Acupressure Points

What Are The 4 Gates?

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Through my time as an acupuncturist I have had many people ask me, “Why are you doing that point? What is that point for?” I do not always use specific points for specific ailments, but rather a combination of points tailored to treat the individual.

The 4 gates is an acupuncture point combination consisting of 2 different points needled bilaterally. One point, Large Intestine 4 (Hegu), is on the dorsum of the hand. The other point, Liver 3 (Taichong), is on the dorsum of the foot.

 

Large Intestine (LI4) –Immune Booster/Pain Reliever

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This point is great to use for many different conditions. It is used to strengthen one’s immune system or decrease the duration of colds and/or the flu. It can also be used for any type of problemwith the face which includes jaw pain, toothache, allergies, acne. It is also a great point to relieve a headache or to clear heat and inflammation anywhere in the body.

 

 

Liver 3 (LV3) –Keeping Things Moving

In my opinion, this is one of the most commonly needled points on the body. Deadman_LV3-242x300It can balance, tonify, or disperse stagnant liver energy.  It can be used for any liver energy disharmony. Just a few examples of this include: menstrual disorders/irregularities, headaches, dizziness, and detoxification. It can also be used to create a calming effect on the nervous system to alleviate insomnia, irritability, stress, and anxiety.

 

Together, these points work to circulate the qi and blood through the body. They help to open all the meridians, increase circulation, and decrease pain anywhere in the body. The 4 Gates can also be used for emotional issues as well such as feelings of being trapped or stuck in a situation. This is a great point combination to help maintain the free flow of qi and blood through our bodies.

Autumn Leaves

The Key to your Wei-Qi

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The change of seasons, especially late summer into fall, can also mean the start of cold season. In Chinese medicine, there are 5 Elements. Each are related to a particular season: winter, spring, summer, late summer, and fall. The element associated with the fall is Metal. The two organs associated with this element are the large intestine and the lungs. The lungs help circulate the wei-qi, or defensive qi in our bodies. If the wei-qi is weak, the body’s defense system is down and you are more susceptible to colds and flu. Although we can control much of our everyday life, one thing we cannot control is the constant exposure to germs, bacteria and viruses. Our best defense is to keep our immune system strong enough so that when we encounter these germs we don’t get sick. Acupuncture is very effective at strengthening the body’s immune system. If our lung qi is weak, then our wei-qi is also weak and it can’t circulate properly. By strengthening our lung qi and keeping our energy balanced, we can strengthen our body’s natural resistance to disease.

Herbs can also be very effective in prevention or decreasing the duration of an illness. A common Chinese formula used to build up the body’s natural defenses is called Jade Windscreen, or Yu Ping Feng San. It is a classic formula that dates back over 800 years and it most widely known to treat for the prevention of colds and allergies. It is safe for both adults and children. If a cold or flu is already present in the body, other herbal formulas would be prescribed.

 

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO?

  1. Drink plenty of water
  2. Get an adequate amount of sleep (7-8 hours a night is sufficient)
  3. Exercise regularly (aerobic activity a few times a week and muscle strengthening at least twice a week is recommended)
  4. Avoid refined sugars (it taxes and weakens the body’s immune system)
  5. Foods: sweet potatoes, pears, and nuts are foods that strengthen and tonify lung energy. The flavor associated with the fall is pungent. Examples of some pungent foods are: peppers, chilies, onions, mustard, ginger, and garlic.

 

 

 

Coping with Traumatic Events with Acupuncture

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No matter where I live, Massachusetts and Boston will always be considered home for me. The Boston Marathon bombing on April 15, 2013 affected the whole country in some way or another. Our spirit may have shook for a brief moment, but today we stand united and banded as a people. There are things in life that we witness, or are a part of, that we cannot control; things such as the loss of a loved one, destruction of our home, war, violence, and abuse. These things may have short term or long term lasting effects on us.

