Honoring the season of winter in body, mind, and spirit

January 29, 2019 By Monica Mae Leibson Leave a Comment

Here in Michigan we are awaiting a winter storm. It will be cold, with a dark sky & a blanket of ivory over everything.

In Chinese Medicine, this time of year reflects the Kidney energy, which is the body’s deepest and most vital energy source. The Kidney energy is literally in our DNA and is the energy we are referring to when we speak about genetics and epi-genetics. It’s our ancestors, our parents, our blood line, and our souls destiny.

In more concrete terms, this time of year is a time to go within. A time to honor who we TRULY are, as spirits inside bodies. Contrary to January 1 in the United States, this is NOT a great time to be making resolutions and starting over. Who has the energy? Rather it is a time to go within and LISTEN to what your spirit is truly speaking to you.

Here are some simple steps to going within and LISTENING to what your spirit has to offer you.

Allow yourself some time. One of the hardest parts of making time for yourself is actually setting it aside and not letting it get taken over by your to do list. We have been told that the more you DO, the more valuable you are. Don’t believe it. It is in our deepest reflection that our paths can be made clear and then our creation starts to occur with more grace and ease.
Quiet your mind by activating your voice. A great form of meditation is sound therapy. Our bodies are made up of energetic frequencies and sound is definitely a healer. The video made by John Weiss, is a great short exercise to tap into the deep kidney energy.
Listen to your inner knowing. I call it spirit but truly, it goes by no name. Beneath the identity, the ego, and the physical body is an inner being. When we can be still and listen, we will often hear message from our own spirit, giving us the exact guidance we need to move forward in our lives. Rather than making choices from a place of fear or based on the latest research, we can tap into our bodies own knowing and ask what we need at that time. As a healer, I have found that this is my true job; not to heal someone through my rational knowing, but to be supportive of them while they unlock their inner healer.

The Many Promises of Alternative Medicine: How your acupuncturist differs from your primary care doctor

May 7, 2018 By Monica Mae Leibson Leave a Comment

Over the years I’ve been in conversation with patients about “this or that” health condition. I’m always surprised when I hear people say, “but I’ve already seen my doctor for it.” Oftentimes people will follow this line up with something like, “There’s nothing else I can do.”

I beg to differ.

No, not all illnesses are cured by alternative medicine. I’m not here to try to convince you to get acupuncture for everything. But neither does Western medicine cure all ailments. [Read more…]

Need Instant Relaxation? Try Ear Massage!

February 20, 2018 By Monica Mae Leibson Leave a Comment

Feeling stressed? A quick ear massage may be just the ticket.

Hold your thumb on the back side of the ear and your fingers on the front of your ear. Then pull from the inside to the outside. Do it as strongly as you feel comfortable with. The sensation may feel a little irritable to your ears, but that’s OK. This is actually a sign you are doing it right; it’s not meant to be super pleasant ;).

Another option is to rub the ear between the fingers and the thumb for about 30 seconds from the bottom of the lobe to the top.

Within another 10 seconds, the ear will start to feel hot and achy. Let yourself be still and breathe, and you will notice a serotonin release. This is because the innervation of the ear goes right to the brain. So this tool gets you out of the “fight or flight” mode of the nervous system and into rest and repair. This is a natural mechanism in the body that helps to calm you down.

You can do this any time and anywhere. There are no negative side effects and ear massage does not interact with any medication. Enjoy your natural state of bliss!

Finding Balance When the World Seems Out of Balance.

January 17, 2017 By Karen Siegel Propis Leave a Comment

For each new year, we often set health-related goals. We want to eat better, exercise more, balance our lives, and try to behave in a kinder way in our world. When we strive for balance, we don’t often think about balancing our physical health and our emotional health. We tend to focus on the physical aspects of our being. However, our emotional health impacts our physical health in ways we don’t often realize.

Chinese medicine recognized thousands of years ago that an important relationship exists between emotions and physical health. The Chinese Canon of Medicine recognized that emotional and psychological factors are important causes of physical illness and can negatively affect the internal organs of the human body. It states that “anger hurts the liver, joy hurts the heart, brooding hurts the spleen and melancholy hurts the lungs.”

[Read more…]

Using Acupuncture and TCM Principles in everyday life!

July 27, 2016 By Monica Mae Leibson Leave a Comment

Q: How do you use acupuncture & Chinese Medicine principles in your life?

A: First off, I receive regular acupuncture treatments. As a caregiver, it is too easy for me to ignore myself and focus on healing others. In order for me to keep self care as a priority in my life, I schedule it. As a preventative treatment, I generally get acupuncture once a month. But, of course, if a health issue pops up, I receive more treatments as soon as possible, as well as using other healing modalities that have proven helpful in my life.

