Learning How to Relax. What is Sympathetic Overload?

Recently I have had the privilege of working with an increased number of people coming in with the diagnosis of “sympathetic overload.” And though Chinese medicine doesn’t often concern itself with a western medical diagnosis to treat a condition most people who come in with a problem are concerned with their diagnosis and what, as an acupuncturist, I can do to help them. So even though I know for a fact that acupuncture works on the nervous system I wasn’t super aware of this term sympathetic overload. So as with may of my blog post it starts as a need for information and then grows into a need to share information.

Setting Healthy Boundaries Both Postpartum and in Life.

In my previous blog post I touched on setting boundaries when discussing emotional health, but I wanted to dive into it deeper because it is important for your health, your partner's health and babies health. The amount of change that is coming to your world is huge and one of the best ways to ease into that is setting up some boundaries. This will allow for bonding with baby, self care for momma and direction for papa or partner on how to be helpful and involved. Boundaries will also help your friends and loved ones understand where they can help and when it may be too much. You may be wondering how will I know what my limits are?

Emotional Health & Postpartum Changes

Over the next few posts we will be talking about emotional health and strategies to keep in touch with our mental health. Todays topic is emotional health and changes postpartum.

This is a big topic and one that I want to spend some time with. Pregnancy and birth require so much of us physically and mentally and both aspects require attention and both are equally important. I want to emphasize how valid and important it is to meet your emotional needs during this postpartum period.

Who's body is this? The postpartum body - Changes you may not have expected

Recently I have been working with a lot of brad new mama’s, which is super exciting and also got me thinking about women’s bodies post labor and all the things big and small that go through changes. This also got me thinking about how it would have been nice to know what to expect. I mean no one told me how my sweat would turn into this awful foul smelling mess. I mean I have to wear deodorant now! Thanks kid. So lets dive in a touch on some of the lovely and not so lovely things to expect with your body once the little bundle has arrived.

Postpartum healthSerena ShawOctober 27, 2021Nourishing Energy AcupuncutrePostpartum health, self careComment

Traditional Chinese Medicine View On Foods For Fall

Most of us are already aware that the types of foods that we eat directly affect our health and the better we eat generally speaking the better we feel and the healthier we are able to stay. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM for short) food is also considered medicine, as it should be in all forms of medicine. Just like mentioned above food can not only harm our health, but it can also heal our bodies and support our health. So lets talk about how TCM views foods for the seasons and in this case fall, and what foods may be the most helpful for us now.

Five things to do to help manage you period

I am here to empower you to embrace your period, take charge of it and learn the truth about your period because they make us magic!

Holistic health, women's healthSerena ShawSeptember 20, 2021Nourishing Energy Acupunctureperiods, menses, women's healthComment

Unlocking the Healing Power of Moxibustion in Acupuncture

Moxa is really wonderful to use in the treatment of sprains, strains, joint and muscle pains, traumas, arthritis, menstrual pain and can even help to support the immune system. It also may seem contradictory but despite it being a type of heat therapy it can be very helpful and even reduce inflammation in these injuries. By stimulating the flow of blood and fluids through the area and by bringing in fresh repairing cells the inflammation is often reduced and healing is sped up

What your tongue is saying when you aren't even talking

You head into your acupuncture appointment, you are excited, optimistic, a little nervous and wondering what to expect. Your acupuncturist has you sit down and asks you a bunch of questions, explains a few things and then has you get comfortable on the table. They check you pulse and then they as you to stick your tongue out at them! You want me to do what?! That is right.....stick out your tongue please! Why would they want to do that?

The Pelvic Floor and Its Connection to the Jaw

Would you believe me when I tell you that your jaw and your pelvis are indeed connected and that your pelvic floor health and your TMJ could be contributing to one another or even the reason why one or the other may have developed.

Concussion Recovery

Did you know acupuncture can help you with your concussion recovery?
Merriam Webster defines concussion as: a stunning, damaging, or shattering effect from a hard blow; especially: a jarring injury of the brain resulting in disturbance of cerebral function.

