Article Thumbnail

Infertility: The Power of Ritual and Intentional Distancing for Mental Health

Struggling to build a family can be one of the most stressful life experiences that a person encounters. One historic study found that the mental health burden of women experiencing infertility was on par with that of cancer or HIV. Research has also shown that stress associated with infertility is one of the main reasons that people drop out of fertility treatments- one study found that stress was the primary reason why insured women ended treatment. While both of these studies were conducted only on women, it’s important to recognize that infertility is stressful for all people.

For this article, I interviewed Dr. Shara Brofman, a licensed clinical psychologist in Westchester County, New York, with extensive training and expertise in reproductive mental health. She was kind enough to share some words of wisdom, which I have paraphrased below. I love Dr. Brofman’s advice- it’s different from what you typically hear. It’s real, compassionate, and eye opening. Read more

Article Thumbnail

How To Support Your Nervous System During Dry January

Are you participating in a New Year’s group health challenge like Dry January? There’s also Sugar Free January and even Phone Free February. We all turn to things which help us cope in the moment- they give us a short term escape. If you’re tired of the way these quick fixes make you feel and are looking to make some changes, here are some tips for success:

Get Support

This is part of being kind to yourself: Read more

Article Thumbnail

Take a Breath: The Lung’s Function in Immunity and so much more

As I’ve previously described, East Asian Medicine connects each season to its own organ, emotion, and element. As autumn begins, I wanted to discuss the lung, which is at its energetic peak during this season. In our medicine the lung is vital for healthy immunity but is involved in so many other areas of health.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the lung has several functions including: Read more

Acupuncture for Painful Periods: A Holistic Approach

 

When you hear about a holistic approach, images of nature or meditating on a mountaintop might come to mind. But what does holistic really mean? According to Oxford Languages online dictionary, holistic medicine is

characterized by the treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the symptoms of an illness”.

In our clinic, we strive to take this approach when helping people with painful periods (dysmenorrhea, in medical parlance). The primary method we use to help is of course acupuncture- and generally we see patients weekly, throughout the month as a means of improving overall health and emphasizing prevention as it’s not always possible for patients to come in for acupuncture as their cramps are peaking.

Additionally, we utilize other Traditional East Asian Medicine (EAM) therapies such as moxibustion, sometimes cupping, heat therapy and herbal medicine. Read more