While we are out of the office, we would like to offer the following options for ongoing support:
Guidance for Self-Treatment at Home
We know that, in the midst of this, you are still dealing with the issues that originally brought you to acupuncture. We would be glad to talk you through how to continue your current treatment plan at home, using acupressure, heat therapy or magnet therapy. We can also incorporate points for immune support and stress relief.
Herbal Formulas
If you are currently taking an herbal formula under our guidance, we will of course continue to refill and adjust your formula as needed. Please stay in touch and let us know if you are running low, or if you feel your prescription needs to be modified.
If You Get Sick/Herbal Treatment for COVID-19
If you find yourself sick, please check in with us. We may be able to prescribe you an herbal formula to help ease your symptoms or help you recover faster.* Of course you need to go to the hospital if your symptoms are severe (high fever or difficulty breathing); our goal is to reduce the severity of your symptoms so that more serious intervention is not needed.
Herbal medicine has been used in China throughout the epidemic there to treat COVID-19, often in conjunction with Western medical treatment. We are in touch with people in China and the US who are treating people using Chinese herbs, and we’ve seen many case studies where people experience significant relief with breathing problems after just a few doses.
Historically, many of the classical Chinese medical texts were written during times of epidemic. The formulas we use were developed for illnesses like typhoid, tuberculosis and other epidemic respiratory diseases. In normal times, we take advantage of this knowledge to treat more mundane respiratory illnesses like the common cold and bronchitis. We are happy to help you in these more serious times if you need us.
* Some of the herbs used in treatment of COVID-19 symptoms are in short supply. If we are unable to provide you with what’s best for your situation, we will refer you to a practitioner whose private pharmacy can meet your needs.
Stress and Anxiety
If you’re having trouble coping with our current reality, please give us a call. We would love to try to help with an herbal formula, some acupressure suggestions, and/or a bit of connection with someone who cares for you. We miss seeing you in our office and would love to hear from you.
The Logistics of Care
We do not currently have a formal schedule of appointments. You may contact either one of us to set up a time to talk, or to initiate an email conversation if that’s easier for you. Sharon’s and my contact info is at the end of this email. Please bear with us on the logistics of working together — we are without our usual office space, child care arrangements, and other supports, so things may be a bit less elegant than usual.
Obviously, this time is stressful for all of us. You are invited, if you are able, to pay our usual fee for new herbal consult sessions, which is $65. (Follow-ups to your current herbal or acupuncture care are free of charge). Or, if you are able to pay only part of that, we accept what feels good to you. We are most interested in helping to provide you with health care during this time, so please don’t let finances be an obstacle to scheduling.
We hope you are staying healthy and connected, and are finding some kind of balance and peace in the midst of so much change and uncertainty. Please let us know how we can help you move through this time with more ease and comfort.