Headache Help

Headaches Hurt!
Onset of a headache is a sign that your body is out of balance, and needs your attention. The faster the headache is relieved, the faster you can get back to your normal quality of life.
The following are some useful tips on how to manage and prevent headaches:

Headache Management:
1. Catch it early. As soon as the headache starts, start taking control before it gets worse.
2. Take a 10 minute break from what you're doing and rest in a quiet, comfortable, dark room.
3. Breathe deeply and relax. Gently rub out the tension in your shoulders, neck and temples.
4. Get Acupuncture, massage and take Chinese herbs help get rid of an acute headache.

Headache Prevention:
1. Keep stress levels as low as possible, and avoid situations that trigger extra tension.
2. Do not skip meals, and do your best to get good sleep each night.
3. Consider the amount of caffeine in your body; sometimes headaches are withdrawal from caffeine when the body is addicted.
4. Maintain good posture throughout the day to allow for adequate circulation between your head and body.
5. Acupuncture, massage, and Chinese herbs help prevent headaches.

If chronic headaches are a problem for you, consider getting drug-free treatment with acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Many headache sufferers have found permanent relief with Chinese Medicine. For more information about acupuncture for headaches, check our website:
http://www.amazinghealing.com/headache-migraine-cluster-headaches-menstrual-headaches.php


posted by Jessica Silver, Lic.Ac.
http://www.amazinghealing.com/jessica.php

DailyOm

Going Through The Opening
Contracting Before Expanding
Sometimes our lives contract before they expand. We may be working hard on ourselves spiritually, doing good in the world, following our dreams, and wondering why we are still facing constrictions of all kinds-financial, emotional, physical. Perhaps we even feel as if we've lost our spirituality and are stuck in a dark room with no windows. We may be confused and discouraged by what appears to be a lack of progress. But sometimes this is the way things work. Like a caterpillar that confines itself to a tiny cocoon before it grows wings and flies, we are experiencing the darkness before the dawn.

When things feel tight, it's easy to panic or want to act in some way to ease the feeling of constriction. We might also spin our wheels mentally, trying to understand why things are the way they are. However, there is nothing we need to do at this time other than to be patient and persevering. We can cling to the awareness that we are processing the shift from one stage to another, and the more we surrender to the experience, the more quickly we will move through the tightness into the opening on the other side. Just like a baby making its way down the birth canal, we may feel squeezed and pushed and very uncomfortable, but if we remember that we are on our way to being born into a new reality, we will find the strength to carry on.

Even as we endure the contractions, we can find peace within ourselves if we remember to trust the universe. We can look to the natural world for inspiration as we see that all beings surrender to the process of being born. In that surrender, and in the center of our own hearts, is a willingness to trust in the unknown as we make our way through the opening.

From www.DailyOm.com

Posted by Juliette Aiyana
http://www.amazinghealing.com
Try Acupuncture. It Works!

Tips to Lower Your Blood Pressure Now!

Jessica Silver, L.Ac. recently posted information about lowering blood pressure.

Also visit this link for 9 simple tips to lower your blood pressure now!
http://www.amazinghealing.com/bp.php

Posted by: Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.
http://www.amazinghealing.com/juliette.php

Hypertension and Emotional Health

CNN Health News section announced this evening that "Positive Emotions are Linked to Lower Blood Pressure."

A questionairre measuring positive emotions was given to over 2,500 people aged 65 and older. The conclusion was that the higher someone's score on positive emotions, the lower that person's blood pressure.

That's good news! It means that controlling our blood pressure naturally can be a conscious choice. It's not just genetics and diet coming into play, but also our general degree of happiness in life. In other words, focusing directly on people's emotional well-being could be an effective way to help control their blood pressure.

So... how does someone get a hold of these "positive emotions"? It's not always as easy as just thinking happy thoughts, and it's not always as complicated as needing anti-depressant pharmaceuticals.

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine incorporate this idea of emotional well-being into the very tenets of its medical theory. Physical heath is not just related to, but also dependent on, emotional health. When someone is stressed or unhappy, the energy in their body is not flowing smoothly. It can become blocked or constrained as emotional tension becomes physical tension. Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs are a natural solution to keeping both energy emotions flowing smoothly and happily. The best part is, it's not just the blood pressure that becomes more balanced. It's the whole body.

Although this study reveals only that positive emotions can help regulate blood pressure, that's only the tip of the iceberg. Smooth energy flow, which can be enhanced with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs, is necessary for the complete health of any system. Boosting emotional wellness will help many health conditions including anxiety, depression, headache, allergies, pain, IBS. and menstrual disorders.

Posted by Jessica Silver, Lic.Ac.
http://www.amazinghealing.com/jessica.php
Aiyana Acupuncture, NYC

Feminist Talk Radio

In the past couple of weeks I discovered two live streaming talk radio stations which cater to intelligent and proactive women.

