Helping Yourself
Acupuncture can improve health and you can also help to keep yourself in top form:
Eat well
Have a wide range of good quality seasonal food, freshly prepared.
Keep the evening meal light and early if possible.
Avoid chilled drinks, especially with meals, and avoid sugary food and sweeteners like the plague!
Eat and drink in moderation and read the labels if you buy pre-prepared food. You may be surprised.
If you are eating, just eat. Savour it rather than just shoving it down while you text.
Move
Not everyone thrives on pounding the treadmill or heaving weights.
Consider swimming, walking, dancing, Yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong, Pilates.
Breathe
Breathing can profoundly affect your mood, blood pressure, heart health and supply of oxygen to tissues and brain.
Get into the habit of nose breathing. Keep your mouth closed whenever you remember.
Allow your breath to slow and focus on your abdomen rather than your chest.
If you are anxious or stressed, breathe out slowly and sink your attention to your lower abdomen.
Top tip to de-stress: imagine breathing in and out through the soles of your feet to your abdomen.
Enjoy life
Take a walk in the countryside or look out over the sea.
Feel that sense of awe as you appreciate the wonder of nature.
Remind yourself that all this is going on despite your own problems.
Make a list of things that delight you - your favourite films, music, animals, people, smells, places.
A photo at your desk, contacting friends, great music - all of these can remind you of the good things in life.
Follow your dream
Don't sweat the small stuff; ignore the minor problems in life. There are more important things out there.
Where would you like to be in five years time? What's the first step to get there? Ready to take it?
First aid tips from the Acupuncture Toolkit
Premenstrual breast discomfort - rub your knuckles firmly and briskly down the sides of your thighs several times.
The gallbladder channel passes over the breasts and also covers this area.
It might make your eyes water but it can be a great relief.
Winter Remedies, ice for sprains and strains? Look on the News Page
