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Having been in practice for over a decade, this is the most frequently asked question I get in clinic. “How does sticking a needle in this spot help with my problem over here?”
To answer this question we first must understand how problems arise in the body. Quite simply, it ...read more
Having been in practice for over a decade, this is the most frequently asked question I get in clinic. “How does sticking a needle in this spot help with my problem over here?”
To answer this question we first must understand how problems arise in the body. Quite simply, it is all about circulation. When blood and fluids circulate to every cell in the body all tissues get the nourishment they need, get rid of the stuff they do not need, and all is well. When circulation gets disrupted pain and dysfunction can develop. Circulation can be disrupted for a multitude of reasons; overuse, poor diet, injury, repetitive activities, the list of causes it endless. But the solution is always draining out the stagnation and improving circulation to the area.
So how does acupuncture accomplish this? How does sticking a needle in an area improve circulation of blood and fluids? To answer these questions let's take a look at where exactly these needles are going.
Acupuncture points are located along pathways. You may hear these pathways referred to as meridians, channels, or a multitude of other descriptions. Whatever you choose to call them lets take a look at what they are. Are they nerves? Are they blood vessels? Are they energy pathways? My understanding it that acupuncture pathways are all of these things.
An acupuncture pathway consists of nerves, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, muscles, bones, and every other body tissue working together. I like to think of it like the body’s irrigation system. And just as it is in nature, when an area becomes stagnant with water, we open pathways for that stagnant water to drain out. That is more or less how acupuncture works. When stagnation occurs, the body attempts to correct itself. Reflexively these areas will become active. A trained acupuncturist can locate these points and with the needle accentuate the body’s natural response, in essence draining the stagnation and increasing circulation to the area.
Often the effects of acupuncture are immediate. Patients will notice immediate reduction if not elimination of pain. Symptoms will improve significantly following acupuncture treatment. To this day I get a bit awe struck when I see the results that can be accomplished for the most stubborn of conditions.
Reflexology is a non-intrusive complementary health therapy. Reflexology is the use of various points on the feet, lower legs, hands, face or ears that correspond to different areas of the body to help the patient’s body to function for improved health. Our reflexologist will work holisti...read more
Reflexology is a non-intrusive complementary health therapy. Reflexology is the use of various points on the feet, lower legs, hands, face or ears that correspond to different areas of the body to help the patient’s body to function for improved health. Our reflexologist will work holistically with you, alongside with other healthcare providers to promote optimal health for you.
Reflexology can be received by anyone at any age, from newborn babies to those receiving end of life care, and everyone in between. If you are uncertain if reflexology is suitable for you, our practitioner will give you a thorough assessment in order to give you appropriate healthcare advice.
Our practitioner will tailor a very individual treatment for you as a whole person, taking account of any individual physical and non-physical factors that may be affecting your wellbeing. The intention of the treatment is to restore balance to you naturally. Typically following treatments your tension will be reduced and you will generally feel very relaxed. You will most likely experience improved sleep and an improved sense of wellbeing and emotional health.
There are many other aspects of your health that can benefit from regular reflexology treatment; this happens differently for each individual. With ever increasing levels of stress in everyday life it is more important than ever for people to take responsibility for their health. Reflexology is an excellent way to mitigate the stresses of modern life.
Try Reflexology today! Make an appointment with Mary Beth, our resident reflexologist at A.D.I.O. Acupuncture & Wellness. Mary Beth is a New York State Licensed Massage Therapist, ARCB Reflexologist, and Reiki Master. Schedule now with Mary Beth by clicking the “Schedule Now” link at the bottom of this page. You are welcome to call during regular business hours to schedule an appointment. Click Here to contact Mary Beth by phone or email.
The essence of oriental nutrition is that every individual eat according to their constitution. Depending on the condition you may be considering treatment for, we may look at your diet as part of your treatment plan. I will often have patients do a nutritional log to determi...read more
The essence of oriental nutrition is that every individual eat according to their constitution. Depending on the condition you may be considering treatment for, we may look at your diet as part of your treatment plan. I will often have patients do a nutritional log to determine if nutrition is contributing to your problem or more importantly if we can make subtle changes to your diet to aid in your healing.
