Category: Anxiety

How Emotions Create Havoc on our Physical Health

9/18/2015

Our mind and body are not separated! Our emotions affect our organs and create havoc on our physical health. According to Chinese medicine, certain emotions affect certain organs and manifest as different symptoms. Watch this short video and learn which long standing emotions can eventually make you chronically sick.

And if you have any questions, email me or post a comment below.
Clara Cohen,
Registered Acupuncturist in Port Moody

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How did you get into this?

10/17/2013

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My fitness days!

I often have a similar conversation with my patients, whereby they want to know how I got into acupuncture. They see how I really love what I do and the passion I have in educating people about the benefits of Chinese medicine, and what it has to offer. And this is what I tell them.

I had been working in the fitness industry for over 10 years, managing 2 fitness clubs, personal training and teaching aerobics. Life was good. I was doing triathlons, adventure races and running marathons. My friends were all fitness buffs and we spend our time hiking, training or eating!

But somehow I felt this wasn't enough! I was meant for something more...
I've always been drawn to anything connected to health improvement. I constantly devoured magazines and books on natural health. I treated myself to good food, supplements, and the use of practitioners such as chiropractors, massage therapists, naturopaths, homeopaths, and acupuncturists, to keep my body and mind in balance.

When personal training, often clients would complain about having a migraine, or not sleeping, or having painful periods. I was frustrated because I wasn't sure how to help them. So one quiet Friday night, I sat at work and decided to change my career path.

It took me almost 2 years! Yes, you read it right, 2 years of research before taking the plunge. I visited and read about many colleges, talked to different practitioners about their craft, their burn out rates, their incomes, the good, the bad and the ugly of their fields.
In the end, Chinese medicine really called out to me.

I hadn't told anyone of my decision and my research. Now that I was sure, and had a plan to start school in 4 months, it was time to share my exciting news. Well, let me tell you, my balloon deflated real fast! Everyone, I mean everyone, my family, my friends and long time clients, all thought I had lost my mind.
This is what I was told:
- Acupuncture? Seriously?
- Why rock the boat? You have such a great job.
- You're too old (I was 33 at the time) to go back to school.
- 5 years? How will you support yourself and pay for tuition?
- Have you lost your mind?
- Why would people get acupuncture from you, you're not Chinese!

Not one person supported me in this choice. I panicked. Maybe they were right, I was crazy! I started doubting myself and rethinking the whole thing. But in the end, I followed my heart and my gut, and took the plunge anyway. I went to school full time while working part time, had not much of a social life (my free time was spent studying), and didn't travel (no money) to France. But it was all worth it.

THIS was the best decision I have ever made, bar none!!! I love what I do so much. I teach it to eager students, who I hope I can inspire to become as passionate about Chinese medicine as I am. I help patients on a daily basis and feel blessed to have such a great fulfilling career.

Follow your gut, dream without limits, don't be afraid. It won't be easy, but the reward is that much sweeter.

Clara Cohen
Registered Acupuncturist, DTCM
Healing Cedar Wellness

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9 Ways to stay healthy and prevent illnesses

2/1/2013

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Achieving balance in life is not always easy but it should be what we all thrive for. We all know what can impact our health, and what to avoid (i.e.: drugs, smoking, stress...), in order to stay grounded. Let's focus on what we can DO to prevent chronic illnesses and live a long happy life.
Defining health:
- Eating a wholesome non processed diet that suits you need.
- Go play outside, get some fresh air daily no matter what the weather is like.
- Exercise: whatever you enjoy, hiking, swimming, playing sports, yoga, tai chi.
- Get some sleep, go to bed every night at the same time, practice deep breathing and
let your body relax.
- Having family and/or friends support is crucial to your wellbeing.
- Do you have a purpose, a goal, a vision? Work on it daily.
- Listen to your favorite music, dance, sing and fill your soul with harmony.
- What are you passionate about? what makes you happy? what makes feel alive?
- Use natural therapies for preventive measures: get massages, acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments regularly, talk to a Naturopathic doctor, use infrared saunas, talk to a counsellor...

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Acupuncture for Insomnia

11/6/2012

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Chronic Insomnia
It can take different forms, such as the inability to fall asleep when going to bed, waking up during the night and not being able to fall back asleep, or not sleeping at all. 50% of insomnia disorders are attributed to anxiety, stress, or depression.

Common causes:
- Emotional or mental disorders.
- Stress!
- Chronic illness such as Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, Parkinson's.
- Diet: eating late at night, too much food, indigestion, coffee consumption.
- Jet lag
- Medications such as beta blockers or decongestants.
- Lack of Calcium and magnesium.
- Sedentary lifestyle!
- Restless leg syndrome, sleep Apnea may also be the cause of insomnia.

Recommendations:
- Supplement with Calcium and Magnesium (it has a calming effect).
- Melatonin 2 hrs before bedtime (It is a natural hormone to promote sleep used occasionally only and do not give it children).
- Herbs: Valerian root, lemon balm, kava kava or hops in tea form before bed.
- Food that promotes sleep to be eaten at dinner time or as a snack before bed: banana, figs, dates, nut butter, turkey, yogurt.
- Food that stimulate your brain and to be avoided at night: cheese, sugar, chocolate, bacon, ham, sausage, sauerkraut, tomatoes, spinach and eggplant.
- Do not eat large meals in the evenings.
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and any stimulants 6 hrs before bed.
- Go to bed when tired, establish regular sleeping patterns, do not watch Tv in bed, do not read or watch stimulating programs (No "Breaking Bad" right before sleep!), use your bedroom only for sleep and sex, sleep in a dark quiet room with a comfortable temperature.
- Take a hot bath before bed.
- Exercise regularly.
- Put your worries out of your mind and concentrate on pleasant memories.
- Have you tried acupuncture and Chinese Medicine? It works wonders for sleep.

