- Ashley Wren Acupuncture3435 Ocean Park Blvd.
Suite #101
Santa Monica, CA 90405(310) 936-5260 
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Acupuncture
5 Acupoints for Anxiety You Can Administer Yourself
“At a time when people are so conscious of maintaining their physical health by controlling their diets, exercising, and so forth, it makes sense to try to cultivate the corresponding mental attitudes too.”
– HH the Dalai Lama, 1963
It can be easy to forget how much our mental state can affect our physical well-being. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, that connection is evident in the treatment strategies, but it is also true that when we are feeling bad, we don’t always think to look at our minds. It works both ways. continue reading
Acupuncture Wrapped: An overview of some of the most exciting discoveries in 2020
As we enter a new year, it is natural to want to look back on the last one. As humans, we have the gift and the hurdle of marking time, so it can feel helpful to recall memories we want to hold on to or look for lessons we can take with us.
To that end, here are three categories in which research into the type, application and efficacy of acupuncture saw significant advancements in 2020, findings that will certainly help guide us as we move forward. In a year that saw so much focus on our health, these findings offer some good news in the fields of pain management without opioids, migraine headaches, and insight into why it is that acupuncture is effective as an anti-inflammatory. continue reading
Intention setting in the new year
It’s that time of year again: the time when many of us engage in the practice of setting a new year’s resolution.
And while it’s wonderful to have goals, it’s also useful to not see ourselves as a project, but rather a work in progress. This outlook helps when we encounter the inevitable setbacks that come with the pursuit of improvement. Respecting and acknowledging the process over the end-goal helps us to remain flexible in our approach, instead of starting out the new year with rigid standards.
In the spirit of greeting the new year with fresh energy, I wanted to offer some tips on how to approach the tradition of annual resolutions in a way that might foster more success… by incorporating some wisdom from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Winter and your Kidneys
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, health is achieved by living in balance with nature and the seasons. Winter, the season of the Water Element, is the season for slowing down, reflecting, and conserving our resources. We all feel this tendency, but we don’t always listen to our bodies. In Western culture, being active is rewarded and expected. We can often feel compelled to keep up the hectic pace that is typical in our culture and daily lifestyles.
Winter is the the season associated with the kidneys, bladder, and adrenal glands. It’s the time of year when these organs are most active, accessible, and even vulnerable. Winter is the time that these organs are more receptive to being restored, nurtured and energized; but in turn, it is also when they can become easily depleted.
You’re Getting Sleepy…
Enjoying Naps in the Winter Season
Most mammals are polyphasic sleepers, meaning that they sleep for short periods throughout the day. For humans, days are divided into two distinct periods, one for sleep and one for wakefulness, which is a monophasic sleep pattern. However, this may be a product of living in an industrialized world and not the natural sleep pattern of humans. In many cultures, young children and elderly take naps midday. Our bodies are programmed for two periods of intense sleepiness a day: between 2 and 4 am and 1 and 3 pm. Unfortunately, despite our biological vestige, we are having to consolidate our sleep into one long period. continue reading