Acupuncture Blog

If you are interested in learning more about the sensory processing theory, the child-centered individualized treatments, and how to integrate the activities into your classroom or daycare, contact Julie Dalbec at the Marlborough Wellness Center at 508-460-3399! There are 1, 2, 5, and 8 hour classes available for CEU’s for teachers, day care providers, and families to learn about how to help their children develop their sense to their maximum potential!!

Have you found yourself talking with another parent, sharing medical histories of your children’s ear infections or inability to control quick onsets of fevers? It seems like the antibiotics aren’t solving the problem, and maybe the pediatrician isn’t too sure what to do either. Now you’re getting worried. This is a great time to try pediatric acupuncture! Most parents would back away slowly from whoever suggested this but for thousands of years, Traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine successfully treated pediatric conditions. Small copper, silver, and gold non-insertive instruments are used, touched lightly on the skin of the child. All the instruments could fit in the palm of an adult’s hand and are shaped like brooms and rakes and springs! Children enjoy playing with them first, to acclimate to the idea of these tools touching their bodies. Then, once we’ve touched them and given our favorite toy/animal their own acupuncture treatment, we treat the child. From the head, to the back, to the topside of arms, then to the topside of the legs is the usual map for a treatment. Depending on what the condition is, and its’ severity, one of the tools may be used at specific places on the body called acupuncture points. Finally, a home program is given to the parent and the child: to wear “stickers” for a few days on the child’s body. These stickers are placed on acupuncture points and consist of little balls or magnets to solidify the treatment’s medical message. The entire treatment averages about 15-30 minutes in length and the parent(s) is/are encouraged to participate. The most important point to remember is the treatment goes with the speed and desirability of the child. Conditions that respond the best are ear infections (acute and chronic), digestive issues, bowel/urinary disturbances, bedwetting, decreased attention, sleep challenges, immune system support, and overall wellness! Most parents are surprised by the success rendered after a few acupuncture treatments and continue to utilize this style of medicine throughout their child’s life!

(c/o CookingLight Magazine, January/February 2008)
Prep all the vegetables a day ahead, and this soup will come together quickly just before guests arrive. Goes well with whole-wheat breadsticks or rolls.
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/4 cups cubed peeled acorn or butternut squash (about 1 medium)-can substitute with same amount of red potatoes, cubed
3/4 cup diced zucchini
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/2 cup diced fennel
1 cup water
1 (14 ounce) can fat-free, less sodium chicken broth
5 tablespoons no-salt added tomato paste
1/4 cup uncooked ditalini (very short tube-shaped pasta)

2 1/2 cups chopped Swiss chard
1/2 cup rinsed and drained canned Great Northern Beans
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons grated Asiago cheese

1. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add onion, basil, oregano, and garlic to pan; sauté 5 minutes or until onion is tender. Add squash/potatoes and next 3 ingredients (through fennel); sauté 5 minutes. Stir in one cup water, broth, and tomato paste; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Stir in pasta; cook 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add chard; cook 3 minutes, Add beans; cook 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Stir in pepper. Serve with cheese sprinkled on top.
Yield: 6 servings (serving size: about 1 cup minestrone and 1 teaspoon cheese)
Calories: 102 (22% from fat) Carb: 16.7 Calcium: 71mg
Fat: 2.5 (sat 0.7g, mono 1.4g, poly 0.2g) Fiber: 3.6g
Protein: 4.5g Chol: 2mg Iron: 1.6mg Sodium: 263mg

Assabet Valley Area Family Network
196 Pleasant Street, Marlborough, MA 01752
Director Rosemary Schantz , 508-485-0085
Provides FREE family education and support to all families with children age pre-birth through 3 years who live in Hudson, Marlboro, Northboro, Southboro, and Westboro and is sponsored by the Assabet Valley Collaborative. Playgroups, parent education opportunities, and much more!
Check out their website at www.avafn.org and receive free newsletters!

Once the news was out that the FDA urged parents to avoid children’s over-the-counter cough and cold medicines, many parents found themselves with a few questions. Why were they banned and how can parents now safely ease their child’s discomfort?
In September 2007, the FDA released a report that revealed that from 1969 to 2006, 54 children died after taking decongestants, and 69 children died after taking antihistamines. It starts with the child’s biology. Very simply, babies under 6 months do not have the capability to breakdown the chemical dextromethorphan found in cough suppressant remedies. Pseudoephedrine, a nasal decongestant chemical, has a similar issue. Thus, they can build up in the baby’s body and are viewed as toxins by the child’s liver.

Try a few of the following safer herbal options (which can be found at your local natural health food store):

Nasal relief: Hyland’s Sniffles ‘n Sneezes 4 Kids which contains zinc gluconate which can shorten the duration of colds.
Chest herbal rub: Nature’s Baby Organics Ah-Choo chest rub, made of olive oil, eucalyptus, and tea tree oil.
Sore throats and coughs: Slippery Elm bark and cherry bark lozenges for kids one year and older.

Hot Stone Massage
To relax and rejuvenate body and mind

In this comforting and healing massage, which can last anywhere from one to one and a half hours, stones of various sizes and weights are used within the therapist’s hands to massages the client and can be combined with Swedish, deep tissue massage, injury treatment, Reiki or other forms of bodywork. The use of heated oils makes this modality a relaxing spa-like treatment. The penetrating heat of the stones begins to elicit deep relaxation almost immediately, soothing the nervous system and melting the effects of stress.
The demands for hot stone massages are increasing due to the added benefit of feeling a deeper massage from the stones without the residual soreness left over from a manual type massage.

