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Why am I so Hot? Heat in Chinese Medicine

why-am-i-so-hotAs a reader of my blog, you’ll recognize a common thread: Balance = Good Health! The body knows this, instinctively, and is constantly adjusting so as to right itself and stay in the state of stasis.

In Chinese medicine, one of the goals is to balance heating and cooling aspects of the body.  Now, as we move past the hottest summer on record, most of us are thankfully packing away thoughts of heat along with our window AC units.  But not so fast!

Heat, in this case, refers not only to the environmental temperature but also your body. Our bodies … Read More

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Olympics Cupping Craze

cupping on backThose little bruises on Michael Phelps shoulders stimulated huge interest in cupping therapy. The Olympic cupping craze! Earlier this week I was filmed doing cupping by the magazine Marie Claire.

Many people have questions. Here are the basics.

What is Cupping?

Cupping is an ancient therapy from East Asian which a depressurized a glass or plastic cup is placed on a muscle.  The skin under the cup is lifted up.  The therapy is quite common in Asian communities, as well as Eastern Europe and the Middle east.

What is cupping used for?

Cupping can be used for for muscle … Read More

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Getting the Qi

acupuncture on upper backDuring and acupuncture treatment there are many considerations: what acupuncture points to choose, how long should the acupuncture treatment last, and if to use electroacupuncture or not. Another goal is to “Get the Qi” at certain acupuncture points.

Getting the Qi

Qi is the energy which flows through channels on the body. Acupuncture stimulates the movement, production, and balance of Qi. Getting in the Qi, traditionally called De Qi, is when I stimulate the acupuncture needle to stimulate the acupuncture point. You will feel the acupuncture point grab the needle and if there is a trigger point, the muscle under … Read More

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Chinese Medicine Antioxidants

Traditional Chinese Medicine has a long history of promoting longevity and treating age related conditions. Recently, research shows that Chinese medicine therapies such as herbs, acupuncture, and tai ji all have antioxidant capabilities.

Oxidative stress can be understood as an imbalance between the creation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body’s ability to detoxify through antioxidants and other mechanisms.[1]  Health in TCM is based upon the idea of balance which can be understood as a homeostatic state.[2]

Herbal Antioxidants

chinese herbs 1 copyTraditional Chinese medicine has long focused on longevity and improving health for those with age related diseases such as arthritis, … Read More

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What is an Acupuncture Point?

The science of acupuncture is fascinating and there is a lifetime of exploring to be done.  Yet, it does not tell us completely about the power of Acupuncture and Chinese medicine.  The power of acupuncture lies in the theory behind acupuncture and the skill of the acupuncturist in applying it. The skill and success of the practitioner is based upon how they apply this theory.

Acupuncture Channels and Qi Flow

new-york-acupuncture-office-4The core of acupuncture theory is the channel system and network. Some people like to describe the channels like the meridians on a globe revealing the geographic relationship between parts … Read More