While we are out of the office, we would like to offer the following options for ongoing support:

Guidance for Self-Treatment at Home

We know that, in the midst of this, you are still dealing with the issues that originally brought you to acupuncture. We would be glad to talk you through how to continue your current treatment plan at home, using acupressure, heat therapy or magnet therapy. We can also incorporate points for immune support and stress relief.

Herbal Formulas

If you are currently taking an herbal formula under our guidance, we will of course continue to refill and adjust your formula as needed. Please stay in touch and let us know if you are running low, or if you feel your prescription needs to be modified.

If You Get Sick/Herbal Treatment for COVID-19

If you find yourself sick, please check in with us. We may be able to prescribe you an herbal formula to help ease your symptoms or help you recover faster.* Of course you need to go to the hospital if your symptoms are severe (high fever or difficulty breathing); our goal is to reduce the severity of your symptoms so that more serious intervention is not needed.

Herbal medicine has been used in China throughout the epidemic there to treat COVID-19, often in conjunction with Western medical treatment. We are in touch with people in China and the US who are treating people using Chinese herbs, and we’ve seen many case studies where people experience significant relief with breathing problems after just a few doses.

Historically, many of the classical Chinese medical texts were written during times of epidemic. The formulas we use were developed for illnesses like typhoid, tuberculosis and other epidemic respiratory diseases. In normal times, we take advantage of this knowledge to treat more mundane respiratory illnesses like the common cold and bronchitis. We are happy to help you in these more serious times if you need us.

* Some of the herbs used in treatment of COVID-19 symptoms are in short supply. If we are unable to provide you with what’s best for your situation, we will refer you to a practitioner whose private pharmacy can meet your needs.

Stress and Anxiety

If you’re having trouble coping with our current reality, please give us a call. We would love to try to help with an herbal formula, some acupressure suggestions, and/or a bit of connection with someone who cares for you. We miss seeing you in our office and would love to hear from you.

The Logistics of Care

We do not currently have a formal schedule of appointments. You may contact either one of us to set up a time to talk, or to initiate an email conversation if that’s easier for you. Sharon’s and my contact info is at the end of this email. Please bear with us on the logistics of working together — we are without our usual office space, child care arrangements, and other supports, so things may be a bit less elegant than usual.

Obviously, this time is stressful for all of us. You are invited, if you are able, to pay our usual fee for new herbal consult sessions, which is $65. (Follow-ups to your current herbal or acupuncture care are free of charge).  Or, if you are able to pay only part of that, we accept what feels good to you. We are most interested in helping to provide you with health care during this time, so please don’t let finances be an obstacle to scheduling.

We hope you are staying healthy and connected, and are finding some kind of balance and peace in the midst of so much change and uncertainty. Please let us know how we can help you move through this time with more ease and comfort.

This acupuncturist found herself at a table with a bunch of researchers, psychiatrists, and medical doctors, who were puzzled by this. My friend picked up a tongue photo without looking at the file, and said: “She has a weepy, sad kind of depression, with lots of worry and obsessive thinking that keeps her awake at night. She also has fatigue, a heavy, stuck feeling where it feels physically hard to move. There are issues about nurturing – she feels like no one is taking care of her, yet she overextends for other people. She probably also has some digestive problems and chronic sinus congestion.”

She went onto predict how the patient responded to treatment: The sleep improved right away, and the depression got somewhat better, but the fatigue is still a problem. Digestion also improved. Everyone at the table stared. They knew the patient, and she was spot on. “It’s not magic,” she told them. “It’s all right there, in the tongue. You just have to know how to read it.”

So What Are We Looking At?

When the doctor asks you to stick out your tongue, she’s usually looking right past it to see down your throat. For us acupuncturists, the tongue itself is one of our best sources of information about what’s happening in your body.

Think about it: 3000 years ago, when Chinese medicine was being developed, there were no x-rays or lab tests. They needed another way to “see” what’s going on inside the body by observing the outside of the body. Turns out, the tongue is a tissue that changes as the state of your health changes.

When acupuncturists do tongue diagnosis, we’re looking at three things:

The Color of the Tongue

The tongue should be a fresh, light red color. If a person is very depleted, the tongue may be more pale. A bright red tongue is caused by excess heat in the body. A dark red, bluish or purplish tongue indicates stagnation or poor circulation.

