May Newsletter
Stress, Anxiety, and Acupuncture

Even as the winter weather goes on and on, we should still celebrate spring! Spring is a time of growth and rejuvenation. My children are starting to outgrow their clothes as the energetics of spring propels them ever upward. The trees are blooming, new leaves are growing, and my lawn needs to be mowed weekly. The movement of plants pushing their way through the soil and up into the sun is the energy of the liver. Spring is governed by the liver- the force of growth and mover of qi. If the liver is stagnant then we feel stressed and worried. If the liver cannot move qi we get uncomfortable, anxious and angry (the emotion of the liver). You may experience a stuck feeling in your throat, heartburn, or an upset stomach. Maybe you are just jittery and don’t know how to express it, or get hot and flushed when pressed. If the liver becomes too stagnant then you can develop headaches, especially the kind that wrap around your head.
In our northwest culture we are supposed to be laid back all the time, not let anything bother us and that makes it hard to express when we are angry. Anger is natural when expressed properly. It is the motive force that drives us forward to change, to excel, to better ourselves. Top athletes channel their anger into exceptional human feats. When they let their anger get away from them, they are kicked out for fouls. We value anger, the movies we love are full of it! Yet there are very few places we can express it ourselves. The best way to get it out is through movement. Many people join the gym or enjoy outdoor activities. If your liver was being held back all winter by stagnation, your symptoms will manifest or become stronger. Now is the time to start a good positive physical routine. Movement is the name of the game- when you move your body the qi is allowed to flow and you will feel the stress melt away as the liver expresses the pent up energy. Go for a walk everyday. Plot one mile in your neighborhood and walk that mile everyday. If walking is too mellow for you, or too boring, go for a bike ride, join a pool and swim, yoga, pilates, tai chi, the list goes on and on. Just do something daily so that it becomes part of your everyday routine. If you don’t find a good routine, your stress may shorten your life.
Oh yes and that brings us to acupuncture, you all know the relaxing feeling of lying on the table and having your pain melt away. Well, I can tailor your treatment to enhance that feeling, by moving the liver qi. If you have trouble getting into a good movement routine because of pain then I can help with that too. I do not have a magical solution for stress, when it is everyday life that is stressing you, but I certainly can help bring your overall stress level to a manageable level.
As a final word on stress I want to point out the importance of massage in managing stress. (Did you know we have both a female and a male massage therapist at the Alpine Acupuncture location?) Most of us hold some of our stress in our muscles and it greatly helps to have the muscles worked out so that we can retrain our body to come out of the stress state. In a nutshell acupuncture and massage can move you into the parasympathetic (rest and digest) state so that you can be reminded what it feels like to relax.

Here are some great statistics on stress from the American Psychological Association.

• Two thirds of Americans say they are likely to seek help for stress. (APA Survey 2004)
• 45% of workers list job insecurity has a significant impact on work stress levels. (APA Survey 2004)
• 61% of workers list heavy workloads as a significant impact on work stress levels. (APA Survey 2004)
• Executives and managers tend to have the most stressful jobs, while self-employed workers are the least stressed. (APA Survey 2004)
• A majority of workers (52%) are more stressed because of work than home. (APA Survey 2004)
• 54% of workers are concerned about health problems caused by stress. (APA Survey 2004)
• One in four workers have taken a mental health day off from work to cope with stress. (APA Survey 2004)
• 62% of Americans say work has a significant impact on stress levels. (APA Survey 2004)
• 73% of Americans name money as the number one factor that affects their stress level. (APA Survey 2004)
• Fifty-four percent of Americans are concerned about the level of stress in their everyday lives. (APA Survey 2004)

http://apahelpcenter.org/articles/topic.php?id=6


A friend of mine sent me a great link that talks about the connection of our environment and stress. It also talks about a social system that propels us to shop in order to feel better. I strongly encourage you take 20 min and watch this short video and lessen your carbon footprint. http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Another link along the same lines from public radio. “We are what we buy — a glib adage to be sure, but it prompts an interesting question: Is our consumer society sustainable? American Public Media takes on that question in this special series. We follow consumerism from its origins to its dominance in the world's economy and, arguably, its culture. And we examine how, and if, it might be adapted to reduce its destructive consequences while keeping store shelves stocked.”
http://sustainability.publicradio.org/consumed/

Poems and Inspirations:

These spiritual window-shoppers,
who idly ask, 'How much is that?' Oh, I'm just looking.
They handle a hundred items and put them down,
shadows with no capital.

What is spent is love and two eyes wet with weeping.
But these walk into a shop,
and their whole lives pass suddenly in that moment,
in that shop.

Where did you go? "Nowhere."
What did you have to eat? "Nothing much."

Even if you don't know what you want,
buy _something,_ to be part of the exchanging flow.

Start a huge, foolish project,
like Noah.

It makes absolutely no difference
what people think of you.
-Rumi


Concerns About Plastics In Baby Bottles, Canned Foods, And More

BPA (Bisphenol A) has recently been under scrutiny for causing reproductive problems later in life when ingested by children due to its strong estrogenic properties. Here is a Medscape article and a good Internet page with lots of sighted scientific evidence.

FDA Eyes Bisphenol A Concerns:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/573720?src=mp&spon=17&uac=106086SK

Leading Baby Bottle manufacturer says Bisphenol-A not a Danger
http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Plasticizers/BPA-Baby-Bottle2apr02.htm


For those of you who like research…

http://www.alpineacupuncture.com/Stress.htm


Acupuncture is great at relieving stress, as is massage. I am not a counselor and encourage you to seek out a counselor/spiritual leader if you are in need of someone to talk things through with or if in danger of harming yourself or others. This newsletter does not constitute medical or nutritional advice.