Free Flow Health

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Reach out and ask for help. Reach out and offer help. National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

"In Chinese Medicine, the liver, kidney, spleen, stomach and chong mai (originates in uterus and branches out into the breasts) channels run through or on the sides of the breasts. The liver is associated with stress and pent up anger as we already know. It is the liver energy that is responsible for tender breasts premenstrually. Another clear sign of liver qi stagnation is fibrocystic breasts. In Western Medicine, these are often related to excess estrogen. Releasing an...ger and managing stress is essential to the health of your breasts. Of course, so is your diet. Cruciferous vegetables such as bok choy, broccoli and brussel sprouts can help the body metabolize excess estrogen. We think of the stomach channels association with breasts more often when we think about breast milk. Breast milk comes from blood and fluids of the body. Making sure we have adequate circulation of qi and blood in the breasts is essential to preventing breast cancer and other issues related to the breasts." Self breast massage is a great way to bring circulation to the breasts. Take time while in the shower to massage all around the breasts into the armpit area using 3 fingers in a circular motion. Be sure to get all around the breast and especially in the area on the underside where circulation is often cut off by long hours of wearing a wired bra. Next, with a loose fist, tap lightly around the breasts and armpit area. -excerpt from In The Flow Women's Embodiment Course Photo by: Duvet Days

Here are a few reasons to have an orgasm as if you needed one! Relieves stress / Moves Liver Qi The endorphin release can boost your mood Boosts the immune system... It can benefit your sleep by making you feel more relaxed. Boosts sexual confidence Increases your libido It can relieve menstrual cramps Increases blood flow to the vagina See more

People often ask me how I got into Acupuncture. As a teen, I remember being very into ceremony and earthy ways of being. I guess you can say I was a bit of a hippy in the making. I always had an interest in health and found our medical system to be broken even at a very young age. As I watched family members age, I saw an accumulation of pharmaceuticals on their kitchen counters. I felt frustrated that they were not being educated on exercise and diet. After I graduated with ...a degree in Sociology and a minor in Anthropology, I traveled to several countries in South America and Europe. Once I returned home, I taught English as a second language. This was such an amazing job however the hours were very seasonal. I went to an open house at the acupuncture school, Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and was completely inspired by the directors talk. Although getting through Western science classes such as anatomy and physiology, chemistry and biology were definitely difficult for me, I discovered I was very capable of learning this information and actually enjoyed it. My initial class on the theory of Chinese Medicine was taught by one of the most unconventional and interesting practitioners I have ever met, Alex Tiberi, who is sadly no longer with us. He was so vibrant, eloquent and such an amazing story teller. He made me fall in love with Chinese Medicine. I feel so blessed to have known him and have had the chance to study under him. The theories about the way the energetic systems of our bodies work made more sense to me than anything else ever had. Everyday I give thanks for having taken this path in life. I absolutely love what I do. The information and knowledge that this medicine holds is endless. I will always aspire to grow, soak in all I can and treat this ancient medicine with the utmost respect. I could not imagine doing anything else.

I never leave the house without nuts, a piece of fruit, some olives and ample water. Whether I am going on a hike, to the beach or to the office, I always have healthy snacks to keep me going. Skipping meals or going long periods of time without eating can send your body into survival mode. Cortisol levels go up putting stress on the body. It can also slow your metabolism down. When we allow ourselves to get to the point of being hangry, we often then reach for anything in... sight which is usually a poor choice. Best to be prepared and always have something on hand. Make this a habit. I have seen it shift lots of issues for people including myself. See more

Free Flow Health is located in historic Old Town San Diego. The location offers is easy access from the 5 freeway, underground parking and a peaceful, cozy space in which one can relax and heal. Treatments consist of health and wellness coaching on nutrition, supplementation, Chinese herbs, lifestyle modifications followed by acupuncture, cupping or gua sha and/or a light massage depending on what is seen fit for your current imbalance. All imbalances are treated at Free Fl...ow Health, however, my primary focus and area of expertise lie in Women's health. Many imbalances that occur in women's health stem from digestive dysfunction. Therefor this is a major focus of treatment as well. Schedule your initial visit today to find out what may be leading to whatever issues you may be experiencing. Appointments can be scheduled online. https://www.freeflowhealthacupuncture.com/

