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By Erin, November 24, 2009 10:35 AM

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the menstrual cycle is regarded as a major foundation for health and diagnosis in female patients.  Pathology in the body – be it emotional or physical imbalance – will often reflect itself in a woman’s cycle.  With this concept, a woman’s cycle plays a pivotal role in her health care, allowing practitioners to accurately diagnose and treat their patients, and empowering women to understand their body’s signals. Although all of the energetic organ systems play a role in a woman’s cycle, the liver qi is said to have the most specific role (and can therefore most often be the culprit when discomforts arise).

A balanced menstrual cycle is a harmonious flow of energy between yin and yang, at the most fundamental level.  Imbalances of this cycle can manifest as symptoms like: fatigue, pain, breast tenderness, excessive or diminished appetite, nausea, bloating, mood swings, irritability , and water retention. For tips on how to naturally alleviate some common PMS complaints, check here.   Other gynecological manifestations that can occur include endometriosis, PCOS, amenorrhea, infertility, uterine fibroid, adenomyosis, and irregular menstruation.

Although menstrual discomforts often arise a few days prior to or during a woman’s period, the root imbalance can be occurring anywhere in the cycle.  The nature of the complaint and a detailed understanding of a woman’s cycle are the best ways to get a clear idea of the “first domino” causing the problem. Once a woman understands her cycle, she simultaneously understands her fertility and can therefore easily prevent or promote pregnancy. The following is a brief guideline of what is physiologically happening during the various phases of the menstrual cycle, from both western and eastern medicine perspectives. Continue reading 'Your Menstrual Cycle – Broken Down'»

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By Erin, November 20, 2009 10:25 AM

As women we are often taught that the menstrual cycle is just one of those annoying things about being female.  It comes at the worst times, can plague a vacation and often is accompanied with a slue of uncomfortable symptoms. Some women experience PMS so bad that it lasts for two weeks before their period begins, leaving only one true week of discomfort-free days. It is no wonder that many women jump at the idea of birth control that reduces the number of times she menstruates per year, or even stops her cycle completely. Although this ‘treatment’ per say takes away many of the uncomfortable symptoms, it can often lead to a whole gamut of other side-effects like low libido, vaginal dryness, weight gain, breast distention, high blood pressure, increased appetite and depression.  And to boot, it is not actually treating the cause of the discomfort, it is simply band-aiding it.

From breast pain to nausea to mood swings and back aches, such discomforts are more than just a nuisance, but signals from your body that something is out of balance and needs to be addressed. The only physiological components to a menstrual cycle should be moderate blood flow with the same number of days between cycles. Taking the time to address these symptoms now won’t only improve a woman’s quality of life, but also may prevent future reproductive problems. If you would like to take control of your menstrual cycle, understand it (and your fertility – to either prevent or promote pregnancy), Chinese Medicine has a variety of ways to alleviate common discomforts associated with menstruation.

Continue reading 'Alleviate PMS Naturally'»

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By Erin, November 14, 2009 9:50 AM

Meet O, a very happy baby who benefits regularly from Chinese Medicine dietary advice and also happens to be one of my past doula-births. Just as Chinese Medicine benefits fertility treatments and pregnancy health, it can offer safe and natural relief for common childhood complaints. Acupuncture has a long history of pediatric medicine, and is a powerful adjunct therapy for patients who are trying to avoid taking additional medications or who are already receiving maximum medical treatment. Additionally, acupuncture works as preventative medicine and can help strengthen the developing immune system at any age.

The majority of healthy infants and children require nothing more than a loving mother and family to attend to their needs. However, even the most cared for children can develop uncomfortable symptoms. Some conditions may be helped by environmental or dietary advice, also an important part of childhood development. Acupuncture, massage and pediatric herbal formulas can help alleviate a variety of common complaints – offering less suffering for the child and peace of mind for the parent. Best of all, these therapies are completely natural, safe and have no side effects.

Continue reading 'Acupuncture for Children'»

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By Erin, November 12, 2009 8:51 PM

The Pregnant New Yorker is hosting a Women’s Expo for Pregnant Women and their families this weekend in Manhattan!  Come join the fun, learn a lot of cool tips and have the chance to meet me in person (I’ll be the one at the Acupuncture Table – wink, wink).  Check it out:

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By Erin, November 12, 2009 10:11 AM

Yum! This recipe was a total accident (meaning I threw together leftovers from other meals to make it) but it came out amazing. I will definitely be making this one on purpose many times in the future. It is perfect on a cool fall day. The carrots and squash are sweet in nature, according to Chinese Medicine, and work as a strong tonic for the digestive system. The two also have a healthy dose of beta carotene and other nutritious vitamins.

1 Small Orange Kabocha Squash (or other hearty orange squash), peeled & cut into cubes

5 C Carrots, peeled & cut into coins

1 tsp Salt

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

Ground Pepper

2 tsp Fresh Chopped Garlic

Whole Milk Ricotta, 1 Tbsp per bowl for garnish

Olive Oil & Pepitas for garnish

Saute garlic in Olive Oil in a medium sized saucepan until tender (not brown).  Add carrots, squash, salt, and pepper to taste.  Cover the ingredients with water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and bring to a simmer. Simmer covered about 20 min or until carrots and squash are tender. Remove from heat and puree the entire contents of the pot in a blender.

Serve in large bowls. Top with a scoop of ricotta, a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of roasted pepitas. Enjoy! (Your spleen and stomach will thank you).

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By Erin, November 10, 2009 11:04 PM

Social media has become a strong tool for connecting with old friends, making new ones, and getting up-to-the-minute info on certain news feeds. Needless to say, I didn’t expect to find out from a large network of my Facebook friends that one of our esteemed colleagues had passed away when I logged on this morning. An inspiring mentor, teacher and friend: this is a little dedication to her and the impact she had on my life.

