Lea Manilla found acupuncture at 15 years old after suffering from rotator cuff tendinitis in her shoulder, threatening her competitive swimming career. She experienced its healing benefits first-hand and developed a deep love for the practice. Since then she's worked diligently to hone her skills and welcome others to the world of acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.

Lea explains that in simple terms acupuncture is resetting the nervous system. In a world where we are in nearly constant fight or flight, acupuncture helps shift us into rest and digest. This especially helpful for those of us who are Type A, high achievers with a tendency to fall into a hustle mindset. I've personally found that acupuncture helps me achieve a sense of mental and emotional balance while juggling a very demanding career with the physically challenging symptoms of several autoimmune conditions. 

We discuss common myths about acupuncture that may unfortunately keep people from exploring its many benefits.  These include misconceptions about the needles that are used and the likelihood of patients experiencing pain during sessions. In reality, acupuncture needles are much thinner than needles used to administer shots or draw blood, sometimes as fine as a strand of hair. While there may be a slight prick when the needle is inserted, acupuncture is generally not painful and practitioners are happy to remove any needles which may be causing discomfort. 

The most refreshing part of today's episode, in my opinion, is Lea's belief that acupuncture is an excellent tool to utilize within a larger, more holistic approach to our overall health. I truly appreciate this open-minded perspective since chronic illness patients are often left navigating between the conflicting methods and views of western and eastern medicine practitioners. 

I hope this episode opens your mind to exploring the many benefits of acupuncture if it's something you have not yet explored. 

Find Lea Manilla:

https://www.betterdayswellness.com/

Instagram: @betterdayswellness

Find your host:

https://www.paigelavell.com/

Instagram: @paigelavellofficial 

Have questions about the episode, a guest you'd love for me to interview, or a topic you'd like for me to cover? Email me at [email protected]!
 

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