Turning Point Acupuncture Newsletter
Email Newsletter
Volume 4 Number 1
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Happy Chinese New Year!
Contents
1. Acupuncture and Renewal
2. Chinese Black Sheep Year
3. Fertility Stories Wanted
4. Newsletter Topics
5. Turning Point Spring Schedule
1. Acupuncture and Renewal
I have grown to be glad that there are so many possible new year's days in my life. In Winter, January first is the New Year for the Western world. Then the Chinese New Year follows marking early Spring for the planet's most populous nation. And then the Jewish New Year Rosh Hashanah marks the Autumn. Finally I have to admit that for decades the first day of school was the start of the New Year!
What surprises me is that with the advent of each of these events I am suddenly very optimistic.
A New Year: A chance for New Beginnings.
With the new moon on February 1st, 2003 begins the year of the Chinese Black Sheep. The Chinese New Year, coming as it does while the earth has barely begun to thaw, makes a lot of sense in terms of new starts. The seeds that we planted in the dark ruminating times of Winter are about to come forth. To welcome the Chinese New Year, traditionally the family will literally do a thorough house cleaning to wash the slate clean.
But why wait for a New Year's holiday?
Here is a lesson we can learn from 12 step programs (AA, Al- Anon, OA, DA, etc). Central to these programs of recovery is the "One Day At A Time" concept to encourage its followers to succeed in small steps. The clever part of this simple concept is that should you stumble, or feel things are not going well for you, you can start your day over at any point!
The idea of being able to start fresh at any time pleases me and informs how we practice Traditional Chinese Medicine at Turning Point.
Acupuncture creates the possibility of a new start in everyone. With each treatment the Qi ( the body's life force energy) is brought into balance and the individual's potential is optimized. The person emerges from the treatment feeling centered and calm. The internal organs have been cleansed and toned. A renewal has taken place.
At any point in time we can choose to start again, to renew our resolve, to reinvigorate our practice toward our individual well-being and that of our planet.
2. Chinese Black Sheep Year
The year of the Chinese Black Sheep begins on February 1st, 2003.
As the director of Turning Point Acupuncture I am intrigued that, according to the Five Element system of viewing the world, the Sheep year is a "turning point" or corner year in the Chinese calendar. 2003 is the year between the two Element cycles, that is, the end of a Fire cycle and the beginning of a Metal one. Chinese astrology predicts that 2003 is a changing and unpredictable year.
For a good explanation of the Five element theory and Stem-Branch system that underlies the Chinese calendar use this link:
http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/2003.htm
I am encouraged to read that in Chinese astrology characteristically the Sheep is gentle, docile, kind-hearted and strives to create a secure & tranquil environment. (For those interested in Western astrology the sign of the Sheep is akin to the sign of Cancer, the Crab)
3. Fertility Stories Wanted
We are looking for more acupuncture fertility stories and pictures for the Testimonial page. These stories can about using Traditional Chinese Medicine (acupuncture and herbal medicine) alone to conceive, or in conjunction with Western reproductive services like IVF or IUI.
To read some of the posted entries click here:
http://www.nycacupuncture.com/test.html
If you would like to share your Turning Point Acupuncture experience with others, please email me your stories and pictures. You can also send them by snail mail and I will scan them in.
4. Newsletter Topics
Each email newsletter is usually devoted to one topic. After the newsletter is sent, these topics are posted in the archives and on the Topics page:
http://www.nycacupuncture.com/topics.html
Past topics have included:
Weight Control
Menopause
Post Traumatic Stress: The Perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Reflections on the World Trade Center Disaster
Herbology (includes use in pregnancy, interactions with Western pharmaceuticals, etc.)
Cold and Flu Season: Wind Conditions
There is also a link to a discussion of TCM and fertility.
The next email newsletter will feature a discussion of Detoxification from the perspective of Western and Chinese medicine.
If you have a topic you would like to see in future newsletters, please let me know.
5. Turning Point Spring Schedule:
Slightly amended hours will start the week of January 27th 2003
I will see patients Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon.
Shane Hoffman will see patients Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings and Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.
For details see:
http://www.nycacupuncture.com/patientinfo.html
Lourdes Guzman will continue to be offer Reiki treatments on Saturdays.
John Smith, however, is still recovering from arm surgery so there is no massage therapy for now. We wish him a speedy recovery.
All of us wish you a happy and healthy New Year.
Yours in peace,
Naomi Rabinowitz, MD
30 January 2003
Turning Point Acupuncture
1841 Broadway, Suite 509
New York City, NY 10023
212 489-5038
http://www.nycacupuncture.com
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copyright 2003 Naomi Rabinowitz. All Rights Reserved.
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