Can Kids Get Acupuncture?

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The answer is, YES! Kids can absolutely get acupuncture. Many times, kids don't even need to have a needle pierce their skin; non-invasive tools can be used to stimulate the body's natural healing mechanism. Children are very resilient and have a lot of Qi (pronounced 'chee'), which allows them to heal much faster than adults. There is a Japanese-style technique called Shoni-shin that uses non-puncturing tools to promote healing in children.

Acupuncture for children can be very effective before any medications need to be used. Reducing medications can help the child continue to build a strong and healthy immune system on their own. It will also prevent future resistance to antibiotics and other drugs.

Pediatric acupuncture can be very helpful in treating cold and flu-like symptoms, headaches, abdominal pain, digestive discomfort, allergies, and many other common issues that children face. Not to mention the adverse side effects of pediatric acupuncture are minimal and usually only include minor bruising.

Crockpot Fajitas

Seriously, the easiest recipe EVER! And it was so delicious!

Servings: 8 fajitas  

Ingredients:
2 roma tomatoes, diced
4 ounce can diced green chilies 
2 large green bell peppers, seeded and sliced 
2 large red bell peppers, seeded and sliced
1 large onion, sliced
1 1/2 Tablespoon vegetable oil 
2 teaspoons cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder  
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

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Directions-
1. Spray crockpot with a thin coating of non-stick spray.
2. Add all of the above ingredients to the crockpot and mix with a large spoon until all vegetables are coated with oil and spices.
3. Set your crockpot to low and cook for 4-6 hours.
4. Serve with warmed tortillas and your favorite sides, such as black beans, spanish rice and avocado.

Slightly modified from the original recipe.

Mindfulness

Lately, I have found myself thinking a lot about mindfulness. Being mindful has many definitions, but what I think it boils down to is living and thinking in the present moment. How many times during the day do you think about your next appointment or meeting, what you have to do tomorrow or this weekend, or what has happened in the past. All of these thoughts are based on the past or the future, not the present.

I find myself in this fast-paced life of school, work and living near Los Angeles craving a slower pace. Mindfulness helps me slow things down and calm my mind. I recenlty took a big step towards mindfulness by making a conscious effort to stop checking my social media networks. These networks often serve as a distraction when I need to focus on my studies, my work, or my patients. After two weeks of "being off" social media, I already feel more connected to the people in my life and most importantly myself.

Some other mindfulness practices I have are breathing exercises like meditation and yoga. I also practice mindful eating. During mindful eating, I really focus on the nourishing food that is going into my body. I put down my cell phone, turn off the TV and focus on chewing my food as many as 50 times each bite. Eating can be a very social part of our lives and that's fine, but I try to find at least one meal per day where I eat alone and focus entirely on my chewing and the nourishment of my body from that food.

By practicing mindfulness I am more relaxed, I can more easily solve problems that come my way, I can handle stressful situations with less stress and more efficiency. 

How do you add mindfulness to you life?

If you are looking for more information on mindfulness, check out the following blog. I follow this blog regularly and it gives me a lot of different tools to incorporate mindfulness into all aspects of my life. Mindful Influence Blog

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On My Radar: April 2014

I spend some time each week reading articles either for the pure sake of learning or for entertainment. This blog is mainly dedicated to veganism and Traditional Oriental Medicine, but I find other topics to be relevant for this blog as well. In my efforts to educate myself to become the best health practitioner I can be, an integral part of healing is educating my patients and community. 

This monthly blog series will consist of news stories and articles regarding things that are "On My Radar."

How Qi Gong Can Help Treat Insomnia

Here is an article that describes, yet another Chinese Medicine modality, Qi Gong and how it can help a very common condition...insomnia. Coming in October 2014, Hong Kong University will be conducting an experiment on 300 insomnia sufferers to scientifically determine the effectiveness of Qi Gong on insomnia. I am excited to see Qi Gong's influence expanding around the world.

How Sugar Affects the Brain

This is a fascinating and easy to understand video of how sugar affects our brains. I believe that natural sugars that are found in raw foods are good for us...our brains need glucose (sugar). But I do not believe that processed sugar and sugar substitutes are beneficial for our bodies or brains at all.

Heartwarming Video About Animals and Love

I loved this video about a young boy in the Philippines who uses his precious resources to help some stray dogs.  

Plant These Flowers to Help Save Bees

We are learning that the bee population is dramatically dwindling due to some unidentified cause (or so they tell us it's unidentified). If you want to help fight bee death, plant some of these awesome plants and flowers to help save the bees.

Too Much Gas After Eating Fiber-Rich Foods?

Check out this post from one of my favorite websites to get answers about bloating and gas after eating fruits, veggies, or beans. It has a few good tips on how to reduce gas and bloating. 

Organic Food Co. Acquisitions

If you're trying to avoid fueling the pockets of food giants like General Mills and PepsiCo, take a look at this info-graphic to see which organic food companies are now owned by the big dogs. At least these big companies are expanding their market to include organic brands...what do you think, is this good or bad?

Where Does Protein Come From?

This info-graphic shows the many ways vegans and vegetarians can get quality protein without eating meat, eggs, or dairy.

Guide to Avoiding GMOs

Use this awesome guide (and website) to aid in your avoidance of GMOs. The Environmental Working Group's website has some stellar information about food and everyday products we use and their toxicity to ourselves and our environment.

The Borrowing Shop

This is a really cool idea about borrowing and trading items in the community so you don't always have to go out and buy something that you'll only use once. I hope we can start implementing these borrowing shops here in the states.