We’ve changed the name of our clinic to better reflect our specialty services.
Click here to hear Terry’s in-depth explanation on Instagram.
Same service. Same practitioner. Different name. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out!
Dark Under-Eye Circles Trendy?
Are Dark Under-Eye Circles a good trend?
TikTok is a place where you can find all sorts of crazy fashion and makeup tips. And I’m all for you expressing yourself. That being said, as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner, this new trend of creating Dark Under-Eye Circles has me a little disturbed. Allow me to explain.
The idea of the Dark Under-Eye Circle Trend is to affirm and normalize what the culture would deem unattractive. It’s to help people feel better about themselves and accept their flaws. The idea is to help alleviate any shame about one’s body. In this case, dark under-eye circles.
Modern medicine generally says that dark under-eye circles are either caused by allergies, lack of sleep, or simply just genetics.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the under-eye area reflects and relates to the health and function of the Kidney Qi. The TCM paradigm teaches that the Kidneys are like batteries for the body. They store our “Congenital Essence” or “Jing.”
According to TCM, we get our energy from two sources: 1. Post-Heaven Qi – this is the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the water we drink. 2. Pre-Heaven Qi – this is the Jing/Congenital Essence.
The Jing/Essence is the energy given to us by our parents at the moment of our conception. And we have only a limited amount. When this energy is completely used up, that is when we die. Thus, it’s important to live primarily upon the Post-Heaven energy we get from our food, air, and water.
Dark under-eye circles are an indicator that our Kidneys aren’t properly housing the Jing/Essence.
It’s being drained. And thus, our batteries are low.
This can have a “genetic” component. One’s parents may not have had much energy to gift to their offspring. So there is already a relative depletion of Jing which is reflected in dark circles.
Generally, dark under-eye circles means that we’re stressed out, not sleeping well, and overworked. It means that we’re living primarily out of fear and not in prosperity. Drugs, Alcohol, and Caffeine can also play a part in taxing the Kidney’s ability to properly house and hold the Jing/Essence to create dark circles.
It means we’re burning that candle at both ends and our lifespan is shortening.
Is that truly what we as a culture want to promote and celebrate?
If so, I will be rebelling against it. Celebration of dark-circles is an elevation of the over-worked, the over-stressed, and the fear-ridden. Instead of looking to solve the problem itself, it trivializes and normalizes it. This is wrong. Health is Beauty. Illness is not.
So, how does Traditional Chinese Medicine go about helping people get healthier and heal dark-under eye circles? Simply put, we do our best to avoid draining the body’s batteries.
Because the emotion of Fear drains Kidney Qi, we promote practices to calm the mind and spirit. Prayer, Meditation, Breathwork, Mindfulness, Yoga, and Qi Gong are all very helpful in this regard.
You are not a Human Doing. You are a Human Being. To protect Kidney Qi, stop doing so much and allow yourself some time to simply be in stillness.
Get plenty of sleep. And yes, the quality of your sleep does make a difference. Insomnia and dream-disturbed sleep creates dark circles. Also, eating at least 3 hours before bed time can help improve your sleep. Studies have shown that alcohol and caffeine disrupt the quality of your sleep. So, reduce or avoid those. For more sleep tips, listen to this episode of The Get Foxy Show podcast.
Overindulgence in sexual activity can also deplete Jing/Essence. Sex should be uplifting and energizing. If you feel tired, worn out, and weakened after sex, this is a warning sign that your Kidney energy isn’t being supported and dark circles can manifest.
Additionally, Low quality foods, allergens, and toxins can also create systemic inflammation that overworks the energetic function of the Kidneys and causes dark circles to show up.
And, of course, Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine can be quite helpful in reducing dark circles.
Listen to Ruthie tell her story and see the results of her under-eye areas.
My job as an Aesthetic Acupuncturist is to promote the health and wellbeing of all my patients. Instead of over-work and depletion, let’s promote rest and rejuvenation. Let’s celebrate the health of women. Instead of affirming overwork and illness, let’s encourage and up-lift others to be well and healthy. Finally, let’s allow for the women of our culture to bask in their softness, radiance, and femininity.
