Your Body is a Garden

In a recent post about three different types of health care, I mentioned that the way we traditionally view the body here in the West is different from an Eastern approach.

Modern medicine (here in the West) pictures the body as a machine that is hijacked by disease. The picture of health is a well-oiled machine operated by you and supervised by your doctor.

A new way of looking at your body -
naturally

What if, instead of a machine, your body was a garden? If you imagine your body this way, your whole approach to health is changed. You stop fighting a war and start cultivating the life you want to live, in this body.

If you have a green thumb, you might know that your garden often takes care of itself. If it's dry, you may need to water it. Sometimes there are problems related to pests, nutrition, weeds... and sometimes it does feel like an all-out war. And yet, the garden does take care of itself as long as you provide it with enough fresh air, sunshine, water, and food.

Do you give those things to your body?

For so many of us, our bodies are withering away without the fundamental sources of life. So many people explain their symptoms away by saying, "I'm not getting any younger," but they would feel younger if they fed their body what it needs: Nutritious food. Exercise. Sunshine. Water.

This garden resembles what our bodies go through
when we don't give ourselves basic nourishment through
movement, nutrition, water, and sun.

A friend of mine recently lost 75 pounds. I asked her what she did to lose the weight, and she said, "You know, I did what we all know to do. I ate right. I got moving." While I celebrate her willingness to lose weight naturally, I also respect that my friend did what was right for her body. She listened to the messages her body was sending her and she followed its advice.

When you listen, your body will tell you what it needs, and you can fulfill those needs, all on your own. After all, you live there every moment. Every moment you have the opportunity to respond to those messages. It's tuning in that is often the problem for us. So how do you listen to your body?

This is where acupuncture comes in. Acupuncture will tune your mind in to the right frequency. People leave and tell me they feel so relaxed. It's because their mind is finally on the same frequency as their body. Your breath, your heartbeat, all are there to anchor you. There's no shame in getting carried away with thoughts and plans and feelings and drama. And yet there is always an invitation from your body. Come back, it says. Come back anytime.

With a little time and attention, our bodies can resemble
this well-cared for garden. 

5 Ways Acupuncture Can Save You Time

When people call me with questions about acupuncture, they usually ask me how much it costs. They ask me if I can really help them with their most pertinent health issues. They ask me if the needles hurt. However, I have found that these issues are not the biggest barriers to getting acupuncture treatment.

The biggest, most secret barrier is time.

So I'm here to help you answer the question amid your busy life, your kids, your job, your family, and your other healthcare options: Do you have time for acupuncture?

An acupuncture session lasts approximately 60-90 minutes. For those of us with busy lifestyles, that's a long time to sit still. Plus, you have a good amount of that time to yourself, listening to soft music or being in silence.

Can I really sit still by myself
for that long?

I occasionally have clients who are so nervous about the still/silent component that they request other activities during acupuncture. They would like to read. They would like to listen to the spoken word. They want me to talk to them, maybe to tell them exactly how they will get better. These are all cries for help from a brain that doesn't want to settle down.

Acupuncture sessions can
refresh you and improve
the quality of your sleep.

Here's why I encourage all my patients to dive in to the silent time of their acupuncture treatment.

1. You would normally have to take a four-hour nap in order to get the refreshment of one session. (Most people rarely sleep during a session, by the way.) "I felt like I slept for several hours," is a common reaction that my patients have after getting off the table.
2. You will sleep better regularly with these shortened "training" sessions, saving you hours of frustration in the night. This is especially true if you have racing thoughts or trouble turning off your mind at bedtime.
3. You will not find a better opportunity to reset your brain and re-sync with your body. Your thinking and your emotions will be clearer and more defined - thus saving you from hours or even days of frantic or confused behavior.
4. Because acupuncture stops pain and prevents future illness, you could save hours in the doctor's waiting room. Many of my patients report that while they continue to see their primary care physician, their visits are fewer because their symptoms are fewer.



Fewer symptoms means less time in waiting rooms!

