Everyone deserves a morning meal to start their day off right. Throughout October and November I’ll be collecting items for Pine Street Inn’s breakfast service. Same deal, bring in new/unopened coffee (whole or ground), hot chocolate packets, tea bags, or whole grain cereals and I’ll give you a $10 discount (only applies to 60 and 90 minute acupuncture appointments). Click here for more information about their services and programs.
Tips For A Healthy Autumn in Boston
It’s officially fall! As the season starts to shift, I’ve already started treating an influx of complaints of allergy and cold symptoms; the itchy eyes, congestion, sore throat, and fatigue. It’s time to use preventative medicine to boost your immune system! If you know you’re susceptible to autumn allergies and colds it’s time to start acupuncture and herbal treatments again before you get sick. Remember that saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”? Here are some other tips to keep you healthy during the seasonal transition.
Eat well: Wei Qi is the energy that flows at the surface of the body. It acts as a protective barrier that is responsible for resistance to colds and other respiratory infections. If you have a deficiency of Wei Qi, you’ll catch colds easily and will be more susceptible to allergens. Your body creates Wei Qi by taking qi from food and combining it with our stomach and lung qi. If any component of this process is lacking, your body won’t have optimal protection. It’s crucial to eat a lot of fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, wild seafood, pasture raised meat and eggs. Reduce dairy, sugar, and raw food intake. Salads were for summer. Now is the time to roast those veggies and make hearty soups and stews!
Make a scallion miso broth: If you’re just starting to feel the very beginning signs of a cold coming on (nasal congestion, head ache, stiff neck) this is the soup to make ASAP. Scallions (Cong Bai) release the exterior and induce sweating to get the wind cold out of your body. The salty miso helps your body retain fluids so they will be available for sweating.
- Slice the white part of 5 scallions and bring to a boil in 2 cups of water.
- Simmer for 15 minutes then mix in 1TBS miso paste (preferably non-GMO).
- Drink then bundle up and go to bed. Repeat as needed until you break a sweat. You may also make this without the miso. ** If you don't think that you'll be up for making this from scratch, get take out. Order a miso soup and ask for extra scallions.
Make a bone broth: It is more than just soup stock. You’ll be cooking these bones for about 24 hours. Time to put your crock pot to good use! The Copley Square farmers market on Tuesday and Friday from 11AM - 6PM have farms that sell soup stock bones (aka. marrow bones) from pasture raised animals (Grass Roots Farm, Copicut Farm, Stillman’s). There are many different versions. Here’s one to get you started.
Protect your neck: During this time you’re susceptible to wind cold or wind heat that will invade the body through the neck region. It’s important to always wear a scarf to protect this vulnerable area especially when working out.
Get rest AND exercise: Your body needs time to recharge from your stressful days. Wei Qi circulates through your Sinew Channels. They are most exterior channels of your body. The deep breathing supports the lung qi, movement from exercise helps to circulate the Wei Qi for adequate protection. Exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous or excessive, it just has to be consistent. A nice walk after lunch or dinner would be ideal since it will help with digestion and your stomach qi, all key players in keeping your immune system healthy!
Wash your hands: You don't need antibacterial soap. Just use regular soap and water and lather and scrub for at least 20 seconds. When you first get into the office, wash your hands, especially after taking public transportation! The first thing you do when you get home, wash your hands! When in doubt wash your hands!
Simple DIY Herbal Insect Repellent
Finally A DEET Free Summer!
I love getting out and enjoying the outdoors but am terribly allergic to bug bites of any kind. They swell up like golf balls and take ages to heal. I’ve had to limit my hiking to cooler months and make sure to always wear long sleeves and pants. Although I always try to buy organic and limit my plastics and toxin exposure, when I head out in nature I coat myself in 25% DEET. It’s been an unfortunate but necessary evil. Despite the protection, I still sometimes get a bite here or there. I haven’t found a natural effective insect repellent, until now! I’m very excited to share that I’ve found a non-toxic home made alternative!
I jumped in and tested it on my first camping trip of the season and I’m happy to report that I only got three bites and they did not swell up in the usual fashion. Everyone’s body chemistry is different but I hope you find it helpful too. The main effective ingredient is Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil and the secret ingredient is vanilla extract. Apparently vanilla is a booster that enhances insect repellent effectiveness. There are a couple of variations. This is what I made based on ingredients that I had readily available.
DIY Insect Repellent
- 2 oz witch hazel
- 2 oz coconut oil
- 25 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- (optional 2-3 drops of lavender, peppermint, geranium, or rosemary)
Directions:
- Mix the ingredients together in a small spray bottle that includes a cap to prevent accidental sprays or leaks.
