In Chinese Medicine, one of the ways we describe illnesses is in term of climates. Climates can be internally generated by a disease process (internal pathogenic influences), or an excessive climate in our environment can invade our bodies (external pathogenic influences). Wind, Cold, Damp, Heat, and Dryness are the most common pathogenic influences. This way of describig the disease prices does not negate the concept of germ theory, but exists  alongside of it. It’s another way of describing what happens in the body.

For instance a person with arthritis resulting in red, swollen joints that feel hot and are worse in rainy weather might be said to have “Internal Damp Heat” in the joints. Someone who catches a cold, especially after exposure to inclement weather, has an “External Wind-Cold” invasion.

March weather in the Northeast can be quite windy and cold. These are the pathogenic influences from which we need to protect ourselves this time of year. Pathogenic Wind causes itching, symptoms that come and go, watery itchy eyes, sneezing, and rashes that move around. Pathogenic Cold can be responsible for muscle aches, chills, aversion to cold, and runny nose. Many of the symptoms of the common cold are External Wind-Cold symptoms.

There are “Wind points” through which External Wind likes to enter. Many of them are at the base of the skull and near the neck and shoulders. Hence the advice to wear a scarf and keep buttoned up when you go out in any kind of bad weather. The External Wind actually enters these acupoints and lodges in your body. It is said that External Wind does not travel alone, that it likes bringing another pathogen in with it. In this case, External Wind opens the Wind points and enters, making it easier for the External Cold to accompany it.

Wearing a scarf or turtleneck, or keeping your coat collar up will effectively block the entrance of this Wind. Should you find yourself exposed to these pathogenic influences, you can use medicinal ginger tea to help expel them. You can also apply heat to the nape of your neck and upper shoulders with a heating pad or a rice bag heated in the microwave. Rest and sleep will help, too.

If you need stronger medicinal help, usually just one session of acupuncture will help you turn the corner or even prevent the cold from developing. Community Clinic is a good venue for this. Cupping and moxibustion are also very effective ways to expel External Wind-Cold. There are a number of herbal formulas that manage different stages of Wind-Cold invasion (i.e. the common cold).

So, if you do find yourself sneezing with the snuffles, achy muscles and feeling chilled, there is no need to suffer. There are plenty things you can do for a speedy recovery. If you do need our help, we try to schedule you as soon as possible if you have a Wind-Cold invasion.

Celebrate the romance in your life with a couples massage. February through March 10, you and your sweetheart can receive 60 minute massages in the comfort of your own home for only $175*.

You don’t have to be lovers to enjoy this offer. Schedule with a friend or family member, or buy a gift certificate for two special friends.

Call 860-448-6766 to schedule today.

*This applies to areas near Groton. Call for details if farther away.

But why mostly monthly? Because I am sensitive to email overload and don’t want to send a monthly letter out just because it is that time of month. Conversely, on occasion there might be a lot happening here, requiring a second edition within the same month. This month, for example, we begin the Year of the Dragon. That just might need its own special edition.

I would love to hear from you about what interests you, what types of things you’d like to see in the newsletter. I want it to be fun to read, something you might look forward to every month or so. I’ll publish our specials, introduce staff, provide health tips, and keep you up-to-date on the latest at Mystic River Acupuncture.

We always enjoy seeing you, even if you just stop by to say hello. We hope this will keep us connected between visits.

Kathleen Poole

Last February I spent a week studying with Dr. Huang in London. One of the topics we discussed was Sjögren’s Syndrome. I’m eager to apply my new herbal knowledge of this condition. The first ten Sjögren’s patients who respond and are willing to commit to three months of therapy will receive an evaluation for only $50 and 30% off their herbal formula.

Sjögren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune condition causing dryness of mucous membranes, in particular of the eyes and mouth, is very difficult to treat. Chinese Medicine has a way of “reframing” the condition in terms of the patient’s internal environment. Herbs are given to counteract internal imbalances.

My herbal teacher, Dr. Huang, has experience in treating this condition. Although there is not a “Sjögren’s formula”, there are Chinese herbs that can be helpful and these are combined into a formula that fits the patient. Sjögren’s patients will get the same core herbs for that condition, but each individual formula may vary according to the exact symptoms that person has. This is the beauty of Chinese Herbal Medicine. It is infinitely adaptable to how Sjögren’s Syndrome affects you personally. The initial evaluation will be comprehensive and your formula may help you with problems unrelated to Sjögren’s Syndrome as well.

I would like to treat each person for a period of three months. The initial intake and monthly evaluations will be only $50 per visit. If you need a session in between your monthly evaluations, the charge will be $30 for additional visits. (I don’t expect this to be necessary.) There will be no charge for followup consultations made by phone. Specially made herbal formulas with bulk herbs or granules will be discounted at least 30% for the three month treatment period. It is hard to know how much a week’s supply will be until I write the formula, but our herb prices are very reasonable even without a discount.

In exchange, I would like a commitment for three months and your permission to write up and publish the case studies (all patient details would remain anonymous) should I decide to publish the results of this venture.

