Why does my acupuncturist look at my tongue?

Stick out your tongue. This is a common request when working with an acupuncturist.

What are they looking for?

Your tongue is a road map to the rest of your body. The tongue is divided into sections that represent the different organ systems associated with Chinese Medicine.

Tip = Heart/Small Intestine

Just behind the tip = Lungs/Large Instestine

Center = Spleen/Stomach

Sides = Liver/Gall Bladder

Back = Kidney/Urinary Bladder

Your acupuncturist is looking at the size, shape, color and coat of your tongue.

There is no such thing as a good tongue or a bad tongue. The tongue is simply a road map of how the body is functioning so that the best acupuncture points can be used to adjust the body and allow it to function most optimally.

Over time you might notice your tongue changing. The color or coat might change, cracks may lessen in severity etc.

Sarah Zender LAc LMT

Whole Health Acupuncture 50 Turner Ave Elk Grove Village IL 847.357.3929

http://www.wholehealthprograms.com/

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender is a scent that many associate with a calm, soothing environment. Images of bubble baths, candles and massage might also come to mind.

Rene Gattefosse a french scientist working in a cosmetic laboratory was the first to discover the benefits of lavender to promote tissue regeneration and speed wound recovery after he burned his arm in a laboratory accident.

Lavender is a highly versatile essential oil and is considered to be an adaptogen. While lavender is known for its calming properties it also has the ability to boost stamina and energy should that be the body's greater need. Therapeutic-grade lavender can be used for a variety of skin conditions as well, from keeping the skin soft and supple to soothing and cleaning small cuts and bruises. My personal favorite in the summer time is to use lavender for minor sun burns also.

University researchers in Japan found that diffusing lavender in office environments improved mental accuracy and concentration and resulted in 20% fewer errors.

University of Miami researchers found that inhalation of lavender oil increased beta waves in the brain, suggesting heightened relaxation. It also reduced depression and improved cognitive performance.

Be careful: true lavender is often extended with hybrid lavender or synthetic linalol and linalyl acetate which strips the potency and purity of the lavender. If the oil you are using says do not apply directly to skin or take internally it is not a therapeutic grade essential oil.

Young Living Essential Oils is one of the few companies in the US that is a therapeutic grade oil company.

The next time you are in the Whole Health office take a deep breath in the waiting room. Lavender oil is being diffused in the office just about every day.

Sarah Zender LAc LMT

50 Turner Ave Elk Grove Village IL 847.357.3929 wholehealthprograms.com

How Can Acupuncture Help My Cold?

Can acupuncture help with _______? We get these questions all the time at Whole Health Acupuncture. The easy answer is yes, acupuncture can help with that. I understand that most people need more of an explanation than this. With this in mind the next few blogs will highlight how acupuncture can help with specific ailments.



Eastern and Western approaches to the body and treatment of imbalances occasionally match up and occasionally look very different from each other.



You've probably had a cold before and may have experienced a stuffy nose, sore throat, runny nose, cough, aversion to cold, fever and headache. Perhaps you were sick for a week and then started to feel better again or maybe your cold lingered for a few weeks. The common cold can come on during any of the four seasons. In western medicine your doctor might tell you your immune system is down or you were around other people with a cold and that's how you "caught" it.



In Chinese Medical theory external wind is thought to be the main cause of the common cold often times bringing with it cold, heat, summerheat or dampness. The Chinese believe that your tai yang channel (or in English the back of your neck) was exposed when you were outside or slept with a window open and the wind attacked your body. The neck could have been left open to attack because of improper clothing, lifestyle imbalances, constitutional deficiencies or a combination of all of these. Wind will commonly bring with it cold, heat and dampness.



Have you ever slept with air conditioning on, a fan blowing on your face or a window open when it was windy outside? Do you remember how you felt the next morning? Perhaps you had a scratchy throat, a crick in your neck, or headache. If your body was strong it might have been able to dispel the wind on its own. If there was already an imbalance in the body making it weak that could be all it took for the scratchy throat and stiff neck to turn into a full blown cold.



Your acupuncturist will be looking for specific patterns to correct. Treating wind-cold will be approached differently then wind-heat as will treating a cold when your qi (energy) is depleted. The complexity of the body rarely fits into a textbook outline.