This being said, it is possible to set out some broad guidelines about what constitutes a healthy diet from an Eastern perspective. Western nutrition looks at the health impact of certain foods by considering the chemical composition. In other words what minerals, fats, sugars, and other substances are contained in various foods. From an Eastern perspective food is categorized by properties like it's temperature; for example raw lettuce would be cold in nature, or coffee beans would be considered a hot natured food. Another important aspect to consider when choosing foods for patients is flavor. Certain flavors will have propensities to various organs systems; sweet if the flavor of the spleen, and salty flavored food will affect the kidneys.
There are two primary considerations to what constitutes a healthy Eastern diet. First, it is important to have a broad and balanced diet based mainly on grains and vegetables. The second principle is making food easy to digest in how we prepare our food. I often tell patients to think of digestion as breaking down food into a warm soup in the belly.
Establish a Broad & Balanced Diet
A balanced diet consisting of a heavy portion of grains and vegetables pride a core foundation of nourishment that is easy to digest. It is also important to eat a variety of foods and in so doing, eating foods that are in season. If we divide food into three basic categories the following proportions are recommended.
Vegetables & Fruits 40-60%
Grains 20-40%
Beans, Dairy, Meat, Nuts 10-20%
Make Your Food Easy to Digest
We should prepare our food with the mindset that we are helping to make warm soup in our bellies. The Spleen extracts the essence, or flavors, from this soup. The flavors are in turn transformed into usable substances which is transported to where they are needed. The method of preparation that most resembles the Stomach's action is the preparation of soups and stews. Soups and stews are a mixture that is already warmed and broken down for the Spleen to act upon. It is for this reason that soups and stews are the most Spleen supporting meals.
This doesn't mean we should only consume soups and stews, however the weaker our spleen is, the more preparation is a vital consideration. They less work we crate for our Spleens, the more effective it is at extracting what we need from food, and separating the turbid aspect of the food we do not need.
The Spleen works hardest to digest food that is very rich (i.e... fatty, fried, processed), raw or chilled. So to support our Spleen we want to eat only moderate amounts of these foods, chew all food well (especially raw food), and avoid too much chilled food. Raw foods are easier on the Spleen if they are finely chopped or grated. Meat is easier on the Spleen when broken down in soups or casseroles.
Some General Considerations for Eating Well
Joy
Enjoying your food is part of opening to being fully nourished by what we eat. If we are happy with what we eat and happy with our relationship with food, our body will accept the food more effectively.
Relax
The Chinese believe it is better to avoid mixing food and work. Our digestion works optimally when we focus on the enjoyment of the meal, as opposed to distracted or troubled by other influences. It is best to make mealtime a relaxed occasion when we are not reading, watching TV, or doing business.
Chew
There is a saying that “The stomach has no teeth”. Well-chewed food lessens the work our digestive organs have to do to increase the efficient extraction of nutrients.
Stop
You should not eat until you feel full. If we overeat we create stagnation, a temporary backup of food waiting to be processed. As a result we feel fatigued while our energy is occupied digesting excess food.
Do Not Flood Your Belly
The digestive system does not like too much fluid with a meal. A little warm fluid with a meal is helpful; but too much weakens digestion. A teacup is generally sufficient; most fluid is best consumed between meals.
Eat Early
Try to eat most of your calories early. When we eat late at night our system is naturally slowing down and food takes longer to process. This can create stagnation in the body.
A final consideration is the moderate use of warm and pungent spices with cooked food to support the digestive process. Also the consumption of small amounts of pickled vegetables following meals with help. Now that we have established some general guidelines, let's take a look at the natural properties of food that determin it's benefit or negative impact on our health.
Read my article "Eastern Nutrition & Food Energetics" next!
