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Today marks my first year practicing as a licensed acupuncturist. Looking back over the last year of helping improve people’s health with Chinese medicine, I wanted to share the top four tips I have given patients.

Because what you do outside of the treatment room is just as important as what is done inside of it, much of my advice to patients has to do with lifestyle changes. These changes can help speed up the healing process, and make treatments more effective and as a result, can lead to quicker results.

Eat more meals. Some of the most unhealthy people out there only eat one meal a day. Your digestive system (in Chinese medicine, your spleen) craves a routine with eating. It functions better and absorbs much more nutrients when you eat 3-4 meals and 2-3 snacks a day. With only one meal a day, your body stresses out and your cortisol levels shoot up so when you eat that meal, your body hangs on to it. Believe it or not, eating more often actually helps your metabolism speed up.

Eat more food. If you’re fatigued all the time or you’re pale, eat more. Seriously. Your body is burning through the food you’re eating. As long as you’re not eating junk food, you will not gain weight. Your body will be thrilled to finally have some fuel. Also, try eating cooked vegetables instead of raw to help your digestion. This will help energize you.

Sleep more. You never hear national sleep studies touting an increase in the number of hours the average American. It’s always decreasing as more work is expected from us. If you’re sleep deprived, your immune levels decrease and you become more susceptible to getting sick. Finding the right amount of sleep varies from person to person. Strive to get between 6 and 8.5 hours a night and go to bed by 11 p.m. to get the best quality of sleep.

Do something that relaxes you. Anything really. Yoga, running, meditating, laughing, dancing, praying, bubble bathing…something that takes you out of the fight-or-flight mode that is taxing your adrenals.

These tips are simple but not easy. I suggest trying to tackle them one at a time. You may find one to be easier than others to put into place. As your stress levels decrease and blood sugar levels stabilize, you’ll notice improvements with your health.

Interested in Chinese medicine? We offer a 20-minute complimentary consultation. Contact us at palmgrenacu@gmail.com or (773) 915-3683 or (773) 968-1658 today to schedule.

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