A Los Angeles Acupuncturist's Point of View
A Los Angeles Acupuncturist's Point of View
Cosmetic Acupuncture for Crow's Feet
This beautiful client was interested in softening the lines around her eyes. I performed cosmetic acupuncture twice a week for five weeks and wanted to share her before and after photos with you. Not only were we able to minimize the fine lines around her eyes, but her eyelids appear to have lifted too.
I am pleased as is the client.
Thank you for reading.
Tamara ZumMallen
Rock Star Yoga Instructor, Lori Rischer, is back for Year Three!
Year Three! Here we go! Lori Rischer, host of Karmaloop/SKEE TV Rockstar Health & Fitness, is back teaching the KIIS-FM and 98.7 Yoga on the Beach series. This year is sure to be the best yet with sponsors Zevia and Gladstones on board. Free yoga and free breakfast!!
Historically, class has sold out early, so be sure to sign up at marketing@clearchannel.com. As soon as your reservation is received, you will be confirmed on the list and sent an email response. Please, only one reservation per email.
Check in starts at 8:00 so get there early to sign in and get your spot. Bring your mat, towel, water, and identification. Lori brings the inspiring playlist. Since Lori is also an executive in the music business, she knows her way around the playlist, taking you on a musical journey while you enjoy the magical power of yoga. Nature brings the fresh ocean breeze and the breathtaking view. (Maybe we'll even see dolphins swimming again this year.)
And one more thing....Lori has asked ME to be her assistant this year. I'm honored!
Thanks for reading. See you at the beach!
Tamara ZumMallen
22 Days Vegan Food Bars = Yum!
"It takes 21 days to make or break a habit. With 22 days you found the way." ~Marco Borges
I have a new favorite vegan bar. I've tried all six flavors and cannot pick a favorite though. Marco Borges, Exercise Physiologist, has created an incredibly delicious product. There are six delectable flavors: Chocolate Cherry Bliss, Enlightened Pumpkinseed, Nut Butter Buddha, Daily Mocha Mantra, Fruit Nut Karma, and Goji Mate Firecracker. There's a little something for everyone in that list!
You may buy them locally at The Vitamin Shoppe and Whole Foods markets. If you log into the website, www.22daysnutrition.com, and purchase two boxes (24 nutrition bars), you will be offered a 21 day plan to change your life! It's just four steps to a healthier, happier you. How cool is that?!?
Thank you for reading.
Tamara ZumMallen
p.s. I'm partial to chocolate cherry bliss.
Spring
Spring is wonderful. It's time to put away your heavy sweaters and bring out your lighter fabrics and clothing colors. (For some of you it means putting away your winter black and getting out your summer black. You know who you are.) Rain cleanses the earth. Flowers start to bloom. The days become longer. It even has a ritualistic method of house cleaning named after it.
In Chinese tradition, spring has several significant attributes that I address with my patients on an on-going basis throughout the season. The liver is the organ that corresponds with spring. Liver's corresponding element is wood. Like wood, liver qi is expansive. The liver is responsible for the smooth flow of qi throughout the body and is a place for blood storage and filtration. The corresponding color for liver is green. The corresponding emotion is anger. That's right, anger can be stored in the liver. It is not uncommon to have feelings of anger come to the surface during this season. Release it. Free your body and soul. Make room for change.
The liver controls the sinews (tendons). If liver blood is sufficient, the tendons will be pliable. Since the fingernails are a by-product of sinews, if the liver is nourished, the nails will be nourished as well. The liver opens in the eyes. Bright, clear eyes are an indication of a healthy liver.
Spring is the time to implement change. It is also time to be a bit self-serving. These are some things you can do to ensure that your liver is functioning at its best:
1. Move. Qi moves blood so be sure to get enough exercise. Start small if you'd like. 20 minutes a day is a good start. Eventually you will want to move your body every day.
2. Twist. Twisting is one of the reasons I'm such a fan of yoga. You actually wring out your organs when you twist. Think of your organs as sponges. Wring out the old blood and bring in fresh, oxygenated blood. Your liver loves it.
3. Eat your greens. Green foods nourish the liver. Kale, spinach, broccoli...take your pick. In fact, add to my short list.
4. Get some rest. Remember that the liver is a filter. Lie down and let it do its job.
5. Let go of anger. Feelings of anger can and will come to the surface. Let it go. Make room in your soul for happier emotions and start to create a new history for yourself.
