January is Hot Tea Month

Cold air has finally found us here in the Northeast.  Your fingers may be feeling a little stiff and you may feel a chill right down to your bones.  Perhaps wrapping yourself in a big warm blanket is not fully chasing away the chill. Well, the timing is perfect as January is Hot Tea Month! Wrap you fingers around a nice warm mug and feel the warmth spread throughout your body with each sip of tea.

Tea is a healthy drink full of antioxidants and other potentially healthful ingredients. Studies have shown that tea can lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, lower the risk of many cancers, protect against obesity, and improve mental alertness. And it tastes delicious and has a calming effect as well!
 

Drink your tea slowly and reverently as if it is the axis on which the world revolves—slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. Live the actual moment. Only this moment is life. -Thich Nhat Hanh

There are many different blends of teas to try. This is the perfect month to sample many and possibly discover a new favorite! Ginger tea is a popular choice for the cold winter months.  It has a spicy, invigorating taste and often is used to relieve cold symptoms. 

Allow me, Karen Giles, to offer some tea brewing tips:

• Always begin with fresh, cold water
• Allow the water to come to a full boil then use immediately
• Tea bags steep more quickly than loose leaves
• Remove tea leaves once desired strength is reached
• Do not use a tea cozy with leaves remaining in the pot as this will make the tea bitter

So go ahead and brew some tea.  Grab a warm blanket and find a quiet place to relax.  Watch the steam rise from your mug and enjoy the peacefulness.

Let Acupuncture Help Releive Your Holiday Stress

Holidays can be such a stressful time. There are many tasks to add to our already busy days.  The days themselves are short and the temperature is cold. This can lead to feeling stress and tension throughout your mind and body.

Acupuncture can be used to help reduce the stress and tension. This ancient system of healing relies on the movement of energy in nature and the body. This vital energy (called chi) flows through the body in a network of pathways that function like a system of rivers. When healthy, all runs smoothly and the rivers run clear. When there is a blockage, illness arises and presents as physical and/or emotional symptoms. By using acupuncture needles to stimulate specific points on the necessary pathways, health and harmony are restored. 

Keeping your body healthy will help maximize the healing effects of acupuncture.  Drink plenty of water, get enough rest, and exercise.  On the day of your acupuncture treatment, eat moderately, avoid caffeine, alcohol, and unusually strenuous activity. 

The holidays are meant to be enjoyed.  Focus on the positive.  Take care of yourself and remember to smile. Karen Giles Acupuncture wishes you happy and healthy holidays!

Observation of an Acupuncture Treatment

 I was honored to observe Karen Giles give an acupuncture treatment today.  Watching the treatment from the sideline gave me a unique feel and understanding of acupuncture.

Karen Giles' office is warm and inviting.  My eye is immediately drawn to the fireplace where there are always candles burning on the mantle.  Above, is a gorgeous photograph of a rock and water scene with vibrant colors which was taken by a patient.

Karen Giles begins each session by talking with her patients to learn what is going on with their body and mind. The talk takes place at a small table placed by windows with natural light and warmth shining through.  Karen Giles uses the information she gathers to determine where she will insert the needles.

Consent has been granted by today's patient to allow me to observe.  Karen Giles speaks with her privately before allowing me in. The patient lies on the table which looks soft and comfortable.  Karen Giles moves quietly around the table speaking softly and asking questions. She looks at the patients tongue, takes the pulse on both the left and right side, and makes her final determination about which points to insert the needles. 

The patient breathes deeply and appears to become more and more relaxed.  I notice her speech has become softer and slower in response to Karen's.  The needles are inserted, soft music turned on, and a heat lamp positioned to add warmth.  Karen checks the patient one more time and stimulates the needles as she feels necessary. The patient is left for approximately 20 minutes to relax and allow the needles to work.

Karen returns to the patient and removes the needles one at a time. Again, she takes the pulse on the left and right side. She encourages the patient to relax and take her time before getting up.  The patients face is flushed and her eyes are brightly shining. 

The passion that Karen Giles has for acupuncture is evident in the way she treats her patients and talks about acupuncture.  The passion extends to truly wanting to help her patients feel better and to do right by them.  Karen Giles treats the whole body and the whole person.  She ensures that the benefits of acupuncture are maximized for each of her patients.

I have personally experienced acupuncture given by Karen Giles.  The care she emanates makes it so much more than just about the needles.  I highly recommend anyone looking for acupuncture and/or pain relief to consult with Karen Giles.