There is a very effective acupuncture treatment that can be used to help one cope through such difficult times. It is called the NADA protocol. This protocol consists of needling 5 points in the ear. The points are referred to as: Sympathetic, Shen Men, Kidney, Liver, and Lung. What started out as a drug addiction and detoxification protocol is now widely used for PTSD. Acupuncturists Without Borders (AWB) began in September 2005 treating people using this protocol that endured the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. It was so successful that AWB has now expanded to include a Military Stress Relief project, treating soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. This project consists of volunteer acupuncturists that use the NADA protocol to respond to emergencies and disasters worldwide. They have helped thousands of people all over the world affected by trauma and disaster.

I myself have used this protocol more times than I can count, for everything from drug addiction/withdrawal to PTSD. The needles are usually done in a group setting and retained for 30-45 minutes. Those affected by trauma are usually left feeling vulnerable and unwilling to talk about the events as which they have been effected by. As a patient receiving this treatment, you do not have to talk about the events which have brought you in for treatment. The treatments are just as effective with or without communication between the patient and practitioner. After being treated with this protocol, patients are left feeling less anxious, stronger, and more relaxed. This protocol is usually done in a group setting which allows patients to also feel more comfortable and safe. It also allows for the practitioner to be able to treat more patients at a time and thus help more people.

Everyone has been affected by some sort of trauma in their life. You are not alone, and you don’t need to lock it away or suffer. There are many ways to cope with trauma and disaster and now you can also add acupuncture to that list.

2013: The Year of the Snake. A year for transformation.

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Gong Xi Fa Cái! Happy New Year!

If you are like me, the New Year is a time to start over. We all have things we want to do to make ourselves better. Maybe it is to sign-up for a gym membership to try and work off that enormous turkey leg we ate on Thanksgiving, or that extra piece of chocolate cake we indulged in during the holidays. Maybe it is to be a kinder, patient person. Or maybe it is drop bad habits and replace them with good ones such as to sleep more and stress less. But whatever New Year’s resolutions we have, we look forward to the beginning of the year to start making these changes in our life. Well if you are already feeling like you have forgotten some of your resolutions or have fallen off the wagon, don’t worry because you have a second chance to start all over!

We may be over a month into the New Year, but the Chinese New Year is just around the corner. The Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year, is the longest and most celebrated holiday in Chinese culture. Different traditions include the cleaning of the house to sweep away the past year, the hanging of red lanterns for good luck, and eating foods which are considered “lucky” with friends and family. There are 12 animals that make up the Chinese zodiac. Each animal represents a different year. Those born in the year of that animal are said to inherit some of that animal’s qualities.

 

The Year of the Snake:

As the Year of the Dragon comes to an end, the Year of the Snake emerges. This year, February 10th 2013 marks the first day as The Year of the Snake. Those born in the Year of the Snake are said to be clever, analytical, and goal-oriented. They are very intuitive and great thinkers. They  also usually look calm on the outside, but are very intense and powerful beings.

 

So What Does This Mean for You and Your Health?

The shedding of a snake’s skin resembles rebirth or new life. The New Year is a great time for a transformation; a time for change. Now is a good time to think about shedding some of that “old skin.” Get rid of negative, unwanted energy. Start making some positive changes in your life. Learn from those born the year of the snake; set your goals and accomplish them. Transform your life into something you want it to be, not something it has become. Eating right, exercising regularly, and getting an adequate amount of sleep are all important in maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle, but you can also add acupuncture to that list as well. Acupuncture helps to strengthen the immune system, boost metabolism, and decrease stress. The Year of the Snake is predicted to be a year of challenges and conflicts. By keeping your body balanced and healthy, you will be more suited to face any obstacles that may come your way this year.

Wishing you peace, health, and happiness this year and always.

My First Little Blog Post

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My name is Jill. I am a wife. I am a mother. I am an acupuncturist. I am many things. I live for the moment, and as an optimist my glass is not just half full but usually filled to the brim and overflowing. Over the years as an acupuncturist I have been asked many questions and experienced many different things. I feel most of this is worthy to share with the world, so I have decided to blog. I may be a little biased, but I believe I have one of the best jobs one can have. Though you can usually hear my loud voice and laughter traveling through the office, I take my job very seriously. I look forward to helping people on a daily basis. I know I can’t help everyone or save the world, but I like to think I make a positive difference in the lives of many people.