Get Ready for Spring

Posted on March 7, 2013 by bria

“Spring work is going on with joyful enthusiasm.”

-John Muir

As so many of you know, I am a big fan of John Muir and his epic adventuring throughout California wilderness.  Therefore, who better to concisely explain the current seasonal landscape: joyful, enthusiastic and industrious in the face of exciting changes.

Spring, in Chinese medicine and theory, is considered yang within yin.  That is, it embodies the bright upward moving tendrils of new life and warmer weather, while still holding a hint of the colder, darker, more internal tone of winter.  We see it in the bulbs starting to sprout green beginnings, in the fresh crops of nettles and spinach in the farmers markets, of snow just starting to melt, and of course in the longer days that beckon us to get out and play after work- if only for a few minutes.  On a more metaphorical level, spring is a great time to begin to put into practice ideas that germinated in the more quiet reflective months of winter.

Acupuncture can help your body transition into spring by aiding circulation and supporting liver function.  Now is a great time to prepare for the seasonal shift that is just around the corner.

So what are some ways for you prepare for spring? Here are a few ideas:

  • Follow that voice that tells you to take a hike outside.
  • Clean out the cobwebs in dark corners of your home or office (and your email inbox!)
  • Start a creative project.
  • Enroll in a class, and be a beginner, with all of the verdant enthusiasm of beginners.
  • Eat something green and fresh that you may have never tried before.
  • Come in for a seasonal acupuncture tune-up if you haven’t been in for a while!

Spring forth!

In Good Health,

Bria

Posted in Acupuncture, Season Health | Comments Off

Love Your Mama: Integrative Peri-Natal Care with Chinese Medicine, Maya Abdominal Therapy, Chiropractic and Physical Therapy

Posted on September 11, 2012 by bria

This one’s for all the expectant mothers out there (and those of you with a mama-to-be near and dear to you).  You’ve got yourself healthy, you’ve got yourself fertile, you’ve got yourself pregnant.  Congrats! You’re now experiencing the miracle of life, play-by-play, unfolding in your body.  Awesome! And just maybe amidst this backdrop of wonder, creation, herculean feats of anatomy and physiology, you’re actually feeling like aliens have hijacked your body.  The swelling, the back pain, the nausea and the fatigue that many mamas-to-be experience can but a damper on your prenatal glow.  Yes, this process is amazing, but for many women it is not easy.

Even for women who have relatively mild symptoms, there is no doubt that pregnancy radically alters the body.  The uterus and pelvic ligaments stretch, your breasts gain up to two pounds, and you stew in a hormonal bath that may alter everything from smooth muscle tone (bring on the reflux!) to your sense of smell.  It is a lot of change in very short amount of time.

The good news is, that there are a number of safe, natural resources available for women to help increase vitality and reduce discomfort during pregnancy.  Chinese medicine, chiropractic care, physical therapy and Maya abdominal therapy all offer relief from symptoms and encourage the body’s healing potential.

Chinese Medicine
As many of you know, acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be incredibly effective in supporting fertility as both stand-alone treatments or in conjunction with assisted reproductive technologies.  But the support doesn’t end there! You can still safely use acupuncture throughout your 40 weeks to encourage a healthy pregnancy.

Acupuncture, in particular, may help control nausea and fatigue in early pregnancy.  Further along in your journey, it can help ease aches, pains and swelling in your limbs.  Acupuncture can also help in manage pre-existing conditions such as insomnia and anxiety without the use of pharmaceuticals.

Chinese medicine practitioners may also offer food and lifestyle suggestions for optimal ease and health during pregnancy.

Chiropractic Care
The growth of a fetus causes a significant shift in the shape and position of the pelvic organs and bones.  Many women experience lower back pain in the second and third trimester dues to these pelvic changes.  The sacroiliac (SI) joint, which connects the base of the spine to the pelvic bones, is particularly vulnerable at this time, and chiropractic care may offer substantial relief from the pain of SI misalignment.  Many of my patients have come back from the chiropractor with a bit more lightness in their step and a smile on their faces.  My go to resource for chiropractic care in San Francisco is Dr Ricky Fishman, who has helped many of my pregnant patients find relief from SI pain.

Physical Therapy
In some cases, mother-to-be experience very severe pelvic pain from excess movement of the symphysis pubis, a cartilaginous joint in the front of your body that holds together the two sides of your pelvis. Physical therapy can effectively treat this condition by offering manual therapy as well as stabilization exercises and biomechanical modifications for daily activities.

It’s important, however, to see a Physical Therapist with experience in pelvic pain.  The practitioners at The Pelvic Pain and Rehab Center are masters at this work, and have a very informative blogpost about their strategies for pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy.

PT can also help with pelvic floor disorders after childbirth, helping women figure out exactly which muscles need strengthening and which need relaxation, as needed.

