Encouragingly, I’m also now seeing more articles and studies from the western medicine world acknowledging the strong connection between mind and body. How often do we say we have the weight of the world on our shoulders when talking about stress? We really feel the stress in our body, usually as tightness in our upper back and neck. How about when we are nervous and say there are butterflies in our stomachs (and sometimes have to run to the bathroom)? Who is guilty of feeling such anger that their face becomes red and flushed? The five major organs of Five Element Theory in Chinese medicine are all associated with a specific emotion.

Water – Kidneys – Fear

Fire – Heart – Joy

Metal – Lungs – Sadness

Wood – Liver – Anger

Earth – Spleen – Worry

All the emotions are important, playing key roles in the natural cycle of our systems. Each organ depends and functions with the help of all the others, and each organ will naturally feel its emotions in the course of life. I often tell my patients that there is no such thing as a negative emotion – the important thing is to move through them and not get stuck in any specific one. For example, if you lose a loved one, it would be expected to feel sadness. It would be out of place to feel joy. It would also be harmful to feel the same level of sadness over time, rather than move through the typical grieving process. Ideally, one would be able to move through the process and not be sad forever.

From the trailers of Inside Out, it seems that the main character loses her sadness and joy when she has to move across the country, leaving anger, fear and disgust in charge. I truly hope this movie will introduce the benefits of acknowledging emotional health as a key component of overall health and wellbeing. I think this will be especially beneficial to children who tend to have a hard time understanding and explaining why they feel the way they do. The AMC Kips Bay on Second Avenue right near the clinic here in Midtown Manhattan has multiple showings; meet me there I’ll buy the popcorn!

With temperatures soaring, it’s very easy to become overheated in NYC. The subways have been cool, but the platforms are easily on par with saunas (please carry water bottles with you at all times; you don’t want to get stranded on a platform or worse in a train with no power).

All year long, I encourage my patients to drink plenty of water, but its especially important this time of year.

Some people have no problem drinking adequate amounts of water to stay hydrated, but others find it hard to do. Below are some tips that will help those even those who don’t like drinking water get enough of it, and make sure the water you drink is refreshing and most importantly actually being absorbed and hydrating our bodies.

My first tip often results in people looking at me as if I said I went to the moon. Even during the summer, my drinks of choice tend to be hot. Those who have treated with me are familiar with my spiel about how our bodies work very hard to maintain a 98.6 degree temperature. When we eat or drink cold foods and beverages, our internal temperature drops significantly. Like a furnace, our body has to work hard very quickly to bring the temperature back to the 98.6 degrees, the optimal temperature for our body’s myriad functions. During the summer months, I drink hot teas that have cooling properties such as green tea and peppermint. This way I get a cooling feeling without putting out my digestive fire. If drinking hot fluids is too much, try sticking with room temperature water with cucumber or lemon slices in it. Berries are also a nice variation.

On that note, iced coffees are probably the worst drink you can choose. Aside from the amount of sugar often incorporated into these drinks, the combination of caffeine and ice only lead to more dehydration in the long run. Caffeine is a diuretic, and actually induces our bodies to release more fluid through urination. That means there’s less fluid for our bodies to use as sweat, the natural way we cool ourselves off.

My favorite Chinese herb to recommend to patients this time of year is Watermelon. It has cooling properties, and is 92% water. It is also low in calories and has vitamin A, C and potassium.

Other foods that can be eaten to promote hydration are leafy greens and, my favorite, all kinds of berries.

Remember, our brains sometimes mistake the thirst signal and try to convince us we’re hungry instead. So if you find you’re excessively hungry this summer, try drinking some water first.

Other quick tips (will address these more in future posts) to stay healthy this summer are: Please say no to hot yoga; avoid flip flops that are only secured with the first and second toe; do not eat only raw and cold foods; apply sunblock everywhere, everyday!

See you at the beach!

Rosacea is a condition that we have been seeing more commonly here at Dylan Stein Acupuncture, I suspect due to the stressful lives New Yorkers tend to live. I think that is also why we are seeing cases in women who are not hereditarily predisposed to Rosacea but instead a wider range of ethnicities overall.

Rosacea is a frustrating condition experienced mostly by women between the ages of 30 and 50. The most frustrating thing about it is that it is commonly misdiagnosed and treated as acne, which results in worse flare-ups and symptoms. Western doctors don’t know the cause of Rosacea and have limited therapies to treat it. Simple, everyday acts such as washing the face with cold or hot water, working out and having a sip of wine can cause flushing, an uprising of redness across the face known as erythema. Flushing is most often an embarrassing nuisance, but, left untreated, can increasingly worsen to a permanent state of redness and also result in a more serious kind of rosacea affecting the eyes and deeper tissue of the nose.

