A Guide to Seed Cycling for Hormonal Balance
A Guide to Seed Cycling for Hormonal Balance In our fast-paced world, achieving and maintaining hormonal balance can feel like a constant battle. From mood swings to irregular periods and even fertility challenges, hormonal imbalances can affect nearly every aspect of a woman’s life. But what if the solution to balancing your hormones could be as simple as incorporating certain seeds into your diet? Welcome to the world of seed cycling for hormonal balance, a natural and balanced approach that has been gaining popularity for its DIY ease and overall effectiveness. Seed cycling involves consuming specific seeds during different phases of your menstrual cycle to support the body’s natural hormonal rhythms. The concept is rooted in the idea that certain seeds contain nutrients that can help promote the production and detoxification of hormones, thus aiding in the overall balance. By understanding how to use seed cycling for hormones, you can take a proactive step toward improving your hormonal health naturally. So, how does seed cycling work? The menstrual cycle is typically divided into two main phases: the follicular phase (the first half) and the luteal phase (the second half). During the follicular phase, which begins on the first day of your period and lasts until ovulation, the body benefits from seeds like flaxseeds and pumpkin seeds. Flaxseeds are rich in lignans, which help bind excess estrogen, while pumpkin seeds provide zinc, which supports progesterone production. By consuming these seeds daily, you can help ensure a healthy balance of estrogen and progesterone, setting the stage for a smoother cycle. As you transition into the luteal phase, which begins after ovulation and continues until your next period, it’s time to switch to sesame and sunflower seeds. Sesame seeds are also high in lignans, which can help modulate estrogen levels, while sunflower seeds are packed with selenium, a powerful antioxidant that supports liver detoxification and hormone clearance. This phase of seed cycling for hormonal balance helps maintain the balance of progesterone and estrogen, reducing symptoms of PMS and promoting overall well-being. The benefits of seed cycling for women go beyond just regulating menstrual cycles. Many women have reported improved skin health, reduced acne, better mood stability, and even enhanced fertility. Because hormones inCluence so many aspects of our health, Cinding a natural way to support them can have widespread positive effects. Additionally, the seeds used in seed cycling are rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, all of which contribute to overall health and vitality. For those new to the concept, starting with a seed cycling guide for hormonal health can be incredibly helpful. Begin by purchasing high-quality, organic flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds. It’s best to use freshly ground seeds to ensure you’re getting the maximum nutritional benefits. You can easily incorporate these seeds into your diet by adding them to smoothies, yogurt, oatmeal, or salads. The key is consistency— consume the recommended seeds daily according to the phase of your cycle. Seed cycling can be a wonderful way to support hormonal health at home in conjunction with Chinese medicine. The practitioners here at Tao to Wellness can help you fine-tune your seed cycling routine, offer acupuncture and herbal remedies tailored to your needs, and provide the support you need to gently bring the body back into balance.
Debunking the NYT Article; “Is Delaying Menopause the Key to Longevity”?
