August 12, 2020 Based on this systematic review and meta-analysis performed by Arthur Yin Fan and the Research Group for Evidence-based Chinese Medicine, it is clear that adding CHM to standard care improves the symptoms and signs of COVID-19 patients, decreases the inflammation markerCRP level and accelerates absorption of lung infection lesions. Evi-dence from some studies even suggests that CHM as a co-therapymay even lower the fatality rate. CHM has been recommended andincluded in the interim guidelines for the treatment of COVID-19by the Chinese officials as Chinese medicine is on the mainstreamhealth care system in China. For those countries where CHM hasnot been regulated or approved as one kind of medicine or therapy,the above CHMs should be used in conjunction with conventionalmedical care for patients with COVID-19
Read the full study!
February 27, 2019 
Does this sound familiar.... slow metabolism, night sweats, anxiety/depression, brain fog, dry skin, low libido, thinning vaginal tissue with painful intercourse, dribbling urine, thinning hair…..
These are the symptoms of the great pause - Menopause! In ancient societies menopausal women were considered sages. The word “crone” actually referred to a wise woman who had magical qualities and supernatural abilities.
Mend is here to help you re-claim ownership of the real “C” word and be a righteous Crone!
Mend is now offering the “Mend-the-Pause” Program to help you transition from childbearing years to the rightious crone years.
Our “Mend-the-Pause” Monthly Program Includes:
• 2 Acupuncture Treatments (45 minutes each): Constitutional Acupuncture, Neck Lymphatic Drainage Massage, and Infrared Light Treatment;
• 1 Nutritional Consult
• Topical Bi-Est cream – (Contains USP Progesterone, USP Estriol and USP Estradiol (plant-derived from yam)
• Vaginal Hydration Ovals – (Contains 1mg of Estriol per oval suppository)
• Great Yin Formula – (Anxiety and Nervousness, Hot Flashes, Night Sweats, and Yin deficiency)
Mend Package Price = $300
Retail Value = $460
Mend also offers these add-on Meno-Pause Support products:
The "Personal V-Tens Kit" - $85
Vaginal E-Stim uses electronically stimulated Kegels to help tone pelvic floor muscles which in turn can enhance sexual pleasure, curb urinary incontinence and indirectly decrease pain in the lower back, knees, and thighs.
The V-Fit + Intimate Wellness Device - $495
The vFit+ is a non-invasive intimate wellness device that uses a combination of LED, gentle heat, and sonic wave technology to help increase sensation, tone pelvic wall, and improve quality of life, all from the privacy of your home.
Contact Mend today to book your "Mend-the-Pause" session.
For further reading on Menopause and HRT supplementation click here.
January 11, 2019 It is simply part of our biology that we eat differently each season. The cooler air, less daylight hours, holiday parties, and less physical activity all have a significant effect on what and how much we eat.
Even though it is 2019, biologically we are programmed to fatten up to survive the elements, the way many other animals do.
Did you know that Winter actually makes you hungrier? Seasonal changes affects many hormones related to hunger and appetite - glucocorticoids, ghrelin, serotonin, and leptin - causing hunger, depression, a slower metabolism, and weight gain. So you are not only hungrier, but you crave carb heavy comfort foods. It's a lose/lose - or rather a gain/gain!
There is no need to suffer, however. Satisfy body and mind and eat stomach warming comfort foods that fill the void in your belly and heart.
Soup - A great way to get more fiber since you can toss just about anything into a soup pot — greens, beans, lentils, whole grains, and veggies. Add in some chicken, pork, lean beef, or fish for your daily dose of protein.
Citrus - They aren't just for Summer! We live in California where fresh fruits are in supply even in Winter. Sautéed or tossed in with lightly steamed winter greens, Swiss chard, chicory, or kale are a lovely pick me up in winter.
Veggies - Vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and winter squashes are incredibly good for you, and are great for roasting and throwing on top of some pasta, polenta, or simply as a side dish. Simply toss them with a little olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper and stick them in the oven or broiler until they start to brown.
Salmon - It is vital in winter to up your intake of vitamin D due to limited daylight hours, the change in the wavelength of the sun’s rays, and less time outdoors. Vitamin D plays a crucial role in maintaining mood. Salmon, which is a delicious and super healthy source of Vitamin D, also is rich in omega-3 fatty acids - another mood booster!
If you’re going to give in to a craving — and let's just agree you occasionally should give in — make healthful swaps. If you’re dying for a bowl of pasta and cheese, switch out regular enriched pasta for yam or zucchini noodles and add a few steamed vegetables for fiber.
