Welcome to my website! This is a work in progress so, please contact me with any questions or comments.

The intention of this page is to provide you with information that you can use. At times, I will touch on questions of general interest that current clients have raised. I will also provide some basic health tips pertinent to the season.

Autumn 2011 Newsletter

History and variety:

Traditional Chinese Medicine has a documented 2000 year old history. What this tells us is that acupuncture and Chinese herbs work. Humans would not have continued using these medical approaches if they weren't effective. The other wonderful thing about acupuncture and Chinese herbs is that the disciplines are not static. They have been developed--practitioners have continually worked, tested, studied, and documented their protocols to improve their results. Other nations have adopted acupuncture and have adapted it for their own people's illnesses, climates, and temperaments. If you have any experience with acupuncture you may know that Korean hand acupuncture, Japanese needling, Five Element theory, to name a few acupuncture approaches, vary greatly from traditional Chinese needling. Even within China, acupuncture treatments vary. In the north of China it is quite cold so moxabustion is used quite often because there are more "cold" illnesses. In the south of China, the climate is warm and humid. Moxabustion is not often used as the imbalances are already hot. As an American, I like to receive gentle needling. Needles for me as a child meant pain and soreness from immunizations...I want to relax and absorb a gentle relaxing treatment that I feel better at the end of. In parts of China it is said that if you don't feel the needling the acupuncture won't work. Different approaches for different folks.

This is all to say that variety of approaches is beneficial. No one psychologist or gynecologist or internist is right for every different patient. Health care recipients come into a medical office with their own stories, from their own culture and personal history, and appreciate being approached, talked to in a way that is particular to them. It is a wonderful thing to explore the different approaches to see what makes them unique and how they feel to you personally. It is even better to find that unique approach and that specific acupuncturist that is right for you.

Season's tips:

Wash your hands before eating: more effective for stomach bugs than colds/flu
Don't rub your eyes: the easiest way to get germs in your system
Hydrate with water: be careful with teas they, as well as coffee, can be dehydrating
Sleep: to keep your immunity up, energy up, and crankiness down
Stress relief: stress can bring down your immunity
Exercise: helps decrease stress, increases energy, aides good sleep and more. Make sure you chose a exercise program that is right especially if starting a new program. It is suggested you do this with the guidance of your health care practitioner.
100 degree soup: if you have digestive issues, it is suggested not to eat foods straight out of the refrigerator or freezer. These make your body work harder. Soups, stews, lightly cooked vegetables are considered "predigested" so your body can extract the nutrients and vitamins with the least amount of effort.

Be Well,

Kathleen Hiatt Cutter, L.Ac.