Having recurring migraines is similar to parenting a temperamental toddler. When they go from being annoying to actively disruptive and mildly infuriating, there is often little one can do but grit your teeth and persevere. The helpful suggestions for managing this occurrence involved a mixture of expert opinion, anecdotal hearsay, individual tinkering and a big dose of patience. So where does acupuncture fit into this picture? continue reading
What are Ear Seeds? Traditionally, ear seeds have been made by placing the tiny seed of the vaccaria plant on a small piece of adhesive bandage that then gets stuck onto one or more of the many acupressure points on the ear to help alleviate many symptoms. More recently, ear seeds are also made from small pellets of stainless steel, gold or silver, and there are options of latex or non-latex types of adhesive material that they are placed on. The ear has many acupressure points on it which form a microsystem of the whole body. Ear seeds are a non-invasive way to stimulate the points on this microsystem to produce helpful effects, such as helping to alleviate pain in different parts of the body, regulate hormones, reduce stress and anxiety and many other things.
During this time of stay-at-home orders, quarantine, and reduced travel and social interaction, you may like to try using ear seeds at home. The company earseeds.com has some wonderful kits available that can help a wide variety of issues including: Acne/Skincare, Addiction, Allergies, Back Pain/Sciatica, Cough, Digestive Support, Depression, Fertility, Focus & Memory, Headaches/Migraines, Hemmorhoids, Inflammation & Immunity, Libido, Motion Sickness, Post Trauma, Sleep/Insomnia, Stop Smoking, Stress & Anxiety, Weight Loss, and Women’s Health issues such as Menopause, Postpartum, and PMS. Each of the kits comes with about a month’s supply of ear seeds, tweezers to help you grasp and place the adhesive squares with the seeds on your ear, as well as a card showing the location of points helpful to the condition you may have and explaining what they do to help.
To see a full list of the kits they have available and learn more about ear seeds, go to this link:
<a href="https://www.earseeds.com/shop-by-condition-2/ref/442/" title="EarSeeds Condition Kits">EarSeeds Condition Kits</a>
We often say in Traditional Chinese Medicine that the liver is the system most easily susceptible to stress. Stress knots the Qi (energy) and makes its flow stagnate – this happens most quickly in the liver energy system. The liver, in TCM, is in charge of the smooth flow of Qi throughout the body. This means that if Qi flow is impaired (ie, by stress), the liver system will suffer. Likewise, if the liver energy system is weak or stagnant (from lifestyle choices, diet, trauma, emotional stress, illness or genetic factors), Qi flow throughout the body may be impaired. continue reading
Dear patients and our community,
As you already know, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is very real and it is everyone’s responsibility to help keep our community safe from the rapid spread of Coronavirus. To help slow the spread of this virus, it is now more important than ever to take an abundance of caution to help protect you, your family, our community and our healthcare system.
Because there are many unknowns about Coronavirus and things can change rapidly, we believe using common sense is the best measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19. continue reading
For most people, the change of seasons from winter to spring is something to look forward to. But it also means a time when people tend to get sick or seasonal allergies start to flare up. This can make things miserable for a lot of people. As the weather fluctuates between freezing cold and warmer, sunnier days, it also wreaks havoc on our immune system and our sleep. Frequently, our bodies can’t keep up with the constant changes and we get physically run down. But there are some things everybody can do to help during the time of transition from one season to the next. continue reading
In Chinese medical theory, food is considered medicine. Food has qualities and functions biochemically and energetically that target specific organs. Not only that, but the action a particular food takes to benefit that organ in terms of taste, color and temperature is what is included in Five Element theory. Food has a relationship to both the natural elements as well as the organs in the body and balances the elements of fire, earth, metal, water and wood to healthy, generating cycles. continue reading
A study conducted by Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has determined that the use of moxibustion at specific days during a woman’s menstrual cycle can decrease pain associated with menstruation. Dysmenorrhea or painful menstruation is a big problem for many women. This study used moxibustion, an accessory modality of TCM, to treat the pain associated with menstruation. The study and its systematic review showed moxibustion treatments were more effective at relieving pain only when the moxibustion began prior to the onset of actual menstruation. This is also the theory behind Traditional Chinese Medicine, that it should be used as preventive care. The efficacy of using moxibustion during the premenstrual time period holds great promise for those who are debilitated by dysmenorrhea. continue reading
Healthy blood circulation is a vital component of life for human beings. Without proper blood flow, life would cease to exist. Blood isn’t the only thing that’s important, it’s what the blood is carrying that makes circulation so important. Blood carries fresh oxygen, hormones and nutrients that we absorb from our food. Without these components, the organs and tissues of the body become depleted, weakened and eventually stop functioning. Any blockages in the veins and arteries can deprive the brain and the rest of the body from the needed oxygen, which can then lead to a plethora of other medical issues. continue reading
There are several acupressure points that are known to treat stress and stress related symptoms. It’s important to understand that acupressure is not the only form of treatment and having a balanced diet, exercise regime and lifestyle will also decrease the chances of stress being a factor in your life. continue reading
Winter’s element is water and is associated with the kidneys, which in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is considered the source of all qi and energy within the body. Winter is also associated with the bladder and adrenal glands.
Focusing on inner reflection, rest, energy conservation and storage during the winter months is when it’s most important as it helps us to properly nourish our Kidney Qi.
Below are a few methods you can learn about and apply during this season in order to maintain a balanced qi. continue reading
