Meet Acupuncture’s Powerful Partner – Chinese Herbal Medicine
monique • February 19, 2016
I love love love Chinese herbs and chinese herbal formulas. I love them for a few reasons — they are powerful medicine, work to help the body heal, and have fewer side effects (when used correctly and administered by someone who knows them well) than pharmaceuticals. They are made from plants, minerals, some animal substances (these are less common due to concerns about animal populations and harvesting), and some of them you probably have in your kitchen (cinnamon and peppermint are both commonly used in chinese herbal formulas). They have been used for thousands of years, have been honed over time, are amazingly resilient, and most of all are of the earth.
My master’s degree acupuncture training at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine (PCOM), Chicago focused a lot on herbs. We learned about individual herbs first and had to learn the pin yin or chinese name, the botanical name, the flavor, temperature, and functions of the herbs, as well as the general category the herb belonged to (such as moving qi, building qi, clearing heat). We also had to identify the herb when tested (this means we held the herb in our hand and had to know what it was and we could even taste them if we wanted). After learning the individual herbs – probably about 300 – we learned how the herbs were combined into formulas. We had to memorize the name of the formula, what it did, the herbs that were in the formula, and then understand when to use that formula instead of another formula in the same formula family. Whew! It was an amazingly hard and rich experience. I’m so grateful for it because it gave me a thorough education in herbs from practitioners who loved herbs, knew them well, used them in practice and appreciated their power and beauty. To be honest, I’m not a master herbalist (maybe in 30 years I could call myself one) – but I do know the herbs and formulas well, have great results with using them with patients. I do love a challenge and so I successfully treat a lot of different types of health problems, most often with both acupunture and herbs.
Herbal medicine, unlike pharmaceutical medicine, works to help the body heal. Some pharmaceuticals are really amazing and I do not discount their utility and necessity. But they do not, generally, build up the body. Rather they do something the body cannot do at that time – kill bacteria, reduce inflammation, or stop pain. Herbs can do these things too, but usually they take longer to effect the change. Pharmaceuticals, though, my mask the issue by just treating the acute situation rather than getting to the heart of what is really happening in the body. The good news is that herbs really do this very well. Again, this works best when someone who knows them makes a recommendation. So if you have tried them (herbs or supplements, really) and have not gotten the result you were hoping, it may be that you didn’t use the right formula, the right dose, a great brand, or even the right timing.
Antibiotics, for example, treat the acute situation rather than the cause of the problem. Think about a sinus infection – the proper antibiotic (and if you are going to take one, please have them culture your infection first, so at least the antibiotic can be specific to the bacteria rather than a broad spectrum antibiotic) will kill the bacteria and wipe out the infection. If you get multiple infections a year, the use of antibiotics will kill the infections as well as the beneficial bacteria in your gut, which leads to a reduced immune system so you are more likely to have another infection in a two weeks, a month, or a year. Chinese herbs, however, can kill the infection and strengthen the immune system.
What does this mean? For everyone it is different – perhaps it you have a very very stressful job. After weeks or months of stress, your body just starts to not be able to handle the job of dealing with all the stress and fighting germs that are everywhere. You get sick. The proper herbal strategy is to help the body fight the current infection, and then the next step is to help your body deal with the stress (usually by reducing any inflammation and moving energy) and boost your immune system (think of the common herbs, echinacea and astragalus), so you are not so stressed and worn out and your body has more ammo for the next bacteria it encounters.
You might not have a stressful job but you have chronic rhinitis (chronic runny nose) or you are always congested (in the morning due to mild allergies). When you get an infection, the antibiotic kills the bacteria, but you are still congested or have a runny nose. With that phlegm hanging around the next time you meet an aggressive bacteria, it has a lovely place to stick (you guessed it, in the sinuses), so the cycle starts again. The key here is to get rid of the mucous/congestion. One way to do this is to get the proper herbal formula to address the phlegm, along with removing phlegm producing foods from your diet. Then, as with the stressed out person, we also usually need to build up the immune system with tonic herbs.
