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Yesterday marked the Chinese New Year, kicking off the Year of the Black Water Snake in Chinese astrology. Snake years tend to bring unexpected transformations to our lives. Even while there may not be many outward manifestations of change, there will be plenty of activity beneath the surface.
 Snakes have quite complicated and varied symbolism, depending on personal experience.
Snakes, as on the medical emblem, may signal an especially healing time. Since snakes are found in dark places and water, some believe that this particular year of the snake represents magical forces, our own primal energies or instincts.
The snake swallowing itself is related to a cycle, the wheel, the Great Mother archetype. In many cultures across the world, including our own, the symbol of serpents are associated with healing. The ancient Mayan goddess, IxChel, is incredibly powerful. She is a symbol of birth, motherhood and healing.
Snakes especially represent renewal or resurrection since they shed their skin. This week at Health On Point, we would like to announce to our community that soon we too shall be shedding our skin.
Beginning March 1, Health On Point will be moving! Our new home is 325 E. Washington Street (.1 miles away - or a 3 minute walk according to Google Maps!). This is the beautiful Commerce building at Washington and Gilbert - just opposite Gabes. We look forward to sharing the work, transformation, and love we are putting into our new clinic space. This is a wonderful change for us - and YOU! We'd love to hear your input about what you need to complete your own personal renewal and growth in 2013.
Of course this week includes a very special program for our Facebook fans. In celebration of Chinese New year, Valentine's Day - AND our upcoming move, our transformative essential oil blend, Renewal, is priced at only $5 (that's half off)! Stop by - pick up a bottle for yourself, and a friend (or just yourself).
Thank you for your continued support during this year of the Water Snake. We are embracing this year as a time of Renewal for all of us in the Health On Point community. Gung Hay Fat Choy!
Dear Friends & Lovers (of Acupuncture),
There are only days left to sign a crucial petition to alert the Obama Administration to the fact that acupuncturists are not currently recognized as healthcare providers under the Social Security Act and, therefore, cannot get reimbursement for services provided to Medicare patients.
The Social Security Act does recognize other healthcare professionals such as dieticians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse midwives, and clinical social workers.
By changing the compensation structure allowed under Medicare, we can ensure that patients have access to their local acupuncturists.
The petition, started one month ago, needs 25,000 signatures by February 10 to get a response from the White House regarding the inclusion of acupuncturists in the Social Security Act. Currently, we have over 10,000 signatures. If you have not yet signed this important petition, please do so now by visiting the following link by February 10:
Please immediately spread the word and forward this petition to your friends and family as every signature counts!
From all of us at Health On Point, thank you for your support and action
Did you know that in some cultures tea is considered an aphrodisiac and is even drank during love making? Under the Ming dynasty in China, tea developed into a positive ritual symbolizing poetry and beauty: a cup of tea became the mirror of the soul. Japanese treat tea as the drink of immortality which had to be brewed in accordance with a very precise ceremonial, making each gesture and each mouthful both an initiation and a poetic ecstasy. When tea began to make its way west in the 17th century, a doctor of Corsican origin, Simon Paoli, tasted it and exclaimed that it should be banned because it was too 'intoxicating'.
Vanilla Bean: The scent and flavor of vanilla is believed to increase lust, which is why it is so common in perfumes. The German physicist Bezaar Zimmermann states in his book, On Experiences, published in 1762, that more than 342 men who had been declared impotent became model lovers after having drunk his vanilla-based decoctions. Even now, in certain regions of Central and South America, including Mexico, Argentina and Venezuela, men try to recapture their former vigor by soaking a few vanilla beans in a glass of tequila or another white alcohol for almost a month.
Gingerroot Slices: It is widely known that gingerroot stimulates the circulatory system. Avicenna, the great Arab physician from the 11th century prescribed honey mixed with ginger and a little pepper to stimulate sexuality. French legend Madame du Barry made a practice of serving ginger to her lovers. It was said to drive all, including her most famous lover, Louis XV, to a state of complete and utter submissiveness. A faculty of medicine founded in Salerno Italy by four legendary physicians produced a collection of precepts of hygiene and diet and spoke of ginger's aphrodisiac qualities:
"Within the stomach, loins, and in the lung
Praise of hot ginger rightly may be sung.
It quenches thirst, revives, excites the brain
And in old age awakes young love again."
Whole Cloves: Cloves are also a stimulating spice. Its sensual qualities date back as far as 1497 where a king in Kenya spoke: if you are going to the East for the merchandise it produces, if you want cinnamon, cloves and those various aromatics which encourage lust by feeding pleasure... you shall find them in such abundance that you need only content yourself here and go no farther."
 Honey: Medicines in Egyptian times were based on honey including cures for sterility and impotence. Medieval seducers plied their partners with mead, a fermented concoction made from honey. Lovers on their "Honeymoon" drank mead and it was thought to "sweeten" the marriage. Galen (2nd century), physician to the Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius recommended honey taken at bedtime. Sie Shonagon (14th century), the Japanese authoress, lists honey as a favored aphrodisiac. Sheikh Nefzawi (16th century), author of the notorious sex manual, "The Perfumed Garden", recommended having pine kernels mixed with honey before love making.
