by Chad Johnson, MS, L.Ac | Acupuncture
In the clinic we’re seeing more and more people who are experiencing anxiety. Some have it during the day and others find they are waking during sleep. These times carry a great deal of stress for the body, mind, and spirit. Here are four ways to reduce anxiety and get a better night’s sleep.
Catnip Tea with Honey:
Catnip is a gentle nervine to humans and is know to promote restful sleep and release nervous tension. The honey supports the liver and it’s functions during the sleep cycle.
Milky Oats Tincture:
Milky Oats aids with chronic stress, replenishes the nervous system, and boosts mood and energy levels. Taken during the day to calm the nerves system down and take the jangled edges off of the nerves.
CBD or CBD with Melatonin:
This supplement is an excellent sleep aid and supports the immune system as well. Inquire in the clinic.
Regular Mindfulness Practice:
Creating a simple practice that you know by rote can help maintain lower stress levels, relieve anxiety and boost the immune system. This is helpful to start the day, practice for 5 mins or less mid day, right before bed and can be most especially helpful when waking up at night with anxiety. Try this simple yet powerful 60% breathing technique.
by Chad Johnson, MS, L.Ac | Acupuncture, Health and Wellness, Immune Health, Pain Management
Water affects every system in the body.
When we see muscle tissue that’s slow to heal –or the healing mechanism doesn’t spark in the body quite as well– often the culprit is dehydration.
Water helps keep the the muscles pliable. The muscle has a more difficult time healing itself after treatment if the person is not properly hydrated. If your body is well-hydrated before acupuncture the healing potential is heightened. It usually takes 2-3 days to become fluid. Many of us are chronically dehydrated.
Water helps keep the blood alive and healthy. Without water the blood gets sticky.
The body’s tissues are what holds the water in the body. The way to get the water into the tissues – here’s the secret: Drink a bunch of water and then stretch. If you sit still it will go right through you, if you move it will go into the the soft tissue of the body – the muscles and the fascia.
If the fascia is dry, the conductivity and communication in the body is hampered.
Whenever you have enough water in the fascia system – the connective tissue– the body can work more efficiently at immunity, tissue healing (muscle repair), oxygenation, brain function, and heart health to name a few.
Hydration goals: Drink half your body weight in ounces per day – for example 140lbs = 70 ounces water per day.
The quality of water is important. Taste and cleanliness are paramount (no chlorine or fluoride) opt for local spring water.
Drink mindfully, good water.
Read more about healthy hydration techniques in article 4 Ways to Make the Most Out of Water.
by Chad Johnson, MS, L.Ac | Acupuncture, Adrenal Fatigue, Covid-19, Fatigue, Health and Wellness, Kidneys, Prevention
In Traditional East Asian Medicine, the body’s physiological processes can be viewed through the lens of Five Phase theory.
Each phase relates to a major organ, an emotion and a season.
All things can be viewed through this lens for easy discussion and healing discoveries.
The heart and lungs are relatively higher in the body away from the earth. They process blood and air every second of every day.
The liver and spleen are physically just below the diaphragm in the middle. They process food and blood on a daily or in some cases weekly cycles.
The kidneys are the lowest of these five.
They rule events in life such as birth, puberty, child bearing.
These processes are slow.
In the last 40 or so years the speed of our lifestyles has increased exponentially. Mother Earth is still telling us all to slow down – more.
In 2020 I went from 50 patients per week to 22. It wasn’t by choice. But it was most certainly better for me. More time for conscious breathing, exercise, and hydrating.
Kidney Deficiency usually manifests in the low back and the knees.
This past year has been challenging, heart-breaking, and difficult to varying degrees for each of us. As we press on into this third wave, it is important to understand the stress this has on the kidneys. We are all to some degree in fight or flight. We are in survival mode. Every social pattern we have known has been disrupted and changed. As we move through this transition, the healthiest thing we can do is to acknowledge how this affects the kidneys and support ourselves accordingly.
In the kidneys resides essence or Jing and our will to live.
The connection between the kidneys and the heart is important to understand. If you look at the diagram, you may notice that this is the axis of fear and joy. Water and fire. This is a spectrum. The antidote for fear – is Cultivating Joy. The adrenals and kidneys are directly connected. We want to nourish our kidneys and support our essence. We can do this in the following ways:
- Turn the TV off
- Take a holiday from social media
- Go outside. Make a fire, talk a walk, tend to your yard- connect with the natural rhythms of nature. Feel the wind, see the stars, you get the idea.
