Alexandra, Author at Mend Acupuncture

Hot Topic: Chinese Medicine for Menopause
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Hot Topic: Chinese Medicine for Menopause

Women's Health

Hot Topic: Chinese Medicine for Menopause

By Alexandra|2023-11-28T10:49:05-05:00November 22nd, 2023|Categories: Women's Health|Tags: menopause|

Many patients come to us for relief from mild to ferocious menopausal symptoms. One such patient recently asked, "how does it work?" We thought you’d never ask. With Chinese medicine, there is always the potential for (super) deep dives when it comes to theory. However, the heart and soul of how Chinese medicine works for menopause can best be described as 1.) decline of the Kidney function and 2.) an imbalance of yin and yang. Imbalances During Menopause Menopause is specifically linked to the Kidney, a foundational organ system that is the root of our life essence (also called [...]

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Clear Heat With LI 11
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Clear Heat With LI 11

acupoint, Acupressure

Clear Heat With LI 11

By Alexandra|2023-08-23T14:50:23-04:00August 23rd, 2023|Categories: acupoint, Acupressure|Tags: damp, Heat, Late Summer, LI11|

Here we are. In the absolute depths of summer heat. The season when yang reaches its pinnacle, affecting our bodies and minds in a variety of ways. Large Intestine 11 (or Li11) is one of the most powerful points for clearing any type of heat. Even its name is cooling, Qu Chi, which means "Pool At The Bend," because the point is located at the bend of the elbow. One thing that I love the most about acupuncture points is that some of the most commonly used points have such a wide gamut of indications, and Li11 is certainly [...]

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A Humble Book Rec: Be Free Where You Are
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A Humble Book Rec: Be Free Where You Are

book rec, Faves, Self-Care

A Humble Book Rec: Be Free Where You Are

By Alexandra|2023-07-19T18:39:10-04:00July 14th, 2023|Categories: book rec, Faves, Self-Care|

Be Free Where You Are is a pocket sized gem of a book that a friend gave me as a stocking stuffer in my 20s. I find myself pulling it from the bookshelf to reread its profound pages from time to time. It’s a good one to have around during times of struggle, when your heart needs softening and when you need to s l o w d o w n and be reminded of the most fundamental ways to go back to being in the present moment. The book is a talk given by Thich Nhat Hanh to [...]

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Nutrition for Spring
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Nutrition for Spring

Nutrition, Seasonal Changes

Nutrition for Spring

By Alexandra|2024-04-09T12:51:50-04:00March 17th, 2023|Categories: Nutrition, Seasonal Changes|Tags: green, liver, nutrition, sour, spring|

Photo by Cup of Couple from Pexels As we transition from the chilly depths of winter to the blossoming warmth of spring, our diets change to reflect this huge seasonal shift. In the yin of winter, Chinese Medicine prescribes a diet full of warm foods that are more heavily cooked. In spring, as we move towards the yang of summer, we want to eat foods that are both lighter, and more lightly cooked. Consider steaming your vegetables, instead of boiling or roasting them. The LIVER is the organ associated with springtime. The Liver is associated with regulating the smooth [...]

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The Kidney and Root Chakra in Winter
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The Kidney and Root Chakra in Winter

Movement, Self-Care, Wellness

The Kidney and Root Chakra in Winter

By Alexandra|2023-01-24T15:26:11-05:00January 23rd, 2023|Categories: Movement, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: grounding, Root chakra, The Kidneys, winter, yoga, Yoga with Adriene|

I recently came across a Yoga With Adriene video, Grounding Into Gratitude: Root Chakra Yoga, and it ended up being a nourishing delight. Even though the chakras are a whole different system than Chinese Medicine, there is certainly some overlap, and this video got me thinking about how the first chakra is similar to The Kidney in the season of winter (and its corresponding emotion of fear) in Chinese Medicine. The chakra system originated in ancient India. Chakras are ‘discs’ or ‘wheels’ of energy that ascend the spine and relate to different parts of our emotional and physical wellbeing. The [...]

