help Heal an Injury

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As a Licensed Acupuncturist and RN, I specialize in helping people heal from traumatic injuries. Typical injuries on a given day might be: rib fractures from a mountain bike wipe out, low back pain after lifting a heavy suitcase or neck pain following a motor vehicle accident. This blog is about safe and easy to make homemade remedies you can use to help heal after an injury.
Homemade hotpacks after injury

Nutrition, supplements and topical patches that help with healing after injury

Supplements & Nutrition for Healing Injuries

•Please temporarily cut grains out of your diet, especially gluten. Grains aggravate inflammation. When your body is healing from an accident, gluten is like gasoline being thrown on an already raging fire. This is the case irrespective of whether your are sensitive or allergic to gluten or not.

•As long as you have no allergies or medication conflicts, supplement orally with Turmeric capsules.
Start with 1,000mg/day by mouth. You can work up to 2,000mg/day x 30 days maximum. Then reduce dose back to 500-750mg/day.
•As long as you have no allergies or medication conflicts, supplement orally with Omega fish oils 1,000mg/day by mouth. Nordic Naturals is a quality brand you can find in health food stores.

Arnica Patches for Healing from Injuries

•Here is how to make topical night time Arnica patches. 
Before bed, liberally apply to Arnica ointment to the skin over your injury site. Do NOT apply to broken skin. Loosely tape small square of Suran or plastic wrap over site to maintain absorption while you sleep. This is far more effective that spot applications of topical Arnica.
NEVER place plastic wrap around full circumference of any limb(s) or your neck. Use only a small strip or square of the clear wrap. Loosely tape into place with bandage tape. If you have sensitive skin, you’ll want to buy paper bandage tape versus adhesive bandage tape.
If helpful, you can wear Arnica patches during the day too. Just make sure you change the patch at least once per day.
Cleanse skin at least once per day and allow to skin dry thoroughly before reapplication. Stop if irritation, discomfort or excess moisture noted.

Kinesiology Tape for Healing from Injuries

•Kinesiology tape (aka “K-tape”) is helpful for joint support for some injuries. Sporting goods stores and many drugstores carry an assortment of different kinds. You tube videos are execellent resources for wrapping directions of various joints.  Kinesiology tape should not be binding or tight, simply supportive.

Kinesiology Tape use after a traumatic injury

Kinesiology Tape can be used for support of joints after an injury

Do keep in mind you’ll need to remove that K-tape at some point. That being said: it may be wise to shave or use a depilatory product before application. That way it will be less painful later. If shaving, do your best not to nick the skin.

Do not apply K-tape over broken skin.

Topical Hot Packs for Healing from Injuries

For pain relief, better circulation and reducing inflammation, you can make the following topical hot packs

•Epsom Salts Topical Hot Packs

Epsom salts hot packs are soothing. These are ideal for pain, especially bone pain. The salts are used in full rock form. They are not dissolved.

Epsom salts hot packs are helpful for pain after a surgery or traumatic injury

Epsom salts hot packs are helpful for pain after a surgery or injury

Directions:

  • Place 1-2 cups Epsom salts into pillowcase. It is better not to buy salts with essentials oils in them or they will cake or solidify more.
  • Warm salts in microwave or to comfort level for your skin (perhaps 1 minute).
  • Apply to: painful or injured areas or lean against pack while seating or reclining.
  • Salts can be reused.
•Castor Oil Topical Hot Packs
Castor oil hot packs are more detoxifying. This style hot pack is  better on an injured area which is inflamed or perhaps red.

You can order The Palma Christi Castor Oil Pack Kits from Amazon or you make your own Castor Oil hot packs.

Directions:

  • Place liberal amount Castor oil onto washcloth.
  • Warm in microwave to comfort level for your skin (perhaps 1 minute).
  • Apply to:  Painful joints or Injured areas (but NOT to broken skin).
  • Do not re-use washcloths. Use a fresh cloth for each application.
Castor oil may stain so do use a towel to protect linens, clothing, furniture etc.
Thank you for reading and I hope you are feeling better soon!
  • Please leave any questions you may have here and I am happy to answer them.
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All content here is written personally by me in with the goal that it is be helpful to you. As long as you include the link for this blog entry to credit me as the author, it is fine to repost or share if you wish.

 For scheduling information and appointment availability, do please visit my website at: http://www.kreynoldsacupuncture.com/

Be well!

~Karen Reynolds, RN, MS, LAc

Statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. All information on this site is provided as education and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. No information on this site is intended to replace or delay the use of any conventional medical treatment.

 

 

Car Accidents, Acupuncture & Your Rights~6 Myths U Need 2 Know (Part II)

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I hope this blog post will clarify some common assumptions and keep you safer in the event that you or a loved one is in a car accident. Injured people benefit from acupuncture after car accidents because it reduces pain, speeds wound healing and helps with overall stress. Too frequently, I find that people are not aware of their legal or insurance rights after an accident. Being in pain and stressed out makes decisions much more difficult too. This 2 part interview with personal injury attorney, Scott Kauffman has been inspired by the needs of my car accident patients. The goal is to share commonly held, but hugely inaccurate, myths about what happens in the aftermath of accidents. This is a timely interview with Scott. I trust him. He is smart, experienced, and makes it his life work to help people who have suffered in accidents get the best care possible and best options possible for recovery.

scott-kauffman

 

 

Karen Reynolds, Acupuncturist in Corte Madera, CA:What if I am involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist?  What are my rights?”

Scott J. Kauffman, Personal Injury Attorney in San Rafael, CA: Myth #4 If you purchased uninsured motorist coverage, you have the right to make a claim against your own company for injuries, wage loss and pain and suffering damages experienced following an accident.  

