Keeping the "Cold" Away

It can be a challenge to stay healthy during the winter months, especially in this day and age of running ourselves ragged. Here are some tips to help ward off the germs and have an enjoyable winter:

• Follow winter's "sleep cycle". During the winter months, the sun sets early and rises late. Do the same to avoid the coldest parts of the day.

• Expose yourself to the sun to help warm your body and elevate your mood.

• Seek warm areas and avoid cold areas.

• Do not expose your skin to the cold. Often, women will layer warmly on top, but wear just one layer on the bottom or worse yet, wear only thin stockings. According to a Chinese proverb, "Wind comes into the body through one's neck, the cold comes into the body through one's legs." Wear warm pants, warm socks, and warm shoes.

• Do exercises to improve circulation in your feet and legs which will help reduce the constant chill you may feel in them.

• Eat foods with a warm nature such as shrimp, ginger, garlic, pepper, and curry.

As always, healthy eating and exercise will help you remain healthy during the cold months. Acupuncture can also help keep your body in balance and relieve cold symptoms. For an appointment, call Karen Giles, Five Element Acupuncture.

Are You In Need of Stress Relief?

"Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!" 

That may have sounded lovely in December when we were happily singing along with the radio while preparing for the upcoming holidays, but it doesn't sound quite so lovely at the moment. The weather here in the Northeast has been challenging, to say to the least, and has helped increase our stress levels exponentially.  

The effects of super storm Sandy are still being felt as many of us work to repair/rebuild our homes and businesses. Now, we must add the recovery from the damage Nemo caused as the blizzard tore through our region. Shoveling driveways and walkways, digging out cars, assessing our homes for snow/water damage are all tasks we will undertake almost automatically, but it is the emotional toll we may not face.

The stress the major storms induce is cumulative. In addition, there has been the onslaught of the flu and almost constant illness that many of us have been feeling making it difficult to keep up with the demands of daily life. 

What is stress? Stress is a biological and psychological response to a situation we feel we may not have the resources to handle. The stressor is the stimulus such as driving on icy roads, being stuck in the house due to 3 feet of snow, or missing work/school. The stress response is how the body responds to stress by releasing a set of biochemical reactions. The heart beasts faster, blood pressure rises, and muscles tense. This gives the body added strength and alertness to deal with the situation at hand. In short doses, there is no damage caused, the situation is survived, and we move on.

However, when we live in continued states of stress, our energy reserves become depleted and we may experience consequences.  Stress can manifest itself in many ways such as:

• headaches
• backaches
• skin disorders
• gastric problems
• sleep disorders
• depression
• anxiety
• poor concentration
• poor memory

So how do we combat stress? Unfortunately, many people use unhealthy coping mechanisms such as alcohol, cigarettes, emotional eating, or drugs leading to additional long term health problems. A healthy way to combat the effects of stress is to use acupuncture. 

Acupuncture is used to help regulate the body and bring it into balance. Acupuncture has a relaxation response with decreased heart rate, lowered blood pressure, stress reduction, and increased energy. Acupuncture can also relieve feelings of anxiety and depression, promoting feelings of well-being and self-confidence. 

Contact me to learn more about Five Element Acupuncture and the benefits is can provide for YOU.