The Sustainability of Wellness Care

Are you an eco-conscious person who strives to live in harmony with nature in a modern technology driven society?

If so, you are probably into recycling, organic food, bicycles, LED light bulbs, clotheslines, and other practices that are your small yet hugely important contribution to the health of our planet.

As an acupuncturist and lover of nature, I am always doing my best to walk my talk and live in harmony with Mother Nature. I’d like to suggest the necessity of using inner wellness practices to achieve planetary sustainability. How do you refuel your energy? Do you have enough? Do you use it sustainably?

Breathing, body movement and resting are all free and renewable resources that restore our energy.  When we choose these methods over caffeine and pushing through our tiredness, we are choosing a sustainable way to live our lives. And since we are part of nature, we are contributing to the sustainability of our planet.
As a five-element style acupuncturist, I view human health through the lens of nature. In wintertime the trees are dormant, the seeds rest underground and nature is relatively more quiet and still. When we use the wintertime for its intended purpose to rest and restore, we can refill our energy reserves and have enough force to spring into action when springtime arrives. This is why when people suffer from springtime allergies, I encourage them to receive acupuncture in the wintertime before their symptoms emerge.

Another way to fuel our energy and act sustainably is to receive regular acupuncture treatments for wellness maintenance. When we do this we are less likely to get sick at all and more likely to recover quickly when we do.

Let’s view this from the wider perspective of the growing trend of antibiotic resistance. 

The CDC website says, “Antibiotic use is the leading cause of antibiotic resistance. Up to one-third to one-half of antibiotic use in humans is either unnecessary or inappropriate… Antibiotics do not fight infections caused by viruses like colds, flu, most sore throats, and bronchitis. Even many sinus and ear infections can get better without antibiotics. Instead, symptom relief might be the best treatment option for these infections.” (https://www.cdc.gov/features/getsmart/)

I specialize in Pediatric Acupuncture and encourage parents bring their kids in for regular wellness visits. And we must remember that kids need to get sick and heal in order to build strong immune systems. So I always encourage coming for acupuncture at the first signs of sickness to boost the immune system and reduce the likelihood of antibiotic use.

Ear infections are one of the more common childhood illnesses where antibiotics are prescribed unnecessarily. Typically the pain of an ear infection will peak for about 24 hours and then resolve on its own. However, this is the most challenging and worrisome time for parents and when they visit their pediatricians.

What would it look like if we really trusted in our body’s ability to heal and created lifestyles to support and nourish that healing? What would change in our own lives? How would this support the health of our planet?

Blessings in the increasing daylight and the growing new moon,

Rachel Kriger, M.Ac, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac.
Licensed Pediatric & Family Acupuncturist
Founder Points Of Return Acupuncture
(215) 495-3229