The Chinese have a saying that the emotions are the cause of 100 diseases.  In the case of depression, they’re right on the money.  I have worked with many patients who suffer from depression, and while they differ widely in their histories, they all have one thing in common:  lack of emotional flow. Chinese medicine is all about flow, whether it’s the flow of digestion, blood, energy, or emotions.  When that flow is blocked for one reason or another, symptoms arise.  We practitioners of Chinese medicine consider that lack of flow a kind of stagnation, much like a dam on a moving river. ...

Anxiety is a tricky thing.  For some people it seems to come out of nowhere and creep up at unexpected moments.  For others, anxiety is predictable and associated with certain events, fears, or situations.  Things like driving on the highway, eating in restaurants, and spiders all have the potential to create anxiety.  If you suffer from anxiety or panic attacks, you’re familiar with the symptoms—a racing heart or heart palpitations, chest tightness, numbness and tingling in your hands and feet, feeling light headed, shortness of breath, and the general feeling of fear, or that you might die...

The holidays are coming:  Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chanukah and winter break.  For many, the thought of the upcoming winter holidays bring images of joyous traditions and time spent with family and friends.  However, there are many who cringe at the thought of the upcoming holidays.  Those people who are alone, struggling financially, isolated from family and friends, or are overwhelmed find this time of year emotionally charged and a source of incredible stress or deep depression. It may seem like an unlikely juxtaposition to be talking about the holidays and acupuncture.  However, the reality is...

Anyone who has ever had a panic attack knows how scary it can be.  First, the attacks seem to come out of nowhere—unexpected and unprovoked.  Second, the thought of having another one in the future can produce disabling anxiety. In the throes of your first panic attack, you’re sure you’re dying right here and now, and for good reason.  The symptoms of a panic attack can include a rapid or pounding heart, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, paralyzing anxiety, sweating, shaking, and hot flashes.  If you’ve ever had a panic attack, it’s clear—you don’t want to experience...

I have seen people in my clinic before complaining of a lump in their throat, but Alan’s symptoms were the most severe I had every encountered.  Alan was a 42 year old realtor and father of three.  He came to me because he had the feeling of a lump in his throat, which was making it difficult for him to eat solid food.  Every time he tried to eat, he was unable to get the food down past the lump.  By the time he came to me, he was only able to drink liquids and was rapidly losing weight.   In my clinic, I see a number of people who are looking for relief from stress, anxiety, depression, and...