Acupuncture Archives - Page 3 of 4 - Karen Reynolds Acupuncture

Have you Heard about the Tahiti Pose?

December 17, 2015 By Karen Reynolds

I bet you have heard of Tahiti. You might even be plotting to escape there right now. But do you know about Tahiti pose?

I promise it’s not a convoluted something from yoga class, which causes pain. A photo of Tahiti pose is shown here.

Yep, that’s it. Prop your legs up on a chair, any chair, and stretch your arms above your head. Close your eyes and hang out for 10 minutes. There is no fancy equipment required: just you, your legs and an unsuspecting chair.

Ten minutes in Tahiti pose is more restful than a nap.

Most of us can easily burn up 10 minutes fretting over holiday related tasks and the lack of time to seem to get around to each job. However studies show we are monumentally more efficient when we are calm, centered and rested.

Tahiti pose also naturally drains the lymphatic system of the lower body. The lymph gets easily congested with too much standing, walking, and eating rich foods like those at office parties and family gatherings.

So take advantage of some quick, easy Tahiti pose breaks to chill you out and keep you healthier.

Acu-points are truly amazing!

November 19, 2015 By Karen Reynolds

Did you know that acu-points on your body can do truly amazing things?

For example, there are points that can help your body process hormones, so you are less cranky during your menstrual cycle (or for the guys reading this, for assistance, in surviving a woman’s cycle). As I’ve previously noted, there are also acupuncture points which boost your immune system or help you heal after an injury.

Here’s the kicker:

Did you know that there are even acupuncture points that can help with non-physical issues?

This might be when your heart is broken, or your spirit is weary with grief, or you are feeling depressed. Acupuncture points have the expanse of treating body, mind and spirit, if applied as such. However, not all practitioners are trained in mind and spirit level treatments. From my gifted, generous teachers, and from dogged years of study, I’ve learned ways of using acupuncture points as supports to mind and spirit, because sometimes your biggest complaint is not physical.

Here is an example of exactly that. My patient, “Emma”, is a bookkeeper and investor. She just completed a grueling tax season, had rested and taken adequate time off thereafter, but couldn’t seem to get back in the groove. At her last visit, she sat in front of me saying, “I’m messing around playing online solitaire and making tea instead of doing my work.” She jokingly continued, “Do you have a point that cures procrastination and lack of focus?”

Why, yes, I do! The 2 main acu-points I used for her were:

Liver 13 aka Gate of Complete Works and
Liver 14 aka Gate of Prospects.

The significance and correct translation of acu-point names is key. Chinese characters, which make up acu-point names, have detailed, and sometimes hidden, meanings for use.

The word “Gate,” as it is used for the above noted acu-points, does not simply mean a door or passage. “Gate” in Chinese medicine refers to swinging doors like saloon doors. It speaks to communication or flow of information in both directions to benefit both sides of the gate. It is seen as heaven communicating its wisdom to humans. Humans in turn can inquire with heaven when stumped about life. “Heaven,” as defined in the Chinese medicine system is not religious. “Heaven” is the universal storage house that readily shares with us divine information about how we can be successful, happy, and healthy.

So, Liver 13 Gate of Complete Works is about completion of something meaningful, such as in Emma’s case: needing to complete a business plan for a new side business. This acu-point gives you strength to finish a challenging task.

Liver 14 Gate of Prospects allows the patient to see the future with generous hope. It helps the patient visualize a successful endeavor and see the process as unfolding forward to fruition….as opposed to getting side-tracked with solitaire and tea making.

Acupuncture for the non-physical does not require disclosing a taxing, point-by-point description of life events either. If what is bothering you is not a physical complaint, stating a few key descriptions about what is up will undoubtedly have 3,000 year old, wisdom-filled, acu-point at the ready. It’s an amazing thing about acupuncture and one reason I love my job and love helping people.

Next time you are feeling out of sorts or like you’ve temporarily lost the plot, consider an acupuncture session to support your mind and spirit, as well as your body.