I also have experience using chinese herbs for fertility. There is almost nothing that I enjoy more than helping a woman understand what is happening in her body each week of the menstrual cycle. With the use of herbs women can and will see a difference in their menses – more regular ovulation, higher basal body temperatures (if they are low, or more consistent temperatures), more cervical mucous, less pain and heavy bleeding with their menses, less spotting between periods. I learn so much from my patients – one of my patients who was undergoing IUI (intrauterine insemination) told me she analyzed her blood work /ultrasounds with her doctor, comparing the months she used herbs to the months that she didn’t. You guessed it – the months that she used herbs she had a more regular cycle, with a thicker endometrium, all while using a medication called Clomid which has the side effect of thinning the endometrium. A thin endometrium is a less attractive place for an egg to implant, so this is an important consideration. I am grateful she shared this insight with me and was willing to be consistent with treatment and with herbs.
If you are worried about the sourcing of chinese herbs I completely understand. That’s why I only recommend ones that are manufactured using GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards and that are tested for heavy metals, herbicides, fungicides and other contaminants. One of the companies I love, Evergreen, has great information on the quality of their herbs and processing. I also have used all of the brands I recommend and so have personal experience with their efficacy and safety.
Not everyone who comes for acupuncture wants to or can take herbs. That’s completely ok. I often recommend supplements and vitamins to strengthen the system or sometimes we can accomplish what we need with acupuncture, diet and lifestyle. But herbs are an amazing aspect of acupuncture treatments and I really do love them.
Can the cosmos help you discover more about your own fertility? Is it possible to know when you might have the easiest time getting pregnant? The answer to these questions is yes, astrology can help you understand your baseline fertility as well as possible challenges and supportive times along your fertility path. Astrological timing techniques can help identify when you might have the easiest time getting pregnant which can help you make decisions about how and when to pursue fertility treatments, or focus your efforts at conception. In an effort to help folks understand how astrology and health/fertility can work together, here are a few common questions and answers. 1. How can an astrology reading help me understand my health and fertility? The type of astrology I practice called Hellenistic Astrology. Hellenistic Astrology is informed by a study of ancient astrological techniques, including annual profections which describes the annual focus of one area of your natal chart (also known as your birth chart). Secondary progressions is another timing technique that can shed light on future trends, life focus and upcoming changes or moments of greater ease that can modify your baseline fertility. One or both of these techniques will be applied to your natal chart when you receive an astrological consult focusing on health or fertility. 2. Do I need to have an exact birth time to receive an astrology reading? No, although having an exact birth time helps with accuracy. While it is ideal to have an exact birth time, information can be gleaned from a chart reading based on your birthday and location only. A chart reading based on an exact birth time will allow for more specific information, however. For fertility readings a large part of the focus will be on the moon, and knowing your birth time, even what part of the day when you were born (for example, in the mid morning, or afternoon, or middle of the night, etc.) will help improve the accuracy of the reading. 3. What kind of information will I learn during an astrological fertility reading? During this reading we will discuss your natal chart — the chart of the sky at the exact moment of your birth, based on your birthplace. We will go over chart basics - especially your rising sign, sun sign, moon sign, the most beneficial and the most challenging planets. Your birth chart can be viewed as a snapshot that describes the general roadmap of your life. An astrological consultation focused on fertility provides you with clues and a more detailed map in order to help you make decisions about how and when you might pursue pregnancy, as well as what types of support could help you most. 4. What happens during a consultation? To begin, you email me to set up a consultation time. The style of astrology I practice focuses on an in person/over zoom astrological consultation, so we will set an appointment at a time that works for both of us. I will record our meeting and send you the copy after we meet. You will also receive a copy of your birth chart. The consultation will last 90 minutes, and you will be asked for your birth details when we set the appointment, as well as payment. Astrology is a wonderful tool to enhance your understanding of life and how to prepare for the road ahead. It is my joy to offer this service to you in hopes that it will provide insight and guidance about the delicate and tender topic of fertility. If you have any questions or would like to set up a session, please contact me at 312-320-1968 or info@midheavenacupuncture.com .