- Shake well just before applying.
- Apply to clothes and exposed skin, being careful not to spray in eyes. To apply to the face spray into your hands and spread gently.
* As the temperature drops in the evening the coconut oil will solidify. Just warm between your hands to get it to liquify again.
Click here for the original recipe with additional information
Acupuncture in Boston - Cancer Treatment Support
Just the word “cancer” evokes a strong response. Unfortunately, these days many of us have been diagnosed ourselves or have had a friend, family member, or another loved one diagnosed with varying forms of this disease. Many treatments are physically trying and emotionally exhausting. Acupuncture treatments provide comforting support during this time. I’ve treated patients at various stages of lung, breast, and prostate cancer. At times like this I am humbled by the relief that a few, simple, carefully placed needles provide.
As a clinician, I have observed treatments to be helpful in alleviating some of the common side effects of chemotherapy and radiation such as nausea, fatigue, joint pains, headaches, neuropathy, and night sweats. I have also noticed that patients seem less tense and more relaxed after treatments. My patients have reported that it helps them feel more like themselves and provides their only respite from all of the chaos. Many times they have gone from having a relatively normal life schedule to being inundated with medical appointments, tests, and procedures.
Acupuncture creates a strong relaxation response which aids in the healing process. In Chinese medicine emotional health and physical health are interconnected. It is normal and healthy to feel anger, fear, anxiety, sadness. We all experience these feelings at one time or another. Problems arise when we get fixated in one state and it is held in and not expressed. This disrupts the flow of energy in the body and creates an imbalance that can manifest as physical symptoms such as headaches, sleep disorders, and pain. If a patient already has these due to their medical treatments, the emotional and mental stress can worsen these symptoms. Acupuncture sessions balance the mind and the body and provide a safe place for patients to express how they feel about what they are going through.
Below are additional resources for background information and studies that have been done using acupuncture as a treatment to support cancer therapies.
Additional information:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/acupuncture/patient/page2
http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/comp_med/types/acupuncture
Summer Donation Program - Room to Grow
For the months of July, August and September, I will be collecting donations of infant and toddler essentials for Room to Grow. Room to Grow is dedicated to enhancing the lives of babies born into poverty during their critical first three years. Families visit the program every three months until their child turns three. At each visit, they meet with Room to Grows staff social workers and receive one-on-one parenting support, connections to community resources, and all the essential items needed to ensure a healthy and secure start for their child.
Room to Grow accepts in-kind donations of new and nearly new:
- Clothing (up to size 5T)
- Shoes (up to size 13)
- Books
- Toys
- Feeding supplies (plates, bowls, utensils)
- Safety supplies
- Gear (diaper bags, infant monitors, potties, play yards, carriers, strollers, etc.)
Click here to see the full list of items
It’s easy! Just bring in an item from the list to your appointment, and I’ll give you a $10 discount! And, you’ll be making a real difference in the lives of babies born into poverty. I’ll keep you posted on our progress and will let you know how much we raise before I make the drop off.
What Does Acupuncture Feel Like?
This image is from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine
Typically one of the first questions someone asks me about acupuncture is, “Does it hurt?” Many are so convinced that these tiny, thin needles will hurt that it discourages them from discovering the many benefits of acupuncture.
What does acupuncture feel like? It doesn’t hurt but there is a unique sensation. It can differ from person to person and from acupuncture point to point. Sometimes people feel a tiny pinch when the needle is inserted. It’s nothing like the hypodermic needles that are used for injections and blood draws. As you can see from the comparison chart above, acupuncture needles are many times thinner than hypodermic needles.
When an acupuncture needle is inserted the range of sensation can go from “Oh, I didn’t feel that at all,” to “That was a little pinchy.” Once a needle is inserted, a mild dull ache, warm, or heavy feeling may persist at the needle site or radiate down the body. This is good as it signifies de qi, the arrival of the body’s energy at the insertion point and the therapeutic effects of acupuncture.
The needles are in, what can you expect now? This is when the fun begins! Some say it feels like waves are passing through them, a heaviness like they are sinking into the table, or a weightlessness floaty sensation. One person described it to me as feeling, “minty” meaning cool and tingling. Another person told me, “It felt as though my hands were getting really big, like filling with sand. As soon as I opened my eyes to look, the feeling went away.”