5. Acupuncture sessions steer your body in the right direction without high risk or side-effects. By investing 60-90 minutes every week or two, you can decrease your dependence on medications that make you loopy or nauseated. You can avoid that surgery that would take weeks or months of recovery.

Acupuncture sessions offer you less time feeling stressed, poorly rested, and cooped up, and more time doing what you would rather be doing: spending time with your friends, enjoying your favorite hobby, staying caught up at work, and caring for your family.

There's never been a better time to try acupuncture, or to come in for a follow-up. Contact me at Lakes Area Acupuncture and let me save you some time and trouble.

Healing with Whole Foods

Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford is a book that I have owned, loaned, and given away many times in the past decade.

It's not a book that you read start to finish, nor is it a cookbook; it's more like a much-loved resource that keeps you coming back for a paragraph or a few pages. It's the ultimate in references because it combines food knowledge with health to the point that the two are inseparable.

Hidden within the encyclopedia are some of the most beautiful and succinct interpretations of Chinese medical theory. If you know part of your Chinese medical diagnosis, then you can simply look it up in HWF and follow the path to the exact foods that you need to eat to stay healthy or turn things around if you're having troubles.

Better yet, the diagnosis look-up isn't just for Chinese medicine. Whether you have heart trouble, hypertension, IBS, and many other commonly-diagnosed illnesses in our modern world, Pitchford has information about that, too.

And it's not even the best part.

Healing with Whole Foods can show you
the relative benefits of any food in this photo.

The best part is being able to look at the ingredients of your dinner (or recipe) and say, "I wonder what effect this has on my body." Look up 'broccoli' in the index and there you are, staring at the wonders of broccoli from a balanced, integrative perspective.

This tome is so comprehensive. If you want to learn more about Chinese medicine, if you are the health and food expert in your family (or are choosing a gift for someone who is), this book will be actively jumping off your shelf every day.

By the way, it's a great reference. There are recipes included, but I recommend them only for advanced users who know how to incorporate flavor in a healthy way. Otherwise, you'll end up eating dinner with Blandy McBlanderson. I tried making some of the recipes while I was in school, and my dog loved them! He's a labrador - they'll eat anything.

Poison Ivy

Poison ivy produces urushiol oil,
causes the rash to appear.
It's washable.

She's a subtle lady, until she gets under your skin. You may see her a thousand times, and never know it's her. Of course, I'm talking about toxicodendron radicans, not Uma Thurman.

If you've ever come down with a case of poison ivy, you know how tricky it can be to get rid of the stuff. I'm here to arm you with knowledge (and a few weapons) to prevent the start and spread of an allergic rash.

Wash yourself and everything you have touched since contact. If you are aware within 5 minutes of contact, you can probably avoid the rash altogether. You have about half an hour before the urushiol oil (sounds like a sushi sauce) soaks in and starts a reaction on your skin. In order for poison ivy to spread, you have to keep touching the oil. Washing all clothing and bedding will prevent its apparent "spread."

A life-saver for heat rash
and poison ivy. I carry it, and it's
available online.

Once you do this, you're not contagious. You can concentrate on managing any rashes that appear. Scratching can cause infection, but it won't spread the urushiol, which stimulates your skin into developing an allergic rash. The good thing about allergic rashes is that we can use my favorite 999 ointment. With Chinese herbs and some immune suppressors, you get deep, cool relief within seconds. Stubborn rashes clear up within 48 hours using this ointment.


You can find more fun facts about poison ivy at the Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac Information Center.

Adding Acupuncture for Total Health Care

Acupuncture can help to improve your quality of life in a way that no therapy originating here in the West has been able to do. Like many acupuncturists, I trained vigorously for four years, learning about not only the standard body systems and common methods of clinical care, but also about the body's energy system and comprehensive care. This Chinese medicine is the frontier of how we perceive health care in the United States; however, doctors are often happy to recommend acupuncture because they have seen it help improve their patients' quality of life.

Acupuncturists like me often see people at their wit's end, where they have been prescribed strong medications and recommended to have major surgery to address their pain. Because acupuncture has no side effects and poses a very low risk to health, those who suffer from pain find Traditional Chinese Medicine to be a safe, effective solution.

