Acupuncture

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 »

What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a condition believed to be linked to a lack of sunlight where the individual experiences mood changes and emotions similar to depression. SAD occurs mostly in the Fall and Winter months when there is less sunlight exposure.

It’s found that around 5 percent of people may experience SAD lasting 40% of the year (especially in areas with less sunlight such as the Pacific Northwest and other Northern regions), and it is more common in women than in men.

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Acupuncture and Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases are a collective group of disorders that plague nearly 50 million people in the United States alone. When a person suffers from an autoimmune disease, it means their own immune system is attacking the body and altering or destroying the tissues. Autoimmune diseases include things like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Crohn’s disease, Pernicious Anemia, Multiple Sclerosis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Parkinson’s disease. continue reading »

4 Ways To Support Your Kids: Back-To-School & COVID

2020 has proven to be a year of trials and growth for all of us. With a new school year approaching (and for some, has already arrived), it’s important to have an open dialogue with our children about what to expect, how to stay safe and how they can express themselves, even with certain restrictions such as face masks and physical distancing.