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…]
“So…..how did YOU get into acupuncture?”
This is a question I get ALL THE TIME.
So here’s what happened:
I was young, 18 or 19 at the time, and I started having asthma attacks that were seemingly out of the blue. Because I didn’t know what they were or how to cope, I ended up in the ER one night. Thankfully, they gave me a shot and helped me to breath (I definitely think that western medicine has it’s place!). After that, they did all the tests on my lungs and said that they were “fine”. So I was given an inhaler and sent on my way. I used the inhaler during my next attack and found that it did not help. I tried to use it in between attacks and quickly learned that there was no preventative value to it for me. So I felt stuck. What next? [Read more…]
Acupuncture’s most Frequently Asked Questions
When I tell someone I am an Acupuncturist, they respond with curiosity and questions! Below are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions in our clinic~
What is the goal of Acupuncture?
The goal of Acupuncture is to restore balance in our body by working with our body’s own Qi Energy. Acupuncture uses very thin, solid, sterile stainless steel needles to “activate” specific acupuncture points throughout the body, restoring balance and order to the Qi energy.
What is Qi? (pronounced chee)
Qi is a life force or energy that is in our body and in the universe. It is an invisible force known by its effect. We cannot see Qi. Qi underlies organic life in our body. Qi is the source of all movement in the body. Qi protects the body. Qi travels throughout the body via pathways called meridians. [Read more…]
How does acupuncture work?
It is hard to make sense of something that is difficult to make sense of! Most people who come for acupuncture come without knowing much about “how it works”. We take time in our initial session to explain the premise behind acupuncture. In explaining it – it makes so much sense!
Acupuncture is based on the belief that our body has the ability to promote its own healing. What underlies our body’s ability to heal is an energy called Qi. We cannot see qi. It is an invisible force that is known by its effect. [Read more…]
Dr. Tan’s Balance Method
Karen Siegel-Propis , MSOM, MPH, R.Ac. Dipl CH, RD
A Different Take on Classic Acupuncture
Dr. Richard Tan was a practitioner and teacher of acupuncture. He brought old and new schools of thought together to create a powerful healing method. His family celebrates a long tradition of Chinese medicine, which gave Dr. Tan an understanding of ancient practices. He combined that knowledge with his education in engineering to create a new method that provides immediate relief for many patients.
How Does the Balance Method Work?
Chinese medicine utilizes an energetic model to provide healing and relief. Each organ in the human body and corresponding energy channels are connected to form a complex network. That means that one area can affect another.
The Balance Method requires deep knowledge of these channels to achieve a stronger effect whether the practitioner is using acupuncture, herbal medicine, or a combination of the two. For example, this method uses points associated with the channels causing discomfort. Pain on one side of the body may be treated by inserting needles into a point on the opposite side.
What is the Best Acupuncture Method for Me?
Knowing how to apply acupuncture requires significant knowledge and experience. There is a lot of potential for pain and symptom relief when working with a professional acupuncturist. The first step is scheduling an appointment with someone who understands traditional medicine and its applications. Contact Michigan Associates of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine in West Bloomfield, Michigan today to talk to and make an appointment with an expert. We can provide advice and make suggestions for holistic treatment options that could help you find a solution that best works for you.
Can Acupuncture Help Treat Headaches and Migraines?
Julie Shindler-Cohen, R. Ac., Dipl. OM, FABORM
Headaches are a common problem that affect people all over the world. Finding the right treatment can be difficult because headaches occur for different reasons. Many patients have found relief through acupuncture, a traditional Chinese practice that has been used for thousands of years.
Acupuncture for Tension Headaches
Tension headaches can cause significant discomfort. The symptoms include dull aching in the head, neck tenderness or tightness, and feelings of pressure behind the eyes, along the forehead, or on the sides or back of the head.
Acupuncture interacts with the nervous system to signal the brain to direct blood flow to the affected region. This helps relax muscles and reduces pain and tension. The procedure also causes the release of endorphins and enkephalins, which naturally stop pain.
Acupuncture for Migraines
A study was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal that involved nearly 500 adults with migraines. Some participants were treated with real acupuncture while others were treated with a fake imitation involving needles inserted at nonspecific points in the body. Participants had no idea which they received during the four-week-long study.
While both groups experienced some relief immediately, only those who received real acupuncture reported long-term improvement. On average, those who received acupuncture had reduced migraine intensity and frequency three months later while those who received the sham treatment did not.
Acupuncture for All Other Headaches
Acupuncture offers a holistic alternative to conventional medical treatments for all headaches and migraines. Contact Michigan Associates of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine in West Bloomfield, Michigan to make an appointment with one of our experienced and highly trained acupuncturists.
Creating an intention for your fertility
Focus the mind to reduce anxiety
Use this practice to focus the mind on what we desire, 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.) [Read more…]
Ask a Practitioner: How do you self-care after the hectic holiday season?
My self-care begins with creating a balanced schedule at work and at home. I keep up the activities that keep me healthy – exercise, acupuncture, healthy eating, sleep. I try not to deviate much from my regular self-care so that returning to them is no big deal. I don’t make many New Year’s resolutions – though I reflect on the past year and the year ahead. Finally, I work on being grateful and thankful!
- Julie Silver, Acupuncturist
I schedule some time to reflect on the past year and create a new vision for the future. This is my favorite form of self-care. I often journal regarding what I’ve learned from the year, be it through my own personal experiences or from the more global shifts. I then choose a few key words and ideas to be the “theme” of the next year, so that I’m able to see life through the lens of that ideology. In the past I’ve chosen words like “Joy,” “Serenity” and “Transformation.” It is an honor and a privilege to be able to create the context of our lives and shift how we view situations. Every year during this time I enjoy newly creating my goals for myself and for the world at large.
- Monica Mae Leibson, Acupuncturist
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…]
Everything You Wanted to Know about Acupuncture Needles!
Here’s everything (and probably more) that you always wanted to know about acupuncture needles, which are used to stimulate the flow of qi energy.
- They are made from stainless steel and flexible are like a wire (but not hollow)
- They’re not much thicker than hair, and much thinner than a sewing needle or the hypodermic needle used to give a shot