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Monday, August 22, 2011
Life Just Threw me a Curve Ball
Recently, after a routine physical exam turned up some suspicious tissue in my thyroid, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Of course, no one is exempt from these kinds of things, but I guess I always secretly hoped that I was. Clearly, I am not. After doing a great deal of research in both eastern and western medicine, I realized my thyroid needed to be removed. I had surgery last Friday. The procedure was a success, and I am making a swift recovery, although I get a strange sensation occasionally that I am missing something. Also, my voice has become a bit raspy and I am told it will return to normal with in a few months, much to my husband's chagrin, who thinks it's quite sexy. In all seriousness though, I am doing very well. I have been showered with love and support. This has been an eye opening experience in many ways, and I am sure I will continue to learn and grow from this.
Because of all I have been through recently, I have decided to make a major adjustment to my practice. I am lowering my rates from $100.00 a treatment to $65.00! In order to give you this value, I am moving my practice to my home office in Longmont. I realize this may freak out some of you Boulderities, but I promise you it takes the same amount of time or less to get to my house than it does to get from North Boulder to South Boulder. I am right off the diagonal at Airport Rd and Nelson. I am just barely in Longmont! I hope you will take advantage of the affordable care that I will be able to provide from my new location!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Chinese medicine is so cool
I recently had a patient that decided to give her kidney to her brother…
She came back for a treatment about two weeks after her surgery.
She is doing and feeling great, and obviously still recovering. (FYI, her brother is doing great too!)
One complaint that she has is that she keeps waking up at 4:30 am. It is not a normal time for her to wake up. She does not suffer from insomnia. So, we explored some possibilities as to why 4:30…
In Chinese medicine there is something called the meridian clock. This meridian clock
illustrates the flow of qi (life-force energy) through the meridians during the 24 hours of the day. Each meridian is assigned a 2 hour increment at which point the qi is flowing more strongly in that particular energetic pathway.
Between 3 and 5am, the qi is strongest in the Lung meridian. The lungs represent many things according to the 5 elements. They represent grief, autumn, dryness, nose, skin, the color white, and much more.
I said to my patient, “Maybe you’re grieving the loss of your kidney?” She quickly replied, “No, I’m glad to have given it to my brother.” We just kind of stared at each other and continued with her treatment. After, I went to my desk and started thinking about it further. I began thinking about how the various organs in our body interact with one another. And I remembered that the lungs feed energy to the kidneys, just like a mother feeds her child. The lungs nourish the kidneys. So, my patient had one of her kidneys removed and the lungs are now over flowing with energy trying to fill up her kidney energy which is needing more and healing.
Sorry, but that is cool.
Chinese medicine is so cool
I recently had a patient that decided to give her kidney to her brother…
She came back for a treatment about two weeks after her surgery.
She is doing and feeling great, and obviously still recovering. (FYI, her brother is doing great too!)
One complaint that she has is that she keeps waking up at 4:30 am. It is not a normal time for her to wake up. She does not suffer from insomnia. So, we explored some possibilities as to why 4:30…
In Chinese medicine there is something called the meridian clock. This meridian clock
illustrates the flow of qi (life-force energy) through the meridians during the 24 hours of the day. Each meridian is assigned a 2 hour increment at which point the qi is flowing more strongly in that particular energetic pathway.
Between 3 and 5am, the qi is strongest in the Lung meridian. The lungs represent many things according to the 5 elements. They represent grief, autumn, dryness, nose, skin, the color white, and much more.
I said to my patient, “Maybe you’re grieving the loss of your kidney?” She quickly replied, “No, I’m glad to have given it to my brother.” We just kind of stared at each other and continued with her treatment. After, I went to my desk and started thinking about it further. I began thinking about how the various organs in our body interact with one another. And I remembered that the lungs feed energy to the kidneys, just like a mother feeds her child. The lungs nourish the kidneys. So, my patient had one of her kidneys removed and the lungs are now over flowing with energy trying to fill up her kidney energy which is needing more and healing.
Sorry, but that is cool.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Rev. Tyler Stroebel
Okay, so here is my first self indulgent blog post!
This weekend, I graduated from a year long clairvoyant program…
I was presented with a certificate naming me Rev. Tyler Stroebel. This certificate allows me to do spiritual counseling, intuitive readings, and hands on healing.
I knew one year ago when I began the program that I would be awarded this certificate, though I had no real feelings around it.
I was super excited to do the program which would teach me how to run my energy, do psychic readings, and create a closer relationship to Source/God (whatever you want to call it). Two years ago, I got a reading from a friend. She told me that I would be able to see energy some day. I was stoked! I thought, “How cool would it be to see the energy I am moving with the acupuncture needles!” So, one year later, with a whole lot of new information and insight, and a ton of self exploration, I have earned this awesome certificate! Originally, I was totally unattached to being a reverend, nor did I understand what it meant; I just wanted to experience this program. Today, the day after my graduation, I feel differently. The only way I can explain it is like this…
When I married my husband, Jason, the day after our wedding I woke up before he did. I went into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror, and I just felt a little different, a little special, and a little more mature or something. In my external environment, nothing had changed. Jason and I lived together before we were married, we shared everything, we had a joint bank account, we loved each other, etc. But that day, something inside me changed and it made me smile.
