The response we’ve had so far to our Community Health Day announcement has been amazing! Thanks to everyone who has expressed an interest in coming and supporting the Neighborhood Youth Association. Due to the expected number of participants, we are asking that you call the office to sign up for a time slot before arriving at the clinic. Please call us at (310) 571-8624 to schedule an appointment time. We are so excited for this event and look forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks!

We are pleased to announce our first ever Community Health Day at Three Mountain Eastern Medical Group!

We feel very strongly that giving back to the community is not only a way for us spread the joy and abundance we are fortunate to receive, but also enriches our lives and enables us to grow emotionally, spiritually, and professionally. In the spirit of giving, we will be providing acupuncture treatments on a low-cost sliding scale on Community Health Day. All of the proceeds from the day will be donated to a non-profit, the Neighborhood Youth Association, here in our neighborhood of Mar Vista.

Please join us on Sunday, November 13, 2011. The office will open at 9am and will continue to take patients on a first-come, first-served basis until 3pm. Donations of $15-40 will be accepted for community-style treatments, and $45-75 for private rooms.

More details are to follow in the coming weeks, so please check out our website and Facebook pages as the date approaches. We hope to see you there!

Satellite Image of the Autumn Equinox

Happy Autumn Equinox everyone! Today is the day that the center of the Sun spends an equal amount of time above and below the horizon at every point on Earth. On the equinox, night and day are of equal length the world over, the whole planet finding a moment of equilibrium before transitioning into the next season.

Here in Los Angeles, with the temperate weather and steady supply of  sunshine, many would argue that there are no seasons. But one need only look to the flowers to see that the power and influence of the natural order exists, whether we consciously perceive it or not. One should be able to feel the change of seasons in the body as well. The feeling may be strong for some and subtle for others, but it could be as simple as paying attention to the cycle of one’s mood.

For example, if you find you have been feeling very self reflective recently, it might just be the season speaking. Autumn is considered a transitional time in East Asian medicine, the pivot between active Summer and dormant Winter. It is natural to take a look at ourselves and our boundaries, and to prioritize and conserve our energies. The autumn season belongs to the Lungs and the Large Intestines, the organs in East Asian medicine most responsible for generating appropriate boundaries. The Lungs are considered the ‘delicate’ organ; it is the only vital organ that directly touches the outside world. With every inhalation, we are literally touching the same molecules that countless others in this world have touched. It is not surprising then that in this time of year, many people find themselves thinking about their purpose, and about where they belong in this world.

The Large Intestines focus on getting rid of what is unnecessary for survival, both literally and figuratively. When strengthening one’s sense of self, it is imperative to know when and what to let go of. While the Lungs work on consolidation, the Large Intestines make room for the new by getting rid of the old. Feeling as though a drastic change needs to take place is common during this time of year.

The laws of physics state that the universe favors entropy and disorder. The problem with coming to perfect balance is that it is both very natural and very easy to fall out of balance. The Earth experiences this cycle year in and year out without spiraling into complete chaos and disarray, and we should be able to do so as well. Finding balance now not only provides an immediate sense of health and well-being, but it also ensures good health as one season progresses into the next.

We are so excited about our upcoming Grand Opening Celebration! Please join us on Saturday, October 8th, from 2-5 pm. We will have a delicious array of nutritious snacks and tasty beverages for you to partake in.

Herbal demonstrations, pulse demonstrations, and mini face readings will be available for the curious, and fun East Asian medicine conversation will be available for all. We can’t wait for you to see the new space, and to share with you our joy and merriment!