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Are You Tired, Irritable and Anxious From the Heat?

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Calm The Spirit, Nourish the Heart and Restore Energy Flow with Acupuncture

Summer Specials

Summer Special For Current Patients — 4 treatment package for $450.00 ($50.00 Savings)

Summer Special for New Patients — New Patient Visit $130.00 ($20.00 Savings).

Facial Acupuncture Packets — Current and new Patients $130.00 per treatment ($20.00 Savings per treatment). 6 treatments in 6 weeks recommended for good results. A rejuvenation for summer skin — brings blood flow to your face, restores and brightens the skin to a healthy glow, supports entire head, brain flow and body as well.

All Specials available through September 2022 and must be used by October 31st 2022.

Check out Lindsey Kalb’s Beauty Counter products for natural skin care here. First time buyers get 30% off!

Summer is Time to Nourish and Balance Heart Fire

To enhance our connection to nature and balance our bodies in the summer, we need to care for our heart. In Chinese medicine, the heart is ruled by the fire element and balanced heart fire is vital to keep the qi flowing freely. When over exposed to the excess summer heat, our heart fire can easily become unbalanced which can make us feel tired, irritable and anxious. To balance our fire element, we can use the element of water. All things that enhance the element of water in our bodies have cooling, calming effects . . . whereas fire element is energizing. There is a sweet dance these elements do in our bodies when in balance that makes us feel so good!

Summer Rituals

Yes, it’s HOT and easy to lie around in the AC, but this can stagnate our energy. Acupuncture helps beat the heat and get energy flowing. So when you want to lie around, come to the Acupuncture Cabin and get a treatment.

Tune into the slow energy of summer to balance the fire and water elements and get your rivers of energy flowing freely! Create some sweet summer rituals to soothe your heart in the crazy heat.

Rituals fill our vessel, and are a nice way to pour in loving self care. My favorite summer ritual to start the day is to first make a refreshing tea of Mint, Thyme, Lavender or Lemon Balm from my garden. Ancient Chinese Secret: hot tea opens the pores and releases the magical water our body makes to cool us down — sweat! As you sip your morning tea or other healing beverage like lemon water, celery juice or detox smoothie, make your plan to get outside while it’s cooler out. Go for a walk, do some energy balancing qi gong with Marisa, and catch some healing first morning rays of sunshine.

Practicing Summer rituals and turning all artificial light off after 10pm will reset your circadian rhythms and support your adrenals to power you through each day without stimulants that drain your energy. The early morning gentle summer breeze is heart soothing – close your eyes and connect to the morning sounds of nature.

In the late afternoon or evening take a plunge into Barton Springs — this brings in the cooling water element to balance heart fire energy. Live moving streams and rivers are the best way they soothe and remind your own rivers of energy to move. I learned to swim in Barton Springs as a child so it’s a special place for me. If you go to the springs early or late in the day it’s so peacefully quiet. Try a night swim!

Turn off the News

Remember my last blog advice — “Turn Off The News!” Who wants to start their morning listening to bad news? Ground yourself first in loving morning kindness, then if you do end up reading news, it isn’t setting the tone for the day. Perhaps know enough about the hard times to be of service in some meaningful ways, but strive not to worry over them. In a worry state we can do no good in our own little corner of the world.

Early Morning Open Consciousness
by Charlotte Sobeck

She held her heart with all her might
And woke into the dark glass night
A climb to mountain tops to seek
A dive to the abyss so deep
Things we hide protect and keep
Collected secrets while we sleep
Secrets take our hearts away 
From highest joy and deepest pain
The chance to feel the love again
Open up, let it bleed that fragile glass heart in its need
My promise is your soul will gain, even amongst the darkest pain
The joy of dancing in the rain

A song was released by the Impressions and performed by Curtis Mayfield in 1965. It had a bold, comforting theme about the struggle for freedom during that time. It was named the unofficial song of the civil rights movement. Many of these freedom issues are still amongst us today. The song reminds me of the power we have when we choose to unite and come from our hearts with gentle kindness. That is where the true power lies . . . 

People get ready
There's a train a comin'
You don't need no baggage
You just get on board . . . 

Much love to you my Seasons Health friends.  I hope to see you soon in the Acupuncture Cabin.  Please share my blog with your friends and family and spread the heart love.  We are all better equipped in the world when we take care of our hearts.

- Charlotte

Pregnancy and Postpartum Care Acupuncture And Holistic Wellness Treatments

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Excellent self care during pregnancy and afterwards in the postpartum year sets the stage for well-being throughout motherhood and the nourishment extends to your child, family and beyond.  Taking care of yourself first really matters!

