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The Organ Associated with Fall in Chinese Medicine is the Lung. The Lung also has to do with letting go, as we imagine the leaves falling, The lungs have a relationship with the large Intestine, so in that regard you can see the reflection in nature of our bodies at this Season. The Lung has other very important functions, It is key in creating QI and also an important component of the Immune System. The Immune System in Chinese Medicine is different that in Western Medicine. It stems from Our Kidneys, in which we have Yin & Yang and something called Ming-Men Fire or Ancestral Fire. We inherit this from our Parents and it is contributed to by the health of our mother during pregnancy and then our own self-care. The Immune System has one parts that emerges from the Lung. The Wei Qi, This energy sits above our skin to protect us from Pathogens. Cold pathogens are said to enter from the neck and shoulders and warm through the nose and Mouth. An example of this might be chills, that is the a cold pathogen trying to enter the body. Our pores close to try and protect us. This is where Acupuncture and Cupping can help. The cupping draws the pathogen out before it can enter, Acupuncture can help with that and also boost your internal Qi so that once the pathogen penetrates, you have the QI/ strength to fight it. As we know viruses can cause damage once they enter our organs. At that point it becomes more complex. Pathogens can get trapped within the layers of our body, that is what lingering pathogens are such as Long Covid and the Epstein- Barr Virus( amongst others). In my experience one of the potent aspects we can help these issues is by boosting the Qi. The number one symptom for Qi deficiency is Fatigue. The main emotion that we often associate with the Lung is Grief. Prolonged Grief can cause Qi deficiency or Qi deficiency can prevent Grief from moving and releasing. This is only one aspect but you can get a glimpse in how it all works, everything in relationship to another. We look to find the weakness , strengths and excess to help balance your body. What is something you could let go of today? What is a way you could nourish yourself today? Or your Lungs? Movement with breath, becoming aware of your breath, light, warm foods are great. Ginger is warming and also nourishes the Lungs. Thank you for reading! Chinese Medicine is vast, simple, powerful and beautiful! Getting Acupuncture regularly can strengthen your immune system and help you kick things that are lingering. Warmly, Stefanie Rother LAc. #AcupunctureforImmunity #Acupunctureforyourlungs  Some nice person on a Social Media platform was kind to share that fertility and acupuncture should not be in the same sentence! Matter of fact, there is research that shows that Acupuncture indeed helps improve the outcome of IVF! I , Stefanie Rothert, am a fellow of The Acupuncture Board of Reproductive Medicine, and I specialize in helping women and men achieve their dream of parenthood. Even in school I KNEW it was my calling. The way Acupuncture works is hard to pinpoint, but we can look at statistics. Here is a link to some statistics that still sound cynical but the numbers are there. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6918533/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6918533/ And here is a more cheerful, positive, exciting research study! https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7142313/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7142313/ Besides, all the research, I can share my experience. With lifestyle, health, working with the appropriate western practitioners, we can often have a very positive outcome. I have seen it with my own eyes. Sometimes when the first retrieval doesn't work, and the pateitn hasn't made other lifestyle modifications, the first cycle may not be as successful as is wished. There often is a huge difference, in the next cycle! Even with my non IVF fertility patients, it sometimes takes the body some time to sustain and maintain a pregnancy. It's like an unused muscle, especially if the birth control pill was used for a long time before. How do I treat IVF ? I look for the reason there may be infertility in the first place. In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), we look for patterns. Where is there a weakness, excess, imbalance? Often people need to reduce alcohol intake, reduce stress and add some supplements, nutrition, sometimes people have to make huge life choices, to reduce stress, yes chronic stress is not good for our hormones! Typically I would like to see a client/ patient for 3-6 months prior trying to conceive or the retrieval to regulate cycles and strengthen the body/ systems for conception and pregnancy. But if time is critical, then I can assist at any time. Then prior to conception or retrieval, we usually treat a patient, once a week, and men also can get acupuncture, sperm is 50% off the equation! Then, before the transfer, twice a week for a month, that is our typical schedule. I do not like to use the word infertility, most people are not infertile, it is an amazing, subtle process to get an embryo, naturally or with IVF, many factors influence the outcome. What we want to do is maximize the potential, and create the healthiest environment for all involved. Did you know we can not change the DNA of an egg? When we say egg quality? We can improve the ATP and strengthen the mitochondria in the egg and sperm so they are healthy! I love to work with fertility patients, it is very rewarding and support mamas at every stage, before during and after pregnancy. And Mic also is certified in Pre& Post Natal Massage! with questions, feel free to email me at [email protected] - Stefanie Rothert   What is vitamin D deficiency?Vitamin D deficiency means you don’t have enough vitamin D in your body. It primarily causes issues with your bones and muscles.
Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that your body uses for normal bone development and maintenance. Vitamin D also plays a role in your nervous system, musculoskeletal system and immune system. Symptoms and CausesHere in Colorado we are often low on Vit D. When I get fatigued I often start ramping up this little pesky vitamin. Anyone can have vitamin D deficiency, including infants, children and adults.What are the signs and symptoms of vitamin D deficiency? Lack of vitamin D isn’t quite as obvious in adults. Signs and symptoms might include:
You can always ask your Dr. to get a blood test, it's usually included in annual Blood work. You can get vitamin D in a variety of ways, including:
Often we have imbalances that are simple, we can look to our nutrition to help ourselves feel a LOT better! Thanks for reading! - Stefanie Rothert, CEO Acupuncture for Wellbeing. Courtesy of: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15050-vitamin-d-vitamin-d-deficiency It seems daunting.. yet it happens to most of us. We get busy. Other people and things take precedent to our own well-being or fitness etc. Breath through the overwhelm, exericise helps! Even if you lay on the floor and stretch, you are moving! Well after getting my kid off to college, and two others out of the house, college etc! I am back to working on my fitness. In my 20s I got really into yoga, and fitness, not power yoga, but deeply healing yoga, it transformed my mind and body. But now... at age 47, here I am back at it. Also in my 30s I continued yoga, long hikes, dance and more. I have dipped in and out of fitness, but this last year, I would skim workouts, just trying to maintain so I could walk upright. And My body is different. And my body is still my body! I still know her! My body is a beginners body at yoga, and yet I have a strong foundation in alignment, theory and meditation. It is comforting to rest in that, and allow myself to be where I am, and be where I am, and know already the fruits that can come of it. I also joined a gym! My goal is to get there twice a week, but I have already found myself doing something every day, yoga and walks. Sometimes we need a grace period.. but it is really important never to give up and always have the resolve to keep moving, keep that qi ad blood flowing! Also we can help you return to heath with Massage and Acupuncture! Start with small goals, park farther at the store, a 20 min walk. sit outside, turn your phone off for an hour... it plants seeds to expand into a life that includes your own well-being. Make a small goal/ promise, keep it and see how your dopamine surges! Warmly, Stefanie Rothert  Therapeutic massage has been used for centuries to improve overall health, reduce stress, and relieve muscle tension. Research shows prenatal massage therapy can help reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and improve labor outcomes and newborn health. Prenatal massage therapy addresses different needs through varying techniques, one of which is called Swedish Massage. Swedish Massage aims to relax muscle tension and improve lymphatic and blood circulation through mild pressure applied to the muscle groups of the body. Swedish Massage is the recommended massage method during pregnancy because it addresses many common discomforts associated with the skeletal and circulatory changes brought on by hormone shifts. A distinction should be made between therapeutic prenatal massage and perineal massage, the latter referring to the practice of manually stretching the tissues surrounding the birth canal to help reduce the risk of episiotomy or trauma associated with childbirth. Hormone regulation Studies done in the past 10 years have shown that hormone levels associated with relaxation and stress are significantly altered when massage therapy is introduced to women’s prenatal care. This leads to mood regulation and improved cardiovascular health. In women who received bi-weekly massages for only five weeks, hormones such as norepinephrine and cortisol (hormones associated with stress) were reduced, and dopamine and serotonin levels were increased (low levels of these hormones are associated with depression). These changes in hormone levels also led to fewer complications during birth and fewer instances of newborn complications, such as low birth weight. The evidence strongly suggests there are maternal and newborn health benefits when therapeutic massage is incorporated into regular prenatal care. Reduction of swelling Edema, or swelling of the joints during pregnancy, is often caused by reduced circulation and increased pressure on the major blood vessels by the heavy uterus. Massage helps to stimulate soft tissues to reduce the collection of fluids in swollen joints. This also improves the removal of tissue waste carried by the body’s lymph system. Improvement of nerve pain Sciatic nerve pain is experienced by many women in late pregnancy as the uterus rests on muscles of the pelvic floor and lower back. The pressure of the uterus spreads tension to the muscles of the upper and lower leg, causing them to swell and put pressure on nearby nerves. Massage therapy addresses the inflamed nerves by helping to release the tension in nearby muscles. Many women have experienced a significant reduction in sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy through massage. Other potential benefits of prenatal massage:
Precautions for prenatal massage? As with any therapeutic approach to pregnancy wellness, women should discuss massage with their prenatal care provider. The best way to address the risks of prenatal massage is to be informed and to work together with knowledgeable professionals. Many professionals consider the best position for a pregnant woman during massage to be side-lying. Tables that provide a hole in which the uterus can fit may not be reliable and can still apply pressure to the abdomen, or allow the abdomen to dangle, causing uncomfortable stretching of the uterine ligaments. Consult your massage therapist before your first appointment to verify what position they place their clients in during the massage Both Deena & Mic are certified in Pre-Natal Massage these can be booked online and via Phone/ Text/ Email. 303 900 3111/ [email protected] Stefanie treats fertility and does pre and post natal Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine.  |
