Counseling for Postpartum Depression

According to renowned pediatrician Dr. William Sears, more changes occur in the first month after birth than at any other time in a woman’s life. Giving birth and caring for your baby are energy-draining events; physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting. Hormonal swings are contributing factors, too. While I, too experienced some “baby blues” after the birth of my daughter, it wasn’t until I began working with an organization in New York that served expectant and new mothers, that I learned how debilitating postpartum depression can be.

I co-facilitated a postpartum support group and heard the testimonies of women describing their darkest days.

With postpartum depression, those baby blues-feelings of sadness and anxiety-become extreme, and may interfere with your ability to care for yourself or even your baby. Please read the link provided here that talks about the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in preventing postpartum depression.

I am available for a free 30-minute consult, should you find yourself wondering if you could benefit from counseling.

Tina L Michalski, MSW, LICSW

Tina is a psychotherapist in living in Seattle WA. A transplant for Western NY she enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter and son in law, and grandson. She loves to cook, has a lifelong interest in health, and volunteers in the vibrant Seattle theater scene.

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Fresh Nettles Two Ways

Spring is in full swing but you can still find fresh, tender nettles for harvest. Nutrient dense and delicious these local “weeds” are a culinary delight. Touted as a tonic herb, nettles are rich in minerals and cleanse the kidneys. They are astringent and provide relief from water retention, promote lactation, treat diarrhea and help control blood sugar.

The best leaves are the tender new growth of the top 3-4 leaves. Makes sure your wear gloves as the sting of nettles is no joke! The best plants are 1-2 feet high.

Two of my favorite ways to use fresh nettles are in tea and in pesto. Enjoy these seasonal delights!

Fresh Nettles Tea

• 4 cups nettle leaves
• 4 cups water

Boil water and then add leaves. Simmer for 5 min. Strain. Tea may be sweetened with honey if desired. It will have a grassy, green taste.

Makes 4 cups, enjoy 1-2 cups daily

 

Nettle Pesto or Pesto D’Urtica

 I love making pesto. It’s fun to make it with greens other than basil too! Right now in my garden I have some Italian parsley that has over wintered. It makes delicious alternative or addition to a traditional pesto.  It could easily be added to this recipe in place of some of the nettles for a fresh, healthy taste.  I also use walnuts instead of pine nuts but feel free to substitute pine nuts if you wish or even pecans for a sweeter flavor.

•  3 cups nettle leaves (You can use the same ones that you reserved from the nettle tea otherwise simmer for only 1 minute and place in an ice water bath. Squeeze out all the water)
• 1 cup basil ( Optional: this will impart some of the traditional pesto flavor)
• 1 cup walnuts, pan toasted
• 1 cup parmesan cheese (optional)
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled
• ¾ cup olive oil
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 T lemon juice

Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until creamy.

Serve over polenta, pasta, or on grilled veggies

Serves 4

Lindsey Lawson MS EAMP is an Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist and Clinic Director at Glow Natural Health in Madison Valley and West Seattle and Seattle Fertility Acupuncture. She is passionate about healthy, happy living and a regular blogger. For an appointment call Glow at 206 568 7545.

 

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This just in! Packaged both broth available from Pacific foods!! Your road to better health just got easier.

Any of you who’ve been in to see me recently know I been pretty excited about a “new to me” product. I was shopping for groceries and was about to grab a container of chicken broth when I did a double take. There, nestled above the chicken and turkey broth in neat, friendly rows was chicken and turkey bone broth. It stood like a fairytale knight in shining armor proudly saving my family and patients from the dreaded scourge nutritional depletion.

Seriously though I love the stuff and make it myself often. I use either beef or chicken bones and then make soup. It keeps me and my family happy and healthy, especially through the winter season. It’s a great immune system strengthener, high in protein, collagen and minerals and builds the qi and blood. I often prescribe it to my patients but most don’t make and drink it as often as they need to for it to be effective. I especially love it for those struggling with fertility, those with overall weakness, tendon or ligament injuries or postpartum women. Kids love it too and it’s great for those following a GAPS diet.

Here’s the thing. It’s a no brainer. I compared the nutritional content of the regular broth to the bone broth. Regular broth has 1 gram of protein in 1 cup and bone broth has 14!!Are you worried about the taste? Don’t be. The taste is very similar to regular broth and it’s delicious. Now there are no excuses people! If you don’t have time to make it yourself, you can buy it premade. Just heat, add salt (it’s low in sodium), any other yummy veggies or meat (optional) and you have a delicious fortified drink.

The ages old East Asian medical season is fast becoming the next big trend. It’s already hit LA , Portland and even Kobe Bryant is drinking it.

So pick some up at your local market or make some yourself.

Lindsey Lawson MS EAMP is an Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist and Clinic Director at Glow Natural Health and Seattle Fertility Acupuncturist and Seattle Pediatric Acupuncture. She is passionate about healthy, happy living, food and is a regular blogger.  For an appointment call Glow at 206 568 7545.