Many things contribute to well-being during pregnancy and postpartum, including plenty of rest, eating a well rounded nutritious diet, gentle exercise, stress management and nurturing your passions to mention a few.

Acupuncture treatments are excellent self care!   Acupuncture helps keep your body’s energy flowing freely to your reproductive and other vital organs, keep hormones balanced and helps your body relax, so it can focus on what it is innately able to do — grow and give birth to a strong healthy baby and stay healthy afterwards!

In addition to relaxing your body and helping manage general aches, pains, stressors and fatigue; regular acupuncture relieves the following common ailments experienced during the pregnancy and postpartum years:

  • Back and hip pain
  • Fatigue
  • Neck and shoulder tension
  • Achy hip and other joints
  • Carpal tunnel, De Quervain syndrome
  • Numbness and tingling in fingers
  • Sciatica
  • Pregnancy rhinitis
  • Swelling of hands and feet
  • Milk production issues
  • Postpartum depression
  • High Blood Pressure
  • and other issues that can arise during the pregnancy and postpartum years . . . just send me an email if you have any questions!

A solid self care practice during pregnancy will keep your reserves flowing for when they are needed even more — in motherhood!  Taking care of yourself teaches your children the importance of self care in their own lives. My heartfelt advice is to become solidly settled into rituals of mama care during your pregnancy and postpartum years, which will enable you to care for others from a full cup and avoid going through motherhood depleted.

Schedule an appointme nt to discuss your specific needs and get started in your self-care rituals for the pregnancy and postpartum years.  I would be honored to help build a self-care plan tailor-made for you!

mama love,

Charlotte

Acupuncture the Medicine of Peace, Calm and Carry On! Treating PTSD, Anxiety, Depression and Substance Abuse

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Our country  is experiencing trauma in the form of intense and vacillating changes in our political climate, as well as our actual climate!  Our nation’s schools don’t feel like the safe haven they should be.  There is far too much suffering.  Our brothers and sisters of the world are seeking a safe place to call home and in the difficult journey are being torn from their families.  This trauma can rattle the very foundation of our well-being. I certainly have felt it, and it’s trickled into every aspect of my life at times . . . So how do we remain unshaken in a world of such trepidation?

PTSD, chronic stress,  anxiety,  and depression are manifestations of imbalances  — these imbalances can come from our environment, our food, and from lack of self-care – typically all of these.  I try to stop often, take a deep breath and ask the question, “What do I need right now?”  At times, the answer is a little sunshine — I’m a solar powered girl; sometimes it’s as simple as  a glass of water (with lemon!), putting my bare feet on mother earth,  or a night under the stars . . . Find your go to self care ideas.

Top among the things I do to feel grounded in a place I can do the most good is The NADA Five Needle Acupuncture Protocol. When I want a deeply effective long-lasting remedy, I turn to NADA — a short and simple ear acupuncture treatment.  And I love to share this treatment with my patients and friends. NADA helps patients tap into their inner quiet and calm strength so they can experience the peaceful silence we all need at times to heal.

SOME ISSUES TREATED WITH NADA PROTOCOL

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Emotional trauma
  • Insomnia
  • Irritability, anger and agitation
  • PTSD
  • Pain
  • Substance Abuse  — Reduced cravings for sugar, alcohol and drugs, including nicotine (we have a vaping epidemic in our nation’s teens).
  • Minimizes withdrawal symptoms
  • Stress reduction, and more

Our personal wellness is easier to reflect upon when we approach it from a calm, steady place.  Admitting our brokenness is necessary to heal.  If we don’t honestly reflect upon ourselves,  we remain stagnant in our problems, both physical and mental.  Acupuncture moves stagnation!  Specifically it moves liver qi stagnation (stuck energy).  Then the magic happens — our body  goes into a deep relaxation, restoring the natural energetic flow to our organ systems which  nourishes our tissues and cells.  Through a more balanced flow, our mental function is positively charged — helping us get off the spinning wheel of worry!

Deep relaxed breathing has been used to soothe the mind for thousands of years, and is a key element of meditation and yoga.  BREATHE yourself to wholeness — peaceful calm is just a few deep breaths away!  I use a simple deep breathing technique called 4-7-8 which shifts you from fight-or-flight mode into your parasympathetic nervous system to rest and restore.   Each time we breathe out we have the opportunity to let go that which is not serving us. On our inward breath we can rejuvenate — pulling in all the love, light and calm we desire.  Try it!

Deep breathing also has a physiological affect on the body because the increased oxygen encourages a resting heart rate.  Dr. Andrew Weil refers to the method as a “natural tranquilizer for the nervous system,” and states, “Practicing a regular, mindful breathing exercise can be calming and energizing and even help with stress-related health problems ranging from panic attacks to digestive disorders.”

