Michelle Soucy – Concord Center Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine

Author: Michelle Soucy

How Acupuncture Steps Down Pain

Posted on by Michelle Soucy

Acupuncture is a process. Like physical therapy or chiropractic care, it is very rare for acupuncture to be able to resolve a problem with just one treatment—it can happen, but it is not common. Most patients will require a course of treatment, rather than a single treatment, to reduce symptoms and maintain that improvement. With acupuncture, you are retraining your body to function properly.

How you will respond to acupuncture is not known until you get started with treatment. Every person is different. Usually the longer you have had a condition, the longer it will take to treat. We work diligently to get to the root of what is causing your pain and discomfort as quickly as possible. We never use cookie cutter or one-size-fits-all methods. We use our diagnostic skills, acupuncture and over 17 years of clinical experience to problem solve and determine the best way to address your particular pain condition. Sometimes, depending on your unique presentation, we will also recommend exercises or will refer you to other complementary modes of therapy in order to better help resolve the root of your particular condition.

Acupuncture works cumulatively, building over time, to improve circulation, reduce swelling, relax muscles, reduce inflammation and reduce pain.

Progress is rarely ever a steady or straight line. Below is a graph representing the response of one of our patient’s pain levels during their initial 12 treatments. We find that this response to acupuncture is common enough that it can be used as an example of how acupuncture works to reduce pain over time. However, every person is different and we cannot guarantee that your treatment results will exactly match those shown in this case study.

pain reduction with acupuncture treatment

 

Case Study: Jenna's Back Pain

Jenna came to us with 8/10 chronic back pain that was radiating to her hips. In this example 0/10 is no pain and 10/10 is the highest pain. Her pain was inhibiting her ability to exercise, work and sleep. She was taking pain medication 2-3 times per day and had already tried a round of physical therapy, which was recommended by her primary care doctor.

During her first acupuncture appointment her back pain was reduced by more than 50%. The pain went from an 8/10 to a 3/10 on the pain scale. She left her first appointment feeling very encouraged by this quick improvement. When she came back for her next treatment, 3 days later, she reported that her pain had gone back up to a 9/10 the day after her first appointment, higher than when she started and she was discouraged. During this follow-up consult, Jenna reported that she had felt so good, after her first treatment, that she went home and started working on her neglected "to-do" list. Her tasks included some house cleaning and bringing her patio furniture in from the porch for the winter. That night she didn’t take her pain medication because she was still feeling good. She woke up the next morning and felt terrible.

So what happened?

One treatment was not enough for Jenna to get back to her full work load and fully eliminate her pain medication. She was counseled to give acupuncture more time and to reduced her activity. She was also advised to work with her doctor to taper her pain medication only once she was sustaining a much lower level of pain for several days at a time.

Over time, acupuncture helped step her pain down and eliminate the need for pain medication. You can see, from the graph, that her pain levels went down with each acupuncture treatment. However, you can also see that in between treatments, her pain would increase again, but usually not to levels that she experienced prior to starting acupuncture. As the series of treatments progressed over time, her pain relief from acupuncture was greater and her highest pain levels began to decrease. There were some not-so-great days in the middle, but overall the pain tapered down over time—not in a straight line, but in a saw-toothed or stepped pattern.

Consistent regular treatments, especially in the first weeks are an essential part of achieving lasting pain relief. Intermittent treatments with long gaps in between are not ideal and typically yield slower and less than optimal results. How often you need to come for treatment will be determined by how much relief you get from your treatments and how long that relief lasts. The hope is that you will be able to come in for follow-up acupuncture treatments before your pain or symptoms has risen back up to where they were before you began getting acupuncture.

We can safely say that if you do not come in often enough or long enough, acupuncture probably won’t work for you because you won’t be able to experience this stepping down of the pain or symptoms.

After her first set of 12 treatments, Jenna came for an additional set of 12 treatments, at which point she had no pain and no limitations. We were grateful that she followed our treatment plan and gave acupuncture a chance to work. While she was coming in for back pain, she discovered that acupuncture was also profoundly relaxing. She now gets regular monthly acupuncture treatments to manage stress and maintain her health.