Debunking the NYT Article; “Is Delaying Menopause the Key to Longevity”? It’s an eye catching title and a semi interesting read that discusses how scientists are trying to figure out how to keep the ovaries working longer, and if they can, are we able to prevent the progression of age related diseases? In March, Jill Biden announced a new women’s initiative that is highlighting this question among scientists and researchers. “The ovaries are the only organ in humans that we just accept will fail one day,” said Renee Wegrzyn, director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, a government agency tasked with steering Dr. Biden’s mission. “It’s actually kind of wild that we all just accept that.” Most think of the ovaries as just a “baby maker”, but as the article states the ovaries act as a control center and have a lot to do with influencing every organ in a woman’s body. It says that scientists don’t exactly understand how this happens but I believe it’s simply a part of the HPO Axis; the hypothalamic, pituitary, ovarian axis. This axis is a highway of constant communication between the ovaries and the brain and vice versa through a feedback loop. There are many ‘loops’ in the body, for example right now a very hot topic is the gut brain connection. On an elementary level, the article says when women’s eggs are depleted the ovaries seem to go quiet, which corresponds to of course an increased risk in age related diseases. The phrase ‘women’s eggs are depleted’, couldn’t be more inaccurate. Doctors say most of us are born with millions of eggs (40,000 – 3 million to be exact), even that is an inaccurate way of describing the beauty that unfolds in a woman’s ovaries. What women are actually born with are millions of opportunities! By way of folliculogenesis, these opportunities rise to the surface and become expressed! Folliculogenesis is a maturing ovarian follicle that will in most cases rear a good quality egg. At any given time, women have many, many follicles that are in varying stages; from primordial, primary, secondary, tertiary to antral follicles. Not all of these are follicles yet, most are flat cells waiting to grow up to be a follicle, for example it takes about 180 days for the primordial stage to reach it’s full potential as a follicle with a good quality egg. So, the idea proposed is that if a woman loses fewer eggs, she can hold on to her ovarian reserves and functionality for longer is slightly preposterous. The article mentions a clinical trial at Columbia University which is attempting to slow the rate at which women lose their eggs with the immunosuppressive drug called rapamycin. Researchers leading the study claim there are two patterns that are already emerging; one that women are appearing to have a normal decline of ovarian reserve, which is measured by ultrasounds and AMH. Ultrasounds cannot detect ovarian reserve only antral follicle counts, which are the follicles that are in the race for ovulation, they are expressed when they are about the ovulate, ultrasounds cannot detect anything else. Most gynecologists and reproductive endocrinologists, do not test AMH because of its unreliability. But in truth, nothing is reliable and there is no possible way to calculate ovarian reserve. It seems to me, that if we look at this through a Chinese medicine lens, the ovaries are the tree trunk, the follicles and eggs are the branches/leaves, so then what feeds the ovaries to be robust and plentiful? The soil! And that soil is lifestyle and genetics. We can’t alter our genes (yet!) but if we want better functionality and longer sustainability we must look to lifestyle and environmental factors, things like pollution, toxins, nutrition, or lack thereof, too much or too little exercise, alcohol, caffeine, smoking, (basically anything that creates free radicals in the body) not enough sleep and the biggest ones; emotional wellness and the management of stress. These are the things that overtime can exhaust ovarian function and cause aging and disease, whether you are approaching menopause or trying to get pregnant at 30 years old, it all looks the same. In the realm of enhancing lifespan and quality of life, we could also talk about telomeres. Telomeres are caps on the ends of our DNA, they are similar to the caps that are on the end of shoelaces. As the plastic ends shred, and the shoelace becomes frayed and damaged, so too the shortening of our telomeres can leave our cells and chromosomes vulnerable to damage. Telomere shortening means the cell’s lifespan is shortening. Recent research shows that telomere shortening plays an important role in human disease and mortality. So how do we support robust ovarian function and lengthen telomeres? Sleep, regular exercise, stress management, a diet rich in antioxidants, vitamins, namely D, meditation, yoga and acupuncture. (You knew the last one was coming!) There have been endless acupuncture studies and trials over the last two decades, everything from pain management to pregnancy rates to digestive disorders to stroke recovery. Research also shows that acupuncture can actually lengthen your telomeres and, for the purposes of this article, acupuncture plays a major role in Stage 4 follicular recruitment. How does it do that? The magnificence of acupuncture is the fact that it is self regulating, so whatever the body needs, whether it’s a decrease in inflammation, moving emotional stagnation thereby relieving stress, harmonizing an organ system, bringing energy to an organ, clearing away meridian debris, acupuncture and the body work together. You don’t have to believe in it or do anything to facilitate it, it just happens, very much in the same way your heart beats or how minerals like sodium and potassium can enter and exit a cell effortlessly. It just happens. In conclusion, we all want to preserve what we have and no one wants to age. Post menopause brings some risk to diseases, but if it’s not ‘that’ disease then it will
