Tag: acupuncture

Posted on

Eating for Spring: Tips from Chinese Medicine

Spring is a time of renewal and rejuvenation, and what we eat during this season can have a profound effect on our health and well-being. According to Chinese medicine, the foods we eat should be in harmony with the season, and spring is no exception. In this blog post, we will explore some tips for eating in alignment with spring, and we will share a delicious recipe to help you get started.

The Wisdom of Chinese Medicine

In Chinese medicine, spring is associated with the liver and gallbladder organs. These organs are responsible for detoxifying the body and regulating the flow of qi (energy) throughout the body. When the liver and gallbladder are functioning properly, we feel energized and vitalized. However, when these organs are out of balance, we can experience a range of symptoms, including fatigue, irritability, and digestive issues.

To support the health of the liver and gallbladder during spring, Chinese medicine recommends eating foods that are fresh, light, and slightly pungent.

Some examples include:

  • Leafy greens: Leafy greens, such as spinach, kale, and Swiss chard, are packed with nutrients that support the liver and gallbladder. They are also great sources of fiber, which helps to regulate digestion.
  • Sprouts: Sprouts, such as alfalfa and mung bean, are high in enzymes, vitamins, and minerals. They are also easy to digest, making them a great addition to any spring meal.
  • Citrus fruits: Citrus fruits, such as lemons, limes, and grapefruits, are high in vitamin C and antioxidants. They also have a slightly sour taste, which helps to stimulate digestion and support the liver.
  • Spring onions: Spring onions have a slightly pungent taste, which makes them a great addition to any spring dish. They are also rich in sulfur compounds, which support liver function.
  • Artichokes: Artichokes are rich in antioxidants and fiber, making them a great choice for spring. They also contain compounds that support liver function and detoxification.

By eating in alignment with the season, we can support our health and well-being in profound ways. By incorporating fresh, light, and slightly pungent foods into our diets during spring, we can support the health of the liver and gallbladder, boost our energy levels, and improve our digestion. Try incorporating some of the foods recommended by Chinese medicine for spring, and enjoy the benefits of a healthy, balanced diet.

Recipe: Spring Greens Salad with Citrus Dressing

Here is a delicious recipe that incorporates some of the foods recommended by Chinese medicine for spring.

Ingredients

For the salad:

  • 4 cups mixed leafy greens
  • 1 cup sprouts (such as alfalfa or mung bean)
  • 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

For the dressing:

  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine the leafy greens, sprouts, spring onions, avocado, and cilantro.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, honey, and sea salt.
  3. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well to coat.
  4. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Posted on

Spring Allergies? Acupuncture and Herbs Can Help!

Spring is the time of the year when nature comes alive again. The flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, and the trees are sprouting new leaves. Unfortunately, for many people, spring also brings allergies. Seasonal allergies can be a major inconvenience, affecting both physical and mental well-being. If you are looking for a natural way to relieve your spring allergies, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine may offer some solutions.

Understanding Spring Allergies

Spring allergies, also known as seasonal allergies, are caused by the body’s overreaction to pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds. When pollen enters the body, the immune system produces histamines, causing the typical symptoms of sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and scratchy throat. Allergies can also cause fatigue, headaches, and difficulty sleeping, which can lead to decreased productivity and overall quality of life.

Acupuncture for Spring Allergies

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical practice that involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points on the body. The goal is to balance the flow of energy, or qi, throughout the body. Acupuncture has been shown to be an effective treatment for a wide range of conditions, including allergies.

When it comes to allergies, acupuncture works by reducing inflammation, boosting the immune system, and regulating the body’s response to allergens. The treatment can also help alleviate symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping. Many people find that regular acupuncture treatments can provide long-term relief from allergies.

Chinese Herbal Medicine for Spring Allergies

Chinese herbal medicine has been used for thousands of years to treat a wide range of health conditions. In the case of spring allergies, Chinese herbal medicine can help alleviate symptoms such as nasal congestion, coughing, and itchy eyes. Herbs such as magnolia flower, schisandra fruit, and xanthium fruit have been shown to be effective in reducing inflammation and improving respiratory function.

When combined with acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine can provide even greater relief from allergies. Acupuncturists and Chinese herbalists can work together to create a personalized treatment plan based on the individual’s symptoms and constitution.

