Butterfly Blog
We are offering an exciting new service for our Lucy’s Love Bus patients in Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire! One of our integrative therapists, Christy Dole, has developed a 90-minute training for those who want to learn Reiki through Lucy’s Love Bus. Christy is a Reiki Master and RYT Yoga Instructor. She is Reiki certified by Libby Barnette (Reiki Healing Connection) following the lineage of Usui, Hayashi and Takata.
Reiki is a gentle, hands on therapy that promotes healing in the body on a cellular level. Reiki is always for the highest healing good and there are no contraindications. In other words, you can use Reiki all the time for anyone.
Christy can teach Reiki I to parents, caregivers, siblings, and children who are fighting cancer. Children often find it empowering to have a coping mechanism that they can use at any time to help them deal with the pain and stress of cancer treatment. For parents, it is wonderful to have an additional tool to offer comfort to your child when they are anxious, or experiencing pain.
How this program works:
• This session will take place in your home.
• Lucy’s Love Bus will be billed for this training- there is no cost to you.
• You will receive a Reiki I training book. We will have a 15-20 minute discussion on the history of Reiki, how it works, how to do it and what it is used for.
• After that, Christy will attune you. Attunement takes anywhere from 5-20 minutes (depending on how many people are in the training).
• Following the attunement we go right to practicing. We can practice on you, me, family members, pets, whoever is there.
• We will have 10 to 15 minutes for any questions or discussion.
• Christy will leave you with a Reiki Certification- following the lineage of Usui, Hayashi and Takata
After this brief training, you and your child will have this tool with you for life.
Reiki helps fight symptoms at different stages of conventional cancer treatment. During Chemotherapy/radiotherapy treatments, Reiki can help ease the symptoms and restore balance, tranquility and inner peace, providing release from anxiety.
Some cancer patients claim that Reiki has helped with pain management, relaxation, and side effects of treatment like nausea and stomach upset. (http://cancer.about.com/od/alternativetreatments/a/reiki.htm)
Alleviate Your Stress with Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
As a normal part of life, stress enables us to get things done. If left unmanaged, stress can lead to emotional, psychological, and even physical problems. Stress causes a disruption in the flow of vital energy, or Qi, through the body. These energetic imbalances can throw off the immune system or cause symptoms of pain, sleep disturbances, abnormal digestion, headaches, menstrual irregularities, aggravation of already troublesome health conditions and, over time, more serious illnesses can develop.
Stressful situations that last over a long period of time can create an ongoing low-level stress that puts continual pressure on the nervous system, increasing activity, and can cause the overproduction of hormones. The extra stress hormones over an extended period of time may wear out the body's reserves, lead to fatigue, depression, a weakened immune system, and a host of serious physical and psychological ailments.
Some signs of stress overload include:
- anxiety or panic attacks
- feelings of constant pressure, hassled and hurried
- irritability and moodiness
- physical symptoms such as stomach problems, headaches, or even chest pain
- allergic reactions, such as eczema or asthma
- problems sleeping
- overindulgence in food, alcohol, smoking, or drugs
- sadness or depression
Stress is often the cause of illness and the deterioration of health. Finding a release valve for your stress can help you stay healthy. According to Oriental medicine, stress, frustration, and unresolved anger can play an important part in throwing the immune system off and allowing pathogens to affect the body. Through acupuncture, these energy blockages can be addressed. Acupuncture points can help energy flow smoothly, and alleviate not only the symptoms of stress and anxiety, but the stress and anxiety itself.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the substantial benefits of acupuncture in the treatment of stress. Acupuncture improves circulation of blood throughout the body, which oxygenates the tissues and cycles out cortisol and other waste chemicals. The calming nature of acupuncture also decreases heart rate, lowers blood pressure and relaxes the muscles.
In addition to acupuncture, Oriental medicine offers a wide range of tools and techniques that can be integrated into your wellness plan to keep stress in check. These tools include Tui Na, Qi Gong exercises, dietary therapy, meditations and acupressure that you can administer at home.
While it isn't always possible to remove the external forces causing stress, the ability to effectively deal with stress is a choice. Take time for yourself to cultivate the energy you need to handle your stress more skillfully and effectively.
If you or someone you know is experiencing stress or a stress related disorder, contact us for more information about how acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help you regain peace of mind, regulate your immune system and stay healthy and schedule an appointment today!
Acupuncture Gives Hope to Patients with PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a severe type of anxiety disorder. PTSD results from a person witnessing or being involved in a traumatic event that causes intense fear, helplessness or horror, such as, a natural disaster, rape, childhood abuse, a tragic accident, or war. Signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder typically begin within three months of a traumatic event but can, in some instances, occur years after the event.
Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder include:
1. Intrusive memories - flashbacks and nightmares of events
2. Avoidance and numbing - feeling emotionally numb, hopelessness about the future, avoiding anything that is a reminder of the precipitating event.
3. Hyperarousal - increased anxiety, irritability or anger, self-destructive behavior (e.g., excessive drinking), and an exaggerated startle response (jumping at sounds)
Acupuncture as Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
In the last couple of years, acupuncture, has been getting more attention as a treatment for PTSD, particularly from military and veterans since soldiers post combat are at a high risk for suffering from PTSD. The results from acupuncture are hopeful. Time and again, acupuncture has proven to be an effective modality for treating the symptoms of PTSD.
Acupuncturists Without Borders (AWB), a group that previously provided relief to the survivors of the earthquake in Haiti and hurricane in New Orleans, launched The Military Stress Recovery Project. This organization provides free acupuncture treatments for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as their families. Treated military personnel have reported improved mental clarity, less anxiety, and a reduction in stress.
There are good precedents for the use of acupuncture to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. Walter Reed Medical Center, a military hospital, has begun to investigate acupuncture as a viable treatment for returning veterans.
Researchers at the University of Louisville School of Medicine conducted a clinical trial examining the effects of acupuncture on the symptoms of PTSD. They analyzed depression, anxiety, and impairment in 73 people who had been diagnosed with PTSD and found that acupuncture provided treatment effects similar to group cognitive-behavioral therapy. Both acupuncture and cognitive-behavioral therapy were superior to the control group. Additionally, treatment effects of acupuncture and group therapy were maintained for 3 months after the end of treatment.
Why does acupuncture help the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder? Correctly placed needles help the body re-regulate itself from the effects of stress, PTSD, depression and anxiety. In turn, this allows the individual to focus on their activities and enable them to deal with daily events.
Source: Hollifield, M., Sinclair-Lian, N., Warner, T., and Hammerschlag, R. "Acupuncture for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial." The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, June, 2007 V195(6):504-13.
Healthy, Sexy Fertile, Pregnant
So you and your partner decide that you want to get pregnant – and you're not quite sure where to begin. You want to be physically and emotionally ready – there may be changes to make before you start trying? How might Traditional Chinese Medicine be part of the picture?
Just recently, Cristina R. de La Mar, M.S., L.Ac., Doula of Seven Point Wellness and Dr. Jane Greer, Sex Therapist and NYC Radio Host paired up to talk "health" on Dr. Greer's weekly radio show, "Let's Talk Sex" << Click the link to hear the show live!
The topic of conversation was how "getting pregnant" as an end goal, is best acheived first by "getting healthy." In general, the healthier you are, the sexier you feel, the more fertile you become . . . all of which support you becoming pregnant.
So . . . how might Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture be a part of the equation? Take a listen to our lively discussion here: Healthy, Sexy, Fertile, Pregnant << Click the link to hear the show live!
By Cristina R. de La Mar, M.S., L.Ac., Doula - SEVEN POINT WELLNESS
2011
A Reiki treatment is non-diagnostic, non-interventionist, non-manipulative and no pressure is applied.
A session is usually carried out with the recipient lying down or sitting, in a comfortable and peaceful environment. There is no need to remove any clothing as Reiki energy passes easily through all materials. The practitioner places their hands gently on or over the body. The recipient automatically draws in only as much Reiki as is needed, using it in whatever way is most appropriate at the time.
Reiki may be experienced as a flow of energy, mild tingling, warmth, coolness, other sensations, or nothing at all. Reiki is deeply relaxing and has a profoundly calming effect. It is a good idea to rest for a while afterwards and drink plenty of water over the next few days. Be responsive to the needs of your body, e.g. resting if tired, and allow the energy to continue its work after the session ends. The beneficial effects may be felt for several days.
2011
We are delighted to announce that Lucy's Love Bus has connected with another non-profit organization that shares a similar mission for young adults with cancer, ages 18 to 39:
Sy’s Fund helps young adults with cancer by funding their creative passions, pursuits, and hobbies as well as integrative therapies such as acupuncture, reflexology, and therapeutic massage.
We are a tribute fund in memory of Silas “Sy” River Bennett, a young man who thrived on ideas, projects, and goals.
Understanding the extreme challenges young adults with cancer face, it is our goal to provide something that will help to make a difference in their daily lives. Please visit www.sysfund.org for information on how to apply for funds or make a donation.