The first one I discovered through an e-mail from The Red Web Foundation, of which I am a member. The talk radio show based out of Ft. Collins, Colorado, “That Woman’s Show” is broadcast every 1st and 3rd Monday from 7:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. MST on KRFCRM.org. Its host is Leslie Botha, who runs the website www.holyhormones.com, on which shows are archived. Botha received the first Edward R. Dewey Award from The Foundation for the Study of Cycles. Leslie's article, "The Suppression of the Most Natural Cycle in the World," co-edited by Dr. Judi Gerstung, appears in the first issue of Cycles Magazine. Botha was named a "pioneer in the study of female hormones and behaviors" by the Foundation for the Study of Cycles. She is an outspoken opponent against the suppression of menstrual periods, and I share her view about this issue. Check out her website which is full of information and resources about menstrual health and awareness, and don’t miss the radio show.

A couple of weeks ago while I was watching one of my favorite TV shows, The Colbert Report, I learned about www.GreenStoneMedia.com. Colbert featured two of Green Stone’s founders, Jane Fonda and Gloria Steinem. A press release on their website describes the vision and mission of the new radio station:
“This launch represents a new day in media – a day in which radio for women, by women is a reality on the radio dial,” said GreenStone board member Jane Fonda. “According to our research, there is an enormous market opportunity out there of women looking for smart and engaging talk radio. With very little programming that really targets women on the radio, our approach addresses a real need in the marketplace.”
“Radio continues to be one of our most personal and portable links to the world, making us part of a larger community,” said GreenStone board member Gloria Steinem. “It is a constant companion at work, in the car or as we multi-task in our busy lives. It connects us to current events and issues important to both women and men. GreenStone’s programming reflects the personal conversations women have every day – engaging, intelligent and insightful discussions delivered with humor and warmth.
Currently, GreenStone produces four weekday programs providing 12 hours of programming a day. The morning drive features entertainers, Maureen Langan and Cory Kahaney, billed as "The Radio Ritas"; from 9 to noon, best-selling author and working mom Lisa Birnbach takes over; beginning in late September Rolonda Watts will broadcast from noon to 3; then Mo Gaffney and Shana Wride come on with their "Women Aloud" show in the late afternoon. Evening, weekend, and short form programs will soon join the line-up."

Posted by Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.
www.amazinghealing.com/juliette.php

Quinoa: Underrated Grain

WholeFoods.com has a really cool "World's Healthiest Foods" database. In that database is a forgotten grain, quinoa. Quinoa is one of my favorite grains but for some reason I don't cook it enough. Recently, my friend and I were talking about the tasty unrefined grain so this weekend I bought some, then coincidentally read about them on this website.

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=142

Quinoa is a light grain that reminds me of and fills me up like rice but does not feel as heavy. You can flavor it as easily as rice and it cooks in no time - just 20 minutes! It is high in protein, fiber, iron and magnesium.

Whole Foods touts quinoa's high magnesium content as beneficial for migraine sufferers. This is good news for migraine sufferers, because many experience worsening of headache symptoms when they eat foods from wheat grain sources.

Along with dietary change, acupuncture and Chinese herbal treatment of headaches and migraines are very successful. Acupuncture can be used to prevent and treat acute headaches!
Our patients are pleased when they leave the treatment free of an acute headache.

To learn more about acupuncture and headache treatment read this:
http://www.amazinghealing.com/headache-migraine-cluster-headaches-menstrual-headaches.php

Try Acupuncture. It Works!

Posted by Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.
www.amazinghealing.com

Take Charge of your Life

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/26/health/psychology/26comm.html?ex=1160884800&en=1d20124adc381633&ei=5070

Can empathy from a therapist help a patient overcome emotional problems? Only to a certain extent, according to the above article about a therapist who took a different approach. With many therapies' goals to uncover the history of unhappy patients, they examine traumas in childhood and often end up finding circumstances which may be to blame for current emotional problems.

All that may be important, but it is critical to add another step.

The next step must be to resolve to overcome the past. No matter what has happened in the past, happiness, satisfaction, and quality of life in the future depend on what that person does in life right now. Letting go and moving on from old experiences is very important.

The approach this therapist took was to work with his patients to get them to take responsibility for their own life, starting now. He motivated them to realize their own potential, and take steps to improve their own life instead of dwelling on past failures and disappointments.

His steps involved encouraging patients to start a new job, change an old job, and promise themselves to be responsible for their own choices. His approach yields powerful results, and though it may seem harsh to have limited sympathy regarding old blames and traumas, it is empowering for patients to realize they can be in charge of their own lives, from this point on!

