Michigan Associates of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine
Acupuncture in Michigan
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
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…]
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…]
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?”
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…]
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…]
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…]
Cinnamon has been all over the wellness-news lately for a plethora of health benefits. From blood sugar regulation to anti-inflammatory properties, Cinnamon is the current “it” herb. Gui zhi, as I like to think of it, has been in the Chinese medical materia medica for thousands of years and has always been an important part of Chinese herbal medicine. [Read more…]
Good health, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is dependent on four major foundations. These include diet, exercise, adequate rest and relaxation, and a good mental attitude. Acupuncture reaches it’s full and lasting effect when lifestyle changes are made where all four foundations are attended to. Diet, while not more important than the other three, contributes mightily to many health related issues. The following article shall discuss Damp and its relationship to digestion and health.
In TCM the energies (qi) of organs are paired in a yin and yang fashion. Very briefly, yin and yang are distinct entities yet dependent on each other, with yang found in yin and yin found in yang. Qi, the life force, is found in every organ and in the body overall. Diseases and digestion are therefore a result of excessiveness or deficiencies in qi, as related to the yin and yang organ pairs. This principle is the foundation of TCM. The goal of Acupuncture is then to restore the balance of the organ pairs within the body. [Read more…]
When I first heard about Dr. Claudia Welch’s Balance Your Hormones, Balance Your Life, Ihappy to read a book that marries the practices of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda. The book was an excellent source of knowledge for the newcomer to any form of Eastern medicine, TCM or Ayurveda. Dr. Welch begins by explaining the most important concept of yin and yang, which is the foundational principal of TCM. With this basic knowledge, the rest of the book uses the principals of yin and yang to describe hormonal balance (and imbalances) within the body. She then continues going through specific hormonal problems that affect women throughout their lifetime, such as osteoporosis and heart disease. [Read more…]
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