Rose hips are a native plant in San Diego. I found these beauties growing abundantly on a trail today. They are super high in Vitamin C, E and K. They boost the immune system and are often associated with benefiting the menstrual cycle by regulating flow, easing cramps and breast tenderness. They help strengthen the circulatory, respiratory and digestive system and reduces inflammation. Make a tea by poring boiling water over rose hips and steeping for 10 minutes. ... #rosehips #easemenstrualcramps #regulatecycle #balancehormonesnaturally #balanceyourcycle #sandiegoacupuncture #boostyourimmunesystem

Free Flow Health Acupuncture will remain open while continuing to adhere to CDC guidelines. #stayingopen #stayhealthy #safely #sandiegoacupuncture #supportlocalbusiness

So much gratitude everyday! I get to call San Diego my home. I get to be the mother of these two beautiful boys! I get to help guide people on their path to wellness! I get to choose the life I live! Happy Thanksgiving Everyday! #gratitude #chooseyourlife #happythanksgiving

The Power of Immediate Action On Sunday I did a hike many describe as brutal and grueling. There was a 5,000ft elevation gain in 6.5 miles. With that comes a 5,000 ft descent. I woke up Monday feeling sore as I would have expected but nothing too bad. In comes Monday evening. I went to get up from the couch, pop! You know that horrible feeling when something goes out in your low back and you know it ain’t good! ... This has happened before many times so I knew just what to do. I maneuvered myself down onto my yoga mat with great difficulty and did a few stretches. I then got out my acupuncture needles and proceeded to needle my glutes and my quadratus lumborus. The pain was at a level 10 for sure! Off to bed I went lying on my heating pad. Turning through the night was excruciating! I wasted no time getting in to see Dr. Leelee @obchiropractic for an adjustment and then my dear friend, @cabezonxito (Paolo Pellecer) who had done the hike with me, came to my rescue with some very much needed muscle therapy. Fast forward to that evening and my pain had reduced from a 10 to a 2!!! Last night I slept with no issues. Today I’m being cautious and taking it easy but I am 98% back to where I was prior to the injury. My point is, I see people with injury often, the SI joint can be very vulnerable. They come to me for acupuncture which brings relief but often it is several days or weeks later. Their healing with acu alone can be much slower at that point. Be proactive with injuries RIght Away and utilize what I call the holy trinity of healing, Acupuncture - Chirpractic - Muscle Therapy! You can recover quickly with quick action and a good team of practitioners! #quicktesponse #quickrecovery #acupuncture #chiropractic #massagetherapy #healquickly #sijoimtdysfunction #keepmoving #sdacupuncture #painmanagement

Don’t throw those pumpkin seeds out! They are jam packed with nutrients such as antioxidants such as Vitamin E, zinc, magnesium, protein and iron. To easily remove seeds from pulp. Place in pot of cold water. The seeds will float to the top while the pulp sinks.... Boil seeds in water for 10 minutes to further remove excess pulp. Strain and rinse with cold water. Place seeds on towel to dry. They won’t fully dry but you can remove excess water. Place in mixing bowl. Add a very small amount of olive oil. You can add any flavoring you’d like. I added sea salt and onion salt. Using parchment paper, place seeds flat on baking sheet. Roast for 15-25 minutes at 400 degrees flipping throughout. You will know they are done when they are crunchy. Enjoy! #superfoods #foodismedicine #healthysnacks #antioxidants #eatwell #pumpkinseeds #sandiegoacupuncture

Healthy fall snack or anytime really! Apples Nut butter Honey... Cinnamon In that order! #healthysnack #foodismedicine #choosewisely #yourbodyisatemple #sandiegoacupuncture

Fall according to Traditional Chinese Medicine It is a time of letting go and is associated with the element metal and the organ energy of the lungs. We begin moving from the expansive/outward time of summer to more contractive and inwardness.... It is a great time to begin focusing on going within, writing, meditation and self development. Breathe work to help strengthen the lungs is a wonderful exercise especially in the fall. You can practice breathing fully through your nose to full capacity, holding for 6 seconds then fully releasing through your mouth. It is a good time to let go of anything that no longer serves us and make way for new growth. Grief is associated with the lung. Expressing your grief and letting it go will help bring balance to your body and mind. Eat with the season: Garlic, sweet potato, ginger, onion, cabbage, pears, walnuts, black pepper, radish, chili, cinnamon, cardamom, leaks, sauerkraut, pickles. Observe nature, follow its lead, remember you are nature! Schedule your Acupuncture appointment to keep your immune system strong! Link in bio. #fallaccordingtochinesemedicine #livewiththeseasons #flowwiththeseasons #letgo #eatwiththeseasons #sandiegoacupuncture

