When it comes to health, everything is connected.   Traditional Chinese Medicine, like any other treatment option, is merely one piece of the puzzle.  Diet, Lifestyle, Exercise and Stress all play a part in transforming physical ailments into health.  Many of my patients go on “cleanses” -  some they have found out about on their own and some that I have encouraged them to try.  Responses to this have been anywhere from life-changing to no change (or, in some cases, worsening).  So, what’s the reason for this?  I decided to do a little research of my own.

Starvation Cleanses, such as a juice fast, directly oppose Traditional Chinese Medicine principles of health and longevity, so I tried to find middle ground that could link modern nutritional science with the ancient medical art I endorse.  I’ve listened to many lectures, studied Chinese dietary therapy and had personal experience with many of the cleanses out there, and I decided to spend this past week reasearching and going on one of them myself.   My partner, Jason Borbet, also agreed - which makes any serious life change easier to stick with.  We started every morning with liver cleansing lemon juice & olive oil tea, loaded up on more supplements than we normally take, and a “power smoothie” made out of fresh fruit, purified water, flax seeds and medical grade rice protein powder.  The rest of the day consisted of a whole foods diet based mostly on Mark Hyman’s book:  “The Ultra Simple Diet.”  Essentially, what we were doing was an Elimination Diet Cleanse. 

The purpose of Elimination Diets/Cleanses are to eliminate potential foods that may be causing inflammatory or toxic reactions in the body.  Many common allergens include: Corn, Soy, Nuts, Wheat/Gluten, Dairy, Eggs and Sugar.  People may experience severe reactions when indulging in such foods, making it an obvious choice for them to avoid that substance.  Others may experience subtle reactions that can lead to inflammation-related disorders later in life (Chronic Fatige Syndrome, Diabetes Type 2, and Fibromyalgia, to name a few), or even have an adverse effect on a woman’s menstrual cycle.  For these individuals, the Elimination Diet can help to unlock the bodies inner wisdom.  Once certain foods are eliminated for a certain period of time and re-introduced, people who were having subtle allergic reactions before may encounter a more severe reaction this time around, allowing insight to dietary habits that may be leading to their health concerns. 

The dietary experiment Jason and I did last week illuminated many things about “cleanses,” on a general scale.   The first, is that they are not necessary for everyone, and should be carefully evaluated based on individual needs.  The second, is that nutritional supplementation can be a truly beneficial part to this process, but should also be administered based on individual needs as over-supplementation can tax the body unnecesarily (not to mention waste financial resources as well).  And finally, that they are doable:  an elimination cleanse does not have to be about starvation and deprevation.  In fact, there are many satisfying meals and foods to enjoy!  We had a fun time preparing foods in a more creative way since our ingredient supply was reduced, and never went hungry.

In the end, my conclusion is that total body “cleansing” of any kind is an extreme measure - meant for only certain individuals and under the care of a healthcare professional.  When trying to change your diet - for weight management of for health concerns - it is best to start with small steps that are easy to sustain.  My favorite philosophy and as my mother always said:  “Everything in Moderation” - its the right idea, but not always applicable in a world of excess. 

If you are interested in learning more about a healthy way to ”cleanse” on your own,  I highly suggest Mark Hyman’s books:   The Ultra Simple Diet &  UltraMetabolism. 

I had the fortunate opportunity to meet Dr. Christiane Northrup at an event here in New York City the other night.  An inspiration to many women throughout the world, she has personally been an instrumental source of insight and intrigue into understanding the complexities of the female body.  Her 29-years of western clinical experience has revealed the inseparable nature of the mind-body connection.  Although the concept of a mind-body connection is not a ”new” one, her work is revolutionary in that she has been able to translate this intangible notion into Western gynecological diagnoses, digestible for the intellectual mind.  If  you are unfamiliar with her work, start with picking up a copy of her first (and most famed) book: “Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom.”  I highly recommend it to any woman!

One of the first insights Dr. Northrup ever gave to me was the comparative notion of the uterus as an organ relating to individual creativity.  It took me a few years to fully comprehend what this actually meant in terms of the mind-body connection.  Having been in private practice of an energetic medicine and studying reproductive pathology for many years now, I have seen the miraculous truth of such a correlation. 

