​Q: I’m 35 and I’ve been breaking out every month just before my period. I had amazing skin as a teenager. What's up with that?! I’m also starting to get fine lines and wrinkles. Do you have any advice for healthier skin?
 
A: There are many things that can contribute to breakouts and premature wrinkles. Diet and lifestyle habits play a huge role in the overall health of your skin. Hormonal imbalance is another major contributing factor, especially in women who are experiencing adult acne.
 
When it comes to skin health, you obviously want to focus on the surface issues (acne, wrinkles, rosacea, etc.). But we also need to take a deeper look at your overall health to understand why these issues are happening in the first place. The goal is to address the specific concerns with the skin while also healing the body from the inside out.
 
Here are a few of my favorite tips for healthy glowing skin!
 
Stay hydrated-

• Drink lots of room temperature water throughout the day.

 

• Organic bone broth is fantastic for your skin. What’s so great about bone broth? It has tons of collagen, protein and many more nourishing nutrients that are not only skin, hair and nails look great but also boost your immunity and keep you strong and healthy. Collagen maintains the skin’s elasticity and firmness, promotes smooth, supple skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. If you don’t have time to make your own bone broth you can find it at your local co-op or health food store near the soup stocks or in the refrigerated section. EPIC’s bone broth is my favorite because it tastes amazing! Drink ½ cup daily and watch your skin improve!

 

• Matcha Green Tea is loaded with antioxidants, which promotes beautiful and youthful skin, boosts the immune system, encourages healthy weight loss and enhances memory and concentration. Matcha green tea powder can be found in the tea section or bulk food section at the co-op. I put my favorite Matcha Green Tea Latte recipe on my blog. Check it out!

 
Get Plenty of Rest-

• The power of sleep is so under rated in our busy culture. Aim to get at least 8 hours of good quality sleep each night.

 

• If you’re concerned about deep wrinkles try to sleep on your back rather than your side as long as it’s comfortable for you. If you’re in the mood to splurge you can get some satin pillowcases. They’re much softer and gentler on the skin than cotton.

 
Eat the Right Foods-

• A healthy body equals healthy skin. Make sure that your diet consists of 95% whole organic foods. Whole foods means unprocessed or minimally processed foods that you can recognize. If you have to read a long list of ingredients on a box, you’re in the wrong place!

 

• Eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables (roasted, sautéed, or grilled) every day, healthy grains like quinoa, brown rice and buckwheat, and small amounts of organic, grass-fed meats, wild caught and fish. Snack on nuts, dried fruits, coconut chips and fruit. Your skin will be so happy!

 

• Salmon, avocado, bone broth, blueberries, lemon, tumeric are power foods for healthy and beautiful skin. These foods have a combination of healthy fats, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, which help fight the aging process.

 
 
Know What to Avoid- 

• Caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, greasy foods, highly processed foods, sugar and dairy are all hard on the digestive system and will reflect poorly on your skin.

 

• If you’re suffering from acne it is particularly important to lay off sugar, dairy, shellfish, fried, greasy, and processed foods.

 

• If your skin is dry or you want to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles or you have rosacea, increase healthy fats and water rich foods and avoid caffeine, alcohol, sugar and spicy foods.

 
 
Address the Underlying Issues-

• No matter what we’re treating, whether it’s skin issues, insomnia, digestion or hormonal issues, Chinese medicine is interested in identifying and correcting the root cause of the imbalance.  A healthy glowing complexion is a natural reflection of a healthy body, mind and spirit. Mother Moon Acupuncture offers facial rejuvenation acupuncture treatments address your specific areas of concern while simultaneously restoring overall health, balancing hormones, improving mood, and relieving stress. 

 
 
If you’ve got a skin issue that you’d like to improve head to the Contact page to set up your Initial Consultation + Treatment. During your first session we’ll discuss your specific skin concerns and take a detailed health history to determine the root cause of your skin issues.
 
 I love helping your friends and family! If know someone who’s struggling with their skin please share this article with someone who could benefit from this information. 
 
Thank you for reading!
 
With Love,
Meghan
 
 
PS. Do you have a question about women’s health? Click here to submit your question and watch to see if it gets answered in my next newsletter.