Wind-cold may present with a strong dislike of coldness, a mild fever, no sweating, headache, aching body, stuffy and/or runny nose, scratchy throat, cough with thin white phlegm and not feeling thirsty.



In this case we are using acupuncture points and herbs that will dispel wind, remove the cold and strengthen the exterior (so that no more wind can get in).



Cinnamon twig is a good herb for wind-cold as it has warming properties and is usually found in herbal formulas used to treat wind-cold.



Self Care Tip: wrap yourself up in blankets and sweat out your cold



Wind-heat may present with a slight or no aversion to cold, fever is more prominent with sweating, headache, cough with thick yellow phlegm, dry or sore swollen throat, stuffy nose with yellow mucus and feeling thirsty.



In this case we are using acupuncture points and herbs to dispel wind, clear heat and strengthen the exterior.



Mint is a good herb for wind-heat as it has cooling properties and is usually found in herbal formulas used to treat wind-heat.



Self Care Tip: drink mint tea



Colds with underlying Qi Energy Deficiency may present with strong aversion to cold, fever, headache, nasal congestion, cough with white phlegm, tiredness, fatigue, and shortness of breath.



In this case we use acupuncture points and herbs to not only dispel wind, remove cold and strengthen the exterior but also to boost qi energy.



Moxabustion (burning an herb called mugwort) over acupuncture points can help to warm the body as well as cultivate more energy.



Cupping or guasha may also be used to dispel wind in any of these cases with special care taken if there is qi deficiency. For more info on cupping read the What is Cupping? blog.



Preventing Colds and Flus









Massage acu points yin tang (space between the eye brows) and LI 4 (highest point in the space between thumb and index finger) with your middle or index finger. Do this 2-3 times a day for 3-5 minutes until skin is slightly red and an aching or distended sensation is felt.



Ask your acupuncturist about herbal formulas that can prevent colds and flus before they start.









Testimony:





Sarah, I have to thank you (fairly late, i know) for helping me a few weeks ago with my sinus infection. I was amazed at how wonderful I felt during your acupuncture session. I was back to normal and feeling great within a week, so thank you SO much for your skills and compassion!!


-Nicole M.

And a personal testimony to boot. I started to feel a scratchy throat coming on and was losing my voice with just the very beginnings of achiness in my body and heaviness in my chest on Saturday evening. It probably didn't help that I went out into the Chicago wind tunnel that night either. Sunday I did what I could at home: garggled with salt water, spoonfuls of honey, thieves mouthwash and rest. Monday I still wasn't feeling so hot. Kara bled my lu11 on both thumbs and within an hour the heat in the back of my throat dissipated. I rested the remainder of the day and went to bed at 8:00p. This morning my voice is not 100% yet but there is no pain in my throat and the rest of my body feels just fine.

Practical Therapeutics of Traditional Chinese Medicine by Yan Wu was referenced for this blog.





Sarah Zender LAc LMT





Whole Health Acupuncture 50 Turner Ave Elk Grove Village IL 874.357.3929


http://www.wholehealthprograms.com/

A Simple Explanation of Chinese Medicine

Chinese Medicine is simple; it began with observing nature and then taking these observations and applying them to the human body. This began with the concept of yin and yang. Anything in relation to anything else could either be described as being yin or yang: light or heavy, dark or light, male or female, active or passive. This meant that all things in nature were necessary to maintain balance and neither yin nor yang was more powerful. Instead, they were constantly becoming one another. Hence the yin yang symbol of equal halves of a circle with full smaller circles of opposite color in side.

The most common shape in nature is a circle, the cells of your body are circles and healthy DNA spins clockwise. The ancient Chinese also used circles to explain balance. The element circle looks like this: Water grows wood, wood grows fire, fire makes ashes or earth, inside of the earth is metal, and water condenses on metal. The Chinese applied this cycle and these elements to what they believed to be the organs of the body. Wood is the liver and gall bladder. Fire is heart and small intestine. Earth is spleen and stomach. Metal is lung and large intestine. Water is urinary bladder and kidney. In this way, the body was seen as being supported by each organ. Blood and energy, or qi, flowed through the body like water. When one organ became unbalanced every other organ was affected. When the smooth flowing circulation got blocked somewhere in the body from an imbalance, disease festered like a pond of still water growing full of sludge.

