Skip to content

Chinese lunar New Year: A do-over for your New Year’s resolutions

By admin | Published January 14, 2013

It’s about almost month into the New Year. Do you already wish you had a do-over for your New Year’s Resolutions?

If so, you’re in luck.  You do.

February 10th is the Chinese lunar New Year.  The celebration of the New Year, the Spring Festival, is China’s longest and most important holiday.  Because it is based on a different calendar, it falls on a different date between January 21 and February 20 every year.  You can think of Spring Festival as Christmas and New Year all rolled into one.  Just like our holiday season, it’s a time of celebration, visiting family and friends, giving gifts and preparing for the next year.

Chinese Lunar New Year:   Spring Festival

In China, there are many New Year’s traditions during the 15-day Spring Festival.  Many people clean their homes to sweep away the past year and usher in the next.  Oftentimes family members travel home for a visit.  Children receive red envelopes, called hóngbāo in Mandarin, filled with money from their relatives. People hang red lanterns outside their homes to bring happiness and good luck.  On Chinese New Year’s Eve families gather for a huge meal and enjoy “lucky” foods together.  And, of course, there are fireworks.

The Chinese zodiac has 12 years in its cycle, each one represented by an animal; 2013 is the Year of the Snake.  Astrologers say that people born in the Year of the Snake are wise but enigmatic.  They are very intuitive and size up situations well, but say little.  Snakes are refined; they like to dress well and are usually financially secure. They are intense and passionate in relationships, but can become jealous and suspicious.  Snakes prefer a calm, stress-free environment.

Recommit to Your New Year’s Resolutions

The Chinese do not traditionally make New Year’s Resolutions like we do in the West, however this is a good time to reflect on the goals you set a month ago. Are you keeping your New Year’s resolutions?

If you’re having trouble, maybe it’s time to take a lesson from the Snakes.  Take a quiet moment and reflect on what is stopping you.  Do you need to get serious?  Do you need additional support?  Are your goals genuine—do you want to do them or do you think you should do them?  Why haven’t you kept your New Year’s Resolutions?

If your resolutions include improving your health in 2013, I can help you with that.  Give me a call and we can arrange an appointment for anything from a tune-up to weight control to mood balancing.

If you need to make a deeper commitment to your resolutions, take a moment and think about what you need to do to keep them.  Write down 3 easy action steps.

…and do them.  Now.

Use the Chinese lunar New Year as a do-over.  Commit to your New Year’s resolutions.

Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái.  Happy New Year.

Photo credit: Gayle Nicholson / Foter / CC BY-SA

Posted in Acupuncture, Wellness | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Chinese lunar New Year: A do-over for your New Year’s resolutions

The Pessimist’s Guide to Gratitude

By admin | Published December 24, 2012

Your mother was right–say thank you.

Scientists have now proven what your mother always knew–it’s good to be grateful.  Being grateful is more than just politeness; it’s actually good for your health and well-being.

In a study by Robert A. Emmons, of the University of California, and Davis and Michael E. McCullough, of the University of Miami, people who kept gratitude journals showed higher levels of health and well-being than people who journaled neutral events or counted hardships.  After 2 months, the people who journaled their gratitude felt more optimistic and happier than their control counterparts. They reported fewer physical problems and spent more time working out.  People with neuromuscular problems who did the same thing fell asleep more quickly, slept longer and woke up feeling more refreshed.  Even their spouses noticed the difference!

How can you cultivate gratefulness even if you’re a glass-half-empty person?

Read the rest here…

Posted in Gratitude | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Pessimist’s Guide to Gratitude

Winter Solstice: Seasonal Tune-up

By xia | Published December 14, 2012

Traditional Chinese Medicine accounts for specific balancing treatments in preparation for each season of the year. In Yellow Empero’s Canon Internal Medicine (tr. by Nelson Liansheng Wu and Andrew Qi Wu, China Science & Technology Press, 1997), Chapter 1 entitled “On Human Preserving Health Energy in Ancient Times”, the Yellow Emperor asked of Qibo, the Taoist Master, “…people in ancient times could all survive to more than one hundred years old…What is the reason?” The Master answered: “Those who knew the way of keeping a good health in ancient times always kept in their behavior in daily life in accordance with the nature….They were able to modulate their daily life in harmony with the way of recuperating the essence and vital energy, thus they could master and practices the way of preserving good health.” This is further discussed in Chapter 2 “On Preserving Health in Accordance with the Four Seasons.” Therefore, each of the four seasons is a preparation for the coming seasonal period. For example, ten days before or after December 21, 2012 would be ideal for patients to receive an acupuncture treatment, in order to balance their vital energy for the fall season. This is especially important for those who were born in Dragon year, Dog year, Ox year and Sheep year. Even if you are feeling very healthy, it is a good practice to routinely maintain your health

