The Origin Center

I like to think of this gentle cleanse as a sort of "spring cleaning" for your body, mind and Liver meridian system. If you are feeling like you need a reset, or experiencing any symptoms of "Liver qi stagnation" like irritability, anger, depression or fatigue, this might be perfect for you!

There's nothing fancy or difficult involved! Basically, pick a week (or weekend) where you can get a lot of rest and have time for some basic food prep. Stock the fridge with plenty of veggies that you enjoy eating warm, especially leafy greens. Recommendations include spinach, asparagus, broccoli, kale, collard greens, sweet potatoes, carrots, brussels sprouts, squash and artichoke.

For 3-5 days, plan to eat as many lightly steamed, roasted or baked veggies as you want! Minimize grains, fruits, legumes, oils, alcohol and animal products. Season veggies liberally with fresh or dried herbs like basil, oregano, thyme and rosemary. Consider adding sauerkraut or mild kimchi for additional probiotic benefit.

Take the time to tune into how your body feels physically, mentally and spiritually during your cleanse. Return your normal diet slowly, adding in small amounts of protein and other food groups as you feel ready.

*As with any type of cleanse or dietary change, consult your physician if you have any concerns about whether this might be a good option for you.

From a patient testimonial regarding treatment for painful in*******se, which can be common in women with endometriosis, peri-menopausal women and in other instances as well.

"I wanted to let you know that s*x is only improving... I'm amazed at how my pain has diminished so quickly. I feel like a new woman! I can't tell you how much it means to me after several years of feeling less than. It's truly remarkable and I am so grateful for your perseverance… Seriously, thank you."

-email, Dec 2020

S*x shouldn't be painful. Give us a call to schedule your free consultation today.

Spring has sprung! The sap is rising. Sprouts are unfurling. In Maine, fiddlehead season is around the corner. There is an incredible amount of upward and outward momentum in the spring as signs of life, growth and birth burst forth and inundate our senses after the stillness and slowness of winter.

From an East Asian medicine perspective, spring is also the season that is ruled by the Liver meridian. When Liver energy is balanced, it is responsible for creativity, evolution, insight, and planning. It bursts forth in spring with a plan for life.

However, if anything obstructs that dynamic Liver energy, the result can quickly be irritability, depression, anger, a sense of entrapment, and tension.

As delightful as spring feels after our long Maine winters, it's also not unusual for patients to report feeling more anger, irritability or depression -- even as spring blooms around us. If this feels true for you, reach out to a skilled practitioner at The Origin Center to help re-balance your liver and get things flowing. Acupuncture (as well as herbal medicine and lifestyle recommendations, such as movement practices like yoga, qigong or tai chi) can help restore the free flow of energy in the Liver, thus allowing for healthy growth and movement.

The practitioners at The Origin Center have read and studied...a lot. We believe in empowering our patients by sharing the knowledge we have acquired through extensive study and practice.

One way we share knowledge is by creating "handouts" that we send to our patients to address their own unique health concerns. These include dietary recommendations, instructions for different kinds of self care practices at home, fertility basics, and much more.

While acupuncture sessions are incredibly healing, the lifestyle changes adopted by our patients often make the biggest difference in overall health, wellness and vitality.

Call the clinic today -- we would love to create an individualized healing plan for you.

At The Origin Center, we are all about healthy and regular bowel movements. To build upon our last post that discussed how chronic constipation can impede hormone excretion and contribute to/exacerbate estrogen dominance, here are a few of our top tips for getting regular.

Drink your water. We recommend starting the day with 8oz of warm water with lemon juice, and then striving to drink about half your body weight in ounces during the day.

Eat foods that are high in fiber. These include fruit (as well as dried fruit in moderation), green leafy vegetables, cabbage (a Chinese medicine favorite for constipation), and whole grains.

Move your body! Regular exercises encourages peristalsis—the smooth muscle contraction that that moves things along your intestinal tract. Walking is one of the best exercises for digestion as it massages the intestines to regulate the bowels—a gentle 30min walk taken most days will be helpful, even in the absence of additional exercise.

Looking for more in-depth, personalized care and recommendations? Check out our website or call today to book your free consultation!

Endometriosis can wreak havoc on women's bodies, causing menstrual cycle issues such as excruciating periods, pelvic pain, acne, painful s*x and heavy bleeding. But did you know that endometriosis can also involve chronic constipation, which in turn can lead to worsening symptoms of estrogen dominance, thus perpetuating symptoms.

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dominant condition. Normally, excess hormones are bound through a methylation process in the liver and then excreted via the intestines in our p**p. If you are chronically constipated and your bowels aren't moving with regularity (ideally once a day at least!), the estrogen can be reabsorbed and go back into circulation -- in a more toxic form.

One way that acupuncture and East Asian herbal medicine can help improve endometriosis symptoms is by promoting regular bowel movements.

