Welcome to the March 2009 edition of Notes From Aculand.

 

In this newsletter we reveal the secret of Spring, the treatable case of PMS, the introduction of Transitions weight management classes, a wonderful book and of course, seasonally appropriate limericks. Happy reading!  

Karen

  

Spring is sprung. The grass is ris.  I

 wonder where them birdies is?”  
 

I know it’s a silly poem, but it was one of my early childhood favorites. Now I get a kick out it because in its brief little way it captures the essence of spring; an incredible expression of qi on the move.  

 

I know that scientifically we account for the seasons based on the rotation of the earth and our position relative to the sun. We use the same facts to explain our experience of day and night. We also go through life accepting the phenomenal fact that we grow, out of nothing, inside of someone else, which is really amazing, and progress, with no real effort on our part, through infancy, childhood, adulthood and beyond. If we eat and drink and stay out of too much trouble, nature just unfurls itself. The amazing part is that this progression is quite orderly. There is something that’s guiding it and rules that appear to govern it. The study of this “something,” the force behind the continual movement and change in life is the basis for acupuncture. And spring is one of the most entertaining times to watch life, or qi, on the move because it’s bursting out all around us!  
 
In acu-speak we call this season “wood.” I have to imagine that the expression derived at some point from the observation that so many plants come to life after the dormancy of winter. We usually interpret wood as something stationary, like a tree or furniture, but in acupuncture we have sort of re-defined the word to refer to the smooth and orderly movement of life’s processes. Just like the grass rises up and flowers blossom, our bodies, including muscles and limbs, have all sorts of moving parts and all of this movement is synchronized and organized. If that movement becomes disorganized for some reason, we might wind up with experiences likes headaches, which imply too much or too little qi moving to the head; menstrual pain, which can come from lack of the smooth movement in the build-up and discharge of blood; or irritable moods, which signify erratic movement in the emotional realm. Women can be prone to an unpleasant combination of all of these, around their period which, if you think about it, is an amazing orchestration of moving blood, fluids, and hormones in the entire reproductive system. Many people sort of accept this as “PMS,” or an unfortunate consequence of the monthly cycle, but here in acu-land we view this as an often treatable experience of the “wood,” that coordinating force, not functioning properly. It’s one of the best kept secrets of acupuncture that PMS can disappear. Many women are delighted to find that their periods quickly become a non-event with acupuncture treatment. Pass the good word! 
 

Another thing you might notice about spring is the urge to do things, make plans and start projects.  We are coming out of our winter hibernation and it’s time to take action! So I’m going to capitalize on the energy of the season to start offering Transitions Lifestyle and weight management classes. This is a well thought out, tested and proven lifestyle program that teaches everything I personally practice and believe in and comes complete with videos, materials, a daily journal and web support. I find it totally compatible with acupuncture because a healthy daily lifestyle creates good qi and can relieve symptoms of fatigue, digestive disturbance, blood sugar imbalance and sleep issues, and can help prevent problems like heart disease, bone and joint problems and diabetes. I will send out another flier next week with more details. In the meantime, if you are interested, mark you calendar for an informational open house on Tuesday, March 31st, 7pm here at my office and classes will begin on Tuesday night, April 14th at 7pm and Thursday morning April 16th at 9am. Each class will run for 12 weeks.  

 

And for the book of the month, if you want to get a completely new look at how our minds function to create limitation and unnecessary conflict, I highly recommend Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth. To steal right from the front cover…. “ Eckart Tolle takes us beyond our own lives to show that we now have an opportunity to birth a new, more loving world. This involves a radical inner leap of consciousness from the current identification with our ego to an entirely new way of thinking about who we are.” Good stuff.   

 

And what would a March and St. Patrick’s Day letter be with out some limerics! 

  

So here’s some new ones…. 

  
Thanks, Dad, you taught me the rules
Of building a doghouse or stools
I'll be glad to assist
With your project shortlist
(Now that I've filched all your tools.)
  
There was a young lady named Kitty
Whose limerick came out so pretty
All the gents dressed in green
Were unusually keen
To admire her outstanding ditty.
  

 

Happy Spring to you,

Karen Johnson L.Ac, RN
 (410)381-3495
 Kjohnson101@verizon.net
 Karen-johnson-acupunture.net