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Sometimes our lives need a little reset. I realized the importance of this when I took a day trip to Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. I left my house a bit frazzled. I was in a hurry and had just enough gas in the car to make it most of the way to Lenox.
Fortunately, after a pit stop in Lee, I arrived. Once I got there, my whole frame of mind shifted. I parked the car, put my phone in a locker and had a full day to do whatever I wanted to with no responsibilities. I took a dance yoga class, went on a mindfulness kayak ride and had a delicious lunch and dinner. The weather was beautiful and for that day life was easy and effortless. I truly felt cared for. When we’re busy and stressed out, it may seem counterintuitive to slow down. With so much to do, we tend to hurry and check off one more thing on our to-do list. But slowing down really helps us focus on what is most important. It helps us gain clarity. It resets our nervous system. We can then face our lives with more wisdom and grace. It’s summer and the world feels a little slower. I encourage you to take time off –several days or a week if you can. But even a day or an hour in a different setting can offer the benefits of rest and relaxation. That’s one of the reasons that acupuncture and craniosacral therapy can be so helpful. They give the body and mind time to relax, reset and rejuvenate. If you’re feeling like you could use some TLC, take a moment to schedule a free consultation or an acupuncture or craniosacral therapy appointment. It could be the first step to a life of more ease. With you on the journey… Bonnie
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I recently watched the movie "Air," the story behind Air Jordans and was drawn to the line "A shoe is always just a shoe until someone steps in it."
Our bodies are like that. For the most part, we share the same organs, muscles, tendons and body parts. These tend to work in similar ways. Our hearts beat, our lungs fill with air, our stomach and intestines digest food. We all have this in common. But the container that we live in is just that, a container. A group of living organs. I've been exploring for most of my life what it means to step into this container. What does it mean to become embodied? As I’ve explored this, I’ve found that listening to what my body is saying is an incredibly powerful thing. Stretching my spine every morning has gotten rid feelings of neuropathy in my legs. Strengthening the muscles in my legs has meant no more knee pain. Lifting weights at home has kept my bones strong. Eating foods that have a high nutritional content and taste good, has meant a healthier GI tract. Working with patients, I find that the same thing is true. As they gain an awareness of how to stand and move properly, their pain is reduced and their lives are filled with more ease. When they eat healthier, things like brain fog and acid reflux go away. This isn’t about rocket science, rather it’s small, steady changes that over time allow us to be more embodied, more conscious of our experience in our physical being. I continue to help people have this experience of living healthier by offering Japanese Acupuncture, Craniosacral Therapy and Wellness Counseling. If you are interested in improving your health, here are 2 ways to get started.
Here’s to your good health and happiness!  Last week when I was treating a patient, she asked this question, “So how does acupuncture work?” It’s a question that I had asked as a student at the New England School of Acupuncture.
The truth is that we don’t actually know how acupuncture works from a Western medical perspective. East Asian medicine has a model that is vastly different from science, which focuses on separating the different parts of the body and has an emphasis on cause and effect. Acupuncture looks at the body as a whole and focuses more on the relationship of a part to it’s whole. Western Medicine is more absolute, Eastern Asian medicine more relative. Because these models are so different, it’s difficult to explain one in terms of the other. That said, we do have some clues about how acupuncture works from a Western medical perspective.
All of this is exciting news because it offers confirmation of what I find when treating patients. Pain decreases, the body goes into relaxed states, colds & flus last for shorter amounts of time. Interested, intrigued by how this works and how it might help you? I’m offering free 30 minute consultations. Sign-up here. With you in health, Bonnie Sources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S200529011300174X https://oshercenter.org/2020/08/26/harvard-study-finds-acupuncture-can-tame-cytokine-storms-in-mice/  I love the holidays and this time of year. In the 5 element, 5 organ system of Chinese Medicine, we are entering the time of the kidneys and water. It is a time that connects us to our deepest energy. Think of the image of a well that brings up water from deep in the ground, to sustain and support us.
It’s so interesting that the new year starts here because energetically it is a time of beginnings. A time to plant the seeds that will grow into life events and experiences – things that we will harvest in 2021. I’m not a big fan of new year’s resolutions, as most of these get broken, leaving us feeling discouraged. But I am a fan of imagining, asking for what we want, digging deep into our souls for guidance and seeing what we find. I encourage you to take time to reflect on the things that are most important to you. My part in this process is to help you achieve your health goals. In the spirit of thanks and generosity, I’m offering discounted packages that you can purchase for yourself or as a gift to a family ember. These will be available through this link until the end of December. May this season be filled with wonder and connection even as we wear masks and socially distance. Life continues to move forward. Let’s make the best of it. With you in spirit, Bonnie ps. If you’re looking for a Thanksgiving recipe instead of or in addition to the traditional turkey, here’s a yummy stuffed squash dish. Did you know that there is a unique style of acupuncture called Auricular Acupuncture or Ear Acupuncture? This is a style that I’m certified in. I incorporate ear points in my full body acupuncture treatments, and I also offer an Ear Acupuncture Clinic each month.
