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Nearly everyone's feeling the economic squeeze these days. Trimming expenses is smart, but be sure you're cutting back in the right places. Brew your coffee at home, and bring your lunch to work, but don't neglect your health! Remember that old proverb, "A stitch in time saves nine?" No matter if it's a sore shoulder, upset digestion, or mental stress, acupuncture and bodywork can fix minor problems before they get worse. A few needles and some hands-on time now is much cheaper than pharmaceutical or surgical intervention later... and can be much less painful.
To encourage prompt attention to your medical needs, I am now accepting credit cards (Mastercard and Visa). As always, your personal check is welcome, and cash is appreciated.
Auricular Acupuncture
We've all heard of hand and foot reflexology: The concept is that the entire body is reflected on a small part, such as the palm. This miniature representation is called a homunculus, and is no stranger to modern Western science: We have both a sensory and a motor control "Little Human" in our brains. Chinese doctors use one on the ear.
Auricular medicine is also used to diagnose. Problems can show up in the appropriate area, showing white spots for scar tissue, veins for stagnation and pain, brown for chronic disease, red for inflammation, etc. Auricular diagnosis and treatments are popular in group settings, since patients can be seated and don't need to disrobe. My instructors at OCOM used it frequently in their local addiction clinic and prison internships.
An ear massage is like a full-body rub-down and can relax an upset loved one. I mostly use ear acupuncture for detox treatments, pain relief, and emotional calming, but it has wide-ranging effects.
One night my husband, then a medical student, was participating in a very slow delivery at the end of a 36hr shift. The mother had been in labor for hours but her contractions weren't productive. Finally he gave in to their mutual fatigue and pressed the uterus points in her ear. She instantly settled into a proper rhythm. The baby made her entrance and he was home in an hour!
Point of the Month: Shenmen
Shenmen, or "Spirit Gate," is found halfway along the underside of the ridge near the top of the ear. Your Shen includes your mental and emotional state, so this point can treat fear, anger, and anxiety. It affects your sympathetic nervous system, so it's also used in severe pain cases.
To perform acupressure on Shenmen, press gently but firmly with a fingertip for 10-20 seconds. You may also give a short squeeze with a fingernail and then release it. Go ahead and give the rest of the ear some attention, too. Don't forget to use your positive, healing intentions when doing acupressure.
Thanks for reading! Next month... who knows? Send me your questions and suggestions!
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