It's the dreaded cedar season in Central Texas. Here are some helpful tips to survive the coming weeks:
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is one of the most effective ways to immediately clear congestion due to allergies or common cold. There are acupuncture points that work on opening the sinus passages for easing blockages from over-accumulation of phlegm. We also work on boosting your defensive qi, which is in charge of staving off those allergens.
I frequently hear from patients that they are hesitant about taking Chinese herbal formulas, and/or don't understand the benefit of them. Many more people are on board these days with receiving acupuncture treatments, but Chinese herbal medicine is still underutilized in reproductive health. So lets discuss some of the benefits and the safety regarding Chinese herbal formulas.
Why take them?
First of all, the herbs help us, the acupuncturists, make progress faster. We make progress at each treatment towards correcting your diagnosis and improving your overall health, and preparing you for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) if you are going that route. But your using the Chinese herbal formulas consistently allows us to continue making this progress between appointments. So taking your herbs:
A little knowledge and a few basic items at home can help you be prepared to nip a cold or flu in the bud, and help speed it on its way out of your body. As soon as you start feeling something coming on, that’s the time to take quick action, and make some tea. Treating it early is key for the best results.
What kind of tea? That depends on whether the bug is giving you symptoms of “cold” or “heat.”
You guys I LOVE Thanksgiving. I think it is the perfect holiday...themes of gratitude and family with a feast at the center of the celebration, I mean come on! It's like it was designed just for me. I also love that it's non-religious so anyone can make it a part of their lives, regardless of any other personal dogma or beliefs. So, I know we all have our lists going and we've consulted our recipes and are stocking up on butter, but have you thought ahead to how to help your children through it? Lots of people, travel, and a break in your routine, can add up to make it kind of stressful on the little people. Here are some tips for making this wonderful day truly full of love and joy for everyone!
Read MoreAs we enter into the busy holiday season, I am reflecting upon what is the simplest easiest thing to do to enjoy the festivities and the people around me the most, and keep any stress at bay (I’m not one who by nature likes to shop or cook for potlucks, two things that holiday season often requires!). If I had to pick one quick and easy thing that changes each day for the better every time I do it, it would be to start the day with a moment of deep breathing.
Read MoreMany people have a hard time when the weather changes and begin to suffer from allergies, sleep issues, and digestive issues. Here are some tips for moving into the fall season and maintaining the health that you’ve worked so hard to achieve:
♦ GET PLENTY OF REST – I know, it seems like a no brainer, but as we move closer to winter your body will naturally want to sleep more. Although our modern lifestyles may not allow us to sleep 10-12 hours a night during the winter, you can make sure that you still get an adequate amount of sleep. Remember, if you don’t have enough energy, you’re not going to be able to get everything done, regardless of how late you stay up.
We live in a fast-paced world, full of obligations, deadlines, and stressors of all sorts. It’s hard not to feel tossed about in a sea of worries. Many of us manage to meet our daily demands, but it is usually at the expense of our spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical bodies. Physiologically, stress can turn into a sort of ‘stuckness’, or what is termed qi stagnation in traditional Chinese medicine.
Shoulder and neck tension, depression, poor breathing habits, and digestive disorders are some common embodiments of stress. Stress-induced qi stagnation can also impede circulation and create constriction where we would like to see suppleness, as in the body’s tissues and organs. The reproductive system (and every other system in the body!) thrives on the healthy circulation of energy and blood. How can we release constriction and encourage the free-flow of energy and blood? That’s right, by moving our bodies!
My family has been on one long loop of illness for the past month. I think the stress and busyness of the holidays coupled with the erratic weather had us all a little run down and vulnerable, so when the germs moved in, they were there to stay!
Well, I am ready to fight back! Read below for my plan to get (and keep!) my family well this Winter season. My hope is that by getting back into a few simple habits and bringing a little more focus on taking care of ourselves, we can ease into a happy, healthy spring!