A note from Miriam on Self-Care at home and maximizing the potential of this time we are in.

Dear Patients,

I hope you are staying well and healthy and managing to find calm and peace as we transition into a new way of living.

As you may know, in light of the epidemic the office has been closed since March 16th and will remained closed until it is deemed safe to reopen. Fortunately, we are still able to ship herbs to you and many of you have already received your refills by mail. Please be in touch with me should you need a refill on your prescription, and also, if you are not on an Herbal regimen, but are currently struggling with anxiety, insomnia, migraines, allergies- anything! and you need support, please call me. We can discuss your symptoms over the phone and I can ship herbs to your home to give you some relief.

I want to offer some easy and effective self-care that can be done at home. Please contact me if you have questions about any of these and how to modify them for you or your loved ones:

Gua Sha: This is an easy technique used in Chinese Medicine that can enhance and repair Lung health. It is useful for any symptoms of colds and the flu, asthma, heartburn or general stress and tension. If you haven’t experienced this in the office, there is a video of me demonstrating this easy technique. I encourage you to use it on your family members and children. It is safe for anyone. You can access it here .

Magnesium Oil/Supplements: I frequently recommend Magnesium supplements in the office for help with stress, muscle tension, headaches, and more. Many of you purchase these items but forget to use them, so here is your friendly reminder : )

Castor oil packs/Heating pads: Good for any abdominal and pelvic organ concerns (IBS, Painful periods, etc.) as well as muscle tension and pain. 20 minutes to 1 hour is very helpful at any time of day.

Stretching: At least 5-10 minutes on the floor, stretching of any kind can be very calming and grounding. In particular, I recommend a focus on opening the chest, and enhancing circulation into the heart and lungs to support your immune system and your emotional well-being.

Schedule: Keep a good routine-schedule for yourself. While life is anything but routine right now, we can still keep to a loose schedule that will serve our health, immune systems and emotional selves: Be sure to eat regular meals at the appropriate times; have movement of some kind-preferably in fresh air; set a time-limit on activities such as reading or watching TV so that you are reminded to move and change scene; And keep to a calming and nurturing bed-time routine.

Laugh! Humor and laughter are truly amazing medicine. I personally am using media to stay informed, but more, to find sources of inspiration and laughter. Laughter lightens the mood and is good for your lungs! You can then take that lightness of being and channel it into so many things: energy for house-cleaning, work, giving time to a loved one, prayer, etc.

“Distancing”: While we are all doing our social-distancing, I encourage you to consider other forms of “distancing.” What do I mean by this? Separating from the things that don’t serve your wellbeing and highest good. Surely, one can consider how often they are checking the news, and on the phone or tablet. Now is a time to get in touch with ourselves in a very deep and honest way- because we have the time!! Start paying close attention to how you respond to various foods, music, TV shows, comments, what you read…what reaction does it create in your body and soul?

Find the gifts: Despite the pain, the loss, the uncertainty, now is ALSO the time to focus on the positive, the gifts and the blessings we have each day. Life might be on “pause” in many ways, but now also a time to keep focused on your goals in health and in life. Use this time to go inward, to truly access your deepest yearnings- in health, in career, in love, in spirit. What do you truly want? Whom do you strive to be? Now is a time for tremendous healing and transformation. It’s easy to get bogged down by the stress of this situation, and YES, it is stressful and hard. But let us not drown in it. We can still choose, at any moment of the day, to step into the positive side of life, to breathe, and to access calm and joy.

I’m here for you. Please reach out if you need support.

Praying for deep healing for all of us, and especially those sick and suffering with this virus. Praying we traverse this path with grace and kindness and emerge as new, more-whole individuals, and a more unified and peace-loving earth,

Miriam Pineles