In Chinese medicine, we categorize Rosacea into 3 diagnoses that all involve the stagnation of Qi, the body’s energy, whether in the lung channel, spleen and stomach channels, or of blood. All three of these categories result in an accumulation of heat, hence the redness. Acupuncture can be used to facilitate the free flow of energy through the body and release that trapped heat. For those who are unfamiliar with the terms, just consider the fact that heat rises – It makes sense that the heat affects our face – the top part of our bodies. As our bodies metabolize and function throughout the day, similar to an engine, heat is produced and needs to be released. For whatever reason, some people are less well able to release that heat, which can then manifest in many different ways.

With the summer heat resulting in more redness and discomfort, please don’t hesitate to schedule today. With acupuncture, herbs and diet modifications, we can help your body function optimally and clear the redness so that you can put your best face forward!

Acupuncture and herbs are such a great treatment option for acne, and I can humbly, but honestly and confidently, say that it’s better than what Western medicine offers (typically just antibiotics and retinoids for acne). I’m appalled that isotretinoin (the ingredient in Accutane) is still on the market; it’s notorious for its side effects, most notably increased risk of suicide and significant risk of birth defects. Other topical acne treatments such as retinoids can leave the skin thin and cause an increase susceptibility to the damaging effects of the sun. Acupuncture treats acne with minimal side effects, if any.

As with all the conditions I treat, every patient gets treatments that are tailored specifically for their concerns because every patient is unique. Most importantly, acupuncture treatments for acne address the specific underlying issues that are causing the breakouts. Consultations include a thorough health history, including review of diet and tips for eating an acne-reducing diet as well as traditional tongue and pulse diagnosis.

Not all acne is the same. I’m able to tell through our consultation whether its hormonal, dietary, lifestyle or a combination of all three. Naturally, a teen will have different needs than a woman coming off birth control in her thirties. For example, if you’re a woman who often experiences acne breakouts around the mouth and chin, I can treat you by regulating your menstrual cycle and hormone systems. If your acne is more pronounced across your cheeks and around the mouth with larger pustules, acupuncture and an herbal formula with dietary recommendations may be better than acupuncture alone.

Whether you are 13 or 35, no one should have to be embarrassed by unsightly acne spots on his or her face. Call for an appointment and let me help you put your best face forward.

There are countless articles on how the Chinese celebrate the holiday, so I thought I’d share some Korean customs. It’s one of the biggest holidays and a time for being with family to show love and respect, especially to your elders. Children love this time because they are rewarded with money envelopes after paying their respects with a deep bow. Family time is customarily continued with games such as yunnori (a historic board game) but in my house it will be Texas hold ’em.

Since an everyday meal already consists of several small plates, menus for a New Year meal will be significantly longer by several dishes. While Chinese dishes are chosen by the similarity of the names of the dishes to auspicious terms, like luck or prosperity, Koreans choose dishes more for likeness and symbolism.

The star of the day is “Tteok Guk” – a soup made with sliced rice cakes similar to noodles with a thick broth. The white rice cakes symbolize a clean slate and fresh start. Korean custom dictates that you are a year older after eating it. Obviously I personally stopped consuming this dish at 27. It’s a great noodle alternative for those who may be gluten sensitive.

My personal favorite are dumplings, which can be filled with nearly whatever suits your fancy. They look like little money bags, so symbolize wealth. Similar to Chinese customs, long noodles are served for a long life, but Koreans use sweet potato noodles and mix them with a little meat and lots of vegetables. Fish may also be served and, again like the Chinese, it will be the whole fish, head to tail to signify abundance, fertility and luck, start to finish. Fresh in season fruits are presented to welcome an abundant crop. Desserts made with pounded rice are served for a sweet life.

Korean rice cakes, sweet potato noodles, and sweet rice cakes can be found all along Koreatown on East 32 Street here in midtown, just around the corner for the clinic.

Whether you decide to go traditional or just celebrate with friends and family over delicious dishes, please enjoy the festivities and excitement in New York City this weekend.

Unfortunately last night as I gazed up, I felt a sharp pain in my neck! My usual cause of neck pain is long drives. But since I haven’t been driving anywhere, I really had to think about what the cause was. I tightened my scarf and made my way home for some self-care. Since I didn’t strain myself or get whiplash, I decided my neck pain was the result of the holiday stress. As things were becoming more and more hectic, the tension in my neck increased. Now that most of the stressors have been relieved, the remnants of the tightness in my muscles is more evident. Neck pain as well as many aches and pain often have more than just an obvious physical cause.