Final Thoughts

Spring allergies can be a major inconvenience, but they don’t have to disrupt your life. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine offer natural and effective ways to relieve symptoms and improve overall well-being. If you are suffering from spring allergies, consider trying acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine as a safe and effective alternative to conventional treatments. To get started, click here to book an appointment, or read our FAQs for more information.

Posted on

Facial Rejuvenation Packages

Overall, facial acupuncture, microneedling, and LED therapy can be gentle yet powerful ways to help you look years younger and keep your brilliant smile. You can enjoy a naturally youthful appearance, without the “frozen” effect seen with traditional cosmetic solutions. If you would like to try it out for yourself, we have created a few discounted packages to get you started. Learn more about facial rejuvenation here.

  • Package of 4 facial acupuncture sessions — We recommend these sessions be used consecutively to treat an issue. They can also be used for periodic spot treatments.
  • Package of 10 facial acupuncture sessions — This package is directed at treating issues for a longer term. You will notice a dramatic change in your physical face when you are finished!
  • Package of 4 microneedling sessions — These highly effective treatments specialize in treatment of aging, acne, and scarring.

To purchase a package, or learn more about the offerings, click here.

Posted on

Facial Rejuvenation at Acupuncture Healing Arts Center   

Are you starting to feel old when you look in the mirror? If so, you may be facing a dilemma. Should you lean into looking older, or consider drastic cosmetic procedures that may show your age even more?

Thankfully, you have other options: non-invasive treatments that target the underlying causes of aging. They include facial acupuncture, microneedling, and LED light therapy, and they may be the best approaches for you.

What Is Facial Acupuncture?

When you receive facial acupuncture, it’s just like traditional Chinese acupuncture, where small needles are inserted into your skin at shallow depths on specific points. This stimulates your vital energy known as “qi”, so you can enjoy healthy tissue regeneration, circulation, hormone signaling, and muscle function. Your therapist can also insert needles in the facial muscles’ origin and insertion points, as well as their center, to enhance tone.

Should I Try Facial Cosmetic Acupuncture?

Rest assured if you’re considering cosmetic acupuncture, as the growing scientific evidence base for Chinese medicine hasn’t left it out. Clinical studies show that you are likely to enjoy benefits across several aspects of skin aging, some of which you won’t see with most conventional treatments.

Skin Hydration

Is your favorite moisturizer no longer working as well as it once did? If so, you’re not alone. One feature of skin aging is a fall in water and oil content. A case series of two women demonstrated that a month of weekly facial acupuncture increased skin oil content from 32% to 38% in the 50-year-old volunteer, and from 8% to 19% in the 29-year-old woman. Achieving these results could not only take years off your appearance, but also leave you feeling fresher and more hydrated!

Facial Contour

Of course, before you invest in any type of cosmetic treatment, you need to know that it’s not a placebo. Thanks to photographic analysis, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that the results you see in the mirror are real.

A clinical study where 27 women received facial acupuncture found that most experienced at least one level of improvement on a five-point scale that measures elasticity. Here, the method of acupuncture didn’t rely on points. Instead, it involved needle insertion into the muscles and restored a healthy level of tone, helping you feel firmer from the inside out.

Wrinkle Depth

Do you worry that you may be too old to respond to facial acupuncture? It’s all good, as a course of facial acupuncture treatment significantly smoothed out smile lines and eye wrinkles in 107 volunteers, with the best results seen among women in their 70s. The facial points used are linked to providing nourishment, including to your skin, the connective tissue lying underneath, and your muscles. The improvements are likely thanks to an increase in collagen production and overall tissue integrity, reversing the fragility that could make you more prone to wounds and slow healing.

What Is Microneedling?

Microneedling has been well-known in the West for many years, and is highly effective despite a simpler mechanism of action. It involves applying the treatment with short (0.5-1.5m) needles across your skin to create tiny punctures. You may not feel anything at all, but it still triggers skin rejuvenation by enhancing cell growth and connective tissue (including collagen) production.

Many clinical studies show that you can expect a reduction in the severity of skin aging, acne, scarring, and even some forms of hair loss! You’re in luck if you love spending time outdoors, as it can even reduce skin aging related to sun damage. One trial showed that severity scores fell from 3.57 to 2.05 after six months, including improvements in fine lines and roughness. In another, participants enjoyed a 24% reduction in wrinkle depth, and an increase in skin thickness by 0.45mm. This is an important point, as skin thinning puts you at a higher risk of wounds and other damage.