How much time do you spend feeling upset, angry, depressed, stressed, or anxious? If you feel like your emotions are stuck on past experiences, consider taking measures to move forward in life. Although it may be difficult, relief is possible, and you are the one who can make the biggest change in your own life.

Aside from emotional counseling, spending time with loved ones or making social connections can help. Acupuncture and chinese herbs are excellent for balancing and maintaining emotional health. Physical exercise and time relaxing are also important for gaining perspective. Whatever it is preventing you from letting go and moving on, try taking steps today towards what's possible for your future!

posted by Jessica Silver, Lic.Ac.
http://www.amazinghealing.com/jessica.php

BOYCOTT KFC!!!!

BOYCOTT KFC!!! BOYCOTT KFC!!!

Join Me, the Beastie Boys, Al Sharpton, Russell Simmons and Pamela Anderson in the Boycott of KFC.

WHY BOYCOTT?
Okay, okay (besides the fact I think that KFC is disgusting garbage "food" anyway and have not eaten there in over a decade...) let me first start by saying I am not a vegetarian, a member of PETA, nor do I often support their methods...

However, I have read compelling, fully referenced evidence on the PETA website that the way KFC handle and kill their chickens is beyond inhumane. It is disgusting.

From the PETA site:
"KFC'’s breeding birds have their sensitive beaks seared off with hot blades soon after they are born. "Broilers," or chickens raised for their flesh, are bred and drugged in order to make them gain weight quickly, which often causes their hearts and lungs to fail and their legs to become crippled under their own heavy bodies. Archaic slaughter methods and faulty machinery, combined with an absence of laws to protect chickens, cause millions of them to be scalded alive in feather-removal tanks or have their throats slit while they are still conscious."

If it grosses you out as much as it does me, I hope that not only will you boycott, but that you will write KFC a brief letter or e-mail asking them to change their wicked ways, and tell everyone you know.

Read this letter to KFC with recommendations on how they can change their policies.

www.http://kentuckyfriedcruelty.com/pdfs/March11document.pdf

Oh and just one more thing, if you have not yet read Fast Food Nation, go get it now!

For me, I have to eat meat to be healthy. I have tried vegetarian diets and became very ill. So, I have made a personal choice in my life to eat organic, farm raised meat and dairy products as often as possible to reduce the suffering of animals. Sure it costs more, but frankly when I read stuff like this I think it is just horrendous. To those of you who can stay healthy vegetarians, my hat is off to you!

Posted by: Juliette Aiyana,L.Ac.
www.amazinghealing.com/php

Meditation: Benefits and Practices

This article was excerpted from this website:
http://www.alt-healthsearch.com/articles/view/meditation_benefits_and_practices/


"Meditation can be defined as an uninterrupted and intense contemplation or concentration on a specific subject or on nothing at all. The focus may be internal or external. The length of time spent meditating matters less than the control of breathing and, perhaps, the physical position one chooses. Some believe that meditation is the basis of spirituality, self knowledge, and wisdom, but many have very different ideas of not only the practice of meditation but its purpose, as well.

Benefits
No matter the definition, it is undeniable that meditation combats the stress of a very fast paced world. Learning to breath peacefully through meditation will not only allow you to relax but will also increase your mental clarity, focus, and awareness when you practice regularly.
Physiologically, meditation effects the body in many ways including:
+ Improves immune function + Slows rapid pulse + Slows rate of metabolism + Lowers blood pressure + Lowers risk of heart failure, attack, and disease
There are a variety of methods to choose in meditation technique, but all of them reduce stress and create positive physiological effects."

Read the rest of this article here:
http://www.alt-healthsearch.com/articles/view/meditation_benefits_and_practices/

Many of my patients report feeling as though they have entered a meditative state during acupuncture treatments. And, personally, I have experienced this! Acupuncture patients often naturally regulate their breathing. The movement of energy throughout the body becomes regulated through acupuncture point stimulation and the softened, regulated breath. During acupuncture, the body also releases endorphins and enkephalins-hormones which makes us feel good and relaxed. If you are feeling stressed take some time for an acupuncture visit. It works.

Posted by Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.
www.amazinghealing.com/N-laughter.php

Enjoy Health!

There's lots of people in this world who spend so much time watching their health that they haven't the time to enjoy it. ~Josh Billings

I agree with Mr. Billings. So many people and patients I have encountered are so obsessed with their health, what they should or should not eat, which herbs or vitamins they should take and at what time of day.

We can be mindfully aware of what we do to stay healthy as well as keeping the state of our minds healthy and balanced. Trust your intuition, do your reading and research, and relax.
Breathe.
Enjoy this moment now.
Enjoy this bite of food.
Enjoy the effects of this acupuncture treatment now.

Enjoy your health.

Posted by: Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.
www.amazinghealing.com