Greetings Dear Readers,
Please enjoy this video I made on treating insomnia with acupressure.
Sleep well!
Yours in health,
Cynthia
Tag Archives: insomnia
Activating Feminine Yin Energy
Greetings Dear Readers,
Finding balance between the masculine and feminine energies is something many people are wanting in their lives. It seems many people find that in this modern age there is a lot of fast-paced, aggressive Yang energy. This creates a craving for the slower paced, quieter Yin energy. Some of the ways we add more Yin energy such as sugar, and recreational drugs are unhealthy in the long run. Luckily, there are also many healthy ways to bring in more Yin energy such as working with the energy systems of the body.
Each acupuncture channel of the body has various properties and functions which are activated when the area is stimulated by acupuncture, massage or moxibustion. The main channel that works with the feminine energy is the Conception Vessel (CV) channel. The CV channel runs up the front of the body along the mid-line from the perineum to the chin. It is balanced by the masculine energy of the Governing Vessel channel which runs along the back of the body near the spine, from the perineum up to the head and face. The Conception Vessel channel, also called the “Sea of the Yin channels” is often used for the purpose of nourishing the Yin or the feminine energy in the body.
Yin and Yang energies need to stay in balance for health and harmony. Sometimes people have too much Yang or heat/inflammation caused by a relative lack of Yin. In these cases, activating this channel helps them overcome symptoms of Yin deficiency such as anxiety, dry mouth at night, facial flushing, insomnia, dizziness, tinnitus, sweating at night, hot flashes, menopausal symptoms or restless mind.
It’s also very interesting to me that acupoint Lung 7 is used to open the Conception Vessel because it affirms what we already know, that using our lungs to take deep breathes helps us to feel more calm and Yin.
The Conception Vessel belongs to a set of eight “extra-ordinary vessels” which contain some of the most powerful energy reserves in the body, which we can tap into for extra support. These channels are also used when there are chronic conditions that are often complicated by issues in many organ systems. If you are interested in exploring how to increase your Yin energy and find more balance in your body, acupuncture as well as non-needling technologies can be used to bring relief.
I look forward to hearing your comments and questions.
Yours in health,
Cynthia
Ear Acupuncture for Yin Deficiency
Greetings Dear Readers,
Today I’d like to share with you some of the benefits of the 5-point ear acupuncture protocol called “NADA”.
NADA, which stands for National Acupuncture Detoxification Association, works by increasing the Yin energy of the body thus promoting an internal sense of peace which improves concentration and sleep, and reducing the need to find “peace” through external substances such as cigarettes, drugs, and other behaviours that may become addictive such as over-eating, gambling, etc.
The ears are associated with the Kidney/Water element in TCM which is Yin. Similar to foot reflexology, the ear is a micro-system of the entire body so for every body part there is a corresponding ear point to stimulate it. Below you will find a description of how each acupuncture point addresses Yin deficiency to calm the system physically, mentally and spiritually. You will also find a recipe for Sleepmix tea, the herbal formula developed by Michael O. Smith to support this treatment. Also, please note that acupuncture treatment can be used concurrently with prescription medications.
In modern times, our nervous system and mind tend to get too Yang due to our fast-paced living, busy schedules, mental distractions, lacking connection to Yin things such as the Earth, silence). Too much Yang “burns up” the Yin and so Yin deficiencies are extremely common. NADA is now being successfully used for various Yin-deficiency conditions such as insomnia, improving concentration for students and those suffering from ADD, stress reduction, night tremors, various behavioural disorders including suicidal ideation as well as recovery from traumatic events such as war and crises.
Sympathetic point:
Body – regulates the sympathetic nervous system, controls pain, relaxes tension in internal organs, dilates blood vessels.
Mind – lowers epinephrine/norepinephrine causing relaxation
Spirit – quiets the spirit, promotes feelings of serenity
Shen Men:
Body – pain relief, tension reduction, lowers hypertension
Mind – quiets the mind and brings relief from anxiety, depression, restlessness, insomnia
Spirit – improves spiritual connection, opens the Heart to loving self and others
Kidney point:
Body – activates hormonal and physiological functions
Mind – promotes courage and will to overcome fear, improves mental state
Spirit – helps strengthen intentions, seeing the positive in situations
Liver Point:
Body – activates hormonal and physiological functions, reduces tension in muscles
Mind – improves mental clarity and decision making, helps to clear away anger, frustration, depression
Spirit – helps one connect to one’s creativity, dreams, intuitions and life goals
Lung Point:
Body – used for expelling toxins from the lungs, regulates defensive qi (immunity)
Mind – helps relieve sadness and grief, restores sense of integrity and self-esteem/ self-respect
Spirit – for Heavenly inspiration, stronger connection with one’s Higher power
Recipe for Sleepmix Tea
This tea is a Western herbal formula used to reduce insomnia, improve digestion, lower stress, aid in detoxification, and increase feelings of relaxation.