Matcha Green Tea Latte-
1 tsp  matcha powder
1/4 cup hot water
3/4 cup steamed almond milk
Local raw honey to taste

Benefits of matcha: antioxidant rich, immune boosting, promotes healthy weight loss, enhances concentration, fantastic for skin health, ​half the caffeine of coffee, calm focused energy  

Art by: VICTORIA VILLASANA

​Traditional Chinese Medicine teaches us that we are, without a doubt, undeniably connected to and influenced by the world around us. If our sacred mother is not healthy how can we ever be? It is our duty to stand up and protect what cannot speak.
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Trump plans to move forward with the Dakota Access Pipeline
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Let's make the fight real and stronger than ever
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Donate money to Standing Rock Reservation
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Donate supplies
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Educate yourself, family and friends
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Make calls
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Be LOUD!
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With love,
​Meghan

Q: How Does Acupuncture Help to Improve Fertility?
 
A: This is a great question and one I get often. Chinese medicine acknowledges 4 distinct phases of the menstrual cycle. The duration of each stage can range dramatically from woman to woman depending on the overall health of her cycle. Taking a close look at the menstrual cycle gives us clues as to where there may be an imbalance in the cycle. An unhealthy or imbalanced cycle can make it difficult for a woman to get pregnant and stay pregnant. Let’s break each phase down and explore what’s happening in the body during this time and how imbalances in each stage can affect a woman’s ability to conceive.
 
Phase 1- Starts with the first day of the period (cycle days 1-5 in acupuncture talk ;) and lasts until the bleeding stops. During the period the uterus is shedding it’s lining, getting rid of old tissue and making way for a new fresh lining to develop. Having an “effective” period is extremely important in setting the stage for pregnancy later in the month. If the lining doesn’t fully shed there will be old (stagnant) blood and tissue that can lead to painful or irregular periods and the embryo may have a difficult time finding a suitable place to implant.
 
~Acupuncture and herbal treatments during phase 1 ‘Regulate the Blood and Qi.’ If the period is to light or starts with spotting we will work to nourish and invigorate the blood. If the period is too heavy or long we will focus on regulating the blood to a more healthy and moderate flow. If there is pain or clotting we will work to smooth the flow of qi and blood to relieve pain. *Remember your period doesn’t need to be painful! Click <here> to read my article about what a healthy period should look and feel like.
 
Phase 2- This phase starts just after the period ends (cycle days 6-12 in a healthy cycle). During this time the endometrial lining of the uterus is thickening (future home for baby), the dominant follicle is developing in the ovary. Toward the end of phase 2 the cervix begins to produce mucous. An imbalance in this phase can lead to poor quality cervical mucous mid-cycle, delayed ovulation, or even a non-ovulatory cycle.
 
~Acupuncture and herbal treatments during phase 2 ‘Nourish the Blood and Yin.’ We nourish the blood because it has just been lost through the period and we need strong blood to build a healthy endometrial lining. Yin is a substance that helps the dominant follicle to develop and the cervix to produce good quality fertile mucous (imagine a protective express lane that help the sperm to reach the egg).
 
Phase 3- Ovulation (cycle days 12-16 in a healthy cycle). The egg matures, is released from the ovary and begins to travel down the fallopian tube. If the sperm reaches the egg and burrows its way in we have fertilization!
 
~Acupuncture and herbal treatments during phase 3 ‘Regulate the Qi and Blood.’ We want to feel calm during this phase of the cycle. There are tiny muscles in the fallopian tubes; stress can cause those muscles to contract making it difficult for the egg to travel smoothly down the tubes.
 
Phase 4- This part of the cycle lasts from a few days after ovulation through the start of the period or a positive pregnancy test (cycle days 17-28 in a healthy cycle).  If fertilization has occurred and the embryo successfully implants in the endometrial lining a positive pregnancy test is soon to follow. If the yang energy is weak the pregnancy may not continue to develop. Many women who experience multiple miscarriages have weak yang energy.
 
~Acupuncture and herbal treatments during phase 4 ‘Warm the Uterus and Strengthen the Yang.’ Treatments are focused on warming the uterus, encouraging the lifting and holding energies to secure pregnancy. If the period comes we continue to work toward a healthy and balanced cycle for optimal fertility.
 
If you’re struggling to conceive or know someone who is, head to the Contact page to set up your Initial Consultation + Treatment or share this article with someone who could benefit from this information. During your first session we’ll go over your fertility and menstrual health history and discuss how we can bring balance to your cycle and optimize fertility with acupuncture treatments, herbal medicine, food therapy and lifestyle adjustments.
 
Thank you for reading!
 
In health,
Meghan
 
PS. Do you have a question up your sleeve? Click here to submit your question and watch to see if it gets answered in my next newsletter.
 
