Hunkering Down for Winter - Part I

My husband is not a native to the New England area so he is constantly observing our various nuances from an outsider's perspective. Lately, he has noticed again and again, a most common autumn phrase: "it's time to hunker down"; and alas, it is! In all honesty, we all know that fall is coming to an end and the cold winds of winter are creeping at our feet...

As the holidays and the official winter solstice approach, we enter into the last rush of the year before January brings its deep dark depths. According to the Chinese perspective, December 21st is actually the middle of winter, not the beginning. Just like the art of Chinese Medicine, the Chinese calendar is aligned with nature. What exactly does this mean? It means that winter has already begun! We can feel it in our bones, in the sharpness of the wind, in the pace of our energy, in the cold of our fingertips- take heed, winter is here!

And just like nature, we too should be slowing down, resting, going deep and simmering our bright lights. Winter is not the time to go go go. It is a time to nourish our adrenals, charge our batteries, warm our bellies, and yes, sleep more! So slow down, rest and go deep within yourselves. Do not be afraid to say "no" and stay home. In a world that is constantly on the move, pressuring itself to do more and more and more, winter becomes a necessity for your longevity and youthfulness. So this winter, hibernate like the bear, fly south like the birds (yes this includes Florida for you snowbirds) and preserve yourself like nature. If you want to avoid burn out and preserve your vitality of life then make winter a time for YOU!

**Check out next week's blog post where I share my top tips on nourishing yourself this winter to stay aligned with the season.

Dr. Deb Salazar is a Licensed Acupuncturist who specializes in Women's Health, Fertility and Difficult/Stubborn/Chronic/Recalcitrant disease. If you are interested in how Acupuncture, Herbs and Chinese Medicine can help you this winter call (508) 428-1288.

 

Got Neck Tension?

Forward posture, the position we are in while we're driving, cooking, texting or at the computer, could be taking it's toll on your health and well being. Aside from limited range of motion and chronic neck tension, forward posture could be contributing to headaches, lack of energy, jaw pain, vertigo and dizziness, and more.

Massage Therapist, Theresa Fallon, who has co-authored a book on Neck Techniques for massage, shares with us two quick and easy self-care techniques to help negate the effects of forward posture.

Stay tuned until the end for a surprise giveaway!

Why you should try Fire Cupping

Although it was the Olympic athletes who launched Cupping into the spotlight this past summer, Fire Cupping offers a myriad of health benefits for every body. So, what is it and why should you try it?

Fire cupping can be thought of as an inverse massage. Instead of pushing down on tissue, the cups use negative pressure (suction) to pull up skin, tissue and muscle. This process helps remove toxins and cell waste in the muscles and joints, decreases inflammation and improves blood flow, qi and lymph movement in the body.

Fire cupping often works wonders for patients with the flu, colds, cough, back and muscle pain, poor circulation, and anxiety. It works as a detoxification aid, improving circulation and stimulating the lymphatic system. 

Most often used in conjunction with your Acupuncture session, Fire Cupping can be booked as a stand alone session. Whether you're looking for a quick recovery after an intense workout, fighting off a cold, or needing a little detoxification boost, you will LOVE Fire Cupping! 

Acupuncturist, Deb Salazar, joins our team

We are thrilled to welcome Acupuncturist, Deb Salazar, to our team at Therapeutic Bodywork. Deb, who joins her husband, Acupuncturist Paul Salazar, (who is currently treating patients full time with us,) will be seeing patients on Tuesdays and some Saturdays to start.

Deb focuses on working with Women's Health, Chronic Diseases (such as Lymes Disease), herbs and the pursuit of longevity and Spiritual Nutrition.

Deb uses Oriental Medicine as her vehicle to access health, balance and harmony. Besides the traditional tools of acupuncture, gua sha, cupping, moxa, herbs and bodywork, she also enjoys working with Ayurvedic Medicine, Western Herbalism, Homeopathy, and Essential Oils. In addition, she has studied with Gabriel Cousens, a world-renowned leader for treatment of diabetes using vegan and live food nutrition. Deb also practices yoga and qigong and is a teacher of Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan.

In her practice, Deb is an empathetic listener, compassionate, gentle and practical. She works with her patients to find realistic goals using her broad experience in the health field. She believes it is her job to teach you how to be your own doctor by remembering how to listen to your body. She uses her knowledge and treatment protocol to help guide you back to feeling more like YOU!

After studying Naturopathic Medicine at the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon and transferring to Chinese Medicine at Southwest Acupuncture College in Albuquerque, NM, Deb is a Licensed Acupuncturist (MA & NM) and Doctor of Oriental Medicine (NM). She has recently returned to the Cape with her husband, 2 young children and dog.

To schedule appointments with Deb, call us at (508) 428-1288 or book online:

Reflexology: Tapping into the Power of the Feet

Reflexology is a non-invasive complementary therapy that is based on the theory that the body is mapped on the feet in a series of reflex points that correspond to organs, glands and the musculoskeletal system. Pressure and stimulation of these reflexes sends a stimulus to the central nervous system and a response is generated aiding the body to regain its natural state of balance (homeostasis). With over 7,000 nerve endings per foot, reflexology has discovered that our feet are a powerful connection to our body's innate healing ability.

Reflexologists know that working the feet benefits the body, for they witness positive impacts on the health of their clients regularly. In addition, there are many research studies that now confirm that the body is impacted positively when this modality is used. The question that remains is, "why is reflexology such a powerful tool in helping the body regain its natural state of health?"

• Reflexology activates the relaxation response. The relaxation response is the state in which the body no longer perceives danger so that blood pressure, heart rate, digestive functioning and hormone levels return to their normal state, bringing the body into balance.
   

• Reflexology improves circulation. Stress compromises circulation two different ways. First, by diverting blood from the stomach, gut and bladder to accommodate the fight or flight response and secondly, by tightening up muscles around the body and constricting blood flow. Reflexology's powerful relaxation benefit is a great counterbalance to the challenges that stress poses to the body.
   

• Reflexology encourages the body to cleanse toxins and impurities. The body has its own built- in cleaning systems such as the liver, lymphatic system and the excretory system. The function of these systems can be impeded if stress interferes causing toxins and waste to not be processed with the efficiency that nature intended. By activating the relaxation response, the circulation to the detoxification organs and systems is improved thereby boosting their function to optimal level.
   

• Reflexology opens energy pathways. By removing energy stagnations, energy is able to flow freely. This theory is supported by the fact that six traditional Chinese meridians that are used in acupuncture are also found on the feet and are clearly tapped into during a reflexology session.
   

• Reflexology supports the immune system. It is now known that stress, fatigue and diet, just to name a few, all suppress this key system in keeping us healthy. Therefore, when the body is relaxed and is given a detoxification boost, the immune system is able to operate in full force to protect the body from illness and exposure to environmental pollutants.

While you may favor one theory over another, many believe the best explanation for reflexology's results is that all of these theories play a role in making reflexology a viable complementary therapy. Be it a client with fibromyalgia whose energy increases after a session or a client who finds relief from migraines, it is clear that reflexology has found a way to tap into the power of the feet.