As the snow continues to melt here in Massachusetts (even though we got a little but more last night), Spring is around the corner! For most of us, it is a time for appreciating gardens full of color, the chance to leisurely walk around the block in the evening, start our triathlon/race training outside, go camping or hiking…just enjoy the outdoors after being cooped up in our homes for a long winter. For some of us, it is the dreaded time of stuffy heads, headaches, watery itchy eyes, contact sinus drainage, all over body discomfort, itchy skin…do I really need to go on? Allergies are never much fun! Stress and lifestyle/diet choices can compound the problem and it’s symptoms.
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal medicine has answers for those of you who suffer from seasonal allergies! Acupuncture can help boost the immune system while treating the symptoms present. Chinese herbal medicine has fantastic formulas that when they are taken 1-2 months in advance of the targeting expected allergy season, can do away with most of the reactions to the environmental allergens. Many clients have walked in the doors of the Marlborough Wellness Center in an amazing of amount of discomfort only to leave after their treatment plan timeline symptom free (or maybe needing a minor tune-up for good measure)!
If you are tired of suffering and have tried a few of the natural remedies without much effect, please consider calling your acupuncturist-herbalist and discuss the options that will best fit your needs! You do not have to suffer from allergies!
Acupuncture and Herbs: PAIN Is What May Bring You In But…
Recently I was asked a fantastic question: “What is the most common condition you treat?”
My answer was pain. Pain is usually what may bring most clients in the door. neck pain, Low back pain, headache pain, digestive issues, allergy pain…if you can name it’s whereabouts and it causes disruption in your everyday life, it’s pain. But most of the time, the pain is a sign that something more serious is going on. Now, excluding the acute ankle sprain or acute pain conditions that can be treated within a few sessions, most pain conditions are chronic in nature and stem from imbalance in the body. Old injuries should heal on their own (or with surgical help) and should cause minimal disruption to your every day functioning. If they are, imbalance is present in the body and acupuncture and herbs can help correct that so that you can live a pain-free and healthy life!
Think about it this way…your normal everyday pain is not normal!
Acupuncture and Herbs: Testimonial for Diabetes Herbal Success
As I mentioned last week, Chinese medicine has amazing formulas and solutions for people suffering from diabetes. Here’s a brief testimonial of someone who has found success with Chinese herbs and managing his Type 2 Insulin Dependent Diabetes
“Herbs ? I have to wonder what they are all about. I am 71 years old and an insulin dependent Type 2 diabetic.
I was at 245 lbs, and after three years was 80 lbs less and still loosing about 2 lbs a month.
With a medical history of pulmonary and orthopedic conditions, I learned that I have a pancreatic condition that had been going on for several years. In mine and 5% of these cases, Western Medicine really does not know what causes the condition and what to do about it.
Julie worked with a team of herbalists and came up with an individualized, balanced herbal formula that I take twice a day. To my surprise, my appetite came back and I have gained 12 lbs over the past year. What was amazing was that other than the usual blood tests, I have not seen the doctor in almost a year. That in itself says a lot, and I feel great.”
Consider all the options for managing your diabetes care and come find us this September at the American Diabetes Association walk in Worcester!
Acupuncture and Herbs: Diabetes Options
Dry Mouth
Frequent Urination
Indigestion
Loose stools
Lightheadedness
Every hour is an adventure, “How am I going to feel?”
Acupuncture and herbal medicine can assist in stabilizing sugars and help someone suffering from Diabetes find a healthy balance. An herb called Mu Gua/Bitter Melon specifically addresses diabetes and the sugar/insulin balance. Adding that to a formula individualized for the client’s specific needs can be very beneficial.
The Marlborough Wellness Center also hopes to participate in the American Diabetes Association Walk in Worcester this year to support raising funds for research to find a cure.
So if you or someone you know is tired of “riding the roller coaster” and is suffering with issues related to Diabetes, please consider acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine as an option to care.
