Do you suffer from painful menstrual cramps? This is a common problem and is experienced by most women at some point, but for others it can be very intense and something they dread every month! Chinese Medicine has been treating women’s health for thousands of years so there is a lot of evidence about how effective acupuncture and herbal treatment can be at treating painful periods (dysmenorrhea).
Do the words, “just relax,” have the opposite effect on you? That’s because when your body is in the full-on hormone frenzy that is our stress-mode, it is virtually impossible to “just relax.” If you’re reading this, you have probably already experienced how wonderfully relaxing an acupuncture session is. I mean, seriously, not much comes close to the deep, full body relaxation you get after a good acupuncture treatment.
Last week my favorite coffee shop was serving a blend called "Hologram". As I sipped from my cup, distinct flavors: blueberry, toast, sour, chocolate, bitter, would emerge and then recede and then merge again into the flavor we call "coffee". That cup of coffee was, in a word, heavenly. Drinking "Hologram" made me think of one of the central principles of Chinese Medicine: each part is contained within the whole and the image of the whole is reflected within the confines of each part.
Having celebrated our tenth year last year, we have been fortunate to treat and learn about the lives of many people in our community. It is an honor to be a part of the healing journey for so many people, who share with us their stories and the trials and tribulations of their illnesses. We get to see whole families, and their friends, as they transform everything from back pain to infertility; from seasonal allergies to the side-effects of chemotherapy. And because of our patients, we've been honored to win several community awards over the years--from the Best New Business by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce in 2005, to the Independent Weekly's Best of the Trianle three years in a row.
Being intolerant of milk, and because I like the the lovely light nutty taste, I use ghee as a staple in my cooking. It actually is a healthy fat. Unsalted butter (preferably grass fed) is lightly boiled which separates the milk solids (casein & whey) and impurities, leaving butter that is clarified.
Cosmetic acupuncture is a virtually painless, non-surgical method of reducing the signs of the aging process. The technique uses acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to erase years off of the face. Based on the principles of Oriental Medicine, it helps the whole body look and feel younger by addressing the physical, mental and emotional patterns that cause disease and contribute to the aging process.
COQ10 is found in the mitochondria of every cell in the body and plays a role in energy production needed for cellular growth and maintanence. It also functions as an antioxidant, which means it protects the body from damage caused by harmful molecules. COQ10 is being studied for multiple conditions including heart disease, but of particular interest at TAC is it’s role for men and women with fertility issues.
After all the sweets and partying, staying up late and exhaustion, I can't tell you how many people want to "detox" after the holidays. Chinese medicine is not a big fan of fasting, juicing, or herbal detoxification, especially in winter when our bodies need warmth and support, not deprivation. Bieler's Broth is a simple, delicious vegetable soup that naturally detoxifies as it nourishes.