LED Light Therapy

Don’t worry if you’re afraid of needles! LED light therapy doesn’t break your skin at all. Instead, it uses specific light frequencies, generally within the red or infra-red ranges, which stimulate energy production and regeneration while reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.

The research on LED light therapy not only shows that it’s effective, but also safe when you need to apply it over organs and tissues such as the thyroid gland. In the same study, women had significant improvements in skin elasticity, density, and hydration. Light therapy only mildly reduced wrinkle depth, but they were shallow to begin with.

Overall, facial acupuncture, microneedling, and LED therapy can be gentle yet powerful ways to help you look years younger and keep your brilliant smile. You can enjoy a naturally youthful appearance, without the “frozen” effect seen with traditional cosmetic solutions. If you would like to try it out for yourself, click here.

Posted on

What is Qi?

For thousands of years, oriental medicine has acknowledged that there is a vital life force that flows through all things which is called “qi” (pronounced “chee”). In the west, qi is often referred to as “energy”. Energy (qi) flows along pathways in the human body, which are related to the organs and the tendo-muscular system. Pain or illness results when the balance of this energy is disturbed due to either trauma, poor diet, medications, stress, hereditary conditions, environmental factors, or excessive emotional issues. Oriental medicine focuses on correcting these energetic imbalances by breaking up any obstruction and encouraging an even flow of qi, which stimulates the body’s natural ability to heal itself.

Learn more about acupuncture and oriental medicine, read our faq’s, and schedule an appointment with Marie Healy at Acupuncture Healing Arts Center today!

Schedule Appointment

Posted on

Conditions Treated by Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine

Oriental medicine focuses on correcting energetic imbalances and “qi” (pronounced “chee”). Pain or illness results when the balance of energy is disturbed, but oriental medicine works to break up any obstruction and encouraging an even flow of qi, stimulating the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Oriental medicine can also be used for pain management, as well as a comprehensive system of health care and health maintenance.

Conditions commonly treated with acupuncture and oriental medicine:
Allergies/Asthma
Anxiety/Depression
Arthritis/Joint Problems
Back Pain
Bladder/Kidney Problems
Childhood Illnesses
Conjunctivitis
Constipation/Diarrhea
Colds/Flu
Cough/Bronchitis
Dizziness
Drug Addiction/Smoking
Fatigue
Frozen Shoulder
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Gynecological Disorders
Headache/Migraine
Heart Problems/Palpitations
High Blood Pressure
Immune System Deficiency
Infertility
Knee Pain
Menopausal Discomfort
Neck Pain/Stiffness
Pre-Menstrual Syndrome
Paralysis/Numbness
Rhinitis
Sciatica
Sexual Dysfunction
Shoulder Pain
Sinusitis
Skin Problems
Stress/Tension
Tendonitis
Vision Problems

This is just a sample of commonly treated conditions. Of course, there are many more.

Learn more about acupuncture and oriental medicine, read our faq’s, and schedule an appointment with Marie Healy at Acupuncture Healing Arts Center today!

Schedule Appointment

Posted on

Oriental Medicine

Oriental Medicine encompasses a variety of health care therapies and is a way of looking at medicine that integrates all therapies in its understanding. Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology are the most popular forms of Oriental Medicine in the United States. Other aspects included diet, nutrition, lifestyle choices, Tai Qi (martial arts/physical exercise), Qi Gong (breath exercise), Tui’na (massage), and Feng Shui (environmental balance).

For thousands of years, oriental medicine has acknowledged that there is a vital life force that flows through all things which is called “qi” (pronounced “chee”). In the west, qi is often referred to as “energy”. Energy (qi) flows along pathways in the human body, which are related to the organs and the tendo-muscular system. Pain or illness results when the balance of this energy is disturbed due to either trauma, poor diet, medications, stress, hereditary conditions, environmental factors, or excessive emotional issues. Oriental medicine focuses on correcting these energetic imbalances by breaking up any obstruction and encouraging an even flow of qi, which stimulates the body’s natural ability to heal itself.

Oriental medicine is used not only for pain management but also as a comprehensive system of health care and health maintenance. Athletes use oriental medicine to achieve optimum performance levels. Cancer patients are treated for the side effects of chemotherapy to enhance their quality of life. Detoxification treatments have been proven to help those with chemical and/or substance dependency problems. Headaches and migraines may be eradicated or managed with the help of acupuncture.

Learn more about acupuncture and oriental medicine, read our faq’s, and schedule an appointment with Marie Healy at Acupuncture Healing Arts Center today!

Schedule Appointment