Acupuncture in Wilmington
(910) 202-4248
(910) 202-4248

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The Joys of Summer!

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Summer in Chinese Medicine is associated with the element of Fire and the Organ of the Heart.  Summer is a great time to relish in what brings you joy; go to the beach, enjoy a picnic with friends, explore someplace new. Joy nourishes the Heart and keeps the Heart energy open and flowing.  It helps us recharge and find that passion that keeps us fully engaged with life.  Summer, according to Chinese medicine, represents a period of growth.  All the flowers are fully opening, fresh fruits and vegetables are peaking and it is the time when ripening occurs to bring everything to its full potential and purpose.  We can harness this energy in our own lives and allow ourselves to align with the energy of summer while aligning with our life’s purpose.

It’s important in the summer to stay well hydrated and cool down when needed so that the element of fire does not blaze out of control.  Foods like watermelon, cucumbers, water chestnuts, mung beans and lettuce help to cool the heat while still nourishing our bodies.  Chrysanthemum tea is also cooling and moistening and helps to replenish your body in the summer heat.

During the summer it is also important to moderate our air conditioning exposure.  Sure we all want to cool down, but going from extreme hot to extreme cold leaves us vulnerable to those summertime colds.  Try moderating indoor temperatures by having the air conditioning a little warmer or by being sure to not have the air blowing on top of you (especially the back of your neck) while you work and sleep. 

Getting acupuncture in the summer helps our mind, body and spirit align with our full potential!

Acupuncture will help keep your body feeling good and ready to engage with summertime activities. It will keep your mind calm and able to work through stress more readily, and will keep your heart healthy and ready for each day!

If you’re not sure how healthy your heart is, or you feel like your heart can use a tune-up, emotionally and physically, give us a call for a tune-up treatment. And, remember, it’s always good to get a seasonal transition treatment when the seasons change. Schedule yours before June 21st for best results! Call JJ at 910.262.1122 or book online. 

Acupuncture, Anxiety, Health, Organic, Relaxation, Spa, Stress, Therapy

Tame the Insomnia Monster: 10 Steps to Better Sleep

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  1. Stop drinking lots of fluids after 5p.m. (If you’re thirsty, sip water. Don’t guzzle 32 ounces of water before bed, you’ll be up several times at night getting rid of that fluid!)
  2. Avoid alcoholic beverages before bed, although they make you sleepy, they interrupt your true ability to sleep.
  3. Avoid heavy exercise late in the day. It can get your heart rate up too much and make it more difficult to fall asleep. (Don’t exercise 2-3 hours before bed. Gentle walking is okay but a hard-core workout is best done in the morning.)
  4. Avoid caffeine and nicotine. Caffeine can last 8 hours so late afternoon boosts of caffeine can make it more challenging to sleep deeply. Nicotine too is a stimulant, so heavy nicotine users often wake too early due to nicotine withdrawal.
  5. Avoid heavy meals late that can cause indigestion.
  6. Don’t nap after 3pm.
  1. DO: Relax before bed, give yourself time to unwind.
  2. DO: Take a hot bath before bed. The temperature change when you get out can help you feel sleepy and the bath can relax you.
  3. DO: Have a DARK, COOL, GADGET FREE bedroom. No lights in the bedroom. Cover that alarm clock or get rid of it altogether. No T.V. in the bedroom. No electronics right before bed. It’s best to turn them off an hour or two ahead if possible, if not, make sure you use a blue light filter on them or blue light filtered glasses.
  4. DO: Get outside at least 30 minutes a day. Natural light helps regulate your brain and your sleep cycle. Try really hard to get morning sunlight exposure.

We have additional tips, treatment protocols, natural supplements and herbs that can help you beat the Insomnia Monster if these tips are not enough. Please call us at 910.262.1122 Ext 2 to schedule an initial consultation and treatment soon!

Sweet Dreams!

Acupuncture, Anxiety, Health, Natural, Organic, Relaxation, Sleep, Stress

Spring: The Light and Dark of this Season

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Spring in Chinese medicine is associated with the Element of Wood and the Organ of the Liver. Spring is a great time to blossom out of our winter stagnation and get our bodies moving more. Spring is a perfect time to start that exercise routine we put off and start walking more in order to support our bodies ability to detox. Food therapy, herbs and acupuncture along with exercise and movement in general will aid your graceful transition into Spring and soothe the liver during this time of year.

The Liver in Chinese medicine is responsible for the smooth flow of energy in the body. The liver is the organ that stores the blood. The liver supports the functioning of our organs, limbs and all the tissues due to its influence over the blood. During the day the liver helps to supply blood to the muscles. During the night, the blood returns to the liver to be cleansed. Supporting the liver cleansing process helps the functioning of our whole body.

Foods to support the liver are sour in nature. Adding lemon to a glass of water in the morning starts your day off on the right foot. Drinking ginger tea can help increase blood circulation and therefore help to cleanse toxins. Some other helpful foods include, artichokes, black beans, bamboo, broccoli, and cooked dark leafy greens.

