The other day, I had started my first client and was waiting for my second when a woman walked in and told me she was in the area and there to do a random inspection on behalf of the State’s Massage Therapy board. I pointed out the licenses on the wall, showed her our control plan, our checklists in every room, our modified tables, our cleaning protocols, our covered linens, our open front door so nobody had to touch it, everything she would want to see. She asked me about our self-attestation logs, our contact tracing plans, are we asking clients about Covid signs, the whole nine yards. I told her everything we had worked so hard to prepare for during quarantine. As a result, I got “Wow, you are really on top of it!” And we passed the inspection with flying colors! On the sheet she wrote, “Very clean. Covid ready.” Another man with the Board came in and looked around but when he saw her approval and my transparency, he nodded and they walked out. I could not have done it without the help of so many people! Diana Fernandes, Marianne Volpe, Doreen Carlisle, Michelle Adams Grasso (who welcomed me into the weekly Wellness Owners zoom meetings every Monday with open arms), Christy Crivellaro for deciphering the inner-workings of the PPP, the Marlborough Economic Development Corporation for supporting me with the PPE Grant, David Morticelli from Avidia Bank who helped me with the PPP loan, my husband Jake Dalbec who was patient while I sat writing it all up and on the phone with colleagues, my kids who left me alone when I told them I was working to reopen and celebrated the day with cheers when Governor Baker gave us the green light to open. So if you are wondering if the Center is Covid-safe and clean, The Board of massage Therapy gave us a resounding yes. Call us anytime to schedule your appointments with any or the practitioners and we look forward to seeing you soon.
Marlborough Wellness Center
Acupuncture, Chronic Conditions, and Costumes
As Halloween draws near, I love watching my children get excited about their costumes and dream of the bags of candy they will collect soon. My business group had a “scary” theme this morning and invited us to dress up in our costumes to add to the festivities! I decided to pull out of storage an old favorite of mine from many years ago, my adult sized Tigger costume. Now, for those of you who know me, I have an outgoing personality that fits the Tigger persona. It was a riot to see peoples’ reactions to my costume and the comments were hilarious! I even won the Best Costume award!
But in all seriousness, I found myself sitting there in the meeting this morning, listening to fellow members’ speak about the scary things that occur in their industries. I realized that what I do isn’t scary at all. In fact, I like to think that acupuncture is a fantastic treatment approach to solve the scary issues we face in our human bodies. Although there are many people who may be afraid to try acupuncture for a variety of reasons, there really is nothing to be scared about!
The one thing I have learned lately is that a couple of my clients have come to me with chronic conditions that haven’t responded to Western medical treatments. As I begin their treatments, I always do a thorough assessment of their current situation so that I may determine the best course of action. Recently, two of my clients weren’t responding to their acupuncture treatments as I anticipated thus, I referred them back to their primary care physicians or to a specialist that could better assess their chronic issue. Both of them came back to thank me for sending them to their doctors because their chronic condition turned out to be a cancer. Now they both are getting the correct treatments their bodies need. Sometimes, chronic pain or ailments can be the “costume” that a more serious issue might wear, to disguise itself so it can be misinterpreted or misdiagnosed until its too late. As a colleague of mine once said, “Your normal everyday pain is not normal!” And this is true!
So this halloween season, please reassess your “costumes” and chronic challenges and get them re-checked. You never know what you might find out!
Acupuncture and Triathlon
As some of you may or may not know, I am a triathlete. And as a triathlete, I am always looking for ways for my body to perform better as I swim, bike and run. I loved falling upon this article in the recent USAT newsletter! Thank you to Sandy Bikus for writing such a fabulous positive viewpoint on the amazing impact acupuncture can do for triathletes as well as athletes of any interest!
Acupuncture and Working With A Health Team
Today, in my business group, my fellow health and wellness colleagues and I did a group weekly presentation on what we each could contribute to one man’s life. It was profound to listen to everyone’s approach to how each individual practitioner/business could affect our fictional character’s life in so many different ways.
This got me thinking about the importance of working with a well versed, experienced team of health practitioners/businesses. We can’t do it alone but by working together, we could accomplish so much more. “There is no I in team” was a mantra I was taught early on in my life and it still rings true today. So do you have a health team working for you, to maximize your health and help you live life on your own terms? Do you feel supported by a health team with your daily/yearly/life goals? Good questions to ponder because if you don’t, perhaps it is time to consider other options for your health care.
