grass roots health!

Build yourself a healthier life from the roots up! Ocean Acupuncture is a centre for natural medicine in Curl Curl on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. In this blog, our practitioners share with you their insights, tips, recipes, observations, knowledge and advice. We love little tidbits of info that help you get back to your roots – your natural state – which is light, vibrant and relaxed. Please feel free to add your comments and let us know what you think!

01 July 2011

Prebirth acupuncture - Secret to birth preparation

If you know anyone who's pregnant, or likely to be pregnant in the next few years, please do them a favour and pass this little gem on.

Women are now discovering the benefits of acupuncture in preparing for the birth of their baby, and the more they know the better.

During pregnancy, we women are overloaded with information. Everyone wants to do what’s best for their unborn baby and we do everything we can to give our babies the best start in life, from taking a multitude of vitamins, exercising, and avoiding shell fish, alfalfa and soft serve ice cream! We do classes and yoga, and we read book upon book about pregnancy, birth and settling.

Pre-birth acupuncture is one of the best things you can do to prepare your body and mind for the birthing experience. A series of weekly acupuncture treatments, from about 36 weeks onwards, prepares your body naturally for labour.

Pre-birth acupuncture can:

Loosen tendons and ligaments in the pelvic area to provide an easier passage for bub
Ripen the cervix (helps to thin and dilate the cervix in the final weeks)
Promote relaxation, reducing stress and anxiety
Boost your energy
Aid a quicker post birth recovery

Basically what this means is that by preparing your body naturally for labour in the final weeks, you are more likely to go into spontaneous labour, and have a more efficient birth.

If you do have to be induced, your body tends to respond quicker and better after having done this preparation.

All the acupuncture points are located on the extremities (none near the belly) and a very gentle technique is used. Women really enjoy the time to relax and take some ‘me time’ before the big arrival.

We can also address any other issues such as muscular pain, heartburn, swelling, anxiety over the birth etc.

Feedback from midwives in New Zealand suggests that pre-birth acupuncture can:

Reduce time in labour by average of 2 hours
Reduce the chance of medical intervention (induction, epidurals, ventouse and emergency caesarean deliveries)
Increase likelihood of normal vaginal delivery

I generally show women a couple of points in the final week of treatment so they can continue the preparation with acupressure at home. There are so many benefits for mothers and babies by being properly prepared for birth.

A lot of women come in to see us in the clinic when they are 40+ weeks and want to use acupuncture to naturally induce their baby. From my experience, these ‘induction’ acupuncture treatments have a higher success rate if you've done the prebirth acupuncture as preparation.

I personally really enjoy sharing this special time with mothers and playing a small part in the joy of bringing new life into the world. I love seeing women take charge of their own well-being and take an active role in preparing their bodies to birth their baby as best they can.

To find out more about acupuncture for pre-birth preparation or any problems in pregnancy,

give us a call on (02) 9938 2182
email us at info@oceanacupuncture.com.au
choose a practitioner at http://www.oceanacupuncture.com.au/about-us.htm and contact them directly

This post is brought to you by Belinda Boylan, acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist at Ocean Acupuncture in Curl Curl on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

Ocean Acupuncture is a natural medicine centre of independent health practitioners. The views expressed in this blog are the author's only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the other Ocean Acupuncture practitioners.
The information presented in this blog, and on the Ocean Acupuncture website, is for interest and educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for health or medical information or advice. For health or medical advice, please consult your health professional.

05 June 2011

Parenting workshops Aug & Sep 2011

For all parents who are looking for loving, effective ways to relate to their children and create a harmonious home - Hornsby Community College will be running the following Parenting workshops in Term 3, 2011:

13 Aug   Love in Action: An approach to Discipline
A home of harmony and cooperation is possible for any family given the right tools. In this introduction to LOVE IN ACTION parenting, early childhood educator Galit Fisher works with parents of children under 12 to show them a recipe for a more loving way to resolve family conflict. Galit reveals ways to talk with children in a way that brings out the best in them. Come and join an interactive workshop where discussion is encouraged. Carers and teachers are also invited.

27 Aug   Love in Action: Discipline and Temperaments
Understanding your child's temperament (and your own) is the key to creating a harmonious home and resolving family conflict. This LOVE IN ACTION workshop, run by popular parenting expert Galit Fisher, will give parents tools to bring greater cooperation and more effective communication between parents and children. Learn how to bring out the best in your children by making the most of their natural abilities and how to recognise what your child's needs are when they act out or refuse to cooperate.

10 Sep   Love in Action: Discipline, emotional wounding and communication
Better behaviour is easily achieved when you speak your child's language. In this practical LOVE IN ACTION workshop popular parenting expert and teacher Galit Fisher will teach you to identify what your child most values and the most effective way of communicating. When a child feels loved and heard the result is a more harmonious home, with greater cooperation and less conflict. Share your parenting challenges in this interactive workshop.

