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Here you will find answers to your questions about acupuncture as well as simple natural remedies.

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Tuesday, October 25, 2011

A Simple Recipe for Coughs

I recently came across this blog called Recipes to Nourish and it is full of great resources for healthy foods! Check out their blog post from last Monday below. Its a simple recipe that can help with coughs. I thought it was appropriate now that fall is upon us and with is the cold/flu season.



Slippery Elm “Candies” for Coughs


Slippery Elm is wonderful for pesky coughs.  It helps soothe irritations, moisten dry throats and calm coughs.  When paired with raw honey (which is naturally antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal) it provides a wonderful natural remedy for coughs.

Slippery Elm “Candies”
These are so easy to make.  Make sure to always have some slippery elm powder on hand. 

Equipment: Small bowl

  • ¼ cup slippery elm powder (See Resources)
  • 3 tablespoons raw honey (I use local raw clover creamed)
  • 3 tablespoons raw cacao powder or carob powder
  • ½ - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon gluten free organic vanilla extract (I use Simply Organic)

1.    In a small bowl, add all ingredients.  With clean hands, mix to combine until it forms a dough.



2.   Break off small pieces of dough (about ½ - 1 teaspoon) and roll into little balls.  You can also roll dough into a thin “snake” and break off small pieces to roll into balls.


3.    Place in a bowl and leave out on the counter covered.  They will start to dry out a little becoming more like a lozenge.  They can be consumed right away as is or when they have dried. 

Yield: Makes about 40 mini "candies."

Dosage: Suck on these “candies” as often as needed.  Safe for children too (not babies due to the raw honey). 

Note: If you do not care for cacao or carob, omit and replace with extra slippery elm powder. 

Disclaimer: ALL information you read on Recipes to Nourish is purely for informational and educational purposes only.  I love to share and share with love, but I am not a health care practitioner.  This information is not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease.  If you have questions about food, diet, nutrition, natural remedies or holistic health, please do your own research and consult with your health care practitioner.  

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

A Great Documentary About Community Acupuncture

A recent documentary was filmed about the community acupuncture movement. Thank you to Brian Lindstrom who took the time to really *get* what Community Acupuncture is about, and then captured that with his talents in film making. Special thanks to the patients of Working Class Acupuncture and Philadelphia Community Acupuncture for their patience and participation in this endeavor.

Filmed & Directed by:
  • Brian Lindstrom
Co-Produced by:
  • Moses Cooper
  • Jessica Feltz
  • Lisa Rohleder
  • Ellen Vincent
  • CAN Board of Directors
“Like” the Facebook Page and share your comments here!




Many of you who have come in for treatment at NAP may not be aware of this movement. It was started in 2006 to help acupuncturists help patients by essentially bringing acupuncture back to its roots and offering low cost treatments in a shared space much the same way acupuncture has been practice across Asia for its long history and is still practiced today. This is a social business model which means the intent of the business is create a stable job with a livable wage for those that are employed there, any profits are put back into the community as social dividends. The Community Acupuncture Network (CAN) a non for profit that has been supporting acupuncturists learn about community acupuncture has evolved into the cooperative People's Organization of Community Acupuncture (POCA). Which I will get more into later. This week, enjoy the snippet of the Community Acupuncture documentary by clicking on this link.


Sarah Zender LAc

Neighborhood Acupuncture Place (NAP)
230 Florence St
Crystal Lake IL 60014
815.893.9825
www.clnap.com

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

How Safe Are Your Cleaning Products

I just recently became aware of this article from the sun times about a cop who died after inhaling fumes of cleaning products at the police station. 


Often times we take for granted what exactly is in the household cleaners we use on a regular basis. I know recently we talked about what is in tooth paste and other personal care products here. Today I wanted to give you some options for safer house hold cleaning products. Above there is a video on how to make your own cleaning products at home based on the recipe of the Thieves essential oil. If you don't have the time or patience for a DIY project Young Living has an concentrated thieves cleaning product available for purchase as well. (Young Living orders go out the 2nd of each month)

If you are still looking for safer alternatives for personal care products and you live locally make sure to check out Turtle Bay Naturals a Hand Made Soap Company. You can check ingredients of their products right on their website.

Sarah Zender LAc

Neighborhood Acupuncture Place (NAP)
230 Florence St
Crystal Lake IL 60014
815.893.9825
www.clnap.com

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

What is Moxabustion?

Moxa or Artemisia Vulgaris is a species of chrysanthemum and can be used for a variety of conditions. In Chinese Medicine there are several ways to use moxa and all involve burning this herb over or on acupuncture points.

One major benefit of Moxa is that it benefits circulation. It can be used to regulate the energy and blood of the body, expel cold and dampness especially if pain is worse in these kind of environments, warm the uterus, stop bleeding, regulate digestion as well as menstruation, and ease the fetus or turn a breech baby.

