Entries by Steve Hoffman

Coronavirus, What We are Doing To Protect Our Patients

March 13, 2020 /0 Comments/in , /by

There was a meme the other day about COVID 19 that said when you see the name, think of the song Come on Eileen...now I can’t get it out of my head. Almost like the omnipresent news and nonstop social chatter about it! There is justifiable concern but also reasons not to panic as I outlined in my last blog Afraid of Coronavirus? I'm Not, Here's Why.. I have had a few folks cancel their appointments and I understand their concerns. I am planning on remaining open since I can help people not only with their chief complaint but also with keeping their immune systems strong. I have always followed applicable OSHA standards, Clean Needle Techniques along with disinfecting procedures and frequent hand washing/sanitizing. I have implemented a few new procedures as listed below to minimize the chances of spreading this virus and to “flatten the curve”.

1)  Elimination of table linens. While I use table paper to cover the tables, the linens are impossible to disinfect after every treatment. Even changing the linens after every patient can result in contact and spread of pathogens.

2)  I have also removed table warmers from the tables as, once again, these are impossible to disinfect after every patient. SORRY, I know many of you love the nice heated table to lay on but for the foreseeable future, we need to do everything we can to prevent the spread of this virus.

3)  Tables and rooms will be disinfected after every treatment. Normally, removal of the table paper and replacement with new paper would suffice as a standard of practice but with the heightened urgency to prevent the spread of this virus, more stringent measures are warranted.

4)  Reduced schedule. In order to maximize social distancing and to give me a chance to properly disinfect rooms after treatments, I will be moving to a reduced schedule.

5)  As outlined below I am asking patients who are infected or are experiencing symptoms to not come to the office. I will still offer phone/skype consultations to formulate an herb and supplement regimen that will boost your immune system and help you fight this (or any other) infection. We will work out how you receive your herbs/supplements on a case by case basis.

If you are experiencing symptoms of a cold/flu or sore throat, with or without a fever DO NOT come in to the office. I will be suspending my 24 hour cancellation policy for the time being. Contact your primary care provider to get advice about testing and self quarantine procedure if necessary.

Above all, use good judgment and take a breath and try to stay calm. We will get through this. Keep yourself and your family safe.

​Princeton Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

​Our patients know just how effective treatments are for these and a host of other problems. Steven Hoffman, a New Jersey Licensed Acupuncturist and Diplomate in Oriental Medicine, will provide you with a thorough intake and evaluation and a clear, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan that will insure that your goals are met or exceeded. Do you want to move past these or other problems? We will help you thrive not just survive!


​Contact

​Traditional cultures have known for centuries the myriad benefits of drinking bone broth. This is something that has been lost in modern times but now you can return you and your family to this time-honored tradition of both maintaining health and even healing yourself simply by nourishing yourself properly.

Afraid of Coronavirus? I’m Not, Here’s Why

March 6, 2020 /0 Comments/in , , , /by

OK, everyone take a deep breath, stop looking at the stock market and stay calm. Is the coronavirus outbreak something to be concerned with, sure? Is it something to panic over, no? Are there things you can do to prevent being infected, yes. Is there something you can do if you are infected, yes!

Estimates show a 2% mortality rate for coronavirus, compared to .5% mortality rate for influenza. This number is more than likely skewed based on the small sample size, the fact that a certain percentage of those infected are asymptomatic (one of the reasons that it will be impossible to contain) or symptoms are so mild that those infected do not seek medical attention and are therefore not included in overall infected tally. This is in sharp contrast to something like SARS, with a 60% mortality rate. When people were infected with this virus, it was known very quickly, and health officials were able to quarantine and contain the spread fairy easily. Ironically, this makes SARS a relatively unsuccessful viral infection, it kills the host thus preventing further spread of the disease. But like I said, there is cause for concern but there are also reasons why you shouldn’t panic.

