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Marisa Fanelli, M.Ac.: Posted on Sunday, April 21, 2013 9:27 AM
We humans are nothing if not adaptable. Take pain, for example...headaches in particular. Now, there are lots of unfortunate souls who suffer from debilitating migraines, and I don't think they ever get used to it. But there are also so many people who get headaches 3, 4, 5 times a week, and they simply consider it part of their life. They stock up on Excedrin and wait for the pain to hit, then they start treating their headaches at the expense of their stomachs. |
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Marisa Fanelli, M.Ac.: Posted on Wednesday, April 17, 2013 4:28 PM
Sex is a complicated thing. Not only do our physical parts need to be in top shape for things to progress satisfactorily, we also need to be mentally and emotionally engaged. Stress, anxiety, exhaustion...all of these can lead to problems in the bedroom. In the world of Chinese medicine, most sexual dysfunction stems from stagnation. Ah, stagnation...the root of all evil, at least in my world. If the flow of blood and qi to the genital area is impeded in any way, matters in the Land of Penis and Vagina simply won't have a happy ending. |
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Marisa Fanelli, M.Ac.: Posted on Wednesday, March 06, 2013 3:05 PM
In Chinese medicine, the Spleen is paired with the Stomach, and the two work together to promote happy digestion. An imbalanced Spleen will lead to gas, bloating, fatigue, and bowel movements that are soft, unformed, and overall unsatisfying. The Spleen is also responsible for holding things up and in within the body. If the Spleen is weak, things will leak...either out or down. Hemorrhoids, easy bruising, miscarriages, incontinence, prolapse, and heavy periods can all manifest when things go awry with the Spleen. |
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Marisa Fanelli, M.Ac.: Posted on Sunday, March 03, 2013 2:25 PM
Patients tend to fall into certain categories when it comes to imbalances in their systems, and we acupuncturists can use this information to enhance treatment results through diet and lifestyle advice. Five-Element theory is a way to categorize the five systems in the body: Kidney, Liver, Lung, Heart, and Spleen. Most patients have certain characteristics that are linked to one of these systems, and this would be their "element." If a patient doesn't specifically have an issue in one of systems, their element would predispose them to future issues. |
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Marisa Fanelli, M.Ac.: Posted on Wednesday, February 06, 2013 3:35 PM
The following blog post comes from Acupuncture Media Works. I was thinking of writing something about the Chinese New Year, and voila! I found this in my inbox! (And they gave me permission to use it, so I'm not stealing!)
It's about a month into the New Year. Do you already wish you had a do-over for your New Year's Resolutions?
If so, you're in luck. You do.
February 10th is the Chinese lunar New Year. The celebration of the New Year, the Spring Festival, is China's longest and most important holiday. |
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Marisa Fanelli, M.Ac.: Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2013 3:03 PM
Each of the organs has a physical, mental, and emotional component in the wacky world of Chinese medicine. The Liver control is linked to anger, irritation, and general edginess...think PMS, but in both sexes. Now, think of the Liver and Spleen being on opposite ends of the spectrum, balancing each other out. The Spleen is about giving. Someone with a Spleeny disposition would tend to focus on others...sometimes to the point of being obsessive or overly nurturing. |
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Posted on Thursday, January 17, 2013 8:15 AM
In Chinese medicine, there is a season for everything. Winter is the time to allow yourself a period of inactivity. It's a time to replenish and reflect. Inactivity isn't something that I handle well. I am one of those people who needs something to do at all times, or I get anxious. Boredom is my worst nightmare, and I'll do anything to avoid it...so I'm definitely not the type to relish having an extended lack of activity. |
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Marisa Fanelli, M.Ac.: Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2013 11:56 AM
Throughout my many years of waitressing, I have witnessed some deplorable human behavior. People tend to be their most authentic selves when they are hungry and in a position of power. I have seen the best and worst of humanity while working in restaurants. Of all the rude, condescending, juvenile conduct I have been privy to, my least favorite is passive-aggressiveness. There is nothing so irritating as someone who licks their plate clean, then responds to an inquiry about the meal with a long-suffering sigh. |
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Marisa Fanelli, M.Ac.: Posted on Monday, November 26, 2012 4:45 PM
Check out the pic below. This patient has loads of tension and aggravation in her life:
 The great thing about cupping and gua sha is that it is like a roadmap of dysfunction and pain in the body. This happens all the time: I will cup a person's entire back, and there will be one small spot that turns very red or purple. (This color is called "sha".) This one spot, inevitably, is the area that has pain.
This is an acupuncturist's picture of what stress looks like. |
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Marisa Fanelli, M.Ac.: Posted on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 2:54 PM
My patients are always asking me whether I treat myself. My answer? Yes, I do...but I prefer not to. First of all, many of the good points are difficult to reach on yourself. You also tend to needle much more slowly when you are going into your own skin, which means that the needles can be uncomfortable (they usually aren't). And there is just something about the exchange of energies between the patient and practitioner that makes the treatment better, somehow. |
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