Heal from Within

“Our greatest blessings come to us by way of madness.” Socrates. | Heal From Within

“Our greatest blessings come to us by way of madness.” Socrates.

Well then, don’t we have a boatload of blessings coming our way…

It is possible, the blessings. But amid this massive-scale disruption in our lives, how does that happen? It certainly is madness: isolation, no boundaries between work and home, wear a mask, don’t wear a mask, vaccinate and wear a mask, no hugs, no ceremonies, no celebrations, no festivals, fear, fear, fear…

Enough! We need a serious time-out. It doesn’t take days or weeks, but just a time-out from the running, running, running from one thing to the next, keeping 12 balls in the air trying not to drop any of them, staying up too late to get things done, working long hours because you can’t leave the office, because it‘s at home, too much “screen” time... That is an energy suck if there ever was one.

Anyone out there exhausted? You are so not alone. Our big world is out of control, so of course, our individual worlds suffer as well. Even those who are resilient and practice resilience are seriously challenged.

My dope? https://heal-from-within.com/our-greatest-blessings-come-to-us-by-way-of-madness-socrates/

“Our greatest blessings come to us by way of madness.” Socrates. | Heal From Within Well then, don’t we have a boatload of blessings coming our way… It is possible, the blessings. But amid this massive-scale disruption in our lives, how does that happen? It certainly is madness: isolation, no boundaries ...READ MORE »

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Fertility Road. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

Fertility Road Support Group - Winter Ritual Feb 14, 9:30-Noon

REGISTER BY SATURDAY MORNING to receive a ritual preparation list.
It seems the more technology-oriented we become in our lives, the less ritual and ceremony we have. While your faith or church or house of worship may meet some of your needs, a small space at home and a ritual of your own design can help you go deeper, gain insights, create peace, or give energy to something in your life that’s important to you.

What does doing ritual have to do with fertility? Hasn’t this journey impacted your spirit; the way you see and experience yourself; your relationships; who you are or see yourself to be; how you move through your day; how you chose to spend your time; what is most important in your life right now?

How, but with quiet introspection and intention, can we explore these questions and hope to find answers. Ritual can be a bridge from shaky ground to solid, from confusion to peace, from anger to love.

Join us this Sunday at Fertility Road. We’ll talk about creating personal ritual and also have a demonstration.

REGISTER BY SATURDAY MORNING to receive a ritual preparation list. If you’re able to prepare your space from the list and care to share it with others, it may give ideas and inspiration to others.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUofu-sqj8oH9C7fhf0ch_s2iWTFmBpM6t3

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Fertility Road. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting. Support group for women having difficulty conceiving.

Lift your Spirit! Come on in!

Remember how it felt when you walked into my office last winter? You came in from the cold, into a warm, friendly space, with candles and music, and you let out a big sigh, feeling better as soon as you walked in the door and you hadn’t even had your acupuncture treatment yet.

It’s still that way.

I still greet you with a big smile (behind my mask), ready to lift your earthly burdens as you lie quietly beneath the heat lamps that warm your blood and your heart, my tiny needles moving stagnant energy and lifting the heaviness you carried in.

You get to rest, really rest for a bit, safe and protected as the needles work quietly to regulate your hormones, open the pathways between your organ systems, calm the nervous system, optimize the exchange of biochemicals in your cells, your brain, your heart.

It’s been a wicked season, a wicked year. Nervous systems are frazzled. Bodies are weary. The stress of the past year uses up your resources.

It’s time to reconnect, not you and I, but you with you, reground yourself to get you through the winter months. Rekindle the fire in your heart, settle the tummy, lift your spirit! Come on in. The candles are lit. The music is on. You deserve this kind of care. It’s always here.

COVID PRECAUTIONS: We’re all wearing masks, washing hands and cleaning after each patient. Patients seldom see one another. Of course, we ask that you not come in if you have been exposed to anyone with covid-19.

Hugs to you all! I look forward to seeing you again!

Dear Human, | Heal From Within

Dear Human (https://heal-from-within.com/dear-human/),

I am here to help you. We are in the midst of a crisis and need to help each other. I can empower you to prevent, manage and overcome intruders, such as this SARs covid-19 virus, other viruses, bacterial infections, wounds of many sorts, even a broken heart. But I need your help. I need you to feed me properly so that I can mount the proper defenses to protect you. I am your immune system. With covid-19 and flu season upon us, I don’t know why no one’s talking about ME!