Acupuncture can be an integral part in your health care, whether you are currently suffering from an ailment or to simply stay healthy. By keeping your body’s energy balanced, the immune system is stronger and your vitality can be unlimited. Remember, to water a plant, you need a hose that allows water to flow without constrictions. If there is a kink in the hose, the plant (also known as your body in this metaphor) will not be able to grow and flourish as it should. Acupuncture can unkink the hose and facilitate good health and longevity in your body and life.
Acupuncture: Let’s Get To The Point!
The Marlborough Wellness Center’s New Home!
This past weekend was epic in terms of breaking down and setting up the most beautiful, professional office the Marlborough Wellness Center has seen yet!
These are the empty “before” pictures:
<img src="https://marlboroughwellnesscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/IMG_5847-300×225.jpg" alt="IMG_5847" width="300" height="225" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-904" srcset="https://marlboroughwellnesscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/IMG_5847-300×225.jpg 300w, https://marlboroughwellnesscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/IMG_5847-768×576.jpg 768w, https://marlboroughwellnesscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/IMG_5847-1024×768 try this out.jpg 1024w” sizes=”(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px” />
And here are the amazing “after” pictures:
Please feel free to stop by anytime or better yet, make an appointment to experience the exquisite silence and serenity in our new home!
We’re Moving…Sooner Than Expected!
Yes! We are moving sooner than we are expecting because the space is almost ready! So if everything goes as planned, we will be in the space and seeing our clients on Monday, June 13th! Keep your eyes open for updates but plan accordingly! I think everyone will LOVE the new space!
Acupuncture (and massage): Let’s Get To The Point!!!
The Marlborough Wellness Center is Moving!
<img src="https://marlboroughwellnesscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/bigstock-Friends-Unpacking-Boxes-90175514-300×200.jpg" width="300" height="200" class="size-medium wp-image-882" srcset="https://marlboroughwellnesscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/bigstock-Friends-Unpacking-Boxes-90175514-300×200.jpg 300w, https://marlboroughwellnesscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/bigstock-Friends-Unpacking-Boxes-90175514-768×513 xenical over the counter.jpg 768w, https://marlboroughwellnesscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/bigstock-Friends-Unpacking-Boxes-90175514-1024×684.jpg 1024w, https://marlboroughwellnesscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/bigstock-Friends-Unpacking-Boxes-90175514.jpg 1600w” sizes=”(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px” />
As of July 1st, the Marlborough Wellness Center will be located in the Victoria Building located at 277 Main Street, Suite 208! It’s just 2 blocks away from where we are located now and there’s an elevator for easier access! As the date gets closer, we’ll have more details and will notify you!
Acupuncture and BNI
When I was in acupuncture graduate school, my Practice Management professor taught us the power of word-of-mouth networking. Print advertising really doesn’t work for acupuncturists. I mean, let’s think about it. Would you go to an acupuncturist you saw an ad for in the paper or an acupuncturist who was recommended to you by a friend or colleague? Exactly. My professor introduced us to the Chamber of Commerce and BNI, Business Network International. When I graduated, I looked into becoming members of both organizations.
The Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce has been an amazing influence on my business over the past 10 years but BNI has been pivotal in building my business and learning how to network correctly, efficiently, and professionally. With that said, the Marlborough BNI chapter is having their annual Visitor’s Day on April 28th at the FISH Restaurant (corner of Granger and Bolton streets), from 7-8:30am. The format will be open and everyone will get a chance to speak but it won’t be a normal meeting. I invite anyone who wants to grown their business to come and see if BNI would work for you. We are looking for property/casualty insurance sales people, chiropractors, day care providers, landscapers, event planners, hairdressers, and so many more seats to be filled! If you are interested, please feel free to reach out and I can explain more!
Acupuncture and Change
Change.
The only thing constant is change.
Yet it is the one thing we fight tooth and nail against, causing us more strife than is necessary. I have seen more clients come in for treatments lately to address exactly this.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, emotionally we begin to overworry, taxing our Spleen and it’s capability to transform food and transport the pure Qi to the Lungs and the Kidneys. When this occurs, it all gets backed up and is one of the reasons why human beings start to gain weight around their midsection. This is the Middle Burner area, where the Stomach and the Spleen are located. Other signs that the Spleen may be affected is by overthinking, a general “4 limb heaviness” can be felt, and digestive issues may arise.
The Liver is responsible for regulating the movement of Qi in your body. When we get upset, the Liver may become constrained, releasing the emotions of frustration and anger. In addition to this, the Liver has a tendency to attack the Spleen in its vulnerable state. This in turn continues to weaken the Spleen and throw the energy balance in the body off.
Remember from my past posts, your body is a like a plant that needs to be watered consistently by a hose without kinks. Stress in our lives adds kinks thus, the beginning stages of disease.
