2018 has been a very busy year for me and it’s been a while since I wrote a blog article. So I thought I’d use a few spare minutes to let you know what I’ve been up to and give you an idea of what’s in store for 2019. Over the course of the year, I have been doing the Diploma in Advanced Fertility Acupuncture with Naava Carman, founder of the Fertility Support Company. I’ve attended 5 intensive weekends on various fertility and pregnancy related topics including: causes of in

Happy new year to all of you… A peaceful and contented mind. Keep your mind stimulated with things you enjoy and love. Spend time with friends and family, have a laugh, pursue a hobby or passion. But also get the right balance between stimulation. Keep your mind healthy by managing your stress using therapies such as acupuncture and practices such as mindfulness or meditation. Eat a healthy balanced diet filled with nutritious, real food. Eat real food including plenty fruit,

Chinese medicine has long emphasised the importance of a good balanced diet for optimal health. This is particularly important when trying to conceive as we are all made up of “prenatal-Jing” from each of our parents. “Prenatal-Jing” is a broad concept in Chinese medicine that encompasses the inherited DNA from the egg and sperm; and the nourishment a developing foetus receives in utero. It provides us with the foundation for our own health and longevity. The quality and stre

Today marks the start of Acupuncture Awareness Week 2017… I’ll be sharing research and information about about acupuncture throughout the week on my Facebook and Twitter accounts, but thought I’d start with a brief introduction to acupuncture for my blog post. Introducing Acupuncture Acupuncture is a tried and tested system of traditional medicine which has been used in China and other far eastern cultures for thousands of years to restore, promote and maintain good health. A

The best way to improve your health and wellbeing is to take a holistic approach and aim to bring balance to the 4 pillars of your health: Your mind. The stresses of life can have a profound impact on health and wellbeing. Get the right balance between keeping your mind stimulated and being able to switch off your internal dialogue to be still and focus on the things you are doing. Make sure you keep joy in your life by doing things you enjoy and seeing people you love. Keep

Why do we get more colds in winter – the modern science perspective We all know that people seem to be more likely to catch colds in winter, – 80% more likely according to the NHS[i] – but scientists Why we get more colds in winter from a Chinese medicine perspective These are interesting findings because it supports ancient Chinese medical theories about the relationship between seasons, pathogens (e.g. viruses) and our immune system. Chinese medicine recognises the affect a

Our digestive systems are sensitive and can easily be damaged by eating the wrong types of foods, eating in the wrong circumstances or by emotions such as stress, anger and worry.  In Chinese medicine, our digestive system is responsible for a wide range of bodily functions and also maintains the intellectual and cognitive function of our minds. Its function is understood to have the key role of transforming food and fluids into the nutrients our bodies need and transporting

We are now deep into winter with short days, long nights and freezing temperatures. It is important at this time of year to conserve our energy, slow down a bit and wrap up warmly. We tend to do this naturally anyway because our bodies are working that bit harder at keeping warm. In this modern age, we can lose touch with listening to what our bodies’ food needs are and allow generalized public health advice and marketing cloud our natural judgment and food desires. For examp

A couple of weeks ago was Migraine Awareness week and it inspired this latest blog as it is a subject close to my own heart. Acupuncture can help to reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines After the birth of my second son, I began suffering from frequent, debilitating migraines. After the birth of my third child I was having them so frequently I was rarely well. I seemed to be in a cycle of migraine and gradual recovery from it only to be hit with another one again. I

Early pregnancy is a strange time. It can bring up a range of emotions – sometimes unexpectedly. I remember finding out I was pregnant with my first child. I was in a good relationship, at a good stage in my life to have a child and although not exactly planned, it wasn’t a surprise either. Nevertheless, I felt shocked and terrified for a good while before I felt happy about it. Once it had sunk in, I still felt adrift and very lonely as I adjusted to my new reality… Then the

We are into the darkest part of the year and there has certainly been a corresponding shift in the weather. It is important at this time of year to conserve our energy, slow down a bit and wrap up warmly. We tend to do this naturally anyway because our bodies are working that bit harder at keeping warm. In this modern age, we can lose touch with listening to what our bodies’ food needs are and allow generalized public health advice and marketing cloud our natural judgment and

National fertility awareness week Today marks the start of National Fertility Awareness Week. 1 in 6 couples have difficulty conceiving. Sometimes some simple changes to diet and lifestyle or even a clearer understanding of our reproductive systems can help. However, for others, some form of assistance might be needed. Acupuncture has grown a solid reputation for supporting fertility for both men and women. So much so that many mainstream fertility clinics recommend and offer

Fertility Awareness Week is 27th October to 2nd November. Traditional Acupuncture is used to support fertility naturally and as an adjunct to Assisted Reproductive Technology. It is growing its good reputation for support in this area, so I thought I’d write my latest blog on understanding acupuncture and fertility for the KnotStressed website. The full article is available by clicking on this link: Understanding Fertility: An Acupuncturist’s View. Sterile, single use needles

The importance of Balance The theory of Yin and Yang outlined in Part 1 can be applied to health and is fundamental to the philosophy of Chinese Medicine. Throughout its development and evolution, Chinese Medicine has drawn parallels between patterns observed in nature and people. Lets take the example described in part 1 of the blog which demonstrated the importance of getting the balance between yin and yang right… Plants need the sun to grow – which is Yang – it is light,

Daoist Yin and Yang symbol The theory of Yin and Yang is one of the most important paradigms underpinning Traditional Chinese Medicine. Yin and Yang are complementary opposites which define each other. They exist only in relation to each other and each contains an aspect of the other. The famous Daoist symbol depicting Yin and Yang accompanies this article and elegantly describes the theory. The symbol shows Yin and Yang intertwined with each other in a continuous circle. Eac

Woman sneezing (Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net) The warmer weather and longer days makes such a welcome change after the long dark and wet Scottish winter. It is glorious to see all the flowers and blossom blooming. It seems decidedly unfair that this can mean the arrival or exacerbation of allergies. An allergy is an overreaction of the body’s immune system to something in the environment which would normally be harmless. Its this reaction

Changes afoot this Spring for Jill Storstein Acupuncture Its been a while since I’ve written a blog entry and what better time to write one than the start of Spring when the clocks have just gone forward.  Chinese medicine theory developed over the millenia based on observance of patterns of symptoms in people and correspondences of nature with people. Spring is a season of change with the most dominant organ being the Liver which in the 5 elements, corresponds to Wood and is