Fatigue and Chinese Medicine

We all suffer from it at some point in our lives. Some of us more than others. It may be due to that long, hard week at work, or the 3 years you've been in college while working full-time with one more year still ahead of you and you'd really like to be done NOW so you can just sleep fatigue. No matter the cause of your fatigue, you may consider trying acupuncture to give you a little more pep in your day.

Acupuncture can help relieve the components of fatigue : Stress, unproductive sleep and lack of energy.

Acupuncture is a god-send when it comes to reducing stress. There are many acupoints that exist just to serve this purpose! (read Self-acupressure to try some of these at home, or work, or school... where ever you find yourself with a little extra time and need to relax!)

When it comes to improving sleep without the typical side effects associated with medications, Chinese medicine can't be beat! Chinese medicine reminds your body how to sleep efficiently, without the need to force it to sleep using a foreign substance. Acupuncture can help you fall asleep easier, stay asleep and make your sleep productive so that you wake feeling rested and ready to take on your day. All this is achieved without the drowsiness, "drugged feeling" or dependency that can be associated with medications.

As for the last component of fatigue, Chinese medicine is particularly helpful for regaining your energy. We've all worked ourselves too hard and noticed that we just don't feel like the energy is THERE anymore. Chinese Medicine helps your body to refill its stores of energy so that you can do all the things that you want to do in your day - and more!

If you suffer from fatigue, consider Chinese medicine. You might be surprised at how much better you feel, and how quickly that energy can be unlocked!

Green in Chinese Medicine

I apologize for not writing anything in about a week. My computer caught a virus (or something) and has been feeling under the weather. But we're back up and running and ready to talk shop some more!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all you Irish and Today-I'm-Irish out there! :)

In Chinese medicine, each organ is associated with an element, and each element with a color. Since today is St. Patrick's Day, I thought it would be nice to talk about the color green. Plus, I'm a little partial with it being my favorite color and all!

Green is associated with the Liver. Yep, here we are, talking about the Liver again. It's probably because it's spring time - the season of the Liver. I promise, I'll talk about the other organs at some point! (I'll probably feel compelled to write about them as their seasons roll around.)

If you are experiencing Liver symptoms (PMS, stress, many menstrual complaints or eye problems just to list a few), consider wearing the color green. Eat green vegetables. Take a walk in a green forested area. When you surround yourself with the color associated with an organ, it's reminding that organ to be its healthiest.

Can stress make you gain weight?

We've all seen the news articles out there telling us how our chronically stressful lives are making us heavier as a nation. We're too busy to exercise. We're too busy to eat right. Stress increases cortisol, a hormone associated with our fight or flight responses. When we're stressed out we crave salty, fatty and sugary foods. All of these things are a part of the picture.

According to Chinese medicine, weight gain leads back to the Spleen. The Spleen is in charge of metabolizing our food and water intake. When our Spleen is weakened, it is easily overwhelmed by all the food and water coming in and isn't able to use it properly. To bring the stress into the picture - there is a special relationship between the Liver and the Spleen. Think of the Liver as the big brother, and the Spleen as the little brother. If the Liver gets riled up because of stress, he'll take it out on the Spleen - damaging the Spleen. When the Spleen is damaged, he's unable to properly metabolize our food and water, and so it gets stored in the form of fat deposits.

Remember that episode of "I Love Lucy" where she's working in the chocolate factory and she gets a little more behind with each passing moment? She's not sure what to do with all the candies, but knows she has to do SOMETHING with them, so she and Ethel start stuffing them in their mouths. This is similar to what happens when our Spleen gets overwhelmed and damaged by the Liver. It starts stuffing things anywhere it can.

Chinese medicine can be a great boost to your weight loss plan. I'm sorry, it can't do the work for you. You still need to make the necessary diet and exercise changes, but it can help speed the process along. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulas can be used to set things straight between the Liver and Spleen to reduce stress levels and help heal the Spleen so that it can do its job properly.

If you're ready to get serious about losing some weight, or you've plateaued in your weight loss progress, consider talking to your acupuncturist. They can help your body remember how to be thin and healthy!

Self-Acupressure

Having a rough day? Wish you could make it your acupuncturist to get that blissed-out feeling but can't? Today I'm telling you all about a couple acupuncture points you can massage on yourself to help bring on the bliss!

Yin Tang - (pronounced Yin Tahng) This point is often called the "Third Eye." This point is extremely relaxing. It's located on your forehead between your eyebrows. Massage this point using gentle circles.






He Ku - (pronounced Huh Coo) This point is often used for headaches, but it is also really great for relieving stress. It's located on the back side of your hand on that fleshy area between your thumb and forefinger. Pinch this area using your other thumb and forefinger (one on the back of your hand, the other on the palmar side of your hand) and again massage using gentle circles. Caution: Do NOT massage this point if you're pregnant.


Bai Hui - (pronounced by way) This point is used to help center and ground us. It's located on the crown of your head. You'll find a little divot which is the point! Massage this point, again using gentle circles.




So get massaging, people, and bring on the relaxation!