Author Archives: susanshaver@gmail.com

What does acupuncture feel like?

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Usually one of the first questions someone asks me about acupuncture is “Does it hurt?” Many are so convinced that these tiny, thin needles will hurt that it discourages them from discovering the many benefits of acupuncture. So, what does acupuncture feel like? Well, first off, it doesn’t hurt, but that doesn’t mean that there can be no sensation at… Read more »

Watermelon Mint Summer Cooler

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Here’s a refreshing summer drink to help beat the summer heat in New England. With only three ingredients, it is delicious and packs a healing punch! Watermelon: it is cold and sweet; quenches thirst, relieves irritability, dispels summer heat problems, promotes diuresis and detoxifies. * Lime/Lemon: it is cool and sour in taste; helps to regenerate body fluids, harmonize the… Read more »

Summer in New England: 6 ways to beat the heat with Chinese Medicine!

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Summer time is finally here in New England . . . and with it those hazy, hot, and humid days that seem to sap the energy right out of you.  In Chinese Medicine we look at the climactic factors of Summer-Heat and Dampness, and how they can affect the body. Summer-heat tends to injure the Yin of the body.  This… Read more »

Farm Shares and Garlic Scapes

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With the blooming of the trees and the daytime temp finally creeping into the 70s (and 80s!), it’s official, spring is here! After a long and harsh winter here in Massachusetts, most people I know are ready to put it behind us. In Chinese Medicine, spring is the time of year of growth and renewal. You just have to look… Read more »

What is Gua Sha, or what are you doing with that soup spoon?

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While needling is the main “go to” strategy in my acupuncture treatments, I may also use other adjuncts techniques as well.  Today I am going to describe the benefits of gua sha. Gua sha, which literally means “scraping sand,” is the manual rubbing of the skin and muscles with a ceramic spoon (looks like a Chinese soup spoon, but “no… Read more »