Acupuncture works in this way for many different types of pain and symptoms, from migraines, arthritis, injuries and nerve pain to digestive problems, hot flashes, menstrual problems, anxiety, allergies and much more.  If you are unsure if acupuncture can help your particular health issue, call us to schedule a free consultation.

Build Your Buffer Zone of Resiliency

Posted on by Michelle Soucy

Do you feel exhausted all the time? Does everything in life seem to trigger a migraine or a spike in blood pressure? Are you struggling with depression or anxiety? Are you finding it hard to make healthy choices in life?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, it is likely that your buffer zone of resiliency is depleted.

Your buffer zone of resiliency is the grounding, regulating and modulating aspect of your body. It is your reservoir of homeostasis. Your body’s biochemistry is constantly fluctuating and constantly working to achieve homeostasis. For example, when you eat a cookie your blood sugar rises. Your body then releases insulin to sweep away the sugar and bring your body back to homeostasis. When you are stressed your body releases a flood of fight-or-flight hormones. Your body chemistry should then recover and return back to rest-and-digest mode after you are safe and the stress has passed. Women’s hormones are also fluctuating throughout the month. Estrogen and progesterone fluctuate and balance each other throughout the month, like many of the other yin and yang cycles of nature.

However, when your buffer zone of resiliency is depleted the fluctuations in your biochemistry will tend to overwhelm your body’s ability to keep stuff in balance. If this is the case you may find yourself struggling with chronic stress, migraines, high blood pressure, chronic inflammation, diabetes, IBS, depression or anxiety. You may find it impossible to make the healthy choices in your life that you want to make because your body is in a state of chronic stress. Your body is in survival mode and you can’t really see or focus on any goal that may be on the horizon.

When your buffer zone of resiliency is strong, it is like having a protective force field around your body which helps buffer the constant changes and oscillations of life. You are no longer just struggling to survive but can now more easily focus on your greater goals.  In Chinese Medicine, we would say that your Qi, Blood and Yin are well nourished. This means that your body’s natural healing potential is optimized and you are able to quickly recover from stress and other fluctuations in your body chemistry.

So how can you increase your buffer zone of resiliency? Below are 7 ways you can expand your force field of resiliency.

1. Practice Mindfulness

Stress greatly reduces your buffer zone of resiliency and reduced resiliency will lead to greater stress. It can be a vicious cycle. But there are lot of things that you can do to start managing your stress. Guided mindfulness meditation is a good start. Use one of your favorite meditation apps or check out our Body Scan Meditation or shorter Meditation for Anxiety.

Nightly warm baths are also a great way to melt away the day’s stress and bring you back into the present moment. If you have a nice bath tub, don’t forget to put it too good use. You can practice mindfulness while you are in the tub—pay attention to the feeling of the warm water on your skin or the smell of your favorite essential oil. Nightly bathing is common in Japan and I’m convinced it is one of their secrets to longevity.

2. Nourish Your Body

You must nourish your body to build its resiliency. Diets that are high in sugar are also low in nutrition. You cannot be properly nourished when much of your calories are coming from sugar and refined carbohydrates. The high spikes in blood sugar that occur after eating sugar or refined carbohydrates create another form of stress in your body. Excessive and regular blood sugar spikes consume your body’s resources and challenge its homeostatic regulation. By reducing sugar and refined carbohydrates and increasing nourishing foods such as healthy fats, proteins, vegetables and water, you nourish your body and in turn nourish and expand its buffer zone of resiliency.

3. Reduce Caffeine

Every cup of caffeine you drink is like making a withdrawal from your body’s reserves or “bank account.” If you drink caffeine and do little else to increase your resiliency, your body’s “bank account” is going to become overdrawn. Caffeine has been shown to put your body into fight-or-flight mode. Drinking caffeine is like drinking liquid stress, but many of us are easily drawn to the upside it provides, such as improved clarity and productivity. However, caffeine consumption comes at a cost—it is indeed a withdrawal. If your buffer zone of resiliency needs nourishment, take it easy on the caffeine or even cut it out altogether—your body’s “bank account” will thank you.