HOW TO DO 4-7-8 BREATHING

Sit or lay with your back straight to allow your lungs to fill properly.  Make sure you are in a comfortable place.  Exhale all the air from the lungs before starting the following steps.

  • Inhale quietly through your nose to the count of 4.
  • Hold your breath for the count of 7. I like to imagine at this point the air moving through my body like a river to nourish my tissues and cells.
  • Exhale through your mouth to the count of 8, while making an audible ‘whoooosh’ sound.

Repeat this cycle a total of 4 times — this is one round; you can do two rounds.  Do this whenever you feel life’s stressors creeping in.

To close, I’d like to share a Poem by Rachel Naomi Remen that came to me recently through my  wonderful yoga teacher Anna at annagyoga  . . . It helped me tap into the silence and calm I needed for myself that day.  Then we can offer that peacefulness to others  . . .

“Perhaps the most important thing we bring to another person is the silence in us, not the sort of silence that is filled with unspoken criticism or hard withdrawal.  The sort of silence that is a place of refuge, of rest, of acceptance of someone as they are.  We are all hungry for this other silence. It is hard to find. In its presence we can remember something beyond the moment, a strength on which to build a life.  Silence is a place of great power and healing.”

If you would like to try a calming NADA treatment, or have a family or friend you feel would benefit, click here to set up an appointment. My appointments are affordable and very relaxing.  I also offer much more in my clinic — see my website for more about my Traditional Chinese Medicine practice.   I treat the entire family from babies to grandparents, and would be honored to be a part of your families wellness team.

I am grateful should you ever wish to share my blog with a friend.  They can sign up to receive their own here.

Onward into the peace and quiet of your heart and it’s steady beat.

Namaste,

Charlotte

Acupuncture for Bell’s Palsy

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Bell’s Palsy often sneaks in overnight; and waking with a paralysis of the facial muscles can be quite alarming — often people believe they have suffered a stroke.  The good news is Bell’s Palsy is often a temporary paralysis, and if you get acupuncture treatments several days a week immediately after onset, it will usually heal fully within a few months and often much quicker.

Bell’s causes asymmetry of the facial appearance, usually impacting only one side of the face.  Impaired function from Bell’s Palsy can affect your body’s ability to eat, drink, speak and open and close your eyes.   In addition, facial asymmetry affects an individual’s appearance and so Bell’s can affect psychological and social behaviors effecting the personal quality of a patients life.

Western medicine treats Bell’s Palsy most often with corticosteroid therapy to reduce inflammation.  The use of steroids is controversial as steroids can have serious side effects especially with long term use.   Acupuncture offers a method to support your body through a speedy recovery, there are no side effects, and it is recommended by many doctors and the National Institute of Health as one of the best avenues of treatment for Bell’s Palsy.

In China, acupuncture has been used for centuries to assist in Bell’s Palsy recovery.  According to Traditional Chinese Medicine principles, the root cause of Bells Palsy is believed to be two things: “external wind attacking the channels of the face,” and weakness in the underlying qi (a person’s inherent energy).  The treatment goal is to expel wind and resolve damp, while invigorating the qi and blood circulation to the facial tissue with consistent acupuncture treatments.  Unlike western treatment, acupuncture treats the root cause in addition to deeply relaxing a patient, and helping to relieve stress so healing can take place more naturally.  Through this avenue, acupuncture can alleviate symptoms and substantially quicken the recovery process of Bell’s Palsy patients.

Stress can worsen Bell’s Palsy, and is often thought to be a factor in bringing on an episode.  Taking vitamins B12, B6, as well as zinc can promote nerve growth and help speed recovery of damaged facial nerves.  Supplements like St. John’s Wort, Valerian, and Ashwaganda can also be used to relieve stress that can contribute to and possibly be a factor in Bell’s Palsy incidents.

Along with Acupuncture, massage can also help ease the symptoms of Bell’s Palsy.  Gently massaging the afflicted areas of the face, and practicing daily facial exercises can speed recovery.   A full body massage on areas that are unaffected by the condition can also help keep the blood and energy flowing freely to the tissues that do need healing.

Patients with Bell’s Palsy can have several weeks of recovery time in which they may choose to take some time off from any rigorous daily routines to reduce stress, get plenty of rest and get acupuncture!  Charlotte recommends starting acupuncture as soon as possible after onset, and getting treatments 3-5 times a week for the first few weeks.

Teens Love Acupuncture!

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It’s true — teenagers love and benefit from acupuncture in so many ways.  Acupuncture helps balance male and female hormone cycles, and when teens are first navigating hormone fluctuations it can feel intense for both teens and their parents!  Acupuncture helps teens unwind and relax, supporting them in the intense demands of the middle and high school years and the rapid growth of mind, body and spirit that happens in these years as they explore and learn who they are.

