Stick to Your New Year's Resolutions!

It’s the beginning of a New Year and time to reflect on healthy changes to improve our overall wellness.  Did you know that acupuncture could effectively assist you in sticking to some of the most common health and lifestyle resolutions? 

Most common New Year’s heath goals and how acupuncture can help achieve them:

1.)  Weight Management

Acupuncture has been shown to have an effect on the functions of the nervous system, endocrine system, digestive system and metabolism.  It helps reduce food cravings and stress induced eating, and balance hormones in situations where there could be hormonal imbalance, such as post-partum, menopause, thyroid conditions or PCOS.

2.)  Eliminate Stress

Stress is often the cause of illness and deterioration of the immune system.  Numerous studies have demonstrated the benefits of acupuncture in treatment of stress, anxiety and high blood pressure, as well as secondary illness associated with these issues. (IBS, ulcers, migraines, etc.)

3.)  Quit Smoking

The stress and anxiety that comes along with quitting smoking are most often what derails the quitting process.  Acupuncture helps to reduce stress and anxiety, while curbing cravings as you quit.  Acupuncture also stimulates cell repair and helps detox the body of nicotine.

  4.) Pain Relief

Even the slightest pain can keep us from living  life to the fullest.  Acupuncture not only reduces or eliminates pain, but speeds up the healing process by increasing the circulation and blood flow to an injured area.  Acupuncture has no side effects and can beneficially treat all types of pain, regardless of cause or location, and can often provide relief that can last for months.

5.)  Get in Shape

On a physical level, acupuncture can relieve sore muscles, joint pain and even help with speeding up recovery time for injuries.   These are the most common reasons that prevent us from sticking to a work out regiment.  Another common reason for not sticking to an exercise regiment is lack of motivation.  From an eastern medical standpoint, this lack of motivation is caused by energy being stuck in the body.  Acupuncture balances out the flow of energy in our body and can improve the emotional aspect of sticking to a health/fitness regiment, as well.

            Come in and enjoy 15% off your treatment to kick off the New Year!

Help! I Am In Pain!!!

Did you know that acupuncture can treat any type of pain?  The majority of my patients come in seeking relief from some pain related issue.  Pain comes in many forms like tendonitis, bursitis, muscle spasm, headache or migraine, facial pain, pinched nerve, bruising, neuroma, plantar fasciitis, pelvic floor pain, joint pain, sprain, pain related to chemotherapy, pain related to disease and even fibromyalgia.  The good news is that all pain can more times than not be relieved by acupuncture!  Acute issues can be relieved in as little as one treatment, while a more chronic condition can take more time...though you should feel some relief even after your first visit.  In the "About Acupuncture" tab of my website, I have included a list of issues that have been clinically proven to be effectively treated with acupuncture by the World Health Organization...though there are many other issues not listed where acupuncture can be highly beneficial.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or to schedule and appointment!

maria@thesaltandthesea.com or call 203.442.4220

Eat Away Your Seasonal Allergies

Many of us, including myself, suffer from seasonal allergies.   Spring can be a glorious time, the snow has melted, the temperatures are rising, the birds are singing and the flowers are trees are starting to bloom!   Everyone around you is frolicking in bliss, and enjoying the feeling of the freedom of the outdoors.  Yes, this should be an exciting time after a long, cold Winter…but for allergy sufferers, this can be a time of anxiety, stress and frustration. 

Luckily, acupuncture, herbs and nutrition can be extremely helpful in relieving the misery of seasonal allergies!  As an acupuncturist, I have treated an array of allergy symptoms with great results.  By building up the immune system, and nurturing the body so that it can rescue itself from the abysmal symptoms that come with the season change… we can actually enjoy this wonderful time of the year!

Eating a diet packed with antioxidants, probiotics, and Omega-3s can help lessen inflammation, improve lung function, strengthen the immune system, and minimize complications of hay fever. Kefir or yogurt with active cultures helps build good bacteria in the gut.  In Chinese medicine, healthy lung function starts with a healthy gut environment.  Salmon is known to be high in Omega 3’s which are potent anti-inflammatories.  Miso soup or other hot broths and green tea can help loosen mucus, with the added benefit of having antioxidants.  Berries, red grapes, cherries, nuts, dark green veggies, sweet potatoes, and whole grains are other examples of powerful antioxidants, which help boost the immune system. Green onions and garlic are rich in quercetin and have antihistamine properties.

Blueberry Coconut Cake Bites

Yields 15 servings

½ cup walnuts½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut½ cup coconut flour (or another½ cup shredded coconut)½ cup pitted dates½ cup organic blueberries 1 Tbsp raw local honey¼ tsp sea salt½ tsp ground cinnamon

Place the walnuts and dates in a food processor and grind to the texture of coarse sand. Add the remaining ingredients and process again until ingredients come together in a dough-like consistency. The dough should stick together without being too wet (add more coconut flour, if needed) or too dry (add a splash of water in this case). Remove in spoonfuls and roll into small ball shapes. Place in cupcake cases (optional) in a sealable container and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Keep cakes refrigerated for up to a week.

For further reading, I have included a link to an article published last year from the Annals of Internal Medicine detailing a case study where acupuncture was used to treat the effects of seasonal allergies. http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1583578

For more information about how acupuncture can help you, please call my office to schedule a complimentary phone consultation, or to schedule an appointment.