Life is an incredible journey, with plenty of ups and downs and in-betweens to navigate along the way. Sometimes it is easy to forget that at the end of the day, all of our emotions, our thoughts, our nutrition, our interactions with others, our work, the amount of sleep we get (or don’t get) -all leave a footprint on our health and well-being. The triggers are different for everyone, but there is no debating that stress affects quality of life – so why wouldn’t it affect a persons health and healing? It most certainly does, and science is starting to prove it to us. After the jump I’ll explore an immensely important article on infertility, the mind-body connection, and why you should put your intuitive health at the top of your priority list.

An Infertile Silence

The August 2010 Issue of Self Magazine has published a lengthy and wonderful article around the emotional turmoil behind a diagnosis of “infertility.” I have rarely seen such an honest, heartfelt account of what couples are going through when they are having difficulties trying to conceive. The stress, anxiety, frustration, shame, fear and depression can swallow up couples in their suffering. And the isolation created by feelings of inadequacy or “broken-ness” (as the article notes), makes it difficult to open up to friends and family members about the struggle. The reason? The article supposes that it is because there is not enough awareness about infertility as a medical diagnosis, treatment options or even research in the field to provide adequate treatment (the most modern IVF treatments still have a 60% failure rate according to recent studies). Giving a voice to infertility may increase awareness, increase funding for research and studies and decrease the isolation that so many couples are feeling.

That may be so, but there are plenty of health situations one could replace “infertility” with that cause the same amount of shame, fear, anxiety and stress (maybe even more). While being able to talk about the struggles one faces does help lift the weight, the stress on the patient and now to loved ones supporting that patient can take its tole on everyone’s health.

The Mind-Body Connection and Health

What caught my attention most about the above article was the preliminary study done by Dr. Domar wherein 97 IVF patients in Boston participated in 5-10 mind/body sessions  and were 160% more likely to succeed in becoming pregnant than the control group. That is a whopping number! So what are these mind/body sessions? The article didn’t state exactly, but mind-body medicine stems from various different arenas in the health field: therapy, meditation, yoga, guided relaxation and – yep, you guessed it – acupuncture.

Stress can play an enormous role on our health on a day-to-day basis, and it exponentially exacerbates when we are faced with a difficult circumstance (ie: a health problem or medical diagnosis). Patients may be taking care of themselves in a perfect way, eating right, exercising regularly, having appropriate tests run, taking appropriate medications, and still not achieving their goal and (even worse) feeling desperation and despair. For this reason alone Eastern medicine and modern medicine can bridge the gap in health care by accounting for what many mind-body practitioners will refer to as the “subtle or energetic” body in addition to the physical body. While western medicine is motivated to cure disease, mind-body medicine is motivated to support the healing process so we are better equipped to handle whatever experience we have.

Why Does It Work?

The mind-body connection is an unseen energy communication between the physical body and the conscious and unconscious mind. Acupuncture helps to release stress stored in the body, which can cause many physiological changes in the body. It does this from an energetic standpoint, unwinding clogged energy and invigorating flow to under-served areas in an effort to achieve balance and health. There is also a subtle neurological component where the synapses of the brain actually change upon the insertion of the needles (which is why, for example, people can undergo brain surgery in China using only acupuncture as the anesthesia). The mind can convince us of many things, which get stored in the body and can manifest as illness in some cases.  If that is true, then the idea that we can undo illness (or, heal) by changing the way we think or releasing somatic memory through bodywork, makes logical sense.

“Whether You Think You Can Or Cannot – Either Way, You Are Right”

This is where the idea of affirmations comes in – actually repeating new thoughts out loud so that eventually you adopt them as your own. As a great yoga instructor once told me while holding an extremely difficult pose: Stay in the now. Don’t let your mind tell you that you are too beautiful for this pose – or that you are not beautiful enough, or not strong enough. Focus only on the breath. The mind is stubborn and it can often try and keep us where we are at because it is what we know. For that reason, there are the mind-body techniques out there to work with the mind, gently helping to restore a balance between the wisdom of the body and wisdom of the mind. Healing is a journey, as it takes a while for things to build up in the system, it can take a while to set them right again. Acupuncture is a great way to support the mind-body connection and will not interfere with most other treatment therapies (and in particular, has a great success rate for improving pregnancy outcomes separate and aside from stress release).

