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How to Customize an Herbal Formula

Chinese herbal medicine packets and potHerbs are customized to each patient and what condition you are coming in for.

Chinese Herbal medicine is given in formulas consisting of 5-12 herbs.  The herbs are combined in specific ways to address your condition and improve health.

The characteristics of each herb is considered when included in the formula.

Tastes and Temperature

The taste and temperature of each herbs has been determined by pharmacists and doctors throughout the history of Chinese medicine. Sometimes it is obvious, mint when you taste it is cooling and hot pepper when you taste it is hot.

When you taste huang lian (copitis) … Read More

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Don’t Use Ice

ColdAcupuncturists have long been against the use of ice for muscles soreness and repair of an injury. This is because of the idea that the cold literally gets into our joints and slows the circulation.

Within the last decade a number of research studies have come out questioning whether it is best to ice after an injury or for serious muscle fatigue.

The New York Times had an article outlining a recent publication that looked at the effect of icing muscles after a very strenuous workout. This study in mice showed that application of ice slowed down the healing process … Read More

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Acupuncture Treatment of Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that causes facial redness. Many people develop blood vessels as well as  red bumps. Because rosacea is on the face it is often very challenging and embarrassing for patients.

Acupuncture is effective for treating rosacea.  I will often use both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for helping people with rosacea.

The Causes of Rosacea

In acupuncture we think about health as balance. Imbalances lead to illnesses.  Rosacea is an imbalance in the hot and cold in the body. This is why rosacea can flare in the sun and heat or from spicy foods … Read More

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Acupuncture for Sports Injuries

The weather is warming up, and we’re getting outside more to enjoy ourselves and start training. With the time of weekend warriors and marathon training arriving, injuries will also occur. Acupuncture therapies are a great way to reduce and prevent injuries and pain.

Acupuncture and Cupping for Training

Acupuncture helps people train by reducing pain, increases circulation (therefore healing) and decreasing inflammation (also important for healing). Electro-acupuncture has also been shown to stimulate healing in muscle rehabilitation. This is probably why many people with chronic injuries that flare up when you start training will see improvement because the … Read More

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Acupuncture Beats Cancer Pain

Acupuncture has a long track record of treating the severe pain associated with cancer. A new acupuncture study at MSKCC shows that both electroacupuncture and auricular (ear) acupuncture are effective for reducing pain from cancer.

This acupuncture study is exciting. It had 360 patients which is very large for an acupuncture research study. Hopefully this will influence insurance companies to increase coverage for patients living with cancer.

Acupuncture Helps with Cancer pain

The study showed that both electroacupuncture and auricular acupuncture helped patients relieve cancer pain.  However, the electroacupuncture was stronger for pain relief.

The patients in the study received … Read More

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Acupuncture and Covid Long Haulers

It is now well known that COVID-19 virus risks not only becoming severely ill with pneumonia, but COVID-19 also may lead to chronic long term illness. This phenomenon has come to be known as COVID Long Haulers.

Can Acupuncture help COVID Long Haulers? 

Yes, I have had positive experiences helping patients with COVID long haul symptoms with acupuncture and herbs. The most common symptoms patients have come to me with are body pain, shortness of breath, inability to exercise, body aches, fatigue, and brain fog.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine doctors have described symptoms after one gets encounters and infection disease … Read More

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Acne Healing Foods

The most important part of being healthy are your food choices. What you eat shows up in your skin and can help, or hurt, your acne.

Unfortunately, the common Standard American Diet (SAD) is terrible for your skin.

In addition to acupuncture for acne, I encourage all my patients to incorporate  food choices as part of a holistic treatment for acne.  Anti-inflammtory diets are helpful for many people with acne.

The great thing is that it is pretty simple to do.

Eat Low Glycemic Index foods:

The glycemic index of foods has to do with how … Read More

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10 Things to Know about Acupuncture for Pelvic Pain

Acupuncture is very effective at helping to reduce pelvic pain and the associated symptoms through reducing pain and inflammation, as well as releasing trigger points and taught fascia which cause referred pain.

I have extensive experience helping people with pelvic pain through acupuncture and have published a number of articles on the topic.

The research shows that acupuncture is better than standard pain management and anti-inflammatory medication for pelvic pain.

What is Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome?

Pelvic pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, or Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS) is a chronic condition that causes much suffering.  Those with pelvic pain can … Read More

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Living in the Now

During the pandemic it is so easy to dream about the future.  When will life get back to normal? When can I go out to my favorite restaurant or see a show?

We are living in an alternative reality which few of us imagined could happen.  All of that make us think about not being here and in this moment, wishing for the future.

Of course we want everyone to stay healthy and life to return to normal. And we have to recognize not only the direct health threats of COVID-19, but also the toll it takes on families, kids, … Read More

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Mindfulness Meditation Resources

Mindfulness meditation has gained attention to reduce stress, calm the mind and emotions, and in many cases can help relieve pain.  Mindfulness meditation is simple in theory, we take the time and energy to pay attention to our sensations and emotions. Jon Kabat Zinn, the founder of Mind Body Stress Reduction has called this giving ourselves loving kindness.

In the current moment, we certainly need some loving kindness.  The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we spend our days.  Due to the restrictions in our lives, and worrying about the state of the world, there has been an explosion in stress … Read More