I work very hard to eliminate toxins, pathogens, viruses, opportunistic bacteria and other intruders, but I am overburdened by our toxic environment.

Here is what you can do to help me, help you…
https://heal-from-within.com/dear-human/

Dear Human, | Heal From Within I am here to help you. We are in the midst of a crisis and need to help each other. I can empower you to prevent, manage and overcome intruders, such as this SARs covid-19 ...READ MORE »

A long slow Trauma or an Awakening
Just as this national crisis has unveiled long-standing kinks in our “democratic experiment”, on a very personal level it has also revealed our own kinks, not just in dealing with adversity, but in our relationships with family, friends, job, money, time, health and energy.

We have lost and buried loved ones AND family members can ignite your very last nerve! We get to work at home AND are working longer hours and more intensely because of lack of usual work structure. Some have more leisure AND are agravated that they can’t do their usual activities. Others have gotten to see their child’s first steps AND are fighting more with their spouse.

We’re all doing the best we can AND we’re all taking a hit. Living in closed-in situations with loved ones is a recipe for increased friction (see Anger molecules need space). As well, living in isolation with lack of social contact has an actual impact on the brain and brain chemicals. Studies with mice show a broad array of behavioral changes including aggressiveness, persistent fear and hypersensitivity to threatening stimuli. I feel bad for mice having to run the gauntlet for us humans 🙁

We all know that eating wisely, exercise, hydration and quality rest are essential to good health. But what are you consciously doing for your mental health? See acupuncture below…

Exercise and activities are good for your body, brain and mental health! We’ve known for decades that exercise is better than any anti-depressant. We need to be creative and find things that nurture our body and mind. Get yourself a hoola-hoop, do cartwheels, dance, chase each other with the water hose, go for a bike ride or hike, find a place to watch the sunrise or sunset.

Nutrient-dense food is good for your mental health too. Our brain needs nutrients, enzymes, fats, proteins, healthy carbs and of course, dark chocolate:-). The more variety, the better. I like to promote eating with the seasons, so load up on watermelon, cherries, tomatoes, beets, zucchini, peaches…

And of course, acupuncture, which helps to open the communication pathways between stomach and brain, brain and ovaries, liver and stomach, uterus and heart, brain and heart, back and head, shoulder and hip… If we are not consciously processing the difficulties, struggles and conflicts that we’re going through, then we’re packing it on, in our body, unconsciously. It creates blocks which impede the flow of blood, fluids, neurotransmitters, hormones, lymph… which ultimately lead to dis-ease.

If you have developed healthy coping mechanisms for all that’s going on, GOOD ON YA! That’s an amazing feat. A consistent meditation practice can soften the edges on which we find ourselves day in and day out. A regular yoga practice works for many people. Daily walks. Feeling your feelings and setting aside time to share them or contemplate their meanings in your life. All good tools. Getting pushed to our edges, being personally and globally challenged are great ways to awaken to our potential as human beings. It’s not fun, but it can be enlightening!

If you’re doing well, keep it up. No matter what you’re doing, acupuncture can provide grounding, improved flow or circulation, calm the nervous system, reduce physical and emotional symptoms and increase the endorphins in the blood stream. Win-win! Come see me 🙂

Schedule an acupuncture appointment.

Couples who share cleaning have more s*x
I read that in Psychology Today. I thought I’d give it a try.

What I really want you to know, is how OCD we are being about cleaning since we’ve reopened. It’s been a few weeks now and is going well. We had good cleaning habits before covid, now we’re over-the-top. We’ve adapted. This is just the way its going to be for a while.

How have you adapted? I was actually mad about this for a bit. It’s summer, my favorite time of year, full of activities and dancing and picnics and festivals and we can’t do any of it! But I’ve been rowing on the river. Patients have told me all the sweet little parks in DC that they’ve discovered. Croquette has made a come-back! People are cooking more for themselves and discovering new foods and recipes and how much healthier it is than eating out. Some are doing game nights with extended family members that they normally would only see once a year. Walkabout has a new and different meaning, now and here in the U.S.

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, it is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” Charles Darwin

If you had not realized this before, acupuncture can help you to adapt. covid has forced us into a huge transition that has shaken our lives to its core. Brain and heart are out of sync, stomach and brain, nervous system, endocrine and liver (for detoxing), lungs which are affected by grief need to open. Mind/heart and body are confused, people are moody, off, not-yourself. If you’re not eating wisely, the toxins from processed food/alcohol need to be moved. Acupuncture opens the communication pathways between your systems, moves energy/blood/fluids (when you can’t or don’t).

