Posts Tagged ‘stress’

10 Healthy Holiday Tips

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011
Holiday Health Tips

how to enjoy the holidays with a few healthy tips

How to find peace and well-being during this festive (and hectic!) time of year

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…it’s also the season of heartburn, headaches and hangovers. So, as you enjoy the season, be sure to keep your health in mind. Here are 10 healthy holiday tips that can help keep you feeling your best.

# 1. Get your sleep – the best case scenario is to get a full eight hours of sleep a night. Sometimes, especially during a hectic holiday season, that’s just not possible. So, to ensure that the sleep you do get is as high quality as possible, try to refrain from watching TV right before turning in and don’t eat a heavy meal in the two hours leading up to going to bed.

#2. Drink your water – dehydration can cause fatigue and poor concentration, which can slow you down anytime, but definitely during the holidays. Doctors recommend that you drink eight glasses of water a day. It helps keep you hydrated, flush toxins from your vital organs and keeps your body’s systems running smoothly.

#3. Get some sunshine – while we’ve come a long way in sun block protection and reducing sunburn (and its harmful and even cancerous effects), humans now are exposed to less sunshine than any other time in history. Because vitamin D is such a critical vitamin and sunshine is the primary source, there are now unprecedented levels of vitamin D deficiency. So, be smart about your sun protection, but get outside and get some vitamin D.

#4. Eat Healthy – One of the best ways to feel (and be!) healthy is to eat healthy. Instead of trying to cut out a whole class of foods (eating no fats, for example), it’s best to eat a balanced diet of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. A good rule of thumb is also to eat a variety of foods with different rich colors (think dark green spinach, purple eggplant and orange carrots).

#5. Don’t overindulge when it comes to food – this tip builds on #4. For many families, the holidays mean food…a lot of food. Many doctors recommend that you eat until you feel 70-80% full, not “stuffed.” By not-overdoing it, you will be far more likely to avoid heartburn, indigestion and the five holiday pounds that often sneak in!

#6. Toast to the season, but don’t take too many sips – many doctors agree that there are health benefits associated with alcohol – especially red wine – in moderation. But, if the holidays have taught us anything, it’s that there can be too much of a good thing. So, if you are sipping red wine, egg nog or your favorite holiday cocktail, pace yourself.

#7. Don’t forget to move – everyone knows that getting your exercise can reduce your stress, keep your heart healthy and keep your weight in check. It’s also a great way to enjoy the holidays. Walk around your neighborhood. See the lights. Say hi to your neighbors. Maybe even give your dog some holiday exercise. Everyone will be happier.

#8. Acupuncture – I see a lot of harried patients around the holidays that find relief after acupuncture. If the season gets to be too much, a licensed acupuncture expert can help customize a treatment regimen that eases pain, decreases stress or even helps you sleep better.

#9. Relax, slow down and enjoy – Remember that one of the best ways to keep your body healthy is to keep it relaxed and de-stressed. Breathe. Take a moment for yourself. Clear you mind. This will undoubtedly help you enjoy the holidays a bit more.

# 10. Spend time with family and friends – the holidays are about a lot of things, but one of the most important is your family and friends. Make sure to spend time with them and enjoy the season!

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Holiday Stress and Acupuncture

Monday, November 28th, 2011

Chinese medicine is very helpful in relieving stressLet’s face it, while they are indeed “merry & bright”, the holidays can also be a stressful time of the year. Big spending, big eating and big chunks of time with family, work colleagues and friends can be a volatile mix and can wreak havoc on your ability to keep cool, calm and collected.

With consumer spending confidence at a decade low, the stock market see-sawing wildly and the Occupy Wall Street movement occupying the national psyche, this year may be even more stressful than years past. So, let’s think about how acupuncture and Oriental Medicine might help lighten your load and make the holidays festive again…

There are growing numbers of people and organizations that are turning to Oriental Medicine and, specifically, acupuncture as a safe and effective stress reliever.

In 2010, the Wall Street Journal wrote a great article about how “U.S. Navy, Air Force and Army doctors are using acupuncture to treat musculoskeletal problems, pain and stress in stateside hospitals and combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan.” The piece continued on to talk about how “delegations from Acupuncturists Without Borders are holding communal ear-needling sessions to reduce stress among earthquake victims in Haiti.”

Additionally, a 2003 study conducted at the Yale University School of Medicine and presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists annual meeting that year showed that mothers that were given acupuncture when their children were going into surgery had less anxiety. Experts said that this was key because when parents are less anxious, there is less anxiety in children.

So, as you kick off this joyous time of year, remember to take a few moments to breathe. If relieving your stress is on your holiday list of To Dos, you may want to consider an acupuncture session with a licensed practitioner. It could be the best gift you receive this season.

Happy Holidays!

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Empirical Point Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture Practice Launches “Healthy New Year 2011”

Thursday, February 3rd, 2011
Chinese New Year - Year of the Rabbit

Staying healthy with acupuncture and Chinese medicine

Empirical Point, LLC, a leading Philadelphia Chinese Medicine and acupuncture practice, today announced the launch of its “Healthy New Year 2011” campaign, designed to give patients more hands-on information and real-world tips about how to live healthier in the new year. This new program is kicking off today, the first day of the Chinese New Year, with a series of online information and news. More information can be found at www.philadelphia-acupuncture.com.

