Dr. Monique Santoro, LAc.

The many benefits of pumpkin!🎃

This was too perfect not to repost. Thanks for creating this image.

Acupuncture is about moving Qi and blood stagnation to free up blockages that are likely causing pain, stiffness, weakness, etc.

Ancient medicine with a few upgrades. 🙌

I work so that I can afford to keep going to school....hmmm something isn't right. 🤔😆🤓📚

Congee or rice porridge is a soup that is very easy to digest, versatile with ingredients and nutritious.

The foundation is 1 cup of rice to 8 cups of liquid (I prefer bone broth with savory recipes) and it just needs to cook down in a crock pot for several hours.

There are many variations of congee. It can be made with seafood, pork, or vegetarian. Breakfast congee is also delicious and one of my favorite versions.

Breakfast congee
1 cup of rice to 8 cups of water
Pear
Walnut
cinnamon
ginger
honey

I usually add the rest of the ingredients after the rice has absorbed some of the water.

The human body is wonderful at repairing itself. Although, in order for the body to function at its fullest potential, it must have all of the resources to rebuild.

Cellular repair depends on the blueprint that the body is given. For example, If it is trying to create new skin cells but inflammation and toxicity are in the instructions, then flaky, dry, red skin will be the outcome. This process will continue until it is disrupted.

Disrupt these negative processes.

🌿Receive acupuncture
🌿Eat well
🌿Meditate
🌿Let things go

Treat your body well and it will be kind to you.

Trying to eat healthy, but craving something sweet? Blueberry and Chia seed blueberry pudding is a great healthy option...it's also quick and easy to make!

You can use different types of fruit but below is my favorite, by Morganelizabethhealth.com.

6 tablespoons of chia seeds
2 cups dairy- free milk (I use full-fat coconut milk)
3 tablespoons of mashed or pureed blueberries
a dash of vanilla
Dab of honey (optional)

Combine ingredients in a mason jar and shake. Let it sit in the fridge for 4 hours. Enjoy!

Happy Valentine's Day ❤️❤️❤️

"Try not to be obsessive about following the news, because so much information is in the air. Essentially, preserve your energy and your spirit."

Advice from experts that follow each zodiac very closely and make predictions on what the year will bring. It is the year of the Metal Ox. Metal in Chinese Medicine is all about letting go. Seems like perfect timing after a difficult year for many.

Happy Lunar New Year🐮
#2021

I typically suggest warm nourishing foods in colder weather, but for some, a smoothie is the best way to get in a decent amount of veggies for the day. Ways to find a balance in the two:

Tip #1 Add spices such as turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, etc. These are spices that will aid in digestion and make sure that stagnation from the cold doesn't occur.

Tip #2 Avoid using ice, if you chose cold veggies or frozen fruit, let your smoothie sit for 20-30 minutes before drinking.

Seaweed is a highly nutritious sea vegetable, but often times when I ask my patients to eat it, they look at me like I am crazy. When that happens I share with them how I get it in my diet daily. I sprinkle these flakes on anything I cook. Sometimes I even go a little over board but yet, I have never been able to taste it (my fiancé has no idea that he eats seaweed everyday😄😎🤫).

**I should also add that this is in addition to Himalayan sea salt, iodized table salts are processed with synthetics and often contain sugar.

Western thought: Seaweed is a great source of iodine and the amino acid tyrosine. These nutrients are essential to support thyroid function.

Chinese Medicine: Seaweed is great to nourish the kidneys (our connect to the thyroid). It is also good to dissolve nodules and phlegm. Seaweed can be combined in herbal formulas for a wet cough.

Make time for yourself, your health is the most important thing you will ever have.

Liver-3 Acupuncture point is a common point in acupuncture.

Functions of this point include: Regulates Liver Qi, subdues Liver Yang, regulates menstruation, calms the Shen, nourishes Liver Yin.

Common indications for this point are headache, vertigo, irregular menstruation, abdominal pain, insomnia, anxiety, low back pain, etc.

Try using acupressure on this point and seeing how it feels for you. Does your headache change? Are you feeling calmer?

I have had such a wonderful response in Goldsboro over the last few months that I am expanding my availability💃🙌.Beginning January 15th, I will be adding Fridays to my schedule at Hamm Chiropractic and Acupuncture. Below are my updated hours.

Goldsboro
Tuesday 8-4pm
Friday 9-1:30pm

Raleigh
Monday 10-7pm
Wednesday 10-6pm
Thursday 10-7pm

Check out my website to learn more about how I can help you. chinesemedicinewoman.com

#2021

I have to give some love to my parents’ restaurant because these photos are too good not to share. Goldsboro has been so good to my family, it makes me proud to have begun practicing here.
#2021

Feeling a bit off from the holidays? Is it time to prioritize you health? Give us a call to schedule an appointment.

