😷 + 🔥: Head colds plus summer heat = must be August!

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What do you mean I can't play with my face?

Hello friends,

Bodies are so confused right now! The muggy heat is rough - these truly are the Dog Days of summer. Also, we are seeing the first rounds of head colds triggered by back to school. For the mugginess, please remember gentle hydration. Sipping throughout the day helps the tissues uptake the water more efficiently than gulping large quantities all at once. Gulping can backfire as it can overwhelm the bladder and can lead to urinary urgency (so much fun). Hydrating foods help: fresh fruits and veggies, classic summer soups like gazpacho and chilled cucumber, and gorgeous salads. Some bodies crave extra salt and electrolytes as we sweat. Again, fresh produce helps the electrolytes and look to high quality sea salts and rock salts for the salt instead of processed foods.

We know that back to school means an increase in head colds as the germ pools become intermingled. I've heard that the third week after school starts is one of the sickest weeks of the year for American adults - the first week the kids get sick, the second week the parents get sick, the third week the rest of the adults get sick. This will help:

Rule one: Wash hands often. Soap and water, please. Hand lotion helps keep skin resilient with all the washing.
Rule two: Don't play with your face, especially if your hands are dirty. Pathogens enter thru nose, eyes, and mouth which have less protection than the skin.
Rule three: Get some acupuncture and herbs to boost the immune system and keep yourself resilient. Good food, exercise, rest, and stress management help keep the immune system robust. This is the best combo - a strong immune system while reducing your exposure to pathogens.
Rule four: Make time. This is for all of you that "don't have time to be sick". If you tell your body that "I can't be sick right now", the body will try to comply. Please give the body a chance to heal and process the pathogens, which is not the same thing as not getting sick. Consider creating some down-time in your schedule. If the body needs to get sick to flush the pathogen/ finish the cycle of infection, this is a chance for the body to do this healing. This is a well developed concept in Chinese Medicines, but I haven't seen its' equivalent in the biomedical models.

Let me know if you have questions - I'll be happy to address any of these concepts in greater detail for you. Let's stay healthy!

Need more nerdliness?
https://www.cdc.gov/features/rhinoviruses/
https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/community/for-patients/common-illnesses/colds.html

Because you asked - new essential oil roller-balls!

I've made six new roller-ball essential oil blends to address some of the most common complaints that I see in the clinic. Effective, affordable and they smell great - seems like perfection.

Wake Up: For alertness, energy and vitality
Ugh....Better Day: To reset your day and counteract burnout
We Can Do It!: Motivation, assertiveness, and tenacity
Centered: (you will never guess)
Headache Relief: Apply directly to the headache as needed
Gratitude: A comforting and grounding blend

They are now in stock and refills are available. My classic three foot essential oil products are also back in stock: Sleek Feet, Sleepy Feet and Toasty Toes.

Because you asked, part 2 - acupuncture packages!

Prepay five sessions, get one free!
Prepay ten sessions, get two free!
Available for either full hour or half hour sessions.

Packages expire after two years. Flex spending accounts (FSA) and Health saving accounts (HSA) accepted. Woo-hoo!

Of course, pay as you go will always be available. Thanks for being part of the acupuncture community.

Happy Dog Days y'all - stay cool!
Hugs,
Rebecca

Rebecca Lantz
Diplomate of Oriental Medicine
Licensed Acupuncturist
http://compassionatecareacupuncture.com
3802 North Druid Hills Rd
Decatur, GA 30033
404-486-9644