Skip to content

Wellness

Using Ear Seeds to Help Common Problems

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>

              

       
    

        

      

        Summer Solstice        

      
      

                
During the summer solstice your yang energy reaches its peak. It is important to harness the peak of this yang energy, because as summer shifts into fall yang energy will decline. This great abundance of yang energy will translate throughout your body because during this season you are active and growing.


According to five element theory, during the summer the organ that receives extra energy is the heart. When the seasons change so do the organs we should focus on in the body. You should focus on the heart during summer. Feed the heart heart-nourishing foods and make sure to remain active so the heart receives positive energy. continue reading »

              

       
    

        

      

        Heart Afire: The Fire Element        

      
      

                
The organs in Chinese medicine are more than just a physical representation. The organs include not only their physiological function, but also their mental, emotional, spiritual and elemental qualities that align with nature and the seasons. Let’s explore the heart.


The heart season is summer, and heart is considered the most yang: hot, bountiful and abundant. Yang is what is bright, moving, outward, hot and loud. Yin is what is more inward, still, dark and cooler. The color of the heart is associated with red, the climate is heat, the flavor is bitter and it’s paired organ is the small intestine (many urinary issues are due to “heart fire” heat descending). The sense aligned with heart is the tongue, and the vessels associated with heart are the tissues. The heart sound is laughing, and the emotion is joy. The heart houses what is known as the shen, which is the mind and spirit.  continue reading »

              

       
    

        

      

        Fighting Flu Season with Acupuncture        

      
      

                
While the flu is actually not a season, we have become programmed to think of it as the months of November through March. On average, the flu hospitalizes thousands every year, especially the young and elderly. There are also a number of deaths related to the flu, mostly due to people already having compromised immune systems.


The flu, also known as influenza, is a highly contagious respiratory infection that is caused by a number of viruses. To date, there are approximately 26 to 30 different known strains of the flu virus. This is one of the reasons the flu vaccine has only mild efficacy. The flu vaccine itself, typically only covers five to seven strains of the flu.  Symptoms of the flu include fever, coughing, a sore throat, fatigue, muscle aches, pains, runny nose and watery eyes. continue reading »

              

       
    

        

      

        7 Ways to Communicate Healthy Habits to Your Kids        

      
      

                
blogimg_healthyKids_watermelon


As the school year kicks back into gear so should the healthy habits that you and your children have before practiced. Notice how I said “practiced,” because we all know during the summer-vacation months we tend to indulge a little. Maybe you have had one too many backyard barbecues, or three too many trips to the favorite ice cream shop down the street. Whatever your summer vice may be don’t worry about it, you can regain those healthy habits from before and introduce them into your children’s lives! continue reading »

              

       
    

        

      

        How to make a natural sunscreen at home        

      
      

                
Blog-img - How to make a natural sunscreen at home_640Although sun protection is extremely important to protect against harmful UV-rays and to prevent skin cancer, next time you pick out your sunscreen, consider what you’re buying. Many common sunscreens actually contain chemicals that can be harmful to your body.


Chemicals to avoid in common sunscreens:


    

  • Oxybenzone
    • 

  • Retinol palmitate
    • 

  • Methoxycinnamate
    • 

  • Octinoxate
    • 

  • Padimate O/PABA
    • 

  • Nano or Micronized mineral particles
    • 



There are several and easy ways to make effective and natural homemade sunscreen. continue reading »

              

       
    

        

      

        6 daily habits to lower your risk of cancer        

      
      

                
Blog-img - 6 daily habits to lower your risk of cancerQuit the tobacco, and don’t start if you haven’t already


It should be common sense now that smoking or chewing tobacco can lead to multiple types of cancer. If you are trying to quit, you are not alone. Try joining a support group or making a plan for yourself to set goals for quitting. Facing addiction is hard, but not using tobacco can save years of your life.


Healthy diet


A healthy, well-rounded diet can do wonders for lowering your risk of cancer and overall wellbeing.  Cut out processed sugar and instead focus on whole foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Salmon is full of omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to help fight cancer. Other fish that can help reduce the risk of endometrial cancer in women include halibut, sardines and tuna. continue reading »

              

       
    

        

      

        Acupuncture and PTSD        

      
      

                
Blog-img---Acupuncture-and-PTSDPTSD is a physiological disorder that can result from being exposed to a traumatic event.  The disorder results in several different symptoms including anxiety, irritability, insomnia and flashbacks. The effects of post-traumatic stress disorder in someone’s life can be far reaching.  Feelings of hopelessness, shame and despair, problems at work or with relationships, serious health problems, depression, anxiety and drug or alcohol abuse are not uncommon. Getting help can be hard at first, but can have a great impact for helping PTSD. continue reading »

              

       
    

        

      

        6 Alternative Treatments to Help with Arthritis        

      
      

                
Blog-img - 6 Alternative Treatments to Help with Arthritis_640Exercise


For those with arthritis, exercise, no matter how little you do, is one of the best natural treatments. For those with severe arthritis, even the smallest amount of walking can make a difference. Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise for those with arthritis because it puts the least amount of impact on the joints. Strengthening exercises are also recommended to keep muscles and joints strong. continue reading »

              

       
    

        

      

        Ways to Keep Your Memory Sharp        

      
      

                
Don’t forget about physical exercise


Believe it or not, when you’re exercising your body, you’re exercising your mind as well. Aerobic exercise gets your blood pumping, which increases the oxygen going to your brain and lowers your risk of disorders such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease that can lead to memory loss. If you can, start with some exercise in the morning. This can clear your head right off the bat to stay focused and alert during the day. Exercises that require coordination are especially helpful for keeping the mind active such as simply throwing a ball back and forth.  continue reading »