Similarly, nothing in my external environment has changed today. I still have the great honor of sharing a very special relationship with my patients, friends, and family.
Though today, I smile, and I feel a new excitement and joy.
Monday, November 08, 2010
Tune Out 2 Tune In
What if for 24 hours you could turn off all electronic devices? Imagine how quiet it would be. How would you choose to spend your time?
Some might find they have more time in a day then they realized. Precious time to spend with friends, family or just yourself.
Others might find that they hear more. Literally. With no distractions, sound is enhanced and you hear things that otherwise you might not. It could be your breath, heartbeat, leaves blowing in the wind, laughter. Anything.
Some might find that this experiment is uncomfortable. No distractions from thoughts. But what if there was something your inner voice has been trying to say that you’ve been muffling?
Try tuning out just to tune in -- to yourself, to others, to life.
Monday, October 25, 2010
It is moxa season!
What is moxa? Moxa is short for moxibustion, which is a modality used in Chinese medicine. It involves the use of an herb, Mugwort also known as Artemisia… sounds kind of Hogwartsish doesn’t it??? Well, wait till you hear what I do with it! So, moxa can be used in a number of ways:
• It comes in a stick form which looks like a cigar (though you don’t smoke it!). What you do, do with it, is light it on fire and hover over the skin, till the skin is pink and warm.
• It also comes in a loose form and is used directly on the skin. An ointment is used to protect your skin from getting burned as tiny pieces of moxa are lit on fire. As soon as you feel the heat you let me know, and I take it off.
• Moxa can be used on the needles too!
So, why is it moxa season?
Well, moxa is incredibly helpful in boosting your immune system and as the weather is changing, our bodies sometimes have a difficult time staying protected from pathogens. During Fall and Spring in particular I use moxa as my version of the flu shot. It is also great for nourishing your internal organs and giving them a little boost during these transitions. Moxa speaks to that initial fire in the body that gets everything else going metabolically. So, it is a very deep and restorative treatment.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Super Foods for Men
Adding nutrient-rich super foods to the diet can give men a healthy boost. Here are some foods that can help maintain muscle mass, prevent prostate cancer, and more.
Spinach: Popeye had this one right. Spinach is one of the most nutrient-dense foods in existence. Spinach can help protect against prostate cancer, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, lower blood pressure and strengthen muscles.
Yogurt: Eating yogurt that contains live bacterial cultures everyday improves digestive health, boosts the immune system, provides protection against cancer and may help you live longer. Not all yogurts are probiotic though, so make sure the label says “live and active cultures.”
Avocados: Avocados are a good source of vitamin K, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, vitamin C, folate and copper. Rich in potassium, avocados contain more of this nutrient than bananas. Potassium is needed to regulate nerves, heartbeat and, especially, blood pressure. An added bonus for men: Avocados inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells.
Walnuts: When it comes to their health benefits, walnuts are the king of nuts. Richer in heart-healthy omega-3s than salmon, loaded with more anti-oxidants than red wine, and packing half as much muscle-building protein as chicken, walnuts are one of the all time super foods.
Blackberries: Blackberries are packed with Vitamin C, calcium and magnesium with more than double the amounts than their popular cousin, the blueberry. Vitamin C is a powerful stress reducer that can lower blood pressure and return cortisol levels to normal faster when taken during periods of stress. Magnesium and calcium act together to help regulate the nerves and muscle tone. Too little magnesium in your diet can cause nerve cells to become over activated and can trigger muscular tension, soreness, spasms, cramps, and fatigue. Blackberries also score high on the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) scale assesses the antioxidant content of food: the higher the score, the better the food’s ability to neutralize cell-damaging free radicals that lead to cancer.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
It’s All About the Children
Children and Acupuncture:
Children respond extremely well to acupuncture treatments for many conditions. When treating children, their comfort is of the utmost importance. Treatments tend to be shorter and acupuncture points are usually stimulated gently with very thin needles or with other techniques that do not involve needles.
Needle-free acupuncture treatments may include stroking, rubbing, tapping, and pressing the acupuncture points with tools such as brushes, rollers and blunt probes.
Common childhood conditions treated with Oriental Medicine:
• Failure to thrive syndrome
• Weak constitution
• Colic, excessive night crying, temper tantrums
• Indigestion, GERD, constipation, and diarrhea
• Night terrors
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Allergies, asthma
• Cough and colds
• Eczema and hives
• Ear infections
• Bedwetting
Monday, August 30, 2010
Stars are star struck by the benefits of acupuncture!
Before signing a motion picture deal, Sandra Bullock makes sure to have an acupuncturist on hand, says Acupuncture Today.
OK magazine reports that both Sheryl Crow and Jennifer Aniston use acupuncture for a number of things including stress reduction and glowing skin!
Acupuncture and IVF are a popular combination. CNN reported that Celine Dion used acupuncture in trying to conceive.
