Our high paced society has created some emotional patterns that I regularly see in my patients. I have developed a treatment system to work with emotional imbalance that includes acupuncture, bodywork, Chinese herbalism, and nutritional counseling.
There is a plethora of modern research that points to feelings of well being and happiness combined with low stress as the strongest predictors of health and longevity (1).
Noting this, I have developed a specific diagnostic and treatment system that can decrease stress and anxiety and increase peace of mind and physical health. This will allow you to spend more time getting to the important things in life, like your relationships, career, finances, and spiritual aspirations.
Assessment and Diagnosis
We will do an individual health inventory and identify your overall health goals. This is done by filling out a questionnaire where all of your physical and emotional issues are covered. We will identify areas in your life where you feel stuck, and areas where you feel free. Next comes an exam where I check your pulse, tongue, and any areas of bodily discomfort (2).
This investigation will allow me to identify your overall constitutional pattern according to Chinese Medical theory and establish a treatment plan.
Treatment
Treatment focuses on resetting and shifting your physiological/emotional pattern. A series of 4-12 weekly treatments will be prescribed after which we will likely see significant changes and I will have hopefully worked myself out of a job! Any future maintenance treatments may recur on an as needed basis, but our overall plan is to give you the tools of self care where my help is no longer needed. I use a combination of the following modalities based on my judgement and your needs and preferences.
Acupuncture:
Studies show that acupuncture has a profound affect on the nervous (primarily sympathetic and parasympathetic), endocrine, circulatory and lymphatic/immune system.(3)
As a mechanical intervention into the body it works quickly to induce a state of conscious and subconscious relaxation. I use targeted needle placement protocols that have been used for centuries to address specific emotional conditions.
Bodywork:
Many of us experience chronic tension in our body. I focus on areas of the body that correlate with your emotional obstructions in order to free up energy and promote the free flow of Qi(4).
I use specialized massage techniques to release those tense areas. Oftentimes clients experience a release of emotions as well as an overall improvement in well being.
Chinese Herbalism:
3000 years of documented use of specific herbal formulas (a combination of several herbs geared towards a specific outcome) mean that we have effective tools at our disposal to gently support your body to help you sleep better, feel more relaxed, and have the energy to thrive in the face of challenges. Chinese herbal formulas are designed to support the body and emotions in powerful and yet less harmful ways than modern pharmaceutical medications.
Nutritional Support:
As someone who has tried just about every diet there is to try, I use my extensive nutritional knowledge and experience to help you make dietary changes that are both highly supportive and most importantly highly sustainable.
I will help you tailor a diet that will make your body healthier, and improve your mood. I can also prescribe a neuro-nutrient regimen as an adjunct to your overall dietary strategy.
With this multi-faceted approach to your emotional and physical health I can help you make great strides in setting you on the path of of greater well being, satisfaction, and inspiration.
SOURCES:
(1)
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19196810
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20063931
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15312263
(2)
Pulse and tongue diagnosis works by examining individual areas on the pulse and the tongue which correlate to organs and other bodily tissue.
(3)
The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) mobilizes the “fight or flight response” in humans, while the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) is responsible for the “rest and digest” activities of the body. Both are divisions of the autonomic nervous system and are important in maintaining physiological homeostasis.
(4)
Qi is the activating energetic principle in all things. Without Qi there is no life. The Chinese symbol for Qi is a combination of the symbols for air plus the symbol for food. Oxygen (air) and glucose (food) are what activate ATP in the cells. Qi can be looked at as a literal translation of this, but is more generally understood to encompass a wide variety of actions, both known and unknown. More on this in a later blog post.