Acupuncture Can Help Stress

October 7, 2015 By Karen Reynolds

Yes, work and family life can be stressful, but acupuncture can help!

What is your favorite way to destress? Please share it with us here, or on facebook.

Baby Blueprints Book Launches to Overwhelming Response!

September 9, 2015 By Karen Reynolds

I cannot thank everyone enough for all the support with my Baby Blueprints book launch. If you did not get your copy of the book, you can still take advantage of the free Kindle version on Amazon.

The response has been overwhelming and the book reached #1 on Amazon for books on Genetics and # 5 for Books on Pregnancy!

Your support and interest in learning more about genetic testing to have healthy babies, helped me reach this goal. Please accept my humble thanks.

We had an amazing time at the Launch party at the Brick and Bottle on Thursday. So many people came by to say hello, buy a book, and meet some of my professional colleagues to learn even more about genetic testing, acupuncture, how these can help with fertility and women’s issues, as well having healthy babies! It was a fabulous evening I will not soon forget!

I’d like to say a special thank you to Dr. Christo Zouves, Amy Vance and Gail Sexton Anderson. It was a true pleasure having all three of you at the Launch Party. For those who do not know them… Dr. Zouves is a Reproductive Endocrinologist with the Zouves Fertility Center; Amy Vance is a Genetics Counselor with Bay Area Genetic Counseling and Gail Sexton Anderson is the owner of an ovum donation business called Donor Concierge. Having support from other professional colleagues like these three is truly an honor.

Below are a few more pictures of the event….Enjoy!

If you did not get your copy of the book, simply click here to order your copy. I truly believe it is a must read for anyone looking to have a family and needs to be read prior to getting pregnant. There are many tests that can be done BEFORE getting pregnant and Baby Blueprints guides you on your quest for a healthy baby and shares information on using modern genetic testing and acupuncture.

Thank you again for the tremendous support and stay tuned for more tips and information on acupuncture and how it can improve your health!

Acupuncture Helps Recovery after Surgery

August 11, 2015 By Karen Reynolds

Have you ever heard that phrase: “Bacon makes everything better?”

Recently it occurred to me that few people know that acupuncture makes recovery from surgeries better. It makes recovery from all surgeries better.

Having been an ICU and surgical scrub nurse, as well as an acupuncturist, I’ve taken care of a lot people following a lot of complicated surgical procedures including:

New pipes on the heart (coronary artery bypass grafting),
New valves for the heart (aortic valve replacement, mitral valve replacement),
Patching blood vessel leaks and bulges (aneurysm repair),
Knee/hip/shoulder replacements,
Cosmetic procedures such as facelifts and various physical additions and subtractions, shall we say.

In all these instances, acupuncture improves after surgery healing. From a purely physical perspective, we know that acupuncture:

Improves circulation: Better circulation means more nutrients for the body to use to mend.
Reduces swelling: Less swelling allows for better blood flow to recovering tissues.
Releases naturally occurring, chill-you-out substances, like endorphins: Endorphin release contributes to a sense of well being and positive outlook.
Reduces the stress hormone, cortisol: Fewer stress hormones keep you in a more relaxed space.
Is recognized for reducing stress and anxiety.

When there is better blood flow, there is less pain, which means you can wean from narcotic pain medications sooner too. Pain control is a must following big surgeries. However, tolerance of pain medications varies widely and, in some patients, it causes severe vomiting, constipation, drowsiness, or agitation. No one needs that after surgery. You also may not realize that acupuncture in the post-operative period is typically NOT applied directly to any surgical incision. Instead, acu-points, which “distal” are above or below surgical sites, are chosen.

There is a huge amount of stress when facing a surgery, even when you know you need it and even when you know it is a successful medical method, routinely done all over the world every day. Acupuncture helps your body heal and helps your mind manage stress and anxiety. So remember: if you like bacon, it may make your breakfast, lunch or dinner better. However, acupuncture makes recovering from all surgeries better.