We are all experiencing a mid-level, chronic trauma. We need to take care of ourselves. Come in and see me. I still have a big smile (behind that mask) and a virtual hug in addition to your acupuncture treatment. If you’re new to Heal from Within, send an email to [email protected] to schedule an appointment or call 202-244-2289. If you’re an existing patient, you can schedule online.

Anger molecules need Space

There will be some incredible survival stories and insights that come from COVID19. It's very hard to grasp the gold nuggets of an experience when you're busy digging out from under an avalanche. But it's not impossible.

This audience is no stranger to enormous challenges. COVID19 is forcing us to remain un-social. At a time when social support is typically the first place we go for connection, we must stay isolated. Either alone, or with your small family, some with new infants. No matter your home situation, it is difficult.

Speaking with a friend who had her first baby under "normal" circumstances, remembers the huge adjustment of learning to care for this new tiny person, while under the influence of post birth hormone fluctuations and financial duress. There were HUGE fights with her partner. She didn't recognize herself or what was happening to her. Under normal circumstances she would never have said the things she did or behaved toward her partner the way she did.

How did you get to the other side? I asked. (continue: https://heal-from-within.com/anger-molecules-need-space/)

Easy Immune Boosters - just eat it | Heal From Within

Easy Immune Boosters for cold/flu season
Just eat it
Easy and accessible items and habits to keep in-mind and on-hand during the cold/flu season can go a long way to prevent you from catching some nasty virus (cold or flu), can shorten the duration if you do get sick, and strengthen your immune system for the long haul. Viruses can hijack your energy, body and precious time. Truly, prevention costs less in both money and time. You are so worth the investment in prevention.

I encourage you to integrate some of these into your daily routine(s), whether it’s a morning drink, smoothie, soup recipe or night-time ritual.

https://heal-from-within.com/easy-immune-boosters-just-eat-it/

Easy Immune Boosters - just eat it | Heal From Within Easy and accessible items and habits to keep in-mind and on-hand during the cold/flu season go a long way to prevent you from catching some nasty virus (cold or flu), can shorten the duration if ...READ MORE »

Acusimple | Online Access

Acupuncture for Allergies
Every fall and spring, my patients with allergies come in for a dose of prevention BEFORE their symptoms kick in. It takes anywhere from between three to eight acupuncture sessions. They end up taking either fewer allergy meds, or no allergy meds; feel a LOT better during these high pollen or ragweed/mold transition times; and typically experience fewer symptoms: congestion, watery eyes, runny nose, grogginess, heaviness, fatigue.
The acupuncture for allergy session is a little different than acupuncture for other conditions. First, we do what’s called kinesiology or muscle testing. Then I do a little spinal work which everyone loves because, who doesn’t like having their back massaged? though it isn’t exactly a massage. Then we do the acupuncture, which, if you’ve worked with me, you know is very relaxing.
This technique is called NAET, Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique. The basic theory is that we put your body and brain in a relaxed state while, at the same time, exposing you to the allergen that your body over-reacts to, thereby teaching your brain not to hyper-respond or overreact to the element (ragweed, grass, pollen, mold…). We calm the nervous system and calm the allergic (histamine) response.
To those of you who I see every Spring and Fall, it’s time! If you are a current patient and would like to start your allergy elimination sessions, here is the link to schedule an acupuncture appointment: https://acusimple.com/access/2487/#/appointments/. If I have never seen you as a patient, give a call: 202-244-2289 to set up an initial consultation.

Acusimple | Online Access Acupuncture web-based billing, medical charting, scheduling and practice management software. Invoice and CMS-1500 insurance form creator. Designed for acupuncturists.

Proper Care and feeding of your hormones | Heal From Within

Proper Care and feeding of your hormones

Think of hormones as chemical messengers carrying information through your bloodstream to all the necessary recipients: the brain, ovaries and go**ds, thyroid, bones, adrenals, even the intestines and liver where hormones are tagged for elimination. The endocrine system is a beautifully complex configuration that, when properly maintained, keeps our bodies running efficiently, on-time and with energy. If hormones are out of balance and we’re tired or irritable, we want to assist the messenger, not to shoot the messenger.