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Winter Solstice: Seasonal Tune-up

9 Healthy Holiday Eating Strategies

By admin | Published December 10, 2012

Pie.  Cookies.  Chocolate.  Eggnog.  Champagne.

The holiday season is filled with good foods.  You eat and drink with your friends and loved ones to celebrate how much you care about them.

But we all know that too much of a good thing is no longer good.  Too many rich foods can lead to extra pounds, digestion upsets, mood swings and a generally “yucky” feeling.

It’s all about balance.

Good, healthy holiday eating can make the difference between an enjoyable holiday season and a miserable one.  The trick is to enjoy treats without overdoing them.  Make a healthy holiday eating strategy and plan to enjoy the holiday celebrations without feeling bad the next day.

See some healthy holiday eating strategies below the fold…

Posted in Nutrition, Wellness | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 9 Healthy Holiday Eating Strategies

The Key to Staying Healthy

By admin | Published November 26, 2012

If you live in a rainy area, the odds are pretty good that your automobile will develop some body damage over its lifetime.  Does this mean that you never wash your car because it’s going to rust out anyway?  Of course it doesn’t.  If you care about your car, it means that you’ll fight extra hard to protect your investment.

The reality is that most of the top killers today are lifestyle related, regardless of your family history.  Just because you inherit the genes doesn’t mean that you have to continue the lifestyle.

Cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, autoimmune disorders…all of these conditions are greatly impacted by diet, lifestyle habits, depressed nervous systems, our home environments, etc.

Until we change our focus from the curing of disease to the propagation of health, history is destined to repeat itself.

Remember that the body has the capacity to heal easily, as long as there is the proper balance and flow of energy. The key to staying healthy is not to inject “cures” from the outside, but rather to get the innermost layer (the meridian system) in order first, and then to insulate it with layer upon layer of healthy, productive lifestyle habits.

Posted in Wellness | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Key to Staying Healthy

What is health?

By admin | Published November 12, 2012

What does it mean to be healthy?  Health is a state of optimum physical functioning, spiritual enlightenment, social well-being, and mental aptitude.  True health is so much more than settling for mediocrity.  It’s not about living life just barely above the doldrums, or hoping against hope that you won’t get sick or that you’ll finally feel better.

Understand that your body was designed to be healthy and in balance.  This is your natural state.  If you are struggling with your health, you have most likely, throughout the course of living, allowed your body to get out of balance. Taking medicine to treat a symptom will never create balance within the body.  Acupuncture works with the body to return it to its natural state of balance so that it can heal from the inside out.  Don’t divert the smoke, put out the fire!

Posted in Acupuncture | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on What is health?

Acupuncture Today Breaking: Acupuncture Added As Essential Health Benefit in California

By admin | Published October 23, 2012

By Brenda Duran, Senior Associate Editor

Acupuncture will be considered an “essential health benefit” in California and will be covered by individual and small group health plans starting in 2014. On Sept. 30, Gov. Jerry Brown signed measures SB 951 and AB 1453, which included acupuncture to be covered under the federal health reform also known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that was signed into law on March 23, 2010. The health care law will require all insurance plans to cover a specific set of benefits. The health law includes 10 broad categories that must be included, leaving the specifics to every state. The legislation establishes the minimum health benefits that must be offered to consumers. The two measures included acupuncture as an essential health benefit that the state can begin to offer through federally subsidized plans for individuals and families as well as unsubsidized plans. According to the plan, patients would pay a $30 co-pay for acupuncture services to treat “nausea and chronic pain.” This is the first step to full implementation of the ACA in the state of California. During his term as California governor in the 1970s, Gov. Brown had legalized the practice of acupuncture and strongly supported the rights of chiropractors, osteopaths and lay midwives. During the past year, the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) and many of its national and state partners were actively engaged in the public debate on the definition of Essential Health Benefits (EHB). The AAAOM EHB Task Force had submitted a Summary Report to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in support of acupuncture as a potentially-covered EHB. In that report, the group outlined both the criteria HHS should use to determine specifics of the EHB package and the benefits of including acupuncture in this benefit package. The core of the message was that acupuncture increases patient choice and improves overall cost-effectiveness of American healthcare through prevention and its integration with mainstream medicine. The AAAOM EHB Task Force also worked with the office of Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) to designate acupuncture as a covered as an essential health benefit under PPACA. After running a national letter-writing campaign, the group was able to gather 23,000 letters, which were sent to HHS to comment on the first EHB bulletin.

