The Initial Series

After the phone interview and the new patient evaluation, every patient goes onto one of two tracks: Simple or Complex. For patients on the simple track, the next step is the Initial Series. The Initial Series is a customized short series of treatment to determine how well you, as an individual, respond to treatment.

We only want to work with patients we can help, so we always do an initial series to make sure our treatment is actually working for you. No one treatment works for every problem or every person. We guarantee that if we can’t help you, we’ll make sure you leave with a referral to someone we believe can.

Feel free to contact us or leave questions in the comments below.


What to expect from the New Patient Evaluation

The New Patient Evaluation is the first face to face appointment you’ll have in our office. Every single patient, regardless of why you’re coming, will start with this appointment. Taking the extra time to understand your health and get you on the right track, leads to better results.

In the New Patient Evaluation, Dr. Shark will sit down with you for 30 minutes to discuss what brought you in and determine whether to put you on the simple track or the complex track. This determination is very important for you to get long-term results from your treatments.

Have questions about the New Patient Evaluation that we didn’t answer in the video? Leave your question in the comment below or contact us directly at 850-390-0774.


All About the Phone Interview

Here at Gulf Coast Wellness, we are set up to be able to help even the most gravely ill patients. As a result, we have a much more thorough screening and intake process than most. This allows us to truly understand your condition and recommend the most effective treatment strategy for you, so you can get better fast. The first step of that screening is a phone interview. There is no charge for this short phone appointment. Watch the video below to learn more.

—PS don’t judge my video making! I swear I’m much better at medicine!—–



How I Pick the Points!

One of the most common questions I get in my clinic is, “How do you know which points to use?” Really, it’s the same way your MD knows which drug to prescribe or referral to give, lots and lots of training.

If you’ve watched my other videos, you’ve probably figured out by now that Acupuncture is a physical medicine and not an energy medicine. It works on the muscles, blood vessels, nerves and immune system. Despite the conventional wisdom that this is all very mystical, quite a lot is known about the mechanism of Acupuncture, particularly in the treatment of pain. If you have advanced education in physiology or medicine, I highly recommend reading Donald Kendall’s The Dao of Chinese Medicine, printed by Oxford University Press! I don’t get any kickbacks for recommending it; I just think it’s a great book.

For the regular folks out there, these videos will help you understand what is going through my mind when making a point selection. It’s all very physiological and straightforward! It doesn’t even require chanting or channeling or any other mystical intervention!

If you liked those, check out some of our other videos!

Dry needling

What is qi? It’s not what you’ve heard!


Why do my symptoms come back?

Unfortunately, Acupuncture (as well as any other neurological rehabilitation) is not a one and done therapy. Due to a property called neuro-plasticity, neurological changes in the body require repeated input before they become permanent.

In this video we explain how poor function and chronic pain come about, why they seem to come and go before they go for good and what changes in the body once the results become permanent. Enjoy!

For more videos about natural medicine check out:

What is Qi?

Function = Health

Acupuncture is NOT Energy Medicine

and the ever popular Dry Needling


Acupuncture is NOT Energy Medicine

Have you ever felt nervous to investigate Acupuncture, because it just doesn’t make sense to you? Maybe you are a science person and you just can’t buy the energy medicine thing. Maybe the idea of energy healing conflicts with your religious beliefs.

Not to worry! Acupuncture has nothing to do with magical energy. It is a physical medicine based on the body. Watch this video to find out more—and yes, I know I should re-shoot it. This was my first video, and this whole web thing has a learning curve to it. In the meantime, I’m just going to go help some patients and leave this less than beautiful video up, in case it can actually help someone.

And in case that didn’t blow your mind enough, check out some other myths and facts about Chinese Medicine!

 


Function = Health

Some define health as the absence of disease. At Gulf Coast Wellness, we think that’s setting the bar a bit low. There must be something that happens in between being perfectly healthy and having a disease. Ever wonder what that is? Watch this video to find out!–BUT WAIT—if you haven’t watched my What is Qi video yet, PLEASE watch that first

Myths and Facts About Chinese Medicine I

Myths and Facts About Chinese Medicine II

Myths and Facts About Chinese Medicine III

Chris Kresser—Chinese Medicine Demystified


What to do when you’re sick

One question I constantly get asked is, “What should I do when I get sick?” If you have an Acupuncturist or Chinese Herbalist, they should be your first stop. The sooner you get treatment, the shorter your illness. Herbs are far more effective than medications for eradicating viruses and getting you back on your feet.

But what about the rest of you who don’t have any help? There are some simple, natural things you can do to feel better quickly and shorten the duration of your illness.

Obviously I’m no video expert, or I’d know how to come up with a better thumbnail, but I keep doing these anyway in an attempt to help you learn more about your health! I hope you enjoy it!


Dry Needling

Don’t be scammed by second-rate needling therapy. Get informed and protect yourself by seeing fully trained, qualified, knowledgeable professionals and not falling for buzz-word marketing!