Prevention:

There are supplements and minerals that can “boost” your immune system or have anti-viral properties. Iodine is probably the most important of these and has been shown to inhibit and even destroy viruses when taken orally. Vitamins A, D & C, Zinc, Selenium and garlic are other supplements/foods that have demonstrated an ability to stimulate the immune system and provide protection against viral infections. Regular acupuncture has also demonstrated an ability to improve your immune system. These and the standard protocols like washing hands, keeping children (and yourself) home if sick can go a long way to preventing the spread of this virus as well as keeping yourself from becoming infected.

Care:

You’ve done everything you can to prevent getting the virus (or maybe not) and you still get sick. Now what! Consult your physician of course, they may prescribe anti virals or antibiotics to prevent bacterial infections. Normal things like plenty of rest and fluids to help your body combat the virus will help. There are also specific electro acupuncture anti pathogen protocols that will make your internal environment inhospitable to the virus and even decrease viral loads. Vitamin C, colloidal silver and garlic (again!) are great supplements along with Chinese herbal formulas. All of this can help you combat the infection and get you back on your feet in short order.

This virus should be taken seriously. Preventing the spread of even influenza is something we should all be aware of and working towards. It does, after all, kill people. With proper prevention and care you can do your part to help stop the spread of the disease and keep yourself healthy.

​Princeton Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

​Our patients know just how effective treatments are for these and a host of other problems. Steven Hoffman, a New Jersey Licensed Acupuncturist and Diplomate in Oriental Medicine, will provide you with a thorough intake and evaluation and a clear, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan that will insure that your goals are met or exceeded. Do you want to move past these or other problems? We will help you thrive not just survive!

​Contact

​Traditional cultures have known for centuries the myriad benefits of drinking bone broth. This is something that has been lost in modern times but now you can return you and your family to this time-honored tradition of both maintaining health and even healing yourself simply by nourishing yourself properly.

Acupuncture, Anxiety & Pain

December 17, 2019 /0 Comments/in , , , , /by

Most people know that acupuncture is extremely effective for treating pain. Many also know that acupuncture can be used to treat anxiety. What many don’t know is that treating anxiety helps patients who are suffering with pain.

Clinical Results:

Eighty to ninety percent of patients that I treat for pain are also treated for anxiety, even if that is not one of their initial complaints. With these patients it comes up during their initial consultation that, along with their pain, they are dealing with some level of anxiety and stress. In my clinic, when I treat these patients for anxiety along with treating their pain, they get better faster, results last longer and they end up needing fewer treatments.

How Anxiety Affects Pain:

Anxiety drives us in to “fight or flight” mode. This is your body’s natural response to stress. It is an important response and necessary when we are dealing with stressful situations. The problem is that in today’s society, people are under almost constant stress, sometimes at high levels. People also do not allow themselves enough time to deal with this stress through exercise, meditation and restorative practices. This does not allow the body to enter “rest and digest” mode. This is when your body is healing, repairing itself and recovering. High stress levels and anxiety ultimately affect sleep, when your body should be rebuilding and healing itself.

Pain & Anxiety:

Pain is an indicator that something is wrong. Normally, the body heals the problem, we recover and move on. But how is the body supposed to heal itself if anxiety and stress are not allowing that healing to take place. This is how anxiety can perpetuate pain syndromes. Once the anxiety is reduced or alleviated, the body can devote the proper resources to truly fix the problem that is causing the pain.

So, what can you expect when you come in to get treatment for your pain? Look forward to being more relaxed, better sleep and a faster resolution to your problem!

​Princeton Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

​Our patients know just how effective treatments are for these and a host of other problems. Steven Hoffman, a New Jersey Licensed Acupuncturist and Diplomate in Oriental Medicine, will provide you with a thorough intake and evaluation and a clear, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan that will insure that your goals are met or exceeded. Do you want to move past these or other problems? We will help you thrive not just survive!


​Contact

​Traditional cultures have known for centuries the myriad benefits of drinking bone broth. This is something that has been lost in modern times but now you can return you and your family to this time-honored tradition of both maintaining health and even healing yourself simply by nourishing yourself properly.