4. Get More Sleep

If caffeine consumption is a withdrawal from your body’s “bank account” of resiliency, sleep is a deposit. Few people these days are getting enough sleep to create a resiliency savings in the body. Every person is different but in general it is good to shoot for 8 hours of sleep each night for adults and 10-12 hours each night for children. So ditch the late night screen time or work and just hit the hay. Over time you can watch your resiliency “bank account” grow.

5. Exercise and Stretch

Exercise and stretching reduce stress, improve circulation in your body and boost your mood. Any amount of movement and stretching helps, but getting good quality exercise is best. Don’t just rely on step counting as your bustle back and forth in the office or on errands. When did that sort of movement leave you feeling great? Make sure you build in time for mindful exercise and stretching to nourish your body AND your mind. In this way you are both building and circulating the resiliency energy in your body.

6. Spend More Time in Nature

Ahhh, vitamin N. I had a college professor that was the chair of my independent study. One day I had a meeting with him and I happened to be having a bad day (I don’t even remember why).  He suggested I take a walk in the woods. At the time I was too mired in my own self-pity to appreciate the profoundness of his suggestion. Being in nature is a critical piece to our mental and emotional wellbeing. The cycles of nature strongly beckon your body to synchronize with its natural order and resiliency. When you are outside in nature your body and mind are surrounded by nature’s peace and order and you absorb that—you synchronize with that. When life seems to be too much or to not make any sense, I often realize I haven’t been outside in a while. Get outside in nature more regularly and allow the sky, the trees, the mountains, the ocean, the little trickle of a stream or the song of the birds nourish you.

7. Get acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of my favorite ways to manage stress and increase my resiliency. I love that I don’t need to actually “do” anything to get the profound benefits of acupuncture—I only need to show up and lie on a table. Acupuncture takes you out of fight-or-flight mode and puts you right back into rest-and-digest mode. In other words, it reduces stress. Acupuncture also reduces or eliminates pain, balances blood sugar and balances your hormones. Acupuncture has a modulating effect on your body. This means it regulates the cycles and waves of your body’s internal chemistry. Many newcomers to acupuncture are just astonished at how relaxed and good they feel after their acupuncture treatment. After my very first acupuncture treatment I was hooked. And being hooked on something that is good for you, that builds your buffer zone of resiliency…well, that’s a good thing!

The Benefits of Grass-Fed and Pasture-Raised Broth and Meat

Posted on by Michelle Soucy

We suggest making and drinking homemade bone broth to many patients. Sip a hot cup of homemade bone broth daily or eat it regularly in a soup, gravy or stir-fry to improve and maintain all aspects of your health. Bone broth is a must for anyone suffering from digestive problems, fatigue, frequent colds, allergies, cancer or post-surgical recovery, tremors and tics, low libido, chronic low back pain, osteoporosis, arthritis, infertility, tooth decay, hair loss, memory loss and menopausal symptoms.

Why is bone broth so good for you? Bone broth is rich in minerals, collagen and amino acids and it:

  1. repairs your gut
  2. boosts your immune system
  3. improves energy
  4. nourishes your brain and nervous system
  5. nourishes bones, joints and connective tissue (aka muscles, tendons and ligaments)
  6. strengthens teeth and hair
  7. supports fertility

Would you like to benefit from the healing benefits of bone broth, but can’t seem to find the time to make it? Don't worry... we have you covered! We now carry high quality Walden Local bone broth right at our clinic. Walden Local's collagen rich broth is made from local 100% grass-fed beef and pasture-raised chicken that has been slow-simmered for more than 12 hours with no added salt. Frozen containers of broth are available at our clinic for $12. Pick up this broth at your next appointment or email to arrange a time to stop by the clinic.

