Here at the Berkley Center, we are known for our longstanding history in working with fertility patients.  Dr. Berkley L.Ac (RI) has specialized in treating male and female infertility with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for over a decade, and with great success alongside traditional Western fertility treatments.  Traditionally, he follows a protocol that discharges his pregnant patients after week 13 of their pregnancy, given that miscarriage rates decline in the second trimester.  Although the job of helping a woman conceive and helping her get through the most common territory for miscarriage is done, acupuncture can still play an important role throughout the rest of a woman’s pregnancy and beyond.  When I see his patients belly’s growing, I remind them not to forget about us as their pregnancy continues.

Pregnancy is not a disease, and ‘treatment’ is not warranted just because someone is pregnant.  However, just as acupuncture works at its best in a non-pregnant individual when done over a period of time and before illness ensues, pregnant women can receive the same benefits before they deliver and are no longer pregnant.  As certain discomforts arise, along with certain modern obstetrical deadlines,  acupuncture can offer natural ways to keep a woman’s changing body in balance.   It is also safe for a growing baby and may prevent certain medical interventions as the due-date approaches.

Many women experience some level of pelvic girdle or low back pain during pregnancy, a symptom that is often greatly alleviated by acupuncture.  Several studies have also showed this to be the case, and effective points often used are located on the ear - far away from the local area.  Ankle swelling, constipation, insomnia, and mood changes are other physical shifts that can happen later in a woman’s pregnancy.  While such discomforts are often idled as simply ‘par for the course’ in pregnant women, expected to alleviate only after the birth of the baby, acupuncture can offer natural relief now.  A more comfortable mom makes for a more enjoyable pregnancy and could assist in a smoother labor & delivery - all ingredients for a happier, healthier memory of this important transition.

Perhaps a woman is blessed with very few discomforts during her pregnancy, acupuncture can still play a critical role in preparing her body for labor and delivery.  A woman’s body knows what to do when it comes to labor, but sometimes it needs a gentle push in the right direction - especially with the high push for medical inductions merely one week post-due date.  I work with women after week 37, seeing them once a week (as they see their OB at this time), and help address any circumstances that may arise, such as rotating a breech-positioned fetus through acupuncture.  Additionally, we can help relax the pelvic floor muscles to promote cervical dilation, provide natural induction, regulate contractions, and even assist in some pain relief during active labor.  Unlike medical inductions, which often result in a cascade of further interventions, acupuncture works with your body in a way that it can safely and effectively handle.

Acupuncture during labor and delivery is not for everyone.  It will never take the place of the pain-relief an epidural can provide, but it can offer natural support in women who wish for that.  Regardless of the birth-plan a woman is hoping for, acupuncture during pregnancy and prior to labor and delivery is helpful for anyone.  Whether birth happens with epidural, non-medicated or with C-Section, it will be a tremendous expenditure of energy and the more nourished and prepared a woman’s body is for this the better the outcome.  Acupuncture, and especially herbal medicine, can help promote rapid recovery of energy lost during childbirth so that the mom and baby can connect naturally and painlessly.  Having had the relationship with my pregnant patients throughout their pregnancy, I am able to quickly offer individual treatment options to them post-partum, when their new life-duties may inable them to come in to the office for an in-person visit. 

For information on ways to lead a prevention lifestyle rather than a prescription one, and/or to participate in contributing your ideas, check out this blog @ the Kathleen Show:  http://thekathleenshow.typepad.com/blog/2009/10/prevention-not-prescriptions.html

In response to the previous post I did earlier on the Huffington Post findings that women are, in general, feeling less happy in the modern climate - here is a follow up.  Author, Marcus Buckingham (funny, how the expert-news-reporter-on-women’s-happiness is male), has backed up his previous publication now with the prescription for female happiness.  Although the “research” done I don’t have any particular beef with, I’m still skeptical on exactly how the research was performed - how many women were interviewed, and of that, how many were truthful.

Happiness is a very funny thing - both in its simplicity and importance.  Can we really define what it means to be happy?  Is it a feeling of lightness, free from worry, free from pain, essentially: free from emotion?  Or is it more a general acceptance for all of our emotions, the freedom to experience and truly feel the continuum?  Think about it.  What does happiness mean to you?

Martha Washington stated: “The greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our disposition and not on our circumstances.”  In other words, simply change your horrible feelings into better feelings, think more positive thoughts.  This is all well and good, but not as easy as it may sound.  So much of our experiences are not only emotionally and mentally
felt, but somatically stored in the body.  Our reactions to stimuli become automatic reflexes, learned habits.  In order to truly change our disposition, we must be willing to work with ourselves on the physical, emotional, and mental levels.  This takes time, energy, and like anything in life that takes a lot of training to accomplish - a significant amount of discomfort.

