Chinese herbs

Traditional Chinese Medicine for Spring Allergies

March 1, 2019 By Karen Siegel Propis Leave a Comment

Spring is almost upon us! In addition to beautiful weather, sunshine and flowers, spring brings seasonal allergies. For people suffering from allergies, the congestion, runny nose, itchy eyes and sneezing can be debilitating!

Luckily, Chinese medicine has a treatment for seasonal allergies that treats both the “root” and “branch” of the disorder. TCM looks to the lung channel as the culprit of allergies. The lung is the body’s first line of defense against external pathogens. This concept is similar to catching a cold/flu, and seasonal allergies are treated in the same manner. Since seasonal allergies are so closely tied with the external environment, they are viewed as an external invasion. If the lung is not strong enough to ward off foreign invaders, the body becomes more susceptible to seasonal allergies.

[Read more…]

Tips for Avoiding Colds and Flu

January 16, 2019 By Julie Shindler-Cohen Leave a Comment

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…]

Eating Right For The Season

October 31, 2018 By Julie Silver Leave a Comment

Most of us eat foods because they are pleasurable and we enjoy their smell, taste and textures.
Eating is a very personal experience as it is both a source of nutrition as well as a tool for social gathering. Most of us are also well aware of the
nutritional value of food. Eating whole grains (vs. enriched white flours), fresh (vs. canned) vegetables and healthy fats (vs. trans fats) are
cornerstones of many diets. It is also valuable to look at our bodies, the importance of the temperatures and flavors of foods, and the best season to eat them
in. [Read more…]

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…]

The Challenges of Infertility

April 10, 2018 By Julie Shindler-Cohen Leave a Comment

The Challenges of Infertility

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help

By Julie Shindler-Cohen, Dipl. Ac.

Whenever I visit a reproductive medical office, it boggles my mind that couples would undergo infertility treatment without incorporating acupuncture and Chinese medicine. The entire process of infertility treatment can feel like an emotional rollercoaster and acupuncture is a healing modality that can benefit both the mind and body.

There are countless studies coming out that show the benefit of integrating acupuncture with traditional medical treatment but, as a practitioner, I have come to realize many more benefits that are not so obvious. [Read more…]

A patient weighs in on how acupuncture helped her migraines!

August 5, 2016 By Karen Siegel Propis Leave a Comment

As an acupuncturist, we often get feedback about how our clients are doing. I was recently asked to share an exciting patient testimonial!

You’ve made me feel like a whole person again. I barely even recognize myself I feel so good.

This comment was from a patient who came in describing debilitating headaches each month, like clockwork, the week before her period. She also was very irritable and emotional with her PMS and had painful cramps during her menstrual cycle. The combination of the premenstrual migraines, the emotional volatility and menstrual pain put her out of commission for almost 2 weeks each month. [Read more…]

Ask the Acupuncturist – Inflammation and Heat

January 24, 2016 By Julie Silver 1 Comment

When we think of inflammation, we often think of localized pain somewhere in the body. An injury, for example, can elicit an acute inflammatory response. In addition, inflammation may be systemic and manifest in various parts of the body. As Jennifer Pillow-White wrote in her blog (Ask the CST) , inflammation is an necessary part of healing. Inflammation can be a good thing!

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture has its own unique way of viewing inflammation.

TCM is a very literal medicine. We look at symptoms (of a health condition) vs. a label (such as inflammation) to diagnosis and differentiate illness and disease. A patient may come to our office with inflammation and the acupuncturist asks – “what are the symptoms associate with the inflammation?”

[Read more…]

Spring Liver Support

March 12, 2015 By Julie Silver Leave a Comment

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on the theory of “Qi Energy”. Qi energy is what guides all functions in our body – breath, movement, reproduction, digestion are all functions of qi. In TCM, every organ has Qi energy and each organ’s qi oversees different functions of the body. Every organ has a season in which the functions of that organ are “in the spotlight”. The organ (and qi) associated with the spring is the Liver.

Spring is a good time for rejuvenation and change. It is a also good time to think about supporting the Liver. In TCM, the Liver Qi regulates the flow of qi throughout the whole body. There are over 20 kinds of qi that the Liver QI keeps flowing smoothly. Stress in our life tends to effect the Liver qi. When this happens, the Liver qi does not flow smoothly, and it gets stagnant. Headaches, PMS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Depression, Irritability are all thought to be associated with Liver Qi stagnation. There are many ways we can support the Liver and assist it in its job. [Read more…]

Cooking With Chinese Herbs

November 6, 2014 By Julie Shindler-Cohen 1 Comment

As a Chinese herbalist, I am often asked “which herbs are good to eat?” Well, that is a very broad question. First, different herbs are good for different things. We all have unique energetic imbalances and require different treatments. If we eat an excessive amount of “warming” or “cooling” herbs, this can lead to a severe imbalance in the digestive tract! Also, many Chinese herbs are not so commonly found in your local grocery store. (I have yet to find fresh rehmannia root or even white peony) However, diet and digestion is so important in Chinese medicine, that there are a few herbs that can be used across the board to support good health! [Read more…]

Chinese Herbs: An Introduction

October 6, 2014 By Julie Shindler-Cohen Leave a Comment

For most of us, Chinese herbs are an alternative and unknown form of medicine. However, in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) they are an integral part of healing! Many people liken Chinese herbs to medication but they couldn’t be farther apart. First, Chinese herbs are natural substances—roots, berries, twigs, barks, etc.—whereas medications are chemically engineered. Medications are often given alone to affect the body while Chinese herbs are administered in formulas, which are unique combinations of herbs that are used to achieve maximal therapeutic effect while also addressing possible side effects. But the coolest thing about Chinese herbs, as far as I’m concerned, is how they are categorized. [Read more…]