It’s that time of year again! That time where EVERYONE seems to be getting sick with the common cold, flu and worse. Conventional medicine has few options to treat these maladies and we all suffer through the runny nose, sneezing, fatigue and sore throat. But you don’t have to!
No one really has the time to get sick. For me, the thought of getting a cold is like striking a raw nerve. So, I want to share my tricks to avoiding and beating our winter-time illnesses.
Here are some remedies that I have found to be helpful (for me): [Read more…]
Flower Essences: Natures Remedy
A number of years ago, while I was living in Chicago, I was going through a difficult and stressful time. I was in school for acupuncture, working full time and trying to manage the various aspects of my life. I was overwhelmed! It was during this time that a massage therapist told me about flower essences. I had not heard of them and went to a local health and healing store to find out more.
What I learned is that flower essences are liquid infusions (remedies) made from the flowering part of a plant. Interestingly 
enough, there is no physical part of the flower that is included in the remedy. The flowers are soaked in water and it is this infusion that is and made into a tincture.
Much like acupuncture, flower essences promote our own body’s ability to move toward healing – in this case emotional healing.
Flower essences are specifically designed to address emotional health and wellbeing. Flower essences do not address specific physical ailments; rather, they address emotional issues as well as the underlying emotional issues that accompany health issues. [Read more…]
Did you know…..
CranioSacral Therapy, in which we use a soft, gentle touch to release restrictions in the soft tissues that surround the central nervous system, works to remove irritation from the nervous system and allow it to work the best it possibly can.
Not only is CranioSacral Therapy helpful for adults but also for children, teens and young adults for wellness and symptom relief. Some of the most common benefits include improved mental clarity, focus and improved sleep patterns. It can also help to reduce stress, impulsivity, anxiety, headaches and neck tension. [Read more…]
Healing Stress, Injury, and Illness in Children
As an adult, you know how troublesome an injury or illness can be. We sometimes forget that our children are susceptible to the same ailments. They often do not understand what’s happening or know how to communicate what is wrong. It is not uncommon for kids to come home with:
- Sprains
- Bruises
- Digestive issues
- Headaches
- Insomnia
In addition, Kids can experience anxiety when anticipating a new school year or facing a significant life change such as a divorce or the birth of a sibling. They can also become injured while playing sports. Children often come to our practice to receive both Acupuncture and CranioSacral Therapy.
Acupuncture for Kids
Acupuncture can help children deal with symptoms without heavy medications. It’s an effective alternative for kids with sensitivities to prescription drugs. It is safe when done by a trained practitioner.
Acupuncture supports our own natural ability to heal. It is simple, relaxing and very effective in relieving physical, mental, and emotional symptoms. Acupuncture helps to release endorphins – the body’s natural pain killers. Oftentimes children experience great results in a short period of time!
CranioSacral Therapy for Kids
CranioSacral therapy is another option that uses gentle touches that are usually no firmer than the weight of a nickel. The practitioner will touch the head, neck, and back to release restrictions and improve nervous system function. It is frequently used as a treatment and a preventative measure.
It is important to remember that our kids need treatment, too. By helping them heal from injuries and cope with stress, we provide them the tools they need to grow into happy, healthy adults.
Contact Michigan Associates of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine to learn more and to schedule an appointment for your child.
To Sleep … Perchance to Dream
Now’s the time to get your kids (and yourself!) back on a good sleep schedule to help ease the adjustment to the start of school. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends:
- 10-13 hours (including naps) for children ages 3-5
- 9-12 hours for children ages 6-12
- 8-10 hours for teens ages 13-18
Adequate sleep, say the pediatricians, leads to improved attention, behavior, learning, memory, emotional regulation, quality of life, and mental and physical health. [Read more…]
Introduction to Acupressure for Children
I just spoke at the Holistic Moms Network meeting in my area. What a great group of women! I love to see people committed to following a healthy way of life and passing it on to future generations! I will say that there was a fair bit that I explained while going through these handouts, so I’m not sure how much of it will translate easily into a blog. But those who couldn’t make the seminar have asked for it, so here it is 🙂
Please feel free to ask me if you have any questions!
Monica Mae Leibson, Dipl. Ac., Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula
Intro to Acupressure for Children
Acupressure can be a great way to help your child heal quickly from illness. Choose a time of day when your child is most calm, be it after a bath or just before bedtime. Kindly let them know that this will feel good and help them to get better. For young children, best to create a silly song and dance to go with the session. To stimulate the points you can choose from a few methods: [Read more…]
Your kids need treatment too…
Many of you who are reading this are aware of the unlimited benefits of getting acupuncture and bodywork on regular basis! However, what do you do with your children when it comes to their health?
Children have very dynamic life and their bodies are rapidly changing. They are under a constant struggle between acclimating to new environments vs. their natural instinct of being who they are. As adults we have a hard time juggling between those factors at times, can you imagine how overwhelming physically and emotionally it can be for your kid? [Read more…]
Constipation and Chinese Medicine
Why is it that so many people suffer from constipation? And how can Chinese medicine help?
