What is Gua sha?
Gua sha (pronounced ‘gwa shah’) is a traditional Chinese technique that I use regularly when people have muscle tension and pain, especially in the neck and shoulders, or a number of other conditions including headaches or viruses.
Gua literally translates as ‘scraping’. Gua sha involves repeated pressured strokes over oiled skin with a smooth edge, that results in the appearance of small red petechiae called ‘sha’. The gua sha instrument is usually made of bone, ceramic or jade.
The results look painful but actually this doesn’t hurt at all…. it feels like a strong deep massage and you feel immediate relief from pain, stiffness, fever, etc.., and the red marks or ‘sha’ will fade in 2 to 3 days.
Gua sha is used to move stagnant blood and lymph , promoting better circulation and metabolic processes. It is also used to remove toxins from the body
I find this technique especially effective for people with neck and shoulder pain, often caused by sitting at a computer. This tension can even lead to headaches, or numbness and pain in their arms and hands. Gua sha can often make a quite dramatic impact on somebody’s pain
See this video for a demonstration of the technique: (http://youtu.be/-jbd8CgmLTg) as you can see the person feels no pain even though it looks dramatic
To find out more about whether gua sha could help you, please get in touch and we can chat about your situation
Eleanor Breen Acupuncture, Bristol
Tags: acupuncture, arm, Bristol, gua sha, headache, neck, numbness, Pain, shoulder
My acupuncture room at Breathe Bristol
Here’s my lovely new acupuncture room at Breathe Bristol Yoga and Therapy Centre in St Nicholas Market Bristol.
Very exciting!
Eleanor Breen Acupuncture, Bristol
Fantastic new Yoga Centre in Bristol City Centre
Breathe Bristol is the new yoga and therapy centre in Bristol city centre’s St Nick’s market where I have my new clinic.
Have a look at their website http://www.breathebristol.co.uk/ to see everything they offer, including really affordable yoga classes with fantastic teachers, and therapies including acupuncture (me!), massage, hypnotherapy and psychotherapy.
The city centre location means its really accessible for those working in town to pop to on their lunch break or before or after work. Why not take some time out from your busy stressful day to really look after yourself.
Eleanor Breen Acupuncture
Bristol
Eleanor Breen Acupuncture is now in the City Centre
I am pleased to say that after a few months of waiting I am finally in my 2 new wonderful clinics in central Bristol
My main base will be at Breathe Bristol yoga studios, 3 All Saints Court, St Nicholas market, BS1 1JN
On Mondays I will also be at the lovely South Bristol Osteopaths off Queen Square
I’m very excited to be somewhere so vibrant and i’m looking forward to being able to help many more people now i am more conveniently based.
Tags: acupuncture, Bristol, central
Happy Chinese New Year: Year of the Wood Horse
So what does Chinese tradition say that this means for us?
The Wood Horse is said to be an auspicious year with a strong convergence of yang energy -the charismatic Horse and the Wood element.
This is a big shift from the last 2 years of Water energy. In five element theory Water is the energetic equivalent of winter, a time of deep introspection, whereas Wood is Springtime, representing growth and determination.
The Horse is a symbol of traveling, competition and victory so the Wood Horse brings a fast-paced burst of extroverted forward propulsion, full of uplift, optimism and compelling inspiration. The Horse energy inspires powerful intuition and an indomitable surge towards freedom in every aspect of life. This is a year to follow your intuition fearlessly like never before.
The main warning this year seems to be in making big decisions – choose wisely and swiftly, because once things start rolling this year, they may be hard to stop!
Eleanor Breen Acupunture, Bristol
Tags: 2014, acupuncture, Bristol, chinese new year, Horse, Wood Horse
New Year's Resolutions – Less is More
In 2014 we all want to be better people than we were in 2013. When it comes to resolutions, we tend to think that bigger is better, that extreme changes will somehow erase all the regrets of the previous year. Unfortunately however, we tend to bite off more than we can chew and we make resolutions that are very hard to keep.
It is important to remember that we are still the same person as we were last year. We still enjoy the same pleasures and have the same vices so it is unlikely we will maintain huge changes. However small shifts in behaviour are much easier to achieve and a lot more sustainable throughout the year.
In Chinese Medicine, we talk a lot about finding balance, that delicate tight-rope walk between doing something too much or too little. Achieving balance in our lives isn’t a static, frozen experience. Sometimes we teeter out of balance and we have to bring ourselves back. And that’s OK.
So here’s a thought:
Rather than trying to set yourself up for disappointment with unrealistic resolutions, why not find small and simple ways to bring yourself back to that middle place.