Happy Spring!
Thank you for reading.
Tamara ZumMallen
Well, If Dr. Weil Says So....
I was most pleased to learn that Dr. Andrew Weil recommends facial rejuvenation acupuncture as a way to gracefully turn back the clock and reduce the signs of aging. I nod in agreement and thank him for his recent blogpost on the subject.
I, too, presented a blogpost on facial rejuvenation acupuncture back in November. Here is that blogpost again to answer your questions or refresh your memory.
The following are the most frequently questions asked of me about facial rejuvenation acupuncture, also known as cosmetic acupuncture, or the acupuncture facelift.
1. What is facial rejuvenation acupuncture?
Facial rejuvenation acupuncture is the placement of fine needles into specific points on the face to reduce fine lines, crow's feet, puffiness, and dark circles under they eyes. The needles cause a micro-trigger of qi (your body's naturally-occurring energy) and blood flow below the surface of the skin. The results are subtle, but noticeable.
2. Who should get facial rejuvenation acupuncture?
A person may wish to have facial rejuvenation acupuncture if he/she: has been under stress, wants to appear five to ten years younger, or wants a youthful, glowing complexion.
3. How many sessions should I have?
A typical course of treatment is two sessions per week for five weeks. My fee is $120 per session. Don't forget that the phenomenal clinic in which I practice, Healing Hands Wellness Center, offers you a complementary 30-minute massage with your first acupuncture session.
4. Is this something that I will need to continue?
You will not need to continue treatment, but you will probably want to. Patients are typically so happy with their results that they continue treatment once per month to maintain. In addition to being a Licensed Acupuncturist, I am a certified Traditional Chinese Nutritionist. So, I provide you with instructions on how to keep your skin in impeccable condition with diet. This part of your treatment plan is complementary and ongoing, meaning that I will be available via phone or email for as long as you like.
5. Will I bruise?
There is a possibility of bruising with acupuncture. If you are a person who bruises easily, you will want to consider that before you decide whether or not facial rejuvenation is right for you.
As always, I welcome your questions and comments. Thank you for reading.
Tamara ZumMallen, L.Ac.
De Odor Works
I was looking for an alternative to traditional over-the-counter deodorants and antiperspirants. The packaging, the cost and the chemicals were high on my list of why I wanted to give them up for good. So, when De Odor Works offered me their product to test, I jumped at the chance.
I received my De Odor Works medical grade stainless steel wand and committed to 30 days of being antiperspirant free. To say I was a little uneasy about it would be an understatement. My first and only concern was whether or not the stainless steel would leach into by body through my pores. When I contacted customer service through email, my concerns were laid to rest. Within 24 hours, someone answered my email. No, medical grade stainless steel will not leach. Fine. I was ready to go.
For the next 30 days, I rubbed my De Odor Works wand in my underarms for 30 seconds per side whilst showering. I'm not going to lie, at the end of each day I smelled my shirts and my underarms during my 30-day experiment. No odor. This thing works! And it's super easy to hold and operate.
The verdict is in. I am happy with my De Odor Works wand. I do not think I will ever purchase another over-the-counter antiperspirant. You may find out more, and purchase the product on the website: www.deodorworks.com.
Thank you for reading.
Tamara ZumMallen
A Word With Heidi Rayden, L.A.-based Yoga Instructor
On the first Friday of every month, I meet with 15 of the most extraordinary women I've met in all my years in Los Angeles. We lay out our goals, offer advice, give referrals, and set each other up for the month's successes. Heidi Rayden is one of those women. I so respect what she does in the Los Angeles yoga community and thought you might like to meet her. I asked her a few questions. Here is what she had to say.
Heidi, please tell me about your yoga training.
My first training was a 200-hour certification with Yoga Works. Annie Carpenter was the lead teacher. It was amazing and I would say this training is a wonderful foundation for any yogi interested in going deeper (to teach or for their own understanding of yoga). I then started to get very involved with Kirtan and went on a Ram Dass retreat that in a sense opened the doors to exploring this path on a whole new level. Following, I studied with Jai Uttal at his annual Summer Kirtan camp and then meditation with Nancy Cook de Herrera who is a direct disciple of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (founder of Transendental Meditation). Following this combination of study, mother India's calling was just too strong to ignore and last November I went to India to study yoga and harmonium in Rishikesh. I found some pretty incredible teachers and it was amazing to be in the country where this practice originated. I am now completing my third year of Yoga Therapy study at Loyola Marymount University and am specializing in the study of yoga to help people suffering from arthritis. I strongly recommend any of these teachers or schools to further one's practice or to start the path to teaching.
