Many women struggle to find balance in their lives. With increasing roles at home and in the workplace, it is ingrained in women to do everything for everyone…often at the expense of their own health. With never-ending to-do lists, it’s no wonder we find it hard to make time for Self-care. Even when we know we “should” eat better, exercise, and practice deep breathing – who has time or energy for that when we’re burning the candle at both ends?
Enter acupuncture.
To understand why acupuncture can help women achieve inner balance, I’ll give you a quick tutorial on how acupuncture & Chinese medicine works.
Have you heard of Yin and Yang before? It’s this symbol right here…
In Chinese Medicine, Yin and Yang are important concepts that represent complementary forces, that must be in balance for optimal health.
Yin represents feminine energy, Yang represents masculine energy.
Yin is sleep & restoration, Yang is energy & activity.
Yin is cooling, Yang is warming.
When we don’t have enough Yin, it’s as if we’re ungrounded. This Yin deficiency can create an imbalance which can manifest in Yang-type symptoms like hot flashes, anxiety, dizziness, headaches, and trouble sleeping.
Besides Yin and Yang, there is also the important concept called Qi (pronounced “chee”). In Chinese medicine, Qi (pronounced “chee”) is the energy that flows through our bodies. When Qi moves freely through the body, the body is in balance and healthy. Qi needs to flow through all of our organs, and when it is blocked in specific organs, it results in imbalances that organ, which can lead to various physical and mental-emotional symptoms.
In women, Liver Qi stagnation can manifest as irritability, anger, depression, painful periods, heavy periods or irregular periods.
Acupuncture can be used to strengthen Yin and move Qi, thus bringing the body back into balance. There are over 300 acupuncture points that are found along meridians, or channels that run throughout the body. Specific points can be used to strengthen Yin, Move Qi, and even calm the mind. Restoring balance to Yin, Yang and Qi can help to relieve many of the symptoms listed above. This can help women feel calmer, more relaxed, less stressed, and overall more like their Selves again. Acupuncture can also help regulate periods, support fertility and reduce hot flashes.
But why do women get imbalances of Yin and Qi in the first place?
As women, there are several ways we deplete our Yin and Qi:
- Overworking: Increased demands at work and at home without replenishing one’s Self
- Unresolved, unexpressed emotions: Women often do not give themselves permission to express perceived negative emotions like stress, frustration, and anger – this can lead to blockages of Qi
- Having periods: Women lose Yin through losing blood in the form of their menses every month, leading to Yin deficiency over a woman’s lifetime. When a woman has especially long or heavy periods, it is particularly important to nourish Yin.
Do you want one more good reason why so many women love acupuncture?
They finally get some time for their Selves!
For the majority of women I’ve worked with, acupuncture is the only break in their day. It is something they look forward to because, for about 20 minutes, they are actually allowed to do nothing. They don’t have to lift a finger, in fact, they don’t even have to move. Imagine that? No work to do, no house to clean, no partners or children to take of, and no lists to cross off. Just a chance to stop, slow down, have a lie-down and relax. Finally! And in that time, we can help bring the body back into balance and they can leave feeling rested, relaxed and ready for the rest of their day.
Now like most people who have never had acupuncture, you’re probably wondering – does it hurt? You can read my answer to that and more questions about acupuncture here.
If you’re not quite ready for acupuncture, here are some additional ways you can nourish Yin and help Qi flow more smoothly to help keep you in balance. Unsurprisingly, many of these may sound familiar from my first article in the Self-care series:
- Practicing breathing exercises regularly
- Expressing your emotions in an effective way
- Nourishing your Self with nutritious food
- Relaxing and taking down time
- Meditating
- Yoga
- Leisurely walking
- Getting a good night’s sleep
While the above can help replenish Yin, I know firsthand that when your schedule is jam-packed it can feel impossible to fit any kind of Self-care into your life. That’s why next week, I’ll be sharing what I do for Self-care and how I incorporate it into my everyday life.
Take good care of your Self until then!
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YES! I’m ready to take care of my Self!