So what’s the difference between full-body and ear acupuncture? The ear is a microsystem. The entire body is represented in the ear, and ear points directly correlate to the hips, back, neck, elbow, etc... We have studies that show that ear points correlate to the spine and are effective in reducing back pain and sciatica. Ear points are also great at reducing stress. There is even an ear point named “shen men,” which translates from Chinese to “calm the spirit.” I've seen patients go into a completely relaxed state just by having this point needled. Ear points are also helpful in reducing addictions to food, alcohol, cigarettes and drugs. There is even a protocol called the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association protocol (NADA), which specifies needling several ear points as an adjunct therapy for substance abuse. Studies have been done that show that adding the NADA protocol to standard treatments improves outcomes for people struggling with substance abuse. Ear acupuncture as it’s practiced today was developed in the 1950s by a physician in France. Read my earlier blog to find out the history of ear acupuncture and how points were mapped out and tested. If you would like to try ear acupuncture, and experience it for yourself, come to my monthly clinic. Click here for all the information. People often think that there is just one type of acupuncture. They are surprised to find out that Japanese acupuncture is a unique style that can elevate your sense of wellness and well-being.
Acupuncture originated in China over 3,000 years ago and in acupuncture school, we begin by studying the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Both styles use the same theory of the five-element organ system -- kidney/water, liver/wood, heart/fire, spleen/earth, and lungs/metal. Both methods also use the same acupuncture points along the same energetic pathways or meridians. However, the way we practice is slightly different. This is because before the 6th century Buddhist Monks brought acupuncture to Japan. Over time, acupuncture became one of the few career paths for people who were blind. It may seem a little unusual to think of blind people inserting needles, but let me explain. When people can't see, their other senses become more enhanced. Blind acupuncturists became extremely skilled at feeling the pulse and areas of restriction in the body. Fortunately, they were able to pass this knowledge onto current day acupuncturists, including me. This kinesthetic sense helps Japanese acupuncturists treat more gently. A few major Japanese acupuncture benefits include:
They say that Chinese acupuncturists treat from the brain and Japanese acupuncturists treat from the belly. Chinese practitioners come up with a diagnosis and a set of points. Japanese practitioners feel the body and use points that release restrictions while the patient is on the table, looking for reduction in pain and changes in the pulse as we treat. If you have tried Chinese Acupuncture and felt it wasn't quite right for you, you might want to get in touch with me to find out how Japanese Acupuncture can help you.  Has cold and flu season been running rampant in your family? It seems like every day someone I know has come down with a bug. It happened to me a few weeks ago, giving me the opportunity to practice the kind of self-care I'm always talking about.
You see the body wants to heal. It's something each of us is doing all the time. We recover from cuts, scrapes, colds, broken bones, headaches, the flu all the time. And we don't always acknowledge it. So even if you're feeling crappy at the moment, most likely a week from now that feeling will just be a distant memory. But probably you want to do something to feel better today. I'm going to share with you my favorite at-home cold and flu remedies to help you and the ones you love to get healthy, naturally! 1) Rest You may think you're not doing anything when you're in bed resting from a bug. Nothing can be further from the truth—in fact, rest is perhaps the most important at-home cold and flu remedy! Your immune system is hard at work getting rid of germs that have invaded your bodies. Your cells are building energy. 2) Drink Tea Cold Season Tea is one of my favorite natural remedies for a cold. It contains herbs that warm the body and get rid of those pesky germs. As soon as I feel myself coming down with a cold, I start drinking cup after cup of this. I feel the bug moving out. It's kind of magical. Ginger lemon tea is another favorite of mine if you're feeling down and out with a cold or flu. Simply buy fresh ginger root at the supermarket. Wash it and cut it into thin slices. Then put them in the freezer. When you're ready for a cup of tea, put a few of the frozen slices in a cup, then add boiling water and some lemon juice. Also, add a little honey if you have a sore throat. 2) Use a Saline Rinse I do a nasal saline rinse every day, regardless of the season. I like the squeeze bottle by Neilmed. Fill it with distilled or boiling water (important) and a packet of saline. I microwave it for 22 seconds. The salt kills bacteria from infections in the nasal cavity. 3) Try Homeopathic Remedies. Homeopathic remedies are made by taking minuscule amounts of something that brings on symptoms in a healthy person, diluting these, and treating an illness in a person with similar symptoms. I like Oscillococcinum for colds and flus. You can purchase this at CVS or your local pharmacy. 4) Elderberry Syrup This works great for coughs and can be purchased at Vitacost. 