For many women, years of birth control pills have denied the body its natural capacity to generate, metabolize and balance hormones, all the while depleting the body of its supply of B vitamins and other nutrients. How can we influence healthy hormones every day and love doing it? (https://heal-from-within.com/hormones/...

Proper Care and feeding of your hormones | Heal From Within Think of hormones as chemical messengers carrying information through your bloodstream to all the necessary recipients: the brain, ovaries and go**ds, thyroid, bones, adrenals, even the intestines and liver where hormones are tagged for elimination. ...READ MORE »

Enchantment or Chaos - What's your Season? | Heal From Within

Enchantment or Chaos-What's your Season?
Have you given thought to how you see your Autumn unfolding? Will you “go with the flow”, see what happens, bounce around from one thing to the next? Spontaneity can be appealing. It can also result in conflicting events and more than a little chaos, especially if you’re having fertility issues. What if you give some thought and energy to how you would like to experience this season?

November and December can spiral out-of-control very easily. Costco already has Christmas decorations on display. The marketing of American holidays is a bombardment of messages meant to push products and perceptions: you MUST have THIS product or 100 people at your dinner table, in order to have a happy Thanksgiving! Or you need this giant, moving skeleton wearing a tuxedo on your front lawn for a successful Halloween. Must purchase just the right gift for… whatever holiday you celebrate.

I wonder what you might come up with using your imagination, absent all the very powerful commercial messages? There’s nothing terribly wrong with what has become the cultural norm. But is it really of your choosing? Does it add meaning to your life? Is it satisfying?

It’s easy to over-commit during non-holiday seasons. With holidays and expectations, and without some forethought into what’s really important, we can end up totally stressed out, trying to do too much and not enjoy any of it. Does this sound familiar? And if you are in the throes of difficult conception, medical interventions (injections, monitoring, medical procedures, hormonal chaos) or timing to conceive, holy cats!

What if you spent a little time imagining the next few months? How do you want to feel? Do you need or want to pack your schedule with commitments, parties, shopping and obligations that are unfulfilling? in addition to an already full schedule? Truly, if it adds to your life experience and IS fulfilling, then absolutely!

I’d just like to suggest that what gives our lives meaning is not necessarily what just rolls around or is “expected” every year. If we step out of the fast lane and really tap in to our imaginations, we can create an experience that does reflect what is important to us.

Take a look at this HOLIDAY PLANNING. It could very well help to reveal hidden desires or unmet needs that you or your spouse/partner may have.

May your holidays be… what you imagine!

https://heal-from-within.com/enchantment-or-chaos-whats-your-season/

Enchantment or Chaos - What's your Season? | Heal From Within Holidays and Fertility

Skillful Imagination | Heal From Within

Have you imagined your new year yet?

Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast. ~Lewis Carroll

I love that quote. It just makes me smile. Did anything ever happen that wasn't imagined? What if we did that every day? Just begin to imagine that what you want, you already have. Imagination worked great when we were kids right? I wasn't pretending to be a pirate on a deserted island searching for treasure. I WAS a pirate on a deserted island searching for treasure! Too often imagination is institutionally subverted in the name of education (not always). Thank goodness for poets, musicians, writers and artists of all endeavors and the wise teachers who cultivate a child's imagination!

There is a mysteriously effective ritual/exercise that a coach introduced to me years ago. You begin by... (http://heal-from-within.com/skillful-imagination/)

Skillful Imagination | Heal From Within Mysteriously effective ritual/exercise is below if you’d like to skip to it. I like to imagine that I have time for everything: friends, study, work, play, exercise, meditation, travel, hikes in the woods, dancing, cooking, family, ...READ MORE »

Probiotics - Immune Protection - Fertility | Heal From Within

Probiotics – Immune Protection – Fertility

Tilting the scales in favor of reproductive health is similar to, if not identical to boosting general health. Whether you’re trying to conceive or not, taking a good probiotic will boost your immune system enabling your body to effectively combat potential pathogenic invaders.

