Newsletters

Editor’s Corner

Another new year! Like everyone else, I’ve been working on goals. This year, I plan on having a monthly newsletter, launching my Bath and Beauty products in a bigger way, and continuing to get a handle on organization. I’m also putting together a networking group for the East Richmond/Mechanicsville area, so health professionals can get to know each other. This year holds all kinds of excitement-may it be great for you!
Teresa Green, L. Ac.

PS: Congratulations to Dawn McCoy on her new book-Building Blocks of Leadership!

Fresh air impoverishes the doctor.
~Danish Proverb

Office news
New NAET Practitioner:
Kristen Couture has gone to seek her fortunes in Maine, and has recommended Katie Larimer to take her place. I’ve known Katie for years, and am excited to announce she will be available by appointment in the Sandston office on Tuesdays. You can reach her at (804) 399-1700. See more about NAET on page 2.

Office Space:
My Sandston lease is up in 2011, and I’m starting the search for a new, slightly larger location. If you know of a space on the east side of Richmond, please let me know!

Green Bath and Beauty
Ways to Use Essential Oils

I usually focus on what different oils do here, but this month, let’s go over some of the ways you can use essential oils.
:
In a diffuser: Just about any oil can be used this way. Many stores sell small candleholders with a well at the top. Add a little water to the well, then several drops of any oil. If you don’t have the candleholder, just get a cup of hot water and add your oils. The heat will diffuse the oils through the air. Some of my favorites to use this way: lavender, black spruce, peppermint, lemon, lime, or orange.
As a soak: Most oils are good to use this way, where the oil is very diluted by the water. If you are using a foot soak, you can be a little more adventurous than for a full bath. I like rose geranium, mint, patchouli, frankincense, or chamomile for soaks.
In a cream: The essential oils are usually a little stronger in this form, so be careful with possibly irritating oils like cinnamon, mint, or citrus oils. You can use these oils in a cream, but be aware that a strong concentration may irritate your skin. Take an unscented hand cream or balm, and add enough oils so you can smell them in the cream. I prefer to add a few drops to a little oil in my hand than try to scent a whole container of oil at once.
Directly on the skin: Most oils are not appropriate for this use. They can irritate the skin, especially in sensitive individuals. That said, I use lavender, tea tree, frankincense, rose geranium, and chamomile directly on the skin with no problem.

Remember, essential oils are wonderful, but very powerful. Use them carefully, and if you have any questions, call a trained aromatherapist, especially if you are pregnant or have unusually sensitive skin.

Herb Corner: Anxiety

Winter corresponds with the Water Element in Chinese medicine, which corresponds to the Kidneys. Chinese medicine says the Kidneys are in charge of reserve energy, reproductive function, your genetic heritage, and the ability to be quiet, calm, and peaceful. Anxiety is usually considered to be caused by the Kidney energy not being strong enough to “ground” your thoughts so they rush upward, causing the symptoms of anxiety, palpitations, and over-thinking. Not surprisingly, when treating anxiety, you often have to treat Kidney function (even if there is no problem with urinary function). Here are some formulas used to treat anxiety:

Gan Mai Da Zao Wan-used for nervous exhaustion causing uncontrollable crying or listless depression. It is used more for the acute stage of emotional turmoil, with other formulas usually used long-term to rebuild after a major stress.
This formula is also good for children who have a hard time calming down. It is easier to digest than most anxiety formulas.

Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan-helps insomnia, anxiety, hot flashes and palpitations.   It can sometimes be hard to digest, and is often given with other formulas to aid digestion. Good for calming, especially when anxiety is accompanied by over-thinking.

Gui Pi Tang-called the “student formula” because it is used for over-thinking, it is also helpful for anxiety with fatigue. Not as sedating as Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan, it is also easier to digest.

Treating anxiety often involves retraining your mind to address the self-talk that can trigger anxiety. Writing your positive beliefs every day so they are at the front of your mind will help when gloom and doom thoughts start to get you down. Food can also aggravate anxiety symptoms. High fructose corn syrup, a diet too high in startch or low in protein, or too much caffeine can put your body on an adrenaline rush that will fuel anxiety. A good therapist can help if your anxiety has roots in past trauma or extraordinary stress.

NAET Info
Green AcuClinic would like to welcome Katie Larimer to the Sandston Office.

NAET stands for Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques. It is a non-invasive treatment that treats symptoms resulting from allergies or sensitivities to a variety of substances, such as foods or chemicals. Treatments stimulate pressure points on the body, calming the nervous system and correcting any unbalanced responses your body has to an allergen. The treatments use acupressure on points along various meridians on the body. After treatment, you avoid the allergen for 25 hours, then you can re-introduce it. Usually one substance is addressed for each treatment. A series of treatments is usually required, and will gradually improve your reactions to your environment. You can find more information on the NAET website, www.naet.com .

Katie Larimer is a Certified NAET practitioner with a background in massage therapy and Asian studies. She is at the Green AcuClinic office by appointment. Her number is (804) 399-1700.

“Red meat is not bad for you. Now blue-green meat, that's bad for you!”
~Tommy Smothers

That’s it for this issue. Hope to see you soon!