Scientists are still studying the boggling scope of mind-body medicine. Because every mind and every body is different, there is no “magic pill” or “magic therapy” to cure an ailment in everyone. This can make it hard for the analytical person to swallow how or why such a therapy might be useful, and how to choose which one to utilize. My personal advice: trial and error. And learn to trust your intuition as much as you trust your doctors treatment plan. While they take care of your medical health, stay in-tune with your emotional and spiritual health and seek out advice from experienced practitioners that can support that side of you. It is, at the very least, equally as significant to healing as medical care.

]]> http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/07/the-mind-body-connection/feed/ 2 http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/07/healthy-fish-tacos/ http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/07/healthy-fish-tacos/#comments Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:38:58 +0000 Erin http://www.erinhessel.com/?p=1172

I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July!  Like most holidays – food, alcohol and dessert often laden the picnic table (I know they sure did at my Minnesotan family-reunion festivities). Get back on track while enjoying summer feasts with this delicious recipe for fish tacos – the perfect combination of sweet, tangy and crispy. And best of all it is super healthy and easy to make!  Typical fish tacos are laden with refined-flour breading and deep fried in saturated oils. This recipe utilizes whole corn meal for the batter, a touch of extra virgin olive oil and are baked to a crispy perfection. Then, sandwiched between fresh tortillas, lettuce, sliced radishes, shredded carrots and topped off with my flavorful mango salsa recipe.

This recipe is from our monthly ESEMA newsletter – sign up here to receive our healthy (and free) tidbits!

For the Fish:

• 4 Tilapia Fillets, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1 egg, whisked
• 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 Tbsp Lime Juice
• 1 Cup Whole Ground Cornmeal
• 1 tsp. Salt
• 1 tsp. Cumin
• 1 tsp. Fresh Ground Black Pepper

Marinate the fish cubes in the lime juice, egg and olive oil for about an hour in the refrigerator. In a large zip-lock freezer bag, combine the dry ingredients. Place the marinated fish (and any liquid) into the bag, seal tightly and combine until all of the fish is covered with the cornmeal mixture.

Lay the fish pieces in one layer on a greased baking sheet (I use Spectrum Organics Grapeseed Oil). Bake at 375 F for 20 minutes, or until fish is cooked through and the outside is crispy. Stir the fish occasionally while cooking. These delectable fish-nuggets are so good you will never even know they are baked and not fried!

Fresh Mango Salsa:

• 1 Large Mango, cubed
• 1 Large Nectarine, cubed
• Small bunch Cilantro, chopped
• 1 Small Red Onion, finely chopped
• 1 Clove Garlic, minced
• 2 Tbsp Lime Juice
• 1/2 Tbsp Agave Syrup
• Pinch Salt

Combine all ingredients and let the flavors meld in refrigerator for a couple of hours before serving.

“Doctor, I have an earache…”

2000 BC  ~  “Here, eat this root.”

1000 AD  ~  “That root is heathen; say this prayer”

1850 AD  ~  “That prayer is superstition, drink this potion”

1940 AD  ~  “That potion is snake oil, swallow this pill.”

1985 AD  ~  “That pill is ineffective, take this antibiotic.”

2000 AD  ~  “That antibiotic is artificial – here, eat this root!”

~author, unknown

Going around full circle, I wanted to share this  enlightening, humorous and fun short poem sent to me by one of my patients.  A lot of today’s movements are going back to the beginning for useful advice on health, medicine, nutrition and body care. As we become more conscious of the impact our decisions have on our health and the planet – organic, “green” and natural are coming back into fashion. Food is another great example, as we move out of the grocery shelves (while less money up-front and quick in preparation) and back to the farmers market (what you’ll save in health care bills far compensates the cost up-front, and promotes sustainable agriculture for farms just like our ancestors).

The same is true for acupuncture, herbs and other complimentary medicine practices – which may seem like a luxury, but are actually more like insurance. We are a clinical practice, focused on the medical needs of our patients through detailed health history discussions and sending them home after treatment with, well, roots (like the ginseng root pictured above). While there is no question that modern technology has given us incredible tools, stepping back – in some cases – is more like taking a step forward.

