Come home to your body: Acupuncture for Spring

Each season tells a different story. We are here to remind you: you are one with nature. You can learn about this connection through ancient wisdom like the Tao Te Ching, or hear about it from your acupuncturist. But the most natural and accessible way to reconnect is simply to step outside. Breathe the Spring air, feel the soft earth beneath your feet, and allow yourself to be present. This sounds cliché but one of the truest ways to connect is to bring your presence.

Don't be fooled by spring's sunshine and blossoming flowers - Spring does the enormity of the work that we love the Summer season for. It thaws winter. Spring is about movement, inspiration, transformation. It helps us to ground into our generous hearts and create fluidity in our body. It reminds us that, if we rested and nourished ourselves through the Winter that the stillness was beneficial. That now is the time to move forward.

The physical body may express dissatisfaction this time of year with symptoms like

• stress - acupuncture can help calm the central nervous system and provide grounded relaxation

• irritability - smoothing the Liver helps to ease irritability and promote presence and satisfaction, more energy and vitality

• eye symptoms - clearing heat and promoting Liver health, eye symptoms can be alleviated with acupuncture and herbs

• slow digestion - this is a time of year to detox! Our Livers are so burdened that this time of year slow digestion reigns, come get support with acupuncture and herbs.

• menstrual symptoms - the Liver organ system is one of the primary guides of the menstrual cycle. Things can get whacky, come get regulated with acupuncture and herbs

• insomnia - the spirit of the Liver, the Hun is said to leave the body when we sleep to dream. In order to dream and sleep restfully we must have enough Liver blood and stores for this to work well. Acupuncture, herbs and nutrition help bring this system into balance.

• tight tendons and sinews - the Liver (and Gallbladder) are the primary organs of the Spring season and control the tendons and sinews. This often means they tighten up. Release, let go, soften by nourishing your body with acupuncture.

We recommend you come in for acupuncture treatment at minimum once per season. Acupuncture is one of the most beneficial ways to reconnect yourself to nature. You can plug into the cosmos and let your body heal with the energies available to you. The herbs that are flying off the shelves right now help to improve quality of sleep, reduce tension in your body and improved menstrual cycles. Schedule an appointment today and let us help your body blossom this spring!

***Holiday Healing Mart*** You're Invited!

Join us for a day of holiday gift shopping & receiving care from some of our favorite local healers, makers, entrepreneurs, & artists! On Saturday, December 2nd from 2pm-5pm, we invite YOU to the clinic for small bites, local vintage, photography pop-ups, botanical remedies, astrology readings, functional ceramics, tuning fork treatments, ear gems, healing zines, plant medicine tea, and so much more. We look forward to seeing you there!

Let us know you’re coming! RSVP HERE

Acupuncture For Insomnia: How To Sleep Better And Reclaim Your Nights

Are you struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep, or are your sleep patterns erratic? Sleep is essential for physical, mental, and emotional health - and that includes fertility. 

Acupuncture for insomnia and sleep disruptions can reset your body’s neurological and energetic systems, bringing a sense of calm and restoring healthy sleep habits.

Healthy sleep habits are associated with:

• Better moods

• Improved focus

• Normal energy levels

• Higher metabolic rates and weight management

• Healthy immune system function

• Reduced stress levels

• Balanced hormone levels

That latter point impacts women’s reproductive health and fertility.

Use Acupuncture For Insomnia To Restore Healthy Sleep Habits & Support Fertility

Sleep disruptions have a cascade effect on the body. Anyone who experiences a night of insomnia or less sleep than they need knows how tired, cranky, and foggy they feel the next day. However, in addition to the common side effects of lack of sleep, internal disruptions compromise well-being due to hormone imbalance, which compromises multiple body systems.

Sleep Is Essential For Hormone Balance

The human body is a biochemical factory, and much of the production and regulation occurs during restorative sleep hours. Even something as simple as looking at your screen can start a cascade of hormonal dysregulation. For example, as the sun sets, your pupils dilate. This dilation from lack of natural light tells the brain to ramp up melatonin production and secretion. 

However, even something as simple as watching TV or looking at your phone before shutting it off constricts the pupils - signaling daytime to the brain - and melatonin production/secretion diminishes again. After exposure to even the littlest bit of electric light, the brain has a hard time falling asleep - or staying asleep - which disrupts all of the other biochemical chain reactions necessary to rejuvenate, restore, and balance the body’s physical, mental and emotional status - including hormone levels.

By using acupuncture for sleep disorders, including stress-related insomnia, brings the body’s hormones back into balance, improving fertility rates for both timing intercourse at home or while pursuing fertility treatments.

Sleep Disruptions Are Linked To Infertility

Recently, researchers have correlated sleep disruptions and infertility rates. 

• Both men and women with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have higher infertility rates.

• Women with OSA have more failed fertility treatments than those who don’t.

• Women with insomnia and other sleep disorders have higher rates of irregular periods, infertility, and more intense menopause symptoms (Sleep Med Review)

• Women who do shift work at night tend to have higher infertility rates than those who observe a traditional daytime wake/nighttime sleep cycle - having a 20% harder time getting pregnant (Journal of Women’s Health). 

And the list goes on. These studies show how important it is that women address sleep disorders, including OSA and insomnia, to support hormone health and future fertility chances.

Acupuncture Improves Hormone Balance And Sleep Habits

Acupuncture is a natural way to sleep better, and regulate hormone balance, supporting a symbiotic relationship between the two.

During your first acupuncture session, we’ll discuss your experience and what type of sleep disruptions you’re experiencing. Then we’ll create a comprehensive plan to get healthy sleep habits back on track.

Setting healthy foundations for sleep

Healthy sleep habits begin with sleep-friendly lifestyle choices. This includes things like:

• Managing diet to exclude stimulants and ingredients that interrupt sleep while increasing your intake of foods that support sleep.

• Get moderate exercise at least 30 minutes daily, five days a week (preferably outdoors, as daylighting maintains your natural circadian rhythm).

• Creating a relaxing bedtime routine that sets the tone for “sleep time.”

• Ensuring the bedroom supports winding down and falling asleep (high-quality mattress/pillows, dimmable lights, blackout curtains, red nightlights, no screens, etc.).

• Turning off all screens (including phones and tablets) at least 30 minutes or more before heading to bed.

We can also discuss traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbs and supplements that promote nighttime relaxation and sound sleep without that heavy, dull feeling caused by OTC or prescription sleep medications.

Customize acupuncture treatments to address underlying issues

Depending on what we learn, we’ll customize acupuncture treatments that address the underlying sleep issues, ranging from stress and OSA to hormone dysregulation or anxiety. We’ll look at the original benchmark at each appointment, note what you’re experiencing, and continue tweaking acupuncture appointments accordingly.

Suggestions for additional sleep support

We’ll also discuss recommendations for additional sleep support and hormone balance, including:

• TCM herbs/supplementation

• Moxibustion, which addresses hormone balance as well as anxiety and sleep issues.

• Additional acupressure or massages that can integrate with your acupuncture sessions.

We aim to support you in the most well-rounded and research-based ways we can.

Schedule An Appointment For Better Sleep At Mitchell Family Acupuncture

Are you ready to sleep better and reclaim your nights? Are you doing all you can to create a balanced body for your next family-building journey? Schedule a consultation at Mitchell Family Acupuncture. We can’t wait to help get you back on track and feel like your best self again.

Acupuncture For Pain Management For Women’s Health: A Natural Alternative

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) techniques like acupressure and acupuncture have been used successfully for thousands of years. However, in this era when dangerous - and life-threatening - addictions to opioids are increasingly common, holistic healthcare professionals advocate for acupuncture as a natural alternative to opioids. Acupuncture reduces or alleviates pain without any related risks of addiction, overdose, or suicide. 

The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA) states:

Addiction affects a victim’s body, mind, and spirit. Acupuncture appears to have a beneficial effect on all three aspects and should be considered an important component of a multidisciplinary approach to opioid dependence and in the treatment of opioid or other substance addiction. 

