Balance Blog
All Things Health, Wellness, and Chinese Medicine
4 Acupressure Points to Improve Digestion
Here’s a little something we put together for you to help relieve bloating and indigestion this holiday season (and always)! Happy Thanksgiving.
Inside a Session with Balance Acupuncture
Curious about what an acupuncture treatment with us looks like? Wonder no longer- here’s how your hour with us unfolds!
Seasonal Wellness: Fall, the Lungs + Letting Go
The teachings and practices of Chinese Medicine supports the body, mind and spirit in the midst of change. In preparation for Fall, our focus turns to strengthening the metal element’s organ system pair, the Lungs and Large Intestine, and practice that which we observe in nature: letting go. Enjoy our 10 self-care tips for keeping well this fall.
Embrace the Earth Element
Chinese Medicine proposes that we will feel our best if we live according to the seasons. In late Summer, it is the Earth element that is the most active and also the most vulnerable. With appropriate diet and lifestyle adjustments, we can cultivate a healthy Earth element, a strong gut and optimal immunity.
How To Make Congee
Congee is a traditional, highly nourishing Chinese breakfast used for healing since the Han Dynasty (206 BCE). Made with rice, other grains, and water, eating congee is a simple and powerful way to support digestion and overall health.
A Natural, Herbal Approach to Stress Relief
We love integrating Western herbs into our practice. They’re easy to use, fun to learn about, widely accessible, and can be sourced locally and organically. And, there are so many herbs that can help us keep calm and relaxed. The following information is from National Geographic’s special March 2020 edition, Healing Remedies: A Holistic Approach to Health and Wellness, and focuses on herbal stress relief.
Chinese Medicine + Self-Care during COVID-19
As our city re-opens and COVID cases spike, it becomes so important to implement your self-care routine! The teachings and practices of Chinese Medicine, along with some lifestyle modifications, can help boost our defenses. When we stay as balanced as possible, our body is stronger, more resilient, and more capable of handling and healing from whatever comes our way. Learn about how we can care for ourselves and our family during this time with at-home wellness practices, herbs, supplements, food therapy, essential oils, and more.
10 Fun Facts About Acupuncture
There is a lot to know about a medicine that has been in existence for thousands of years! Most people are familiar with the fact that acupuncture involves the insertion of tiny needles in different areas of the body to treat health concerns. Whether you are new to the world of acupuncture or not, enjoy these fun facts you might not know about acupuncture!
DIY Chinese Medicine for Stress Reduction
During these challenging times, some days are better than others. The other day was not so great. I could feel stress manifesting itself throughout the day, but with a toddler in tow, there is little time for stress management. Deep breaths is about the most I can fit in. After my little one went down for the night, I finally had time for a little self-care! This at-home treatment took a total of 15 minutes and I felt the stress melt away using these Chinese Medicine practices.
Essential Oils for Stress + Anxiety Relief
Essential oils are famously used for their scents, but extracting the essence of a plant makes a potent medicine. Used correctly, they can be very beneficial for many health issues. Essential oils are accessible and easy to use, and can help you feel calmer when they’re incorporated into your self-care routine. Chances are, you might already own one of these helpful antidotes for stress at home!
A TCM Toolkit for Seasonal Allergies
Do you suffer from springtime allergies? From itchy eyes to asthma, Chinese Medicine and acupuncture can help! Acupuncture and herbal medicine can decrease pain and inflammation, bolster the immune system, and regulate the body's histamine response to its various offenders.
A Walking Meditation for Gratitude
Practicing gratitude can be an amazing thing for your body and mind- especially during challenging and stressful times. Studies have shown that gratitude positively contributes to our spiritual wellbeing and mental health, our mood and sleep, and our cardiac health. And as we know, walking has innumerable health benefits on its own, from reducing heart disease to increasing mental cognition.
Spring Wellness + the Wood Element
The Wood energy of the season wants to rise up, push through, and get things done. It’s active and energetic, and supports vision, creativity, and leadership. This is the time of year we would work on any blockages so we can have access to all that great energy. After all, the themes of the season are growth, rebirth, and renewal. When this energy is thwarted or constrained, the result is Qi stagnation.
7 Acupressure Points for Stress + Anxiety Relief
The Covid-19 pandemic is a very stressful and challenging time for many of us. In between/ in lieu of your regular acupuncture treatments, try acupressure to take the edge off. A simple acupressure routine can help manage the effects of stress on the body, allowing our immune system to function more optimally.
5 Acupressure Points for Immune Support
In between/ in lieu of your regular acupuncture treatments, a great way to stay healthy during “viral” times is with acupressure. Applying pressure to acupuncture points can help stimulate the channels and communicate with the nervous system to build our body’s natural defenses.
Acupuncture 101: The Basics
Acupuncture is a holistic medical practice that originated in China over 3,000 years ago. The medicine is based on the understanding that health is achieved through balance.
A Look Into The Five Elements
There are 5 primary elements in Chinese medicine: they exist in everything, everyone, and are essential for life. Just like in our environment, the elements are constantly shifting and changing within us. We are a microcosm of the natural world that surrounds us. If we study nature and its cycles, we can learn how to support our own health with the five element theory.
Healing With Ear Acupuncture
Auriculotherapy refers to acupressure or acupuncture applied to the ear. In our practice, we use auriculotherapy to treat a wide variety of health conditions- anything from head to toe can be addressed! We love auriculotherapy because it’s a relatively non-invasive technique that’s convenient for our clients to use and receive.