Put on your artist hat and help Down to Earth design our new T-shirts!

Ever since we changed our name this year, we have been wishing for some new office T-shirts. But we haven’t been able to find the right image or slogan.

We know that many of our patients are artistic and creative. So, we decided to open it up to you!

What kind of T-shirt would you like to wear? What picture would be on the front (or back)? What would it say?

Enter your ideas in our design contest, and you could win an amazing gift basket of prizes from local practitioners and businesses. We have items ranging from massages and vitamins, to beauty and cleaning products. In fact, we have so many prizes that in addition to a grand prize, we will probably have several honorable mention gifts!

Send your designs to emily @ downtoearthacupuncture. com. Submissions must be received by December 14, 2012 at 5pm. The winner will be chosen by a panel of DTE employees, volunteers, and patients and will be announced on or before February 1, 2013.

You don’t have to be a DTE patient to submit an entry, but it does help to have an understanding of the office and have a feel for community acupuncture. Please pass along this email to any artists or graphic designers you know who might be interested.

See below for a list of confirmed prizes and the contest rules.

Confirmed Gift Certificates and/or Products from:
Massage/ Bodywork:
Leo McCarthy, LMT
Deep Relief Massage Therapy
In Balance Massage
Back to Nature Massage and Reflexology
Healing Hands Massage Therapy

Chiropractic:
Sjogren Chiropractic
Dr. Karen M. Griffin

Personal Training/ Fitness:
Studio Joy (Nia class)
Committed Fitness
Leo McCarthy, CPT (personal training)

Life Coaching:
The MotivAct Group (Tom Ingrassia)

Household/ Beauty:
Shaklee cleaning (representative Lea Cristo)
Pampered Chef (representative Sharon McLaughlin)
Arbonne (representative Sue Nesbitt)

Food/Nutrition:
Budget Cuisine Coach (Paula Denoncourt)
Healing Journey
Isador’s Organics

Gifts and Wellness Products:
Generations Gifts

Plus acupuncture treatments from Down to Earth
… And of course, a T-shirt of the winning design!

Contest Rules:

• Submission must be your own original artwork and design.
• It must be in digital format (jpeg or pdf)and “camera ready”.
• You may submit multiple entries.
• By submitting your entry, you are giving permission for DTE to use your art in our marketing materials.
• You are agreeing that you will not receive any royalties or other payment for the entry, with the exception of the prize basket (if your entry is chosen as the winner).
• Submissions must be received by December 14, 2012 at 5pm. Email submissions to emily @ downtoearthacupuncture. com

Gua sha is a traditional form of bodywork used throughout Asia and in many other cultures. It involves using a rounded-edged instrument to rub the skin and muscles and produce a beneficial effect. Gua sha literally means “scraping sand”—- after a gua sha treatment, the skin is usually reddened with small dots (the “sand”).

Gua sha is great for all types of muscle stiffness and aches. It can also treat lung and respiratory conditions, including the symptoms of the common cold.

You do not have to be an acupuncturist or an expert to learn how to practice gua sha safely and effectively on yourself and your loved ones. Come to our class and learn everything you need to know to get started!

Date: Saturday, November 3
Time: 2:15-3:15 pm
Cost: $2.13 for a gua sha spoon (per person)

You must bring a partner to this class in order to practice the techniques. Advance registration is required. Sign up by calling the office at (508) 890-8899. A maximum of 5 couples (10 people) can fit in the class, a minimum of 3 couples is required for the class to run.

Moxa, short for moxabustion, is a Chinese herb that is used externally to warm acupuncture points and channels. It’s a treatment that you can take home to use on yourself for a number of different conditions, such as joint and muscle pain and stiffness, fertility and menstrual issues, weak immune system, skin disorders, and fatigue.

Winter is the perfect time to do moxa treatments (though it can be used at any time of year). Come to our class to learn about moxa and how to use it to improve your health.

Date: Saturday, January 21, 2012 (snow date January 28)
Time: 9:00-9:45am
Location: River Valley Acupuncture
Cost: Free
Optional materials fee (1 moxa stick): $2.13

Registration is required in advance and is limited to 10 people. Register by calling the office at (508) 890-8899.

Each month, I put out an email newsletter that includes office events, health news, and health tips. It is my goal to fill the newsletter with useful information that will be interesting to you and your friends.

While some of this information is also posted on our website or facebook page, much of it is only found in the newsletter. How do you know if it would be worth your while to subscribe? Here is a summary of some of the contents:

· Find out about office events before anyone else knows. For example, I have a free acupuncture day coming up in October. I haven’t publicized it anywhere except my newsletter, so newsletter subscribers can get first choice of appointment times.
· Get more in-depth information about acupuncture and other healing modalities like massage, tai chi, etc.
· Learn about vitamins & herbal supplements, food & recipes, and stretching & exercises.