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal (GI) problems, affecting about 42 million people in the U.S. – NIH website
Eliminating is related to the concept of letting go. In Chinese medicine, letting go is a quality affiliated with the Metal element (Out of the five elements – Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal) which the lungs and the Large intestine are a part of. Both these organs (more like functions than actual organ) in Chinese medicine are in charge of making sure we are keeping the valuable and are letting go of what is not needed – physically, emotionally and mentally.
On a physical level, the lungs take care of the relatively esoteric gas – the air. They are in charge of using the separating the oxygen from the rest so the body can use it and are eliminating the byproduct of the metabolism in the body, the CO2 – this process has a short cycle and it is repeated many times throughout the day (more Yang in nature). The large intestine deals with more substantial material which is what is left from the food after it is passing through the digestive system which occurs once a day, eliminates all that is not needed anymore and absorbs back water and key nutrients (more Yin in nature). When our body is done extracting the valuable resources from the air or the food – it is letting go of the waste.
On an emotional level – the action of letting go is controlled by the Metal element as well, Grief or Sadness are the emotions related to it. The lungs energy is allowing us to release sadness through crying it has the same energy as a seed the being spread by the wind or a chick that leaves the nest. On a more substantial level, the energy of the large intestine is allowing us to let go of possessions we no longer need. It is the same motion of a ripe fruit falling from the tree on to the ground. All of those are related to the autumn season.
Interestingly, the lung meridian (energy pathway) flows to the thumb and the large intestine meridian flows to the index finger- both fingers are used to form a grip. Letting go is a skill hard to master. It requires the ability to passively do an action, which is a contradiction in a way.
With acupuncture, herbal medicine and nutrition it is possible to work on those aspects and strengthen one’s body and mind ability to let go of what is no longer needed….the outcome is also better elimination 🙂
This is what we are here for
Are you under the weather? It’s exactly why you should come and see us.
Many people call in sick for work, rightfully so…even if they feel well enough to come to work, it is considered better to stay at home and not expose others – preventing further spread of the “bug” that is running around.
Often patients are calling our office canceling their appointment because they are sick with the same thought process as when they call off work. Being sick is actually an indication to come and get acupuncture and energy work treatment, this is what we are here for !! Back in the old days, herbal medicine and acupuncture (in the Far East) where the only medicine. Acupuncture and herbal medicine are very powerful tools also in dealing with upper respiratory diseases.
After catching a cold few days ago I got better, though my wife got sicker and last night started to cough profusely, her chest felt tight and her back started to hurt. Those are symptoms that can lead to pneumonia if not treated properly. Before running to the emergency care, I did acupuncture on her to try and help her body recover on its own. We made Ginger lemon honey tea, defused eucalyptus oil and did a massage on her chest and back along the Lung meridian. She had immediate relief, felt, better and we avoided the need for her to take antibiotics.
Antibiotic is important and without it people can die, though it only gives a short term solution and reduce the immunity of the body in the long run which is making people prone to suffer from the same problem in the future and have it be harder to treat. Going to the Dr. is very important in order to make sure everything is under control, but before the medical need for drug intervention, there are many natural things that can be done.
Come see us even if you are sick please 🙂
Summer Health Newsletter from Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine
Ask The Naturopath…
Hi Dr. Quinn – I am concerned about the toxicity of sunscreens. Would you shed some light on this subject?
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has recently reviewed the dangers of sunscreen. Most commercially available sunscreens contain two major toxic chemicals; Oxybenzone, a hormone-disrupting chemical, and retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin-A that has been shown to accelerate the growth of skin tumors. The EWG recommends that consumers avoid sunscreens with vitamin A (look for “retinyl palmitate” or “retinol” on the label). Unfortunately, many ‘all-natural’ and organic, less-toxic sunscreens contain forms of zinc and titanium, which can have their own health risks in high doses. Ultimately, the EWG states that the best protection from the harmful UVA rays of the sun is a physical barrier such as clothing or shade. Below is a list of EWG-recommended sunscreen brands. For the complete list of specific products and ratings visit the EWG website at http://www.ewg.org/2014sunscreen
Aubrey Organics, Ava Anderson Non Toxic, Babo Botanicals, Badger Balm, California Baby, Elemental Herbs, Babytime by Episencial, Goddess Garden, Juice Beauty, Marie Veronique Organics, MyChelle Dermaceuticals, Raw Elements, Thinkbaby, True Natural
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has recently reviewed the dangers of sunscreen. Most commercially available sunscreens contain two major toxic chemicals; Oxybenzone, a hormone-disrupting chemical, and retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin-A that has been shown to accelerate the growth of skin tumors. The EWG recommends that consumers avoid sunscreens with vitamin A (look for “retinyl palmitate” or “retinol” on the label). Unfortunately, many ‘all-natural’ and organic, less-toxic sunscreens contain forms of zinc and titanium, which can have their own health risks in high doses. Ultimately, the EWG states that the best protection from the harmful UVA rays of the sun is a physical barrier such as clothing or shade. Below is a list of EWG-recommended sunscreen brands. For the complete list of specific products and ratings visit the EWG website at http://www.ewg.org/2014sunscreenAubrey Organics, Ava Anderson Non Toxic, Babo Botanicals, Badger Balm, California Baby, Elemental Herbs, Babytime by Episencial, Goddess Garden, Juice Beauty, Marie Veronique Organics, MyChelle Dermaceuticals, Raw Elements, Thinkbaby, True Natural
Eating Right forSUMMERTIME
Monica Mae Leibson, Dipl. Ac.