The relationship between emotional stress and physical pain is starting to become accepted by the western medical community in recent years. But I’m surprised it hasn’t been considered more seriously before. How often do we equate our emotions with actual things we feel in the body? “Feel the weight of the world on my shoulders.” “So nervous, I feel butterflies in my stomach.” “So scared I could throw up!”

There are many causes of neck pain. One often-overlooked cause is emotional factors that cause tension in the muscles that hold up our weary, heavy head. Of course pain can be from physical strain such as when we sit at our desks too long or spend too much time looking down at our phones. Another common cause of neck pain during the winter, which people are not familiar with, is wind-cold invasion. In Chinese medicine, it is important to keep the neck warm and covered, away from wind and direct breezes. There are points in the neck that are considered “open” and easily frozen, and letting cold air blow on them can cause the delicate muscles of the neck to spasm. That’s why I always suggest that patients do not sleep in front of open windows, in the direct line of air conditioning vents, and to always wear a scarf outdoors Fall through Spring. Wearing a scarf to keep the neck area warm also reduces the clenching/shrugging tendency that tightens the neck and upper traps, helping to reduce symptoms of jaw tightness and headaches in addition to reducing neck pain. Since everything is connected, neck pain and stiffness can lead to headaches and pain in the upper shoulders and then the rest of the back.

I love that acupuncture treats all types of neck pain and more importantly can address the root cause. If you’re experiencing pain, please schedule an appointment and in the meantime, please bundle up and wear a scarf!

I love giving gifts and seeing the joy on the recipients faces as much as I enjoy being on the receiving end. However I’m seeing more often that this is not the case for everyone. So many patients and friends I know are busy giving and taking care of others that they forget to take care of themselves. While this is the season for giving and being selfless, I’d like to remind everyone that you can’t take care of others unless you take care of yourself first! It’s even the rule on airplanes, the stewards always remind you that in case of emergency, you should put the air mask on yourself before you pass out and can’t help you child, friend, or elderly companion….

While the holiday season is mostly a joyous time with family, friends, and many celebrations and get togethers, it can be a time of high stress. We have longer to-do lists and, especially in NYC, we have more traffic and crowds to wade through. There are also those who find the holiday season to be sad or lonely instead of joyful. I usually say treat others the way you want to be treated but how many of us are nice to ourselves? Don’t wait for someone to be good to you. My all time favorite clip from a TV show – Parks and Recreation – says it best: Treat YO self!

Here are my holiday season guidelines in place of a best gifts list…

1. It’s OK to say no! Honor your feelings and don’t over commit. You will not be a joyful addition to any party if you’re yawning and moping in the corner.
2. Life will go on if you don’t get that “perfect gift.” This is also a great time and way to teach children that you can’t always have everything you want, and it can come later… patience is a virtue.
3. Ask for help. So often people complain about having to do everything. But are you sure that the other person wouldn’t be happy to help? They just didn’t think to because they were never asked.
4. Stay Nourished. And I’m not talking about cookies and alcohol at all the parties. Make an effort to eat warm, cooked vegetables and pasture-raised meats or wild caught seafood. You’ll have more energy to shop and party. You’ll also be happy you did when January 1st rolls around. I love eating at Korean places such as Won Jo (23 W 32nd St, NY NY). Korean pan chans (will go into more detail about these in my next post) are great because with all of the options, you are more likely to get every nutrient in one meal.
5. If you already treat with me, you know i’m a big fan of restorative breathing (Qi gong). Take time through out the day to take take deep clean breaths that fill your lungs and spread evenly throughout your whole body.
6. Sleep more. Our bodies are in overdrive trying to stay warm during these cold months. Sleep is the only time of the day when your body can repair and regenerate without all the distractions from our daily activities- looking, thinking, eating, etc.
7. Get more acupuncture. Come on, you knew this was coming! But you also know it’s true. Take time to come in and allow me and Dylan to take care of your health needs. Get a boost of Qi and some balance.

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

I’m often complimented on my hair and then asked what my secret is. How do I keep it so long and thick? Is it genetics or something I eat? Do I get acupuncture? The answer is all of the above. While I can thank my parents in part for my luxurious Asian hair, I do try to keep it lustrous and supple by maintaining my overall health. I can always tell when I’m overworked, under-slept, or not eating as nutritiously as I should be. My hair is the canary in the coal mine, so to speak. When my body’s not happy, my hair’s not happy. It starts to lose its luster and becomes brittle. Or I’ll start to notice more hair in the drain after a shower.