5 Reasons Why Every Athlete Needs Acupuncture

December 5, 2019 /0 Comments/in , , , , /by

If you are an athlete, either professional or amateur, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can benefit you in several ways. You have probably seen pictures of Michael Phelps with cupping marks or James Harrison with dozens of needles in his body. Why would these world class athletes, who spend hundreds of thousands of dollars keeping their bodies in peak shape, use acupuncture. Because it works and here are five reasons why.

Pain Relief

Acupuncture is well documented for relieving pain. By inducing the body to increase the production of naturally occurring pain relieving substances, athletes are able to get back to training faster and more safely. With little to no side effects and without the risk of further injury associated with synthetic pain relievers, acupuncture is an essential part of any training regimen.

Faster Recovery

By increasing blood flow and relaxing muscles, fatigued muscles are able to recover faster. This allows athletes to push harder, sooner and achieve new levels of performance.

Improved Sleep

By engaging the bodies parasympathetic (think rest and digest) part of the nervous system and shutting down the sympathetic (think fight or flight) part of the nervous system, longer periods of deeper sleep can be achieved. The only time your body is recovering is when you are sleeping, so if you are sleeping better, you are recovering better.

Faster Healing

Injuries are the biggest impediment to training. A sprain or strain can set a training regimen back weeks if not months. Increasing blood flow, reducing inflammation and even providing the necessary environment with electro-acupuncture, your acupuncturist can get you up and running in a fraction of the time it would normally take to heal.

Engaging Adrenal Response

Just like acupuncture can engage the parasympathetic nervous system and down regulate the sympathetic nervous system, an acupuncturist can similarly do the reverse. By engaging your adrenal response, you can be ultra-prepared for your race or event. This procedure is typically done as close as possible to the race so that your body is primed to perform at optimal levels.

It is amazing that top athletes can perform at world class in one instance and fail to even finish a race in another. By setting the stage for training and even on race day with acupuncture, you can be sure that you are performing at your best, whether you are an Olympic athlete or a weekend warrior.

​Princeton Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

​Our patients know just how effective treatments are for these and a host of other problems. Steven Hoffman, a New Jersey Licensed Acupuncturist and Diplomate in Oriental Medicine, will provide you with a thorough intake and evaluation and a clear, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan that will insure that your goals are met or exceeded. Do you want to move past these or other problems? We will help you thrive not just survive!


​Contact

​Traditional cultures have known for centuries the myriad benefits of drinking bone broth. This is something that has been lost in modern times but now you can return you and your family to this time-honored tradition of both maintaining health and even healing yourself simply by nourishing yourself properly.

Acupuncture for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis

November 14, 2019 /0 Comments/in , , , /by

What is Ulcerative Colitis:

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes ulcers and inflammation in your large intestine. Most people suffer with mild to moderate symptoms and some have long periods of remission. The disease can, however, be debilitating and can sometimes result in life threatening complications. Symptoms include:

  • Abdominal cramping and pain
  • Rectal bleeding or pain
  • Diarrhea with pus or blood
  • Urgency and inability to defecate
  • Lethargy and fatigue
  • Weight loss
  • Elevated temperature

Causes of Ulcerative Colitis:

The cause of ulcerative colitis is not known. The most likely cause is an inappropriate immune response where your immune system attacks your own tissues in the large intestine. Heredity, diet and stress are all thought to play a role in this disease.

Diagnosis and Treatment:

Your doctor will have to confirm a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. Often, multiple tests are required to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment typically involves drugs or even surgery in severe or non responding cases. Drugs range from corticosteroids to immune modulator drugs to biologics and others depending on your symptoms and location of the ulcers. The goals are to reduce inflammation, manage symptoms and, in some cases, suppress the immune system. Surgery can often eliminated ulcerative colitis but it involves removing your entire colon and rectum.

Acupuncture:

Acupuncture can help reduce inflammation and even promote healing. Specific electro-acupuncture protocols can also get to the root of the problem and address the immune response that is causing the problem in the first place. In this way, acupuncture can arrest the progression of the disease while reducing specific symptoms. Reducing or eliminating the need for drugs or surgery can be a life changing intervention for ulcerative colitis sufferers.