If there is any uncomfortable sensation, speak up! The needles can be removed or adjusted at any time so that you can relax and be comfortable. Treatments are always geared toward the best therapeutic effect that is within your comfort zone. It’s not a “no pain, no gain” situation. You don’t need to lie perfectly still with the needles, small movements to maintain comfort are ok. It is surprising to those who have never had acupuncture to learn that most people find their treatments so relaxing that they fall asleep on the table, sometimes even before I’m done putting them all in! I have heard many snores coming through my treatment room doors.
If you are still curious about what acupuncture feels like, come in and give it a try!
Acupuncture Care in Boston - 3 Ways to Relieve your Headaches and Migraines
Any type of pain is exhausting and distracting. It takes precious time away from your responsibilities and the things that you enjoy. As annoying as it is, pain has an important purpose. It is your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong and needs attention. Just taking pain medication is like putting ear plugs in to muffle the sound when your fire alarm goes off! Something is askew. It’s likely that you’re having other discomforts in addition to the headache or migraine, your whole body is affected. Chinese medicine does not just treat one symptom. It looks at groupings of symptoms as a manifestation of a pattern of imbalance within the body. To treat any condition effectively we need to know your health and family history, the location of the pain, what makes the pain better or worse, triggers, and other associated symptoms. All of this, in addition to taking your pulse and looking at your tongue, provide important information about what is going on within your body.
Acupuncture treatments are customized to each person. For example, two people present with migraines. Person A may be very frail and always runs cold. He is pale and has digestive problems, frequently gets nausea with his migraines and loose stools. His migraines are worse at the end of the day and they are better with rest. Person B is very robust. She has a lot of energy and runs warm. She has no problems with her digestion but notices that alcohol is a trigger. Exercise and movement help to dissipate her pain. Many times patients with such differing constitutions and patterns are taking the same medications. However they would receive very different acupuncture treatments. The acupuncture points selected and the stimulation technique used at the points would also differ for each individual.
Here are 3 tips for preventative care and treatment to get you back on the road to feeling better!
Stay hydrated: As the weather gets warmer proper hydration is key. We typically remember to stay hydrated when we’re physically active. It is just as important to keep drinking plenty of fluids during the regular work day too. When you feel the sensation of thirst you are already dehydrated. Coffee and caffeinated tea are diuretics. For every cup of coffee or tea make sure to drink an additional cup of water. For a tasty little electrolyte drink to get you jump started click here.
Pay attention to what you eat: Unfortunately food intolerances and allergies have been the culprit of many health concerns lately. Read labels. Something that you’re eating may be a trigger. Perhaps start a food journal or log to discern help the patterns. Sometimes a reaction is not immediate but symptoms may manifest within 24-48 hours as your body is metabolizing what has been consumed. Try an elimination diet to figure out if there is a food triggering your migraines or headaches. For more information on an elimination diet click here.
Acupuncture: Chinese medicine treats the whole person not just symptoms. Since we are treating more than just your headaches and migraines, you’ll notice that you will start feel better over all. In addition to improvement with your headaches or migraines you may notice that your energy, sleep, mood, and digestion are also improving. Treatments may also help to reduce negative side effects of medications that you are on. It is and effective treatment in providing immediate and sustained relief especially combined with the self care strategies above.
To experience the benefits of acupuncture, contact me and we can schedule a time to get you back to feeling great!
Calvin Chin's Martial Arts Academy Open House
This video is a peek from last year's show.
Helen Gee Chin Scholarship Fundraiser
June 15, 2014 5:00PM
Every year Calvin Chin’s Martial Arts Academy holds an open house to showcase the skills that students have learned throughout the year. For the past 2 years this has also turned into a fundraiser to support the Helen Gee Chin Scholarship Foundation.
Helen Gee Chin was the wife of Sifu Chin who passed away from lung cancer in 2010. Helen was loved and respected by family, friends, and students. She was a strong and talented women, a type of protective mother lion to all of the children at the academy. Together she and Sifu Chin created an amazing community of learning and support. There are few places where senior citizens can learn along side children. Or where parents can take classes with their children, sharing knowledge and skills. Together they created a welcoming space for people of all ages to learn and challenge the physical and mental limits that they have set for themselves. Helen was dedicated to preserving the history and promoting the practice of traditional Chinese marital arts. She always stressed the importance of education. In her honor a scholarship was formed. It is offers college scholarships to encourage academic achievement and motivate individuals to become serious practitioners of Chinese martial arts.
Every year I am amazed at what these students have accomplished. It takes hard work, concentration, discipline, and hours upon hours of practice. What I also notice is that everyone is working hard with a smile on their face because they can feel themselves surpassing physical and mental limitations. Traditional martial arts isn’t about fighting that is portrayed in the movies. It’s about self-development. Mentally, it helps one to cultivate discipline, concentration, and relaxation. Physically is helps to strengthen the body and improve balance and coordination. In this case there is also a social aspect, to learn from teachers that are highly knowledgeable. They are not only masters of their art. They are also people of incredible integrity and compassion. Which is a true treasure these days.