Acupuncture and Herbs: Let It Go…
So these past 2 weeks, I have seen a variety of diagnoses ranging from massive migraines/headaches to surgical complications, from non-stop bleeding after childbirth to neck/back pain, from carpal tunnel syndrome to numbness in the legs. You name it, I think I saw it! There were a couple who were nervous about acupuncture and what their family or doctors might say. Interestingly enough though, with the acupuncture treatments and herbal formulas, most of my clients returned for their next appointment feeling amazing, symptom free, and singing the same tune (sung to Let It Go from ‘Frozen’):
“Let It Goooooo, Let It Goooooo, Can’t hold it back anymore!
Let it goooooo, Let it gooooooo, turn around and slam the door (on pain)!
I don’t care what they’re going to say, let their issues rage oooooooon,
Acupuncture never bothered me anyway!”
Acupuncture: Let’s Get To The Point….
“Bring me your tired, your poor, your tendonitis, your achy backs…”
It’s been a loooooooooooong winter full of some significant snow accumulation! Boston has just given up fighting the snow but now just wants to reach the record for the most snowfall in a year! For the rest of us, it’s all about the achy backs, the elbow tendonitis, the neck and upper back tension and pain…and that is hoping you didn’t injure yourself while shoveling the snow off your roof! Acupuncture can relieve all those aches and pains without medication and surgery so please, take a moment and find the nearest acupuncturist to you and give them a call. You and your achy body will be thankful you did!
NEW Product for GVHD: Dry Skin
As promised, more products are coming available to aid and assist those who suffer from the signs and symptoms of Graft-vs-Host Disease (GvHD) as a result of stem cell transplants and any other life saving transplant. One of the biggest symptom that the majority of people who have GvHD complain about is dry or cracked skin all over their body. Nothing seems to help that comes over the counter so I created the “Ultimate Soft Skin Solution”. It contains all natural and organic ingredients, items you can pronounce and probably even know what they are! A proprietary blend of organic shea butter, organic cocoa butter, organic coconut oil, and all natural calendula oil make up this soft, creamy solution to your skin’s needs. Please try it for yourself and you will not be disappointed! And let’s not forget that if it works on severely dry or cracked skin, you can bet it will be the answer for your annual winter dry skin conditions too!
Acupuncture and Herbal Options for GvHD (Graft-vs-Host Disease)
As some of you may know or not know, I am an acupuncturist, and herbalist, and mother, a sister, a friend, and a daughter. My role as a daughter to someone who is currently challenged by active Graft-vs-Host disease (GvHD) as a result of a stem cell transplant got me thinking, incorporating some of the other roles I have in my life to help those who suffer from the signs/symptoms of GvHD!
Although there are strict regimens and protocols for transplant patients, topical natural remedies are available and usually allowed by the transplant teams (please check with your team first). For the dry skin that results from the skin rash, a classic sugar scrub can be a simple solution. Apply it to the face and body 2-3 times a week, more in the dead of a New England winter! May I suggest One Mini Moment’s sugar scrub line…www.oneminimoment.com, made locally in Massachusetts. They have a delightful line of scents and are not super oily to use.
For the sinuses, our Sinus Solutions is truly the perfect solution! You can apply it right under your nose and on the sinus passages to open them up and alleviate the discomfort from the pressure. If dryness in the air is something you battle with on a daily basis, run that humidifier with a little of our Sinus Solutions in it and you can take care of two issues at once.
For the aches and pains that may plague your body, try our Super Life Healing Salve! You can put it everywhere and anywhere you are uncomfortable. It works especially well on arthritic hands, knees, backs, necks, and any area where there is muscle soreness. If you have any bruising from IV’s or blood test needles, rub a little of the Super Life Healing Salve in the affected area everyday and watch the bruise disappear, thanks to the Arnica Oil in the cream! Arnica is an herb that naturally treats bruising and sore muscles/joints.
Acupuncture is a natural treatment that can also alleviate many of the signs and symptoms of GvHD and is endorsed by Dana Farber Cancer Institute. If you are already getting your fair share of needles, why not add a few that would help your condition?
