Are you addicted to sugar? If so, you aren’t alone. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the average American consumes a whopping 89 teaspoons of sugar per day – about 3-4 times more than the recommended daily allowance.
Sugar adversely affects the body in a number of different ways. It increases a person’s chance of developing diabetes, promotes tooth decay, contributes to fat accumulation and subsequently obesity, and weakens the immune system. continue reading
The workplace is one of the top sources of stress in the average person’s life. According to a 2009 study conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA), a staggering 69% of employees in the U.S. say work is a “significant source of stress,” and 41% say they are tense throughout the workday. If you constantly feel stressed at work, try some of the following tips to create a more tranquil and relaxing work environment. continue reading
In case you didn’t get the memo, 29-year-old Vincenzo Nibali of Sicily, Italy won the 2014 Tour de France last month. Rightfully known as the “Shark of Messina,” he was able to outperform 218 other cyclists to finish first in the world’s largest bike race. Nabili finished the race with a lead of more than seven minutes, which is the biggest winning margin since 1997.
But here’s something that you probably didn’t know about Nabili and his team: they were the only team at the 2014 Tour de France to bring their own licensed acupuncturist. Throughout the course of the physically enduring race, an acupuncturist treated Nabili and his team, usually twice a day. Nabili and his team would receive a treatment in the morning before they raced and another at night while they were relaxing and resting in the hotel. continue reading
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who suffer from high LDL cholesterol are twice as likely to develop heart disease – the number one cause of death in both men and women (source). High levels of LDL cholesterol is a serious health condition that affects approximately 71 million adults in the U.S. (1 out 3). But an ancient Chinese herb is turning heads in the medical community due to its surprisingly powerful effects on cholesterol levels.
Essential Oils & Acupressure for Menopause
Find relief from your menopausal symptoms of hot flushes, night sweats, irritability, insomnia, poor memory, or fatigue through the use of specific acupressure points with the application of essential oil blends.
Learn self-help techniques to use at home. Aromatherapy applied to acupressure points is a very effective way to enhance your acupuncture treatments or other treatment therapies.
Essential Oils ….are the volatile plant essences, in their purest most concentrated form, that have been extracted for use in aromatherapy. Oil is “essential” in that it carries the essence of the plant it was extracted from.
What’s in an Essential Oil?
Essential oils are made up of very tiny particles that enter the body either through the nose, by breathing, or through the skin where topically applied. This is why they are also called volatile oils because they evaporate or turn to gas quickly. The definition of volatile is to be vaporous.
The primary chemicals found in essential oils are: Terpenes, alcohols, aldehydes, esters, ketones, & phenols.
Essential oils with similar healing properties and attributes are combined and blended to make a synergy to treat a particular condition.
How Essential Oils Work: When you breathe in the aroma of an essential oil, the molecules of the oil stimulate receptor cells in your nose. These receptors then transmit information to an area of the brain known as the Limbic system. This system is responsible for managing your emotions, hormones and senses. Molecules also are absorbed into the bloodstream through the lungs.
When applied topically, the molecular structure of the essential oil is very small so it easily passes through your skin and into your bloodstream. The beneficial properties of the oil then enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body affecting their beneficial results. Some oils are absorbed more readily than others because each volatile oil is different in chemical makeup and particle size.
The following are blends for specific complaints. Mix the formula together then dilute using 5 drops of the blend with 1 teaspoon massage oil. You can use olive oil, vegetable oil, almond oil, or coconut oil. Massage onto the acupressure points that will be detailed following the essential oil recipes.
Hot Flash Blend
Clary-sage 10 drops
Geranium 11 drops
Lemon 7 drops
Sage 2 drops.
Day and Night Sweat Blend
Grapefruit 10 drops
Lime 10 drops
Sage 5 drops
Thyme 5 drops
Water Retention and Bloating Blend
Fennel 5 drops
Juniper 5 drops
Lemon 15 drops
Peppermint 5 drops
Circulation Problem Blend
Geranium 10 drops
Peppermint 5 drop
Patchouli 5 drops
You only need to use a small amount. It should disappear into the skin. Massage the points in a clockwise direction for about one minute each. Use one of the blends once or twice daily. Over a few weeks to a few months, you will notice a difference with how you feel.
Acupuncture Points for Menopause
Heart 8 helps to clear heat for hot flashes, improves circulation, and calms the mind. It is located on the palm, in the depression between the 4th and 5th metacarpal bones, where the tip of the little finger rests when a fist is made.
Heart 8
Lung 7 is found by interlocking your other hand across the thumb web with the index finger falling on top of the radial styloid of the radius. Kidney 6 is located just under the prominence of the medial ankle bone.
Heart 6 calms the mind, stops heart palpitations, stops night sweating along with Kidney 7. Heart 6 is found .5 cun from the wrist crease lateral to the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon. Often this is on the 2nd crease from the wrist. Kidney 7 is 2 finger breaths above the medial ankle bone anterior to the achilles tendon.
These are only a few examples of acupuncture points that help to restore balance to relieve menopausal complaints. If you have trouble locating the points you can always stop by and ask. I’ll be happy to show you.