In Chinese Medicine there are no divisions of the body like in Western Medicine. Instead, the whole body is accessed to understand how an imbalance is affecting the body, mind and spirit. This is achieved through a series of questions and on examination of the tongue and pulses. The greatest diagnostic tool of Chinese Medicine is still observation. The tongue is a map and mirror to the internal body. The tip of the tongue represents the heart and just behind the lungs. The center of the tongue reflects the spleen and the stomach. The sides mirror the liver and gall bladder. The back of the tongue shows the kidneys and urinary bladder. The size, shape, color and coat tell the story of how the internal organs are functioning. Three pulses are felt on both wrists to reflect again the internal organs. The left radial pulse represents the heart, liver and kidney yin and the right radial pulse represents the lung, spleen and kidney yang. The pulse is felt for its depth, speed, and rate. Acupuncturists use descriptive words like wiry, thready, soggy, slippery or knotted when assessing the pulses.

Based on the observations of the tongue, pulse and assessment of questions an Acupuncturist will devise a treatment plan that might include acupuncture, moxabustion and herbal remedies. Through this observation “western diseases” are not being treated, instead, the body is being brought back to balance. Chinese Medicine looks at a “symptom” like a branch of a tree, and looks deeper to find the root cause. In this way, the “symptom” is addressed, as well as, what caused the symptom in the first place. The advantages of this philosophy are the “side effects.” For example, a patient being treated for back pain might also report higher energy levels, better sleep, reduction in hot flashes or heart burn, a more regular and less painful menstrual cycle and/or improved emotional wellbeing. This means that Chinese Medicine can treat virtually any condition aiding in bringing the body back to harmony. While this is true, Chinese Medicine’s true genius is preventative. Ancient Chinese doctors were responsible for keeping the community healthy; it was the doctors who had to pay if a patient was sick.

Chinese Medicine is by no means a quick fix; however it is an opportunity to impact not only one’s body, but lifestyle as well. Expect a course of treatment to last 10 sessions with treatments a couple times a week. (You wouldn't take one antibiotic pill and wait to see if it worked, you would do a full perscritption and you also wouldn't take one asprin and hope the pain would go away, you would probably take a few a day and gradually tapper off. Acupuncture is much the same way.) Massage Therapy (tui na), Exercise, Meditation, Feng Shui, and Nutrition are also key components of this system that can contribute lasting harmony. Acupuncturists recommend receiving quarterly treatments as a “tune up” when the energy of the Earth is changing to maintain wellness.

In addition to offering acupuncture on a sliding scale ($15-50) Whole Health Acupuncure now offers add on massage sessions to your treatments. Choose a 15 or 30 minute massage ($1/minute) before or after your acupuncture treatment for a well balanced body. Call 847.357.3929 to schedule your appointment today!

The Yogi Cure-All

There is a yoga posture that has often been called the "yogi cure all" and can be used for just about any ailment. The best part is that it is simple and easy to do. For anyone who held the excuse that they aren't flexible and could never do any yoga this posture is a great place to start.





Vaprita Karani or Legs Up the Wall Pose is pretty self explanatory. (see picture to the left)











Here are a couple of tips:





* Sitting next to the wall, bring your hips as close to the wall as you can.


* Protect your back by laying on your side and then gently swing your legs up against the wall. It it not imperative that your legs be at a 90 angle against the wall, only that your legs are straight. If the back of your legs feel tight, scoot your hips away from the wall until you find a place of comfort and ease in your body.


* You might also place a pillow under your hips or lengthwise along your spine for more comfort and higher elevation.


* Your arms can rest at your sides, out into a "t" or up over your head.


The ancient yogis believed that "legs up the wall" pose was a cure-all. They believed that once the feet were up over the head in a resting posture a secret serum was released from the heels and would gently trickle down to wherever the ailment was and could especially assist with headaches, low back pain, varicose veins, anti-aging and metabolism. These ancient yogis were such fans of "legs up the wall" they felt it had just as much benefit on the body if held for 10 minutes a day as a full yoga class does.





This pose is doing many things physiologically.