At a time when GvHD takes over and leaves so many people lost and struggling everyday, just know there are options and natural ones too! More on this topic in the future because as you know, GvHD is a chronic condition that deserves some attention! Please feel free to visit our store for the products listed above, schedule an appointment, and/or leave us any comments or suggestions for us!
Acupuncture: Take Advantage of BOGO Offer!
The holidays are upon us and you find you aren’t even near being done and you want to find a unique gift for your loved ones!
Let’s keep ourselves and our friends/family healthy this season with a healthy BOGO (Buy one, get one) offer:
buy one gift certificate for any amount for acupuncture from Julie and receive a free treatment for yourself!
As everyone goes frenetic around you this season, you can be the “calm in the storm” and the one who is creative and healthy! Email or call us today because the special expires Christmas Eve, 12/24/14!
Acupuncture: A Holiday BOGO Offer!
The holidays are upon us and we are all shopping…it’s Craaaazy!
Let’s keep ourselves and our friends/family healthy this season with a healthy BOGO (Buy one, get one) offer: buy one gift certificate for any amount for acupuncture from Julie and receive a free treatment for yourself! As everyone goes frenetic around you this season, you can be the “calm in the storm” and the one who is organized and healthy! Email or call us today because the special expires Christmas Eve, 12/24!
Acupuncture and Herbs: Winter Is Coming…
During the winter it is natural to feel a little sleepier, slower and possibly less motivated.
It’s the season of stillness and conservation. It’s a period of hibernation and our time to rest, slow down and revitalize our energy. Winter is a great time of year to reflect on our health, replenish our energy, conserve our strength and heal on a deeper level.
During the winter, it is important to conserve our battery reserves. Our bodies are instinctively expressing the fundamental principles of winter: rest, reflection, conservation and storage. The “downtime” that winter provides gives us an opportunity to slow down, check in and take account as to how our lifestyle supports or detracts from our health, and to recharge our personal ‘battery’.
It is always healthy to get some form of exercise daily but during the winter months, it is best to participate in gentler, less exerting exercises, such as, yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates, swimming, walking, and other low impact sports. Save the extreme exertion activities for the spring and summer months.
Here are a few easy pointers on how you can support and promote your own health this time of year:
• Sleep. As an old adage says, “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a person healthy, wealthy and wise.” Go to bed early and if possible, wake up after the sun appears in the morning. Extra sleep will also benefit you if feel as though you are coming down with something. If you do become ill, naps may help you recover faster.
• “C” it. Load up on Vitamin C and other multivitamins like Zinc. These can help support your health. Do some research for yourself into the health and immune benefits of Oil of Oregano.
• Water, water everywhere. Drink water. Every cell of your body requires this liquid gold to keep it lubricated and running smoothly.
• Avoid the consumption of excessively cold foods such as ice cream and iced beverages. If possible, drink liquids at room temperature (without ice). Too many cold foods, especially during the colder months, can seriously disrupt your digestion.
• Take herbs that support immune function. Astragalus, Osha root, Reishi and Shitake mushrooms are helpful. These have been used for thousands of years by acupuncturist-herbalists to help keep their clients healthy and strong.
• Come in for acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture works extremely well when you have a cold while also serving as a tune up to stimulate the healing capacity of your body. If you begin to get the sniffles, body chills, or feel under the weather, give your acupuncturist a call before your reach for the over the counter cold/flu remedies. They may be able to help!
Acupuncture and Herbs: Climb On!
It’s been said that you can’t climb a smooth mountain. In other words, if a rock mountain is completely smooth and shiny, there are no handholds or footholds for you to grab and make upward progress.
This is a great metaphor for life. You see, all those rough spots in your life and the craggy times that you had to work through were actually opportunities for growth and upward advancement. If life is too smooth, you might still move forward but you won’t make any upward progress. It’s like continually going around the base of the mountain but never being able to move up it.
Well, this metaphor also applies to your acupuncture care.
Most people who begin acupuncture care have been living with imbalances for quite some time. They may not have been dealing with symptoms for very long, but meridian imbalances and energy blockages can fester under the surface long before any symptoms finally arise.
