Guilt-free weekend

This past Saturday was the first time in 6months that my husband and I were able to get some time alone. We both have no family in NYC but thank goodness for our great friends.

I've been learning to master motherhood on my own or through phone, text, Facetime with my mom and sisters. And I love spending every free minute of my time learning with my baby. However, I have to continually remind myself to balance my life - Yin and Yang! - before I completely deplete my Qi, juggling school and work and mothering. Sometimes I forget to brush my teeth and don't have time to eat or shower! So I quickly got over my guilty feelings of leaving her when I'm fully available to care for her myself and welcomed our first offer from a good friend to watch our little one. In a quick 4hours, my husband and I were able to treat ourselves to a relaxing massage then went to a nice lunch. The result - a much rested and rejuvenated mom, recharged and ready to take on 5 more months of what's in ahead in my motherhood adventure! Not to mention the much needed rekindling QT of love and fun with the hubby. In addition, a fresh new energy and learning environment was good for my daughter. We picked up a happy baby who fell asleep so soundly when we got home. Ok, my good buddies and pals, who's next in line for babysitting duty?! ;)

*It is very important to take care of yourself so you can take good care of your little one. The airplane emergency procedure comes to mind -- put the oxygen mask on yourself before you assist your children. I use to think, "What heartless jackasses came up with this idea?" but now I fully get it. May be my heart and instinct still doesn't agree but I get it.

TCM for Women: Sexual Health

Today I took my little one with me to attend the last in a mini series of talks on TCM for Women sponsored by PCOM NY. First off, my well-behaved, good little girl sat through the hour-long talk without a hitch. Overstimulation from what's ahead for her, perhaps? I wish I could have made it to all of them but they like to schedule these things during my classes. (smirk)
The conversation today was about Sexual Health, featuring panel speakers Mary Sabo from YinOva Center and Dr. Adriano Borgna, a PCOM-NY faculty professor. In as much as you can get out of a short one-hour conversation, the panelist were able to touch upon three questions posed by the student mediator. Below is my brief synopsis of the talk. Full video coverage of the conversation may also be found at TCMforwomen.tumblr.com.

So here's my take-away from what transpired. I am not quoting the panelists, this is just from my recollection...

1. Does Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), being derived from a male-dominant society, have an effect on women's health? How well does TCM support it?
Mary: As in all aspects of Chinese Medicine, there is a balance. Although this medicine was developed by men, the philosophies hold true for women's health. The relationship between man and woman is the perfect yin yang symbol.
Dr. Borgna: There are many holes in TCM for women because the medicine was developed by men. Such as there is absolutely no reason for a male gynecologist or female urinologist -- how can they possibly be experts on what does not belong to them? It is our job as practitioners and your job as an educated consumer, to fill those holes with other forms of medicine that best suit you.

- I agree with both points they make. Ultimately, TCM does wonders for women's health! I mean, that's how I got my little bundle of joy!


2. How important is the female orgasm to women's health?
Mary and Dr. Borgna: VERY IMPORTANT! If you haven't had one, go get one!

- Not only is does it promote good movement of Qi (much like a sneeze -- it shouldn't be held back), it optimizes fertility. Too bad my daughter won't know about any of this until she's 30. If its up to her dad, it'd be never. Haha.
Through her practice, Mary expressed how actually common she finds this problem to be among young women. WTF??! Ladies, if you're not orgasming, what the heck are you having sex for?? I hope it's not solely to please your man. Uh uh honey, I'm gonna have my cake and eat it too! I tell this to my husband who jokes that I took him out of circulation and that's why there are so many unfulfilled women out there. Haha, yes, he has a big...ego.
Mary also recommends masturbation as a way to learn about your body, teach your partner, and take control of your sex life. Masturbation is in tune with what Dr. Borgna had mentioned about male gynecologists and men not being experts on what's not their equipment.
Dr. Borgna suggested a book he felt all women should read, Woman: An Intimate Geography by Natalie Angier. He adds that after the man ejaculates, a woman's orgasm promotes conception with the contracting of the uterus, sucking up the sperm. So ladies, if infertility is a worry of yours, stop putting your sex life on a clock around your ovulation. Just create a relaxing and fun environment for you and your man during those ovulation days, and ORGASM! Cuz I don't care how many you do, a sneeze just isn't gonna satisfy.


3. The birth control pill - a good idea or not?
Mary: Fine in moderation. It is overly prescribed and taken without education on its side effects.
Dr. Borgna: It's a travesty for women's health, to be subjected to its experimentation and be taken advantage of without proper education of its side effects.

