I thought I’d pass along an interesting web page from Science Daily that featured an article last week entitled, “PCOS and the Benefits of Acupuncture and Exercise.” Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is caused by a hormonal imbalance of estrogen, progesterone and androgens in women of reproductive age. As a result of this imbalance, the menstrual cycle is often absent or irregular.

PCOS can lead to other uncomfortable symptoms as well, including the formation of ovarian cysts, acne, infertility and the occurrence of male sexual characteristics. Traditional treatment of the condition, from a Western Perspective, often utilizes medications such as the birth control pill, a Glucophage like Metformin, and androgen replacement therapy. As you will see from this article, acupuncture and exercise offer an alternative to medication.

As an acupuncturist, much of my life revolves around Qi. I spend my days moving it, boosting it, and sending it in the right direction to resolve a variety of issues that occur within the human body. But what is it?
Loosely translated, it’s the “life force” that exists within all of us. If we think of our bodies as a system of rivers and streams, it is the force that flows in and around our skin, muscles, and organs. It is the power behind our digestion, how we sleep, and even how we may interact with others. And in Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is the alpha and omega of all we do.
There are essentially two types of Qi in our bodies: the kind we inherit and are born with, and the kind that we can cultivate here on Earth. I’ll give you the bad news first: the “pre-natal” Qi that we are born with cannot be replenished and we are basically at the mercy of what we were given. The good news is that we can do all we can to conserve what we have and make the most of it. The moral of that story is this: You’ve already been dealt a hand. Play it wisely. And if you are looking for more inspiration, Kenny Rogers has some additional advice. As for the “post-natal” Qi, or the kind that we can cultivate leaves us with the most control. And that’s a good thing. If we choose to eat healthy, exercise, and manage our stress, we can make a huge difference in keeping that “life force” bountiful and flowing. I particularly like this quote, and I think it applies to just about everything, including our precious Qi:
During all of our lives, no matter how healthy we may be, there will be times where our Qi needs a little extra TLC. It can get depleted, it can get stuck, it can go up when we want it to go down. Luckily, with the help of acupuncture, Qi is easily coaxed back into behaving properly. That said, we still need to eat, sleep, and conduct ourselves as if our Qi depends on it. It pretty much does.

Happy New Year! The start of a new year is an exciting time, but for some of us, it’s the time of year when we roll out the welcome mat for our inner critic. “I hate my thighs…I need to lose 10 lbs…my hair is a mess…”. This is the mantra that plays in our heads for many of us. And who can blame us? Every commercial seems to be for a gym membership, diet plan, or energy drink. It may not be the intention, but the message many of us hear is this: “You don’t exercise enough. You are overweight. You don’t have enough energy and are lazy.” Put that way, it’s no wonder we are critiquing our every flaw and setting out to make massive changes every January.
Here’s the thing: it’s great to want to make positive changes in your life at any time of year. And by all means, if you are smoking you should make plans to quit. If you feel you are consuming too much alcohol on a regular basis, now is the time to get some help. But if you had one too many slices of fruit cake and a few extra helpings of egg nog, don’t rake yourself over the coals. If those jeans don’t fit as splendidly as they did last year, just know that our bodies change throughout our lifetime. OK, so you don’t have the body you did when you were 19. (And if you happen to be 19 and reading this, please shut off the computer, put on a bikini, and take lots of pictures. You look fabulous, and you probably don’t even know it). The point is this: be kind to yourself. Take inventory of what you might like to improve overall in your life and set reasonable goals. Incorporate more veggies and less cake (need some help? Here are some Veggie Tips. Take a dance class that focuses on embracing all body types (my girlfriend takes S Factor with women of all ages and sizes and raves about it). Take the stairs instead of the elevator. And when your inner critic starts taking out her clipboard, send her packing. ‘Cause you’re better than that, and she knows it.

Picture it: Your toddler is perched precariously on the edge of that high-backed chair in your in-law’s living room as she tries to figure out how to get herself back down. One false step could mean an afternoon in the E.R. You have a few choices here. One is to run over frantically, grab her in a wrestling hold, leave the house and never return. The other is to look the other way and hope for the best. Several other choices lie somewhere in between. The question is this: how much intervening on our part is helpful, and how much serves to stifle the independence of the very children we are charged with raising to be self-sufficient adults?
A recent article in Boston Magazine, Welcome to the Age of Overparenting, discusses how many of us are now part of The Age of Overparenting. In my own experience, my friends and I often recant stories of snowball fights at the bus-stop, sneaking by a secret crush’s house on the walk home from school, and knocking on a friend’s door to see if they could ride bikes without calling first. We marvel at the freedom we had, and may even secretly think our parents were crazy to afford us that alone time when any number of disasters may have struck. But they didn’t, and when we talk about these experiences, it is with a wistful gleam in our eyes. Today, snowball fights between our children only occur under the watchful eyes of a parent, trips to and from school are in the car, and play-dates are organized within the calendars of our Blackberry.
This thought-provoking article examines how many of us are trying to find that balance between smothering and neglect. As we all know, there are endless opinions offered from family and media on how we should raise our children: Everyone from great-aunts, to in-laws, to the childless neighbor-lady who will give a sideways glance if it is below 65 degrees and my child isn’t wearing a hat. In the end, it is important to find what we are comfortable with as individuals. And if she happens to fall from that high-backed chair? Well, we’ll just use the Emergency Room experience as a “learning opportunity” and call it a day.