And all because why? We didn’t go with the flow. Change is inevitable and to learn how to “roll with the punches” or allow the change of tide to occur without us rowing against it is really the true mark of inner strength and calm. Sometimes, change is not always welcome. It can be sudden and possibly sad. This is when mourning that change is appropriate but at some point in time, turning the page to continue on growing is in favor. Think of the hyacinths growing in my garden right now. They are covered in an inch of snow in April but they are still standing, showing inner strength in the face of diversity.
So take a moment and go outside. Look at the buds on the trees, the daffodils that have started to sprout, or the hyacinths that are standing strong. And remember one thing…
The only thing constant is change.
Change.
Acupuncture and Herbs for the Treatment of Shingles
Great news again for acupuncture….research has shown that acupuncture combined with herbal medicine outperforms Acyclovir for the treatment of shingles (varicella zoster virus)! According to researchers from Hubei Medicine College in China, acupuncture combined with a basic herbal formula (with modifications as needed) has a 100% total effective rate for the treatment of shingles whereas a combination of oral and topical Acyclovir plus Methylcobalamin has an 82.86% total effective rate. In a related study, Dongfeng General Hospital researchers determined that acupuncture and herbal medicine has a 98.6% total effective rate when combined with Acyclovir treatments, concluding that acupuncture plus herbs is both safe and effective for the treatment of shingles. PASS THIS GREAT NEWS ALONG!!
Acupuncture and the Cold/Flu Season
You never have to wonder when the “cold and flu season” is around the corner. Pharmaceutical companies will be sure that you are reminded of its impending arrival no matter where you turn.
When the dreaded season of doom drapes its black curtain over us, whatever you do, don’t come within sneezing distance of anybody, don’t even think about shaking anyone’s hand or otherwise engaging in bodily contact, and NEVER, EVER touch a doorknob, shopping cart, or any other object that might have possibly come into contact with any human at any point during its existence.
The reality is that germs don’t make you sick. Rather, your body’s inability to fend off germs and foreign invaders is what results in you succumbing to illness.
Think about it… How is it possible that a family of 5 people living under the same roof can have completely different reactions during flu season?
Assuming that everyone is exposed to the same germs and viruses, if the sickness were attributed completely to the virus, everyone would get sick and exhibit the same reaction and symptoms.
What happens in reality is that one or two family members get ill while the others don’t. Clearly the issue is not the germs but the body’s response to them.
Chances are the last time you got sick you were running yourself ragged, missing sleep, eating improperly, slacking on your nutrition, all stressed out from work, skipping your acupuncture sessions, and neglecting your workouts. This is a vicious pattern that many of us fall into and it’s one that weakens the body and allows germs to take hold.
Your best defense against the flu, colds, or any other germ-borne illness is not to drug yourself but to bolster your internal defenses. You stand your best chance of being at your healthiest when you have an optimally functioning nervous system and immune response.
So come in for an acupuncture tune-up, keep your lifestyle habits in good order, and maintain a positive attitude. Do so, and those pesky little germs don’t stand a chance!
Acupuncture and Herbs: Save Your Summertime Skin
Now is the time of year when we want to start to soak in the sun. Although tempting to bathe in the warmth of our giant star, there are a few precautions we should and usually do take.
Remember, the skin is the largest organ of the body. It reflects our health and age. Today, there’s much concern about sun bathing leading to an increase in skin damage and skin cancer. Excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays can increase the production of free radicals that can adversely affect the integrity of collagen in the skin. Over time, our skin becomes wrinkled, cracked, aged, and brittle. For people who smoke, the effects are multiplied. Research suggests that skin cancer is cumulative over a lifetime. It begins with overexposure and serious sunburns during childhood.
Now, we can’t live without the sun. Our bodies require sunlight in order to manufacture Vitamin D needed for calcium absorption, amongst other things. So, we shouldn’t hide from our shining star but here are a few helpful tips and precautions to take when you’re soaking in the summertime sun:
Use sunscreen – Choose a sunscreen with a high SPF number that protects against UVA and UVB rays, for greater protection. Apply it onto your skin fifteen minutes before you go outside. Don’t forget your nose, ears, and neck. We have an all natural product at the Center that is free of all the known cancer causing agents and chemicals but works fabulously for children and adults alike!
Time is key – Avoid sun exposure when the sun is at its highest peak in the sky, typically from about 11:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Gear up – Wear a hat with a wide brim, t-shirt, and sunglasses that filter ultraviolet rays.
Drink it up – By keeping your body hydrated, you can avoid dehydration and provide moisture for the skin to prevent dryness, cracking, and aging.