Different areas of the tongue correspond with different parts of the body. If, say, just the tip of the tongue is red, we know the heat is mainly in the upper body.

The Shape of the Tongue

There is more variation in this than you might think! Some tongues are very thin, or short, or pointy. Many peoples’ tongues appear a little puffy or swollen, and may be scalloped around the edges. This mainly indicates the state of fluid metabolism in the body.

We also look at cracks on the surface of the tongue, indicating heat or dryness, again using the different areas of the tongue to see which body systems are affected.

The Coating on the Tongue

It is normal to have a thin white coat on the surface of the tongue. Sometimes that coating gets thicker, and may change color. Diagnosis is based on the thickness of the coating, the texture and color, whether it is “rooted” to the tongue or sitting on top. The coating may also “burn off” entirely, leaving the tongue looking peeled.

While in treatment, it’s helpful if you don’t brush your tongue when you brushing your teeth. This allows your acupuncturist to see the natural state of your tongue coating.

Keeping Track of Progress

The tongue is also a good way to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. As you start to feel better, and your body gets stronger and better-regulated, the imbalances reflected in the tongue will start to disappear.

This is especially helpful in cases where it’s hard to evaluate progress: say, with a condition that is very variable or intermittent; or with fertility treatment, where it’s hard to know how fertile you are until you are actually pregnant.

Check Out Your Own Tongue

It takes time and practice to start to see subtle changes in the tongue. In school they made us draw color pictures of 100 peoples’ tongues. I still have mine. It’s quite a work of art.

You can start by just looking at your tongue every day and see what you notice. You can also compare your tongue with someone else’s, if you know someone who’s up for that! It’s a good way to learn about your body and understand your own health. Plus it’s just kind of cool.

Next time you get sick, watch how your tongue changes. A bad, phlegmy cold will usually build up a good bit of tongue coating, which will slowly dissipate as you get better.

I have an entire book on tongue diagnosis, with color plates, if you want to see pictures of a wide range of tongue colors, shapes and coatings. Just ask next time you come in!

The reasons for this are many. More and more studies are being published that validate the effectiveness of acupuncture for various conditions, and consumers increasingly want — and will shop around for — health plans that cover acupuncture.

Recent health care reforms that emphasize cost-effective treatment will accelerate this trend. Compared with most of Western medicine, acupuncture is a low-tech, low-cost way to deal with many health conditions. Indications are that insurance companies would save significantly by covering acupuncture, especially for conditions such as back pain, migraines, and infertility.

Do I Take Your Insurance?

Currently I am able to accept insurance for several carriers. Most companies have some plans with acupuncture benefits and some without; the first step is to call your insurance company and ask whether you have coverage.

I am currently able to bill the following insurance plans directly:

• Blue Cross/Blue Shield
• Cigna
• Optum/United Health Care

I will also bill auto insurance for treatment of accident-related injuries.

If your insurance plan is not on my list, please talk to me and I’ll do my best to help you use your benefits.

Legislation in Massachusetts

A bill that would improve insurance coverage of acupuncture is ready to be voted on in the MA House of Representatives — it just needs to be released from committee and allowed to come up for a vote.

The bill would ensure that licensed acupuncturists are reimbursed for treatment along with medical doctors, and would establish a commission to explore the integration of acupuncture with Western medicine under the new health care laws.

If you’re inclined, it would really help if you contact your legislators about this. For more information on the bill, how to support it, and who to call, click here. (That article says you need to call by July 15, but any time before the 31st is still helpful!)

Thanks for your support!

I love this story. And I love it because she spoke the truth. That sentence is, in fact, true all the time for all of us — we are always older than we’ve ever been before.

Against this backdrop, our health is constantly changing. In very subtle ways, from day to day, our bodies are different; and sometimes the changes from health to illness and back again are very dramatic. Whenever things get worse, we are also getting older. But when we get better, we’re getting older too.

A 54-year-old woman, an avid gardener, came into my office with knee pain. “I guess this is just what it’s like in your 50s”, she said. I told her I was treating a 22-year-old with debilitating knee pain, and an 80-year-old who knelt in her garden for hours without any trouble at all. It was her knees, not her age, that were the problem. (She was back to gardening, pain-free, in about 6 weeks).