In the early phases of care, most of the work is dedicated to restoring the normal and free flow of the body’s energies in order to establish balance and stability.
As we work through a comprehensive program of acupuncture care, it is extremely common to initially experience an exacerbation of your current aches and pains, or to even temporarily develop symptoms that are completely new to you.
Your first inclination might be to think that something is wrong and that your problem is actually getting worse. But in most cases, these early flare-ups are like the handholds that propel you upward to a healthier life.
Before we can instill positive change, we first have to undo the initial damage and then move forward from there. It’s like building new muscle at the gym. In order for a muscle to grow you must break it down and then feed it what it needs to grow bigger and stronger. Just like your treatments, that familiar soreness you feel after starting an exercise program is evidence that you are making effective progress.
If you are afraid of change or are satisfied with the unhealthy status quo, then by all means stay on the smooth path. But understand that you eventually risk the entire mountain coming down on top of you.
If however, you are ready to move upward, know that the path will not always be easy. But every rut you encounter serves a purpose and is an integral part of the road back to health. Climb on!
Acupuncture and Herbs: It's Client Appreciation Month at MWC!
The holiday season is approaching and right now at the Marlborough Wellness Center, it is Client Appreciation Month! We like to say thank you to our many clients who value maintaining and achieving good health with a large basket full of wonderful items as well as gift certificates for treatments at the Center from each one of our practitioners! You can give them as gifts or keep them for them yourself! Either way, book your appointments now for the month of November to be entered into the raffle for the basket that will be awarded on December 1st to one lucky person! But more importantly, whatever may motivate you, our call to action is to make an appointment for yourself or your family member/friend in the name of good health so that you can survive the holidays without being sick and run down. A healthy lifestyle is the best gift you can give this season!
Acupuncture and herbs: Stress Free Holidays
The holidays are a big part of the fall and winter months. This is often a time to reconnect with family and loved ones, to attend social events, and celebrate your beliefs.
¬Unfortunately, it can also be a time of extra commitments, nonstop activity, and pressure to get it all done. This can result in a lot of stress, both mental and physical.
Everyone feels stressed occasionally but when it continues for a long time or gets overwhelming, it can take a real toll on your health. The immune system is particularly sensitive to the effects of stress, which means that ongoing stress can leave you vulnerable to colds, flu, and other illnesses.
The good news is that you can take charge of the stress in your life. One way to do that is to set realistic expectations for the holidays. Spend some time thinking about what’s important to you. Rather than concentrating on making everything “perfect,” try to focus on enjoying yourself whether that means spending time with family, volunteering to help others, or taking a vacation.
Another good strategy is to set boundaries. Don’t take on more than you can handle, say “no” if you have to, and ask for help if you need it.
Other ways to beat stress include:
Eating right: Remember to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and try to keep your intake of sugary holiday treats to a minimum.
Rest: Get plenty of sleep to keep your body and mind healthy and energized.
Meditation: Take a few minutes during the day to sit quietly and simply focus on your breathing.
Exercise: Try to work exercise into your schedule. It’s a natural energy and mood booster. Yoga is an excellent choice this time of year.
Talking to someone: Share your thoughts and feelings with a friend or a counselor. Expressing yourself may make you feel better and you might even find solutions to stressful situations.
Vitamins and herbs: Be sure to take a daily multivitamin and consider taking extra vitamin C to help strengthen your immune system. Herbs such as ginseng can help you adapt to stress and valerian root can soothe and calm your mind.
Additional methods include treatments such as acupuncture and massage which can help relax both mind and body. With a little preparation and some new coping strategies, you can make this year’s holiday season happy, healthy and stress-free!
Acupuncture: What Does Your Face Say About You?
They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. Did you know that the face can be the window to your health?
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), your face’s appearance can offer valuable information about issues that could be affecting your overall health. The shape of your face, the color of your complexion, and marks such as lines or lesions can all help us determine a diagnosis and treatment plan.
To get an idea of what we sometimes look for, take a look at yourself in a mirror under natural light. There are five colors that appear in the face: red, black, yellow, green, and white.
