#508: Clear out your clutter

The array, a photo by L. Marie on Flickr.

"Sorting out your wardrobes, drawers and cupboards and throwing out all that accumulated rubbish will allow the things you need and treasure to breathe. Above all, you'll know that there's order even in hidden places- a good analogy for the virtue that shines within the spirit."

(from 1001 ways to relax)

Understanding Pain

"I didn't realize how much pain I was in until I after I left your office and didn't feel any!"

Last week, a patient suffering from sciatica shared this testimonial.  It made me think about the nature of pain and what our brain does to mask it or, conversely, heighten it. Sometimes, we get used to having a particular pain, so it's almost as if our minds become numb to the pain sensations. Other times, our mind focuses on pain, worries about pain, and gets frustrated with pain. These things can make pain worse.

In Chinese Medicine, an old saying “bu tong ze tong, tong ze bu tong” means “no free flow, pain;  free flow, no pain.”  In essence, if you do not have free flow of energy and blood in the body, this leads to the perception of pain. When you reestablish free flow, then there is no pain. 

Lots of things can blocked free flow- stuck blood, cold, heat, too much fluid, stuck energy- and each cause has it's own treatment. Emotions can also cause blocked energy. Frustration and anger, in particular, affect the flow of Liver energy and cause it to get stuck. Since the Liver is in charge of free flow of energy in the whole body, this can mean big problems with circulation! The Liver is also the organ most affected by stress, or "unfulfilled desire." Any time you want something to be different, including pain, you are stressed and this causes your energy to get stuck.

One way to get Liver energy moving is to do some deep breathing. Three deep breaths, exhaling with sound, is sometimes all it takes to relieve the stuck Liver energy. The action of the diaphragm helps to relieve the stuck Liver energy. Deep breathing that you do in Yoga and with vigorous exercise is great for this reason. Meditation which combines breathing and awareness is a fantastic way to manage pain.

Acupuncture is a great therapy to get energy moving, and some recent fMRI studies show that it changes the way the brain experiences pain. Most people that come into my office are experiencing some type of pain, and most people get great results after 1-2 treatments. One patient always says "It's like the pain is lifted right out of me when I'm laying there in a treatment."  Helping people become pain free is definitely one of the highlights of my job!

Limited Time Offer- 50% off Gift Certificates

Here is the perfect opportunity for those of you that dislike holiday shopping, those who don't know what to get the person who has everything, and those who love acupuncture: Half price Gift Certificates until 12/31/11! Available in any denomination, so pick how much you want to spend, and as a special holiday gift to you, I'll match your gift.

Spread the value of Acupuncture with your friends and loved ones!

Call the office, email, or mention at your next appointment to purchase. (401) 228-8160

Happy Holidays!

-mcd

Autumn Dryness

Big shadows in the autumn forest, a photo by Habub3 on Flickr.

In Chinese Medicine, Autumn is the season of the Metal element. The associated organ is the Lung, so we see many health complaints related to lung pathology this time of year- sinus problems, cough, common colds all are pathologies that have to do with the Lung.

In classical texts, it is said that the lung is averse to Dryness. In other words, the lung works best when it's slightly moist. A dry cough that lingers and lingers is often due to Lung Dryness and a great remedy for this is pear. . .try pear juice, pear pie, pear sauce, asian pears, and poached pears. With the addition of honey, pears become even more moistening and beneficial to the lung.

The lungs govern the skin, so eating pears could also help moisten your skin as well. Of course, taking Omega-3s is great for your skin and for moistening dryness as well. Now is a great time to start taking more Omega-3s.

We have excellent points for improving lung function. My favorite lately is LU-9, also known as "Supreme Abyss." It is great to strengthen the Lung, promote the descending of Lung energy and transform phlegm. This point helps your lung take in oxygen more efficiently, so I often use it when treating athletes in training.

In Chinese Medicine, Sadness injures the lung, so try to not mourn the end of summer, impending holidays, or anything else too much. Keep a good perspective and live in the moment!

Happy Fall!
-mcd

Rainy Days= "Yinny" Days

On rainy days, people often come to my office, shake out there umbrella, and say "Wow, what an aweful day. It's terrible out there." It's so easy to fall into that mentality on gloomy days. We're wet and sometimes cold. People are often terrible drivers and are generally crankier, and their mood can be infectious.

If we start to think of rainy days as"Yinny" days--or those full of lots of the grounding Yin energy, they aren't so bad. We need Yin to balance out our Yang. If we were all Yang, we'd burn up. Yang is warming, aggressive, and fast paced. Yin helps keep us grounded, calm, and stable. Yin is slow like molasses. Being more "Yinny" helps us be more receptive in life. It allows for us to be magnetic-- to draw in amazing people and experiences. We can replenish our Yin by embracing these "Yinny" days.

So next time the rain is ruining your mood, think Yin, and don't let your mind get in your way of having a day full of wonder.

ps. It's true that rainy days often make one's joint pain worse. If this is the case, you have what we in TCM call Dampness in your joints. We can treat this through Acupuncture and herbs so you too can enjoy the "Yinny" days!

New Office musings

I am ecstatic that I have in hand the carpet samples for my new office space. . . Now I'll deliver them to my designer to really get the ball rolling! The contractor hopes to start work the first weekend in December so we really have some serious design decisions to make by then! I hope the new office have the same vibe as the old office but a slightly fresher feel. I'm so inspired to move into this new space to help more people!!!

While Fall is traditionally a time to turn inward and move toward the most YIN time of the year (winter), I am taking that energy and moving forward and expanding. I hope to be in my new and improved office space by the end of 2011!!!