Do you suffer from endometriosis or hormone imbalance? Are you feeling chronically backed up? Reach out to The Origin Center for a free consult today!

This cheerful yellow flower is a well-known and welcome beacon of spring! But did you know that the forsythia plant, known in East Asian medicine as Lian qiao, is used in many modern and ancient herbal formulations?

The part of the plant used in herbalism is the "fruit" rather than the flower, and is harvested in early- to mid- autumn.

Lian qiao is considered "bitter" and "cold" in nature and is often used in combination with other herbs to treat early signs of illness caused by heat and toxicity, such as a sore throat or fever. It can also be used topically to treat abscesses or nodules.

Our practitioners at The Origin Center are highly trained in herbal medicine as well as acupuncture. Schedule a visit today if you think East Asian herbs and acupuncture might be helpful to you!

Check out our website or call to book!

At The Origin Center, we treat women of all ages who suffer from painful periods and other complications of endometriosis. In light of March being , we would like to share this simple breathing practice that can help soothe the nervous system and reduce acute premenstrual pelvic and low back pain, which can often be severe in women with this condition.

Physiologically, the pain and inflammation of endometriosis causes more muscle tension, including in the pelvic floor, which then exacerbates a seemingly infinite loop of pain and tension. Use the above practice to help release muscle tension while relaxing the mind.

If you or someone you love is struggling with endometriosis, the practitioners at The Origin Center have many tools to address the widespread pain, inflammation, fertility struggles and other issues that are woven into this complex presentation. Call today to learn more: periods don't have to be painful.

Keep an eye out here for more posts this month!

To celebrate International Women's Day, we would like to share this image of Guanyin, who in Chinese mythology is the goddess of compassion. She is accompanied by mimosa flowers, which were chosen by Italian feminists in 1946 to embody women's strength, sensibility and sensitivity. It is a common practice in many countries to bestow a gift of flowers on this holiday that, for over 100 years, has celebrated women and continues to highlight areas of society where gender inequality persists.

This year, the UN has announced that the theme for International Women's Day is "Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow."

At The Origin Center, we approach women's health and wellness from a place of compassion and celebration, empowering women to find balance and strength on their unique wellness journeys.

Do you know any women who are pioneers in sustainability, equal rights or social justice? Are there women in your life who embody compassion in the spirit of Guanyin? Comment below!

We love receiving happy news like this!

We've been through a long winter, the second of a global pandemic. But have you noticed the forsythia buds are beginning to swell? One of the first signs that spring is on her way! Take a moment to step outside today, to pay attention to this and other signs of spring.

The Origin Center updated their website address.

One of our patients recently shared: "The Origin Center has been a very important supplement to my health regimen. I originally sought out acupuncture to help me treat fatigue which I later came to find out through modern tests was due to cancer. [The Origin Center has] been very accommodating and are providing wonderful health support as I undergo chemotherapy. Specifically, acupuncture has helped me bring up my white blood cell count so I can withstand my cancer treatments with fewer side effects. I’m very grateful to have The Origin Center... in my health arsenal as I fight this illness."

-Sarah, Jan 2022

Did you know that regular acupuncture treatments can help boost the immune system and mitigate the side effects of chemotherapy?

If you or someone you love is going through cancer treatments, you might consider acupuncture as an adjunct therapy! To find out more, call to book!

At The Origin Center, we believe that during the delicate days, weeks and months after giving birth, new mothers and birthing people need deep nurturing to restore, replenish and recover from pregnancy, birth and caring for a newborn baby.

For this reason, we offer a complimentary postpartum treatment to existing patients who entrusted us with their care during pregnancy.

We can't wait to see you again :)

“Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.” - Thich Nhat Hanh

We couldn't help but be inspired by these words from the revered and recently deceased Buddhist monk, author, poet and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh

What will you do with the twenty-four brand new hours in front of you today?

Share your thoughts below!

One of our patients who recently gave birth wrote:

"As I sit here in my rocker this morning, looking to the cold icy winter out my window, I am so warmed by the baby snuggles of miss W who joined our family on 11/1. It fills me with deepest gratitude to know that your center played an undeniable role in making this happen, helping me find balance and thus bringing this light to me."

We're honored to have supported this mom and many other women throughout their pregnancies, and we look forward to giving her a healing postpartum treatment as soon as she feels up to coming back. Our warmest congratulations to the new mama!

We hope our community stays warm, safe and cozy during the winter storm. See you next week!

Are you curious about how acupuncture might be able to help with ongoing or recent health concerns? Are you hopeful it could help, but also skeptical or nervous? Have you been meaning to give acupuncture a try but you're unsure of who to choose or where to go?

At The Origin Center, we begin every new patient relationship with a free consultation -- a brief phone or video call to learn about your health concerns, answer any questions, and help you decide whether acupuncture will is right for you! (Hint: it probably is!)

Head on over to our website or give us a call to book your free consult. We look forward to working with you!