​Princeton Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

​Our patients know just how effective treatments are for these and a host of other problems. Steven Hoffman, a New Jersey Licensed Acupuncturist and Diplomate in Oriental Medicine, will provide you with a thorough intake and evaluation and a clear, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan that will insure that your goals are met or exceeded. Do you want to move past these or other problems? We will help you thrive not just survive!

​Contact

​Traditional cultures have known for centuries the myriad benefits of drinking bone broth. This is something that has been lost in modern times but now you can return you and your family to this time-honored tradition of both maintaining health and even healing yourself simply by nourishing yourself properly.

Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis With Acupuncture

November 6, 2019 /0 Comments/in , , /by

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that is best known for causing joint pain and even deformity. In some cases the disease can cause eye, skin, lung, heart and blood vessel problems as well. RA is an autoimmune disease. This means that the inflammation and damage is caused by your bodies own immune system over-reacting and attacking your body’s tissues. This is different from osteoarthritis which is caused by gradual wear and tear and mainly affects joints in the hands, knees, hips and spine.

Treatment Options:

RA is often treated with medications. NSAIDs, steroids, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and biological agents are often employed to reduce inflammation, slow the progression or suppress the immune system. There are side effects to all of these medications and they can include stomach irritation, kidney damage, thinning bones, diabetes, liver damage, severe lung infections and increased risk of infections. Doctors are challenged with balancing between reducing RA symptoms and dealing with side effects. It is often a quality of life issue and the choice between the lesser of two evils. Physical or occupational therapists are often employed to help keep joints flexible and modify daily tasks to make them less stressful on painful joints. Surgery may be a last resort due to the risks of bleeding, infection and pain.

Acupuncture & Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Acupuncture can treat RA is two ways. The first is to reduce inflammation and provide pain relief. This can be a wonderful intervention and reduce the dependency on medications. The problem with this type of treatment is that it does not address the cause of the problem: the over-reactive immune system. Fortunately, there are acupuncture protocols that will do just that. These protocols reduce the production of inflammatory cytokines such as Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), Interleukins and HMGB1. In studies of the protocol, a single 60 second stimulation of the prescribed points with electric stimulation suppressed TNF for 24 hours and 42 days of daily stimulation (1 minute each day) reduced TNF fro 14 days. With longer treatments, acupuncturists are able to arrest the progression of the disease. Using a two pronged approach, acupuncturists can address both the symptoms and provide a lasting solution.

No Quick Fix:

The course of treatment is not short. Approximately three months of treatments are needed to reduce the inflammatory process. Continued “maintenance” treatments are then be required to keep the process at bay. The frequency of these maintenance treatments varies from patient to patient. Acupuncture will not repair damage that has already been done but it can stop further degradation. For most, the ability to not only find relief, but to reduce or eliminate medications makes the process well worth the investment.

​Princeton Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

​Our patients know just how effective treatments are for these and a host of other problems. Steven Hoffman, a New Jersey Licensed Acupuncturist and Diplomate in Oriental Medicine, will provide you with a thorough intake and evaluation and a clear, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan that will insure that your goals are met or exceeded. Do you want to move past these or other problems? We will help you thrive not just survive!


​Contact

​Traditional cultures have known for centuries the myriad benefits of drinking bone broth. This is something that has been lost in modern times but now you can return you and your family to this time-honored tradition of both maintaining health and even healing yourself simply by nourishing yourself properly.

Acupuncture, Carpenters & Pain

October 16, 2019 /0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

You know who I hate treating? Carpenters. Not that I have anything against carpenters, Jesus was a carpenter after all, and he was a pretty good guy. No, I hate treating carpenters because the never get better. Huh? Why is that? Well, what do you think carpenters come in for to get treatment?? Elbow pain. Golfers elbow, tennis elbow, elbow tendinitis, whatever you want to call it, it is elbow pain and it affects how and even sometimes IF they can work.