According to multiple clinical studies, some of the most typical uses of acupuncture for pain management involve relief from:

• Headaches and migraines

• Neck, back, and shoulder pain

• Fibromyalgia

• Arthritis (both osteo- and rheumatoid)

• Post-surgical or post-acute injury pain

• Endometriosis

• Chronic pain

• Neuropathy

• Cancer and related treatments (particularly chemotherapy & radiation)

There are several reasons acupuncture relieves pain while also treating chronic inflammation - which exacerbates pain or discomfort)

Acupuncture Relieves & Inhibits Pain Signaling 

Thousands of years ago, healers in the Eastern world noticed that the body had multiple energy centers and a network of energy pathways that intersected at smaller energy hubs. TCM refers to these energy centers and hubs as “meridians,” and it’s no surprise that they align with Western medicine’s model of the nervous system - from crown to sacrum and throughout our body and extremities.

The more tension, pain, inflammation, or trapped energy triggers these key pressure points, the more likely we are to experience pain, discomfort, disease, and lack of energy. Poor energy flow throughout the meridians also causes insomnia, heightened anxiety, and digestive ailments - exacerbating any underlying health issues.

During an acupuncture session with a licensed acupuncturist, very thin needles are painlessly inserted along the meridian lines and key pressure points, depending on a patient’s symptoms. By stimulating these points and pathways, the body:

• Releases endorphins, serotonin, and other self-produced biochemicals that relieve pain.

• Restores healthy energy flow, further relaxing tense or long-held energy and emotions.

• Relaxes and also energizes.

• Becomes less inflamed, which restores healthier immune system responses.

• Reprograms repeat pain signals that can continue along the nervous system's pathways long after the original trigger, event, or cause of pain is gone.

With repeat sessions, the body can reset and continually reap acupuncture’s benefits, which continue healing momentum with minimal risk (and no threatening) side effects. That said, most patients experience some level of pain relief and increased relaxation in a single session.

Using Acupuncture To Avoid Opioids

Unfortunately, Western medicine isn’t always as long-thinking in its approach to pain management. The use of highly-addictive opioids is an example of that. While effective in a very short-term approach, the overall effects of opioids do not provide any sustainable results. 

Studies reveal that continued use of opioids is dangerous

In fact, studies prove that any continued use of opioids:

• Reduces a patient’s pain tolerance creating a higher dependence on pain relievers.

• Creates an addiction cycle that is extremely hard to break.

• Increases a person’s risk for depression and suicidal thoughts.

The situation is so serious that the federal government calls it an “opioid crisis” and is in the process of regulating this drug’s prescribed use. In the meantime, holistic health professionals do all they can to spread the word about acupuncture and other natural, healthy alternatives to opioid use.

Fortunately, many mainstream Western medicine practitioners also support acupuncture as a natural alternative to opioids.

The AAFP supports acupuncture as a natural opioid alternative

A recent article published by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) supports the use of acupuncture as a healthy form of pain relief. In addition, their Health of the Public and Science Division director, Dr. Jennifer Frost acknowledges that “...nonpharmacologic treatments such as acupuncture may provide benefits to some patients…especially important given the effects of the ongoing opioid epidemic on pain management.”

Unlike most pharmaceutical solutions for pain, which can do a decent job of masking pain but don’t cure or address the cause, acupuncture gets to the root source of the pain. By addressing the cause of the pain and accompanying complications (like inflammation, poor diet, other underlying health conditions, etc.), we can slowly but surely get the body back into a more balanced and comfortable state.

Let MFA Show You What Natural, Effective Pain Management Feels Like

Give your body a break from the toxic and risky side effects of prescription pain medications like opioids. Mitchell Family Acupuncture wants to show you what it feels like to experience pain management that supports more healthy, comfortable, and relaxed well-being.

Contact us to schedule an acupuncture appointment and learn about other pain-relieving techniques, tools, nutritional/lifestyle supports, and supplements. 

Acupuncture For Tinnitus: How It Can Help You Find Silence

A recent article published by Healthy Hearing, Can menopause cause hearing loss and tinnitus, states:

It's possible that your hearing may change, or you may develop tinnitus (ringing in the ears) as you approach menopause…Sex hormone levels change during a menstrual cycle, and during menstruation, your hearing can become less sensitive…both human and animal studies have shown that low estrogen levels can impair hearing, possibly through alterations in blood flow to the cochlea, the hollow tube in the inner ear. A separate study that measured hearing and blood levels of estradiol (a form of estrogen) in 1,830 post-menopausal women found that the volunteers with less estradiol were more likely to have hearing loss. 

This is invaluable information because it informs us that restoring and supporting hormone balance plays a crucial role in treating tinnitus and optimizing hearing for women.

The Role Of Hormone Balance & Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a general term that refers to a perception of sound that prevails even when no sound stimuli occur. In most cases, tinnitus occurs through a continuous buzz, hissing, or tones (like a high-pitched ringing) that rarely cease. And it’s not just estrogen levels that affect hearing. 

The Healthy Hearing post adds that progesterone levels also impact estrogen cell receptors. So, while progesterone doesn’t directly interact with the cochlea, any imbalance in progesterone may reduce estrogen receptors in the cochlea, contributing to tinnitus and other hearing loss symptoms.

Recent research also shows that people with tinnitus have higher rates of anxiety, depression, and stress. The verdict is still out on which came first - anxiety/depression/anxiety or tinnitus. Odds are they are intricately related - and now we know that female hormone (im)balance also plays a role. 

Beyond PMS & Menopause

While most studies focus on women who experience irregular periods and menopause, we can think of other specific conditions that might cause hormone-related hearing loss or tinnitus, such as:

• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) - recent studies indicate women with PCOS have higher rates of high-frequency hearing loss.

• Endometriosis

• Thyroid conditions that affect hormone balance

• Being underweight or obese (both of which contribute to hormone imbalance

• Type 2 diabetes

• Autoimmune disorders

It’s no coincidence that the above diagnoses are some of the most common causes of female infertility in the United States. So, tinnitus isn’t the only reason women with hormone-related hearing loss should make acupuncture a part of their wellness plan.

Acupuncture Eases Tinnitus & Hearing Loss By Restoring Balance

Currently, most physicians treat female tinnitus using medications, anxiety-relieving exercises, and specific therapies for those who experience anxiety-related tinnitus. While the latter two may support the root cause, medications are typically used to mask or cover the symptoms of a condition without actually curing it.

Acupuncture eases tinnitus and hearing loss by treating the root cause: hormone imbalance. By using a combination of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practices, we can restore hormone balance, reduce anxiety, and provide nutrition and supplements that also treat tinnitus and hearing loss from the inside out.

Acupuncture for hormone balance

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to support healthy hormone balance and relieve the symptoms of conditions and symptoms caused by hormone imbalance. After your initial consultation, we’ll insert tiny needles, just below the skin's surface, at specific locations along meridian pathways that nourish hormone production, and assimilation, and restore healthy hormone levels. 

Extra support for relaxation

We can also integrate acupressure massages to relax the nervous system further, restore energetic flow, and further support hormone health. Most clients who begin using acupressure massages for hormone balance or relaxation benefits make massages a regular part of their self-care routine.

Nutritional & supplementation support

Dr. Sharon Curhan, one of the leading researchers for studies examining women’s hormone levels and hearing loss, remarked, “We found that people who ate diets that most closely resembled the Mediterranean or DASH [Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension] patterns had a substantially lower risk of hearing loss.” (Healthy Hearing). 

TCM practitioners understand how vital lifestyle choices, including nutrition and targeted supplementation, are to maintaining hormone balance and overall well-being. During your appointments, we can discuss details about preventing or minimizing hormone-related hearing loss symptoms with the right nourishing foods and supplements.

Let Mitchell Family Acupuncture Restore Peace & Quiet Again

Do you suspect your tinnitus or hearing results from hormone imbalance or high anxiety/stress? Have you noticed an uptick in tinnitus before/during your period or as a result of the transition into and beyond menopause? Schedule an appointment with Mitchell Family Acupuncture. We take the time to get to know you, thoroughly review your medical and reproductive history, and create a personalized treatment approach that gets to the heart of the matter.

Benefits Of Prenatal Massage

The benefits of massage for fertility don’t stop once you’re pregnant. Studies show that prenatal massage has notable benefits for both mother and baby. The key is to find licensed practitioners specially trained to provide pregnancy massage.