 

Karen Reynolds, Acupuncturist in Corte Madera, CA:I have had patients ask me this question too: “My health plan paid for all of my medical treatment after my car accident and they just sent me a letter requesting to be reimbursed out of my injury settlement.  Do I have to pay them back?”

Scott J. Kauffman, Personal Injury Attorney in San Rafael, CA: Myth #5 Most people do not realize that health insurance companies such as Blue Cross or Cigna, or even Kaiser Permanente always seek to recovery reimbursement for medical expenses related to your accident and paid on your behalf out of your injury settlement.  An experienced lawyer can either secure significant reductions or a waiver of these health insurance claims.

 

Know Your Rights Handwritten on Chalkboard. Time Concept. Composition with Chalkboard and Stack of Books, Alarm Clock and Scrolls on Blurred Background. Toned Image.

Karen Reynolds, Acupuncturist in Corte Madera, CA:I have had patients say they can settle their own injury claims. On the internet it says that insurance carriers will simply pay a multiple of medical bills ie if medical bills total $2,500, they will pay out $7500.00 to resolve the case. Is this accurate? courage

 Scott J. Kauffman, Personal Injury Attorney in San Rafael, CA: Myth #6 No, this is no longer the case. Today, Insurance carriers look at many factors including the type of treatment received, extent of injuries, consistency and length of medical treatment, property damage, mechanism of injury, and many other factors.

For more information or to speak with Scott Kauffman personally, please see his contact information below:

Kauffman & Associates, PC

Personal Injury Attorneys
633 Fifth Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
Tel: (415) 507-0507
Fax: (415) 721-7005

http://kauffmanlaw.com

Car Accidents, Acupuncture & Your Rights~6 Myths U Need 2 Know

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I hope this blog post will clarify some common assumptions and keep you safer in the event that you or a loved one is in a car accident. Injured people benefit from acupuncture after car accidents because it reduces pain, speeds wound healing and helps with overall stress. Too frequently, I find that people are not aware of their legal or insurance rights after an accident. Being in pain and stressed out makes decisions much more difficult too. This 2-part interview with personal injury attorney, Scott Kauffman has been inspired by the needs of my car accident patients. The goal is to share commonly held, but hugely inaccurate, myths about injuries and motor vehicle accidents. This is a timely interview with Scott. I trust him. He is smart, experienced, and makes it his life work to help people who have suffered in accidents get the best care possible and best options possible for recovery.

Desperate man crying on his old damaged car after a crash accident

{Part II to be released this Thursday, 4/14/16}

Karen Reynolds, Acupuncturist in Corte Madera, CA:I have had injured patients on my acupuncture table who say: “I was in a car accident where there was huge damage to my car and to significant injury to me. Since the other driver’s insurance paid for my automobile damage, I’m sure they will pay for my physical medical care costs too.”scott-kauffman

Scott J. Kauffman, Personal Injury Attorney in San Rafael, CA: Myth #1 Assessing and paying for car damage is quite easy.  Once you take your car to a body shop, the body shop and insurance carrier typical work out an agreed price for the repairs.  There is rarely a dispute regarding adjustment or settlement of the vehicle portion of the case. 

 On the other hand, resolution of the bodily injury claim is an entirely different matter.  Disputes commonly arise over the settlement of the injury claim. Most injured parties fail to realize that the settlement of an injury claim is an adversarial process, with the insurance company seeking to settle the case at the lowest possible dollar value.

 Injury attorneys attempt to even the playing field by ensuring that their clients are not mistreated or unfairly compensated by insurance adjusters who are better educated and trained in personal injury law.  Attorneys have far greater leverage in the negotiation process in that insurance adjusters know that their insured can be sued in the event they make a low-ball offer on the injury claim.  As such, most injured parties will do far better hiring an experienced injury attorney to assist them in navigating their injury claim.

 

 

Karen Reynolds, Acupuncturist in Corte Madera, CA:Recently I referred a client to you, Scott, and I’m so glad I did. She was in terrible back pain after her car was hit by a truck. She was being pressured by the truck driver’s insurance adjuster to meet and give a recorded testimony. Am I correct that the law does not require doing that and that there are risks involved in doing so?

Scott J. Kauffman, Personal Injury Attorney in San Rafael, CA: Myth #2: The law does not require an injured party to provide a formal statement to the insurance company adjuster.  Once I’m retained to represent a client, I advise the adverse company that no statement will be provided.  These statements are typically designed as fishing expeditions and are often used later in the case to undermine or reduce the ultimate settlement.

 

The word RIGHTS written in vintage letterpress type.

 

Karen Reynolds, Acupuncturist in Corte Madera, CA:I have frequently have patients who are involved in car accidents that were not their fault. They often presume that since they have a good insurance policy, their carrier will represent them with respect to their medical issues. Is this accurate?

Scott J. Kauffman, Personal Injury Attorney in San Rafael, CA: Myth #3: Many prospective clients believe that their own insurance company will assist them in settling their bodily injury claim. This is not accurate. Your insurance company is available to help pay for your car damage if you purchased collision coverage. They will also pay for an attorney if you caused car damage or injury to another party.  On the other hand, if you suffered injuries as a result of the carelessness of another, your insurance company will not help or protect your interests.

 

For more information or to speak with Scott Kauffman personally, please see his contact information below:

Kauffman & Associates, PC

Personal Injury Attorneys
633 Fifth Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
Tel: (415) 507-0507
Fax: (415) 721-7005

http://kauffmanlaw.com

 

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