And if you are dying for something sweet, go for a steaming mug of dark chocolate. Rich in flavanols, dark chocolate helps reduce the risk of heart disease, raises levels of healthy cholesterol, and is a delicious mood booster. Check out this link for some healthy brands of dark chocolate... https://healthyeater.com/dark-chocolate-best-and-worst.
January 11, 2019 Welcome 2019
The Year of the Earth Pig
And a year of fortune and luck!
Although it is not yet the Chinese New Year, we need all the encouragement we can get! So, despite the current state of the stock market, let's revel in the prospect that this new Pig year represents FORTUNE and LUCK! Mend wishes you all of these for 2019 and MUCH more.
January 24, 2018 Welcome to 2018
The Year of Life, Earth and the Dog!
Did you know that the number 18 is a spiritual number in Judaism? The word "Chai' translated from Hebrew to English means "Life." Within the Jewish faith, "Chai" possesses both numerical and symbolic meaning. The Hebrew word consists of two (2) letters in the alphabet: Chet (ח) and Yud (י). Together these letters form "Chai" – "LIFE"!
And according to the Chinese Zodiac, 2018 is the year of the Dog! Chinese New Year in 2018 is on Friday, the 16th of February and ends on February 4, 2019. In Chinese astrology each zodiac year (rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig) is not just associated with an animal sign, but also with one of the five elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earh. 2018 is the element of Earth – so 2018 is an Earth Dog Year.
Whatever your beliefs are, Mend Family Acupuncture and Healthcare wishes you JOY, HEALTH, and PROSPERITY in this year of the Brown Earth Dog! Be kind to yourself and trust that the world is filled with love.
September 6, 2017 by Stacy Lauren-Kon, Lac MSOMDid you know that there are actually 5 Seasons in Chinese Medicine. Late Summer begins at the end of August and runs to the first day of Fall. It is the Season of Earth.
Each Season in Chinese Medicine belongs to one of the 5 Elements – Earth (Late Summer), Metal (Fall), Water (Winter), Wood (Spring), and Fire (Summer). Earth being Late Spring, it is the Season of heat, fullness, full growth, bringing life down to a slower pace, and preparing for Metal (Fall). It is time to transition from Yang to Yin energy and turn inward to the coolness of Fall and Winter.
Each Element not only corresponds to a certain season, but also corresponds to a certain organ or energy system within the body. Earth (Late Summer) is the season associated with the stomach, spleen, and pancreas. Earth (Late Summer) also governs the muscles and is related to the mouth.
Here are some other characteristics of Earth – Color: Yellow, Nature: Yang to Yin, Organ: Stomach/Spleen, Emotion: Worry/Pensive, Taste: Sweet, Body Condition: Damp.
This is a brief season and is one of transition and relaxation. The crazy days of Summer are gone and we are now shoring up our energy sources for the cold to come. Your may be feeling more fatigued than a few weeks ago. This low energy is the effect of the exertion, full energy and emotional stress of Summer (Fire).
So these are the days to do whatever puts a smile on your face and reduces your stress level! Make sure you get lots of rest, gentle exercise, and please eat healthy foods to shore up your energy for the months to come.
Best and be well,
Stacy Lauren-Kon LAc MSOM
Mend Family Acupuncture and Healthcare
March 16, 2017 by Stacy Lauren-Kon, Lac MSOMAriel Leve is an excellent author and old friend. She recently wrote an article for The Guardian entitled, "How to survive gaslighting: when manipulation erases your reality"
This piece eloquently illustrates how the current administration is triggering old trauma and PTSD in so many people.
I've certainly noticed in my practice how so many patients are having a tough time with anxiety since the election. This article is comforting, validating, and helps put it all into perspective.
“We are living in a time where a lot of people are having a tough time deciding what’s real and feeling like they are being manipulated,” Stern says. “If they know something is true and somebody tells you it’s not true, holding on to your reality is essential. You can’t be gaslighted if you stay inside your own reality and recognize the manipulation when you see it.”
STAY STRONG!
Read Ariel Leve's article at the Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/mar/16/gaslighting-manipulation-reality-coping-mechanisms-trump?CMP=share_btn_fb
For further reading buy her book!
https://www.amazon.com/Abbreviated-Life-Memoir-Ariel-Leve/dp/0062269453/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1489693511&sr=8-5&keywords=ariel+levy