One of my favorite principles of acupuncture is the theory of balance. When our body is in balance, better health prevails. When there is excess (too much) in the mind or body, we “drain the excess” into the meridian that is weakest. If there is a weakness, we bring energy to that meridian/organ. As an acupuncturist, I am facilitating balance to support a patient’s body to function optimally. In my own life, I use the idea of balance to create the way I live my life. How much time and energy is healthy for me to devote to work? What do I need to aim for in my sleep? How often do I need self care? What kind of exercise is most supportive for me today? What foods are best for me? These are all questions that when raised, I use the principle of balance to help me find my answer. With balance in mind, the answers become clear.

Ask the CranioSacral Therapist…How do I lessen inflammation in my body?

January 20, 2016 By Jennifer Pillow-White Leave a Comment

Inflammation is an everyday occurrence in our bodies. It generally gets a bad reputation; however, it is necessary to protect our bodies and to allow them to heal. Inflammation occurs with injuries but also in normal daily activities. In both situations, cellular and tissue breakdown can occur (to different degrees). In order to start healing, an inflammatory cascade begins. [Read more…]

Creating an Intention for your Fertility

July 1, 2015 By Monica Mae Leibson Leave a Comment

As a practitioner that specializes in the childbearing year, I treat a lot of couples going through the process of getting pregnant. I’ve found that across the board, the journey can be very stressful. From checking your temperature to taking medication to timed intercourse, it certainly takes the fun out of trying to get pregnant. One thing that can be helpful is being intentional of your mindset during the process. Patients often oscillate between trying to control the situation and feeling desperately out of control. Creating an intention for yourself can alleviate a lot of that anxiety, stress, and depression.

Creating an Intention for your Fertility

This practice is simply used to focus the mind, rather than letting anxiety and fear get the best of us.

Step 1.

Release the past: If our mind is cluttered with memories of yesterday or anxiety regarding tomorrow, we cannot truly create from a blank slate.

Breathing in, I allow myself to come into this present moment. I choose to consciously release the past at this moment. I internally declare that the past has no power over me and I release and let go. (Deep sigh of relief).

Step 2. Create an intention:

With an intention, you begin by stating your desire. Be sure to use juicy adjectives like loving, nurturing, and fully self-expressed. You want your intention to feel like it really resonates with why you desire to have a child. Be sure NOT to intend things that are out of your control (like by when you will be pregnant, that it will be genetically yours, that you won’t have to do IVF, etc.) These thoughts generally arise from the ego and are our way of trying to control situations. In an ideal world, you want to be able to live into this intention no matter if you get pregnant or not. The “bigger” you create the intention (see numbers 3 & 4 below), the less likely it will be about trying to get what you want, and the more it will be about becoming the person you want to be in the world. Who we are for the world is the biggest gift we have to offer ourselves and others.

The flow of the intention can go something like this…

I would love the opportunity to be a loving mother to a healthy child.
My intention at this time is be a nurturing mother in a beautiful family with a child.
Who I am is the possibility of peace, love, and joy.
I am a stand for loving families on the planet.

Step 3. Release and let go.

Oftentimes this is the hardest part. But just practice it and see how your heart opens. You can speak your intention with love and gracefully follow it with a releasing meditation.

“I have shared my intention with the universe and know that it has been received. With that knowing, I release and let go. I release the attachment of my intention and choose to stay focused on who I am being, rather than what I am asking for.”

“I choose to have faith in this life. I know it is not always easy but regardless of the outcome, I choose to have faith in my journey.”

Step 4. Rinse and repeat

I recommend writing down the intention you’ve created and include the releasing meditation. You can carry it around with you in your wallet. You could put it on the mirror in your bathroom. The honest truth is that you might need to say it a lot during each day. Worry and anxiety can be so familiar to our brains that it becomes our automatic thought process. This will truly be a lesson in consciously creating your thoughts. Overtime, your efforts to make a shift in your mindset will leave you with a sense of peace and optimism.

Monica Mae Leibson, Dipl. Ac.

Monica Mae Leibson earned her Masters degree at the Santa Barbara College of Oriental Medicine (SBCOM), and is a NCCAOM Board Certified Acupuncturist. Monica has been trained in the treatment of physical and musculoskeletal injuries, working with alcohol and drug detoxification, as well as working with hospice patients. She has received extensive training in Chinese herbs, physical medicine and anatomy and physiology.

Monica has also obtained specialized training in Chinese Medicine and Infertility, studying under both Dr. Randine Lewis (author of The Infertility Cure) and Jane Lyttleton (author of Treating Infertility with Traditional Chinese Medicine). Monica and her infertility practice focuses on integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine with Reproductive Medicine.

Monica has been trained as a Birth Doula and Postpartum Doula. As a specialist, she educates clients about their options during birth. Through acupuncture and education, she supports a woman’s body during pregnancy so they are less likely to need induction or medical intervention. She also uses acupuncture and acupressure during birth to relieve pain and assist a smooth birth.

Her Postpartum Doula work includes educating women about breastfeeding, hormone regulation and infant health.

