|
|
Family Acupuncture Log
with Kay Madsen, Licensed Acupuncturist
|
|
"To ensure good health: eat lightly, breathe deeply, live moderately, cultivate cheerfulness, and maintain an interest in life."
~William Londen
|
Q & A With Kay
Q: "My 80 year old mother is seriously depressed. Her doctor has her on anti-depressants, which really don't seem to be helping much. My neighbor recommended acupuncture treatment. Do you think that could help?"
D. H.
A: Hi D.H.
Well, this is an interesting topic. Clinically, I have found that acupuncture can help immensely with a lot of emotional issues, such as depression. It's a little more complicated than that though. With all of my patients I consider the role of lifestyle issues in their health. The issue here is that, while I don't know about your mother, it is common for people her age to be depressed because of their life circumstances. Often they are widowed and living alone. Sometimes they feel abandoned by their families. Neither drugs nor acupuncture does much to cure depression that is caused by isolation and loneliness. At the risk of being glib, the Chinese medical remedy for isolation and loneliness is socializing and living near or with loved ones. Of course, this may not be as easy as it sounds.
As to your mother, acupuncture may help her feel more energized and healthy, which is always a good thing. For full relief, the cause of your mother's depression also needs to be addressed on some level, which may mean changing her circumstances.
|
Enjoying the Family Acupuncture Log?
|
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
I hope this message finds you feeling well and enjoying the waning aspect of the summer season. There is a distinct character to what we call this time of late summer. We are past the full flowering frenzy of the earlier part of the season and are now harvesting the resulting fruit. It is a time to slow the pace ever so slightly and savor the richness of our lives. Backyard barbeques with friends and family still seem like just the right ticket to nurture ourselves and others.
The energy of this late summer season harbors an aspect of self care. This energetic thrives when we find the "just right," spot in how we live. Embodying neither too much nor too little. This month's featured article lays out the basics of balanced self care from a Chinese medical perspective.
Enjoy and be well!
|
Good Health Through Good Living
Harvesting Optimum Health Through Lifestyle
We live in a society that supports the idea that magic pills will cure all our ills. Better living through chemistry. The statistics, however, do not support this unfortunate direction of modern medicine. We spend staggering amounts on pharmaceuticals and medical procedures and yet still suffer increasing levels of disease, particularly degenerative diseases. The sad truth is that, when it comes to good health, the quick fix is largely an illusion.
This is equally true for people seeking alternative medical treatment, like acupuncture. Every now and then, I find that a patient expects the needles to be like little miracles. There is an expectation that I can magically fix all their problems, even in the face of continued poor lifestyle choices. While acupuncture is an impressive health tool, no medical therapy can achieve lasting results without a commitment to good living. In support of this idea, the Chinese medical classics give clear advice regarding how to best balance your health.
EAT
Eating is literally the centerpiece to our health, good or bad. A simple concept, and yet, it is the thing that trips us up the most. In Chinese medicine, we refer to the Stomach and Spleen Qi complex and its job of turning what we consume into what we are. Talk about magical! But it's a sensitive process that, if mishandled, can reek havoc. It's the ultimate "Goldielocks" system, that likes everything just right. Not too much or little; too frequently or infrequently; too cold or hot; too rich or paltry. This topic is suitable for an entire book. (Seriously, I'm in the midst of writing it.) In the meantime, here are some quick tips for balanced eating:
- eat mostly cooked, warm foods and drink
- limit cold, raw, or iced foods and drink
- eat meals on a regular schedule at ideal meal times (breakfast at 7 am, lunch at noon, and dinner at 6 pm)
- limit snacking
- eat modest sized portions
- eat a "clean" diet of high quality varied foods [Clean diet = organic whole foods - meats, eggs, vegetables, grains, fruits, legumes, nuts and seeds; not dairy; not refined foods - flour and sugar especially; not fake food - artificial sweeteners, modified soy "meats," colors, additives, and trans-fats]
BREATHE
This one sounds silly, doesn't it? We all breathe, whether we think about it or not. But in our stressed out lives, we tend to breathe very quickly and shallowly. There is a reason why breathing exercises are central to so many longevity practices, from meditation to yoga to tai chi. When we breathe deeply and rhythmically, we bring the "heavenly Qi" into our bodies, which is an integral part of renewing and circulating our own Qi.