Walden Local also offers monthly and bi-monthly shares (which include a customizable selection of local 100% grass-fed pasture-raised meats, broth, eggs and local fish that is delivered to your doorstep every month). Click here and use this link to take advantage of your free gift with your first share. The membership can be paused at any time and you can exclude types and cuts of meat you don’t enjoy or prefer not to eat.

What Makes Walden Local Meat and Broth Better

I am overjoyed at the success of Walden Local. This company is the model for a healthy and sustainable food system that is beneficial to your body and the environment. I was vegetarian for 15 years when options for healthy, humanely raised and ecologically sustainable meat were scarce. But like many young women and children, a purely vegetarian diet was not what my body needed. Chinese Medicine showed me that moderate and regular amounts of meat (including red meat), along with beans, veggies and whole grains is what my body needed to be healthy. We find this to be true for many of our patients.

There is a way to eat meat without destroying our planet and our health. Local, 100% grass-fed and pasture-raised meat is the solution.

What are the benefits of 100% grass-fed meat?

  1. Grass-fed meat is lower in fat but higher in antioxidants, nutrients and heart healthy omega-3's and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).
  2. Grass-fed farming methods actually help trap carbon in the pasture soil, thus offsetting the methane produce by the animals by capturing and building carbon within the soil.
  3. The life of grass-fed livestock most closely mimics the life of their wild ancestors, making for happier animals. They get to live a happy life in the pastures rather than imprisoned in small pens or cages.
  4. Locally raised meat also helps better support our farmers by putting a larger portion of the profits in their hands.

As you can probably see from this list, the food we choose to put into our body and how it was raised affects not only our health, but the health of our local community and our planet. After twenty-five years of studying ecology, sustainable agriculture and Chinese Medicine, I’m am now hopeful as I hear a national dialogue around the need for local and sustainable agriculture as part of our healthcare and climate change solutions.

Over the past five years Walden Local has “built the largest meat share cooperative model in the country, in partnership with some 75 different small farms right here in New England and New York, covering 7,143 acres of active pasture this year.” When you purchase $100 of Walden Local Meat, over $95 of that money stays in the local community, with $55 going directly to the farmers. This is compared to just $30 that will stay in the community if you purchase from a chain restaurant or store.

Additionally, this year, Walden Local started donating 1% of their meat to local food charities, including Second Chance Foods in Brewster, NY, Food Link in Arlington, MA and the Greater Boston Food Bank. Poor food quality is one of the many tragedies of poverty and we are so pleased to support a company that is able to help support their community with high quality protein.

And did we even mention how awesome the meat tastes?! Walden Local has some the of the best tasting beef, lamb, chicken, pork, sausages, bacon, broth and eggs that we’ve EVER tasted! If you need a recipe or cooking tips for grass-fed meat, talk to Bhaird next time you are in the clinic—he loves to talk food, cooking and grilling. Monthly shares are flexible and adjustable right from the Walden Local website. If you need more information on their meat shares we are happy to answer any questions you might have.

Sign Up for a Share or Purchase Your Broth Today

If you want to sign up for a share you can click here. The membership is monthly or bi-monthly but you can pause it at any time. It is also customizable. You can exclude types and cuts of meat you don’t enjoy or prefer not to eat.

If you are just looking for some awesome homemade broth, spare yourself the kitchen mess and pick some up at your next appointment or shoot us an email to setup a time to stop by the clinic.

3 Tips for Overcoming Anxiety Naturally

Posted on by Michelle Soucy

If you struggle with anxiety, you know how hard it can be to relax and fully enjoy your life. You may have a lot of nervous energy but this nervous energy eventually consumes your healthy energy, leaving you feeling drained and on edge. As a result, you may be finding it difficult to be effective at work, at home and in your relationships. Maybe you're not sleeping well at night. Maybe your heart is racing. Maybe you're shaky and nervous. Maybe you're having panic attacks and not functioning much at all. Maybe you are tired of popping sleeping pills or taking anxiety meds—the pills just aren't effective or you hate the side effects.

If this sounds like you, then you've come to the right place.  There is a lot that you can do to start feeling better NOW.