Women with healthy, low-risk pregnancies can enjoy prenatal massages throughout their pregnancy - continuing through the third trimester. During your first appointment, we’ll take a detailed and thorough account of your reproductive and medical history to ensure massage is a safe next step for you. 

NOTE: Women who are bleeding, having early contractions, or experiencing a high-risk pregnancy (or have a history of high-risk pregnancies) should seek approval from their OB/GYN before scheduling a prenatal massage appointment.

5 Proven Benefits of Prenatal Massage For Mama & Baby

Many people think of massage as a “luxury” even though studies prove over and over again that massage benefits the body, mind, and spirit. Pregnant women are especially supported by the use of massage during pregnancy. 

The American Pregnancy Association (APA) emphasizes its support of pregnancy massages due to research-based findings demonstrating how massage promotes pregnancy health for the mother and her unborn child. Here are five ways prenatal massage can help you enjoy a healthier pregnancy, labor, and delivery.

Hormone regulation

The combination of pregnancy hormones, which include the gearing up of lactation hormones, means your body is a regular hormone factory on fire. The massage techniques used for prenatal massages work to improve circulation and the movement of lymphatic fluid through your body. In doing so, these gentle massage techniques allow pregnant women to relax as the massage activates the production of hormones known to reduce stress while ridding the body of adrenaline or other “stress hormones” that can become blocked or stuck.

The APA writes that in multiple studies conducted in the past decade:

…women who received bi-weekly massages for only five weeks, hormones such as norepinephrine and cortisol (hormones associated with stress) were reduced, and dopamine and serotonin levels were increased (low levels of these hormones are associated with depression).

Since you and your baby share the same blood and hormone supply, your de-stressed, more relaxed, and hormone-balanced state benefits you both. During massage treatments, you can add services like Gua Sha to increase circulation or energize a stagnant lymph system.

Reduced pregnancy discomfort

Pregnancy is a time of great joy, but some women also experience significant discomfort. The combination of prenatal massage and personalized acupuncture can significantly reduce some of the most common pregnancy discomforts, including:

• Morning sickness

• Lower back aches (including sciatic pain)

• Joint pain

• Swelling (edema)

• Muscle tension and headaches

Integrating pregnancy massages into your prenatal care routine may mean you experience very minimal to no pregnancy discomfort, making for a much more satisfying experience. 

Improved sleep 

There’s no mystery that sleep cycles are disrupted with the addition of a new baby. However, many first-time mothers are surprised to experience disrupted sleep cycles long before the baby is born. Hormone-related changes, along with the ever-expanding abdomen, mean most women begin waking up more than usual during their first trimester. 

Massage-related benefits of reduced stress, balanced hormones, and reduced physical discomforts mean most women who get regular prenatal messages report they sleep better than women who go without them. Don’t forget to mention any particular pregnancy issues you’re experiencing so your massage therapist can modify or augment the massage to activate certain pressure points.

Reduced nerve pain

The pressure of the growing baby can lead to pinched or triggered nerves. This can sometimes result in nerve pain or discomfort, such as sciatica (which can affect the lower back, hips, legs, and feet), restless legs, or generalized muscle tension or pain. Your prenatal massage allows you to relax, while specific prenatal massage techniques reduce nerve pressure and inflammation.

Improved labor & delivery outcomes

Clinical studies also show that women who have regular prenatal massages experience improved labor and delivery outcomes. This includes shorter labor, shorter hospital stays, and fewer incidences of post-partum depression. Equally inspiring is the data we have on babies whose mothers received pregnancy massages. 

According to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), clinical trials “...indicate that infants born to mothers who had massage therapy had lower cortisol levels, better neonatal outcomes, and fewer incidences of low birth weight and prematurity.” 

What exciting and empowering news. Your prenatal massage is a proactive way to create a safer, healthier, and more peaceful future for your infant-to-be.

Schedule A Prenatal Massage With Mitchell Family Acupuncture

Mitchell Family Acupuncture’s specialty includes a personalized approach to pregnancy, postpartum, and pediatrics/family medicine that promotes well-being and vitality for all. We love to watch our pregnant clients blossom and grow while reaping the benefits of our personalized prenatal massage. Schedule your appointment today. 

Benefits Of Mayan Abdominal Massage & Uterine Massage

Mayan abdominal massages are focused on the abdomen and pelvic area, activating energy flow and circulation to the organs below.  This specific type of massage also helps to reposition and realign the uterus and reproductive organs displaced by pregnancy, labor/delivery, or an accident. Even a history of running on pavement causes enough repeat impact to stretch/strain ligaments and reposition pelvic organs.

Mayan abdominal massages (or uterine massages) support patients with reproductive and fertility issues, as well as patients who have trouble with pelvic prolapse and digestive issues, or who experience chronic abdominal/pelvic discomfort due to organs that have shifted out of place.

Overview Of Mayan Abdominal Massage

Mayan abdominal massage is a non-invasive technique brought to the United States by Rosita Arvigo, DN, after apprenticing with a well-known shaman, Don Elijo Panti, in Belize. While apprenticing for the better part of a decade with Don Elijo Panti, Arvigo saw how certain uterine massage techniques helped rebalance women’s reproductive health, especially those whose pelvic organs were shifted out of place after an accident or pregnancy. She named the technique in honor of the region and culture that originally used it.

How Does Mayan Abdominal Massage Work?

The uterus and main female reproductive organs are held in place by ligaments. During the course of pregnancy, labor and delivery, or as the result of a traumatic injury (hard fall on the sacrum, car accident, or blunt force trauma to the abdomen, etc.), these ligaments can become stretched or strained. If organs shift out of their natural placement, they can pinch nerves, prevent lymphatic fluid from draining properly, and stagnate circulation and energy flow. 

Uterine massage techniques, like Mayan abdominal massage, gently work to soothe inflamed tissues and realign a malpositioned uterus and organs. The combination of massage and pelvic floor and core exercises can strengthen internal muscles and tissues, restoring pelvic health and correcting pelvic organ prolapse.

The techniques focus on the area of the abdomen (the soft tissues between the lower rib cage and pubic bone, as well as the lower back and sacrum. In many cases, masseuses may also massage other body parts (head, neck, shoulders, feet, etc.) to support the holistic movement of blood and energy flow. However, the pelvis and uterine cavity is the area of focus.

One of the best things about abdominal massages is that, like moxibustion, we can teach you techniques to use at home. This exponentially increases its benefits since you’ll be able to have massages more often. Combining abdominal massages in a clinic and DIY massage at home is a full-circle way to maximize the benefits of uterine massage.

Because the abdominal cavity is soft when relaxed, we use different massage techniques for this area than those used where muscle and connective tissues have the support of bones underneath. So, unlike traditional Swedish or deep tissue massage techniques, which can rely on significant pressure, abdominal massage is a gentler but equally beneficial healing technique.

In most cases, we incorporate abdominal massage into a longer healing session, such as an acupressure massage or acupuncture session. This would be discussed with a client ahead of time, and a portion of the acupressure massage session would include a concentrated abdominal massage.

Who Benefits From Abdominal Massages?

We typically recommend abdominal massages for:

Women with irregular or troublesome menstrual cycles

Many of the most common reasons for irregular periods, severe PMS, or other troublesome side effects related to menstruation affect the abdomen. For some, this might be discomfort or bloating; for others, it can be severe cramping, heavy blood flow, and may include digestive complaints. 

Studies (2005 & 2013) show that experienced abdominal massages notably relieve period pain and cramping. Additionally, the 2013 study showed that women who had at least 10 minutes of daily Mayan abdominal massage with specific essential oils had less pain, and more regular menstrual flow, and their PMS discomfort lasted for a shorter duration than those in the placebo group that only used almond oil.

When working with women experiencing menstrual irregularities, we use abdominal massage techniques, honoring traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) tenets. Massage strokes stimulate known meridian points and pathways in and around the abdomen. This stimulates movement in blocked areas and restores balance. Depending on the patient’s symptoms, we choose massage movements that ignite warmth in stagnant areas and invite cooling relief in overly active areas. 