Monica is the past Treasurer and Membership Chair of the Michigan Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and uses Chinese Medicine to empower her clients to access their physical, emotional, and spiritual power. Monica combines her art of healing to express the divine creativity within all of us. When she’s not assisting patients in their healing, Monica spends her with time with her family, and also enjoys singing, dancing, and painting.

Emotional Release Sessions

June 16, 2015 By Monica Mae Leibson 2 Comments

Over the eleven years I’ve been in clinical practice, I’ve seen people for a variety of physical medicine issues. The initial intake includes a lengthy review of medical history and at the end, I always check in with how people are doing emotionally. As a holistic practitioner, I’ve learned that emotions can trigger physical issues. On the flip side; pain, insomnia, digestive issues, fertility, or any other issue can certainly create their own emotional reactions. The bottom line is that we are emotional beings that are inside a physical body. It truly is such a beautiful design.

Acupuncture has proven itself to be an amazing tool for releasing old emotions and supporting us to move forward in our journey. Emotions start as a neuro-chemical release in the brain. The release triggers a physical sensation which can range anywhere from digestive upset to sweating, heart pounding, headaches, etc. Not all emotions lead to these intense reactions but they generally manifest somewhere in the body. When we allow ourselves to truly experience the emotional cascade, the physical response lasts for anywhere from 1 to 5 minutes. What is very common, though, is that people will resist their emotions and try to stop themselves from feeling them altogether. As a society we look down on others and ourselves for feeling anxiety, depression, fear, etc. The new age thought of being able to create and manifest our lives can make people feel even worse because they don’t feel they can allow any room for upset. I’ve seen so many people over the years who say that they HAVE TO stay positive in order to get what they want. That’s a lot of pressure! The Law of Attraction does NOT state that you have to be happy all the time, (we will save that for another blog). The point is that it’s OK to experience all different sorts of emotions. It is, in fact a necessary part of being a sentient and compassionate person. Oftentimes when we do experience emotions, rather than allowing them to naturally come and go, we hold on tight and aren’t able to release them from our minds and bodies. Acupuncture is a very effective way to facilitate a release. With this in mind, I am offering a specific treatment aimed at balancing stress and emotions and gently releasing emotional blockages.

During our brief intake, we will review which emotions are out of balance in your body & mind. I will also feel the pulse and look at your tongue, which are Chinese Medicine diagnostic tools. We will then get started with our hands-on treatment.

These sessions work well for people who are experiencing:

Anxiety
Depression
A recent emotional breakdown
Life transitions (job loss, aging, engaged to be married, divorce, grieving, puberty, menopause)
High stress situations or inability to cope with any level of stress
Chronic emotional issues that you’ve been working on in other ways with little success
A history of trauma

The treatment will consist of Essential Oils (both inhaled and applied topically when appropriate) for your specific emotional needs. Ofcourse, if you are sensitive to scents we do not need to use them. I will also create a customized meditation to release the grip of emotional stress and allow you to tap into your inner wisdom. The final modality will be acupuncture to facilitate a natural endorphin release and move emotional blockages that have gotten lodged in the body.

I am so inspired and look forward to working with you to release past emotions and create a new & exciting future.

Breakdown of Emotional Release Sessions

* Brief intake

* Essential Oils

* Customized meditation for your specific emotional concern

* Acupuncture session

Please call the office with any questions. I’m happy to speak with you personally, prior to setting up your appointment.

Many blessings,

Monica

Monica Mae Leibson

Monica Mae Leibson Biography

Her Postpartum Doula work includes educating women about breastfeeding, hormone regulation and infant health. She’s also had additional training with Brooke Miller, MS, LMFT regarding the stages of emotional shifts when preparing for motherhood and transitioning to parenting.

Monica is the past Treasurer and Membership Chair of the Michigan Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and uses Chinese Medicine to empower her clients to access their physical, emotional, and spiritual power. Monica combines her art of healing to express the divine creativity within all of us. When she’s not assisting patients in their healing, Monica spends her time with her family, being in nature, and singing.

This is what we are here for

December 28, 2014 By Editor Leave a Comment

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 🙂

Making Friends with our Emotions

November 20, 2014 By Julie Silver Leave a Comment

As Acupuncturists, we sit with many of our clients and talk with them about their emotions. Emotions are an important part of the intake process for Traditional Chinese Medicine. Emotions affect our physical health and physical health affects our emotional well-being.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine – most organ systems have an emotion associated with them. When someone is angry or irritable, we think of the Liver and how to work to balance the flow of Liver Qi. Fear is associated with the Kidneys, Grief, the Lungs, Heart = joy and the emotion associated with the Spleen is worry. Since we so often experience many emotions, one can only predict the effect the emotions have on our health.

I want to make a pitch for starting to make friends with our emotions. So often, we try to push our feelings away. This may be done through drugs and alcohol, food and other addictions, exercise or medications. An informal industry has been developed in order to support us in NOT FEELING. What this ultimately does is add an additional layer to our pain and suffering. We still feel the emotions we don’t want to feel and we self medicate ourselves to get away from the feelings we still feel! [Read more…]