Summer is a time to grow and expand. We see trees blossoming and the sun shining radiantly. We can match our internal energy too by waking early in the summer, playing in the garden, and exploring the natural world around us. Traditional Chinese Medicine places great importance on eating right for the season. Eating less and eating light foods on hot days is a natural way of being in tune with the rhythms of the summer months. There are also specific foods that keep us in balance during this time.
These foods are sure to keep us hydrated so that our bodies can handle the heat of summer :
Fruits: apples, watermelon, lemons, lines
Fresh Foods: salads, sprouts, cucumber, tofu
Teas: chrysanthemum, mint, chamomile
Scrumptious Rice Salad
Ingredients:
4 Cups cooked brown rice
1 green onion, chopped
2 teaspoons parsley, finely chopped
1 Cup peas, slightly cooked
Dressing:
2 Tablespoons umeboshi vinegar, 1 Tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon olive oil (optional)
1 Tablespoon sesame seeds (toasted) or pine nuts
Mix ingredients together, toss gently with dressing, marinate for several hours
Let marinate several hours
Serves 4
Recipes from Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford
A few moments with Eran Reznik
Q: Tell us a bit about your background and how you got into massage.
I knew for quite some time that I wanted to help people through practicing some kind of holistic medicine. Living in Israel at the time, the most serious training program was Traditional Chinese medicine. I studied to be an acupuncturist. I also wanted to be able to connect and help people through touch so I joined a Shiatsu program
Q: What makes your massage unique?
I believe touch is an essential tool in healing and have always been told I have gifted hands!. When I graduated from TCM school I wanted to expend my tools and went to study massage therapy.
The treatments I do are very different from the average massage. I combine techniques from massage, shiatsu, the use of acupressure points and the vast knowledge I have received in my Chinese medicine training. I look at the body as a whole and make the connection between the emotional and mental state to the physiological condition and the way the body is aligned.
Q: What type of conditions do you see in your practice?
I see many orthopedic issues involving lower back or hip pain and lots of shoulder and neck tension that are accompanied by chronic headaches and migraines. Most of them are inner connected to emotions that, when aligned, allow for the proper movement of energy in the body.
Allergies, Explained!
Julie Shindler-Cohen, MSTOM, Dipl. C.H., Dipl. Ac.
In Chinese medicine, the impact of seasonal allergies are related to the qi energy of the lung. The lung’ qi is our “defensive qi” and thereby prevents environmental factors from invading the body. Whenever the body is affected by any outside influence (like weather, mold, cats, dogs), this is a sign that the “lung qi” is not strong enough to protect the body. This is why there are two treatment strategies for seasonal allergies!
First, when symptoms are severe, the treatment strategy is to release the pathogen from our body. Acupuncture is the #1 way to accomplish this. Most patients notice an immediate difference in their allergies after acupuncture.
The second treatment strategy is to support the lung qi so that allergy symptoms will be reduced or eliminated in the future. Acupuncture, along with Chinese Herbal Medicine and diet can make a significant difference! This is a strategy that we work on as maintenance treatment before allergy season begins!
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Acupuncture and Fertility Study
“Doctors with expertise in reproductive medicine have recently published that acupuncture and herbs are useful in the treatment of infertility, complications related to childbirth and for several other gynecological concerns. The doctors cited research stating that acupuncture and herbal medicine improve the success rate of in vitro fertilization. Pregnancy rates are improved in subfertile women undergoing IVF and in women with PCOS wherein ovulation may be restored using acupuncture. In the latter, acupuncture is noted as a treatment option for both reproductive issues and endocrine disturbances for women with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome).”
According to Reproductive Medicine Specialists from Penn State University, University of Gothenbery and Heilognjiang University
Make this a happy & healthy Summer.
Don’t take a vacation from your health.
Call for an appointment today.
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JULY Office Specials!
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Naturopathic Medicine Consultation:
$20.00 off your consultation with Dr. Diana Quinn!
https://www.acupunctureinmichigan.com/naturopathic-medicine/
Massage:
$55.00 for new patients first massage with Eran Reznik!