Everyone’s skin tone is different, and usually one color is dominant, though several other colors can be visible. What colors do you see? Do you have visible veins, and if so, what color and where are they? Is your skin moist or dry?
A healthy, lustrous complexion and normal color indicate a good balance and flow of Qi (“life energy”) within your body. If the complexion is off-color, looks lifeless or “withered,” or is too moist or too dry, it may indicate an imbalance of Qi.
Each color is associated with specific conditions, syndromes, and organ and meridian networks. White, for example, is associated with the Lungs, so a pale appearance could indicate a Lung Qi deficiency and possible breathing problems.
Another important factor in facial diagnosis is that different regions of the face, such as the nose, the eyebrows, and the mouth, correspond with specific organ and meridian networks. For example, the nose correlates with the Spleen, the brows with the Liver, and the lower lip to the Large Intestine.
Since the face and your overall health are so closely related, you may discover positive changes in your complexion as your body regains balance and harmony through acupuncture and TCM. Contact your acupuncturist-herbalist at the Marlborough Wellness Center to learn more!
Acupuncture: Alternative To What?
The other day, my colleague and good friend said, “people do not like to do what they do not understand.” It struck me as such a truth that I knew it was an opportunity for me to enlighten!
The biggest challenge I have as an acupuncturist in today’s society is educating people on what acupuncture is and how it can help them and their loved ones regain their health.
You have probably heard acupuncture referred to at some point as “alternative or medicine.” The term itself can be misinterpreted. It implies that acupuncture is a runner-up or a contingency plan to turn to when medicine falls short, or should one choose not to utilize medicine in the first place.
The focus of Western medicine has been primarily on the treatment of symptoms and disease. Generally speaking, when I talk to my clients, I find that most of us were raised to essentially ignore our bodies until they began to talk to us in the form of pain, numbness, indigestion, insomnia, weakness, fatigue, or any other number of symptoms. When we can no longer stand it anymore, we turned to look for answers.
The logical course of action when confronted with a health challenge should be to support and enhance the body’s internal balance and let true health and healing run its natural course. Acupuncture stands alone in the detection and correction of the body’s innate healing energies to bring about balance within the body and to maximize its full expression of life.
Acupuncture is not concerned with the treatment of symptoms or disease but with determining the underlying cause or root of a particular problem. It works to restore the natural balance with the body’s meridian system because it is within this system that we see the underlying causes of the outward expressions of sickness.
Life is expressed in the body through the meridian system and good health is orchestrated by removing blockages within the body. Less flow equals less life. And acupuncturists are the only healthcare professionals specifically trained to detect and correct the imbalances in the meridian systems.
So I believe, if we can get one person to listen, has a great experience with acupuncture and begins talking, it will be abundantly clear how effective acupuncture can be! When you have acupuncture working for you, who needs an alternative?
Acupuncture: Are You All Revved Up?
What do you think would happen if you kept your car in park and the engine revving as if it was traveling at 65 miles per hour?
Clearly, after a short time your car would break down. If you were lucky, a simple tune-up would fix the problem. If not, the engine might need to be replaced entirely.
Stress is a revving engine that, if left unchecked, can wear out the body and mind. Stress in our professional, personal, financial and social lives can lead to a variety of signs and symptoms of poor health.
Stress increases our body’s production of cortisol and adrenaline. These body chemicals help activate the “fight or flight” response, a normal reaction that is designed to prepare the body to flee danger or fight an attacker.
Unfortunately, many modern stressors are chronic and end up activating the “fight or flight” response for weeks, months, or years at a time. This long-term activation of the body’s stress-response system can wear down the body and mind, setting the stage for illness and disease. Especially suppressing the immune system and increasing your risks of catching colds, flus, and worsening your current allergic reactions.
The good news is that acupuncture and Chinese medicine can be extremely helpful in reducing the signs and symptoms associated with stress. Using special techniques, a skilled acupuncturist can reduce stress in a few ways:
1) A customized Chinese herbal prescription can help restore internal health and balance, thus “slowing the engine down.”
