Are you feeling conflicted, overwhelmed or just have a general “lack of joy” as we call it in Chinese Medicine? Time to find a good therapist, counselor, spiritual director, or a trusted friend to discuss what is going on inside of you. Just talking about it allows one to see the problem with fresh eyes so they can take steps to untangle situations, relationships and head in healthier directions.

Is it time to start to eat better and/or lose or gain weight? Get some support. One of my patients has begun eating healthier using Fresh Direct so she can enjoy food that is good for her without have to think of shopping or planning at the end of a busy New York day. If you need to lose  5-10 lbs, check out this letter from gifted health and nutrition coach Frances Cheung:  “Dear Ambitious, Health Conscious Professional” at www.francescheung.com.

Make shopping fun. Start this week on Friday night for New York’s annual Fashion’s Night Out. There will bargains, entertainment, nightlife and lots to choose from all over the city. I will be headed to Nolita to see what’s cooking at Henry Lehr and Emmett McCarthy’s jewel of a boutique on Elizabeth Street where I hope to find a couple of pieces to enjoy throughout the fall and winter. Here is to a wardrobe that reflects a sound and healthy inner pride.

1. Get a regular check-up with an ophthalmologist (eye M.D.). It is always good to establish a baseline in any area of health, eyes included. The doctor will know what is ‘normal’ for you and if anything changes, it can be addressed sooner rather than later.

2. Exercise them. That’s right. There are six muscles that move the eyeball. At the start of EVERY class at Integral Yoga in the West Village, no matter the level, we begin with simple exercises to give these muscles a ‘work out’. With a soft focus, we are guided to look up and down, from left to right, move them in a large circle both clockwise and counterclockwise. The idea is to increase the blood and qi to these muscles, wash away toxins, and nourish the optic nerve. It feels good, especially when the eyes feel ‘frozen’ from staring at the computer. Another great exercise is for the small, circular ciliary muscles which are responsible for adjusting focus (much like a camera does) on things close up and then far away and all distances in between. This is great for people who need reading glasses or for those who don’t yet need them to keep these muscles fit and not stiff. Here is how it goes:

Point your index fingers at each other about four inches apart from each other at the level of your eyes with your hands placed about a foot away from your face. Begin by focusing on the index fingers for a few seconds. Then change your focus to a place far beyond them. Do this about six times. When you look in to the distance you should see a small ‘hot dog’ illusion in between your index fingers. You can really feel those tiny muscles working.

3. Eat foods that are good for your eyes. Yes, your grandmother was right when she said carrots were good for your eyes. Also, dark leafy greens and berries contain antioxidants which act as scavengers to de-activate free radicals that are known to play a role in the development of many diseases including those of the eyes.

4. Lifestyle adjustment: Give your eyes a break! A few hours a day on the computer needs some down time—and time about every twenty minutes to stop, look at something far away or palm your eyes by rubbing the palms together to create heat and than cupping them over the eyes for a few seconds to let them relax in the darkness and heat of your palms.

5. Emotional well-being: In Chinese Medicine the liver is said to “open to the eyes’. The liver is the first organ affected by emotions that are not flowing harmoniously—that is, ones that are excessive or suppressed. This causes what we call ‘liver qi and blood stagnation’ which in turn plays havoc with not only the health of the eyes but all of the other organ systems as well.

6. Finally, close your eyes for a few minutes a day to focus on your inner vision. Ask yourself if you are using your unique gifts for the benefit of yourself and others. Sometimes we need to close our eyes in order to be able to see what is right in front of us!

We asked Mark (I use his real name with his permission) if he would mind having a visual acuity test with his ophthalmologist before working with us and after. Over the course of a few months and 5 treatments later, the eyesight in his left eye improved 50%. It was an inspiring way to end my three years of acupuncture school and I graduated and took the National Boards with a real sense of confidence in the profession I was to embark on.

The reason I tell you this is not only encourage awareness in how acupuncture can help in unexpected ways, but to help open  minds to look for unexpected directions in health and healing.  Where there is life, there is hope. And where there is hope, seemingly impossible obstacles can be overcome.

Sometimes we can get rigid and narrow minded in our expectations of how we can heal. I am convinced that an open mind is a powerful tool in moving towards health, happiness and a true sense purpose in life.