The newsletter is short and easy to skim if you are looking for a particular topic. And if you decide you don’t want to keep receiving it, you can unsubscribe any time.

To sign up, go to home page of our website. Enter your information in the box on the bottom of the right hand menu bar. Or, contact us and I will put you in the database. All I need is your first name and email address. I hope you enjoy it!

This Saturday, I will be part of a panel discussion on Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Raynaud’s at the 1st Annual Raynauds Association National Patient Conference in Boston.

I have treated several patients with Raynaud’s syndrome, which impairs blood circulation to the extremities, causing cold hands and feet and often pain and numbness. Symptoms can range from mild annoyances to severe and life-changing. For some background on Raynaud’s, read this article from the Mayo Clinic.

In the course of researching for my presentation, I was surprised to find that not much clinical research has been done into acupuncture and Raynaud’s. However, the limited studies that have been done have found acupuncture beneficial.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory is based on circulation—the flow of Qi and blood through the meridian pathways. So, using acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to treat circulatory disorders seems particularly fitting. In fact, TCM literature from almost 2,000 years ago describes a condition of cold hands and feet, and the herbal formulas to treat it.

In my own clinical experience, I have found that acupuncture can lessen the symptoms of Raynaud’s—patients tell me that they are able to tolerate cold situations (like the freezer section of the supermarket) with less discomfort.

While not a cure, acupuncture and herbal medicine are all-natural and minimally invasive, so they may be worth a try. Contact us if you would like more information about acupuncture and Raynaud’s.

Acupuncture has been used to treat pain for thousands of years. It can be effective for a wide variety of conditions, ranging from ankle sprain to rheumatoid arthritis. If you are considering trying acupuncture for your pain condition, taking these simple steps can help you get the most out of your treatments.

· Track your symptoms: Your acupuncturist will want to know what situations cause the pain to flare up, and what things make it feel better. This helps us to formulate a diagnosis and treatment plan that is tailored to your needs. Pay special attention to your activities, postures, stress level, and the impact of the weather.
· Give it time: While some people start feeling improvement right away, acupuncture generally requires a course of treatment. Start with a trial of 5-6 treatments (generally 1-2 times per week) before you decide if it is right for you.
· Use other modalities as needed: Acupuncture works well in combination with physical therapy, therapeutic massage, and chiropractic care. Using multiple treatment modalities can enhance the treatment benefits.
· Don’t overdo it: Sometimes, when you start to feel pain relief you try to catch up on errands and projects around the house… and then feel worse the next day. Remember that healing is a process; don’t re-injure yourself by being overeager.

And finally, have fun! Acupuncture can be a very relaxing and enjoyable experience.

If you have been trying to conceive for more than a year without getting pregnant, you may have been given a diagnosis of infertility. Your doctor has probably ordered many tests for you and your partner, and you may be considering medical treatment.

Many women with fertility concerns decide to try acupuncture. When a woman is trying to get pregnant, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be used at any stage, from helping to regulate the menstrual cycle to aiding the success of in vitro fertilization (IVF). If you are considering acupuncture treatments, this article will provide you with information to help you plan how best to use acupuncture in your journey.

Before an Infertility Diagnosis
Not everyone who comes to acupuncture for fertility treatment has received a diagnosis of infertility. Some women may have concerns because their periods are irregular or they don’t think they are ovulating. Others may just want to be as healthy as possible before trying to conceive. In either case, it is never too early to start acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture can be especially effective at regulating menstruation, and its stress-reducing and balancing effect can help to improve your overall health.

After an Infertility Diagnosis
If after a year of trying (or less in certain circumstances) you haven’t conceived, there are many options for your next step. Some people want to try medical interventions as soon as possible. Others prefer to wait and try to improve their health naturally. Acupuncture can be used at this stage, either on its own or in conjunction with Western medical treatments. If you chose not to begin Western treatments, you should still get a full medical work up done by your doctor to rule out any underlying conditions (for example, low thyroid function). Make sure that your partner gets a work up as well.

Homework
I strongly suggest that any woman concerned about fertility use a basal body temperature (BBT) chart to track her cycles. Not everyone ovulates on day 14, and if you are “trying” during the wrong time of the month, that might explain why you haven’t gotten pregnant. The new ovulation testing kits can be helpful, but I prefer the BBT chart because it provides more information and allows you to see patterns. A very good book that explains charting and other methods of tracking fertility is Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

Charting is great if you are trying to make sense of your cycles. However, if you are experiencing a lot of stress and pressure around trying to conceive, charting may only add to your anxiety. In that case, take a few months off and just enjoy yourself. You can always start charting again at the beginning of the next cycle.