2) Safe, gentle and effective acupuncture treatments can help “turn off” the fight or flight response and can enable you to feel calmer and sleep more soundly.
3) Suggestions for a healthy lifestyle, including proper nutrition, meditation, rest and exercise will enable you to maintain a long term healthy lifestyle.
One of the unique attributes of Chinese medicine is its holistic approach to health and well-being. Instead of masking or addressing a few signs and symptoms related to stress, an acupuncturist cares for the whole person: body and mind.
Stop revving your engine! If you or someone you know is experiencing stress, please call the Marlborough Wellness Center. For five thousand years, acupuncture has helped millions of people cool their engines before they burned out!
Healthy Eating For The Season of Autumn
Nature has a way of providing us with what we need, when we need it. That’s especially true when it comes to the foods that become available with each season. Autumn brings with it a bounty of fruits, vegetables, and herbs that nourish the body and support health and well-being. Being aware of seasonal foods and attuning your diet to your body’s needs is a great way to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
The harvest season is a time to prepare your body for the cold winter ahead. Your diet should shift toward richer, denser foods that will provide you with extra energy and warmth. Consider increasing your intake of protein, fats, and whole grains but be sure to keep up your exercise program, to control weight gain.
Nourishing your immune system is also very important at this time. Take advantage of dark green and golden-orange vegetables that are rich in beta-carotene to strengthen the body’s Wei Qi (immune system). These include carrots, pumpkin, squash, broccoli, kale, mustard greens, and many more.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it’s important to maintain the body’s balance during this season by adding sour foods such as sauerkraut, leeks, yogurt, and sour apples to your diet. Pungent foods such as garlic, turnips, and horseradish should also be added to your autumn diet, since they cleanse and protect the lungs.
It’s also important to moderate your caffeine use this season. As autumn settles in, you may notice yourself feeling a little more tired than usual and increasing your coffee intake to boost your energy. Before you lift that next cup, consider making a healthy change and switching from coffee to tea.
Tea has been found to have a variety of health benefits, including protecting against heart disease and some types of cancer, reducing inflammation and blood pressure, and even increasing bone density. Green and white teas contain especially high amounts of antioxidants, which protect against cellular damage.
Some foods that are best eaten in the harvest season include (but are not limited to): Wheat germ, bay leaves, sage, cabbage, anise, savory, capers, basil, thyme, broccoli, cayenne, peanut oil, daikon, cinnamon, honey, leeks, cardamom, peppermint, lemon, mustard leaf, garlic, onion, marjoram, parsnip/turnips, pepper, mustard, radishes, rosemary, lemon balm tea, chamomile tea, and mint tea.
These are just a few simple suggestions. Please consult with the acupuncturist-herbalists at the Marlborough Wellness Center if you have any other questions or are considering making any healthy dietary changes to make sure they are right for you. Happy harvest!
Acupuncture and Fitness Go Hand In Hand
Fitness is one of the largest growing industries today. While working with one of my closest friends in the industry, Kathy Ekdahl of Personal Best Personal Training, I learned that when choosing which program best fits your life and your desired outcome, it is important to look at these four aspects of a fitness routine:
Muscular and Cardiovascular Endurance:
These activities are designed to increase your heart rate and breathing for extended periods. Gradually build up endurance exercises over a period of time, initially starting out with as little as 5 minutes. Examples of endurance exercises include briskly walking, cycling, long-distance running, aerobics, and may even include mopping or scrubbing a floor, and mowing or raking the lawn.
Strength Training:
Increasing your strength can improve and maintain your mobility, control your weight and sculpt a more muscular body. Lifting weights is one of the easiest and fastest ways to build muscle. Martial arts are another form of strength training exercises. Please make sure you consult a personal trainer for the correct regimen for your body.
Flexibility:
Increasing your flexibility will help “loosen” you up and allow you to move more freely. One great way to prevent injury and aid performance is to do stretching exercises before and after endurance and strength training. Yoga and gentle stretching fall within this category.