And, as usual, in Chinese medicine, we mean something metaphorical. It is vital to our health to stop the mad rush from time to time and breathe. Reflect. Appreciate. Express gratitude for the many gifts in our lives. Indeed, deep breathing practices, combined with feeling the emotion of gratitude, shifts our brain chemistry, heart rate and stress hormone levels. So, here's a tip: start and end each day with a few deep breaths and a thought of gratitude. It will transform your life.
SLEEP
We regenerate and heal while we are sleeping. There is no substitute for good sleep during the proper hours (11 pm to 7 am for adults). Period. Failure to get adequate rest depletes our Kidney Qi. Countless health problems are due to Kidney Qi depletion. The list is too long to even begin to discuss here. However, here's the biggy: Kidney Qi governs our life cycle. Shorten your sleep; shorten your life. The tip here is to be in bed by 10:30 and asleep by 11:00 and get as close to 8 hours of sleep each night as possible. (Children need more hours, depending on their stage of development.)
MOVE
The Qi circulates through our bodies in an ever moving system. When it gets stuck, or stagnates, it creates pain and, ultimately, more solid accumulations like cysts, nodules and tumors. Scary stuff. We can keep the Qi moving, in part, by moving our muscles. So, we must get up and exercise every day.
Emotional movement is also highly critical to good health. Emotional stagnation, mostly in the form of frustration or anger, is typically the backdrop of Qi stagnation. When you feel grumpy and snappy, it is because of stagnant Qi. It is essential to find a positive way to smoothly express your innermost emotions. Physical exercise can be a way of relieving this emotional "stress," but other forms of expression are equally important. Some choose artistic or creative forms of self expression. Sometimes a person might need some professional help in learning to vent their emotions in a safe and benevolent way. Acupuncture can really help on this score.
LOVE
Human beings are by nature social creatures in need of real live connection, communication and love. This is the domain of the Heart Qi, which also governs the mind. The Heart gives us not only joy, but our connection to reality and compassion for others. The news is riddled with accounts of the horrific results that can ensue when isolation becomes a way of life. They are too disturbing to recount here, but they involve what we would call sociopathic behavior - someone who cannot determine what is real and cannot connect or care for anyone else. These are extreme cases for sure. However, in our increasingly technology based world, we do still need to be watchful that we don't neglect our personal relationships. That backyard barbecue isn't really a social event if everyone is looking at their smart phones instead of talking, laughing and sharing stories. Technology can be terrific at keeping distant loved ones in touch, but a tweet is no substitute for a hug.
These topics of lifestyle advice represent the five domains of Qi in the Chinese medical system. This brief discussion is designed to inspire you to find ways to balance your life and your health. If you find that you cannot effectively balance these systems on your own, you may want to consider acupuncture treatment. For example, many people have appetite control problems, insomnia, anger management issues, or other emotional and behavioral imbalances that keep them from living a balanced lifestyle. These should be discussed with a qualified acupuncturist to determine if treatment can help.
To your good health!
|
|
ABOUT ME
After leaving behind a decade of practicing as an attorney, I received my Masters of Acupuncture in 2002 from the Traditional Acupuncture Institute in Columbia, Maryland. It certainly was an interesting career shift! Every day I am increasingly grateful to do this amazing work. I guess I still use some of my old attorney skills to piece together every patient's experiences to create a new picture of their health concerns from a Chinese medical perspective. From there we fashion a strategy toward healing together. It never gets old to watch a person's sufferings unravel. Sure beats interpreting government regulations for a living!
I keep balance in my own life by sharing my love of outdoor experiences with my husband and daughter. Camping, hiking and critter watching are much loved family activities. It's important to me to see that my daughter learns to attune herself to the movement of the seasons and the many lessons they offer, so that she can appreciate balance from an early age.
|
|
|
|
|
Suite 204
Silver Spring, MD 20906
|
|
Kay Madsen, M.Ac., L.Ac., Dipl.Ac. (NCCAOM)
Licensed Acupuncturist
13415 Connecticut Ave.
Suite 204
Silver Spring, MD 20906
(240) 393-5420
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright � 2013. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
|
