Insomnia? Anxiety? Palpitations?

You may have heard the concept of blood thrown around in talking with an acupuncturist. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), blood is a concept, and not the physical substance of what westerns know as blood.

What is Blood in TCM?

Quite simply, blood means nourishment. It is the “substance” which keeps our muscles, hair, organs, eyes, and skin healthy. It also provides a calm and grounded space for our minds.

Blood can easily become deficient as we get older, get more stressed, and generally have less time to care for ourselves. Physically loosing a large amount of blood can also cause blood deficiency. Some of the most common symptoms experienced when blood is deficient include:

• Dull, pale skin

• Pale lips and tongue

• Dry skin, hair and nails

• Fatigue

• Dizziness

• Numbness or tingling

• Poor memory

• Insomnia

• Anxiety

• Palpitations

However, blood deficiency is most commonly caused by improper nutrition. In this case, it is easy to work on nourishing your blood by incorporating the right foods in your diet.

What are the best foods for blood deficiency?

Dark green, leafy vegetables that are rich in chlorophyll are very important to nourish the blood. Chlorophyll is the pigment that gives plants their green color and helps them make energy from the sun. Chlorophyll is excellent for improving skin health, and wound healing.

In addition, red meat is especially important for nourishing the blood. High quality, grass fed meats are best and are rich in iron and protein. Protein is a key component in maintaining healthy blood. Plant sources of protein that are also good for blood include: beans, lentils, soy, nuts, and some grains.

Here are our top picks for the best foods to nourish the blood:

Vegetables

• Kale

• Beets

• Leafy greens

• Spinach

• Watercress

Fruit

• Apricots

• Cherries

• Dates

• Figs

• Goji berries

• Grapes

Beans/ Soy

• Adzuki beans

• Black soy beans

• Kidney beans

• Tempeh

Animal Products

• Beef

• Bone broth

• Bone marrow

• Eggs

Seafood

• Cuttlefish

• Mussels

• Octopus

• Oysters

• Sardines

• Squid

Herbs and Spices

• Parsley

Other

• Micro-algae (chlorella, spirulina etc.)

The Importance of Eating Habits

In addition to consuming the right foods, it is also important to establish healthy eating habits. Sitting down to enjoy a meal is something that many of us neglect due to busy schedules. Eating slowly and mindfully plays a very important role in the digestive process. Take your time to properly chew your food, and always eat in a relaxed atmosphere.

Furthermore, it is ideal to cook vegetables lightly to retain most of their vitamin content. Steaming and stir frying are ideal. Meat should be cooked slowly, which makes it tender and easy to digest. Soups and stews are an excellent way to get your vegetables and meat in a delicious and easily digestible manner.

With a little more focus and attention on what you eat and how you eat, your blood can be nourished, leaving you feeling healthy, alert, and void of any blood deficiency symptoms.

Acupuncture and Blood Deficiency

Acupuncture can help to stimulate and nourish the blood by regulating and supporting the systems involved in blood production. Contact us to learn more!

Acupuncture for Golf

Getting ready to hit the links?

 2019 Golf Pre-Season

Acupuncture Treatment Plan

 Benefits of acupuncture for golf include:

 Increased rotational flexibility… it’s all in the hips!

Increased range of motion

 Loosening of tight muscles

Increased Focus

Increased Presence and mindfulness

Decreased stress

Booking now for the 2019 Pre-Season

Pre-Season plan consists of 3 or 6 specifically tailored treatments for optimizing your body & mind for the upcoming golf season. Limited availability.

Appointments available Monday - Saturday

Does acupuncture help menopausal symptoms?

At some point, all women will experience hormonal changes (usually throughout their 40s and 50s), which can result in many different emotional and physical symptoms.

The most common symptoms reported include:

• Hot Flashes

• Mood swings

• Reduced libido

• Vaginal dryness

• Weight gain

• Restlessness

• Insomnia

• Decreased bone density

• Osteoporosis

Chinese Medicine’s take on Menopause

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory states that menopause is caused when there is an imbalance of ‘yin and yang’ in the body. What are yin and yang? Essentially, yin and yang are two complementary, yet opposite forces of nature that should be in harmony for optimal health.

What are yin and Yang?