Time: 2 - 5pm
Cost: $65 per person
Location: 45 Hunter St, Hornsby

For details and to enrol visit www.hkcc.nsw.edu.au or phone 9482 1189

This post is brought to you by Lois Nethery, acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist at Ocean Acupuncture in Curl Curl on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

01 June 2011

Energy goes deep in Winter

A funny thing happened on May 31st...

I was in the clinic and had felt the fifth person's pulse for the day. The position of the pulse that relates to "Kidney" energy had been sunken and low on all of those people. Young pregnant women, elderly people - same feeling on the Kidney pulse.

Then I realised it was one day until Winter, when the Kidney and Water element dominate. At this time it's said that energy turns inward, contracting and shrinking away from the outside world.

Acupuncturists two thousand years ago wrote about this - the connection between the movement of energy in nature and corresponding movement of energy in the body. In Winter, everything slows, sinks down, condenses and goes into storage. The exact same energetic tendency can be felt in the body, because we are a microcosm of the outer natural world.

I was amazed that those ancient observations still held true in modern people, with all our artificial heating and lighting, unseasonal food, sedentary indoor jobs and so on. That the Kidney pulse can respond to Winter's onset (albeit one day early!) - in human bodies that have so many weird artificial conditions imposed on them - suggests to me that the natural forces that surround, support and nurture us are more powerful and subtle than we give them credit.

(See other articles on staying healthy and vibrant in Winter)

This post is brought to you by Lois Nethery, acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist at Ocean Acupuncture in Curl Curl on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

Kristie's winter recipes

Go to Kristie's website to see delicious recipes for Banana Cacao Porridge and Coconut Quinoa Curry

This post is brought to you by Kristie Ussher, acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist at Ocean Acupuncture in Curl Curl on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

Dressing for warmth and vitality in Winter

Everyone needs to dress well in Winter, but especially if you get cold hands and feet. The following tips will help your circulation and nourish your body's deepest energies.

Dress like a mountain!

The easiest way to remember how to dress in Winter is to think of a mountain - at the base it's quite warm, and as you go higher it gets colder and colder.

We Westerners tend to layer on the beanies, scarfs and jackets in Winter and let our feet exist in a state of chilled numbness! You will feel much more comfortable by turning this thinking on its head, so to speak.

Feet
Start with your feet - notice them when you're outside in Winter. If you're like most people, you've probably ignored them up to now. But if you tune in to your feet you might be surprised to notice that they feel quite stiff and numb in the cold weather.

The best remedy for this is to make sure you wear closed-in shoes and warm socks. If you have especially cold hands or have any menstrual problems, including fertility issues*, then it's probably a good idea to wear two pairs of socks. And don't knock it 'til you try it - it's really comfortable and cosy!

(*Cold feet can drain the Kidney energy - the Kidney system is fundamental to fertility)

Legs
The next place to consider is the legs. If you're nice and warm with just long pants then that's probably enough. But I find in the clinic that when people hop up on the table, their legs and feet are often extremely cold to touch. In this case, you'll notice the difference if you switch from skirts to pants, and if you're still cold then try cotton tights or leggings under the pants. Really, it makes an incredible difference and you need to try it to see if it works for you.

Having a layer of insulation now around your feet and legs, you'll be feeling much more protected from the elements and your state of mind will probably be more serene too.

Lower back
The third place to notice is your lower back. If there's a gap in your clothing then this is chilling your Kidneys and is bad news. Try a cotton singlet tucked in to cover this area. This will also continue that layer of insulation right up the trunk and provide a great core of snug warmth for when you go out in the elements.

Chinese Medicine Theory - Kidneys, Yin and the lower body

Winter relates to the Water element and the Kidney organ energy system. The lower back is traditionally said to be the "residence of the Kidneys", which is why we will often use acupuncture points to strengthen the Kidneys when helping people with lower back pain.

The whole lower portion of the body, including legs and feet, is closer to the Earth it and so it belongs to Yin, which relates to coolness and Winter. So this is the reason why looking after the Yin and Kidney areas of the body helps you adjust to the demands of the season.

If you look after these three areas then you'll have less need for jackets and hats and will feel cosy in the chilliest of Sydney Winter winds (though do keep protecting your neck with a scarf). You should also notice that your hands are remarkably warmer, and this is a great sign that your body is already getting into a better state of balance.

(See other articles on staying healthy and vibrant in Winter)

This post is brought to you by Lois Nethery, acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist at Ocean Acupuncture in Curl Curl on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

Bowen Therapy - The Gentle Healing Touch

What is Bowen Therapy? Most people only hear about it through word of mouth, yet it is one of the most profoundly relaxing and healing therapies around. It was developed in Australia, in Victoria by Tom Bowen in the 1960’s. Today it is a flourishing therapy and available in many countries in the world.