Put these alluring ingredients together and you not only have a passion potion, but a very delicious tea as well. Now you know the gateway to love is just a cup of tea away.
This week at Health On Point, stop by for a complementary cup of tea. In addition all teas are 15% off! Not only will we be offering our usual all organic, hand blended teas, but a tiger spice chai blend AND a new limited edition blend - AMOUR.
Acupuncture combined with moxibustion is more effective than conventional ‘western’ medicine for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A new meta-analysis of 11 research investigations with a sample size of over 950 patients shows that acupuncture with moxibustion leads to better clinical outcomes than conventional pharmaceutical drug therapy. In addition, the study shows that acupuncture combined with moxibustion is not only effective but is also safe. The researchers conclude, “Acupuncture-moxibustion for irritable bowel syndrome is better than the conventional western medication treatment.”
This is not the first time Chinese medicine has been shown effective for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. The Journal of the American Medical Association made an impact in the western world with its ground breaking publication of findings showing that Chinese herbal medicine “offer(s) improvements in symptoms for some patients with IBS.” This early study used the modern standards of investigation now commonly employed in acupuncture and herbal medicine studies. It was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Gastroenterologists worked in combination with herbalists but both groups were blinded to the treatment group. The study discovered that Chinese herbal medicine improved patients’ health with irritable bowel syndrome including significant improvements documented 14 weeks after completion of the herbal medicine treatments.
Clinical Highlights
One effective herbal formula used for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome is Shu Gan Wan. Often referred to as soothe the liver pills, this formula is known for its ability to prevent Liver Qi stagnation from attacking the Spleen and Stomach. This syndrome is indicated by abdominal discomfort and gas, bloating, hiccups, belching, abdominal pain, erratic stools and poor digestion. In some cases, hypoglycemia or ulcerative gastritis develops. This syndrome is common when emotional, physical and dietary stresses cause stomach and digestive upset. Irritability and anger during or after eating is a common example of when Liver Qi stagnation attacks the Stomach and Spleen. This is why Chinese medicine doctors often recommend not reading the newspaper during meals or eating in rush or under pressure.
This week I'd like to highlight a recent entry from one of my favorite sites. As many patients at Health On Point know, my mom is a food blogger - and is passionate about her work. Earlier in the month she shared a story and recipe for one of my favorite wintertime treats - Ginger Brew.
As we've talked about this season, tis the season for colds and flu. While this often worsens during late autumn, excitement - and stress - of the holidays often leave us with lingering sniffling and coughing (and too many used Kleenex!). I have a dear friend who served in the PeaceCorps in Africa, and this was a recipe from her time there.
Ginger has been used for centuries for its healing properties – it warms the stomach for digestion and rids the body of throat and nasal congestion.
This recipe may be doubled or tripled if you want a more substantial amount of the concentrate. Basically, just combine the ingredients for this recipe, let it steep a bit at room temp or warmer in the sun. Then store in the refrigerator. Pour about two ounces in a large tea mug and fill it with seven ounces of boiling water. Believe me, this stops nagging coughs and congestion!
If you make this in the summer, it can be diluted with ice water, or added to sparkling water or even juice. It is heavy on the ginger flavor (translate as “peppery” or spicy) so if you aren’t a ginger lover, use less concentrate.
Ginger Brew Ingredients
Yield: 2 cups of concentrate which makes about 8 glasses of tea or cold brew
Ingredients:
• 1 cup boiling water
• 3 Tbsp fresh grated ginger (I don’t peel it)
• 3 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 7 whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick (2 ½ inches long)
• 1 lime, squeezed (use the juice only)
• ½ juice orange, squeezed (use the juice only)
• 1 cup cold water
Instructions:
Pour boiling water over the grated ginger, sugar, cloves and cinnamon Stir, cover and keep in a glass bowl or measuring cup and place in a warm place covered for an hour. If it is sunny, put it on the window sill. This time of year I keep it in a warm oven (90 degrees).
After the hour, strain the liquid through a fine sieve or cheesecloth. Add the lime juice, orange juice and cold water. Again, keep the mix in a glass container and cover it, then keep it in a warm place for another hour. Strain the liquid and don’t pour the sediment at the bottom of the container through the strainer-discard it. The mix should be pretty clear.
Store covered in the refrigerator. This will keep for 7-10 days. Freeze for longer storage.
At last! The final installation of our top 13 in 2013. We would love to hear from you - what do you hope to gain from acupuncture this year?
9. It will help you embrace change.
Conventional medicine requires us to think in absolutes, to label things good or bad, black or white. We're either sick or we're healthy. Our numbers are too high or too low. We're happy or we're depressed. Yet in between these extremes, subtle yet significant shifts occur. Acupuncture works in this gray area and teaches us to reflect on the small changes happening within and around us all the time. In acupuncture, this is progress.
