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Wellness

Heart Afire: The Fire Element

The organs in Chinese medicine are more than just the anatomical organs of the same name. The organ systems include not only their physiological function, but also their mental, emotional, spiritual and elemental qualities that align with nature and the seasons. There are many “correspondences” in what is known as Five Element theory (五行). This theory is one of the most important in traditional Chinese medicine. Let’s explore the Fire element and its organ, the heart.

The season corresponding to the heart is summer, and both are considered the most yang: hot, bountiful and abundant. Yang is what is bright, moving, outward, hot and loud. Yin is what is more inward, still, dark and cooler. The associated color of the heart is  red, the climate is heat, the flavor is bitter and its paired organ is the small intestine (many urinary issues are due to “heart fire” heat descending). The sense organ aligned with heart is the tongue, and the vessels associated with heart are the corresponding tissues. The heart sound is laughter and the emotion is joy. The heart houses what is known as the shen, which is the mind and spirit. continue reading »

Fighting Flu Season with Acupuncture

While the flu is actually not a season, we have become programmed to think of it as the months of November through March. On average, the flu hospitalizes thousands every year, especially the young and elderly. There are also a number of deaths related to the flu, mostly due to people already having compromised immune systems.

The flu, also known as influenza, is a highly contagious respiratory infection that is caused by a number of viruses. To date, there are approximately 26 to 30 different known strains of the flu virus. This is one of the reasons the flu vaccine has only mild efficacy. The flu vaccine itself, typically only covers five to seven strains of the flu.  Symptoms of the flu include fever, coughing, a sore throat, fatigue, muscle aches, pains, runny nose and watery eyes. continue reading »

Give yourself the gift of smoking cessation!

Make today the day you decide to quit smoking!
Make today the day you decide to quit smoking!

 

One of the single most important things you can do to benefit both your long-term and short-term health is to quit smoking. According to The American Lung Association, the benefits of quitting begin in the first 20 minutes! You have likely tried before, maybe many times…think of those as just practice!

The problem:

Quitting smoking isn’t easy. First of all, dealing with the cravings and withdrawal symptoms can seem overwhelming. In addition, emotional triggers may crop up seemingly out of nowhere. As a result, many people revert to their old habit.

Ask me how acupuncture can help you get through the challenges and be smoke-free in 2017!

Our solution:

This month (through January 31st 2017) we are offering a discount on our smoking cessation program. For just $499 you get 10 treatments over the course of 6 weeks designed to help you quit!

If you or someone you love wants to kick the habit, make this the year! Call Back to Balance Acupuncture today to get started!

7 Ways to Communicate Healthy Habits to Your Kids

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As the school year kicks back into gear so should the healthy habits that you and your children have before practiced. Notice how I said “practiced,” because we all know during the summer-vacation months we tend to indulge a little. Maybe you have had one too many backyard barbecues, or three too many trips to the favorite ice cream shop down the street. Whatever your summer vice may be don’t worry about it, you can regain those healthy habits from before and introduce them into your children’s lives! continue reading »

How to make a natural sunscreen at home

Blog-img - How to make a natural sunscreen at home_640Although sun protection is extremely important to protect against harmful UV-rays and to prevent skin cancer, next time you pick out your sunscreen, consider what you’re buying. Many common sunscreens actually contain chemicals that can be harmful to your body.

Chemicals to avoid in common sunscreens:

  • Oxybenzone
  • Retinol palmitate
  • Methoxycinnamate
  • Octinoxate
  • Padimate O/PABA
  • Nano or Micronized mineral particles

There are several and easy ways to make effective and natural homemade sunscreen. continue reading »

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