You are always so lovely. Is that a side-effect of yoga?
Thank you for saying that. To answer honestly, I don't know if I am "always" so lovely but I do try to be aware of my actions and the words I speak in my daily life. I think the practice of yoga pushes away the layers of "stuff" we accumulate as a result of life, emotional wounds and stress. Yoga makes us our best self by helping us connect to our true self, and at the core, we were all born into this world with an open heart.
Teaching has definitely made me a much better person because I feel a level of responsibility with how I behave. In order to be authentic with the words we speak as teachers in this practice, we need to be very aware of the choices we make in life. It would be rather inauthentic if I'm teaching Bhakti yoga which is the practice of "devotion" and living from one's heart - and then I didn't take that practice with me in my daily life - how could I authentically teach if I'm not practicing this? It doesn't mean yogis can't get angry, or experience sadness - yoga gives us tools to deal with these emotions in a healthier way.
Thank you for saying that. To answer honestly, I don't know if I am "always" so lovely but I do try to be aware of my actions and the words I speak in my daily life. I think the practice of yoga pushes away the layers of "stuff" we accumulate as a result of life, emotional wounds and stress. Yoga makes us our best self by helping us connect to our true self, and at the core, we were all born into this world with an open heart.
Teaching has definitely made me a much better person because I feel a level of responsibility with how I behave. In order to be authentic with the words we speak as teachers in this practice, we need to be very aware of the choices we make in life. It would be rather inauthentic if I'm teaching Bhakti yoga which is the practice of "devotion" and living from one's heart - and then I didn't take that practice with me in my daily life - how could I authentically teach if I'm not practicing this? It doesn't mean yogis can't get angry, or experience sadness - yoga gives us tools to deal with these emotions in a healthier way.
You recently shared with me that you traveled to India and took footage of your trip. This footage is now on DVD. That's a labor of love. Tell me about it.
The DVD is called "Free Your Soul TV-India" and it features 9 episodes (running time is 50 minutes). I shot it on location in India and it is a documentary-style DVD of my experiences in India. I feature my harmonium teacher, show viewers how to blow a conch shell (a very sacred sound used in this practice) and I take the viewer to many unique places in Rishikesh. The DVD is indeed a labor of love and was in part created to show people an intimate version of India and her spiritual practices. I come from the entertainment industry to it is a natural progression for me to want to bring my experiences to the medium of film and television.
The DVD is called "Free Your Soul TV-India" and it features 9 episodes (running time is 50 minutes). I shot it on location in India and it is a documentary-style DVD of my experiences in India. I feature my harmonium teacher, show viewers how to blow a conch shell (a very sacred sound used in this practice) and I take the viewer to many unique places in Rishikesh. The DVD is indeed a labor of love and was in part created to show people an intimate version of India and her spiritual practices. I come from the entertainment industry to it is a natural progression for me to want to bring my experiences to the medium of film and television.
Who are your yoga inspirations?
Great question to end on! Well, first person that comes to mind is Paramahansa Yogananda. He is the founder of the Self Realization Fellowship and his book "Autobiography of a Yogi" had a huge effect on me. He was an amazing human and his personal quest to follow his dharma (path) is incredible. If you live in Los Angeles, I would suggest going to Lake Shrine in Pacific Palisades and see for yourself the sanctuary he created (not to mention the entire SRF movement). Lake Shrine, for me, is one of the most sacred places in Los Angeles.
I am truly fascinated and inspired by other teachers and spiritual leaders from India who came to the West with nothing, no connections, no money, but held a belief of their spiritual practice and their desire to spread their practice to Westerners. Some of these teachers (to name a few) like Swami Prabhupada (founder of the Hare Krishna movement) and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (founder of Transcendental Meditation) have positively effected probably millions upon millions of people and their organizations still thrive - to me this is a huge inspiration.
I could really go on and on with this question. I guess the point here is to perhaps take the time to learn about some of these amazing teachers, understand their journey as I assure you it will give you faith and strength to pursue your own dreams.