Patients trying to conceive (TTC)

We also integrate abdominal massage for patients using acupuncture for fertility. Massaging the abdomen has several positive effects on reproductive organs, including:

• Reducing inflammation

• Breaking up existing scar tissue that affects ovulation, conception, or implantation

• Nourishing organs and egg follicles with fresh blood flow (oxygenation)

• Realigning and invigorating the uterus and surrounding organs

• Moving blocked energy (especially helpful for patients who’ve experienced sexual trauma)

Mayan abdominal massage is also relaxing. So, its ability to reduce stress levels also supports fertility health.

Patients with symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse

The shifting of organs during pregnancy, along with the physical rigors of labor, often causes a condition called pelvic organ prolapse. This means some or most of the reproductive organs shift out of position and begin collapsing into the pelvic floor. 

Symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) include things like:

• Incontinence

• Changes in bowel habits 

• Irregular periods (spotting in between)

• Unusual pelvic or lower back discomfort

• A feeling of fullness or bulging in the lower pelvis (because the organs may be pressing into the cervix)

• Pain or discomfort during sex

We recommend women receive uterine massages during:

• The first trimester of pregnancy

• After their six-week postpartum checkup (for vaginal delivery) or after three months (C-section)

• If cancer is suspected or diagnosed in the pelvic area (including during cancer treatment)

• During menstrual bleeding (for women with severe PMS or period discomfort)

The combination of Mayan abdominal massage techniques and pelvic floor exercises can dramatically reduce symptoms.

Patients with abdominal discomfort or digestive issues after pregnancy, birth, or abdominal/lower back trauma

Abdominal massages are particularly beneficial for anyone who has trouble with digestion or suffers from chronic discomfort. This includes benefitting those who suffer from:

• Constipation. A study conducted in 2016 showed that those who had regular abdominal massages (including being trained to perform self-administered massages) had fewer incidences of constipation and more healthy bowel movements than the control group. They also reported improved quality of life.

• Digestion issues. Researchers found that patients who have chronic digestive upset found relief from 15 minutes of abdominal massage twice per day for three days. In addition, they took images of stomach fluids and found a reduction in irritating stomach acids and bloating.

• Bloating. Similarly, daily abdominal massages also relieve abdominal bloating (most often the result of excess fluids in the abdominal cavity). During a 2015 study, those receiving regular abdominal massages also reported reduced levels of depression and anxiety while their sense of well-being improved.

Uterine Massage Techniques Should Be Customized To The Patient

There is no one-size-fits-all choreography for abdominal massage. Instead, we listen carefully to our patients’ symptoms and concerns in addition to reviewing their medical history. Different symptoms or health issues require a focus on varying acupressure or meridian points. Once we comprehensively understand your current situation and health goals, we customize treatment recommendations accordingly. 

Are you interested in learning more about whether you’re a good candidate for Mayan abdominal massage? Schedule an appointment with Mitchell Family Acupuncture. If it feels like uterine massages would benefit you, we’ll incorporate them into your treatment plan and teach you how to perform a massage at home to give your body what it needs to heal consistently.

Using Moxibustion To Treat Breech Presentation

According to the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ACOG), breech babies account for about 3% to 4% of all full-term pregnancies. Breech babies are positioned body first, rather than head first, in the weeks leading up to giving birth (36 weeks and beyond). Fortunately, moxibustion and acupuncture have high success rates in helping breech babies reposition head-first in the uterus.

There is no cause for concern if a baby is feet or bum first up to about 32 to 36 weeks or so. This is not uncommon, and most babies work with the uterus to turn into a head-down position during that window. However, at the 36-week point, your midwife or OB will begin to discuss methods for helping the baby to change positions to optimize chances for a natural, vaginal birth. 

Moxibustion: Turn A Breech Baby Naturally

One method, called external cephalic version (ECV) involves manually massaging the abdomen and manipulating the uterus in an effort to slowly move the baby’s head around and down. In addition to manually working with the baby and the abdomen, your OB or online research may lead you to explore the ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment for breech babies: moxibustion and acupuncture. 

Both of these treatments work with meridians that activate the uterus, and the uterine movement helps the baby engage into the correct position. According to published medical studies, moxa successfully turns breech babies about 75% of the time when combined with postural exercises (more on that below).  Another reason mothers love moxa sessions is because they’re a guaranteed way to get the baby moving, and babies frequently respond to the energized uterus with kicks and push as they begin repositioning to increased uterine movement.

What Is Moxibustion?

Like acupuncture, moxibustion has been used for thousands of years to promote healthy energy flow and circulation along the body’s main meridians. While acupuncture uses thin, painless needles to stimulate particular pressure points, moxibustion (moxa) uses a combination of heat and herbs - typically mugwort - to warm particular acupressure points.

Acupuncturists typically introduce moxa for women with breech babies at the end of the second (around 28 weeks) and the beginning of the third trimesters. However, we also accept first-time patients in their third trimester who use moxibustion and/or acupuncture to turn their breech babies. It is completely safe and backed by thousands of years of research by both Eastern and Western healers and physicians.

How Does Moxa Treat Breech Presentation?

If your baby presents in a breech position, we’ll immediately recommend moxa. The good news for mothers-to-be is that - in addition to being effective - a moxa session provides added benefits, including complete relaxation and a chance to restore and rejuvenate. You also have the opportunity to explore other pregnancy-supportive treatments, such as acupuncture and acupressure massages - both of which support getting the baby into a prime birthing position.

During the moxa session, we’ll heat mugwort bundles or sticks and orient them at specific points along the meridian pathway. In the case of a breech baby, we concentrate on a specific point on the bladder meridian - BL 67 - which activates the uterus. Once we’ve shown you how to do it, we provide moxa sticks for mothers to use at home to continue promoting the natural repositioning of the baby.

Risks Of Using Moxibustion To Turn Breech Babies

No physical or prenatal risks are related to using moxa treatments to turn a breech baby. Women polled after studies are most likely to report minimal risks or discomforts, like:

• Not liking the smell of the smoking moxa sticks

• Some abdominal discomfort from the activated uterus and moving baby

• Mild nausea

• Heart palpitations (non-threatening)

Benefits Of Using Moxibustion For Breech Presentation

In addition to helping breech babies turn around, Lamaze.org cites a range of other benefits for women whose moxa treatments were successful, including:

• Increased comfort by avoiding repeat ECV manipulations

• Significant reduction in the use of oxytocin to stimulate labor 

• Reduced risk of C-section

DIY Moxa To Turn Breech Baby At Home

BL 67 is located on the side of the pinky toe, just near the lower-outer corner of the pinky toenail. Once you’ve seen how we use moxa in our clinic, you can replicate moxa sessions at home. Optimally, you’d use moxa to turn a breech baby no later than 33 to 34 weeks, but it still has success rates for women who begin breech moxa treatments after that.

Benefits of doing moxa at home

Learning how to do moxa treatments at home means the opportunity to:

• Give the baby more chances since it can be done up to 10 times per day for up to two weeks.

• Take some quiet time to yourself (10 to 15 minutes at a time), breathing deep and envisioning your baby turning around to be head-down in the uterus.

• Know you’re doing everything you can to support the baby’s healthy birth position.

• Save money on professional treatments as you prepare for your maternity leave.

How to do moxa at home

It’s best to use moxa treatments on both UL 67 points at the same time whenever possible. If your partner, friend, or family member cannot help you, it’s easy to do moxa on your own.

Read The University Midwifery Associate’s instructions on Moxibustion For Turning a Breech Baby. Then, when a partner is available, we recommend taking advantage of the ability to lay down on your back, toes facing upwards, so they can hold the moxa sticks at the correct points, and you can relax your body, mind, and spirit.

Combine moxa with postural exercises for best results

The best moxa results (that 75% we mentioned above) occur when mothers use a combination of moxa treatments and postural exercises that shift the baby’s position. Read How to Turn a Breech Baby for examples, and then discuss them with your midwife or OB before trying them at home.

Schedule Moxibustion To Treat Breech Presentation At Mitchell Family Acupuncture

Mitchell Family Acupuncture specializes in acupuncture for fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and wellness for women and men. We have years of experience using moxibustion to treat breech presentation, and we’d love to help you and your baby get ready for a healthy labor and delivery. Contact us to learn more about moxa, acupuncture, and other fertility-friendly treatments to support your well-being in this last stage of pregnancy.