Pause. Breathe. Remember that you are enough.

The New Year is often a time of looking inward toward things we want to change, renewing intentions, and setting goals. When approached with kindness and grace, this can be an empowering and generative annual ritual.

However, as 2022 begins and we find ourselves still in the unsettling grip of a global pandemic, and it may be just as empowering and (re-)generative to honor yourself exactly as you are. Take some time to reflect upon all you've learned, survived, and accomplished in the last year, without needing to add anything.

Remember that you are enough, exactly as you are.

#2022

The Origin Center updated their business hours.

One of our patients recently wrote: "The Origin Center is a wonderful clinic. Alexa and Meaghan are experienced practitioners who are truly invested in the health and wellness of their clients. I always feel listened to and taken care of at the Origin Center. Since working with them, my digestive troubles and skin troubles have decreased significantly and I have so much more energy. Thank you Alexa and Meaghan!”

At The Origin Center, we are honored to participate in our patients' unique journeys toward health, wellness and more balanced living. We aren't miracle workers: we are partners and guides in health.

Learn more about who we are and what we do by visiting our website.

From a Western perspective, acupuncture

-reduces pain and inflammation
-promotes circulation
-stimulates organ function
-balances body chemistry
-calms the nervous system, and
-regulates energy, hormones, sleep, digestion, and mood

As practitioners of Traditional East Asian Medicine, we know that acupuncture is part of a comprehensive medical system that can support healing of the body, mind, and spirit on every level, and sees the interconnection between them all

-the material -- your physical complaints related to your digestion, reproduction, menstrual cycle, sleep, lung function, etc

-the mental/emotional -- mood regulation, disruptive/intrusive patterns of thought

-the spiritual -- Who am I? Why am I here? What is my purpose and am I living it?

Which is why when we're asked, "Can acupuncture help with that?" we can confidently reply, "Yes, probably!"

Curious how acupuncture may be able help you on your unique healing journey? Contact us to schedule your free consultation!

Did you know that The Origin Center now has clinic hours on Saturdays from 9am-3:30pm?

It's cold outside, and it's warm and toasty in here! There are a few spots open today, 1/15!

Head to our website to book!

Through four years of degree study (to become licensed) and life-long on-going study (to become masterful), acupuncturists talk about the body in a language that may sound strange to those unfamiliar with the concepts of East Asian Medicine.

If you've had acupuncture yourself, one term you may have heard is "stagnation." Stagnation occurs when things aren't moving freely in the body (or mind, or spirit) and it's central to many conditions we treat.

Think of all the movement happening in your body, all the time -- some of it gross, some of it subtle. Your breath, your heart beat, your circulation, your lymph system, your digestive processes, the production of sweat and urine. Think about the movement inherent in different types of emotion -- the rise of anger, the knotting of worry, the sinking of disappointment, the expansiveness of joy or inspiration. Think back to a time when you've been constipated, or had a UTI, or when you've been frustrated or irritable -- these are all types of "stagnation" -- ie things not moving optimally.

When movement is stalled it can give rise to physical symptoms such as pain, inflammation (i.e. acute or chronic injury), hormonal imbalances, digestive disturbance, emotional irritability or anger, and a whole host of other internal issues -- every system in the body relies on appropriate movement to function optimally. Acupuncturists use acupuncture points, manual and energetic therapies and herbal medicine to remedy the blockage, encourage appropriate movement, and restore balance.

Are you feeling stuck as we begin our journey into 2022? Maybe acupuncture is just what you need to get things moving in the right direction. Call or visit our website to book.

These are difficult times, and we are all in this together.

At The Origin Center, our Covid-19 safety measures -- including air filters in each treatment room, strategic spacing of patient visits, and thorough cleaning protocols -- are all in place to protect our clinic staff, our community of patients, and all of our families and loved ones. We ask that you continue to comply with masking for the full duration of your time in the clinic so that we can keep ourselves, you, and each other healthy, and continue providing excellent care.

Thank you for being a part of our community. Stay strong, stay healthy, and stay masked!

At The Origin Center, we strive to provide exceptional holistic care with meaningful (and tangible!) results. One way we achieve this is by creating a personalized treatment plan for every patient who visits the clinic -- a plan that involves healing the mind, body and spirit.

Through clearly established shared goals, the practitioner/patient relationship is built from day one on a foundation of honesty, trust and accountability. We are always transparent about our ability to treat different health concerns and to what degree, and we carefully establish a realistic timeline during which we would expect to see significant changes in symptoms.

Interested in learning more? Give us a call to schedule a free consultation with one of our practitioners. We can't wait to help to achieve your health and wellness goals.

#2022 # acupunctureworks

Periods can change -- sometimes for the worse -- after giving birth. At The Origin Center, we strongly believe that although heavy, painful and irregular periods are common, they are not normal.

If you are having period pain, irregular menstruation or otherwise "miserable" cycles, call the clinic to schedule your free consult today.