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In the West we describe food as containing various amounts of protein, fat, minerals, vitamins, and so on. In the East food is described as posessing certain qualities such as warming or cooling. In the East the flavor of our food is used to determine its action and therefore...read more
In the West we describe food as containing various amounts of protein, fat, minerals, vitamins, and so on. In the East food is described as posessing certain qualities such as warming or cooling. In the East the flavor of our food is used to determine its action and therefore the combination of flavors can be therapeutic. This information is obtained by observing the behaviour of the body after food is consumed.
Temperature
This is a measure of food’s effect on the body after digestion. Quite simply does a food warm us up or cool us down. Cooling foods have a downward and inward effect on the body’s Qi, cooling the upper and outer parts of the body first. Warming foods have an upward and outward effect on the body’s Qi, warming us from the inside out. Warmer foods speed us up, while cooler foods slow us down.
The Flavors
The flavor describes the essence of a food. It describes the potential that is released by cooking and digesting. Each flavor is said to have a propensity to a particular Organ. There are five main flavors:
Salty affects the kidneys, moves inward & outward
Sour affects the liver, contraction and absorption, gathering & astringent
Bitter affects the heart, drains & dries, moves downward
Sweet affects the spleen, harmonizes other flavors, nourishing & moistening
Pungent affects the lung, dispersing, outward & upward
This is the point where many people ask “If I crave a certain food does that mean it’s good for me?” Yes and no, when we are in a state of imbalance, we can develop cravings to correct that imbalance. However, with readily available highly saturated foods in our society we can quickly provide “too much of a good thing” and overwhelm the organ. As with many aspects of health, moderation and balance is the key.
All Things Considered
It is best to eat a varied diet that includes all flavors and temperatures of food. Knowing are individual needs helps us to sway our diet slightly in a direction to create balance. I cannot stress enough, dietary remedies need to be gentle. Leaning in the desired direction over a period of time is the best, most therapeutic approach. “Bingeing” toward one direction will generally do more harm than good.
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When a new patient steps through my front door, more often than not, it is for a pain related condition. Headaches, neck pain, low back pain, sciatica, carpal tunnel, knee pain, wrist pain, arthritis, etc. The pain often chronic, the patients have often tried other modalities, I am often a last r...read more
When a new patient steps through my front door, more often than not, it is for a pain related condition. Headaches, neck pain, low back pain, sciatica, carpal tunnel, knee pain, wrist pain, arthritis, etc. The pain often chronic, the patients have often tried other modalities, I am often a last resort. Sometimes the pain has been the forefront of the patient’s mind, and it is difficult for them to consider what happens after the pain. I often tell new patients, “My focus is not to fix your pain, my focus is to fix the problem”. That may sound like splitting hairs, but the difference is quite significant.
Consider someone with a broken arm, a cast is uncomfortable and often gets in the way, however it is necessary to support the bone while it heals. We all know there are medications that help take the pain away, but the bone will never set or keep in a position to heal without the cast. While it is important to provide pain relief, it is essential for an acupuncturist to address the root problem. I must address the pain, but it is vital that I am able to see beyond the branch symptom of pain to address the root problem and get my patients better.
In my experience, pain is a symptom, and it is subjective. Pain is a personal experience that will differ from one person to another. Every person’s perception of pain and pain tolerance is different, and this can change with activity, environment, and mental state. Some people with an ankle sprain may end up in a soft cast on crutches for weeks, while another person will lace up their bootstraps and limp back to work. This doesn’t make one wrong and one right; it doesn’t make one person strong, and one week. A person’s perception can quickly change by a multitude of factors, including medications, recreational drugs, genetics, cultural influences, stress levels, the weather, and so on.
While pain is typically what drives people through my door, it is important that an acupuncturist not only address the symptom of pain, but also the cause of pain so it cannot reoccur. In fact, the Chinese model of health and living physiology, the perspective of how the body works, is unique and the strength of Chinese medicine. It is the reason acupuncture and Chinese medicine succeeds where other therapies do not.
I will often discuss with new patient early on in their treatment that initially I have to get rid of pain and inflammation before we can fix the real problem. Acupuncture is more than an aspirin for pain; we help fix the problem.
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