5) Eucalyptus oil in a pot of boiling water Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to a pot of boiling water and breathe in the steam. These natural cold and flu remedies are all easy to buy and prepare, and they are all good for the body. Pick 2 or 3 of your favorites, and you'll be feeling healthy in no time. Your immune system just needs a little TLC to get rid of and keep you from catching colds and flus. About 80% of adults experience back pain at some point in their lives, and I've had a lot of experience treating it in the 20 years that I've been practicing acupuncture. I've always been curious about what contributes to the pain. Is it a pulled muscle or ligament, a weak immune system, osteoarthritis, a bulging disc, tight muscles or some combination of these? Read more about this. Over the past few years, I've been studying a manual therapy called Visceral Manipulation that offers an additional explanation for pain and restriction. Jean-Pierre Barral, a French Osteopath, teaches that restrictions in the connective tissue around and between the body's organs cause pain, particularly chronic pain that is difficult to treat. Releasing these restrictions can be done by first feeling the actual pull of tissue in the body, testing to see which organ is causing the primary restriction and then gently treating the organ to restore its natural rhythm. My work has always been based on releasing restrictions. Now in addition to feeling blockages in the acupuncture meridians, restrictions and pain in the muscles, bones and ligaments, I've been looking for restrictions in tissue around each organ. Also, I've been making sure each organ has its own intrinsic healthy rhythm. It's been an amazing journey for me and has enhanced the work that I do. It's another component of helping my patients can get lasting pain relief and a body that truly functions at an optimal level. We are approaching our national holiday of love. It's a whirlwind of buying flowers and chocolate. I happen to be a card person, and I'm having trouble resisting getting yet one more each time I walk into a store.
Lately I've been thinking about an aspect of love that often gets overlooked. This is self-care -- the act of putting time and attention to make sure that YOU are living a healthy and happy life. Self-care is one of the highest forms of love. It took a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for me to wake up to the fact that I was not taking care of myself -- body or spirit. I was working long hours at a job that didn't fulfill me. I was in default mode, doing what I was told to do, not what I really wanted to do. The illness was my body speaking to me, saying that the life I was living wasn't right for me. Because I had limited energy, I had to make choices about what was most important. I had to slow down and listen. In this process, I discovered acupuncture and the idea of living a life in balance. I changed what I was eating, who my friends were and my profession. I got out of a relationship that wasn't right for me. But most of all I started a journey to become and stay healthy. The limited resources that I had went to doctor's visits, acupuncture treatments, psychotherapy and studying acupuncture -- one of the oldest and most widely used health modalities in the world. I learned about these five aspects of health that correspond to the Five Element/Five Organ system that is part of the practice of acupuncture.
Using these principles my life changed in ways that I could only imagine.
All these things were acts of self-care. They are things that I continue to practice to this day. Even when I get off course, when things get busy and life gets stressful, these are things that I return to time and time again. Out of this experience came a desire to help other people, possibly you, live healthier and happier lives. If this journey interests you, consider signing up for my Roadmap to Health 6 Week class. This is for you if:
This class begins on February 19th -- it's been postponed one week due to snow. For more information and to sign-up at a special rate, simply visit me at www.bonniediamond.com/roadmaptohealthspecial This Valentine's Day do something nice for yourself! 
If you’re part of the over 60% of people who make New Years resolutions with good intentions but are unable to keep them, this newsletter is for you. You mean well, you try hard, but life gets in the way. Think of a resolution as a seed that gets planted. We have an idea. We want to make a change in our life. We’re excited. We set goals, make promises, tell ourselves this year we’ll eat our vegetables, exercise more, be kinder. We truly mean these things. Yet for many of us by April we’re back to our same old habits. What has happened? I think that we have forgotten to nurture the seed. No one expects a seed to grow without water and sun. And no one expects the seed we plant today to turn into a full grown tree tomorrow. Growth and change take time. When you make a resolution, ask yourself these questions:
Take time to answer these questions. It may require many hours. Pay attention to how easy or difficult this process is. Write your answers down. If you’re not able to do this, you might want to pick a new year’s resolution that is easier to implement. With nurturing and care and love our dreams will take form. Do get in touch with me if you need help in this process. Wishing you a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year! Bonnie "With time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown" ~Chinese Proverb |
AuthorIn practice for over 20 years, Bonnie Diamond offers individualized, heart-centered care using a pain-free, Japanese style of acupuncture. Her work is influenced by her nine year struggle with and complete recovery from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. 
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