Repetitive Motion Injury

Doing the same motion, under strain, over and over, puts stress on the joint being used. Often, these are not “organic” movements meaning that they are done in only one plane of motion that people would not have normally performed during our development. They are repeated and in the case of carpenters they are often done under increased strain (weight, vibration, impact). This puts strain on the tendons and ligaments for 8-10 hours a day often 5-6 days a week. Tendons and ligaments have relatively poor blood supply, so they heal slowly. Depending on the severity of the damage, tendons and ligaments can take months to heal. Broken bones normally take 6-8 weeks to heal by contrast. You also have to keep in mind that when you have a broken bone, you get a cast that completely immobilizes the break so that it can heal properly. What happens when a carpenter’s elbow starts barking? That’s right, they just keep on working.

Healing

The best thing for healing is rest no matter what the injury or illness. In the case of a carpenter, the irritation is a nuisance, at least at first. So, they continue working. If they had a broken bone it would force them to stop working for a period of time so that they could heal. With inflammation of a tendon or ligament the body just does not have enough time to heal the damage that is being done on a daily basis.

Acupuncture

This adversely affects any healing modality when trying to treat this type of patient. Acupuncture will provide relief but in the case of a carpenter, the inflammation, pain and discomfort will always return because they are continually aggravating the injury. They normally walk away, thanking me for the relief but disappointed that I cannot provide them with a lasting solution. Acupuncture can and will help the body heal completely, but rest is a key component of a lasting solution.

What Does This Mean for You (and Jesus)?

What this means is that any injury or illness you are dealing with will heal better if you give your body the rest that it needs to heal. If you are coming in for acupuncture treatment, do yourself a favor, give your injury or ailment a chance to heal. Otherwise, just like the carpenter, permanent relief will be elusive. And Jesus? Well I guess that it is good that he made a career change!

​Princeton Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

​Our patients know just how effective treatments are for these and a host of other problems. Steven Hoffman, a New Jersey Licensed Acupuncturist and Diplomate in Oriental Medicine, will provide you with a thorough intake and evaluation and a clear, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan that will insure that your goals are met or exceeded. Do you want to move past these or other problems? We will help you thrive not just survive!

​Contact

​Traditional cultures have known for centuries the myriad benefits of drinking bone broth. This is something that has been lost in modern times but now you can return you and your family to this time-honored tradition of both maintaining health and even healing yourself simply by nourishing yourself properly.

Colostrum, Your Gut & Your Health

October 4, 2019 /0 Comments/in , , , , /by

I wrote a recent blog on how your body heals Acupuncture & How The Body Heals and one of the biggest factors in health and healing is your digestion. Without the proper building block, it is impossible to repair and rebuild the body. These repair and rebuilding processes happen every day. ALL parts of the body are being rebuilt, repaired and regenerated every day. If you are not taking the right nutrients in or, if your body is not absorbing them properly, problems start to happen. Here is a short list of problems that can happen as a result of poor digestion:

Improper digestion of fats can lead to gall stones. Fats are necessary to regenerate neural cells (nervous system). Fats also make up hormones and hormonal imbalances can be a result of poor digestion.

If proteins are not broken down properly into the amino acids that make up neurotransmitters such as serotonin and gabapentin, mood disorders can result.

Autoimmune disorders and allergies can often be traced back to improper digestion causing the immune system to react and then overreact.

Skin issues, such as eczema and rosacea can similarly be a result of an immune system that is over reacting.

So, how do we ensure that the food that we eat gets digested properly. Acupuncture can help, I’ll talk about that in a bit. Colostrum is another way to not only improve digestion, but colostrum can heal things like leaky gut, Crohn’s disease, IBS and colitis.

What is Colostrum:

Most mothers will know that colostrum is “first milk”. It is thicker, more yellow and is packed with immunoglobulins, natural antibiotics and growth factors. Two of the last systems to be finished during gestation are the immune and digestive systems. Babies immune systems take years to fully develop and they rely on their mother’s immunity to stay healthy. We also don’t come out ready to eat pepperoni pizza. The colostrum helps “finish” these systems. It is no different for other mammals and most mammals cannot even survive without the colostrum. Cows are essentially born with leaky gut. Their small intestines (where most nutrients are absorbed) are too permeable and this is on purpose. It allows the colostrum, and its immune and growth factors to be absorbed more easily. The colostrum then helps tighten the junctions that allow nutrients to pass into the bloodstream.

