Jeepney Press #112 July-August 2021

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ACUPUNCTURE Health Points

involves the illustrious xia san huang, taixi, and other great points to nourish the kidney Yang. You know, Yin Yang, that kind of thing you've heard of but never really understood. Have you ever heard your tummy grumble in the middle of an acupuncture treatment? Your acupuncturist will take it as a compliment. A hallmark sign that you have just hit "rest & digest" mode, where your parasympathetic nervous system kicks in and switches your body to a more relaxed state.

By Marnie Chan

ADRENAL FATIGUE ...or, burnout.

Interestingly, Chinese medicine tells us that the brain, its cognitive ability, and brain chemistry are all controlled by the Kidney organ system. Hence, adrenal fatigue's symptoms of anxiety, depression, brain fog, hormonal imbalance, sleep issues, light-headedness, sensitivity to light and sound are all addressed by the Kidney meridian.

Could this be you? You wake up feeling tired and has absolutely no zest for life on most days. You are unmotivated. You like afternoon naps. You crave for caffeine and sugary treats as well as salty foods. You feel your tank is perennially empty. You feel you've squeezed every ounce of energy already. Stressed out for so long, you got nothing left to give. Deathly exhaustion. Your blood work screams volume about your cortisol, TSH, and other tests.

Consider divorcing what wears you down. Lifestyle Change! Or, cultivate a healthier relationship with your stressors where you are in control. Sometimes to find balance on our wellness we must employ a multi-perspective, multi-faceted, multi-modal approach. Prescribed meds, healthier diet, yoga, acupuncture, walking barefoot in nature, healthy sleep habits... It takes a village, sometimes...

Go ahead Google will tell you more about it. There are doctors who do not subscribe to the idea of adrenal fatigue as its non-specific symptoms are all too common with other illnesses. In Chinese medicine, conditions like adrenal fatigue is a deficiency in your kidneys. Work on said meridian initially

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We may end up being grateful to everyone - great and small - for our wellness. And in the end we find ourselves saying what the Chinese said, "how can a blade of grass ever thank the sun?"

Photo by Anthony Tran

Marnie Chan #thehealingpowerofacupuncture

July - August 2021


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