Some of my favorite resources for stepping back and staying modern:

Gorgeously Green – Do it yourself (and from the garden!) skin and beauty-care products

Suncoat Cosmetics – Formaldehyde, Toluene & Phthaletes Free (aka: Toxin-Free) Nail Polish

Sara Snow – Advice on Green Living for all areas of your life, from the family of Eden Organics

Erba Organics – Organic & natural body products for baby and mom

Healthy Bitch Daily – On the front-lines of hip and healthy, this daily email will keep you in the know

“In Defense of Food” - One of many wonderful books on healthy eating by Michael Pollan

]]> http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/06/a-brief-history-of-medicine/feed/ 0 http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/06/press-release-esema-on-huffington-post/ http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/06/press-release-esema-on-huffington-post/#comments Mon, 07 Jun 2010 20:16:09 +0000 Erin http://www.erinhessel.com/?p=1113

Last week our CEO and Founder, Erin Hessel, was featured in a two-part interview in the Huffington Post on June 1st and June 2nd, 2010. Huffington Post correspondent, Jamie Frevele, got up-close with Erin discussing her thoughts on acupuncture, how it works, why she chose to study it, her specialization in women’s health and how it has evolved in Western culture.

“This is an ancient, 10,000-year old medicine that’s brand new to our culture. So it’s got a long way to go to get the validity it has in China,” says Erin in regards to the movement from East to West.

Erin goes on to state: “According to Chinese medicine, the needle is accessing an energetic frequency that the energy meridians in the body can respond to. We’re using that needle as a conduit to create change, flow and balance in the body. Now to us, Western-minded individuals who grew up in the United States, this makes absolutely no sense – and it doesn’t answer any of our questions! So to answer our questions, we’ve created studies and used different techniques to actually see what’s happening at the needle site and what’s happening in the brain when he needles are in. Although this is helpful, I think that is what’s so frustrating for the acceptance of acupuncture into Western medical society is because there isn’t a lot of consistency in the data. You know, just when we think “Oh this is exactly what it’s doing!” it’ll change into something else in another person. Because it’s so individualized.”

Two read the in-depth and personal interview in full, click here for part one and here for part two.

Ah – Honey, Honey. You are my Candy Girl – and you’ve got me wanting you.

Addictive just like the girl in the Archies song, sugar can have a strong hold over many a sweet-tooth. It is a hot topic in the health world and even entering political legislature. We all know to avoid sugary foods for maintaining good health, but sometimes this task feels next to agonizingly impossible (you know, when that 4:30pm chocolate-chip cookie literally lured you out of the office). More and more studies are showing that difficulty curbing those cravings is not merely a reflection of will-power, but may be the result of a chemical dependency. Despite efforts to eliminate desserts, ice cream and other obvious culprits, find out where else sugar is hiding in foods you might not have guessed.

Health Risks

So what is the big deal with refined sugary treats?  They give us a boost of quick energy, taste delicious, soothe our emotions and add a little touch of sweetness to our lives. The processing of such sugar products makes them have almost no nutritional value (what nutritionists call “empty calories”), which means we digest them incredibly fast, causing hormonal fluctuations, blood sugar spikes, energy highs & lows and excessive hunger. This part feels not so great. The worst of it is that when our body becomes accustomed to refined sugary foods as a main staple the highs and lows may not be as noticeable, but our body is struggling at alarming rate – leaving us prone to obesity, aggravated PCOS and PMS symptoms, diabetes and heart disease.

Yes – heart disease! Why? Because when the body is fueled by refined carbohydrates (including white flour and sugar), it becomes inflamed, making it hard to circulate fluids, blood and nutrients around the body. As the blood vessels swell, we are at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Cut the sugar, cut the inflammation and heal your circulatory system.

Sugar’s Not Illegal, But You’ll Have to Pay More For It

In an effort to reduce the consumption of sugary-beverages (and thus attempting to have an impact on declining Obesity statistics, New York City Governor, David Patterson, is implementing a Sugar Sweetened Beverage (SSB) Tax. Sugary sodas, bottled teas, coffees and energy drinks will be taxed higher for every ounce of the sugar-laden product while eliminating current taxes attached to bottled water and other low calorie bottled beverages. The goal being that if people can’t kick the sugary drinks for their own health, that by putting their pocketbooks in charge will make the decision easier for them. To read the full proposed SSB Tax Package, click here.