How Colostrum Can Help You

If you suffer from leaky gut or any of the above-mentioned digestive disorders, just like in cows, colostrum will tighten the junctions in the small intestine, making sure that things that are not supposed to get into the bloodstream do not “leak” out. All of the above problems related to poor digestion. They improve or are eliminated with the use of colostrum. Colostrum helps “re-seed” the gut with good bacteria (essential after antibiotic use). With growth factors, colostrum can help anti-aging and sport performance. Colostrum helps regulate blood sugars for diabetic or pre-diabetic patients. Colostrum will also boost an under active immune system.

Acupuncture Combined with Colostrum

I have been recommending colostrum to most of my patients, almost no matter what their chief complaint is, it is just that powerful. When I combine it with acupuncture treatments, patients heal better, faster and more completely. At Princeton Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, we carry pharmaceutical grade bovine colostrum that is ethically harvested. Bovine colostrum is not species specific and can even be use on pets. It is also far more potent than human colostrum. Call today for details and see if colostrum is right for you.

​Princeton Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

​Our patients know just how effective treatments are for these and a host of other problems. Steven Hoffman, a New Jersey Licensed Acupuncturist and Diplomate in Oriental Medicine, will provide you with a thorough intake and evaluation and a clear, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan that will insure that your goals are met or exceeded. Do you want to move past these or other problems? We will help you thrive not just survive!

​Contact

​Traditional cultures have known for centuries the myriad benefits of drinking bone broth. This is something that has been lost in modern times but now you can return you and your family to this time-honored tradition of both maintaining health and even healing yourself simply by nourishing yourself properly.

Searching for Substance

September 18, 2019 /0 Comments/in , , , , , , /by

We are all settling into our fall routines after summer, but I have one last post about a summer trip. We took our annual two-week summer vacation at the end of August and I was a bit disappointed with the location. I don’t want to disparage any place and the location was admittedly not my style, so I’ll just say that the location rhymes with girdle reach. What struck me was that the main road that paralleled the coast was littered with pancake houses, candy shops, beach shops, donut shops and vape shops. There were seriously at least two of each on every block. I like a good pancake every now and then but seriously, there had to be 10 of them within a 2-mile stretch. The beach shops all sold the same cheap, plasticky, disposable junk and touristy memorabilia. And it is no wonder that we have gone from consuming 5 pounds of sugar per person per year 200 years ago, to about 150 pounds per person today.

Instant Gratification:

I was talking to my wife, as we were driving that road one day and I said that there had to be a niche that all these shops were not filling. I suggested that a yoga studio might do well. Almost as soon as I said it, it struck me. A yoga studio would fail miserably in this environment. EVERY shop, store and restaurant had to do with one thing: instant gratification. The problem with instant gratification is that, well, it is instant. And then it is instantly over. It leaves you feeling hollow and searching for the next thing to instantly gratify you.

Lasting Gratification:

Practices like yoga and tai chi are just that: practices. It takes time, effort, perseverance and commitment to improve or see physical benefits. Artistry, playing an instrument or earning a degree all take a similar amount of time and effort. But what these pursuits leave you with is a deep sense of accomplishment, satisfaction and self-worth. They are meaningful and lasting.

Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine:

OK, ready for this, I’m going to tie all of that into what I love to do. Acupuncture is typically the antithesis of instant gratification. It can take 6-8 or even 10-12 treatments in chronic cases before the patient starts seeing results. Have I had cases where someone has hopped off the table and looked at me with wonder saying, “My backache is completely gone!”, yes, I have! But these are few and far between. Most of the time it takes commitment, time and financial, to achieve lasting results. But the results are just that, lasting. Most of us are used to the instant results that western medicine provides. Have a headache, take an Advil, an hour later, the headache is gone (for most people). Have heartburn, take a tums, your tummy feels better. Now I’m not going to compare western medicine to the ode to instant gratification I saw on vacation, but I think we have been conditioned to expect this from our health care. The one similarity is that, in many cases, western medicine does not actually fix anything. The results are fleeting. If you are fed up with the results you are getting for your problem and are finally ready to achieve lasting results and leave your problem behind, call today and set up a consultation.

