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Acupuncture

Heart Healthy Tips to Reduce Stress

In this fast-paced world we find it’s pretty hard to slow down. Everyday stressors are the norm and although some stress is good, too much can hurt the body not only mentally but physically as well. Work, family, finances and everything in between can start to take a toll on your health. Below are tips that not only help to reduce stress but are good for heart health as well.

Exercise

Not only is exercise a good way to relieve stress, but is great for strengthening the heart as well. Try getting some sort of physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day. Focus on activities that get your heart pumping. Exercise will reduce your stress and improve your overall health short term and long term. continue reading »

Surviving Super Bowl Indigestion

FootballHere are some tips for relieving discomfort from Super Bowl overindulgence.

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4 tips for managing anxiety

Wonder woman poseAccording to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorder in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults and costing more than $42 billion a year.

Feelings of anxiety, worry and fear related to significant and challenging events are justified and very common. Anxiety becomes a problem when emotional reactions are out of proportion with what might be “normally” expected in a situation, and when symptoms interfere with a person’s daily functioning or sleep patterns. Mild anxiety leaves a person feeling a bit unsettled, while severe anxiety can be extremely debilitating. continue reading »

4 Tips for Coping with Loss

Coping with Loss

We are all impacted by loss and grief – whether it be the loss of a loved one through death, the ending of a relationship, the loss of a job, or the loss of an ability/skill. If you’ve read my newsletters, you know that the Lung is a “delicate” organ that is first invaded by exterior pathogens. The lungs are also delicate from a psychological point of view, and are easily injured by loss. Prolonged grief can weaken the lung, making you more susceptible to colds and the flu. You are also more likely to experience skin issues.

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5 Burnout Prevention Strategies for Health Care Professionals

BurnoutThere is an increased risk for burnout for those in a healing profession – healthcare providers, counselors, faith leaders – because of the intensity of their work which includes excessive demands on their time and emotions. According to the CareerBuilder study, The Care Crunch: 2013 Health Care Trends, 56% of health care professionals reported a high rate of burnout among themselves and their colleagues.
Warning signs for burnout
Symptoms that indicate risk for burnout include feeling emotionally drained, negative self-talk, making cynical or sarcastic remarks, or having trouble making decisions. While we all experience these symptoms at times, when they don’t go away with time off, it can indicate a more serious concern. Some people experience physical symptoms as a result of burnout such as high blood pressure, headaches, sleeping issues, depression, anxiety or addiction.
Strategies for preventing burnout
1) Get support from others
  • Connect with mentors or colleagues.
  • Join or form a group of people who will inspire and support you.
  • Seek professional help. If you have access to an employee assistance program (EAP), take advantage of the available services.
2) Take care of yourself
  • Eat well.
  • Drink enough water.
  • Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep.
  • Make time regularly for a physical activity that you enjoy.IMG_1872

3) Reduce stress

  • Learn tools to help manage your stress such as meditation, prayer, yoga, imagery, humor, breathing exercises, and journaling.
  • Get acupuncture, massage and/or cognitive therapy treatments.

4) Set boundaries

  • Learn to say no to requests on your time.
  • Set a block of time where you completely disconnect from technology every day.
  • Schedule activities/commitments to force yourself to end your work day.
5) Have fun doing activities that have nothing to do with work
  • Spend time in nature.
  • Play games with family and/or friends.
  • Take up a hobby or revisit an old one.
The Northshore Acupuncture Center is helping prevent burnout by offering complimentary monthly stress relief treatments for healing professionals. Contact us at 815-814-1319 to sign up for a complimentary group stress relief treatment at Northshore Acupuncture Center in Skokie or to schedule a complimentary stress relief treatment at your healthcare organization.

What To Do After You Gobble Til You Wobble

Homemade Roasted Thanksgiving Day Turkey with all the Sides

There is a lot of advice about how to have a healthy Thanksgiving that addresses how to avoid overeating or what to do when you overeat anyway.
Instead of repeating those tips, I’d like to share tips you may not have heard that you can use if loosening your belt after Thanksgiving dinner isn’t enough to relieve your discomfort:
1) Choose room temperature or warm drinks instead of iced beverages. Your stomach already has its work cut out for it; don’t make it waste energy warming up your drinks.
2) Drink ginger or peppermint tea to aid in digestion. Ginger also eases indigestion, gas, and bloating – common side effects of too much Thanksgiving.

3) Apply acupressure to ST36 and SP6, two points that will support your digestive system. ST36 is located four finger widths down from the bottom of your knee cap, along the outer boundary of your shin bone.

Acupressure, acupuncture. Finger on point called ST36 Leg Three Miles ZUSANLI. Presentation on how to find this point.
ST36
Acupressure, acupuncture. Finger on point called Three Yin Intersection, SANYINJIAO SP-6. Presentation on how to find this point.
SP6.

SP6 is located on the inside of your leg, four finger widths above your ankle behind the bone. Warning: do not stimulate SP6 if you are pregnant.

4) Rub Essential Oils on your stomach clockwise around your navel 10 times. I recommend using a Digestive Blend, Ginger, Fennel, or Peppermint. Extra bonus points if you can pat your head at the same time. Even without the Essential Oils, a tummy rub can help.
5) If tips 1-4 aren’t enough, use my online scheduler to set up an appointment with me to pick up herbs and an acupuncture treatment to get your digestive system back on track.

Curt’s Promo

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SS_Logo_Clean_BlueCurt’s Café Promotion 

Get $10 off your acupuncture treatment at Northshore Acupuncture Center with a receipt from Curt’s Café dated within 5 days of your appointment. Eating at Curt’s allows you to “dine with purpose” while enjoying good foot. The cafe is designed to provide training to at-risk youth in Evanston in both food service and life.

Get a free ongoing treatment with a catering receipt greater than $75 from Curt’s Café dated within two weeks of your appointment. One offer per client.

5 Tips to Help Your Diabetes

Blog-img 5 Tips to Help Your Diabetes - Doc_640There are about 29 million people in the United States who suffer from type 2 diabetes, an illness that is becoming increasingly common and is also highly preventable. With lifestyle changes, diabetes can be managed and prevented.

Aim for a healthy weight

When you have extra weight, this can cause an increase in blood sugar. Maintaining a healthy weight can keep your blood sugar at more normal levels and better overall health.

Exercise

Exercise is very important when it comes to managing or preventing type 2 diabetes. Regular exercise can help lower weight, lower stress levels, blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride. Even just by adding in walks into your day can make a difference. Aim for 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at least four times a week. continue reading »

7 Steps to Eliminate Depression Naturally

Suffering from depression can make you feel hopeless, frustrated and like your quality of life will never get better. Many feel that prescription medications don’t help, and simply mask the problem instead of helping solve it. If you are dealing with depression, it is easy to get discouraged about your treatment options. Below are ways that you can naturally reduce your depression and get you back on a road to a healthier mind and body.
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Acupuncture for Obsessive Complusive Disorder (OCD)

Blog - overcoming ocd_300bwMental health problems are extremely common, and many times more than people expect. There are a whole host of reasons why some suffer from mental health disorders. Genetics, upbringing and environment can all play a role in a person’s well-being and mental health. Prescription medication to deal with these issues are also one of the most over prescribed type of drug. A lot of times these drugs mask the problem, rather than getting to the root cause and curing. They can also lead to harmful and long-lasting side effects.

OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder, is one of the most common mental health disorders. A lot of us have low levels of OCD about certain things, which is completely normal. When one suffers from serious OCD, it can greatly impede on their quality of living and everyday activities. continue reading »

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