Perhaps there is some merit to this…but a part of me believes that if you want (ahem – or crave) the Coca-Cola, you’ll buy the Coca-Cola (even if a bottle of water a few cents cheaper). If the proposed tax law is what it takes to motivate an open discussion and investigation on the impact of sugar on individual health, then that is a step forward right there.

More Than  Question of Will

Like addictions of other sorts, sugar dependence depends on individual constitution- a predisposition of sorts. Some people can indulge and never think about it again, while others crave that sugary treat – constantly ruminating about when and where the next will come from and how delicious it will taste and make them feel. The latter response is a question of body chemistry. Sugar immediately feeds our brains with necessary neurotransmitters which then sends out a “feel good” response to the entire body. The problem is that this sensation wears off quite quickly, leaving us feeling worse than before we started.  This type of reaction can also ignite some withdrawal symptoms when sugar is omitted, encouraging us to go right back into the cookie jar.

Emotions do play a part too. Growing up in the midwest, there wasn’t a day that my mother (or grandmother) didn’t have some fresh baked treat coming out of the oven. The joys of helping build the batter, the smell that fills the house while it bakes and the time spent enjoying it together. These are deep memories, ingrained, and pleasant. What happy memory came out of brown rice cakes and peanut butter? While taking care of our physical health, we need to be kind to our emotional health. This article is not meant for you to stop baking devils-food cake with grandma, but to be more conscious of the big picture. Home-made goods tend to have a lot less sugar than store-bought ones, and you have the freedom to tweak the recipe if you want. An avid baker myself, I’ve found the past-time can become much healthier (and still very tasty!) by exchanging refined ingredients for more energizing ones – like in my banana-fig bread.

Your body needs carbohydrates. They have an important function on brain chemistry, hormonal balance and systemic health. These systems respond optimally when we feed ourselves complex carbohydrates like whole grains, fruits, potatoes, yams and other root vegetables.  Check out this great explanation of the difference between simple and complex carbs: click here.

The Sugar Behind The Salt

Avoiding dessert is not enough when it comes to eliminating the sugar-cycle, but all refined flours and corn syrups must also be taken into consideration. Although you can taste the difference between a chewy white bagel and a piece of chocolate cake, your body doesn’t know the difference as far as digestion is concerned. White flour and white sugar are essentially the same when it comes to nutritional value (none), expedited digestion (because there is no nutrition or fiber), and thus leading to the same inflammatory responses.  If you must have your morning bagel, try to upgrade to whole grain. Even better, add some peanut butter, a fried egg or cream cheese as protein slows the digestion of carbohydrates so you feel fuller longer and have more stabilized energy.

Get conscious as a consumer, and evaluate what you choose to put in your body. It is not about eliminating decadence from  your life, but moderating it – so you can feel your best and live a long healthy life. When reducing refined carbohydrates, limit the following to give your self the best possible scenario:

• White Flours (breads, pasta, white rice)
• White Sugars
• Brown Sugars
• Candy
• Alcohol (filled with sugary calories – especially flavored liquors, whiskeys, rum, brandy and wine)
• High Fructose Corn Syrup (careful…it’s in almost everything on your supermarket shelves)

Sweet Alternatives: A Sugar-Lovers Cheat Sheet

While most health practitioners out there agree that if you are going to kick the sweet-tooth for good, then that means cutting out anything naturally sweet (extremists will even include fresh fruit in this category). For some individuals, this period of extreme elimination is necessary to cut the cravings as even a healthier sweetness will set off the desire for more. But here are some tricks to try to eliminate the refined sugars from your life while still including a little sweetness:

• Fresh Fruit: full of natural sugars and carbohydrates that will hydrate the body, offer plenty of vitamins and other nutrients, and a low glycemic index (meaning less blood sugar spikes and pitfalls). Truly the perfect addition after a meal or to hot oatmeal in the morning.
• Agave Nectar: considered a ‘wonder plant’ this very sweet syrup is completely natural, derived from the Agave Cactus and actually offers health benefits – including anti-inflammatory and immune boosting properties (the complete antithesis of pure sugar). Agave contains substances like Inulin and Saponins, which actually improve digestion and may even promote weight loss. With a low-glycemic index, Agave Nectar won’t add to the afternoon slump or low spikes in blood sugar.
• Honey: Our friends the bees have created a perfect substance for providing a little sweetness to our lives, and our health. With naturally occurring digestive enzymes, anti-germicidal and anti-microbial properties, honey can help curb an upset stomach or IBS  by cleansing the digestive tract. It has also been shown to be helpful in reducing allergy symptoms.
• 100% Pure Maple Syrup: A naturally occurring sap from a variety of trees, this viscous amber liquid contains many minerals and vitamins, including zinc and maganese (both important for heart health). The darker the amber (available in Grade A Light, Medium, Dark and Grade B), the stronger the flavor. Be careful not to be mistaken by Pure Maple-Flavored Syrup, which is a simple-sugary substitute.
• Reduce Simple Carbohydrates: The body doesn’t know the difference between white flour and white sugar – it breaks it down the same. So, your sugar-free roll may be giving you the same spikes in blood sugar as a candy bar. Complex carbohydrates like whole grains will offer more fiber and protein to your diet, reducing the glycemic load.
• Pair a Protein: Nuts, seeds, eggs, beans, legumes and animal protein will help slow the digestion of carbohydrates – keeping you fuller longer and your energy stable. So if you are going to have a fluffy white bagel, pair it with some peanut butter or cream cheese to help your blood sugar out.

You Don’t Have to Do It Alone!

There is plenty of support out there to help you curb your sugar-habit so you can develop a healthier relationship with it. Acupuncture is a great way to stabilize the hormone and metabolic system, also helps curb cravings so avoiding is much easier. We have a great elimination diet protocol, filled with recipes and substitutes to make this challenge a lot easier and a lot more rewarding.

Ah, the common question: Do you take my insurance? Is acupuncture covered by my insurance? While I’d like to answer an easy ‘yes’ to both of those questions, the decision is not actually up to me. Since you are most likely seeking out an acupuncturist to help with a condition you are experiencing, it would only make sense that your health care coverage recognize the treatment modality – right?

Truth be told, while there are many insurance companies out there who do cover acupuncture services, there are still many plans who do not. To avoid confusion here at ESEMA we do not accept or “take” any particular insurance and have not made any agreements with specific insurance carriers. As limiting as this may sound, you actually still have a likely chance at getting some sort of return on your investment – and no corners cut on treatment quality or time.

The Super Bill

In exchange for patronage up-front, we provide our patients with the proper insurance receipts (including diagnosis codes) for submission to their individual insurance carrier. These receipts are known in the medical world as “Super Bills,” and if your insurance company covers out-of-network acupuncture treatments, then you will most likely receive full to partial reimbursement for your treatments. If your insurance company will not reimburse you for the services rendered, the receipts may be able to be applied to your deductible or accepted into a flex-spending account. Many of our patients find these receipts to be quite useful in saving them money throughout the course of their care.

Check It Out In The New York Times

The New York Times recently wrote a wonderful article about the benefits of acupuncture, and how even though paying out of pocket for such services may cost you more up-front, that you may be saving money in the long run preventing illness and avoiding other more costly medical procedures.  To read the full well-researched article, click here.

Other Options

Perhaps paying full-cost out of pocket is not in your feasible budget. While we try to help as many people as we can through payment plans and package options, we have a network of referrals to other resources in the city who operate under different models and who therefore are able to reduce up-front costs to patients. There are some acupuncturists out there who do form alliances with insurance companies so that the only cost up-front is the cost your traditional copay. Such clinics often hire a staff to handle their billing, to ensure proper and timely payment, much like a traditional doctor’s office. Depending on the clinic, this model may also speed up patient care to churn out more clients to make up for insufficient reimbursements (depending on the clinic).

Another option to save money on treatments up-front are community acupuncture clinics.  ESEMA Healing Arts is a fan of two different community style clinics in New York City wherein the office visit and treatment are based on a sliding scale. To make up for the lower cost, the patient-practitioner intake is often shortened and your resting period with the needles is often shared in a room with other patients (as opposed to the private rooms offered at ESEMA Healing Arts.