Spotlight on Fertility and Acupuncture: A Real-Life Patient’s Journey
Sara had been trying to get pregnant for two and a half years. She had been pregnant about a year and a half prior, but unfortunately she lost the baby in the 8th week, they tested the tissue and found no genetic issue. Her and her husband had been trying to conceive naturally since then. They had also recently considered seeking out a reproductive endocrinologist to discuss intra-uterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF). Sara came to us to get her body back into balance and to support her fertility, whether naturally or alongside Western support through IUI or IVF. Like most of our fertility challenged patients, she was healthy overall, but there was some minor things that needed balancing. She ovulated monthly, but her cervical mucus didn’t match up with ovulation and her periods were a little short at 25-27 days, our aim is 29 days. She experienced some low back pain, some slight digestive discomfort once a week, a little fatigue, stress and sleep problems; she woke in the middle of the night with her head spinning with thoughts. In Chinese medicine, each symptom we experience is a clue for the practitioner and tells us what organ system might be out of the balance and causing a barricade around the door to fertility. One organ system that needed support was her Liver. Almost everyone has some degree of Liver imbalance and each person displays that imbalance with a different set of symptoms. For Sara, it caused tightness and impeding circulation into her uterus, which was compromising implantation. So often, we believe that a patient is conceiving, but implantation is where the issue lies. After acupuncture twice a week, a Chinese herbal prescription taking three times a day and relaxation techniques, Sara got pregnant in 6 weeks. She is now in her 27th week and everything is smooth. Both acupuncture and herbal medicine were mandatory for her and she needed to be diligent. She also discontinued coffee and her excessive bootcamp workouts. Essentially, we needed to relax the body allowing her to become more grounded in her lower abdomen, which would bring more circulation to the area. Her treatment plan also provided her with an increase in energy, deeper sleep and digestive harmony.
2017 Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen list released!
2017 Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen list released! If you never read any of our posts all year, read this one! The yearly release of the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen report is a list of which foods have the most and the least pesticide residue and will save you money all year. Who doesn’t love that? Since I’m in New York so often, I’m constantly assaulted by organic food prices here. And when I say assaulted, I really mean assaulted! $8.99 for organic blackberries? $4 for one organic avocado? $5 for one head of organic cauliflower? And even if I did spend $4 for that sad looking bunch of kale– four wilted leaves won’t get me far. “The Environmental Working Group released the 2017 edition of the Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, also known as the “Dirty Dozen.” The guide is based on analysis of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Pesticide Data Program report. “Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is essential no matter how they’re grown, but for the items with the heaviest pesticide loads, we urge shoppers to buy organic,” Sonya Lunder, EWG senior analyst, said in a news release. The group identified the following items on its “Dirty Dozen” list of produce with the most pesticide residue: Strawberries Spinach Nectarines Apples Peaches Celery Grapes Pears Cherries Tomatoes Sweet bell peppers Potatoes The group also identifies the “Clean 15” or items in the report with the least likelihood to contain pesticide residue: Sweet corn Avocados Pineapples Cabbage Onions Frozen sweet peas Papayas Asparagus Mangoes Eggplant Honeydew Kiwifruit Cantaloupe Cauliflower Grapefruit” Of course, if you can buy organic all the time it’s ideal, but sometimes it’s just too much money, like I always say pick and choose your battles. Here’s to the day New York City produce looks, tastes and costs just like the produce at Berkeley Bowl! In Health, Christina Martin Tao to Wellness 809 Hearst Ave Berkeley, California 510.883.0383
Tips to having an awesome lymphatic system!