Aging and Chinese Medicine

Of course, aging is real. Our bodies do mature, change, and decline over time. Chinese medicine describes this in terms of “Kidney jing” – the life force energy we are born with, inherited from our parents, that we draw on throughout our lives. Many of the common signs of aging – gray hair, loss of hearing, back pain, decreased sexual energy, urinary problems – are directly tied to the Kidneys in Chinese medicine.

There is also an issue of accumulated wear and tear. Our bodies suffer various insults all the time, from car accidents to sleep deprivation, long hours at the computer, intense emotional stress, and run-of-the-mill bumps and bruises. In many cases, it’s not so much that our tissues are old, more that we’ve been around long enough to rack up a lot of minor compromises to the body.

Chinese medicine has all kinds of ways to support and nourish the “Kidneys”, repair tissues, improve circulation and healing, and boost energy levels. Often this is done in the context of a specific injury or health complaint, but is equally effective as a way to support overall well-being.

I feel sad when I hear people write off their suffering by saying “I’m just getting old.” At every age, the body is capable of a great deal of healing. If anything, the challenges of aging call us to take better care of our bodies, and give them more support, rather than giving up.

How to Refill Your Own Reserves

We live in a culture that emphasizes action and productivity, and leaves little room for rest and rejuvenation. This imbalance can cause us to burn out and age faster than necessary. Here are some ways to replenish your reserves on a day to day basis:

Meditation, Tai Chi, and Yoga

These activities tap into a deeper state of focus and relaxation that nourishes and rejuvenates the body and spirit. They know this in China, and in the early mornings you will see groups of older people practicing tai chi in parks all over the city.

Other Kinds of “Active Relaxation”

By this I mean a leisurely walk, a fun cooking project, making music or listening to music, dancing, or a relaxed dinner with friends. Unfortunately, watching TV doesn’t count. It’s true, you’re doing nothing, but TV is overstimulating and doesn’t nourish you in any way.

Make Sure You are Getting Enough Rest

This is obvious, but we forget it: the primary way the body heals and restores itself is through sleep. Make sure you’re getting enough. If you’re having trouble sleeping, here are some suggestions.

Find an Effective Stress Management Technique For Yourself

Nothing burns us out faster than constant stress and tension. Whatever your stress relievers are, make them a priority, whether it’s exercise, time with friends, support from a therapist, or spending time in nature.

Get Some Help

Acupuncture, massage and reiki all help your system reach a place of deep relaxation that refuels your tank. You can do a lot for yourself, but it’s wonderful, once in a while, to turn the job over to somebody else.

I was astonished to hear this from my traditionally-trained Chinese herbal professor. And it turns out, that’s literal. A woman who just gave birth is to stay in bed, have her food brought to her, and not even bathe for three months. Others in the family take care of the baby, and bring it the mother for feeding and sleeping.

When I tell this to people in my office, they usually burst out laughing. The contrast between that scene, and what is actually happening, is so stark.  If you ask any parent, they will describe the first few months of their baby’s life as the time when it was least possible to attend to any of their own needs.  Much less stay in bed resting for weeks on end!

Truthfully, I doubt there are many mothers in the history of the world who have had the opportunity to do this. (I also doubt that going without a shower for three months is a good idea at all!)  But the idea behind it is really, really important.

The Postpartum Period in Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine sees the postpartum period as an absolutely critical time for a woman’s health. The chemical, physical, and even structrual changes that take place during pregnancy and birth are so profound, they literally act as a reset button for the entire system. This is a time when everything is wide open, and the body, mind and spirit have to find their way back to a new equilibrium.

The postpartum period is considered a powerful and unique opportunity to make huge changes in a person’s health. If proper attention is paid, there is potential to change the baseline of energy, resilience, and good functioning of the body, even when it comes to lifelong problems. I’ve seen this happen with conditions like migraines, allergies, IBS, and even seizure disorders.

All new parents, whether they’ve given birth or not, experience an adjustment to the role of parent, including some degree of tiredness and sleep deprivation, and profound hormonal and chemical changes associated with bonding. Acupuncture has a beautiful way of soothing and normalizing the nervous system, so you can enjoy your baby, enjoy life, feel like yourself, and be the parent you want to be.