- Get plenty of rest at regular intervals
- Hydrate well and often with good quality
- 20 min Gentle movement necessary during the day – yoga, qi-gong or pleasant walk in the park (not a 3 mile run)
- Plan to do less
- Practice self-care
- Drink bone broth or mineral broth if vegetarian
The Kidneys…
- are at the deepest level of all the organs (this operates on the levels of mind, body and spirit)
- control your entire blood pressure system
- regulate Blood cell production
- regulate all the water in the body (regulate the salinity of the water through the advanced filtration system)
- are related to the element of water and are in affinity with the colors black and blue (where these colors to support the kidneys!)
- In the Kidneys we find the will – including the will to live – the will to move forward and conversely, fear. Kidneys out of balance will be an experience of stuckness/frozen in fear. It is like the roots of the tree are all dried out.
Winter is the time of a deep going within, it is the season of the kidneys, so having loving intention in this direction can amplify our process.
If we can find the gifts, the silver linings and perhaps even find the joy in places and moments we can proceed in that direction, slowly, mindfully and heal.
by Chad Johnson, MS, L.Ac | Acupuncture
Acupuncture After Care
I hope you enjoyed your session today. Acupuncture and massage facilitate great change in the body. How you proceed from here affects the outcome of your treatment. Here are some important notes on the coming week for you.
1. You will need to drink more water. Try having two glasses upon awakening in the morning to start. Add lemon water to your first glass to support your liver. This improves digestion and orients you to drinking a clean source of water throughout the day.
2. You may notice more range of motion, soreness as if you’ve just worked out, or other body changes. Be gentle with yourself for a couple of days, then, ease into more activity each day mindful of the changes that are taking place.
3. Watch less TV and media– and listen to your body. Unplug from computers, wifi, social media and email if possible, even if just for short periods of time.
4. It is helpful to keep a journal during your course of treatment to reflect changes and progress.
5. Eat nourishing, whole, seasonal foods that are prepared with love.
Thank you for the opportunity to work with you. I look forward to continuing to help you create a new relationship with your body. Please call the office with any questions or concerns. 828-333-5087
by Chad Johnson, MS, L.Ac | Acupuncture, Covid-19, Health and Wellness, Immune Health
Covid-19 Safety Measures
Your Well-being is Our Top Priority.
Updated March 14, 2022
Please Read Our Updated Clinic Covid-19 Safety Protocols in Effect to Keep Everyone as Safe as Possible:
- Covid is Airborne. Because of this, we emphasize our focus on cleaning the air and keeping it clean.Please wear a good quality mask (KF94, KN95) into the building and during your treatment.
- If you need a good quality mask (KF94, KN95) we are happy to give you one for free during your treatment.
- All employees are required to wear masks.
- We use HEPA air filters in each room.
- We use a CO2 monitor that lets’ us know when the air needs to be refreshed from the outside, bringing fresh oxygen into the treatment room.
- The HEPA air filters cleans the air 5x per hour in the treatment room
Other Standard Sanitary Practices
- Sterile Needles: Clean Needle Technique (CNT) always used.
- No linens – treatment rooms completely sanitized between each patient and filter set to high between patients
- 30 minutes between each patient for thorough sterilizing & cleaning of treatment room, treatment table, all touch surfaces, and both bathrooms
- Ample hand sanitizer available in treatment rooms and waiting area
- Digital files – no paper to clean and sanitize – just an iPad and phone
- Screening questions prior to appointments
- Waiving of cancellations fees – we encourage you to cancel even if last minute if Covid related.
We are partnering in trust with you – our community- in order to support each of you. We ask that you stay open and communicative with us.
(We will still offer Telehealth sessions on Saturday- which have proved highly beneficial. If you aren’t feeling well, we can assess over the phone whether you should come in, wait, or if you might benefit from a Telehealth consult.)
When coming into the clinic please observe the following:
- Bring and wear your mask – We have masks available if you have forgotten or need one
- Please wear clean, loose, comfortable clothing for your acupuncture appointment
- We keep a closed waiting room. Come on up 5 minutes before your appointment. Chad will come out and greet you.
- Wash your hands in the bathroom beforehand
Preventative Medicine – Keeping Your Immune System Strong
The preventative component of Holistic Medicine is where Natural Medicine really shines. We are offering 90 minute treatments only at this time so that each person can gain the most benefit during their time in the clinic.
- More Immune support – We want to be able to layer on extra immune support
- More Nervous system support
- More Thyroid support
- More Adrenal support
- More Relaxation time
- More Self-care time
- More time for TuiNa massage
- More moxa
- More ability to access Acupuncture’s preventive medical applications
- Less Patients per day = less exposure for both YOU and Chad
Call Us 828-333-5087 to Discuss Your Case