What Can Gua Sha Help With?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has multiple foundations; two of the most important are the essential need for balance and flow when it comes to well-being. Gua sha, a TCM healing modality standard, is practiced regularly in acupuncture clinics around the world.

Many of our patients have never heard of gua sha before and wonder what gua sha helps with. As with many of our services, the answer is “so many things!” Today, however, we want to introduce you to the concept and tell you more about the benefits of this ancient healing practice.

What Is Gua Sha?

The direct translation of the Chinese words gua and sha are “scraping” and “sand.” Some translate it as “scraping sand” due to the light, sand-like bruising that appears on a patient’s skin after the practitioner finishes. Others translate it as “scraping petechia” because petechia refers to the red, small spotted bruising. Still, others cut right to the chase and say it translates as “scraping away meridian stagnation.” While the latter may not be linguistically accurate, it best describes the process. 

During a gua sha session, patients lay on the table as if for a massage, and we rub a soothing massage oil onto their skin. Then, we use a thin-edged scraping tool, often made of stone, to scrape along the skin's surface and stimulate circulation in the outer muscle layers as well as the multiple layers of skin and fat tissue.

How Does Gua Sha Help?

As with acupuncture, moxibustion, and many other TCM healing techniques, gua sha’s primary goal is to release stagnancy and increase the flow of “chi” or life force in a person’s body. And, because the TCM model sees the mind-body-spirit as one, any increase in flow and balance in the body also benefits emotional well-being.

And, for anyone doubting the efficacy and scientific basis for gua sha, we invite you to read many Western medical information hubs, like Cleaveland Clinic, that support gua sha treatment. In fact, Cleveland Clinic reminds readers that the Western physical therapy world adopts similar practices (called the Graston Technique) to soothe injured muscles, promote muscle relaxation, and reduce scar tissue.

Gua Sha supports health and well-being in multiple ways

Our gua sha sessions support patients in several ways:

Increase circulation 

As you know from your basic life science classes, circulation has multiple purposes. Some of the most critical roles circulation plays are bringing essential things to the cells and removing toxins and dead cell material. Conversely, stagnant circulation means a decrease in oxygenation and an inability for the body to receive the nutrients it needs or shed the toxins it doesn’t. 

Move stagnant lymphatic fluid

Even in this “modern, 21st-century” era of medicine, physicians and scientists are still a bit miffed by the lymph system. We have general information about lymph nodes, and the lymph tracts (closely related to TCM’s meridians), but much of the lymph system function remains a mystery. We know that sluggish lymph drainage has negative impacts on the body, including lack of energy, inflammation, and more frequent illness. Gua sha stimulates lymph movement that helps rebalance the immune system response.

Stimulate the flow of Chi

Chi, or life force, is the subtle energy that makes us more than just a physical body. It flows with the breath, in the blood, with every beat of your heart, and in synchronization with nature. When your physical body is stagnant, the energy field is equally stagnant. Stimulating and freeing up stagnancy in the circulation system and throughout the body’s tissues allows chi to flow more seamlessly again.

Release, release, release

We work daily, using TCM for a variety of patients, with an emphasis placed on acupuncture for fertility and women’s overall health. We’ve seen over and over how gua sha and other stimulating healing modalities help women release the stagnant energy, emotion, trauma, and stories keeping them from having the full, heart-centered life they are meant to live. The process of stimulating flow and detoxing the body means the body gets to release all of the things its been storing unnecessarily.

Benefits of Gua Sha for Body, Mind, and Spirit

All of the above present the benefits of gua sha in a very general sense. Now, let’s dive deeper into the specifics of gua sha healing and its benefits for the body, mind, and spirit.

Reduced inflammation

Inflammation is both a root cause and a direct result of infections, disease, and poor health. It’s also 100% related to a patient's diet, which is why a first acupuncture or TCM appointment always includes a detailed review of diet and lifestyle choices.

Tissue and circulation stimulation from gua sha reduces inflammation, which positively impacts just about every aspect of physical health.

Improved reproductive health

It’s long proven that acupuncture and TCM modalities positively affect reproductive health and the uterus. Women who suffer from severe PMS find relief from gua sha treatments. Women in multiple studies reported improvements in common PMS symptoms or ailments, including:

• More regular periods (which means more ovulation)

• Fewer headaches/migraines

• Improved energy levels

• Reduced hot flashes

While we recommend gua sha for all patients interested in acupuncture for fertility, it’s an automatic treatment offering for those with PCOS or endometriosis. Both are leading causes of female infertility, and both often result in irregular periods and PMS symptoms relieved by gua sha.

Breast engorgement

It’s not uncommon for new mothers to experience breast engorgement during the first few postpartum weeks. Although it normally resolves on its own, engorged breasts cause latching issues and put women at risk for mastitis, both of which complicate breastfeeding. Gua sha reduces breast engorgement and supports postpartum restoration and comfort. 

While you’re seeing us for postpartum treatments, we’re also happy to share nutritional supplements and whole-food diets that support postpartum recovery and breastfeeding.

Migraines and neck pain

It makes perfect sense that a healing treatment supports flow and stagnation, relieves inflammation, also relieves migraine headaches and neck pain. Similarly, it helps patients with chronic sinus pain. Once circulation and energy flow are restored, all of the stuck and blocked energy and inflammation leading to headaches and neck/back pain is moved out of the body.

Schedule An Appointment to Discuss How TCM & Gua Sha Can Help You

Would you like to learn more about how restoring energy flow and balance in the body can support your overall well-being? Schedule your first appointment with Mitchell Family Acupuncture. We’re happy to answer any questions you have about gua sha and would only suggest it if it feels like the right fit for your experience. Our incredible team of heart-centered practitioners get to know every one of our patients and their needs, customizing treatment plans accordingly. 

What Is Moxibustion?

Moxibustion, called “moxa” for short, is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) healing modality. It has been used for thousands of years, usually in partnership with acupuncture, to promote a balanced flow of energy (Qi) through the body’s 12 meridians. Instead of needles or pressure that activate certain meridians or pressure points, moxa implements the combination of heat and the properties of an herb called mugwort. 

The Benefits Of Moxibustion Explained

The body’s meridians and the flow of life force/energy that moves through those meridians form the foundation of TCM. When energy flow is blocked, lethargic, or too fast, we are more prone to illness and disease. An excess of cold or heat in the body also causes problems, which moxibustion can address. Poor or imbalanced energy flow affects every aspect of our health, including the mental and emotional. TCM understands that all things are connected, so balance, equanimity, and homeostasis are the primary goals of TCM healing modalities. 

Most people are familiar with acupuncture, a form of pain-free healing and wellness maintenance, using small needles that are inserted at specific points along the meridians. Moxa works in alignment with acupuncture. However, instead of needles, we use small, dried bundles of mugwort (artemisia) that are lit to a smoldering heat point. The resulting heat and mugwort smoke warms and loosens frozen or blocked points while detoxing the body at that same time.

What Will I Feel During A Moxibustion Treatment?

There are two different types of moxibustion: direct and indirect. With the direct method, we place mugwort cones directly on your skin at specific locations. The cones are lit similarly to incense - smoldering smoke, rather than flame - and left in place. Patients feel a warm sensation - never burning - under the cones, and we leave them to burn for a while, removing them before the heat is too intense. Most patients feel a warmth that blooms and travels along the pathway we’re treating - physical proof of moxibustion at work.

The indirect method leaves space between the patient and the moxa. This might mean burning moxa cones close to their bodies but not touching them or sometimes placing the moxa cone on top of an acupuncture needle - causing a more powerful warming and stimulation effect. Your acupuncture practitioner determines which is right for you based on your diagnosis and goals.

Why Mugwort For Moxibustion?

Before we move into the benefits of moxibustion, we want to shine the spotlight on mugwort. Artemisia is a member of the daisy family. It has a long and robust history as a healing agent in cultures all around the world. Historically, mugwort has been used in tonics, teas, foods, tinctures, powders, and moxibustion-like practices. Today, physicians, nutritionists, and homeopaths often prescribe mugwort capsules or pills in order to relieve, support, or treat:

• Digestive problems

• Irregular menstruation

• High blood pressure

• Liver toxicity or disease

• Anxiety or sleep issues

Creams and lotions continuing mugwort are also used by physicians, dermatologists, and estheticians to treat scars. This acknowledgment of moxibustion and mugwort’s healing properties by Western medicine has made it more acceptable - and more readily available - at acupuncture clinics around the nation. 

