August Earth Element Treatment, a new Thursday Digestion Clinic, News on the Treatment Packages, Motherwort and More!
August 2018
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Special Offerings:
Five Element Earth Treatment, and a new Thursday morning clinic!
Tuesday, August 21st 8am-10am

Five Element Earth Treatment

Cost: $35 or one from your treatment package

Space is limited so book your appointment soon!


Anne-Louise Smallen, Lic. Ac.

Tuesday, August 21 at 9 am is the height of the Earth element coinciding with the summer harvest. The spleen and the stomach rule this time of year and invite us to consider the importance of healthy food and good digestion in maintaining good health throughout our life. My teacher, Bob Duggan, called it our health checking account, in contrast to our constitution, which is our health saving account. Eat well and maintain a healthy checking account, replenished daily, and do not dip into your constitutional reserves except when absolutely necessary.

On Tuesday, August 21, between 8 am. and 10 am., the clinic will be open for those who wish to fine tune their earth element at the most powerful time of the year for the spleen and stomach. The earth element helps the production of Qi (translated as energy, matter-energy, vital force, life force) and blood. Qi helps transport the blood to all areas of the body (especially the extremities which can suffer from poor circulation when the qi is weak). It helps good digestion, red cell production, and nourishes all the organs of the body, helping them do their job. A strong moving qi helps reduce dampness and inflammation in the body and fight masses, lumps and tumors. A good flow of qi and blood helps build muscles.

Emotionally, a strong spleen and stomach help clear the thinking process, and create steps in achieving our goals. An imbalanced spleen and stomach would tend to increase worry, inability to focus and overthinking.




Thursday Morning Strengthen Your Digestion Clinic Starts August 30th...

In addition, on the following Thursdays, between 8 am.and 11 am., (August 30, September 6, 13, 20, 27 and October 4), there will be a series of special Strengthen Your Digestion clinics aimed at tuning the spleen and stomach, using a series of acupuncture points known to improve their functions. These special treatments will be $25 apiece or you can purchase a package of 6 for $120.

Eat well this summer and take advantage of the bounties offered by the Pioneer Valley at this time of year.

Special Focus: Strengthen Your Digestion Clinic
Thursdays, 8-11am
August 30, September 6, 13, 20, 27, and October 4
$25/treatment or package of 6 for $120
Change to Treatment Packages...

Good News!

As of July 15, 2018, our treatment packages no longer have an expiration date !

So if you have a few treatments left on your package and have been traveling this summer, or are taking a break from acupuncture, no worries.
Or perhaps you wanted to purchase another package, but unsure if you could use them all within the six months, now you can take all the time you need...

Your remaining treatments on your package will be valid until you need them.

We hope this helps to further support you on your healing journey with us,


Rachel, Katie and Anne-Louise





Herbal Remedy of the Month: Motherwort
motherwort
Rachel Condon, Lic. Ac.

I recently began experimenting with this intriguing plant myself and wanted to share it with you. The picture above was taken at my local community garden, where there is a beautiful couple of plots overseen by the Peoples Medicine Project , with an abundance of medicinal herbs being cultivated.

Motherwort, or Leonurus cardiaca , is known most for its uses for women and reproductive issues of all kinds, and as a heart tonic.
It can be used to treat anything from menstrual pain, lack of menstruation, and mood swings and irritability, to menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and insomnia (especially waking at 2 or 3 and can't fall back asleep).

As a heart tonic, it is good for both the physical heart and the emotional one. It works as an anti-spasmodic, relaxing the smooth muscles such as the heart, and can help lower blood pressure when it is elevated due to stress and anxiety.

And as with many of these medicinal plants, it is a beautiful creation of nature. Its stalk resembles a spine, and speaks to its uses as a nervine tonic, while the delicate pink flowers could suggest either the heart or the female body. And while this herb is named for conditions that primarily affect women, men can also find it beneficial in treating symptoms related to the physical and emotional heart, especially those triggered by stress. The spine of the plant is also prickly, so beware if you happen to come across it! It makes the plant even more intriguing, and suggests that while it does have delicate parts, it also grows tall and strong and is not to be worked with carelessly.

It has a bitter taste, which corresponds with the Five Element of the Heart in Chinese Medicine. Each organ system has a corresponding taste (along with a color, smell, season, etc), and the taste for the Heart organ is bitter. This suggests that a bitter-tasting plant or food would be the most beneficial in nourishing this organ, thus reinforcing Motherwort's role as a heart tonic. I don't mind the bitter taste, and have been drinking it as a tea, as long as I combine it with other herbs to balance the flavor. But it is also commonly taken as a tincture.

I did find an article suggesting it was contraindicated for hypothyroidism, but then also stated that it was helpful in low doses when that condition develops in menopause. I would recommend consulting an herbalist if you are unsure. But I would highly recommend exploring this herb otherwise, if it calls to you, and let me know how it goes!
Northampton Community Acupuncture 413-586-8251 nohocommunityacupuncture.com