If you have questions about how you can get rid of your dark circles, please feel to reach out. I’m here for you.
Authenticity and Instagram Face
Lately I’ve been pondering the ideas of Authenticity and Instagram Face. This is something that’s been rolling around in my head for awhile now. So, what is authenticity?
au·then·tic | ôˈTHen(t)ik | adjective 1 of undisputed origin; genuine: the letter is now accepted as an authentic document | authentic 14th-century furniture. • made or done in the traditional or original way, or in a way that faithfully resembles an original: the restaurant serves authentic Italian meals | every detail of the movie was totally authentic. • based on facts; accurate or reliable: an authentic depiction of the situation. • (in existentialist philosophy) relating to or denoting an emotionally appropriate, significant, purposive, and responsible mode of human life.
au·then·tic·i·ty | ˌôTHenˈtisədē | noun the quality of being authentic: the paper should have established the authenticity of the documents before publishing them.
Are Botox, fillers, plastic surgery expressions of your authentic true self? Or, are they attempts to comply with the cultural expectations?
In our culture we have an issue with being authentically seen. So, instead of being our genuine self, we use Botox, Fillers, and Surgery to help us hide and comply.
One look at social media will tell you our culture is obsessed with youth and sex. For example, look at the Instagram Face trend. “Instagram Face” is a cultural phenomenon.
There’s a societal movement pushing you to change your authentic body, the body you were born with, to something that’s deemed more acceptable by others.
As humans, we are born with an individually unique soul. No one like another. Additionally, we have a have an equally unique physical body encasing that beautiful soul. And, each of us is built for a distinct purpose and destiny. Just as each type of vehicle in the parking lot serves in a specific capacity, so do we human beings.
The Instagram Face phenomenon is like saying that a Corvette is the only ideal vehicle and every other vehicle should get mechanical work done to become just like a Corvette.
No matter that a Prius, a Sentra, or an F-150, is made to offer value distinct from that of a Corvette. Each and every vehicle is built for a certain purpose in a specific context – the way and where they drive, how they use fuel, and whether or not they haul cargo. A Corvette isn’t a family hauler. Its fuel economy is poor. It doesn’t do well off road. So why should every vehicle be expected to look and perform like a Corvette? There’s value and beauty to be found in all types.
Let’s break free from this toxic ideal of the Instagram Face. Honor your authentic vehicle of self. If you’re built for off-roading, love it! If your body is built for fuel economy, celebrate! And, if you’re made to be a family hauler, cherish your body! Every authentic expression of the human body has beauty. And, each helps you to manifest your own unique destiny.
I’ve heard this conversation between women more than once:
Woman A – “I hate my (name the body feature here).”
Woman B – “Oh my gosh, you’re so beautiful! I’d love to have your (name the body feature here).”
The fact is we treat ourselves worse than others whom we care about.
We speak to ourselves in nasty ways that we wouldn’t ever use with someone we love. And, we chose to hide, instead of being seen in our Authenticity and Instagram Face overcomes. So, we get the procedures, comply with societal pressure, and become another Instagram Face clone.
Would you criticize a Prius for losing a race to Corvette? No. Would you belittle a Corvette for having poor fuel economy compared to the Prius? No. Because, you’re smart and logically recognize that they are different vehicles and hold their own unique value. So, apply the same logic to yourself and others. Each of us have a unique vehicle of self called the human body. And your body has distinct and extraordinary value. Those that criticize don’t understand the value of their own vehicle.
It’s ok to be who you are. Own your value. Own your awesomeness. You are made to be you and no one else.
The fact is, you, Child of the Divine, are beautiful. So, own your unique beauty.
Skip the Botox and Fillers. Aesthetic Acupuncture honors your unique vehicle of self. It doesn’t make you look like someone you’re not. There’s a big difference between Authenticity and Instagram Face. You are the real deal, the genuine article, just as you are. Stand in your authenticity and your true beauty shines.
