Acupuncture – Herbal Therapy – Shiatsu – LomiLomi Massage

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Services:

• Acupuncture
• Herbal Therapy
• Pain Relief
• Cupping & Moxa
• Therapeutic Massage
• Chinese Dietary Therapy
• Aromatherapy

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a safe, painless and effective way to improve overall health. The holistic treatment originated more than 2,000 years ago and has proven effective in clinical trials to treat and prevent a number of medical conditions.

The benefits of acupuncture are widespread. Many patients report feelings of relaxation and icreased energy. Acupuncture can also help you feel and look younger, decrease wrinkles, improve circulation and boost your immune system.

Chinese Herbal Therapy and Santa Barbara Native Plant Medicine:

Santa Barbara Health and Healing Center offers a unique blend of traditional Chinese Medicine and Native Medicinal Plants and Herbs. The most potent and appropriate remedy for inhabitants of any given region is arguably that region’s local native plants. For example, similar to how an unhealthy deer eats a certain native plant to rid itself of disease, humans have traditionally used herbal medicine that is endemic to where they live. Some herbalists claim that local medicinal plants are better suited to treat the local human population. According to Professor J. R. Worsley, “Anything that can be done with needles can also be done with herbs, but if you use herbs, for God’s sake use local ones, because they are not ten times stronger, they are not a hundred times stronger, they are one thousand times stronger than any plants that grow someplace else (Cowen 64).”

In Santa Barbara, California, there are numerous local wild endemic and naturalized medicinal herbs. Many of them are rarely used or only discussed as ethnobotany of the past. Our goal is to incorporate native and naturalized plant herbs, essential oils, and hydrosols when appropriate into the patient’s holistic treatment. Using a comprehensive approach, acupuncture or bodywork can be greatly enhanced by the addition of native plant essential oils and herbs.

Yerba santa, Santa Ynez mountains, Gaviota, California.

We steam distill our own local essential oils such as White sage, Honeybutton sage, Hummingbird sage, Goldenbush, Woolly blue curls, and California Artemisia in small batches to ensure a highly therapeutic oil that can be used directly on the patient during treatment or in a diffuser to scent a room. Other nonessential oil medicinal plants such as Yerba Santa (photo left) and Figwort are potent medicinal plants that grow locally and treat ailments such as colds, cough, flu, and skin disorders and can be prescribed as a tea. We have a massive herbal pharmacy growing right in our back yard just waiting to be discovered. Blending these herbs in Chinese herbal formulas synergistically enhances the medicinal value of the decoctions or teas.

A Natural Way to Heal

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy enhances recuperative power and immunity to promote natural healing. It also improves physical and emotional health and wellbeing. Many ailments can be relieved including:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Hypertension
• Stress
• Sinusitis And Asthma
• Common Cold Symptoms
• Sciatica
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Arthritis
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Migraine and Headache
• Sports Injuries
• Weight Loss
• Neck Pain
• Lower Back Pain
• Digestive Problems
• Infertility
• Premenstrual Syndrome

Testimonials

“I would recommend Santa Barbara Health and Healing Center to all of my friends and family. Amy is passionate about supporting women's health issues. During her treatments she is sensitive and caring. It is a wonderful way to experience natural ways of healing." -DS

"With Amy's assistance acupuncture and massage have made a tremendous difference in improving my overall health and in recovering from chronic conditions and serious illness!" -TD

“Ms. Hazard resolved my chronic back pain with painless acupuncture and expert bodywork. After her treatment the painful knots I've had for years in my back disappeared. If you're in pain I highly recommend making an appointment with Amy." -MK

Lomilomi

LOMI HA’A MAULI OLA “Breath of Life from the Heart”
The Dancing Massage

Lomilomi massage is an ancient Hawaiian healing tradition that uses the combination of massage, deep manipulation, and transference of vital force (mana) through the hands of the therapist to achieve a physical, spiritual, and mental healing. Traditionally Lomilomi was performed by a Kahuna lomi as a “ritual massage”. During the ten hours to ten days of massage, assisted by drummers and chanters, the recipient’s spiritual and physical bodies were aligned.

The intent of the Kahuna was to enter into an altered state of consciousness, by performing the ritualistic dance-massage, in order to “talk” to the spirit of the troubled body part and gain its cooperation in its own healing. Lomilomi massage is a graceful blend of rhythmic movement (based on the hula), light to deep pressure using the hands, forearms, and elbows, and conscious breathing.

Thai Massage

Thai Massage is a 2,500 year old healing system unparalleled in its ability to open the body and increase flexibility and range of motion. It is a unique blend of Anma (Chinese massage), Ayurveda, and ancient healing practices of the people of Thailand. It is a slow rhythmic massage that incorporates finger pressure, yoga stretches and conscious breath to achieve a trance like state of relaxation.

 

Shiatsu

Shiatsu means finger pressure and is a Japanese form of massage which balances the meridian system. Meridians are energy (Ki or Qi) channels that can become blocked causing disease or pain. Through finger pressure, palm pressure, and other techniques the energy in the meridians starts to flow freely.

What to Expect:

First we will meet to determine your particular needs. During your initial consultation we will your medical history and discuss your goals for each treatment. Treatment frequency is determined on an individual basis. The acupuncture procedure involves placing tiny, hair thin needles on the body to balance your natural energy and bring your body to homeostasis. Depending on your treatment plan, the needles are left on the body from as few as 10 seconds to 45 minutes.

You can trust in Santa Barbara Health and Healing Center. Amy Hazard, L.Ac. is specially trained in the art of acupuncture and herbal medicine. She will offer you a comfortable environment and compassionate care. Please feel free to contact her today. She would be happy to assist you in improving your state of mind and your health.

About Amy Hazard Amy Hazard is a thirty five year resident of Santa Barbara. She became certified in massage in Santa Barbara in 1996. She then studied Lomilomi and Thai massage for a year in Hawaii as well as Shiatsu, Reflexology, Swedish, and Intuitive massage. After leaving Hawaii, her training continued at the Santa Barbara College of Oriental Medicine in Shiatsu, Chinese nutrition, Acupuncture, and Chinese Herbal therapy. Her passion for herbal therapy includes a lifelong study of native plant medicine. She specializes in back, neck, and knee pain, gynecology, and digestive disorders. Her approach is to treat disorders using a combination of therapies including acupuncture, cupping, massage, herbs, and essential oils. She is certified in Thermastone massage therapy and has studied aromatherapy and ayurvedic massage. She has studied conscious breathing and its use in massage and Yoga. Her bodywork philosophy is to maintain a heightened level of awareness and graceful movement while relieving the tension and pain of her client’s body and nurturing the mind and spirit.   Amy is proud Member of SBCHOP Santa Barbara Community Health Outreach Project