As a result of my acupuncture sessions with Mary Lee, I have experienced health benefits far beyond my expectations. I had consulted Mary Lee after experiencing allergies and sinus issues for many years. I had tried over the counter products, as well as prescription medications and nothing seemed to work. After a few sessions with Mary Lee, I feel like a brand new person. There is a marked improvement in my overall health and an increase in my energy level. I highly recommend Mary Lee to anyone who is looking for an extremely knowledgeable acupuncturist. She’s very professional and thoroughly explains the process so you’ll feel comfortable during your treatment. L.S.
Archive for February, 2012
I Feel Like A Brand New Person…Increase In My Energy Level
Tuesday, February 21st, 2012Chicago Marathon Knee Pain – IT Band
Thursday, February 16th, 2012Mary Lee is the best! While I was training for the Chicago Marathon I encountered knee pain due to my IT Band. This was a major set back for me since I workout 5 to 7 times a week. I thought I had run out of options to alleviate the pain and get back to my normal training schedule until I found Mary Lee! I was a little apprehensive having never used acupuncture before but she made me feel comfortable. Her level of expertise is outstanding. Pain-free I am back and training as if I had never injured myself. I am grateful! J.S.
Morning Sickness Relief
Wednesday, February 15th, 2012Mary Lee has helped me with my morning sickness that lasted all day. I am grateful for all her help. She goes beyond the expected session of needles by giving me more information about how to help myself in my diet. She is great for a first timer and someone who has used alternative Medicine previously. C.S.
She is caring, understanding…I immediately felt at ease…
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012Mary Lee is a true healer. She is caring, understanding and non-judgmental and I immediately felt at ease. More importantly, she asks perceptive questions and then listens (a nearly non-existent trait in Western medicine). Our relationship is truly a partnership. As a result, we are now working on the causes of my problems instead of trying to cover up my symptoms with drugs as other doctors have done in the past. For the first time in my life, I now look forward to getting stuck with needles! ES, RN
Cold and Flu Season, Chinese Medicine’s Viewpoint
Friday, February 3rd, 2012Similar to other western conditions, Chinese Medicine does not use western terminology such as a “cold” or the “flu” in formulating proper treatments. Colds and flus are merely western names which describe an array of symptoms with some common underlying factors and symptoms. Chinese Medicine, on the other hand, treats collections of symptoms unique to the individual – what we call “patterns.” While both the cold and the flu (influenza) are understood as viral infections (from a few different viruses), within Chinese Medicine they are viewed as “external invasions of ‘wind’.”
Illness from a Chinese Medicine perspective can arise from either “internal” or “external” causes and colds and flus are derived from external factors. The concept of wind, merely indicates symptoms that generally arise (and often disappear) relatively quickly and move around. Wind may arise externally from the weather (getting sniffly from a cold/damp wind off the ocean in the winter) or internally from imbalances in the body (migraines from a stagnant “liver” may arise from “liver-wind”). Generally speaking the cold or the flu will fall into what we call a “Wind-Heat Invasion” or a “Wind-Cold Invasion” and the treatment will vary between the two to take into account the difference in symptoms.
Qi and Defensive Qi (Wei Qi)
Before we discuss these patterns in detail, it is illuminating to first explore, from a Chinese Medicine perspective, why some people get sick and others do not. Many have heard the somewhat nebulous phrase “qi.” Most, however, have very little idea what is meant by the concept other than some sort of energy flowing in the acupuncture channels. Qi, however, is really a broad concept with many different “types” of qi in the body. Ultimately it is simply a way of discussing the energy of and the movement and functions within the body. Of particular importance for our discussion here is the concept of “Wei Qi” or “Defensive Qi” which is what keeps us safe from these external influences.
While the Chinese Medical theory is slightly more complicated than this, qi within the body can be thought of as a series of layers. At the deepest level we have “jing” which is a catalyst that keeps us alive – when that is gone we are gone. Then there are muscle and blood layers and so on up to the surface layer or “wei qi.” As we are run down from overwork, excessive physical, mental and/or psychological strain, poor dietary habits, etc. we challenge our “qi.” As we do this, our body may first weaken the outer layers, the “wei qi”, to protect the deeper functions of our body. So, often, when under chronic stress and poor lifestyle habits we will develop weak “wei qi” or “defensive qi” – which means that we are essentially walking around in the cold without a jacket on… The result of this will be a greater susceptibility to illness. The somewhat obvious remedy to this is to live in accordance with the rules of moderation, to respect the seasons, and to keep stress levels low (easy, right?)...
Hope and renewed relief that I can heal…
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012Hope and the renewed belief that I can heal come to mind when I think of what I have regained after being treated by Mary Lee. After decades of stress and developing anxiety, depression, digestive issues, insomnia and sciatica I was in need of help. I am grateful that I feel lighter, that my digestion has improved, that I am sleeping more, have a significant decrease in sciatic pain and most importantly that I feel more like myself. I know that I will continue to improve under her kind and expert care. I highly recommend Mary Lee. B.B.