For over 17 years we've been working with patients who are struggling with some form of anxiety. We want to share with you some things that can help you reclaim your health and your life. Below are 3 quick tips for overcoming anxiety and getting to the root of problem without side effects.

Tip 1 - Use the Power of Your Exhale

Spend 5-10 minutes every morning, either in bed or sitting comfortably in chair, just noticing your breathing. Feel your breath move in and out of your body. Don't change your breathing. Just notice it and allow the breath to move in and out, naturally. You can place your hands over your belly, if that helps. Kids can lie down and place their favorite stuffy on their belly to help bring their attention to the feeling of the air coming into and out of their body.

Now focus your attention on your exhale. Yes that's right. Really notice your exhales. You inhale and then you exhale... the breath goes out... it dissolves and dissipates into the room around you. You inhale again and then whoosh... your breath goes out...dissipating around you. You are not trying to breathe deeply. You are just trying to allow yourself to breathe naturally while paying particular attention to your exhales. If your breath is shallow and rapid due to anxiety, that is okay. Just keep paying particular attention to your exhale.

When you notice that your mind is wandering, worrying or thinking, just bring your attention back to each exhale and the feeling of your chest or belly emptying with each breath out. Whatever you are thinking about or notice while you're breathing—don't worry or judge it—just let it be there and come back to focusing on each exhale.

Now with each exhale, see if you can notice the space between breaths—after you exhale and before you inhale. What do you hear or smell or feel in those spaces? See if you can focus on the sensations of the moment. Are there birds chirping? Is the heat making noise? Does your chest feel tight? What scent is being carried by the air? Focus on what is happening right now and allow that to be okay.

If you are constantly trying to escape the anxiety, it will just intensify. Instead allow yourself to be aware of each moment...each exhale and each space between breaths. Even if it is uncomfortable. With each exhale, you will be able to let some of the anxiety and stress go. You are not pushing it away. You are accepting what each moment brings and during your exhale, that moment can include letting go, just as you are letting go of each breath.

Tip 2 - Nourish Your Nervous System

When your body is not properly nourished, your ability to be calm and grounded can be greatly compromised. Healthy food nourishes your body so that it functions optimally on all levels—both the physical and the emotional level. Improper diet is often a common cause of chronic anxiety.

It's important to eat a variety of warm and cooked foods. Foods which are important in treating or preventing anxiety include red meat, homemade broth, fish, whole cooked grains, beets, carrots, winter squash, avocados, dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds and beans. Eat these whole foods daily.

Calming teas such as chamomile and oat straw are nourishing to your nervous system and can be taken daily.

Foods to avoid include caffeine and added sugar. Caffeine actually robs your body of nourishment and increases the release of stress hormones in your body. If you struggle with anxiety, you'll need to kick the caffeine habit for sure. Sugar also depletes your body by weakening your digestive system. When your digestive system is weak, then your body does not properly extract the nutrients from your food. Diets high in refined carbohydrates and sugar are usually greatly lacking in nutrients. This doesn't mean you shouldn't eat grains at all. In fact, many who struggle with anxiety can benefit from including more cooked whole grains (not processed) into their diet as long as they are also getting plenty of the vegetables and proteins listed above.

Other non-food ways that you can nourish your nervous system is by getting enough sleep, taking warm baths and taking regular walks in nature.

Tip 3 - Try Acupuncture

We have helped hundreds of people with anxiety, using a combination of acupuncture together with the tips described above.

Acupuncture reduces stress and anxiety by naturally downshifting and calming your nervous system. Recent studies show that acupuncture often outperforms pharmaceuticals and psychotherapy in the treatment of anxiety. In one study acupuncture provided twice the reduction in both anxiety and depression symptoms when compared to conventional treatments. Unlike over-the-counter or prescription medications, acupuncture has little to no side effects.

With its holistic mind body approach, acupuncture has been treating emotional imbalances for over 3,000 years. Whether treating a physical ailment or an emotional ailment, acupuncture always looks at the whole person and takes both the physical and emotional into account when developing a individualized treatment plan.

