Just got home from a soggy, windy, and cold commute from work. I was well equipped with my gloves, scarf, and jacket, yet nothing warmed me up like listening to I’m Yours by Jason Mraz coming through the radio. This completely shifted the grey and gloomy picture outside my car window, windshields wipers going mid-speed, to an upbeat and warm feeling. Talk about sunlight in a song! That said, grey and gloomy was only a state of mind; the forecast for the rest of my commute was sunshine everywhere!

Thought I’d share the song and lyrics with everyone; sing along to your hearts content as loud and animated as you desire! Dancing may be required.

Well you've done done me and you bet I felt it
I tried to be chill but you're so hot that I melted
I fell right through the cracks
and now I'm trying to get back
Before the cool done run out
I'll be giving it my bestest
Nothing's going to stop me but divine intervention
I reckon its again my turn to win some or learn some

I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm yours

Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find love love love
Listen to the music of the moment people dance and sing, were just one big family
It's our God-forsaken right to be loved love loved love love

So I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours

Do you want to, come on, scootch over closer dear
And I will nibble your ear

I've been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror
And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer
But my breath fogged up the glass
And so I drew a new face and I laughed
I guess what I'll be saying is there ain't no better reason
To rid yourself of vanity and just go with the seasons
It's what we aim to do
Our name is our virtue

I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours

Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find love, love, love
so please don't please don't please don't.
There's no need to complicate
'cause our time is short
This oh this oh this is our fate I'm yours

Oh I'm yours

I won't hesitate no more
Oh no more no more no more
It's our God-forsaken right to be loved, I'm sure
Theres no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours

No I won't hesitate no more, no more
This cannot wait I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours, I'm yours

Put a Sock In It!

I just had to make a quick mention about sleep, feet, and cold! Doesn’t sound comfortable or relaxing to put those three words together does it? In reality its not that comfortable either, yet we do it all the time. Most of us are accustomed to sleeping without socks for whatever reason. We are used to having our feet, and especially our toes, a couple degrees colder than the rest of our body when we sleep. It’s been such a part of our nightly routine we forget how cold they really are. Everyone, stop the madness!

Keeping feet warm at night gives quality to our sleep. We are less likely to awake in the middle of the night; keeping our sleep continuous and undisturbed. When our feet are warm, our sleep tends to be deeper and not as easily disrupted by external noise. When its time to wake up in the morning, we get out of bed with ease and with the feeling that we slept like a rock!

Remedies to keep feet warm? Throw on those warm fuzzy’s and call it night! Still feels like snow boots under the covers? Consider wearing very thin ankle socks that won’t slide-off during sleep. Still feel like Chubaka’s wrestling with your feet, try layering an extra blanket on the bottom half of the bed to provide extra insulation for your legs.

Sleep, feet, and warm….music to my ears. Good night and good bye!

The Force Be With-IN You

Often times when patients come to my office and receive an acupuncture treatment for the first time, they can be a bit nervous and apprehensive which is absolutely understandable. I also have repeat patients who love the benefits acupuncture provides them, yet are still nervous in the beginning of each treatment.

With almost every patient of mine who receives treatment, no matter what there in for, there is one acupuncture point I love to add which helps relax, focus, and calm any anxiety or stress they have or came with. This point is located right in-between the eyebrows called Yintang. Often time’s anxiety results from watching me needle them or anticipate the needle being inserted. Yintang is a fabulous point to needle because the patient can’t see it being inserted, and hardly ever feel it since the forehead area has less nerve ending than other parts of the body.

My real reason for mentioning this is that you, at home, at work, in traffic, at the stoplight….can also reap the benefits of this acupuncture point yourself with some acupressure. There are a couple ways you can do this; one way is to gently pinch the skin between your eyebrows with your thumb and index finger, and gently press against the head, and massaging it between you fingers. This allows the tension we often hold around our eyes to decompress and relax. This also calms a busy mind and allows it to just be still. Another method is to take the pad of your thumb or middle finger and just apply gentle pressure to the area between your brows and gently rub.