Yin is considered the more feminine force that represents water, coolness, stillness, dark, night, the moon. Yang is more masculine in nature, and represents fire, warmth, activity, light, daytime, the sun.

A balance of yin and yang is when the body is in a healthy state and free from disease. This means we’re not overly hot, not overly cold, and getting adequate rest and activity in balance. However, imbalance often occurs because of age, lifestyle, and environmental factors, thus resulting in disease. Menopausal symptoms are a result of the imbalance of yin and yang.

what are the role of Female hormones in menopause?

Estrogen, one of the main female hormones, is considered a women’s precious yin hormone. As we age, estrogen and other hormones begin to decline, which starts to disrupt the balance in yin and yang. Less yin means more yang present in the body, resulting in yang like symptoms such as hot flashes, restlessness, and insomnia.

How can acupuncture help with menopausal symptoms?

Acupuncture can help “rewire” the yin and yang of the body, helping to create more balance in the system. Yin can also be nourished by diet. Important foods to incorporate include:

• Beans (kidney beans, soybeans, black beans)

• Seaweed

• Asparagus

• Walnuts

• Shellfish such as clams and oysters

Throughout menopause it’s important to maintain an active lifestyle, yet getting quality rest and eating a well-balanced diet. Acupuncture may not prevent menopause but it can greatly reduce the side effects of this natural life change.

Understanding the Seasons & Your Body- Happy Autumn Equinox!

The summer sun has faded and our schedules are back into full-time mode. The kids are back in school, summer Friday's are over (RIP!), and the days are slowly getting shorter.

With this change in our routine also comes a change in the season. ENTER Autumn Equinox!

Some of you might be thrilled that the temperature has begun to decline, and some of you are already counting down the days until your next beach vacation. Whichever season you prefer, here's some advice for preparing your body and mind for a productive fall season ahead. 

1. Let it Go - Traditional Chinese Medicine classifies autumn as the season to let things go. It's time to reflect, recenter, and rid ourselves of the things in our lives that no longer serve our purpose. Try a deep autumn house cleaning to make your surroundings less cluttered, cleaner, and more organized for the upcoming winter months. Consider donating old clothing or possessions you don't use anymore.  Are you experiencing any stressful or negative emotions that you're having trouble with letting go?  Now is the perfect time to achieve better balance in your life by ridding yourself of grudges, stresses, judgments, and anxieties. 

2. Strengthen for the winter months ahead- Are you the type of person who gets a cold every fall when the weather starts to change? Now is the time to stock up on warm and nourishing foods that we tend to neglect in the summer. These include root veggies, soups, stews, nuts, and spices such as ginger, cinnamon, garlic, and cloves. By incorporating these simple ingredients into your diet, you can help boost your immune system and protect your body from colds, viruses, and the flu. 

3. Cover up- Once the temperature starts to drop it's imperative to keep our bodies warm and protected. Say goodbye to flip flops & tanks, and hello to your favorite scarf. Stay properly covered, especially when exercising outdoors. Sweating exposes our bodies to the elements, leaving us vulnerable to colds, flus, and viruses. 

Acupuncture is wonderful way to stimulate the immune system and assist the body in ridding itself of not only colds and viruses, but also negative energy that can keep us feeling held back. Flow Point Acupuncture offers comprehensive treatments unique to your body's needs for this fall season. Feel free to contact us with any questions about how acupuncture can help you strengthen your body & mind, and most importantly, let it go!

Acupuncture Points for Neck Pain

Not one week goes by that we don't see patients with neck pain in our practice. It is quite literally, a "pain in the neck" when you feel stiff and uncomfortable turning your head. Acupuncture is a safe and drug free way to help open up the neck muscles and relieve tension. Some acupressure points in particular can be massaged at home to help facilitate more movement in your neck before your next treatment. 

1. GB 20

Location: This point is located on the back of the neck at the base of the skull. Find it by placing your hands on the back of your head. Use your thumbs to find two depressions on the edge of your neck muscles- this is about 2 inches from the midline of your skull. 

Method: Locate the point using your thumbs. With a few deep breaths apply gentle pressure and press gently up towards the skull. Sometimes the point can be very tender, so pressure can be adjusted accordingly. Try holding the point for 1-2 minutes while breathing deeply and gently release.  

