Are you feeling cold most of the time?

Most women I treat in my clinic are often feeling cold or have cold hands and feet most of the time, here are a list of warming foods. Keep in mind to eat more cooked foods, soups and stews and avoid ice drinks (especially if the weather is on the cool side)

Warming food: if you are often and easily cold while others feel comfortable,the food below should help.

Dates, figs, cherries, dried fruits, alcohol (1 glass of wine is enough!)
Parsnip, mustard greens, winter squash, sweet potato, kale, onion, garlic, leeks
Black beans, adzuki bean, lentil, oat, spelt, quinoa, sunflower & sesame seeds, walnut, chestnut,
Lamb, turkey, beef, pork, anchovy, chicken, mussel, trout, salmon, butter
Ginger, cinnamon, basil, rosemary, fennel, dill, anise, caraway, cumin, chive, scallion, cayenn.

Clara Cohen, registered Acupuncturist in Coquitlam and Port Moody
Acupuncture on St John's street, Port Moody

Fertility and Acupuncture and stress

In my practice, I see a lot of women for fertility issues. Most of the time both husband and wife are healthy. Both of them often have been tested and the results come back normal. So how come they are not getting pregnant? I have women that get sad and cry every month when their period comes, some get depressed or angry-Why do other women get pregnant and not me?- some get insomnia from over thinking and some get so tensed up, their shoulders look like they're attached to their ears.
It is not easy having to count days, or take basal daily temperature or look at the vaginal discharge just to know if ovulation is occurring. And the stress of telling the future father that it's time to perform now! This process is supposed to be fun but end up being more stressful than a root canal. Often stress is the cause!

Here is a true story that I often tell my patients.

When I was younger in my small village in France, one of my school teacher and his wife tried to have a baby for 5 years (small town, everyone knows everything). They got tested and nothing was wrong with them so they kept trying but after another 2 years, they decided that adoption was a good choice for them. It took another 2 years before they receive the news of a new baby girl who was going to fill their life with joy. 1 month after the news: they got pregnant! They have now 2 beautiful daughters who are just 3 months apart in age. So suddenly when the stress of conceiving was out of their lives and a baby was finally going to be part of their family, both their bodies relaxed and "poof" they conceived without even trying.

It will happen for you also, just relax, eat well, sleep enough, and just breathe deeply. Think positive thoughts and be happy; act like you are already pregnant: GLOW!
Enjoy life because soon you'll be doing 2 am feeding and changing diapers all day long :))
And try acupuncture to help you relax and rebalance your hormone levels.

Clara Cohen
Coquitlam and Port Moody Acupuncture

Chinese Massage (Tui Na)

Tui Na or Chinese massage can be translated by "push" and "grasp" which are manipulations methods used by the practitioner. Tui Na has been used for more than 2000 years has a way to help balance out the flow of energy (Qi) within the channels of the body. It is often used in conjunction with acupuncture or by itself. It uses acupressure points and really is very therapeutic just as Western Massage Therapy is. If you've never tried Tui Na, it will surprise you, it's like getting a yoga session combined with a deep-tissue massage: relaxing yet invigorating.

Clara Cohen, Registered Acupuncturist practicing in Coquitlam and Port Moody