Now, acupuncture and moxibustion are widely used to provide multiple health benefits, including reproductive and fertility support.

5 Benefits Of Moxibustion For Health & Fertility

The bullet point list above serves as good reference points as we move into five ways moxibustion can support you and your healthcare plan. 

Digestive support

Digestive issues are typically rooted in two things: overall inflammation - frequently caused by unmanaged stress - and a diminished population of healthy gut flora and fauna. Lack of digestive flow causes a wide range of peripheral health issues, including malnourishment, fatigue, and compromised immunity.

The combination of moxa, acupuncture, and nutritional support (using nutrient-dense bone broths and supplements), greatly reduces and can completely eliminate digestive discomfort, including chronic diarrhea or constipation. It is regularly used to treat patients with Crohn’s and other forms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Regulating irregular menstrual cycles

Irregular menstruation is never normal and almost always means there is some type of hormonal imbalance at work. This could mean excess androgens (male hormones) common for women with PCOS, high estrogen levels, or blood sugar imbalances that throw insulin and other hormones out of whack. In addition, irregular menstruation means irregular ovulation, which negatively impacts fertility. 

We work with patients using lifestyle changes, regular acupuncture, and moxibustion to restore energetic flow, allowing the body to rest and calibrate hormone production. As a result, many patients experience regular menstrual cycles within a few months of treatments. 

Pain reduction (especially due to inflammation or arthritis)

Patients with joint pain or athletic injuries, as well as those with arthritis, find regular moxibustion treatments to relieve pain. In many cases, moxibustion for pain relief means greatly reducing medication doses or staying off pain relievers entirely for long periods of time (or for good). 

If you seek acupuncture or moxibustion for pain management, we may also recommend adding an acupressure massage to your treatment package at certain intervals.

Improved ovarian function

Studies have shown that the warming properties, in addition to increased circulation and energy flow, also support better ovary function. An article published in the National Library of Medicine states, “Modern medical research suggests that moxibustion can improve ovarian function by inhibiting apoptotic events of naturally aging ovaries and enhancing antioxidant defense ability. 

Improved circulation and blood flow to, in, and around the reproductive organs support regulated menstrual cycles and healthier eggs, which improve fertility chances both with or without assisted reproductive technology.

Turns breech babies around

Moxibustion is proven to help breech babies turn around and load into the birth channel in the right position. This is a huge relief for many women, supporting their goals for natural labor and delivery, delivery free of interventions, or home birth. 

Add Moxibustion To Your Plan For Wellbeing

Are you interested in learning more about how moxibustion can support your health and well-being? Are you seeking acupuncture for fertility treatments and curious about whether moxa can help? Schedule a consultation with Mitchell Family Acupuncture. We create personalized acupuncture and moxa schedules designed to restore balance, health, and well-being in your body - and to support fertility health.

How Acupressure Massage Along Meridians Can Be Beneficial

The art and science of massage are rooted in the ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Various TCM modalities, including massages that focus on stimulating a series of “energetic highways” running through the human body.

We call these networks or highways “meridians,” and massaging them - along with specific pressure points along the meridians - benefits the human body, mind, and spirit. 

Integrating Acupressure Massage Stimulating Meridians Restores Health

Johns Hopkins Medicine has a concise explanation of TCM Basic, explaining that:

Its basic concept is that a vital force of life, called Qi, surges through the body.  Any imbalance to Qi can cause disease and illness. This imbalance is most commonly thought to be caused by an alteration in the opposite and complementary forces that make up the Qi. These are called yin and yang...Balance between health and disease is a key concept. TCM treatment seeks to restore this balance through treatment specific to the individual.

This is the premise we use as we treat patients using meridian massage, which restores energetic balance and flows through the body. Once the balance is restored, and toxins are flushed, most patients experience noticeable relief from chronic and acute pain and discomfort and find it easier to manage existing health conditions. In many cases, routine TCM treatments such as meridian massage also help them manage, reverse, or reduce existing illness, disease, or reproductive issues.

Worried About Acupuncture? Try Acupressure & Massage

Many of our patients opt to use acupuncture and massages stimulating the meridians as part of their wellness services plan. However, we also have our fair share of patients who are wary of acupuncture, especially those with a history of needle phobia. Specialized massages are a great first step into the TCM treatment realm. 

While it doesn’t use needles, our massages stimulate the same pressure points and meridians as we’d target using acupuncture, so the outcomes are very similar. While a meridian-focused massage will typically be a full-body experience (unless specified otherwise), we’ll use what we’ve learned from your initial visit to our clinic to customize the massage to meet your current health needs and future health goals.

Most Common Benefits Of Targeted Massage

Some of the most common and immediate benefits of targeted massages are:

Stress Reduction

As with other TCM techniques, our massages promote relaxation and reduce stress levels. The simple act of lying down in a relaxing environment does volumes for decreasing your heart rate, expanding your breaths, and allowing your parasympathetic nervous system to relax. 

From there, we utilize gentle, experienced massage techniques to move blocked energy and toxins out of the body. This helps cleanse the body of stress hormones (detox), allowing it to find its way back to natural hormone balance.

Reduced inflammation

Inflammation is an enemy of well-being. When the body has higher-than-normal levels of inflammation (often the result of chronic stress, poor diet, existing health conditions, etc.), the immune system goes on overdrive, and all of the body’s systems are compromised. Inflammation is also associated with almost all of the most common female infertility factors, like endometriosis, PCOS, fibroids, and autoimmune-related infertility.

The combination of healthy lifestyle choices and regular meridian massage appointments (or alternating massage with acupuncture or Qi Needle techniques, 

Improved sleep habits

Sleep is an integral part of your body’s health plan. Most cell restoration, healing, and hormone production/regulation occur when we sleep. Once your body’s energy is in better balance and stress levels are reduced, patients find they sleep better. This creates a waterfall of positive effects, including:

• Better focus and alertness throughout the day

• Improved moods

• Easier weight management (metabolism improves with healthy sleep)

• Fewer cravings (a tired/fatigued body is more likely to trigger sugar/snack cravings)

• Healthier immune response

If you have trouble sleeping, make sure you let us know. We’ll integrate sleep-supportive techniques and nutritional recommendations into your treatment plan.

Acupressure massage for fertility support

Not surprisingly, any healing modalities that reduce stress, minimize or eliminate inflammation, and improve sleep are likely to positively affect health conditions - including infertility. In addition to using personalized massage forms while trying to conceive independently, studies show that acupuncture and massage improve fertility treatment outcomes, particularly for women participating in IUI and IVF. 

While you can opt to use massage as a solo TCM technique, the best results are found when patients utilize the full spectrum of TCM modalities recommended by their clinician. This may include nutritional support, supplements, acupuncture, a variety of massage forms, Tai Chi, and more.

Schedule Your Fertility Massage At Mitchell Family Acupuncture

Would you like to learn more about massage benefits or how traditional Chinese medicine can support your overall health and well-being? Schedule an appointment with Mitchell Family Acupuncture for a massage today. We are happy to work in partnership with your existing healthcare providers, so there’s no need to choose between east and west; as we’ve already noted - it’s all about gracious balance!

A Review of Acupuncture’s Effect on Reproductive Hormones and the Uterus

Here at Mitchell Family Acupuncture, we have no doubts about the efficacy of our treatments as we’ve seen firsthand how acupuncture has changed the lives of our patients over the years.

Still, as enthusiastic as we are, we recognize the science of acupuncture has its skeptics, so we are always excited by real studies and proof that what we do does get results, particularly when it comes to women’s health.

Our very own Dr. Hana Lurie, L.Ac., DAOM shares in this journal entry a paper published in The Journal of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine.

Here’s an excerpt from the paper

Acupuncture is used to treat a vast array of reproductive and gynecological conditions. Though acupuncture seems to be effective in treating these conditions, often its mechanism of action is unclear. This begs the question: what is acupuncture’s direct effect on our reproductive physiology? In reviewing current research, it is clear that acupuncture regulates the reproductive system via hormone pathways, as well as directly affecting the uterus. 