Tips to having an awesome lymphatic system! The lymphatic system, which is a complicated network of fluid filled lymphs, glands, organs and vessels, is rarely talked about, but so important. It’s basically the body’s garbage man or waste management, which in New York is really code word for mafia, but I digress. For patients who experience chronic problems, they might be a little more familiar with this slightly mysterious system. The lymphatic system’s main job is to get rid of toxins (internal and external) and protect the body against invasions. The largest lymphatic tissue in the body is the Spleen and plays a huge part in immune defense and red and white blood cells. One of the interesting things about lymph is, unlike blood, there is no pump, it relies on relaxation and contraction of muscles and joints to move it, so the lymphatic system can get sluggish and easily stagnant. When it becomes overwhelmed, it can lead to impaired immunity, cellulite, edema, chronic pain, fatty deposits, sinusitis and upper respiratory issues. As you can see it’s super important to keep this system moving! Thanks to The Chalkboard, A Guide to Living Well, here’s some easy tips to keeping the garbage men happy! ACUPUNCTURE You knew this was coming, right? Acupuncture is incredible for moving and balancing the lymphatic system, it’s one of the only modalities that can focus directly on the Qi and blood of the Spleen, which is the largest lymphatic organ. We also believe that stress plays a huge part in that potential stagnating energy of the lymphatic system, so acupuncture can also address stress in the whole body and the Qi flow of the liver as well. Remember there is no pump in the lymphatic system, so the body needs free flowing energy of Qi to transport those toxins. Acupuncture is your answer! REBOUNDING Rebounding is one of the easiest ways to pump the lymph. Rebounding is the practice of jumping on a trampoline (yes, remember when we did this for fun!?) for ten to thirty minutes. This passively moves the lymph while stimulating the circulation of blood throughout the body. Numerous studies have proven its efficacy, and have even shown it to improve muscle tone. INVERSION TABLE An inversion table is a padded table that allows one to invert upside down while strapped in by the feet. The inversion process decompresses the joints of the body and stimulates the lymphatic and circulatory system. This brings blood and oxygen to the tissues, which helps to clear the muscles of toxic build-up. By inverting, gravity works with, not against, the body, encouraging the movement of the lymph. It also improves spinal health by rehydrating the discs, reducing pressure on the nerves and relaxing tense muscles. LEMON WATER Lymph is about 95% water, making water essential for its health. Stay hydrated by drinking half your weight in ounces of water a day. Without adequate water, lymphatic fluid cannot flow properly. And one of the most common causes of lymph congestion is dehydration. Water, and only water, can adequately rehydrate the body, but if you want to expedite the process, add lemon to your water. Lemon is an alkaline fruit that helps to mineralize the body and lymph. Try sipping on warm lemon water throughout the day, but don’t forget your straw! This protects the teeth’s enamel from the lemon. ENZYMES Enzymes are produced by the body to break down food substances and to expedite countless metabolic processes. They are also utilized by the body to clear toxic-waste buildup in the lymph and blood, making their supplementation a key way to improve lymphatic health. Using proteolytic enzymes between meals can help to “digest” or breakdown organic debris in the circulatory and lymph systems, increasing lymphatic flow. They also help to ease the burden of allergy-like compounds, freeing the immune fractions traveling in the lymph system for other work. MASSAGE We all love a good massage, and here’s just one more reason why. Lymphatic massage is a special form of massage that specifically targets the flow of lymph in the body. It uses a specific amount of pressure and rhythmic circular movements to stimulate the lymph, encouraging its movement towards the heart for the drainage of fluid and waste. Lymphatic massage has shown in studies to push up to 78 percent of stagnant lymph back into circulation. This mobilizes toxins for clearance, lessening the burden on the lymphatic system. HERBS Many herbs have proven to be effective in improving lymphatic health, whether in their ability to increase lymphatic flow and drainage or in expediting the clearance of toxic substances. Red clover is a popular herb for the lymph, increasing flow, which helps to detoxify the body and reduce inflammation. Cleavers is another herb to try. Also known as clivers or goosegrass, it has been used for centuries and considered one of the best tonics to stimulate and help drain the lymphatic system. Coming from the Ayurvedic tradition is manjistha. Manjistha is an herb that is primarily utilized for its ability to de-stagnate lymph. It does this by detoxifying the tissue and supporting lymph flow. Finally, bupleurum (Chai Hu) and rehmannia (Sheng Di Huang) are herbal tonics known to treat lymphatic conditions in traditional Chinese medicine. We carry both of these at Tao to Wellness. These herbs are famous in Asia for maintaining the cleanliness of the lymphatic system and thus for naturally removing toxins from deep within the body on an on-going basis. DRY BRUSHING Dry skin brushing is a favorite Chinese medicine practice. It’s a technique commonly utilized in Ayurveda for assisting in lymphatic flow and boosting circulation. You simply take a dry brush with coarse bristle and brush the skin towards the heart. This stimulates the sweat glands, opens pores, and gets rid of dead skin cells. It also encourages the movement of lymph and blood in underlying organs and tissues of the body, which helps clear built-up toxins. As a result, it
Fertility Boosting Foods!
