This is one of those times when I ask myself, “Why is this such a surprise?” I mean, it is not as if I haven’t interrogated, researched and ultimately written about the benefits of acupuncture for adults. It’s not as if I haven’t seen, with a clinician’s eye, the difference acupuncture can make in ADHD and autistic adults. It’s not […]
Holistic Health
2019, TCM and Me
I am a fan of New Years’ – not because of the party on New Years’ Eve (I don’t do, have never done, New Year Eve parties) but I like the sense of closing out one year and beginning a new year with a fresh outlook. I like to celebrate the successes of the year past – and to set […]
Chinese Herbal Medicine for Endometriosis
Endometriosis, also called “endo,” is a condition where endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus and forms tumor-like nodules. Endometrium is the tissue that normally lines the uterus or womb, but in endometriosis it is often located on the ovary or on the pelvic peritoneum–even on the bowels or umbilicus. These pieces of tissue outside the uterus bleed each month when […]
Acupuncture, TCM, Thanksgiving and Me
This is my story. A story with an important timeline. At the end of September in 2016, I was sitting in a small room, waiting to meet a new doctor. An acupuncturist. A doctor of Chinese Medicine. Truth be told, I was annoyed. Very annoyed. I needed another doctor like I needed a frontal lobotomy. I was still reeling from […]
Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
It’s funny – in a sad kind of way – how IBS sufferers share certain traits. We’re the ones who, upon entering any new venue – be it a restaurant, lecture hall, gym, even a doctors’ office – automatically ascertain where the restrooms are. We’re the ones who casually ask, when invited to an art show, is it outside or […]
Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Dreams
Those of you who know me, know that before counseling, before Acupuncture and TCM, I was an English teacher. For over ten years, I taught secondary and post-secondary literature. One of the more joyful lessons – at least for me – involved interpreting with my students the writings of Henry David Thoreau. It didn’t matter what grade I was teaching, […]
TCM and Fasting
By Susan Tretakis – For me and many others, next Tuesday is Yom Kippur. In English, Yom Kippur means “the Day of Atonement” and is considered the most important holiday in the Jewish faith. Yom Kippur marks the end of the 10 Days of Awe, a period of introspection and repentance that follows Rosh Hashanah. “It is believed that those […]
Acupuncture, TCM and Cataracts
Who knew? This seems to be my favorite phrase lately, but especially this past week. I’ve just come back from my annual vision exam where my eye doctor checked my vision, and noticed a “slight decrease in my distance vision due to cataracts in both eyes.” Having cataracts was not a surprise to me; however, since my vision has stayed […]