Clara Cohen
Healing Cedar Wellness

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The Angry Drunk & The Bed Wetter

3/23/2012

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How your emotions are affecting your physical health

Many people when drinking turn into someone else. Some become more flirty, others laugh a lot, or fall asleep (That would be me), but quite a few become angry. Growing up in France, wine was the drink of choice. My next door neighbour was an angry drunk. He used to come home from the bar, and trash furniture while shouting obscenities. He did hit his wife as well, unfortunately. His daughter was terrified of him and until she was 12, was loosing bladder control at night. She was a bed wetter.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) sees emotions as a major cause of illness and each emotion relates and affects an organ within the body. Also, if an organ is not functioning at its best, it may cause emotional behavior changes. It works either way, it's the chicken and the egg or in TCM, the Yin-Yang theory (all things are connected and related).

- According to TCM, the Liver system connects with the following: anger, irritability, rage, frustration, and impatience. The liver also corresponds to type A personality, the planner, the visionary, the goal setter, the one in control. All the emotions and personality traits above are not bad for your liver as long as they're not ruling your life. If you're a planner, it means you will be well prepared. But do you get upset (angry, irritable or frustrated) when things don't go according to plan? When you're not in control? Then it becomes an issue, and the body will be affected by physical symptoms. If you get irritable once in a while because someone cut you off on the road (I hate that), that's alright. But if you're constantly wanting to bite people's head off: Houston we have a problem!

- The symptoms showing an imbalance of the liver are: High Blood pressure, temporal headaches worse on stress, shoulder tension, insomnia (especially waking up between 1 and 3 am), red eyes, dizziness, blurred vision, weak joints, tremors, twitches & tics, spasms, ear ringing that comes and goes (high pitch), and for women at PMS time: tender breasts, bloating, and mood swings.
- If you're finding yourself constantly short fused or frustrated, and have a few of the above symptoms, then it's time to talk to your Acupuncturist and get your liver back in balance. Don't go jumping both feet first into a liver cleanse. Talk to a qualified professional first, as each individual is unique and needs specific attention to reach optimum health. Your liver may not necessary need to be cleared up, but strengthened instead.

- Liver Friends: Acupuncture, herbal medicine, and ways to relax (like reading, getting a massage, dancing, meditation...).
- Liver Foods: Lemon, watercress, celery, cucumber, cherries, black grapes, beets, asparagus, millet, fennel, flax seed oil.
- Liver Foes: Alcohol, over consumption of spicy foods, greasy processed foods, stress, repetitive work such as those leading to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and perfectionism.

Don't get angry, get help!

- According to TCM, the Kidneys system connect with the following: Fear (Irrational or not), phobias, anxiety, and a feeling of insecurity. A strong kidney system shows great motivation, will power and courage and trust. If you lack motivation or will power and have low self-esteem, or feel insecure, then according to TCM, your Kidneys are not totally balanced. Also the Kidneys system relates to the aging process and our constitution (Think DNA: somethings you cannot change and we cannot stop the aging process, we can only slow it down)

- The symptoms showing an imbalance of the Kidneys are:
bed wetting in children, incontinence in older adults, fertility issues (for men or women), fatigue, insomnia, sweating when nervous or at night, low bone density, loose teeth, lack of focus, poor memory, constant ear ringing (Low pitch), and grey hair or balding at an early age.
- If you child is wetting her bed, look for a fear base cause (maybe bullying at school). If you are constantly fearful, dreading events, lack motivation, talk to your acupuncturist or other qualified professional, and get help. Psychological help maybe necessary as well. Some past events maybe difficult to deal with on your own.

- Kidneys Friends: Acupuncture, herbal medicine, mineral supplements (Calcium, zinc...), Yoga, laughter, healthy wholesome diet, and anything that may slow down the aging process.
- Kidneys Foods: black sesame seeds, almonds, walnuts, wild salmon, sardines, bone marrow, quinoa, kidney beans, royal jelly.
- Kidneys Foes: Emotional shock (Bad news can turn someone's hair grey overnight), Physical shock (i.e.: car accident), people that lower your self-esteem, standing for hours very day (i.e: Security guard), Osteo-arthritis, lack of minerals (Calcium, magnesium), drugs (legal or illegal), anything that contributes to fast aging (anything in excess, stress...).

Forget the fear, get help!

And if you have questions about the above, feel free to contact me.
Clara Cohen
Port Moody & Coquitlam Acupuncturist

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"I love my job!
My patients keep me humble daily, and helping them reach their health goals is the best reward of all. And every morning I cannot wait to go teach and inspire students to love Acupuncture as much as I do. If I can make a difference in someone's life on a daily basis, I feel I have reached my own goal."

Give Acupuncture a Try!

"I feel blessed to a have supporting husband, a loyal dog, amazing friends and to live in beautiful Port Moody, BC"

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Published Articles:
- Self Growth
- Vitality Link

How Emotions Create Havoc on our Physical Health

How did you get into this?

9 Ways to stay healthy and prevent illnesses

Acupuncture for Insomnia

The Angry Drunk & The Bed Wetter

Clara's Blog

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