It may be surprising to you, but getting acupuncture is actually relaxing. Many people fall asleep during their treatment. Others go into a state of deep relaxation. Acupuncture downshifts your sympathetic nervous system. This means that acupuncture takes you out of "fight or flight" mode and puts you back into "rest and digest" mode. This is enormously helpful if you are suffering from anxiety or stress. Over time, acupuncture reprograms your body and teaches you how to relax, how to be present and how to let go.

Below is a great example of how acupuncture helped one of our patients, we'll call him Jordan, with his severe anxiety.

Jordan's Panic Attacks

Jordan was 15 years old when he and his mom came to our clinic looking for help with severe anxiety. Jordan was struggling with daily panic attacks, cutting and depression. He was grappling with bullying at school and divorce at home.  He was on a constant rotation of pharmaceuticals, but both he and his mom were not happy with the results and the side effects of these medications.

During his first acupuncture treatment Jordan was able to relax deeply. With each successive treatment he would go into a state of deep relaxation that would help reset his nervous system, clear his mind and release pent up tension. After 8 treatments, Jordan was experiencing fewer panic attacks and fewer cutting episodes. However, there were good weeks and not as good weeks still. He and his mom were also still hoping to wean Jordan off the pharmaceutical medications.

We decided to add herbal medicine to Jordan's treatment plan to further improve the results he was getting. Over the course of a year, we worked together weekly, with acupuncture and herbal medicine, to help support Jordan as he transitioned into adolescents and developed a healthy attitude toward himself and his circumstances. He incorporated the mindfulness techniques and dietary suggestions that he was given. By the end of our work together, Jordan was no longer taking pharmaceuticals and was no longer experiencing anxiety, panic attacks or cutting.

Jordan did come back to our clinic several years later, after graduating from high school, for several months of acupuncture and herbal medicine. He had moved away from home and was having some anxiety due to the challenges of his new life on his own. Very quickly we were able to eliminate his anxiety and support him through this new phase of his life.

Jordan's positive experience with acupuncture and herbal medicine at a young age gave him a tool box of effective holistic treatment options that he could come back to again and again, if necessary. Rather than meeting life's challenges with panic attacks and cutting, acupuncture's positive, holistic and healing experience greatly altered the course of his life for the better by offering him a naturally effective treatment option without unwanted side effects. He and his mom are most grateful.

This is why we love what we do and we'd love to help you too!

Here’s what to do next:

The Ultimate Guide to Healing Your Body and Mind

  1. Download our FREE eBook—The Ultimate Guide to Healing Your Body and Mind: 3 All-Natural Steps to Reclaiming Your Health Without Unwanted Side Effects.
  2. Then call our office at (978) 369-9400 to schedule your Initial Acupuncture Treatment or click here to schedule online.
  3. If you got value from this article, be sure to leave a comment below sharing your biggest insight. We'd really appreciate it!

If you or your friend or family member would like to take advantage of a 20 free consult to discuss how we can help, just call our office at 978-369-9400 or email us and we will set up a time. We look forward to seeing you soon!

7 Signs You Need Acupuncture This Spring

Posted on by Michelle Soucy

According to the historical Chinese calendar, spring begins in February each year, preceding the spring equinox by about a month and a half. In New England the signs of spring are still subtle during these early months. We’ll experience increased warmth, sunlight and bird songs as well as a stirring of energy within ourselves.

In Chinese Medicine the spring season is closely associated with Jue Yin or the energy of the Liver channel and organ. Like the rising of sap in the trees or the pushing forth of bulbs from the earth, a similar transformation of potential energy begins to rise and activate within each one of us. This is our Liver Qi or energy and its increased stirring coincides with the beginning of spring, regardless of the weather outside.

The Jue Yin or Liver channel and organ system, in Chinese Medicine, encompasses far more than just the anatomical liver organ. It is a system of energy, both physical and spiritual, which governs a collection of functions within your body. These functions overlap with the anatomical liver, but they encompass much more than just that of your anatomical liver organ.