I completely enjoy bringing relaxation and energy balance to my patients and myself. Did I mention I’m wearing a needle, as I write this, right now, between the brows! It’s absolutely yummy! I too want you to love the benefits this point provides and with a little acupressure to yourself, your day has become a lot more delish!

Neck Lace

Brrrrrrrrr! We have got a serious down pour of rain in the San Francisco Bay Area, and so far, no end in sight. To all my fellow citizens of cold, windy, and gusty weather, protect the neck! Protect the neck! The nape of the neck is very venerable to cold and wind. It serves as an entry way into the body which can then cause one to get sick, literally giving meaning to “catching a cold”.

Easiest way to protect the neck? Make use of that wool scarf tucked somewhere in your closet and make sure it wraps well around the whole neck; even up toward the base of the head. A turtleneck is perfect for this kind of weather, however for those who find turtlenecks a bit uncomfortable; a jacket with a wide full collar which can be pulled up around the neck is perfect. Got long hair? Put it down, hair is very warm, isolating wonderful heat under the neck and protecting it from the weather.

So, dust off that scarf, let your hair down, and pull up your collar! Winter weather is still here and ‘let’s sing in the rain’ instead of dread the rain.

Lung Power!

Cold and flu season is still upon us. Let us build-up our immune system and make sure we take the proper measures to keep protected. Strengthening our lungs enhances our immunity and keeps the “sick” away.

And stretch! Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) considers the Lungs to be closely associated with our immune system, and our first line of defense against bacteria and viruses. It is no wonder that whenever we “catch something” it affects our lungs immediately; cough, phlegm, sore throat. Rejuvenate your immunity by exercising your lungs with slow full breathes. This encourages the proper circulation of Qi and body fluids which is directly connected with the quality of ones immune system. A healthy circulation means a strong immune system.

Don’t worry, be happy! Prolonged worry or sadness weakens the lungs which affects the quality of our immunity. That is why when we experience a sad event or a difficult time in our life, we sometimes get sick soon after. To remedy our emotion, find or think of something pleasant or happy that shifts your mood immediately, and keep thought as your “go-to” mood shifter.

Healthy lungs mean a healthy immune system. Stretch! Stretch! Stretch! out those lungs with slow full breaths to strengthen your defense against viruses and bacteria, and Laugh! Laugh! Laugh! It is a definite mood shifter to lift your spirits and keep the lungs, body, and mind healthy, happy, and immune strong!

Sour Grapes!

Living in San Francisco, California, a world class city of great eats, makes it easy to hang up my apron and head out for dinner or take-out food to go. What makes eating out guilt-free is that I make it a habit to detoxify from the weeks or months past of food consumption of savory and sweet eats! Fortunately, I have the luxury of providing myself with a cleansing acupuncture treatment, however for the general public, here are some valuable tips everyone can do at home.

Clear out the heat! Dining out often means eating dishes rich in seasoning. This produces a “heat” in the body, causing an energy imbalance, which is very drying and uncomfortable to the body’s natural temperature and system. Tofu, cucumber, and banana are “cooling” foods that are wonderful toxin neutralizers. They cleanse the body of harmful heat, moisten to help in digestion, and regulate body temperature.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! If there is one thing all of us can do anytime and anywhere, is have a tall glass of water. We must make it a healthy habit to consume at least eight glasses of water a day. The simple act of drinking water regularly, not only hydrates and regulates the body’s temperature, but flushes out toxins from within, and cleanses the organs.

Pucker up! Sour foods are a great source of countering the effects of rich and greasy foods on the body. It aids in dissolving and breaking down fats and accumulations, and also helps digestion. Foods characteristic of the sour property are: lemons, pickles, sour apples, and plums.

Helpful Tip: keep a pitcher of water with lemon and cucumber slices in the refrigerator at all times. This will help to clear the heat, hydrate the body, and dissolve rich and greasy foods all at once.