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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

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QiGong Exercises for Back Pain

tai chi in field copy 2I have been practicing tai ji and qi gong for over 20 years. These practices have been a huge part of healing my own back pain and have helped prevent it from returning. Over the last decade of my acupuncture practice I have been treated many patients with back pain and pelvic pain. I  often would teach my patients tai ji positions and movements as part of their rehabilitation.  I saw how the exercises helped my patients the same way in which the tai ji helped me improve.  Eventually, I created this qi gong exercise routine for my patients to … Read More

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Smell the Flowers: Acupuncture and Allergies

Flowers 1Acupuncture offers an effective drug free treatment for allergies.  So you can smell the flowers without worrying about being too drowsy and foggy brained.

Acupuncture is different than taking a pill

Antihistamines are commonly taken for allergies.  These are medicines which block the chemicals called histamines that cause the symptoms of allergies.

Acupuncture is different than taking a pill.  Rather than a medication that will temporarily block a receptor, histamine in the case of allergies, acupuncture works to regulate the body’s functioning. The goals is for long term improvement from the acupuncture treatment.

How does acupuncture work?

The idea is … Read More

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Balance as Health: Yin and Yang

Yin and Yang, Balance as Health

One of my secret indulgences is watching food television programs. In a recent international baking competition, the American team created a cake based on the theme of yin and yang. It occurred to me that what started as a Chinese philosophy has now become a part of the world’s vocabulary, but few people understand this concept in the context of Chinese philosophy and medicine.

Origins of Yin and Yang

Originally, the terms yin and yang referred to the two faces of a sun-bathed mountain. They called the sunlit face yang and the shady side … Read More

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Acupressure for Insomnia, Jet Lag, and Relaxation

This acupressure routine helps promote sleep and relaxation. In addition, it can be used for improving concentration and reducing jet lag.  Often, I will give my patients these particular acupressure points to augment the acupuncture treatments for insomnia.

Yin Tang- The Spirit Gate

Location– on the forehead, in line with the nose above the eyebrows
Stimulation– gently rub downward towards your nose
Function– helps calm the mind and relieve stress

Heart 7- Shen Men (The Spirit Gate)

Gently Massage the Heart Channel for Relaxation

Location- at the wrist on the pinky side of the hand
Stimulation– If trying to go to sleep, gently … Read More

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Chinese Medicine and Stress

I’m not sure if New Yorkers experience more stress than others, but I can say that stress affects the health of nearly all of my patients. We often forget that stress can have a profound impact on our bodies. Most people know that uncontrolled stress can increased our risk of heart attack and stroke, as well as cause insomnia, digestive issues, tension headaches, migraines, and back pain. Not as many people realize that it can also affect our reproductive system and has been shown to be a cause of infertility. In some people, stress causes damage to the immune system … Read More

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What can Acupuncture Treat?

acu-foreheadWhat can acupuncture treat?  This is one of the most common question I get as an acupuncture.

Sounds like a simple question, but in fact it is quite hard to answer.   In many ways, it is like asking, “What does Western Medicine treat?” or ” What do medications treat?”

Unlike other therapies, such as psychotherapy or physical therapy, acupuncture can treat both physical and mental problems, as well as internal medicine.  Acupuncture, as a part of Chinese medicine, has been used as a comprehensive medical system and over one billion people still use Traditional East Asian Medicine as their primary … Read More

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The Greatest Acupressure Point for Headaches

Large intestine 4, called He Gu in Chinese, is the best acupressure point for headaches.  It is especially helpful for sinus headaches and headaches that are centered in the forehead.

Acupressure works by relieving imbalances in the acupuncture channels on the body. Because the large intestine channel goes from the hands to the face, LI 4 can be used for diseases of the head and face including headaches, toothaches, and the common cold.

Location: To locate LI 4, hold your hand on the side, thumbs side up. LI 4 is a half inch towards the body from the web of … Read More

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Acupuncture and the Mind Body Connection

Although most patients come to see me for physical complaints, like back and shoulder pain, painful urination, migraines, or asthma, many find improvement in their mental state as well. A few of Chinese medicine’s good “side effects” include better sleep, less anxiety and depression, and help in stress management. After their first treatment, most of my patients notice that they feel more relaxed and often ask me why.

A few of Chinese medicine’s good “side effects” include better sleep, less anxiety and depression, and help in stress management. For example, a patient who was coming in for a skin condition … Read More

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Belly Breathing: Breathing for Stress Relief and Relaxation

Back in eighth grade, Mr. Hankinson, our shell-shocked gym teacher, used to yell in my ear, “Stand up straight, stick your chest out. Why are you breathing with your belly? Only BABIES breathe with their bellies. Breath into your chest like a MAN.”

He was right. Babies do breath into their abdomen. But good old Mr. Hankinson did not know that belly breathing is more natural and relaxing. Breathing with your belly maximizes the use of your diaphragm muscle, which is located between the chest and abdomen, and is the primary muscle of respiration.

Natural diaphragm breathing does not draw … Read More