Many of us experience some degree of stress in the workplace, but ironically, nurses (who help treat patients suffering from stress related illnesses) are experiencing stress at a much higher rate than most other groups, according to a study conducted by the American Nurses Association. In the study, 70.5% of nurses cited the effects of stress and overwork among their top three health and safety concerns.

We think you can relate to some of the reasons why, even if you’re not a nurse. They include: workload, inadequate staff coverage, time pressure, relationship with other staff, leadership/management style, excessive noise, lack of influence in decision making…and that’s just to name a few. 

Ok, so most of the patients ARE women, but at Fertility Specialists Medical Group (FSMG) in San Diego, both men and women are experiencing the benefits of fertility acupuncture, according to Pacific College of Oriental Medicine (PCOM) Alumnus Maring Allen LAc.

Allen works at Zen Fertility Clinic and with FSMG treating men and women fertility patients, some who are integrating acupuncture treatments with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and others who are trying to conceive naturally. 

By Lori Howell, L.Ac., DAOM Fellow

When Mark Sobralske graduated from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, Chicago and went to Kathmandu to volunteer in an integrative medical clinic, he anticipated gaining acupuncture and herbal medicine experience, deepening his Buddhist meditation practice, and certainly finding a little adventure. Mark didn’t anticipate founding a Tibetan medicine school for youths in the remote Nepali mountainous region of Dolpo. When you mix medicine, mountains, and meditation, many things may happen, what is anticipated, and especially what is unanticipated.

To shed light on the subject of alcohol and the addicting grip it has had on so many, we would like to elucidate some Chinese medicine methods that have worked to renew hope and aid in relinquishing this substance’s hold on lives.

Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States- 17.6 million people, or one in every 12 adults, suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence, according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. 

If you’re an acupuncturist, you’ve come a long way. You’ve completed all your schooling, taken your boards, and received your license. You’re ready for your own practice!

You may not want to hear this, but there’s still more to accomplish. Ever heard the phrase “if you build it, they will come”?  Sadly, it isn’t that simple. How can they come to your practice if they haven’t heard of you yet?

Stress is universal. What’s not as common is the use of natural methods to prevent or relieve feeling stressed. We all deal with degrees of stress, and the range of intensity can be vast--from simply a bad mood to a serious problem. Feeling constantly overwhelmed or un-centered can lead to depression and have a serious effect on your health. In fact, the leading cause of death in the United States, heart disease, can be directly linked to high stress levels.

Food is one of the simplest and most common outlets people use to relieve stress. The term “comfort food” derives from the sense of satiation and distraction a delicious meal can provide. Unfortunately, turning to food too often for stress relief can quickly become an unhealthy habit with downsides. Other addictive vices for stress include cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs. None of these will help conquer stress in the long-run (and just add more problems to your plate), and each of these habits can make for some serious health conditions. Additionally, there are many medications prescribed to reduce stress. While these may work for some people, a pill is targeting the symptoms of the feeling, not the source.

Florence Nightingale was born nearly two hundred years ago, and her nursing insights are still in use today. In addition to her contribution of “environmental nursing”, in which she drove significant hygienic reform in hospitals, Nightingale was ahead of her time in her connection of the mind and body. One of the founders of what’s known today as a holistic approach to medicine, Nightingale recognized the importance of caring for the whole person. She was one of the first in Western medicine to encourage a patient’s preventative and self-care.

These principles carry over today as Western healthcare increasingly incorporates a holistic viewpoint. More than ever before, doctors acknowledge that preventative care is paramount. The importance of exercise, nutrition, and even stress-busting practices like yoga, meditation, and massage is now a mainstream concept. Holistic nursing brings this awareness to the next level.

Spring is officially here!  And that means change right?  Longer days, warmer weather, flowers blooming…just to name a few, but what about us?  With all these changes going on around us, our bodies are naturally bound to react, and to prevent flu-like symptoms or other negative effects this spring, acupuncturists are recommending getting your dose of seasonal acupuncture.

Whenever there is a season change, according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) beliefs, the energy frequency of the body or a person’s “qi,” may not be in harmony with the season’s frequency.  Therefore, a person’s qi may be blocked, which leads to negative side effects from bodily sickness to mood swings.  Acupuncture can help unblock that qi so that the person’s energy aligns itself with the season.