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For Women: Health at every stage

Ok, this is going to feel like a foreign concept to many. That’s because it is. But it’s one that has been tested and retested for thousands of years in Chinese physicians, daughters, mothers and grandmothers. It’s simple. Menstruation and childbirth are the most depleting things for a women’s body. This happens on a deep level, a level called jing which relates to genetics, aging, and vitality. Jing has a hormonal and reproductive aspect and also relates to your creative potential. Jing is limited and once it’s gone, it’s gone, and without it women suffer from problems with menses, fertility, menopause, libido and energy.   How can you support your body, prevent the loss of jing and enjoy better vitality?  The answer is menstrual and postpartum recovery practices. These activities help your body conserve and strengthen itself at these crucial transition times. This is one of the true gems I have found in Chinese medicine that can revolutionize the way women treat their bodies.

My grandmother may have been right when she told me that too much exercise would be bad for my ”lady parts.” I thought she was crazy. I played sports and loved them.  But I didn’t have the whole picture and neither did she. It’s not that ALL exercise is bad ALL the time. We know that’s not true. Here’s the key, it’s when and how you’re exercising that matters. Each phase of a women’s life and each phase of her cycle has different needs. Menarche (first menses), childbirth, menopause and after each period are all transition times where great care should be taken to support and protect the body.

Women are fundamentally tied to nature through our menstrual cycle. Just like Spring leads to Summer so does menarche lead to childbearing years and then to menopause. In our modern culture we have lost the connection to the cycles of nature and to our own natural cycles. In the winter, we eat summer time fruits and veggies and stay up late into the darkness of night. The same disconnection from nature leads us to take a spinning class and go to a late party on the third day of a heavy period. There is a time for everything. Listen to your intuition. Reconnect.

What can you do? During your period and post-partum: Rest, limit vigorous exercise, keep yourself warm, eat foods which nourish and replenish. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are very powerful at this time. Listen to your body.

Lindsey Lawson MS EAMP is an Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist and Clinic Director at Glow Natural Health and Seattle Fertility Acupuncturist. She is passionate about healthy, happy living, food and is a regular blogger.  For an appointment call Glow at 206 568 7545.

 

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Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for kids

Pediatric Acupuncture is not new. It has been used to treat children for thousands of years.  It can successfully treat a wide range of conditions in babies to adolescents.  Our acupuncture for kids is safe, nearly painless and has many needless options, including cold laser. We also use pediatric tui na (Chinese massage), diet changes and supplements.

For children, acupuncture focuses on relief of symptoms, treating the root cause and prevention of future illness. Parents have an opportunity to influence their children’s future health now.  You will be introduced to the Chinese Medical way of viewing health. Acupuncture supports each stage of a child’s development and addresses inherited imbalances. Treatments often involve a dietary assessment of the child (and the breast feeding mother if applicable). It’s not just what you eat but how fresh it is, the way the food interacts with the child’s constitution, and how and when you are eating.

Lifestyle factors are very important in acupuncture for children. Our modern busy lifestyle can have a profound impact on the health and development of a child. Chinese Medicine can offset these effects. Supporting the child through acupuncture is especially important if the parents have gone through ART or if the parents were older at the time of conception.

Lindsey Lawson MS EAMP is an Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist and Clinic Director at Glow Natural Health and Seattle Fertility Acupuncturist. She is passionate about healthy, happy living, food and is a regular blogger.  For an appointment call Glow at 206 568 7545.

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One Hot Gift: 20% off Hot Stone Massage

Hot Stone Massage

reg $105 now $85 (60 min.)

reg $135 now $108 (90 min.)

Take a classic massage to a whole new level of awesomeness. Smooth stones, usually basalt, are heated to a therapeutic temperature and then placed on pressure points of the body. The increased heat allows for increased circulation and aids in calming the nervous system. A great gift for anyone who needs to relax and reconnect.

Coupon Code: Warm Offer Expires 1/1/2014 (Use by 9/1/14)

Offer can not be used toward insurance copay. Most insurances excepted.

Check out all our Spa Services!

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From Preconception to Postpartum with East Asian Medicine

 

Ideally a woman begins working on her reproductive health with East Asian Medicine 3 months prior to the time she wants to conceive. This gives time to normalize the cycle and increases the chances of a healthy pregnancy and baby. In Chinese medical terms, it’s a time to balance yin, yang, qi and blood. It’s a perfect time to move qi and blood to improve blood flow to the uterus and ovaries as well as reduce stress.

Women who feel more comfortable with a less invasive treatment and who are young, with good ovarian reserve and without known correctable causes of infertility, could try acupuncture before attempting hormone therapies or in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Acupuncture can be used in conjunction with treatments done by your doctor or fertility specialist.

Treatments are typically given 1 time per week. Factors such as the complexity of the complaint, toxins from medications, hereditary influences, recurrent low level infections, lifestyle habits, and other illnesses can influence the length of treatment. Certain conditions like the following are more difficult to treat and may require a longer treatment protocol:

• Cysts, fibroids, PCOS, PMS, anovulation, endometriosis, luteal phase defect
• Chinese herbs and dietary changes are often part of the treatment.

Preconception In the first phase of treatment will regulate the menstrual cycle by increasing circulation to the pelvic cavity and nourishing energy and vitality. During this phase periods should become more regular, the flow should be bright red and without clots, minimal or cramping and less breast tenderness. Other benefits include decreased stress, better sleep, improved energy and warmer hands and feet. Most women become open and fertile for conception.

Factors such as the complexity of the complaint, toxins from medications, hereditary influences, lifestyle habits, and other illnesses can influence the length of treatment.

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