Laura Ponce Acupuncture & Wellness

Acupuncture and the Spring Season
Written by Laura Ponce, L.Ac., MSOM

Welcome to spring! This season is a time of rejuvenation, cleansing and shaking off the hibernation of winter. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the season of spring lies within the category of the Wood element and the Liver system. TCM is a 3,000 year old system of medicine which identifies and treats root causes of disease within the body, mind, and spirit.

Within TCM, the Wood element governs the tendons, sinews, ligaments and joints in the body. It also governs the eyes. Wood represents newness and birth, a time of renewal and fresh starts. Here are a few pro tips to help you have your best spring season yet!

· Sour is the flavor associated with the Liver/Wood system. Try adding some fresh lemon juice or ½-1Tbsp. apple cider vinegar to warm water in the mornings (or both if you’re adventurous!) to help gently cleanse the liver.

· Wind is the element of the Liver system. Spring is windy which makes us vulnerable to colds, headaches, stiff necks, and sore throats. Be sure to keep your neck and top of shoulders covered with a scarf on windy days. Colds, headaches and seasonal allergies can be greatly reduced with acupuncture and Chinese medicine.

· Green is the color associated with the Liver and the spring is an ideal time to transition from heavier foods to lighter, greener foods of the spring. Spinach, chard, dandelion greens, asparagus, kale, celery and peppermint are all great foods to help clean our liver and detox the blood. Try eating something green with every meal.

· Speaking of detox, spring is the best time for a cleanse! You may choose to add in liver cleansing supplements/herbs this spring season or keep it simple with clean, light eating and let your body do the rest! Acupuncture is well known to boost and support the body’s natural detox processes.

· Let’s get moving! Liver is in charge of the free flow of qi (energy) and blood in the body. Walk in nature, stretch, or move your body in any way that feels good this spring season. Try to get your heartrate up for at least 15 minutes a day in order to help with the body’s circulatory system.

· Irritability, impatience, frustration and anger are emotions tied to Wood. Deep breathing helps course the liver and relieve tense emotions. So does exercise/movement practices. Plus, if you’ve ever had acupuncture before, then you’ve experienced the welcomed feeling of relief and peace after a relaxing session.

Even one acupuncture treatment four times per year at the change of the season can be extremely beneficial in enhancing your body’s overall health. Wishing you a healthy (and happy!) spring.

Remember, cortisol (produced from stress) and insulin (regulates blood sugar) are also hormones! Acupuncture can help balance it all.

I’ve done a lot of meditation over the years, but I went off-track during the craziness of medical school. I didn’t realize how stressed or anxious I’d become until I started meditating again.

With so much going on, it’s helped me have a place to go where I can disconnect from all the busyness and puts me in a state where I can be present. It’s why I meditate every day.

Meditation is like any other skill. You’ve got to put in the time and effort, but it gets easier once you make it a daily habit and begin seeing the benefits. Trust me: It changes everything.

If you’re not sure where to start, try out a few meditation apps or videos and see which works best for you. You can also start by closing your eyes, and breathing in and out for a couple of minutes.

❤️

Special Happy Thanksgiving wishes to all of my patients. I am grateful and blessed to know you. Wishing you a day of love, peace and gratitude.

Covid and Renewal, written by highly respected Chinese medical practitioner, Ann Cecil-Sterman.

Covid and Renewal - by Ann Cecil-Sterman - Ann Cecil-Sterman Covid and Renewal. Blog by Ann Cecil-Sterman.

Summer solstice is approaching and the official shifting of spring into summer. ☀️ There is no better time to get an acupuncture tune-up than during seasonal shifts! Summer is the time of the heart and brings about the emotion of joy (or lack thereof). Let me fine tune your physical and emotional heart in anticipation of this abundant summer! ❤️
Call or email to make an appointment. ✅

What is one thing you’re doing to nourish yourself today? ☀️

Where are you focusing your energy these days? Lately I’ve been trying to add a level of intention to every area of my life. I am practicing more awareness and consciously choose my thoughts, words and actions. It really makes a difference! 💖

What are some of your top wellness practices?
Exercise, church, meditation, yoga, more veggies? I’d like to hear what everyone is doing to help themselves stay healthy!

Acupuncture and herbs help balance you from the inside out- physically, emotionally, mentally. 💛

Happy May Day!

Spring has officially arrived in Kansas and what a beautiful time of year it is. Flowers are blooming, birds are chirping and plant life is pushing upwards after winter’s slumber. As Paul Pitchford writes, “Spring is a new beginning- the time of year to rise early with the sun and take brisk walks”. These are what we, in Chinese medicine, call yang activities, reflecting the ascending and active nature of the season. 🌱🌷

Spring falls under the Wood element and is ruled by the Liver system. In spring we naturally eat less, sometimes even fasting, to cleanse the body and liver from the heavy foods of winter. We want to eat foods which emphasize the expansive, ascending nature of springtime and of the yang energy of the body. Young plants, sprouts, pungent herbs, and fresh greens are beneficial this time of year. 🌿

The Liver system rules the eyes. During the spring, it is said that the metaphorical membrane over the eyes and mind disappears, and vision becomes clearer. Things are seen in new ways. This is a time for connecting to your true nature, giving attention to self-awareness and self expression. 🌞

So Happy May Day! Get outside if you can, dance around the maypole, and think of living in your Wood element- roots grounded, branches flexible, and eyes looking fresh into the world. 🌸🌳

Happy Earth Day! 🕊❤️🌎❤️🕊

Our planet is rebounding as much of the world is quiet. It is a blessing in disguise. Skies around the world are a little cleaner; the Himalayas are visible in parts of India for the first time in 30 years. Stay at home orders have had a noticeably positive impact on pollution. A coyote was seen roaming the streets of an empty downtown Chicago. 🍃

The health of our planet isn’t just physical. Our consciousness and mental health carries with it a very real impact as well. Remember the saying, “let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me”? That’s a true statement.

When we live with peace in our hearts and minds, then that’s what we express into the world. As we practice health for our bodies, minds and spirits, this is what we will project. 🧘🏼‍♀️💛🌳

Healthy spirit -> healthy mind -> healthy body -> healthy home -> healthy Earth.

Everyday is Earth Day.

As an herbalist, I love plants... especially medicinal ones that grow in our backyards! Let’s talk a little about dandelions. Although vilified as weeds, dandelions are the first food in the spring for bees and a mainstay of bouquets picked by children for their moms. Dandelions are an important source of food for some birds...finches, for example, disappear from feeders when dandelions go to seed. Dandelions are a sign of a safe, nontoxic environment for your family, wildlife and pets to roll around in the grass. Humans benefit from dandelions as well; the roots detoxify our livers, the leaves are yummy in a salad, and the flowers are made into tea and wine. Long live Dandelions.
(Thank you, Joan Olive, for your input.)

A little funny on your Sunday morning

Traditional Chinese Medicine physiology, COVID-19 and how to protect yourself

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