Some of acupuncture’s direct actions on the uterus are structural, such as angiogenesis and endometrial thickness, while others are on a functional level such as strength and intervals of uterine contractions. Hormonally, acupuncture has been shown to alter levels of progesterone and prolactin serum levels, FSH, LH, estradiol levels, testosterone, and more. Perhaps as a result of regulating a patient’s hormone levels, mood and mental-emotional status also appear to improve with acupuncture.

Read the full document here:

A Review of Acupuncture’s Effect on Reproductive Hormones and the Uterus

What to Expect From Your First Acupuncture Appointment

Your first visit to an acupuncturist is a big deal. For some patients, a first acupuncture appointment is also their first experience with the concept of integrated medicine that dates back thousands of centuries, even if it’s only recently been accepted by western medicine traditions.

We’ve put together this brief guide of what you can expect. And, of course, we always encourage you to reach out and contact us here at Mitchell Family Acupuncture to ask any questions or share any concerns you have.  

8 Things You Can Expect From a First Acupuncture Visit

Our intention is to make you feel at ease and as confident as possible about your upcoming appointment. Here are 8 things you can expect - and look forward to - as you anticipate your first acupuncture visit.

1. Welcome the experience of feeling truly heard

For many of our patients, the first appointment is also their first time to truly feel seen, heard, and understood by their healthcare provider. Most traditional medicine offices place marked time constraints, and insurance providers “cap” visit times to as little as 20 minutes. We’re not making that up! According to findings published in the National Library of Medicine, the median length of allotted appointment time for primary care visits was 15.7 minutes.

That is not the way Chinese medicine and acupuncture work. Your first appointment will take about 90 minutes from start to finish. 

As a healing modality that takes a whole-body approach to healing, our goal in this first visit is to get to know you and all we can about your needs. That’s the only way to create the personalized treatment approach we’ll use for your health plan. Our hope is that you’ll feel truly heard and witnessed. We’re as interested in the concerns of your heart as we are in the health of your body, as the two are closely intertwined.

2. Lots of intentional questions (that we hope you’ll answer honestly)

Yes, you’ll have already finished a complete questionnaire where you provided lots of information about your medical history and current concerns/health goals. However, it’s one thing to type answers in a box and another to speak face-to-face with a dedicated healing practitioner.

We’ll review your submitted answers closely. However, during your first appointment, we’ll also ask some of them again. Sometimes patients remember things they forgot to include, or their body language may provide more information than their text. Also, we’ll have additional questions for you to answer, many of which your primary physician may have never asked. 

Sleep habits

• Urinary/bowel habits

• Digestive history or complaints

• Stress levels and response

• Reproductive history

• Sex life/libido

• Menstrual cycle

• Recent/historic life challenges, big experiences, losses, traumas, or grief

Please answer as honestly and transparently as possible. Anything that pops up should be spoken to as your “body keeps the score,” and there may be something your inner-knowing feels is important to support our care plan for you.

There is nothing you can say that will shock us or cast judgment. Your honesty is part of the healing process, and we take what we learn to tenderly explore the options that will provide the most nourishing, sustainable, and effective results. What we really want is to truly know you and your story. 

3. A pulse and tongue exam

Chinese medicine uses a variety of diagnostics to inform us about the body, internal organ function, stress levels, the biome (microflora and fauna), and more. To read the body’s messaging, we will take your pulse and examine your tongue, in addition to other assessments common to a basic physical exam.

It is from this big-picture approach to physical assessment that we target the Chinese herbs, supplements, acupuncture, or other healing modalities to support your current needs.  

4. The ability to completely relax and let go

One of the first things patients do when they enter our office and treatment rooms is to take a big, deep breath. This is a tremendous compliment to us, a sign their body automatically intuits the space as safe, relaxing, and supportive.

Here, there is no reason to hang on to any tension, worry, or stress. Time spent in our office is your chance to put all of that on the shelf, where it can remain as we work to unblock, open, and restore the body back to balance. 

5. A pain-free acupuncture experience

By and large, pain or fear of needles is our first-time patients' top concern. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about either. First, acupuncture is not painful. The needles are very fine, and they only penetrate deep enough to interact with the body’s energy flow (called Qi, pronounced chee). At the very most, you may feel an occasional, gentle prick that immediately recedes. If your fear of needles or pain prevails, that is no problem.

Instead, we can use Qi Needle Treatments, which don’t use needles at all. Instead, we apply gentle pressure to key meridian points along the body. This activates energy similarly to acupuncture without needles. When you’re ready for needles, we’ll move to acupuncture.

6. Healing may occur beyond what you expected

Most of the time, the “whole body” approach to acupuncture means you’ll benefit in ways you never expected. For example, you may come in to treat migraines and find you also end up benefiting from deeper and more healthy sleep habits. Or, acupuncture for fertility may have been your primary goal, yet you find the results have completely rebalanced your stress levels and digestion in addition to supporting your fertility. 

We hope the healing you experience here goes beyond whatever ailment or discomfort brought you here.

7. You (often) get to keep your clothes on

In most cases acupuncture sessions can be done with your clothes on. As we mentioned above, your comfort and sense of security are a primary concern, so we’ll work patiently with you to ensure your body says “Yes,” before trying any of our recommended healing treatments, ranging from acupuncture and Qi Needle techniques to massage, moxibustion therapy, meridian massage, abdominal massage, herbal recommendations and nutritional/lifestyle advice.

8. Your next appointment might be different

Because we utilize an array of healing modalities, and the body is always changing, no two visits are exactly alike. Regardless of the care plan we create for you, we’re always attuned to what’s going on for you from visit to visit - and we alternate healing treatments accordingly.

Contact Mitchell Family Acupuncture to Put Your Concerns to Rest

Do you have additional questions or concerns about what to expect from your first acupuncture appointment? Please don’t hesitate to contact us here at Mitchell Family Acupuncture, 510-558-0117. We don’t want you to spend a single minute worrying about it. Instead, get the answers you need to step further into your most calm and ready-for-healing self.

Mothering as Metaphor

By Kaya Midlin, Vedic Educator, Yoga Therapist and Teacher’s Teacher

A mother loves all of her children. But when one is in need of her attention, her love, her care... she tends to that one. •

Yes. All lives matter, true. But #blacklivesmatter is a call to attention {if you had not been already paying attention for all these years and generations!} to tend to that which needs tending to. It is a call to uprise, uplift, re-calibrate what has been long distorted. •

The mother knows all children matter but she tends to the one who is in pain... and she even calls on the other children to tend to the one in pain as well. Be a mother. Be a carer. Be a responsible and rightful person. When a child is bleeding or sad or exhausted does the mother say, “I can’t help you because all my children matter and it takes my attention from the other child”, no. A mother tends to that which she is being called to do. •

Tend to the circumstance at hand that is calling your attention. This is how to be a rightful contributor to the family, the community, the world. Tend to what matters. •

Some mothers are born mothers. Some learn. If you are just catching up with what it means to tend to the world or the community, fine. Do the work you need to do to catch up and participate. Don’t apologize, don’t try to be perfect, just get on with it. If you have been at this for some time, pass the torch when you need. Tend to yourself when you are the one in need of tending to. We need you full. •

https://yogawithkaya.com/

7 Benefits of Bone Broth

By Cassandra Gate
the founder of Broth Baby,
the supplier for the bone broth base of our herbal medicinal broths

If you subscribe to the theory of like heals like, then it’s no surprise that bone broth is good for our own bones and joints. Bone broth is high in collagen, a protein naturally found in animal cartilage, which helps us repair our own cartilage that wears down over time with age and injuries. Nutrients like GAGS (glycosaminoglycans), a family of carbohydrates found in bones and connective tissue also help to ease joint pain and contribute to overall joint health and repair. 

Commonly seen in the sports and weight lifting world, supplements like chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine are just isolated nutrients from the larger collagen structure. These expensive supplements are often recommended to those who experience joint pain. However, one study compared the effectiveness of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine vs whole collagen and found that the collagen was actually more effective, indicating that there may be something in the whole food that the supplements miss. Yet another reminder that whole foods are more than the sum of their parts! 

