Have you ever tried to talk a friend or loved one into getting acupuncture, someone who you know really needs it, only to hear something like: “Oh, I don’t think that would work for me, I don’t believe in it.” or “Oh, I believe in acupuncture, but I’m afraid it won’t work for me.” Well, this book review may provide some answers to sway such folks.
Unless you've been living under a rock these days, you've heard about the importance of gut health. Everyone from Harvard to Whole Foods is making sure we know that the state of our gut influences every aspect of our health. From the strength of our immune system, to the integrity of our skin, and even our mental health, if the gut ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. This could be an intense and exhaustive article about the different conditions plaguing our guts these days, but it's not. The point here is to explain that, whether you're dealing with IBS, IBD, Crohn's, colitis, GERD, or SIBO, acupuncture can help.
Patients ask us all the time for suggestions on products, books, and other stuff we like. As acupunturists and herbalists, we have to keep abreast of all things alternative-health. We read about supplements, nutrition, home and skin care products, meditation techniques, and more and more and more! In this newsletter article, we've compiled a list of some of our favorite sites for the things we love to read about, learn about, and buy.
"When people see things as beautiful, ugliness is created.
When people see things as good, evil is created.
Being and non-being produce each other.
Difficult and easy complement each other.
Long and short define each other.
High and low oppose each other.
Fore and aft follow each other."
- Dao De Jing
One of the guiding principles in Chinese medicine is the concept of yin and yang. Though not necessarily a complex idea, the concept of it can elude patients and sometimes even their practitioners. Yin and yang are fundamental opposites, and yet, between the two ends of that spectrum, yin and yang are the dynamic, creative, and interdependent forces upon which all health, according to Chinese medicine, relies.
What happens right after a car accident can have a traumatic effect on the body and mind. I was in my very first car accident last year and what I did afterwards saved me a lifetime of pain.
If you've been coming to see me for acupuncture, you may have heard me tout the benefits of Qi Gong. Qi gong is a form of excercise performed by a person to enhance, vitalize, and strengthen their energy. "Qi" means energy, and is described as the motivating force behind all our body's actions. Qi is what allows us to open our eyes in the morning, makes our heart beat, our lungs breathe and our muscles move. "Gong" means work, and qi gong is the act of working our energy, directing it, exercising it, and balancing it. The benfits of qi gong can be found all over the web--Deepak Chopra, Dr. Oz, and Dr. Andrew Weil have all promoted Qi Gong as an important piece in the overall puzzle to create life-long health.
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.
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.
New Year's is upon us again. Time to reflect on our goals, plans, and intentions for the coming year. If your New Year's resolutions include getting more organized or creating a more peaceful, beautiful and healthful home, consider reading The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo.
Every year, most people get at least one, and sometimes several, colds. Sometimes, especially in the winter, it may feel like there's a never ending string of colds, and it's easy to spend more time feeling sick or fighting off sickness, than feeling well. Our western paradigm gives us good information to help us understand what is happening when we continue to get sick--weak immunity coupled with strong pathogens and repeated exposure creates continual sickness. I thought I'd share with you, in honor of cold and flu season, what the disease paradigm looks like in Chinese medicine, and how to use that model to help you overcome colds and prevent recurrence.