Pain is one of the most frequent problems addressed in my acupuncture office, and I love to work with patients who are in pain (because acupuncture treatment helps SO much with pain, not because I want people to be in pain!). Pain is something we all encounter at some point in life, and addressing it as soon as possible can make a big difference in how long it persists, as well as how severe it becomes. There is a saying in Chinese Medicine that describes clearly why acupuncture treatment helps pain — “Tong zhi bu tong. Bu tong zhi tong. – With free flow there is no pain. Without free flow there is pain.” When someone has pain of any kind it is due a blockage of qi, blood, lymph, phlegm or bones (think arthritis and the gnarled joints and fingers of someone with chronic osteoarthritis) that stops flow and creates pain. Acupuncture treatment, as well as cupping and gua sha are especially good at moving blockages, relieving pain, and restoring movement and function of the body. Frequent treatment will include the use of e-stim which is a method of stimulating the acupuncture needles with an electric pulse, much like a TENS unit used in physical therapy. What do you do, though, during a pandemic when you don’t feel safe leaving your home for treatment? Although nothing can substitute completely for in office care you can try these tips to relieve any pain you may be having. — If you have an acute injury, for the first 6 hours you can use the RICE method (rest, ice, compression and elevation). You can also supplement with Arnica Montana , a homeopathic remedy that you take internally and can apply topically, especially if there is bruising. Biofreeze , another topical product, can also help with acute injuries. RICE has been the mainstay of immediate injury care since the 1970s but now the recommendation has changed to limit the use of cold to the first 6 hours. After 6 hours, the use of ice actually becomes detrimental because it stops important healing processes. — After the first 6 hours you want to start including heat and gentle movement. Alternating heating and cooling (I would avoid very cold, and use cool instead), which will help your body “pump” fluids through the injured area. This pumping occurs because cooling will constrict vessels and heat will relax them so doing one after the other allows for movement through the tissue. And yes, this movement will help reduce pain. If you still have swelling you can continue to elevate your injury, if possible above your heart, which will help to reduce the swelling. — For longer term or chronic pain you can also use magnesium topically or try epsom salt baths. Magnesium can really help improve muscle function as well as reduce pain for chronic injuries. —Use gentle stretching after applying heat if you have restrictions in joint movement. One issue you don’t want to have is more pain due to lack of movement, because it hurt to move. While it is not good to force a tight muscle, or inhibited joint, to aggressively move, gentle stretching can be a life saver. The best time to stretch a painful area is after applying heat. You might want to familiarize yourself with gentle stretches as described by the Mayo Clinic or the stretching database provided by Movewell . —Invest in a foam roller. Using a foam roller on a tight area - such as the PSOAS if you have lower back pain, or the Illio-Tibial Band ( ITB ) if you have a tight or painful thigh, or along the occiput if you have a headache. A foam roller allows for gentle pressure to help with the release while you control the pressure with your body weight. These are some simple suggestions which hopefully will reduce whatever pain you are dealing with. If you would like to come in for acupuncture treatment we will be happy to see you — but in the meantime these simple steps may help you to a pain-free 2021!