Moxa can be used preventatively as well. Burning moxa over the acu-point Zu San Li St36 on a regular basis is a great way to stay healthy. In Notes on Bian Que's Moxibustion, it says, "when a healthy man often has moxabustion to the points of CV4, CV6 and CV12 he would live a very long life, at least one hundred years."

Currently in Africa moxabustion is being used as a treatment for tuberculosis through the organization Moxafrica. There is research evidence from Japan in the 1930s and 40s where moxabustion was used effectively and cheaply to treat and in many cases cure TB.






Sarah Zender LAc

Neighborhood Acupuncture Place (NAP)
230 Florence St
Crystal Lake IL 60014
815.893.9825
www.clnap.com

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Neighborhood Acupuncture Place Welcomes New Acupuncturist!

NAP is excited to welcome Margeurite Vandenbrouke, our newest acupuncturist.

Marguerite graduated from the Southwest Acupuncture College in Albuquerque, NM with a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine.  Her experience as a Massage Therapy student introduced her personally to the wonderful world of acupuncture and herbs.  Marguerite clearly remembers the day in 2003 when she exclaimed, “I have to learn this medicine and help others the way I have been helped”!  


Marguerite has many wonderful childhood memories of spending time with family at Crystal Lake.  She is thrilled to return and join Sarah as your neighborhood acupuncturist!


Schedule appointments with Marguerite on Thursdays between 10a-2p & 4p-6p and Fridays 10a-2p.


Our new fall hours are:


Mondays: 2-6:30p
Tuesdays 9-1p
Wednesdays 2-6:30p
Thursdays 10-2p & 4-6p
Fridays 10-2p
Saturdays 9-1p


Sarah Zender LAc


Neighborhood Acupuncture Place (NAP)
230 Florence St
Crystal Lake IL 60014
815.893.9825
www.clnap.com 

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

If You Suffer From Frequent Canker Sores Your Tooth Paste Could Be The Problem

I was having a conversation recently with my land lord and somehow the topic of tooth paste came up. He shared that most tooth pastes contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate which creates the foam when you brush your teeth. Unfortuantely Sodium Lauryl Sulfate has also been linked to causing mouth sores among other things including damaging your immune system. I hadn't been aware of this but as he talked my tongue rolled over a recent canker sore on the side of my mouth. At home we had recently run out of our regular tooth paste and switched to Colgate. Neither one of us liked it but we were using it to not be wasteful. I shared the info on Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and was surprised to find that Christian also noticed mouth sores since using the store bought tooth paste.  We switched back and noticed a difference right away.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is in many soaps, shampoos etc make sure to check your labels. If you are looking for an alternative tooth paste without harmful chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulfate NAP carries Thieves toothpaste from Young Living. 


Thieves Dentarome Plus Toothpaste - 4 oz
Thieves® Dentarome Plus Toothpaste contains ingredients such as thymol and eucalyptol that are found in clove and thyme essential oils, along with gentle, odor-absorbing baking soda.Thieves Booklet
Thieves PDF
How to use: Brush teeth and gums thoroughly morning and night.

Ingredients: Baking soda, deionized water, vegetable glycerine, xanthan gum, ionic trace minerals, thymol, eugenol, steviocide (Stevia rebaudiana), the essential oils of wintergreen† (Gaultheria procumbens), peppermint† (Mentha piperita), and the blend of Thieves [clove† (Syzygium aromaticum), lemon† (Citrus limon), cinnamon† (Cinnamomum verum), eucalyptus† (Eucalyptus radiata), and rosemary† (Rosmarinus officinalis)].


Sarah Zender LAc

Neighborhood Acupuncture Place (NAP)
230 Florence St
Crystal Lake IL 60014
815.893.9825
www.clnap.com

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Why Not Use Antibacterial Soaps? Via the Allergy Queen Blog

Fall Allergy season is now upon us. I recently found this blog with great info for allergy sufferers. Deborah Mumm explains why not to use antibacterial soaps. For more info visit here. 


MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 2011

Why NOT to use Antibacterial Soaps?




As a community we tend to overuse antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers. What is wrong with them?

The antimicrobial chemical triclosan in antibacterial soaps is believed to disrupt thyroid function and hormone levels in people; when it mixes into waste water, it can cause sex changes in aquatic life. And health experts believe that overuse of this and other antibacterial chemicals is promoting the growth of bacteria that are resistant to antibacterial treatment.

Better alternative: Good old-fashioned soap and warm water will kill just as many germs, studies have shown. If you must use a hand sanitizer, pick one that’s alcohol-based and doesn’t list triclosan or other chemicals on its label.

Deborah Mumm
Healthy Environments Inc