White Pine goes to CHINA!

27/11/09 12:04 Filed in: Asheville Acupuncture

Sally Robinson, L.Ac., founder of White Pine Acupuncture, Inc. is travelling to China! She will be in Tianjin, south of Beijing. Mindy Gates, R.N.,L.Ac., will be running things here in Asheville while Ms. Robinson is pursuing studies in China. There is a program called China Connection in which a friend is involved. This friend is there, through China Connection, for a three month acupuncture intensive program in a hospital in Tianjin. There, she is receiving acupuncture several times a day as well as doing other TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) modalities, such as cupping and Tui Na (TCM massage) and herbal medicine. She has a team of acupuncturists and physical therapists. Fortunately, this dynamic team of acupuncturists has made it clear that they are willing and eager to share their treatment strategies with Ms. Robinson, so that she can continue the treatment protocol upon returning to the Asheville area.

We are so grateful for this amazing learning opportunity! We look forward to sharing with you the richness of this experience.

Essential Oils for the Cold & Flu Season

12/11/09 12:31 Filed in: Herbal Remedies

White Pine Acupuncture is now offering two very specific herbal remedies to help boost immunity and treat the symptoms of cold and flu! These products are based on the herbal remedy thieves used during the Black Plague to prevent contraction of the disease. Our essential oil blend consists of 5 essential oils designed to support the immune system during the flu season. The five oils are cinnamon, rosemary, eucalyptus, clove, and lemon (all in equal parts). Cinnamon is warming and causes sweating and can resolve heat, as well as help prevent colds and flu. The essential oil of cinnamon also contains very strong natural anti-bacterial agents. Rosemary is used to warm and promote sweating. It also promotes expectoration and resolves phlegm. Eucalyptus also resolves phlegm and promotes expectoration, as well as reduces fever and stimulates immunity. It is also well known for relieving cough. Clove oil is very strong and is used in this blend to prevent and stop infection. Lemon oil reduces infection and fever, stimulates immunity and stops mucous discharge.

The essential oil blend can be used topically when diluted in a carrier oil such as almond or jojoba. When applied to the nape of the neck, armpits and the soles of the feet, it is very powerful to prevent and resolve cold and flu. The blend can also be diffused into the air in an oil diffuser. A few drops can be added to a bath, or added to water and used as a cleaning product.

While researching the herbs for our essential oil blend, we found the original recipe used by the thieves during the Black Plague and have created our own infusion, which consists of meadowsweet, rosemary, sage, cinnamon, clove, camphor, and juniper soaked in vinegar. The thieves would saturate their handkerchiefs in the infusion and cover their face with it to prevent inhaling the Plague germs. The infusion could be used in this way today to prevent cold and flu. It can also be diluted with some water and poured into a spritzer bottle and used as a sanitizer. We also suggest sanitizing countertops with it.

We are well stocked on these essential oil blends and have been using them as an adjunct remedy with our acupuncture treatments.