Harmony Point Acupuncture

EAT RIGHT for the SEASON: Enjoy warm fall foods
People are always looking for ways to improve their health and well being. There are many ways to feel better and one way is to take care of your stomach and spleen by eating properly. For Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) this means eating primarily cooked, warm foods. Cold and raw foods slow the digestion because the stomach needs to work extra hard to warm the meal up to 100 degrees for digestion and the absorption of nutrients. Take advantage of this brisk fall season to enjoy warm food. Turn your attention to soups and stews for ease and healthy eating.

Bob Flaws’ The Tao of Healthy Eating offers many interesting ideas regarding diet and Chinese medicine.

Rely on chicken to supplement qi and blood, and to treat fatigue and edema.
Onions warm the intestines and move qi, and address ailments such as the common cold.
Ginger treats such cold symptoms as coughing as well as aiding in digestion.
Rice supports the lungs and spleen, and relieves lower digestive disorders.
Garlic moves qi and warms the stomach and spleen. It also resolves toxins and edema.

--Faith McCarthy

YOGA THERAPY
I have just returned from one month in India, where I co-led a tour on yoga, health, and ecology (www.AshramIndia.com). I participated, along with our group, in a series of intensive yoga workshops at Prashanti Kutiram near Bangalore. This institute, recently granted the status of Yoga University, conducts large numbers of yoga camps for a wide variety of medical conditions, including asthma, back pain, hypertension, and migraines. Prashanti’s neuroscientist, Shirley Telles, has led this institution in many rigorous research studies proving the efficacy of yoga in numerous areas, ranging from spacial perception of the blind, to sports performance.

I am very excited to be incorporating Prashanti’s Yoga Therapy Techniques into my practice here in Gainesville. Treatment principles designed at this institution are based on an elegant interweaving of modern science with the ancient texts of Pratanjali. Following this model, a series of yoga practices can be tailored to meet each patient’s individual needs. Such practices are a perfect compliment to regular acupuncture treatment as they provide the patient with the ability to participate actively in their own healing process. Yoga combined with acupuncture can provide the core of a comprehensive holistic treatment plan designed for the healing and empowerment of each individual.

The fall season is a busy time of year; I look forward to helping each of you to stay healthy and relaxed.

-- Bethany Bechtel

REDUCE STRESS FOR AN ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY SEASON
The days grow shorter, the winter holidays approach, and the pace of activity is picking up dramatically for many of us. Excitement fills the air as we book our calendars and fill our shopping lists. We travel from store, to party, to performance, but is there is such a thing as too much fun and excitement. Yes! Most of us have experienced the stress of too much social activity which, when experienced beyond moderation ceases to be pleasurable.

From a Chinese medical perspective too much excitement is a strain on the heart. The concept of the heart in Chinese medicine is not restricted to the heart organ, but is an entire aspect of our psychological and physiological well being. The heart is also known as the house of the mind and its health is closely linked to what we know in Western medicine as mental health. When we are overtaxed with social pressures our mental health is affected and we become stressed.

Acupuncturists can help with stress by treating points that calm the shen, or spirit, and quiet the mind. Acupuncture can be a particularly effective method for coping with the demands of a heavy schedule and maintaining a sense of well being. Receiving regular acupuncture treatments can help you have a more relaxed and enjoyable time of celebration. We at HARMONY POINT would like to encourage you to seek out acupuncture treatment this season. May your holiday be filled with peace and joy and harmony. • Bethany Bechtel

ASHRAM INDIA TOUR 2005
I am pleased to let everyone know that I will again be leading a tour of South India for four weeks in July and August of 2007. Our 2003 and 2005 tours were exceptional and we look forward to visiting centers for yoga, dance, music therapy, and ecology and introducing you to many longtime friends. Speak to me in person or check out our website at <www.AshramIndia.com>

• Bethany Bechtel

FLU SEASON
vaccine shortage no obstacle to good health

At this time of year many of our patients worry about getting sick with flu symptoms. Although cold and flu pathogens can invade at any time, we find ourselves especially vulnerable at this time of year. The welcome change in seasons brings winter conditions such as cold exposure, indoor confinement, and holiday stress. These factors put us at risk because they tax our immune system and increase our susceptibility to pathogens.

From the perspective of Chinese medicine, such illnesses are signs of a battle between pathogens and their human host. To remain healthy, we protect ourselves from pathogens by keeping our defensive qi strong and moving smoothly through the body. On occasion, we face a pathogen strongerthan our protective qi, and we succumb to the invasion. Resulting symptoms such as fever, chills, and coughing, for example, are a sign that the body is putting up a fight to keep the pathogens at bay.

There are many things you can do to keep healthy and happy this flu season. First, remember food is therapy and each meal is an opportunity to treat yourself. Eat a balanced diet of warm, cooked foods. Second, moderate exercise boosts the body’s immune system. Make room in your busy schedule for some kind of activity, preferably yoga or qi gong, to elevate your qi. Finally, see your acupuncturist on a regular basis. Acupuncture will help keep a body’s qi balanced, strong, and moving smoothly--all essential for good health.

We are often too quick to lose sight of priorities during the demanding holiday season. Taking time to care for yourself is perhaps the greatest gift that you can give to you and your loved ones. So happy holidays. See you at the clinic.

•Faith McCarthy

INSURANCE ACCEPTED
This is a reminder that many insurance policies cover acupuncture treatments. As Acupuncture Physicians we are primary care providers under Florida law. This means you do not need any other referral in order to make an appointment with us.

We look forward to seeing you on your next visit.

HARMONY POINT ACUPUNCTURE & ORIENTAL MEDICINE
Diagnosis and Treatment
900 NW 8th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida
New patients welcome -- Please call for appointment
Insurance Accepted