I believe that understanding the fundamental concepts of this medicine will provide you with a deeper knowledge of how your body works naturally. These concepts, like wholism and the energy system, are what I see missing from the current biological model that we practice today. If you have gone to your doctor confused and lost, and come away feeling like the treatment administered was not right for you, you have just touched upon these missing links between your body and the strategies that we have developed without the comprehensive Traditional Chinese Medical system.

These missing links mean that TCM is needed here in the US, not to replace your regular doctor, but to complement your health care effectively. While there are some fundamental differences in these systems, I hope that they never operate exclusively from one another. Acupuncturists want to improve your quality of life; we also want you to continue seeing your doctor. Being assessed by your medical doctor is vital to your health; seeing an acupuncturist is vital to your well-being. I tell my patients that I am pleased to be a part of their therapeutic team – without a team of medical professionals, we could both be overwhelmed.

Acupuncturists want to help you get better
in a team with other medical professionals.

In fact, you may be overwhelmed with pain, discomfort, weight gain, stress, digestive problems, sleeplessness, and many more conditions. These are signs that you have entered a stage in which acupuncture can be very effective. You may have decided to just live with your pain, because you experience side effects when taking medications, or you have been told that surgery is the only answer. The good news is that acupuncture can stop your pain, reduce your body's response to stress, ease your digestion, balance your metabolism, and help you calm down and rest. An acupuncturist like myself will work with you as a unique individual and start a treatment plan that will show you the results we can offer. I use time-tested, painless techniques to help your body heal itself. This natural restoration may have been dormant in you for some time – in fact, you may feel that your body is actively working against you! My patients who have problems with their immunity and allergies often mention this feeling. Again, there's good news – your body has been working very hard, but it may have been distracted, overloaded, or unduly stressed. I appreciate the change that occurs in someone's life when their body comes back into balance with Traditional Chinese Medicine, and they have a powerful experience of seeing their body working for them again.

My words cannot replace the experience of acupuncture treatment and individual consultations with a licensed professional. I encourage you to seek contact with an acupuncturist who can speak clearly with you about your condition in specific terms; moreover, I encourage you to participate in a treatment plan, because in this way, you can see what acupuncture can offer not only to you, but to your entire community. Please contact me directly if you would like to know more about what I do in Austin. I always find time to help others on the path toward better health with Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture.

Wellspring Network

I used to forbid the word 'networking' in my presence, because it reminded me of my experiences as a youngster watching other, older people network. It had about as much appeal as many of the things that older, other people do, like paying bills, taking on responsibility, etc.

My visit with Well-Net (a convenient nickname for this group) changed my preconceived ideas about networking. I realized that networking can only be boring if other people are doing it. This meeting showed me just how interesting, enthusiastic, and caring other people can be - just like me! All we need is the chance to talk to each other, and that's networking.

I also chose the perfect time to dive in with Wellspring. The first meeting of 2012 brought more fresh faces like mine, and I appreciated the mission of the group's organizers, the practitioners of Clear Point Wellness. Lisa, Amanda, and Beka created an environment for wellness practitioners to talk about what we do and hear about what others do, all for the purpose of creating a healthy referral network for our clients.

I have trades and coffees lined up, and I'm looking forward to the next meeting!

Acupuncture Insurance in Texas

Health insurance benefits are currently determined by state. Fewer insurance companies cover acupuncture in Texas than in most Midwestern states; Texas covers fewer treatments than California and New York, which have comparable usage rates for acupuncture.

In 1998, the FDA changed the classification of the acupuncture needle from "experimental device" to "Class II Medical Device." This makes acupuncture a tax-deductible medical expense for your federal income tax return. The designation also created quality control in the production of acupuncture needles, as well as eligibility for acupuncture to be covered by medical insurance.

The companies listed below are likely to cover acupuncture in the state of Texas. Even if your insurance company is not listed here, call me and we can verify your benefits together.