“The new year usually brings with resolutions and promises to improve our health. It also brings a renewed commitment to living well and living healthy,” stated Sharon Sherman, M.S.O.M., D.OM., L.OM and founder of Empirical Point. “Empirical Point was founded to deliver on that commitment – to provide patients with a Chinese medicine and acupuncture practice dedicated to improving their health. I don’t just treat patients. I work with them to get to the root of their ailments and to then map out an interactive and holistic plan to improve their overall well being. This Healthy New Year 2011 program is just one more way for us to provide the latest news and tips to our patients on how to be well.”

The first topic tackled by the Healthy New Year 2011 program is “Alternative Medicine – Not So Alternative Anymore” which will look at the growing use and success of alternative medicine in the U.S. While Chinese Medicine and acupuncture have been used for thousands of years, they are just now really taking hold in many Western cultures as effective medical treatments. Through the Empirical Point website, blog and social media and events at our offices, the practice will explore and offer up information about the growth of alternative medicine – and how it may be helpful for patients who may have not yet considered it for common conditions like stress or chronic pain.

The Healthy New Year 2011 campaign will go on to address the following topics later this year:

• Pain – How to Address and Relieve it with Chinese Medicine

• Building a Strong Immune System…and a Stronger You

• Stressed?  How to Relieve Anxiety and Be at your Best

About Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture

Chinese Medicine is one of the oldest complete medical systems practiced today – encompassing acupuncture, Chinese herbs, nutrition and other modalities – and is recognized as an effective, empirical science. Acupuncture has been in use for over 2,000 years, and is one of the most commonly used medical procedures worldwide. Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture are regularly used to safely and effectively treat a wide range of health challenges, especially the treatment of acute and chronic pain management. Today, the use of and demand for acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is increasing in the United States. Recent reports conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), USA Today, ABC News and Stanford University all point to increasing numbers of Americans using acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. The most recent CDC study found that nearly 3.3 million U.S. adults and children had used acupuncture in the previous year.

About Empirical Point, LLC

Empirical Point’s overarching mission is to empower patients and to optimize their health and well being. Using her extensive Chinese Medicine and acupuncture training and expertise, founder Sharon Sherman has been treating patients and growing the practice steadily since 2001. Ms. Sherman has the highest level of licensure possible – an achievement rivaled by only 8% of her peers in Pennsylvania – and has logged more education and continuing education hours than the vast majority of other practitioners. Ms. Sherman is also licensed in New Mexico, which has one of the most arduous licensure processes in the U.S. Empirical Point welcomes patients at its Center City and Chestnut Hill offices in Philadelphia. For more information, please visit www.philadelphia-acupuncture.com.

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Combating Feelings of Holiday Stress, Anxiety and Depression with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

Sunday, December 13th, 2009
holidays, stress and anxiety

holidays, stress and anxiety

While the holidays are depicted in movies as a time of idyllic serenity and joy, we have all felt the realities of holiday stress.  Financial concerns, gift giving, busy schedules, family obligations, weight gain and lack of exercise all play into the “holiday cheer”.  These pressures can affect us physically, emotionally and spiritually often leading to anxiety and depression.   Acupuncture and Chinese medicine provide a unique perspective and intervention for these common seasonal difficulties.

Anxiety comes in a wide range of manifestations, from mild worrying to more physical responses such as nausea, insomnia, shortness of breath and panic attacks.  Some anxiety is a healthy response to the stress of daily life and new situations; however, anxiety that occurs randomly or excessively is a sign to take notice.  Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help balance both the mental and physical symptoms of anxiety and help to create harmony and spaciousness.

From an acupuncture and Chinese medicine perspective, many manifestations of anxiety can be traced back to the energetic concert between the heart and kidneys.  The temperament of the heart is fiery, expansive and upward.  From a Chinese medicine standpoint, it exhibits yang characteristics.  The dynamic terrain of the kidneys are on the other end of the Chinese medicine continuum.  The kidneys’ energetic character is fluid, inward and contemplative, exhibiting a yin nature.  If there is too much fire, we may experience symptoms of anxiety and agitation of the mind.

It is estimated that 20% of the population is depressed at some point in life.  Common symptoms of depression during holiday time include a sense of apathy, cynicism or anger toward the holiday season, isolation from festivities and holiday traditions, crying spells and over-consumption of food and/or alcohol.  Depression may be compounded in some people by SAD, seasonal affective disorder  – a type of depression associated with the low light conditions experienced during the winter months.

In acupuncture and Chinese medicine, the liver’s job is to negotiate the free flow of energy in the body.  Impaired liver function can lead to inappropriate jams, limited availability of resources and sluggishness.  In acupuncture and Chinese medicine this condition is often referred to as liver depression and qi stagnation.  The “depression” is the body’s reduced ability to move its resources.  Stagnation occurs when the lack of energy to circulate needed supplies becomes obstructed.  This can cause sleep and digestive complaints, musculoskeletal pain and emotional instability.  Acupuncture and Chinese medicine offer effective strategies to remedy the depressed energy and to move the resulting stagnation, leading to better health and outlook.

While modern life has helped make so many aspects of daily living easier, many people still suffer from emotional distress especially around the Holiday season.  Subsequently, anxiety, increased stress and depression are some of the most common conditions affecting individuals during this eventful season.  Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are effective and safe tools to help smooth and balance what can be a challenging time of the year even under the best circumstances.

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