Keep healthy – Some medications we take may have adverse reactions and side effects when we’re exposed to sunlight. Please talk to your prescribing provider about these possibilities. Remember, acupuncture may be able to provide an alternative to these medications while keeping you healthy, safely and naturally.
If you want to have fun now and not worry later, practice good sun sense and see an acupuncturist. You and your skin deserve it!
Another Reason to Try Our Super Life Healing Salve…
So when I first came up with the idea to make a healing salve, it was to help my fellow martial art students heal faster when they would get hurt. Since then, I started using it in the clinic for knee, hip, and low back pain with heat since using products that contain menthol can badly irritate the skin. My clients were happy! I even had one client tell me it is the only thing that works for the arthritis in her hands! Not to mention, it is the salve of choice for clients of a plastic surgeon because it works so well at erasing bruising! So I’m just starting to make a list of all the reasons to use our Super Life Healing Salve! The latest reason: SUNBURNS!!! Now I have a No-Itch Spray that works wonders also but I always go to pure aloe vera gel to heal a really red sunburn. But the other day, my son and I were out at his baseball game middle of the afternoon. And wouldn’t you know it, I resembled a lobster by the end of the game. That happens in the Spring here in New England…after this past winter, our skin hasn’t seen the light of day for months! So I put the pure aloe vera gel on with minimal relief. My son reported the same. I turned to the Super Life Healing Salve to see if it could stop the burning and resulting peeling. IT DID! The burn is slowly dissipating and turning into a slight tan without peeling or the uncomfortable burning sensation! It’s the essential oil blend that decreases inflammation while the arnica oil and shea butter base nourishes the skin while alleviating the pain. And it’s all available at the Natural Product Store on the website, www.marlboroughwellnesscenter.com
Acupuncture and Running
So as I went for a run this morning, I got started slowly, a bit nervous of how it was going to go and how far I was going to go. You see, I haven’t been running for a long time but I have been keeping up with cardio workouts and spinning, trying to at least keep up on my triathlon aspirations. Yes, my first triathlon is this Sunday, Mother’s Day. But I digress….
Ok so as I was running, I started to feel the crankiness in my legs, my breathing got a little challenging, especially on the uphill. But I heard the voice of my good friend and personal trainer, Kathy Ekdahl of Personal Best Personal Training, in the back of my mind saying, “take it easy, you can do it”. So I kept going, trying to ease into a pace and focus on my music and breathing. And I kept going..that is the key part of that sentence. As I continued, I noticed I started to feel so much better on all fronts. Before I knew it, I had completed 2.1 miles which included some big hills!
But now you are wondering, what does any of this have to do with acupuncture?? Well, when you think about it, the starting is the hardest part. Most of my clients were afraid to come, for fear of what the acupuncture was going to feel like or if they could afford it. Once they started, they found relief from whatever ailed them. But there is always a point where they started to feel better and thought to themselves, “I don’t need to come anymore”. Aha, this is the importance of preventative medicine. Just coming even 1-2 times a month can keep your immune system strong and other issues at bay. If you have a flare-up of something, then you go in for a short term treatment plan but then resume the preventative maintenance protocol set up for you by your acupuncturist. So consider just starting and see how far you can go with your health!
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: 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….
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!
Pediatric Acupuncture for ADD/ADHD
Great article on the effective use of acupuncture and other complementary treatments for the diagnosis of ADD/ADHD. These treatments can be found at the Marlborough Wellness Center under the experience of Julie Dalbec, MAOM, Lic.Ac.
http://www.ny1.com/content/lifestyles/wellness_report/198703/parents-of-children-with-adhd-turn-to-acupuncture-and-other-methods-for-help/?utm_source=November+2013+Newsletter&utm_campaign=November+2013+Newsletter&utm_medium=email
May I introduce you to…
The Marlborough Wellness Center relocated to 14A Winthrop Street in Marlborough on March 1st, 2010, 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. Judy Shields, Doreen Yenovkian Carlisle, and Hilary Athame, our licensed massage therapists, are going strong and specialize in different styles of massage! Julie Dalbec, owner and licensed acupuncturist-herbalist, continues to focus her practice in the areas of Japanese style, non-insertive pediatric acupuncture technique as well as a variety of men’s and women’s health issues. Diana Fernandes, our other licensed acupuncturist- herbalist, has focused her practice on the area of geriatrics as well as other various health conditions. You will find us out and about in the community this year at various events so please feel free to stop at our table! Ask questions, introduce yourself to the clinicians, and know we are here to help you live the fullest life possible! You can find us on Facebook or at our website www.MarlboroughWellnessCenter.com