Bone broth is a key player in gut health, especially for those suffering from digestive disorders. The high glycine levels in broth can help increase stomach acid secretion, while glutamine, another amino acid, helps to repair the lining of the intestines. Gelatin has been shown to support healthy gut bacteria growth and control intestinal inflammation. Bone broth is also very health supportive to those with digestive distress because it is easily digested, with it’s nutrients easily available for absorption through the intestinal lining. This can come as a big relief to those suffering from the effects of chemo or radiation induced nausea, those with severe food allergies and people with Crohn's and ulcerative colitis. 

Surprisingly, bones are made up of 50% protein by volume, and even more once you factor in all the connective tissue and joint matter attached to them. All of this is melted down into the broth during the slow simmer process, making bone broth a protein rich food source. This can be especially great for people on high protein diets due to intense exercise and training programs, or helpful for people who are trying to reduce their meat consumption, while still maintaining healthy levels of protein intake. 

Minerals found in the bones, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus, as well as minerals imparted from vegetables, seaweed and sea salt, all contribute to the high mineral content of bone broth. These minerals are also more bioavailable, meaning easier for your body to absorb and use, than minerals bound up in food that you might not be fully digesting. All of this makes bone broth an obvious choice when we’re feeling run down or sick, just when we need a boost of minerals to help our bodies recover from an immune system attack or a stressful day. 

Speaking of the immune system, broth is also helpful in supporting the healthy functioning of our bodies immune response. By way of supporting gut health, bone broth can help lessen the amount of inflammation and food allergy triggers that distract the immune system and cause imbalanced inflammatory responses in the first place. Bone broth, with it’s soothing effects on the nervous system, can also help us get deeper sleep, which is directly related to proper and effective immune system responses. A healthy body starts with a good nights sleep!

Bone broth is also helpful in detoxing the body and lowering our oxidative stress (responsible for early aging!), which is needed now more than ever with the overwhelming amount of environmental toxins we come in contact with on a daily basis. From car exhaust, to water pollutants, to plastics and pesticides in processed foods, who couldn’t use help detoxing? Glycine, glutathione and an array of minerals helps improve liver function, the organ most responsible for processing and removing harmful substances from our bodies.

Lastly, benefits to skin health are worth mentioning. Underneath our skin is a layer of collagen that helps give our skin it’s youthful texture and tone. This collagen breaks down over time, contributing to signs of aging such as wrinkles and cellulite. Getting healthy amounts of collagen in your diet can improve the hydration, appearance and elasticity of our skin for years to come.

Happy broth drinking!

xo
Broth Baby 

Plants with Benefits : Herbs to Support a Satisfying Sex Life

By Kirsten Cowan
CEO, Angelica & Peony

Herbal medicine and acupuncture offer a lot of support for those experiencing any kind of sexual problem, physical or emotional. This article is intended to introduce you to some herbal allies and offer some simple home and traditional applications for gentle support. For effective treatment of ongoing or serious issues, consult a qualified herbalist (email me if you'd like help finding someone in your area).

Herbs to stoke the flames: Yang Tonics

Many herbs traditionally considered aphrodisiacs in the Chinese materia medica are in the Yang tonic category - they stoke the energetic fires of the body and reinforce the basal energy that governs sexual function and especially libido. Herbs in this category are generally warming, and include a few foods you might be familiar with. You might recognize some of these herbs advertised as aphrodisiacs or 'herbal viagra' but it's not a good idea to indiscriminately guzzle them. Overuse of yang tonics in search of super potency can be overheating and lead to side effects such as headaches and dryness.

Notice what's not on this list? Rhino horn. It's never been considered an aphrodisiac in Chinese Medicine, and is not used by TCM practitioners.

Yin Yang Huo, known as Horny Goat Weed, might be one of the most well-known Chinese libido enhancers. It's been shown to increase erections and ejaculations in studies with rats, and seems to mimic testosterone in the body. 

Dong Chong Xia Cao or Cordyceps. Cordyceps is a type of fungus that grows in the body of a caterpillar. It has been used in Tibet for millenia and is renowned as an aphrodisiac. "People of both sexes usually take one piece of [cordyceps] with a cup of milk to enhance their sexual potency and desire." (Source)

Cuscuta Seed or Tu Si Zi. The tiny seeds of this parasitic vine are used traditionally especially for issues like premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction.

Other herbs that benefit the Yang and might be found in your kitchen include walnuts, fenugrek seed and black cardamom seed.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbal medicine is a continuum from foods, which one can use to gently maintain and restore balance, all the way to toxic substances that can only be taken for a short period to deal with serious illness (how I would categorize most Western drugs). So your kitchen is filled with aphrodisiacs! Renowned libido enhancers include lamb, especially the kidneys, walnuts, warming spices such as fenugrek, fennel, cardamom, black pepper, garlic and ginger.

Shrimp is another famed aphrodisiac; 'some Chinese herbalists believe that if one consumes too much shrimp without sexual intercourse, one may develop nosebleeds due to excessive fire built up in the body." Take that under advisement! (Source)

A simple shrimp stir-fry with ginger and garlic is an easy yang enhancing meal, or try spiced dairy or coconut milk as in this ayurvedic recipe, with fenugrek, cardamom and black pepper for a spicy drink that will give you a boost.

These dietary additions are great to support you when you feel a little 'off your game' or to enhance the effects of customized treatment you're receiving from a practitioner. 

The Making of Le Balm

By Corrine Weber
Gold & Thyme

Since returning home to Paris from the States this fall, I’ve been busy cooking at Chambre Noire, a small natural wine and tapas bar located in the 11th arrondisement. With the changing seasons, it was great to be back in a small French kitchen, creating and trying new recipes! I’m now back in Berkeley with Marc for the holidays, and it seems like as good a time as any to explain a bit about why I made LE BALM. It first began as a class on Herb Craft and Medicine Making that I took this summer at the Ohlone Herbal Center in Berkeley and later became a form of creative and “herbal” expression.

On the first evening, I remember walking into the class and feeling grateful – the building was a beautiful red brick structure with large windows and a huge park in front – Mariah, the instructor, had placed a beautiful bouquet of wild flowers in the center of the room – and Rumi, the dog, came to greet me. Mariah began the class with a reading to set the tone. Afterwards, I remember writing PATIENCE + KINDNESS = WISDOM in my journal.  At the time, these words didn’t seem like they had anything to do with medicine making but, in fact, the process of creating LE BALM required both patience and kindness, and ultimately I think I became a bit wiser in the process.

Patience & Kindness

Once I mixed together the lavender, Calendula, Comfrey, plantain and Rosehips with the organic Grapeseed oil, I had to wait. I stored the gallon-sized jar in the pantry and had to wait a month for the oil to become infused. Every morning, I gently turned the jar upside-down so that the mixture would continue moving.  I remember becoming a bit impatient as the days passed, but I also knew that I had to give LE BALM the time it deserved.

Thirty days later, I ran downstairs like a little girl on Christmas morning, so excited to see, and to smell, what my infusion had become. But, as chemistry would have it, I couldn’t open the jar ;(. I proceeded to put the jar in the car and take it to my brother’s, who was able to open it.  We were sitting in the car and I can remember the smell emanating from the jar – lavender, then the Calendula and Rosehips. It was almost like a good wine – you take a sip and once the liquid reaches your stomach, it’s like little fireworks going off, from your navel up to your throat.

I got home, couldn’t open the jar again because of the fermentation process, but was saved once again by my neighbor! The making of LE BALM was quickly becoming more and more of a family affair.  My mom accompanied me to Napa where Rob of the Napa Valley Bee Company helped me to source sustainable beeswax.  Then came the fun part – the pressing!

In class, we got to use this beautiful handmade press, but at my house, we (because I enlisted my mother’s help) used our gloved hands. Although the workshop press was great, there is always something so gratifying about using one’s hands.  Once the oil was separated from the herbs, I measured the beeswax and then added the pressed oil and beeswax to a double-broiler. Again, a test of patience. Slowly but surely, the wax melted into the oil and, as I poured the mixture into the jars, I felt a mixture of pride and gratitude. Little did I know that 3 months after completing my workshop, I would havemy own product in hand. In honor of its multi-dimensional, sense-explosive properties, I named it, “LE BALM.”

I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it!