Navigating Your Way

We are happy to connect you with the resources you need so that you can get the care that you deserve. Please contact us directly with questions, as we are happy to provide useful tips for navigating the often complex web of insurance carriers.

]]> http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/05/insurance-does-yours-cover-acupuncture/feed/ 0 http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/04/doula-clients-growing-up/ http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/04/doula-clients-growing-up/#comments Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:50:49 +0000 Erin http://www.erinhessel.com/?p=621 In addition to a lovely Easter weekend with family, friends and warm weather - a highlight was spending an afternoon celebrating Everette’s one-year birthday. As it  had been exactly one year since I had seen the little guy (when I attended his home-birth as his mother’s doula), it was truly magical to have been brought together again.

Precisely 365 days prior, as I was ready to board the train to spend Easter with family in Long Island, I got the call that Wendee was in labor. I quickly made my way to the Brooklyn apartment and found the rhythm of labor with her, her partner and her visiting mother. A huge birthing tub had been purchased and set-up in advance, which became well-used during contractions. Within about four hours, the midwife arrived at the one-bedroom abode and Everette was safely born in record time.

This time, I had two weeks advance notice for the birthday party, and could therefore plan my trip to Long Island accordingly! We enjoyed the impressive hungry-caterpillar cake you see here, adult rum-punch, along with other delicious treats and the same famous home-made lasagna we devoured after his birth one year earlier. 

This weekend allowed me to reflect a little bit on why I love working with women during this important transition…not because it is necessary, not because without me (or another doula or an acupuncturist or an herbalist or whomever) the process of birth wouldn’t happen healthfully on its own. But because this process is a ritual, and to be a part of honoring the sacred process that birth is, helps all of us connect to our own innate power within our community. Together, we can create a foundation of strength and support for future generations.

Every birth I attend is an honor. And when fesibly possible, every celebration thereafter is merely icing on the cake.

“Erin was amazing in helping me stay focused and gently guiding my husband and I as we worked through the labor”  -Stacey

Coffee built the foundation for my work ethic and professional enthusiasm when I accepted my first job as a barista and coffee-roaster at Dunn Bros Coffee in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Yep, that’s right, I was a coffee-roaster. You may not see these around most coffee shops, but Dunn Bros prides themselves on the sacks of raw beans from over a dozen countries that surround the giant roaster at each location (and admittedly, I take pride in knowing firsthand the process from harvest to brewed beans). Perhaps it was from witnessing the smooth-beige colored Ethiopian bean turn to a silky-rich-brown color as it cooked and crackled that molded my perception of coffee as more a ritual than drug (similar to the way the Chinese and Japanese view Tea).   

Coffee, itself, has been around forever and can be considered a “natural product.” However, as the coffee industry has grown over the centuries, the plants have become more and more laden with pesticides and the farmers more and more abused. For that reason, I always recommend buying organic or fair trade coffee when available to support sustainable resources – so that coffee will be around (along with our planet) for years to come.

The Health Controversy

The arguments against coffee are mostly due to its caffeine content, which is about three-times higher in an 8oz cup of coffee versus a shot of espresso, an 8oz cup of green or black tea or a 12oz soda. Even a cup of decaf-coffee can still contain up to 5mg of caffeine. The initial perils of coffee was the suspected link between caffeine and heart disease.  Current research has shown, however, that caffeine is not necessarily a direct contributor to heart diseaseand that coffee itself may have health benefits such as preventing Parkinson’s Disease, Type 2 Diabetes and Liver Cancer. Sodas and energy drinks pose a larger threat to heart disease than coffee or tea, for example, due to their high sugar content that escalates the inflammatory response. Caffeine, however, has shown to increase stress hormones in certain people, which can then lead to cardiovascular disease or emotional disturbances such as anxiety. It is important to discuss with your health care provider what is the most appropriate approach for your health. In general, I find that patients trying to get pregnant, or who are suffering from anxiety, sleep disorders or breast issues often benefit from weaning themselves off coffee. 