As a society, in general, we do not embrace discomfort very well.  Why should we? -when there are all sorts of pills and substances out there to numb that discomfort.  Perhaps if the readily available goods to take the edge off physical and emotional pain developed over the past few decades were as truly beneficial as they claim, there wouldn’t be articles and studies showing the significant decline in general happiness.  Perhaps, we are missing the mark by not encouraging the understanding of our
discomfort by throwing a nice comfy blanket around it.

I was at a concert last night in the East Village, and next to the bar was a sign written in chalk saying: “Beer makes us feel how we should feel without drinking beer.”  How very insightful and astute for a punk-rock bar.  The unfortunate part to the prior statement is that by drinking beer (or taking meds, or whatever) to feel a happier self, we often take two steps back when that high runs out.  It’s not a means to an end, there is not an easy and fun short-cut.  If we want the good stuff, we have to do
the work - but isn’t that a part of being alive?

For this, and many other reasons, alternative healing methods are growing in popularity and excitement.  People are seeing the long-term results of taking away their symptoms, essentially stripping them of their experiences, and want to take their power back.  Please be advised that I am not shrugging off the importance of certain medications, which are vital to healthcare.
What I am suggesting is a melding of the two, empowering people to take their experiences and health into the power of their own body.  If you are not experience a level of happiness that you deem appropriate, I encourage you to ask yourself why this may be the case and what possible things can be done to help the situation?  Martha Washington was right, changing out circumstances is not the key - its changing ourselves.

We were not born to be sick, we were born to be healthy.  It is what our bodies do.  Sometimes we get off track and we need a light push, sometimes before the push we need a kick-in-the-teeth and some help for the pain.  Ultimately, if we can marry the therapeutic treatments available, I firmly believe we can do a greater good.

Check out the newest Huffington Post article, please leave comments if you have any:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marcus-buckingham/what-the-happiest-and-mos_b_301406.html
In happiness for all,
Erin

I’d like to share another interesting article in relation to my previous entry on traditional post-partum care in Laos.  The Hmong of Laos are very spiritual people, and as evidenced by their post-partum practices, their beliefs can often be extreme and potentially harming to the physical body according to scientific discovery.  This is all good and well, until a medical doctor tries to help a Hmong woman manage her diabetes wherein she will not comply with treatment.  Her beliefs are holding her back from receiving the medical care she needs, but by diminishing the importance of her beliefs her soul has no strength. 

A progressive hospital in California that serves a large community of Hmong people has added a new service to their repertoire of medical care: Shamans.  “A doctor for disease, and a Shaman for Your Soul,” the article states, which is not a bad idea no matter the culture.  To make things even more exciting, the medical staff have been training the Shamans on basic levels of pathology diagnose and treatment, to enhance understanding in the community.  The Shamans don’t take money and aren’t employed to be there on any other volition than their own vocational requirements.  The idea is that the influence of the Shaman will bridge the gap between treatment and beliefs, an idea that I think is simply marvelous.  The best part is that neither party have to compromise and true healing can begin.  Check it out at:  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/us/20shaman.html?_r=1

A wonderful book that I would like to recommend is:  The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, by Anne Fadiman, which follows a true story about a young girls battle with epilepsy and the trauma caused by the misunderstanding of deep-seeded cultural beliefs of the child and her family.  Not only is it phenomenally written, but it demonstrates the successes and failures of both spiritual dogma and scientific medicine.

A New York Times Opinion article from a few days ago touched on the idea that women have been experiencing a greater level of unhappiness throughout the past thirty years, and is in continued decline.  The article suggests that the feminist movement of the 1970’s is partially to blame, resulting in further responsibilities for women to take on (if they so choose, that is).  It’s not that the sheer level of multi-tasking has increased, but the strong biological stress sensitivity that women have also increases as the result of more choices in life.  As the article states, “If [women] once judged themselves on looks, kids, hubbies, gardens and dinner parties, now they judge themselves on looks, kids, hubbies, gardens, dinner parties - and grad school, work, office deadlines and meshing a two-career marriage.”  Although women are, in general, happier because of the limitless choices in their lives; that same freedom is causing a lower level of satisfaction and happiness - the irony of life.