In eastern medicine, the kidneys are in charge of growing hair. They are the source of our essence and jing. In western medicine terms, you can think of it as our genetics, the adrenals and overall hormonal equilibrium. It’s important to find a life-work balance and get enough rest. In addition to nourishing kidney qi through acupuncture, you can also have acupuncture performed locally on the scalp to bring more qi and blood to the follicles. Blood is equally important to hair health, and nothing wears out the blood faster than being overworked and staying up past midnight.

Foods that I recommend to nourish kidney qi include seaweed soup – even easier to make than the ox tail soup! Before your first attempt at making it, try it at Kun Jip in Koreatown just down the block from the clinic in Manhattan. Ask for the MYUK GOOK. These days you can find seaweed in places other than your favorite sushi bar. You can find sheets of nori in Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. This kind can be made into sushi rolls, shredded to have with rice or vegetables, or eaten as as as a snack. You can also get gomashio (also spelled gomasio) for a one-two knockout punch for the hair combining seaweed and black sesame seeds. Other foods that nourish kidney qi are red and black beans, walnuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, and any root vegetable.

Try this tips for a tasty treat. And next time you’re in the office, ask me how I turn my grays back to black.

Kun Jip
9 West 32 St,
NY NY 10001
212 216-9487

Unfortunately, this back and forth weather makes us susceptible to colds and flus. Prevention is best, so in addition to washing my hands and upping my vitamin C intake, I have oxtail soup more often as we move into the cooler months of the year. Oxtail soup, like any bone broth, is a nourishing blood builder that will boost immunity, too. It’s one of the most common foods I recommend as “medicine” to my patients. And it’s the perfect comfort food in the cooler weather.

In addition to building the blood, I recommend this soup to patients with joint pain or ligament and tendon problems because the nutrients will help lubricate joints and moisten cartilage. Patients with digestive issues like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis will benefit because the method of slow cooking oxtail soup makes its intestines-soothing nutrients more available. I also recommend it to my infertility patients because oxtail soup benefits the kidneys in Chinese medicine, which is the root of our fertility.

I know some people are initially turned off when they hear ox tail, but it’s truly delicious and easy to make! Boiling the bones for hours results in a soup rich with minerals and collagen from the cartilage and tendons. (Side note – collagen is great for keeping our skin looking toned and supple!) The best part is that it’s so easily digested in this form, the long hours of boiling breakdown all these great components making it easy on your digestion. I rarely even eat the meat since all the good stuff is in the soup, and after skimming off the fat, it’s virtually fat free.

Below is my easy peasy, don’t measure anything recipe but you can always try it at Gahm Mi Oak, 43 West 32nd Street, right down the block from the clinic. Oxtail soup is all they serve so you know it’s gotta be good!

Jinhee’s Oxtail Soup

Oxtails (you can substitute leg bones or knees, even osso bucco)
4-6 quarts of water (enough to keep bones covered)
Salt, pepper and scallions after cooking, to taste.

In Korea, the soup will be made and eaten for days. The same set of bones will be boiled with fresh water a few times until the soup no longer stays milky white.

1. Rinse bones in cold water.
2. Put in a pot with water and boil. Some people add a 1/4c of cider vinegar to help release extra calcium from the bones. You don’t taste the vinegar after cooking. It’s totally optional.
3. After the first hour, reduce heat to a simmer and start skimming the scum from the top. Repeat every hour or so.
4. Add water if it’s reducing too much. There is no correct amount of water or bones, so just eyeball it. You should start seeing the broth turn a milky white color around hour 2.
5. After the first few hours of boiling, cool the soup to make skimming the fat off the top easier. It will be quite easy to do at this point. You will also notice that when cold, the soup turns into a solid because of all the gelatin.
6. Boil again with more water if necessary.
7. Serve with salt, pepper and sliced scallions. Seasoning is traditionally done at the table. Don’t forget the bowl of rice.

Just like in Korea, I make a big pot and eat it for days. When I start to get bored, I mix it up by adding garlic, onions or a mix of other vegetables when I reheat. You can also try adding sesame oil and dark soy sauce.

Notes: if you don’t eat red meat, you can use chicken bones (break the bones to expose the marrow) or fish bones and heads. If you don’t eat any animal products at all, try Dylan’s vegetarian “bone” broth.

I feel the same way at the end of every summer – I can’t believe it’s already over. And even worse, NYC is notorious for playing with our emotions at the start of Autumn. I already had my surprise one cold morning . The the next day I was sweating in my jacket. All of this irregular weather contributes to cold season. A great way to be ready for anything is to carry a scarf or shawl.

For now, stay warm, get enough sleep, wash those hands religiously, and eat nourishing foods.

All the best to you and yours,

Jinhee