Vaginal/Perineal Steaming also deals with abdominal gut issues by helping with circulation and energy flow. It also relaxes the tissues of the urinary bladder, digestive and muscular system.

Steaming involves taking a bunch of herbs such as rose, lavender, calendula, rosemary, basil, mugwort or many others and boiling with filtered water in a pot. When the steam begins to rise you sit on stool or chair with a hole and cover yourself to keep the steam contained. You can steam for 10 up to 30 minutes.

They not only increase uterine circulation for women, it helps for the following conditions: 

• Painful menstrual cramps 
• Uterine fibroids
• Infertility 
• Vaginal dryness 
• Hormonal imbalances 
• Weak vaginal muscles 
• Softens scar tissue 
• Helps heal vaginal tears, surgery 
• Uterine prolapse 
• Adhesions 
• Ovarian cysts 
• Endometriosis 
• Inflammation 
• Pelvic Pain 
• Calms prolong stress 
• Eases general tension (allowing the facial muscles to relax- softening of wrinkles) 

The benefits for men are:  

• Prostate Health 
• Reduces inflammation and pain, especially pelvic area 
• Improves cardiovascular system 
• Induces deeper sleep 
• Increases energy
• Invigorates sexual performance 

Besides the positive physical benefits, steaming the organs and muscles of your pelvic floor also will help to create a different more intimate relationship with your woman or man parts. This emotional relationship that you are cultivating for yourself will help to unravel deep traumas and pains that are stored in the pelvic area. Not to say the steaming can heal all wounds, it can help soften them.  

The best part of getting a steam is doing it before or after an acupuncture or abdominal therapy session. 

It is a lovely experience. 

Have questions?

Book your session and enjoy the relaxing sensation of a vaginal/perineal steam. 

Acupuncture gets rids of headaches. And in most cases instantaneous on the table!

Did you know that where your pain is located indicates a different organ system in Chinese Medicine?

Headaches in your forehead are Stomach and Large Intestine. These headaches are usually dietary related: skipping meals, eating in a rush or poor nutrition, lack of hydration, and emotions: worry and stress.

Headaches located behind the eyes and/or side of your head (temples) are often referred to tension headaches. These are stress, frustration and anger headaches. The location, and emotions, as well as decision-making are associated with the Gall Bladder. These are the headaches that often present themselves at work, especially when working long hours and are faced with deadlines.

Headaches that are located on the top of the head are liver and/or kidney. These are the ones that feel like your whole head is heavy, painful, and achy. You just want to shut your eyes, and go to bed. These headaches are more often due to lifestyle, stress and anxiety.

Headaches that start at the back of neck the occipital region is tai yang (urinary bladder). This channel is the first one to get attacked at the beginning of cold and/or flu symptoms. The back of your head and your neck get stiff when you are getting sick.

When people get headaches, most reach for pain meds. This approach does not get to the core of the problem, Acupuncture sessions can help treat the root of your headaches.

I had headaches almost everyday for years. A dull ache that was so constant, I didn’t realize how troublesome it was until it was gone. It varied from dull ache, tension headaches to a full blown migraines. Acupuncture sessions were able to provide me that relief.

• Reduces your stress, by releasing serotonin. Your feel good chemical.
• Moves energy,  opens up blocked channels and promotes movement.
• Calms the nervous system.

Acupuncture has been the best thing I have found for my headaches, and there are no side effects.

If you or anyone you know suffer from headaches, please email me at info@carinecamara.com.

If I had a cold, Mama would make me a bowl of soup filled with ginger, garlic, and hot peppers. It would scorch my mouth and throat, but by the morning I was fine. I was hardly sick as a child, and I never had the flu growing up.

My mother took me a Chinese Herbalist in the heart of Chinatown in New York City for my menstrual cramps when was 14. The scent and the herbs fascinated me. This older Chinese man silently felt my pulse, looked at my tongue and gave me a bag of herbs. I had dual thoughts of that experience being very odd and very cool as a young teenager.

I feel blessed to have a mother that introduced me to the world of holistic healing that has shaped my life. When I was a child I wanted to be a medicine woman, and I became one: an African- American urban medicine woman. By the time I was 20, I made the decision to live a completely holistic natural lifestyle.

What did that look like?

