Month: February 2018

Exercise Shown to Reduce Stress Significantly

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A recent study published in the journal Sports Medicine shows that doing  weight bearing exercises (weights, bands, body weight squats or planks, for example) twice a week or more can cut anxiety symptoms by a whopping 50% within just two weeks. 

This is of great significance since pharmaceuticals have a mixed track record of effectiveness with these conditions.

This study supports numerous previous studies showing the positive mental health effects of exercise. So if you struggle with anxiety or depression, talk to your doctor to make sure you are healthy enough to start an exercise program and then start.

If nothing else, just start with a few push ups or hold yourself in the “plank position” for a length of time. It looks easy, but you’ll quickly see just how difficult holding a plank is.

By beginning to lift weights off of the floor, they, in turn, will likely lift a good deal of the emotional weight off of your shoulders.

And by the way…  even if you don’t struggle from these issues, you might as well take advantage of this bump in mood by lifting weight… so go get your sweat on…

 

 

Happy Chinese New Year !!!

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Happy Chinese New Year and a Prosperous “Year of the Dog”.

Chinese New Year is observed today, February 16th this year with large parties and several days of joyous celebration around the world. It is on such an “odd” day of the calendar because the Chinese base their calendar on a 10,000 year and 28 day lunar moon cycle rather than the 365 day sun cycle which we are used to.  This coming year is known as the “Year of the Dog” because of how the years click through a yearly series symbolized by 12 animals; such as goat or monkey or dragon or rat or pig or rooster, etc before the cycle repeats.  Remember those place mats at Chinese restaurants?

The Ancient Chinese say that everything moves in cycles, and if you understand the cycles, you can predict what is going to happen next… sort of like knowing that it might snow in February each year. While most people poo-poo this ancient astrology and fortune telling, some of the most successful business men around the world still depend on “Feng Shui” and “Bazi” experts to help them with things such as picking out the location of their next sky scraper (including Donald Trump is known to do) or pick a launch date for a new business venture.  Heck, supposedly you can even use it to pick out a compatible spouse.

So let me ask you a question…..Do you want to know your Chinese fortune for 2018? Ok. Here it is… According to the expert Joey Yap, “2018 is going to be a year worth celebrating. You will be presented with new opportunities for wealth, career progression, good health and new relationships. Just remember to stay grounded, keep a clear mind and stay focused and you will be able to achieve anything you set out to pursue this year.” Not too shabby, eh? …

But no matter how good or bad your fortune is, just remember what Abraham Lincoln says, “the best way to predict the future is to create it yourself.” What does Abe mean? To me, that means that YOU have the most control of your own destiny (within reason, of course). So if something isn’t going right in your life, go about fixing it, if there is something you want to change or create or add to your life, then go about manifesting it… create your own destiny. Don’t just sit there and accept fate as it comes, or just because someone told you so…

Do something about it.

So if one of your goals for 2018 is better health, seriously consider coming in to visit us for some acupuncture. No matter how big of a health challenge you are facing, acupuncture can likely help in some way. If not, then I will be honest with you and tell you so. Because many of our patients come to us as a last resort… they are told that there is nothing else that can be done for them with modern medicine… and that they will just have to go home and live with it. Well, I’m here to tell you that you don’t necessarily just have to go home and live with it… there is plenty more that you can do if you are willing to actively take command of your own destiny and be a participant.  Acupuncture can help…… tremendously.

Perhaps acupuncture is one of those things that you might consider to help create your new, brighter future. So whether you just want to come in for an occasional “tune-up”, some “recreational acupuncture”, or some serious, full blown therapy, we are here and ready for you. Give us a call today…

Wishing you and your family a wonderful and auspicious 2018 Year of the Dog!

Flu Fighting Foods

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With flu season at its peak, many of us are doing everything we can to stay healthy. Things like getting enough sleep and burning off stress with exercise, laughter and comraderie are all important measures that we can take. We can also do things such as gargle salt water, drink an alcoholic beverage daily (which lowers risk of catching a cold by 40% according to Yale University) and eating certain foods.

For example, Japanese researchers found that eating one (cooked or raw) clove of garlic daily reduces our chance of catching the flu by an incredible 43% and speeds up recovery by two full days as well. Eating an apple each day slashes our risk of sinus infection, bronchitis and pneumonia by 53%. And including yogurt in our daily diet also adds to this with its own 50% reduction in risk of contracting a cold virus and a 33% increase in recovery time. Those numbers beat the flus shot and the Tamiflu’s effectiveness rates by a good amount!

So be sure to go get your flu shot, but also remember that there is plenty of choices that YOU can make every day to boost up your immune system and help ensure a healthy year to come.

Because YOU can help control your own future.

Happy Chinese New Year

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Happy Chinese New Year!!! February 16th marks the beginning of their Chinese lunar new year. It is a day for celebrating, while offering thanks for the past year while looking forward to a fresh start, which is full of verdant possibilities.

This year marks the beginning of the “Year of the Dog” in Chinese astrology. (You remember those animal signs from the Chinese restaurant place-mats, don’t you?) According to Chinese astrology, when you were born (down to the minute) dictates what your personality will be like, what areas of life you will find the best luck and what you will be naturally talented with. They have 12 zodiac signs such as horse, ox, tiger, rabbit, goat, monkey, rooster and don’t forget the popular dragon.  (I am a “water rat”, in case you were wondering.) You can go to http://www.joeyyap.com/12animals/ to find out more about your own animal and download their free 73 page book on the Chinese animal signs. It’s all pretty fun & fascinating (if you are into that sort of thing).

But no matter what the stars have planned for you, YOU have the ultimate power to create your own destiny with the choices you make. If getting or staying healthy is something you are wishing for in 2018, you’re in luck, because acupuncture may be exactly what you need.

…Jason