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A Love Letter to You, Dripping Springs Mama

Written by Michelle Wendt on . Posted in Balance, Community, Emotions, Family, Fatigue, Insomnia, Life, Marriage, Motherhood, Parenting, Recovery, Relationships, Sleep, Stress, Weekends, Wellness, Worry. No Comments on A Love Letter to You, Dripping Springs Mama

To you, Dripping Springs Mama,

The kids are back in school! As you get back into the daily grind of school schedules, carpools, sports, extracurricular activities, meal planning, laundry, and maybe that thing called work, what are you doing to take care of yourself?

At Indigo Healing Acupuncture & Massage, I listen to mamas just like you that have spent months, years, even decades of putting their kids first and letting their own needs slide into the backseat. When we sit down and talk, I learn that you have high blood pressure, you toss and turn every night, you feel too exhausted to exercise, you feel frustrated with your family, calls and texts go unanswered because you’re out of bandwidth, and you generally feel like a hot mess express. 

I’m here to give you a tough love wake-up call. You need to put yourself first. Now.

Why?

Your blood pressure is dangerously high. 

Your restless nights are prematurely aging you. 

Your chronic sleep deprivation is wreaking havoc on your hormones.

You feel constantly on edge.

You are go, Go, GO, while your body is screaming for care.

You are on the fast track to having a devastating stroke.

Or a heart attack.

And you will not get to choose the time or place.

You and your family’s life will change forever.

Sadly, you might not even be around to see the impact. 

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked or a blood vessel bursts, severely damaging brain cells. It might surprise you to learn that stroke is the 5th leading cause of death for women, and 1 in 5 women between 55 and 75 will experience it. These figures are not meant to scare you, but rather empower you with knowledge. The good news is that 4 out of 5 strokes can be prevented.

One of the major warning signs your body will send you before having a stroke is high blood pressure. Hypertension affects over 45% of women and more than 2 in 5 women have blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/80 mm Hg. Only about 1 in 4 of those women have their blood pressure controlled to below 130/80 mm Hg.

In the midst of your packed schedule, it’s important to acknowledge the impact of lifestyle choices. Smoking/vaping, an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, obesity, high blood pressure (equal or greater than 130/80 mm Hg, high cholesterol, diabetes, stress, excessive alcohol, and poor sleep can heighten your vulnerability.

I completely understand the challenges of finding time, but small positive changes can yield substantial benefits. Incorporating a healthier diet, even a bit of activity, managing stress in manageable ways, considering steps to quit smoking and moderate alcohol, and maintaining a healthy weight can all contribute to lowering your risk. 

Your well-being matters. By investing a little time now, you’re securing a healthier future for yourself and your family. 

With love and understanding,

Dr. Michelle Wendt, L.Ac., DACM

P.S. My team and I are here to guide and support you. Give us a call at 512-686-0777 or learn more at IndigoHealingAcupuncture.com

P.S.S. We have morning, afternoon, evening, and weekend appointments to fit YOUR schedule.

Photo with kids and The Magic of Acupuncture

The Magic of Pediatric Acupuncture

Written by Michelle Wendt on . Posted in About Us, Acupuncture, Clinic, New Patients, Parenting, Pediatrics, Wellness. No Comments on The Magic of Pediatric Acupuncture

Can a child get acupuncture?

Yes, children can receive acupuncture as a form of treatment. In fact, pediatric acupuncture is often a safe and effective alternative to conventional treatments for many childhood conditions, such as headaches, digestive problems, allergies, and behavioral issues.

Acupuncture for children is performed using very fine, sterile needles that are specifically designed for use on children. The needles are placed at specific points on the body, and the practitioner may apply a toolbox of skills to enhance the therapeutic effect.

When performed by a licensed and experienced acupuncturist, pediatric acupuncture is generally considered safe for children of all ages. However, it’s important to discuss any concerns you may have with your acupuncturist before beginning treatment and to choose an acupuncture clinic experienced with treating children. At Indigo Healing Acupuncture, our clinic is child-friendly and our acupuncturists are trained to make your child’s acupuncture treatment full of fun and curious wonder.

In general, children tend to be more receptive to acupuncture than adults and often experience immediate benefits, making it an excellent choice for those who are looking for a natural and holistic approach to medicine and wellness.

Child piggybacking with mother and family dinner table in background.

“I need to talk to my husband…”

Written by indigoacupuncture@megamad.work on . Posted in About Us, Family, Fatigue, Life, Marriage, Motherhood, Parenting, Stress, Worry. No Comments on “I need to talk to my husband…”

Dear Mama Sitting In Front of Me,

I see you.

I know you’re exhausted.

I know it took every ounce of willpower for you to get out of bed this morning.

I know how much your jaw hurt when you tried to smile at your kids because you spent another restless night grinding away your worry.

I know about the resentment you feel when your husband announces he’s going to disappear for 6 hours on a Saturday to hang out with the guys and relieve stress.

I know about the never-ending to do list that you mentally track. How every time you check a box you feel a twinge of hope you’re getting closer to a chance to rest.

I see the toll carrying such a heavy load is taking on your body and spirit.

I see the pain pounding away at your happiness and a cloud covering your heart.

I understand that it seems impossible to take time for yourself.

It breaks my heart to hear you don’t have the time to do what you need to do.

It maddens me to hear it’s up to your husband to decide if you’re worthy of feeling better.

It saddens me that your kids will not get a chance to know who you are without pain.

I want to to tell you all these things, but I see you.

I see you holding back the tears because you already know.

You already know you need help.

You already know you deserve a better life.

You already know your kids deserve the best you.

You already know you should be making your own decision.

You already know you shouldn’t need to expend precious energy to convince him.