How are you holding up? 2020 has been a tough year already and we are not even half way through! Summer is on its way and many of us will soon be able to move around somewhat more than in the last few months. Stress is taking its toll on all of us and while I hope you are doing well with world (and local) events, I want to offer you some help on what may be happening with you and how to address it. As many of you know, Chinese medicine excels at prevention . While it works wonders for a patient who is suffering from an acute illness, it really is much better at keeping you well, reducing stress and yes, anti-aging . However, this requires treatment and continued care. We have high hopes that as the year passes the COVID-19 infection rate will decrease, but it may not. It seems likely that we may see a surge in infections at least once more this year, maybe twice. We are seeing patients in the clinic but know not everyone can come in now. Chronic high levels of stress definitely affect health outcomes - we'd like to offer you some tips you can employ right now to help your body deal with stress. First let's talk about how to care for your adrenals . The adrenals are tiny glands that sit atop your kidneys. Some of you may have heard of the term adrenal fatigue . You may have heard it described as feeling "wired but tired." Adrenal fatigue occurs after being under constant, high levels of stress (like we are now) and results in a variety of issues , most frequently a feeling of exhaustion but not being able to sleep, and also high levels of irritability, dizziness and weakness, headaches, and possibly changes to your appetite. What can you do to help your body heal from adrenal fatigue? Your focus should start on getting quality sleep and a regular sleep schedule. Other helpful steps are exercising regularly (you can find me on Peloton as Monique312 if you are on it), taking adaptogenic herbs and supplements (such as Holy Basil tea which I have recommended before), and prioritizing relaxation ( meditation , deep breathing exercises , enjoyable hobbies, petting animals ). The key to healing adrenal fatigue is to moderate your body - so don't over-exercise, but exercise regularly, and incorporate relaxation tools to stop the flood of excitatory hormones. Acupuncture treatment is very helpful as well!!! If you have not been able to come in for regular treatment during this pandemic, here are some options for you to help with stress and possible adrenal fatigue: Give yourself a little treatment at home with ear seeds. These are tiny gold balls that you apply to your ear (specifically acupuncture points on the ear) for any condition, but most prominently stress, anxiety, depression and other emotional issues. They also work great for pain, immune boosting, digestion and more. Click here to order your own kit, direct to your home which includes instructions on where to apply the seeds. Schedule a telemedicine consult to review the herbs and supplements you have on hand - and what to take to prevent and treat any existing or possible future infections. We can go through what to take now as well as set you up with herbs to use if you are exposed to Coronavirus, or any other acute illness. Through the pandemic I have learned even more about Chinese herbal formulas especially helpful for viral infections - and they work very well! Invest in essential oils for your body and home - these are great to have around for so many reasons but firstly they excel at boosting your immune system and calming the spirit. Young Living is my preferred oil company and if you click on the link above you can order them online and have them sent directly to your home. They are pure and high quality oils that I recommend very highly. As we move forward this year, please know that our safety protocols will remain in place - which means cleaning individual rooms after each patient and leaving a room empty for an hour between patients, bringing patients into treatment rooms when they arrive, using air purifiers throughout the office (and specifically in each treatment room) and diffusing essential oils that kill viruses and bacteria, as well as wearing a mask and having patients wear masks. We have reduced touch surfaces (I open doors for my patients, the bathroom is unlocked now and touchless faucets are being installed). We are screening patients and do not see acute infections in the office at this time; the physician we work with is also screening patients for coronavirus and not seeing them in the office. We have not had a patient test positive for the virus, and know many of you are taking your herbs to keep yourself healthy. Good Job! Please let me know how I can help you during this time. It is my pleasure to share the wonders of acupuncture and Chinese medicine with you, your family and your friends.