Fertility Boosting Foods! At Tao to Wellness we’ve mastered the science behind baby making through acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and nutritional support. Foods have properties just like herbal medicine. When a patient eats certain foods at certain times of their cycle, there is an impact… sometimes positive and sometimes negative. Since we want to give patients the best case scenario when they are under our care, we compiled a list of what foods support the two main phases of the cycle. Below you’ll find foods broken down into Follicular, which is from the end of the period until ovulation, this is a building phase for the lining and the nourishing phase of Yin. And Luteal, which is from ovulation until the period happens. The temperature warms, there can be a possibility of implantation and this is a time of Yang. An * is a food that is extremely strong and highly recommended for this time of the cycle. FOLLICULAR phase of your cycle: Fruits Apples, Apricots, Banana, Blueberry, Fig, Grape, Mango, Pear, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Watercress Vegetables Asparagus, Beets, Dandelion, Kelp, Leafy greens*- including kale, spinach (best with a splash of citrus), Lemon, Microalgae, Millet, Mulberry, Nettle*, Parsley, Pea, Seaweed, Spinach, String Bean, Sweet potato Grains Barley, Millet, Sweet rice Meats: Beef*, Bone Marrow- Bone Broth*, Cheese, Duck, Liver, Oxtail*, Pork, Sardines Other: Black sesame*, Honey, Royal Jelly* LUTEAL phase of your cycle: Fruits Citrus Vegetables Cabbage, Kale, Onion, Leek, Chive, Parsnip, Parsley, Mustard Greens, Winter Squash Grains Lentils, Quinoa Meats Anchovy, Lamb, Trout, Salmon (check with Seafoodwatch.org for sources) Nuts Chestnut, Pecan, Pistachio Spices Aniseed, Basil, Caraway, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Clove, Cumin, Dill Seed, Fennel Seed, Garlic, Ginger*, Nutmeg, Rosemary, Sage, Savory, Star Anise, Thyme To enjoy ANYTIME throughout your cycle! Avocado, Pineapple, Beans (Aduki, Black, Kidney), Cashews, Cherry, Dates, Eggs* and Walnuts Keep in mind Organic when possible Fruits and veggies that are in season In Health, Christina Martin, L.Ac. Tao to Wellness Acupuncture Berkeley, California 510.883.0383
Case Study: 41 year old Patient with Recurring Miscarriage
Case Study: 41 year old Patient with Recurring Miscarriage Sandrine, a healthy, 41 year old female patient came to us. She had been trying to conceive for 3 years and had gotten pregnant twice, but sadly both of these ended in miscarriage. She had no prior full term pregnancies. Sandrine had a regular menstrual cycle of 28 days, blood flow for 4 days, no mention of PMS or menstrual cramps. Her energy was good, sleep was about 7 hours every night and she did not wake up. Her digestion was normal, with consistent bowel movements. Gluten and nightshades gave her issues sometimes. She was happy in life overall, but the two miscarriages were starting to take a toll on her emotionally. The lab work we received from her Reproductive Endocrinologist was the basic hormone tests; FSH, LH, Estradiol, Prolactin, Testosterone and many more. But they had left out one very important group of tests: a thrombophilia panel. A thrombophilia issue is an abnormality of blood coagulation that increases the risk of thrombosis, thereby causing miscarriage. Usually these labs will only be ordered, after their a patient’s third miscarriage. In addition, some of the thrombophilia tests will never be ordered if the patient has carried to full term prior. At our clinic, we have seen countless women with less then three miscarriages or who have carried to full term prior, not getting the tests they need. With advanced maternal age, time is of the essence. We created a treatment plan of one a week acupuncture treatments and Chinese herbal medicine to rebalance the uterine environment from any trauma from the previous miscarriages, but also support to prevent future miscarriages. We were also diligent about her lab work, we ordered some of the lab work ourselves and also reached out to Sandrine’s doctor as an advocate on her behalf. After much back and worth with the doctor’s office, we discovered that one of the tests we ordered came back positive, the MTHFR homozygous gene mutation. The MTHFR gene provides instructions for making the MTHFR protein, which helps the body process folate. Any mutation in this gene can cause miscarriage. We helped Sandrine navigate the conversation she needed to have with her doctor, fortunately this time they were more generous in their listening, which was wonderful since Sandrine found out she was pregnant a third time! Sandrine was referred to a perinatologist immediately and put on Heparin for the remainder of her pregnancy. We worked with her throughout her first trimester, with only acupuncture, we continued to increase blood flow to the uterus, preventing miscarriage. We then saw her later in her third trimester to assist in labor encouragement. She carried to full term and gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Liam.