You already know you don’t need to ask permission to do what’s best for you.

If only you could see what I see.

You are worth it.

With love,
Dr. Michelle
Sunset on the beach

Why I Disappear For 4 Days, 4 Times a Year

Written by indigoacupuncture@megamad.work on . Posted in Balance, Family, Marriage, Motherhood, Parenting, Travel, Weekends, Wellness. No Comments on Why I Disappear For 4 Days, 4 Times a Year

Where pink clouds meet blue water…4 times a year, I disappear for 4 days to visit this lake to experience a symphony of silence, solitude, introspection & inspiration.

While it’s technically a self-led spiritual retreat, I affectionately call it “Mom Camp” because that phrase makes sense to my four-year-old. The truth is coming here makes me a better mother, wife, friend, doctor & human.

Every trip here is a different experience. The only constant is I’m always transformed by the time I get home.

I highly recommend finding your own version of Mom Camp. Because once you find it, you will never be the same.

​3 Secrets to Being An Awesome Parent With Chronic Headaches

Written by indigoacupuncture@megamad.work on . Posted in Headache, Migraine, Parenting, Thrive. No Comments on ​3 Secrets to Being An Awesome Parent With Chronic Headaches

If you’re a parent and you suffer from migraines or chronic headaches, you already know the special challenges of parenting through severe pain. Busy lives full of school events, sports practices, and errands mean that the days of disappearing into a dark room to sleep off a headache are practically non-existent when tiny beings depend on you for everything.

So, what can you do?

Here are 3 secrets to being an awesome parent, even if you suffer from migraines or chronic headaches:

1. Invest in Yourself
No matter how busy your schedule is, write in 15 minutes of “me time” every day, without exception.

Why? Because you need a minimum of 15 minutes a day alone to be your best self.

My 15 minutes starts the second I wake up in the morning. Whether my daughter is awake or not, I head straight to my journal and write 1 page of affirmations to start my day. Then I spend 10-15 minutes reading book(s) that nourish my soul. This “me time” is non-negotiable. Can’t get your littles to give you 15 minutes? If you’re married, ask your spouse to backfill your parenting position. If your kids are easy persuaded with bribes, give them something to keep them happy for 15 minutes. Build your “me time” into a daily routine. It’s not always easy, but kids and spouses are trainable especially when something happens every day at the same time of day!

2. Reverse-Engineer Your Life
Identify what obstacles are blocking you from living a headache-free life. Is it too many looming deadlines at work? Is it unresolved tension in your marriage? Is it sitting in 2 hours of traffic everyday and feeling stuck? Obstacles are everywhere and they come in all different sizes and shapes. Write down 5 obstacles that contribute to your headaches. Then, reverse-engineer a solution to all 5 or as many as you can. Some may be easier to abolish than others. But you won’t know how hard or how easy it can be to overcome obstacles in your life until you figure out what they are.

3. Claim Your Strengths
What are you “good” at?  Are you good at helping others? Cooking? Showing up on time? Going  to church every Sunday? Dancing? Take a quick inventory to write down 5 things you do well. Then, think about why you do those things well. Are you good at showing up on time because you plan ahead? Are you good at dancing because you dance like no one else is watching? Embrace your strengths and celebrate them. If you do get a migraine or a horrendous headache, celebrate tiny victories like having enough energy to get out of bed and give your kids a hug after baseball practice. On headache days, the small victories count the most.

Are you interested in learning more about natural approaches to long-term relief from migraines and chronic headaches? Indigo Healing Acupuncture has teamed up with Julie Balderrama Coaching to offer a unique holistic program for anyone suffering from headaches.  We help people (who have tried everything) break free from headaches by discovering hidden obstacles to healing. We empower them with knowledge and tools to find long-lasting relief so they can thrive with freedom and joy in their life.

​Your Pulse Can Reveal Pregnancy & Your Baby’s Gender!

Written by indigoacupuncture@megamad.work on . Posted in Motherhood, Parenting, Pregnancy. No Comments on ​Your Pulse Can Reveal Pregnancy & Your Baby’s Gender!

As a Licensed Acupuncturist, one of my favorite skills is reading a patient’s pulse to find out what’s going on in their body-mind-spirit. In Oriental Medicine, this is called pulse diagnosis. Within seconds, I can find out whether a patient…
… is having nightmares
… is digesting a greasy hamburger
… is constipated
… has a headache
… has back pain
… is about to catch a cold

And, my favorite pulse revelations:
… is pregnant
… is pregnant with a boy or girl
… is pregnant with multiples

Patients often ask me, “How in the world can you know that from my pulse?” 

The short answer is, the pulse reveals everything.

Pulse diagnosis has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years. There are over 25 distinct pulses and each has its own unique characteristics. Licensed Acupuncturists spend at least 4 years in graduate school learning & practicing traditional pulse diagnosis. It’s a skill that develops with practice and study over time.

Now, let’s circle back to my favorite pulse revelations, pregnancy and fetal gender…

I can generally detect pregnancy in a pulse shortly after implantation between cycle weeks 3-4. The pulse reveals pregnancy about a week before any modern medical pregnancy test or bloodwork will register enough hCG to deliver a positive result. Discovering a pregnancy pulse is always the highlight of my work day!

The gender of the fetus appears in the pulse as early as cycle week 5. To minimize error, I monitor the pulse carefully between weeks 5-7 before I share the news. Sometimes, parents don’t want to know, so I record the gender and deliver it to them in a sealed envelope for later use. Anatomical ultrasounds typically occur around cycle week 20, so learning a baby’s gender by cycle week 7 gives parents plenty of extra prep time to shop for pink or blue!

Are you ready to get a pulse diagnosis?
Request an appointment here!