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Clinic Success Stories: Depression

Posted by on Jun 26, 2013 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Chris is currently treating a patient for depression.  The patient uses acupuncture in conjunction with cognitive therapy.  Last week, she felt like she “fell into a dark well” emotionally.  After her fi…rst acupuncture session using points on her face, the feeling of despair lifted about 80%.  This treatment was based not solely on Chinese medicine but also on sacred geometry which required needles to be arranged differently. Because this is a chronic condition, she will need ongoing acupuncture treatments and continued therapy.  The patient shared, “I’m relieved to have enough energy again to continue with my daily life tasks.” The National Institute of Mental Health offers a list of signs & symptoms on their website: “People with depressive illnesses do not all experience the same symptoms. The severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms vary depending on the individual and his or her particular illness. Signs and symptoms include: •  Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” feelings •  Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism •  Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness •  Irritability, restlessness •  Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex •  Fatigue and decreased energy •  Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions •  Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping •  Overeating, or appetite loss •  Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts •  Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment.” If you or someone you know suffers from depression, there is help...

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Replenishing Qi & Blood After Childbirth

Posted by on Jun 19, 2013 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Replenishing Qi & Blood After Childbirth According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, a woman’s body loses a great deal of qi and blood during childbirth. Because a pregnant woman’s vital energy (qi) is utilized to make a beautiful newborn, it’s essential for the new mother to replenish her qi and blood after childbirth. A deficiency of qi and blood can cause many troublesome symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, weight gain, hair loss, future infertility, anxiety, depression, memory loss, dental cavities, dry skin, insomnia, mood swings, back pain, blurry vision and painful menses. There are many ways to do replenish qi and blood. In this article, we’ll focus on three options; nutrition, exercise and herbs. Nutrition Diminished qi and blood can be improved by adding specific foods into your diet. For patients that are not adverse to eating meat, we recommend slow-cooked beef bone soup or chicken soup cooked with the bone as an easy way to build your body’s vital substances. After a week of taking 4 ounces of beef bone broth with dinner, patients usually remark on their sleep patterns regulating and their mental fog lifting. For vegetarians patients, we suggest eating slow-cooked rice soup with black kidney beans and loads of lightly steamed dark green vegetables as well as adding blood building herbal supplements.  Foods high in healthy fats like avocados are great for nourishing your brain. Exercise While studies show that exercise is the new wonder treatment for anxiety and depression, it’s important for a new mommy to be gentle with her exercise routine during the first few months after giving birth. Tai chi and qi gong are forms of daily exercise that will actually help develop additional qi and blood while also moving energy through parts of the body that have blockage. Taking your baby for daily strolls through the park will give your body a number of gifts; stress reduction by being in nature, immune-boosting vitamin D from the sun and gentle movement for your body. Herbs Replenishing the body by using nourishing herbs is one of the easiest and best ways to restore the vital energy and blood that is lost through childbirth.  This approach is especially useful if the mother is planning on nursing her baby, as nursing takes additional blood and energy.  For centuries in China it was routine to take herbs after pregnancy as a means of ensuring a healthy body.  Consider seeking out a qualified Chinese Medicine Practitioner to obtain a suitable herbal formula. Most new mommy’s are so busy taking care of their baby that they forget to take care of themselves. It’s essential for a new parent to realize that by giving your body adequate self-care, you are modeling health for your child and you are insuring your child will have a healthy parent to care for them in the future. Chris Bruckner, L.Ac. Green Jade Acupuncture 949-278-3642...

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