When asked how Elle Macpherson maintains her health and well being, she answered, “I do choose to look after my body from a Chinese medicine perspective, which promotes and maintains wellness rather than treats illness.” Acufinder.com
Gwyneth Paltrow uses acupuncture for its mind/body/spirit connection. She once said that having acupuncture had guided her to a “new level” in life, helping her to find love with her husband and giving her the strength to cope with the death of her father. Acufinder.com
InStyle magazine asks Lucy Liu for her beauty secrets… what do you think her response was? Yep, acupuncture!
Some other celebrities using acupuncture are Kate Winslet, Neve Cambell, Kate Moss, Madonna, Cher, Shaquille O’Neal, Sylvester Stallone, Jerry Rice, Steve Young, and Oprah Winfrey.
Clearly, anyone who’s anyone is incorporating acupuncture into their life! Are you star struck by the effects you’ve had via acupuncture??? Ha!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Why do we get sick?
Early physicians said that disease was a sign of God’s anger or evil spirits infiltrating the body. Hippocrates and Galen theorized that we get sick from imbalances of the four basic substances (blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile). Similarly, Chinese medicine blames the six evils (wind, dry, damp, heat, cold, and summer heat) for our illnesses. And today, western medicine acknowledges that there are infectious diseases (those that come from bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc) and non-infectious diseases (those stemming from a combination of factors such as lifestyle and genetics).
I believe that we get sick based on the state of our internal environment, which if not in balance, creates a susceptibility to outside influences or internal turmoil.
So, what does our internal environment consist of?
Our viscera, blood, nerves, qi, and most importantly our thoughts, are what make up our internal environment. Our thoughts create how we perceive our wellbeing. So, if we think we are healthy, healthy we will be. Seems easy enough and it is, except that it’s not. Often times we think we are thinking healthy, prosperous, happy thoughts when in actuality we are thinking about those subjects from a place of not having them instead of having them. This creates imbalances with in us, which over time can lead to illness or a vulnerability to illness.
Finding balance, peace, and joy is the best medicine you can give yourself! Ultimately, I believe we heal ourselves. My job is to facilitate your awareness of your body/mind/spirit connection, and help you energetically get where you want to be.
Be well,
Tyler
Monday, June 21, 2010
Where Organic Produce Matters…
According to the EWG’s shoppers guide to pesticides:
The following fruits and veggies have the highest levels of pesticides.
Listed from most to least contaminated:
1. peaches
2. strawberries
3. apples
4. spinach
5. nectarines
6. celery
7. pears
8. cherries
9. potatoes
10. sweet bell peppers
11. raspberries
12. imported grapes
These are the cleanest fruits and veggies grown conventionally.
Listed from least to most contaminated:
1. sweet corn
2. avocados
3. pinapples
4. cauliflower
5. mangoes
6. sweet peas
7. asparagus
8. onions
9. broccoli
10. bananas
11. kiwis
12. papaya
This is more incentive to buy local and organic!
You can find more information on the subject at The Dirty Dozen
Pass it along!
Happy Summer!
Friday, May 14, 2010
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Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Acupuncture for Athletes
One of our specialties here at Mountain Acupuncture Clinic is Acupuncture for Athletes. We encompass all of our athletes needs by offering a wide variety of treatments for a wide variety of disorders...
1. Musculoskeletal issues from head to toe
2. Pre-race optimization
3. Post-race recovery
4. Allergies
5. Insomnia
6. Headaches
7. Enhancing Liver/Lung functions
8. Digestive disorders
9. Asthma
10. Energy enhancement
11. Stress Reduction
We love supporting our athletes and helping them to achieve their individual goals.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Patient of the Month
If we had a patient of the month it would be a patient I saw today…
She came in not really knowing how to explain how she was feeling and so she simply blurted out, “I feel damp today,” and then giggled. And then she continued to talk about how she wasn’t sure I would understand what that means, etc. I cut her off immediately because I knew exactly what ‘damp’ feels like. I said, “Is it hard to wake up in the morning after a full nights sleep? Do you feel heavy? Is your head fuzzy and congested? Are you having a hard time remembering things?” She said, “How did you know?” I said, “It’s a classic Chinese medical text book symptom.” I was so excited (in my own dorky acupuncturist way) and she was too because I knew exactly what she was trying to convey to me.
One of the main differences between Western medicine and Chinese medicine is how the Chinese view pathogens. So, in Western medicine we see pathogens that enter our bodies as viruses and bacteria, and of course they are. In Chinese medicine we view viruses and bacterial invasions to the body as weather invasions. So, heat, cold, wind, damp, dry, and summer heat are the 6 pathogens from a Chinese perspective. A cold or flu may look like high fever, sweating, red face, and sore throat, in which case it would be a wind heat attack. Alternatively, a low grade fever, chills, headache, and stiff neck would be a wind cold attack.
Most people have heard of acupuncture and they know that little needles get put in the body, and that it balances your energy. Most people don’t really understand why we acupuncturists do what we do. So, I hope you enjoyed this snip it of information!
Allergy Season is Around the Corner
Eliminate your allergies this season with our innovative allergy treatments.
For more information check out our allergy correction page!
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