Satisfied Acupuncture Happy Hour customers

Some photos from this week's Acupuncture Happy Hour.

The Beauty of Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine is so powerful and beautiful. It's very effective for acute (rapid onset, short term) conditions, like sprains, strains, stomachaches, headaches, colds, and inflammatory conditions like bee stings and conjunctivitis (a.k.a pink eye). This is because acupuncture causes an immediate reaction in the body to increase microcirculation into the affected area, that is to say, improve circulation of life-nourishing, oxygen-rich blood to the area, thereby improving the body's ability to reduce inflammation, attack bacteria and viruses, and improve self-regulating functions. The use of acupuncture also triggers the release of endorphins ("feel-good" hormones) in the body, thereby relaxing the mind and body and elevating the sense of well-being. Ever felt much better after seeing loved ones or a funny movie? This sense of well-being is analogous to the effects of an acupuncture-induced state of well-being.

But the real beauty of Chinese medicine lies in the ability to effectively treat chronic, long term problems, like irritable bowel syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, infertility, menstrual problems, eczema, allergies, asthma, recurring body pains like migraines and backaches, and so forth. This is the real strength of Chinese medicine and a much necessary component in the conventional healthcare system. Because our medicine is still relatively new in the United States and due to the limitations placed by regulatory agencies, we Chinese medicine practitioners cannot practice many of the advanced treatments and protocols regularly practiced in Asia, like acupuncture anasthesia for surgery, high-potent herbal injections, bone-setting, cancer treatments, hepatitis treatments, etc. To compensate and until more acceptance is had by society and the larger conventional medical community, we practice what is really the strength - and tenet - of Chinese medicine: prevention and reigniting the self-healing mechanisms of the body.

Just after about a month or two of regular treatments, my patients begin to realize they are no longer having to be heavily dependent on their western medications.... some of them even all together forgetting to take their meds b/c their symptoms become manageable and reduced. This is because with continued "reminders" of improved microcirculation, release of endorphins, and other mechanisms science is only beginning to understand, the body begins to remember how to operate properly and optimally, as opposed to incorrectly and sub-optimally. It took the body months and years to become sick, so it will take time for the body to heal again, but with patience, commitment, and continued gentle reminders with Chinese medicine, it is now on its path to recovery and eventually optimal health - all done naturally.

After the patients are stabilized and well on their own two feet, it's my goal not to have my patients come back -- except for check ups or tune ups, should they wish. That's the beauty of the medicine that I practice: it heals from within, helping patients regain their self-healing ability!!

Women Rock!!

PACE Awards recipients 2009

The PACE Awards night on June 25th was truly inspirational.  All these women, more than 50 of them, who are small business entrepreneurs, working hard to make their dreams come true.  There were over 25 exhibition booths set up at the Music Center, with the women exhibiting their services, products, and ideas  --  floral designers, organic juice producers, solar energy contractors, jewelry and clothes designers, hair care suppliers, photographers, scrapbooking services, personal trainers, and the list goes on.

The highlight of the evening came when the five of us were called to the stage to get recognized for our hard-working efforts.  What was really neat was that the prior-year recipients of the Awards came on stage to introduce this year's top three prize winners.  The MC introduced  these prior-year awardees and updated the audience with their accomplishments since receiving the awards.  The top winner from last year was Hakika Keith,  the owner of Gorilla Life, Inc., the company that produces the namesake chlorophyll health drink, sold, among other places, at Whole Foods.  Gorilla Life came to fruition thanks to PACE's support and guidance.  Wow!

This year's first prize went to Deborah Stern, who runs her own organic, hand-made tamales business, La Guera Tamalera.  She learned to make the tamales from scratch from a family in Mexico.  With the money she received from PACE Women & Co. Microenterprise Boost Equity Awards, she hired additional help and can now pay for a commercial kitchen, which'll allow her to distribute her tamales wholesale.  Since receiving the award, she has secured five new wholesale accounts.   Go Guera!

Second prize went to two recipients.  One recipient, Karen Marcus, is an artist and prints and sells original artwork and greeting cards made from her original artwork.  The award money gave Karen the opportunity to have an office space where she can focus on creating her artwork as well as to store her cards.  Gotta love her business name: You're Not the Boss of Me!  The second recipient, Shannon Bizzy, is the owner of Bizzy Bee's Landscape Maintenance.  The award money allowed her to purchase more equipment for her full service landscaping company as well as to hire additional crew members.  

Myself and the fifth awardee received the "Entrepreneur Spirit Awards."  You know what I do. :-)  With my award money, I have been able to create more marketing materials to help me with visibility, like rack cards, update my website, and am currently in the process of creating new, custom business cards.  

The fifth awardee, Rossana Ruey, runs her own electronic waste recycling company, e-Recycling Stewards, Inc.  With her award money, she plans to take her company to the next level by creating a website and corporate identity.

Listening to all of these women's struggles, challenges and accomplishments made my heart burst with pride and also humbled me at what we women can achieve when we set our minds to do something.  We just need a little help from time to time to stay on track.  We small business entrepreneurs are so vital to the American economy.  As Ms. Kim Tachiki-Chin (Senior Advisor, Office of Congrresswomen Roybal-Allard, U.S. House of Representatives, 34th District) aptly remarked during the ceremony: "I'm sorry to corporate executives in the room, but it is the small businesses that are backbone of the American economy."   Amen.  

On the left is my super-awesome business advisor, Jackie Jones, from PACE. The woman on the right, Vivienne Lee, is from Citibank, the main sponsor of the Women & Co. Boost Equity Awards.

Pretty proud of the recognition and award I received