I cut off my chemically relaxed hair. I went natural. I became a vegetarian. I started reading all the labels of everything I was putting in and on my body. All my body products, makeup, household detergents became natural and non-toxic. I became obsessed with nutrition and health.

By the time I decided to go get my Master’s in Chinese Medicine when I was 25, my family was not the least bit surprised. Holistic medicine is who I am.

My holistic world is filled with plant-based foods, yoga, herbs, essential oils, acupuncture, massage, energy work, spirituality, mindfulness, astrology, and crystals.  It comes natural to me. It is so ingrained in who I am.

And yet, I have fallen in love with the facial expressions of people, when I say I am an acupuncturist. Eyes widen and they exclaim words of awe, wonder, and curiosity. The conversation swiftly moves into the art of acupuncture and the wonderful ways it can transform their lives! Education is key. I love teaching people about how they can empower their health.

I write this to say, it is important to be yourself no matter what happens in life.

Stay true to your heart.  

“Be the change you want to see in the world” – Mohandas Gandhi 

Much Love,

Carine

Are you in Chronic Pain? Do you find yourself surviving on pain medications? Have you tried various therapies? Have you tried acupuncture? If you haven’t, you should strongly consider it, and here are 5 reasons why:

1. Acupuncture promotes the movement of blood.

   Our blood is our life force, it contains everything that our body needs to heal- oxygen, nutrients we absorb from food, immune substances, hormones, pain-killers and anti-inflammatories. Our blood flow decreases with age, and can be negativity affected by injuries, diseases or trauma. Ensuring proper blood flow is vital to promoting and maintaining health. Acupuncture has shown to increase circulation and vasodilation in certain areas.

2. Acupuncture releases your body’s natural pain-killers.

   When acupuncture needles are placed in the body, a signal is sent through the nervous system to the brain to release pain-killing chemicals-endorphins.

3. Acupuncture stimulates our body’s natural healing mechanisms.

   When a needle is inserted in the body, it creates a “micro-trauma”. This creates a systemic immune response. Your body starts to heal by activating your nervous, endocrine and immune systems. After the needles are removed, the “micro- lesions” continue to stimulate the body until it heals. The healing process can last anywhere from 1-3 days after your session.

4. Acupuncture relaxes shorten muscles.

   The insertion of acupuncture needles releases pressure in the muscles, and joint structures promoting more blood flow.

5. Acupuncture reduces stress and relaxes your body.

   Acupuncture stimulates the release of oxytocin- a hormone that regulates the parasympathetic nervous system.

When you receive acupuncture for chronic pain here are some of the side effects of treatments:

• deeper sleep
• more energy
• a fortified immune system
• a stronger digestive system

Looking for a reprieve from your pain, consider acupuncture.

Have questions about your specific health concerns, please email me at info@carinecamara.com.

I have just discovered the joys of boxing. I’m a relatively non-violent person, expect in times of self-defense. Leading me to stray away from most aggressive type of exercises. But, I decided to give it a try. And I’ll tell you why. I’m looking for ways to move anger, frustration, stress and other negative emotions out of my body without talking and processing them. Most of these emotions are not acute or directed at anyone, but more of an underlying feeling. And I want to swift it!

Hence, boxing. I am a HUGE component of exercise for the physical health benefits. More importantly, for the emotion release that movement can provide for the mind and spirit. I have been taking dance classes and performing since I was 4 years old. And yes, I wore cute little tutus for dance recitals. For me, dancing is one of my biggest joys. It can take me from a dark place to instant happiness. All I need is a good beat and place to move. Though I love getting my groove on, I haven’t found it to be a place were my deep-seated anger can vent.

I’m encouraging you to find a form of exercise that you can use to release negative emotions. With intention and focus on letting go, you can apply it to any form of exercise. I find boxing and other aggressive forms of movement to more effective, because anger and frustration are on the same energetic level. In other words anger and similar emotions breed aggression. Hitting a bag with all the words I would like to say with a neck roll and side eye to boot, is a freeing experience. I leave my boxing class smiling.

So go out there and release those negative emotions that are stored in your body! Giving you more energy to live your life with more joy and less pain. Acupuncture sessions also move your energy, and by exercising, deep breathing and stretching it heightens your resolve to strengthen your wellbeing and health.

With love and appreciation,

Carine