Happy Chinese New Year!

This year is the year of the Red Fire Monkey! Strap in, it's going to be a fast and furious year!

Monkeys are creative, fun and have shining and vibrant energy! They possess strong leadership skills, are rarely embarrassed by anything, are intelligent, intuitive and fearlessly expresses themselves in ever aspect of life!

The influence of the red fire monkey this year will put everything in a flux. Positive and negative energies will culminate. Goals will be accomplished but largely through individual or personal efforts. 

Monkeys are exuberant and bring about a fast pace and high motivation within themselves and those around them. The monkey will bring about humor, wit and an increase in communication therefore, helping all around them get through stressful times more easily and gracefully. Due to the monkey's ability to problem solve by unconventional methods, business flourishes and risks tend to pan out. 

As monkeys are so full of energy and movement, it's a good time to embrace that energy throughout this Chinese New Year, February 8th, 2016 to January 27, 2017. Begin an exercise program, gain control of your diet, tackle those pressing health issues, take business risks, drive hard for all your goals, especially the personal ones. The momentum of the year and all monkeys as well as others stepping it up, will help to carry you through bringing you the best possible life, love, family and business results!

Yes, I am a Monkey! I'm sure that comes as no surprise!

Who else is a Monkey
out there?

Happy Chinese New Year, Monkeys and Everyone!

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NADA on Thursday's!!

The NADA Protocol: Shenmen, Lung, Autonomic, Liver & Kidney Points

I am now offering low cost  NADA protocol treatments at my Oak Hill office on Thursday'sfrom 2-4pm!

What is NADA?
It is the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association. They are not-for-profit organization that encourages community wellness through the use of a standardized auricular acupuncture protocol for behavioral health, including addictions, mental health, disaster and emotional trauma. Education of NADA protocol was part of my Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture degree.

What is the NADA protocol?
It is the application of up to 5 fine-gauge, sterilized, one-time use, stainless steel needles just under the skin at designated points in the ears. The needles are retained for 20-40 minutes. Generally, and this will be the case in Oak Hill, patients are sitting  quietly in the same room with each other.

The NADA protocol is commonly referred to as: acudetox, acupuncture detoxification, 5 point ear acupuncture protocol, 5 point protocol or 5NP.

The procedure functions as an adjunct within a comprehensive treatment program that offers other therapeutic elements including counseling, education, family involvement, mutual support group involvement and  supportive medical care.

What are the benefits?
Benefits, reported by both patients & clinicians are improved program retention, a more optimistic and cooperative attitude toward the process of recover, as well as reductions in cravings, anxiety, sleep disturbance and the need for pharmaceuticals.

Does NADA have to be utilized as part of a recovery program or does it work for anyone?
NADA does not have to be used for people just in recovery. It's a good way to balance & detoxify anyone's mind & body!

What is the evidence base for acudetox?
A wide variety of controlled clinical trails, outcome summaries and anecdotal reports about the use of acupuncture in addiction treatment have been appearing since the 1970s in journals specializing in addictions, mental health, public health, criminal justice and acupuncture. Theses reports differ vastly in terms of methodology, populations studied, statistical sophistication and clinical relevance as well as in their findings about the value acupuncture.

A sub-category of this published work has focused specifically on the NADA protocol. Within this sub-category is found strong evidence for the effect of the NADA protocol in improving patient outcomes, list above under "what are the benefits?"

Evidence also continues to grow for the use of the NADA protocol in psychiatric/behavioral health care, humanitarian aid/trauma, as well as cancer care.

Is NADA safe to have done while pregnant?
Yes. There is a very successful and documented history of treating pregnant addicted women with NADA acupuncture.

For further information, check out the organizations website at:
http://www.acudetox.com

Can't make Thursday's?
Other practitioners at Oak Hill Healing Arts will be performing NADA on Tuesday's, Wednesday's and Saturday's at variying times. Check the website for details. 
http://www.oakhillhealingarts.com
 

P.S. Like what you've read? Do you think it could benefit someone else? Please pass it along!

Happy 2016!!

2016 can be a great year! You can be your best you! You can be your healthiest and happiest! I'll tell you though, it usually doesn't happen by making a new year's resolution. We have all heard by now, that the majority of resolutions fail. Why do they fail so often?

Approximately 50% of people make resolutions every New Year. The top ones often are to lose weight, exercise more, stop smoking, and improve money management/debt reduction. People make resolutions as a way to motivate themselves to change their lives. The failure to maintain resolutions is because people set unrealistic, unattainable goals. The other problem is that people think theses goals or resolutions, once complete, will change their lives completely and then when that life change doesn't come, they give up all together. 