Balance:
More and more, people are seeking balance exercises to reduce stress and harmonize body, mind and spirit. Tai Chi, Qi Gong and certain forms of yoga are exercises designed to maintain balance in the body while cultivating Qi energy that can keep you strong and healthy.
Talk to a qualified professional before you start an exercise routine to best determine what exercises will be most effective in reaching your desired outcome of a healthy, balanced body.
And of course consider acupuncture for performance enhancement, identifying and addressing the underlying conditions that may predispose an individual to injuries, and for treating sport-related injuries effectively. Remember, acupuncture can be introduced at any phase of a treatment regimen for an injury. It is safe, effective and natural! The Marlborough Wellness Center has experienced acupuncturists ready to address any issues you may encounter and get you back to the activities you love!
Are you like a boomerang?
In my practice, I have encountered many clients and their viewpoints of good health. It truly is a subjective thing to each of us and as an acupuncturist, I work diligently to respect the client’s wishes while also serving as a health practitioner working to improve their health. What is the most challenging to work with is the client who comes in only when they are in pain, not for health maintenance.
What these people fail to realize is that healthy living is not an event, but rather a lifestyle. Until my clients make a lasting commitment to finally follow through with and maintain a program of healthy eating and exercise, they will always return back to my clinic…kind of like a boomerang.
People who utilize acupuncture merely for symptom relief are much like boomerangs. At the first sign that their symptoms are gone, they back off their care…only to find themselves with the same painful problem a short time later. They then come back to their acupuncturist, feel better, leave and start the same vicious cycle all over again.
Not only is this ineffective from a corrective standpoint, but the full benefits of acupuncture can never truly be realized. In addition, the longer a condition is left to fester just under the surface, the more potential it has to develop into something more serious. It is typical to find that each time the problem resurfaces, it is a little more severe than the previous incident. Until finally, a more comprehensive schedule of care is no longer an option but a necessity.
Whether in acupuncture, pain management, or any other of life’s endeavors, lasting results come from committing to a set of long-term goals and then having the discipline to follow through.
Make the commitment to maintenance acupuncture care and a preventative wellness program and avoid the painful out and back patterns of a boomerang.
Acupuncture and Herbs: Autumn Diet Suggestions
Nature has a way of providing us with what we need, when we need it. That’s especially true when it comes to the foods that become available with each season. Autumn brings with it a bounty of fruits, vegetables, and herbs that nourish the body and support health and well-being. Being aware of seasonal foods and attuning your diet to your body’s needs is a great way to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
The harvest season is a time to prepare your body for the cold winter ahead. Your diet should shift toward richer, denser foods that will provide you with extra energy and warmth. Consider increasing your intake of protein, fats, and whole grains but be sure to keep up your exercise program, to control weight gain.
Nourishing your immune system is also very important at this time. Take advantage of dark green and golden-orange vegetables that are rich in beta-carotene to strengthen the body’s Wei Qi (immune system). These include carrots, pumpkin, squash, broccoli, kale, mustard greens, and many more.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it’s important to maintain the body’s balance during this season by adding sour foods such as sauerkraut, leeks, yogurt, and sour apples to your diet. Pungent foods such as garlic, turnips, and horseradish should also be added to your autumn diet, since they cleanse and protect the lungs.
It’s also important to moderate your caffeine use this season. As autumn settles in, you may notice yourself feeling a little more tired than usual and increasing your coffee intake to boost your energy. Before you lift that next cup, consider making a healthy change and switching from coffee to tea, specifically the Chaga mushroom tea.
Tea has been found to have a variety of health benefits, including protecting against heart disease and some types of cancer, reducing inflammation and blood pressure, and even increasing bone density. Green and white teas contain especially high amounts of antioxidants, which protect against cellular damage. Chaga tea has adaptogenic properties that van help your body and immune system rid itself of free radicals and oxidative stress.
These are just simple suggestions. Consult with your acupuncturist or healthcare provider reporting dietary changes you are considering. The herbalists at the Marlborough Wellness Center are well-versed in Traditional Chinese medicine as well as Western Herbalism, homeopathy, and essential oils use for good health.