I encourage you to come to the performance and see for yourself. I have a feeling that afterward you may be inspired to sign up for classes yourself!
For more information:
http://www.hgcscholarshipfoundation.org
http://calvinchin.com
A picture is worth a thousand words
It has come to my attention that the meaning behind Back Bay Acupuncture’s logo may not be clear, and it deserves an explanation. For those of you who have been with me from the beginning, you might be surprised to find out that I even have a logo! Last spring when I moved and expanded the office I did a bit of an overhaul and updated the website, and, with that, the logo was created. A warm thanks and all of the credit goes to my brother, Jay, who is a graphic designer in New York (Thanks Jay!). Without his vision I would have been left to my own devices, and I guarantee that would have been a sad sight to see. This little image ties together some important concepts that I consider to be the heart of Chinese Medicine. Let me explain.
The squares represent individual pieces coming together to form a whole. This is how I view health. The mind, body, and spirit all need to be in balance. When there is a problem in one it will affect the others. If you’re feeling blue, you’ll start to feel it manifest in your physical body. If you’re in physical pain, it will likely distract you, make you feel irritable, or worried. They go hand in hand. It also represents how all of our organ systems work together and depend of each other to keep our entire body functioning properly.
The 3 central pieces give a visual sense of the Triple Warmer. This also symbolizes the philosophical concept that humans are the intersection of Heaven and Earth. This is a unique concept in Chinese Medicine. We have an upper, middle, and lower warmer. Simply, these parts represent respiration, digestion, and elimination; all vital processes for survival. The Triple Warmer serves many other intricate functions. I won’t go into the details now, but trust me, it’s fascinating! The wide upper part, narrow center, and wide lower part of the image expresses the philosophical idea that humans are in the middle of Heaven and Earth. Chinese Medicine also considers the human body as a micro system of the environment. Our health is a reflection of the state of the Earth and vice versa. Therefore, we need to be as gentle with the environment as with our own bodies.
The number of squares represent the developmental cycles of 7 for females and 8 for males. There are 7 pieces that make up the whole. Or you could look at it as 4 upper pieces and 4 lower pieces with the center piece overlapped. Females reach a different developmental stage approximately every 7 years. The onset of menstruation (approximately 14 years old), reproductive maturity (21-42 years old), and menopause (42 - 49 years old). Males follow a similar cycle very 8 years.
That's it in a nutshell!
Acupuncture Care in Boston - 3 Ways to Relieve Your Neck and Upper Back Pain
Pain anywhere in the body compromises your quality of life. It’s frustrating and distracting when your limited mobility prevents you from doing the things that you enjoy. Almost everyone comes into my office seeking treatment for pain in their neck and upper back. Sometimes it’s their primary reason for treatment and other times a secondary concern because they are just used to living with it. At times it’s so severe it causes headaches, numbness and pain radiating down the arms, or insomnia; other times it’s a low grade tension that is always nagging in the background without a moment of relief. Here are 3 tips to ease your discomfort and get you back on track!
Physical movement: If you have a desk job, so much of your time is spent sitting in front of a computer. You’re probably not aware that your neck muscles are straining as your chin juts forward just a bit. Physical activity will get the blood and qi flowing through those muscles. Every time you take a bathroom break, do a few stretches to open up your chest and upper back. Use a foam roller or tennis ball and lay on the floor to massage out the tension. Physical movement will break up the qi stagnation that is causing you pain and discomfort. Have your work station evaluated to make sure all of your equipment is in an ideal location for your body. For more stretches check out “Stretching in the Office” by Bob Anderson.
Stress reduction: From the top of your head try to consciously relax the muscles of your face, jaw, shoulders, arms, all the way down to your toes. Notice how everything starts to soften. Take 10 minutes a day to breathe deeply and do this scan to bring awareness to your body. You don’t need a perfectly quiet room to do this. How about while you’re sitting in traffic, before your big meeting (or after), or at the end of the day before you fall asleep?
Acupuncture: Treatments are effective in providing immediate and sustained relief especially combined with the self care strategies above. Acupuncture will improve blood and qi flow to the painful area and reduce inflammation overall. Other techniques that I use include cupping, gua sha, and electro-acupuncture. Moxibustion, which is a deep warming therapy will become your new best friend!
To experience the benefits of acupuncture, contact me and we can schedule a time to get you back to feeling great!