Acupuncture is wonderful for improving circulation on a micro and macro level and with the improved blood flow comes oxygen, nutrients, and healing. Acupuncture can also help reduce inflammation and calm the nervous system.

Why I Chose Acupuncture

One of the most common questions I get asked is what got me into acupuncture. The short answer is that it helped me with my own health and I want to do the same for others and the long answer is below.

The challenge of sleep- What can you do to get help

Sleep troubles are perhaps one of the most challenging things to deal with. It is difficult when you are the person not sleeping, and it can be difficult as a practitioner to treat. That is not to say that acupuncture isn’t a great tool to help with sleep, it is, and can be really beneficial, but insomnia and sleep problems are often complex. There are usually multiple factors contributing to the problem and teasing those out can be hard. Some of those factors are things such as sleep environment, diet, emotional stress and burden, pain, pets, kids, blood sugar or inflammation to name a few.

Serena ShawJune 9, 2021Nourishing Energy Acupuncture

Herbs Are Amazing-Why Oh Why Won't You Take Your Herbs?

I have a question for you….why do people struggle with prioritizing herbal medicine the way they would a pharmaceutical drug or prescription? Why oh why do I call in a prescription to the herbal pharmacy and people never show up to get their herbal prescription? Better yet why do they get it and then don’t take it?

Serena ShawMay 12, 2021Nourishing Energy Acupuncture

Tools for Detoxing Stress from Your Life - Mindfulness Can Make A Difference

According to the American Psychology Association-"75% of adults reported experiencing moderate to high levels of stress in the past month and nearly half reported that their stress has increased in the past year. Do you fall into this category?

Liver, Laugh, Love

Do you have a case of the grumpies? Do you have trouble with irritability and frustration? For all you men out there do you struggle with erectile dysfunction or libido problems? Ladies do you have menstrual problems or are struggling with menopause?

If you can answer yes to any of these questions or even a few of these questions it may be the result of what I like to call a grumpy liver. In traditional Chinese medicine these all can be signs of an imbalance in the energetics of your liver system.

What spring means for your health!

I don’t know about you but I have been long awaiting its arrival. Back in January I began my garden dreaming pretty hardcore and haven’t let up since. What am I going to plant? Where am I going to plant it this year? How will I keep the dog out of the plants? How will I amend the soil this year? Do I need a new shovel? I could keep you here forever, but along with those daydreams of the spring to come also came thoughts of what spring means to Traditional Chinese Medicine and what that may mean for my clients and their health.

Acupressure for ADD/ADHD Management

I wanted to ask if you or someone you know struggles with ADD or ADHD? In my work with veterans I have found that many of them struggle with one of these conditions but, they also struggle with the idea that they are bound to medications to manage their symptoms. So while working with them using acupuncture I made a little take home sheet of acupressure points that c

Yuck! Why Does My Acupuncturist Keep Asking Me to Drink Warm Water?

Have you ever found yourself sitting in front of your acupuncturist and they look at you and say, “You need to stop drinking ice cold drinks and go move toward drinking room temperature or hot drinks.” Did you reply, “Yuck, why would I do that. Drinking warm water is gross. What if its 90 degrees outside?”

Holistic health, Acupuncture blogSerena ShawJanuary 7, 2021Nourishing Energy Acupuncture digestive healthComment

5 Tools to Help Diffuse an Anxiety Attack

Today I wanted to talk a little bit about anxiety attacks and panic attacks, more specifically 5 tools that can help diffuse things in the moment. This is something that I have personally been struggling with recently and thought it would make a great topic for a post.

Stress ManagementSerena ShawDecember 2, 2020Nourishing Energy Acupuncutre anxiety, mental healthComment

Social and Emotional health during times of uncertainty

Let’s talk about social and emotional health. To start out I t want to pose a few questions for you to think about as you read through this post. What are you doing to take care of your social and emotional health? Do you think of your emotional health as part of your overall health? Would you consider your emotional and social health as being an important part of your immune health?

Serena ShawOctober 6, 2020Nourishing Energy Acupuncture