When the Liver energy within you is not in balance, specific illnesses caused by the Liver worsen. You may have health issues that seem to pop up out of nowhere this spring, but in fact they have likely surfaced because they are caused by a Liver imbalance.

For most people stress is the number one cause of Liver imbalances. Stress causes your Liver Qi to become restricted, leading to Liver Qi Stagnation. This imbalance in Liver energy is one of the most common patterns that we treat in our clinic.

Acupuncture is incredibly effective at balancing the Liver and reducing stress. Acupuncture has been scientifically shown to treat many of the health problems listed below. If you are experiencing any of the issues discussed below, then it’s a good sign you will benefit from some regular acupuncture treatments this season.

1. You’re feeling angry, irritable, anxious or depressed

One of the jobs of the Liver system in Chinese Medicine is to ensure the smooth circulation of Qi or energy within your body. If the Liver Qi is too strong, too hot or is stuck you may experience symptoms such as frustration, anger, irritability, anxiety or depression. This is because you are suffering from Liver Qi Stagnation, Liver Fire or Liver Yang Rising. When your Liver system is brought back into balance you will experience creativity, motivation and the ability to plan your life with clear vision and optimism.

2. You’re having trouble sleeping

Another job of the Liver is to store Blood. If the Liver Qi is unbalanced or the Liver Blood is not properly nourished it will lead to difficulty falling asleep or waking up in the middle of the night, often between the hours of 1 AM – 3 AM. It can also lead to sleep walking, vivid dreams or a feeling of fear just before falling asleep.

3. You have migraines and headaches

Both the Liver’s job of regulating Qi and storing Blood comes into play with most migraines and headaches. When Liver Blood and Yin are too weak or too hot, the Liver energy in your body cannot be properly grounded. This leads to Liver Yang Rising. This ungrounded Liver Yang energy rises up to your head too strongly and causes migraines, headaches and even nausea and high blood pressure.

4. Your digestive system is not happy

In Chinese Medicine, nothing exists or operates in isolation. Each of the organs has specific ways that they are connected to and interact with other organ systems within your body. When your Liver Qi is not moving smoothly or is too strong it can invade or overact on your digestive system. This one of the most common causes of stomach pain, acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, hiatal hernia, diarrhea and constipation.

5. Your hormones are out-of-whack

The Liver’s function of storing Blood makes it intimately connected to menstruation and hormone balance. Liver Qi or Blood that is not moving smoothly leads to menstrual problems such as menstrual cramps, clots in the menstrual blood, PMS and irregular cycles. Deficient Liver Blood can lead to long cycles, amenorrhea, infertility and fatigue. Liver imbalances also contribute to menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes.

6. You’re suffering from muscle spasms or tight muscles

Another job of the Liver is to nourish the sinews. The sinews are made up of our tendons, ligaments and fascia. When Liver Blood is weak it cannot properly nourish this connective tissue and this leads to a tendency toward developing muscle spasms or muscle tightness and rigidity.

7. You’re experiencing eye problems, tremors or dizziness

The Liver Channel connects to your eyes and depends upon Liver Blood for proper nourishment. An imbalance in Liver Blood will lead to bloodshot eyes, dry eyes and declining vision. When Liver Blood is weak it cannot properly control or ground the Liver energy. This leads to Liver Wind which causes involuntary movements of the body such as nystagmus and tremors. This is also the main cause of dizziness.

How to balance your Liver for better health

Acupuncture does an excellent job treating Liver imbalances, especially those listed above. Spring is a great time to add regular acupuncture treatments to your health and wellness regime. Those suffering from Liver imbalances find acupuncture restorative, therapeutic and even enjoyable. It’s not uncommon for patients to report a deep sense of relaxation during their treatment as well as better sleep and a renewed vision for their life after treatment. Decisions, tasks or changes that once seemed difficult or impossible can suddenly become effortless after acupuncture treatment. This is because acupuncture is really effective at reducing stress and getting your Qi unstuck.

Other things you can do at home to take care of your Liver this season is to eat lots of lightly steamed dark green or bitter leafy vegetables, beets and other iron rich foods including modest servings of red meat, fish and poultry.

