January Newsletter

-------- How to Tackle Those New Years Resolutions Stress-Free--------

Author

Brittany Moore
January 09, 2024

  January 2024 Newsletter

Happy New Year! As we say good bye to 2023 and welcome in 2024, we often set lofty new goals for ourselves and end up becoming overwhelmed with everything. In this newsletter, we will give you some helpful ways to tackle your New Year’s resolutions in a more stress-free and attainable way. I hope you find this newsletter helpful and remember to be gracious with yourself!

With gratitude, Brittany Smith

Navigating New Year’s Resolutions Stress-Free: How Acupuncture Can Help

Embarking on New Year’s resolutions can be overwhelming, but success lies in moderation and small, achievable goals. By taking one day at a time, the journey becomes more manageable, allowing for steady progress without unnecessary stress. Acupuncture can help you discover a harmonious approach to personal growth in the coming year.

Set Realistic Wellness Goals: Define achievable health goals for yourself. Don’t compare yourself to the ultimate wellness guru down the street, but think about one aspect of wellness that you would truly like to address. Maybe instead of simply eliminating dessert completely, maybe you offer yourself 1 or 2 times a week when you can indulge guilt-free. After all, this is a more sustainable goal which in the end could become naturally part of your lifestyle.

Prioritize Moderation: Similarly to the realistic goal, but equally important to emphasize. Moderation is the key to healthy living. Even exercising too much without proper recover, care, and rest can lead to even more issues.

Focus on Daily Self-Care: Incorporate a daily practice that complements acupuncture treatments, such a mindful breathing exercises or herbal teas. Small, consistent self-care rituals can enhance the overall effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine and the ultimate achievement of your goals.

Celebrate Progress in Healing: Acknowledge and celebrate improvements in your well-being, whether it’s reduced pain, increased energy, or better sleep. Recognizing these positive changes reinforces your commitment to the holistic approach of acupuncture.

Adapt Treatment Plans as Needed: Be open to allowing adjustments to your acupuncture strategies based on your body’s response. We can work collaboratively to tailor your treatment plan for optimal results.

I am happy to work with you to design a personalized treatment plan to help you achieve your wellness goals. I offer a complimentary 15 minute phone consult to all new patients. Acupuncture can help in so many ways in managing stress, improving sleep, reducing pain, providing guidance on lifestyle modifications, nutrition and more. Please reach out if you have any questions or if you want to work together to design a treatment just for you.

Soothing Stress & Anxiety

Self-care is so important during the holiday season. We get extremely busy trying to accomplish so much that we often disregard our own care, causing ourselves to get run down, exhausted, and frazzled. Try to do it differently this year. Take time to eat healthy, nutritious meals (see brown rice recipe below), rest when you need it, and enjoy a cup of this Stress Relief tea whenever you can. The herbs in this tea can help reduce stress and promote relaxation. Some of the herbs also have soothing properties that can help alleviate anxiety and tension. Brown rice is a whole grain that provides sustained energy and essential nutrients, which can help you stabilize your blood sugar and maintain your energy throughout the day. This can be beneficial during the holidays when stress and erratic eating patterns are so common.

Tea of The Month: Stress Relief Tea

Ingredients: 1 part Skullcap, 1 part Holy Basil, ½ part Chamomile, 1 part Lemon Balm, 1 part Passion Flower, 1 part Oat Straw, and ¼ part Catnip.

Measurements: If you are making a large portion your ‘part’ could be a ‘cup’ and it would be 1 cup of Skullcap, ½ Cup of Chamomile. If you’re using a tablespoon as your ‘part’, it would be 1 tablespoon of Skullcap and ½ tablespoon of Chamomile and so on.

Instructions: Add 1 tablespoon of the tea blend to a cup of hot water, steep for 5 minutes. Add honey if desired.

These herbs help you to destress in a variety of ways:

  • Skullcap has mild sedative properties and is known to promote relaxation and reduce anxiety

  • Holy Basil is an adaptogen that can help the body adapt to stress and has calming effects

  • Chamomile is a soothing herb that can help with relaxation and sleep, making it useful stress relief

  • Lemon Balm has a calming effect and can help reduce anxiety and promote a sense of well-being

  • Passion Flower has been used to treat anxiety and insomnia and can have a calming effect

  • Oat Straw is a good source of B vitamins, which are important for the nervous system and can help reduce stress

  • Catnip has mild sedative properties and can promote relaxation

By combining these herbs in a tea blend, you can create a calming and stress- relieving beverage that may help you relax, unwind, and manage stress more effectively. Always consult with your doctor before using any herbal remedies, especially if you have specific health concerns, are taking medications, or if you are pregnant.

For your convenience, the Tea of the Month loose leaf tea blends will be available in the office, while supplies last. We also have tea strainers and disposable tea bags available for your convenience.

Chinese-Style Brown Rice

Here’s a simple and delicious recipe for brown rice which is nourishing and calming to the body. This can help balance the Shen (spirit/mind) and Qi (energy) to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup brown rice

  • 2 cups water

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (like sesame or peanut)

  • 2 cloves minced garlic

  • 1 small finely chopped onion

  • 1 diced carrot

  • ½ cup frozen peas

  • 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce,

  • ½ teaspoon minced ginger

  • 2 chopped green onions (for garnish)

  • Diced tofu or cooked chicken for added protein (optional)

Instructions: Rinse the brown rice under cold water until water runs clear. In a saucepan, combine the brown rice and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 40-45 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the water is absorbed. You can add a little more water if needed. While the rice is cooking, heat the vegetable oil in a large pan or wok over medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger and stir-fry for 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add the onion and carrots and stir-fry for another 2-3 minutes until they start to soften. If you’re using tofu or chicken, add it to the pan and cook until heated through. Add the cooked brown rice along with the peas and soy sauce. Stir-fry for another 2-3 minutes, or until everything is well combined and heated through. Garnish with green onions and serve hot.

This Chinese-style brown rice is a comforting and balanced dish that compliments the calming effects of Stress Relief tea.

Office Update Complete

We have finished this round of office updates! We hope you are enjoying the new colors, soothing lighting, and refreshed space while you are being treated. We are so excited about the new paintings in the waiting/check out area. A local artist, Susan Doucette, created them especially for our office and we are thrilled with the colors and beauty they bring to our space. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

If you are interested in seeing more of Susan’s artwork, or discussing a customized piece for your home or office, contact her at [email protected], or 978-317-1097. This is only one of her styles. She also paints in oil and acrylic focusing on the beauty and changing seasons of Cape Ann and the surrounding area.

For The Holidays

Coming Soon- We will have “TeaCare Trio Sets - Sip, Strain & Soothe” in time for the holidays. They will make perfect stocking stuffers, as well as gifts for teachers, hostesses, friends, family or even yourself! Everyone can benefit from a little self-care. Keep an eye out, they will be in the office soon.

Acupuncture of New England Gift Certificates are also available in any denomination. These make a thoughtful & caring gift for your loved ones, whether they are existing clients or someone else you know who could benefit from our services. Available for purchase over the phone or via email as well!

Thank You

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all my clients who have referred me to their friends and family. Your recommendations mean the world to me, and I truly appreciate your trust and confidence in my services.

As a token of our appreciation, I’m delighted to offer you $10 off your next appointment for each referral you make and/or $10 off for any review made online. 

Thank you once again for your continued support and for helping me grow my business.

or call 978- 777-2707

Hours: Mon-Thurs 8am-6pm

More information can be found at Acupne.com

Telemedicine appointments are available for Herbal Consultations