Stress is a huge contributor to unpleasant things happening in life, including back-pain, migraines, missed periods, or several other internal diseases.  If this is the case, which it very often is, then Western medical treatments will not cure  the problem because they are not addressing the cause: stress.  Instead, the pain-killer used to relieve your migraine, for example, is covering the symptom so you can continue the stressful lifestyle and habits that are actually causing the pain in the first place.  Helping, huh?  Usually it just results in another visit to the doctor and another prescription medicine at a future date.   

Stress is not only a reaction to ones environment, but also can become learned behaviour over time.  Oftentimes, women are so taxed but unaware of it because of the years of compensating they’ve been able to develop.  This does not equate to strength, because the ball does drop eventually.  A lucky one will get chronic migraines from years of stress-compensation, an unlucky one may find out something far more serious at her next gyn exam.  The time to begin working on reducing your stress is now, step-by-step, in digestible bites. 

If you are experiencing stress-related uncomfortable symptoms, there are many things you can do to help relieve them - improving not only your quality of life now but also preventing potentially severe stress-induced disorder later in life.  Changing your schedule around to allow some more time for yourself, is always a good start if possible.  Exercise, plenty of sleep, healthy nutrition and meditation are all good ways to give back to your body and melt away stress.  Sometimes the responsibility of alleviating one’s own stress is, ironically, more stressful.  If that’s the case, then there is massage therapy, yoga classes, personal trainers, acupuncturists, homeopathists and herbalists to help gently nudge your body in the right direction. 

We are dynamic human beings, and no matter the amount of abuse our bodies can endure for a certain amount of time, the wounds leftover won’t heal if the pressure is never lifted.  Sometimes all the body needs is a good dose of rest, but being hopped up on caffeine all the time, pushing deadlines, and worrying about getting the kids from school and dinner on the table covers up the true fatigue your body is under.  Likewise that it is unrealistic of us as a gender and society to expect that our bodies can put up with whatever we dish out without compromise, to live as monks with a perfect balance of sleep, meals, prayer and alone-time is not going to happen either (or even be healthy for us).  But we can try in our own small ways to bring more peace into our lives.  I urge you to try.  Your health, your body….and perhaps even your happiness, will be so thankful.

NY Times Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/opinion/20dowd.html?_r=2&em

 Today marks an important transition from summer into fall, warm yang into cool yin, fruitful harvest into preparation for quietude.  Day and night equal each other in length today, as sunlight will gradually yield more of its hours to the night in the coming winter months.  Seasonal foods move out of the sun and back into the earth, producing hearty root vegetables like yams, potatoes, squash, beets, cabbage, and brussel-sprouts.  Before the modern conveniences of having such foods like strawberries available year-round, this was a day for harvesting the last of summer’s produce and preserving it into pickles, jams and sauces to be enjoyed through the barren winter.  Just as plants dissolve and the leaves begin to shed from the trees, we too can prepare to let go of that which no longer serves us.  The fall is an amazing opportunity for parting with the unnecessary, to lighten the load and make space for the dormant winter months to generate stillness.   

In Five-Element Chinese Medicine principles, the fall corresponds to the Metal element - which is characteristic for using divine inspiration to cleanse the spirit  and purge the system.  Interestingly enough, the metal element corresponds to the Lung (inhaling pure air) and the large intestine (moving out waste), a quite literal expression of the energetic idea. 

The fall equinox marks the first step in the transition.  Even within the hustle of a metropolis like New York City, the approach of fall cannot be ignored.  I encourage you to enter it with thankful reflection and willingness to absorb the natural bounty this transitional season can bring.  In honor of the fall equinox, I prepared home-made banana-fig muffins last night to meld the tropical bananas of summer with hearty fall figs.  If you’d like to try the same, here is my recipe. 

BANANA-FIG MUFFINS

3-4 ripe bananas, peeled

1/2 Cup Virgin Coconut Oil (or other vegetable oil)

2 Eggs

1 Tsp Vanilla

1 Cup Brown Sugar (loosely measured, not firmly packed)

12 Figs

1 Tsp Baking Soda

1 Tsp Baking Powder

Dash of Salt

2 Cups Flour

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F.  Using a hand mixer, blend together the bananas and oil, add the sugar and vanilla until smooth.  Incorporate the eggs one by one.  Slice 6 figs into halves and place in the batter, sprinkle the mixture with salt, baking powder and soda.  Blend until figs are fully incorporated into the mixture and powders are dissolved.  Using a large spoon, slowly incorporate the flour.  Lightly grease 12 muffin molds and fill 2/3 full with batter.  With remaining 6 figs, slice them into quarters, nestling 2 quarter-pieces on the top of each muffin for garnish.  Bake for about 35 minutes, or until a knife inserted into muffin comes out clean.  Enjoy!

