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.

One of the founding members of the community acupuncture movement, Lisa Rohleder, was recently interviewed by Acutake.com. The whole interview is great, so I highly suggest you read the entire article. Below is an excerpt, where Lisa answers the question, “[I]s community acupuncture… as clinically effective as private practice?

“I have been an acupuncturist for 16 years, and as far as I can tell, all forms of acupuncture work equally well—community acupuncture, private acupuncture, and all the various traditions and styles of practice. In fact, as we’ve seen with many recent studies, acupuncture is so powerful that even sham acupuncture works! What makes community acupuncture most effective is its accessibility.

Acupuncture works beautifully for lots of conditions, but it rarely works fast. That is the trade off you get for something that is so gentle and non-toxic. There are plenty of instances of dramatic outcomes from acupuncture, but you should not go into it expecting that. A more realistic expectation is that it will work gradually over time. With that in mind, you really want to think about not just how to get an acupuncture treatment but how to get a complete course of treatment.

A lot of people can scrape together $75 for one treatment, but not $750 for a course of 10 treatments. Under the conventional private-practice model, even if people can come up with enough money to get acupuncture for a while, the minute they are barely better enough to stop, they do. Maintenance treatments, the ones that take place after the original condition has subsided, are what prevent the same problems from coming back. Acupuncture is preventative, but only when administered regularly.”

Fall is the beginning of cold season. It’s also when people with allergies to weeds (ragweed, goldenrod, etc.) tend to have the worst symptoms. So, how do you know if you are coming down with a cold or if you have allergies?

This chart from WebMD does a great job of breaking down the common symptoms associated with colds and allergies. Even if you are not sure what is causing your symptoms, there are many natural remedies that can be helpful for both conditions. A neti pot can help with a stuffy and runny nose, and also helps by physically rinsing out the allergen or virus. Vitamin C has also been used to treat both colds and allergies.

In Chinese medicine, there are often similar treatments for both colds and allergies. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can both provide relief.

Dietary therapy is an important part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM theory believes that foods have either a warming or cooling nature. In summer, we can take advantage of cooling foods to help beat the heat.

One of the best foods for summer heat is something you probably gravitate towards naturally during this time—watermelon. You can read more about its nutritional properties here. Other members of the melon family, including cucumber, can also be helpful.

Mung beans, while not a common food here in the U.S., are a traditional Chinese remedy for overheating. And for drinking, lemonade, chrysanthemum tea, and mint tea all have cooling properties.

If you are interested in finding out more about Chinese dietary therapy, two good books are Healing with Whole Foods and The Tao of Healthy Eating.

The Experience
Community acupuncture is done in a group setting. Patients remain fully clothed and are treated in reclining chairs, making the feel of the space less clinical and more like someone’s living room or community center. Because of the group setting, there is more appointment availability and many patients choose to come in with friends or family members. This makes the experience less isolating than being alone in a treatment room.

The group setting is closer to the way acupuncture is practiced traditionally in China. It also contributes to what we call “group Qi”: people seem to relax more deeply and experience better results from the treatment when they are treated in a room with other people.

Although the treatment rooms are quiet and relaxing, community acupuncture is a no-fuss process. Your practitioner will not spend much time chatting with you or offering extra services like massage. Since acupuncture stimulates the healing process of your own body, we believe that simplicity of both setting and treatment leads to better outcomes.

The Practitioner
Since your community acupuncturist performs many treatments each week and sees a wide variety of patients, you get the benefit of a practitioner with experience treating a broad range of conditions. The support of the Community Acupuncture Network enables practitioners to tap into the collective experience of hundreds of other acupuncturists to help with challenging cases.

Community acupuncturists see ourselves as part of the community, not as experts above our patients. Treating patients and helping them get better is our primary focus.

The Community
Community acupuncture means more than just group treatments. It means a practitioner and a business model that are committed to the growth and health of the community. Community acupuncturists actively seek out ways to be part of the community and support local programs through activities such as being a drop-off point for CSAs, displaying the work of local artists, and volunteering at veterans acupuncture programs.

Everyone benefits when more people have access to affordable acupuncture. Neighborhoods become physically healthier and more able to manage stress. Practitioners and patients work together to make the acupuncture experience better for the community.

The Financials
The current market rates for private acupuncture range from $50-$90, and sometimes higher. Community practices pledge to keep rates low, using a sliding scale of $15-$45 or a flat rate of less than $30.

Although many people could afford market rates for acupuncture every once in a while, if you have an ongoing health condition or one that is that is moderate or severe, you will need multiple acupuncture treatments. As with most healthy choices, frequency of acupuncture is important for it to be maximally effective (think: would you take a multivitamin once a week?). It is also the way acupuncture historically was designed to be used, and how it is currently used in China.

Most people, unless you are in the upper 10-15% income bracket, cannot afford to pay private rates for an extended period. Even in the rare case that insurance covers a portion of your acupuncture treatment, most companies won’t pay for a sufficient course of treatment.

Community Acupuncturists believe that “healing is not an elitist commodity.”* The sliding scale system is empowering to the patient, and its reliance on the honor system (no income verification is required) creates trust within community.

*The Remedy: Integrating Acupuncture Into American Health Care by Lisa Rohleder.

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 only was February 14 Valentine’s Day, it also marked the beginning of the Lunar New Year (also known as Chinese New Year). This year is the Year of the Tiger.

What does this mean for you? Check out this great summary from our friends at Sarana Community Acupuncture.

The Chinese believe that whatever you do during the first weeks of the New Year represents what the rest of your year will be like. If you want your year to be healthy and relaxing, contact us for a treatment!

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!

The # 2 response to my poll question “Why don’t more people try acupuncture” was “They’re afraid of it.”

Two thoughts come to my mind about that response. One is that part of the apprehension may come from fear of the unknown. Many people aren’t familiar with acupuncture, which causes it to seem scary. I’ll talk more about that next blog, since “They don’t know enough about it” was the #1 answer.

The other main issue is fear of needles. Since acupuncture is fairly new to our country (but thousands of years old in other parts of the world), even people who don’t have a true phobia may consider getting stuck with needles to be a little weird. I once had an acquaintance tell me that the term acupuncture should be changed so that it didn’t include the word “puncture.”

I’ll admit that sometimes even I find it odd that I stick needles in people for a living. Yet I’ve also seen remarkable improvements in people’s lives as a result of these tiny needles.

The problem is that the term “needle” immediately conjures images of large hypodermics that you get stuck with at the doctor’s office. But acupuncture needles are actually much thinner and shorter than hypodermics. In fact, they are smaller than even the needles used for insulin injections, and smaller than the needles used on infants!

Some people have suggested that we call our tools “pins,” “filaments,” or “wires” because these are what acupuncture “needles” resemble.

Because the needles are so fine (and sterile and disposable, by the way), they don’t hurt when they’re inserted. If you can handle a mosquito bite, you will have no problem getting acupuncture.

Don’t believe me? Take a look at this picture, which shows the needle in a practitioner’s hand. Or, better yet, come in for an appointment and try it out yourself!