The Difference Between Acupuncture & Dry Needling
What is the difference between Acupuncture and Dry Needling?
Depending upon who you ask, you’ll get conflicting answers regarding the difference between Acupuncture and Dry Needling. Admittedly, there’s a turf war happening between Acupuncturists and Physical Therapists. Chiropractors and MD’s are somewhere in the mix too. So, I encourage you to ask several practitioners on either side of the fence to make your own informed decision.
That being said, here’s my take.
If the definition of Acupuncture is “insertion of a filiform needle for therapeutic effect,” then both Dry Needling and Acupuncture are Acupuncture.
Many practitioners of Dry Needling will say Dry Needling is not Acupuncture. This is because they are following the works of Dr. Janet Travell and needle only Trigger Points within the musculature. Thus the term “dry needling.” Travell would needle Trigger Points with a hypodermic needling and inject saline solution into them. In this case, Dry Needling uses filiform needles, just like Acupuncture. However, it doesn’t follow the paradigm of Traditional Chinese Medicine, including things like Acupoints, Qi, ZangFu Organs, Meridian Channels, Yin/Yang and the like.
Acupuncturists, on the other hand, do needle Trigger Points. (They’re called “ashi points” in TCM. And, we’re taught specific techniques to needle them.) Acupuncturist do follow the Traditional Chinese Medicine paradigm. And you’ll hear us talk about Yin/Yang, Qi, ZangFu, Merdians, and all sorts of ancient Chinese medical concepts.
In my opinion, both Dry Needling and Acupuncture can be quite effective in addressing specific musculoskeletal pain conditions.
To be completely honest, I’ve had patients who also went to a Physical Therapist to get Dry Needling and they got better results than what they had with me. Conversely, I’ve also had patients who got Dry Needling that didn’t help them or even made their symptoms worse. But when they received Acupuncture from me, they got better. So, I do believe that Dry Needling can both help or hinder depending upon the patient’s constitution.
As laws regarding training vary from State to State, please take the time to learn about how much specific training in needle manipulation your Needling Practitioner has.
For example, here in Colorado, Physical Therapists are only required to have 46 hours of training in Dry Needling technique with no provision for clinical supervision. In contrast, at the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, students must record 150 hours of observation of another Licensed Acupuncturist and must log 645 hours of clinical supervision. In general, Acupuncturists have 500+ hours of clinical supervision in needle manipulation before they’re ever allowed to practice on their own. The same can’t generally be said about Dry Needlers. So, please do your due diligence regarding your practitioner’s training before engaging in either Acupuncture or Dry Needling.
On a side note, here in Colorado, Dry Needling can only be applied to localized Trigger Points. So, Cosmetic Dry Needling is illegal. If you see anyone in Colorado advertising Dry Needling for aesthetic or cosmetic purposes (lifting, tightening, toning, or reducing lines/wrinkles on the face) they are offering services outside of the their legal scope of practice. Report these unscrupulous practitioners to the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) immediately.
If you’d like more information about the difference between Dry Needling and Acupuncture, look to your State government’s website and find the Practice Acts for Acupuncture, Physical Therapy, and Chiropractic. These will tell you the specific legal requirements your State demands regarding the training of your practitioner. You can also reach out to your State’s Acupuncture, Physical Therapy, or Chiropractic Associations. They’ll be more than happy to help you get the information you’re looking for.
If you have any questions for me, I’m always happy to reply. I’ll get back to you personally as soon as I’m able. Email me: [email protected]
Facial Acupuncture if I’ve had Botox®?
Can I still get Facial Acupuncture done if I’ve had Botox® done?
The short answer is: It depends.
How long has it been since your Botox® treatment? If it’s been within the last 3 months, I wouldn’t recommend receiving a Facial Acupuncture treatment. And this is why – because Botox® can move.
According to this study, Chapman E, Bomba-Warczak E, Vevea J. Botulinum Toxin Study Proves Possibility Of Remote Effects. Cell Reports . 2016., there is evidence that injected botulinum toxin, a.k.a. Botox®, can actually jump between nerve cells and shut down areas it wasn’t intended to treat.