See what I mean, everyone. Totally lovely, right? Thank you, Heidi, for your time. If you would like to read more about Heidi, find her current teaching schedule, or contact her, you may do so through her website: www.raydenproductions.com.
Thank you for reading.
Tamara ZumMallen
Winter
Each season has its specific set of instructions, with winter's instructions focusing on the kidneys. Kidneys are the root of energy, called qi. Kidneys also store the body's essence and govern reproduction, growth and birth.
What would cause kidney pathologies? Fear, since it is the emotion relating to kidneys, may cause kidney deficiency. Other etiologies that may harm the kidneys are: chronic illness, overwork, excessive sexual activity, and old age.
Kidney yang (energetic) pathologies may present as:
- low back pain
- frequent and pale urination
- chills
- cold hands and feet
- weak legs and knees
- edema of the lower extremities
- impotence
- infertility
Kidney yin (fluid) pathologies may present as:
- heat in the hands and feet, especially in the afternoon
- malar flush
- excessive thirst
- dark, scanty urination
- tinnitus
- dizziness
- night sweats
What should you do if you suspect that you may have deficient kidneys with any of the above symptoms?
- Get acupuncture.
- Add black-colored foods into your diet such as: black beans, blackberries, blueberries, chia seeds, black sesame seeds.
- Also add warming teas and spices into your diet such as: black tea, green tea, cinnamon, cardamom, cayenne.
- Rest. The nights are longer in winter for this reason.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Explore yoga. Gentle yoga will keep the low back supple and twisting poses will wring out the organs. According to yoga instructor/certified yoga therapist, Heidi Rayden, the yoga pose jathara parivartanasana (revolved abdominal pose), can help with kidney tonification. "Not only will this pose wring out your organs, it will aid digestion and reduce stress. On the inhale, imagine your spine lengthening, increasing space between the vertebrae. On the exhale, sink deeper into the twist," says Heidi.
As always, I look forward to your questions and comments.
Thank you for reading.
Tamara ZumMallen
Book Review: "What's Up Down There" by Lissa Rankin, M.D.
Imagine your best friend is a gynecologist and she's willing to answer any question you've ever had about your female anatomy. Now imagine that this gynecologist best friend is also an engaging writer.
Enter Lissa Rankin, M.D., author of "What's Up Down There." I laughed. I cried. I got a hand mirror. (Well, not really. But she does recommend it in Chapter 2 if you're unfamiliar with your anatomy.)
Dr. Lissa's book, with its inviting pink cover, starts with anecdotes of her years as a medical resident through her current position of OB/GYN. And man, she has some stories to tell. Her voice is conversational. Her information is medical. Her feminine wisdom is remarkable. No topic involving the female anatomy is off limits. "What's Up" is a series of questions and answers in chapters with titles such as: How Coochies Look, Sex and Masturbation, Fertility, Periods, Childbirth, Boobs, Butts, and Menopause. Seriously, who hasn't had a question about one or more of these topics?
Dr. Lissa answered questions I didn't know I had, in a manner in which I'd like to be told. I also learned a whole bunch of nicknames for "vagina." (Thanks for that, Dr. Lissa.) This book left me feeling sexy and confident about all things feminine. I'll be referring it to every woman who comes into my acupuncture clinic, because who doesn't want the facts with a healthy dose of humor!
Perhaps you'd like to ask Dr. Lissa your own anonymous question. You can find her book tour schedule here: www.owningpink.com.
Thank you for reading.
Tamara ZumMallen
Acupressure For Common Cold
As an acupuncturist, I understand that not everyone is keen on needles. That's okay. Acupressure, instead of acupuncture, can be your first line of defense when you feel a cold coming on. Acupuncture point Lung 7, or Lie Que, is an effective point for reducing cold-related symptoms.
Indications
You may choose to apply acupressure to Lung 7 when you are experiencing the following symptoms: headache, cough, runny nose, sore throat, stiff neck, or headache.
Location
Technique
If you would like to apply acupressure to your right wrist, use your left thumb to press on the Lung 7 point. Use the amount of pressure you would use if you were pushing an elevator button. Hold for 60 seconds, then make small circular motions. After you've massaged the point on your right hand, switch to the left. Go back and forth from right to left for five minutes. Repeat as often as you like.
Thank you for reading. Stay healthy.
Tamara ZumMallen, L.Ac.
Source: "The Foundations of Chinese Medicine" Giovanni Maciocia
Extras...