You may find yourself more easily irritated and angry in the Spring. The Liver is responsible for the emotion of anger, so, if your Liver energies are blocked or depleted, you may be more quick to anger and harder to please. An acupuncture treatment can help balance this out but you can also get creative to help funnel that frustration into something fun and productive.

Another thing to watch out for in the Spring is excessive Wind. Wind can be wonderful, but can also cause illness according to Chinese medicine. Keep your neck covered and protect yourself from excessive Wind, especially when walking on the beach while reaching your goal of moving your body more!

Not sure if you have Liver Qi Stagnation? Call our office and talk to JJ about getting in for a consultation and treatment. 910-262-1122

Acupuncture, Anxiety, Health, Massages, Natural, Organic, Relaxation, Sleep, Spa, Stress, Therapy

8 Dimensions Of Wellness: #8 Mental & Emotional Health

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We are a product of our environment.  We are inextricably connected to the world around us and are deeply impacted and influenced by our surroundings. This 7th dimension expands across the environment we create in our homes, our community, and our work environment, to the quality of our air, water and soil.  Environmental health focuses on the “natural and built environments” that influence and impact our lives.  Are there little tweaks and shifts you can make in your life to offer yourself a boost?

Recycling, using non-toxic products, minimizing excessive transportation and getting curious about renewable energy and resources are ways that we can collectively be a part of living on this planet more sustainably and collaboratively.  These little steps, if taken by many, create massive waves of change. We encourage you to explore the ways that feel right for you and to find your action steps to implement changes in your life.

What environment have you created for yourself to come home to?  Ponder the energetic and physical environment that surrounds you.  Our homes are very personal, hold our belongings, our families, our joys and our sorrows.  Have you ever cleaned out a closet that you have been ignoring for a while and felt a sudden burst of energy and clarity?  How does it feel when you walk into your front door and your space is clean and serene?  Each of us have our preferences as to what our space feels like, so for some, “clean” is not the goal.  Our team at Relax encourages you to get curious about what your goals are and what your space needs for the boost you seek?

Our team at Relax would love to share some of our tips on how to give any space a coziness boost:

  1. Notice the lighting.  Emphasize any natural light with soft sheer curtains, incorporate salt lamps, candles or lamps that strike your fancy.
  2. Invite sensory items into your space like soft blankets, weighted items, and big pillows.
  3. Bring more life into your space with freshly cut flowers, opened windows for fresh air, live plants and pet friends to cuddle and adore.
  4. Notice the sounds in your space by simply listening to it.  Get curious about what your space needs, if anything.  Playing nature sounds, waves, gongs or chimes can be a great place to start to consciously encourage your space to feel more inviting, cozy and warm.

What is your personal relationship with the environment around you?  What aspects of environmental health feel most resonant to you?  Notice the tugs, and follow them!  We as humans have the opportunity to tend to the environments around us, and the options to do so are endless!  Whether you choose to clean out a junk drawer, carpool, incorporate natural lighting or research new music that soothes your soul… may we all create spaces that hold us and remind us of our innate connection to the world around us, and each other.

Acupuncture, Anxiety, Health, Massages, Natural, Organic, Relaxation, Therapy

8 Dimensions Of Wellness: #7 Environmental Health

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We are a product of our environment.  We are inextricably connected to the world around us and are deeply impacted and influenced by our surroundings.  This 7th dimension expands across the environment we create in our homes, our community, and our work environment, to the quality of our air, water and soil.  Environmental health focuses on the “natural and built environments” that influence and impact our lives.  Are there little tweaks and shifts you can make in your life to offer yourself a boost?

Recycling, using non-toxic products, minimizing excessive transportation and getting curious about renewable energy and resources are ways that we can collectively be a part of living on this planet more sustainably and collaboratively.  These little steps, if taken by many, create massive waves of change.  We encourage you to explore the ways that feel right for you and to find your action steps to implement changes in your life.

What environment have you created for yourself to come home to?  Ponder the energetic and physical environment that surrounds you.  Our homes are very personal, hold our belongings, our families, our joys and our sorrows.  Have you ever cleaned out a closet that you have been ignoring for a while and felt a sudden burst of energy and clarity?  How does it feel when you walk into your front door and your space is clean and serene?  Each of us have our preferences as to what our space feels like, so for some, “clean” is not the goal.  Our team at Relax encourages you to get curious about what your goals are and what your space needs for the boost you seek?

Our team at Relax would love to share some of our tips on how to give any space a coziness boost:

  1. Notice the lighting.  Emphasize any natural light with soft sheer curtains, incorporate salt lamps, candles or lamps that strike your fancy.
  2. Invite sensory items into your space like soft blankets, weighted items, and big pillows.
  3. Bring more life into your space with freshly cut flowers, opened windows for fresh air, live plants and pet friends to cuddle and adore.
  4. Notice the sounds in your space by simply listening to it.  Get curious about what your space needs, if anything.  Playing nature sounds, waves, gongs or chimes can be a great place to start to consciously encourage your space to feel more inviting, cozy and warm.