In response to an article I read this morning about the cultural post-partum traditions in rural Laos leading to post-partum and neonatal nutritional deficiencies, I’d like to say a few things on the subject.  For a closer look at the article, check: http://tinyurl.com/nsorwp

It is not that spiritual beliefs should be abandoned in order to receive proper nutrition, because if the soul is not nourished, or fear arises out of non-compliance of the spiritual practice, the body has a hard time complying and damage can ensue.  However, post-partum nutrition is extremely important for the revitalization of the mother and the growth of her child.  Chinese medicine itself has roots in deep cultural traditions, but also recognizes the importance of modern nutritional needs in maternal and infant health during the post-partum period.  Just as nutritional advice may not be the answer to all discomforts, acupuncture and herbal medicine can be of huge benefit as a natural alternative during this special time.  At the Berkley Center for Women’s Health, we embody these principles fully.

In Chinese Medicine, childbirth is viewed as a huge expenditure of a woman’s vital energy and substance (referred to in our medicine as Qi & Blood).  Proper rest, warmth and nutrition are all important in restoring a woman’s health after the event of childbirth.  Depending on the relative loss to the relative deficiency, some women recuperate their energy much quicker than others and feel very few post-partum uncomfortable effects.  For others, post-partum depression, fatigue, feeling weak, insufficient breast-milk production, muscle pain/tendinitis or digestive concerns may arise.  These are not only uncomfortable to deal with, but are also signs that the body may need a little boost.  Like anything ailing the body, the sooner it can be addressed through proper treatment, the sooner it will enable a woman to feel better in her own body, and have the energy to be present for the new being in her life.

Acupuncture and herbal medicine can be of great benefit, offering a natural way to boost a woman’s Qi and Blood that is safe for mom and baby during this delicate time.  Depending on individual constitutional make-up, different women will require different protocols.  In addition to helping restore the energy in a woman’s body, Chinese medicine can help address common infant concerns through treating the mother - an added plus!  Sometimes, direct treatment for the infant is preferred in alleviating colic, sleep disturbance or digestive upset through pediatric acupressure techniques (another service offerred at our center).  

As a new mom who may not feel her best, it can be a scary and perhaps lonely time.  Oftentimes, discouraging emotions and feelings of inadequacy can arise.  Women may feel guilty, blameful of self, or shame.  If you have experienced this, or know someone who may be, I hope this message conveys the fact that you are not alone nor have you done something wrong.  Such emotions in no way reflect a woman’s ability to be a parent.  Your body has simply undergone huge and relatively rapid changes with pregnancy, and these feelings are simply signs that your body may need a little help adjusting to its new environment.  There are many ways to help your body do this - prescription medications, talk therapy, exercise, nutritional supplementation and (of course) acupuncture and herbal medicine.  The best medicine is prevention, so if you are pregnant now, I encourage you to make a relationship with an acupuncturist now in the event that you may benefit from treatment during the post-partum time, the call for support will be easy and familiar.

August has been a busy month - both in and outside the clinic!  But, I’m back, with more information to share…

My journey into alternative health began when I enrolled myself in the Universidad Catolica Del Peru, in Lima at the age of 19.  My initial goal was to learn Spanish, which I did by taking medical anthropology classes to fully immerse myself.  What I learned impacted my life far more than bi-lingual language skills, but laid the foundation for the next 10 years of my life (…and counting).  The medical anthropology courses I completed opened me to the world of Andean and Amazonian Shamanism and how such traditional medicines continued to persist among the emerging modern medical care in the remote Peruvian jungle and mountainous landscapes.   It is quite one thing to build a health care facility in a place of need, and another to get the local people to actually come there.  

Spirituality plays a significant role in traditional Shamanistic practices, something not addressed or “treated” in a western clinical setting.  Ghosts or spirits are suddenly replaced as the cause for disease by  germs and viruses.  Treatment by ritual and community is replaced by small pills and injections.  This can be very confusing, and often leads to  mis-managed care or unproductive results.  It is very delicate work, and medical anthropologists continue to work in all parts of the world to bridge spiritual belief and scientific practice to promote patient care.   This is why I was particularly excited to see the recent article in the New York Times about medical anthropologists working to uphold some local traditions in rural clinics to reduce infant/maternal morbidity during childbirth.  Check it out at:  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/08/health/08glob.html

Chinese medicine comes from a long lineage of spiritual practices, and scientific practice through trial & error.  It was the perfect medium for me to help others on the mind, body, and spiritual level. I take into consideration the many influences at work when disease or discomfort arises, and try to work with that.  Modern societies often have the opposite needs in health care: to bridge the gap from the polarity of science by incorporating more spirituality and wellness.  This is simply another reason why Western Science paired with Traditional Medicines is truly an invaluable tool for helping people heal.  There is no super medicine, no super doctor (as my teacher once told me), just a journey we must work together on.  One foot in front of the other, together.