Maya Abdominal Therapy
Let’s not forget about post-natal care for mom.  Maya Abdominal Therapy can help restore optimal circulation of blood, lymph and qi, and guide the uterus into optimal anatomical position. This non-invasive, external massage on the abdomen and lower back offers new mothers a gentle and nurturing way to thank their bodies for the hard work it has done during pregnancy and birth.

For more information about how these therapies can help you or the pregnant woman in your life, please drop me a line larsonacupuncture@gmail.com,or check out these other resources:

Dr Ricky Fishman, DC
Cow Hollow, San Francisco
http://www.rickyfishman.com/index.asp?p=1

Pelvic Pain and Rehab Center
San Francisco, Oakland and Los Gatos locations
http://www.pelvicpainrehab.com/

In good health,
Bria

Posted in Chinese Medicine, Chiropractic, Fertility, Holistic Health, Maya Abdominal Therapy, Physical Therapy, Pregnancy, Uncategorized, Women's Health | Comments Off

A Balm for Belly Blues: Maya Abdominal Massage and Gynecological Health

Posted on July 5, 2012 by bria

When is the last time you rubbed your belly? For many of us the answer is, “ Um, what?”

When is the last time you experienced discomfort or dysfunction related to digestion, menstruation, fertility, or injury in the pelvis or lower back?  Unfortunately, the answer for many of us sounds more like, “Um, yesterday.”

Larson Acupuncture provides Maya Abdominal Therapy and Chinese medicine for menstrual health, fertility and digestive health.

These two questions are not unrelated.  It would not be an exaggeration to say that we live in a time in which issues with digestive and gynecological functions run rampant amongst women of all ages.  We also live in a culture in which we are often out of touch, both literally and figuratively, with our bellies. 

The abdomen and pelvis are the source of creativity, nourishment and intuition.  In Chinese medicine theory, many of the body’s major meridians- pathways of circulation-  pass through the belly.  Not surprisingly, meridians closely associated with reproductive health such as the Chong, Ren, Kidney and Liver chart a path through the abdomen.  Powerhouse meridians for digestion such as the Spleen and Stomach channels follow suite.  Furthermore, Chinese medicine and martial arts traditions locate the dan tian (“elixir field”) in the lower abdomen, and regard it as the center of power and vitality in the body.

But for all their strength and generative potential, the abdomen and pelvis are also vulnerable to injury from physical and emotional trauma, disease and dietary stressors.  Based on the traditional techniques of Maya midwives and healers, as taught by Dr. Rosita Arvigo, DN, Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy reduce pain and encourage healthy function of organs in the abdomen and pelvis.  Maya Abdominal Therapy -also known as Maya abdominal or uterine massage- draws upon ancient wisdom to address a range of digestive, reproductive and musculoskeletal issues including:

  • Gynecological pain
  • Fertility
  • PMS
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Painful intercourse
  • Prolapse or displacement of pelvic organs
  • Gas, bloating and constipation
  • Lower back and hip pain

Maya Abdominal Therapy honors the connection of mind, body and spirit. Therefore, it not only addresses physical symptoms, but may also inspire a more caring relationship with the belly and all that it holds.

Uterine position, in particular, is important for gynecological health and fertility.  When the uterus is displaced (i.e. straying too far away in any direction from front and center), it can compromise the circulation of blood, lymph, conduction of nerve impulses, and flow of qi- the body’s vital energy. And when circulation is compromised, our cells are not properly nourished, toxins accumulate, and eventually pain and dysfunction follow.    Maya Abdominal Therapy consists of non-invasive, external massage on the abdomen and lower back to stimulate circulation of blood, lymph and qi, and includes specialized techniques to guide the uterus into optimal anatomical position.

Maya Abdominal Therapy is renowned for its help enhancing fertility, and can be applied as a stand-alone treatment, or in combination with other modalities such as Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) and Chinese medicine.   This safe, empowering technique may support conception and feels great, too.

While practitioners may vary slightly in style and structure of a Maya Abdominal Therapy session, most adhere to the following guidelines.  Initial sessions last 90-120 minutes, and include a thorough health history and intake, treatment, as well as education for self-care between sessions.  Follow-up treatments last 60-90 minutes and may be combined with other body-work techniques, acupuncture and discussion of herbal supplements and nutrition as appropriate.

Most recipients of this technique leave the session feeling relaxed, and with a sense of greater ease and circulation in the abdomen.  Many experience noticeable relief from digestive and/or reproductive health issues within the first three treatments, which are generally scheduled every two weeks or once per month.  Some women experience an emotional release as the work can be deep, and may access patterns of holding in the body. Furthermore, the self-massage protocol can help recipients continue and deepen healing between sessions.