As us parents of teenagers know, it’s hard to slow them down – yet acupuncture actually does “pin them down!” . . . for awhile anyway.  Over and over in our clinic I witness teens easily go into a deep state of relaxation with acupuncture.  Yes, they sleep, unwind, and wake up refreshed and ready to conquer their multi-faceted day!

If your teens are exploring drug use, using drugs, or addicted to their smart phones or other screens remember it takes a village.   These difficult times are easier to navigate when you incorporate a solid self care support system for you and your teen.   Read this blog about an acupuncture treatment plan for addictions, anxiety and depression.  I can help!

Acupuncture helps unplug, reset and unwind that overtaxed teenage brain!  There is so much growing and transition from the teen adolescent years well into their 20’s — big hormonal changes, demands at school and in sports, and just learning to navigate the everyday stressors of life.   The transformation from adolescence to young adult is hard work.  My son is very active in sports and says acupuncture helps his tired muscles let go, relax and stay strong.   It helps him quickly overcome the bumps and bruises that come with the active teen lifestyle, and it helps him focus and study for big tests at school.  He often says hey mom “how ’bout some acupuncture!”

Here’s a personal acupuncture account from Isabel Luecke, a lovely accomplished teen writer who frequently visits my clinic and would like to share her experience:

“It was just the other day that, suffering from both writer’s block and the carpal tunnel that was the symptom of not having writers block, that I went to get acupuncture. This had not been my first visit and, unless I suddenly end up living solely in a survivalist bunker, it will not be my last. I use acupuncture to treat everything from colds to skin blemishes, to re-inspire and relax. It is truly something that I wholeheartedly recommend for people of all ages.”

And here’s a personal quote from sweet Gracie, age 13 who also comes regularly for acupuncture:

“I have been going to Charlotte for acupuncture for a few months to work on relaxation for anxiety. I like it because it is relaxing and helps me get a grip on life.  It doesn’t hurt at all.  I love it!

Acupuncture helps teens learn a strong and steady pattern of  slowing their bodies down, letting go to rest, breathe and unwind when needed.  Self-care is a nice thing to teach our teenagers, it is a skill that gets refined over time and serves them well.   Believe me your teen will thank you for introducing them early in life to this ancient medicine for our sometimes overstimulating busy modern world.  Even if at first teens are skeptical or a little bit nervous, once they experience the deep relaxation and healing power of Acupuncture, they quickly become believers!

I’ve also noticed some of our teens are having allergies.   Here in Austin along with all the lovely bloomin’ green, and the beautiful lakes and rivers that support the nature that abounds — come the high mold spores, grass and tree pollen.  Sometimes we get an over-zealous immune response to this abundance of pollen inundating our body, causing symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, scratchy throat, and swollen lymph glands — this is an overactive inflammatory response.  Acupuncture helps balance, soothe and support the immune system so it does not consider the pollen and molds threatening invaders requiring such arduous response.  A little proactive care at home helps too, nasal rinses – I recommend NeilMed, showers to rinse off the excess pollen from the day, a healthy diet free of inflammatory foods, a healthy gut equals a healthy body, and the right herbal remedies and supplements to support the immune system through the more challenging seasons in Austin.

Helping your teen set up a support network outside the vital support they get at home is nice because it expands their self-care knowledge and supports you in your job as parents — it takes a village!

So instead of here take this pill to fix what ails you — acupuncture says . . .  here try this needle it will remind your body of what it innately knows how to do . . . balance, relax,  heal and transform!  To add to your teens good qi flowing contact me here, I will support them in making positive changes in their health.

 

Home page intro

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Welcome to the practice of Charlotte Sobeck MSOM, L.Ac.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a complete medical system to diagnose and treat illness, prevent disease, and improve overall health. TCM has evolved over centuries of observation and careful documentation, and has been relied upon by the Chinese culture for over two thousand years. It has withstood the test of time simply because it works.

Charlotte Sobeck  is trained and experienced in all aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, pediatric tui na acupressure, and shiatsu.  She also specializes in holistic healthcare coaching for adults and children, fertility, pregnancy, postpartum and pediatric care.   Providing the best of both worlds in healthcare, Charlotte teaches patients the vital role they play in creating optimal health.  Working from the “ground up” combining her knowledge of local seasonal foods, diet, nutrition and lifestyle tips with the ancient practice of Chinese Medicine, Charlotte helps her patients understand how an old world medicine can blend with healthy new world ways to nurture and heal mind, body and spirit. See more on Charlotte’s specialties below:


“It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson, American Poet