This isn't to say, we shouldn't be setting goals and resolutions for ourselves but that they should be attainable. Don't set yourself up for failure!
Sometimes, we need to face the fact that we need help achieving our goals.

• Want to improve your health? Talk to me or another healthcare professional.
• Want a better attitude in 2016? I can help you find a qualified therapist if you don't already know one.
• Need to get in shape? Hire a personal trainer.
• Do you want to get your finances under control? Meet with a financial advisor. 

These professionals can help you reach & stick to your resolutions. It has been shown that if a person has someone else that they are accountable to, they are more likely to succeed. 

So you can't afford to "hire" someone to help keep you on track? Find friends who will help keep you in line with understanding, compassion and a bit of tough love!

Go set and stick to those resolutions! Be realistic. Be honest with yourself and the expectations you put on yourself. We're only human. Start with small steps towards your goals, inching you successfully to that larger goal. We fail. It's human nature. The trick is to not let it defeat you! And never be afraid to ask for help!

Get more greens in your diet this year!!

• Chop them up well & add them to any soup, pasta dish or on a pizza
• Toss them in a smoothie with some of your favorite fruits & a spoonful of peanut butter
• Dice them up & throw them into you eggs at breakfast

Whole Health Acupuncture's 2016 New Years Resolution:
Educate and Empower everyone I can to take Control of their healthcare!

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Austin's Got the Blues!

'Tis the season for the blues, but not the soft, moving melodies you hear coming out of the clubs and bars but the brand of blues us health care professionals call SAD. Seasonal Affective Disorder. The shorter, darker days we're experiencing can bring on this depressive disorder. And yes, it is a real condition!

How do you know if your experiencing SAD?
SAD can affect as many as 1 in 10 people during the winter months. Symptoms include:

• Low or lack of energy
• Over-sleeping
• Over-eating
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feelings of isolation and loneliness
• Irritability
• Difficulty getting along with other people
• Weight gain

Why might this be happening?

• Your bodies internal clock (your circadian rhythm) is disrupted by the decrease in sunlight, causing more feelings of fatigue and depression.
• Melatonin, a chemical that plays a roll in sleep and mood, may also decrease during the fall and winter season and light change.
• Reduced sunlight also causes a drop in Serotonin, a neurotransmitter also involved in mood.
• Lack of sunshine also means your not getting vitamin D from the sun that you need to keep your hormone levels balanced.

Who's at a higher risk of experiencing SAD?

• Females (it may also be more severe in females)
• Younger people
• People with a family history of SAD or other depressive conditions
• Those who already have a clinical depression or bipolar disorder
• People living further from the equator

Can SAD get worse or lead to other conditions?
It can! If not treated it can lead to:

• Suicidal thoughts or behavior
• Social withdrawal
• School or work problems
• Substance abuse

How can it be treated?

• Get natural light. Spending some time outside, even if it's gray and overcast, does actually make a difference. It will help increase Melatonin and vitamin D levels. Getting out there in the morning for 10-15 minutes is best but if you can't, do it before the sun hits the horizon!
• Keep that body moving. 30-40 minutes of brisk exercise 4-5 times a week is ideal. If you can't make time in your day for a block of that time, do 15 minutes in the morning and 15 at night. It will make a difference, elevating your mood and keeping your weight under control during the food and cocktail filled season.
• Make sleep a routine. Set a bed time and wake up time. Try to stick to it even on the weekends. This will help normalize your circadian rhythms so you won't be as tired or lethargic. 
• De-stress. Exercise is a huge help here! Meditate, get a massage or cozy up on the couch with a cup of chamomile tea and your favorite show.
• Consider light therapy. Also, called phototherapy, you spend around 30 minutes every morning (a good time to meditate) in front of a light box. This light is about 100 times brighter than household lamps. It can help  your sleep/wake cycle reset and give you the brigthness you need in your life during this time of year. 
• Psychotherapy is another thing to consider. Talking about what may be troubling you with a professional can definitely help you feel better.
• Acupuncture is also a good treatment. Acupuncture is extremely effective in elevating mood, regulating circadian rhythms and balancing hormones. You can also discuss supplementation or herbs that will help as well. 

You don't have to suffer SAD! You can take all or a few of the above steps in feeling great every season! When you feel good you can enjoy the fall and winter seasons for what they are. The time when all living this prepare for birth, rebirth, growth and renewal come spring! That couldn't happen without this incredible season! So don't wallow in it, cherish it! And let me know if you need a little help in doing that!

Enjoy the sunshine that has finally lightened up our lives this week!