For more information about Maya Abdominal Therapy visit the Arvigo Institute’s website https://arvigotherapy.com/.   For a complimentary 15 min phone consultation about how this work may help you, please contact me.

Wishing you a very happy belly,

Bria Larson, L.Ac.

Posted in Chinese Medicine, Fertility, Holistic Health, Massage, Maya Abdominal Therapy, Women's Health | Comments Off

Winter Nourishment

Posted on January 3, 2012 by bria

Can you feel the rhythm of winter- the slanted light, the darker night, the call to rest, settle, be quiet?

Some of us do, and welcome the slowness of this season of incubation.  But the rest of us, oh how we fight it!  We party on through the holiday season, only to be thrust back into new goals, new plans, or the same hectic pace of life we live 12 months out of the year.  Some of us continue to be plugged into half a dozen electronic devices and work until 11pm.  Some of us still eat frozen yogurt and watermelon, like it’s summertime. Most of us just don’t slow down and take the opportunity to deeply nourish ourselves in the winter.

Now, I am no Luddite; I really love my iPhone. Nor do I overly romanticize the candlelit days of old; I grew up in a 300-year-old New England farmhouse with no heat on the second floor…I am here today because of electric blankets.  I do, however, find it beneficial to take a cue from nature (and, really, human cultures throughout most of history), and adapt our lives a bit to the season.  Take a nap, turn off the computer, eat warmer, denser foods, and get curious about the darkness and quite in the air and inside ourselves.

In Chinese medicine, the winter is associated with the kidneys.  Like all of the organs in Chinese medicine, the kidneys encompass not only the structures and functions described by Western medicine, but also symbolize a collection of other physiological functions.  Thus the kidney system in Chinese medicine not only governs urinary function, water metabolism, and adrenal health, but also reproductive function and growth, bones and teeth, as well as the lower back, knees and ankles.  The kidneys can also be understood as housing the body’s deepest reserves of energy.  When they are overly taxed, through chronic disease, stress, lack of sleep, we may have problems with any of these areas, and will almost always feel a fatigue that seems to reach to our bones.

The winter is an excellent time to give your kidneys extra care.   Here are a few suggestions:

  • Sleep: a well-placed afternoon nap, or a slightly augmented sleep schedule can do wonders for the kidneys.  Hibernate a little.
  • Salty and Bitter Foods: These two flavors draw the body’s energy inward and down, thus keeping our core warm and nourished, according to Chinese medicine theory. Try incorporating more bitter foods like leafy greens, turnips, quinoa and oats and mineral-rich salty foods such as miso, seaweeds, and millet into your winter menus.
  • Kidney Foods: Delicious, kidney-boosting foods perfect for winter meals include walnuts, black beans, chicken and lamb.  Mmmm lamb stew.
  • Contemplative Practices:  The slower pace and internal focus of winter make it a great time to cultivate our inner listening and observation.  Meditation, yoga, tai qi and qi gong are a few ways to get there.  Some of my favorite resources in the Bay Area include: San Francisco Zen Center, Qi Dragon Healing, and The Yoga Loft
  • Acupuncture and Herbs: Been curious about trying a course of herbs to strengthen energy and immunity? Now may be a great time.

So, take break, wrap your self against the cold, and let the spirit of winter embrace you.

Posted in Chinese Medicine, Kidneys, Meditation, Nutrition, Season Health, Yoga | Comments Off

Fall Greetings and Lung Love

Posted on November 1, 2011 by bria

Autumn in Chinese medicine is associated with the lungs, and not-coincidentally, a time of year in which out immune systems can be more vulnerable to colds, flus and other disruptions to the respiratory system.  It is also naturally a time to turn inward, as the days get shorter and the year comes to a close.  Please read on for tools to navigate this season with greater ease and balance.

Larson Acupuncture Updates
The fall has been a cornucopia of new opportunities for my practice.  I am now treating the fine folks at Twitter on Thursday afternoons at their SF headquarters.  If any of your friends or loved ones work there, please extend my invitation to stop by, say hello, and get some acupuncture.

Lung Love
You know that dry, linger cough you’ve been hearing in the office, on MUNI, at the grocery store, perhaps even coming from your own body?  Here’s an easy home remedy to soothe dry, irritated lungs this season:

Quick Pear Sauce: Pears are renowned for their lung-moistening function in Chinese medicine.   Make some simple kitchen medicine in less than 20 minutes for a dry cough.  You will need:

1 large ripe pear
½ cup of water (or apple cider)
1 teaspoon of honey

Chop pear. Simmer pear and honey in water in for 10-15 minutes until soft.  Eat warm or room temperature to nourish and moisten the throat and lungs.  Serves one.

Posted in Chinese Medicine, Corporate Acupuncture, Nutrition, Season Health, Twitter | Comments Off