The world is an intense place right now with a high level of panic and fear over the Coronavirus. It is fear of the unknown, of death, of financial strife and struggle, as well as fear of the future and contracting this virus. All of these are very valid fears. What can you do now, today, to help yourself? The first thing that comes to mind for me, of course, is take care of your body, especially your immune system. I’m not making any guarantees that if you do what I suggest you won’t contract the virus or get sick. What I am saying is that you can help yourself be as healthy as possible, no matter what your age, or underlying health conditions, which can only be good for you. So when and if you encounter the virus your body is as healthy as possible. I’ve seen many people with chronic illnesses get better after they change behavior and get help through proper supplements, dietary changes, herbal remedies, and lifestyle changes. How do I know this? As someone with Chronic Lyme disease, I know what it is like to have an immune system that struggles. I have gone from being someone who got sick monthly (and yes, my weak spot is my respiratory system), to someone who gets sick maybe twice a year. And I treat a lot of sick people in my acupuncture practice. What I have learned is that some people who get sick a lot actually have a hyper-active immune system, and so regulation of the immune system is key (as in auto-immune cases). So by finding the right mix of supplements, herbs and supportive behaviors people can get better, their immune system can stop overacting, and they get healthier. Here are some simple tips and recommendations: - Make sure your body is detoxing well. One sign of trouble with detoxification is constipation, but there are others. One simple way to help your body detox better is to sweat on a regular basis, for a short amount of time. Exercise is one great way to do this, as well as hot baths, sauna, or steams. By detoxing you help your body have less inflammation, which is always a good thing. - Eat cruciferous vegetables - which includes broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts. These vegetables are especially high in DIM (diindolylmethane) which helps the body metabolize estrogen. There are lots of chemicals out there that mimic estrogen and eating DIM rich veggies helps the body get rid of these toxins. - The immune system is definitely helped by taking supplements, but these vary by personal needs. It is fine to use Vitamin C to boost your body’s immune system, and zinc is great for short term use, especially if sick. But long term use of zinc can cause issues with the body’s zinc/copper ratio, which is important for immune health. So if you are going to take zinc, please take a pause every once in a while. - Reduce inflammatory foods in your diet. Yes, that means sugar, gluten, dairy. If you can take all three out that is great. What you have left to eat are veggies, some grains, protein, and healthy fats. Eliminating one is a good start, as would be reducing all three. - Supplement Vitamin D - but get one that is from a reputable company and one that includes vitamin K3. I will also recommend doing what you can to reduce stress. Acupuncture is a wonderful immune tonic and stress reducer and the office is now open. We are rigorously cleaning daily, spacing patients, and using air purifying and filtration systems, as well as wearing a mask, with patients also wearing masks. Treatment for everyone focuses on the current issue they are suffering from, as well as immune boosting and stress reduction. If you are unable to come in for treatment now we have a few other options. You can order and place your own ear seeds . These are tiny metal balls that you place on acupuncture points on your ears which then work on so many issues — reducing stress, stopping pain, helping you fall asleep. You may have had these before as part of your treatment and now they are available for you to have sent directly to you. These are sparkly and pretty as well! Video and telephone consultations are also available for herbal and supplement recommendations. While we would love to see you in person, we know not everyone is able to leave their homes right now. If you are in this situation, a video consultation is a great way to have immune supporting recommendations that are tailored to your body and situation today. While increased stress and illness are going to be a part of our life for the near future, it doesn’t mean nothing can be done. I encourage you to really think about what is most important — your body and your health namely — and to take steps to take the best care possible.
The Wuhan coronavirus is the most recent example of an highly virulent epidemic causing disruption and fear about travel, disease and the possibility of an epidemic disease transmitted from animals to humans that humans can’t easily fight. A similar viral epidemic occurred in 2003, with the SARS coronavirus. And because SARS also initially occurred in China, eventually Chinese herbs were sometimes integrated into conventional treatment for those infected . And to top it all off this winter has already been a difficult one for acute illnesses - patients have come in for treatment for acute colds, post-flu support, and stomach bugs. Each week patients report that they are surrounded by ill co-workers. It has been difficult to keep immune system herbs on hand as they are frequently out of stock from our suppliers! We cannot make any claim that herbs or supplements will absolutely keep you from getting sick - but they sure can help. There are a lot of factors that contribute to someone being susceptible to illness that may not be completely overcome by treatment, supplements, or herbs including: Having a lot of inflammation already in your body. So people with a lot of pain, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, or blood tests that show high levels of inflammation (such as CRP or C4a). High sugar intake and/or lack of nutrient dense food. Lack of sleep and fatigue. High amounts of stress. However, r esearch studies after the 2003 SARS outbreak showed that using Chinese herbs with western medicine treatment may help decrease mortality, and definitely helped decrease symptoms of the disease and reduced the amount of medications needed. Sounds like a win to me! The immune system and immune system health are a favorite topic of ours - we’ve written to you extensively about how herbs and supplements can help, as well as other lifestyle factors. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine in general excel at helping you stay well - so getting regular treatment, taking herbs regularly, and addressing any other issues (like sleep or stress for example) definitely results in patients getting sick less. Patients frequently ask about how often they need to come in for treatment. A fitness analogy works well to answer this question - you would not go to the gym once and expect to be in shape - either immediately or for the rest of your life. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine is the same - one treatment sometimes produces amazing results (we have stories and can share them!), but typically people need treatment relatively frequently to get to the place they want to be. Then treatment frequency can be reduced to maintain the results - especially if the patient is continuing to practice good health care habits outside of the treatment room. We live in a world of immediate everything and this has created unrealistic expectations for many of us. Like most good things, getting healthier and resolving long standing health issues takes time, but is so worth it. We speak from experience as many of our patients have reported being able to stay well through this year’s flu season, or having very limited acute illnesses with quick resolution. We’d be happy to see you in for treatment to support your immune system or to help you resolve any acute challenges you may be experiencing!
