One of the many things I enjoy about Japanese acupuncture is the refinement of all my senses to gather information on a patient’s landscape, so to speak.

By palpating the abdomen, I can assess where there is excess accumulation by sensing the hard or hot areas.

If an area feels weak, like a deflated balloon, this means resilience is lacking. When I sense cold in an area this has clinical significance, as well, it needs to be warmed up.

Besides palpating the abdomen, we touch the chest to see if heat is stuck there. [Read more…]

Many women come to me seeking relief from hot flashes and night sweats. Yes, there are hormonal changes taking place, which have physiological effects. From a Chinese Medicine perspective, their thermoregulatory system is in need of assistance.

Quite simply, the heat is stuck in the wrong place.

Our ideal state is a cool head and warm feet.

When a woman is perimenopausal or in menopause, their Yin (fluids) and Blood, which nourish the body, are in a diminished state. [Read more…]