- In TCM lingo, birth control pills are very cold and stagnating which in turn leads to many pathologies. Qi stagnation and blood stasis are disease etiologies. Infertility and PCO or PCOS (PolyCystic Ovary / PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome) are growing issues we see in our PCOM clinic everyday! Dr. Borgna attributes the birth control pill to negatively impacting your thyroid. He suggests taking your temperature every morning for a few days in a row, and if your temperature is consistently below 98.7F then you sub-clinically have a hypothyroid.
Bottom line, always talk to your OB/GYN and get the best possible solution for you.


I look forward to learning more about women's health issues in my classes. Or I'll have to chase Dr. Borgna down the school hallway to pick his brain more. Mary also offered two great resources from author Jill Blakeway, director of YinOva Center: Making Babies and Sex Again. Both books are written for easy understanding for the layperson and those new to TCM.

Thank you to the PCOM-NY student council for organizing these talks. I look forward to more mini series talks on other topics in the future!

Yikes! A fever!

It had to come sooner or later, and I'm glad that it came sooner than later for the sake of my experience and confidence as a mother and acupuncturist. My first encounter using needles with my daughter was after her 4month vaccination.

As always warned by doctors, babies may spike a fever after their vaccination shots. After my baby's 2month vaccination, she was completely fine with no fever. So I expected this time around, she would take it just as easily. However, this time she did spike a fever, a pretty high one for me. Her doctor's appointment was in the morning and by her bedtime, she had spiked a 101.4F fever! For reference, at 102F you head to the emergency room. This was getting too close for my comfort. Though I have infant Tylenol stocked in my first aid baby kit, I decided I would forego it and give acupuncture a try first. My schooling has taught me that young children are very receptive and responsive to acupuncture. Their bodies are still untainted, unaffected by the physical, environmental, and mental/emotional stresses of life. Their Qi still flowing uninhibited.

With my husband's assistance (and approval!), I pulled out my thin 40-gauge seirin needles from my acupuncture kit. He firmly held down her arm so as to not hurt her or myself while I needled her. Quickly and with much loving intention for her fever to subside, I needled Large Intestine 11, manipulated it for just a few seconds and was done. Basically, Large Intestine 11 is located on the lateral side of the elbow at the end of the elbow crease, indicated for clearing heat. She cried a little but think it was more from being held down and perhaps a little pinch from the needle but she took it like a champ. We did the other arm then soothed her and cheered her on for being a tough little girl. Immediately we took her temperature again -- 98.6F! We continued to take her temperature every 15minutes then 20minutes, 30minutes...till we were satisfied we had saved the day. Her temperature did raise again during that time up to 99.8F but didn't go past 100F anymore. When I tooted my horn to my pediatrics supervisor about this he was amazed at the result, stating that when he had ever tried it the temperature would only decrease by a few hundredths, not as drastically as we experienced. Hooray for acupuncture!

Mommy and baby yoga

Pre-motherhood, my fave yoga pose was savasana (corpse).

But I don't really have time for that anymore. Hands down, my new fave is bukka bukka (heart to heart)! =)

*Disclaimer*

I realize as I delve into this blogging project that I may have to include a disclaimer for all the readers uninformed and uneducated about Oriental Medicine...

DISCLAIMER: All postings I make to Acupuncture Mama is with my knowledge and understanding of this medicine and lifestyle. My purpose is to document my experiences as I balance school and motherhood, and integrate what I've learned into raising my child. In no way am I encouraging you or trying to teach you to do what I do, but I would like to open your minds and provide you with another point of view.

Ok, with that said, Oriental Medicine is personal and case-specific so each treatment I refer to is not a blanket treatment for the general condition. The last thing I want to hear about is someone sticking their infant with sewing needles or feeding them crickets they caught outside!
I welcome all comments (supportive, additional, opposing...what have you) and any questions. If you are unclear about something I discussed or would like more information, please don't hesitate to contact me. I do encourage you to research and practice modalities that work for you.

Acupuncture Mama goes viral!

He who has health, has hope. And he who has hope, has everything. ~ Arabian proverb

This blog is to share my adventures and misadventures through Oriental Medicine and motherhood. I'm halfway through my Oriental Medicine graduate education and am a new mom with a now 5month old daughter. The ride has been wild so far and I don't ever wanna get off, anticipating and excited for all the ups and downs ahead on this roller coaster. So I welcome you to join me as I attempt to apply my education into new everyday life as a full-time student and new mother.