The single best thing you can do when you bring home a new baby is rest. It’s also a good time to let others help you (whether you think you absolutely need it or not). If you feel guilty about not getting things done, think about how you really deserve to nap for 3 whole months!

Support From Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine

Chinese medicine can be tremendously helpful during the first weeks and months of parenting. Treatments can help with physical and emotional adjustment, support breastfeeding, and address any health problems that may come up.

New mothers come in often for help with these things:

Fatigue

The whole process of pregnancy and childbirth draws deeply on a woman’s physical reserves. If the labor was especially long and difficult, or if there was significant blood loss, you may be especially depleted. And, of course — whether or not you gave birth — caring for an infant can be exhausting! Acupuncture and herbs can rebuild strength and help you feel like yourself again.

Healing from C-Section

If you’ve had a Caesarean Section, treatment of the incision area can help you heal faster, regain abdominal strength more easily, and keep you more comfortable as you recover from surgery.

Breastfeeding support

Acupuncture and herbs can help increase milk supply, and deal with problems such as mastitis or breast engorgement. Milk supply is the most common issue I treat in postpartum women, usually with very happy results!

Urinary Issues

Some degree of urinary discomfort, urgency or incontinence is common after childbirth. Acupuncture and herbs can help strengthen pelvic muscles, even if the problem is due to tearing or a prolapsed bladder. In fact, bladder prolapse responds beautifully to herbal medicine, and the formula used is very gentle and safe even if you are breastfeeding.

Emotional Adjustment

It’s common to feel let down, low, or overwhelmed with a new baby in the house! And the sleep deprivation and sudden changes in hormones don’t help. Acupuncture helps normalize hormone levels and calm your jagged nervous system so it’s easier to sleep, relax, and enjoy your baby.

Neck, Shoulder and Wrist Problems

Lifting and carrying a baby, and positioning the baby for feeding, require using the upper body in new ways — ways that are often not exactly ergonomic. Many women experience pain and tightness around the shoulder blade and neck area. Wrist pain, numbness and tingling are also common. Acupuncture is super-helpful with these issues.

Nurturing

As an added benefit, coming for acupuncture gives you chance to relax and have an hour that’s all about you. You’re giving a lot to your baby; and babies also command attention from the people around you, who might otherwise be focused on you. It’s important to find times and places where your needs are cared for as well. I’d be delighted to be one of them!

Need More Help?

If you’re having a specific problem that’s not getting better; or you need some extra help with the day-to-day — it might be time to call in the professionals. These are resources that have been extraordinarily helpful to my clients:

Breastfeeding Support

Lactation Consultant Home Visits

Pre- and Post-Natal Massage

Abi Harper, LMT

Pelvic floor and Urinary Issues

Women’s Health Physical Therapy at Mt Auburn Hospital

Adjustment to Parenting

Merle Bombardieri, LICSW

Errands and Other Tasks

Task Rabbit

Food Planning and Delivery

PlateJoy

Often it’s for a sinus infection, which mostly resolves, followed by another sinus infection, and so on. Sometimes it’s for a urinary tract infection that does the same thing.

This happens easily with antibiotic treatment. The overt symptoms get better, but something is not quite right afterward. There’s some residual congestion, or you just feel a little foggy-headed and “off”. With a bladder infection, there may be some lingering feelings of pressure, or cloudy urination.

Then the next infection comes more easily, and the not-quite-right afterwards gets a little worse every time. Over time, it can become a chronic situation you never imagined when you had that first trip to the doctor.

A Chinese Medicine View of Antibiotics

Let me say this first: antibiotics are probably the best thing ever to happen to Western civilization. I know I wouldn’t even be here without them. They’re extremely effective at killing bacteria, and saving lives. They’re just not so great at restoring you to complete health.

If you look at antibiotics from the perspective of Chinese medicine, the problem becomes clear: antibiotics resolve some, but not all, of the aspects of an infection. And, because they are such a strong medicine, they also leave the body just a little bit weakened.

Chinese medicine sees most infection as a combination of “heat” and “dampness.” Antibiotics are very effective at clearing the heat-related symptoms, but don’t do much at all to resolve dampness.