Many patients have reported recent concerns that they are “too tired at night”, and “can’t get out of bed in the morning”. While certainly extreme fatigue could be a potential sign of illness, it is even more common to feel this way simply due to the change from Fall to Winter.
In Chinese Medicine, Winter is a time of “yin” within the yin-yang cycle. During yin time, the focus is on darkness, hence the shortened number of daylight hours. Another focus is on cold, which I would not have to point out to anyone who stepped out of their apartment at 6am this morning. Brrrrr. It is also a time of relative inactivity, which can account for that desire to watch Lifetime movies rather than hit the gym.
During Winter, it is advisable to head to bed earlier and rise earlier to combat that feeling of sleepiness. Winter is a time to conserve energy, build strength, and focus on healing within. One of the best ways to do that is through adequate sleep, and our bodies are kind enough to remind us of that by allowing us to feel tired, perhaps earlier than we would prefer. If you are one of the lucky few that can manage to sneak away for a much-deserved nap, Winter is certainly the time to indulge.
Our bodies also tend to crave nourishing, warm, and slightly heavier foods in Winter time. It’s no coincidence that soups are so popular during December, or that chestnuts are a traditional holiday snack. Both are warming and nourishing to our bodies and they appeal to us because our body knows what it needs. So feel free to choose that delicious bisque or chowder over your usual clear broth with vegetables.
During Winter, the focus is also on immunity and healing within. A great way to ward off potential seasonal illness is with acupuncture. Just a few acupuncture points along selected meridians of the body can give you an extra line of defense. It is also advisable to “tune-up” any issues that we may have had during Spring, Summer, or Fall. Because our bodies focus is on healing during winter months, it’s a good time to begin the journey to conquer any ailments you may be experiencing. Happy winter, and remember: Stay warm, rest more, and nourish your body. Spring will be here before you know it!

Dearest Patients,

This year seems to have flown by and suddenly my last week in the office before I go on maternity leave has arrived. I feel very fortunate to have been able to be your partner and advocate in your journey towards greater health and well being. While it saddens me that I will not be working with you directly for the next 4 months, I am heartened that I leave you in such capable hands. As usual, Alyssa Proujansky L.Ac., will continue to care for you on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. I am also very pleased to introduce you to Klara Kadar L.Ac., LMT, Doula, a very skilled Chinese medicine practitioner who not only specializes in women’s health and fertility but is also a doula and massage therapist as well! Klara will be in the office on Mondays and Wednesdays. Please read more about her in the bio attached below. Kelly, my assistant extraordinaire, will continue to be your point person for your general inquiries and scheduling needs at Kelly@fiveseasonshealing.com. But feel free to reach out to Alyssa or Klara for any specific questions regarding your treatment at
Alyssa@fiveseasonshealing.com and Klara@fiveseasonshealing.com. And know that I will continue to be in weekly contact with both Alyssa and Klara regarding your treatment plans.

I am looking forward to this new stage in my life. I anticipate it will be challenging and complicated in it’s own right but having felt the unconditional love from a child and towards a child already, I can only imagine how full it will feel with two! Motherhood has taught me so much in my personal life but I have been pleasantly surprised at how much it has informed my professional life as well. Since having Lila, I have felt incredibly blessed that I can continue to practice a medicine in which its nuances are only enhanced, enriched and revealed as we mature as people and practitioners. So, come March 2012, I look forward to seeing all of you again and will hopefully have more to share with you when I return. Thank you for your good wishes. I greatly appreciate it.

Be well and take good care,
Sharon

Sharon Yeung MS, LAc and her associates at Five Seasons Healing in New York City offers
acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, massage, qi gong and lifestyle and nutritional counseling to treat all your health concerns.

Traditional Chinese medicine approaches the human body as part of the natural world and thus inextricably linked to natural cycles. When we eat peas in the spring and pumpkin in the fall, when we play under the sun in the summer and cozy up to a fire in the winter, we resonate with the earth’s natural rhythms and achieve a greater sense of health and well-being.

In Chinese medicine, each year is divided into five seasons—spring, summer, late summer, autumn, and winter. Just as different seasons call for different forms of care, so do the different seasons of our lives.

At Five Seasons Healing, Sharon Yeung MS, LAc, recognizes the distinct needs of all patients young and old.  She uses the tools of Chinese medicine to restore harmony and balance to their lives.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can be especially useful in treating a whole range of women’s health conditions and promote fertility, a healthy pregnancy and childbirth.   Sharon Yeung MS, LAc combines her expertise in acupuncture and Chinese medicine with her training as a labor doula to offer the best possible care for her expecting patients.

For a complimentary 20 minute phone consultation or to book an appointment, please feel free to call 917.538.5755 or email info@fiveseasonshealing.com

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Here are some of the symptoms commonly associated with liver qi stagnation:

* Pain or discomfort anywhere along the sides of the body

* Depression

* Mood swings

* Sighing

* Hiccups

* Frustration

* Inappropriate anger

* Sensation of a lump in throat

* Difficulty swallowing

* Bitter taste in mouth

* Constipation or diarrhea

* Abdominal distention and discomfort

* Stomachache that improves after massage

* Stomachache that worsens with anger

* PMS with irritability or swollen breasts

source: Qi Mail