A new year is upon us which means it's a great time to try something new. If you've never given running a try perhaps this article will convince you to at least give it a try. Don't be intimidated or think you can't do it because you're just not a runner. Most “runners” at some point felt the same way you did and despite what you may think, they weren't born runners. I started running while in college because the class fulfilled a graduation requirement and I figured it would be a good way to lose a few pounds. When I first started I couldn't run a mile. I've since completed a marathon, four half marathons and countless 5K and 10K's. Little did I know at the time that there were so many great reasons to run besides losing a few pounds. Here are 10 reasons why this new year you should give running a try.

Yoga is at the top of my list for ways to get out of pain, and more importantly, stay out of pain. It is the end of a long and busy day and I have been sacrificing my posture and trying not to hunch over while I treat patients with acupuncture, give massage, work at the computer, wash dishes, and carry my thirty pound child on my left hip. My mid and upper back are killing me. Going to bed in pain is the last thing that I want to do. My quick fix is ten minutes of yoga. I would love to practice for an hour or more, but if time and my child does not permit it, ten minutes is all I need to feel an incredible difference in the way my body feels.

Tis the season of pecan pie, Christmas pudding, and cookies galore! But if you're on a low carb diet, or simply just trying to cut back, holiday parties can be difficult to navigate. Worse still, if you struggle with blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar balance issues, regular desserts can literally kill! 

Having a injury is bad enough, but what if it creeps back into your body years later?  Whether it’s a old C-section scar that’s itchy and sensitive, a sprained ankle, or even chronic neck pain from a car accident years back, your body could be telling you it needs attention.

When we have a injury, surgery, or repetitive motion, our body develops scar tissue to repair the damage.  Scar tissue (adhesions) is dead fibrotic tissue that forms mostly in muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and joints.  Scar tissue can adhere to muscle fibers, preventing them from sliding back and forth properly.  

Moxibustion - what is it and why is it done?

When I was still studying Chinese medicine, and practiced using moxa on my mother, she said, “Don’t do this the first time you see someone, it is too weird.” I generally follow this rule. When people try acupuncture, they are expecting to receive acupuncture, but usually not expecting other Chinese medicine practices. Having plant matter burned over your skin may seem a bit strange. While many Acupuncturists and East Asian medicine practitioners use it in their practices, many do not. I use it in my practice, almost every day. Because it is little understood, let’s discuss what exactly it is, and its purpose.

We've all had that feeling--it's Friday morning, the turkey's been demolished, the mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, and pies, oh the glorious pies, are now sitting heavy in your tummy, weighing you down. But buck up! Don't let the tryptophan get you down! Here are some tips on how to recover from all that holiday overindulgence.

Thanksgiving is a time when family and friends gather to enjoy a nice dinner and reflect on all that they have to be thankful for. Although we shouldn't wait until then to be reminded of all that we have, it is a great time to enjoy a day surrounded by those closest and dearest to you. For me personally, this is one of my favorite times of the year. My family lives in Northern California which means I don't get to see them as often as I'd like and even when I do it's usually just my immediate family. However, for Thanksgiving I typically get to see all of my family which includes about 40 relatives, all gathered at my mother's or my grandmother's home. You would think after living away from my family for over 18 years I would be use to not seeing them as often but the truth of the matter is, I don't think I'll ever get use to it. My family has been my biggest supporters and I would not be in the position I am today if it wasn't for their unconditional support and love. I am blessed and happy to have amazing friends here who are like family in addition to my patients who after 9 years in practice have also become family.

Many times when I see a new patient, they tell me they are finally trying acupuncture, having meant to for years, but they have been too afraid. I hear this repeatedly from people. Many who have piercings, tattoos, and no issues with venipuncture (blood being taken). I believe this fear stems from the unknown. Something new. Or perhaps some find it terrifying to lie on a table, alone, with needles inserted.

It seems like 2017 flew by in a blur! Did you know that there are less than 3 months left till the end of the year? For most of our patients who use their insurance benefits, from now until the end of the year is a critical time. The reason is that most insurance renew on January 1st, at the start of each calendar year. While this may mean your allowed visits will renew, this also means that whatever you have not used up from this year disappears! Not only that, if you have a PPO insurance, keep in mind that your deductible will most likely also renew on January 1st!

The month of October is upon us and I am reminded of a certain tradition we did as kids.  Carving pumpkins was a fun way to express our creativity.  We had our pumpkin carving kit that came with a tool that really didn’t work as well as we thought. There was a point where my mom had to step in and help us and it really was a struggle and quite painful for the wrist. If you are a parent or just simply like to carve pumpkins for decoration, suffering with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can definitely deter you from this common tradition.