So symptoms like fever, sore throat, inflammation, and redness (all “heat” signs) usually get better with antibiotics, while “damp” signs remain — phlegm, a feeling of pressure or swollen tissues, nausea and loose stool, vaginal discharge, and feeling tired, weighed down or foggy-headed.

To add to the problem, the cold nature of the antibiotics is actually damaging to the Spleen, which is the organ system that helps the body clear dampness on its own. As a result, these symptoms hang around longer than they normally would, which further stresses the Spleen. And each successive round of antibiotics adds to the problem, making the condition more chronic.

Help From Chinese Herbal Medicine

Chinese medicine can help you avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics. And, in times when antibiotics are needed, it can help protect your body and assist you in recovering fully from antibiotic treatment. Here’s how:

Instead of Antibiotic Treatment

Chinese herbs work amazingly well for many situations where antibiotics are commonly used, including:

• Sinus Infection
• Urinary Tract Infection
• Bronchitis
• Tonsillitis
• Dysentery

Most herbalists, myself included, have successfully treated all these conditions with Chinese herbs — often in cases where repeated rounds of antibiotics have failed to clear up the infection.

Instead of one purified substance, Chinese herbal formulas are usually a combination of 5-15 different herbs, carefully balanced to protect the body from the harshness of heat-clearing herbs. The formula will also include herbs that build the body’s ability to fight infection and clear dampness on its own. This treatment strategy is translated as “attacking the evil qi and restoring the righteous qi.” The idea is to leave your body strengthened, not weakened, by the herbal treatment.

As an added plus: herbal medicine does not create the same problems with drug resistance that antibiotics face.

Of course, if your symptoms are severe you should check with your doctor. Some situations definitely require immediate antibiotic therapy. I can help you decide when to consult with your doctor about this.

During Antibiotic Treatment

If you need to take antibiotics — there are plenty of situations where this is necessary! — Chinese medicine can help protect your system.

Along with the antibiotics, you can also take an herbal formula that strengthens and protects the Stomach and Spleen. There may also be ingredients to help clear dampness, which will not be resolved by the antibiotics alone.

These herbs will not interfere with the effectiveness of your medications, and will help you get back to your optimum level of health.

After Antibiotic Treatment

Herbal medicine can also help if you find yourself with a case of post-antibiotic, chronic low-level yuck (that’s a technical term!), such as:

• Chronic sinus congestion
• Lingering fatigue, heaviness or fogginess
• Recurrent sinus or bladder infections
• Urinary urgency and pressure
• Chronic yeast infection
• Loose stool, bloating, or loss of appetite

This is where Chinese medicine really shines: at restoring health, not just fighting disease. Acupuncture and herbs can relieve symptoms, clear residual dampness and heat, and rebuild your body’s own defenses.

I’ve seen many, many people get back to the health they remember from before the cascade of infection and medication began. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions about whether herbs can help in your situation!

Homemade Herbal Tea for Antibiotic Side Effects

Here’s a recipe for a homemade herbal tea that will help counteract the cold damage from antibiotics, and resolve the dampness that is often left behind. This tea is made from “kitchen-grade” herbal medicines that are surprisingly effective.

You Will Need:

4 cups of water
3 half-inch slices of fresh ginger root
peel from one tangerine (or clementine, or orange)

Boil for 15 minutes and drink hot. You can keep leftovers in the fridge and reheat gently.

Some possible additions:

• For dry, scratchy throat (or just for yumminess), add honey to taste.
• For headache or foggy feeling, add a teabag of green tea after boiling and steep for 3 minutes.
• For nausea or poor appetite, add a teabag of peppermint tea and steep for 3 minutes.

You can drink as much of this tea as you like. Unlike some other herbal formulas (ahem), this is very tasty and something you would drink on purpose!

If you’re looking for an alternative this year to the usual round of antihistamines, inhalers, and other drug therapies, Chinese medicine is a natural and powerful way to get allergy relief.

The best way to get good results is to begin treatment before allergy season starts, instead of waiting until your system is already under attack and irritated by pollen or mold.

To encourage you to get started now, I’m offering a small, time-limited discount on a course of treatment for seasonal allergies.

Here’s what I’d like to do for you:

• 6 weekly treatments, starting between now and March 15 ( the best timing is 3-4 weeks before your symptoms usually begin)
• 6 weeks’ worth of herbal allergy pills, specific to your symptoms
•  A set of written, individualized dietary and allergy management recommendations, based on your Chinese medicine diagnosis.

