Author Archive

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    Q: Can I Prevent Stretch Marks?
    Q: I’m pregnant and worried about getting stretch marks! Is there anything I can do to prevent them for these 10 lunar months? Laura G. Portland, Oregon A: Stretch marks, also known as striae, appear as raised, red lines on the skin. These striae are caused by the loss of elasticity in the dermis (collagen and elastin), the underlying skin layer. These non-forgiving...
    by Amy Chitwood L.A.c at May 26th, 2010 at 08:05 am
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    Q: What Are the Alternatives to Breast Milk?
    Photo by Mai Le. Got a question for us? Drop your tricky, random, wacky or plain confusing health question into the Suggest-O-Matic, leave a comment, or tag your tweet questions with #wellwire and our team of experts will answer them in this weekly column. Q: “I’m having trouble producing milk! I’ve been breast feeding for 3 months now and my milk...
    by Amy Chitwood L.A.c at May 3rd, 2010 at 10:05 am
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    Avoiding Pregnancy Pitfalls
    Pregnancy is such a special time. Growing a human inside your body for 40 weeks (give or take a few) is an incredible feat. Some parts of it are fun or mind-blowing (seeing the first ultrasound, feeling the baby move!), other parts are less exciting (constipation, nausea, breast tenderness). Like I keep saying to myself and others: it’s not forever, it’s...
    by Amy Chitwood L.A.c at April 19th, 2010 at 08:04 am
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    Bring Back the Belly Rub!
    A good belly rub isn’t something most humans search out. Unlike our furry feline and canine friends, many of us prefer a shoulder rub or back massage and shy away from having our bellies touched. But we can hold just as much tension in our abdomens as in our shoulders and backs. Ulcers, heartburn, and gastrointestinal distress are all signs of disharmony in the abdomen...
    by Amy Chitwood L.A.c at March 24th, 2010 at 08:03 am
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    Why Prenatal Yoga Is Awesome
    Taking an exercise class might be one of the furthest things from your mind when you’re pregnant. Naps, rest, and food are much more appealing! But it’s very important, especially during pregnancy, that you become in tune with your body and discover your ability to be flexible, physically and mentally. Yoga offers this in a low impact, relaxing environment...
    by Amy Chitwood L.A.c at March 15th, 2010 at 08:03 am
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    Q: Is Massage Safe During Pregnancy?
    Got a question for us? Drop your tricky, random, wacky or plain confusing health question into the Suggest-O-Matic (or leave a comment) and our team of experts with answer them. Q: I am 5 months pregnant and want to start receiving pregnancy massages. I’ve heard there are certain pressure points that shouldn’t be stimulated at certain times, is that true?...
    by Amy Chitwood L.A.c at March 5th, 2010 at 09:03 am
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    Acupuncture for Each Trimester
    Traditional Chinese Medicine is a wonderful tool during pregnancy: drug-free and relaxing for baby and mother. I get this question a lot, acupuncture can be used safely and effectively throughout the entire pregnancy, even after delivery. During the first trimester a woman might feel fatigue and nausea or experience a lot of vomiting. There may be some herbal formulas...
    by Amy Chitwood L.A.c at February 18th, 2010 at 01:02 pm
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    Chinese Medicine and Winter Energy
    The longest night is now behind us with the passing of Winter Solstice, and the days will slowly become brighter: Winter has officially arrived! In Chinese medicine this is what we call the Yin (cold, dark, slow) time of year, as opposed to Summer’s Yang (warm, bright, energetic). In this season we should meditate more, sleep in when possible, and take care of our...
    by Amy Chitwood L.A.c at January 5th, 2010 at 05:01 am
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    Celebrating National Acupuncture Day
    I still remember my first experience with acupuncture. It’s the reason I practice this medicine. I was living in South Korea, where the pollution was so bad you could see and taste it and I was taking extra medications to try and control my allergy symptoms. I continued wheezing and just as I was about to throw in the towel and leave the country, a family member...
    by Amy Chitwood L.A.c at October 23rd, 2009 at 12:10 pm
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    Migraine Headaches 101
    Imagine this: You are out enjoying a great evening with friends. Maybe you have a little local red wine, some lovely havarti or blue cheese, and now you’re sitting down to watch a show you’ve been looking forward to, even though the pyrotechnics seem very bright. A few minutes into the show, your vision starts to get a little blurry. Then a tingling sensation...
    by Amy Chitwood L.A.c at October 22nd, 2009 at 05:10 am
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