*It is very important that you tell your therapist if the temperature of the stones is uncomfortable, as they can modify the treatment to apply warm stones, as opposed to hot ones.

For more info or to book an appointment, please contact the Marlborough Wellness Center at 508-460-3399!

This series was established for educational purposes only so that the community can learn about different complimentary medicines and treatments, and make educated decisions about their health treatment options. There are a few details that remain the same for every presentation event:
1. The events are always the second Tuesday of every month from 7:00-8:00pm, unless otherwise specified;
2. The events are always FREE to attend;
3. The events will always have FREE food;
4. The events will always be held at “60Nobscot” woodworking studio and showroom, located at 60 Nobscot Road in Sudbury, unless otherwise specified.
5. Always RSVP to the presenter(s) directly;
6. Any other information you may need can be found on our website, www.metrowestfamily.com!
Here are the upcoming scheduled events:
February 12th: Loving Communication for Couples, presented by MariePatrice Masse and John Howe.
March 11th: Landscape Feng Shui for your Garden, presented by Christine Conway.
April 15th: Western Herbal Medicine Part One: How to Plant and Cultivate Western Herbs in your Backyard, presented by Leanne Dias.
May 13th: Western Herbal Medicine Part Two: A Western Herb Identification Tour, presented by Leanne Dias.

The Marlborough Wellness Center is located at 331 Boston Post Road East, Ste. 7, and provides a place for medical wellness and education. We believe that there are two worlds: one with experts who fix people, and the other world of wellness that educates and empowers them to fix themselves. It is here where you will find professional practitioners who can meet all your health and medical needs. Jodi Eldridge and Jennifer Smith, our licensed massage therapists, are going strong and we are excited to welcome Joyce Clancy, newly licensed massage therapist to the Center! Julie Dalbec, a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, continues to focus her practice in the areas of Japanese style, non-insertive pediatric acupuncture techniques and women’s health issues. Our monthly community education series titled “Alternatively Speaking” continues to delight the masses with free food and free education on the topics of alternative medicines/treatments for the common health conditions. The next engagement is Tuesday, February 12th from 7-8pm, located at 60 Nobscot in Sudbury (www.60nobscot.com), where MariePatrice Masse and John Howe will present on Loving Communication for Couples! Just in time for Valentine’s Day! Learn how to better communicate your love with your loved ones, even if you think you already do! Come check the Center and all we offer out on the web at www.metrowestfamily.com!

So, as most of you may already know, I am an Occupational Therapist turned acupuncturist-herbalist. I love being an OT and I love practicing my new ancient medicine also! But as I read the February 2008 Advance Magazine for OT’s, I found Jay Goodman’s article on “Getting The Point: My Experience With Acupuncture”, I found myself reaching into the corner to grab my soapbox!
Let’s start with the magazine itself. Advance is a professional magazine that really has come to educationally support OT’s and the use of alternative treatments since we as OT’s are holistic in thinking anyhow. It’s a perfect combination! So, I am a bit confused as to why Advance chose to publish Mr. Goodman’s article. Perhaps it is in the name of “publishing the other side of the story”.
Mr. Goodman’s beliefs are clearly based in the Western-medical approach of explaining health/injury and how the body works. There were a few flaws with his article though. First, acupuncture is explained exceptionally well within it’s own theoretical context and we have been successful at treating/healing many ailments for thousands of years within that context. We only recently have been trying to fit the ancient medical art into the Western medical construct that is strongly based in the findings of evidence-based research. But this has not proven easy or capable of fitting nicely into a double blind, gold standard study format without challenges. But it is not for lack of trying and the NIH recognizes the need for research as noted by the sheer increase in the number of grants that have been awarded to research facilities for acupuncture in the past few years.
Mr. Goodman also failed to site any research findings to support his “theory”, just basic medical knowledge that doesn’t fully explain how acupuncture works. So, for him to say at the end of his article what “injuries” acupuncture “might” be good for is a slap in the face of all acupuncturists, OT’s, and PT’s who “might” think of making a referral or have found relief from receiving acupuncture. Please, Mr. Goodman, I won’t make recommendations about who should receive PT treatments if you refrain from making recommendations about what “might” be good for acupuncture.
Now, I put my soapbox back in it’s corner…

Check this link out to read Mr. Goodman’s article in it’s entirety.

The Marlborough Wellness Center Presents
The “Alternatively Speaking” Series on
Landscape Feng Shui:
The Art of Placement in your garden

Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese practice of balancing one’s home with the natural energy outside, can have an impact on the abundance you bring into your life.

Come learn how to enhance your gardens and landscape using Feng Shui principles. When the energy outside the home is well balanced, that ensures positive energy will be entering your home which can have a tremendous impact on your life! This seminar will focus on how to use Feng Shui colors and the five elements, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood, in your gardens and landscape to ensure balance is achieved.

The presentor, Christine Conway, is a Certified Feng Shui Practitioner. Christine studied with the creator of BTB Feng Shui, Professor Lin Yun at Harvard University.

Date: Tuesday, March 11th, 2008
Place: “60Nobscot”, 60 Nobscot Road, Sudbury, MA 01776; www.60nobscot.com
Time: 7:00 – 8:00pm
RSVP: to Christine Conway, 978-422-9984, by March 7th, 2008
Food will be provided! Come one, Come all! Bring a friend!