Cost:

$490 for all the above.

(This represents a 15% discount, or about the equivalent of one free treatment.)

What You Can Expect:

Six weeks of treatment is a good foundation to set yourself up for a symptom-free allergy season. Most people continue to use herbs as needed during the allergy season; many come back for one or two tune-ups to keep their system strong and symptoms in check.

All of my patients report significantly reduced symptoms and less use of allergy medications; many are able to enjoy a completely symptom-free, drug-free spring.

From One of My Clients….

The holidays are like that. And that’s fine. The entire purpose of holidays is to get us out of our daily rut, shake things up a little, and give us permission to enjoy pleasures that we don’t indulge in every day.

The problem — especially with sugar — comes later, when we’re ready to return to normal. Because our whole relationship with sugar, and with food in general, has changed. And it can be really, really hard to get back in balance.

There has been a good deal of research on the addictive qualities of sugar, with some researchers suggesting it’s more addictive than cocaine. That’s a somewhat controversial claim, but one thing is for sure: if you think it’s hard to kick the sugar habit, you’re not making things up.

It’s All About the “Spleen”

From a Chinese medicine perspective, sugar cravings are all about the “Spleen”.

The Chinese medicine Spleen has almost nothing to do with the biological spleen, which filters blood — instead it represents the entire digestive system, and the process of converting food into energy. This also includes the emotional aspects of nourishing and nurturing (which reflects how easy it is to eat when we feel lonely or unloved).

The Spleen is particularly affected by the sweet flavor. Small amounts of mildly sweet food (think, sweet potato or caramelized onion) can actually help balance the Spleen. Too much sweet will damage the Spleen and create stronger sugar cravings, thus setting up the vicious cycle we know so well.

If you’re craving sugar, it’s a sure sign your Spleen is stressed. And chances are, the sugar cravings are only one of the ways you’re feeling out of sorts. Below are some other common symptoms of a Spleen imbalance.

Signs of an Out-of Balance Spleen

• Bloating after eating
• Loose stool or diarrhea
• Poor appetite
• Feeling lightheaded, spacey, shaky, or irritable between meals
• Feeling tired or sleepy after eating
• Bruise or bleed easily
• Excessive worry
• Obsessive, repetitive thinking
• Insomnia, of the can’t-turn-off-my-mind variety
• Pale, swollen tongue
• Excess phlegm or nasal congestion
• Foggy head
• Feeling groggy in the morning
• Fatigue that feels heavy, especially in the arms and legs

How To Get Out of The Sugar Cycle

Ultimately, the only way to get out of the sugar cycle is to eliminate or greatly reduce your sugar intake. You can taper down or do it cold turkey; but as long as you’re eating sugar, you’ll crave more sugar. The more healthful, nutritious, non-sugary foods you eat, the less you’ll want sweets. As your body adjusts, mildly sweet foods will satisfy your sweet tooth, and cakes and cookies actually start to taste too sweet.

It’s common, of course, to have good intentions, and still find that your sugar cravings are stronger than your willpower. The way to change this dynamic is to support the health of your Spleen so that the cravings aren’t so insistent.

Here are my best tips to strengthen your Spleen, improve energy and digeston, and ease sugar cravings:

Avoid artificial sweeteners.

It’s a logical substitution, but artifical sweeteners can actually increase your cravings by signaling the body to get ready for sugar.

Eat sweet vegetables.

Examples are winter squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, parsnips and onions. These help stabilize your blood sugar and prevent cravings. Click here for a great soup recipe. I recommend adding ginger if you like it. Ginger is warming and supportive to the digestive system and helps support a normal appetite.

Get plenty of protein.

This also helps keep your energy steady, and avoids the sudden, ravenous hunger that makes it feel like an emergency to find the nearest cookie.

Cut back on dairy, greasy foods, and cold foods,

This includes iced drinks and raw salads. Along with sugar, these are the foods that are hardest on the Spleen. Especially in the winter months, try soup instead of salad for your vegetable intake.

Pay attention to how and when you eat.

The Spleen is affected as much by your eating habits as it is by the food itself. It actually makes an enormous difference to eat on a regular schedule, in a relaxed and enjoyable manner. It’s good for your sanity too. Here’s an article with more info.