Acupuncture is probably best known for treating pain, with fertility pain close second. People also know about acupuncture for relaxation and stress (although often times it is confusing to folks who associate needles with pain). Acupuncture definitely excels at treating pain, and enhancing fertility, but also successfully treats many many other conditions. Probably a better question is what conditions doesn’t acupuncture help. Any medical issue that you would bring to your physician can be helped by acupuncture treatment. This can mean a few things - sometimes people want a more natural approach to a common medical complaint, such as constipation or seasonal allergies. Sometimes people want additional natural support for a medical issue they are receiving treatment for such as cancer treatment, IVF, Chronic Lyme disease, Mold toxicity, insomnia, chronic fatigue to name a few. Some times patients turn to acupuncture when they have not gotten results from conventional forms of medical care. The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a long list of conditions treated by acupuncture. This list includes pain as well as internal medicine conditions. Moreover, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has also published a list of conditions that studies have shown benefit from acupuncture treatment. More and more research is being done on using acupuncture to help different medical conditions - which is important for many people to see before they try acupuncture. And it is important to note, that while research studies can show the effectiveness of acupuncture, acupuncture has been used for thousands of years in multiple Asian countries for medical care. In our clinic, we treat a wide variety of health conditions - but our specialties include working with immune system challenges, chronic and acute pain, headaches, digestive disorders, women’s health, emotional issues and insomnia. However, patients with a wide variety of other health concerns (even though that’s a long list!) have been successfully seen in our clinic. The reason acupuncture works so well for so many conditions is because treatment is based on the pattern experienced by the patient. What this means is that when you come in for treatment it really doesn’t matter what you have been diagnosed with. Of course we want to know your full medical history and any diagnoses. But this information is combined with information gathered from your health history questionnaire, as well as information from feeling your pulse, observing your tongue and palpating different parts of your body. All of this physical observation is combined with information you provide about what is happening with your body that day, to create a treatment plan that addresses what is happening with your health. This treatment plan is part of a bigger plan - which will be accomplished over multiple treatments - to hopefully fully resolve your health condition. Acupuncture treatment, like everything else in medicine that actually results in healing, takes time. Some will say that pharmaceuticals have an immediate effect and thus result in quick healing. However, most pharmaceutical treatment, while it can be helpful, often only provides symptom relief. Our goal is to help you feel as good as possible, achieve your best health, with lasting results. We do this by meeting you where you are, offering you excellent care as well as advice and guidance on your quickest path to healing. And it is our greatest pleasure to help.