For you, Barbara. Continue reading 'In Memory of A Great Teacher'»

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By Erin, November 8, 2009 7:47 PM

You know when your using the bathroom at your friend’s house-warming party and it is just so tempting to peek in one of her/his drawers, or slide open the medicine cabinet, just to see what’s there – not because you are “snooping” per say, but just…curious? Well, there is no need to hold your breath with curiosity anymore because I am bringing my favorite medicine cabinet “secrets” into the open. Having spent the last ten years of my life traveling and studying herbal medicine, I have collected quite the arsenal of natural remedies. The medicine cabinet in my Manhattan apartment may be quite different from most Americans: filled with all sorts of herbal pills, tablets, syrups & powders.

The leaves have turned color in New York City, the clocks turned back and the slight chill of winter lurks around the corner.  As our internal thermostats adjust to accommodate the external environmental changes during the fall, we often find ourselves fighting colds or catching the flu (beyond the hullabaloo of H1N1, there are many strains of simple colds out there – remember those?).  Much to my loving outdoor-hockey-playing boyfriend’s approval, these “natural alternatives” deliver potent relief when the time is right.  Don’t get me wrong, I am certainly a fan of the occasional Advil or Tylenol PM (also harbored in my medicine cabinet), but sometimes these other things get the job done better.  Yup, that’s right, better.

Chinese medicine offers great remedies to knock out that bug that hasn’t quite become full-blown illness, or strengthen the system to prevent an attack.  Acupuncture works to detoxify the body, and tonify the immune system.  Herbal medicine can do the same and work at a very deep level to re-balance during seasonal shifts and either treat or prevent common ailments. The following are some remedies you can try at home to stay healthy and out of the doctor’s office as winter gingerly approaches.

Continue reading 'From My Medicine Cabinet to Yours'»

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By Erin, November 7, 2009 12:24 PM

Fall is a very interesting time of year, where the warm yang of summer transforms into the cool yin of winter, and fruitful harvest moves into preparation for quietude.  Seasonal foods move out of the sun and back into the earth, producing hearty root vegetables like yams, potatoes, squash, beets, cabbage, and brussel-sprouts.  Many delicious and nutritious recipes can be made from these foods.  Before the modern conveniences of having such foods like strawberries available year-round, fall was a time for harvesting the last of summer’s produce and preserving it into pickles, jams and sauces to be enjoyed through the barren winter.

In an effort to honor the transitional nature of fall (and provide a yummy breakfast in the process), I prepared home-made banana-fig muffins.  Melding the tropical bananas of summer with fresh fall figs to make a nourishing and hearty sweet-bread.  The coconut oil can be substituted with any vegetable oil, but then you’d be missing out on these important benefits.  Did you know that it helps to maintain healthy cholesterol levels, promote weight loss, stabilize metabolism levels and support immune function? It is truly an amazing (and under-utilized) oil.  These muffins are extra delicious served slightly toasted with goat-butter and a cup of earl gray tea.

BANANA-FIG MUFFINS

3-4 ripe bananas, peeled

1/2 Cup Virgin Coconut Oil

2 Eggs

1 Tsp Vanilla

1 Cup Brown Sugar (loosely measured, not firmly packed)

12 Fresh Figs

1 Tsp Baking Soda

1 Tsp Baking Powder

Dash of Salt

2 Cups Flour

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F.  Using a hand mixer, blend together the bananas and oil, add the sugar and vanilla until smooth.  Incorporate the eggs one by one.  Slice 6 figs into halves and place in the batter, sprinkle the mixture with salt, baking powder and soda.  Blend until figs are fully incorporated into the mixture and powders are dissolved.  Using a large spoon, slowly incorporate the flour.  Lightly grease 12 muffin molds and fill 2/3 full with batter.  With remaining 6 figs, slice them into quarters, nestling 2 quarter-pieces on the top of each muffin for garnish.  Bake for about 35 minutes, or until a knife inserted into muffin comes out clean.  Enjoy!

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By Erin, November 2, 2009 9:15 AM

Last week, after a wonderful Jivamikti yoga class at one of my favorite studios in New York, my friend Susan and I decided to join an informational Webinar on Ovarian Reserve Assessment testing available for infertile couples.  Not only was the whole format of the webinar totally awesome (simultaneous video/audio of the presenter, power-point and live chat-feed from the participants – it’s amazing where education and technology are going), but the information discussed was enlightening.  Here is a recap of some of the developments in fertility testing and a little insight as to how acupuncture and herbs can help.

If you have ever had difficulty trying to conceive and involved the aid of a Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE), then most likely one of the first tests they ran was a hormone panel on Day 3 of your menstrual cycle.  Specifically looking at:  Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), LutenizingHormone (LH), Estrodial (E2), and Prolactin.  The levels of the aforementioned hormones (among others) and their ratio to each other can give insight into the general quantity of eggs a woman has left to ovulate.  However, hormones are finicky creatures, and can change drastically month-to-month due to other illness (like thyroid disease or poly cystic ovarian syndrome, for example) or just from plain old-fashioned stress.

Continue reading 'New Fertility Testing & How TCM Can Help'»

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By Erin, November 1, 2009 1:06 PM

I awoke this morning to the sounds of screams, cowbells and -the Black Eyed Peas? My first thought: have Halloween celebrations overflowed to the morning of November 1st?  Then, I realized that the New York City ING Marathon was going on, and my 1st Avenue apartment was part of the experience by default.  The hazy photo above was the best shot I could muster of last years winner Paula Radcliffe leading the pack this morning around mile 18, a more focused recap after the jump.

Continue reading 'Marathon Sunday'»