Tips for staying healthy this fall
With the change of the season, our bodies suffer subtle transformations and adaptations to a new rhythm. To help our bodies adapt and be healthy in the process, we ought to support our immune system. In the fall, our bodily energy is moving inwards in preparation for the winter. Chinese medicine puts a big emphasis on prevention, and we can support our immune system with simple tips from this ancient medicine.
Community Acupuncture
Community acupuncture is a way of offering acupuncture in an accessible and sustainable way, with the goal of reaching as many people as possible. Treatments are offered in a setting where multiple patients receive treatment at the same time in a common room. While treatments are still private and individualized, the community setting provides affordable healthcare for many communities.
Acupuncture in the United States
Acupuncture and East Asian medicine is a 3000 year old healing modality. The United States was first exposed to acupuncture in the 1800’s. Today it is known to be a cost-effective and safe complementary modality in the treatment of pain and many other ailments.
Community Acupuncture welcome letter
Here you can learn what to expect during a community acupuncture treatment.
Protecting Wildlife
Human actions are threatening the existence of many wildlife species. Despite many efforts, hunting and smuggling wildlife species remains a serious issue. Chinese medicine providers, like myself, can stand against the use of endangered animal products, impact the public and guide better consumption behaviors.
Chinese clock
Chinese medicine portrays a Chinese clock. The Chinese clock describes how energy (Qi) moves through our organ systems in a 24-hour cycle. The timing of our meals, our social interactions, our work and sleep greatly impact our sleep/wake cycle. Similarly to our circadian rhythm, Chinese medicine offers a time guideline for our day. The Chinese clock helps us understand how to best nurture ourselves and be in flow with life.
Cold and yin
We are in the yin time of the year. Yin is the dark, cold, slow and inward energy. Our natural environment affects our life and living in harmony with nature helps us to stay healthy throughout the year. Our immune system gets stronger and better apt to fight off disease.
New Year Resolutions
This new year, make it a resolution to pay more attention to your health. We tend to only care for our heath when we are feeling sick, and sometimes, it is too late. In Chinese medicine, health is seen both as the result of our genetic make-up and how we live our lives: what we eat and how we eat, how we work and how much we work, how much we rest, and how we manage our stress.
Chinese medicine and infertility
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine help to restore balance and promote overall health, and are a known effective therapy to improve fertility. Acupuncture regulates estrogen and the menstrual cycle, increases ß-endorphins to correct the imbalance of the endocrine system, improves blood circulation to the uterus and ovaries, reduces stress, anxiety, and depression associated with infertility. It is a safe modality when thinking about becoming pregnant, and an adjunct therapy both during fertility programs and pregnancy.
Gynecology from a Chinese medicine perspective
Traditional Chinese medicine has been treating a range of menstrual irregularities for millennia, including cycles too short, too long, or too variable, too scant or too heavy bleeding, as well as menses accompanied by a range of other symptoms such as abdominal pain, headache, acne, or mood changes. Acupuncture regulates the menstrual cycle, and uterine and ovarian blood flow encouraging thickening of the uterine wall, making embryo implantation more successful and improving fertility.
Living with the seasons: Fall
Fall is a wonderful transition period to change our diets from cooler foods to warming ones, to protect the fire of our digestion. In Chinese medicine, it is said the metal element rules the fall, an ideal time to accept what we want, and let go of what no longer serves us. Change is all around us. Accepting it evades sadness and grief, the emotions related to this element and this season.
Pain
Pain affects most of us Pain affects most of us and has a big impact on our lives, either financial, emotional, and in our overall quality of life. Acupuncture is particularly known for its benefits and effectiveness in treating pain, both acute and chronic. There is a growing body of evidence that acupuncture and Chinese medicine are safe and successful in treating musculoskeletal pain, as well as headaches and migraines, and osteoarthritis, and could be used both as adjunct or alternative modality to standard treatments.
Lyme disease from a Chinese medicine lens
In Chinese medicine, Gu syndrome (gu zheng) is a condition in which a lurking pathogen is trapped and linger in the body, such as in Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS). The western medical treatment relies on antibiotics, and is important to prevent late Lyme, but even after treatment, pain, fatigue, or difficulty thinking might still be present. A combined approach of modern treatments with Chinese herbal medicinals can be used to remedy the side effects of antibiotics and treat further symptoms.
Living with the seasons: Summer
The changes in the seasons constantly affect us, and our ability to cope with these changes impacts our health. Summer is upon us and it’s time for growth and activity. Summer falls under the fire element in Chinese medicine, and the correspondent organs are the Heart and Small Intestines. Summer is the substance of life and has an outward energy. During this time, one might feel more compelled to be outside gardening, hiking, kayaking and doing many other outdoor activities. Summer brings a tendency towards wanting to accomplish things and socialize with others.
Community Acupuncture now every Thursday at Seva Yoga studio
Community acupuncture now offered every Thursday at Seva Yoga studio in Northwood, NH. We offer affordable acupuncture because we want you to get the care you deserve.
Body Harmony
A balanced body does not mean living in a lean body, and living in a bigger body does not mean you are unbalanced or unhealthy. Every body is beautiful and everybody should feel good in their own skin. From a Chinese medicine lens, weight gain is often caused by Spleen Qi deficiency and dampness accumulation. Diet, exercise and our emotions play an important role in our health and weight.
Dietary Recommendations for Diarrhea and Chronic Lyme disease
Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome is when patients have symptoms of pain, fatigue, or difficulty thinking that lasts for more than 6 months after they finish their antibiotic treatment. This chronic Lyme disease state can also affect your digestive system. Here are some dietary guidelines for diarrhea and Post-treatment Lyme disease Syndrome.
Benefits of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in a Modern World
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine increase circulation, stimulate the body’s immune system, and desensitizes pain receptors. In this way, it can help with a variety of conditions, from virtually any type of pain, including chronic low back pain, migraines and headaches, to anxiety, depression, gynecological health, digestive health, allergic rhinitis, and much more.
Why do I operate my acupuncture practice on a sliding scale?
This new blog post has the intention of clarifying my fee schedule and the reasons behind charging for acupuncture treatments on a sliding scale. Here you can read why I do it, and what that means for patients on a practical level.