Acupuncture Health Insights » Uncategorized

Can You Work Too Much?

Lynn Jaffee — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 09:42:37 +0000

I recently read an article in my local newspaper about manual laborers in Nicaragua who are suffering from an epidemic of kidney failure that has been killing thousands. (Worked to Death? Minneapolis Star Tribune, Sunday February 19, 2012) Doctors and scientists are struggling to find the cause of this chronic kidney disease that is affecting workers throughout Central America.

One theory is that these workers are being exposed to toxic substances in the course of their work. However, those who are getting sick come . . . → Read More: Can You Work Too Much?

A Very Useful Acupuncture Point

Lynn Jaffee — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 22:52:50 +0000

Acupuncture is an art, not a science. As such, all acupuncturists work just a little differently from one another. It’s been said that we acupuncturists have a relationship with certain points, and it’s true that I have certain favorite acupuncture points that I tend to use more than others.

There is one point, however, that almost all acupuncturists use a lot. It’s called Large Intestine 4 (LI 4), because it’s the fourth point on the Large Intestine energetic pathway. It’s also called Hegu in . . . → Read More: A Very Useful Acupuncture Point

Ginger Snaps

Lynn Jaffee — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:06:20 +0000

As a Chinese herbalist, I find myself confronted with a number of questions every time I prescribe an herbal formula for one of my patients. Is my diagnosis correct? Am I prescribing the most effective formula for this particular patient? And even if I have the right formula for the right patient, will they actually take the herbs I’ve prescribed?

Ginger Root

Two factors in whether of not a patient will take an herbal formula regularly enough and long enough for it to . . . → Read More: Ginger Snaps

A Dozen Ways to Get Moving

Lynn Jaffee — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:07:21 +0000

You have heard of the endless benefits of physical activity; you don’t need a lecture from me. You know it can lower your risk of heart attacks and stroke, strengthen your bones, improve your mood, and even make you look better. On any level, exercise is the closest thing to a magic bullet for staying healthy and aging well.

In Chinese medicine, regular exercise is also part of staying healthy. Moving your body helps everything else flow smoothly, including your digestion, your muscles, and . . . → Read More: A Dozen Ways to Get Moving

Fifteen Chinese Herbs Growing in My Garden

Lynn Jaffee — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 08:56:54 +0000

I love summer! Here in Minnesota, the world explodes in green. You can practically hear plants growing, and each morning, you can see that some have gained inches overnight.

I have lots of gardens in my yard; some are in the shade, some are sunny, and some are tucked into little corners that don’t get much attention. I like to walk around my house and check what’s been growing, what’s flowering, and what needs a little weeding. The other day, as I was checking out the . . . → Read More: Fifteen Chinese Herbs Growing in My Garden

Treating Hives with Acupuncture

Lynn Jaffee — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 18:05:00 +0000

An outbreak of hives can be one of those conditions that is particularly confusing. They seem to come and go for no good reason, they can be supremely itchy, and often the underlying cause is never known.

When my son was a younger, he had a run in with hives that was both puzzling and scary. He went through a period of time during which very red and itchy hives would show up just about anywhere on his body. They usually occurred at bed . . . → Read More: Treating Hives with Acupuncture