Functional Medicine, Proactive Healthcare
Jim Chialtas, DACM
The Hermit Crab and His Shell

A new name, a new location! Evolving my practice to better serve you.

The Hermit Crab and His Shell
Jim Chialtas, DACM
Laurel Acupuncture is Open!

My services qualify as an essential service, so I am able to remain open to the public. I have been doing phone consultations as often as I can, and when appropriate for the service at hand, can always be reached for a consultation in this way. But I have also been seeing a few acupuncture patients in-clinic. I made it a point not to abandon my patients during this difficult time. At the end of the day I am a medical professional and things like sciatica pain have not magically gone away. Nor have migraine headaches, or neck pain. Autoimmunity certainly has not gone away! In fact many of these concerns have worsened. In Chinese Medicine there is a saying which translates into, “Where there is stagnation there is pain.” Worry, fear, anger, isolation, and/or stress all stagnate Qi.

Laurel Acupuncture is Open!
Jim Chialtas, DACM
My New Degree, and What That Means to My ...

I have new letters after my name! What do they mean? Why did they change? And what else will change? Find out here!

My New Degree, and What That Means to My Practice
Chronic conditions
Jim Chialtas, DACM
Brain on Fire: Neuroinflammation and What You ...

If you’ve ever had a day where nothing seems to go well, or a day where you just aren’t able to do the things that you otherwise accomplish, this is a day where you are living with impaired brain function. It could be that you have neuroinflammation, or to be more picturesque, a brain on fire. Please read on and I will explain four possible different scenarios that might ring true for what you could be experiencing every day.

Brain on Fire: Neuroinflammation and What You Can Do
Proactive Healthcare, Personal Stories
Jim Chialtas, DACM
My Trip into Hellhole Canyon – A piece about ...

Goal setting can be self-sabotaging if not done carefully and mindfully.  My much-needed solo trip to the desert ended up filled with valuable lessons about that. I hope my story sheds some light on this very important concept.  It easily applies to those of you looking to set healthcare goals or major life changes. 

My Trip into Hellhole Canyon – A piece about goal setting for ultimate success

Hair Loss in Women: Stress or Something More Masculine?

Hair Loss in Women: Stress or Something More Masculine?

It is quite astonishing really the number of women I hear of complaining of hair loss these days. It may not be massive hair loss mind you, but this is something that we tend to pay attention to. It is something that a great many men end up looking forward to if they like it or not, but for women, it is a whole other thing completely. Hair loss in a woman when it is bad can be a significant source of anxiety and poor self image. So what is going on? Why do I hear about it so often these days? Well, like many other medical conditions, hair loss has a lot to do with our lifestyle. It may just be possible that you are contributing directly to your hair loss every day without knowing it.

Leaky Gut Syndrome... I'm leaking from where now?!

Leaky Gut Syndrome... I'm leaking from where now?!

Is anyone else out there fascinated with the colon… Or is it just me? And why on Earth would I want to talk about “Leaky Gut Syndrome” anyway? It is a rather eloquently named pathology don't you think? Contrary to the graphic image that it hints towards, Leaky Gut Syndrome does not have anything to do with that synthetic fat substitute that came out in the 80’s which caused anal leakage. I suppose that would be called "Leaky Butt Syndrome." Leaky Gut Syndrome is much more dangerous than that. And here’s why:

A Body Fighting Against Itself

A Body Fighting Against Itself

Probably one of the most up and coming of serious medical problems facing Americans today is auto-immunity. An auto-immune condition is one in which the immune system works to attack a particular tissue in the body. This problem can lead to a huge variety of disorders including Type I Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Hashimoto’s (auto-immune thyroid), and many many more. The title of this article is actually two fold. It points out that not only are our bodies fighting against themselves, but the medical establishment, and the population as a whole is also caught up in a system that is working towards self destruction.