Ask Dr. Tracy: Self-Care

What can I do to care for myself
in between acupuncture treatments?

By Tracy Kozak, Acupuncture Physician
@ Acupuncture & Holistic Health Center
Jacksonville, FL

Worsley Five Element Acupuncture helps balance the whole organism, body, mind and spirit. Wise choices in the following areas can maintain overall balance so that acupuncture treatments remain effective as long as possible.

Food: Choosing the correct foods to put into your body goes a long way. Healthy foods provide our bodies with nutrients and improved function. It is a source of vital energy that nourishes our blood. By paying attention to the choices you make, you will start to notice how certain foods affect you physically and mentally. Keep in mind that the quantity of food can also have dynamic effects. Food acts as medicine to maintain, prevent, and treat disease.

Water: The average adult human body is 50-65% water, averaging around 57-60%. Every cell, tissue and organ depends on water to work correctly. Your body uses water to maintain temperature, remove wastes and lubricate joints. You lose water everyday, when you go to the bathroom, sweat and even when you breathe. You lose water even faster when it is hot, you are physically active or if you have a fever. Vomiting and diarrhea can also lead to rapid water loss. It is important to replace the water you lose so that you do not become dehydrated. Most people need at least eight 8 oz glasses of water or more each day. Everyone has different needs, so pay attention to what your body is telling you.

Exercise: Exercise is important because it improves stamina, controls weight and strengthens and tones our bodies. It offers several long-term health benefits that include a reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and high blood pressure. Exercise can also improve appearance and mood, as well as boost energy. Exercise releases endorphins that allow the body and mind to feel good. It gets the heart pumping and burns calories. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that people who want to lose more than 5 percent of their body weight exercise for more than 300 minutes per week at a moderately intense level. Yoga, tai chi, qigong, pilates and meditation are great forms of exercise support your acupuncture treatments.

Rest: Rest allows the body to restore energy that has been expended from daily work demands. In addition, rest revitalizes all the systems in the body to maintain the body’s optimum level of functioning and to prevent the body from wearing out due to too much activity. In today’s society, most don’t know the meaning of rest or how to rest. As the need to meet the demands of society increases, the less we make time to rest. Rest brings life back into balance.

Environment: What you are see, hear or experience at any moment changes your mood, as well as how your nervous, endocrine, and immune systems work. Noise can increase stress, which can lead to disorders as serious as heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke over the long term. A cluttered, dirty or confusing environment can cause us to feel worried, sad, or helpless. In contrast, a healing environment can make us feel safe and relaxed. Being in nature – or even viewing scenes of nature – reduces anger, fear and stress.

You have turned to acupuncture to restore energy and balance to your life. When you return to your life as usual, consider applying some of the suggestions above so you can take advantage of your newfound energy wisely. The need to be treated by someone else drops dramatically when you practice self-care. Your acupuncture treatments provide the opportunity to resonate with life harmoniously, so support your treatments by making great choices for your health that will continue to heal your body, mind and spirit.