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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.

Black and purple brain illustration with Indigo logo and article headline

How Does Acupuncture Enhance Brain Activity?

Written by Michelle Wendt on . Posted in Acupuncture, Anxiety, Appointments, Balance, Emotions, Migraine, New Patients, Pain, Pain Relief, Stress, Worry. No Comments on How Does Acupuncture Enhance Brain Activity?

How does acupuncture affect and enhance brain activity? Acupuncture has been shown to produce changes in brain wave activity, although the specific brain waves involved can vary depending on the type of acupuncture stimulation and the individual’s response to it.

During acupuncture, it is common to observe an increase in theta and alpha brain wave activity, which are associated with relaxation and a decrease in stress and anxiety.

Beta brain waves, which are associated with a state of alertness and cognitive processing, may also decrease during acupuncture.

In addition, studies have found that acupuncture can increase the production of neurotransmitters (such as endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine) that are involved in regulating pain and mood.

Reach out to us at 512-686-0777 to learn how acupuncture can enhance your brain.

Green leaves with text Why Try Acupuncture

Why Try Acupuncture?

Written by Michelle Wendt on . Posted in About Us, Appointments, Clinic, Consultation, Headache, Migraine, Pain Relief, Stress. No Comments on Why Try Acupuncture?

There are many reasons why someone might want to try acupuncture. Some people use acupuncture as a way to manage pain, such as back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, or headaches. Others use it to address a specific health condition, such as asthma, insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, infertility, or addiction. Still, others use acupuncture as a way to improve overall health and well-being or to reduce the stress of life.

Acupuncture is generally considered to be a safe and effective treatment option, with a low risk of side effects. It is often used in conjunction with other treatments, such as therapeutic massage or physical therapy, to help enhance the overall effectiveness of treatment. Medical doctors frequently refer patients to acupuncture as an alternative to medications, surgery, or injections.

There are thousands of clinical studies measuring the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of disease and pain. Setting up a one-on-one consultation with the team at Indigo Healing Acupuncture is a great way to learn how acupuncture could specifically help you feel your best!

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
Silver Lining

The Magic of this Pandemic

Written by indigoacupuncture@megamad.work on . Posted in Clinic, Emotions, Family, Gratitude, Grief, Recovery, Relationships, Stress, Wellness, Worry. No Comments on The Magic of this Pandemic

“There is no magic cure, no making it all go away forever. There are only small steps upward; an easier day, an unexpected laugh, a mirror that doesn’t matter anymore.”
​- Laurie Halse Anderson
​The entire modern world is at a standstill.

Streets are empty.
Playgrounds are eerily quiet.
Music venues are silent.
Sport fields are barren.
Going out in public is a risky adventure.

Birds chirp.
Deer roam.
Alarm clocks are unset.
Dogs enjoy company all day.
Neighbors help neighbors.

Hitting a collective pause button has never happened in our lifetimes. It was inconceivable.

So much was lost when we hit the pause button. Big games, weddings, birthday parties, family vacations, grand openings, anniversary celebrations, graduations, baby showers and countless other special occasions.

When external activities disappear from our calendars, what’s left? What are the side-effects of this crisis?

  • Long phone calls talking about nothing & everything.
  • Sunsets glowing over families at a dinner table filled with odds & ends.​
  • Forgetting what day of the week it is.
  • Discovering new hobbies.
  • Finding solace in music.
  • Rekindling old pastimes.
  • Neighborhood walks.
  • Growing food.
  • Supporting a struggling small business with an order.
  • Watching old TV shows.
  • Stargazing.

In the midst of a pandemic that has disrupted our daily lives, this is where the magic resides.

We can choose to focus on the moments that matter.

We can embrace the surprising side-effects of our lives on hold. We can graciously accept that aspects of our former lives will undergo a transformation beyond our control. We can linger in the unknowing of when our new normal might begin. This pandemic will pass.  We will all have new beginnings. There is no going back.

Embrace the magic because we’ll never have this time again.

Pregnancy

10 Reasons for Holistic Pregnancy Support

Written by indigoacupuncture@megamad.work on . Posted in Back Pain, Breech Baby, Fatigue, Fertility, Headache, Heartburn, Insomnia, Miscarriage, Morning Sickness, Postpartum, Pregnancy, Stress. No Comments on 10 Reasons for Holistic Pregnancy Support

Did you know we offer Holistic Pregnancy Support for…

  • Miscarriage Prevention
  • Morning Sickness
  • Placenta Previa
  • Breech Presentation
  • Back Pain
  • Acid Refux/Heartburn
  • Headaches
  • Insomnia & Fatigue
  • Stress & More!

Dr. Michelle Wendt, L.Ac., DACM was also recently nominated as the Best Acupuncturist and Best Herbalist by the 2019 Austin Birth Awards!

We want pregnancy to be an enjoyable phase of your life! From the first positive test to the end of postpartum, we can help you relieve pain, have more energy, and recover from labor & delivery.

Give us a call at 512-686-0777 to schedule a consultation.