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Santa Monica Wellness Center Offering Telemedicine Appointments to Current Patients

To Our Beloved Santa Monica Wellness Center Community,

It has been always been our honor and our intention to support our patients on their healing journeys by providing compassionate care at our clinic.

We are fortunate to be able to provide continuation of care through our telemedicine services for our current patients.

If you are already a patient at SMWC and need supplement refills or would like a telemedicine appointment, please reach out via email to frontdesk@santamonicawellness.com.

In the meantime, we recommend that you:

1.) Please contact your medical doctor if you become ill with fever, cough, or shortness of breath.

2.) Consider steps to support your immune system (click on links for detailed info):

  • Sleep at least seven hours a night.
  • Hydrate well. Click here for tips on how to upgrade hydration habits.
  • Support optimal immunity and peace of mind with qigong, meditation, getting into nature  (that includes spending time in your garden, front or back yard, enjoying the beauty that spring has to offer).
  • Eat nutrient-dense foods, including good sources of zinc, selenium, Vitamin A, immune-supporting mushrooms,  greens such as kale (recipes hereprebiotics, incorporating more herbs and spices into your food, such as tumeric and ginger.
  • Reduce sugar intake – find tips on how to overcome cravings here.
  • Check in with your breath to make sure you’re breathing properly, enhancing oxygen uptake.
  • Build emotional resilience with this practice.
  • Get the appropriate amount of sunlight for Vitamin D.
  • Consider foods and lifestyle practices for seasonal support from the wisdom of the Chinese Medicine tradition.
  • Before attempting to “boost” your immune system, read this and check with your healthcare practitioner before adding any herbs or nutritional supplements to your regime.

From the SMWC family to yours, we wish you healthy and harmony always.

 

Dr. Patricia Fitzgerald and Lauren Howard, L.Ac.

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The Benefits of Meditation

The Benefits of Meditation

Meditation, a practice rooted in ancient traditions, has gained significant popularity in the modern world for its numerous mental and physical health benefits. As stress and anxiety levels continue to rise, more people are turning to meditation as a means of finding inner peace and improving overall well-being. 

Meditation is a practice that involves focusing the mind and eliminating distractions to achieve a state of mental clarity and emotional calm. There are several forms of meditation, including mindfulness meditation, transcendental meditation, and loving-kindness meditation, each with its unique techniques and benefits.

One of the most well-documented benefits of meditation is its ability to reduce stress. A meta-analysis of 163 studies found that mindfulness meditation programs significantly reduced stress, with an effect size of 0.38, which is considered a moderate effect. Chronic stress can lead to numerous health problems, including heart disease and depression, making stress reduction a critical benefit of meditation.

Meditation has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety disorders. A study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine found that mindfulness meditation programs can help reduce anxiety, depression, and pain, with effect sizes comparable to those of antidepressant medications. This makes meditation a valuable tool for managing anxiety without the side effects associated with pharmaceuticals.

Meditation can lead to improved emotional health by promoting a more positive outlook on life. Research published in the journal Psychological Science found that individuals who engaged in loving-kindness meditation reported increased positive emotions, which contributed to greater life satisfaction and reduced depressive symptoms.

Meditation enhances attention span and concentration. A study conducted at the University of California, Santa Barbara, found that participants who underwent a two-week mindfulness training program showed improved GRE reading comprehension scores and working memory capacity compared to a control group. This suggests that meditation can enhance cognitive functions essential for academic and professional success.

Meditation helps individuals better regulate their emotions. Neuroimaging studies have shown that meditation alters brain regions associated with emotion regulation, such as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. A study published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that long-term meditation practitioners had increased gray matter density in the brain regions involved in emotional regulation, suggesting that meditation can lead to lasting changes in brain structure and function.

Meditation can contribute to lower blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart disease. A study published in the journal Hypertension found that participants who practiced transcendental meditation for three months experienced significant reductions in blood pressure compared to a control group. This effect is attributed to the relaxation response induced by meditation, which reduces stress hormones and promotes cardiovascular health.

Meditation has been shown to enhance immune function, making the body more resilient to infections. Research published in the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine found that mindfulness meditation increased antibody production in response to the influenza vaccine, indicating a stronger immune response.

Meditation can be an effective tool for managing chronic pain. A meta-analysis of 38 studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that mindfulness meditation significantly reduced pain severity, with effect sizes comparable to those of standard pain management interventions.

Meditation offers a wide array of benefits for mental, cognitive, physical, and social health. From reducing stress and anxiety to enhancing attention and immune function, meditation is a powerful practice that can improve overall well-being. As scientific research continues to uncover the mechanisms behind these benefits, meditation is likely to become an increasingly integral part of health and wellness practices worldwide.

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Finding Relief: The Benefits of Acupuncture for Treating Chronic Pain

Finding Relief: The Benefits of Acupuncture for Treating Chronic Pain

According to a study published in 2023, approximately 51 million people in the United States suffer from chronic pain, with about 17 million of those suffering from high-impact chronic pain. Those who suffer from chronic pain find their lives altered in difficult ways. The search for relief is constant. Traditional medicine offers various prescription medications, but if you are looking for a more natural path to healing and wellness, acupuncture should be at the top of your list.  continue reading »

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Understanding the Differences Between Dry Needling and Acupuncture

Understanding the Differences Between Dry Needling and Acupuncture

When most people hear the term “acupuncture” they think of needles being inserted into the skin. The term dry needling is often brought up for people suffering from pain as well and it also includes needles being inserted into the skin. But for the most part, that’s where the similarities end. Everything from their origins and benefits to how many needles and how long a session might take is different. Let’s take a deep dive into both.  continue reading »

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