​Princeton Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

​Our patients know just how effective treatments are for these and a host of other problems. Steven Hoffman, a New Jersey Licensed Acupuncturist and Diplomate in Oriental Medicine, will provide you with a thorough intake and evaluation and a clear, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan that will insure that your goals are met or exceeded. Do you want to move past these or other problems? We will help you thrive not just survive!

​Contact

​Traditional cultures have known for centuries the myriad benefits of drinking bone broth. This is something that has been lost in modern times but now you can return you and your family to this time-honored tradition of both maintaining health and even healing yourself simply by nourishing yourself properly.

TAXI RIDE IN NYC & YOUR STATE OF MIND

August 30, 2019 /0 Comments/in , , , , /by

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about my impending trip to NYC. Great trip, my twins saw a Broadway musical for the first time, and we had a nice visit to the American Museum of Natural History that they tolerated reasonably well. I’m always observing human behavior (might be why I found myself helping people heal) and this trip was no different. We took a cab to get to and from a couple of places and I had two very different experiences that really struck me.

Typical NYC Cab Ride

I’ll talk about the second cab ride of the day first. We all pile into the cab and the driver starts our ride by cutting right in to traffic. As we drive, we get behind a car that is hesitating to turn at an intersection. “Bleeping Uber drivers, that’s why they shouldn’t be allowed!” as our cab zooms around the car, making a left turn from the right lane. There’s music going on, the driver is chugging some energy drink and I notice some other broadcast going in the background. I’m in the front seat and I notice the driver looking down into the door handle well, where there is a phone going with a soccer game playing! I grab the “oh, crap” handle and hang on until we get to Penn Station. Fairly typical cab right in the city, no?

Zen Cab

What made the second cab ride all the more remarkable was the contrast to our first cab ride. We get in and the driver is singing, kind of under his breath. A pretty, lifting melody that I couldn’t quite make out the words to, not even sure if he was singing in English. We pull up to a light and have another cab next to us in the right lane. I notice that a car is parked in the right lane ahead of us, past the light. I brace myself for a jack rabbit start when the light turns green so that the cab to the right of us would be cut off and have to merge in behind us. The light turns green and the driver hesitates…yes, he hesitates so the cab next to us could start and easily merge into the lane ahead of us. Huh, did that just happen? The driver continues his melody and then notices that there is construction ahead of us. He very calmly asks me if I would like to take 52nd or 54th instead. Wait, did he just ask me my route preference?? What a nice, peaceful ride.

Stress in The City

The contrast was stark. What it made me think about was how these two different people handled the stress of one of the most harrowing jobs in the world. Was it their upbringing, genetics or life experience that made them handle things so differently? Probably a combination. But what it showed me was that no matter your environment, it does not have to rule how you react to it. Stress, change, joy, sorrow; these things are inevitable, they are part of life. How you respond to and process those events determines how much of an impact they can have on your health and wellbeing.

I have blogged in the past about how much acupuncture can help you deal with stress and how it can help your body process the inevitable ups and downs that you run in to. If you find it hard to be like the Zen cabbie and you find it affects your job, your sleep and even your family, call for a free consultation today and we can help you “get on the road” to feeling better!

​Princeton Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

​Our patients know just how effective treatments are for these and a host of other problems. Steven Hoffman, a New Jersey Licensed Acupuncturist and Diplomate in Oriental Medicine, will provide you with a thorough intake and evaluation and a clear, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan that will insure that your goals are met or exceeded. Do you want to move past these or other problems? We will help you thrive not just survive!

​Contact

​Traditional cultures have known for centuries the myriad benefits of drinking bone broth. This is something that has been lost in modern times but now you can return you and your family to this time-honored tradition of both maintaining health and even healing yourself simply by nourishing yourself properly.