It's been an interesting few weeks. The CDC drastically changed its COVID-19 recommendations and many local governments took their advice. The change from lockdown to open seemed to happen very quickly and suddenly weddings are happening, flights are being booked, and many of us are wondering - am I ready to come out of my cocoon?

During this uncertain time, I have found myself with a new meditation teacher and a new practice. She is very focused on forgiveness and gratitude. Gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratia which means grace. I have noticed that in focusing on gratitude especially - I feel lighter and less bogged down by the stress of this uncertain time. I feel energized!

A Berkeley University study on gratitude and mental health found that gratitude has lasting effects on the brain - specifically the prefrontal medial cortex. They concluded that practicing gratitude may help train our brains to be more sensitive to the experience of gratitude and this in turn could improve mental health over time. So if you haven't already, you may want to give a gratitude practice a try and remember to have grace with yourself in this reentry period.

Be well,

Elyse

We have been through a lot collectively this past year and a half. Many things we counted upon as "normal" have been shattered and each one of us has had to invent - or try to invent - a new sense of normalcy. That process has been difficult, abnormal, and seemingly endless. These past few months we have seen a lot of mental health related concerns here at Cherry Blossom as everyone tries to shift their reinvented "normal" to something else yet again.

Especially this year, a lot of our patients have come in with anxiety, depression, and everything in between. Traditional Chinese Medicine is a wonderful adjunct resource to therapy, medication, and other holistic approaches that our patients use. Recent studies are showing acupuncture to be an effective treatment for psychological distress - so much so that CareFirst/BlueCross is now covering acupuncture as an adjunct therapy for mental health care.

Traditional Chinese Medicine views mental health from a perspective that incorporates not just the mind but also the physical body, emotions, interpersonal relationships, the seasons, the different energetics associated with the Yin organs, among other factors. Chinese Medicine understands that the terms "anxiety" and "depression" do not manifest in just one way, but rather, have nuances specific to each individual case. When a patient comes in for anxiety attributed to constant worry, and another with grief, the treatment principles for each patient are very different. By treating the specificity of each patient as well as the whole body, we are able to sustain long-term effects for mental health improvement.

In putting together point prescriptions and herbal formulas, we look at the patient’s history, the pulse, tongue and overall picture of the person to see what approach would be best. Certain points, however, are very commonly used to treat mental health issues, such as the set of three points nicknamed “Buddha’s Triangle” or an ear point known as Shen Men. Buddha’s Triangle and ear Shen Men are known to help calm and relax our patients allowing the parasympathetic nervous system to activate, decrease heart rate and blood pressure which can help reduce stress. Along with facilitating relaxation, studies show that acupuncture stimulates secretion of serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmitters which are associated with depression relief. Recent studies also suggest that acupuncture may have an impact on sensory nerves and release naturally-occurring opioids within the body increasing a sense of well being.

Along with acupuncture, we also prescribe herbal medicines such as Gui Pi Tang which is helpful for conditions such as forgetfulness, anxiety, mental restlessness and insomnia.

Traditional Chinese Medicine has a lot to offer in terms of holistic mental health care! We support a multi-pronged approach and work with patients who are on medications such as SSRIs and have other mental care practices such as therapy and meditation.

I have been making my way through this podcast and I find myself really enthralled by their stories and wondering if they will be okay - even when I'm not listening.

Resistance is a podcast about refusing to accept things as they are. Stories from the front lines of the movement for Black lives, told by the generation fighting for change. Hosted by Saidu Tejan-Thomas Jr.

Check out the Resistance podcast here.

The Capital Pride Celebration will be mindfully holding events in person and virtually this year. Click here to check out the many ways to celebrate Pride in DC this year!

You may also want to check out Casa Ruby, a bilingual and multicultural organization that serves the LGBTQ population of Washington, DC and neighboring cities.

Welcome to summer in the District! While the season doesn’t officially start until the solstice on June 20th, we don’t need to tell you that the heat is already in full swing! One of the main ways to combat the heat in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is through food choices. According to TCM, all foods have an inherent temperature. This temperature can engender more relative heat or coolness in the body depending on both the inherent nature of the food itself and how it is prepared.

Foods that are cool in nature are a great choice for the summer, but some warm foods can be helpful too. Eating a moderate amount of spicy foods like peppers, ginger, or horseradish when the weather is warm can help induce sweating, which will, in turn, cool the body. Foods that are cool in nature should be prepared fresh or lightly cooked. Vegetables like cucumbers, greens, or watermelon will nourish your body and help keep you hydrated when the thermostat is climbing. You should, however, be careful with foods that are too cold like iced drinks or frozen foods. Foods that are ice cold are contractive which will keep your pores closed and slow digestion.

To get you started with some summer meal ideas, we recommend this Bun Chay Vietnamese noodle salad from thekitchn.com. This recipe has a nice mix of fresh vegetables, rice noodles, and your choice of protein, topped with a bright and savory sauce.

The recipe can be made vegetarian or vegan and is gluten free. Enjoy!

Be well,