Healthy Nectarine-Ginger Bread

2 Eggs

1/3 Cup Coconut Oil

Zest of 1 lemon

1/3 Cup Honey

1 Tsp Almond Extract

1 Tsp Ground Fresh Ginger

3 Nectarines (medium-sized), cubed into ¼-1/2 in pieces

¼ Cup Candied ginger, finely chopped

1 Cup Shredded Zucchini

1 ½  Whole Wheat Flour

1 Cup White Flour

2 Tbsp Ground Flax Seeds

1 Tsp Baking Powder

1 Tsp Baking Soda

½ Tsp Salt

½ Tsp Cinnamon 

½ Nectarine, sliced (for decoration on top)

Brown Sugar, about 1/3 cup (for sprinkling on top)

•Preheat oven to 375°F

•In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, almond milk & coconut oil.  Grate the zest of one lemon, grated fresh ginger and almond extract into mixture. Add honey & beat until smooth. 

•Mix whole-wheat flour, white flour, flax seeds, baking soda, baking powder, salt & cinnamon in a separate bowl.

•Incorporate the flour mixture into the wet mixture, until batter is smooth.

•Add the nectarines, candied ginger pieces & zucchini into batter until mixed

•Lightly grease a large loaf-pan and pour the batter in - only filling 2/3 of the way full (if there is any batter left, make into muffins or a smaller pan.  Can also substitute and use a pie plate, depending on the size of the loaf desired). 

•Decorate the top of the batter with sliced nectarines, sprinkle brown sugar and pat-down into top layer of batter. 

•Bake for 50-60 min, until brown on top and inserted knife comes out clean.

•Cool, remove from pan & serve.

Great with morning coffee!  Serves 8-6.

Have you been struggling with a health problem for quite some time, been looking for natural relief and live outside the greater New York City area?  Then, look no further! 

Here at the Berkley Center, we offer an in-depth phone consultation to women who can benefit from Chinese Herbal Medicine, but live too far away to come for an in-person consult at our center.  Over the phone, we will spend about an hour discussing your present and past health concerns, and overall state of health.  This will help give me  a working diagnosis to come up with your personalized herbal formula.  In addition to the consultation, I will ask that you send a digital photo of your tongue to our office email address for further confirmation of diagnosis.  As your body responds to the herbal formula, we will check in regularly to adjust the prescription as needed.  The change in symptoms and tongue will be the main reference used over the course of your treatment to evaluate progress.  All herbal prescriptions will be written specifically for you, and filled by the reputable pharmacy I work with here in the city: www.kamwo.com.  They will prepare your formula, and drop-ship it to your door - wherever in the world that may be. 

I have been working with women around the country in this capacity, with astonishing results.  Improving energy, reducing fatigue, promoting/assisting with weight loss, reducing acne, alleviating painful menstruation, and reducing hot flashes are a few of the conditions successfully treated from a distance with Chinese Herbal Medicine. 

Don’t let distance be the reason for not seeking treatment for your concerns.  If you see an acupuncturist already and are looking to add an herbal component to your treatment, I will be happy to work with your current Acupuncturist in serving you best.  Chinese Herbs are a natural, powerful and clinically effective way to help women with hormonal, menstrual, and digestive concerns.  Give us a call and let us know how we can serve you best.

In good health,
Erin

I wanted to update you on the new information listed on the “Resources” page on the Berkley Center for Women’s Health website.  There are some great listings for Obstetricians, Gynecologists and Reproductive Endocrinologists in Manhattan that I highly recommend.  Also, there are some lifestyle resources such as Life Coaching with Joanna Lindenbaum, Fitness with Patricia Moreno to help you live a life you love in a body you love, Legal Services for reproductive health with Amy Demma, JD, and amazing Childbirth Classes with Denise Spatafora.  Check them out!

Here at the Berkley Center we believe in an East Meets West approach to women’s healthcare, and in the power of holistic treatment.  While we offer a variety of services to help our patients with lifestyle, nutrition, stress and illness, we cannot reach all aspects of a person that constitute wellness.  For that reason, we pair up with other resources in our community in an effort to offer excellent and well-rounded care for those seeking it.  If you have any comments or questions regarding anyone of our resources, please feel free to contact me at any time. 

In good health,

Erin