>> helping to traction the spine, alliviating pressure through the low back


>> reversing the direction of circulation giving the veins of the legs a break from gravity which also helps slow the aging process and nourish circulation.


>> bringing fresh circulation to the head


>> assisting the blood pressure to decrease





To release from this pose gently walk your feet down the wall and bring your knees into your chest. You might enjoy rocking from side to side. To protect your back roll on to your side (you might prefer to rest on your side for a moment) and slowly push yourself back to a seated posture.





While holding this posture close your eyes and practice some deep breathing. Imagine a balloon in your abdomen. With your inhale imagine filling this balloon up with any stress or tension and with your exhale imagine your balloon slowly deflating letting your stress or tension out. Focus on slow, long exhales to promote further relaxation in your body. You might be aware of a tingling sensation in your legs or even feel your back naturally start to loosen.





If you need some help relaxing you might consider a meditation CD. Whole Health Meditations offers 7 unique meditations ranging from a 5 minute meditation to a 30 minute meditation.

To order your CD visit http://www.wholehealthprograms.com/


For more information on restorative yoga visit www.yogajournal.com/basics/991


Whole Health Acupuncture offers gentle yoga classes in Mt. Prospect at St. Emily's Church in the gathering center every Monday and Thursday 4:00-5:00 for $5.

We also recommend Tribalance Yoga in Schaumburg http://www.hotyogis.com Stop by Whole Health Acupuncture to receive a free class pass for Tribalance.

www.yogachicago.com is also a wonderful resource for yoga classes in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Look for the free publication Yoga Chicago around town as well.

Namaste!

Whole Health Acupuncture Offers Solution For Health Care Crisis

Whole Health Acupuncture has recently implemented community style acupuncture on a sliding scale.

What exactly is community acupuncture?

Community Acupuncture is how acupuncture is practiced traditionally in Asia with several patients resting together at the same time. At Whole Health Acupuncture we have two community rooms with zero gravity reclining chairs. Your acupuncture treatments are tailored to your individual needs and you rest comfortably in your recliner with other individuals that are also receiving acupuncture. This system allows us to reach more people in need of health care and keeps costs down. We find in this way people are able to go into deeper states of relaxation because of the security of other people in the room that are also relaxing. Much the same way you would work out at a harder intensity in the gym vs working out alone at home.
Community Acupuncture also allows those that are nervous about the idea of needles to bring a family member or friend for moral support.

Community Acupuncture's intention is to empower You

In the West most acupuncturists treat one patient alone in a treatment room and sessions last 15-40 minutes and can cost anywhere from $65-150 a session. At Whole Health Acupuncture we find that many patients' bodies are not finished processing their session in 20-30 minutes and leave feeling fatigued instead of energized. With Community Acupuncture you determine when your treatment is over. Patients rest anywhere from 20 minutes-90 minutes depending on what their individual needs are. This fosters body awareness so that patients start to pay attention to their own body's needs.

Whole Health does not require proof of your financial situation. You choose the cost of your treatment ranging from $15-50. Each time you come in you may pay the same fee or a different fee depending on what works for your budget. What you pay for treatment does not change the quality of care. Acupuncture is most effective when done consistently over a period of time and can assist with just about any health condition from the common cold, headaches, PMS, depression to cancer recovery. Community Acupuncture on a sliding scale allows Whole Health to bring safe, effective healthcare to everyone on every budget. We are sensitive to the fact that illness and pain does not disappear when the economy is down and believe that illness is not just the absence of disease and prevention is not just early detection. Acupuncture can improve your quality of life, give you an outlet to manage stress and be used as preventative medicine.

"American's healthcare system is neither healthy, caring or a system." Walter Cronkite 1993

It is the goal of Whole Health Acupuncture to assist patients in becoming healthy and staying healthy. The practitioners of Whole Health Acupuncture went to school to serve the community with a 5000 year old tradition of effectiveness that is non invasive and without the side effects and dangers of drugs and surgery.

For more information and to schedule an appointment call 847.357.3929 or visit www.wholehealthprograms.com

Whole Health Acupuncture
50 Turner Ave
Elk Grove Village IL 60007
847.357.3929
www.wholehealthprograms.com