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Eye Pillows : For the Win
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Eye Pillows : For the Win

Self-Care, Wellness

Eye Pillows : For the Win

By Alexandra|2022-11-15T14:04:41-05:00October 19th, 2022|Categories: Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: eye pillows, headaches, migraines|

I’ve had eye pillows on my mind for ages, most likely prompted by the myriad of patients coming in who have tired eyes and headaches after a day of screentime in non-stop Zoom meetings. I love eye pillows! At the heart and soul of it, they are like little weighted blankets for your eyes. Eyes do so much work for us on a day-to-day basis, and I for one, think it’s time to give them some love in return. These weighted eye pillows put gentle pressure on our eyes, stimulating our parasympathetic nervous system (turning on our ‘rest and [...]

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Yoga Nidra: A Bit of Bliss
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Yoga Nidra: A Bit of Bliss

Self-Care, Wellness

Yoga Nidra: A Bit of Bliss

By Alexandra|2022-11-15T14:04:45-05:00May 16th, 2022|Categories: Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: meditation, relaxation, stress, yoga nidra|

Illustration by: Keiko Morimoto If you’ve been a patient of mine at any point during the pandemic, the likelihood that I’ve given you a recommendation for Kerry Martinez’s (a local Yoga Nidra master and inspiration for my call to learn more about this practice) recorded Yoga Nidra session on Mend’s website is pretty high. I tried Yoga Nidra a few times pre-pandemic and loved it. I was blown away by how dramatically and instantly it relaxed me. I’ve recently taken an immersion certification with Kamini Desai of the Integrative Amrit Method of Yoga Nidra in which I learned what a [...]

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Nettles for Allergies
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Nettles for Allergies

Allergies, Herbs, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness

Nettles for Allergies

By Alexandra|2022-11-15T14:05:15-05:00March 23rd, 2022|Categories: Allergies, Herbs, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: allergies, herbs, nettles, spring|

Photo by Paul M on Unsplash Here we are. It’s that special season of warmer weather, beautiful flowers blossoming, with a side of sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and fatigue. Luckily, we have an amazing medicinal herbal plant that helps remedy our seasonal sneezes and sniffles: Stinging nettles! Nettles are so common that if you know how to identify them and you’re out on a hike, you’ll find them popping up everywhere around this time of year. Stinging nettles work well for allergies because of their decongestant and antihistamine properties. This herb is very tonifying with all of its abundant antioxidants, minerals [...]

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Tonglen Meditation
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Tonglen Meditation

Self-Care, Wellness

Tonglen Meditation

By Alexandra|2022-11-15T14:05:16-05:00January 25th, 2022|Categories: Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: meditation, Tonglen|

Illustration by Carole Henaff Years ago, when I was amidst a crisis, a Buddhist friend of mine recommended this meditation as a potentially helpful tool. At the time, it seemed so radical - why would I take in more pain, other people's pain, when I am in so much pain myself? We typically learn the opposite of what this meditation is proposing: ‘breathe in the good, breathe out the bad.’ I quickly brushed off the recommendation and forgot all about it.… Perhaps due to the global and collective turbulence of the last couple years (and the ever growing call [...]

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Du20: To Raise Yang in the Yin of Winter
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Du20: To Raise Yang in the Yin of Winter

acupoint, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness

Du20: To Raise Yang in the Yin of Winter

By Alexandra|2022-11-15T14:05:17-05:00January 11th, 2022|Categories: acupoint, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: acupoint, du20, winter|

It seems important to start out by saying that there’s definitely something to leaning into the Yin of winter. That might look like letting ourselves feel less energetic and motivated, perhaps feeling inward and wanting to spend more time alone. Chinese Medicine is all about living in harmony with the seasons. That being said, in order for balance to exist, Yin cannot exist without Yang. This acupoint is just one tool to help balance the Yin of winter with a little bit of Yang. What is Yang? It’s the opposite of Yin. It is warmth, it is light, it [...]

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