2. Luo Zhen

Location: The point is found on the back of the hand in between the two bones in the depression just past the knuckles of the pointer and middle finger. You should locate the point on the opposite side of the pain you are feeling. For example, if the right side of your neck is stiff, locate the point on your left hand. 

Method: Once the point is located apply gently pressure until a slight tenderness is felt. Holding that pressure, stimulate the point by making small circles with your pressing finger. At the same time as holding the pressure, exercise your neck by rotating your head side to side. You should slowly notice an increase in range of motion and decrease in pain.

Try these two acupressure points for at home relief before coming in for your next acupuncture appointment! 

Treating Anxiety with Acupuncture

We've all felt it before- suddenly our heart races and we begin to panic. Or it feels like there is a frog in your throat. Anxiety- a very common disorder, can be mild or debilitating. Work, relationships, and overall quality of life can be negatively impacted if anxiety is not managed. 

Some of the most common symptoms of anxiety include:

• Feelings of unease, worry or fear
• Inability to relax
• Insomnia
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Palpitations
• Shortness of breath 

Feeling these symptoms once in a while is normal. However, when they start to interfere with your day-to-day functioning and happen consistently, it might be a sign of deeper issues such as phobias, panic disorders, post-traumatic stress, or a generalized social anxiety. 

Mainstream treatments for anxiety include psychotherapy and certain medications. If you're looking to try an alternative to traditional therapy that is drug free and has very little side effects, acupuncture might be for you. 

How does acupuncture work for anxiety? 

Quite simply, acupuncture works by regulating the central nervous system, thereby releasing "feel good" hormones called endorphins. Endorphins act as the body's natural painkillers, which can help calm the mind promote an overall feeling of well-being. 

Acupuncture also has profound effects on releasing tense muscles. Often times when we are anxious the first physical response our body has is to tense up, resulting in very tight muscles. When our muscles are relaxed our mind becomes more relaxed as well. 

Furthermore, clinical research has shown acupuncture's positive effects on treating anxiety. For example, a 2007 study found that the patients in the trial receiving acupuncture felt less anxious, less depressed, had fewer cravings for substances and were better able to resolve difficulties than the control group.

If you're wondering whether acupuncture might be right for treating your anxiety, call us at 732-889-9228 to talk further. 

How Acupuncture Can Help Your Back Pain

Many of our patients have issues in their backs- lower, upper, middle- you name it! Whether it is muscular or structural, back pain is an extremely common, and often debilitating ailment. Traditional medicine often prescribes muscle relaxers or over-the-counter pain medicine to help with back pain symptoms. However, such treatments do not address the root cause of what's causing pain in the first place, and therefore symptoms do not go away.

"31 million Americans experience back pain at any given time. Low back pain is the single leading cause of disability world wide"- acatoday.org

How can acupuncture help your back pain? First, acupuncture helps promote circulation and helps to prevent or release muscles from become "stuck". A common technique used in back pain treatment involves releasing tight bands of muscle fibers that are causing pain and inflammation. Once these muscle fibers have a chance to relax, so too will your pain!

Furthermore, back pain can also be exacerbated by stress. Have you ever noticed that when you are overworked, overtired, and just feeling overall stressed out that your back muscles start to act up? In addition to working directly on the muscles, acupuncture promotes a deep sense of relaxation and calm. Less stress= less pain!

A healthy lifestyle is key to maintaining good spinal health. Call us at 732-889-9228 to see whether your back pain might benefit from acupuncture treatment!

Keep Cool in the Summer with Acupuncture

As the end of May approaches summer is just around the corner.  Our natural energy is at its peak in the summer. This could explain why many people look forward to summer all year round, waiting to break free from the cold winter months that leave us cooped up inside.

While it is a great time to cultivate that extra energy we've been storing all year, it's important to make sure that we remain balanced. Here are some very simple ways you can help your body remain centered, calm, and energized during the summer season:

• Stay hydrated with plenty of water and fluids
• Try waking up earlier in the day to benefit from the natural sunlight
• Go to bed later in the evening
• Rest at midday with a meditation or gentle walk
• Keep calm and even tempered- avoid any feelings of excess anger that could be exacerbated by the heat

Try incorporating these simple, abundant summer foods to your diet:

Cantaloupe

Watermelon

Strawberries

Tomatoes

Lemon

Peach

Cucumber

Orange

Asparagus

Sprouts

Bok Choy

Broccoli

Chinese Cabbage

Corn

White Mushroom

Snow Peas

Spinach

Summer Squash

Watercress

Seaweed

Mung Beans

Cilantro

Mint

Dill

How can acupuncture help you in the summer? 