#bepresent #makelove #maketea #paulocoelho

Is your self talk positive, kind and true? We all have our days. I definitely have mine. When I do, I go to my support team. The women in my life that see the truth in situations that may be getting me down. The women that see my light. I have begun to discover the power of being that support to myself. I will ask myself if I would say these things to my best friend. The answer is always NEVER. ... We have to be our own best friend. There is nobody in this entire lifetime you will speak to more than yourself. While out on a run this morning I really didn’t feel like taking, I found myself saying I am proud of you girl. I am proud because I make a commitment to doing things that benefit my body, mind and soul daily. Recognize your efforts, your light, your worth! #bekindtoyoursf #positiveselftalk #selfvalidation #seeyourlight #beyourownbestfriend #sandiegoacupuncture

How to manage intense emotions that come along with PMS! Sorry for the late response to you ask, I answer questions about your cycle. By the 4th phase of our cycle, the week before we bleed, there is a build up of energy and your lining is getting ready to shed.... You might have breast tenderness, insomnia, mood swings, irritability to name a few symptoms. Being slightly more sensitive than usual is normal but when it’s so intense that we can’t function and or it’s affecting our relationships, this can be a sign of an imbalance. It’s important to move that energy. Go for a run, brisk walk or do some kick boxing. Write in a journal about all of the feelings that are at the surface. These are things that are always there. We are just able to shove them down inside a bit more at other times in our cycle. Observe them and let them flow out rather than remaining stored up within for the next cycle. Chinese herbal medicine can be very helpful at restoring balance as well as eating a proper diet free of processed foods, sugar, alcohol and caffeine. If your experiencing intense PMS every month, be sure to come in for regular acupuncture to encourage balance and free flow of qi (energy). #pmsrelief #acupunctureforpms #sdacupuncture #sandiegoacupuncture #freeflow #moveyourbody #eatwell #expressyourself

I am not fragile like a flower, I am fragile like a bomb. Thank you RBG! #rbg #bornunderabrightstar

Healthy version of kettle corn! Elias’s favorite!!! That’s why it’s almost gone. Fresh popped popcorn! Sea salt, honey! ... #healthykettlecorn #alwaysahealthyversion #sandiegoacupuncture

Sunset Acupuncture Schedule your appointment today! Link in bio.... @lovelybirth108 acupuncture is a great way to self nurture! #acupuncturewithaview #calmyournervoussystem #regulateyourhormones #selfnurture #fertilityacupuncture #pregnancyacupuncture

Sleep hygiene I have always been a light sleeper and since having kids I have suffered from insomnia! The best thing I could’ve done recently was purchase an old school alarm clock and kick my phone out of my room! It has been a game changer.... Create a good sleep routine. *turn screens off an hour before bed. *turn your phone off and leave it in another room. *go to bed at the same time every night and wake at the same time. (I’m working on the waking part) *read a book, do gentle yoga or some wind down Qi Gong before bed. Check out @lee.holden1 on YouTube for a 10 minute night time routine. *cut liquids out at least two hours before bed. Good sleep is the cornerstone of good health. Make it a priority. #goodsleep #sleepisapillarofhealth #kickyourphoneout #turnitoff #sleephygiene #sandiegoacupuncture

Sometimes the best way to become good at treating an issue is by experiencing it yourself. I have been suffering from ITband syndrome for a year now but have only just identified the issue a few months ago. I thought I was just having knee pain and didn’t realize it was coming from my IT Band. ... With orthopedic acupuncture, we locate motor points of the muscles, in this case the glutes are largely to blame. Motor points are the area of the muscle with the most nerve endings. When you needle it, you often feel the muscle jump. This sends a message to the muscle to relax as well as bringing blood flow to encourage healing. #itbandsyndrome #kneepain #runnerspainrelief #runnerissues #acupunctureforrunners #sdtrailrunners #ultrabuds #sdrunningco #sdrunners #sdrunner #sdacupuncture

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To my runner friends! Great stretch for the quads! It is not necessary to go back completely to the floor. Listen to your body and lean back to your comfort level. #quadstretch #sdtrailrunners #urbantrailrunnerssd #sdrunningclub #blackflagrunningclub #yinyoga #sandiegoacupuncture