Unwillingness to accept change is a huge source of stress and anxiety for many people. Through reframing change as a marker of progress rather than something to be scared of, you will learn to love it.
10. It will give you something to talk about at parties.
Acupuncture is a crowd pleaser! Next time you're feeling awkward or bored at a social gathering, mention that you recently had acupuncture. You'll be an instant sensation. People love learning about acupuncture.Did it hurt? Did she stick them in your eyes? People also love sharing their own acupuncture experiences, so it's a quick way find common ground and make friends.
11. It will make you more patient.
We loooove technology. Whether it's the latest product from Apple or a cutting-edge MRI, we lust after shiny tools that promise to make us better. Technology, while awesome, acclimates us to quick fixes and perpetuates an "I want it now" mentality. This creates chronic impatience.
Acupuncture, because it works but rarely overnight, can help us combat this. Acupuncture is an ongoing process that requires an investment of time and a willingness to let go of our desire for instant gratification. It will make you a more patient person.
12. It will make you tough.
It's not always easy to embrace acupuncture. Most doctors, as well as some family, friends and colleagues, regard mainstream medicine as the only acceptable form of health care. The constant barrage of pharmaceutical advertising is hard to ignore. It takes courage to go against the grain.
Acupuncture, although becoming more popular, is still not the norm. It requires a conscious commitment to understanding ourselves in a way that the majority shuns. This is the harder path toward health but ultimately the most rewarding.
13. It will make you believe in yourself.
The driving idea behind acupuncture is that we're already in possession of everything we need to be well. Acupuncture does not add or subtract anything. Rather, it prompts the body to do what it already knows how to do. It reminds you that you have the power to heal yourself.
This does not mean that external interventions such as pharmaceuticals or surgery should always be shunned -- in many cases, these are life-saving measures. But it does mean that becoming healthier, whatever that means to you, is within your control. When it comes to improving our physical and emotional health, most of us are capable of a lot more than we think. By using a therapy like acupuncture, which embraces rather than ignores our innate healing capacity, you're making a statement that you believe in yourself.
Wishing you a transformative 2013!
Last week, we began to discuss how acupuncture helps us see the world differently. Today we will continue to highlight five more ways that acupuncture may benefit YOU in 2013.
4. It can help give you more energy.
Although it's common to find yourself in "acu land" -- a somewhat dazed, blissfully-relaxed state -- immediately following acupuncture treatment, the after effect is usually increased energy. Many people report having more energy in the hours, days and even weeks after acupuncture treatment. You may notice that you're avoiding that post-lunch coma, feeling more motivated to hit the gym, or just sensing a little extra spring in your step.
5. It will clear your head.
In addition to the surge of physical energy that follows emerging from acu land, many people notice improved mental clarity after acupuncture. They're able to make decisions faster with greater confidence. They feel more motivated and resolute about tackling items that have been lingering for months on their to-do lists. It's as if the mental cobwebs have been cleared out. Suddenly, you will be out of your own way.
6. It will allow you to give yourself a break.
Acupuncture looks at how root imbalances affect the whole system. This means that when one thing is out of whack, it can affect you in multiple ways. Many of us are quick to beat ourselves up when we can't muster energy for something that used to come easy, or when we fail to accomplish all the things we "should" be doing.
By thinking of yourself as a complex, interconnected system, it becomes easier to understand why you might be feeling incomplete or depleted. Acupuncture broadens your awareness of the things that can potentially influence your physical and emotional health. This, hopefully, will help you be a little kinder to yourself.
7. It can help you sleep.
Insomnia is one of the most common complaints seen by acupuncturists, and acupuncture can be highly effective at helping it. But even in people who do not recognize or mention sleep as a problem, acupuncture has a tendency to produce more restful nights. This often goes unnoticed until asked about on a follow-up visit. Many acupuncturists hear this refrain multiple times a day: "You know, now that you mention it, I have been sleeping a lot better since I started coming for acupuncture."
 8. It will get you thinking differently about food.
Whether you're Paleo, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, or free of any restrictions, acupuncture will lend some interesting perspective to your food choices. In acupuncture, foods often are thought about in terms of temperature. Some people, because of their constitutions or root imbalances, need warming foods while others need foods that cool. And this can change significantly based on the seasons. Everyone is different. Acupuncture dietary theory sheds light on why some people can eat certain foods and feel unaffected while others can't even look in their direction.
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Snakes have quite complicated and varied symbolism, depending on personal experience.
Beginning March 1, Health On Point will be moving! Our new home is 325 E. Washington Street (.1 miles away - or a 3 minute walk according to Google Maps!). This is the beautiful Commerce building at Washington and Gilbert - just opposite Gabes. We look forward to sharing the work, transformation, and love we are putting into our new clinic space. This is a wonderful change for us - and YOU! We'd love to hear your input about what you need to complete your own personal renewal and growth in 2013. 