 

​This is a family favorite in my house. We make this yummy soup at the first sign of a sneeze or cough and it always hits the spot.
 
Ingredients:
* Use organic ingredients whenever possible*
 
2 chicken breasts with bone-in
32oz chicken bone broth
4 cups of water
1.5 cups of brown rice cooked
8 large carrots chopped
3-4 leeks chopped
3 large garlic cloves minced
2-3 chunks of fresh ginger peeled and minced
sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
chopped fresh scallions
 
Method:
Bake chicken at 375 for 45 minutes, salt and pepper if desired. Cook the brown rice on the stovetop while the chicken is baking. Chop carrots and leeks, mince garlic and ginger and add to a large soup pot along with the chicken bone broth and water. Bring the vegetables to a boil for about 5 minutes; reduce to a simmer on low. When the chicken is done, remove the skin, de-bone, and shred, add to the pot along with the brown rice. Continue to simmer on low until carrots are tender.  Add fresh scallions just before eating.
 
Health Tip:
If you are sick with a cold, put on a pair of wool socks, and a hat and wrap yourself with one or two thick blankets while eating your soup. Drink the soup as warm as you possibly can without burning your mouth (test the temperature first!). This will bring on a slight sweat, which will help to release the cold from the body, ease your symptoms and reduce the duration of your cold.
 
Cheers to your health!
 
With Love,
​Meghan

I’m thrilled in introduce my new Q&A column. It’s called “Ask Mother Moon.” If you or anyone you know has a question about fertility, menopause, periods, pregnancy or general women’s health, simply hit “reply” and ask me a question. You can look forward to my answers in your inbox every month.

And now for our first question...
 
Q: “What is a healthy menstrual cycle?”
 
A: When women describe the symptoms they experience during and around their period they often ask, “Is that normal?” Here are a few quotes from my patients that highlight some of the different things women experience during their periods:
 
“When I have my period I have to change a super tampon at least every hour.  During the first two days of my period I always end up with blood soaked sheets in the morning. Is that normal?”
 
“I’m in so much pain with my period I have to take 6 Ibuprofen just to get through my day. It’s so hard to deal with. But I guess that’s just normal, right?”
 
“I get so crabby and irritable before my period starts, I don’t even want to be around myself.”
 
These accounts are in fact not normal or healthy. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, if a woman is healthy and her cycle is normal this is what we expect to see:

• The menstrual cycle should occur regularly between 26-32 days in length and should be they same number of days each month. (The length of the menstrual cycle is measured by the first day of your period – “cycle day 1” to the last day before the period begins again- “cycle day 28”)

• The blood from your period should be a fresh red color (not black or brown) with no clots. The flow should be smooth from beginning to end with no stops and starts in between. The period should last from 4-7 days. There should be no spotting or bleeding outside of the period. The flow should be moderate, neither too light nor too heavy.

• There should be no pain during your period! No uterine or abdominal cramping and no low back or leg pain and no sensation of heaviness.

• PMS symptoms such and anger, irritability, pain, acne, headaches, fatigue, bloating, nausea, diarrhea etc. are not healthy and should not be accepted as “normal.”

 
The good news is irregular cycles, hormonal imbalance, and PMS can be corrected with Traditional Chinese Medicine. Unlike birth control which forces the period to be regular and can mask underlying problems in the menstrual cycle, TCM helps to correct, balance and genuinely heal the body.
 
Tips of the Month: HOW TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY MENSTRUAL CYCLE

• Keep your body warm during your period. Pay special attention to your feet, and your lower back and abdomen. Wear slippers around the house; don’t let your feet touch the cold floor. If you are outside on a cold day do not sit on cold surfaces. Lay a blanket down for protection or wear a coat that covers the sacral area. Just remember: Cold = Pain.

• Rest. If you feel tired or moody before or during your period take extra time to rest. Listen to your body and honor the messages you hear. Go to bed early, take a nap, say no to things you don’t feel like doing.
  
  
• Be mindful with your movements. If you want to exercise during the period I recommend gentle practices such as yin yoga, intuitive stretching or walking.

  
Want a more comprehensive, personalized approach to getting your period on track? Head to the Contact page to set up your initial consultation and treatment. In this first session, we’ll go over your unique experiences and how we can heal and address your concerns with acupuncture treatments, herbal medicine, food therapy and lifestyle adjustments.
 
Thank you for reading!
 
With Love,
Meghan
 
PS. Do you have a question up your sleeve? Click here to submit your question and watch to see if it gets answered in my next newsletter.