The Chinese Medicine Viewpoint

As I have discussed in previous posts, Chinese Food Therapy utilizes the energetic functions of foods to “treat” conditions of the body. Coffee is no stranger to these findings. Energetically, coffee is very yang, or moving. It causes things to “get-going” in the body, which can sometimes begin to deplete the body of its natural ability to ignite it’s own engines, so to speak. We say this directly affects the kidney energy, which can be likened to adrenal function in Western medicine. Also, it can lead to an excess of heat in the body, causing insomnia, heart palpitations, digestive upset or irritability. Since the body’s energy is moving more, people who come in for acupuncture after their morning coffee often are more sensitive to the treatment as their qi is more on the surface. 

On the flip side, the benefit of coffee is said to tonify the heart qi – giving a feeling of joy and calm in certain constitutional types. It can also facilitate healthy respiration before a big workout by circulating the lung energy. In general, however, coffee does not have many real clinical implications in Chinese medicine – but it does give us a baseline to work with in helping people on their journey to optimum health. Just like anything else, portion control can make all the difference (such as consuming 60oz of coffee per day vs. 8oz). Personally, I tend to come from the school of thought: “everything in moderation,” and if I firmly believe deleting coffee from a patients diet will drastically improve their health – I can sympathize because I know how much comfort and benefit can come from our ritual coffee.

Coffee Enthusiasts

This post was inspired by my friend, Tony Black, who is a real coffee enthusiast – so much so that he has created a blog dedicated to images of people with their morning cup. It is a fun site, and a true testament to the ritual we have created around coffee way beyond the Starbucks phenomenon. Check it out and see Borbayand my-self’s featured photos in this week’s edition.  

I offered complimentary Tongue & Pulse Readings with auricular acu-pressure for stress relief, along with herbal trailmix. Thanks to my handsome associate, Jason, we had a well-organized line formed throughout the night so that everyone could experience the benefits of Chinese medicine.

In the end, nearly 30 people came through our booth. I was delighted to see such an outright interest in our services and have the opportunity to connect with people about this healing modality. If you missed the event and would like more information about Chinese Medicine, please email me.

The lovely ladies hosting this event and enjoying the festivities: PURE’s General Manager, Laina Seplow and Regional Membership Manager, Elena Pezzo.

The central room in PURE’s lobby. As you can see, it is a beautiful space with a great turnout of yogi’s.

Plenty of room for learning about new modalities while sipping fresh squeezed juice from Monavie, enjoying Organic-Vegan Cookies and receiving a decadent chair massage from Equinox’s Spa.

Unfortunately, I was not able to get around and meet all the other practitioners formally, but Nicole Maggio of Biosyntonie and I had a chance to connect before the nights end. Biosyntonie, I learned, was founded by a French scientist and provides a non-invasive, powerful way to ignite the bodies own healing capabilities.

Here, a participant enjoys a relaxing Biosyntonie treatment. To learn more about this revolutionary healing method and set up a personal session with Nicole, please email her.

More Event Festivities.

Justin Schantz and friends made a special appearance for the event.

The beautiful PURE Waiting area.  Thanks again to everyone who made this night possible, and such a success!

In good health,

Erin

]]> http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/02/pure-wellness-event-a-great-success/feed/ 2 http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/02/a-night-of-health-wellness/ http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/02/a-night-of-health-wellness/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:56:10 +0000 Erin http://www.erinhessel.com/?p=509 I’d like to formally invite you to a Wellness Event hosted by PURE Yoga East tomorrow evening, Wednesday, February 24th 6:30-8:30pm. I will have a table at this event, offering complimentary herbal snacks, tongue and pulse readings, and ear acu-pressure for stress relief. Please stop by to learn more! If you already know the wonderful benefits of Chinese medicine, then come by to see the beautiful studio space PURE has to offer and meet other health practitioners. Yoga is a wonderful way to enhance the healing benefits of Chinese medicine, and I particularly endorse PURE for their variety and quantity of classes (over 100 classes per week, featuring 21 different styles of yoga).

This event is complimentary to both members and non-members alike, so please take advantage of this wonderful evening of health. For more information about taking a class at PURE, contact Shaun – one of PURE’s experienced Yoga Advisers (shaun.Bradley@pureyoga.com).

To RSVP for this event, please call 212.360. 1888.  To read more about this event, click here.

Hope to see you there!

Namaste,

Erin

PS: New Clinic Information for ESEMA Healing Arts at the Berkley Center Coming Soon!