There are certain symptoms that tend to pop up in the summer, including excess fatigue, anxiety, or restlessness from the heat. One of the wonderful things about acupuncture is that it can help your body clear any excess heat that it may be storing. Have you ever noticed that you get heat rashes or more headaches in the summer? Acupuncture is an excellent tool to help your body address these pesky symptoms so that you can enjoy all that the beautiful weather has to offer. 

Call us at 732-889-9228 to find out more and if acupuncture is right for you! 

What is Cupping?

Many patients inquire about cupping and want to know more: Is it for me? How does it work? What does it feel like? Here's a quick summary about cupping and whether or not you may be a candidate. 

1. Cupping is one of the oldest forms of Chinese Medicine. Glass suction cups are used over the skin to create a vacuum, which pulls the skin to the surface. Drawing the skin to the surface is thought to open the pores, which thereby stimulates blood flow, breaks up adhesions, and allows toxins to release from the body.

2. Cups are usually left on only for 5-10 minutes. They can be left in one place, or applied with a topical balm which allows the cups to slide gently over the surface, producing a massage-type effect. Many people think cupping feels like a type of deep tissue massage.

3. Cupping is considered safe when done by a trained professional. Some swelling and red marks are common where cups are placed. However, unlike traditional bruises, these are usually painless and only last a few days. 

4. Cupping is not just for muscle pain! It is commonly used to help the respiratory system drain phlegm and speed up healing time from respiratory illnesses. Feel a cold coming on? Cupping at the start of symptoms can help your body release pathogens before they enter deeper into the body. Digestive issues also respond wonderfully to cupping by helping reduce a patient's stress response, which is closely tied to digestive functioning. 

5. Not everyone is a candidate for cupping! We are all different and respond uniquely to therapy. When not performed by an experienced professional cupping can cause more harm than good due to improper technique, retention time, etc. Those with bleeding issues, skin conditions, or those who are pregnant should not have cupping performed. It is best to leave the decision to use cupping up to your practitioner to ensure that you receive the best care.

Can Acupuncture Help PMS?

PMS (Premenstrual syndrome) affects women of reproductive age in varying degrees of severity.  It's estimated that 85% of American women suffer from some type of PMS. Symptoms can range from mild to debilitating, and at different times of the month. Research shows that many women start experiencing PMS as early as ovulation (which is around 14 days before your period). What does that mean? For 50% of the month you might be experiencing these unwelcome symptoms.

Suffer from PMS? 

You're not alone

So what are some of the symptoms of PMS?

Anxiety/ Depression

Breast tenderness

Mood swings

Bloating

Irritability

Headaches

Food cravings

What causes PMS? 

There's no definite answer, but PMS is thought to be associated with the fluctuating levels of hormones that women experience during their cycles. Stress, being overweight, lack of exercise, and diet can also play a role in whether you experience PMS or not. 

How can you treat PMS?

Many doctors prescribe oral contraceptives (Birth Control) to suppress ovulation and regulate hormones, or prescribe anxiety/ depression medications to help women with symptoms. However, such medications can have unpleasant side effects and never really treat the main cause of what's triggering PMS in the first place. Therefore, as soon as you stop medication, you'll likely experience the same symptoms you had before starting medication. 

How can acupuncture help with PMS?

One way to effectively treat PMS and regulate your menstrual cycle is through acupuncture. Acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins- the "feel good" hormones that help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and promote a feeling of well-being. Studies show It can also help regulate your hormone levels, which in turn help you have a healthier, more balanced cycle with less cramping, better moods, and better energy. 

As a whole body experience, acupuncture aims at restoring balance of the body and mind. When the mind is relaxed and at ease, the body's self- healing mechanism has a better chance at succeeding and promoting system wide harmony. 

Call us at 732-889-9228 to learn more and if acupuncture could be a the right fit for you!