A weakened immune system will... (http://heal-from-within.com/probiotics-immune-protection-fertility/)

Probiotics - Immune Protection - Fertility | Heal From Within Tilting the scales in favor of reproductive health is similar to, if not identical to boosting general health. Whether you’re trying to conceive or not, taking a good probiotic will boost your immune system enabling ...READ MORE »

Bone Broth - Health, Healing, Fertility | Heal From Within

Bone Broth-Health, Healing, Fertility

Ancient remedies of the past are reemerging now with scientific research to support them. The chicken soup for colds and flu was right on and now we know why. Not just in times of sickness, though! The minerals, electrolytes, amino acids and gelatin are good for metabolism, skin, joints and muscles, digestion and the immune system! And it's FOOD! I get excited about the simplest things.

Especially ANYONE who's reading this that suffers digestive difficulties: bone broth will help to heal the mucosal barrier that lines your gut. Who knew? Our grandmothers and their mothers and their mothers' mothers, that's who. Continue... http://heal-from-within.com/bone-broth-health-healing-fertility/

Bone Broth - Health, Healing, Fertility | Heal From Within Ancient remedies of the past are reemerging now with scientific research to support them. The chicken soup for colds and flu was right on and now we know why. Not just in times of sickness, ...READ MORE »

So, you have to eat, right? No choice. You want to feel good, energetic, smart, spirited, alive! Right? Here’s where we get to choose. And the really cool thing is that it’s a total experiment, a culinary adventure!

If you pay attention, you’ll realize which foods ENERGIZE you and which foods make you feel like you just ate a brick. The other interesting and valuable thing is that the foods that energize are also the ones that provide excellent nutrients and cleanse your body of toxins, 2-3-4-5 benefits (immune, cleanse, remove toxins, nourish, energize…) with a single choice. Good food choices enhance brain function, mood, mental clarity, immune, REPRODUCTIVE, skeletal, muscular, vascular, cardio… tastes good, nourishes, detoxes, makes you feel good AND energizes! Read more... http://heal-from-within.com/energize-life-culinary-adventure/

Mother's Day can be just awful when you're trying to conceive. Hoopla, celebration and honor for Mom's is well deserved. Church's make a big deal. Restaurants are packed with families. It should be honored. But its a bit like going to a baby shower when you're having difficulty conceiving. DON'T GO! You don't have to subject yourself to questions about your family plans, unsolicited advise or outstandingly happy faces, when your heart aches for what they're celebrating.

Come to Fertility Road where we'll be trading stories, information, absurdities, dark jokes... whatever you bring to this day's gathering, we have both the support and perspective for taking it in, appreciating it, reweaving and transforming this, sometimes very dark journey into strength, resilience, humor and hope! It takes a little practice, but there's lots of encouragement and a little guidance from your, more "seasoned" (not really mature) facilitator :-)

Do come. We won't be having mimosas, but we will have spirits! The ones that guide and drive and motivate and lift! The best kind. If any recent event has pulled the rug out from under your feet, we'll be riding that magic carpet to the next guide post on your journey...

The Fertility Road group is meeting tomorrow, April 9 from 9:30 - Noon at Heal from Within. Apologies for the very late notice, not sure where March went. I hope to see you there for a couple of hours inquiry, search for meaning, discussion, sharing thoughts and ideas about where you are and what you can do to move through this very strange situation with open eyes and heart!

Heal from Within updated their information in their About section.

Heal from Within updated their information in their About section.

Fertility Workshops | Heal From Within

A sweet holiday season to you, hugs and appreciation! May your new year hold precioius adventures and discoveries for you, some that you imagine and some that you haven't. Thank you for your trust in me. It is a privilege to do this work and meaningful beyond words.

I'm looking forward to some new things in the coming year...

-You will be able to schedule your appointments online starting in January!
-I will be able to dig a little deeper into your health concerns with lab tests, to determine where things are out of balance (hormones, liver function, oxidative stress, GI function). More about that later...
-I'm going to start my days by doing the most important thing first! no small feat.

What is your intention for the new year? What can you imagine? Come to Fertility Road in January. Lets work on that. Intention includes action. January 8, 9:30-Noon. http://heal-from-within.com/fertility-workshop/.

Fertility Workshops | Heal From Within

How many of us immediately start cutting calories after the holidays? I know I used to take a machete to my diet. Weight management is not just about how many calories you take in. It’s about the messages sent to your body’s hormones. Eat the wrong foods for your body, and your brain won’t know that you’re full. If you’ve been struggling to reach your goal weight, a gentle cleanse such as my upcoming Winter Cleanse, can help you eliminate problem foods and reset your hormonal balance. Pre-cleanse week starts on January 8 -- Check it out! http://savorwellness.com/clean-eating-online