Consider using acupuncture or Chinese herbs.

Both acupuncture and herbs can help quell cravings, and bring your Spleen back into balance more quickly. It’s totally, totally okay to need help! Plus, those of you who have had acupuncture know it’s really relaxing and boosts your mood — and who can’t use that?

You Can Do It!

Just like any other change in habits, the first few weeks are the hardest. Follow these tips, and pretty soon it will feel natural to eat a more healthful diet. And you’ll feel a ton better.

The results of tooth grinding (bruxism is the official term — what a great word!) range from jaw tension and pain on waking, to headaches and neck pain, to severe pain and problems with the functioning of the jaw. People with TMJ disorder (TMJ stands for the temperomandibular joint, aka the jaw) experience pain, popping, clicking, or sticking of the jaw with movement, and sometimes an inability to open the mouth.

Standard treatment for all these situations usually involves wearing a mouth guard at night. This protects the teeth, and can help with jaw tension and pain, but doesn’t address the underlying problem. Painkillers and muscle relaxants are also used. In severe cases, surgery may be performed to correct structural problems in the jaw.

Acupuncture has been shown to be very effective in treating TMJ. And, unlike symptomatic treatments, results can be very long-lasting (see below for details on the research).

How It Works

Acupuncture takes three different strategies in working with TMJ and other types of jaw tension and pain.

Local/Structural treatment:

This is a very direct approach, aimed at the tension, inflammation, and misalignment in the joint itself. Local points can relieve muscle spasm and decrease pain and swelling. This allows the jaw to move more freely and to align itself naturally so that the joint works more smoothly.

In some cases, when alignment is very compromised, working with a chiropractor can help move the jaw into a better working position, while the acupuncture will help keep the area relaxed and maintain better alignment.

Channel treatment:

Acupuncture is based on the premise that most health problems are caused by blockages in the channels (also called meridians) of energy flow in the body. Points may be chosen to open up these meridians as a whole, so that energy flows more smoothly through the jaw area.

Addressing stress and tension:

It’s totally natural to clench your jaw when stressed, frustrated, or angry. We’re especially susceptible to doing this at night, when we have no control — or even awareness –over what we’re feeling or how we’re expressing it in the body.

Acupuncture excels at relaxing the body, releasing tension, and retraining the body’s habits of where it tends to stash tension when it arises.

Self-care for jaw pain

First, if it’s bad, get treatment! You don’t want to live in pain, and it’s hard to reverse a bad case of TMJ on your own.

It’s a good idea to check with your dentist. He or she might find a structural problem that is contributing to your pain.

In the short term, eating softer foods and chewing carefully can really help. There are some good online resources with suggestions for changing your eating habits to be gentle on the jaw.

The single best thing you can do for yourself is to really deal with your stress level. It’s not the only factor in TMJ, but it’s a big contributor to jaw pain. It’s worth it to find ways to handle stress and release tension, and resolve problems that are really bothering you. This will help your treatments work better, and your improvements will last longer. And, of course, being less tense is a good thing, anyway!

The Research

Acupuncture has been shown in several well-designed studies to be a very effective and safe treatment for TMJ.

In a 2007 study, TMJ-related short-term muscle pain was significantly improved in people receiving acupuncture.

Shen YF, Goddard G. The short-term effects of acupuncture on myofascial pain patients after clenching. Pain Pract. 2007 Sep. Vol. 7(3):256-64.

A recent British study of 70 cases of dental patients receiving acupuncture for TMJ indicated that 85% of patients benefited with an average reduction in pain intensity of 75%.

Rosted P, Bundgaard M, Pedersen AM. The use of acupuncture in the treatment of temporomandibular dysfunction–an audit. Acupunct Med. 2006 Mar. Vol. 24(1):16-22.

A 2008 study reported high long-term patient satisfaction and improvement of symptoms 18 to 20 years following acupuncture and/or interocclusal appliance (bite plate or splint) therapy.

Bergström I, List T, Magnusson T. A follow-up study of subjective symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in patients who received acupuncture and/or interocclusal appliance therapy 18-20 years earlier. Acta Odontol Scand. 2008 Apr. Vol. 66(2):88-92.