Back pain is one of the most common medical conditions - about 80 percent of adults experience back pain in their lifetime. Back pain results in missed work, difficulty sleeping, difficulty walking, moving or completing activities of daily living. Back pain is one of the most common conditions seen in my acupuncture clinic - either acute or chronic conditions. Acupuncture treatment is wonderful at relieving back pain, improving mobility, reducing inflammation and restoring proper function to muscles and joints. Acupuncture is very successful at treating back pain because it moves blocked energy (also called Qi) - often times in the musculature of the lower back and hips - and with improved movement of Qi the body can function better and pain is resolved. In addition, back pain treatment sessions almost always include vacuum cupping , heat, gua sha or electric stimulation, which enhance pain relief. These techniques are used sometimes during the acupuncture session, or directly after the acupuncture needles have been removed. Does acupuncture hurt? Acupuncture needles are very thin, about the thickness of a cat’s whisker, and acupuncturists are highly trained in where to insert needles for the most relief. During an acupuncture session many patients fall asleep as they relax on a heated table in a darkened treatment room. How many sessions are needed to produce results? While every person is different, most will feel a reduction of pain with the first session. Results are enhanced if a patient comes in for two sessions in one week. Between sessions it is useful to use pain relieving herbal patches and to continue moderate activity. What can you do if you suffer from back pain? If it is an acute injury, immediately use ice on the affected area. It is also important to rest, and maybe helpful for you to take an anti-inflammatory over the counter medication like Advil or Aleve. If you have acute or chronic back pain, you will benefit from Epsom salt baths on a regular basis. If you have chronic back pain, regular acupuncture, chiropractic or massage will reduce the severity and frequency of your pain. Supplements that reduce inflammation are very helpful for back pain. Two common recommendations are Turmeric and Boswellia . Adding these into your supplement regimen can reduce pain. Reduce or eliminate inflammatory foods in your diet - these include sugar, dairy and gluten. It is often easiest to start with reducing or eliminating one of these and see how your body feels. There’s hope if you suffer from acute or chronic back pain - it doesn’t have to stop you from enjoying your life. Schedule an appointment today to experience relief.
Acupuncture treatment can offer relief from anxiety, any time of the year. Acupuncture treats anxiety by helping your body calm down. Everyone experiences anxiety differently. When someone is anxious, they may have a rapid heart rate, racing thoughts, feel as though they can’t breathe, or have an upset stomach. Because every person is different, everyone’s acupuncture treatment for anxiety will not be the same. That is one of the most amazing aspects of treatment, though, because it will be tailored specifically for you, and what you are experiencing right then. So if you have difficulty breathing and racing thoughts, acupuncture points for those conditions will be used. The points will focus on bringing your body into balance, opening the chest, anchoring the breath, and calming the spirit. This is the short term solution for someone who is anxious. In the longer term, acupuncture treatment not only focuses on reducing your symptoms, but treating the deeper roots of anxiety. It is always helpful to do this process in concert with help from an amazing psychotherapist (I definitely have a few I recommend), to get to the longer term issues that may be underlying the condition. In the short or long term though, acupuncture is extraordinarily good at reducing anxiety. Some women have anxiety tied to changes in the menstrual cycle. If anxiety is worse at different times of the month, treatment is best administered right before anxiety begins. And the longer term treatment for this situation is to work on balancing hormones, which will help treat the cause of anxiety. A few tips that you can incorporate into your life if you do have anxiety: during a period of heightened anxiety, try lowering your head below your heart. If you are in a public place, you can excuse yourself and step into a private space and just bend forward with your head lower than your heart, if possible for you. If you can hold this position for approximately 30 seconds, you will notice that your mind starts to calm down and your anxiety lessens. There are other yoga poses that you can learn and practice to help treat anxiety, including a wonderfully relaxing one commonly called “legs up the wall” or viparita karani. Find out more about yoga poses for anxiety here . One of the best acupuncture points to help treat any expression of anxiety from any cause is easily accessible for self treatment. This is the acupuncture point called Pericardium 6, or PC 6, located on the inside of each wrist. To find this point on your wrist, place three fingers across your wrist, starting at the wrist crease. The point is located generally in the middle of the arm, in a depression between two tendons (flexor carpi radialis and palmaris longus). This is the same place where people frequently press when they feel seasick, or wear sea sickness bands. Here’s a great website with graphics and more information on the location of the point. To help reduce anxiety press and hold this point on each arm, using your pointer finger or thumb of the opposite hand, for approximately 30 seconds while breathing as deeply and slowly as you can. The point will likely feel achy and you can press with some force, alternating from one arm to the next. After about a minute or so you should feel yourself start to calm down and feel less anxious. Another great method of alleviating anxiety is to practice progressive relaxation style mediation. This is a form of meditation which guides you through clenching and releasing muscles throughout your body. The process is helpful for anxiety because it helps relax your muscle tissue (which often becomes tense and clenched with anxiety) - and it is great at connecting the mind to the body, a connection that is frequently lost when someone has anxiety. To try it, here’s a link to progressive relaxation on YouTube. You can do this at any point during the day when you have time, or if you are pressed for time, you can try it before bed. Hopefully these tips will help you experience this holiday season - or any time - with less anxiety. As always, we are glad to answer your questions and look forward to meeting your for your next acupuncture session. Click here to book an appointment in our Chicago clinic.