Here are simple suggestions for you:
- Try this 60 second Morning Acupressure Routine to get your body ready for the day (http://youtu.be/kLLMBC0PZAM)
- Drink more water. Try starting each day with a pint of warm water with lemon. find out why here: (http://tinyurl.com/d67trdx)
- Move every day. whether this is taking the dog for a walk, riding your bike to work or dancing around the kitchen. Our bodies are not designed to be static! movement will make you happier, less stressed, and better equipped to handle life.
- Eat less sugar: Sugar is addictive, increases insulin and affects the way our body lays down fat. read more here: (http://tinyurl.com/pn85nos). The less you eat, the less you will crave it.
- Stretch! watch this wonderful video to learn why this is important (http://youtu.be/_FtSP-tkSug) and learn some simple stretches here (http://tinyurl.com/5hwlyb)
- Limit your time on your smartphone or computer: the web is often just an aid for procrastination. It can reduce our ability to concentrate and social media can even make us unhappy (http://tinyurl.com/o69kd93). Instead why not chat to your family and friends who are in the room with you! Or get outside and meet real people. Reclaim your real life!
- Get Acupuncture, regularly! Find out more here
Happy New Year! Let’s make it a good one.
Eleanor Breen Acupuncture, Bristol
New Year New You: £10 off first acupuncture treatment
Is your resolution to have better health and wellbeing in 2014? Acupuncture treatment could help you achieve this.
Start acupuncture treatment in January and receive £10 off your first session. Just mention the New Year offer when you contact me
Find out more about how acupuncture could help you here
Eleanor Breen Acupuncture, Bristol
Beat the Bloat – Helping your digestion over Christmas
We’re all prone to a little overindulgence at Christmas, and all that rich rood and overeating plays havoc with our digestion leaving us bloated, uncomfortable and suffering from indigestion. Chinese Medicine sees our digestive health as particularly important, determining our vitality, mood, immunity, and more. Here are some tips to try and minimise the stress we put on our poor stomachs during the party season.
Chew your food: Chewing food properly releases digestive enzymes into the saliva to break down carbohydrates. Undigested carbohydrates cause bloating, so chewing more can prevent distended bellies. Also, really chewing and tasting your food makes it more satisfying, meaning you may eat less.”
Drink warm liquids: The smooth muscle of your digestive system likes warmth. Ingesting cold will weaken your digestion whereas warm liquids will relax and strengthen it over time, reducing bloating. Drinking a glass of warm water first thing will get your digestive metabolism going for the day.
Drink Ginger Tea: Ginger is revered for its ability to soothe the digestive tract and bring gastric juices back into balance. It has been used for centuries to treat hangovers and overeating. Pour hot water over fresh ginger root and sip slowly both before you eat a big meal, and after festivities.
Move: if you’re feeling lethargic and bloated, movement is essential. The best cure is to get the family together and take a walk after the big meal. It doesn’t have to be for long, just enough movement to help stimulate digestion. Plopping down on the couch will slow down your system, and that stagnation causes the discomfort of bloating. Yoga can also be a great help as twisting postures aid in digestion.
Relax: Stress and anxiety can cause an upset stomach and the chaos and family stress of the Christmas period can lead to higher stress levels. Follow an evening of celebrating with some alone time to enjoy peace and quiet.
Rub your belly: In Chinese medicine, bloating and indigestion indicate that your digestive energy is obstructed, so self-massage can improve flow and regulate the digestive organs. Lie comfortably on your back, place your palm above your belly button and rub your abdomen in a circle around your belly button. Circle clockwise (as you look down at your belly) as this is the direction of your bowel.
Have acupuncture: If you find you have digestive problems year round, not just when overeating, acupuncture could help to strengthen your digestive system. Give me a call to find out more.
Eleanor Breen Acupuncture, Bristol
Tags: acupuncture, bloating, Bristol, Chinese Medicine, christmas, digestion
Christmas gift vouchers: Give the gift of wellbeing!
Don’t know what to buy your loved ones for Christmas this year? Looking to give them a more meaningful gift?
You could start them on the journey to better health and wellbeing with an acupuncture gift voucher.
Gift voucher for 1 treatment: £35
Special Offer: 5 treatments for the price of 4. Just £140
Eleanor Breen Acupuncture, Bristol
Tags: acupuncture, christmas, gift, health, voucher, wellbeing
New Clinic in St Nicks Market, Central Bristol
Fantastic news!
From December I will have a new clinic in All Saints Court next to St Nicks Market in Bristol City Centre. I will be in new yoga studio Breathe Bristol (https://www.facebook.com/breathebristol) which is opening in a beautiful 4 story townhouse in the close next to All Saints Church.
Once the clinic is up and running I will be practicing there Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
Pictures to follow once I have painted the room and made it beautiful
Eleanor Breen Acupuncture, Breathe Bristol, 3 All Saints Court, Bristol, BS1 1JN
Tags: acupuncture, Central Bristol, Chinese Medicine, St Nicks Market