• Aetna
• Auto accident claims
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Cigna
• Employers Health Insurance
• Humana
• John Hancock Mutual
• Prudential
• Seton Health Plan

An Acupuncture Testimonial

Growing up, I watched Sleeping Beauty and went to the doctor, so I was terrified of needles. The 80's was big on safety (who uses a spinning wheel anymore?), so everywhere I went, there were warnings about sharp objects, and especially needles. Sharp. Painful. Warning. It usually is painful, too, when someone uses a needle to get something out of us.

I understand when we say that acupuncture is an unexpected and unlikely solution to our physical problems. Ten years ago, I felt that way, driving by acupuncture clinics and imagining God knows what is going on in there. I was also experiencing severe allergies, digestive upset, and I was piling on cumulative stress. My face was so swollen it needed ice some mornings, and I went to the bathroom once a week. A friend of mine convinced me to try acupuncture, and after about 3 years of exposure from a distance, I tried it. Within two months of treatment, my allergies cleared up. I haven't needed to return for that intense weekly treatment of allergies in seven years.

I waited so long to get acupuncture because I had a few misconceptions about it, and about health care in general. For one, I didn't understand that I had power over my own health care. Sometime during the first year of treatment, I realized I had power. I still sit forever in the waiting room like anyone else, but when I receive examination and treatment, I understand that it is always with my permission.

I also didn't see how easy and comfortable an acupuncture treatment could be. An acupuncture needle isn't trying to get anything out of you, or put anything into you. It recognizes that within your body, you have all the tools to right yourself both physically and emotionally. It is an open communication with the subtler aspects of the nervous system. An acupuncturist has been taught to put needles in the most instructive and helpful spots for you.

After this experience, I became inspired to listen to your story and help you change it for the better.

Need Urgent Care?

Grab a towel... and don't panic.

In Austin, Texas, it's tough to find quality, affordable care - much less if you're uninsured. For many, the need to visit the doctor arises quickly and unceremoniously. You have no time to prepare, and you need to see someone now. I'd like to offer some options so that you aren't thrown into limbo.

People's Community Clinic

Consider becoming a patient prior to any urgent care needs. They service the uninsured. 512-478-4939

Seton-Topfer

Located just north of 183 between Lamar and Burnet, this clinic has a co-pay that is determined by your income. Call to inquire about your eligibility with their program.

Volunteer Healthcare Clinic

Located just south of 45th and Burnet on Medical Parkway, this clinic offers walk-ins on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

NextCare and ProMed

Both programs provide a list of locations. Each supports 3 locations in the Austin area. Expect to spend about $70 for the consultation.

*This is not an endorsement for any particular facility; the list is an example of a brief search and review of urgent care providers in the Austin area.

Tips for Exemplary Health Care

Here's some tips on handling a health problem, whether it just came up, or you feel it's time to seek new care for an old issue.

1) Confer with your acupuncturist when seeking non-emergency primary care.** An acupuncturist will not diagnose you, but they may mention possibilities and point you in the right direction. If you don't have an acupuncturist, they come in all shapes and sizes, from the most skeptic scientist to dedicated technician to nurturing counselor. Check out my availability!

2) Support your acupuncturist's network by recommending physicians that you find exemplary. What's an exemplary physician? One who:
a) Talks to you like a person, who asks you about your lifestyle but doesn't dole out criticism.

b) Educates you throughout diagnosis and treatment on the mechanism of your disease process. Does not act discouraged or berate you if you respond differently than expected.
c) Gives encouragement toward lifestyle change, but not criticism.
d) Chooses the correct plan of treatment for patients as whole individuals. Gives multiple options for treatment and allows you to decide.

3) Refrain from basing your medical education solely on the internet. If you have questions about a particular condition, ask your primary care** provider. He or she may be able to recommend literature that will help you without causing unnecessary panic.

**Professionally, in the state of Texas, acupuncture is not considered primary care. That means if you are seeking treatment for something other than substance abuse, smoking cessation, weight loss, or chronic pain, you need to see your doctor first.