While the holiday season can be really fun, it also is very * Busy * Full of food and drink you normally don’t eat (more sugar, fat, alcohol) * Stressful. Tiring. Overwhelming. Maybe a little too much family time? On top of these factors, you may also travel or host visitors from out of town. These visitors may be sick themselves or just transport germs to you. It’s also a time of the year that many people get sick, so there are more opportunities to encounter ill folks either at work, out an about, or during travel. Because it is cold, windows are closed, keeping the air inside and recirculated (including germs and viruses). For almost 12 years I’ve been working professionally with patients who frequently get sick with respiratory infections, including people who have allergies, or chronic immune system issues. I’ve learned a lot, including what helps keep people healthy in times where they typically fall ill easily or frequently. The first tip is to address the factor that triggers you getting sick. Some of you may not know this, but if you watch what is happening in your life for a while, you may be able to pinpoint one or more factors that play a part. For example, some tend to get sick when they miss sleep. Some people get sick when their allergies flare up. Some people get sick when they are under a lot of stress - increased stress at work or stressful events, even if they are happy occasions. One method of avoiding getting sick is to treat the precursor. If you need to sleep, get more sleep and/or rest. If you have trouble sleeping, there are a lot of natural supplements and Chinese herbal formulas that are very effective and not habit forming. If allergies are your precursor, make sure you are using the Neti Pot, or another sinus rinse or spray, or use supplements or medications to calm the immune system. If stress is your trigger, de-stress through meditation, exercise, and laughter. Of course, carving an hour out of your busy schedule for a re-set and recharge with acupuncture will help any of these situations. Even if you do address the precursor issues, you might still have trouble getting sick when there are a multitude of stressful factors on your system (like around the holidays). At this point I offer my patients a specific Chinese herbal formula to help them stay well. I will also usually recommend a supplement, often Vitamin D, C or B complex. And my secret weapon, which is not so secret after writing about it here, is medicinal mushrooms. These are not the psychedelic type, but medicinal, and my two favorites are Cordyceps by Host Defense, or MyCommunity, also by Host Defense. If you are concerned about getting sick, I recommend starting one of these two as prevention. Cordyceps will also help with energy, so if you tend to be fatigued you may want to choose this option. The MyCommunity blend offers a wide spectrum of medicinal mushrooms that can help prevent or shorten the length of a cold or respiratory illness. I do sell these in the office, but you can also purchase them from Whole Foods Market and Amazon. I am not always a fan of purchasing supplements from Amazon as there have been issues with quality, so I would encourage you to either purchase them from Whole Foods or myself. Acupuncture and cupping are also very helpful for shortening the length of a cold or cough as well as reducing symptoms. We are always happy to see you around the holidays to help keep your system happy and healthy. By carving out an hour of self care, you may avoid many hours of and unwanted illness and have a lot more fun during the holidays.