I have been a Bowen therapist for almost ten years yet I still find it hard to describe it to someone who asks what it is! It is much better to try a treatment to understand the feeling of it and how it works on the body’s systems.

You lie on a treatment couch, like when you go for a massage, only you don’t need to get undressed as we are able to work through light clothing. It is non-invasive and very gentle, which makes it so unique.

We make rolling type pressure ‘moves’ on very precise points on the body on muscles and tendons, in a sequence, to allow the body to go into a deep state of relaxation. Even people who find it very hard to relax can’t help but relax during a Bowen treatment.

When the body is deeply relaxed it then has the ability to heal itself. It’s about the client surrendering to the healing process which is about to take place. We therapists are just facilitators, you actually do all the healing yourself.

Each muscle has a receptor which sends a message to the brain after it has been ‘swtiched on’ and the message comes back from the brain to tell the muscles to relax and reset into it’s correct position. When the muscles are relaxed they can allow fresh blood to come in to fill the muscles, heal, and allow the lymphatic system to flow better and it also clears energy blocks in the body.

It can help you with muscular-skeletal disorders, stress and tension, bronchial problems, general relaxation and body balancing and stimulates lymphatic drainage.

All in all, it is the most beautiful experience and most people say their treatment was ‘Amazing’.

Sonia Barton is a Bowen Therapist and works from Ocean Acupuncture. If you would like more information on how Bowen therapy can help you with, you can go to her website: www.BowenEnergyWork.com.au
Tel: 0431 911 329

This post is brought to you by Sonia Barton, Bowen Therapist at Ocean Acupuncture in Curl Curl.

Apple and Goji Berry Crumble (Gluten-free)

This warming dessert will fill the room with vanilla and spice aromas. It's gluten-free, low in fat and has no cane sugar.

This is the version I made, adapted by using what I had at hand, based on one of Kristie's favourite blogs - Teresa Cutter "The Healthy Chef". I really wanted to use goji berries so I had a look at a very decadent Apple Goji Strudel recipe to see how to include them - that recipe uses plenty of brown sugar and butter, if you're that way inclined!

It's apple season - they're fresh, juicy and plentiful and great value. Goji berries nourish the Yin of the Kidney and Liver, making them a great winter food. They're good for Kidney-based conditions such as lower back pain or fertility issues, and they are especially known to benefit the eyes and vision.

4 large fuji apples, cored and cut into chunks
125 ml orange juice
Zest from 1 lemon
120g dried Goji berries, rehydrated *
1/2 cup almond meal **
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
20g plain-flavoured oil (I used rice bran oil)
25g honey

Combine the apples, orange juice and lemon zest in a saucepan.
Cook over a low heat for about 20 minutes until the apples are soft and liquid has evaporated.
Fold the Gojis through the warm apple and place into a baking dish or individual ramekins ***.
Combine almond meal, coconut, oil, vanilla, cinnamon and honey until all are coated.
Sprinkle over the apple and goji.
Bake in a moderate 175 C oven for 20-30 minutes until golden.
Serve with honey cinnamon yoghurt and enjoy! ****

* Goji berries are now in many health food stores but also at Chinese supermarkets - there are several in Dee Why. The Chinese name is Gou Qi Zi (pron "Go Chee Tze"). They look like red sultanas. To rehydrate, soak in boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Strain and sip the soak water - it's a powerhouse of antioxidant, Yin-nourishing goodness!

** A great place to get almond meal is Saini Emporium in Dee Why, an Indian grocery. It's a treasure trove of beautiful spices, curry pastes and curious goodies! Everything is sold in bulk quantities so it's excellent value.

*** I accidentally cooked my Gojis with the apple. It still tasted great, but they will be prettier if folded in as per the recipe as they lose some redness when cooked.

**** My preferred supermarket yoghurt is Farmers Union Greek Style Natural Yoghurt as they use S. Thermophilus and L. Bulgaricus cultures, which are supposed to be best for the intestinal flora (1). Add about half a teaspoon of cinnamon and a heaped teaspoon of honey to a cup of yoghurt (adjust to taste). I also had some liquid left over from the cooked apples so I reduced this to a syrup and added to the yoghurt, which gave a subtle citrus zing!

(1) See the Specific Carbohydrate Diet website at http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/

This post is brought to you by Lois Nethery, acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist at Ocean Acupuncture in Curl Curl on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

grass roots health!

01 July 2011

Prebirth acupuncture - Secret to birth preparation

05 June 2011

Parenting workshops Aug & Sep 2011

01 June 2011

Energy goes deep in Winter

Kristie's winter recipes

Dressing for warmth and vitality in Winter

Bowen Therapy - The Gentle Healing Touch

Apple and Goji Berry Crumble (Gluten-free)

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