Herbal teas that support and treat the Liver included chamomile and oatstraw which are good for reducing stress and helping with sleep. Mei gui hua (rose buds) and bo he (mint) are good for moving Liver Qi and treating stress, depression and PMS. Gou qi zi (gou ji berries) and nettles are great for nourishing blood. Ju hua (chrysanthemum flowers) are good at clearing heat from Liver for eye problems. Milk thistle and pu gong ying (dandelion root) are good for clearing toxins from the Liver.

For all Liver imbalances it is important to minimize alcohol and caffeine, exercise daily and practice daily stress reduction techniques such as mindfulness meditation, stretching and gentle yoga. With this you will be able to shake the winter blues and put the joy back into your spring season.

READY TO CREATE A HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER LIFE?

  1. If you know that you’re ready for some acupuncture this season, then you can schedule by calling (978) 369-9400 or you can click here to Schedule Online anytime.
  2. To schedule a FREE 20 minute consult, call us at (978) 369-9400. During your consult you will be able to meet one of our practitioners, see our clinic and discuss your health concerns one on one. This is a great way to determine if our approach is right for you!
  3. Don’t forget to download our FREE eBook…

The Ultimate Guide to Healing Your Body and Mind

 

Download our FREE eBook—The Ultimate Guide to Healing Your Body and Mind: 3 All-Natural Steps to Reclaiming Your Health Without Unwanted Side Effects.

 

Bodyscan Relaxation Meditation

Posted on by Michelle Soucy

Stress is estimated to cause 80% of all illnesses. If stress isn’t the cause of the initial disease, it worsens whatever illnesses are already present. When you study the science that shows how stress causes disease, it's frightening. Chronic stress is detrimental to your health because the constant flood of stress hormones in your body eventually begins to disrupt your hormonal balance, weaken your digestion, create inflammation and depress your immune system. In this way, stress can cause or worsen heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, migraines, infertility, anxiety, depression, insomnia, allergies, frequent colds and flu, asthma, autoimmune disease and even cancer.

Regular acupuncture treatments combined with daily meditation are a powerful combination for reversing and managing stress. Both meditation and acupuncture create a relaxation response in your body. This relaxation response down-regulates the chronic "fight or flight" response of your nervous system and puts you back into "rest and digest" mode. Together acupuncture and meditation reverse the harmful effects of stress on your health. This helps you create greater resiliency in the face of your daily challenges. Taking the time for restorative and mindful practices such as meditation, stretching and relaxation is an important component in finding balanced health in this otherwise rushed and stressed-out world.

Regular acupuncture treatments combined with daily meditation are a powerful combination for managing stress and reversing its negative effects.

This is why we've created this Bodyscan Relaxation Meditation, so that you can take control of your health and begin reversing the effects of stress on your health.

What is the Bodyscan Relaxation Meditation?

The Bodyscan Relaxation Meditation will teach you how to cultivate a strong sense of relaxation and mind-body awareness. This is one of the several pillars to transforming your health.

If you’ve tried meditation before and feel like you “just can’t do it,” I assure you that this style of meditation is completely doable. This 40 minute guided meditation will walk you through the whole process and teach you how to:

  • relax every part of your body
  • cultivate a strong mind-body connection
  • improve your body’s innate ability to heal itself

The Bodyscan Relaxation Mediation is based on a fusion of ancient Qigong and mindfulness meditation principles. By starting at your head and working down to your feet, this grounding meditation will get you out of your head and into your body. It is perfect for anyone struggling with stress, migraines, chronic muscle tension or pain, high blood pressure, anxiety or sleep problems. After listening to this audio regularly, you'll will soon be able to scan through your body on your own (while at your desk, before you go to bed or anytime you feel stressed out) and quickly let go of  pain or tension.

Don't let stress destroy your life. Click the play button [ ▶︎ ] below to listen to the guided audio meditation and start reclaiming your health today!

 

Ready to continue creating a healthier and happier life?

The Ultimate Guide to Healing Your Body and Mind

 

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