Call to schedule at 860-448-6766. Feel free to ask to speak with me if you have any questions.

Fresh ginger root is a warm and pungunt herb, used widely both medicinally and as a food herb. It’s a great item to keep in the fridge during the winter months. Ginger root is easily available in the produce section of almost any grocery. As a tea, it’s warm nature can keep you warm from the inside out. Simmered with a little more strength and in a stronger dose, it can help prevent a winter chill from turning into a cold. And for those achy body parts that flare up in cold, damp weather, a ginger compress may be just the ticket. Have some handy the next time you shovel your driveway!

To make a tea, slice a few pieces of fresh ginger and pierce them a few times. You can also chop or grate it. Place the ginger into your mug, pour hot water over it and let it steep for about five minutes. Add lemon or honey to taste for a delightful winter cuppa.

To make a medicinal tea, chop up about an inch or more of ginger and place it in a pot with a quart of water. Bring it to a boil and then immediately lower the flame to simmer for 20 minutes or so. The time is not exact. Add honey or lemon to taste. Drink this and keep well covered and rest.

This ginger tea can be taken when you have been exposed to cold damp weather and feel sniffles and aches coming on. It can also be used any time you feel the symptoms of a beginning cold. The ginger is slightly diaphoretic, i.e. it induces a slight sweat. You will “sweat the cold out”. You must keep well covered and warm. The added warmth will help the ginger do its job of making you sweat. It will also protect you while your pores are open and sweating. It is very important not to go out or near a draft. The best thing to do is drink the tea, and when you are done, go off to bed to cuddle under the warm blankets and sleep. You should feel much better in the morning. When you wake up, make another pot and drink it throughout the day.

To make a ginger compress you will need ginger, cheese cloth or a light weight fabric such as a handkerchief, a rubber band or string, and small terrycloth towel or two linen towels.

In a saucepan bring a quart of water to a boil, then turn it down to simmer. Meanwhile, grate a golf ball size piece of ginger up. wrap it in the cheesecloth and secure it with the rubber band or string. Squeeze the ginger juice out into the water, and then drop the entire cheesecloth package in. Simmer for 20 minutes.

To apply: You can apply this to cold, achy joints, shoulders, low back or neck.

The easiest is to soak the terrycloth towel in the liquid and then wring it well. When it is a comfortable hot temperature, place it across your neck or shoulders, low back or joints. Leave it until it is cool and then repeat the process. Your skin will turn a nice pink. Be careful not to cause a burn by applying it too hot.

Another way to treat cold achy joints is to take the ginger cheesecloth bag out of the pot, hold it over the pot and squeeze the excess water out. Flatten it out a bit. Place a dry linen towel over your joint, mold the ginger compress over it, and cover it with another towel. Keep checking it to make sure it isn’t too hot! The ginger itself is a hot herb and can be uncomfortable if left on too long. When I was in China this treatment was standard procedure in many foot rub parlors. I always enjoyed having my knees ‘gingered’ as I sat with my friends in the community room, waiting for our foot rubs or cupping sessions.

For the month of January, enjoy an acupuncture treatment (an $80 value) plus a 30-minute massage (a $40 value) for only $85 OR acupuncture plus a 60-minute massage ($75 value) for only $110.

It’s a great way to start the new year. A gift certificate is a wonderfully economical way to introduce a loved one to the benefits of both acupuncture and massage.

Remember, our ‘hour long’ massages are a full 60 minutes.

We have a new source for some lovely soy candles and soaps, and have put together a travel kit full of useful herbs. We have all sorts of healthful items, such as a delicious herbal soup packet, foot rollers, massage candles and hot water bags. Our herbal chapsticks and hand lotions are paraben free, and we try to do local business or support cottage industries whenever possible.

We have little boxes and baskets on hand that you can fill. And to save you time, we also have some attractive, ready made baskets for $15 and $25

Of course, you can add a Gift Certificate  for massage, acupuncture, or herbs to your basket.

Check it out the next time you come, or stop in next time you’re in town. We have gifts that will please everyone and you will shop without frenzy!

To do our part, we are offering $5 off your acupuncture treatment when you bring in either one package of socks or one of underwear for our donation box. Packages must be new and in sizes to fit infants to 12 yr old children, both boys and girls.

So grab a package of socks or undies and come on down for your holiday acupuncture!

Kathleen will be at on Everything Zen, Friday 6:30-7:30 to give you some pulse-taking/tongue-looking tips. She’ll explain what kind of information she gets about your health from pulse and tongue, and then show you what o look for. We will have some simple patent formulas on hand, at a special discount, so you can go home with a remedy to match what you find.

Everything Zen (click October Seminar in the left side bar)

Friday Oct21  6:30-7:30

Call  860-448-6766 or 860-861-8978    

The Fall Festival is one of Groton’s most important events and is full of family fun. We have all kinds of food vendors, local business booths, music, a clown and a magician. The AVCRAD helicopter will be there and various safety demonstrations take place throughout the day. It’s a really fun time. Check the schedule to see what the Groton Business Association has planned for this year’s Festival.