Back in 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration added a warning to Botox’s prescribing information “to highlight that botulinum toxin may spread from the area of injection to produce symptoms consistent with botulism.”
“In many cases, after an injection for a disabling spasm of neck muscles called cervical dystonia, there is no change in muscle tone but the patient finds relief and is perfectly happy. That result can’t be explained by the local effects.”
Ewa Bomba-Warczak, doctoral candidate in neuroscience
According to the FDA, these side effects could include “unexpected loss of strength or muscle weakness. … Understand that swallowing and breathing difficulties can be life-threatening and there have been reports of deaths related to the effects of spread of botulinum toxin.”
This study demonstrates clear evidence that Botox® moves between nerve cells in a lab dish. And if it can do so there, I believe it’s very easy to do so inside the body.
“We have seen that these toxins enter neurons at the injection site, causing the desired local paralysis, but Ewa and Jason have shown unambiguously the existence of a second entry pathway that takes some of the toxin molecules to other neurons.”
Edwin R. Chapman, doctoral candidate in neuroscience
Another study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology shows exercising facial muscles after Botox® injection can speed up the smoothing effect in about a day.
Why does this matter? It means increased circulation makes a difference in how the toxin spreads.
And Facial Acupuncture does an amazing job at boosting circulation in the areas being needled.
So the risk of getting Facial Acupuncture while you have active Botox® is possible unintended movement of the toxin. And we have no control where it could end up – your eyes, your spine, your brain. Since there have been recorded incidents of death related to unintended spread of botulinum toxin, I won’t take that risk. I care about you too much for that!
Also Facial Acupuncture helps “wake up” the nerves in your face. If you’ve just paid a couple hundred dollars for toxin to put your facial nerves to sleep, you don’t want Facial Acupuncture to “un-botox” you.
So, the longer answer is: Yes, you can get Facial Acupuncture if you’ve had Botox®. But, please wait until the effects of the Botox® wear off. Give it 3-4 months after your Botox® treatment before you try Facial Acupuncture.
The Botox® Alternative
We have your Botox® alternative.
You want to look younger but don’t like the idea of putting toxins in your face.
Unfortunately, many women (and men) don’t know that there is a safe, natural Botox® alternative. Allergan, the company who makes Botox®, has been ramping up its media campaigns. They want you to believe that the only way you can prevent wrinkles and look younger is with their product. And that simply is not true.
Our natural, toxin-free, Botox® alternative is a special kind of Acupuncture that goes by a few different names – Aesthetic Acupuncture, Cosmetic Acupuncture, and Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture, to list a few. This type of Acupuncture focuses on reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles, lifting and toning facial musculature, increasing local circulation in facial tissue, and stimulating production of collagen and elastin.
So, what’s that mean for you? You have a way to look younger and perhaps prevent wrinkles without having to inject toxic material into your face.
If you’ve been wary of getting on the “Tox Train,” that’s a good thing. Recent studies are now showing the negative consequences of Botox®. It interferes with interpersonal communication. It stifles your enjoyment of sex. Botox® messes with the wiring of your brain. Luckily, Aesthetic Facial Acupuncture does none of that.
So, if you live in the Northern Colorado area, (Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, Wellington, or Greeley) and you’re not happy about what you’re seeing in the mirror, BUT you haven’t taken action because you don’t want to do Botox®, now is the time consider my Natural Aesthetic Enhancement System. It uses Aesthetic Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine (both internally and externally), Traditional Chinese Dietetics, and the Ultimate Life Tool, to address your person – physical, mental, and emotional. Why? Because your face reflects the whole of you. It is the sum of your physical health, your emotions, and your mental wellbeing.
This Botox® alternative isn’t a skin deep, superficial treatment. You are seen on a much deeper level. We work together for true and lasting personal transformation.
If you’d like more information and have questions, please feel free to email me at [email protected] I’m always happy to answer questions.
Or if you’re ready, click here to schedule your Initial Consultation and Treatment.
