Acupuncture Focus
Can Acupuncture improve your sex life?
Would it be too kinky for me to tell you how needles can help you enjoy sex again? I am talking about a non- chemical solution to your low libido. 43% of all women and 31% of men report they have a troubling disinterest in sex. However, they want to want to have sex again.
Acupuncture works by restoring the body’s healthy flow of energy (Qi). To do this we use multiple techniques like Moxabustion, Cupping, Needling and Zero Point Balancing. Our style of Acupuncture is gentle and subtle. Most of our clients report deep relaxation during the treatment and many actually fall asleep on the table during treatment. It can take 3 or more treatments to restore healthy libido but most people report a significant boost in sexual energy after just one session!
February is a month where we focus on our relationships. If you are unhappy with your sex drive we can help!
DRYFT Floatation Focus
How can Floatation help with weight loss and subsequently boost your interest in sex?
It’s all about Cortisol. Cortisol affects your metabolism and your ability to relax. Chronically elevated cortisol can cause weight gain in some people, particularly around the abdomen area. Cortisol levels rise when we are stressed out, over worked, fatigued, over-extended physically for prolonged periods of time. In a nut shell this describes about 90% of the people I know.
“Elevated cortisol levels disrupt the body’s blood glucose control by stimulating glucose secretion from stores in the liver and limiting the release of the hormone responsible for removing excess glucose from the blood stream, insulin,” says Dr Buchwald-Werner.
“This results in high blood sugar levels. Eventually, more insulin is secreted to remove the excess glucose once cortisol levels have dropped, but this cycle results in poor glucose control which also makes losing weight very difficult as the excess glucose can be stored as fat. Therefore, managing cortisol and insulin levels are both important when trying to lose weight.”
What does this have to do with Floatation Therapy?
The clinical research on floating conducted by the Medical College of Ohio and since replicated by many, demonstrates that Floatation Therapy is unique among the relaxation therapies because of the long lasting effects. After floatation your cortisol levels drop and stay low for about 5 days, 5 times longer than other relaxation modalities like massage. That’s five days during which time you will see results from your weight loss program that you may not have seen before.
Has your weight loss stalled?
If you have plateaued and wonder why, try using Floatation as part of the program. Not only will you see if Cortisol is the reason for your stubborn abdominal weight but you may find it easier to resist cravings for sugary, high-fat foods. When your Cortisol levels are high, your body craves comfort foods. During those times when stress is high and your resistance is low due to fatigue it’s easy to be derailed from all your hard work. We recommend booking 3 floats, each within a week or two of one another, to see whether your weight loss can be supported by a relaxing, Cortisol lowering, Float.
And what about the sex?
Many of our clients tell us they lost interest in sex due to their negative body image. Some of them lack the energy because they are exhausted from their stressful lives. Floatation is one way to do something about improving your body image, relieving stress, getting rested and relaxed. After floating, you may find more than just a satisfying night’s sleep in your future;)
Nutrition Focus
The Heart, Winter Food and Salt
In Chinese medicine winter is a time to nourish the adrenals. During the cold season, weaknesses of kidneys and bladder, which govern the adrenals, are common. You may experience this as: asthma, weakness in the low back or knees, loose stools, increased urination, water retention, and lowered libido. The kidneys are seen as the storehouse of our energy. During the winter season we can care for our vitality by building a meal plan that includes foods that nourish kidney, bladder, Adrenal and ultimately your libido and relationships!
Eat what?
Salty and bitter flavors are what we want to focus on. Wait! Don’t just gravitate to any old refined or so-called sea salt. We need the pure and powerful, high quality, mineral rich salts that have the mineral reflection of our own blood. This salt comes from a few special places and, yes, it’s more expensive. But we overuse salt in most instances because we crave the minerals. Relying on salt that is lacking in these minerals only contributes to the problem. Small amounts of Maldon Sea Salt, Pink Himalayan Sea Salt or Celtic Sea Salt with it’s grey crystals, will provide the nourishment and balancing that we need at this time of year.
How can this help the heart?
Physically, consuming best quality sea salt in small quantities can help reduce high blood pressure. Overconsumption of refined salt settles in the vascular system, creating pressure. When the right kind of salt is used in the right quantities , the opposing action takes place and kidneys are stimulated to promote fluid metabolism, and also moisten the body.
And then there is love
Energetically, pure salt can promote a centered experience that grounds the heart and mind. This is powerful medicine that we can use to enhance our work inside of our relationships. When you are experiencing a moment of pure confusion and you shut down inside your relationship, try a pinch of Celtic Sea Salt on your tongue. As it dissolves, spend a moment going inward and downward to the core of your body and ask the heart to open to the potential for love.
Here is a great recipe for your winter heart:
Red Lentil and Sweet Potato Soup garnished with Watercress
Paul Pitchford, author of Healing with Whole Foods, talks about how such foods can cool the surface of the body by driving warmth into a deeper level so we the feel cold less. Bitter foods such as quinoa, watercress, endive, celery, turnip, escarole, rye, and alfalfa should be included regularly in meals during the winter. Food that opens the heart, warms the body and spirit is what we want and need at this season.
This will make a thick soup (dahl) that is great over quinoa or in a bowl on its own. This batch makes enough for four people and then some to pack and freeze for another night.
4 cups H2O
2Tbs. Safflower oil
2 onions diced
8 cloves garlic crushed
2 inches ginger grated
1 tsp. turmeric
2 tsp. cumin
1/2 t. cayenne
2 cups cooked mashed sweet potatoes
8 oz coconut milk
1/4 cup lime juice
1/2 cup apricot preserves (optional)
1 cup cilantro minced
1/2 tsp Pink Himalayan Sea Salt, adjust to taste
1 bunch chopped watercress
Options: dice carrots or cauliflower and add to the pot with the lentils.