Timing
As with most conditions, acupuncture for fertility can take time to work. The needles are sending signals to your body and it may take several treatments before your body picks up on those signals and responds. This is why we recommend that anyone coming in for fertility or menstrual disorders commit to treatment for 3 cycles. If your cycle is regular, treatment once a week for 3 months is a good period of time. However, if your cycle is long, that time frame will be extended. If you are experiencing amenorrhea (absence of a period), you will need to come in for treatments 2-3 times a week until your period begins, and then start the 3-cycle schedule. Certain other conditions may require more treatments or a longer time frame (this will be determined after your initial intake with the acupuncturist).

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is sometimes best to take a break from trying to conceive to give your body a rest. Circumstances like recently giving birth, miscarriages, heavy menstruation, and even fertility treatments can put a strain on your body. You can still continue acupuncture to improve your health while your body recovers.

There are very specific protocols for acupuncture treatment to improve IVF success. Although a recent clinical study showed mixed results, prior studies have found that that acupuncture increased IVF success rates. If you decide to undergo IVF, you should schedule an acupuncture treatment within 24 hours before the procedure, and another within an hour after the procedure.

Other Thoughts
Acupuncture can help functional issues (for example, irregular menstruation) more than structural issues (like scar tissue in the uterus). For this reason, a diagnosis of “unexplained infertility” is often a good sign.

Although a diagnosis of infertility can be devastating, try not to create an identity for yourself as an “infertile” person. Stress is counterproductive to your health and may even impede conception. Do whatever you can to manage stress during this time. Luckily, acupuncture is a great stress reliever!

Do you have other questions about acupuncture and Chinese medicine for infertility? Contact us or give us a call at (508) 890-8899.

Not surprisingly, the #1 answer to my poll question “Why Don’t More People Try Acupuncture” was: “They Don’t Know Enough About It.” This answer combined with the #4 answer, “They Don’t Think It Will Work” (which I see as an extension of #1), accounted for over half of all responses.

The survey participants confirmed what I see to be the biggest challenge facing the acupuncture profession today– not enough people are aware of how acupuncture can help them.

Of course, providing that information is a major part of why I write this blog (and have a Twitter account, a Facebook account, and do speaking engagements whenever I’m asked). But one person, even with the amplification of the internet, can’t reach everyone. This is why I’m hoping that each person who reads this article will share the information.

Here’s what your friends, family, and colleagues need to know:
1. What acupuncture can treat. You’ll find a partial list here. Acupuncture is appropriate for most non-emergency conditions (although in China it is sometimes used for emergencies as well).
2. The benefits of acupuncture. In addition to being effective for many conditions, acupuncture is all natural, safe, and virtually side-effect free (you might come away with an occasional bruise).
3. Who should try acupuncture. Many people prefer to start off with the least invasive treatment– sometimes drugs or surgery are not the only option. If you know someone who is seeking a natural treatment strategy or even someone who has tried many kinds of treatments without success (I see that a lot), these folks would be good candidates for acupuncture.

What if someone wants more information before making a decision? I offer free telephone consultations (508-890-8899), or they can contact me through the website.

Thanks for spreading the word!

This week I sent out the first issue of River Valley’s e-newsletter. It contains news about what’s going on in the office, health news, and health tips (this month’s was about staying healthy during cold and flu season). I hope everyone who received it enjoyed it!

If you would like to sign up for future editions, please contact us.

A 2007 survey by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (part of the National Institutes of Health) showed that less than 2 percent of adults in the U.S. had received acupuncture in the past year.

A 2003 survey by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine found that about 9% of adults had tried acupuncture at some point in their lives.

For a system of medicine that has been in the United States since the 1970s (and in other parts of the world for thousands of years), this seems to me like a very low number.

Acupuncture is completely natural and virtually side-effect free. It can be extremely effective for many conditions (just ask our patients). And, thanks in part to many positive research studies, it is growing in acceptance in the Western medical community

So, why don’t more people try acupuncture? I’ve written a survey based on several theories. Please take 2 minutes (it’s only 4 questions) to answer the questions with your honest opinion. Do you think I’ve missed an explanation? Please feel free to write in other thoughts.

I will share the responses in a future blog post (all surveys are anonymous).

I’m truly interested in your opinions– please take the survey today!