Warmth and Fertility Boost: Discover Something Special!
Something to warm you up and boost your fertility at the same time! A little chilly outside? Here’s a fantastic recipe that I got from Integrative Fertility who heads the acupuncture program at Pacific Fertility Center in San Francisco. A yummy little twist on Mom’s chicken soup! Sweet Potato, Cilantro Chicken Soup INGREDIENTS: Serves 4 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed 2 tablespoons butter or ghee 1/2 onion, sliced 4 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 4 cups vegetable or chicken stock 1/2 roast chicken, shredded 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped! juice of 1/2 lime 1/2 ripe avocado, sliced Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste DIRECTIONS: 1 Bring some water to a boil in a medium saucepan at medium heat and add the cubed sweet potatoes. Cook for about 10 minutes, until the sweet potato is tender. Drain the water and set the sweet potatoes aside for later use. 2 In a large sauce pan over a medium-high heat melt the butter or ghee. Once melted, add the onions to sauté. Cook until the onions are translucent, about 7 minutes. Be sure to stir frequently to prevent the onions from burning. 3 Add the garlic, cumin as well as salt and pepper to the pot. Mix well and cook for another minute. 4 Add the stock to the pan and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, add in the shredded chicken, followed by the tomatoes, lime juice, cooked sweet potatoes and cilantro. Immediately remove from the heat. Allow the soup to sit for at least 5 minutes prior to serving to allow the flavors some time to blend. Serve warm topped with the avocado slices. Much love, Christina “Mei Wen” Martin, L.Ac., Dipl.AC, MTOM, FABORM. christina@berkeley-acupuncture.com Christina Martin is the founder of Tao to Wellness. She is an Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist and Teacher and has been in practice for fifteen years. She holds a Master’s Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is a fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine. Christina entered Acupuncture school without ever having an Acupuncture treatment. She simply felt it was her calling.
Launch of Bay Area-Based Fertility Prediction App Today!
Bay area based app to predict FERTILITY launches today! The BUZZ in the fertility world today isn’t about acupuncture or some new-old ancient technique. It’s all about GLOW today, the fertility app that Bay area based and PayPal co-founder Max Levchin has created (and has sunk $1million of his own dollars into, by the way). Glow is a free-to-download, iPhone-only app that helps women — and their partners — track ovulation cycles and other data points to predict peak fertility windows. It officially launches in the App Store today. In addition, the Bay Area-based startup has raised $6 million in venture capital funding from Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, Jeff Jordan of Andreessen Horowitz and individual investors including Yuri Milner. Glow goes beyond tracking ovulation cycles, sexual activity and, yes, the texture of cervical mucus, which I can’t wait to find out more on this one. And in true Bay area style, Levchin and Glow co-founder Mike Huang have built the company with the intent to disrupt the current health-care system in the U.S., by creating a kind of insurance fund to help pay for women’s fertility treatments. Here’s the thing that I love the most, app users have the option to contribute $50 a month to the Glow Fund, for a period of 10 months. If, after 10 months of using the Glow app, a woman hasn’t conceived, she can withdraw money from the Glow Fund and use it to pay for fertility treatments. Conversely, if she has gotten pregnant, she forfeits her contributions; they will go toward another user’s fertility treatments. Genius and generous! Christina “Mei Wen” Martin, L.Ac., Dipl.AC, MTOM, FABORM. christina@berkeley-acupuncture.com Christina Martin is the founder of Tao to Wellness. She is an Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist and Teacher and has been in practice for fifteen years. She holds a Master’s Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is California state licensed and a nationally certified Diplomat of Acupuncture. Christina entered Acupuncture school without ever having an Acupuncture treatment. She simply felt it was her calling.
