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Or Download our Scheduling App!
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Parking Changes
Downtown!
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We decided to summarize the downtown parking situation for our patients, to hopefully make transportation to the clinic as smooth as possible. We hope that this helps, whether you are new to the area, or unfamiliar with the new parking system which started this year--there’s even an App you can use!
Lot Parking--
-Armory lot (across from the parking garage)--3 hours max between 8am-6pm, .75/hour.
-Lot across from the Northampton Brewery--up to 10 hours allowed, .25/hour.
Parking in all of the lots no longer require putting tickets on your windshield. Simply park, go to the closest parking meter and enter your license plate number, pay for the time that you need with coins or credit card (all cards except American Express). The printed form that you are given serves only as a receipt.
Also available now, a parking application for your smart phone! Download the app on the link below, or search for Parkmobile on your smart phone applications.
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Parking App Details--
Download the Parkmobile app on smart phone and choose Northampton, MA, add your license plate number of your vehicle,
e-mail, and payment method (Paypal, Credit, Debit--all cards except American Express). Please note, you will be charged a small fee (.13 cents) for each use.
When you park, find the closest meter, where the Parking Zone number will be clearly listed on the side of the kiosk.
Open the app, type in the zone, select city and enter the amount of time that you would like to park for. Make sure you are e-mailed a confirmation that the session has started.
Whenever you open the app throughout the day, your ‘real time’ remaining will be displayed as a ticking clock. On the same screen, you have an option to extend your time, and also to find your car if you forget where you are parked.
Street Parking--
Parking on the street is 2 hours max, at .75/hour and the kiosk rules are exactly the same for the lots!
Garage Parking --
Entrance is behind Thornes Marketplace on Hampden Avenue. The first hour is free, and then it's .50/hour. You need to keep the ticket with you, that you receive when you enter the garage, and pay at one of the kiosks before going to your car. Cash and credit cards accepted.
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Did You Know?
Acupuncture & Migraines:
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Katie Oleksak Lic.Ac.
Many of our patients coming in for treatment here at NCA suffer from debilitating migraine headaches; often going on for many years, and occurring as frequently as once a day. Migraines are typically triggered by shifts in sleeping patterns, diet, stress, environmental factors or changes in the weather. Did you know that whatever your main reason for coming in for acupuncture, we can address more than one issue/symptom at a time!
Let us know if you are one of those that suffer from migraines, as you do not have to, and you are not alone.
Some stats about migraines:
- Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. households includes someone with migraine.
- 12% of the population – including often undiagnosed children – suffers from migraine.
- Migraines are most common in women.
- Migraines most commonly occur between the ages of 25-55.
- About 90% of migraines run in the family.
Acupuncture can help! Every patient is different and each migraine has its own specific characteristics. This means that every patient will see variations in changes in their symptoms once acupuncture treatment starts addressing their migraines. Very slight changes in duration, frequency and intensity are all important information for us and are all signs that the treatment is working! Please keep us informed of any and all slight changes in order to determine the course of your treatment.
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Autumn in Five-Element
Acupuncture
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Anne-Louise Smallen Lic.Ac.
The ancient Chinese lived according to the seasons and times of day, striving to understand their influence on nature’s cycle and the phases of a person’s energy. We will soon be entering the Metal element season (as in precious metals). The “Officials” of the Metal are the Lung and Large Intestine meridians. Associated with that element and these two meridians are the ability to let go of what is no longer useful (just as Nature let go of the dead foliage) and transform the richness of the debris into nutrients for the future. Metal allows us to pursue what is vital in life. Gone astray it can turn into rigidity of character on one side or the pursuit of “sex, drugs and rock’n roll” on the other side. So it is important for us to tune ourselves to our metal at this time of year to keep it in balance.
The lung meridian has important functions in the treatment of respiratory diseases such as asthma and in the treatment of skin diseases. The Lung and Large Intestine Meridian are considered as the most external meridians of the body. They offer first-line protection against viruses and bacteria attacking our immune system.
The quality of Metal is sadness (could also be called longing), The color is white (reflected in the tone of one’s skin even in people who are not Caucasian). The odor of people with a strong Metal imbalance is “rotten”. The organs are the nose and our ability to smell (an important faculty in intuition, for example) and the large intestines, our capacity to evacuate properly and detoxify our body, mind and spirit. The time of day is between 3 am. and 7 am.
Enjoy the fall! Nature, in shedding its summer abundance, gives us great beauty to enjoy.
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Our Favorite Tips for
Autumn Immunity:
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Katie Oleksak Lic.Ac.
I absolutely love mushrooms. I love to eat them, I love to see them in nature and I love to utilize them as part of my arsenal for combating colds and flu and boosting immunity. They have incredible immune-boosting, anti-oxidant and cancer-fighting properties.
These days there are so many ways to incorporate them into our diet and lifestyle regimen. I recommend the following:
-Purchasing these organic mushrooms and cooking/adding to your food.
-Any of these mushrooms in ground or dehydrated form: a great place to order them is
Mountain Rose Herbs
. You can set up an account and purchase them in various bulk sizes.
My favorite thing to do these days is add ground
Chaga
powder to my morning coffee and blending with pure coconut milk (from a can--no added ingredients). It’s creamy and delicious!
-For a cold-weather warm-up, try any of these blends from
Four Sigmatic
: my new favorite is the
Mushroom Hot Cacao Mix
! Add to coffee or blend with your favorite organic milk or dairy substitute--also available online from
Thrive Market
.
Rachel Condon Lic.Ac.
Adding to Katie's post above, I'm also a fan of medicinal mushrooms. I like getting bulk chaga from
Acadia Herbal Apothecary -
I mix it with astragalus, simmer in a pot of water on the stove for a few hours, and then sip either hot or cold, sometimes with honey. Great earthy flavor!
One of my favorite health recommendations to make, at any time of year, but I think especially during this seasonal transition. As the weather gets cooler, our bodies need some extra rest to adjust to the change. Getting sufficient good quality sleep is key to our bodies being able to do those repair and restorative functions that happen during deep sleep.
A trick that has helped me to build in more sleep is to go to bed earlier. You have to find what works for you, but if you have kids or pets, or otherwise aren't able to sleep later in the mornings, the key is to get yourself to sleep earlier. Another important key to good quality sleep - turn those devices off an hour (at least), before you hit the pillow.
My other favorite health recommendation to make these days... drink more water. Your body needs adequate water throughout the day to function properly, including your immune system. I guarantee you will feel better if you do this. If you really do not like the taste of water, and I know there are some of you out there, try some variation on it to get that hydration in - add fresh lemon, lime, mint leaves, berries, drink seltzer, make an herbal tea and drink it hot or iced.
A trick I started a few years ago that has helped me is to start off the day with two big glasses of water. Before my coffee. I like to add fresh lemon juice and a little sea salt, but do what works for you. And plan ahead, if you're going out for several hours, bring a refillable water bottle.
Anne-Louise Smallen Lic.Ac.
Do not forget the basics for the winter: upgrade your intake of Vitamin C to at least 1000 mg and Vitamin D to 2000 IU per day. They are building blocks for your system and with the shorter days and lesser exposure to daylight, you need extra help.
Barlean's Olive Leaf
extract is also a favorite. It is a strong anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-parasite that will keep germs at bay.
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