The uterus, in anatomical and physiological terms, has one main purpose in a woman’s body: to birth children.  In Chinese language, the uterus is termed Bao Gong or, Palace of the Child.  Although this is a huge and important purpose, it is a relatively unused function in relation to the number of years a woman spends in reproductive age.  What’s the purpose behind all the months of cycles for thirty-plus years? And, especially in those not seeking pregnancy?  

In addition to revealing a woman’s hormonal balance, the menstrual cycle can reflect imbalances with other areas of her life and health: emotional, physical, seasonal, stress and in her relationship to the world.  The state of the uterus and of a woman’s cycle may give insight to the ability and freedom for her to create, grow and give life to other areas of her reality.  Such areas may include: relationships, ideas, dreams, and goals.  This concept, as outlined more clearly by Dr. Northrup in her book, gives rise to the idea that the importance of the uterus and of a woman’s menstrual cycle do not solely revolve around procreation of children.  Nor, is the function of such cycles devalued in non-pregnancy seeking women.  I find this liberating, as a woman, and extremely empowering to my patients, as a clinician.

Regulating a woman’s cycle and learning how to read its signs helps not only with fertility, but serves as a reflection of ourselves in the present moment and can also prevent future  problems.  I encourage you to check out my meet-up group at: www.meetup/newyorkwomenshealth for more information and upcoming events I’ll be hosting on similar topics.  Acupuncture, herbal medicine, diet, exercise, and meditation are all invaluable tools in creating more awareness and balance in the menstrual cycle and in life.

I want to personally thank Dr. Northrup for all she has contributed to the medical profession and to the health of women everywhere.  -Erin

When a women is confronted with difficulty conceiving, an enormous amount of emotions come up.  In this tumultuous time, that often can seem unending and painful, there is room for tremendous personal growth and self-discovery.  As one of my cherished teachers once told me:  in helping women conceive, we first birth the mother within.  This statement hit me with such a profound truth.  Whether a woman is struggling with a reproductive disorder, tyring to regulate her cycle naturally, or undergoing various forms of ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology, such as IVF or  IUI), it is important to check in with emotional and spiritual healing. 

There are many amazing indivuduals out there assisting couples struggling with infertility on the emotional level.  Although acupuncture can play an enormous role in relaxing the mind and alleviating stress while enhancing fertility, the effects during this delicate time in a woman’s life exponentially improve when coupled with some form of self-discovery therapy.   Julia Indichova is one such women, offering a variety of workshops and coaching specifically for women and couples trying to conceive (www.fertileheart.com).  She is also the author of two wonderful books:  Inconceivable and The Fertile Female.  A friend and colleague of mine, Miriam Pineles, recently interviewed Julia Indichova.  To read this wonderful article, check out:    http://tinyurl.com/kmc3zv

Welcome to the Berkley Center for Women’s Health - a division of the Berkley Center for Reproductive Wellness, founded by Dr. Mike Berkley nearly 11 years ago and offers complimentary medicine for the treatment of Infertility.  For more information on how the Berkley Center is helping women conceive naturally, please refer to our fertility services home page:  berkleycenter.com

The expansion of the Berkley Center to having a Women’s Health Department is an exciting and long-awaited goal.  Over a year ago, I met Dr. Berkley and had the honor of assisting him in his fertility practice for 12 months.  Through some collaboration and brainstorming, it was decided to expand our services and that I would take on the position of Clinic Director for our Women’s Health Department.  It is our hope to assist women throughout all phases of life, offering compassionate care and a uniquely holistic environment.  We offer acupuncture, clinical herbal medicine, massage therapy and nutritional counseling to address the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of the human body.   Our staff is highly experienced in the complexities of the female system, and dedicated in helping women find natural relief while simultaneously empowering them with resources to provide lasting effects.  As the Clinic Director of the Berkley Center for Women’s Health, Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist, it is my honor to welcome you to our center and to our blog-forum.  I encourage  you to check back regularly, as I will frequently be posting articles, ideas, and information about Chinese Medicine and Women’s Health.  Please feel free to email questions you may have at anytime, or call our center for a consultation (212.685.0985).  

We look forward to assisting you on your road to wellness! 

Erin Hessel, L.Ac