What is your personal relationship with the environment around you?  What aspects of environmental health feel most resonant to you?  Notice the tugs, and follow them!  We as humans have the opportunity to tend to the environments around us, and the options to do so are endless!  Whether you choose to clean out a junk drawer, carpool, incorporate natural lighting or research new music that soothes your soul… may we all create spaces that hold us and remind us of our innate connection to the world around us, and each other.

Acupuncture, Anxiety, Health, Massages, Natural, Organic, Relaxation, Therapy

8 Dimensions Of Wellness: # 6 Vocational Health

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The 6th dimension of Vocational Health invites us to explore our relationship to our work in the world and dives into the subjective realms of satisfaction and fulfillment.  There is an art to discerning what passions to follow, what skills to sharpen and what qualities and talents to nurture.  No job holds the keys to eternal happiness, yet the importance and major influence of our work on our lives can’t be overlooked!  For many, vocational health is an opportunity to deconstruct what we were told to do, or told to be, and to remember the heartbeat and essence of who we truly are.

What are your innate superpowers and skills?  What have you been told your whole life in regards to your talents and expertise? Have you been told positive or negative things? Are there any “nudges” or “itches” that you have ignored that you wish to explore and consider?  Vocational health allows you to explore the relationship between your work in the world and your experience of satisfaction and fulfillment in your life.

Explore the following statements as a way to get curious about your relationship with vocational health.  Do you agree, disagree or somewhere in between?

  • I am happy with my career or job choice.
  • I look forward to going to work.
  • My job responsibilities and duties are in alignment with my values.
  • My job gives me personal satisfaction. 
  • I am happy with the professional and personal growth opportunities in my career/ job.
  • I feel my job allows me to make a difference in the world.

Notice that these questions emphasize your unique relationship with your work in the world rather than society’s perception of job titles.  Vocational health is an opportunity to remember your essence, what lights you up, what means the most to you in the world, and an invitation to integrate that feeling into the work that you do, whatever your job/career might be.

Our team at Relax invites you to explore your own unique relationship to vocational health.  How can you actively expand satisfaction and fulfillment when it comes to your work in the world?  In what ways can you spark joy within the realms of your work as a way to expand meaning in your life?

Acupuncture, Anxiety, Health, Natural, Organic, Stress, Therapy

8 Dimensions of Wellness: # 4 Financial Health

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The fourth dimension of wellness is financial health which invites us to explore:

  1. Our relationship with money
  2. Our ability to manage resources
  3. Our capacity to plan ahead and put those plans into action in our lives

For some, making investments, using financial spreadsheets and 5 year financial plans are second nature, while for others, there is a learning curve.  Regardless where you stand, today we invite you to identify your unique relationship with finances and get clear on ways you want to improve it!

 Do you have a budget?  Are you aware of the financial situation of your home?  This is a very simple place to start, if you have not already.  Carve out an hour or two to devote to your financial health where you can step away from all distractions to fully focus.  Here are a few steps to help you:

  1. Calculate your total monthly income while also making note of any debts or savings.
  2. From here you are ready to make a list of estimated average monthly expenses like gas, utilities, self care and money for coffee dates.  Refer to receipts if you have them or your bank statement for accountability.
  3. Notice how much you are making monthly, what your monthly expenses are as well as considering your debt, your savings and any goals that you have for your future.
  4. Look for where you are unconsciously overspending. This is a goldmine to discover in regards to future savings, if you choose to rework your habits and approach.
  5. Another way to see this is to write down every penny you spend. In the old days we did this on index cards, but there is probably an app for this now. Often our money disappears in ways we can’t see until we track it to the penny. Then you can mine that Gold Mine of Savings by not wasting pennies on things that you don’t need. Those pennies add up to take you away from your dreams.

It is quite common for people to initially find budget creation quite stressful and overwhelming as people often quickly discover that they are spending beyond their means.  Meanwhile, taking an honest look at your financial situation offers the opportunity to plan and move forward in a conscious way rather than flinging your way through life.  Over time, implementing a budget relieves stress, creates consistency and allows the room to implement plans to pay off debt, create savings and plan for future trips, dreams and more.  

Everyone’s financial situation is different and unique according to their family of origin, their upbringing, their life choices and beyond.  It is important to acknowledge that resources are not equally distributed across communities and that some people are born into privilege that others have to fight for.  If you feel that you need further support with your finances, research resources available in your local community for help with planning, taxes, budgeting and more.  Many banks also offer free services to account holders, as well.

 What is one way that you would like to implement a deeper sense of financial wellness in your life?  The options are endless… open a savings account, hire an accountant, create a budget or simply stash away $5 a day.  Remember, the other option is to spend less: make coffee at home instead of getting it from a coffee shop, cook at home one more night a week rather than going out, eat less meat and more vegetarian style dinners, etc. Take those savings and stash them away!  Take the next month to zoom in on your goal and begin to notice any changes that happen as you invite more awareness around financial wellness into your life!

Acupuncture, Health, Massages, Natural, Organic, Relaxation, Stress, Therapy
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