Raleigh 919-845-3280
Goldsboro 919-751-1155

Have a Happy and Healthy New Year! 🍊💥
#2021

❤️😍

Wishing everyone peace and joy this holiday season.🎄🎁⛄🧡💚

The winter time is a lovely time to nourish the Heart with warm, bitter foods to battle the invasion of cold and darkness that can for some, create seasonal depression. Happy Winter Solstice.❤️🌹

I love this illustration because I am regularly talking to my patients about the importance of digestion and nutrition. I hear quite often from my patients that salad doesn't digest well or may cause indigestion.

In Chinese medicine, it is thought that eating too much raw, cold foods can cause digestion to become sluggish. Pictured are some great tips so that you can still enjoy your salad without the negative effects that may come after.

Here's a little laugh for you on this Tuesday morning. 😂🤣

In a month when sweets are everywhere, don't forget to take care of your digestive system. Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Chew well. Chewing your food until it looses texture helps with breakdown so your digestive system doesn't have to overwork.
2. Eat Prebiotics (greens, banana, oats) and Probiotics (Fermented vegetables, kombucha, kefir)
3. Drink ginger tea. Helps strengthen and warm the Stomach to ease digestion. Boil ginger root and enjoy.

Chinese Medicine works well for stubborn digestive issues such as IBS, bloating, cramping, constipation, upset stomach, heartburn, etc. If you struggle with any of these, schedule an appointment before the holidays so you can enjoy them a little bit more.

This weekend Cameron and I visited his grandmother. Her tangerine trees were fruiting beautifully. So as I sit here and enjoy them🍊🤤 , I thought I would share some helpful indications that they have.

Fruit: Eating tangerine can help strengthen the Stomach and stop cough. It can also help open the chest and rid the body of white or clear mucus. They can also help quench thirst in diabetes.

Green unripe, peel: When dried, tangerine peel can help open acupuncture channels to help with pain. This can also help with severe abdominal pain as well move stagnation in the chest and digestion.

Seeds: Dry and save the seeds. When you begin to feel under the weather, crush the tangerine seeds and soak them in cold water for about 20 minutes. Bring the water to a boil for another 20 minutes. Drink the liquid warm. (You can also add the peel to this decoction for a stronger effect)

These tips are not meant to replace treatment. Contact your local acupuncturist if you are dealing with any of these symptoms.

There are many modalities incorporated under Chinese Medicine. Moxibustion is the burning of the herb mugwart to assist in acupuncture treatment. Moxibustion can also be used alone for those who do not feel comfortable with needles.

Moxibustion is used to maintain overall health and invigorate Qi and Blood to help with pain. I commonly use Moxibustion to help nourish the Lungs for someone who frequently catches colds, or is prone to sinus congestion as well digestive issues such as IBS, gastritis and constipation.

Check out my website to learn more: Chinesemedicinewoman.com

Wishing everyone a safe and happy thanksgiving.

Listen to your body. It may need a little attention.

Acid reflux and GERD have continued to be a crippling problem in the United States. With the recent news on how damaging Prilosec, Nexium, Prevacid, Protonix and Dexilant can be and the current lawsuits they are undergoing, these drugs are no longer a safe option for healthcare.

As many know, diet is a great contributor in acid regurgitation. The general triggers are typically coffee, wine, chocolate, tomatoes, and spicy foods. Avoiding raw, cold foods can also be helpful to reduce this issue.

Chinese Medicine can be very helpful in treating these conditions because it gets at the root cause instead of just reducing/or inhibiting the amount of stomach acid one makes. Stomach acid is very important in digestion, bone health and immune support so reducing it can create long-term negative effects in the body.

If you are dealing with acid reflux, GERD, indigestion, heartburn, etc. contact me and lets get you back to feeling good.

With just a little over a month left of Autumn, here are some tips to keep your immune system thriving and help your body transition into the cooler weather.

Practice letting go:
Just as the trees shed their leaves, it's time to shed what no longer serves us. This year has brought a lot of uncertainty and fear for many, this transitional season is a good time to begin letting go of that. Ways to start could be to clean out a closet, ending a habit, or dropping a grudge.

Practice deep breathing:
The Lung is one of the organs associated with Autumn in Chinese Medicine and is most active at this time. Deep, cleansing breaths are necessary for relieving stress, stimulating Lung Qi and proper physiological functioning. Strong Lung Qi correlates to a strong immune system.

Enjoy Warm Spices:
Aromatic and spicy flavor is connected to this time of year. Spices such as cinnamon, ginger, clove, anise, scallion and garlic are all great to enjoy at this time. These spices help clear the lungs from congestion and phlegm, open the airways, and stimulate proper lung function.