Acupuncture Blog

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!

So what does WBZ 1030, the Marlborough Wellness Center, and the University of Maryland Medical School all have in common? They all have great research findings and information on improving infertility rates with the use of acupuncture!

“…Acupuncture has been used in China for centuries to regulate the female reproductive system. So researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the VU University Amsterdam set out to determine whether acupuncture given with embryo transfer improves the rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation.

They reviewed seven trials involving 1,366 women undergoing in vitro fertilisation. The trials compared acupuncture, administered within one day of the embryo transfer procedure, with sham acupuncture or no additional treatment.

The overall quality of the trials was good and included a broad selection of women at various ages and with different causes and durations of infertility.

Complementing the embryo transfer process with acupuncture increased the odds of pregnancy by 65% compared to sham acupuncture or no additional treatment. In absolute terms, this means that 10 women would need to be treated with acupuncture to bring about one additional pregnancy.”
Check out this link for a more detailed report of the research analysis.
And this link for the detailed WBZ 1030 report!

Please call the Center if you are looking to enhance your odds! We do tailor our treatments to this population!

Basic Guide to Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs, and Acupressure
Chinese medicine is an all-encompassing body-mind system used by approximately one-third of the world’s population to promote physical and emotional well-being. This one night class will introduce you to three of its major components: 1) Acupuncture: we will discuss different styles and how acupuncture stimulates the body’s natural healing abilities; 2) Chinese herbs: find out how to use them safely and where to obtain them; 3) Acupressure: learn how to apply pressure on vital points of the body to stimulate the flow of energy and improve circulation throughout the body. If you’re curious about how this ancient body-mind system could help you achieve optimum health and well-being, join us for this very informative discussion and to physically experience first-hand all aspects of acupuncture, Chinese medicine, and acupressure.
Julie Dalbec will be the instructor on Wednesday, March 12th, 2008, from 7-9pm. Register online at www.assabetafterdark.com or by calling 1-800-537-6663 or 508-485-9430 soon as classes fill quickly!!

The Marlborough Wellness Center
Presents The “Alternatively Speaking” Series on

Loving Communication for Couples

Do you and your partner express your love so the other really gets it?
Or is there some frustration, like “How come she doesn’t get how much I love her, when I bring her flowers every week?”

You can give and receive the gift of Deeper Love this Valentine’s Day.
Attend this free workshop and learn one simple but profound approach to deeper communication of your love.

We all have different ways of expressing love. If you and your partner are not on the same channel, what you each express may not be received. This could be very frustrating for both of you. You know the love is there, but it’s just not connecting! What do you do? You can attend this free 90-minute workshop. You will learn which channel of expression works for your partner, and which one works for you. Then start giving what you each want in the way that truly communicates it! This simple practice can enhance your understanding and deepen your loving relationship. What a great gift for Valentine’s Day!

MariePatrice Masse is a CranioSacral Therapist, Energy Healer and Holistic Counselor in private practice in Stow, MA. MariePatrice gently but powerfully helps her clients to move through physical, emotional, psychological and Spiritual challenges and relax more deeply into living as their True selves. Contact MariePatrice at 978-579-0897, MariePatrice@SacredSpiralLifeWork.com or www.SacredSpiralLifeWork.com.

John Howe of Howe to Transform is MariePatrice’s life partner. John’s amazing Life Purpose Coaching helps us develop an on-going relationship with our inner trusted source, accessing our deep inner wisdom. Call John at 508-353-8348 or john@HoweToTransform.com.

MariePatrice and John have developed a unique approach to couples counseling. With it, you deepen your understanding and appreciation of each other, and revive the respect. You discover how relationships bring our old patterns and wounds to the surface for healing and release, and learn to disarm your Buttons. Find out what’s possible in your relationship.

Date: February 12th, 2008
Place: “60Nobscot”, 60 Nobscot Road, Sudbury, MA 01776; www.60nobscot.com
Time: 7:00 – 8:00pm; ATTENDANCE IS FREE!!
RSVP: MariePatrice at 978-579-0897 or MariePatrice@SacredSpiralLifeWork.com by February 8th!
Food will be provided! Come one, Come all! Bring a friend!

Did you know…that by placing a slice of garlic or ginger in the outside part of your child’s ear, covering it with a cotton ball, and taping it in place for about an hour, the extreme peircing pain associated with the ear infection itself can be greatly reduced without the use of pediatric Motrin or Tylenol? Great!! But there is a catch…this works best with cold conditions causing the ear infection! How do you know what kind of condition is causing your child’s ear infections? Go see an acupuncturist that has experience with pediatrics for a diagnosis and to see if that easy strategy would be beneficial for your little one!

Tuesday, January 15th, from 7-8pm, at 60 Nobscot in Sudbury (see www.60nobscot.com for directions), is your opportunity to learn easy and simple ways to manage your life stress with individualized one-minute strategies and with the use of acupuncture/natural herbal medicine. The presentor, Julie Dalbec, is a licensed acupuncturist-herbalist and Occupational Therapist of 10+ years, who has found simple everyday ways to reduce and manage your life stress. The attendance and food are free!! So bring a friend and learn something new!