Read more on this campaign: www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=32458

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Acupuncture Today Breaking: Acupuncture Added As Essential Health Benefit in California

Autumnal Equinox Day: seasonal tune-up

By xia | Published September 12, 2012

Traditional Chinese Medicine accounts for specific balancing treatments in preparation for each season of the year. In Yellow Empero’s Canon Internal Medicine (tr. by Nelson Liansheng Wu and Andrew Qi Wu, China Science & Technology Press, 1997), Chapter 1 entitled “On Human Preserving Health Energy in Ancient Times”, the Yellow Emperor asked of Qibo, the Taoist Master, “…people in ancient times could all survive to more than one hundred years old…What is the reason?” The Master answered: “Those who knew the way of keeping a good health in ancient times always kept in their behavior in daily life in accordance with the nature….They were able to modulate their daily life in harmony with the way of recuperating the essence and vital energy, thus they could master and practices the way of preserving good health.” This is further discussed in Chapter 2 “On Preserving Health in Accordance with the Four Seasons.” Therefore, each of the four seasons is a preparation for the coming seasonal period. For example, ten days before or after September 22, 2012 would be ideal for patients to receive an acupuncture treatment, in order to balance their vital energy for the fall season. This is especially important for those who were born in Dragon year, Dog year, Ox year and Sheep year. Even if you are feeling very healthy, it is a good practice to routinely maintain your health

Posted in Blog | Comments Off on Autumnal Equinox Day: seasonal tune-up

Anson’s testimonial

By xia | Published April 7, 2012
 Anson:  I have been seeing Dr. Che for several years now.  Prior to Dr. Che, I was seeing another acupuncturist only when I had my periodic severe allergic reactions that resulted in full body hives for long periods of time.  At the time, I was only seeking immediate relief when I should have also been seeking for the root cause of my condition.

Dr. Che took the time to educate me on the causes of my condition and proceeded to treat me accordingly.  Since I started seeing Dr. Che, I have not had even one occurrence of hives.  In addition, Dr. Che has also been able to help me with my history of back and shoulder pain that was escalated after a severe car accident.  In addition, I always feel a sense of well being and an overall increase in energy whenever I receive treatment.

Dr. Che is extremely knowledgeable and thorough.  She has also always been very encouraging and supportive with me and has made a dramatic positive impact in my health.  I have full trust in Dr. Che and highly recommend her practice.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Anson’s testimonial

Enlightenment and Inspiration from an experience with a skin cancer case

By admin | Published March 28, 2012

By Dr. Che, Xia Lic. Ac. & Dipl.O.M.(NCCAOM)

Published in the Journal of CAMA(California Acupuncture Medical Association) Monthly May, 2010

Introduction: In this case, the patient has had unrelenting severe back and leg pain even after two epidurals within a five month period at Kaiser Permanente Hospital. Referred by his friend, he came to see me in wheelchair accompanied by his family. While treating him for the back and leg pain, an unexpected result occurred regarding his other medical problem of skin cancer which he had been struggling with for over 30 years. In this article, I am documenting the procedure and theoretical background for the treatment of this patient. At the writing of this article, the patient is attending his third 12-visit course of treatment. The first course was three times per week from Jan 22,2010 to Feb.17,2010; the second was two times per week from Feb.24,2010 to April 2,2010. The enlightenment experienced from this case may inspire further research to learn how these ancient theories may benefit more people. This paper includes a small bibliography and keywords for the reader to pursue further understanding of the concepts discussed.

continue reading »

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Enlightenment and Inspiration from an experience with a skin cancer case
425-374-8408 Contact/Schedule