3 parts chamomile
1 part peppermint
1 part yarrow
1 part hops
1 part skullcap
1 part catnip
Use 1 Tablespoon of herbs per cup of boiling water. Let steep for 5 minutes. Can be used long-term and won’t cause morning drowsiness. It contains no caffeine.
Yours in health,
Cynthia
Acupuncture Relieves Anxiety
Greetings Dear Readers,
Maybe it’s an interview for that job you’re really hoping to land – your heart is racing, palms sweating, feeling jittery, over-heated, butterflies in the stomach. Most people understand a little anxiousness as part of the adventure called life but everyday anxiety is another story. Luckily Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has had great success with getting to the root of this matter.
Rather than just popping a few pills with questionable side-effects, what acupuncture does is effectively re-wire the energy circuits of the body. So instead of all the firey energy from your heart rushing upwards causing dizziness, sweating, ungroundedness, and facial flushing, acupuncture needles in the right places can stop the cascade of neuro-chemicals such as cortisol (released as part of the flight-or-flight stress response) and instead activate opium and serotonin receptors thereby increasing feelings of well-being and relaxation.1 If that’s not enough, the effects can last up to several days with no negative side-effects.
So how did those quirky TCM people figure this out? The ancient wisdom of TCM breaks down symptoms according to patterns relating to the organ systems. In plain English, most people with anxiety will likely have one of the following commonly seen patterns: “Heart-Fire”, “Kidney-Yin Deficiency Heat” or “Blood or Yin Deficiency”.2
People with “Heart-Fire” anxiety often have heart palpitations, ulcers (canker sores) on the tongue, trouble falling asleep and a bitter taste in the mouth when they wake up after a fitful dream-disturbed sleep. This person will benefit from avoiding “hot” foods such as chili peppers, onions, alcohol, caffeine and chocolate and do better with eating cooler foods such as leafy greens, kale, celery or cucumber. In addition it is helpful for them to increase their Earth element (this comes from a Five Element acupuncture protocol called “Turn Fire Into Ash” meaning that the excess Fire in the Heart is calmed by pushing this energy towards the next element in the Creation cycle which is Earth (Fire-Earth- Metal-Water-Wood). The Earth element is increased by such things as letting go of too much worry and over-thinking, eating mindfully, wearing Earthy colours such as brown and eating foods that grow underground such as carrots, beets and potatoes.
The Kidney-Yin Deficiency Heat person will have anxiety along with night sweating, dizziness, ringing in the ears, flushed cheeks, dry mouth and low back ache. This person will benefit from getting more sleep, avoiding overwork, eating Kidney Yin foods such as black beans, seaweed, butter and sesame, slowing down (Yin=slow whereas Yang=fast) and doing meditation or qi gong.
Blood deficiency is very common in women because of monthly blood loss through menstruation. The person will feel tired and want to lie down, have numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, blurred vision or floaters in the visual field, a pale complexion and scanty menstruation. They do well with dietary changes mainly such as including blood-building foods such as beets, dark green vegetables, egg yolks, bee pollen and the herb “dong quai” (also called angelica). With diligent daily use of blood-building foods symptoms should clear up in about three months.
The Yin deficient anxious person is essentially lacking essential fluids (Yin is liquid in nature) and experiences afternoon fever, night sweating, dry mouth, and scanty dark urine. This is often seen when a person has been working too hard, staying up late, eating fast food on the run, essentially “life in the fast lane”. This person does well with resting from overworking, going to bed by 10pm, eating slow, home-cooked meals and eating Yin foods such as seaweed, dairy, beans, berries, foods that are black, blue or purple in colour such as eggplant or black sesame seeds and taking a more slow, mindful approach to life.
You do not need to live with chronic anxiety. There is a lot your acupuncturist can do to relieve these symptoms and I have only scratched the surface here. Your acupuncturist will diagnose the pattern by examining your tongue and wrist pulse, observation and a few short questions. You should feel effects during the first treatment. For those with needle anxiety, (oddly enough I’m one of them), acupuncture needles are very thin (infinitely smaller than the hypodermic needles used to inject vaccine in hospitals) and are often not felt when inserted. You can also ask for Japanese needles which are as thin as a hair.
Do your symptoms fit any of these descriptions? If so, let’s set up an appointment and get you on the road to better health and peace of mind.
Yours in health,
Cynthia
References:
1. Jaung-Geng Lin, Yuan-Yu Chan, and Yi-Hung Chen. February 22, 2012. Acupuncture for the Treatment of Opiate Addiction. National Institutes of Health.
2. Maciocia, Giovanni. Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Guide. 2004. Elsevier Ltd.
Cynthia's Classical Acupuncture and Wellness 