This is a good time of year to begin changing the rooms we spend lots of time in. Start small, perhaps with just a corner. Clean it thoroughly and then use your imagination and intuition. Paint it a color that soothes (blue or green) or excites (red and orange). Hang a framed photo of someone you admire, or love or just looks very, very cool! A bamboo branch shooting from a crimson vase might add some life. Place a stone, something sacred or a simple piece of beauty on a strategically placed shelf. No doubt your creativity will eventually spread into other rooms once you see/feel the results. Perhaps it will even move into other areas of your life as well. Here is to the coming seasons when you will be spending time in rooms that reflect who you are and that support your well-being.

I have decided to share my private practice space, cutting down on the time I am available and sharing some new patients with other professionals whose work I deeply respect and admire. In my last year of acupuncture school, we had a teacher who encouraged us to create practices that suited who we are and what we needed in order to be nourished as healers who can then give their gifts cheerfully. I have grown to appreciate that wisdom throughout the years of my practice as it has been shaped by my ever changing needs and circumstances. So here is to all of you reading this—that you will have a rejuvenating end of summer and that you will have the courage to make any changes that will foster your health and well-being. Remember, those around you will benefit from it as well.

Ping Pong: I take to the table to relax, to keep my hand fast and brain sharp AND to ‘break’ from something I am working on. It is a relief to walk away from the computer, books and pen, play a bit and come back with a fresh perspective. I find it good for creative writing and for coming up with strategies to treat patients with complex cases. It has something to do with having a razor sharp focus on one thing (in this case the ball) that probably gives other parts of the brain some time to create without pressure. I was not surprised when my sister told me that Dr. Oz recently said that ping pong is a great way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. That makes perfect sense to me. He also recommended crossword puzzles.

Poker and Bridge: I don’t play either but I know people who do to relax, unwind, and be with others in a way in which their brains are engaged in a way that is communal and challenging. Brain chemistry is a delicate balance of neurotransmitters and hormones that are highly sensitive to outside stimuli as well as thoughts and emotions. Not a stretch to think some fun from a good game would affect it in a positive way.

Become conscious of your words: Try this. Go for 24 hours without saying something about someone that you would not say to that person’s face. It is amazing how easily we slip into gossip, speculation on others behavior, and judgmental talk and thinking. I am convinced this ‘stiffens’ the brain chemistry with negative physical effects (too tense muscles and insomnia anyone?). O.K., I know I am talking without benefit of scientific fact but experience and observation leads me to make this educated guess.

I will be using the month of August to relay other ideas about how to take stress levels down a notch or two. What are yours? I would love to hear.

Patients/Clients are often surprised when they come to me for an ailment in a certain part of their body (back, knee, shoulder, etc.) and the needles are placed in a seemingly unrelated area. For example, whenever someone has a headache, lower arm and leg points are indicated. Needles are rarely needed near the head in a good majority of headache pain. Why is that? The meridian system which carry vital life energy forms an organized and interconnected network throughout the body. Many believe that it runs throughout the fascia, a 3 dimensional whole of fibrous connective tissue that touches every organ, muscle, bone, tissue, and cell. There is not one part of the body that is touched without affecting the whole! This explains distal needling. For example, there is a point below the knee that is needled for all types of shoulder pain. There is a point on the outside of the baby toe that is used to turn the fetus in the uterus. A point near the elbow and one in back of the knee releases heat in the body. Particular points in the ear act a sedatives. One of my favorite points all is called gaohuangshu which, when stimulated, helps in the resolution of chronic of conditions.

Chinese Medicine is fascinating. It will take me a whole lifetime to put into practice what I have learned and I continue to learn something new all the time. It is a satisfying and inspiring profession and the best part is it helps to relieve suffering!

Stir Fry Broccoli
One or two heads of broccoli crowns (without the stalks)
Wash
Cover the bottom of a frying pan with olive oil and several garlic cloves (diced)
Simmer and add broccoli with a generous amount of soy sauce.
Cover pan and cook until tender but still firm.

Enjoy.
P.S. This is my basic recipe for all greens.

I truly believe that getting rid of clutter reduces stress. So here is to the summer of 2010 when my intention is to slowly take Lisa’s advice which she makes sound so easy—get to the bottom of my personal rubble, get rid of what I no longer need, and organize the rest in a meaningful way. In the meantime I might crack open the first book she wrote, Simple Steps as a spark of inspiration. And when I finally have my writings and photos placed in the book I envisioned for so long, you will be the first to know!